More Portmanteau Plays

Six years have elapsed since Act I as years elapse in a boy's imaginings.

Throughout this act the characters are disclosed without reason as in a dream; and the movement of the act represents four terrors of a delirium--anxious effort to make oneself known, a feeling of fetters, climbing and a sudden fall.

JONATHAN BUILDS A FEAR

[_Before the curtain rises the voices of Jonathan, Hank, Nathaniel and John are heard, muffled and far away._

Hank. He fell on the rocks out there.

Nathaniel. Put him over here.

John. What was he doing?

Hank. He was--

Nathaniel. This is no time for questions, John. Call a doctor.

Jonathan. Good-bye.... Jonathan.

John. We'd better take him in the house.

Jonathan. My mother was the best woman--

Nathaniel. He'd better stay here until the doctor comes.

Jonathan. All on a summer's day--

Hank. He's out of his head, ain't he?

Nathaniel. Perhaps, but sometimes one's heart speaks in a delirium.

Hank. He acts like his back's broke.

Nathaniel. My God--his back!

Jonathan. My back's broken, Hank.

Hank. Listen, he's saying my name. We wuz pals, sure nuff.

Jonathan. My back's broken, Hank.

[_The curtain has risen unnoticed._

_A faint light that grows steadily brighter as light does when one comes out of a swoon discloses Jonathan and Hank seated on a log at the left of the stage, where the bench had been. Jonathan seems much older, and he is crooked and dirty and unkempt, and Hank is somewhat brutalised, less negative._

Jonathan. My back's broken, Hank.

[_Hank looks at him._

Tired?

Hank. Sure....

Jonathan. I think Uncle Nathaniel would help me if he saw me.

Hank. He couldn't do nothin' for you. You can't straighten a crooked back....

Jonathan. Hank, I'm tired of this and I'm going back.

Hank. Going back where?

Jonathan. I'm going back home.

Hank. Your Uncle John won't let you in.

Jonathan. Uncle Nathaniel will take me in.

Hank. He ain't there no more and besides he won't know you.

Jonathan. Honest--don't you think he would?

Hank. Sure, he wouldn't.

Jonathan. I wish I hadn't run away.

Hank. If you don't quit wishing I'll run away from you.

Jonathan. You wouldn't leave me, would you, Hank?

Hank. Sure, I'd leave you.... What do you think I am--a wishing stone?... I want peace, I do.... An' your wishing's disturbing my peace.... Every day fer six years you squeal about what you done.... Your Uncle John swatted you and you burned your theatre things and jumped out o' the window and broke your back and I saved you....

Jonathan. I can't do anything with a broken back!

Hank. What do you want to do anything for?

Jonathan. Sometimes I'd like to write a little.

Hank. Go ahead.... I'll wait for you.

Jonathan. And I'd like to give a show. You know, Hank, I used to want to be an actor....

Hank. Sure, all kids want to be actors or go in a circus or do something where a lot o' people are lookin' on.

Jonathan. But I can't be an actor now, because nobody'd want to look at me.

Hank. You act like that hump's ruined your life, when all you got to do's crouch over a little more and look sad and you can get anything you want. Why, it's money in your pocket, that's what that hump is; it's money in your pocket.

[_He closes the conversation by whistling._

Say, go on over to that house and get us something to eat.

[_Jonathan prepares for the quest and Hank rolls over to go to sleep._

_As Jonathan crosses, lights disclose a hill with pleasant green slopes. At its foot stands a little cottage, all cool and pleasant with great glass doors. There are no locks and bolts to keep one out or to keep one in. A high plaster and brick wall flanks the cottage._

_As Jonathan nears the cottage he meets Uncle John, whose austerity is more apparent than ever._

_Jonathan cowers a moment, then attempts to smile._

Jonathan. Hank said you'd turn me away if I came back.

John. Were you talking to me, boy?

Jonathan. I'm so sorry I ran away, Uncle John.

John. Uncle John?

Jonathan. Don't you know me, Sir?

John. Indeed I do not.

Jonathan. I'm Jonathan--

John. Jonathan! My nephew Jonathan?--Ha! Ha!

