3

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Seth

How's that fur singin' fur an old feller? I used to be
noted fur my chanties when I shipped to sea under Abe
Mannon.

### Minnie

(Gazing open-mouthed at the house)

My sakes. What a purty house.

### Seth

(Somewhat discomfited)

S sickest place hereabouts. Told ye I'd show ye the
sights, didn't I? T'aint everyone can git to see the
Mannon place close to. They're strict about trespassin'.
But I've worked fur 'em sixty years. I'm privileged.

### Minnie

My! They must be rich!

### Seth

They don't worry none about the grocer bill!

### Minnie

How'd they make their money?

### Seth

Ezra's made a pile, and before him, Abe Mannon, he
inherited some and made a pile more in shippin'. Started
one of the fust Western packet lines.

### Minnie

Ezra's the General, ain't he?

### Seth

(Proudly)

Ayeh. The best fighter in the hull of Grant's army!

### Minnie

I've read about him. What kind is he?

5

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Ames

(Hastily changing the subject - with a warning glance at his wife)

Ezra'd ought to be home soon, oughtn't he, Seth - if that report about Lee surrenderin' is straight goods?

### Seth

Feller at the telegraph says it is. Vinnie sent me to ask him.

(Then with sudden jubilation)

By jingo, there won't be a sober man in town tonight! It's our patriotic duty to celebrate, eh, Amos?

### Ames

We'd ought to, that's sartin!

### Louisa

You ain't goin' to git Amos drunk tonight - surrender or no surrender! An old reprobate, that's what you be!

### Seth

Old nothin'! On'y seventy-five! My old man lived to be ninety! Licker can't kill the Beckwiths!

(He and Amos laugh. The women smile. He turns away to leave them)

Wal, I've got to see Vinnie. I'm goin' round by the kitchen. You wait here. And if Ezra's wife starts to run you off fur trespassin', you tell her I got permission from Vinnie to show you round.

(He goes off around the corner of the house, left. The three stare about them gawkily, awed and uncomfortable. They talk in low voices).

### Louisa

Seth is so proud of his durned old Mannons! I couldn't help givin' him a dig about Ezra's wife.

7

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Louisa

She'd raise ructions all the more on that account. Her
and Lavinia does nothing but fight, I've heard. Lavinia
is her father's pet, they say.

### Minnie

But she's awful handsome, ain't she?

### Louisa

Too queer lookin' fur my taste.

### Ames

Secret lookin'. That's the Mannon look. They all has
it. They grow in on their wives. They don't want folks
to guess their secrets. I calc'late they're too proud even
to let themselves know their own secrets.

### Minnie

(Breathlessly eager)

Secrets?

### Louisa

The Mannons got skeletons in their closets same as others!
Worse ones.

(Lowering her voice almost to a whisper - to her husband)

Tell Minnie about old Abe Mannon's brother David marryin'
that Canuck nurse girl he'd got into trouble.

### Ames

Ssshh! Shet up, can't you? Here's Seth comin'.

(But he whispers quickly to Minnie)

That happened back when I was a boy. I'll tell you later.

(Seth has appeared from around the left corner of the house
and now joins them)

11

## Act One

"HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

(With forced cordiality)

Good afternoon. How are you?

(She and Hazel kiss and she shakes hand with Peter)

### Hazel

Oh, we're all right, aren't we, Peter?

### Peter

You bet you! Healthy as pigs!

### Hazel

Well! Pigs! Speak for yourself!

(She laughs)

But how are you, Vinnie, that's the question? Where
have you been hiding yourself lately? Seems as if we
hadn't seen you in ages! You haven't been sick, I hope!

### Lavinia

Well - if you call a pesky cold sick. I haven't felt up
to much.

### Peter

(Solicitously)

Gosh, that's too bad! All over it now?

### Lavinia

Yes - almost. Do sit down, won't you?

(Hazel sits at left of bench, Lavinia beside her in the
middle. Peter sits gingerly on the right edge so that
there is an open space between him and Lavinia)

### Hazel

Peter can stay a while if you want him to, but I just
dropped in for a second to find out if you'd any more news
from Orin.

12

## Act One

"HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

Not since the letter I showed you.

### Hazel

But that was months ago! And I haven't had a letter in ages. I guess he must have met another girl someplace and given me the go by.

(She forces a smile but her tone is really hurt)

### Peter

Orin not writing doesn't mean anything. He never was much of a hand for letters, was he, Vinnie?

### Hazel

I know that, but - you don't think he's been wounded, do you, Vinnie?

### Lavinia

Of course not. Father would have let us know.

### Peter

Sure he would. Don't be foolish, Hazel!

(Then after a little pause)

Orin ought to be home before long now. You've heard the good news, of course, Vinnie! It means the Rebs are licked for keeps this time.

### Hazel

Peter won't have to go back. Isn't that fine?

### Peter

My wound is healed and I have orders to leave tomorrow but they will be cancelled, I guess.

(Grinning)

I won't pretend I'm the sort of hero that wants to go back, either! I've had enough!

13

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Hazel

(Impulsively)

Oh, it will be so good to see Orin again.

(Then embarrassed, forces a self-conscious laugh and gets
up and kisses Lavinia)

Well, I must run. I've got to meet Emily. Goodbye,
Vinnie. Do take care of yourself and come to see us soon.

(With a teasing glance at her brother)

And be kind to Peter. He's nice - when he's asleep.
And he has something he's just dying to ask you!

### Peter

(Horocrasbly embarrassed)

Darn you!

