I ,

8y,

St.JOHN 0. 'ERVlNE

,',

I •

(47)

· CHA RACfERS

PROFESSOR HENRY CORRIE. o.s..

MRS. M E Ll}()N~hi~ sister

HANNAH .- alady servam ,

SCENE

Thl ICt(M of the pl'a)' " laid hi tM 5tudy Il00111 of Profiii!!>So! .... 1)' Conte In II ftmote vi!lIgt. in th~ No_b of Emaf,tnd on III 11HInI.,· h'i 'Che yat 1919. The room is tidy enough,. wIth th.e ddbW. of II hl!l!nx damitWcd by Ii bube1:nt ... ho b Ih:m~,*ed by h III 'WOrk ather tMll by' dQmCJtic ao.m.fort; and in the rll lJe tab!e II f cht anti 6f die IQOIm 1he.fe it. IWftJr· or lci'eatiflc 'P]JUlim Improyed by Prof'IUOf COfl'iG in (be ~xperimenc in which he ~ now e~ On the 'WIll'! of lite IfOG'mlI 6I'C Ii Rwn_, ,of d~, IIImwinB aectiops of very l:ar,ge bomb$. There L1 a m.odel of a big INImb',oD,a itti'd Ulldemrath OQ~ 'of 1hese diilgruns .. There Ire IIICllonai ~ms .of aeroplanes and ainbips to be seen, IW.d .. lso fUl, ~mod. of aero. .... ant ~.

PrlDf~ Hemy C.III'de, qat between :My ,mill m.qr.m .. tUna at the CCQtm tabJe watdliqg ill chernJCJl pmcess kt a wge 11 •• elM.·He hal, eo'Jd I bUlI10unas ,gyl!.li, 11M hi!; DlO1;!th, if it wen nul toncaled by • thickish beard~ wowd be seen 10 have crud 1111. Ibout it. He does :aot. bQ'Wevn', impre811 Ute ~ viSitor as I ClUe[ ~-iDdeedi he KeJilii to be: a harmtess. kindly, inc:.onse'IUIRE pmon, complete:1y abmrbed. of ~OlIrsc~ in hiswQfk. It is _MlIJhe :II aDgry that something of his cruelty i5 obsemlble-b~ ls ilMiflMd to IllfUT wo1'fail &rmiI if he i$ thwarted OJ' hindered in In) WIly. But the mest .¢ft'tailo. sip 0,1 his EUllduneJItally cruel ~ bllIC1et II his M50rptioll in 11 is scientifIC work. Noth inS i;o. of If'IIItal" im~ to bim Inan thlt. A human being, h of. l_ "onteque:nce to bim tha:n lhe success of even • mmor eJl:perim ent.

He ~ tile retort very dose]}'; mnttering EO himselt as h does .'. Someimu:s hb m.:i~ :an: :5a/tirild:iolll, wmetirn:es !~, IllXlrty, at once of l1LBe that rums ilgaiI! to ~tisfaetion. A I.i,no\:ic iii heudl. on his smdy ~OOll". bBt he doa nv1 htu, tl~ ~It '~ rrl",ikd. He leans forward to glance mere cloSiely U the retort, .n;J l!wn, wiifh III ·5h1jm~ of p~te, ri1o::s. up and tQl.'Iitml,ltk$: ~t. I hI' kllook is heard ftir tile thw time.

(49)

CORRIE:

SERVANT; CORRlE:

HANNAH:

CORRlE~ HANNAH:

CORRIE:

HANNAH:

CORRIE:

"ANNAH~ CORRIE:

HANNAH:

CORRIE:

(beoding over the retort and eDdiD8 the experi· ment) Ah, at last, at last ~ By Heaven> l've done it at but.

(A very loud knock on the door. He t'urns round in a puzzled Whioo). EM' Oh, oh] Come in! Come lnl

(The door opens, and an ddedy savant enters .. )

Mr$. Meldonl .

Yes, yes, Hannah, what is it?

Mrs. MeldoJl wants to know whether you'll come downstairs to tea at have H up here?

Has she got back?

Yes, sir. She expected you to meet her at the sta hOJ1, sir. She waited a loog time in the eold, OlIIId the n got Marshall to drive her up,

[ meant to go, but 1 was busy, and then 1 lorgot. But she's quite capable of coming home by herself.

Yes, sir, Will you cbrne downstairs to tea. 5i r . or haw it up here?

The dra.wlJJg-roum'ss.o cold! , ... , Tell MJ1, Meldon I'll have it up hero. I've news for her, Ten her I've good news for her. My experlment is ended, and jt's a success.

Yes-but it's no use telling YOI!l about it. You wouldn't understand,

No, sir-

But Pm a proud nun. Ha n nah, Perhaps y 011 'll understand tha L Goa nd tell Mrs. Meldon.

,

(50)

IU •• III

UII.tII'

Doll. 't fo.rset 10 tell h er ~hat ni;Y ~)!\pefime.nll ~~ asueeess, Or, no!-you'd better not tell h~r. I'll ~o thart myiSCU. Yoo~re $.VIe to rn.d:e I mo!liS.'l of it. $iL!I'U ib~ lit'S p1Uf>e~ ~5 1 am>

She" nOt l'try' happy today, IiII.

Well" you see. S!~ .• lt's w¢e YUiIil &.(00 t~ wee her $,On wu killed in. th@ W~ t1 ••. _ .

(tbn.E.f~ hb! ~ce). Oh. r~r I'd fO,~U.(I III Ehi.,t! Of 'OO~~ •• ·one can't bep' 'on

thinking about these thi~. -

'She dOd, str.

t'ro IOnyE 'idin"t metl he;, .~~' tht ,li.'tlon. But J hayec to attend to Inf e>::perWte!IU, H~1Ulth. 1 w:idl .she wouldn't dw~n on &I.d le >$ death, It's not r~ght Forlhe UYingto thtnk 1'10 much or thl: dea1lil. Skel\s :iii W01lIlUI, ,or CfiLU'5e;, and il mether-a bereaved .llftOlb.ef. We: nnnt nnke aU'IlWoI\'inICe:8:, HanlllJlI. 'Th.at's IIU. Now jf ] tell bet abou~ m.y suace§ful experknent, how would thllt do?

