THE CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

Auafte'and Siag was presenred by the Group Theatre at

Belasco Thea.tre on the evening of February r9th, 1935, with
following members of the Group Theatre Acring Company
Played by
MYRON

BERGER

ART SMITH

BESSIE BEE.GER

STELLA ADLER

rAcoB
HENNIE

MORRIS CARNOVSKY

RALPH

BERGER

PIIOEBE BRAND

BERGER

rul,Es

GARFTELD

ROMAN BOHNEN
LUTHER ADLER
I. E. BROMBERG

SCFILOSSER

MOE AXELROD
UNCLE MORTY
.sAM FEINSCHREIBER

SANFORD MEISNER

The entire acilon takes pLace in an apartnxcnt

in the Bronr, Neu Yorft City

The production was directed by wtxoro cLURMAN

The setting tuas designed by nows AR.oNsoN

in

Awake and Sing! share a lundamental

,rttiuity: a strotggle for life amidst petty conditions'

,1ll ol the characters

slte hersefi states, is not only the mother in this

and tafr'
lt,trrte but also the father. Slte is constantly arranging
gleatltas
lauglz'
liftes-to
tife,
loaes
She
ut! ctlre of her famity.
liuing from day to day' A high

!rq\'r,

BEr.cER, as

,,':r,,rrrr\rhorrr'and'enjoys
exasperatia,n at ineptl'
,1,',qree of enersy accounts for hcr quicft
qualities in peaple in
of
realistic
t,,it,,. Sie is a-shreud iudge
their effectiueness'
quicl1ly
gauge
to
able
tltt sense of being
are
equal'She is n*Iae
house
the
in
people
Itt lter eyes'atl ol ilae
ol wtter poarty"
afraid
is
She
response'
,trt,t quicfrin emotional
whiclt are fairly
standards'
own
her
,11,,' is pripu according to
She
ftnows thattlose to those of mosi middle'class families'
out
looft
tnust
one
for the wild
rt,ltcn one liues in the iungle
Irl,'.

airrroN, her husband, is a born follower' He wouhl' lifte to be

sad
not
is
He
dollars'
million
a
lr,r,ler. He would tifte to mafte
t,t (:uer depressed. Lile is an eaen sweet eaent to him' but the
",,/,1 days'; t'r./ere sil./eeter yet. He has a dignified sense of him'
,rt1. Hi tiftes People- He ti\es euerything' But he is heartbroften
rlithowt being aware ol it.

has hatt lew friends, male or female' She is

of irr bo,ty. she aon,t asftlauors. she traaels alone. ske
l,rtrttrJ
:i,
escape if possible'.Shc
Tutaliitic about being trapped, bwt yitl
she dies she will bc
day
the
t, sclf-reliant in the bist sense-Till

.rtNNui is a

giil who

her mother's sense of

1,,it/,[ut to a loued man. She inherits
Itttntor and energY.

rerlu is a boy tuith a clean spirit' He wants to ftnou' wants ta

36

JI

CLIIJTORD ODETS

lesrn. He is ardent, hc is romantic, he is sensitiae. He is naiut

too, He is trying to fnd why so m.uch dirt must be cleared aruay
bcfore it is possible to "get to first base."

rigltt path for himse$ and the othert,

EIe is aware ol iustice, ol dignity. He is an obseruer of thc
athers, conlpares their actiaities uith his real and ideal sentc
of life. This produces a refectiue nature. In this home he is a
tonstant boarder. He is a sentimental idealist tuith no potuer ,0
turn ideal to action.
With physital facts-sttch as howseuorft-he putters. But as a
barber he demonstrates t)e flair of an artist. He is an old lew
with liuing eycs in his tired face.

,'^caa, roo, is trying to find a

is a successful American business man with fiue

good senses, Something sinister cames out of tlte fact that tht
iiues ot' otlters scldom tauch him deeply. He holds to ltis own
line o! ii|e. When lte is generowt lte tuants others to be atuarc
al it. He is pleascd by attention---a rich relatiue to tlle BErLGE\
'fwnily. He is a shrerud judge of tnaterial ualues. LIe will dic
unmarried. T-uo and twa malg four, neuer fiue tuitlt him. He
cun blinft in the sun for' lttsurs, a lat tomcat. Ticftle lrim, ltc
laughs. He liues in a pentltouse tuit/t a real lapanese butlu
t6 srae him" He sleeps with dress modcls" bu,t not from ltis own
shawrooms. He plays cards for hours on end. He smol1es e"r.
pmsiue cigar,s. He sees euery Micftey Mouse cartoon th6l
qpPears. He is ra 3z-degree Masan. He is really deeply intoLer.

{J}IctE MoRrv

ant finally.
lost a leg in the war. He seldirn forgets that fact,
llilled tua men in extra-martial actiuity. He is mnrdant,
bitter. Life ltas tawgltt ltim a disbelief in euerything, but he
will ligltt hi-o sy6, tkrough. He seldom sl'tous his feelings:

turou, AxELRoD

fie

Jtas

fights against Jtis oun sensitiuity. He has been euerytuhere and

seen cuerything. All rte uants rr r-rnNwrr. fIe is uery proud. Hc
s{'orns the inability ol orhers to mafte tlteir uay in life, but ltc
li\es peaple ior tuhateuer qood qualities they possess. His pat-

;ionate outbursts corte lrom a strong but containcd

,:'',"'r::::"tBER wdnts to fnd a home' He is a lonelv man'

,r loreigner in a strange land, hypersensitiu.e about this fact'
,,,o,titior,l by the lzurnitiation ol not mafung his way alone"
I{e has a' sense of others laughing at him' At night he gets
rrp and sits alone in the darfr. He hears acutely all the small,,,,rorl, of life.He might lzaui b"en a poet in another time and
iplrronrha his wile as if he aere dlua'ys offa'ing
l,l.,rrr.
'l,rr Ii,
a delica't) f'otuer. Life is a high chill u'ind weaaing itsefi
,,,'ound his head.

the ianitor, i'< an oaeruorfted German whose cuife rare

ltrudy w;tlt dnother rnan and left him uith a young daughter
chorut
,t,Jto in turn ran auay and ioined a bwrlesque shoa as
his
identity
lost
has
He
pains'
tirl. The man sttffers rheumatic

, ur.ossER,

truenty years

belore-

emotional I

f
l
ll
II
il
llll
l'

ll

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

l
.i
ill
lll
il'
liil
ill
l

ti

ll
i

ir
lrl
1t

it

Ii
ili

l
I
l
I
]

lr
I

1r

E*pased an the stdg atre thc tiining rctt.ttrt anrl adjoining fronl
roorn of /,/ze snncnn aparkne?tt. 7'hese truo rooms are typically
fwrnis/ted" Therc is a curtain betrueen tltem. A'small rloor ofl
tke front room leat/s lo JAcoB's room. W/ten ltis r\oar is open
onc sees 6. picttffe of sncco ant{ vr,yrznrrt on the uall and seu-

af boofts. Stage lcft of this doar prc'sents tl.te entrat2ce to tlfu f oyet hall af tlte apartment" The ttp,o otlter betJrootns ot' tlte apartment are ofl this ltall, but not necessarily
eyal shelaes

s/zarun.

Stage

li

AWAKE, AND SING!

'{'rdE SCENE

left of the dining room presnts a suinging doar which

opcnt on the ftitclten.

ACT
I iirre: X'he present; the

ti1

ONE,

family finishing supper.

r'rr: V/hcrc's aclv;rncement clor'vn the place

li1<e

crazy!

l'lrink they see itl You'cl drop dea<l first.

l\ever rrrind, sr:tr, merit never goes rrnrewarded' Tecidy
' . ,, ,sevcll ttst'J L, t sjr
)' ,r .\rH,i It rewarded you--thirty years r hai:erdashery cierkl
I

( I rcoB

lauglis.)

ISAIAH-26:I9

I Work

iiil

,, r,,rx:

, i,rr: Aii { u,ent's :r chance to llet to first

Awalg and sing, ye that dwell

:i

I'l;rce: An apartment in the lJronx, New York City.

base!

.re: l lrrr's :rll]

, ,r,rr: Stuck tlown in that joint on Fourth Avenue-a stock
, l, r"1i in a siltri house! Just look at Eddic. I'rn as good as he is
lrulling in t-wo-{ifty * week for fr:rty-eight minutes a clay'
\. headliner, his name in al.l the papers.
r ,, ,,rr : Thal's rrzli:r'r yol; tv:rnt, Ralphie I Your name in the p::'per I
,, r,iii I s/anna tnake r,ip rity olvn rnind abol-rr things " '. be
, nrcthingi l)lcln't T ,,vanl to tahe up t,tp clancing, tool
i
rr: $o talie lcssuns. Who str-,ppectr yoril
'
, r : Cll rnrhat i
, ,,ri: Ori whatl Savr: nioney.
, r'ri: St-lre, {ive dr;ilars a rveei< for e;<penscs and the rest in the
1r, rir,c" I ca!l'[ sar,/c even for shoe laces.
'r r,i; You nrean 1ve sh,r;uldn't have food in the house, but you'li
, r1.:e a jig on tirc street corner?
'rr: X mccn sorn.lll;:tg.
41

42
BEssrE:

CLTFFoRD oDETs

You also mean something when you studied on the dru

Mr. Smartie!
RALrH: I don't know. . . . Every other day to sit around with
blues and mud in your mouth.
Myp.oN: That's how it is-life is like that-a cake-waik.
RAT.PH: What's it get youl
HENNTE:

four-car funerai.

What's it for I
lAcoB: What's it forl

RALPH:

If this life leads to a revolution it's a go<

life. Otherwise it's for nothing.
BEssrE; Never mind, Popl Pass me the salt.
RALIH: It's crazy-all my life I want a pair of black and whi
shoes and can't get them. It's crazy!
BEssrE: In a minute I'll get up from the table. I can't take a bite
my mouth no morel{yRoN (restraining }cr): Now, Momma, just don't excite

self_

I'm so nervous I can't hold a knife in my hand.

MyRoN: Is that a way to talk, Ralphiel Don't Momma
hard enough all dayl (nrssru allows herself to be reseatctl.)

BEssrE:

On my feet twenty-four hours?

MYRpN: On her fsslu*nn (iumps up) | What do I do-go to night-clubs with Gre
Garbol Then when I come home can't iven have my ow
rooml Sleep on a day-bed in the front room! (Chofted, ie
to front room,)
FESSTE: He's starting up that stuff again. (Shouts to him):Wh
Ilennie here marries yorr'll have her room-I should only li
' to see the day.
,!{ENNTE: Me, too. (They settle doun to
serious eating.)
rIuyRoN: This morning the sink was full of ants. Where they co
from I just don't know. I thought it was cofiee grounds .
' and then they began moving.
shs$rn: You gave the dog eatl
'TAcoB: I gave the dog eat. (HENNTE drobs q knite and Oicfts it
BEssrE:

again.)

AWAKE AND
rEssrE:

SING!

+.

You got dropsy tonight.

ln(NNIE: Cornpany's coming'

nyRoN: You can buy a ticket

for fifty cents and win fortunes' A

the Irish Sweepstakes'
store-it's
the
nlan came in
ahssrn: Whatl
ruyr{oN: Like a rafle, only difierent. A man came inBussrn:'Who spends fifty-cent pieces for Irish rafresl They threw
out a family on Dawson Street today. All the furniture on the
sidewalk. A fine old woman with gray hair'
;lcon: Come eat, RalPh.
*roor, A butcher on Beck Street won eighty thousand dollars
Erssrn: Eighty thousand dollars! You'll excuse rny expression
you're bughouse!

*,i'oo*r
ntrssrE:

seen

it in

the paper--on one ticket-765 Beck Street

Impossible!

*ryr{oN: FIe

aia . . '

yes he

did. He

says

he'll take his old mother

an Austrianto Europe .
IIITNNIE:Europe...
MyRoN: Six pir cent on eighty thousand-forty-eight hundred
ycar.
nrssrc:

I'll

give you money. Buy a ticket in Hennie's name' Say,

you can'i tell-lightning never struck us yet. If they win on

lJeck Street we could win on Longwood Avenue'
pearls-who wouid workl
1N:c:n (ironically): lf. it rained
Brssrr: Another county heard from. (nnlPu enters and silently
scats himself.)

l,tyRoN: I forgot, Beauty-Sarn Feinschreiber sent you a pres

cnt. Since I brought him for supper he iust can't stop talking
:rbout you.
lrnNNIE: What's that "mockie" bothering aboutl Who needt

lriml
uYrroN: He's a very lonelY boY'
triNNrE: So I'll sit down and bust
at.ssrn

out crying "'cause he's lonely"

(opening candy): He'd marry you. one two tlrree'

nri.NNIE: Too bad about him.

At.silE (nalaely delighted) : Chocolate peanuts'

44

cLTFFoRD oDETs

A\\'AKE ANO

Loft's week_end special, two for thirty_nine.

BEssiE r You could think about
it. It
h.r.,.
tl*nt: (laughing): To quote Moe wouldnl
Axelrod, ..Don,t
I{ENNTE:

Iaugh."

ltyr(oN:

rrii

li,i
,il
rl'li
:

a,Je rt was already a big family with

sibilities-

HrNrviE.(lor.rgAing): Maybe that,s

what ails you, Mom.
feel well?

BEssrE: Don't you

I-IErvr\rE: 'Cause

J.lr:rx:

Im laughingl I

Sure, . . swell!

is engaged to a Brooklyn boy, a

tist. He lMarcus'.Rose
came in his car todayl,{ [,r1. dope
should g;; ,";;

,)

rrENuiE: Tell you what, JV{om.

I saved for a new dress, but
take you_and ?op to the Franklin.
br"t

"..a a dress. Fr
planning ro stay in nighrc. Hold
"ou":l.IT
BEssrE: Whar's rhe mafter_a
"u"ryihingi
i.alufn;t you suddenlyl

"Tilj:,
BEssrE:

It's a good bitl-Belle Baf,er. nf"yU.

she,ll sing

'We

,.

rras going to a movie.

HENlirE: Fcrget

it. Let's go.

in the.pape,s
ly tic4s his teeth) Sophie Tuc
Qs
*, pT"qr. jearf ul business' with
Japan.
,",.: :: :itWrite
r:T:"^,y:
rrr,:-X:r
a boo[ pop! Co-. o",

*:l:i,:'.-:

.Jii;.';; ffi;.

Y1. riid you had a date with him for tonight.

BEssrE: Axelrod ?
I
"lTy.? *ll,ht*.no., but he don,t believe it. I,ll tell
for the next hundrej y.nrr,

,oo.

street. Everybody hates, nobody loves.

I don't get all that.
1,rtxx: For years, I watched you grow up. Wait! you'll gradu.
rrte from my university. (The atlters enter, dressed.)
rrvrrow (/rglring): Good cigars now for a nickel.
nrrssrn (/o lacon) : After take Tootsie on the roof.. (To neI,nu):

What'll yorr do?

: Don't know.
nlssrn: You'll see the boys around the blockl
!r^r,r,H: I'll stay home every night!
ItYr(oN: Momma don't mean for youHar.r,u: I'm flying to Flollywood by plane, tlat,s what I'm doing
(Doorbell riags. rrvnow ansuers it.)
btr,ssrB: I don't like my boy to be seen with those tramps on thv
t,rr.l'l.r

MynoN:

it

Nool

n,tt,r'H:

":;;;.

denly "he rises.)

I,

1o"ou

people's

l,rr,pu:

*ll]1,*^

th" ,n*},;,*q #;; nod

Y:^\l:::!-ed
Tith
Borl
usxwrp and
nu,pu sit silently ,i'ril-ii'i",-i':

hurt

I can't stand it.

larnu: There's an expression--('strong as iron you rnust be.,'
t,rr.pn: It's a cock-eyed world.
1rr:on: Boys iike you coulcl fix it some day. Look oll the world.
not on yourself so much. Every country rvith starving mi!.
lions, nol In Gerrnany and Poland a Jew couldn,t walk in th*.

feel finb. It,s just funny_tJ

poor guy. sending me presents 'cause
he loves me.
lrsslri: I think it's very, very nice.

