style. (Seven to nine minutes to curtain.) Fervor of spectators grows until all are taking part in some way—either hand-clapping or singing the words. At curtain they have reached frenzy.)
Quick Curtain
(It stays down a few seconds to indicate ending of contest and goes up again on John and Effie being declared winners by Judges.)
Master (on platform, with John and Effie on the floor before him). By unanimous decision de cake goes to de couple from Jacksonville! (Great enthusiasm. The cake is set down in the center of the floor and the winning couple parade around it arm in arm. John and Effie circle the cake happily and triumphantly. The other contestants, and then the entire assembly fall in behind and circle the cake, singing and clapping. The festivities continue. The Jacksonville quartet step upon the platform and sing a verse and chorus of "Daisies won't tell." Cries of "Hurrah for Jacksonville! Glory for the big town," "Hurrah for Big Jack.")
A Man (seeing Emma). You're from Jacksonville, aint you? (He whirls her around and around.) Aint you happy? Whoopee! (He releases her and she drops upon a seat. She buries her face in the moss.)
(Quartet begins on chorus again. People are departing, laughing, humming, with quartet cheering. John, the cake, and Effie being borne away in triumph.)
Scene IV
Time—present. The interior of a one-room shack in an alley. There is a small window in the rear wall upstage left. There is an enlarged crayon drawing of a man and woman—man sitting cross-legged, a woman standing with her hand on his shoulder. A center table, red cover, a low, cheap rocker, two straight chairs, a small kitchen stove at left with a wood-box beside it, a water-bucket on a stand close by. A hand towel and a wash basin. A shelf of dishes above this. There is an ordinary oil lamp on the center table but it is not lighted when the curtain goes up. Some light enters through the window and falls on the woman seated in the low rocker. The door is center right. A cheap bed is against the upstage wall. Someone is on the bed but is lying so that the back is toward the audience.
Action—As the curtain rises, the woman is seen rocking to and fro in the low rocker. A dead silence except for the sound of the rocker and an occasional groan from the bed. Once a faint voice says "water" and the woman in the rocker arises and carries the tin dipper to the bed.
Woman. No mo' right away—Doctor says not too much. (Returns dipper to pail—Pause.) You got right much fever—I better go git the doctor agin.
(There comes a knocking at the door and she stands still for a moment, listening. It comes again and she goes to door but does not open it.)
Woman. Who's that?
Voice Outside. Does Emma Beasely live here?
Emma. Yeah—(pause)—who is it?
Voice. It's me—John Turner.
Emma (puts hands eagerly on the fastening). John? did you say John Turner?
Voice. Yes, Emma, it's me.
(The door is opened and the man steps inside.)
Emma. John! Your hand (she feels for it and touches it). John flesh and blood.
John (laughing awkwardly). It's me alright, old girl. Just as bright as a basket of chips. Make a light quick so I can see how you look. I'm crazy to see you. Twenty years is a long time to wait, Emma.
Emma (nervously). Oh, let's we all just sit in the dark awhile. (Apologetically.) I wasn't expecting nobody and my house aint picked up. Sit down. (She draws up the chair. She sits in rocker.)
John. Just to think! Emma! Me and Emma sitting down side by each. Know how I found you?
Emma (dully). Naw. How?
John (brightly). Soons I got in town I hunted up Wesley and he told me how to find you. That's who I come to see, you!
Emma. Where you been all these years, up North somewheres? Nobody round here could find out where you got to.
John. Yes, up North. Philadelphia.
Emma. Married yet?
John. Oh yes, seventeen years ago. But my wife is dead now and so I came as soon as it was decent to find you. I wants to marry you. I couldn't