(dubloul,.). ] domt''t w,pose It woutd: mdce her f«~ any WQr~ tJUHt ~ ls now.:W:,

w~n, un her to come up here and 1u \i'e her tell wl~h nlll~. ~? A.Rd It!~ t~nhf;l :ib<c-ut m.y f;lli:peri. ITILflU.

I IiI I iill,.111 Iilllnltl~. teU h,'I' l'lJII wry 'W"J' t· "~lIhln'l III.lfl h~r Itt Uu st:IIHOIL Thil1} b:r.r:lk I h ~ It II • 1111 I hen wh~ h !h~ rulim .IH1W 00- 1""'lllInl wt' W~fll J., lind how much dspends on h, "~lr'lI I I" .~U '1IKilt.1

Very good. riT. (Sbc : ... WwI.fdI 'Il'!' ~,. 111m 1M Itop', and 'titnm tOWlfda him). She rg]ly isn't happy, sir. Her nerveS aren 't at lin right. You sec., sh~ can it fOl~t1 sir I

(But the Prof __ is bade. It Ida tablet bltendy RlIIl'din& hb experim~t, -1 execpt fOr I pwll" he does not ",I),. HuiDah .,.. Qut. 'The Pm[t:IIIQf _ _til .me at .. tionI: lila, Pi'ft. 1m

~en ,stu 'bwJk lin bili ,ebllir .-_iDs 'diem ,With deUaht. BillDlni· f:ntations ot joy are intcn:uptM by the eI\~ of hit lister I Mn. Mc1doR. qed ,bout futy .. tbrft: She ill dread ID flIP., ~ ~: :*1' II 11 dow" ht ,~", _ o.f bq lIm:ll4eldi. She 'is • ~king WOMan, now plaialy' .utrn., deeply from her men.QriM, but h. nen'oot ltUibitid.el lin berl, tben;g~ 0.0 ocxaSkI. wbiim is hIJdl, ered.le. She .. - ... t • fm· M. ,~pbhtbta 'WOJDlD fto' btilaYl!l ,_" *e _mID. ,old,.. penon ,In the world wIlo 'bad !Uffe:red a b~ltt; aad when; in tile cotme: (If the play t me IpeIb of her loa abe does 110 'wfth pace and, bautild dllanJtyJ.

M'RS. MELDON; Henry!

EM (iI'wnk!I). Qh. mty dact Oi>!flolte. fm, satry J ,did loot m'ettyi!)Uat tM sUrUon! • . ...

MRS. MELDON! (IUtins h .. f by the flrt)~ ]r dM,ll:t maUe'l ReM)". Onl)r I thJl~t yea wCire c;Qji!l[liDg-)'IOU said fOil. wOIii(,d .... and [waited a long 'time in lhe cold! .....

1{,t$, ~m sor:tY l.bmt ilMl.t., hut. yo.'lL see, I Will busy ~ Charlottll. rye $Ucceed~d It W.l. 1've gol just exactly wl1at I WiJlted. Charl.otte. Ab501u· teb the: tbinl .. This .wW b,lrq f:IIM ~Id m:dl,1ne to me.I4'ia:!:l be rim DOW, butnroll!i Itban tihat,l shan be famous. ~y name will Uw forever; \Vhen • saw how well the experlment was ~ I aW tGI roIywf. ~CMrli)uewonO!i[l!-il'y ex~ct me to. mC$t her jllU when cv~!ytruns" !toif:lJ so fight I and aft~r an, she', arowll-tlp woman, and she ,know, the way home as weliJ,lIi, I do f' So< I 4M1n'~; :gO!. ~ ftlYCd heft .It'!d dk!l my

work. I know you'd under:ttand. And It's a w.c· ..

CeIS. Charlotte, the gr:elli~e~~and .1ltCSt woruler·

{uJ sl!lee~ J''ofe &~£ halll. oJ'

(52)

NO i M IlLOON: Oh.. r~s

(11 •• 115.: (dahcd). We1!' you don't seem ~e ry e )(cil ed 1MM ~t

Mg, MELDON: Of cpuneT I'm g1;;1d it's, a success, j lcnry, wh:tt· ever it IS, but, you see, you've never [aid me InYllling about n:.

tro. that's true. r ve .. I Wi!.)' ~ beii~ lied illl k.ee pi~g secrets [0 my~[f. Tll'rJ_ rio One anything until you are obliged to, that's my prrncrplc. No one k1ODW~ th~t 1 ~l!'Wi been workjn~ at dU~lh[ng uupt my~~f, Th,t' 5.tefd 'of ~lct:,!!~5fill lIW~I1- tion, Ourlcttt. is retleence' BtH ilLllW, t t:31l l~U you what it is. The com ponent pOI rts are ~t m my secret an d witl rem a in such u nUl J ell n ~et ~ hmding O'ffu from SOlin eGo'vcnmllm l ~

.... '[ .1 LOON: Government? ls it a Government rn~~ te r"

,1J'RI!!

:i tMl,ITd think: H j~. ] sh~ n offer it Fi.rst to ~ h c Jbi~_ Gn.refflJlltllirl{. of course, Inn if th(:,Y won't PI)' nly prk~. ru on~n it hl s,offleborly else, Too mlltly mvenrors ha ve b en I er do '01,,'11 by the Britim Government, Charlotte- But they wm 11101 let me down. No ,T can lake care of mysetr. .Bat then, \1i!hel'l lh~y heas WfliU my lnvenrion Js, they'Jl jump a l it.

'~·O.Rlf:!:

MM. 'MEl.DON: Will 'they?'

Of course they wllJ. [hough )'ouOr~ qu.ile llolsh. ned in feeUng scepflcai ~botlt ! hem. It was v,c ry ha.rdto ge! t:hem to use tanks in the waf·-wry hilidi. Thru.tclYalrry !ltl1.~rah; had ,tu 'i;;.~ fOf~ecl.lo use t.h!m.Tb~y (lush1 to \u lUlTSC -k:llil.'t:'ker:s In!t~3d of ,$Oldie r's" And t In hats, 100! Look. whIt II time it was herem: that daml1ed War Ofnce OQuid be purs~ad~d 10 !,JM!·~m~ _ . , ' AU! I'I'I~ 'sony" n~adoHe. ~ou~h' I\l~1 !U 'Qt. ~ ,I n.II'~ • bout the War to you -espeehU)" h~d",~, - '

MlMIil MPUM~N I JLlfl·'m~lld. Hfnr_\ • l'Ui" I'd. L ~]l~ ':l(~-

~",' ~-[~t·, ,'ll. ;i:~ \\

•

CORRIE:

MRS. MELDON ~ What is your invention, Hen ry?