I'IENNrE:
lll

;;;l,ii

45

and

lcclings. (rnssrn erizs.)

His hands got free wheeling. (She exits.)
llyRoN: I don't know . . . people ain't the same. N-O- The
rvhole world's changing right under our eyes. presto! No
nranners. Like the great Italian lover in the movies. What
rvas his namel The Sheik. . . . No one remembersl (Erir6
,ha(ng ltis hearl.)
aul,n (unmouing at the tab!e): Jake . . .

Never mind laughing. It,s time you

already had in
A;i,r
gvrr L srow
a"".,
Eruw you
thoushi,
whcn I rt,rs youa

|ff1^";::'':

Don't break appointments, Beauty,

lriNNrE:

make

Bnssrn:
rrili

STNC!

o!-ner,

r,ryr(oN

(ouitltout): Schlosser's here, Momrna, with the

garbagc.

(lUt.

him n

in here, Schlosser. (Sotto uoce) Wair, I'll give him

of my mind. (rrtvnav ushers za scnr_ossen who carriet-

ririssrn: Come

;r piece

lTffi=FE.eg-

AwaKE aNo

CLIFFoRD oDETs

46

a gat'bage cafl in

each hand.) lVhat's the matter the dum

waiter's broken againl

Mr. Wimmer sends new ropes next week. I got 4

sole flrm.
lEssrn: He should live so long your Mr. Wimmer. For seven
years already he's sending new ropes. No dumbwaiter, no
hot water, no steam- In a respectable house, they don't al.
$cHLossER:

low such conditions.

In a decent house dogs are not running to make dirty
the hallrvay.
Btsssrn: Tootsie's making dirtyl Our Tootsie's making dirty in
the hall?
$cHr-ossnR (ro 1,rcon) : I tell you yesterday again. you musr not
scnlossER r

le:rve

her_-

syslln (indignantly): Excuse me! Please don't yell on an old

man. He's got more brains in his finger than ynu got-I don't
know where. Did you ever see-he should talk to you an old
manl
lvfYtloN: Awful"
BEssrE: From now on we don't walk up the shirs no more. you
keep it so clean we'll fly in the vi'indows.
scHi,LssER: I speak to Mr. Wimmer.
BEssrE: Speak! Speak. Tootsie rvalks behind me like a lady any
tirne, any place. So good-bye . . . good-bye, Mr. Schlosser.
$cHi-ossuR: I tell you dot-I verk verry hard here. My arms is.
. . . (Exits in confusion.)
BEssrF;: Tootsie should lay all <lay in the kitchen maybe. Give
hirn back if he yells on you. What's funnyi
y t cctw (laughin g) : Nothing.
BEssrE:

Come. (Exits.)

liAcor: FJennie, take

care,

rvent and cried in the toilet when mv birthday

came.

4?

his tie): You're going to bed?

un,.orr,\o, I-'m putting on a clean shirt'

1nr:on: Why?

got a girl. . Don't laugh!

,n,,on, $iho laughs? Since when?
with an aunt and
r{rI-pu: Three weekr. Stt.-tiut' in Yorkville
uncle. A bunch of relatives, but no parents'
tch'
yrcon: An orPhan girl-tch,'Bny,

',n,-non

I'* telling you n could sing!

But she's got-me!
look ar her ancl
she's like Jtars' She's st-' beautiful you
|ake,'Sf-r.',
'We went to the park the other
like French words!
..ff

il^LpH:

night. Heard the last band concert'

Music. . ..
l,rcoa:
'^.r,nrn
It got.cold and I gave her rery
1rtu6'ng slzirt in trousers):
rhar, see, without a
coat to .1."i w. iust wakei aiong like
It got late ' ' word' see. I never was so happy in all my life"
know what I rnean'
sat there. She looke<i nt

-u*yott
*. l,rrt
"I love yo1',- sh"c
lr,rrnl girl looks at you-right in theeyesl
cry' That's
,^fr, ""{^tpt I tooL her h"ome' ' ' ' I wanted to
how I felt! "'

lncoa: It's a beautiful feeling'

x\LpH: You said a mouthful!

rrcon: I-Ict' name is-r( u-PFI: Blanche.

somedmes her'

r,ncos: A fine name' Bring her

I(^LPH: She's scared [o meet Mom'

yncor: WhYl

out of
You know Morn's not letting my sixteen hrucks
Blanche
at
one
look
take
She'J
it'
the house if she can help
got nothing'
and insult her in a rninute-a kid who's

lrALpI'I:

yr,coo: BoYchick!

*lEwNrn: Sure.
trAcots: Bye-bye. (rrrNNrn err'ts. rvrynow pops head bacft in door.)
&ryRcN: Valentino! That's the one! (He exix.)
&,ALnH: I never in rny life even had a birthday party. Every time

rrcon (seeing I^LPr- ren'tot)e

srNc!

What's the difil

when
no dif{erence-a plain bourgeois preiudice*but
It's
,;;";,
kosher"
so
ain't
tlrey find out a poor girl-it
,,^;.;;' ih.o do,t'i h"uJ tu know I've got a girl"
yn,ron: What's in the end?

R,\I,PFI:

{8

CLIFTORI,

ODETS

awaKE ewp srNc!

Out I go! I don,t mean mavbe!

--'-r"''
/AcoB: And then whati
RALrH: Life begins.
RALrrtr:

I'll stick arouncl a few minutes. Where,s Henniel

l,rcor: She went with Bessie and Myron to a show.

Iron: Good.

,AcoB: Whar trifel

I-ife wirh mv girl. Boy, I could

sing when
;t! HI and rne ,og!,h.r-.,'hrr.,I
**'iir.r
JAcoB: Don'r make a mistake! A
RALpH:

think

".;1.;l

RALpH: What,s the idea?

I'm the ideal Once I had in

my heart a dream,
,"a ,fr."1"., iorr.r.
Chitdren cor
]^r"ll":
:.:me,marriage
5qt' \'nlloren
and you forget becau

JAcoB: Me,

RALrH:

Don't worry,

Jake.

tAcoB: Rernerntrer, a wqman insults a

rnan,s soul like no oth
thing in the whole

world!
Why get so excited I No one-JAcoB: Boychick, wake up! Be-somerhing!
Make your life son
who sees in yo
young
;*f"_r:11
*.,.*,,,,:,?.f
days his
new lifs for such i;;.^*t_
RaLpFr:

;l-?ili;#

*'f.'J il i:
nght

i.y"C-'"*'""a
b1rs. A-;;ffi|,?it

1ff,*T,1*"i1,:*e-'r, doilar
,ril"
shouldn't

be printed.on
RALIH:
Say, I'm no fooll

,o rlIr
so

jAcor: From my heart I hope

- - ""I'" rrv('
not. In
(rle rmeilntlme-___
rrr the
rings.)

(Bd

who it is, will you? (Stands

-"--" off)
Dont. want
"u') vu't
w'Dt Mor
tvto
to catch me with a clean shirt.
(souo u.oce) Moe Axelrocl . (won

RALnH: See

S:i!:,.9:T:rl

enturs

'JX!: Ftrelto girts, horv's

trtoE:

i,?", y.n*f.Ji;;;;)Tl1fffi:
up. What's it, the weekly

RaLpH: Please

mind your

visit ,o-rt.

J*iour"l

business.

uor: Okay, sweetheart.

xlrr'nu (tarting a hidtren doilar
q
a boon:
rrom
"""\)'
' -"'
] 1ysn1JAcoB:
RALIH:

lknow. Enjoy yourself.

_Bye-bye.
JACoB: Bye-bye"

(He eiits.)

r'ron: Who's homel

49

;,rcoe: Me.

If Mom

rror: She whatl!

J,rcoe: You had a datel
uon (loiding ltis feelings): Here-I brought you some halavah.
1,rcor: Halavahl Thanks. tr'll eat a piece after.
vror: So Ralph's got a damel Hot stuff-a kid can't even play
a card game.
yncoa: Mpe, you're a no-good, a bum of the first water. To your
dying day you wou'[ charrge.
r'ron: lVhere'd you get that stufi, a no-good ?
y,rcor: But I like you.
urn; Didn't I go fight in France for democracy I Didn,t I get
my goddam leg shot ofi in that war the day before the armisticel Uncle Sam give me rhe Order of the purple Heart, clidn't
hel Wtrar'd you mean, a no-good?
;nccr: Excuse tne.
rvroE: If you got an orange I'll eat an orange.
;rrcon: No orange. An apple.
t'loe: No oranges, huh?-what a dump!
tAcoB: Bessie hears you once talking like this she'll knock your
head off.
lroE: Hennie went with,

huhl She wantsa see me squirm, only

don't squirm for dames.
lacon: You came to see herl
uor: What forl I got a present for our boy friend, Myron. Hell
drop dead when I tell him his gentle horse gallop.j i., fift eo

to one. He'll die.

It really won I The first time I remember.
uor: Where'd they gol
fAcoB: A vaudeville by the Franklin.
lron: What's special tonightl
;acon: Someone tells a few jokes . . . and they forget the stred
is fiiled with srarving beggars.
uor: What'll they do-start a warl
IAcoB:

asks wher

5o

CLIFFORD ODETS

J^coB:

awAKr, eNo srNc!.,

5r
Paradiso." From act four this piece. Caruso stands on the
ship and looks on a Utopia. you hearl ,,Oh paradise ! Oh paf'
rdise on earth! Oh blue sky, oh fragrant air-,,

don't know.

traos:-You oughta know. What the

hell you got all the
for

fAcoBr

It

needs a new world.

ui3: Thi{s why they had the big war_to

rv
t
,

tnrr:r:
rrraAL
make
d new
a
ucw

WOI

tney sard-sate for democracy. Sure

every big g"rr.rrl l"yi
hotet
hatf
dozen
on rrj
-"" pinned
rru'Lu u'
1i,!

T.:: l "ts

musrache. Democracy!

learned

;;.;,

;iecorl An imperial war. you know"l;;;;.

what this meansr
Mon: Sure, I know everything!
;acon: By money men the irrt...rt, must
be protected. Wl
gar/ you such a rotten haircutl please
(fisiing
in his
'pocrtet), give me for a cenr
a cigaretre. I didn,tI u.YL
have !.rr
si
,

)esterday-

(giuing-onc): Dont make-me laugh.

(l cen, passes
and lorth between them,*ron
finalty ,iro*)og it oaer his s
der.) Don't look so tired all it. ,irr,..
t;;;. a wow*alw
sore about something.
tAcoB: And you?
tuon: You gor one thing-you. .an
play pinochle. I,ll take y,
over in a game. Then you'll t
,o*.,lring to be sore c
"u. taftcs
IAcoB: Who'Il wash dishesl (rrrou
"'\-- dJc\ yro* i*]
\
}z.on

drauer.)

Mon: Do 'em a{ter. 'Ien cents a deal.

tAcoB r Who,s got ten cents I
ivror: I got ten cents. I'll lend it

JAcoB: Commence.

MyRoN and

. . . (uon prrts cards bacftin pocft:et.)

Take.gf[ qhe phonograph, pop. (To,i**i") ,'Lay down
. . . I'll call the docror. you shouid see how ,he got ,i.t oii
Prospecr Avenue. Two weeks already she don't flel
right.
MYRoN:Moe,..l
lrssrc: Go to bed, Hennie.
r{yRoN: Hello, Moe.

ntissrn:

nriNNrE:

I'll sit here.

a girl I

tri.ssrn: Such

never saw! Now you'll be stubbornl

for your own good, Beauty. Influenza_
ur,.NNrE: I'll sit here.
nttssrn: You eyer seen a girl should say no to cverything.
Shc
can't stand on her feet, serrriruNrr:_Don't yell in my ears. I hcar. Nothing's wrong.
I ate.
tuna fish for lunch.
MYRoN: Canned goods. . . .
ntssm: Last week you alio ate tuna fishl
illNNrE: Yeah, I'm funny for tuna fish. Go to the
show_have a,
ItyRoN: It's

I don't understand what I did to God He blessecl ml

with such children. From the whole world_
yon (coming to aid ol Hruwm): For
Chris' sake, don,r kibitz so.,

,lr.ssrr',:

(shafting cards): The first time I

had my hands on a
two days. Lemme shake up these
.*a" f,ff make ,em
(;acon

ta his room-;;;"";;p;;";;': ilff:r.:r::,

JAcoB: You should live so long.
t"ror: Ever see oranges growl "I
krrorv a certain place_
oummer I laid under a tree and
let them fali right in
go,es

mouth.

7t'can (ofr, the music is ptaying,. the card game

begins):.Frc

"*p6r., .;;

entcr.)
You
came back so soonl
;lcon:
Irissrn: Ffennie got sick on the way.

good time.

to you.

'"on
in

"L'Afrir:ana" . . . a big

Ask him does he see any orangesl (ressrr,

r.rENNrE

;; a new land_i

rnuch!
Irrssrr: You don't like itl
tuni, (aping): No, I don't

like it.
That's too bad, Axelrod.-Maybe it's better by your
cigrr_
store friends. Here we're difiereni people.
Iron:.Don'r gimme that cigar store ling Biessie.
I walked up five
ettssru:

flights-*

\2

CLIFFORD ODETS

BEssrE:

To take out Flennie. But my daughter ain't in your

Axelrod.

uoE: To

see Myron.

MYRoN: Did he, did he, Moel

r'.ron: Did he whatl
MYRoN: "Sky Rocket"l
bsssrn: You bet on a horse!

vror: Paid twelve and a half ro one.

MyRoN: There! You hear that. Mommal Our horse came

You see, it happens, and twelve and a half to one. Just

at that!
Mor: What the hell, a sure thing. I told you.
BEssrE: If Moe said a sure thing, you couldn't bet a few
instead of fifty cents I
lncov (lawgls) : "Aie, aie, aie."
trcn (at his tuallet): I'm carrying six hundred "plunks" in
denominations.

srssll; A lranker!
uou' : IJncle Sam sends me ninety a month.
BEssrE: So

you save

iti

uon: Run it up, Run-it-up-Axelrod, that's me.

BEssrE: The police should know how.
won (sltutting her up): All right, all right- Change twen
sweetheart.
MYRoN: Can you make changel
BEssrE: Don't be crazy,

uor: I'll

meet a guy in Goldman's restaurant. I'11 meet 'im

come back with change.
MyRoN (figaring on paper): You can give it to me tomorrow

the store.
snsun (acquisitiae): He'lI come back, he'll come back!

uon: Lucky I bet some bucks myself.. (In derisioz ro HENNr

Let's step out tomorrow night, Para-dise. (Thwmbs his
at her, Iaughs rnordantly and exits.)
MyRoN: Oh, that's big percentage. If I picked a winner ev
dny.

AwAKE AND
nrissrn:

srNc!

53

Poppa, did you take Tootsie on the roof I

Ali ,ight.
n,"oo*, Just"look at

1n.,o",

that-a

cake walk'

'We can

make--

Hennie' go'
u,rrrru, Ii, enough talk. I got a splitting headache'
in bed. I'll call Dr. Cantor.
I
irrrNNIE: I'11 sit here ' . . and don't call that old lgnatz'cause
wori't see him'
don't wani
uyRoN: If you get sick Momma can't nurse you' You
to go to-a hosPital.
She don'i look sick, Bessie, it's a fact'
he tells me no' M7
nnssrn: She's got fever. I see in her eyes, so
phone' &azt Hu'\rxrr'i
up
picQs
(rrtvnoN
ron, call dr. C"ntot.
Jncon*:

grabs it from him.)

