The Thirteenth Chair | Page 6

(down L.). Oh, I don't think--
MASON. It couldn't be a trick. She just stood there. I watched her
hands every minute.
(TRENT goes to arm-chair L.C.)

ROSALIE. You did watch the wrong end of me. I 'ave a wooden sole in
my shoe. (She lifts her skirt and shows that she has taken one foot from
her slipper.) You do it with your foot. Like this. (Laughingly.) It is a
trick.
(MISS EASTWOOD goes to WALES L.C. MRS. TRENT moves up to
armchair L.C. STANDISH up to L. end of chesterfield, and then by the
back of chesterfield to R.C., CROSBY C. MRS. CROSBY is seated at
table R.)
MASON (R.C.). Then if we get any messages--
ROSALIE. If you get any messages? Well, sir, I am telling you the
truth now. Most of the time it is a fake. With me as with the others. But
to-night there will be no fake. I am a stranger to all of you except to Mr.
Wales. I do not know who live in this 'ouse. I do not know the name of
any one of you. Mr. Wales told me he wanted me to come 'ere, he said
he would send for me. (Moves to R. end of chesterfield.) But 'e did not
tell me one word about any of you;
WALES (down L.). That is quite true.
TRENT (by arm-chair L.C.). You haven't given her a hint of any sort?
WALES (L.). On my word of honour.
MASON (above table R.). Madame la Grange.
ROSALIE. Yes, sir?
MASON. I know a man who saw Palladino lift a table just by putting
her hands on it.
(ROSALIE points to a small console table R. end of settee--it has a
lamp on it. MISS EASTWOOD is at the L. end of chesterfield.)
ROSALIE (putting hand-bag on chair above table R.). Will someone
please take the lamp off that table? And will you bring it to me 'ere?

(MISS STANDISH moves to and takes the lamp and holds it. MASON
brings console table to ROSALIE who comes down C.--the wide side of
the table to audience. ROSALIE puts her hands on table with her
thumbs under its edge and lifts the table and turns right and left.)
You mean like that?
MASON. Yes, I suppose that was it.
ROSALIE. In the dark you would not 'ave noticed my thumbs.
(All laugh. Miss ERSKINE is seated at the back of the table over R.)
But it can be done, it can be done. I do not say that I can do it in the
light, but if you want I will try.
ALL. Oh, yes, yes, of course, please do--yes, yes!
MASON. You mean without any trickery?
ROSALIE (getting back of console table. Turning table
around--narrow side to audience). I mean like this.
(She places the tips of the fingers of both hands on the C. of the table
and stands rigid for a few moments. No one speaks. All watch her with
breathless interest. Slowly the table tips a little to one side, and then
tips in the opposite direction. Then it slowly rises about a foot from the
floor, and then drops suddenly and falls over. There is a long pause.)
MASON (R. of small table). Good Lord!
WALES (L.C., quietly). What did I tell you?
(There is a long pause, all turn towards ROSALIE to see what she will
do next. MASON takes console table back to its place to the R. end of
the chesterfield. TRENT and MRS. TRENT are over L. STANDISH
and CROSBY C.)
ROSALIE (C.). Now you all do know what I can do, but I can trick you

too; so you will 'ave to take my word for it that I will not. I am not
making to you any promises. I will go into the trance for you and it will
be the real trance and not a fake. My spirit does control a little girl
named Laughing Eyes.
CROSBY. Are you asking us to believe that the spirit of a dead child--
ROSALIE (C.). To them that believe there is no death. Your own
religion teaches you that.
CROSBY. But not that the spirits of the dead can come back to earth.
ROSALIE (moves to chair upper end of table R. CROSBY crosses to
R. end of chesterfield). Monsieur should go and read the Bible. I am not
going to argue with any of you. I did not come 'ere for argument. Most
of you do not believe. You are all of little faith; it is 'ard to get
messages then. Perhaps it would be best if I did go. (Crosses to L.C.
STANDISH has moved to the back of table R.)
MRS. CROSBY (at table R.). Oh, no, please stay.
ROSALIE (after hesitating). Madame, I