(Hazel laughs and goes off down the drive, left front. Peter
fidgets, his eyes on the ground. Lavinia watches him. Since
Hazel's teasing statement, she has visibly withdrawn into
herself and is on the defensive. Finally Peter looks up and
blurts out awkwardly)

Hazel feels bad about Orin not writing in so long.

### Lavinia

(Bitterly)

He's too busy writing Mother who hardly ever answers his
letters to have time for anyone else! And even she hasn't
heard in a long time.

### Peter

(Blurts out awkwardly)

Do you think Orin really - loves Hazel?

### Lavinia

(Stiffening - brusquely)

I don't know anything about love! I don't want to know
anything!

(Intensely)

I hate love!

15

## Act One

"HOMECOMING"

### Peter

(Patting her hand)

'Course it won't. What do you think I am?

(Then doggedly)

Besides I am not giving up hope but what you'll change your
mind in time. That is, unless it's because you love someone
else -

### Lavinia

(Snatching her hand back)

Don't be stupid, Peter!

### Peter

(Gloomily)

But how about this mysterious clipper captain that's been
calling?

### Lavinia

(Suddenly furious)

Don't you dare insinuate I care anything about that - that - !

### Peter

Don't get mad. I only meant, folks say he's courting you.

### Lavinia

Folks say more than their prayers!

### Peter

But he comes here to see you, doesn't he?

### Lavinia

(Hesitates - then challengingly)

Yes! You didn't think Mother would have a man calling on
her with Father away, did you?

### Peter

No! Certainly not.

17

## Act One

## "HOMECOMING"

Lavinia (continued)

the Gold Rush. He's been all over. I don't remember much else. Grandfather Hamel met him in New York and took a fancy to him and Mother met him at Grandfather's house.

### Peter

(Grudgingly)

He's had plenty of romantic experience, if you can believe him!

### Lavinia

(Bitterly)

That's his trade - being romantic!

### Peter

Is he going to stick to the sea now?

### Lavinia

So he says. He's got romantic notions about that, too. To hear him go on about the beauty of clipper ships, you'd think they were women he was in love with!

(Then agitatedly)

But I don't want to talk any more about him!

(She gets up and walks toward right to conceal her agitation, keeping her back turned to Peter)

### Peter

(With a grin)

Well, I don't either. I can think of more interesting subjects.

(Christine Mannon appears from left, between the clump of lilacs and the house. She is carrying a big bunch of flowers. Lavinia senses her presence and whirls around. For a moment, mother and daughter, so strikingly alike in face and unlike in body, stare into each other's eyes. In their whole tense attitude at this moment is clearly revealed the bitter antagonism between them. But Christine recovers herself in a second and her air resumes its disdainful aloofness)

19

## Act One

"HOME COMING"

### Christine

You usually read long after that. I tried your door -
but you had locked yourself in. When you kept yourself
locked in all day I was sure you were intentionally
avoiding me. But Annie said you had a headache.

(While she has been speaking she has come toward Lavinia
until she is now within arms reach of her. The facial
resemblance, as they stand there, is extraordinary.
Christine stares into her eyes coolly, but one senses an
uneasy wariness beneath her pose)

Did you have a headache?

### Lavinia

(Harshly)

No. I wanted to be alone - to think over things.

### Christine

(Defiantly)

What things, if I may ask?

(Then as if she were afraid of an answer to this question,
she abruptly changes the subject)

Who are those people I saw wandering about the grounds?

### Lavinia

Some friends of Seth's.

### Christine

Do they think that because they know that lazy old sot it
gives them the privilege of trespassing?

### Lavinia

I gave Seth permission to show them around.

### Christine

And since when have you got the right to do such a thing
without consulting me?

20

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

I couldn't very well consult you when Seth asked me.
You'd gone to New York -

(She pauses a second - then adds staring fixedly at her
mother)

to see Grandfather. Is he feeling any better? He seems
to have been sick so much this past year.

### Christine

(Casually, avoiding her eyes)

Yes. He's much better now. He'll soon be going the
rounds to his patients again, he hopes. You must go down
and visit him soon. He asked after you.

(As if anxious to change the subject, looking at the
flowers she carries)

I've been to the greenhouse to pick these. I felt our
tomb needed a little brightening.

(She nods scornfully toward the house)

Each time I come back after being away it appears more
like a sepulchre! The "whited" one of the Bible - pagan
temple front stuck on like a mask and behind it Puritan
gray stone ugliness! It was just like old Abe Mannon to
tear down his nice old house and build this monstrosity -
as a monument to his hatred for his brother!

### Lavinia

(Coldly resentful)

Grandfather was a good man, respected by everyone. You
are always trying to slander the Mannons.

### Christine

(Mockingly)

A good man! Do you remember him? You were very little
but I shouldn't think you could forget him. Don't you
remember how he couldn't bear the sight of you - any more
than he could of me? You had hair exactly like mine even
in those days.

21

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

(Puzzled - frowningly)

I don't know what you're talking about.

### Christine

Perhaps I'll tell you some day or other. It's a Mannon family secret - a very revealing secret, I assure you, which concerns the goodness of your grandfather!

(She gives a little mocking laugh)

But I see how sternly disapproving you are that I should question even his good taste in houses. Forgive me, Vinnie. I forgot you liked it. And you ought to. It suits your temperament.

(Lavinia stares at her but remains silent. Christine glances at her flowers again and turns toward the house)

I must put these in water.

(She moves a few steps toward the house - then turns again - with a studied casualness)

By the way, before I forget, I happened to run into Captain Brant on the street in New York. He said he was coming up here again today to take over his ship and asked me if he might drop in to see you. I told him he could - and stay to supper with us.

