The Thirteenth Chair | Page 9

you're going to try spiritualism?
WALES. Why not? (There is a pause.) Do any of you object?
TRENT. Certainly not. I'm rather for it.
MASON (rises, still on L. of table R.). You are doing this seriously? This is not a joke?
WALES. Quite seriously. (There is a pause.) Well, why won't somebody laugh?
CROSBY. My dear fellow, why should anyone laugh? This queer old woman may have powers of which we know nothing at all. Personally, I haven't much belief in that sort of thing, but I'm not going to laugh at it. (Rise.) Neither am I going to have any trickery, or if there is any I'm going to expose it.
WALES (over L.). That's perfectly fair.
CROSBY. You've been at her séances, or whatever they call them, before?
WALES. Yes.
CROSBY. In the dark?
WALES. Invariably.
CROSBY. I may want light. (He turns to his son.) Billy, if I call for lights you give them to me. Don't wait for anything. Understand?
WILLIAM. Perfectly, dad.
(WILLIAM goes up to small table R. of chesterfield. Brings table with lamp on it down to his chair and the chair next to it in the circle.)
CROSBY (still in circle.) That's all right then.
(The door L. opens. MRS. CROSBY enters, followed by MADAME LA GRANGE and the other ladies. WALES moves to R.C. outside circle, STANDISH to upper end of table R., TRENT to L. side of circle.)
MRS. CROSBY. I think it wasn't fair of us.
ROSALIE. Oh, madame, I did not mind.
(MRS. CROSBY crosses back of chesterfield to up R.C.)
MISS EASTWOOD (down L.). I can assure you there isn't anything up her sleeve.
ROSALIE. Well, what did you expect? Burglar's tools?
(MISS EASTWOOD goes up to L. end of chesterfield. MRS. TRENT closes door down L. She and HELEN move up L. with Miss STANDISH.)
WALES (over R.). Madame la Grange, we've fastened the windows.
(TRENT, STANDISH, ERSKINE by console table L. of chesterfield.)
ROSALIE. That is right. You cannot be too careful, eh?
CROSBY. And now, if you don't mind, I'm going to lock the doors and keep the keys in my pocket.
ROSALIE. Anything you do wish, sir. It is all the same to me.
(Goes inside circle and sits down up C. in circle.)
MASON (R.C.). May I see that it's done, Mr. Crosby?
CROSBY (L.C., with a laugh). Can't you trust me?
MASON. It isn't that--I--well, I just want to be sure. To see for myself.
CROSBY. Lock that one yourself, then. (Indicating door R.C. MASON goes to and locks the door. CROSBY goes to door L.C., locks it, takes out the key and puts it in his pocket.) Better try it, Mason. (MASON crosses to door L.C.--shows it is locked.) Now well do this one. (He starts to door down L. Then stops suddenly.) No, I've got a better way than this. My dear, will you ring for Pollock?
MRS. CROSBY (upper end of table R.). What are you going to do now?
CROSBY. Wait and see. (To ROSALIE.) You don't object to this?
ROSALIE. Oh, no, sir.
(BUTLER enters from door L.--comes well on stage.)
CROSBY. Oh, Pollock, I want you to put these keys in your pocket. (Hands them to him. POLLOCK puts them in his waistcoat pocket.)
POLLOCK. Yes, sir.
CROSBY (L.C.). Now then, I want you to take the key out of that door, and lock it on the outside, understand?
POLLOCK. Perfectly, sir.
CROSBY. Then take the key from the lock and put that one in your pocket also, after that you are to stand outside that door, and you are not to unlock it until I tell you to. Understand?
POLLOCK. Yes, sir, I'm to lock this door on the outside, keep the key in my pocket, and then stay just outside, and not open it for anyone until you tell me.
CROSBY. Exactly. (General buzz of conversation. POLLOCK goes to the door L., takes out the key and exits, closing the door after him. The key is heard turning in the lock.) Now then, Mason, you'd better try that door, too. (MASON goes over and tries the door L. CROSBY follows him. Speaking through the door L.) Are you there, Pollock?
POLLOCK (outside.) Yes, sir.
CROSBY. And the keys are in your pocket?
POLLOCK. Quite so, sir.
CROSBY. Now we're ready, Madame la Grange.
ROSALIE. Then please you will all sit in a circle and hold hands.
MISS ERSKINE. Hold hands! I'm going to love this.
(All laugh.)
MASON (moving down to a chair on the L. of the circle). How shall we sit? I mean, do you want us in any particular order?
ROSALIE. Any way at all.
WILLIAM. I'll sit here. (Takes chair and sits in reach of lamp on table R.C.)
ROSALIE. Any way will do.
(HELEN and MRS. TRENT come down L.)
(They all sit in a circle in the following order: ROSALIE, C.; CROSBY L. of ROSALIE; MISS ERSKINE, MISS STANDISH, TRENT, MISS EASTWOOD; MASON; HELEN; MRS. TRENT; STANDISH and MRS. CROSBY; WILLIAM sits on ROSALIE'S right side. This will bring WALES sitting