UC-NI B 3 3Mb M3fl PUNISHMENT A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS BY LOUISE BURLEIGH AND EDWARD HALE BIERSTADT WITH INTRODUCTION BY THOMAS MOTT OSBORNE NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 19X6 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY LOUISE BURLEIGH AND EDWARD HALE BIERSTADT Published April, 1916 This play in its printed form is designed for the reading public only. All dramatic rights in it are fully protected by copyright, both in the United States and in Great Britain, and no perform ance professional or amateur or public reading, may be given without the written permission of the authors and the payment of royalty. Communications should be sent to the authors, care of Henry Holt and Company, 34 West 33d St., New York City. p ftyft THIS PLAY IS DEDICATED TO THOMAS BROWN, AUBURN NO. 33,333X WITH THE AFFECTION AND ADMIRATION OF THE AUTHORS 343519 INTRODUCTION TO write a truthful and effective play in which certain characters shall be crimi nals or ex-convicts is a difficult task, even for an experienced dramatist; for while the psychology of the prisoner is not fundamentally different from that of other men, yet he has lived under such abnormal conditions, conditions so com pelling, that it is hard even for the most prac tised student of human nature to comprehend his point of view. Fully to understand the con vict one must go to prison; and few dramatists are eager to do that. Still more difficult is it to write a play dealing with the actual life of the prison; for the task of making the plot deal with real prison material and yet make the facts seem both true and in teresting to an audience, is almost insuperable. Many of the important details of prison life are certainly not agreeable, and in a drama would hardly seem credible. The authors of Punishment have succeeded to a very remarkable degree. They have caught the prison atmosphere; they have woven into vi INTRODUCTION their dramatic scheme a number of actual occurrences and have made them appear plaus ible and convincing. There is nothing strained or improbable in the development of their plot. Out of truthful material they have made a most interesting play. To have succeeded in doing this is an achievement. I can vouch for the accuracy of the prison life depicted in Punishment. I have seen some thing of that life, so close to the lives of all of us and yet so inconceivably remote, both from the side of the prisoner and from the side of the prison official; and I think I should be quick to detect a false note. To me Punishment rings true; just as in a different field and dealing with quite another branch of the problem Gals worthy s Justice rings true. Punishment is worthy of a place beside that bitter masterpiece. There are those to whom realism means nothing that is not disagreeable; but to my mind not the least of the merits of this play is that it closes on a major chord. Fortunately a prison play can now do that and yet remain truthful; that is where the American has the advantage over the English dramatist. The authors of Punishment have caught the spirit of our new American penology; and have not only written an important play, but one that must INTRODUCTION vii aid in bringing home to the public a great truth: that it is impossible to solve the problem of crime and imprisonment through brutality and disregard of the human nature of the convict, but that it can be solved by means of sympathy and understanding. To aid in bringing that great truth home to the public, by means of the drama, is an important service. THOMAS MOTT OSBORNE. PUNISHMENT PERSONS OF THE PLAY IN THE ORDER OF THEIR ENTRANCE MARY CALVIN. . . . wife of JOHN CALVIN MARTIN a convict; butler to the Warden JOHN CALVIN . . . Warden of Riverside Prison KING Principal Keeper of the prison; known as the P. K. STEPHEN CASEY . . . politician, and coal contractor MRS. MOYNE .... mother of DANIEL MOYNE DANIEL MOYNE ... a convict SCOTT a keeper JACK WILSON ... a convict JOE RUFFIO .... a convict FRANCIS a keeper The action of the play takes place at Riverside Prison, some where in the United States, and covers a period of two weeks. The time is the present. THE SCENES OF THE PLAY ACT I. The living-room of the Warden s quarters. Late afternoon in Spring. ACT II. The punishment cells; also known as the dark cells, or the cooler. Night and morning of the following Friday and Saturday. ACT III. The Warden s office. Ten days later, in the evening. ACT IV. The same. A few hours later; early morning. ACT I c / HE Warden s quarters in Riverside Prison -*- consist