2

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Silva

She's visitin' her folks to New Bedford. What the hell
I care!

(Bursts into song again)

"Hurrah! Hurrah! I sing the jubilee
Hurrah! Hurrah! Her folks has set me free!"

### Ames

(Slapping him on the back)

God damn you, Joe, you're gittin' to be a poet!

(They all laugh)

### Small

God A'mighty, Seth, ain't ye got no heart in ye? Watch
me perishin' in my dyin' throes fur lack o' whiskey and ye
keep froze to that jug!

(He reaches out for it)

### Seth

No, ye don't! I'm onto your game!

(With a wink at the others)

He's aimin' to git so full of Injeen courage he wouldn't
mind if a ghost sat on his lap! Purty slick, you be,
Abner! Swill my licker so's you kin skin me out o' my bet!

### Mackel

That's it, Seth! Don't let him play no skin games!

### Joe

By God, if ghosts look like the livin', I'd let Ezra's
woman's ghost set on my lap! M'm!

(He smacks his lips lasciviously)

### Ames

Me too! She was a looker!

3

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Small

(With an uneasy glance at the house)

It's her ghost folks is sayin' haunts the place, ain't it?

### Seth

(With a wink at the others)

Oh, her's and a hull passel of others. The graveyard's full of Mannons and they all spend their nights to hum here. You needn't worry but you'll have plenty o' company, Abner!

(The others laugh, their mirth a bit forced, but Small looks rather sick)

### Small

(Sulkily)

It ain't in our bet for you to put sech notions in my head afore I go in, be it?

(Then forcing a perky bravado)

Think you kin scare me? There ain't no sech thing as ghosts!

### Seth

An' I'm sayin' you're scared to prove there ain't! Let's git our bet set out plain afore witnesses. I'm lettin' you in the Mannon house and I'm bettin' you ten dollars and a gallon of licker you dasn't stay there till moonrise at ten o'clock. If you come out afore then, you loose. An' you're to stay in the dark and not even strike a match! Is that agreed?

### Small

(Trying to put a brave face on it)

That's agreed - an' it's like stealin' ten dollars off you!

### Seth

We'll see!

(Then with a grin)

4

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Seth (continued)

An' you're supposed to go in sober! But I won't make it
too dead sober! I ain't that hard-hearted. I wouldn't
face what you'll face with a gallon under my belt!

(Handing him the jug)

Here! Take a good swig! You're lookin' a mite pale about
the gills a'ready!

### Small

No sech thing!

(But he puts the jug to his lips and takes an enormous
swallow)

### Mackel

Whoa thar! Ye ain't drinkin' fur all on us!

(Small hands the jug to him and he drinks and passes it
around until it finally reaches Seth again. In the
meantime Small talks to Seth)

### Small

Be it all right fur me to go in afore dark? I'd like to
know where I'm at while I kin see.

### Seth

Wal, I calc'late you kin. Don't want you runnin' into
furniture an' breakin' things when them ghosts git chasin'
you! Vinnie an' Orin's liable to be back from Chiny afore
long an' she'd give me hell if anythin' was broke.

(The jug reaches him. He takes a drink - then sets it down
on the drive)

Come along! I've took the screws out o' that door. I kin
let you right in.

(He goes toward the portico, Small following him, whistling
with elaborate nonchalance)

### Small

(To the others who remain where they are)

So long, fellers. We'll have a good spree on that ten
dollars.

5

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

Mackel

(With a malicious cackle)

Mebbe! Would you like me to be one of your pallbearers, Abner?

Ames

I'll comfort your old woman - providin' she'll want comfortin', which ain't likely.

Silva

And I'll come water your grave every Sunday after church! That's the kind of man I be, by God. I don't forget my friends when they're gone!

Seth

(From the portico)

We'll all jine in, Joe. If he ain't dead, by God, we'll drown him!

(They all roar with laughter. Small looks bitter. The jest strikes him as being unfeeling - and all glow has faded from the sky and it is getting dark)

Small

To Hell with ye!

(Seth pries off the board door and unlocks the inner door)

Seth

Come on. I'll show you the handiest place to say your prayers.

(They go in. The group outside suddenly become serious)

Ames

(Voicing the opinion of all of them)

Wal, all the same, I wouldn't be in Abner's boots. It don't do to monkey with them things.

Mackel

You believe in ghosts, Amos?

6

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Ames

Mebbe. Who knows there ain't?

### Mackel

Wal, I believe in 'em. Take the Nim's place out my way.
Asa Nim's killed his wife with a hatchet - she'd nagged him -
then hung himself in the attic. I knew Ben Willett that
bought the place. He couldn't live thar - had to move away.
It's fallen to ruins now. Ben used to hear things clawin'
at the walls an' winders and see the chairs move about. He
wasn't a liar nor chicken-hearted either.