,',I**r", I don't want any doctor' I ain't sick' Leave me alone'
rlyRoN: Beauty' it's for your own sake'
you alwayr
nriNNIE: Day'in and day out pestering: Why are
word?
a
saY
right and no one else can
russl: When you have your own children,',,**r", I'm rrot sick! Hear what I say? I'm not sickl Nothing'e
the matter with me! I don't want a doctor' (ressrc is uatch'
ing her tuith slou progressiae understanding')
nrissrs:

'What's the matter?

lniNNrE: Nothing, I told You!

rr.ssrn: You told me, [g1-

(A long pause ol

examinat'iot"

(H"
'''

sloaily pua'

f ollouts.)

rrnNNIE: See much?

trussrr: Myron, put down the . . ' the. ' ' '
the phoie doin.) Tell me what happened'
lrnNNIE: Brooklyn Bridge
ltt.ssrE

(4pproaching):

fell down.

I'm asking a question. ' ' '

'What's happened, Mommal

MYRoN:
ruissrs: Listen

to me!

rr,;NNIE: What the hell are you talkingl

rrrissrt: Poppa-take Tootsie on the roof.
rn.:NNIE

ye'cot bacft): If he wants he can stay herc

wrong' Momma?

(iotding

MYRoN: What's

54

CrrrrFoRD oDETs

(ler aoice quiucring slightly): Myron, your fine Beautl

trouble. Our society lady. . . .
IuyRoN: Troublel I don't under-is it-P
BEssrB: Look in her face. (He loofts, understands and slouly si
in a chair, wtterly crushed.) Who's the man?

nussrn

in

The Prince of Wales.

BEssIE: My gall is busting in me. In two secondsITENNTE (in a uiolent owtburst): Shut up! Shut up! I'll fump
the window in a minutel Shut upl (Finally she gains
of herself, says in a low, hard uoicc): You don't know him.,
fAcoB:Bessie....
BEssIE: He's a Bronx boyl
uENNIE: From out of town.
BEssrE: What do you meanl
HENNIB: From out of town!!
BEssrE: A long time you know himl You were sleeping by
girl from the office Saturday nightsl You slept good, n
lovely lady. You'll go to him . . . he'll marry you.
HENNTE: That's what you say.
BEs$rE: That's what I say! He'Il do it, take nry word he'll do i'
tr{ENNTE: Where? (7o lacon): Give her the letter. (;ncon do
lrENNrE:

so')

Whatl (Reds.) "Dear sir: In reply to your request

the r4th inst., we can state that no Mr. Ben Grossman
ever been connected with our organization , . ." You don

Bnssrn:

know where he isl

yruuE: No.
forth): Stop crying like a baby, My
It's like a play on the stage. , . .
BEssrE: To a mother you couldn't say something before. Il
old-fashioned-like your friends I'm not smart-I don't
choo suey and run around Coney Island with tramps. (S
walfts reflectiuely to bufret, picfts up a box of candy, puts
snsws. (rualfus bacft and

MyRoN:

dotun, says lo uvnoN) : Tomorrow night bring Sam Fei

ber for supper.
trENNrE: I won't do it.

. AWAKE AND SINC!

55
lrssrE: You'll do it, my fine beautyr you'll do itt
uENNIE: I'm not mariying a poor foreigner like him' Can't
even speak an English word. Not me! I'll go to my grave
without a husband'
rrssrs: You don't say! We'll find for you somewhere a million'
aire with a pleasure boat. He's going to night school, Sam'
For a boy only thtee years in the country he speaks very nice
In three'y.uru h. prri enough in the bank, a good living'
1r'coo: This is serious?
to'
cEssrn: What then? I'm talking for my health? I{e'11 come
engaged'
they're
morrow night for supper. By Saturday
do.
J,,,con: Such a thing you can't
tressrB: Who asked Your advicel
;ncon: Such a thingrrr-ssrc: Never mind!
1,rcon: The lowest from the low!
don't believc
trnssrn: Don't talk! I'm warning you! A man who

crazY idea$I never imagined you could be'

lnrsrcr Maybe if you didn;t talk so much it wouldn't happer'
like this. You with your ideas-I'm a mother' I raise a fami\

in God-with

;ncon: So bad

they should have resPect

neighbors' opinion!
;n"o"t R.rp.ct? (Spils.! Respect! For the
You insult me, Bessie!
had he los:
trttssrt: Go in your room, Papa' Every job he ever
and the
his
mouth
because he's got a big mouth' He opens
it.whole Bronx could fall in. Everybody said
ltyRoN: Momma, they'll hear you down the dumbwaiter'
Maybe you
nRssrE: A good b".b.t not to hold a job a week'
it' Pop?
heard
neuer helrd charity starts at home' You never
I heard, and morg.Yel' B-ut lllqll ltY
-.,^coB: All you know,

clon'tmakelikeyou.Beforeyoudoit,I'lldiefirst'He'llfind
a girl. He'll go in fresh world with her' This is a house?
"
Marx said it-abolish such families'
Brtssrn: Go in Your room, PaPa'
ynr;on: Ralph you don't make like you!

57

AWAKE ,CNP STNC!

CLTFFoRD oDETs

56
BESSTE:

Go lay in your room with Caruso and the books togetherl

J.A.coB:
BESsIE:

Go in the room!

All

right!

([Jnable to continue' hc
fo"ou, Some day I'11 come 6u1 l'll__and there says uith
door
turns, loolp at HENNIE, goes to his
taik to me s0
day.you'll
an d.ttemp; at hwmor): Bessie, sorne
exits")
(He
fresh . . . I'11 l.^.r. the house for good!
should darel
wssrc (cryirt'g): You ever in yo"' lift seen itl He
word' Your
another
H. tho"iilust dare say in the house
goes')
uvnox
rlzgs'
man' (Belt
g^11 .o,rld bust from .o.h
^
Go to tl..P now. It won't hurt'
MYRoN lollout
HENNIE: Ve"ttl (won enters, a box in his hand'
and sits datun')

ororid first-putting box on

-(About
,, gir, *r'nt* the maney, l'te tunts inrtead lo nnssm): Six fifty'
ta-ble): Cake'

r',ron (/oo(s

fori. blt, change . . . come on, hand over half a buck' (Sic
does sa. Of r''rrnoN): Who bit himl
'We're soon losing our Hennie, Moe'
BESsIE:
rror: Why I What's the matter I
BESsIE: She made her engagement'

lron: Zat

so

it happened . . ' he asked her'

Who? Who's the corPsel
hel
Did
vron:

BEssIE: Today
BEssIE:

It's a

secret.

uon: In the bag, huh?

HENNIE:Yeah....
daughter it's no
BEssrE: When a mother gives away an only
married you'll know' ' ' '
ioke. Wait, when you'll get
laugh-when I get marriedl
*u
p*trrtr,;,
Oottt
*Lt
-"k.
'em
all, cut 'ern in little pieces
Take
I
women
a
I
think
what
like a herring in Greek salad' A guy in France hacl the right
idea_droppi his rvife in a bathtub fulla acid. (I,vhistles.)
left!
Sss, down ihe pipe! PfIt-not even a corset button
r\{yRoN: Corsets don't have buttons'

rror (lo

unr',rNIn)

: What's

the- great idea ? Gone brig

time' Para'

gold teeth'
it's suicide! Sure' kids you'll have'
rct {at, big in the tangerines,,r'**,ut Shut Your face!
down twenty bucks a week?
nrrx:'Who's it-some iope pullin'
time'
Cn, yorr throat, sweetheart' Save
clise? Christ,

',,.r*tt
f
^',r"t

X.u.r mind your two

cents' Axelrod'

saY what I think-that's me!

fourflusher who'd steal
rrr,.NNIE: That's yo"*"-lott'y

tk:

giasses

of{ a blind man'

*ror: Get hot!
uriNNIE: My God, do
rnouth
NTYRoN:

neecl

it-to

listen to this rnutt shoot his

offl

Please. . "

iron: Now wait a min'ltc' sweetheart'

have to take t-h'-t from You'
,,r,sstE: Don't Yell at her!
in yotlr
ril,NNIE: For two cents I'd spit

wait a minute' I doir't

eye'

Here's trvo bits' (rru'xNrE

-')\. {\tllrotuing cain )"
"t'tq:
ltim and then starts ttcross the room')

loofrs at

Wherc arc YoLl goirlg?

up
dt; ; b!"t'ty nap' Mussoli'i' Wake lrle
';,'il* (crying),
(Exits')
ir;u'"p,'pi. blosson'r time in Normandy'
';;;
your Hennie' Sec the look in
.rrrr,: PrettYr p."*y-"
',*"t-t-g^l'
l'er eves ?
'Sh.
don't feel well' ' ' '
,'r,rrrrt
\r\noN: Canned goods' ' ' '
her'
,,r'.ssln: So don't start with
g* it' Not like other dames-shove
;1-t;';
,,,,r.:,: Like a battleship
her ancl I clon't mean
'tm
they lay' l{ot her' i go' ven for

r,r':sre,:

and

"

,r Chinee coin'
you don't talk this rvay'
,'r.rsts:.Listen, Axelrod, in my house
gcl out'
Lither heve rcspect or
marry her rnyseif'
-r,,r,.:'When I think J;"?l " ' ""ybt I'd
rtor): Youi could- What do you
, -..'str. (surldrnty o'oou- oi
'nean,

Moe?

s8

cLIFFoRD oDETs

uor: You ain't sunburnt-you

heard me.

Why don't you, Moel An old friend of the {amily li

you. It would be a blessing on all of us.
l*tor: You said she's engaged.
BEssrE: But maybe she don't know her own mind. Say, it'suon: I need a rvife like a hole in the head. . . . What's to k
about women, I know. Even if I asked her. She won't do
A gry with one leg-it gives her ttre heebie-jeebies. I
what she's looking for. An arrow-coliar guy, a hero, but
BEssrD:

a wad of jack. Only the two don't go together. But I got

it takes . . . plenty, and more where it comes from.
(Breafr,s off, snorts and ntbs his \nce' A pawse. In his
ILeoB puts

l-ish.ers.")
IESsIE: It's

on Caruso singing the lament lrom "The

right-she wants a millionaire with a

ACT TWO
SCENE I
is giu'
hne year later, a Sunday afternoon' The .front.room' Ttmin
fie'uspaptrs
haircut'
;ng n;s rot MoRDEcAI (uNclr rttonlr) a
6 news'
,p'ruod around the base o'f the chair' woe' is reading

lrg propped on a chair'

iopn,
'rnoa;ral[,

P,

mansion

Dinner's in haif an hour, Morty'

r"ronrv (sril/ reading ioftes): I got time'
- (Goes ta window
on tht rug, Pop"
u*rrr"r A duck. Don't g.i t
"i.
the shade's up to
matter
the
arnd pulls down shide.) What's
the ceiling?
again): Since when do I give a haircut in
1r,con (putling it up
the darkt (He mitnics her tone')
I like my house to
rnssrs: When you're finished, pull it down'
seltzer from
bottles
two
up
look respectable. Ralphie, bring

ns,sstn:

make tea. But one thing-she's got a fine boy with

into the front room and stanr

business brain. Carusol (Exits

in the dar\, at the windou.)

rros: No wet smack . .'. a fine girl. . . . She'll burn that gt
out in a month. (r'ton retrieues the quarter and spins it t
the table.'1
MyRoN: I remember that song . . . beautiful. Nora Bayes
it at the old Proctor's Twenty-third Street-"When It's A
Blossom Time in Normandy."
rnror: She wantsa see me crawl-my head on a plate she want
A snowball in hell's got a better chance. (Owt of sheer I
he spins the quarter in his fingers.)
,r
MyRoN (as lrk eyes slowly fill with tears): Beautiful . . .
nror: Match you {or a quarter. Match you for any goddam thi
you got. (Spins tlre coin uiciowsly.) What the hell kind
house is this it ain't got an orange!!
;

Slow Curtais

spas'

Silence, then sBsstu enters'

i..ror: Cake.

I'il

in another chair' is

,roding a paper' uNcLE \toRTv reads crtlored io\es'

Riverside Drive. So go fight City Hall. Cakel

BEssIE:

RALPH,

Weiss.
R^LPH:

I'm reading the

PaPer.

IJncle Morty likes a little seltzer'

n^LPH: I'm exPecting a Phone call'
you'Il be back' What's the matter?
unrrr", Noo, if i, i*.t
op'on !'acket') Take down the old
(Giaes him noney

sr.ssrn:

f'oi

lnttles.

(lo lecor) : Get thar cali if it comes. Say I'll be right back.
(1acon nods assenl.)
r,)o"" 1g;r;ng change from aest): Get grandpa some ciga'

r,,,r.r,rr

rctles.

Okay. (Exix.)
new in the PaPer, Moci
Whai's
1ncc,r:

rrAr.PH:

59

6a

cLrrrFoRD oDETs

Still jumping o1T.the high builclings like flies_the

shots who lost all dreir cocoanuts. pfit!

Lrt-rn:

JAcoB: Suicidesl
nron,: Plenty can'i talie
whip in the stretch.

AwAKE AND sINc

big

fIoose.

r\{oRry

\t:i!t deeply): Smells

BEssrE: Ain't you
ashamed

to an only sister's

good. I'm a grear boy {cr smells,

Once in a blue moon he should come

house.

Mor{Ty: }3essie, leave rne live.

BEssrE:

You should be ashamed!

MoRry: Quack quack!

No, better to lay around Mecca Ternple playing cards

with the Masons.
MoRry (with goctd nature): Bessie, don't you see popt
giving
me a haircut?
BEssrE: You don't need no haircut. Look,
trvo hairs he tooli o.ff.
MoRry: Pop likes to give me a haircur. If I saicl
no h..1;i
forger for a year, do you, pop? An old man,s like
that.
/AcoB: I still do an A-r job.
MoRry (winrting): Fop cuts hair to fit the {ace, don,t
you, popl
fAcoB:.F'95 sure, Morty. To each facc a cliffcrent haircut. Cistom built, no ready made. A round face needs special-.__
BEssrE:

6r

him skort): A graduate from the 13.fu{.T. (S'orrg): Don't forget the shztdr-- (Tlte phone rings. S/te beats
JAcoB to zr.) Hellol Who is it, pleasel . . . Who is it please i
... Miss Flirschl No, he ain't here. .No, I couldn't say

nt.ss.l (cutting

it-good in the break, b't can,t take the

M?RrI (uithaut loofting up): I saw ir happen Monday in my

building. Vfy hair stood_ up how they ,huu"l.d Li- iog.,t.',
*like a pancake-a bankrupt m"rr.rf".tu."..
voE: No brains.
I\4oRry: Enough . . . ali over the sidewalk.
Jacon: If someone said five-ten years ago I couldn,t make for
myself a living, I wouldn't believe
MoRry: Duck for dinner?
BEssrE: The best Long Island duck.
tr\.{oRry: I iilie goose.
BESsTE: A duck is just like a goose, only
better.
MoRry:Ilikeagoose.
BEssrE: The next drne you'll be for Sunday
dinner I,ll make a

when. (Flangs up skarply.)

{ )B : For Raiph I

\{

,",ssrE:

A wrong number. (1,Lco,r loolls at lter and goes bacQto

his job.)
trt;on: Excuse rue!

(lo rronrv) : Ralphie took another cllt dorvn the placc

yesterday.
\rl)R'ry: IJusiness is bad. I saw his boss Harry Glici<sman Thursrlay. I bought some velvets . . . they're coming in again.
Do something for Ralphie down there.
"r,ssln:
\r()R.ry: What can i dol I mentioned it to Cllicksman. He told
rne they scpreezed out half the people. (vrvRox erlers

',rssrn

tlressed
,,r'.ssrn:

in

apron.)

'What's gonna be the

endl Myron's working only

three

rl:rys a week now.

'r\ r(o-\: ]t's conJitions.

,,,ssrn: Hennie's married with a baby . . monev

iome in. I never saw conditions should be so bad.

just don't

Times'il change.
.r,ri: The only thing'il change is my underwear.
\r)rtry: These last few years I got rny share of gray hairs. (Slzl
t t'ading jolgs tuithout hauing loofted up once.) Ha, ha, harrr)r(rY:

Ibpeye the sailor ate spinach :rnd l.'nocked out four br-lrns.
tell you the rvay I see it. T'he country needs :r great

,'' rrow: I'11

nrrn now-a reguiar Teddy Roosevelt.

