1 - 11

Mrs. Sawters

Well, there's lots of land out here.

Mr. Sawters

And lots of people back east 'thout dirt enough to spit on.

Mrs. Sawters

The march of progress, I guess you call it.

Mr. Sawters

(Abstractedly)

Yeah.

(Then revealing what's really on
his mind, handing her a letter)

Here's a letter.

Mrs. Sawters

From Clabe?

(Mr. Sawters just nods)

What's he say?

Mr. Sawters

He ain't comin' home.

Mrs. Sawters

(Beginning to look at it)

Oh. You mean this spring?

Mr. Sawters

Nor this summer, nor never. He says it there.

Mrs. Sawters

That's the way children are.

Mr. Sawters

Yes.

(He sighs deeply)

I'm kinda tired.

Mrs. Sawters

He doesn't spare the language.

Mr. Sawters

I didn't read it all. My eyes.

Mrs. Sawters

Seems to know his mind. Seems to.

Mr. Sawters

(Slamming his paper to the floor)

He's a God damned chicken-hearted ungrateful bastard!

1 - 12

Mrs. Sawters
(After a moment to let her scorn for
his vehemence sink in)

You don't make much by questioning his paternity.

Mr. Sawters

I'm sorry, Lou. But God damn it! I don't understand it. Used to be you couldn't get him off the place. Then he flew off and joined up with the navy like a boy gone out of his mind. He liked the farm. He liked the life. I give him a calf once when he was seven. You remember. He raised her and she had calves. Pigs galore, his own raisin'. Used to love growin' things, makin' 'em grow up and multiply. All that schoolin' we give him didn't seem to matter. Jist leann'd him what he really wanted to do. Loved to see the fields bearin', the grainary full to burstin'.

(Deeply troubled)

Ah, I don't know what's goin' on, anymore - him or anything.
I see only misery and trouble ahead, the poorhouse crackin'
open its jaws. For me and mine.

Mrs. Sawters

(Smiling)

It's not that bad.

Mr. Sawters

(Deeper into himself)

And other things, too. In the night, I cain't sleep good.
I lay there in the dark. And the dark ain't friendly like it
used to be.

Mrs. Sawters

(Trying not to be reached)

Don't.

Mr. Sawters

I guess I'm gettin' old.

Mrs. Sawters

(Holding on to herself - quietly)

Not yet. Not for a while.

Mr. Sawters

You're stronger than I am.

Mrs. Sawters

No. I feel things less. I make myself. Afraid not to.
That's weakness.

Mr. Sawters

Nuthin' strong about blurtin' out the way you feel.

1 - 15

Bina

Jist icin' the cake.
Maw's doin' it. She run me out and
said to get dressed.
Gollee, I'm dressed. As much as I ever am.

Julie

You don't look very dressed up to me.

Bina

(With a faint resentment)

I ain't the dressy kind.

Julie

I don't know that I qualify.

Bina

Oh, you do, though - and that's a fact.

Bina
Julie

Just an old dress I can't seem to wear out.

Bina

You look mighty spick and span to me.

Julie

I hope that's a compliment.

Bina

And you're wearin' the brooch Clabe sent you. From China, he
said it come from.

(She comes to admire it)

Julie

Pretty, isn't it?

Bina

Must have cost a sight. Them rubies and silver and all. Don't
know how he could afford it on sailor's pay.

Julie

Saved his money.

Bina

Well, that's one thing to do with it.

Julie

Are you mad because he didn't send you one?

Bina

He never sent me a thing, not a thing! Not even a post-card.

Julie

I'll let you wear it sometime.

1 - 16

Bina

No, thanks. I like my own things.

Julie

Suit yourself.

Bina

I can't suit nobody else. Slave away - and who cares?

Julie

Are you intimating that no one does any work but you, Bina?

Bina

You been primpin' all afternoon while Maw and me got things ready for *knights* tonight.

Julie

(Furiously)

Oh! You silly creature! Who cleaned up upstairs? All the bedrooms? This room? For pity's sake, if you don't like the arrangement we agreed on, say so and let's change it! The cellar's full of fruit and berries. I canned them. The backbone and sausage I put down in lard last winter we're still using. Who made all the new curtains, who keeps them in repair? If the truth were known, I do a lot more work around here than you do.

Bina

(retracting)

Oh, I guess you do, Julie. I don't know what's the matter with me.

Julie

If you want us to change, speak up. I hate the little drudgeries you're so fond of. But if you're going to be a baby, I'll change with you - and gladly. I can't bear people who're sloppy, and complaining and whining all the time.

Bina

I'm sorry, Julie.

Julie

I should think you would be! Why do you try my patience like this? You know I've got a temper.

Bina

It's just that I'm - I'm miserable.

Julie

(After a moment, dark and inward)

Yes. I know.

1 - 17

(But she doesn't want to discuss things like this with Bina. She goes over, puts a match to the well-laid fire, watches the flames shoot up. In the darkening room, the firelight makes an eerie illumination that does not reach the gloom shadowed corners.)

Julie (Cont'd)

Take the chill off.

(watching her)
Bina
You're so low, so sure of yourself, Julie. You look at me like I was low or sump'n. Clabe's the same way.

Julie
(Sharply)
Leave Clabe out of it!

Bina
Just because he's had lots of schoolin', I guess.

Julie
He's got nothing to do with it.

Bina
You both look down on me. You know you do. You had secrets together, too. You left me out, like I was poison!

Julie
(Getting control of herself - cold and sure)

Listen, Bina! You and I aren't anything alike. Clabe and I are. Try to remember that. I don't think you're low - and I don't think I'm high. I have things on my mind, too, same as you. Things you don't even know about - and never will. But I don't ask for your sympathy - and I don't know why you require mine all the time.

Bina
I said I was sorry.

Julie
I wonder if you are.

Bina
(Elaring up again)
Do you have to kick a body when he's down? Do you?

(Contemptuously) Julie
Why don't you learn to finish what you begin?