No, that's true.

CORRIE:

Ah, Charlotte! There's something interesting to talk about,

HANNAH:

(Hannah entet& with a tea.tray.)

Here's the lea, slr ,

CORRIE:

Damn! Oh t all right l Put it down there!

(Hannah 8ttaflgea the tea-lray in (rollt Gf Mrs. Meldon. 11M Professor, meutime. is back at his. tahle ... bk retom aM hill fonnulae. Now artd qain ~ exclaims to htmeeU'.)

MRS. M~LDON: HaS evel),thing bun an dght, Hannah?

Yes, ma'am, Gage, the gardener, broUJht lip the wreath you ordered for the War ·Memoriai. rna> am. I've go t it in the kitchen now. Shall I fetch it for you'?

MRS. MELDON: Yes. do.plea~, Hannah,

•

(And then Hannah, bav(ng tmi:shed with the tel-table. pes

out.)

MIlS. MELDON! Come and have your tea, Hemry!

CORRIE:

All right t

(But he doeft oot atir.)

CORRIE:

MRS. MELDON: Corne along Henry 1

Ehi Oh, all right! In a minute!

MRS. MElDON; Your tea will get cold if you don't come now!

COR.RlE~

(getting up and oomq to the tea-tabk). Oft, how worne-n do fuss! Your ge:g_ is mO$t utl"l ordluary, Charlotte, Always willing to break off· things for other things.- No application. No con-

(54)

lunlnUon. No capacIty fo~' (ompk!te, itltperso. IlIl devoUon. That'l§, why no WOrMn tiDe flOW bien IflJtt art:im OJ lCientist9. BeC!l!use they woW oot f.oliilke &veoy-tbil!lj &1.1;1 foUG\lif-we1!.. wbate-ver it II they ought to be foliowil'll!!

R .. n.. retumI., cmyq • lionch o,'flowm to whKb a, ......... )

IIMNAHa CMU:

MU. IDlDOH: ~ me BowerI frcIm .fIaMah), I orden'ld it ffOlD Gqc to put 01] chI. We Me:~~. );[·s for &idle'! ....• .

(101111:

... Mal.DOf.l: I shaD ~ Jt down there nfter 'tea. W:I.IJ you cgm~ with mtl

r~ lib to. ,OJt OOlif5e, Ibut 1 reaily must finish up thc!e things.

MM. MELDON: Yay weU, Hemy. (cD naWt.h). Thalilk. y'Ou, lknlU!l. 1;:0 J:teptl!.e flowers here.

(ExjI Hadaah).

MIS, M!I.J)Ol'4: (to her Ittotlltt). Thoy'rc very MUl,ltiful, aren't they, ikllmy?

011.. yes! Quite mef;~ You know Charlotte, tbi5 it.yt\ntioll of mine. , .•.

I mllr.n:

(YlllDd)'), Oh-h·h! (Thea deBolt,,). 'Ye.!i.. HIlf • ,cup.

~n, hadJl die I~ 100 bert aodI she filII it lDIII retul1Jli It fo "lin IWhll~ III. foHowUt& ~ 1ft aUered).. 0;/

(55)

CORRIE:

~ Was saying this inventlon of mine: wm revolutionise warfare.

CORRIE:

MRS. MELDON: WilJ.it abolish warfare?

Abolish wlir! . . •.... My dear Charlotte, don't be childish!

MRS. MELDON: I'm very interested in that subject. JtSCetl\$ to me more important than anything else in tb.e world, Henry. You don't realise how deepJy women like me feel about this . . . . . . . . . this organjsc4 bu tche.ry of boys. Look. It me! IlIad a husband and a son when the war began, I had neither when it was, over. I am 3. most 10· nely woma.n ..... cruelly a1onet .....

CORRIE; (8 Ut1le annoyed by what seems to him KIlt .. mentallwpmg on <mestrmg). I know, of course, tha t the War hit you badly, Ch.ailotte-what with Eddie being killed and Tom taking his dea.th so

badlyl -

MRS. MELDON; Torn died 0 f a broken heart, Hen ry _ That may sound sentimental and unsclennfie to you, but it's true. I sornetjmes-wonder why I was not granted the mercy of death-why I should be

compelled to live on alone! ..... , . .

CORRIE~

Oh, come, come. Charlotte! No, no, not alone! You're happy enough with me. aren't you? Your only brother! ., .. _ +

MRS. MEU)oN: You're not a very good substttute for a $011, Henry!

CORRIE:

:Well, no, I suppose not, but still there'l no need for despa lr. let me tdl you about my Invention.

~

(He puts his cup down and prepares to e"PIafn).

(,OR.RTE: "

MRS. MELDON: Will you have some more tea~

No. thanks' "S(,w. Chadotte. when I say that war ought to b~" revolcnonised, 1 mell"n that it ought

10 be: made more expeditious, Th' War we'w iUd hI.d.lIi11'tdi to:r .. rldic.\I~1 pniod. fiw ,an, .of odd), five ytlrs, PeduUy pn:pastao~. It ollght !lOtto MYfl luted more than fi.., wtoe:kl ..

. D. N LDON~ KI\'t you htwntd iI mnn1 (1.( restrlttmg tle

duration oj' WU$~ -

10--': WeU-yes •• think you mtght put it lib thiit..

What the lixnnblltants 'ought to • It, In W:U', is t.0 ,get me, fudboo.w m. 10' hud ibM tbe IDihOf ski.: immedllt.ely iUCGunlb:!l1 to il.

l'hai mt3J]j thtt ttI.e w~POI"iI, of Wll ~ 'be made immR&UJably mD1f horrible a.nd dftlltlil,~ ins than ~hey IlOW life.

Yes, Ob, yes!' We havon1 yet retched the ]im~ts of honor in wa r'! Dh, dear m~, no!