of grim rooms, decorated by persons of more than ordinary bad taste, some fifty years ago. The living-room, however, is relieved by indications of a woman 9 s presence. A chaise longue has been drawn up before the fire on the right. Flowers are standing in a good vase on the table, as well as a work box. Right and Left, doors lead to the prison offices, and to the other rooms of the Warden s establish- ment: these latter are double doors, and reveal a flight of stairs. At the back, through large windows, the cell- block is visible. MRS. CALVIN is lying on the chaise longue. She has been reading, but the light has grown too dim for her to see, and she lies back with her eyes on the fire. MRS. CALVIN is a slender woman, nearing forty, reminding one of aflame, held in continual leash, or of a sheathed sword. She is dark, and is dressed in a simple house frock of crepe, unre lieved except at the throat and wrist. About her neck, on a long chain, a miniature, in a locket, 3 4 PUNISHMENT [ACT i hangs over the edge of the couch until it touches the floor. She draws a long breath and closes her eyes as if she were very tired. From outside comes the sound of voices shouts and orders, and the pandemonium of men yetting and bawling. MRS. CALVIN starts nervously. She sits up and listens intently, and then goes to the window at the back where she tries to peer through the gloom of twilight. As she watches, the lights in the cell-block are flashed on and the noise grows in volume. Evidently she can see nothing, for she continues to listen even after she has come back to the center of the room. Then, with sudden determination, she moves to the bell and rings. She switches on the lights and stands waiting. MARTIN enters through the double doors. MAR TIN is a convict, dressed in a neat, white linen jacket, with trousers of prison gray, ill-made and shapeless, and with clumsy prison-made shoes. His manner alternates between the poised respect of a trained servant, and a crude good nature which is his birthright. He has always, however, the repression which his life in prison has wrought upon him. His hair is almost white. MARTIN. Yes, Madam? You rang? MRS. CALVIN. Is anything wrong, Martin? In the prison? ACT i] PUNISHMENT 5 MARTIN. No, Madam. They re bringing the men s supper to the cells. That s all. MRS. CALVIN. But this disturbance? MARTIN. They ve been locked in since Saturday noon. Makes em hard to manage. [From this moment the noise decreases rapidly. MRS. CALVIN. Saturday, Sunday, and Mon day in those unspeakable cells. MARTIN. It s bad when a holiday comes on Monday like this, and they re locked in till Tuesday morning. ... I don t wonder they fight. MRS. CALVIN, [quickly.] There has been a fight? MARTIN. Two men in one cell. They. . . . MRS. CALVIN. Yes? MARTIN, [naively.] Say, I hadn t ought to be talking to you like this ! I forgot all you taught me. MRS. CALVIN. Never mind. Tell me. MARTIN. They d been drinking. The row kind of got the rest of the men going. [MRS. CALVIN turns away with an involuntary move ment.] It s the way it happens when they ve been locked in. Sunday is bad enough, but when Monday s a holiday and the shops are shut. 6 PUNISHMENT [ACT i MRS. CALVIN. Is Mr. Calvin in the prison, Martin? MARTIN. The Warden was in his office a while ago. [He starts toward the door.] Shall I see? MRS. CALVIN, [quickly.] No. . . . Thank you, Martin. [MARTIN watches her for a moment, and then returns to his post by the door again, like a well trained servant. MARTIN. Was there anything else, Madam? MRS. CALVIN, [turning, and looJcing at him with a smile.] Martin, you have learned very quickly. MARTIN. Thank you, Madam. MRS. CALVIN. In the six weeks the Warden and I have been here, you ve become very careful in your way of speaking to me, and to Mr. Calvin. MARTIN. Thank you kindly, Mrs. Calvin. I ... nobody never took interest in me like you have, Madam. MRS. CALVIN. You are an apt student. MARTIN, [embarrassed.] I ll be sorry to leave you . . . when . . . MRS. CALVIN. Your term is almost over, isn t it? MARTIN, [his face alight.] In two weeks, Madam. ACT i] PUNISHMENT MRS. CALVIN. What shall you do? Have you a family? MARTIN, [shakes his head.] My daughter died last year, Madam. MRS. CALVIN. Friends? Someone who will take you in until you find a position? MARTIN, [with a wintry smile.] A man s friends don t remember him that long . . . sixteen years. Since my girl died I ain t had even a visitor. MRS. CALVIN. What position would you like best? MARTIN. Any decent job. MRS. CALVIN. I ve been thinking about you, Martin. You are a good butler. If you had been in my service at home, I should give you a good recommendation. [MARTIN starts to speak.] So why not, now? I have friends who would . . . MARTIN. You d take the chance? MRS. CALVIN. I trust you. We ve been good friends, Martin, and when you leave us, I want you to go on feeling that I am your friend. MARTIN. I ll do that. I want to go straight. MRS. CALVIN. Of course you do. And you will. MARTIN. May heaven reward you . . . Madam. 