(Without looking at Lavinia, who is staring at her with a face grown grim and hard - forcing a motherly teasing tone)

Doesn't that please you, Vinnie? Or do you remain true to your first beau, Peter!

### Lavinia

Is that why you picked your flowers - because he is coming?

(Her mother does not answer. She goes on with a threatening undercurrent in her voice)

You have heard the news, I suppose? It means Father will be here soon!

22

## Act One

"HOME COMING"

### Christine

(Without looking at her - coolly)
I'm sure I hope so as much as you.

### Lavinia

(With a sudden bitter accusing note)
You can say that!

### Christine

(Concealing her alarm - defiantly)
What do you mean?

(Then sharply rebuking)

You will kindly not take that tone with me, please!

(Then cuttingly)

If you are determined to quarrel, let us go in the house.
We will be overheard out here.

(She turns and sees Seth who has just come to the corner
of the house, left, and is standing there watching them)

See. There is your old crony doing his best to listen
now!

(Moving to the steps)

I am going in and rest for a while.

(She walks up the steps)

### Lavinia

(Harshly)

I have got to have a talk with you, Mother - before long!

### Christine

(Turning defiantly from the top of the steps)
Why not now - before I lie down?

### Lavinia

No! There's something I have to do first.

23

## Act One

## "HOMECOMING"

### Christine

(Staring at her with a questioning dread - forcing a laugh)

You always make such a mystery of yourself, Vinnie. It's very tiresome for those around you.

(She goes into the house and closes the door behind her. Seth comes forward from where he has withdrawn around the corner of the house. Lavinia turns to him, makes a motion for him to follow her, and goes and sits on the bench at left. A pause. She stares straight ahead, her face frozen, her eyes hard. He regards her understandingly)

### Lavinia

(Finally speaks hesitatingly)

There is something that's been bothering my mind for some time.

(She pauses again)

You know the "Flying Trades", that clipper ship of Clark and Dawson's they sent up from New York to be rerigged at Father's yard. They have just finished work on her.

### Seth

Ayeh.

### Lavinia

You know that Captain Brant - the man from New York who recently got command of her. He has called here a few times lately - to see me.

### Seth

(Watching her - non-committaly)

Ayeh.

### Lavinia

You know everything that happens in town. What do they say about him there?

### Seth

Nothin'. Nobody seems to have seen him. He goes aboard the "Flying Trades" and stays mostly in his cabin, the little he's up here - so a feller workin' at the yard told me.

26

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

I don't know enough about it to think. David Mannon's name is never mentioned in our house - you know that. Anyone in town probably knows more of that old scandal than I do. Orin picked up scraps of it and told me that David fell in love with a Canuck nurse girl who was taking care of Father's little sister who died; and that he had to marry her because she was going to have a baby; and that Grandfather put them both out of the house and disowned him.

### Seth

Ayeh. He got wild at 'em and never forgave David - never allowed his name to be spoke after. He was so wild he even tore down the old house and built this one - said he wouldn't live in a place where David had disgraced the family! But you've heard that story.

### Lavinia

(Gives a start)

No. I told you all I'd ever heard.

(Then slowly)

Do you know anything about her child - whether it lived or not? Was it a boy?

### Seth

I dunno, Vinnie. Right after they were throwed out they married and went away. There was talk they'd gone out West but no one knows nothin'. Your Grandpaw knew but you bet he never let out.

(Then slowly, shaking his head)

I see what you're suspectin', Vinnie, but if this Captain Brant was David's child his name would be Mannon, wouldn't it?

### Lavinia

Unless he had taken his mother's name - or part of it - for reasons of his own.

(Then with an abrupt change of manner - pretending to be convinced)

27

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Lavinia (continued)

But I've no doubt you're right, there's nothing in it.
It was just that I had felt from the first time I saw him
that he recalled Father. That's what made me inclined to
like him before - But plenty of people resemble each
other without there being any connection.

(She turns away from him - in dismissal)

That's all, Seth.

### Seth

Ayeh.

(But he stands staring at her, making no move to go - then
heavily casual)

Where was you gallivantin' night afore last and all
yesterday?

### Lavinia

(Starts - without looking at him)

Over to Hazel and Peter's house. I got lonely here with
Mother gone.

### Seth

Ayeh. That's where Hannah said you'd told her you was
goin'. That's funny, now - 'cause I run into Peter up-
street yesterday and he wanted to know how you was keepin'
yourself.

### Lavinia

(Turns sharply and stares into his eyes - then slowly as
if admitting some secret understanding between them)

I went to New York, Seth - between you and me.

### Seth

Ayeh. That's what I thought you'd done, mebbe. You're
too clean strain Mannon to stay blind for long.

(Then with deep sympathy)

It's durned hard on you, Vinnie. It's a durned shame.

30

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Brant

Thank you, I will.

(He sits on the bench at her right. He has become very wary now, feeling something strange in her whole attitude but not able to make her out - casually)

Yes, you must be very happy at the prospect of seeing your father again. Your mother has told me how close you're to him.

### Lavinia

Did she?

(Then forcefully)

I love Father better than anyone in the world. There is nothing I wouldn't do - to protect him from hurt!

### Brant

(Watching her carefully - keeping his casual tone)

You care more for him than for your mother?

### Lavinia

Yes.

### Brant

Well, I suppose that's the usual way of it in a family. A daughter feels closer to her father and a son to his mother. I mean, generally speaking. There are exceptions to the rule, of course. And, coming to that, I should think you ought to be a born exception to it.

### Lavinia

I don't understand you.

