Part 77 (2/2)

Mrs. Brice, the mother.

”Ditto” Brice, the sister.

Katherine Doyle, fiancee._

_The Time: The present.

The Place: Any city._

SCENE. _The Brice living-room comfortably furnished in walnut. A piano centre L., a round table rear R. Four entrances: upper L., rear centre, upper right, right centre. Curtained windows rear R. & L._

Joy seems to radiate through the household. Ditto and Katherine are discovered; Katherine, a pretty enthusiast of 22 playing diminuendo a joy-melody at piano; Ditto, pretty, 20 and nervous, crossing R. with an armload of tagged packages of various sizes and prettily tied--birthday presents for her brother David. Arrived at table, rear R., she deposits them.

_Ditto._ (_Stacking packages._) Don't you wish you were getting these birthday presents, Katherine?

_Katherine._ (_Playing._) I am, Ditto, dear. David is mine; therefore, what is David's belongs to me.

_Ditto._ (_Petulantly._) And what is yours....

_Katherine._ (_In fun._) ... Belongs to father.

(_Begins to sing merrily._) (_Exit Ditto, R._)

_Enter Mrs. Brice, L., a thoughtful woman of 50, quite grey and though careworn, attractive. She carries a linen spread and goes to the table. Katherine sings softly, playing diminuendo._

_Mrs. Brice._ (_Covering presents_.) You are very happy tonight, aren't you?

_Katherine._ (_Cheerily._) Why shouldn't I be, Mrs. Brice? It is David's birthday. (_Going to her._) But you aren't.

_Mrs. Brice._ (_Bravely._) Yes, I am. But you see this is probably David's last birthday at home and....

_Katherine._ (_Lovingly._) By no means! I shall bring him home every birthday. (_Kissing her._) ... And once in a while between.

_Mrs. Brice._ (_As they go down, arm in arm._) I know you will, Katherine, but we mothers ...

_David._ (_Entering centre rear, overcoat, hat and traveling grip._) h.e.l.lo everybody!... (_Tosses grip on table and makes for them._) ...

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year (_kisses mother_) and a quiet Fourth of July. (_Kisses Katherine._)

(_David is a well-built handsome man of 28 neatly dressed in business suit, light-weight overcoat and hat._)

_David._ (_Removing coat, Katherine a.s.sisting._) Well, how are all the little details?

(_Coat off, he begins kissing Katherine again. Enter Ditto, R._)

_Ditto._ (_Petulantly._) Do you realize this is your birthday?

_David._ (_Kissing mother._) I am doing my best to show it! (_Tossing Ditto his coat._) Hang that up and I will show you. (_Exit Ditto, R., with his coat and hat._)

_David._ (_Coming down from table with blue-print in hand._) Now, mother and child, look ye!

(_He shows them the architectural plans of the new cottage he is going to build as a wedding present to Katherine. They like them very much. More joy. Ditto, reentering, is also enthusiastic over plans._

_David next announces that he has been invited to become a member of his employer's law firm, one of the most successful in the State.

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