Jonathan. Don't you remember I didn't want to study engineering--I didn't want to go to Somerset School?

John. Where is Jonathan?

Jonathan. I'm Jonathan, sir. You remember I jumped out of the window and I tried to run away.

John. You seem to know a lot about it. Where is Jonathan?

Jonathan. I tell you I am Jonathan.... Don't you remember you struck me--You struck me across the face--that's what made me run away.

John. I should have whipped him and put him to bed.

Jonathan. I would have run away just the same, Uncle John.

John. Don't call me Uncle John!

Jonathan. But you are my Uncle John.

John. I ask you where _is_ Jonathan.

Jonathan. Would you like to see him?

John. I should like to know what has become of him.

Jonathan. Would you let him come back home?

John. No. When he ran away, I cast him out forever.

Jonathan. Couldn't you forgive him if he was very, very sorry for what he had done?... Couldn't you forgive me, sir?... I am Jonathan. Honest I am Jonathan.

John. Don't try to deceive me. Jonathan was impudent as you are; but he was a Clay: he was straight and fine.

Jonathan. But I broke my back.

John. Tell me where Jonathan is, you imposter.

[_He takes Jonathan by the arm and twists it brutally._

Tell me.... Tell me.

Jonathan. I don't know.... Let me go.... I'm _not_ Jonathan.

John. Tell me....

JONATHAN (_in desperation_)

He's dead.

John. What!

Jonathan. He's dead. He died somewhere.

John. And so you tried to palm yourself off as Jonathan.

Jonathan. I'm sorry.

John. Don't you know you can't make your way with lies?

Jonathan. Yes, sir.

John. You ought to be whipped, but I suppose you don't know any better. I should have you arrested for vagrancy.

[_Jonathan winces._

But I won't. I pity you, you dirty little beggar.

[_He starts to walk._

You ought to wash your hands and face at least.

Jonathan. Please, sir--one minute.... How are Mary and John third?

John. Mary is ten--a big girl--and John third is eight--a strapping boy who will be a great help to me.

Jonathan. And--how is Aunt Letitia?

John. My aunt died of a broken heart.

Jonathan. A broken heart?

John. Because Jonathan ran away.

[_Jonathan buries his face in his arms._

There! Don't cry for someone you've never seen.... Here, here, take this--

[_He presses a coin into Jonathan's hand and goes out._

_Jonathan looks at the coin, then after John, and seems to close his heart. He crosses to the sleeping Hank._

Jonathan. Here, Hank.

HANK (_taking the coin_)

What'd he say?

Jonathan. He didn't know me.

Hank. I guess you're not going back home now!

Jonathan. No, I haven't any home.

Hank. Then quit your snifflin' an' go on over to that house.

Jonathan. All right, Hank.

[_Hank curls up and goes to sleep again._

_Jonathan crosses to the cottage and finally summons the courage to knock on the door. As he does so the lights within grow bright and disclose a lovely little room with a beautiful piano in the centre. In a moment a young woman appears and opens the doors. It is Susan Sample. She is charmingly older; but she is dressed almost as she was in the old lumber room._

Jonathan. Please, Miss--why--

Susan. What do you want?

Jonathan. I--don't you know me?

Susan. No, I don't know you, little boy. What do you want?

Jonathan. I--don't you really know me?

Susan. I've never seen you before.

Jonathan. I know you.... You're Susan Sample.

Susan. Who told you?

Jonathan. I'm-- (_He becomes conscious of his back_) Why Jonathan told me.

Susan. Have you seen Jonathan?

Jonathan. Yes.

Susan. Where is he?

Jonathan. I don't know.

Susan. He ran away. Why doesn't he come home?

Jonathan. Because--oh, I don't know.

Susan. Who are you?

Jonathan. I'm a vagrant.

Susan. Are you hungry?

JONATHAN (_looking toward Hank_)

No. I'm not.... I'm not begging.... But will you do something for me?

Susan. Yes, if I can.

[Illustration: JONATHAN MAKES A WISH

ACT II.]

Jonathan. Will you play for me?

Susan. Oh, yes.... What shall I play?