.r.lq' \[,/[21 this country needs is a good five-cent earthquake.
lrr;oB: So long labor lives it should increase private gain.,srE (to yacon) : Listen, Poppa, go talk on the street corner.
':r
'l'lre government'll give you free board the rest of yor-rr life.
r,rrlly: tr'm surprised. Den't I sencl a five-dollar check for Fop
,

very week?

ii'isru: You could afiord a couple more and not miss it.

6z

CLIFFORD ODETS

A,V\/AKE

uonry: Tell me jokes. Business is so rotten I could just as

lay all day in the Turkish bath.
MyRoN: Why'd I come in heref (puzzled, he exits.)
MoRry (ro uon) : I hear the bootleggers still do business,
uor: Wake up! I kissed bootlegging bye-bye two years bac
MoRry: For a factf What kind of racket is it now?
uor:-If I told you, you'd know something. (newNrn comes

frq

bedroom.)
HENNTE:

Where's Saml

Saml In the kitchen.

HENNTE (calls): Sam. Come take the diaper.
MoRry: How's the Mickey Lousel Ha, ha, ha. . .
BEssrE:

ii'

il

Sleeping.
MoRry: Ah, that's life to a baby. He sleeps*gets it in the
some more. To raise a family nowadays you must

-sleeps

a damn fool.

Never mind, never mind, a woman who don't raise

family-a girl-should jump overboard. What's she
for? (To Mon-ro change the subject): your leg bothers
_

BEssrE:

uon: It's okay,

sweetheart.
xnssru (zo MgRrI) : It hurts

him every time it's cold out. FIe's g

four legs in the closet.
MoRry: Four wooden legsl
uon: Three.
MoRrY: Whar's the big idea?
uon: Why notl Uncle Sam gives them out free.
MoRry: Say, maybe if Uncle Sam gave out less legs we
balance the budget.
JAcoB: Or not have a war so they wouldn't have to give
legs.

MoRry: Shame on you, Pop. Everybody knows war is n

sary.

Mon: Don't make me laugh. Ask me-the first time you

up a dead one in the trench*then you learn war ain't so
necessafy.

MoRry: Say, you should kick. The rest of your

pays you ,rin.,y a month. Look, not d worry

life Uncle Sam

il fi:

world'
seuenty
his
can.take
Sam
Uncle
laugh.
me
make
,no"i Dorr',
hurts'
good
Nothing
gesture.)
a
tuith
(Finishes
bucks and-stutnP')
(He rubs his
lrENNIx,: IJse a crutch, Axelrod. Give the stump a rest'

Mind your business, Feinschreiber'

flrssrn: It's a sensible idea'
uon: Who asked Youl

r"rou:

nrssrn: Look, he's ashamed'

HENNTE:

bad

6Z

AND.SING!

uon: So's your Aunt FannY.

cleans a r*b
nnsrrn (nairrly): Who's got an Aunt Fanny? (Slc
apron.)
he.r
tuith
ber plant's leaaes
MCRrY: It's a ioke!
lror: I don't want my paper creased before I read it' I want i'

Fifty times I said that.

nsssrn: Don't get so excited for a five-cent Paper*our
fresh.

star

boarder.

uon: And I don't want no one using my razor either' Get it

straight. I'm not buying ten blades a week for the Berger
family. (Furious, he limPs out.)
nnssrr: Maybe I'm using his razor too'
uF.NNIET

trnsstn:

Proud!

You need luck with plants'

didn't clean ofr the

leaves

in a month.
You keep the house like a pin and I like your cooking'
Any time Mytott fires you, come to me, Bessie' I'ii let the
l,uti.r go ani you'Il be my housekeeper' I don't like ]aps so

NloRry:

rnuch-sneaky.
say, you can't teli. Maybe any day

ttr,-ssrn:

(r rrrvr'rrn

I'm coming to

stay.

rrlis.)

;r'cou: Finished.
Monry: How much, Ed. Pinaudl (Disengages self ltom chair')
;

n,:oe

: Five

cents'

n,,,u'r", Still five cents for a haircut to

fit the facel

fAcoB: Prices don't change

by me. (Taftes a dollar.) I

.,

car

Se,con

yourself a Packard.. Ha,. ha,

(tafting laige enuelope from pocftet): Please, you'll

puy

this for me. Put it away.

MoRrr: What is it?
JAcoB: My insurance poiicy. I don't like
where something could happen.
MoRrY: What could happenl

',

ker

BESsIE:

If my girl

tell
surprised, Bessie' For the love of Mike

him

yev

nO.

I didn't tell himl No!

-r,,*" t, n.tlrH): No! (nalll

goes

n a window and loofrs

oz'lt.\

steady rvith
Morty, I didn't say before-he runs around
rr girl.
with a foxie-woxiel
uoRry: Terribli. Shouid he run around
trrissls: A girl with no Parents'

rrrisstn:

it

should lay arou

AcoB:

RALrH: What's the shamel

I'm

nrissrn:

Who knows, robbers, fire . . they took next door. Fi

dollars from O'Reilly.
MoRry: Say, lucky a Berger didn't lose it'
JAcoB: Put it downtown in the safe. Bessie don't have to k
MoRTY: It's made out to Bessiel
JAcoB: No, to Ralph.
r{oRrY: To Ralphl
f AcoB: He don't know. Some day he 'll get three thousand.
MoRrY: You got good years ahead.
,AcoB: Behind. (ner.r'n enters.)
RALPH: Cigarettes: Did a call comel
f,q.coB: A few minutes. She don't let me answer it.
RALPH: Did Mom say I was coming backl
JAcoB: No. (lronrv is bac\ at fletu io/gs.)
RALrH: She starting that stuff againl (russrE enters.) A call
for mel
ntsut (uaters Pot lraft, milft bottle): A wrong number.
JAcoB: Don't say a lie, Bessie'
RALpH: Blanche said she'd call me at two-was it her?
BEssrE: I said a wrong number'
RAL?r{: Please, Mom, if it was her tell me.
BEssrE: You call me a liar next. You got no shame-to start
scene in front of Uncle Morty. Once in a blue moon

rloRry:

of

change-

NroRryr Keep it.

65

AwAKE AND SING!

cLIFFoRD oDETs

64

cails

wanna know it.

You made enough mish mosh with her until now'

4
An orPhanl
he..runs around
already
year
A
shame'
f'o*
di.
,ttrtt-, f .""f.i
1ne' she
Believe
with her. H. b,ot-rght her once for supper'

u()RrY:

didn't come again, no!

n,rrpt-t: Don't think I didn't ask her'
them and what's in the end for all
rrrissrn: You l-r."rl Vott
'aise
vour trouble I
(Exits')
,^;;' il;;1o,,'ll lay in a grave' no more trouble'
[lor{TY: Quack quack!

consump'
r'lrr*, igi.l like that he wants to marry' A skinny
she's-not working-taktive-iooking . . . six to"th' already
see her' In a year she's
should
Yott
ing charity from an

tlead on his hands'

^t"tt'

yo.t'a cut her throat if you could'.

boy s tif: woll
That's right! B;i;;t she'i ruin a nice
.i
'ussm:
step in the prcture ano
first go to prisln. Miss Nobody should
I'll siand bY with mY mourh :f "!'. - ,
AI iolsonl
*n,.n", ttlirt Noboclyl Who am Il
susste: Fix Your tie!
t,rr,rn: I'11 tnk. ."0. of my own life'
my expression, you can't even
u,.r;Ii,"' Yo,,ll take care? Excuse
*tO. your nose yet! He'll take care!
(zo u"rrrr;: I'm surprised' Don't worry so
poor- glrl'.w[l
marry a -il:h:,lt:T;
^,,,,.ttt
When it's time to settle down he won't
than love
thicker
sense*ls
vou? In the long tu" to"'-on
i"t-, a great boy for live and let live'

un,.n*nt

66

67

AWAKE AND SING!

cLIFFoRD oDETs

it's easy to say. In the meantime he eats out my rrrrrs: Ha! (Exits-)
I'm
,l)try: When they start arguing, I don't. hear' Suddenly
heart. You know I'm not strong.
tnt
oaer
loo\s
(He
,1."f. I'rrr gr.^iboy for the practical lide'
ha, ha, ha.
A,roRly: I know . . . a pussy cat
^ sits rubbing' l'ter ltantls with lotion')
rrlNNrE tulti
tsEssrE: You got money and money talks. But without the dollaf
!n,NNrE: Hands like a raw Potato'
who sleeps at nightl
well ' ' ' l1o Pep'
r()u'ry: What's the matterl You don't look so
RALpr{: I been working for years, bringing in money here-put.
ting it in your hand like a kid. All right, I can't get my teeth tn,NNIts: I'm swell.
!r{)rrry: You trsed to be such a pretty girl'
fixed. Ail right, that a new suit's like trying to buy the Chryn.
the blues' You can't tell'
ler Building. You never in your life bought rne a pair <lf !r,NNI!,: Maybe I got
'rorrTy: You could stand a new dress'
skates even-things i died for when I was a kid. I don't car0
rr,NNIE:
That's not all I could stand"
irbout that stufi, see. Only just remember I pay some of thc
down to the place tomorrow and pick out.a
Come
bills around here, just a few . . . and if my girl calls me on ',,,or":
:;,;pi.l;.; the "eleven-eighty" li'e' only don't sinS; me thc
tlre phone I'll talk to her any time I please. (He exits. i{F.NNIl

BEssrE: Sure,

l,h-res.

applauds.)
BEssrE:

f)on't be so slnart, Miss Americal" ('I'o r'ronrv): He didn't

have skates! Br-rt when he got sick, a trvelve-year-old boy, who

called a big specialist fc,r the last $25 in the housel Skates!

1rcos (iust in.,4djusts uindow shade):

dry.
Nr(iRTY:

It

looks like snou'to.

lt's about time-winter.

tF,ssrt: Poppa here could taik like Samuel Webster,

jr-rst taltri. He should try to br-ry a two-cent pickle

llnd Market rvithout

N{oRry: I'r:n gettinS; an

toc-r, br-rt

in the

it'il

Bur.

money.
appetite.

Right away we'll eat. I made chopped 1io61 f6r you.

NroRrY: My specialty!
BF.ssrE: Ralph should only be a success like yrir-r, IVIorty. I should
only live to see the day when he rides up to the door in a big
car with a chaufieur and a radio. I could die lrappy, believe
me.

r{oRr'}:: Success she says. She slroulcl see how we spend thort.
sands of clollars making up a winter line and winter don't
come--sumrner in January. C;rn you beat it?

Don't live, just make

liver-ha!

MoRrYr Chopped

success.

,rlNNrE: I never had anything from

',r()R'ry: FIe's crazv about the kid'

'r,NNrE:

BEssiE:

JAcoB:

I neecl some new clothes'

I
got two thousand pieces of merchandise
',,-;;,
stock room for winter'

,r.NNrE: Thanks.

'igger

waiting in the

life' Sam don't help'

ii right. Twenty-one a week he brings in-a

an
clon'i have-it so hard' I wore my fingers.ofi.on

Crazy

lJnderwood for six years' For what? Now

wash baby diapers'

half the night the

the kid too' But

"bo,,,
You don't know
sleep'
to
Trv
I'id's up.

i"t." l'." .r"ry

horn'

it is' Uncle

Morty.

ha'
No, I don't know' I was born yesterday' Ha' ha'
F{a?
eggs?
like
You
S<rme day I'll leave you a little nest egg'
buriedl
and
dead
I'm
When
,',NNIE: Whenl
,r()rd'ry: No, when l'm dead and buried' Ha' ha' ha'
rr,.NNtE: You should know what I'm thinking'

.r()r{Ty:

FIa, ha, ha, I know. (n'rrnoN enters'),

myself' I,,noN: I never take a drink' I'm just surprised at
,,,rtry: I got a pain' Maybe I'm hungry'
rynoN: C"ome inside, Morty' Bessie's got some schnapps'
I'll take a drink. Yesterday I missed the Turkish bath'
',,r.'rvr

rr)r<Ty:

68

get so bitter when I take a drink, it iust surprises mc,

r\,rcrRry: Look how fat. Say, you live once. . . Quack, quack,
MyRoN:

A,I\/AKE AND SING!

cLTFFoRD oDDTs

(Both exit. won stands silentl,y in tlre doorcuay.)

I'11 make Leon's bottle now!
HENNTE: No, let him sleep, Sam. Take away the diaper. (IJc

rnv (entering):
docs. Exits.)

l,ilv

(aduancing into tlte room): That your husbandl

Don't you know I
rror: h{aybe he's a nurse you hired for the kid-it looks ithow he tends it. A guy comes horvling to your old iady every
time you lool< cock-eyed. Does he sleep with youi
I{ENNTE: Don't be so wise!
luon (intlicating news7aPer) : Here's a dame strangled her hubby
with wire. Clairned she didn't like him. Why don't you brain
Sam with an axe some night?
HENNTE: Why don't you lay an egg, Axelrod?
uon: I laid a few in my day, Feinschreiber. Hard-boiled onet
HENNTE:

too.

HrNNlr: Ycah ?
rror: Yeah. You wanna know what I see rvhen I look in your
eyes I
nnNxm: No.
rtcs: Ted Lewis playing the clarinet-some of those high crazy
notes! Christ, you coutrda had a guy with some guts instead
of a cluck stands around boilin' baby nipples.
HENNTE: Meaning youi
l.rot: Meaning me, sweetheart.
rrENNrE: Think you're pretty goocl.
rtos: Yor-r'cl knor,v if I slept with vou again.
HENNTE: I'11 smack your lace in :,r minute.
uon: Yon do and I'll break your arm. (Holds up paper.) Take
a look. (Ilear/s): "'Ien-day lu,xur1, cruise to Flavana." -l'hat's
the stuff you cor-rlcla had. Put u1r at ritzy hritels, {renchie soap,
champagne. Norv you're tied down to "SnaL"e-Eye" herc,
What forl What's it get youl
2 x 4 {1at on rcl}tlr
^
Street . a pain in the bustle it gets you.

69

,r.NNrE: What's it to You?

to spend it!
,,o, I krro* you from the old days' How you like
th': ears'
behincl
perfume
shoes'
What tr mean! Lizarcl-skin

a hot one. You're in a mess, Paradise! Paradise-that's

rvedding'
own
yah, crazy to eat a knish at your
,,,,r*rut I get it-you're jealous' You can't get me'
,r,rr: Don't make me laugh'
You'd
,,.*"*tu,Kid |ailbircl', b"tit trying to make me for years'
the
in
you're
but
lvlaybe'
giu. yo*. other leg. t"rr ttoot"al
no
damn
a
give
don't
I
Oniy it s worse for you'
"une'boat.
rnore, hut You gotta Yen makes Your,n: I)on't make me laugli'
world'
Compared ,o yotil'- sittin'- on top of the
',r**,
young forstay
don't
,,,n: You're loring you' looks' A dame

('Vef .

,niNNrE: You're a

'When

liar. I'm only twenty-fiour'

to staY?
,,,8:
You comin' home
,rlNNIE: Wouldn't you like to know?
I'11 get You again'
rnlNNrE: Think so?

,,,t:

'r,r.;; $s1s, whatever goes uP comes down' You're easy-you

she slaps
,.rrr..rrb.r_two {or a"nickei-a pushover! (swddenly
ideal
the
ltim. They both seem stunned') What's
rr.NNlE: Go on . . . break mY arm'
lousy'
t,,r,. (as il saying "I loue you".): Listen'
something!
do
on,
,,,.r*ru, Go
. r,

,r,:

Listen-

You're so damn tough!

