Part 2

JERVIS. (_Deprecating the idea_) No, no. But why not teach them the truth? The Lord will provide for the rich. The poor must provide for themselves. (_Turns to MISS P. and sets cup on table._)

WYKOFF. (_C. and R. of JERVIS_) Well, I’m a practical man, Mr. Pendleton. I don’t know as I follow you in all your new-fangled philosophy, but I⸺ (_JERVIS turns and faces him._)

JERVIS. Yes⸺

WYKOFF. Er—I’m convinced⸺

JERVIS. Yes—yes⸺

WYKOFF. Er—er—I’m convinced! (_Turns to MRS. L._) Here, here, Mrs. Lippett, this floor ought to be scrubbed. (_MRS. L. crosses to him and they go up and out C., WYKOFF complaining about conditions and MRS. L. excusing them. MRS. L. turns on lamp in hall as she exits._)

(_At cue “This floor ought to be scrubbed,” the children come down from pantry in single file, and march off R.I.E. JERVIS crosses to R. of C. watching them, and stirred to pity by their dejected and whipped manner._)

JERVIS. (R.) Poor little kiddies. (_Turning to MISS P._) There’s nothing in it.

MISS P. (L.) What do you mean, Jervis?

JERVIS. Why, you can’t bring them up like chickens in batches of a hundred like chickens in an incubator. It isn’t natural—it won’t work.

MISS P. (_To L. C. Sits R._) Jervis! (_He turns_) I hate to be always begging. But there’s one of these children for whom I should so love to manage a future.

JERVIS. (_Good-naturedly_) Another promising engineer?

MISS P. No—this time—it’s a girl.

JERVIS. (_In consternation_) A girl! My dear lady!

MISS P. And such a pretty one!

JERVIS. (_Amazed, crossing over L._) Oh, no! You can’t catch me with that bait!

MISS P. She’s more than pretty. (_Sits bench R. of table L._)

JERVIS. (_Wearily. Hands in pocket, crosses down R._) I know—she has a good record and deserves⸺

MISS P. She has the worst record of any child in this Home.

JERVIS. (_Interested_) What!

MISS P. She doesn’t lie out of her misdemeanors as the others do. She is disobedient and impertinent but⸺

JERVIS. And just what is it you want me to do for this pretty, disobedient, impertinent young person? (_Up around table R._)

MISS P. I want you—to send her to college.

JERVIS. What? To college? From an orphan asylum? Impossible!

MISS P. She’s eighteen. (_JERVIS faces front_) And ready to graduate from the High School.

JERVIS. (_Facing MISS P._) So? I thought they never kept them after fourteen?

MISS P. Judy Abbott was so unusually bright that the Board of Trustees let her stay on and attend the village school.

JERVIS. Very generous!

MISS P. Of course it saved hiring someone to take care of the younger children.

JERVIS. Thrifty and generous.

MISS P. And she has done remarkable work in English. Her teachers say that she would make an author if she had the training.

JERVIS. An author? There are too many authors in the world already. (_Crosses to her._) I don’t wish to make any more.

MISS P. (_Solemnly_) Suppose she should be a genius? Have you any right to keep her down?

JERVIS. If she were a genius I couldn’t keep her down. Do you think she would placidly stand all this? (_With a comprehensive gesture about the room_) She would rise and mutiny if she had any spirit.

MISS P. But she’s only eighteen, and if you only knew⸺

JERVIS. (_Facing MISS P., stubbornly shaking his head_) We all have the right to a few prejudices. You know yourself that you won’t eat bananas. No reason in the world except that you don’t like bananas. Now I have an antipathy, too, I don’t like girls. Never did like ’em. Never will like ’em.

MISS P. (_Rises. JERVIS walks L. MISS PRITCHARD rises_) You are a crabbed, ill-natured, hard-shelled, old bachelor, and you don’t know what you are talking about! You’ve never known any girls.

JERVIS. Never known any? That precious sister-in-law of mine has a daughter coming on exactly like her.

MISS P. Baby Julia?

JERVIS. (_Turns away_) Baby Julia enters college next September.