8 PUNISHMENT [ACT i MRS. CALVIN, [smiling.] Heaven will. [CALVIN speaks outside. CALVIN. I expect him in twenty minutes. [A door closes outside. MRS. CALVIN smiles at MARTIN, and turns back to her couch. MRS. CALVIN. I ll write to-day. We will find you something. [MARTIN accepts the dismissal in her voice and starts out, into the inner rooms. CALVIN enters from the office. He is a big man, sparely built, with iron gray hair, and steel blue eyes. In moments of passion or excitement these eyes seem lit with blue fire. His mouth is keenly sensitive, but years of warfare with him self have set it in rather hard, grim lines. His movements are quick and nervous. Altogether, he looks the Scots man he is. He is between forty-five and fifty years old. CALVIN. My house-coat, Martin. MARTIN. Yes, sir. [Exit through double doors.] CALVIN, [going at once to his wife s side.] Your head is better, my dear? MRS. CALVIN. Thank you, much better, John. CALVIN. I m glad of that. I m going to have ACT i] PUNISHMENT 9 dinner served half an hour later to-night un less you mind? MRS. CALVIN. Can t the prison spare you to me for one meal a day? CALVIN. That s just it; I want to dine with you. But before that I must keep an appoint ment with Mr. Casey he will be leaving at seven-fifteen. MRS. CALVIN. Is Mr. Casey a member of the Prison Commission? [CALVIN shakes his head. MRS. CALVIN. Then why does he come here so often? CALVIN. To-day he comes at my request. MRS. CALVIN. But he s always appearing. CALVIN. He was a friend of my predecessor, and so got the habit, I fancy. Besides, he s been furnishing coal to the prison for the last four years. MRS. CALVIN. I distrust him. CALVIN. Frankly, I suspect, myself, that he s making a very good thing out of the coal. [MARTIN comes in with the house-coat. CALVIN slips into it with a nod. CALVIN. Serve dinner at seven-thirty, Martin. MARTIN. Yes, sir. [He goes out, taking the coat CALVIN has discarded.} 10 PUNISHMENT [ACT i MRS. CALVIN, [with a half smile.] This offi cial household! I can t make it seem anything but odd for you to be housekeeper. CALVIN. It could not be arranged otherwise, Mary. A woman can t be expected to control convicts. MRS. CALVIN. What about Martin? CALVIN. Martin is an isolated case where your personal influence. . . . MRS. CALVIN, [smiles at him.] You have to confess he is improved! CALVIN. Temporarily. But no sooner will he leave your influence than back he ll go. MRS. CALVIN. I don t intend that he shall. The Masons are in need of a butler. CALVIN. You d ask them to take a con vict? MRS. CALVIN. I ask them to take Martin. CALVIN, [growing stern.] I wish I could make you look at these men without senti mentality. MRS. CALVIN. I look at them with humanity that s all. They are all human beings, with the same limitations and possibilities as the rest of us. [CALVIN turns away as if dismissing the subject. MRS. CALVIN, following her thoughts, draws the chain about her ACT i] PUNISHMENT 11 neck through her fingers until she touches the miniature. The locket flies open in her hand. Her face whitens, and her lips grow tense. For a long moment she is silent, quivering with pain. [From the window CALVIN speaks casually. CALVIN. The men are unruly to-day. But the Principal Keeper tells me it s always so when they are kept in their cells from Saturday noon over Sunday and Monday. . . . You heard them getting their supper? [MRS. CALVIN does not even hear him. She is looking in the fire with the open locket still in her hand. CALVIN turns, and when he sees her his face sets. He takes a step toward her, and speaks with bitter reproach. CALVIN. Mary ! [MRS. CALVIN starts and her eyes fill with involuntary tears. She snaps the cover of the locket. MRS. CALVIN. Yes? [CALVIN with a gesture of displeasure, turning back to the window, stands silent.} You asked me something, John? For give me. CALVIN, [in a hard tone.] You heard the disturbance? 12 PUNISHMENT [ACT i MRS. CALVIN. A fight, so Martin said. CALVIN, [gravely.] That fellow Moyne. He s a tough specimen. MRS. CALVIN, [alert.] Isn t he the man you put in the straight- jacket? CALVIN. [Nods. The flame begins to show in his eyes, which grow almost fanatic.