Jonathan. Anything.

[_Jonathan notices his dirty hands._

Excuse me a moment.

[_He goes to a bird-bath and washes his hands, wipes them and returns to the piano._

_Susan plays a bit of a nocturne with ease and grace._

Jonathan. Do you remember this?

[_He hums "All on a Summer Day."_

Susan. Oh, yes.

[_She plays the tune in a sophisticated musical way, but Jonathan is disappointed._

Susan. You don't like it?

Jonathan. That isn't exactly the way it goes.

Susan. Oh, yes, it is.

[_She plays it once more and sings it._

Jonathan. No--no--no. It ought to go this way.

[_He sings it as he had sung it years before._

Susan. You sing that just as Jonathan used to sing it.

Jonathan. I like it that way.

Susan. Did Jonathan teach it to you?

Jonathan. Yes.... A long time ago.

Susan. Did he tell you--

Jonathan. About the lovely lady who danced to the tune? Oh, she was wonderful!

Susan. Jonathan ran away--and he never wrote to me or thought of me.

Jonathan. He thought of you and he talked of you and he sang of you.

Susan. No.... I can't believe that.

Jonathan. Jonathan loves you very much.

Susan. If a man loves a woman very much he can't go away from her for years and years.

Jonathan. Suppose Jonathan had pride and was ashamed to let you know that he had failed.

Susan. Jonathan wouldn't fail. I know Jonathan.

Jonathan. He--Susan Sample!

[_Susan plays softly. She is lovely in the sunlight which is lengthening across the lawn._

[_Jonathan watches her quietly. The love of the boy fans into flame and he reaches out to her, then in the consciousness of his deformity he turns away._

Susan. Will you tell me where Jonathan was when you last saw him?

Jonathan. I don't know--The last time I saw Jonathan--he was tall and straight--and making his way.

Susan. Oh, well.

[_Albert Peet enters. He is a little man of immaculate appearance and great preciseness._

Albert. Ah, Susan.

Susan. Albert, you are late.

Albert. Who is this?

Susan. This is a friend of Jonathan's.

Albert. Jonathan who?

Susan. Don't you remember Jonathan who had the toy theatre? He ran away from home.

Albert. Oh... and this is his friend? How do you do?

Susan. Do you remember this? I used to play it for you.

[_She begins "All on a Summer's Day."_

Jonathan and I made it up.

ALBERT (_laughing_)

Oh, yes.

SUSAN (_to Jonathan_)

Come on and sing it.

[_Jonathan is not sure of the status of Albert Peet._

[_Susan plays and she and Jonathan sing with great feeling._

ALBERT [_looking at his watch_

Well, all this is very pleasant indeed, but we'll have to go, Susan dear.

[_At the "Susan, dear" Jonathan turns quickly and sees the two holding hands. Susan holds up her left hand and shows an engagement ring on it. Jonathan is utterly crushed._

Jonathan. I think I'd better say good-bye.

[_He takes up his cap._

Good-Bye. If you see Jonathan, tell him I'm going to marry Albert Peet. He'll know.

Good-Bye. [_Albert and Susan walk off happily in the sunshine._

_Jonathan looks after them._

_Mlle. Perrault enters followed by Mary and John 3rd. Mlle. Perrault's dress is almost like the one she had worn when she first met Jonathan in the lumber-room, except that the colors are reversed and more brilliant. Mary is a lovely little yellow-haired child of ten and John 3rd is a stoical matter-of-fact boy of eight. The two children are evidently very fond of Mlle. Perrault, as fond as Jonathan and Susan had seemed. If the children seem thoughtless and cruel, it is because they are children and life has not yet laid a hard hand upon them. The sun rays are very low against the wall now so that anyone walking near it will cast a very heavy shadow._

Mary. John, look--he's a hunchback.

Mlle. Perrault. 'Sh! Children.

[_The children whisper._

_Jonathan turns and seeing Mlle. Perrault smiles._

How do you do, little man.

Jonathan. I am well, I thank you.

Mlle. Perrault. What are you doing here?

Jonathan. I am with Hank.

Mlle. Perrault. Hank?