MISS P. Think of that!

JERVIS. I might arrange for your impertinent orphan to room with my aristocratic niece. (_Chuckles at the idea_) That would be rather a neat joke on the Pendleton family!

MISS P. (_With asperity_) My little Judy deserves a chance for her own sake.

JERVIS. You damned her chance when you said she was pretty.

MISS P. Why?

_Children READY_

JERVIS. Why? Why, I’d no sooner get her educated than some young whippersnapper would come along and want to marry her. Education thrown away. I’d rather put my money into a permanent investment.

MISS P. Do you really mean it, or is it just one of your stupid jokes?

JERVIS. (_Seriously_) I really mean it. How could one of these orphans compete with the class of girls she would meet in college? (_Crosses R._)

MISS P. But you haven’t seen my Judy.

JERVIS. No. But I have seen this institution and I know that no child that was ever born could live eighteen years in the John Grier Home and have spirit enough left to fight the world. (_Crossing L. C._)

MISS P. But my Judy’s different. Give her a chance.

JERVIS. My dear Miss Pritchard! In college your little Judy wouldn’t have a chance. Do you think they’d take in an outsider—from an orphan asylum?

MISS P. It’s not fair.

JERVIS. (_Bitterly_) Nothing’s fair. But it’s a fact. Don’t you see that it would be no kindness to the girl? We should just be showing her a glimpse of a bigger, more beautiful life, such as she has never dreamed of, and then forbidding her to enter. No, no. Society has thrown away your little Judy—(_Hands in pockets_)—and it’s too late now to pick up the pieces.

MISS P. (_L.C., crushed_) Yes—but it’s cruel.

JERVIS. (_To MISS P., drawing her hand through his arm_) Well! Well! Come and let’s have a look at that scandalous dark playroom. (_Going up C._) Maybe you can induce me to build a new one. (_They go out C. and L._)

(_As JERVIS and MISS P. exit both ad lib, SADIE KATE pokes her head into room, R. I., then crosses in front to R. C. and turns to beckon the others on._)

SADIE KATE. Come on! (_Coming R. C. GLADIOLA, LORETTA and MAMIE enter R._) Now’s your chance! (_GLADIOLA crosses in front and up to get the broken cup. SADIE KATE over to C. and up a little._) Take it and dump it back of the barn!

(_Two other girls go on and in front of table to L., two little girls stop R., one takes up cup, other stops. Littlest girl enters R. and gets on bench and embraces JUDY._)

MAMIE. (_R. at end of lower table. LORETTA by R. I. E._) Yes, hurry, before somebody comes and catches you. (_A sound is heard off R. in pantry._)

SADIE KATE. Somebody’s coming!

(_GLADIOLA jumps up and the orphans assume a know-nothing attitude until they see it is JUDY. JUDY enters C. and crosses between tables with tray of sandwiches, stands between MAMIE and LORETTA down stage and GLADIOLA up stage. SADIE KATE is on line with JUDY across at C._)

JUDY. Well, Chicks, what’s the matter?

_READY Sammy_

ORPHANS. (_Laughing_) Nothing.

JUDY. (_Cheerfully_) Well, run now, and wash your hands and faces and make yourselves beautiful, ready to pass the things.

(_The children go up into pantry, SADIE KATE passing at back with GLADIOLA. JUDY crosses to C. and puts tray on lower end of table L. Then she goes up to cupboard and gets black box and comes down between tables at R., opens box on bench behind first table and takes out caps and aprons. During scene she is humming gaily to herself, “Comin’ through the Rye.” MRS. LIPPETT enters._)

MRS. L. (_Coming down C._) I’m glad to see that somebody’s carefree. (_JUDY stops her song_) Is everything ready?

JUDY. (_At work smoothing out aprons_) Yes, Mrs. Lippett.

MRS. L. Seems though everything’s gone wrong to-day. And just when we’ve got a rich trustee up from New York. (_Turning to L. window R._) He’s out in the play-yard now, talking to Freddie Perkins, with a hole in his pants that big. (_JUDY laughs_) Well, what are you laughing at? It’s no laughing matter. Can’t you keep that child mended?