} Nothing solitary confinement, the punishment cells, the straight-jacket [MRS. CALVIN winces.] It s a severe measure, but it has no effect. MRS. CALVIN. It has an effect, John. It makes him fight you harder than ever. CALVIN, [intensely.] Of course we can starve him into temporary submission. We ve done that. But then he will be up and making trouble again. [He looks away from her, hating to confess it.} He d been drinking again to day. MRS. CALVIN. And you have no clue. . . . CALVIN. No. [at white heat.] But if I catch the man who smuggles whiskey into this prison it will not be an easy day for him! MRS. CALVIN. Do you suspect anyone? CALVIN. Of course there s a leak somewhere. But I haven t a trace. [He brings his right hand down upon his left palm.] I ll find it. The State s money shall be spent as the State in tends. This prison shall be for the punishment ACT i] PUNISHMENT 13 of criminals not for the fattening of petty grafters ! MRS. CALVIN. It s SO WTOng! CALVIN, [pacing the room quickly, the fanatic light at full blaze.] Wrong? Of course it s wrong. All State institutions suffer under the spoils system, but after all how can we improve it? The chief bond between Party members is the possibility of mutual benefit. It s legitimate for the victorious party to put its members in office. The rub comes from the fact that so many politicians are unscrupulous blackguards. Now there s Casey. He contracts for the coal, but at a preposterous figure. I ve half a dozen bids lower than his. MRS. CALVIN, [with rising inflection.] He ? CALVIN. As I said, he was a friend of the last Warden. They may have divided the rake-off, or it may have been [with a grim smile] friend ship only. There won t be any rake-off this year if I know it. I m saving the State about ten thousand dollars on food and coal alone. And I intend to stop the use of drugs by the men it s almost stopped now, since I dis charged those two keepers last week. . . . Moyne is a hard case. When I can find a way to break him, I shall make headway. MRS. CALVIN. Not break! 14 PUNISHMENT [ACT i CALVIN. Yes, just that. MRS. CALVIN, [in a low voice.] You re wrong. I ve been watching you, John, since we came here. I ve not criticised your work once in this past six weeks. I wanted you to try your way. But you are putting your efforts on the wrong side. Whenever you punish Moyne you only make him more bitter against you and all that you stand for. You say he is a strong man. [CALVIN flashes a look at her.] You re baffled by his persistence, and ability to get round you. Why don t you enlist his help? CALVIN. Help? MRS. CALVIN, [with a fervor as keen as her husband s.] All that power of resistance might be on your side if you d let it. CALVIN. Why, Mary, the man s a convicted criminal ! MRS. CALVIN, [pleadingly.] What made him one? Do you know? Do you know the least thing about him as an individual? No, of course you don t. Why should he show you even hu man decency? You treat him like an animal or worse. It s preposterous! CALVIN. Does he deserve consideration at my hands? MRS. CALVIN. Do you deserve it at his? Punishment is always a two-edged sword. ACT i] PUNISHMENT 15 CALVIN, [a just judge.] The wages of sin is death. [MRS. CALVIN lifts a pale face and clutches the locket she wears in her hand. CAL VIN S face hardens. MRS. CALVIN. You taught me that two years ago. ... I haven t forgotten Walter. Don t you remember that we used to argue in these very terms about the boy? "Let him learn that wrongdoing must be punished" [She catches her breath.] How many times did you say that tome? CALVIN. The boy was delicate and a little weak; and he was twelve years old. Oh, there is no parallel! MRS. CALVIN. We crushed the fine things in our son by emphasizing the mistakes he made. [CALVIN turns away as she rises.] John, dear I do not want to talk about Walter. If we were living it over, I d so much rather that he should die as he did, even, than grow into a hard, bitter man. But to stay here and see you fail again for the same reason [A wave of feeling chokes her.] I couldn t! CALVIN. Mary . . . MRS. CALVIN. When the Governor asked you to come here as Warden, it seemed to me a heaven-sent chance; a chance to prove that 16 PUNISHMENT [ACT i Justice is not a blind force. I gave in to your arguments about our son, and you failed. Walter preferred to die. CALVIN, [wincing.] Mary! MRS. CALVIN. Preferred to die rather than to face your heartless world ruled by blind jus tice. [She moves toward him.] John, when I gathered Walter s stiff little body into