Jonathan. Yes, Hank's my pal. There he is--asleep.

Mlle. Perrault. Oh, what a dreadful person.... Children, don't go near him.

Jonathan. He's not so bad.

Mlle. Perrault. But he is a vagrant--a tramp. Why does he do nothing?

Jonathan. He's happier that way.

Mlle. Perrault. Are you his son?

Jonathan. Oh, no.

Mlle. Perrault. Where is your mother?

Jonathan. My mother's dead.

Mlle. Perrault. Where did she live?

JONATHAN (_Looks for a trace of recognition_)

I'd better not tell you.

Mary. Oh, please tell us.

Jonathan. I'd better not.

Mary. You ask him, John.

John Iii. Uh-uh!

Mary. Why not?

John Iii. I don't want to know.

Mlle. Perrault. Why don't you want to tell _us_? We won't tell anybody.

Jonathan. Nobody'll believe me.

Mary. Why?

Jonathan. You see, I ran away from home--

John Iii. When you run away from home, you're no good.

Mary. Now, John, that isn't always so.

John Iii. It is.

Mary. It isn't. Goldilocks and the Babes in the Wood and the Marquis of Carabas were all good, and they ran away from home.

John Iii. But they had bad homes.

Mary. Was your home bad?

Jonathan. I thought it was.

John Iii. You thought it was. But was it?

Jonathan. No.

John Iii. Then you're no good.

Mlle. Perrault. Oh, John.

John Iii. No, he isn't. Grandfather said nobody who ran away from home was any good!

Mary. Why did you run away from home?

Jonathan. I mustn't tell.

Mary. Oh, you won't tell anything!

JOHN III (_pointing to Hank_)

What did you say _he_ was, Ma'mselle?

Mlle. Perrault. He is a vagrant--

MARY AND JOHN III

What's a vagrant?

Ooh--. [_Puts up her hand to make a wish._

John Iii. Aw, I'm not going to make a wish. Grandfather'll get it for me anyway if I want it.

Mary. Now, John Clay III--

[_Jonathan looks up quickly._

You always spoil things.

Jonathan. Is that Mary Clay and John Clay?

Mlle. Perrault. Yes.

Jonathan. They don't remember Jonathan, do they?

Mlle. Perrault. You mean Jonathan who ran away?

Jonathan. Yes, ma'am.

Mary. Who's Jonathan?

John Iii. He's David's friend. I know that. And he was very good.

Mlle. Perrault. What do you know about Jonathan?

Jonathan. I knew him once--

Mlle. Perrault. He was a splendid little man! He could make such lovely songs.

Jonathan. Do you remember the one he and Susan Sample made up?

Mlle. Perrault. Let's see--how did it go?

[_Hums a little--tries several folk tunes. The children edge up to Jonathan during this and manage to touch his back several times, each keeping count. Jonathan smiles at them, thinking it's attention._

Jonathan. No, it went this way.

[_He sings a little of the song and Mlle. Perrault joins him. As he stops singing she switches the time to waltz time and begins to sway to it. The music is taken up as by a dream-orchestra and Mlle. Perrault dances a very lovely little waltz._

John Iii. Oh, look at your shadow!

[_Mlle. Perrault turns and sees her shadow on the wall._

I can make a bigger one than that.

Mary. Oh, come on, ma'mselle, let's all make shadows.

[_The three of them stand in front of the wall._

John Iii. Boy, you come, too.

Mlle. Perrault. Come, boy.

[_Jonathan joins them standing so that his deformity doesn't show in the shadow._

Now, let's dance--Give me your hand--so.

[_The four dance, while Mlle. Perrault hums "All on a Summer's Day." They are having a very good time when Susan and Albert enter._

_Jonathan is a little conscious of Susan and Albert, and he manages to make several awkward moves._

Mlle. Perrault. Now, let's make everybody's shadow dance by itself.

Mary. Oh, come on.

John Iii. You first, Mlle.

Mary. It's your turn, Mlle.

[_Mlle. Perrault stands before the wall and makes a very lovely shadow._

John, you do it now.

John Iii. I won't. I'm going to be next to last.... He's going to be last.