• iMELDON; My iOn WM l'QetctII i Heruy, ;8'nd he \VB kintd ln a nght of wbJc:h he. knew \I'Il,I)! 1itUc. 1lt_1it , S€I!mlS tQ me a ho.rible lhtl1@,~

roIUUB~ , / On. :I 'mJitfleJ'i fufim;gG. 'of ~.un.e, but kiQlk at the mattel' f~. II bfOli po,mt of :dew, Put your OWI1l, feellilgs ;lW!Y' .. , .

Mil. MELDON! ~ i c;m·t. do 't~at; H~I'1. The who'le War for me 'eorot:i down ~o dris OJil'e lUting ,Chat my !tOR. I 001' new fl0m ooot. ~ bk.em._" from rna, jwn when l!:is liie was beynning to open out, i:nd bl1ed. rm, nor iii (:lewr woman. H(!'Jl!'Y. I caD 'O~Y r~ tbing' iii they touch me and _P. Eddie WI~ I'D' omy iOlli. my dadm8l,my hUrli'~ joy! I e)!.~te4 S() modi floPt. bim-lild be's gono, and there'! nothiDl; " , . nothing, , nothii18'! ~

CORRlE~

(bemg w:ry gentle with bet). Yes [ kQOw, Char~ lotte, but you .ellly ought not to dwell too much OD your sorrow. It isII't good for YOI1. You ought to take a broad point of view, 1m a·

giOl'! yourself II: statesman! . . . . . . . .

MRS, MELDON: If Eddie had been a statesman I he would not

, have go.ne to the War. He would have competted some other person to go.

CORJUEl

OIl, now. don't be bitter, Charlotte; don't be bittel!

MRS. MELDON! My dear fumy, 1'01 beyond being bitter. Do you know what 1 discovered today?

CORRIE: No.

MRS.. MELDON: You know I've MYel' «ally known how Eddie died. If ound out today.

COJUUE:

I wish YOIl wouldn't think IKI much about it.

MRS. MELDON: (with IMtdden paaion). I must think about it.

I can't help thinking about it! . , ..... , •.. I met a young. man in town today who had been in the same battalion as Eddie, and he told me about it. Poor lad, jt slipped out before he realised that I hadn't hown before! ....

CORRIE:

People {lughtn't to talk so mJCh aboutth.e War. Much better forget about it!

MRS. MELDON! (recoverins bendf). You remembertheC.O. of the battalion wrote to me and said that Eddte had been killed by 3. piece of men and that he had been buried behind the line SQmewnere1 •

CORRIE:

Yes.] remember,

MRS. MELDON: That comforted me very much. It made things easier to think that he wasn't. , . . . . . . . ~ . - , mutilated. . . . . . that even when he was killed he Wa.ll still my dear and beautifut boy. , .. , ..

{5&)

eo •• U!:

II IIOldkt, buried by soldiers, in a soldier's BTan! . . . . . . But he warn'tburled. Henry.

WJ:m't bllried?

Mit', MELDON: 'No! 1b.ttl! was nothfnS to bury. The shell carne Il'UI. • • . . u:d ,. .. there was nothing. (They ~ dfent tot'l mOll\tllit 01 nro). [lQn'" yo!.! thlllk that is honible. H~nry,? The,;: w" IIlO d«~uoy in hls d«lth I . , Oh, my God! my God r VOL! teU me to l~e Abroad point of view about that! M}' mnl . ,. .. The)"d been in l1itt1e; !haU0\t0. t1~4;h_ EddIe. 1M ft.is men, ~tUDi theTD rO[ eight m.ys Ind n~t!, waiting arid waiting. lind theen a shell eame right into the middle of tgnm.p nf thO.lll and d~tmyed them. . , , . . . . utt~l)' destroyed them., ... Ftlo'e of them •... !lothJnS Jeft .•••••. nothing teft~

tit. .11 tw.t in b. chair * both of them ue silart. lbm .... fm' ..... 10=1 to hit qbt~ !!ill'dQ"" befOre: hill Plpefl IIId nhHtI).

CORRIE:

Oh..1 think we.'~ bettrr not tl.fk about it1 You'r~ upse~! That chap oUght Mt to M'II;:; to!~ you about Eddie,

CORRIE;

MIlS. ME.l..DON~ He tbcug.ht l knew, 'ilrhat Is your invention?

I'll tc11 ai'KIther time.

MAS. MELDON; N lil<.e ((I i:, now now, Somethi.l18 'to make W.2U m(\Je ex.pccditiQ\lll To end it quickly! .

roalE:

(BWin.liDlround to her). JlealJ Y 1 CruuilJtte., !.his is [be most huma.nit&rial'l l1iventlon r don', belleye', mind you, Lhat W~fS will e\rfr end. No. We're altogdker 1.~O pugnacIous. we human beings. So the- only thilllg 10 d.o, then. i~ to make WIlT so hortible that nc nanon will ii:1iI.a gagt: in one unles. .. absolutely dri v en to it: That's wh~fe I come In, I'm going to make w,r hor[ible;..eaUy honilU.1 v'

(59)

CORRIE:

MRS. MEl.DON: y~.

I've gor something here, Charlene , . ., , . the formulae fur a oomb that will make w:!r not only stupendQuUY' horrible, but will el:'lo 11 almost 3S quickly as it began.

MRS. MELDON: On that table?

(She riBes and pet. to him).

Yes. r'fe made: tests. and r"e worked out the formula. with mathematicel precis.ion, and l've

dboovefed l combination of gases and exploliVC'S that will obliterate thousands at once.

MRS. MELDON: ThousaRds'/

CORRIE: Yes.

COIUUE:

CORJUE;

MRS. MELDON! Oblitera.r~ them just like Eddie.

Oh, my dear Charlotte, you really must not be so morbid, We've got to deal with the world of fact, and if this country is goiQg to maintain hel' pruition mthe world, she will have to useevery . d.e.viceshe can employ to keep her there. I consider that !'m perfo.rmll1g a hlgh1y patriotic act in offering this discovery to. my country. Now t Jisten! By means of my fotmula, we can make a bomb, a big bomb. not one of those little footling things the German5 used to drop on London, but an enormous bomb, full of corrosive gas, which will. be dropped from a powerful aeroplaM or ainhip-that has to be settled yet-but it'i not reaMy my job. Now. when the next war breaks ourl. . . . . .