JUDY. I mend Freddie Perkins’ trousers every day of my life. There’s no trousers left any more. Nothing but patches.

MRS. L. (_L. C., looking over at sandwiches_) Did you make those sandwiches?

JUDY. Yes, Mrs. Lippett. I know they’re pretty thick. But the bread was so fresh I couldn’t cut it. I’m awfully sorry.

MRS. L. (_Going up C. Mollified_) Well, maybe they’ll taste all right. Look sharp now. I don’t want any more hitches. (_Exits C._)

GLADIOLA. (_Poking her head into room_) Judy, has she gone?

JUDY. Yes, and it’s time for you to go! Come, fly into these. (_Led by GLADIOLA the ORPHANS come down R. GLADIOLA and LORETTA to lower R. and begin playing. MAMIE and SADIE KATE to R. of JUDY, who gives to each of them cap and apron she has been straightening out. They are regulation waitress’ aprons, about three inches longer than the children’s dresses. The caps are muslin bows fastened to an elastic. MAMIE and SADIE put on the aprons, JUDY buttoning MAMIE’S and MAMIE buttoning SADIE’S apron. They fasten behind. While they put on the caps GLADIOLA and LORETTA are down R. JUDY crosses to L. C., gets tray and sandwiches and gives them to MAMIE. MAMIE up C. JUDY takes tray of cups at R. C., gives them to SADIE KATE. SADIE up to MAMIE at C. JUDY to R. C._) Now please be careful, children, and don’t make any mistakes.

(_The ORPHANS go out C. and L. JUDY, with a tired sigh, comes down front and sits on bench in front of table R. GLADIOLA kneels on bench beside her and LORETTA on floor, kneeling. She caresses them in a manner that shows her loneliness and longing for love._)

GLADIOLA. Judy! Tell us a story.

LORETTA. Cinderella!

GLADIOLA. No! Tell us Noah’s Ark. I’ll be the lion. (_Growls and throws her arms around JUDY, pretending to devour her._)

JUDY. Not now, dear. Some other time.

BOTH. Yes, now!

JUDY. Poor Judy’s so tired. This is the first time I’ve sat down since 5 o’clock this morning.

LORETTA. Tell it while you are sitting down.

JUDY. I must learn my lesson for school to-morrow.

GLADIOLA. What? ’Rifmatic?

JUDY. No, not ’rifmatic. French.

LORETTA. What’s French?

JUDY. Tu es enfant très bon et je t’aime beaucoup.

(_The children laugh. FREDDY PERKINS enters C. from L. A large three-cornered rent in the back of his trousers._)

FREDDIE. (C.) When are we going to have supper?

JUDY. (_Good-naturedly, scolding_) Freddie Perkins, turn around, sir! (_FREDDIE makes turn._)

FREDDIE. What’s the matter? (_Children laugh. FREDDIE turns back to them._) What are you laughing at? Cut it out! Cut it out!

JUDY. You bad, bad boy, to tear your clothes. (_Discovers a rent in the shoulder of his shirt_) You disgraceful little rag-a-muffin!

FREDDIE. (_Sits L. of JUDY_) I don’t care, I’m hungry!

GLADIOLA. So’m I.

LORETTA. Me, too.

JUDY. You can’t have supper till the trustees go.

GLADIOLA. I hate trustees.

LORETTA. So do I.

FREDDIE. What’s to-day? Beans? (_Pause_) Or corn meal mush?

LORETTA. This is Wednesday.

GLADIOLA. It’s corn meal mush.

(_The children all join in the ORPHAN’S yell while JUDY frantically tries to make each child be quiet. The last line tapers off into a dying wail._)

ORPHANS:

Mush! Mush! Corn meal mush! Slush! Slush! Same old slush! How I hate it, Corn—meal—mush!

JUDY. Hush, you naughty children.

(_FREDDIE sits on floor._)

GLADIOLA. Judy, tell us a story.

JUDY. No, no, no!

GLADIOLA _and_ LORETTA. (_Imitating her_) Yes, yes, yes!