,r,,t,: You like me. (He talPs her')

iu,.NNIE:

',

-*,"t i"f.e

your

(Pusies him away') Come around

h*ttl ufil

in the ark
rvhen it's a floocl again ancl il-"y ptl' you
man!
.rnimals. Not even"then-if you was the last
,r.t,; ]J1ly, if you hacl a dog I'd love. the dog'
etiters')
, !i.r'.rNlE : Gorilla! (Erits' R^LP:,:'
, \r lrl: Were You here before
' ,,,r, (sits) : Whatl

with

the

70

CLTFFoRD

RAL?H: When the call came

von: Whatl

for

oDETs

me

von (rubbing iis /eg): No.

JAcoB: Don't worry, Ralphie, she'll call back.
RAL?H: Maybe not. I think somerhin's the matter.
facoB: Whatl
RALpH: I don't know. I took her home from the movie
night. She asked me what I,d think if she went away.
tAcoB: Don't worry, she'll call again.
RALrH: Maybe not, if Mom insulted her. She gets it on
ends, the poor kid. Lived in an orphan aryltin most of
life. they shove her around like an .*piy'freight uain.
JAcoB: After dinner go see her.
RALIH: Twice they kicked me down the stairs.
JAcoB: Life should have some dignity.
RALpHi Every time I go near the place I get heart
failure.
uncle drives a bus. You oughta see him-like Babe
uon: Use your brains. Stop acting like a kid who still wets
bed. Hire a room somewhere-a club room fo, t*o *ernl
RALIH: Not that kind of proposition, Moe.
Mon: I)on'r be a bush leaguer all your life.
RALpH: Cut it outt
:.aon (on a sudden upsurge of cmotion): Ever sleep
with o
Look at 'im blush.
nALPH: You don't know her.
von: I seen her-the kind no one sees undressed

till

the

RALrH: Why give me rhe needles all the timel What'd I

do to you?
von: Not a thing. You're a nice kid. But grow up! In life t
two kinds-the men that's sure of themselves and the

who aint!- k's time you qdfit being a selling-plater and gol

the first
ii
i

class.

IAcoB: And you, Axelrodl

von (to yacon) : Scratch your whiskers!

(To narru) : Get i

srNc!

7r

pendent. Get what-it-takes and be yourself. Do what you like

lrlpu: Got a suggestionP (ruonry entcrs, eating.)
uou: Sure, pick out a racket. Shake down the cocoanuts. Set

RALIH: The call came. (yacon cnters.)

taker works on her.

AWAKE AND

''

what that

does.

NoRry: We know what

it

does-puts a pudding on your nosel

Sing Sing! Easy money's against the law. Against the lav'
don't win. A racket is illegitimate, no?
uor: It's all a racket-from horse racing down. Marriage, poli
tics, big business*everybody plays cops and robbers. You,
you're a racketeer yourself.
|t{)Rry: Whol Mel Personally
)rr)Ii: Florse feathers!

manufacture

dresses.

uonrv (seriously): Don't make such remarks to me without

proof. I'm a great one for proof. That's why I made a success
in business. Proof-put up or shut up, like a game of cards. I
heard this remark before-a rich man's a crook who steals
flom the poor. Personally, I don't like it. It's a big lie!
Mon: If you don't like it, buy yourself a fife and drum-and go
light your own war.
Mr)Rry: Sweatshop talk. Every )ew and Wop in the shop ears
rrry bread and behind my back says, "a sonofabitch." I started'
lrr>m a poor boy who worked on an ice wagon for two dollars
l week. Pop's right here-he'Il tell you. I made it honest. In
thc whole industry nobody's got a better name.
lAr:rx: It's an exception, such success.
lr)R'ry: Ralph can't do the same thingl
fArxrn: No, Morty, I don't think. In a house like this he don't
rcalize even the possibilities of life. Economics comes down
like a ton of coal on the head.
lroti: Red rover, red rover, Iet Jacob come over!
frrror: In my day the propaganda was for God. Now it's for
Fuccess. A boy don't turn around without having shoved in him
lrc should make success.
ltr)rr'r'y: Pop, you're a comedian, a regular Charlie Chaplin.
;,rrror: He dreams all night of fortunes. Why notl Don't it say
irr the movies he should have a personal steamship, pyjamar

CLIFFORD ODETS

AwAKE AND

sINGI

73

nr,.r,H: It's the truth. ]1'5f.rr fifty dollars a pair and a toiiet like a monumentl But in
.r,rr('lY: Keep quiet, snotnose!
the morning h" *"k". up and for ten dollars he can't fix tlrl
tsut i1
\ssi1 yt
r,,rrs: For ,lrr.,.h*rity, :r bone for an o1d dog'
teeth. And rnilliottt lxore worse ofi in the mills of the Southq
head' In
his
in
black
turn
eyes
his
so
,,ld man dor.'i tok" .itr.ity
starvation wages. The blood frorn the worker's heart' (uonlt
liussia they got Ndarx.
tornorrow not'
lawglts loud and long.) Lattgli, laugh
(scoffingl1): Who's MarxP
',,t,r^i
*oo"i, A real, a real Boob McNutt you're getting ro be'
yanks. (r'ronrv howls with delight.)
,,,r,: Air oi.nJtJ., for the
you' This
IAcoB: Laugh, my son.
,,,rr'ry: Ha ha ha, it's better than the iokes' I'm teiling
MoRrY: F{ere is the North, PoP.
it'
srnoke
and
pipe
your
in
it
is Uncle Sam's country. Put
JACoB: North, south, it's one country.
paPers'
the
,,r ';srEr Russia, he says! Read
MoRry: The country's all right. A duck ciuacks in every pot!
is oPPortunitY.
' 'r : Here
down men and womcn
JAcoB: You never heard horv they shoot
b.ii.u. in God in Russia' The papers tell
.o*,
tr.opt.."rr',
,':
which ask a better wage? Kentucky r93zl
tlre truth, theY do.
rvroRry: That's a pile of chopped liver, Pop' (nnssrn and othett
for it?
So you'believe in God "'you got something
lr,rrn:
enter.)
the
harvested
You
capitalists'
Y'u! You worked for all the
rvhcrt
comforts
Jacon: Pittsburgh, Passaic, Illinois-slavery-it begins
past
the
God!
got
t'uit frorn your labor? You
-But
success tregins in a competitive system. (rtontv houls uith dc'
the
y,,ul The p....rr, smiles on you, ycsl It promises.you
tight.)
you
where
earth
of
a
piece
Irrture somethingl Did you found
r"roJrv:'Oh Pop, what :rre you bothering? Whyl Tell me whyl
your
,,,uld
live like a human being and die with the sun on
Ha ha ha. I bought yol-l a phonograph . . ' stick to Caruso'
But
myself'
know
to
like
l,rcel Tell me, yes, teli me' I would
nEssrs,: He's starting uP againexistencefor
struggle
,,n these questions, on this theme--the
MoRry: Don't bother with Kentucky. It's full of moonshiners'
ansr,ver' The answer I see in your face " ' '
y,,tt can't'-"L.
"r,
corner you
;acou: Sure, sure-*
tlre answer is your mouth can't talk' In this dark
MoRry: You don't know practical affairs. Stay horele and cul
properry!
',it and you die. But abolish private
hair to fit the {ace.
,,,',r,x
(settling the issue): Noo, go fight City Hall!
Red Sea opened and thl
JAcoB: It says in the Bible how the
r,)ruY: He's drunk!
Egyptians went in and the sea rolled over them' (Quotes twQ
studying from books a whole lifetime'
1r,,rn:
tiiti of Hebreu.) In this boy's life a Red Sea will happerl ,,,rllv:I'm
all
That's what it is-he's drunk' What the hell does
again. I see it!
tlult mean I
*oorr, I'm getting sore, Pop, rvith all this sweatshop talk'
If you don't know, why siroulrl l-tell you'
1',,,,n:
BEssIE: He don't stop a minute. The whole day' like a phono
.,'r,:," 1ri;rroph6nt at /rrt; Yot' see? Hear him? I-ike ali thosc
'
graph.
nrrts, don't knout what they're saying'
a
rool
have
ycru
don't
man
a
rich
Without
rrJ*tt I'm surprisecl.
';ri'
'
;ir olli I know, I know.
over your h."d. you don't know itl
rrill,r.yl
Like Boob McNutt you knorv! Don't go in the park,
MyRoN r Now you can't bite the hand that feeds you'
l',ir-'th squirrels'll get you' F:[a, ha, ha' ' ' '
RAL?H: Let him alone-he's right!
BDSsIE: Another county irear{ from.

rl
rl

,ii
i.iil

,i

ili
ii
li
i

ii.

ii

i,
I'
i

,jl

,"
,l
ll

BEssrE: Save

your appetite, Morty. (?'a rutnow): Don't drop

tlown , . . tonight! Nine

o'clock

sure

sure

sure,.

,..(Hangswp.)

duck.
MYRoN: We're ready to eatr'Momma.
MoRTy (to yecon) : Shame on you. It's your second chi
(Noau they file out. MyRoN first cuith the ducft, the othns

hind him.)

JEssrE: Come eat.

/)

AWAKE AND SING!

CLIFFoRD oDETs

74

We had enough for one day. (Exits.)

MoRrr': Ffa, ha, ha. Quack, quack. (Exits.)

(1acon sits there trembling and deeply humiliated. vron

proacltes lzinz and thumbs the old tna.n's nose in the directi
ol tlte dining room.)
r"ton: Give 'em five. (Taftes his hand away.) They got you
on the wall like a picture, Jake. (He limps out to seat him
at the table in the next room.)
;acoe: Go eat, boychick. (nar,r,u cot'nes to him.) He gives me
so I'll climb in a needle. One time I saw an old horse in s
mer . . he wore a straw hat . . . the ears stuck out on
An old horse for hire. Give me back my young days . . .
me fresh blood . . arms . . . give
rings. Quicftly RALrH 8'odr to it. Tncon pulls the curtains s',
-ctands there, a sentry on guard.)
RALrH: Hello I . . . Yeah, I went to the store and came ri
back, right after you called. (Loofr.s at yrcnn.)
tAcoB: Speak, speak. Don't be afraid they'll hear.
L{LrH: I'm sorry if Mom saicl something. You know how
citable Mom is . . . Sure! Whatl . Sure, I'm listeni
. . . Pr-rt on the radio, Jake. (;acon does so. Mwsic comes
and up, a. tango, grating uith an insistent nostalgic pwl,
Under the couer ol the music utrvln speafts more freely.)
...yes... What's the matterl Why're you cryingl W
happenedl (To yacor:) She's putting her uncle on. Yesl
Listen, Mr. Hirsch, what're you trying to do I What's the
ideal Honest to God. I'm in no mood for joking! Lemme tr
to her! Gimme Blanche! (Waix.) Blanchel What's thisl
this a jokel Is that truel I'm coming right down! I
fu1--_ You wanna do thatl . . . I know, [u1- l'rn

;lrnu: What happened?

*ltil\ry (enters) : Listen, Pop. I'm surprised you 6i6rr'r-- (He
Itouls, shaftes his head in rnocft despair, erix.)
;rrxrn : Boychick, whatl
l,rr,r,r.i: I don't get it straight. (To lecon): She's leaving...
;er:on:

'Wherel

lrr.r,n: Out \Vss1_- To Cleveland.

;,rr,,ro: Cleveland

lAr.r,rr: . . In a week or two. Can you picture itl lt's a Put-uP

iob. But they.can't get away with that.
;rrix: We'll find something.
lAr.r,u: Sure, the angeis of heaven'Il come down on her uncle's
clb and whisper in his ear.
tA(joB: Come eat. . We'll find something.
lALlu: I'm meeting her tonight, but I know- (nessrc throws
o!)en tlze curta.in bettueen the two rboms and enters.)
ltusrn: Maybe we'll serve for you a special blue plate supper in
thc garden?

All right, all right. (nnssrn goes ouer to the uindow, I'euelt
tlte shade and on her way out, clicfrs ofr the radio')

lrr:on:

)tlirw (within):Leave

the music, Bessie. (She clicfts

it

on again,

loofts at them, erits.)

llt,pu:Iknow...

Don't cry, boychick. (Goes ouer to nnllrr.) Why should

you make like thisl Tell me why you should cry, just tell me.
, . . (ya.con taftes t'tt-ttr in his arms and both, trying to fteep
l,,tck the tears, trying fearfu!.ly not to be heard by tlte' others in
thc dining rootn, begin crying.) You mustn't cry. . ' .
ol
I'l'hc tango tutists on,Inside the clatter of dishes and the clash
ouith
laughter.)
howl
to
rrttlery sound. MoRrY begins

;rrrron:

Curtain

CLIFFORD ODETS

76

SCENE

A'V\/AKE AND SING!

II

That night. The darfr dining room.

AT

RISE ;acoo zi heard

sheet, declaiming aloud

in his lighted room, reading fro

as if to an awdience.

Jacoe: They are there to remind us of the horrors-under

crosses lie hundreds of thousands of workers and farmers

in uniform for the greater

glory
capitalism. (Comes out ol his room.) The new imperialist
will send millions to their death, will bring prosperity to
pockets of the capitalist-aie, Morty-and will bring
greater hunger and misery to the masses of workers and fa
ers. The memories of the last world slaughter are still vi
in our minds. (Hearing a noise he quicQly retreats to
roonx. R Lpr;t comes in from the street. He sits uith hat
caat on. I^coB tentatiaely oryens door and as(s): Ralphiei
RALrH: It's getting pretty cold out.
ltcos (enters room fully, cleaning hair clippers): We s
have steam till twelve instead of ten. Go complain to
Board of Health.

murdered each other

RALPr{.'

It might

snow.

JAcoB: It don't hurt .

RALrH: When I was a

. . extra work for men.

kid I laid awake at nights and heard
sounds of trains . . . far-away lonesome sounds . . . bo
going up and down the river. I used to think of all kinds
things I wanted to do. What was it, Jake? ]ust a bunch
noise in my headl
yrcoy (waiting for news of the giil): You wanted to make
yourself a certain kind of world.
RAL?H: I guess I didn't. I'm feeling pretty, pretty low.
JAcoB: You're a young boy and for you life is all in front li
big mountain. You got feet to climb.

I don't know how.

lecoe: So you'll find out. Never a young man had such
tunity like today. He could make history.

IRAL?H:

Ten p.M..and all is well. Where's everybody?

;rr,'rr: They went'
i*r,r'rr: Ijncle Morty tool
i^,,,,,,, F{.tti. ani Sam he drove down'

lAr,r,rr:
.'

t,t,,,,,,r

saw her.

Yes, yes, tell

7sr:rnr (alert and eager):
9e,..
i^,,',,,,'I waited in Mount Morris Park till she came ou. So cold

I tlid a buck'n wing to keep warm' She's scared to cleath'

;rr.ru: They made herl
her-they
1r,,,,,,, Srrr.. She wants to go' They keep yelling at
witnt her to marry a millionaire, too'
;lr;ou: You told her You love herl

"Marry mer" I said. "Marry me tomorrow'"'On sixha','r'

tccn bucks a week. On top of that I had to admit Mom'd
ad
starve
can
Two
tlrtcle Morty get me fired in a second' ' ' '

1,t,,,,,r, S,r.a.

,lrcap as one!
fAr:ou: So what haPPened?

;rr.r,rr: I made her promise to meet me tomorrow'

'
i^,,,,u, No* she'll go in the West?
her'
not
but
her,
grr,r,',' I'd fight thJwhole goddam world with
"-N,,
right-I'll
grr,r. tfr. ft.U with her. If she wantsa go-all
gct along.
important things than girls' ' ' '...
;^,,,,ur Eoisure> there's more
I don't see it' She'll
I,tt,,,lr, Yor., said a mouthful . . ' and maybe
rt'c what I can do. No one stops me when I get going' ' ' '
(Near to tea'rs, he has to stop. Ttcos examines his clippers aery
'

losely.)

'Eiectric

clippers never do a iob like by hand'

Mom let us live herel
won't
i,rr,r,rr: Why
Because in a society like this today people
Why?
fi,,,,,,, Why?