COKRm:

MRS. MEWON: The DCXt war?

;',:.. -

Yes, I should say we'd have another in twenty or thirty yean. wouldn't you? Not more than Ofty I anyhow. We II, when it 'corn es, our ultimatum will consist of a number of airships or aeroplane; dfop!p}n~ these btg bombs 01'1 the country with which we' re .1.( war -just the way the Japanese declared war on the Russians by

(60)

blow1ng their $Illp$ to pleces. Only ours will be I'l'ulch mOR effectlv! than lhat The Japs ollly Sink. I few ships.. We'U tl.ufII"ly oMilerale , .... holeclues, perhaps il. whole narlcn.

MIl. MJ!LDON ,"'es,

('OI:a.IE!

When thIs bomb falls, the: explosililn will dtlq!,we i wide tract of th~ djsrrkr in which it falb. and It t.he ~e time will release II po~rf~l, spreadiirll ps, withou, colo~r or smen, which win "reid <Wer I wide: ,fc:J l.nd pttl:son eller)!' penon who id&l~ it. They won'l luI"w lb. •• tlteylft lnMled It until du:y see their bodies rottiDa. And nothitl!! will saYe them th(ln! W1tb II ~t bomb We could wipe out tbl:' JlQPular tiDt'I ~r Ii dty & big al Ml.neh~r. SLngl e bomb. Chula ttd 1../ ....

MD. NELD014: But that would mean everybody-men and woo

. rn,ei\ )nd chi1dven-

('ORRlE:

Oh. ye., AftCf aD. now.a-dlys, there Is no lop. ~aJ djstin!,':tion between ~ ~lyijilln and ill S()Idier_ Wha,'s (he: differenee .helwe"n 'he &itJ who rnraloles. mlJn'liOll~ l.rrd"thlt mifll whe u~ them In the trenclJe:s1 YQU Iulow. Ch.a.tlou .. if! iii terrific tho u.ght, to think, tha ~ ] t-a'n iit here u th LS table r with :;. formula WTlU en out on those ,~~ of paper w hieh will ena ble:t J ~w men [0 go I,Ip intQ the llr and wipe out ill ' ... ·hQIc ~[y. And I'm the only man ii'! the: ..... arld woo klW\!o"5. how to do it.

MM!I, MI{UlON; Aten'l theu) m~n like you in other eountries using their braim. for tht ~ pUlpm,e?

, OI:IUBR:

Yes, 'out I don'[ imilgLne anyone will d1~over SO powfTf'Ul a wc.apon U this, If I had madi\! this dtsecve:1I)' bt 1914. dte' 'W'ar w()uld hillif heen over befOft\! the end of Unt year, and there ~w· bah!y wouldn't be any GelflUins left now. They'd be an exnnet race.

Nil". Mf!LUON: Ptrhaps an en-=my 01 IWs CQllnlry miabt make:

(6D

a similar discovtry, Henry, and use jt 00 us.V

CORRIE: We'll have to take the risk of that. Anyhow my discovery will be available to our people and if a war does come along, we've only gOt to get OUr bomb dropped on them before they get

. theirs, dropped 0J'i UII~ and the trick's done.

\,/' ,

MRS. ME LDON: I suppose it was someone Jike you who Invented the kind of shell that destroyed Eddie ..• _ . that obliterated him!_)

CORRIE: (rising and pattitIg her on the slIouIder). Now, now don>t go bad to' that subject. Charlctte, Come over here 'by the fire, and t.ry to take a

more cheerful view of life. '

M'RS. MELDON; Chee rfu t view ~ My dear Henry, I sometimes wonder whethe r, In spite of your cleverness, you aren't really the stupldest man on earth.

CORRIE:

Oh. come!

MRS. MELDON: I'm IlI)t clever. ltseems odd that 1 should be YOIl. mtat, a quite ordinary, commonplace woman, with nothing in my life but my love for my husband and my SOn. But when I hear you telling me to take 3 broad statesman-like view of my son being blown to pieces, ] begin to think that you're a fool, Henry-just a dull, unimaginative. bloodless fool. And when you ask me to rejo ice because you 've jn\'onted a bomb that will destroy 3 whole city in a few minutes, I th]nk you're .........•.. you're mad -wickedly> horribly, mad.J

My dear Charlotte! . . . . . .

CORRIE:

M.RS. MELDON: One moment. Henry, [, want you to try and realise my point of view, the PQint. of vjcw of an ordinary woman wit hour any pretenlion$. Th ink of Bddie as [think of himl . • -. . .

CORRIE:

This isn't good for you.

{62}

~----.-

MRS. MElDON = Oh y~. his, , ~o 'Nek now to the wry beg)J'lning.an'ili ~ Ullink of Tom ~fl:d me, V6ry young 11_ foolish, I !>QPpO-~, 'but very'!l a ppy. TO~. HenlY. I'nd ~l!r queer ple!l.nHe and f[~ghL wben 1,1.''1: klllew that Eddie was coming. And I t b~!lK , too, of myselF, oonu:tbtles arnighl, aWlikt. Wl1h Tom MIl8 a:slee-p bestde me; and how ~ tho.ug,bt abour the ritHe child J w·u £O~ns to bell~ him, and bow I roved it and k1ved him for b~inK ftS father, and how ~\I~e I w,p. ~Iu~ 1;1 wO'IlM be ~ boy! I w~u ffliMe-ned, too, ~ ~nme1j' ~e. cause I tru:U.I.P.t I Rlip;ht die .. n:d - never know my sen wbQ, w(lu\dI !I0W up and hav.t no knaw~~d&t! o.f ml!', And !bc-n he WQ$ born. wcha de.a:r t U&1ie. ,c1utdlilng cl!ild, 50 terribly d~pen. cltr,n: on me. T'MI1 wa~vfryplell£ed and pm ud. b~t nt:ljI';U' ·so ph~a~d Ima proud as T wa!j,. We nth wa.tche:11 !lim Grow-you how how llsadwm~howasT

l"RR~E:

NRS. MELDON~ And we made plans for hkrl. He wa~, ~1I ut Ii!~t 3Ild IJktd-~p1e djd like hinl~ evem y.o\l like~ him, tfunry, didn't you?