my arms that night I thought I d rather die than to go on in your cruel world. And then all at once I knew that I must help you to see that you were wrong. [Her voice trembles again.] You must learn somehow to be human. CALVIN, [coldly; himself again.] Perhaps it would be better, Mary, if you went away for a while. Your sympathies are too much tried here. You ve never really recovered from the shock. MRS. CALVIN. I never shall in the way you mean, John. And I cannot leave you until I ve made you see. . . . [MARTIN enters. MARTIN. I beg pardon, Madam. The Prin cipal Keeper wishes to see the Warden. CALVIN. Very well. MRS. CALVIN. Have him here, John. Don t go back to that barren office. I ll rest before dinner. ACT i] PUNISHMENT 17 CALVIN. I m not driving you out? [MRS. CALVIN shakes her head. She nods to MARTIN who is watching her and goes toward the double doors. CALVIN follows her. MARTIN goes to office. CALVIN, [solicitously.] Try to rest, my dear. MRS. CALVIN. I will. [He starts to speak.] No, let s not say any more. [She smiles at him, and slips through the door.} [As CALVIN turns back MARTIN opens the door into the offices and admits KING. KING, the Principal Keeper, is lanky, and of medium height, his chief characteristic being a pair of light gray eyes which are so steady in their gaze that one knows they have been trained in this art. But when no one is looking at him his glance is shifty. He has sandy hair, and wears the dark blue uniform of a keeper. [CALVIN shakes off the unwilling emotion stirred by his wife. CALVIN. Well, Mr. King? KING. The men in the cell-block who were fighting they re locked in their own cell now. They must be sent to the cooler at once. I don t trust them in the same cell again. CALVIN. You want an order? 18 PUNISHMENT [ACT i KING. [evidently thinking it unnecessary.] You said no one was to be put in the dark cells without an order, sir. CALVIN. Quite right. Moyne, and ? KING. Wilson. He s pretty bad off, sir. CALVIN. Hurt? KING. [shrugging.] No sick. Fever or something. He was to have gone to the hospi tal to-day. CALVIN, [sternly.] He was not too sick to be drunk. He cannot escape punishment on that plea. He will go with Moyne for one week. KING, [not making a point of it.] Yes, sir. CALVIN. They ll make out an order in my office. Then I ll sign it. KING. Yes, sir. CALVIN. Moyne been making any more dis turbance? [MARTIN appears in the door. KING, [after a perceptible pause.] He s been quiet, sir. [Exits through office.] CALVIN, [to MARTIN.] Well? MARTIN. Mr. Casey to see you, sir. CALVIN. I will see him here. I do not wish to be interrupted. MARTIN. No, sir. CALVIN. And ask Mr. Stevens for the coal- ACT i] PUNISHMENT 19 contract file. I want the records for the last four years. MARTIN, [assents to the order.] A woman has been asking to see you. She is outside in the waiting-room, sir, and CALVIN. Who is she? MARTIN. I think she s the mother of one of the inmates, Warden. CALVIN. Find out who she is, and her busi ness with me. Remind me when Mr. Casey goes. MARTIN. Yes, sir. CALVIN. I won t see her unless it s something urgent. MARTIN. No, sir. [MARTIN goes out into the office and CALVIN turns about the room. MARTIN returns, shows in CASEY, and leaves. [CASEY is a short, dark Irishman of the Ulster type. He is well, but not too obviously well dressed. CASEY, [speaking with wholly evident intent to be cordial.] Well, Warden Calvin, this is a meeting I ve been looking forward to. How are you? CALVIN. Well, thank you, Mr. Casey. [He motions toward a chair.] CASEY, [shrewdly.] Coal contracts ready? 20 PUNISHMENT [ACT i CALVIN, [noncommittally.] I ve sent for the papers. CASEY. No hurry, no hurry all the time in the world. . . . Been having a little rough- house here, eh? [CALVIN annoyed, starts to speak, and then pauses, frowning. CASEY. Somebody knocked out? CALVIN. No. CASEY. Nothing serious, I hope? CALVIN. Mr. Casey, where do you get your information? CASEY, [rather uneasily.] Oh, I stopped in the office as I came through. CALVIN. The men there have been instructed not to talk to outsiders. CASEY. Tm no outsider. They all know me here. CALVIN, [conceding this.] Hereafter, how ever, come to me for whatever information you wish. I am the official mouthpiece of this prison. CASEY, [shrugging, and with a barely con cealed grin.] Have it your own way, Warden. You re doing fine here I ll say that. Up to the Capitol last week I was talking to the Gover nor, and I told him then "Calvin is the boy to put the screws on," I says. ACT i] PUNISHMENT 21 CALVIN, [looks hard at CASEY.] There will be some