### Silva

There is ghosts, by God! My cousin, Manuel, he seen one.
Off on a whaler in the Injun Ocean, that was. A man got
knifed and pushed overboard. After that, on moonlight
nights, they'd see him a-settin' on the jibboom and they'd
hear him moanin' to himself. Yes sir, my cousin Manuel,
he ain't no liar neither - 'ceptin' when he's drunk - and he
seen him with his own eyes!

### Ames

(With an uneasy glance around, reaching for the jug)

Wal, let's have a drink.

(He takes a swig just as Seth comes out of the house, shutting
the door behind him)

### Mackel

That's Seth. He ain't anxious to stay in thar long, I
notice!

(Seth hurries down to them, trying to appear to saunter)

### Seth

(With a forced note to his joking)

God A'mighty, ye'd ought to see Abner! He's shyin' at the
furniture covers an' his teeth are clickin' a'ready. He'll
come runnin' out hell fur leather afore long. All I'm won-
derin' is, has he got ten dollars.

7

## Act One - Scene One

"THE HAUNTED"

Mackel

(Slyly)

You seem a mite shaky.

Seth

(With a scowl)

You're a liar. What're ye all lookin' glum as owls about?

Mackel

Been talkin' of ghosts. Do you really believe that house
is haunted, Seth, or are ye only jokin' Abner?

Seth

(Sharply)

Don't be a durned fool! I'm on'y jokin' him, of course!

Mackel

(Insistently)

Still, it'd be only natural if it was haunted. She shot
herself thar. Do ye think she done it fur grief over Ezra's
death, like the daughter let on to folks?

Seth

'Course she did!

Mackel

Ezra dyin' sudden his first night t'hum - that was durn
queer.

Seth

(Angrily)

It's durn queer old fools like you with one foot in the
grave can't mind their own business in the little time left
to 'em. That's what's queer!

8

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

Mackel

(Angry in his turn)

Wal, all I say is if they hadn't been Mannons with the town
lickin' their boots, there'd have been queer doin's come out!
An' as fur me bein' an' old fool, you're older an' a worse
fool. An' your foot's deeper in the grave than mine be!

Seth

(Shaking his fist in Mackel's face)

It ain't so deep but what I kin whale the stuffin' out o'
you any day in the week!

Silva

(Comes between them)

Here, you old roosters!

No fightin' allowed!

Mackel

(Subsiding grumpily)

This is a free country, ain't it? I got a right to my
opinions.

Ames

(Suddenly looking off down left)

Ssshh! Look, Seth!

There's someone comin' up the drive.

Seth

(Peering)

Ayeh! Who the hell - ? It's Peter'n Hazel. Hide that
jug, durn ye!

(The jug is hidden under the lilacs. A moment later Hazel
and Peter enter. They stop in surprise on seeing Seth and
his friends. Seth greets them self-consciously)

Good evenin'. I was just showin' some friends around -

9

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Peter

Hello, Seth! Just the man we're looking for. We've just had a telegram. Vinnie and Orin have landed in New York and -

(He is interrupted by a muffled yell of terror from the house. As they all turn to look the front door is flung open and Small comes tearing out and down the portico steps, his face chalky white and his eyes popping)

### Small

(As he reaches them - terrifiedly)

God A'mighty! I heard 'em comin' after me, and I run in the room opposite, an' I seed Ezra's ghost dressed like a judge comin' through the wall - an' by God I run!

(He jerks a bill out of his pocket and thrusts it on Seth)

Here's your money, durn ye! I wouldn't stay in thar fur a million!

(This breaks the tension and the old men give way to an hysterical, boisterous, drunken mirth, roaring with laughter, pounding each other on the back)

### Peter

(Sharply)

What's this all about? What was he doing in there?

### Seth

(Controlling his laughter - embarrassedly)

Only a joke, Peter.

(Then turning on Small - scornfully)

That was Ezra's picture hangin' on the wall, not a ghost, ye durn idjut!

### Small

(Indignantly)

I know pictures when I see 'em an' I knowed him. This was him! Let's get out o' here. I've had emuf of this durned place!

10

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Seth

You fellers trot along.

I'll jine you later.

(They all mutter good evenings to Peter and Hazel and go off, left front. Small's excited voice can be heard receding as he begins to embroider on the horrors of his adventure. Seth turns to Peter apologetically)

Abner Small's always braggin' how brave he is - an' you know folks is gabbin' that this place is haunted - so I bet him he dasn't stay in there -

### Hazel

(Indignantly)

Seth! What would Vinnie say if she knew you did such things?