Yes. I. ... ! liked hiilu .. Wee w~ 1.~ Ith'a~H;,e boy I BI.I~ don't youthmk. ...

'M"", MIl.DON: And then he wn llt You r,emcmber hO'w we all thought tJu,! he IMlmd d~~, and Torn, poor Tom. \liM nl!yer OO\lld. c~pr$5& hirn~e1f v ery Iptty. wcm, a"~t • if he were stUJl:l1ed, I can't ~ell yOl!J whit 1 thought dum, Henry .. r just c,;'!n't ~cu )!"IN, but ehl ~.prtlyed for him. Henry-pray. ~ fo.r tmn SQ·th.t my whole mind was .Ii prayer.WiIlU. til: g.IU 'Oelt!r, and seem ed to grow 5tl:'O n... ~; Ind 8t S(:hoQl he did vezy wjlB. I can:au f11~W, the first thlle h~ played in a ~i.clu.t 1111'11;11, 'fOr)' plei!&ed with his b1'l.l~r.a,Pd how -IlL 1~11t] ha was when lie came to telt ~ ~M he

, •• J In .~ICI tCifl runs. Tan mos, ht! Inl..dl! UI.y hU~t ~u fI lu II I. I1rlL cricket Jtlakb. AU ~tn;e other boy~

(63)

or his age wereWTY rupcctful to him .and I IlIU 51.'1 S11d whe"Ji he let me wllk ibout with him JUSt as if he bad,Il" had a ldumph. An:d Ton'I wu". frightfully 1:i1~1 (00. and g,lve him .. SI)~Ki,gn! ,. _ (Her taR ~ h. aDdIlbe 1'I.iIes bet huda to 1M:r • .,. in • p:IIblft of po. My UnIt: 'IJ!»),! • . • • • • •

OOUIE: This d dbt.raskIJ ),,'0\11'. my deaf. Du~·'l ul~k about it IIny more·V

MRS. MELOON: (~ herIM). He hadn't been at OlU"ord' long 'when Ih War begin, and chen he 1Ife<n' off and enUsted. We didn't know wheth.er ro be! pJOuGl of hUmI Of te .be IlIBry wirth brim •. bllu chlefly we were proud. I loved him in l'liI chml$.Y uiI1ilform ~:d hts gre~f. fOu:gh boo.,. JUII u much III [loved hiJn later 0", in his of"flce:r's unirfofffl. ArId willen he went off fO FFli1nce. [ t riedtD be: worthy' of my SOn and not to cry. u wa~ (rtghtflllDy hard 10 smi.lel Henry. but I dhjl smHe.l felt that was what Eddte' would wish me ~a do. not ~o sham-e, him tle.fore dtc o.thef pcu· ple. a.nd so 1 smilC'd and made I nulo sill), jokeo I!lOOU~ the feaJ 01" [!Ie Germaos when they hea rd of his Ilrd\ll}. But I Wts In terrol. Heruy, and all th,e time' that h~ wu aWljI ] Yo' Hint errot . TIl'!! 'ight of 01 tel!lril.pb.meSSUl,g,cr mad~ by hr.art &iIDt! .~ •. And then he came: home on fla Hr1t lea¥e. :md ftily little sea 'wasn't my lItde ,SOli .any more I but 3 ~trangeljl-grown man, young to loo,k at. but full of e)';traordin:lry howkdg.~ • roh shy with b in1. Ho'd seen 50 m ucl'1 and knew s..ti!.mlilc.!t. And Ilhm I rhiln': I rehprouder of WI~ th.tnoVfl befa«e. bc«u$fl h-e Wi'S a man and I could de-pend IIIpi!lD'l h~. We 'wen!i very hap'py during th:allea¥l!. Henry, so happy that 1 h~rdl)' biil.d 'I~ ''0 be :lJIlu;rablc 'heel,IIa: i1 ''''"0'1.11 dI so SOOn be over. and when he w.e!)f back, although I cl'kd ;!! I~u]e' wben tit: WI!.n·~ hlOkln.g, ! did",'1 mind so muoh 11$ I th.uu.ght I !lhould1bee!)l,.Ise t penulded mYRJf eo beli-ew ~1tar hoe wo-u1dn''t be

\

k!JI~. Wlt.:m he hs;J:ir hi~ S2COM It.a,¥e~n~ was, ;;I, c!lpta11'!, ] was ~Un:: that h ~ would COme hom" tQ me, quite Rfec b~llI 10m. W.OO ilulllh\i'i,)'~ fr:;}t we should Jose him, began to bl.lHevrl that he"d 'QOme htmle q;t1f'!. Blilt he diWin't. lmmed:ia· teJy he S'Ot back to Fra.I1OO, he had to gO' into the liniI!J,Oi1iLd ~ht d;rys bi~tJ. h; wai kUled-ju.st obliterated, as you. say. by men who had. never s"n him, w:h;o dU!l~>t ,e'len know UlIil[ ttheY'd kilil· e (him. And all my years of low and hope and dmre lind pljilil~&onll! i"d fII!.!I~:S~ d. mm '~~dI ca~\~d for him and taught him UtUe I~srons and beef] pro-ud of him-arum the,-. in a mo:meat my heallli' myl son w.:u, " .... , . , . .obliterated, H~nry! (Th.en: :is a 5ilgfi!t pa'!l.Sl!' ""bllle 5he ~l'el'li hf'radf). You see, d(w'~ you, H.-eIlty. that r can't take a brQadview of that, I U!lO 1l1y see my son's bod)' m1:Hilate.d and de.sh'oyed. thae~ all.