JUDY. (_Pleading_) Children! I’m so tired!

FREDDIE. (_Rising_) Draw us a picture!

JUDY. I’ve no paper!

(_Children run around looking for paper. LORETTA goes around behind table and discovers box cover. GLADIOLA takes the cover from LORETTA and brings it to JUDY._)

GLADIOLA. Draw it on this.

(_JUDY looks dubious. Sits as before and LORETTA R. of GLADIOLA to former position. FREDDIE L. of JUDY._)

JUDY. But I haven’t any pencil!

FREDDIE. (_Turning away disgustedly_) Oh, gee!

JUDY. I can’t draw with my finger, you know.

FREDDIE. (_Discovering piece of chalk in his pocket_) Here’s a piece of chalk.

JUDY. Very well—Mercy! It’s all over sugar.

FREDDIE. Did I give you sugar? (_Grabs chalk in an attempt to lick the sugar off. JUDY gets it back._)

JUDY. Oh, you bad, bad boy! (_FREDDIE to C._) Well, what shall I draw?

GLADIOLA. Elephant!

LORETTA. Circus!

FREDDIE. Cowboy chasing Indians! (_Gives imitation of a wild Indian._)

JUDY. Oh, something easy. I’ll draw a bad little boy who’s torn his clothes.

(_Children begin to laugh at FREDDIE and cry “Shame, shame.”_)

FREDDIE. (_Coming down domineeringly_) Cut it out! Cut it out!

JUDY. Freddie! (_FREDDIE turns away shamefacedly_) What’ll I draw?

GLADIOLA. Oh! Draw a trustee!

LORETTA. Yes, draw a trustee!

FREDDIE. Yes, one of those guys that goes around like this. (_Crosses over L. and gives imitation of WYKOFF_) “This won’t do, Mrs. Lippett! This won’t do!” (_Comes back to C._) “And this floor must be scrubbed” ... (_Goes to C._) “I tell you it won’t do, Mrs. Lippett” ... (_Comes down C. and stands puffing himself out á la Wykoff. The children watch him in ecstasy, laughing and applauding._)

GLADIOLA. Yes—and make him fat. With a gold watch chain!

FREDDIE. And with a pair of searchlights!

JUDY. (_Drawing_) There’s his body. And there’s his head. (_While drawing the eye-glasses, FREDDIE begins to laugh. JUDY turns to him_) What are you laughing at?

FREDDIE. Those searchlights.

JUDY. And there’s his searchlights. And those are his arms and those are his legs.

LORETTA. (C.) And where’s his gold watch chain?

JUDY. And that’s his watch chain! (_Holds the picture front and they all laugh._)

[Illustration: The children are gathered around the drawing of the Trustee]

GLADIOLA. (_Takes picture from JUDY_) It looks exactly like a June bug.

JUDY. (_Takes picture back from GLADIOLA, writing at bottom_) “This looks like a June bug, but is meant to be a portrait of any trustee.”

(_The children laugh. FREDDIE takes the picture and marches around with it, followed by GLADIOLA and LORETTA._)

CHORUS. Looks like a June bug! Looks like a June bug!

(_They go over L. as SADIE and MAMIE return with a half-emptied plate of sandwiches which they place on table._)

SADIE KATE. Gee! You ought to see them eat!

(_JUDY goes up to SADIE KATE and MAMIE. The others stop singing and hungrily look at the sandwiches. FREDDIE puts the picture on table L. of C. and crosses over to JUDY, followed by LORETTA and GLADIOLA._)

FREDDIE. Can I have a piece of bread?

GLADIOLA. Me, too!

LORETTA. I’m hungry.

JUDY. (_After a moment’s hesitation_) Yes, you may all have one piece.

(_They help themselves joyously. FREDDIE gets first piece and biggest to the disgust of the others. He goes triumphantly to lower L. and sits on bench. They keep up a chatter._)

FREDDIE. Say! (_Children all stop noise to listen_) I played a joke on those trustees! (_Boasting._)

JUDY. (_Coming down R._) Freddie Perkins! (_Suspiciously_) What have you done?