readjustments. [MARTIN brings in a file of papers and hands them to CALVIN. CALVIN. All right. [MARTIN goes out. CALVIN. Now, about the coal contract, Mr. Casey CASEY. Must get down to business some time, eh? Sure enough, sure enough. CALVIN. You have furnished the prison with coal for the last four years. CASEY. That s right, Warden. CALVIN, [running through the papers.] The figure is a constantly increasing one. CASEY, [jovially.] Coal has been on the rise. CALVIN. I may as well be frank, Mr. Casey. Your bid is not the lowest I have received. CASEY. Don t doubt it. CALVIN. Several men have offered to supply us with coal at a figure some thousands of dol lars below yours. CASEY. Usually do. CALVIN. You understand that this contract goes to the lowest bidder? CASEY, [with utter good humor.] Sure it does. 22 PUNISHMENT [ACT i CALVIN, [firm and unsmiling.] So that unless you can reduce your offer, the contract will be turned over to a new man. CASEY, [startled.] What? CALVIN. This contract goes to the lowest bidder. CASEY. That contract goes to me. It s been going to me for four years. CALVIN. It need not continue to do so. CASEY. Oh, needn t it? [CASEY, after watching the Warden for a moment, finds the only solution which he can understand) for CALVIN S atti tude. He becomes insinuating. CASEY. Warden, you re a slicker one than I took you for. CALVIN. What do you mean? CASEY, [dropping his voice confidingly.] Just that. I didn t get your number. [CALVIN stares at him.] Go to it your own way, Warden. If you want a reputation as a financier fix up your books to suit yourself. But when the check is made out I want my figure. CALVIN, [blandly.] That seems to you a good arrangement? CASEY. Suits me, all right. CALVIN, [very quietly.] You want, I under stand, [taps papers] your original sum, [CASEY ACT i] PUNISHMENT 23 nods] but I am to alter the figures in my books to suit my convenience? CASEY, [with a cheerful smile.] That s the dope, Warden. CALVIN. Why do you make such a suggestion to me? CASEY. Why does a chicken oh, come on, Warden, you know the answer. CALVIN. And how am I to make up the deficit? CASEY. Now, you Wardens ain t so dull. You ve got your ways of picking up a bit on the side. And in the matter of your commission set your figure. CALVIN, [reflectively.] My figure. CASEY. Go as far as you like but have a heart ! CALVIN, [playing him.] What do you sug gest? [CASEY rises and replies to CALVIN in an inaudible tone. CALVIN. Will you put that in writing? CASEY. Nothing doing! D you think I m so fond of you I want to spend a year here? . . . You re trying to put something over on me, Warden Calvin. CALVIN, [finally.] I should have to insist upon having it in writing. 24 PUNISHMENT [ACT i CASEY, [turning nasty.] You mean I don t get my contract unless CALVIN, [forcefully.] I mean you don t get the contract! CASEY. Outbid on the rake-off, am I? Well what s the least you ll take? CALVIN, [trying to suppress a seething rage.] No one has offered me a premium for this con tract, Mr. Casey, except yourself. I made up my mind to catch you in your dirty prac tices. . . . CASEY, [snarling.] You did, did you? CALVIN. I knew I d prove you a scoun drel. CASEY, [quickly.] That s hard to prove. CALVIN. I ve done it. CASEY, [quietly.] Got proofs? You ve got a pile of papers there. They re valuable, aren t they? Bring em into Court. The laugh won t be on me. Do you think I was born last year? Warden Calvin take a straight tip. You ll get nothing by bothering me. Cut it out if you know what s good for you. [Smiles suddenly.] And say, Calvin while you re about it you d better learn the difference between testimony and evidence! CALVIN, [baffled, but fighting.] I know what is good for the prison; and there is nothing that ACT i] PUNISHMENT 25 I need learn from you, Mr. Casey. [Goes to bell and rings.] CASEY, [menacingly.] You may take a few lessons yet if you re going to hold your job. CALVIN. Thank you. My remaining here lies with my superiors, [ironically.] Why not offer them your advice? CASEY, [calculatingly.] Not a bad idea, Cal vin; not a bad idea. [KING appears in the doorway. CALVIN and CASEY turn to him, but there is no sign of recognition between CASEY and KING. KING, [to CALVIN, and holding out paper.] The order, sir. CALVIN, [replies absently.] Thank you. [to CASEY.] Then we may consider our interview at an end. Good evening. I shall not see you again, I presume. CASEY, [warningly.] Don t presume too far, Warden; don t presume too far. [CALVIN turns to KING with an air of dismissing CASEY who fumes up and down. KING, unseen by CALVIN, ex