Thirty Pieces of Silver: A Play in Three Acts by Howard Fast Page A

stairs, leaving DAVID alone in the living-room. He stands as he is for a moment. Then he goes to the radio and switches it on. Music, to which he listens without hearing — and then he clicks it off. He goes to the bar and pours a drink, and then stands there sipping it. HILDA enters then and stops short at the archway. DAVID turns and sees her. Apparently he has forgotten about last night. )
    Hello, Hilda;
    HILDA Good evening, Mr. Graham. I was going to tell Mrs. Graham that the party was ready.
    DAVID What party?
    HILDA ( her voice fiat and uncertain ) Mrs. Andrews was here and she brought a pretty cake for Lorry, so Mrs. Graham said it would be nice if we all had a party.
    DAVID ( He hasn’t been listening. ) What?
    HILDA Just a little make-believe party.
    DAVID Uh-huh—sure. I’ll tell Jane when she comes down.
    ( HILDA goes out. DAVID stands there, looking at his drink. Then he walks to a, chair and drops into it. JANE comes down the stairs, dressed now. DAVID doesn’t glance up until she is quite close to him .)
    You don’t seem very glad to see me?
    JANE No—I don’t, do I, Dave?
    DAVID What was Mildred Andrews doing here to-day?
    JANE She dropped in to give us some pastry she picked up. She bought it with her bridge winnings last night.
    DAVID Why? Can’t we afford to lose five bucks without payment in kind?
    JANE Yes, but I suppose she can’t afford to win it.
    DAVID That doesn’t make sense.
    JANE Hardly anything makes sense to-day.
    ( She turns and starts toward the dining-room. DAVID rises and follows her, taking one of her arms and turning her to face him. They stand like that for a moment, then DAVID lets go of her arm. )
    DAVID I’ve been trying all day to think of how beautiful you are—and I couldn’t. Why’d you marry me, Jane?
    JANE Because I loved you.
    DAVID And now?
    ( JANE stands motionless, without response. DAVID takes her by the shoulders, as if to kiss her, and she pulls away. )
    All right——
    ( He starts back to the chair. )
    Don’t tell me about it—oh, the hell with it!
    ( He sits down and picks up his drink. )
    Here’s to everything.
    JANE I might as well tell you, Dave. I’ve been fighting with myself all day—you don’t understand that, do you? But the funny thing is I didn’t make any decision. You made it for me last night.
    DAVID What in hell are you talking about?
    JANE ( coming closer to him ) You and me, Dave—can’t you understand? Or did you figure that after that business last night, everything went on just as it had before?
    DAVID I still don’t know what you’re talking about.
    JANE Because it’s not easy to say, Dave.
    ( She moves closer to him, shaking her head. Her voice is almost flat, yet awfully urgent.’ )
    It’s the worst thing I’ve had to say—ever. That we’re through. We’re through.
    DAVID ( standing up ) Are you crazy, Jane?
    JANE Maybe I am. If I am, it’s the only way I can be.
    DAVID Just let it make sense—that’s all I ask! You don’t come to something like this in two hours! Last night wasn’t the first fight we’ve had! What in hell are you doing to me, Jane?
    JANE David——
    DAVID ( taking her again by the shoulders ) Jane, we’ve been together a long time. You don’t wipe it out like this. You know what I am. You’ve always known what I am.
    JANE That’s it; I haven’t. I didn’t know until last night—until you sold out Agronsky.
    DAVID ( His arms drop. ) Until I sold Agronsky——
    ( He begins to laugh, a trace of hysteria in it. He turns and walks away from her, turns to face her again. )
    Until I sold Agronsky. My God, that’s beautiful—that’s just beautiful. Now I’m Judas—only there’s no thirty pieces of silver!
    ( He drops into a chair, his face in his hands. )
    JANE ( with pity ) Dave——
    DAVID (not looking up )