[_Mary makes a pretty "statue."_

Mary. Now, John--

[_John III, holding a staff, stands bow-legged and pigeon-toed._

_All of them laugh._

MLLE. PERRAULT (_to John III_)

You little Jackanapes! You!

JOHN III (_to Jonathan_)

You can't do that.

[_Jonathan, still conscious of Susan, but more in the spirit of the game nevertheless, laughs almost gleefully._

Jonathan. You just wait.

[_He stands in front of the wall and does some comical movements with his feet and legs, then he turns in such a way that for the first time the shadow of his hump is thrown into a pitiful distortion on the wall. He doesn't see it at first, for he is lost in the game with the children._

JOHN III (_yelling suddenly_)

Oh, look!

[_The children laugh immoderately, and Jonathan turns his head quickly, but in so doing alters the shadow. He smiles joyfully and then once more falls into the distorted picture._

John Iii. That's funnier than mine.

[_Jonathan turns his head this time and sees the full horror of the thing._

_Mlle. Perrault and Susan have realized too late to protect Jonathan._

Mlle. Perrault. John! Mary! Tell the little boy good-bye. We must go.

[_Jonathan looks toward Susan and Albert. There is pity in Susan's eyes and a smile in Albert's._

Susan. Albert, come--let's go!

[_They pass into the house._

JOHN III [_Almost as Susan speaks._

Wasn't he funniest of all!

Mlle. Perrault. Now, run along, children. Run along.

Mary. Look, I can make a hump-back.

John Iii. So can I.

Mary. Not a good one!

John Iii. You can't touch mine.

[_He smacks Mary on the back and runs off, Mary following him._

Mlle. Perrault. Little man, I'm very sorry. You mustn't let them hurt you. They are only children.

Jonathan. Yes, ma'am.... Thank you.

Mlle. Perrault. May I do something for you?

Jonathan. No, ma'am... if you please... I must go to Hank.

Mlle. Perrault. Here, take this--

[_She offers a coin._

Jonathan. Oh, no, ma'am....

[_He puts his hand behind him._

Mlle. Perrault. I am sorry.... Very, very sorry.

Jonathan. Yes, ma'am.

[_Mlle. Perrault goes out silently, and in a moment she is heard to call_ "Marie"--"John," _and a distant answer is heard_.

_Susan comes to the door and sees Jonathan. She crosses to him. He looks at her almost with madness in his eyes._

Susan. They didn't mean to hurt you.

[_She lays her hand on his arm._

Jonathan. Yes, I know.

[_There is a moment of the tenderest, most understanding silence. He turns away._

_Susan starts to reach in her bag, she even takes her purse out; but she replaces it unopened, and instead of bestowing alms, she takes a flower from her hair and presses it in Jonathan's hands._

_He looks at her with years of pent-up gratitude loosed from his heart._

_Silently, she turns away and goes into the house. Jonathan, left alone, turns so that his hump once more shows in the most distorted shadow. He lifts the flower and for a single moment, its shadow rises above the shadow of the hump, a tiny cross on his little Calvary. Then he lays the flower against his cheek and sits upon the log near Hank._

_Hank awakens._

HANK (_looking up stupidly_)

What you got?

JONATHAN (_hiding the flower_)

Nothing.

Hank. Come across, Humpy.

Jonathan. Don't you call me that!

Hank. So--ho! What you yelling at me for?

[_He sits up._

Jonathan. Nothing.... I didn't mean to yell.

Hank. What you got there?

Jonathan. I tell you I haven't got anything, Hank.

Hank. Come on. Come across.

Jonathan. It's not for you.

Hank. Come on.

JONATHAN (_Rises and moves away_)

No.

Hank. Gimme it here....

[_He grabs Jonathan and tears the flower from his hand._

Jonathan. Stop that!

Hank. Great God! (_Throwing the crushed petals on the ground_) Say, what's the matter with you?

Jonathan. I tell you, I'm going back.... I'm going back to my home.... I'm going to find my Uncle Nathaniel. I know he'll take me in. He won't blame me because I'm a cripple.... I know.... I know.... Didn't he say, "Poor Jonathan"?...