changes a glance with CASEY. CALVIN. I ll have to get my pen before I can sign these, King it s in my other coat. [MARTIN appears in the door. PUNISHMENT [ACT i CALVIN, [to MARTIN.] The motor. Mr. Casey is catching the seven o clock train. He will leave at once. MARTIN. Yes, sir. [Exits.] CALVIN, [with double meaning.] In two minutes the motor will be at the door, Mr. Casey. Wait, please, King. [He goes out into his inner rooms.] [CASEY glares after him. KING moves his shifty eyes for a long look at CASEY. CASEY. By God, I ll call your bluff or get your goat! Damn fool! Think this prison is run by the Warden, do you? You re in the kindergarten class with a lot to learn ! KING, [in a low voice.] What s the Chief thinking of? CASEY, [pacing the floor.] The Governor did it. The Governor thinks a lot about reform. The Governor s got to reform a whole lot of things he don t expect to. When I get to the Capitol I bet someone will take steps to make the Governor see reason. If we don t do it one way well, you ve heard about skinning cats, eh? KING. This place is a morgue! CASEY, [good humored again.] Moyne got the stuff, did he? ACT i] PUNISHMENT 27 KING, [furtively, nods.] He and Wilson were howling drunk. They got to beating each other up and CASEY, [sneeringly.] Y know I just love sincere reform. . . . Wilson didn t know where the stuff came from? KING, [shakes head.] I took care of that. The keeper just handed it to them. CASEY. It s all pure friendship stuff with Dan Moyne. His family gets five dollars a week, you know, while he s in stir. [KING gives CASEY one of his rare direct glances. CASEY. Pure brotherly love, King. [Grins.] Dan feels a natural gratitude. That s the kind Dan is. KING. He s looking for a pardon soon. CASEY. It was talked of. He won t get it. Maybe there s a reason. Dan might be more useful here than outside, [blandly.] Fond of Warden Calvin of course. KING, [dryly.] Warden s had him in the solitary, and the straight-jacket. He s going to the cooler for to-day s business. CASEY, [reflectively.] The jail. KING. Allowance per day water, one gill; bread, one piece, and not too big a one at that. And he s booked for a week of it. Darkness, 28 PUNISHMENT [ACT i and lice, a plenty. You know what the cooler is like. CASEY, [thinking fast.] No. But it s time I found out. I might do some reforming my self. . . . Could I see Dan Moyne in the cooler without its being known? KING. Nobody gets by the Visitors Book. . . . CASEY. Well, once inside the prison ? KING. I ll get you into the jail myself. Set your time better make it early. CASEY. This Saturday. I ll come up by the first train. KING. Bout six in the morning. CASEY. You just keep things moving here. And say don t Calvin send you signed slips from time to time? KING. Orders? Sure. CASEY. Hand me a batch. KING. Can t be done. He s started a new system of book-keeping, and he keeps copies of everything. And he keeps the copies locked in the files. Says he s going to stop the leaks. CASEY. Wise old bird, ain t he? Never mind. You get some of them. Take an impression of the key. Slide me out one or two. KING. I can t, I tell you. He ACT i] PUNISHMENT 29 CASEY. Shut up! He ll be back. Don t argue; do as you re told. KING, [sulkily.] He s had an eye on every one. I want to keep my job. You know two of the boys were canned last week. CASEY. Your job would look sick without the rake-off I give you ! Honest, you d be up against it if I got a new man to do the work for [with a gesture] them up there; now, wouldn t you? KING. I know a lot about you, Mr. Casey. CASEY. I know more about you, King and what I know, I can prove! Don t be a fool. Get me those papers, no matter how. I ll need em down in the city. KING. They re no good. Just ordinary daily orders to send men to the hospital or the jail, and like that. He [motioning toward office] don t do anything incriminating. CASEY. He might. Especially after I ve had his orders a while. Get me pencil copies if you can. . . . Now keep the cons stirred up, King. Pull some of that stuff we worked on old War den Perkins. Make the whole crowd think Calvin s out for their blood. And don t forget to remind em who their friends are. KING. They get awful restless without booze or dope after they re used to it. And they ain t the only ones that lose. The month before 30 PUNISHMENT [ACT i Calvin came we pulled down 300 plunks on what we brought in. Do you know what we ve taken in this month? Twenty -five dollars! CASEY. Don t worry. You ll be rid of him soon. He ain t got a chance, King, not a chance as long as we can hold on to the