The Machine | Page 7

some business deal or other with my father. Then he seemed to drop
out of everything, and nobody sees him any more. I don't know why.
JACK. I think he was disgusted with his experiences.
LAURA. Oh!
JACK. [Realizing that he had said something awkward.] I think I was
the first Socialist he'd ever met. He had just gotten to the stage of
despair. He'd started out with a long program of reforms . . . and he was
going to educate the people to them . . . one by one, until he'd made
them all effective. I said to him: "By the time you've got the attention
of the public on reform number thirty . . . what do you suppose the
politicians will have been doing with reform number one?"
JULIA. We all have to go through that stage. I can remember just as
well . . . [A ring upon the bell.] Ah, there he is.
JACK. [Rises and goes to the door.] But I think he's most through
butting his head against the stone wall! [Calls.] Are you there, old man?
MONTAGUE. [Off.] I'm here!
JACK. How are you?
MONTAGUE. Fine!
JACK. Come right in.
MONTAGUE. [Enters; a tall, handsome man of thirty; self-contained
and slow of speech; the dark type of a Southerner.] I'm a trifle late.
[Sees LAURA; starts.] Miss Hegan! You! [Recovers himself.] Why . . .
an unexpected pleasure!
LAURA. Unexpected on both sides, Mr. Montague.

MONTAGUE. I'm delighted to meet you, really!
[They shake hands.]
JACK. Julia, my friend, Mr. Montague. Miss Patterson.
MONTAGUE. I'm very glad to meet you, Miss Patterson.
JULIA. We had no idea we were bringing old friends together.
MONTAGUE. No; it was certainly a coincidence.
LAURA. It's been . . . let me see . . . a year since we've met.
MONTAGUE. It must be fully that.
LAURA. Where do you keep yourself these days?
MONTAGUE. Oh, I'm studying, in a quiet way.
LAURA. And none of your old friends ever see you?
MONTAGUE. I don't get about much.
LAURA. [Earnestly.] And friendship means so little to you as that?
MONTAGUE. I . . . it would be hard to explain. I have been busy with
politics . . .
[A pause of embarrassment.]
JULIA. Mr. Bullen has just been telling us about your heroism.
MONTAGUE. My heroism? Where?
JULIA. At the polling place.
MONTAGUE. Oh, that! It was nothing.
LAURA. It seemed like a good deal to us.

MONTAGUE. Make him tell you about some of his own adventures.
JULIA. Would you ever think, to look at his innocent countenance, that
he had helped to hold a building for six hours against Russian artillery?
LAURA. Good heavens! Where was this?
JULIA. During the St. Petersburg uprising.
LAURA. And weren't you frightened to death?
JACK. [Laughing.] No; we were too busy taking pot- shots at the
Cossacks. It was like the hunting season in the Adirondacks.
LAURA. And how did it turn out?
JACK. Oh, they were too much for us in the end. I got away, across the
ice of the Neva . . . I had the heel of one shoe shot off. And yet people
tell us romance is dead! Anybody who is looking for romance, and
knows what it is, can find all he wants in Russia.
[Pause.]
LAURA. [To MONTAGUE.] Have you seen my father lately?
MONTAGUE. No; not for some time.
LAURA. You may see him this evening. He promised to call for me.
MONTAGUE. Indeed!
JACK. Oh, by the way, Julia, I forgot! How's Annie?
LAURA. Oh, yes; how is she?
JULIA. She's doing well, I think. Better every day.
LAURA. Is she still violent?

JULIA. Not so much. I can always handle her now.
LAURA. Is she in the next room?
[Looking to the right.]
JULIA. Yes. She's been asleep since afternoon.
LAURA. And you still won't let me send her to a hospital?
JULIA. Oh, no. Truly, it would kill the poor girl.
LAURA. But you . . . with all your work, and your engagements?
JULIA. She's very quiet. And the neighbors come in and help when I'm
out. They all sympathize.
LAURA. Talking about heroism . . . it seems to me that you are entitled
to mention.
JULIA. Why, nonsense! . . . the girl was simply thrown into my arms.
LAURA. Most people would have managed to step out of the way, just
the same. You've heard the story, have you, Mr. Montague?
MONTAGUE. Bullen has told it to me. You haven't been able to get
any justice?
JACK. From the police? Hardly! But we're keeping at it, to make the
story complete. I went to see Captain Quinn to-day. "What's this?" says
he. "Annie Rogers again? Didn't your lady frien' get her pitcher