;r,rrr,:

,1,,n't love. Hate!

parlors' I got
lAl,r,rr:Gee, I'm no bum who hangs around pool
tlrc stuff to go ahead. I don't know what to do'
to do, boychick' Here- sitt'
;Alorr: Look Jr, *. and learn what
maybe I'll use them
think
You
tools.
polishing
lrr olcl man
years he talked'
seventy
for
see
and
f""il.rr.
this
on
rrpirrin! Look

CLIFFORD ODETS

with good ideas, but only in the head" It's enough for rne.no$
t should see your happiness. This is why I tell you-DO! D
what is in your heart and you carry in yourself a revolutiot!
But you should act. Not like me. A man who had goldcn
opportunities but drank instead a glass tea. No. . . . (A pautl
of silence.)
x*nv (listening):IHear it? The Boston air mail plane. Ten min'
utes late. I get a kick the way it cuts across the Bronx every
night. (The bell rings: slr*r, crcited, disheueled, enters')
tacoB: You came back so soon?
;nrr: Where's Moml
IAcoBr Mom? Look on the chandelier.
s,q,rr: Ncbody's homel
You wer't in thl
JAcoB: Sit down. Right away they're coming.
street without a tie ?
saru: Maybe it's a crime.

"'nr: cossacks. rhey

,, ,,,t :

fight with Hennie againl

sarr: She'll fight once some d"y. . . . (Lapses into silence,l
comes the sotlr
JAcoB: In rny day the daughter came home. Now
in-law.

snu: Once too often she'll fight with me, Hennie. I mean it. I
mean it like anything. I'm a person ra'ith a bad heart. I sil
quiet, but inside I got aRALPH: What happenedl
sert: I'll talk to Mom. I'll see N{cm.
IAcoB: Talce an appie.
salt: Please . . . he tells me aPPles.
t
RALrIT: Why hop around like a billiard balll
sarr: Even in a ioke she should dare say it.
JAcoB: My grandchild said somethingl
,n*r T'o -! fnth.. in the old country they did a joke ' . . I'[
tell you: One day in Odessa he talked to another ]ew on thl
st.eet. They didn't like it, they jumped on him like a wild
J

Whol

' '*':l

Ffom What I
this' Me
a broken heart' ' Some people are like
From
,\r:
r,,,,. tr could die like this from shame'
,, , ,r : Flennie told Yor something ?
'.,',
sky"
sioigh. orrr rir. said it--lif,e a hghtning from the
tlrc baby ain't mine. She said it'
,, r r r,r I: Don't be a doPe'
i\( ()u: For sure, a joke.
, ,rr: She's kidding You'
',
Please
,^r: She shouicl ki<i a policcman' not Sam Feinschreiber'
nighttime
in
up
. . you clon't knorv ier iike me' I wake
-the
know what' I make a
.,,,,1 she sits watching rne like I don't
looks for a
,,,,. iitirrg fron, thu"store' But it's no use-she
ga 6azy
could
.r,'r in thJ sky. I'rn afraid like anything' You
l',,tn less even. What I shall do I'll ask Mom'
"trCs a bad dream"'
;,,,,r: "Go horne and sleep," she'll say'
couid
,rr: lt clon't ,ntirfy ,* rnoit, "tth remarks' when Hennie
nervofsl
sc
l.,ll in the bed. (lacon laughs') Don't laugh' I'm
st:rtlon'
lrroli, two tirnes I weighed myself on the subrvay
I I'ltrows small cards to table')
thirty-eight-also.a
1r',,,, (examining one): One hundred and
to cleep thinkinclinecl
"Yc'u
are
on"l
l, 'l rtlne. (1'wrns it
"n'/'):
excellence and
,rrrt, lnd irnu. high admiration fcir intellectual
"
of friends'" Cor'
linecl to be very cxclusive in the selection
'i,,
in the wrorrg family'
, r! I think -*yt. yot' got mixed up
',
',
antl Bnsstu nola efiter')
','r. (l'rvnox
wrong with
,,
,,, I)ok, a guestiWhat's the matter ? Something
rl', baby? (Waits')

',

AcoB: Excuse me.

RALrH: You had a

RALPH:

|ew without

he came
llt: came home-l remember like yesterday h9*
cover
the
this
like
put
lr,rn xnd went in bed for two days' He
died'
he
morning
Tht third
,,r' his face. No one should
""'

wolf.

;, H*;'i::l

. r Ncl.
,, .",: NOOI
'. , (in a burst): I
,,,

wash my hands from everything'

don't
.,,' : 'llal<e off your coat ancl hat' Have a seat' Exciternent

CLIFFORD ODETS

AwAKE AND

help. Myron, make tea. you,ll

have a glas,s
civilized people. (r.tvnou jors.) ,lVhat"is tea. We,ll talk lilie
ir, LLa.[ph, ycn,r:e ,rll
ctres,se<]_yp for a partyl qfi"
i"L4,

i',.rlcl such a remark in all your

rrr rnent! Bughouse.

)liri

,,,"rrty antt exits. "t,rt

sau) : \,Ve satri., :r very goo.l
movie, ,"irH-ilirfi".e l3cery.
He acrr
like life, very good.
MyftoN (tuit/tin\: prrlly Moren
tr__o.
BEssrE: Polly tr4oran too.-a
woman with a nose from
F{unts Point, but a fine player

the books.
IACoB:,\ll righr.

carr't stand

here

it. . . ,

look rike a ftrneraD

(,yettt): you rook up Tootsie

on rhe roof.

REssrr:

l,/,.ut
i,,cou (ruitltiz): In

ruinute.

BEssiE; 'What can,t vou

stancl
sarr: She sai<j I'rn * r..orrd fiddle

nrssrn: Who r.
sarr: tr{cnnie. In the second place,

BEssrE:

in rny owrl

Whatl Wh:tt are you talkingl

snM: Froln her ovnrn tnouth.

It u,eut
Sam, rvhati-e yoLr sayingl

st. No doubt.
:
'r Sam don't thinli she means ir
',,r1 ; Q[, I i<no.v he Con't, 6;f cgilrse==-_
r : I'il say dre trurh, s;rm"
we cridn't harf the tjme uncrer,,nti hcr ourselves. A girl with h"er own
mind. When she
',, '!'cs it up, wiid horses wouldn't c-hange l-rer.
, , Sihe dor,'t love
me.
, rr,: This is sensibie. Saml
, : h.Iot for a nickel.
', rr,.: What do you thinkl She_married you for your m{)neyl
J,rr Jour iooksl You ain't no
John Baorynrc,rc, Sam. lnkr, she

'I

I'lcase, fiot for a nicker. (In"oo si:ands

in the daortuay.)
.r,: \tr/e.srood right here the first
time she saicl it. ,,Snm'tr.irr.

l,rciber's

a nice boy,".she said it,,.a boy he,s

51ot go".l on",riJ,,,rI sen$e, with a business
h_cad." ltighi here .rl.lc'.r"i.l jr, in
rlrr: roo.nl. You sent her two boxe,
of"cancly together, yorl re.
rir( ntller l

(n'rvnoN enters uitlt

sarr: Plcase, I,rn mal<irig.".ioril

I fell in dre chair like a dead.
Such a sl(rr)i you believe?
sarr: I don't know.
BEssrE: FIow you don't
knowl
sar,r: She toid me even the
man.

BEssrE:

Impossibiel
sav: I can't believe rnyself" Bur
she said it. tr,nr a second
ficjdlc,
she said. She rrrade s,ucli a
y.il *d;;y
nu".a
for
ten
milcs.
ntssrn: Such.a rfing H-ennie
shc,uld ,"y_inpossible !
sanr: Whar should i dol
With rny U"J t."r,'ruch a remarli
kills,
r{yRoN: Ftrcrurie don'r feel -rveil,
dam. y;;;-;.", .she_

What theni__a sick girl. Believe -;;,

, morher hnows,
Nerves. Our Flennir:'s got a
bed _-;.; you1l

nEssrn:

let her she

ur.no*): you

She should make such a

'

lilie a knife in rny heart.

"frl -"_n";;;;:'ii:;

B,

rri , rI V()ll,

ircuse.

BEssrE:

anything. She rakes

lifel

,,,.r: The littie one's been sick ail these

months. F{en*ic *eeds
r,

it ain,t rny baby, she saicl.

rrisltes.)
BEssrE:

trr

away the toois antl

(Ltix to ltis roont.\

BEssrEj bJoo, sam, rvhy

r]o you

sanr:

i.Op",'r"l*

srNG!

says

evt,r

; l6f1'5 candy.
This is when she said it. What clo you think
i
, r ,,1.1 ;
were just the only boy she cared for.
_f6u.
,r,: So she rnarried you. Such
a world... plenty of boy
lrr, 116]s
,r,r;';

rr :

she hacl, believe mel

",': A popular girl. . .

,,N: Y-e-s.
,,:.l'11 say ir iihirr our__L{oc Axelrod
o{Terecl l.rcr plentv-_a
, ri,.tnt, a house . . .
she don't have tr., pick Lrp a hancl.
"' :Oi:, &4oci.fusr rvil,l abour hcr. .
N,loe Axeirodi Fie wantecl ro_
r . I-lur she didn't care" A
girl lil<e F{ennie you don,t buy. i
l,,riltl never live to u"",rrrurh", clay
if lin ieXlins a lie.
,

.lrr ,v:rs Licltiirrg;nc.

,' , "*4,thai rhenl l-ou shuuldn't be
foolish.

awaKr axo srxc!

CLIFFORD ODETS

8z

sa,r.r:

The baby looks

my family. He's got

rlrc orchestra-a man like a mouse. Maybe she'll lay down and
,lrr' 'cause he makes a living?
',,, r,n: Can I talk to you about somethingl

Feinschreibe!

eyes.
BEssrE:

A biind man could

JAcoB: Srire

..

see

it.

','

,rr,: What's the matter-I'm biting you?

,.'r'rr: ft's something about Blanche.
i.r .,,rr,: f)on't tell me.

sure.

s,qr'I: The baby looks like me. Yes.

Bnssln: You could believe me.

Any d"y. . . .
sar.r: But she tells me the man. She made up his name tool
tsHssrE: Sam, Sam, look in the phone book-a million names.
MyRoN: 'Iom, Dick and Flarry. (1ncon laughs quietly, soberly.\.
BEsslE: Don't stand around, Poppa. Take Tootsie on the roofC
j
Ancl you dnn't let her go under the water tank.
Jacon:

;ecot: Schmah Yisroeal. Behold! (Quietly lauglting he goes bacl$

into his room, closing tlze door be/zind hin.)
i
s,q.lt: I won't stand he should make insults. A rn:ln eats out
!

tt

No, no, he's an old rnan-;r second childhood. Myronl

bring in the tea. Open a jar of raspberry jelly. (r,rvnor.l r-ret"r.)
srrr: Mc-,m, ;lou thin[-)
BEssrE: I'll taltr< to Hennie. It's ail right.
BEssrE:

s.,rrtr:

'frtrnorrow,

8t

I'11 take her by the doctor. (n,e,rpH entns.)

,''rr'rr: Listen now,, ..,rr,: I dcln't wanna know,

..,r,rr: She's got no place to go.
, , . .rr,: I don't want to know.
!.ir
'u: Mom, I love this girl. . . .
,,, n.; : So go knock your head against the wall.
,.,,r: I \,vant her to come here. Listen, Mom, I want )/ou to ler
lr, r liy" here for a while.
',r .,rr,: You got funny ideas, my son.
"r r,r: I'rn as good as anyone else. Don't I have some rights ir,
rlr, r,y61ld) Listen, Mom, if I don't do something, she's going
,r,,;ry.'Why don't you do it? Why don't you let her stay here
1,,' :r few weeks? Things'll pick up. Then we can--, ,rr,: Sure, sure. I'll keep her fresh on ice for a wedding day
I lr.rt's what you want?
, .,r'rr: No, I mean you should-,..,r: Or maybe you'll sleep here in the same bed without mar
,,
(1 acon stands in his doorway, dressed.)
'1,r'.
.,,',,:
l)on't say that, Mom. I only mean.,. "
=, ,rr: What you mean, I know... and what I mean I also
I r,,,rv. Make up your mind. For your own good, Ralphie. If stic
,l'rppcd in the ocean I don't lift a finger.
.- ., , ,, : That's all, I suppose.
.' ' , \Mith me it's one thing-a boy should have respect for his
".rrr lutur. Go to sleep, you look tired. In the morning you'll
l, 'r1,r't,

funny about me. (lrvnoN sees hint or$. In the follouing' pautd
Cantso is lteard singing uithin.)
6nssrE: A bargain! Second fiddle. By me he don't even play itr

,,' "Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, and

l' ,ll r':rst out the dead." It's cold

.!,,,,:r:Oh,yes.

outl

the earth

84

cLTFFoRD oDETs

AwAKE eNo srwc!

/AcoB: I'll take up Tootsie now.

Myr{oN (eating bread and jam): He come
on us like tire u,ilrl
man of Borneo, Sam. I don't think Hennie
was fool .rrouglr'tn
tell hirn the truth like that.

long. Fifty times I told you I'11 break every record in the
l,,"rsc. (Sle brusltes past him, breafts the records, cames out.)
I l,( next time I say something you'll maybe believe it. Now

"

Myron! (A deep pause.)

BEssrE:

Never mind.
I heard hirn.

BESsTE:

Never rnind.

tsEssrE:

heard him. you don,t needa tell me.

You trapped that guy.

Don't say anodler word.
R^Lpu: Just have respecr? That's the ideal
BEssrE: Dcn't say another word. I.m
b.iling over ten times i'side,
sAlpi{: You rvon't let Blanchc here, hrrhll'm
not sure I rvurrr
pur one over on that iinle shrimf. The cat,s
*flrt.r,,
f;:.Jr""
R.{LI.,H:

BEssrE:

Mt}mr'

.sEssrn:

RALrH:

fm teiling you something!

I got the whole idea- I get it

rning. I3oy, what a laughr

so quick my head,s swinr.

suppose yo.,

.,yacon: Yes.

Lr,;-

"bo,lt

th;., J"i..i

luALpFr:-Wtry didn't you do somethingl

f AcoB: I'rn an old man.

nal'rr:.whar's rhat got to do with the price of

bonds r sits arouutr
"
and lets a thing like that happen! iou ,,_,"k.
me sich ro..
MYRoN p11", o pause): L.t me say
somerhing, son.
RAr-pr,i: Take your hand away! Sit
i'a.or'"r-r,"ol wag your tail,
"' "
Keep on boasting you went to law school
for ** ].".r.^
I\4YRoN: I want to teil you_-R^LpFr:,f3Lr
in your life had a thing.-hirrr,
to teli me.
1e.ver
nnsur (biuerly):
Don't say a wond. Lut
ret hir-n run antl
teli Sam. Publish in the papcrs, give a broadca.sr
n" ,tr. ,r.t;,,,
To him ir clon'r mamer
ii,
{em;ly sits ivirh t"-, po,,r.
ing from rhe eyes. (To "otlr;"g
yo"oui, What a.e you waiting forl
I
didn't-tell you twice
tlre-,lrgl
V.*,i
ur",,,t
"lr.acly "bott
around with Caruso and
make a bughouse, Iiain,t *orrgh-,,ti

i,lrc you learned a lesson. (Pause.)

Bessie, new lessons .

''. (.quietiy):

. not
t .r)r. enters.)
,r: Ycu didn't have to do it, Momma.

RALIH: What did he sayl

RALpFT:

B5

ir

for an old

dog.