COR.KII!;

Well I Qf C01J rse, [ q t.l i le se;e ym.tr pe i n~ of view I Chaa:loUe. It is hard. I adl'r1H til a L But we ha v~ to 'ke.e P o~r fe~lings ~mdercoM rol. M!d after .lill. Utere.':Ii d • .t (~llIl!S~Jihon tJHU Eddie dId hi~ dUlY 10 hj~ oountrY. ! dare say he acccruntcil fYT a good mallY GennaJIl~! •. ,

MRS. .MlEU)()N~ na~ doesO'l comfort 1iIl,c, Htmry _ lcan't get aIlY pleuure out of the lhough'~ that $Om!! poor Gt,Jm,n wOman ls .~il.lffering, j:UiSt as l'IlI, ~1J,ffer· lng., No, Henry, [ feel that 1 would want to take sid6 l<IIith h~ apruliL~ men Ulu:. YGul

MRS. MELDON: "Iiu. P~npl~ w.~lh b~m.'iiI,'i!1~ws,. Be&a,u,se )ltlu'r.e such fools, Someone li ke me, not cle voer , createS III bg;!"'liful ~ mil'll like' my $00, and. you. with all you[clevetfle5S, can only dedrO)! it. That's why ~ thim;: YOIll're iii. leel, nem)' y

· CORRIE:

;(I.cttle4). wcn~, of course. CharlCilUe. with YO.u,r ~CW'SI I can hiP'd111 npm you 10 appleciate me O[ my work, but I f;we)' 1ihat my ~C?umtJ[ymen.. .~f ,h-ey' blve an¥ tense, wiU know how to. wJue me. My bomb WilD mab my Pln.e bow,m to !he most ig.tlor!J:ntm~lII in the !X)lU'ltry. P.,oplc WlU f,Jk. ,a~DiiI<t dtl"DlfTie'lI bo:mb • .lU;l1 p'dley \l1oed tQt~k about the· Mills bombdul'lng (he Wl1'. • awl have to ,m fo.r I Wie hIm, SU[I1Ii in p.l)'ment Q:f' the inventloDt beCii.U5El II roy:alty wout(h~itpiY me' ~t IU. lillis, sol II roy&lJt~ OP • each of his bomb5. but, thell they wCfellDall ~d hun_dK~:S or'lho\lSlmb of dtem, w-ue uJed. My bombs will. b~ bi8.j ind One of th~m will !;uf·,

- fiGe. rOt ~ dty .. 'YB, I: $hln bar,e to Ilk ror' I large lUmp SUJ'Il.NQw thar tbiy're spending i'l:u.eral, IiIlIliiliOllJ pound, o~ a. blftlcsbip' .'thail b generally believed to be 1;Is.et~a.I, rm en.titled 10, liiSk fulf!ll W:II)' ~gl: him rOT my bomb wh~

, will cefta.inly' dccid~ the war. 1 wond,eJ how mil.l:ch f ougli.t fo ask for? CharloUe. how, m,udI ought ~ to uk fo.;! Th.~ won't. gi'teme whIt n's w~lfI!h; that'l IIbsohl'te1y cel1lim. TheY' m,Jgh1 ,PlY a quart.er o.f a mill:lon. Charlotte, 'what wooocl yQUI !!15k: for if YOIll wefe ffle?

MRS:, MaDON: ~ sihn,u'da~k fo, my S(llI',

Now, ~IO'W. now. Chaiif.iltte, .oot apln,.pJear:se.,

e: Not Qa,in. We fll~it thmk of [he. f~t"'re. not of the:,aU. 1 d;jiJlil"t Wi.I teask roit too ft!1iIclll,ltIe. ClIl~' [ .shl!n.'tge't Lt, .!!.mll lI,bU't want to as.k fo:r ~09 ~unl!'i~UtO'UillTl I Shl.1,11 prQbQbly~,et !]:Hlit IllYhow. What do you th.IDk. Ch!~oue:1 I)c; ,aU (bint it wouJd -M' Ii)tt1e r to I~t tfremriame a ,d~<e,.

COJtRJlil:

\

"

wen. you mIght tll"e II! linJ!,!! hlterl!St lin the m:u· tef. 1~·5 '~.JY, {m!,[lortllrlt 1,0 m,e', 1hey C1:Jgfl,t ,r~Uy to ,giJe mea title too. ~,ppo$i"g J say a c:~uple of hundred dlou54nd pounds !I!ld II .peerase~

'-

rARS. MBLOON: Why flot say thEr!)" pieces of silllc,?

(fhorougltry !l1lV}'). R~a]Jy. Challonc. you're iflw"eil'lbL'e~ Y~ll're a'bsohMly 'in~ufrcrablc] ,I put up with ii, S,roat dit3J €rom ),0111 b«ausr ,oll'l,e 111 dist.ress. bu t there ale I imi rs to end urance, you know. You haVEn,'t Cflingratullred me, even perfunctorily and you've made YOUT5.Clf and me dlO1i01!lgliJ,y mbclable by thu._ ., . _ .Ms moanillg over - what can It be helped, You've even m3d~ HaMalR lliIIim,a.ble, My de:!r ()bu· lottel!'m talking to' you [lOW for your gOlHt You really fill~(:no{ to IICt your mimi dwell on things iathe wily you do. It isn't good for ),OI:Jl, Simi ~1':!I WI!!' unpteasant rO'f me arid for 01 her~ who asscetate with you. Your bol" wacs killed-so we[~ other peopfe"s rooy~-biJt we can'l sp~lld the rest of our Jiv~& In. lamenta,tion. ] haw lOy wm' todo!~'., ','

!IllS. MELDON: Your rIIo:mb7

,CORiUE: Yes.

MRS. MlEUM1N: Whtdl will rn3lli::e Ilh~ bodies of men Imd women and Httlc chil,tlli~liI rot if" does, Il.o* blow tlllC:fi!I (0 p~~c:!!.

The fortune of wa:r~ my dear Chnrloue aft~r ,IU" what does it nlilit1tr lO, 3 IDiIIlll 'IIIhe1her he is IMown to pieces by I bomb or stabbed to death by a bayonet 1 h 31 liminer Of fact, the' bomb is tbe mere merciful of tM !W(I. It j;5n't ~ny use bclng senti:ll'lenta!, IlItK1lJt lhes.e Lb'i'llg.S. Tht purpose of war Is killIng, and the Soide, Whli;~l kilb tn~ IiJlrut peopleilll tbe shOflefl: tiline is go ing I (.'I win the wafS of d'u future" My b'Ol1\b ..... m en'!bt~ tho~ who posr;ess uto conduct a. war in ~ rapid and ef'fkiel"lt fas.hioD NQ fcas,Om.b!e persOn eM deny th.at' I havti pc rfo rmed a scr\'il.!e to my country ill in~'elltlng lnis bllllllb ror ill> ~~. JItd IW(!1110U, ir you were not disU}ltt{'d by wbat' you heard rhis Llllomll1.g ... nd f,ht 1;11' '(Iil.at Ill1Iis 'is the aonivl![sary 01' Eddie's 4.k:llll, would agr,ee widI ~he,m.