### Brant

Why, you're so like your mother. Your face is the dead image of hers. And look at your hair. You won't meet hair like yours and hers again in a month of Sundays. I only know of one other woman who had it - exactly the same. You'll think it strange when I tell you who she was. Your mother did when I told her. It was my mother.

31

## Act One

"HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

(With a start)

Ah!

### Brant

(Dropping his voice to a reverent hushed tone)

Yes, she had beautiful hair like your mother's, that hung down to her knees, and big, soft, sad eyes that were blue as the Caribbean sea!

### Lavinia

(Harshly)

What do looks amount to? I'm not a bit like my mother! Everybody knows I take after Father!

### Brant

(Brought back with a shock, astonished at her tone - smilingly)

But - you aren't angry at me for saying what I did, are you?

(Then filled with uneasiness and resolving he must establish himself on an intimate footing with her again - with engaging bluntness)

You're puzzling today, Miss Lavinia. I don't know where I am with you. You will excuse me if I come out with it bluntly. I've lived most of my life at sea and in camps and I'm used to straight speaking. So I ask you frankly, what are you holding against me?

### Lavinia

(Taken aback)

I?

### Brant

Yes! I feel you have taken a dislike to me. If that's true, won't you tell me the reason? If I've done anything to offend you, I swear it wasn't meant.

32

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Brant (continued)

(She is silent, staring before her with hard eyes, rigidly upright. He appraises her with a calculating look, then goes on)

I wouldn't have bad feeling come between us for the world. I may only be flattering myself, but I thought you liked me the first time I called. Have you forgotten that night walking along the shore? I took your hand and you let me keep it in mine -

### Lavinia

(In a cold, hard voice)

I haven't forgotten.

### Brant

And when we came back to the gate here, you let me kiss you -

### Lavinia

I haven't forgotten that, either. Did Mother tell you to kiss me, too?

### Brant

(Stammers)

What - what's that?

(But he at once attributes the question to her naïveté - laughingly)

Oh! I see. But, come now, Lavinia, you can't mean, can you, I should have asked her permission?

### Lavinia

Shouldn't you?

### Brant

(Again uneasy - trying to joke it off)

Well, I wasn't brought up that strictly and, should or shouldn't, at any rate, I didn't - and it wasn't the less sweet for that!

33

## Act One

## "HOMECOMING"

### Brant (continued)

(Then at something in her face he hurriedly goes off on another tact)

I remember I gabbed a lot that night about clipper ships and my love for them.

### Lavinia

"Tall, white clippers", you called them. You said they were like beautiful, pale, slender women to you. You said you loved them more than you had ever loved a woman.

### Brant

(Gallantly)

Aye! Excepting one woman.

### Lavinia

And what woman is that, Captain?

### Brant

I will get up my courage to tell you before long!

### Lavinia

(Abruptly - in a tone that is subtly threatening)

You would hate to lose command of the "Flying Trades", wouldn't you?

### Brant

(Again puzzled and suspicious)

Aye - but why do you ask me that?

### Lavinia

You seem so very fond of her.

### Brant

(His face lighting up - off on a subject which is his enthusiasm)

34

## Act One

## "HOMECOMING"

### Brant (continued)

Aye! I'm just beginning to get acquainted with her. That's all you can do with a ship moored to a wharf - whether you're her skipper or not. Barely get her to recognize you on the street, as you might say. It's only after you have her at sea that you find out if she loves or hates you. It's usually a half-dozen of each. She loves you as the sea loves her.

(Then suddenly genuinely abashed)

But I'll be boring you again with my sea gamming! Women are jealous of ships. They always suspect the sea. They are three of a kind when it comes to men! Women sense that.

(Then with a laugh at himself)

But I better pipe down with my talk of ships. I imagine you had enough of it that night. You seemed more interested when I told you about the Islands in the South Seas where we put in my first voyage when I was a boy on a whaler.

### Lavinia

I remember your description of the beautiful brown women there who went naked and unashamed and had found the secret of happiness, so you said, because they'd never heard our hypocritical cant that love is a sin!

### Brant

(Surprised - seizing her up keenly)

Aye! That's true! So you remembered that, did you?

(Then enthusiastically)

Aye! And they live in as near the Garden of Paradise before sin was discovered as you'll find on this earth! Unless you've seen it, you can't picture the green beauty of their land set in the blue of the sea! The clouds like white down on the mountain tops, the sun drowsing in your blood, and always the surf on the barrier reef singing a croon in your ears like a lullaby! The Blessed Isles, I'd call them! You can forget there all men's dirty dreams of greed and power!

### Lavinia

And of love?

35

## Act One

"HOMECOMING"

### Brant

(Not understanding her)

Aye! I told you it was the right place for love, too.

(He comes closer to her, dropping his voice again to
insinuation)

But whenever I remember those Islands now, I will always
think of you, as you walked beside me that night with
your hair blowing in the sea wind and the moonlight
reflected in your eyes!

(He tries to take her hand, but at his touch she pulls her
hand away and springs to her feet)

### Lavinia

(With cold fury)

Don't touch me! Don't you dare -

(Then as he starts back in amazement - coldly and
calculatingly)

But I suppose it would be foolish to expect anything but
romantic lies from the son of a scheming nurse girl!

### Brant

(Stunned - stammers)

What are you saying?

(Then rage at the insult to his mother overcoming all
prudence)

Belay, damn you! No Mannon shall insult her while I -

(He checks himself abruptly, forcing back his anger)

### Lavinia

(Appalled now she is sure of the truth)

So - it is true - I only suspected - I wanted to catch
you off guard - You are her son - and David Mannon's - you!

