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_ SCENE III
SCENE III: Plain interior of a farmer's kitchen with farmer's wife busy over stove, and kitchen table set for lunch for two. Adjacent room, left, small bedroom in which lies a pallid thin child in bed with dishes and bottles on little bedside table. Very little light. Curtains to a single window down. Farmer in overalls comes in, looking hot and tired. He throws hat on chair, says "Hullo, Mary, dinner ready?" and proceeds to wash hands and face in a basin on a stool. Then sits down at the table.
Mary.
(bringing food from stove and sitting down opposite)
Here we are, Jim. Guess you're ready for something.
It takes a man to sprout a patch o' locusts, and you
had breakfast by lamplight.
Jim.
Some o' them roots seemed as long as from here to the barn.
Mary.
But you'll have the best pasture in the county next year.
Jim.
What's the good? We rationed our beef steers
the way that government chap taught us, and
our pigs, and our sheep, and who got the profit?
Mary.
A lot more documents came from the government to-day--all about pigs. And we haven't got a decent house to live in! If we could only build on that pretty bit of high ground I've had picked out for three years, Rosie would quit havin' these sick spells.
Jim.
How is she, mother?
Mary.
I b'lieve she's a little better. Jim, have you
got any money left from sellin' the car?
Jim.
You know we had to pay the interest at the bank
first of all, and the rest went for fertilizer.
Mary.
I miss the car more on Rosie's account than mine. She's been cryin' for a ride this morning. I didn't know what to say. And I had to promise her she could go to the picnic if she got well. That'll mean a pretty dress, and hat and shoes.
Jim.
I don't know where you'll get 'em then.
Mary.
Looks like we ought to be able to give our children a little pleasure. There's poor Billie and Tom don't more'n get home from school an' lay their books down till they have to go to hoein' and pullin' weeds. I don't blame Billie a bit for runnin' away and goin' fishin' last Saturday.
Jim.
I don't either, though I had to whip him for it.
I can't do without his work and get through.
Mary.
Get through? When did we ever get through anyhow? Look at this, Jim. (Picks up paper and points to paragraph.) Beef steers sold to-day in Chicago at nine cents a pound. It cost us fourteen cents to raise ours, and we're countin' on makin' things easier by raisin' more next year. And see here, it says beef went up in the Eastern market four cents.
Jim.
Steers down, beef up! Robbin' both ways.
(Enter BILLIE and TOM with schoolbooks,
which they throw down, shouting: "We got a half-holiday!")
Billie.
The big boys are goin' to play ball.
Dad, can't we go watch 'em?
(MARY and JIM look at each other.)
We ain't seen a ball game this year, and we want
to learn to play. They're makin' a little boys'
team at school.
Mary.
Daddy's workin' awfully hard to-day.
He needs you bad to pile brush for him.
Jim.
You can't go to-day, boys. Next time----
Billie.
(hopeless)
Oh, next time! It's always next time.
Mary.
Wash up now, and you can have a hot dinner.
(They wash listlessly.)
Jim.
Mary, I think you'd better telephone for the
doctor to come and have a look at Rosie.
Mary. (hesitating)
I did--this morning. He said he didn't have time to come out to-day.
Jim.
Dr. Lowden?
Mary.
Guess he's tired o' comin' for nothing. You can't blame him.
(JIM hangs his head. A knock at the door. JIM rises and opens it. CHO-CHO enters giggling and grimacing while the farmer and his wife are speechless with amazement.)
Cho-Cho.
You sent for a doctor?
Jim.
Yes--but--you--ain't--no doctor.
Cho-Cho.
No, I--ain't--no--doctor
(mimicking),
but my daughter is a doctor and here she is now.
(Enter EVERYCHILD disguised as a doctor, with
a long black cape hiding her white dress, a pair of
goggles over her eyes, a long white beard, a white wig,
a man's hat on, a little black bag in her hands.)
Jim.
(tearing his hair distractedly)
You say that little old man is your daughter and a doctor?
Cho-Cho.
That's right--but a new kind of doctor. This is a Health doctor, not a Disease doctor. Present treatment for Health--absent treatment for absence of Health. (Ha--ha--hee--hee!) I'll leave the doctor here. (Goes out.)
Everychild.
Well, well, where is the patient?
(Putting hat on chair.)
Jim.
I must be crazy, but I never seen
a doctor like you. You ain't no doctor.
Everychild.
Oh, yes I am. I'm a children's specialist. Is she in that room? (Goes to door and opens it--draws back a little.) Whew! No air. Lift up that curtain and open the window! (JIM does it, rather aghast.) You must show me where you keep your pigs. Don't they get light and air on a day like this? (Goes toward bed as ROSIE rises up in bed and stares with a smile at the little doctor.) So this is the little patient. Well! Well! (Lifts up and looks at the bottles.) Take these and throw them out. (Hands them to MARY, who takes them out and returns.) My! My! Pork and potatoes and candy! Of all things! I'll have to make out a diet list later. (Feels pulse--listens to her chest.) I think the trouble with you is bad food, bad air, and no light. The trouble is not enough agricultural pamphlets on human live stock, not enough government millions spent on the real thing. Now get up, Rose! Let me see you stand. There, that's good. Now a comb and brush--we'll help this hair a little.
Mary.
(handing EVERYCHILD a comb and brush)
My hands are so full of work----
Everychild.
(arranging ROSIE'S hair)
Yes, that's better. Now, father, a glass of milk!
(JIM goes into kitchen.)
And mother, open that bag, please.
(While MARY opens bag. JIM returns
with glass of milk, which ROSIE drinks.)
Mary.
Oh, my!
(Takes out pretty dress, stockings and slippers,
which she lifts up, looks at delightedly, and
carries to the doctor.)
Rosie.
Oh, mother! You did get them!
(EVERYCHILD works fast, slips the gown on the
patient with the stockings and slippers, while
ROSIE smiles happily, though dazed by the
splendor of it.)
Rosie.
Are you going to take me to the picnic?
Everychild.
Indeed I am! A picnic that will never be over!
Rosie.
Are we going to ride? Have we got our car back?
Everychild.
Better than that.
Rosie.
What is it?
Everychild.
You'll see. Maybe you'll dance out of the window.
Mary.
Are you going to take her away?
Everychild.
Yes, I shall keep her with me until she is well. Then she will return to you.
(Takes out of the bag the rosy lamp and waves it. Throws aside her cap and pulls off goggles, wig, and beard. The back wall moves away, revealing the first scene with the same strains of music and the dancing children in the orchard. EVERYCHILD leads ROSIE out to join them. BILLIE and TOM move after them calling: "Let us go with you! Take us with you!")
Rosie.
Oh, please take Billie and Tom!
Everychild.
Yes, I want them, too. Come along, boys!
(They shout and run after ROSIE and EVERYCHILD.)
Mary.
Oh, Jim, is this a dream? Or am I awake at last?
Jim.
(putting his hand to his head, dazedly)
Perhaps this is what it ought to be for
all the children of the world.
(CURTAIN FALLS) _
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