### Seth

There ain't no harm done. I calc'late Abner didn't break nothin'. And Vinnie wouldn't mind when she knew why I done it. I was aimin' to stop the durned gabbin' that's been goin' round town about this house bein' haunted. You've heard it, ain't ye?

### Peter

I heard some silly talk but didn't pay any attention -

### Seth

That durned idjut female I got in to clean a month after Vinnie and Orin sailed started it. Said she'd felt ghosts around. You know how them things grow. Seemed to me Abner's braggin' gave me a good chance to stop it by turnin' it all into a joke on him folks'd laugh at. An' when I git through tellin' my story of it round town tomorrow you'll find folks'll shet up and not take it serious no more.

### Peter

(Appreciatively)

You're right, Seth. That was a darned slick notion! Nothing like a joke to lay a ghost!

11

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Seth

Ayeh. But -

(He hesitates - then decides to say it)

Between you 'n' me 'n' the lamp-post, it ain't all sech a joke as it sounds - that about the hauntin', I mean.

### Peter

(Incredulously)

You aren't going to tell me you think the house is haunted too!

### Seth

(Grimly)

Mebbe, and mebbe not. All I know is I wouldn't stay in there all night if you was to give me the town.

### Hazel

(Impressed but forcing a teasing tone)

Seth! I'm ashamed of you!

### Peter

First time I ever heard you say you were afraid of anything.

### Seth

There's times when a man's a darn fool not to be scared. Oh, don't git it in your heads I take stock in spirits trespassin' round in windin' sheets or no sech lunatic doin's. But there is sech a thing as evil spirit. An' I've felt it, goin' in there daytimes to see things - like somethin' rottin' in the walls.

### Peter

Bosh!

### Seth

(Quietly)

T'aint bosh, Peter. There's been evil in that house since

12

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Seth (continued)

it was first built in hate - and it's kept growin' there
ever since, as what's happened there has proved, until now
it -

(Then quietly)

You understand I ain't sayin' this to no one but you two!
An' I'm only tellin' you fur one reason - because you're
closer to Vinnie and Orin than anyone and you'd ought to
persuade them, now they're back, not to live in it.

(He adds impressively)

Fur their own good!

(Then with a change of tone)

An' now I've got that off my chest, tell me about 'em.
When are they comin'?

### Peter

Tomorrow. Vinnie asked me to open the house. So let's
start right in.

### Seth

(With evident reluctance)

You want to do it tonight?

### Hazel

We must, Seth. We've got so little time and there's a lot
to do. It's a dry night and we can at least get the musti-
ness out and give the place a thorough airing.

### Seth

Wal, I'll go to the barn and git lanterns. There's candles
in the house.

(He turns abruptly and goes off left between the lilacs and
the house)

### Hazel

(Looking after him - uneasily)

It's queer. I can't get over Seth acting so strange.

13

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Peter

Don't mind him.

It's rum and old age.

### Hazel

(Shaking her head - slowly)

No. Seth's right. There is something strange and uncanny about this house. I've always felt that, even before the General's death and her suicide -

(She shudders)

Poor Mrs Mannon! I can still see her sitting on that bench as she was that last night before she - She was so frightened of being alone in the house! It was haunted for her, she showed that! I was afraid she might do something desperate. But I thought when Vinnie and Orin came back she would be all right.

(Then sadly)

Poor Orin! What a horrible tragedy her death was for him! I'll never forget to my dying day the way he looked when we saw him at the funeral. I knew he'd been sick in bed from the shock but I never expected he'd look as bad as he did. I hardly recognized him, did you?

### Peter

No. He certainly was broken up.

### Hazel

And the way he acted - like someone in a trance. I don't believe when Vinnie rushed him off to take this trip to the East he knew what he was doing or where he was going or anything. He just clung to her like a child, as if she were his mother.

### Peter

A long voyage like that was the best thing she could do for him - and for herself - to help them both forget.

### Hazel

(Without conviction)

Yes. I suppose it was - but -

(She stops and sighs. There is a pause)

14

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Peter

(Awkwardly)

Do you still care for Orin - as much as you used to?

### Hazel

(Uncertainly)

I - yes, I guess so - but I never felt after he came back
from war that he cared much for me.

### Peter

That's foolish. You can't judge by then. Gosh, remember
all that happened here on top of his just getting out of the
hospital!

### Hazel

(A bit comforted)

Yes. I know.

### Peter

(With a sudden determined air)

I'm going to ask Vinnie again to marry me! Right away!
I'm going to make her say yes!

