CURTIS-But I can't be away from you!

MARTHA-[Miserably.]Oh, Curt, why won't you look the fact in the face-and learn to accept it with joy? Why can't you for my sake? I would do that for you.

CURTIS-[Breaking away from her-passionately.]You will not do what I have implored you-for me! And I am looking the fact in the face-the fact that there must be no fact![Avoiding her eyes-as if defying his own finer feelings.] There are doctors who-

MARTHA-[Shrinking back from him.]Curt! You propose that-to me![With overwhelming sorrow.] Oh, Curt! When I feel him-his life within me-like a budding of my deepest soul-to flower and continue me-you say what you have just said![Grief-stricken.] Oh, you never, never, never will understand!

CURTIS-[Shamefacedly.]Martha, I-[Distractedly.]I don't know what I'm saying! This whole situation is so unbearable! Why, why does it have to happen now?

MARTHA-[Gently.]It must be now-or not at all-at my age, dear.[Then after a pause-staring at him frightenedly-sadly.] You have changed, Curt. I remember it used to be your happiness to sacrifice yourself for me.

CURTIS-I had no work then-no purpose beyond myself. To sacrifice oneself is easy. But when your only meaning becomes as a searcher for knowledge-you cannot sacrifice that, Martha. You must sacrifice everything for that-or lose all sincerity.

MARTHA-I wonder where your work leaves off and you begin. Hasn't your work become you?

CURTIS-Yes and no.[Helplessly.] You can't understand, Martha!…

MARTHA-Nor you.

CURTIS-[With a trace of bitter irony.]And you and your work? Aren't they one and the same?

MARTHA-So you think mine is selfish, too?[After a pause-sadly.] I can't blame you, Curt. It's all my fault. I've spoiled you by giving up my life so completely to yours. You've forgotten I have one. Oh, I don't mean that I was a martyr. I know that in you alone lay my happiness and fulfillment in those years-after the children died. But we are no longer what we were then. We must, both of us, relearn to love and respect-what we have become.

CURTIS-[Violently.]Nonsense! You talk as if love were an intellectual process-[Taking her into his arms-passionately.]I love you-always and forever! You are me and I am you. What use is all this vivisecting?[He kisses her fiercely. They look into each other's eyes for a second-then instinctively fall back from one another.]

MARTHA-[In a whisper.]Yes, you love me. But who am I? There is no recognition in your eyes. You don't know.

CURTIS-[Frightenedly.]Martha! Stop! This is terrible![They continue to be held by each other's fearfully questioning eyes.]

[The Curtain Falls]

ACT III

SCENE-Same as Act II. As the curtain rises, JAYSON is discovered sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, in which a log fire is burning fitfully. He is staring into the flames, a strained, expectant expression on his face. It is about three o'clock in the morning. There is no light but that furnished by the fire which fills the room with shifting shadows. The door in the rear is opened and RICHARD appears, his face harried by the stress of unusual emotion. Through the opened doorway, a low, muffled moan of anguish sounds from the upper part of the house.JAYSON and RICHARD both shudder. The latter closes the door behind him quickly as if anxious to shut out the noise.

JAYSON-[Looking up anxiously.]Well?

RICHARD-[Involuntarily straightening up as if about to salute and report to a superior officer.]No change, sir.[Then, as if remembering himself, comes to the fireplace and slumps down in a chair-agitatedly.] God, Dad, I can't stand her moaning and screaming! It's got my nerves shot to pieces. I thought I was hardened. I've heard them out in No Man's Land-dying by inches- when you couldn't get to them or help-but this is worse-a million times! After all, that was war-and they were men-

JAYSON-Martha is having an exceptionally hard ordeal.

RICHARD-Since three o'clock this morning-yesterday morning, I should say. It's a wonder she isn't dead.

JAYSON-[After a pause.]Where is Curt?

RICHARD-[Harshly.]Still out in the garden, walking around bareheaded in the cold like a lunatic.

JAYSON-Why didn't you make him come in?

RICHARD-Make him! It's easy to say. He's in a queer state, Dad, I can tell you! There's something torturing him besides her pain-

JAYSON-[After a pause.]Yes, there's a lot in all this we don't know about.

RICHARD-I suppose the reason he's so down on the family is because we've rather cut her since that tea affair.

JAYSON-He shouldn't blame us. She acted abominably and has certainly caused enough talk since then-always about with Bigelow-

RICHARD-[With a sardonic laugh.]And yet he keeps asking everyone to send for Bigelow-says he wants to talk to him-not us. WE can't understand![He laughs bitterly.]

JAYSON-I'm afraid Curt knows we understand too much.[Agitatedly.] But why does he want Bigelow, in God's name? In his present state-with the suspicions he must have-there's liable to be a frightful scene.

RICHARD-Don't be afraid of a scene.[With pitying scorn.] The hell of it is he seems to regard Bigelow as his best friend. Damned if I can make it out.

JAYSON-I gave orders that they were always to tell Curt Bigelow was out of town and couldn't be reached.[With a sigh.] What a frightful situation for all of us![After a pause.] It may sound cruel of me-but-I can't help wishing for all our sakes that this child will never-

RICHARD-Yes, Dad, I know what you're thinking. It would be the best thing for it, too-although I hate myself for saying it.[There is a pause. Then the door in rear is opened and LILY appears. She is pale and agitated. Leaving the door open behind her she comes forward and flings herself on the lounge.]

JAYSON-[Anxiously.]Well?

LILY-[Irritably, getting up and switching on the lights.]Isn't everything gloomy enough?[Sits down.] I couldn't bear it upstairs one second longer. Esther and Emily are coming down, too. It's too much for them-and they've had personal experience.[Trying to mask her agitation by a pretense at flippancy.] I hereby become a life-member of the birth-control league. Let's let humanity cease- if God can't manage its continuance any better than that!