### Brant

(Trying to put a defiant face on it - forcing a harsh laugh)

I know when I'm beaten. You have caught me hands down!

36

## Act One

"HOMECOMING"

Brant (continued)

You are nobody's fool, Lavinia! What made you suspect?
Your mother says I look a bit like Orin. Was that it?

### Lavinia

(Calm again now - coldly)

That and the resemblance in name - Brant and Brantôme.

### Brant

Aye! I took part of my mother's name - Brant was short
and easy on ships. I wouldn't wear the name of Mannon!

(Then harshly)

So that's why you couldn't stand my touching you, is it?
You're too good for the son of a servant, eh? By God, you
were glad enough before -

### Lavinia

It's not true! I was only leading you on because I wanted
to find out things!

### Brant

Oh no! You're not as good an actress as that! It's only
since you suspected who I was - You remembered the story
of David Mannon's disgrace, you say! The Mannon lie of it,
you mean! I'll wager they never told you that Abe Mannon
as well as his brother loved my mother! In spite of his
having a wife and children, the pious old hypocrite! And
it was his jealous revenge made him disown my father and
then cheat him out of his share of the business they'd
inherited!

### Lavinia

He disowned him because he'd disgraced the family! And
he didn't cheat him! He bought him out!

### Brant

Forced him to sell for one-tenth its worth, you mean! He
knew my father and mother were starving in New York and he
had to take what he could get! But the money didn't last
my father long! He'd taken to drink. He was a weakling
and a coward once he felt the world looked down on him. He
skulked and avoided people. He grew ashamed of my mother -
and me. He gave up using the Mannon name he was so ashamed.
He made my mother move to Albany and he lived there as James
Smith. He sank down and down and my mother worked and

37

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

Brant (continued)

supported him. I can remember as a child when men from
the corner saloon would drag him home and he'd fall in the
door, a sodden carcass. Or I remember when he couldn't
borrow or beg money or steal it from my mother -

Lavinia

I don't believe you! No Mannon could ever - !

Brant

Oh! Couldn't they? They are all fine, honorable gentlemen, you think? Then listen a bit! He would sit for days and stare at nothing without a word - a living dead man! One night when I was seven he came home crazy drunk and hit my mother in the face. It was the first time he'd ever struck her. It made me blind mad. I hit at him with the poker and cut his head. My mother pulled me back and gave me a hiding. Then she cried over him and bathed his head. She'd never stopped loving him. She was a brave woman!

Lavinia

Why do you tell me this? I don't want to hear -

Brant

(Unheeding - as if the scene were still before his eyes)

For days after he stared at nothing. He was turning
something over at the bottom of his mind. One time when
we were alone he asked me to forgive him hitting Mother.
But I hated him and I wouldn't forgive him. Then one night
he went out and he didn't come back. The next morning they
found him hanging in a barn!

Lavinia

Oh! How horrible!

Brant

(Savagely)

The only decent thing he ever did! You will find him in
the graveyard at Albany. James Smith is on his stone.
That was his wish. What ought to be written is David
Mannon, weakling and coward!

39

## Act One

"HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

Oh!

### Brant

(With vindictive passion)

Your father could have saved her - and he deliberately
let her die! He is as guilty of murder as anyone he ever
sent to the rope when he was a judge!

### Lavinia

(Springing to her feet)

How dare you! If he were here -

### Brant

I wish to God he was! I'd tell him what I tell you now -
that I swore on my mother's body I would revenge all the
sorrows of her life and her death on the Mannons who caused
them!

### Lavinia

And I suppose you boast to yourself that now you've done
so, don't you? - in the vilest, most cowardly way - like
the son of a servant you are!

### Brant

(Again thrown off guard - furiously)

Belay, I told you, with that kind of talk!

### Lavinia

Mother is only the means for your revenge, is that it?

### Brant

(Stammers in guilty confusion)

Your mother? I don't know what you are talking about!

### Lavinia

Then you soon will know! And so will she! I've found out
all I wanted to from you. I'm going in to talk to her now.
You will please wait here until I call you!

40

## Act One

## "HOME COMING"

### Brant

(Furious at her tone)

No! Be damned if you can order me about as if I were
your servant.

### Lavinia

(Icily)

If you have any consideration for her you will do as I
say and not force me to write my father.

(She moves to the steps)

### Brant

(Stammers stupidly with a grotesque catching at his former
persuasive, insinuating air)

You are entirely mistaken, Lavinia. It is you I -

(She turns at the top of the steps at this and glares at
him with a passion of hatred. Her lips move as if she
were going to speak, but she fights back her rage, turns
stiffly and goes into the house and closes the door
behind her)

### Curtain

2

## Act Two - Scene One

## "HOME COMING"

### Christine

Really, the news from the war must have turned your head - otherwise I'd find it difficult to understand your impudence in sending Hannah to say you were waiting for me!

### Lavinia

I told you I had to talk to you.

### Christine

(Looking around the room with aversion)

But why in here of all places?

### Lavinia

(Indicating the portrait - quietly)

Because Father is here! It's his room.

### Christine

(Starts, looks at the portrait and quickly drops her eyes. Lavinia goes to the door and closes it. Christine says with cool scorn)

More mystery?

### Lavinia

You better sit down.

(Christine sits in the chair at rear center. Lavinia goes back to her father's chair at left of table)

### Christine

Well - if you're quite ready, perhaps you'll explain.

### Lavinia

I suppose Annie told you I'd been to visit Hazel and Peter while you were away.

