2 - 9

Julie

If this is a game, I think I ought to know the name of it.
And what you get if you win.

Opal

Oh, for God's sake!
Clabe from marrying me.

Listen, Julie.

I know you kept

Julie

Mercy, Opal, is that it?
get you.

Why, he 'd have been lucky to

Opal

I know you did, no matter what you say.

Julie

If you're so sure, then, I may as well admit it.

Opal

You might as well. You might as well admit why you done it,
too!

Julie

If you must know, you weren't good enough for him.

Opal

Where I come from, my family wouldn't have even spoke to
the likes of you, Julie. Virginia people have their pride
you wouldn't know about.

2 - 14 A

Julie

I'd rather you wouldn't.

(With what looks like sincerity)

We might have been friends.

Opal

I'm willin' to let bygones be bygones - if you are.

Julie

Thank you, Opal.

Opal

What's the dif? Life's too short.

Julie

(Low and broodingly)

Short, yes? And not very pleasant for any of us. When I
was younger, I thought it could be. Why don't they tell
you the truth?

Opal

It's funny -- I don't mind you so much now I see you're
kinda human.

Julie

I must be that. Maybe that's been the trouble, all along.

You couldn't understand that. You never had a brother
that you were devoted to.

2 - 19

once swiftly across the room. She
stops, listening to invisible sounds from
below. She goes to the window, looks out.
She backs back into the room, having seen
something that tightens her with
apprehension and triumph.)

(Sounds are heard on the stair, and
Bina bounds in at the open door)

Bina
Julie's Gard! Gard!

Julie
(With superhuman calM)
Well, what?

Bina
Where's Gard at?

Julie
How should I know?

Bina
I got to find him!
(She turns to go. Mrs. Sawters com-
in)

Mrs. Sawters
What's the matter?

Bina
That crazy Opal! She tore out on to the boat landing,
right in the storm! What's come over her, anyway?

Mrs. Sawters
Find Gard. Hurry!

Bina
Where is he?

Mrs. Sawters
He went out to the barn with your father, I think.

(There are sounds below, consternation and
calls of the two men)

Bina
(Flying out)
There he is. He must stopped her! I never saw the
like!

Mrs. Sawters
(Sternly)
What happened here, Julie?

## Act ONE

### Scene 3

Clabe's bedroom, toward morning.

The light has been dimmed down.
Sitting in the x_x_x semi-gloom,
in the firelight, are Mr. and
Mrs. Sawters and Gard.

They speak in the quiet voices
people use at night, or in the
presence of the dead.

Mr. Sawters
You know best, Gard. We'll jist have to get along the
best we can then, I guess.

Gard my
Any time I c'n get away from my work though, I'll be
glad to lend a hand. But it wouldn't suit me to be
bounden to another man. I cain't do 'er, Never could.

Mr. Sawters
I never could myself.

Mrs. Sawters
But with no one to look out for you now ---

Gard
I c'n get along without a made bed. AND I c'n cook up my
own grub as well as -- better, if I told the fact.

Mrs. Sawters
You'll be mighty lonely over there by yourself.

Gard
Oh, I might plan to take keer of that before long. You
never can tell. A feller don't always do a good job of
pickin' the first time.

(They consider this a moment, his meaning)

Mr. Sawters
No. People make mistakes.

3 - 2 A

(Gard X X X X X remains in his chair,
barely visible in the gloom.)

(After a moment, Julie's door opens, and
Julie stands there, in her nightgown,
a wrapper thrown about her. She moves softly
in, looks at the sleeping figure of the
dead girl. She goes over, lifts the end
of the E E E E E netting, hooking it up,
and stares at the corpse. Then she goes
to the mantel, takes out the flowers and
going over again lays them A K X H U X F E E K on
the foot of the bed.)

Julie
(Softly )

I wish I could take it back.

(Quiet and anguished)

Why did you have to fight me? It wasn't you I was fighting

Won't you try to know that? I'll never rest if you don't.

(She pauses, and after a moment,
lets down the swathing netting)

Gard
(Leaning forward into visibility)

Julie.

(She turns, startled. After a moment
to gain her control, she moves a step
near you)

Julie
Just putting some flowers here. I thought you'd all gone.