ACT TWO

Scene 2

The living room. Later that
night. About ten o'clock. Julie
is in the room. It is apparent
that she has been under a terrific
strain. Bina is close to the
stairs on her way up to bed.

Bina

Now you *will* blow out the lights -- and you *will* go to
bed pretty soon, won't you, Julie?

Julie

Yes. Of course I will.

Bina

Well, I don't know. You act awful funny.

Julie

I'm just worried.

Bina

Oh, I should think you would be! About Gard and all. Look,
Julie, you can come sleep in my room, you want to.

Julie

Maybe I will. Thanks you, Bina.

Bina

(Absurdly)

I don't think I snore. And anyway, 'twouldn't be no worse
than a drunk man.

(Frowning)

What do you think Maw's been gabbin' with Clabe about so
long?

Julie

(Almost enable to find her
voice)

I don't know....

Bina

I wish they'd go on to bed. Here it is after ten o'clock!

Julie

Bina -- when you go up - if Maw's not in Clabe's room --
ask him to come down here. I want to see him.

5 - 4

Clabe

You were afraid then.

You're scared to death now.

Julie

Oh, please! There were lots of reasons. The world.
You needed it, to travel, everyone wants all the exper-
ience he can have, the broadening ....

Clabe

It was *you* put those thoughts in my head.

Julie

But it's done you no harm. Look -- you speak differently
even, you're smarter, you're better off in every way.
You've had a fine life, better than most -- and you have
such memories of places, people.

Clabe

(Grimly)

Yes. Memories.

Julie

You've served your country honorably, and have your honor-
able discharge. Isn't that something worthwhile?

Clabe

My name's not exactly white in the navy records, Julie.
You can't find any way to be proud of it, no matter how
hard you try. My discharge is a Bad Conduct Discharge.

Julie

Bad conduct?

Clabe

Yes.

Julie

But it couldn't be for anything serious. It must have
been something that happened accidentally, not your fault.
It *was* like that, wasn't it?

Clabe

My conduct was deliberate. There wasn't any accident to
it. Once I deserted.

Julie

That isn't so bad.

Clabe

(Impatiently)

O God, Julie! Can't you realize I tried every way
I could think of to blacken my name, and ruin my char-

5 - 7

Julie (Cont'd)

It's me that drove those wagons up and down,
Me that wanted the field to be different,
The crop that grew to be another kind of corn.

I can't lick what I am.
I see it now.

Clabe

(Softly)

Quit trying.

Julie

But you have to try.

Everybody does.

Clabe

That's what causes so much misery in the world -- people trying to defeat what they are! Miserable people -- pathetic from the first.

Julie

I'll never be that.

It's not in me to be pitiful.

Clabe

You're close to it.

Julie

No! If I can just get rid of what I've done, the thoughts I've had, the needs!

Clabe

The needs - yes! There's only one way to wipe it all out -- make it like it didn't ever happen, any of what's happened. Give in to what you are.

Julie

(Breathless, knowing the answer)

What do you mean?

Clabe

The thoughts you've thought, the needs that are killing you! Give in to them.

Julie

(Appalled -- low and tortured)

You're my brother.

Don't say such a thing to me!

Clabe

I'm saying it.

Julie

No. I can't! It's more evil ... sin that could never be wiped out.

5-8

Clabe

How do you know?

Julie

It's in the mind, it's in the blood. The whole race of man is against it.

Clabe

Not all. Let's say it out plain, and see if it can hurt us. We're in love with each other. We always have been. It's taboo, they say. Who says so? It's happened like that. We fought it, both of us, fought each other, turned our sickness and disgust at ourselves toward others. Look at Opal, Gard, Paw and Maw. Look at Jesus! We were wrong... and ignorant. But now we know. All there is to know. There is no other way.

Julie

(In quiet agony)

Horrible... Maw told me once -- hate on one side of a coin. Turn it over. On the other side, love. But this -- this love. No, it can't be!

Clabe

There's no other way.

Julie

I know a way.

Clabe

What?

Another way! Yes. both.

Julie

I know. It'll save us -- save us

Clabe

How? What is it?

Julie

I can walk out a little way! Not far. The ice is thin.

Clabe

Julie! No! Come away from there!

Julie

You're to sit there calmly -- calmly, do you hear me? I'm going out that door.

Clabe

You mustn't, Julie. No!

2 - 6

Julie

Leave me alone! I can't bear to be looked through, and questioned and accused!

Mrs. Sawters

And understood, eh, Julie? You can't bear that, can you?

Julie

You don't know a thing about me!

Mrs. Sawters

(With aloof sincerity)

I know a lot about myself. Some day, maybe I'll tell you. I'm not what you'd call a good woman, especially. But there are things in me that make me respect good. That's why I have to make a stand against what I think is bad.

(Satirizing herself)

It's called character.

Julie

(Jeering, impatient)

Yes, of course!

Character!

I know!

Mrs. Sawters

(Heatedly)

It's called something else, too! It's called being a man - or a woman - a member of the human race.

(Quieter)

Anyway, I've warned you.

(Pointedly)

And you understand.

(She is going. She pauses.)

Why did you want lake water this afternoon?

Julie

(Reluctantly)

I --

For the flowers. They keep better in lake water.

Mrs. S.

Maybe so.

Time will tell.

(She goes out)

2 - 8

Julie
Goodness, don't be afraid, Opal. Nothing's going to hurt you.

Opal
(Too emphatically)
I'm not afraid. Not of an old & late

Julie
Well, I've often thought - in spite of the chill and how lonely a way to die - if things ever got too bad, you could easily row out in the middle and jump out of the boat.

Opal
(On edge)
Don't say, that! Please, Julie!

Julie
Why, Opal. I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about myself.

(Opal's thin little mouth is getting under control. Her really savage will comes to her rescue in time)

Opal
I think you mean me.

Julie
You think I - ?

Opal
And why shouldn't you mean me? Why, indeed! If ever anybody had a cause to hate another man - I guess you got it, far 's I'm concerned. I got even with you, Julie. And they's few that has.

Julie
You get even? Of course, you realize I don't know what you mean. It sounds crazy to me.

Opal
(Who can't stand the word)
It's not crazy! I'm the only one. You couldn't do me a dirty trick and expect me to just lay down and let you. I'll bet you feel sick ever' time you think of it. And I bet you think of it often, too.

(Madlemgly, childishly triumphant, she sits)
Yes, we're even now. So it's your next move. If you can think of one.

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!, Listen, Julie. I know you kept
Clabe from marrying me.

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.