### Christine

Yes. I thought it peculiar. You never visit anyone overnight. Why did you suddenly take the notion?

3

## Act Two - Scene One

"HOMECOMING"

Lavinia

I didn't!

Christine

You didn't visit them?

Lavinia

No!

Christine

Then where did you go?
about?

What are you being so mysterious

Lavinia

I went to New York!

Christine

(Trying to conceal a start)

Ah!

Lavinia

(Accusingly - hurrying on a bit incoherently)

I've suspected something - the past month - the way you looked at him. I wanted to find out - the excuse you've made for all your trips there the past year, that Grand-father was sick -

(As Christine is about to protest indignantly)

Oh! I know he has been - and you've stayed at his house - but I've suspected lately that wasn't the reason - the real reason - you went. And now I can prove it isn't! Because I waited outside Grandfather's house for you to come out and when you did I followed you! You didn't notice me! I had a veil over my face anyway! You couldn't have told! I saw you meet Captain Brant!

Christine

(Alarmed but concealing it - coolly)

Well, what if you did? I told you myself I ran into him by accident - that he wanted to ask me if he could call on you this evening.

4

## Act Two - Scene One

"HOMECOMING"

Lavinia

Don't you dare bring me into it!

Christine

Oh, I know it sounds absurd that he should ask my permission - about you! But Captain Brant takes the conventional view of the relationship between mother and daughter. He can hardly be expected to realize -

Lavinia

That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about! You say you met him by accident! I suppose you went to his room by accident, too!

Christine

(Shaken)

He asked me to meet a friend of his - a lady. It was her house we went to.

Lavinia

I asked the woman in the basement. He had hired the room under another name, but she recognized his description. And yours too. She said you had come there often in the past year.

Christine

(Desperately)

She was lying. It was the first time I have ever been there. He insisted on my going. He said he had to talk to me about you. He wanted my help to approach your father -

Lavinia

(Furiously)

How can you lie like that? How can you be so vile as to try to use me to hide your adultery?

Christine

(Springing up - with weak indignation)

Vinnie! Don't you dare -

5

## Act Two - Scene One

## "HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

Stop lying, I tell you! I went upstairs! I listened outside the door! I heard you telling him - "I love you, Adam"! Oh, you are vile! While Father was away risking his life, you've betrayed him, the most noble and honorable man, who loves you, you've dishonored him and yourself! You're vile and shameless! Even if you're my mother, I say it!

(Christine stares at her, overwhelmed by this onslaught, her poise shattered for the moment. She tries to keep her voice indifferent but it trembles a little)

### Christine

I - I knew you hated me, Vinnie - but not as bitterly as that!

(Then with a return of her defiant coolness)

Very well! I confess I love Adam Brant. I've been his mistress. What are you going to do?

### Lavinia

How you say that - without any shame! You don't give one thought to Father - who is so good - who trusts you. Oh, how could you do this to Father? How could you?

### Christine

(With a strident intensity, giving vent to the pent-up hatred of years)

You would understand if you were the wife of a man you'd grown to hate -

### Lavinia

(Horrified - with a glance at the portrait)

Don't! Don't say that - before him!

### Christine

(Grabbing her by the arm)

You'll hear the truth for once! You're a grown woman! I'm talking to you as a woman now, not as mother to daughter! That relationship has no meaning between us!

6

## Act Two - Scene One

## "HOME COMING"

### Christine (continued)

You've called me vile and shameless! Well, I want you to know that's what I've felt about myself for over twenty years, giving my body to a man I -

### Lavinia

(Trying to break away from her and half-putting her hands up to her ears)

I won't listen! Mother! Stop telling me! Let me go!

(She breaks away, shrinking from her mother with a look of sick repulsion. A pause. She stammers)

You - then you've always hated Father?

### Christine

(Grimly)

No. I loved him once - before I married him - incredible as that seems now!

(With a bitter smile)

He was handsome in his lieutenant's uniform! He was silent and mysterious! He seemed so different from my other beaux. Oh, he was a romantic figure to a girl of sixteen! But marriage soon turned his love and his romance and mystery into - repulsion and disgust!

### Lavinia

(Harshly)

So I was born - of your disgust! I've guessed that, Mother! I've felt it ever since I can remember - your disgust! I used to come begging for love - and you pushed me away! You always said - as if I didn't exist for you - "don't bother me. Go to your father"! Until finally I stayed with him because he loved me!

### Christine

I tried to love you. I couldn't. You were my wedding night to me - and my honeymoon -

7

## Act Two - Scene One

## "HOMECOMING"

### Lavinia

Stop saying that! How can you be so - !

(Then suddenly - with a strange jealous bitterness)

You always loved Orin! Why didn't you hate him, too?

### Christine

Because by then I had become resigned. And most of the time I was carrying him your father was with the army in Mexico. I forgot him. I was home with my father. I had peace. And when Orin was born he seemed my child, only mine, and I loved him for that!

### Lavinia

You soon got over loving him after he'd gone away!

### Christine

I loved him until he let you and your father nag him into the war by telling him it was his duty as a Mannon and people would call him a coward. He went in spite of my begging him not to leave me alone. That proved how little my love really meant to him; that at heart he was his father's son, not mine. That killed my love -

(Staring at Lavinia with hatred)

I know his leaving me was your doing principally, Vinnie! I've hated you for that!

### Lavinia

It was his duty to go! his life if he hadn't! was thinking of him!

He'd have been sorry the rest of I loved him better than you! I

### Christine

(Bitterly)

Well, I hope you realize I never would have fallen in love with Adam if I'd had Orin with me. When he had gone there was nothing left - but hate and a desire to be revenged - and a longing for love! And, it was then I met Adam. It was fate - brought about by you and your father!