,' -faik better to your son, h4r. Berger! tr4e, I don't lay down
'
,,,,1 tlic for him and Poppa no more. I'll work lihe a niggerl
l,,r rvhatl Wait, the day comes when you'll. be punished.
\" lrrn it's too late you'll remember how you sucked away a
',,,,rlrcr's life. Talk to him, tell hirn how I don't sleep at rright.
r lli:rsts into tears and exits.)
',ll1.;ings): "Good-by to all your sorrows. You never hear thcrn
rlbout the war, in t,ie land of Yama Yama. ."
,,,rr.r: Yes, Momma's a sick woman, Ralphie.
,,,r: Yeahl
,' \A/e'll be out of the trenches by Christmas. Purr, put, puri
. hcre, stinker. . . . (Picfts up Tootsie, a small, ruhite
, ,,,;llc tltat just then enters from the /tall.) If there's reincar
,,rtron in the next life I wanna be a dog and Iay in a fat ladv',
,t' Barrage overl FIow 'bout a little pinochle, popl
,,lr: Nnno.

tlog): I'll take her up. (Conciliatory.)

"t (tafung
No,
I'll
do
it. (Taftes dog.)
',r,:
t
(ctsltamed):
It's cold out.
''
' ,r': I was cold before in my life. A man sirty-seven. , o
,

r',r',t/1es tlte dog.) Tootsie is

my favorite lady in the house.

,ll,'slouly passes across the room antl exits. A settling pausc.\
, , r : She cried aii last night-Tootsie-I
heard her ir. ihe
'
,

'

r' lrt rr lil<e e young

'l"onight

girl.

I could do something. I

got a yen

'x (rubbing his /tead): My scalp is impoverished.

, ,r.

N{om bust all his records.

36
MYRoN;

oDf,Ts
She didn't have to do it.

AwAKE AND

cLTFFoRD

tit! Now I can sleep in the morning. Who the he['

wantsa hear a wop air his tonsils all day long!

year.

v.cn (singing as he deals himself cards):

'

,, lt'r^ a pisscutter!
,",: I believe in Destiny.
' \'oo get what-it-takes. Then they don't catch you with

'rrr [)rrtrts down. (Sizgs out): Eight of clubs. " " "
, ., , I really don't knorv. I sold iewelry on the road before I
,,','ricd. It's one thing to-- Now here's a thing the druggist

'

!,

rne. (Rcads): "The Marvel Cosmetic

Girl o[ Hollywood

.,,,irrg on t}re air. Give this charming little radio singer a

,!,'rr('lrnd win five thousand dollars. if you will send "
, \'olrr old man stili believes in Sanry Claus,
.',,,.r: Someone's got to win. The government isn't gonna al'
i,'. t'verything to be a fake"
,, lr's a fake. There ain't no prizes. It's a fake.

:It says---

,,t (snatching z7) : For Christ's sake, Pop, forget it. Grow up"
'
i,l ,.s right-everybody's crazy.It's like a zoo in this house.

T'hat's the place where the good fellows go.

L,r roing to bed.

. i lrrthelandof YamaYama. ... (Goesonwithtara')

Don't think life's easy with lvfomma. No, but she meatt*
good all the time. I tell you she does, she_--,,
:
Maybe,
but I'm going to bed. (Dorunstairs doorbell rings
''

' , , ,,rr:

know.

And your girl. . . .

Don't soft soap me all of a sudden.
MyRoN: I'm not foreign born. I'm an American, and yet I ncvel
gor close to you. k's an American father's duty to be his sorr!
MYRoN:
RALnH:

Iriend.
RALIH: Who said

i,,r

.,,'';

"Lights are blinking while you're drinking,

Good-by to all your sorrows,
You never hear them talk about the war
In the land of Yama Yama
Funicalee, funicala, funicalo. . . ."
[{YRoN: What can I say to you, Big Boyl
RALPr{: Not a damn word.
tlron (gors "ta ra ta ra" throughout.)
ttyRoN: I know how you feel about all those things,
RALPH: Forget it.

8Y

,rrjt rny hair I just knew I was destined to be a failure in life

,rncl when I grew bald I was. Now isn't thar Iunny, Big

Iron: Tough

r.'x,vu (handling the lragment ol a record): "O Paradiso!"

uon (gels cards): It's snowing out, girls.
MyRoN: There's no more big snows like in the old days. I thinl
the whole world's changing. I see it, right under our vcrl
eyes. No one hardly remembers any more when we used ta
have gaslight and all the dishes had linle fishes on them.
yon: It's the system, girls.
MyRoN: I r.vas a little boy when it happened-the Great Blizzlrtl
It snowed three days rvithout a stop that time. Yes, and thc
horse cars stopped. A silence of death was on the city arrd
little babies got no milk . . . they say a lot of people died ilrnr

srNG!

that-Teddy R.l

xeor (tlealing cards): You're breaking his heart, "Litvak."

N{yRoN: It iust happened the other day. The moment I bcg*

t \/our

' 'l' ntly.)

, lting):

Enerny barrage begins on sector eight sevenry-five

:
That's
downstairs.
'
.!V'e
, , ,, r:
ain't expecting anyone this hour of the night"
,! "l-ights are blinhing while you're drinking, that"s thc
! r,( where the good feliows go. Good-by to ta ra tara ra," etc"
,' I bctter sec who it is.
, r: I'11 tick the button. (As he starts, the apa.rtffient doorbelt
,,,.s ringing, follotued by large ftnocfting. MYRoN goes out.j
, ,,

,,

' ,',

, W'ho's ever ringing means it.

)

(A loud ercited uoice out'

88

cLTFFoRD oDETs

rron: "In the land of Yama Yama, Funicalee, funicalo, funic*

(rrvnor.r cnters follouetl by scrn-ossnt the ianitor. BEssrE r///.r
froru the otlter side.)
ljESsIE:
R.AL?II:

Who's ringing like

What's the matterl

\,{YRoN: Momma.

ACT THREE

Noo, what's the matter? (Dounstairs bell continues.)

RALPTT: Wirat's the matter i
BEssrE:

EEssrE:

Wetrl,

well . .

,r'rcftlu.ter in the dining rootn. l,rrIrlTY, BEssIE and l..nvxoN cat'

marfti.ng a "dope sheeti'
', '. Sirting in the front room is ttos'
;tt t'6!ly listening to the others.

.?

rvrYRoN:Poppa....
BEssrE:

What happened I

scHLossER: FIe shlippecl maybe

RALPr{: Who?

itr de snow.

(rc mssin) : Your fadder fall

dead pattse. xrrp:n then runs out.)

scirlossER

,,,: You're sure ire'Il come tonight-the insurance r:ranl

', r'v: Why notl I shtupped him a ten-clollar biil. Everything's

off de roof.

<lelica tessen.

(dazel): Myron. . . . Call Morty on the phone

him, (rrvnox starts lor phone.) No. I'11 do it myseif.
do it. (ntvnoN exits.)
$cHLossER (standing aupidly): Since I rvas in dis country . .
was pudding out de ash can . . . The snow is vet.
vuss;rn

lr I ''

il
,

nron (ro scnlossrn) : Scram. (scHr.ossnn rrzls.)

(unssin gces blindly to tke phone, lumbles and gets it. t'aon .'ti
qwietly, slowly turning cartls ouer, but uatclting her.)
tsF.ssIE:

He slipped. .

lVforty.
'i.: Stay till he'1l come,

',v: No, I got a strike

dorvn'.own. Business don't stop fi;r

, r;onal life. Turo times already in the past week those bastar<ls
rrr'lv stink bombs iu the shou'room. Wait! We'il gi','e thern
ril,:i:s-in the kishkas rve'll give them. " . .
,,.: tr'rn a \vornan. I don't linow about policies' Stay till he

r"ron (deeply mouer/): SlippedP

can't see the nur.rbers. Make it, Moe, rnake it....

r,roe: Makc it yourseif. (i{e loofts at lter and slouly goes hrrrt
to his garne of cards witiz sltafung hands.)
BEssrE: R.iversicle 7(Unable to tal\ she tlials slouly.'l'h'
EEssrE:

Why rnust he come so soonl

: Because you hacl a big expense. You'll settle once and for
['m a great boy {or making hay while the sun shines'

dial ruhizzes on.)

lcon: Don't. " " make me lauS;h.

...(H"

Curtain

turns oaer

cards.)

leave me
'r : Bessie-sweetheart,
l.4orty.
afraid,
I'm
',:
,vl Be practical. Tirey made an in-,'r:stlgation. Everybody
1 rr.rvs Pop haci an accident. Now r,ve'll cotriect.
,,r: ltalphie don't knor,v Papa left ttre insurance in his na;le
h's not his bLrsiness. Ancl I'il teil hirn.
, : T'lre way hc tcJs. (lJn'tcr xrrvptr ittto front room') l{e'll dcr
,rcthing crazy. T1e think^s Poppa jumped ofi the roo{^
, ,': lle practical, Bessie. Ralphie will sign when I teli him.
, ,-yti:ing is pcaclres and cream.
, : Wait for a few minutes.
, : I-ooi<, i'll show you irr lf".f. on white what thc pc;licy
'

B9

AwAKE aNp srNc!

CLIFFORD ODETS

90

God's sa\e, leaue me tiue! (Angrily exits to fti'

parlor, :vron speafts to RALPH aho is reading a letter')

says.

Ii

Fol

uon: What's the letter saYl

nALrlH: Blanche won't see me no more, she says' I couldn't cail
very much, she says' If I clidn't come like I said' ' ' ' Shc!

'. rv:riting.

Why should You act this waY ?

',,,r,'"Ca.rse there's no bones in ice cream' Don't touch me'

phone before she leaves.

Iron: She don't knorv about

PoP

l)iease, what's the matter.

won't ever forget me she says' Look what she

me . . . a little locket on a chain .' . if she calls I'm out'
rron: You mcan iti
RALrH: For a week I'm trying to go in his room' I guess he'd lih
me to have it, but I can't. . . .
uor: Wait a minute! (Crosses ouer') They're trying to roqfi
freeze-out.

RALPH: Who?
rrron: That bunch stufEn' their gut with hot pastrami. Morty lt
particular. Jake left the insurance-three thousand dollare

for you.
RALPH: For

She don't like you. Plain as the face on your nose"

sen&

nALpH: She

you-a

me

Mon: Now you got wings' kid' Pop figured you could

use

'l'o me, my friend, you talk a foreign language'

,\ q.r*rt", yor'r'r. lousy' (sau crlls') Gimme a buck' I'll rr:n
rrl) to ten.
.rr,: Dotr't do mc nc, favors.

, '['rlie a chance' (Stopping

,r,r,-:

',

,l,r,rttgh,

\sadly): You sdll don't know rne'

,',,, I'(to* what goes in your wise-guy head'
,, : I)on't run away' . . ' I ain't got hydrophobia'

,,rnt to tell

That's whY whatl

the only reason he done it'

RALPH: He done it?

:MoE: You think a breezeblew him ofll (uruNIn enters and sitl
RALpHi I'm not sure what I think.
pnon: The insurance guy's coming tonight' Morty "shtuppd

leavinS;'

,,r

AlreadY Packed.

ri: Where I

'ri

(a-r lre enters

lolloued by the others) : My car

goes through

of salts'
: Hennie, go eat. ' .

,',,rv like a dose

,,

'Where's RalPhie?
,'l lrr his new room. (Moaes into dinirtg roont')
for
, ,r, rr : I <licln't have a piece c'f hot pastrami in rny rnouth
,' ,r :

him.
RAI-PH: Yeah

nros: I"ll back you up. You're dead on your feet' Grab a

sleep

yourself.
'R^LPH: NO!
ruron: Go .on! (Pushes boy

s^\t (oahom MoRrY has

paper.
TFIENtJt'E: So

You. .I'm

,,ri: Leaving I

,, 'l'onight.

ntos: It ain't

her as she crosses to doorway')

I'm a pushover.
I say lotsa things. You don't know me'
, , r,ri: I know you-when you knock 'em down you're

'

That'swhy....
RALPH:

9r

, \'ou're sitting on it. (Gels paper') We could go home now'

ll, rrnie! Leon is alone by Mrs. Strasberg a whole day'
rri: Go on home if you're so anxious' A fuil tub of diapers

into rootn.)
ient in for thte paper): Morty wants tb

'

: Take a sandwich, Hennie' You didn't eat ail day'

t lr tt,indow): A whole rveek it rained cats and dogs.
,,

,.,,,rn:Reirlr rain, go away. Come again

.i,,,rt,l on her")
' '',,v: Where's mY gloves?

some other day. (Paas

AwAKE aNo srxcl

CLIIIT ORD ODUTS

92

,Arv (.mir aq staol): I'm sorry the old man lays

in

the rain.

Don't be so smart with nte.

What'll you do I I say he's coming tonight. Who says nol
''
'' (,uddenly, front the bacftground): Me.
the farn, ',': Take a back seat, Axelrod. When you re

, ,'r r .

i\.{Drrry: Personally, Pop was a fine man. But I'm a great boy fr:
*n honest opinion. He had enough crazy ideas fclr a regimettr

rvyr{oN: Iroppa never had a

lL:\L-PLi.

doctorin his *'hole life. . . .

,ii

lifei

And Marx he had.

(rrvnox and ensstn sit on sofa.)
\{oirry: Marx! Some say I\darx is the new God today. Maybc l'l
rvr()ng. Ha ha ha. . . . Personally I counted my teir millitr
l;rst niglit. . . . I'm sixteen cents short. So tomorrow I'11 go t,
Union Squ:rre and yell nc) equality in the countr,r,l -'!h, jr'r,
ncw generation.
&"{r.Prr: Yor.r said it!
l/dYRoN:

iunny

Ra\rhiel What

are

Iooli irq

I hear I'm left insurance and the man's coming tonight,

*roRly: Poppa didn't leave no insurance for yorr.

R.r\i-rJr.r:

' I got a little clocument here. (I'roduces pc{per.) I found it

",',lcr his piilolv that night. A guy rvho slips o1T a roof don't
I rvc a note befc,re he does it.
me see this
' tt (starting for r.ton alter a horrifieti silence): I-et
l rlt'-

Morty, don't touch it!

,r Not if you cravrled.
It's a fake. Poppa ul6uldn'1',r:()et
,
the insurance guy here and we'll t.. 6o*--__ (Tie
ll rings.) Speak of the devil. Answer it, see what hap1,, ,,:;. (r'ron'ry starts for the ticfter.)
, 'r:: Ivlorty, don't!
, ' t t' (stopping) : Be practical, Bessie.
, , Sometirnes volr don't collect on suicides if they knolv about

rlronTy: In your name he left it-but not {or y,ou.

I{ALln: It's my name on the paper.
.Lrorirr': Who said sol
o.,rr.r,rr (lo ltis motlter): The insurance man's coming tonightl
r\ror{TY: What's the matterl
R^Lprr: I'm not talking ro yor-r" (.To his mother): Whyl
rrrssiE: I don't know why.
trrAr-r.,r{i FIe don't come in this house tonight.
il,ronrY: That's what yaw say.

I'm not talking to yoll, Uncle Morty,

br-rt

I'll teil you

too, he clon't corne here tonight when there's stilj mud orr ,
glave. (7o /tis mot/ter): Couldn't you give the house a chrrrr,r

to cool offl
MoRry: Is this :r way to talk to your mother i
trALrlH: Was that a way to talk to your father I
b.roRTy: Don't be so smart with rne, Mr. Ralph Berger!

llil

tl

,r :

R,\r.prr: trVhatl

IiALprr:

(Ente,

&'rorry: He had Caruso. Who's got rnore from

Bfi,ri:jui: Who's got more? . . .

.r"{or.trY: Wha.t's the

93

,i:You shouldlet.... You should let him. ... (A

''

, rlhich

,
.
,

ALL

V,/eLl, we're waiting.

: Give me the note.

.,,

,,'r ['11 give you d]e head o{T your shoulders.

r', : Ressie, you'ii stanci for thisl (Points ro nar,i'H.)
,1, pants and give him with a strap.

,,,r

'
,

pause

scem dazed. Bell rings insistently.)

(as bcl! rings again):

Pull dorvn

How about it?