### Hazel

(With a sad smile)

But I can't ask Orin. It would be too unlady-like - and it
isn't Leap Year.

### Peter

No, but he's bound to ask you, now he's not tied to his
mother's apron strings any more.

### Hazel

Oh, she wanted him to marry me! She told me so. She
wanted me to get him away from -

(Then abruptly changing the subject)

15

Act One - Scene One

"THE HAUNTED"

Hazel (continued)

I wonder how Orin is! Vinnie's letters were supposed to be from both of them to both of us - but she's never said much about him, or herself, for that matter - only about the trip.

(She sees Seth approaching whistling loudly, from left, rear, with two lighted lanterns)

Here's Seth.

(She walks up the steps to the portico. He follows her. She hesitates and stands looking at the house - in a low tone, almost of dread)

Seth was right about this house. You feel something cold grip you the moment you set foot -

Peter

Oh nonsense. He's got you going, too!

(Then with a chuckle)

Listen to him whistling to keep his courage up!

(Seth comes in from the left. He hands one of the lanterns to Peter)

Seth

Here you be, Peter.

Hazel

Well, let's go in. You better come out to the kitchen and help me, Seth. We ought to start a fire. And you take off the furniture covers and open all the windows, Peter.

(They go in. There is a pause in which Peter can be heard opening windows in the downstairs rooms. Then silence. Then Lavinia enters, coming up the drive from left, front, and stands regarding the house. One is at once aware of an extraordinary change in her. Her body, formerly so thin and under-developed, has filled out and become like her mother's. Her movements have lost their stiff, square-shouldered quality. She now bears a striking resemblance to her mother in every respect. Her voice too has lost its brusque, sharp edge. And, even in the semi-darkness, it can

16

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Hazel (continued)

be seen that she is dressed in the emerald green her mother affected. She walks to the clump of lilacs and stands there staring at the house)

### Lavinia

(Turns back and calls coaxingly in the tone one would use to a child)

Don't stop there, Orin! What are you afraid of? Come on!

(He comes slowly and hesitatingly in from left, front. He carries himself woodenly erect now like a soldier; his movements and attitudes have the statue-like quality that was so marked in his father. He now wears a close-cropped beard in addition to his mustache, and this accentuates his resemblance to his father. The Mannon semblance of his face in repose to a life-like mask, is more pronounced than ever. He has grown dreadfully thin and his black suit hangs loosely on his emaciated body. His haggard swarthy face is set in a blank lifeless expression and his eyes are dead)

### Lavinia

(Glances at him uneasily - concealing her apprehension under a coaxing motherly tone)

Don't look at the house yet. Let's sit down here for a moment and get used to being back before - And we'll have a little talk, shall we?

### Orin

(Dully)

Yes.

(He sinks heavily on the bench and stares before him with dead eyes)

### Lavinia

(Sits beside him and puts a hand on his)

How do you feel?

### Orin

All right, Vinnie.

17

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Lavinia

You must be brave now, Orin. This is the test. You
have got to face it - to be free.

(Then anxiously as he doesn't reply)

Do you think you can - now we are here? Remember you won't
be alone. I will be beside you, helping you with all my
strength every moment.

### Orin

(Gratefully)

I'll be all right - with you with me.

### Lavinia

(Pats his hand encouragingly)

That's all I wanted - to hear you say it. I have no
fears now.

(Then after a pause)

Do you want to look at the house yet?

(He shakes his head, staring before him)

I see a light through the shutters of the sitting room.
I suppose that must be Hazel and Peter. Won't you be
glad to see Hazel again?

### Orin

(Dully)

You've kept talking about seeing them all the voyage home.
Why? What can they have to do with us - now?

### Lavinia

A lot. They are loyal to us. They are simple and sane
and good. They have never known horror and tragedy - and
guilt. What we need most now is to get back to simple
normal things and begin a new life. You particularly,
Orin, And I know Hazel's love will help you more than
anything to forget -

18

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

Orin

(With sudden harshness - glancing at her suspiciously)

And where does Peter come in? You don't need him to help
you forget, do you? I thought you'd forgotten long ago -
if you ever remembered, which you never seemed to!

(Then with a somber bitterness)

Love! What right have I - or you - to love?

Lavinia

(Defiantly)

Every right!

Orin

(Grimly)

Our mother must have thought the same about -

(Then with a strange searching glance at her)

You don't know how like Mother you've become, Vinnie. I
don't only mean the physical change in you, how pretty you've
become -

Lavinia

(With a strange shy eagerness)

Do you really think I'm pretty now, Orin?