9

## Act Two - Scene One

## "HOME COMING"

### Lavinia

(Grimly)

I don't wonder you're surprised! You know you deserve the worst punishment you could get. And Father would disown you publicly, no matter how much the scandal cost him! When he was a judge he never let the guilty off, no matter who they were! He'd feel all the more bound if it were one of his own family!

### Christine

I realize that. I know him even better than you do!

### Lavinia

And I'd like to see you punished for all your wickedness! So please understand this isn't for your sake. It's for Father's. He hasn't been well lately. You know that. The doctor has told him he must have complete rest. I'm not going to have him hurt! It's my first duty to protect him from you!

### Christine

(Impatiently)

Come to the point, please! I know better than to expect any generosity on my account.

### Lavinia

(Harshly)

I won't tell him provided you give up Brant and never see him again and be a dutiful wife to Father for the rest of his life and make up for the wrong you have done him!

### Christine

(Stares at her daughter keenly - a pause - then she laughs dryly)

What a moral fraud you are with your talk of your father and duty to protect him! Oh, I'm not denying you love him and are sincere in wanting to save his pride! And I realize also how anxious you are to keep the family name from more scandal! The Mannon name has become a fetish with you! But all the same, that's not your real reason for sparing me!

13

## Act Two - Scene One

## "HOMECOMING"

### Christine

(Startled)

You wrote - about Adam?

### Lavinia

Only enough so they would watch you too. I said a
Captain Brant had been calling and folks in town had begun
to gossip -

### Christine

(Angrily)

Ah! I see what it's going to mean - that you'll always
have this to hold over my head and I'll be under your thumb
for the rest of my life! You'll take my place as mistress
of the house as you've always wanted to do!

(She cannot restrain her rage - threateningly)

Take care, Vinnie! You'll be responsible - !

(She checks herself abruptly, fighting back her anger,
turning away)

### Lavinia

(Suspiciously)

Responsible for what?

### Christine

(Quickly)

Nothing. I was only talking. I only meant if I went off
with Adam. But of course you know I won't do that. You
know there's nothing I can do now - but obey your orders!

### Lavinia

(Continues to stare at her suspiciously - grimly)

You ought to see it's your duty to Father, not my orders -
if you had any honor or decency! And I'm letting you off
easy, don't forget! Too easy!

14

Act Two - Scene One

"HOME COMING"

Lavinia (continued)

(Then brusquely)

Brant is waiting outside. I said I'd call him - but
I'll leave that to you. I never want to speak to him
again - or see him. You can tell him what you've got
to do - and what he's got to do! Tell him if he ever
dares come here again I -

(Forcing back her anger - threateningly)

And see that you get rid of him right now! I'm going
upstreet to get the latest news. I won't be gone more
than a half-hour and I want him out of the house by the
time I get back, do you hear? If he isn't, I'll write
Father all about you! I won't even wait for him to come
home!

(She turns her back on her mother abruptly and marches out
the door, square-shouldered and stiff, without a backward
glance. Christine looks after her with a tense bitter
hatred)

Curtain

2

## Act Two - Scene Two

"HOMECOMING"

### Christine

She noticed your resemblance to Orin. I was afraid that
might start her thinking.

### Brant

Aye.

(He turns and looks at the portrait. Instantly his body
shifts to a fighting tenseness. It is as if he were going
to spring at the figure in the painting. He says softly)

The painting here, I take it, is General Ezra Mannon?

### Christine

Judge Mannon then.

(With a hard little smile)

Don't forget he used to be a judge. He won't forget it.

### Brant

(His eyes still fixed on the portrait - comes and sits in
Mannon's chair on the left of table. Unconsciously he
takes the same attitude as Mannon, sitting erect, his
hands on the arms of the chair - slowly)

Does Orin by any chance resemble his father?

### Christine

(Stares at him - agitatedly)

No! Of course not! He may look a little - but he's
nothing like him!

(She springs to her feet)

What put such a stupid idea in your head?

### Brant

I don't know. It seems queer - if I resemble -

### Christine

(Going to him and putting an arm around his shoulder)

No, no, I tell you! Do you suppose I could ever have
loved you if -

7

## Act Two - Scene Two

## "HOMECOMING"

### Brant

If I could only catch him alone some place - where no one would interfere - and let the better man come out alive - as I've often seen it done in the West!

### Christine

This isn't the West!

### Brant

I could insult him on the street before everyone and make him fight me or be proved a coward! I could let him shoot first and then kill him in self defense. They couldn't hang me then.

### Christine

(Scornfully)

Do you imagine for a moment you could force him to fight a duel with you? He's no coward with men, give the devil his due, but it would simply never occur to him his honor could demand such an illegal method of settling a dispute! Oh no! He'd feel bound to do his duty as a former judge and have you arrested for disturbing the peace!

(She adds calculatingly, seeing he is boiling inside)

It'd be a poor revenge for your mother's death to let Ezra Mannon make you a laughing stock!

### Brant

But when I take you off openly the laugh will be on him! You can go with me on the "Flying Trades" when she sails!

### Christine

(Calculatingly reproachful)

I don't think you'd propose that, Adam, if you stopped thinking of your revenge for a moment and thought of me!

### Brant

It's you I'm thinking of!

### Christine

Don't you realize he would never divorce me, out of spite! What would I be in the world's eyes? My life would be

8

## Act Two - Scene Two

## "HOMECOMING"

Christine (continued)

ruined and I would ruin yours! I'd be a weight hanging
around your neck to drag you down! You'd grow to hate me!

