Part 1 (1/2)

The Flutter of the Goldleaf; and Other Plays.

by Olive Tilford Dargan and Frederick Peterson.

THE FLUTTER OF THE GOLDLEAF

SCENE: _Laboratory in the attic of the Warner cottage. At right, toward rear, entrance from down-stairs. A rude part.i.tion, left, with door in centre. Window centre rear. Large kitchen table loaded with apparatus. Shelves, similarly loaded, against wall near table, right.

Wires strung about. A rude couch, bench, and several wooden chairs._

_Time, about 8 p.m. Lamp burns on table._ MRS. WARNER _comes up-stairs, puts her head inside the room nervously, then enters and looks about._

_Mrs. W._

Such a mess! And the doctors will be here in half an hour! (_Tries to get busy but seems bothered. Crosses to table and looks at a little machine that stands upon it._) _That's_ what's driving my boy crazy! If I only dared to smash it! The right sort of a mother would do just that!

(_Looks at machine with dire meditation._)

_Warner_ (_without, roaring up the stairs_)

Mary Ann!

_Mrs. W._ (_jumps_)

Yes, Hiram!

_Warner_ (_entering_)

Where's Philo?

_Mrs. W._

In the orchard. I watched my chance, and thought I'd redd up a little.

He won't let me touch anything when he's here.

_Warner_

Just about lives up here, don't he?

_Mrs. W._

Day and night now, since he's been too sick to go to the store. And I can't have Dr. Bellows bring in that specialist from New York with things lookin' as if a woman had never come up the stairs. (_Dusting and rattling._)

_Warner_

Philo's not onto what the doctors are after, is he?

_Mrs. W._

He thinks they're coming to look at his machine mostly--and see what's keepin' him awake nights. But maybe he knows. He's awful sharp.