FREDDIE. I ain’t goin’ to tell.

(_Trustees are heard talking angrily at back off L._)

GLADIOLA. (_Crosses up to door_) Cheese it! They’re coming!

JUDY. (_Surprised_) Scamper out, children!

(_FREDDIE at first sound has bolted L. GLADIOLA and LORETTA in front of lower table. MAMIE and SADIE KATE between tables R. GLADIOLA, LORETTA and MAMIE exit lower R. SADIE exits R. 2. E. MRS. LIPPETT enters C., followed by a group of trustees and visitors, MISS PRITCHARD looking worried, WYKOFF indignant, JERVIS amused. JUDY is at table R. of C. MRS. LIPPETT R. of C. PARSONS L. of C. MISS PRITCHARD and JERVIS stand at back. They have all been talking outside and it has grown in volume until they are well on and in place._)

MRS. L. (_With sugar bowl_) Judy Abbott, what is the meaning of this?

JUDY. (_Bewildered R., about middle of table_) The sugar bowl?

(_MISS PRITCHARD crosses at back and down L._)

MRS. L. (_L. end of table_) It’s full of salt! (_JUDY turns and looks after FREDDIE._)

WYKOFF. We put salt in our tea.

(_JUDY bursts into quick laugh. JERVIS crosses R. and down L. of tables, back turned to JUDY and amused by the scene._)

MRS. L. When you have finished laughing, perhaps you will tell us how it came there?

JUDY. I don’t know.

MRS. L. Of course you don’t know. You never know anything.

MISS P. It was a mistake.

WYKOFF. (L. C.) Bad management. Bad management!

JUDY. (_Apologetically_) I didn’t know about it, of course—I’m very sorry it happened!

(_MRS. LIPPETT sees the empty plate and crumbs on table._)

MRS. L. What’s this? (_They all turn and look_) So, you’ve been stealing the refreshments that were left?

(_PARSONS goes up C._)

JUDY. The children were hungry—it’s after their regular supper-time—and I gave them each a piece of bread and butter.

(_PARSONS discovers the broken cup._)

WYKOFF. Mrs. Lippett, does this young woman run this institution?

PARSONS. (_Coming down C. with broken china_) Here! Here! What’s this? (_JUDY stares in amazement._)

MRS. L. (_Turning upon her sharply_) How did that get broken? (_JUDY is silent_) Well—don’t stand there staring!

WYKOFF. Another little joke?

MRS. L. Answer me, Judy Abbott. Did you break that cup?

JUDY. (_With dignity_) No, Mrs. Lippett, certainly not!

(_PARSONS puts broken cup on tray at his R._)

MRS. L. Who put it there?

JUDY. I don’t know.

MRS. L. Seems as though you are old enough to take a little responsibility.

JUDY. (_Miserably_) I try to, Mrs. Lippett—but I can’t be in two places at once. And to-day while the nurse was taking care of the sick babies⸺

MRS. L. I’ve heard that excuse before. (_Turns to trustees_) You see, ladies and gentlemen, the kind of stupidity I have to work against. This is our prize orphan—the one we have educated—but I can’t trust her with a simple thing like sending in tea.

WYKOFF. (_Turns up L. to table_) Doesn’t pay to educate ’em out of their class.

MRS. L. These children are the most deceitful creatures I have ever known. It’s enough to make one lose one’s faith in human nature.

JUDY. (_Facing MRS. L. quietly_) If you would _trust_ the children, they would not deceive you.

MRS. L. So now, you are going to be impertinent, are you?

(_WYKOFF discovers picture on table L._)

MISS PRITCHARD. (_Pleasantly, tries to end the discussion_) Dishes will get broken—suppose we join the others.

(_WYKOFF is examining the picture which he has casually picked up._)

WYKOFF. (_Facing front explosively and showing picture_) Good heavens, Madam! What does this mean? Do I look like a June bug? (_Comes and exhibits it C. to MRS. L._) And may I ask who is the artist?