### Brant

(Passionately)

Don't talk like that! It's a lie and you know it!

### Christine

(With bitter yearning)

If I could only believe that, Adam! But I'll grow old
so soon! And I'm afraid of time.

(Then abruptly changing tone)

As for my sailing on your ship, you'll find you won't have
a ship! He'll see to it you lose this command and get you
blacklisted so you'll have little chance of obtaining
another.

### Brant

(Gloomily)

Aye! He can do it if he sets about it. There are twice
as many skippers as ships these days. I never would have
got the "Flying Trades" if it wasn't for a stroke of luck.

### Christine

(Calculatingly - without looking at him)

If he had only been killed, we could be married now and I
would bring you my share of the Mannon estate. That would
be justice. It's yours by right. It's what his father
stole from yours.

### Brant

That's true enough.

### Christine

You wouldn't have to worry about commands or owners'
favors then. You could buy your own ship and be your own
master!

10

## Act Two - Scene Two

## "HOME COMING"

### Christine (continued)

town's worst gossip. I'm sure everyone of importance
knows about Ezra's heart by this time.

### Brant

What are you driving at, Christine?

### Christine

Something I've been thinking of ever since I realized the
war might soon be over and he would come home. And now
that Vinnie - But even if we didn't have to consider her,
it'd be the only way! I couldn't fool him long. He would
guess. He's a strange, hidden man. And I know that, even
if he never spoke, I would feel what was in his mind and
some night, lying beside him, it would drive me mad and I'd
have to break his silence by screaming out the truth!

(She has been staring before her - now she suddenly turns on Brant - slowly)

If he died suddenly now, no one would suspect it was anything but heart failure. I've been reading a book in Father's library. I saw it there one day a few weeks ago - and it was as if some fate in me forced me to see it and take it out - a book about poisons.

(She reaches in the bosom of her dress and takes out a slip of paper which she puts in his hand - sharply)

I've written something here. I want you to get it for me.
That's all you need to do.

### Brant

(His fingers closing on it mechanically, staring at it stupidly)

Poison!

### Christine

(Hurrying on in a commanding tone so as not to give him time for reflection)

The work on the "Flying Trades" is all finished, isn't it?
You sail her to Boston tomorrow, don't you - to wait for
cargo?

11

## Act Two - Scene Two

## "HOMECOMING"

### Brant

(Dully)

Aye.

### Christine

Then as soon as you reach Boston you must catch the first train for New York. Make some excuse to get off but don't let them know where you're going.

(Then sharply)

Are you listening, Adam? We have only a little time!

### Brant

(Dully as before)

I'm listening.

### Christine

Get this at some druggist's down by the waterfront the minute you reach New York. You can easily make up some lie about a sick dog on your ship. They'll never suspect you. As soon as you get it mail it to me here. I'll be on the lookout so Vinnie will never know it came. But even if she did see it, she'd only think anything from New York was something from my father. That's why you've got to go there. After you've done that hurry back to Boston and wait on the "Flying Trades" until you hear from me or I come to you - afterward!

### Brant

(Still in a sort of fog - stupidly)

But how can you do it - so no one will suspect?

### Christine

He's taking medicine. planned it carefully.

I'll give him his medicine. There'll be no trace.

### Brant

But if Vinnie tells him about us as soon as he gets home -

13

## Act Two - Scene Two

## "HOMECOMING"

### Christine

Didn't you say you wanted to kill him?

### Brant

Aye! - but I'd give him his chance!

### Christine

Did he ever give your mother her chance?

### Brant

(Aroused)

No, damn him! He murdered her as surely as if he'd
poisoned her! Compared to what she suffered, a quick
poison would have been a mercy!

### Christine

Then what makes you suddenly so scrupulous about the man
who deliberately let her starve to death?

(With a sneer)

It must be the Mannon in you coming out! Are you going
to prove now - the first time your love is put to a real
test of life or death for us - that you're at heart a weak
coward like your father?

### Brant

Christine! If it was any man said that to me - !

### Christine

(Passionately)

Have you thought of this side of his homecoming - that
he's coming back to my bed? If you love me as much as
you claim, I should think that would rid you of any scru-
ples! If it was a question of some woman taking you
from me, I wouldn't have qualms about which was or wasn't
the way to kill her!

(More tauntingly)

But perhaps your love has been all a romantic lie you
told me to take the sneaking revenge on him of being a
backstairs lover! Perhaps -

14

## Act Two - Scene Two

## "HOMECOMING"

### Brant

(Stung beyond endurance, grabbing her by the shoulders - fiercely)

Stop it! I'll do anything you like! You know it! I'm only thinking of the risk -

### Christine

I tell you again, there'll be no risk! And if there were, what is left for us but ruin in any case - when Vinnie tells him? We have to take the risk!

### Brant

(Grimly - puts the paper in his pocket)

Aye! You're right, there's no choice. And I'm a damn fool to have any feeling about how Ezra Mannon dies!

### Christine

(A look of exultant satisfaction comes to her face as she sees he is definitely won over now. She throws her arms around him and kisses him passionately)

I love you! It's the only way, Adam! Remember that! And promise me, no more romantic scruples! Promise me!

### Brant

I promise!

### Christine

Remember your mother's death! Remember your dream of your own ship! Above all, remember you'll have me! - all for your own - your wife!

(She kisses him again - then urgently)

And now you must go! She'll be coming back - and you're not good at hiding your thoughts.

(Urging him toward the door)

Hurry! I don't want you to meet her!