(6?)

, MRS, M[LDON = No 'O'ne but you know the secret of )lour in'o<~UOIII. Htlll.ry?

MRS.. MELDON: I r youweil"e 1110 dies:tmy your ;illi'tenlinn. ru::~~r revf.iai Us sec ran, thu u sands 0 r boys like Eddh: mig'ill .hl~ without rear of be ins desHO),l!d"

Oh, I du.lll', know. 11"5,3 ramarnic .hougM. thai, but there's ]1()ll\il,g in. U. Other people will ~nvelll IDinAH enl dc~dJjer .harilr fnrybomb,

MRS. MIiLOOi'4! BUIf. tlelllll')f'. jr yon we~ "0 mpl~f~~ y011lr illllVel'l' tion~

Suppress 11 1

MRS. MELDON: Yes, If you were to clestro}' your r()nllu.~e.III.,a.nd people were to Imo ..... wbat you'd <h,Jl'le, per· haps you'd do :II great deal 10 \\hal1gt!: :pl1l)pJe',i h~ru~ .. , ,

OORRDl:

My dtl3r Charlo n eo. mos. Km;jblc people would Ihiltk I'd gODe off !ill}' h!!~iliI. A (;!il'W cm!JIk.$ ,aolll fengiol!J~ ma n i ... 1,: & migl'lI P,.. u i~ III e, but the averliige pl!;rsgrnw,~~~d t Ithik l W".i5 a ftKI)-btsjd,il'.! b~ing t.lnnned Uflp31rI(Hi'C.

CORRIE;

MRS. M!ELDON~ UenT)" I beg. you to clCSW;l)' your invention.

You whal.'?

MRS. MELDON: t beg you to destroy II. LCllhat be your memofj.a.l to ,Eddie! .••.

My de;tr ChuluUe. I begin to believe. t.ltalE 8rief 11a~ unlliol!ed yeur mind. D~stroy my illlvemiQI1!

~~RS. MELDON: Your bomb will destroy life Henry, l bC'~ or }:'OU h) d,e;~LfOJ i'! .... _

COR"RIE: Rubbish. WOlDillil. n~bbim.

!l.tIS. ~EL()ON: Then ~ '~m drslm), it lor you! /_ .

(68)

· (Ske JOe'S to tbf' lllbte where rht rthnt-s are, and hurls 'the table o.'I'rr ~ thll'l tbe rt'o'l1S an smashed).

r.nRRm:

{la~ lu!.tmly). That W01'l'[ destroy it. I've got i! aTfjll my bllid. All th;\t you; ... e pone, Charroue, lS W make a mess illl my flOOT, Damned ~my, I can it,

fH:c stoops down and begln~ to clear u.p tile m_'.

umlUE:

(ORRl!:

01 CallISU it LS. Anyiocooy bu( ;l fool or "l W(!Tl1~IJ wou1d have realised lma(. ,Milk.,,); ",] confrmnMo mC'S~ jib t hi!! ~ .. -..

CORRIE.:

Yes, Y'n, 1)cm'i keep on leP1l'a.tirii )'~I.1rs.eU, hUl ('-OJ;1JlC lind I~elp to 'I: \C'a:r ,.. p this mess you "~

made

MRS. MElDON' Iltnr)', wun'\ you do what ! a'Sk )'OU~

CORRIE;

~m'i be a fool (lookiltg round). Ciw me tiJ"OIl , doth over there So that I can m-op lip this ~tllff,

(lit' contillllCi to coUeet w.t pit~ of broken gln~. etc., wMle- she ;goes tl)Ward~ Ute tab~ whefe tile eloth is. When ~e reacha the table. .me sees a IoJIgka:ifc lying 'there, and half uncu~usJy die. pl&5 it I1P 0Ind' JotIb.at ill.

CORam:

(i.mpMiendy). Hurry LIp. \\o'hal Uri earth &f(.Yf'oU dQi~B?

MRS. MELDON; I'm looking il 5Orlletlling-.this knife.

CORRIE:

Well. YOll can look at it aJtl!'lwan.b. ~e-Idj rIll doth nOW. Herc's Eddie's wrf':uh !lIlII"1 "" uble. YOEl'~'C f1Hid~ 2 mess of iI, 1!1I~'

MR.S. MELDON: Eddic'i wreath!

(Slie came'S tQ·W3Tds: 'him, 'he k ruf~' In ,"f'1 h ,,,,,11

CORRJE.~ Yes,

MRS. ~1.ELP()N: lf you were to gi v e tip your in ... .,ntion Henry, I wouldll'l mind about the "'''eIIfh, VOUIf offelw ing wo"dd be: lIeUe< I hJ~ m~l'Ie.

CORRIE:'

WeB. 1 shIln't. Give up my invention for a lot of dal'lme~ sentiment? Not IIke[y!

MRS. MELDON: It'll dfstrOy life, ijellr)l.

COR.RIE:

(He SDafll .it @1iI~ of be'r hand, but dbes not _ the elfe in her hand).

MRS, MELPON: You won't destror i~, Hfmr1'

CORRIE,:

MR.S. MELDON: (nllliog the! knife .bo.,.e him). Then I. , .•

.(\o\ljd!, 8J quen moan of despaU. Qe drives the knife in10 biI back. He SW,a.YIi I, moment, utt~ I chQkmg sourMI, bd the.n, elutehing at the air. he pilchf:5 forward on to h_is flee),

(She ~ ~andl lho~'e him, ~ down Oil ~Lit bod}' in,. duPd way. She ill cryhlJ bYlitericaU". and $Ilildfbly sM mooptaDd pic:tos up the broktn Meath, She holds IUo hl3' breast, and ftaft:s dl.'itractedly in front of her}.

I'll RS. M£LIlWN; Eddie-, dear" r hOld~" r .ma1il to, &ldJe!

CURTAIN

\

(10)