[_At this moment Nathaniel enters, and the two stand face to face as they had stood in the lumber-room at their first meeting._

_Hank slinks away._

_Nathaniel is untouched by the years. Jonathan looks at him hopefully, but there is no glint of recognition In Nathaniel's eye._

JONATHAN (_timidly_)

Uncle Nathaniel.

Nathaniel. What did you say, my boy?

JONATHAN (_Less and less audible, as his disappointment increases_)

Uncle Nathaniel.

Nathaniel. I can't hear you.

Jonathan. You--are--my--Uncle Nathaniel.

Nathaniel. Come, come, my boy. I can't hear you.

Jonathan. Aren't you--Mr.--Nathaniel--Clay?

NATHANIEL (_kindly, but as to a stranger_)

Yes, I am Mr. Nathaniel Clay.

[_Jonathan smiles one of his old half smiles._

Jonathan. My name's--Jonathan.

Nathaniel. Jonathan!... I had a nephew whose name was Jonathan.

Jonathan. Don't you know me?

Nathaniel. You must forgive me, little man--but I do not remember you. Boys grow so quickly.

Jonathan. Don't you remember _Zenobia_?

Nathaniel. _Zenobia?_ Who was she?

Jonathan. Don't you remember the little theatre?

Nathaniel. Oh, yes, my nephew Jonathan had a little toy theatre, and he wrote a play called _Zenobia_.... He burnt them.

Jonathan. Was it wrong to burn them?

Nathaniel. I don't know. You see Jonathan ran away, and I have never seen him since.

Jonathan. Do you blame him?

Nathaniel. Well, I can't say. When a fine boy like Jonathan runs away from home, he may have what he considers a good reason.

Jonathan. Don't you know why he ran away?

Nathaniel. I think I know.

Jonathan. Would you tell me why?

Nathaniel. That wouldn't do any good, my boy.... If you had an uncle who liked you very much, would you run away?

Jonathan. No, sir--not if I had another chance....

Nathaniel. What do you mean?

Jonathan. Don't you really know me?

Nathaniel. I'm sorry--no!

JONATHAN (_pointing to Hank_)

Do you know him?

Nathaniel. That tramp?

Jonathan. Yes, sir.... That's Hank.

Nathaniel. Hank?

Jonathan. Yes, the one I ran away with.

Nathaniel. Did you run away, too?

Jonathan. Yes, sir; I jumped out the window, and I fell and broke my back. Hank said--

Nathaniel. What a dirty man!

Jonathan. He's my pal.

Nathaniel. You're evidently a fine young man inside.

Jonathan. Oh, I'm sorry, sir, that I ran away.

Nathaniel. You can't undo the past, my boy, but you can make the future.

Jonathan. I can't straighten my back.

Nathaniel. Perhaps not, but you can straighten your life.

Jonathan. I'm only a beggar, sir.

Nathaniel. There is something everybody can do.

Jonathan. There isn't any place for me....

Nathaniel. My boy, there is a place for everybody who wants a place.

Jonathan. Do you remember what your nephew wanted to do?

Nathaniel. Yes, he wanted to write plays and run a theatre and be an actor.

Jonathan. I couldn't ever be an actor, could I?

Nathaniel. No, my boy.

Jonathan. Supposing you had your heart set on something and couldn't do it, what would you do?

Nathaniel. I'd not give up.... I'd try something else.

Jonathan. Supposing I were your nephew, what would you do?

Nathaniel. I'd find out what you wanted to be.

Jonathan. Don't I look like Jonathan?

Nathaniel. Jonathan must be very tall now.

Jonathan. If Jonathan weren't tall?

Nathaniel. But he _is_ tall and splendid. I know Jonathan! And he's doing what he set out to do.

Jonathan. I hope you'll find him, sir, and I hope he'll make you proud.

NATHANIEL (_very earnestly_)

My boy, how old are you?

Jonathan. I'm twenty.

Nathaniel. Twenty.... Will you try to pull yourself out of the rut?

Jonathan. What do you mean, sir?

Nathaniel. Look at that man. What is he to you?

Jonathan. He's my pal.