,, : f)nn't tte crazy.It's not mv fault. Morty said he shoulrtr

,r'rc tonight. It's not nice so sorrt. I ii6l1'1--

rr':

r:

I said itl }del

Who thenl
, ' r': Yon didn't sing a song in my ear a whole week to settle
'
,',, l.,l

'

you'rc l big liar.

' : I'm surprised. Morty,
,,x: Mornma's telling the truth, she is!
'

94

cLIrrFoRD

AwAKE AND sING!

ODETS

95

in the
two shalces of a lamb's tail, r,ve'll start a rcd =,.'.rn: Hennie needs a vacation' She'll take two weeks
baby.
,r')Llntains
the
Illl
mind
and
fight and then nobody won't like nobody. Where's my lur
glovesi i'rn going downtown. (7'o snM): You comingi l1l =,,,''r: I'll take care of my own afiairs.
., ,rr.:,i A farnily needs for a rainy day. Times is getting worse.
drive you clown.
I'r.spct Avenue, Dawson, Beck Street-every day furniture's
!{ENNTE (/o servr, ulto lool1s qu.estioningly at her): Don't look nr i
,,rr
the sidewalk.
rne. Go horne if you want.
.'r'rr: Forget it, Mom.
ennr: If you're coming soon, I'li wait.
trIENNIE: Don't do rne any favors. Night and day he pesters mc,
' .,r: R.alphie, I worked too hard all my years to bt, treated like
,lrr.t. It's no law we shoulcl be sruck together like Siamese
MORry: You rnade e cushion--sleep!
rrvins, Summer sho.:s you dicln't hlve, skates you never had,
snn.r: I'll go horne. I knorv
ro my worsr encmy I don't wi*r
l,rrt I bought a new dress every u'eeli' A lover I kept-Mr"
strch a i;fer;is-olol Did I ever play a game of cards like N{rs. Marcusl Or
JIET..lNIE: Sam, keep quiet.
s*t (quietly; sadty): No more free speech in America? (Ge* hn ,r.rs llessie Berger's children alrvays the cleauest on the block?!
I ltre I'm not only the mother, but also the father. The first
fiat and coat.) I'm. a lonely person. Nobody likes me.
r\1,() years I worked in a stocking factory for six dollars while
MYRoN: I like you, Sam.
tlyron Berger went to law school. If I didn't worry about the
r{s,r{Nrn (going to ltim gently} sensing tlze end): Please go home.
l'rnily who wouldl On the calenclar it's a differcnt place, but
Slm. I'll sleep here. . . . I'm tired and nervous. Tomorroh
1,, rc' widrottt a dollar you don't look the world in the eye. Talk
f il come home. I love you . I mean it. (She rtisses hirn will
lrrrn-r oow to next year-this is life in America"
real feeling.)
.,,r'rr:
Then it's wrong. It don't rnake sense. If life madc yrll't
scn,I: I woulcl die for you.
(sau looks at her.T'ries to toS
rlris rvay, then it's wrong!
scsmething, bnt his aoice cholps up tuitlr a mingled feeling. Ilc
.,','r,:
N{aybe you wanted me to give up twenty years ags'
iltrns and leaetes the room,)
\\'lrcre would yotr be nowl You'il excuse my expression*a
rdc)nryr A bird in the hand is worth tr,vo in the br"rsh. Rememlu
l,'rrn
itt the park!
(}md
{ said it"
night. (Erits after sru.) (rrENNtr..rits deprcssedi
.,
r'rr:
not blaming you, Mom. Sink or srn'inl-I see it" BuQ
I'm
BlissIE S,oc-r r.t1t and loa/1s at the picture calendar again. .uvnol
rr ( irrl't stay like this.
f natly brealp rlte silenct.)
-,
.'r,: My foolish boy. . . .
.s.{ynor.i: Yesterdav a man. rvanted to sell me a saxr,,phone with
.:,r'rr:
No, I see every house lousy r.vith lies and hate" He said itu
pr;rrt brlrtons. Iirit I- - ,,r.urdpa- Brooklyn hates the Bronx. Srnacked on the nosc
BEssiE: nt's a beautifui picture. In this land, nobody rvorks.,,
r,riic 11 day. But boys and girls can get ahead lihe that, Morn"
NolN;cly rrorries. C)ome to bed, Myron. (Stops nt the '
\\', rlon't want life printed on dollar bills, Morn!
ioar, and sdys ta rr.qr-lrr): Piease don't have foolish irleas aboul
,.'
rr: So goout and change the w<lrld if you don't like it.
the rnoney"
-.,',r:
I wiill And whyl'Cause life's different in my head"
RAL?Fr: Let's call it a day.
i,rnm<:
the earth in two hands. I'm strong. There ' . . heat
EEissrE: It betrongs for the whole family. You'll get your rce|h
l,,,,rl
The
air mail off to Boston' Day or night, he flies away,
fixed_
j,,lr
r
That's us and it's no time to die. (-The airqlane
to
do.
IrAr.pH: Anci a pair of l-rlack and rvhite shoesl
.s,roRry: Lissen. trn

96

AWAKN AND SINGI

cLrrFoRD oDnrs

sound fades of as r,rvnow giues alarm clocft to snssrn tuhicli ilt,

begins to uind.)
BEssrE: "Vdom, what does she knowl She's old-fashioned!" llr

tell you a big secrer: My whoie trife I wanred ro go lrw,r

too, but with children a won-ral1 stays home. A fire burnecl rr.
myhe:rt too, but now it's too late. tr'm no spring chiclien.'l'lr
clocii goes and trlessie goes. Only rny rrrachinery can't be fixc,l
{She lifts d button: the alarn. rings on the clocft; slte stoT;s rt
says "Good night" and exits.)
r\.rynoN: I guess I'rn nc prize bag. . . .
nussre (frorz uithin): Come to bed, Myron.
NIyRoN (tears page off calendar): Flmr;rm. . . . (il:;;ts to her.)
R.qr,pir: Lcioh at him, draggin' after her like an .ild shoe.
mon: Punch drunk. (Pltane rings.)'Ihat's for me. (At phonr.l
Yeah? .. . ]ust a rninute. (To nar,rrr): Your girl . . .
R.4,r.pFr: Jeez,I don't know in'hat to say to her.
uar e: Hang upl (n,lrln slouly taftes phone.)
ItAL?rr: Hello"...I3lanche, I rvish....I don't know what r,,
say" " Yes... Hello? -.. (Puts pkone,torun.) Shehurr;
up on me
u.toa: Sorry I
s.Al-r,ir: No giri means anything to me until. . . .
naor: Till whenl
&.al,?r-r: Till l can take care of her. Till we don't iook out on rr
airshaft. Tiil we can take the world in rx'o hands and polisl,
ofi the clirt.
'iuon: That's a big order.
RALprr: Once upon a time I thought I'd drown to death in boltl'
of siilc and veiour. But I grew up rhese last ferv weeks. Jrl'
said a lot.

nron: Perfect.
RALIH: Does

it prove somethingl Damn tootin'! A ten-cent nuil

r-Lits thern. Uptot'n, do..l'ntolt,n, I'll read them on the

r'. Get a big lamp over the bed. (Pir,{s up one.) My eyes :rre

Coi'
',,1. (Puts booli in prtclpt.) Sure, inl'entory tomorrow'
I| lii Driscoll to Bcrger-ihat's irolv r',te rvork. It's a tean:

I'11

Mot: Your memory's okayl

KALIH: But talie a look at this. (Brings armfwl of boofts fnrn
fAccB's room-durnps them on table.) His books, I got tlr,.r,,
too-the pages ain't cut in half of them.

tli,

ri,n the warehouse. I)riscoll's a sho'uv<llT, a rviscguy, ancl Joe

'

,ll s pilo,eons day and night. Ilut they're like me, lool"ing for
t .,n.. to get to first base too. |oc reT.zed me about my girl'
I rr hc don'[ knou, rviiy. I'11 teli him. Heli' he might tell
, something { Jon'r irnorv. {let tcalTls t{)geltrt:r all over'
team$
I'Ll on your haLrds and get to \1ork. And r'vith enough
fincers
so
cur
rvarehonse
in
the
ste;rm
get
l, rlier rnaybc we'll
i, rr't freeze oS. Maybe r'-r'c'11 fir ii .q,r life won'L be printed <ln
,ll;rr bills.
, i iraduation l)ay.
t (stat"ts for doar ol his roon , stops): []an I have "

il

ll

iLl

ti

li,
I

ii

,,ndpa's notel
Sure you want it?
,,'r: Piease-- (r.ron giues it.) It's blank!
, ( tuling note bacft and tearing it up): That's right'
,
: Thanksl (Exits.)
' 'r
,-l'he kid's e fighter! (?'o rrr,Nnir): Why xre yolr cryingl

iri:

tr

ncver cried

in my iife' (She is now.)

for door. Stops): You told Sam you love him. . . ,

, .ur: Xf I'm sore c'n life, why urke it out on himl
, You won't forget fire to yollr dyin' day--I was the first
,rr'. llart of your insides. You won't forget. I wrote my name
, ,' you--indelible ink!
, rrr: One thing I won't forget-how you left me crying o$
1,, lred like I was two for a cent!

,
I

(.(t(]rts

i,istefl, do you

i
,

fiin[-

the family goes to the open air movie"

lrrings me perfume. . " ' F{e grabs nry xrrnSYou won't forget me!

,,ur,: Sure. Waits

rrri

r'.:

till

FIow vor-l left the next week I

clr of Roumania!
i

98

oDnrs
laugh!
-y head on a platel!

.LTFF.RD

HENNn: Don,t make me

rron: What the hell do you #"rr,,

AwAKE aNo srxc!

i
I

Wrlo,l

Sam.
life so happyl chris', my old m"n'w",
bu-.'t ,uooori.,i,i,i
,1v. (starts far phone, but changes her mittd): tr'rn sleep
rvhole damn family-five kids.and
" W-fr.";U!,.i',i,;i
U"_.
they beat it the hell away like ,"bU;tr.-t'to_
di.d. i;;;;,; i ' ,t (in phone): She's sleeping.
(Hangs up. Watches vax.
rhe.war; got clappecl down like, b..d";;;*.
,r tt,lto slowly sirs.) He wants yori to know he got home O.K.
without a leg. Whar the hell a, y.r-ilrink, "o i":";;,;,
anyone,s oor
. What's on your mind?
hetter rha'youl. I never had h";"
.i;h...'r,rtr".ilri',1_l:
' '.,rr,: Nothing.
"
r-rENNrE: Sc whatl!
,",Saml
rror: So you're it_you're home for me,
a place to live! Thrrr! 'r !rr,i They say it's a palace on rhose Havana boats,
rhe whote prrade, sickness, ;;,;;
;;;;r. heart! Sometjrner , ,' , What's on your mindl
)'(iu m.eet e girl_she srops it_ther.s love. . . . il
;;; , ' ,:tr (trying to escdpe): Moe, tr don't care for S;rm-I never
chance! Be with me, paradise.
Wh"ik to lor.f
l,\(.d himrr$NNrE: My pride!
,,,' : liut your kid-l
xron (grabbing her): What do
you wantl Say the word_l,ll ' iNrE: All my life I waited for this
minute.
'
tango on a dime. Don_'t gimme ice
when your heart,s on n..i
',' (holtling her):Me too. Made believe I was talkin' just hed_
t,*n.rl-,__!._, me go! (He stops her.)
,,r,rn golt but you and me forever was.lvhat I meant! Christo
.lror: WFIERET!!
l,rlry, there's one life to live! Live it!
HENNTtr: What do you want,
Moe, what do you wantl
' ^-rn: Leave the babyl
uror: You!
,',' : Yeahl
I'IEINIE: You'li be sorn/ you gysl
slalgsd--' r-'rEr I can't. .
nror: You!
, ,r : You can!
I{ENNTE: Moe, iemme
(Trying to leaue): I,m getting up ''r'rNlE:No....
early-lemme go.
,,,r ' Ilut you're not sure!
l*on:No! .. - . tr got enough fever to brow
the whore damn towrr
'r:rNrF.: I don't know.
to hell. (He suddenly-releases hn o,r,llrnty ,r"_ii", t"'r',j
',,,' , Mak a break or spend the rest of your life in a coffin.
atartls. Forces Ur"rrrrt.i:.ruiet tlown.) you
,r' NrEi Oh God, I don't know where I stand.
wanna go bactri tl
hirnl Say the word. I'll know *t",,i;;'"
ponrt look up there. Paradiseo you're on a big
.
.
boat headed
'rr ;
nnxxrc
Moe, I don't know *h"r ro ,"y.
,uth.
.,
"(ltelplessly):
No
more
pins
and
needles
in
your
heart,
no
snake juico
lron: Listen to me.
,,,
in
your
arm.
The
lrrirted
whole
world's
green
grass an<i
I{ENNTE: Whatl
'r'lren you cry it's because you're h"ppy.
Mori: Come away. A certain place where
it,s moonlight arrrl
ir .;NrEi Moe, tr don't know. , . .
'We'll
roses.
lay down, count stars. Hear the btC;;;;;;k;;,;
,' : Nobody knows, but you do it and find out. When yo,r're
noise. You lay under the trees. Champagne
flows like*.
., .rred the answer's zero.
(Fltone rings. raon fi1atty anruers tt
t"iiitrorc):
,r rNrEr You're hurting my arm.
Hellol . .
I
"
Jtrst a rninute. (Loo/1t
,

oi ,,u*N,r.)

IOO

CLIFFORD ODETS

AwAKE eNo srNc!

The doctor said it-cut off your leg to save your life! Anrl
they done it--one thing to get another. (Enter nelru.)
nALpH: I didn't hear a rvord, but do it, Hennie, do it!
rton: Mom can mind the kid. She'll go on forever, Mom. Wc'll
send money back, and Easter eggs.
I{ALTJH: I'll be here.

',,r, horn! I swear to God, I'm one week old! I rvant the whole
rry tG hear it-fresh blood, arms. We got'em. We're glad

NroEr

,,,

'rc living.

, , I wouldn't ffade
I

yor-r

for two pitchers and an outfielder"

l,,ld the fort!

, rr: So long.
!', So long.

naor: Get your coat

nnNrwr:I\{oe!

uor: I know . . but get your coat and hat

and kiss the horrx

The man I love. . . . (vrvnow entering.) I left rny con

in Mom's roorn. (Erits.)
MyRoN: Don't wake her up, Beauty. Mornma fell asleep as s(xrt,
as her head hit the pillow. I can't sleep. It was a long <1,r7
Flmrnm. (Examines his tongcte in buffct mirror): I was rcrrtl
ing the other day a person with a tl'rick tongue is fechlc
minded. I can do anything with my rongue. Make it tlrirl
flat. No fruit in the house lately. Just a lone aprrle. (F1e .qrt,
apple and paring l1nife and starts pariflg.) Must be sornethiug
lvrong witir me-I say I won't eat but I eat. (nrwnrl enlnt"
dressed to ga out.) Where you going, little Red Riding Hoorlr
HENNTE: Nobody l.lnours, P*er Rabbir.
MyRol{: You're looking ver:y pretty tonight. You were a benrrri
ful baby too. r9ro, that was the year you was born. The s;rrrrr
year Teddy Roosevelt come back from Africa.
nENNrE,:

HENNIE: Gee, Pop; you're such a funny guy.

I\4yRoN: He was a boisterous man, Teddy. Good night.

(He c.titt,

paring apple.)
RALptsr: When I looh at him, I'm sad. Ler me die like a dog, il I
can't get more frorn life.
HENNTE: Wherel
RALrH: Right here in the housc! My days won't be for nothirrg
Let Mom have the dough. I'm twenty-two and kickin'! I'll gcr
aiong" Did Jake clie for us to fight about nickelsl No! "Awll,'
and sing," he said. Right here he stood and said it. The rriglrr
irc clied, I saw it like a thunderbolt! I saw he rvas dead arrrl I

{o and
,,r, tftetn off

! ':, y

good-b;''

xnrp:e. stands full dnd strong

as the curtain slawly falk.)

Curtain

in the dooraudy

se'