Orin

(As if she hadn't interrupted)

I mean the change in your soul, too. I've watched it
change ever since we sailed for the East. Little by little
it grew like Mother's soul - as if you were stealing hers -
or she was possessing yours.

Lavinia

(Uneasily)

Now, don't start talking morbid nonsense again, Orin,
please!

19

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Orin

(Grimly)

Don't you believe in souls anymore? I think you will after we've lived in that house awhile. The Mannon ghosts will convert you, you'll see!

### Lavinia

(Frightenedly)

Orin! Stop it! You haven't had one of your morbid spells since we left the Islands! You know you swore to me you were all over that, or I would never have agreed to come back! Remember it was you who insisted on leaving the Islands as soon as we did!

### Orin

(With a queer laugh)

My brotherly duty! I had to get you away. If you'd stayed there much longer - well, I suppose you know what would have happened to you!

(He chuckles maliciously)

### Lavinia

(With a trace of strange confusion)

I don't know what you're talking about - and neither do you. I only went to the Islands for your sake, because you'd talked so much of longing to go there, and I thought they'd help you to get well. How could I guess you were going to hate them? And what if I did get a sense of beauty and freedom from them I'd never known before?

### Orin

(Springs to his feet - harshly)

Are you going to start spouting cheap poetry about those rotten Islands again? You've given me a bellyful of that slop ever since we left there.

(He turns his back and moves away a few paces but keeps his eyes away from the house)

20

## Act One - Scene One

"THE HAUNTED"

### Lavinia

(Angrily)

Orin!

(Then changing to a gentle persuasive tone - getting up)

Orin. Come here.

(He comes back to her slowly. She puts an arm around him - reproachfully)

How can you act like that with me? It hurts me terribly. You don't mean to hurt me, do you?

### Orin

(Melting at once - deeply moved - with strange intensity)

God knows I don't, Vinnie - after all you've done for me. I'd have gone crazy or killed myself if it hadn't been for you. You're all I have left to cling to in life! You're all I love in the world.

(He suddenly takes her hand and kisses it impulsively)

### Lavinia

(Strangely repulsed - snatching her hand away - sharply)

Don't! That's just what you used to do with -

(Checking herself abruptly)

No. Forgive me, Orin. I didn't mean -

### Orin

You meant - with her? Yes. I remember.

(He suddenly laughs harshly)

I guess it's the ghosts playing tricks on us already!

### Lavinia

(Sharply - with her old commanding air)

Orin! You weren't going to talk any more morbid nonsense, remember!

21

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

Orin

(Immediately strangely submissive)

All right, Vinnie. I won't.

Lavinia

(Taking his arm - in the same tone)

Look at me. This homecoming is above all a test of you. We have meant it to be, haven't we? And both your happiness and mine depends on how you stand that test. You realize how serious it is, don't you?

Orin

Yes, Vinnie.

Lavinia

For the first six months after we sailed, I didn't know whether I was going to have a lunatic for a brother or not. I nursed you on shipboard night and day. You were like a helpless baby. You didn't seem to know or care what you said or did. But I had to live in constant fear of your saying or doing something that would give away everything. That wasn't easy, Orin!

Orin

(Humbly grateful)

I know, Vinnie. I know it.

Lavinia

But I loved you and I was determined to pull you through - and I did! By the time we got to the Islands you were at least sane again, in spite of attacks of guilty depression. At the Islands you relapsed a little. But we won't talk of that. On the voyage home you grew much better. I felt you were safe and out of the depths at last. But since we've arrived home, you've frightened me. You've gotten strange again. And so much depends on how you start in - now we're here. You've started badly. I want you to start again. Will you? Remember I'm here beside you, helping you.

Orin

(Meekly)

Yes, Vinnie.

22

## Act One - Scene One

## "THE HAUNTED"

### Lavinia

You spoke a moment ago about ghosts. Well, let's start facing your ghosts right now - squarely. You haven't looked at the house yet! I want you to look at it. Come now. One, Two, Three!

(He jerks his head around obediently and stares at the house and draws a deep shuddering breath. His eyes remain fixed on it.)

### Orin

(Mechanically)

I'm looking now, Vinnie.

### Lavinia

(Her eyes fixed intensely on his face as if she were willing her will power into him)

Well? You don't see any ghosts, do you? - or feel them around?

### Orin

No.

### Lavinia

Because you know there are none! They were all in your imagination!

### Orin

(Mechanically)

Yes - all in my imagination.

### Lavinia

Do you feel any remorse or guilt for the death of Adam Brant?

### Orin

(Bursts out savagely)

No, damn him! I'd do it again! I hope he roasts in hell!