(_JUDY stands staring at the others with something of the air of a hunted animal._)

MRS. L. (_With ominous quietness_) Is that one of your drawings?

(_WYKOFF shows it to trustees at C._)

JUDY. Yes, Mrs. Lippett.

MRS. L. Have you anything to say?

JUDY. (_Miserably_) I can’t draw. I just do it to amuse the children.

WYKOFF. To amuse the children? Madam, is this the kind of respect that you teach?

(_CODMAN puts picture on table at his L._)

MRS. L. (R.C.) How do you dare make fun of a trustee of the John Grier Home?

JUDY. (_R., frightened_) I—I didn’t mean to make fun of anybody.

MRS. L. Oh! I suppose you think that is a fitting way to show gratitude for all that’s been done for you? This Home has given you every mouthful you ever ate, and as a result, you ridicule your benefactors. I’ll tell you this, Miss Judy Abbott—you’ll be finishing school next month and then you’ll be put to work. The kind of place you’ll get will depend on your record here.

WYKOFF. (C.) And when you have to shift for yourself, young woman—then maybe you won’t think life so funny.

(_Other Trustees nod approval._)

_READY Dim Foots_

JUDY. (_Wearily_) I don’t think it’s so very funny now.

MRS. L. Oh, there’s no use trying to make anything decent of her. I shall send you to a boarding house keeper who wants a little slavey to wash the dishes.

JUDY. I shall be very happy to go. Any place, anywhere will be better than this.

MRS. L. (_Beside herself_) You ungrateful little—imp! What do you mean?

JUDY. (_Commencing in low, intense tone, gradually rising to a fever of rebellion_) I mean—I don’t feel any gratitude because I have nothing to be grateful for. There is no charity about it. I have earned my living in the John Grier Home. I have worked from the time I was a tiny child. For three years straight I polished brass door knobs until you discovered that I was clever enough to do other things. And you haven’t kept me all this extra time just for my own good. When I was eleven years old that lady wanted to adopt me. But you made her take another child instead, because I was useful. I might have had a home, too—like other children—and you stole it away from me. And you call me ungrateful because I’m glad to go? I don’t care _how hard_ it will be. I can make my own way in the world. Just give me a chance. Anywhere—out of the shadow of this asylum, and I will prove what I am good for. I’ve lived eighteen years in prison. I _hate_ the John Grier Home! (_As she hurls this last defiance she turns and runs out R._)

_DIM_

[Illustration: Judy points accusingly at the trustees.]

(_JERVIS has turned his back to the scene and stands down L. with folded arms and head bowed in deep thought, for JUDY has won his admiration by her plucky stand. After a pause the trustees recover from their astonishment._)

MRS. L. You see! You see!

WYKOFF. The quicker you pack her off the better.

MISS P. The child didn’t know what she was saying!

CODMAN. Insubordination!

PARSONS. Bad example.

WYKOFF. Demoralize the whole institution!

PARSONS. She must be punished!

(_They start to go, shaking their heads and talking excitedly at once._)

MRS. L. And punished severely. Oh, if you knew what I have to put up with⸺

(_They go off C., the excitement and tumult gradually dying down. MISS PRITCHARD follows them up to C., trying to pacify them. JERVIS eases over to R. of C._)

MISS P. (_Coming down C._) I am sorry this had to happen before you, but really, really, we have no right to be angry.

JERVIS. Angry? Oh, no, no! (_Crosses over R. of C._) I was only hesitating because—well—I must be sure I’m doing the best thing for the girl. But, by jove! (_Turns to MISS P._) It was great to see that little thing rise up and demand her right to live. She shall have it! (_Looks off R. I. E. and then slaps his hand as having arrived at a decision._)

MISS P. (C.) What!

JERVIS. (_Turns to MISS P._) I’ll send her to college!

MISS P. (_Joyfully_) That _is_ generous!

JERVIS. (_Gruffly_) Nonsense! I’m interested. I’d like to see if the girl really can pull it off!

MISS P. She will be so _grateful_.

JERVIS. (_Crossing L._) No, no. None of that. She’s never to know who does it.

MISS P. She will want to thank you.