Nathaniel. You mustn't waste your life on such emptiness as his.

Jonathan. I'm going to try, sir.... And if I make good, will you believe I'm Jonathan?

Nathaniel. I'll believe you are you.... Here....

[_He offers Jonathan a coin._

Jonathan. Oh, no, sir.... I can't--from you--

Nathaniel. Well, you are a strange beggar--

Jonathan. I'm not a beggar at heart.... I don't want to be what I am. But I don't know which way to turn. I'm all mixed up.

Nathaniel. All mixed up?

[_Nathaniel turns and looks toward the hill._

Boy, there is a green hill far away. Climb to the top of it, look about and you will see--

Jonathan. I know: the whole wide world!

Nathaniel. Exactly.

Jonathan. Yes, sir.

Nathaniel. Go to the hilltop alone--and cry out to your heart's content.--There's nothing like a hilltop to make a man feel worth while!

Jonathan. I knew that, sir; but I forgot it. I'm going--

Nathaniel. Good-bye, boy; God bless you.

[_The two clasp hands and Nathaniel goes._

Jonathan. He believes in me....

[_He watches Nathaniel with wide eyes, then calls to Hank._

Hank! Hank!

Hank. What you want?

Jonathan. _He_ didn't know me!

Hank. Who didn't know you?

[_Hank lies down._

Jonathan. Uncle Nathaniel.... He just passed by.... But, Hank, he believed in me! He believed I'd make good.

Hank. Say, what's the matter with you today?

Jonathan. I'm goin' to leave you, Hank.

Hank. Huh?

Jonathan. Old pal, I'm going to leave you forever. You've stuck by me--

Hank. Sure, I've stuck by you.

[_Makes himself comfortable._

Ain't you saved me a heap o' trouble?

Jonathan. But I'm going now, Hank. Good-bye. I'm going to the green hill far away.

[_He starts away leaving Hank alone and asleep. The lights fade out._

_Soft music is heard through the darkness and slowly the outline of the green hill appears close at hand. Jonathan outlined against the sky appears at the edge of the hill, climbing with difficulty._

NATHANIEL (_The voice is heard with the music_)

Nine ninety-nine--one thousand. You're nearly there, Boy.

Jonathan. Nine hundred and ninety-nine--one thousand--I'm almost there.

NATHANIEL (_far away_)

A thousand and one--a thousand and two--

Jonathan. A thousand and one, a thousand and two--I am here!

NATHANIEL (_far away_)

The world is here.

JONATHAN (_as though addressing the world_)

Listen.... I ran away. I ran away. I was fourteen. I saw visions of great things. I heard voices of the past and the future. I wanted to tell what I saw and heard.... Oh, you who made sport of my dreams, I am here at the top of the world! Uncle John, I have heard things you will never hear, and I have seen things you will never see.

JOHN (_far away_)

But your back's broken.

Jonathan. Oh, Susan--Susan Sample--see--see. I told you I wasn't a beggar. See--see--Jonathan stands at the top of the world!

SUSAN (_faintly_)

But your back's broken.

Jonathan. Oh, people of all the world, I am a boy who asks you to hear me and to understand. I only wanted to work out _my_ way.... I planned my way because I couldn't help it--I wanted to build my own world--alone.... I climbed clear to the top--Jonathan stands before you--

VOICES

Jonathan's dead.

Jonathan. Dead?... Oh, see the wreck of everything.... Jonathan _is_ dead!

[_He falls._

Nathaniel. Boy--boy--Jonathan!--I believe you are you.

Jonathan. Uncle Nathaniel!

[_He rises slowly._

Oh, people of all the world, my Uncle Nathaniel understands.--I speak for all the boys of all times. Have patience--patience and understanding. Don't you remember when you were young? We come to you with hopes and dreams and wishes and fears,--and these are the things that life is made of--

Nathaniel. I am here, Jonathan.

Jonathan. I'm coming to you. I'm coming back to you with all my hopes and dreams.

Nathaniel. We're waiting for you, Jonathan.

Jonathan. I've made my wish that's coming true!!

[_He jumps into space._

_Curtain._