men. KING, [looking keenly at him.] Don t over half the cons depend on us for the whiskey and drugs they use? Ain t they got to have it? He s trying to cut out their getting any more. They ll stay with us don t you forget it, Mr. Casey. CASEY. Well, they should worry. They get theirs; we get ours and the dear public s per fectly satisfied. . . . You know where to reach me, don t you? KING. Headquarters? CASEY. Right. I ll be down on Saturday. You have some papers for me then, or tell me how to get them. So long. KING. So long. [MARTIN enters with a note in his hand. MARTIN, [surprised at seeing CASEY.] The motor is waiting, sir. [to KING.] Did the War den go out, Mr. King? KING, [motioning.] Upstairs. CASEY, [to MARTIN, affably.] Don t remember old friends, do you, Martin? ACT i] PUNISHMENT 31 MARTIN, [looking at him; quietly.] Yes, sir; and my enemies too, sir. CASEY. [glaring.] You milk fed crook! [Goes out through office.] [KING who has watched this silently, crosses to the chaise longue and seats himself. MARTIN starts upstairs, but meets MRS. CALVIN coming down. MRS. CALVIN. What is it, Martin? MARTIN. A note for the Warden. MRS. CALVIN. I detained him. He will be down directly. [MRS. CALVIN crosses to the chaise longue and sees KING who rises uneasily. KING. The Warden asked me to wait. MRS. CALVIN. Certainly. [CALVIN comes in and MARTIN meets him with the note. CALVIN. One thing at a time, Martin. [CALVIN has in his hand the orders which KING brought him, and his fountain pen. CALVIN. Everything is right, I think, King. Look them over if you will, please. [KING does so; CALVIN retains copies.] I ll file these carbons. Good-night. KING. Good-night, sir. . . . Don t you want me to file those for you? 32 PUNISHMENT [ACT i CALVIN. No, thank you. I ll do it. [KING goes. CALVIN puts the carbons in his pocket and turns to MARTIN. MRS. CALVIN has taken up some sewing. CALVIN inquires MARTIN S errand with a glance. MARTIN, [handing CALVIN the note.] It s the woman, sir, who has been waiting for you. She is the mother of Daniel Moyne. [CALVIN makes a movement of impatience. He does not open the note. MARTIN. She was to visit him to-day. CALVIN. I ve nothing to do with that. MARTIN. No, sir. . . . Moyne is going to the cooler so he could not see his mother. CALVIN. Naturally not. MARTIN. Well, sir, she came four hours on the train. She ain t seen him for eight months. She s a poor woman, sir, and can t afford the journey oftener than that. CALVIN. That s unfortunate, but men in punishment cannot have visitors. MARTIN. No, sir. CALVIN. The Principal Keeper knows that. MARTIN. Yes, sir, but Mr. King told me to see you. Moyne ain t in the cooler yet and . . . CALVIN. He s been chalked in his own cell ACT i] PUNISHMENT S3 before being removed to the punishment cells. I have just signed the order to send him down. MARTIN, [changing his tactics and motioning toward the note which CALVIN holds still un opened.] The woman, sir, wrote you a note. CALVIN, [his temper flashing.] Of course she cannot see him! MRS. CALVIN, [speaking impulsively, but gently.] But, John, you will read her note. [CALVIN shrugs, opens the note, reads it with a frown. MRS. CALVIN crosses to him, and he hands her the note with a sigh. CALVIN. It s all very irregular. The usual melodrama, Mary. [MRS. CALVIN reads the note with a look of surprise and pleasure at being permitted to do so. MRS. CALVIN, [quietly.] It seems pathetic to me. CALVIN. It s out of the question ! MRS. CALVIN. Then explain to her, John, just why she cannot see him. She won t understand unless you do, and not to know will distress her even more than the truth. Please. CALVIN. It s nonsense ! I cannot and will not do it! [Of a sudden he checks himself, and in a 34 PUNISHMENT [ACT i Hash changes.} . . . But you may be right, Mary! [CALVIN nods a quick assent to MARTIN. MRS. CALVIN smiles, recognizing a famil iar characteristic, motions MARTIN to wait, and crosses over to her husband. MRS. CALVIN. John to please me again have her come in here. It s so much more human than your barn-like office. CALVIN, [exasperated.] Well ! It s your affair then. [Nods to MARTIN.] No heroics, Mary. [MRS. CALVIN shakes her head smiling. [MARTIN brings in the old woman. She is pale and thin, bent and wrinkled, with a dress of rusty black. She is completely awed by the interview. CALVIN. You are Daniel Moyne s mother? MRS. MOYNE. Yes, your honor. CALVIN. Unfortunately, Mrs. Moyne, your son has been sent to the punishment cells for drunkenness. MRS. MOYNE. Dan ain t a bad boy, your honor, he ain t a bad boy. To be sure he d be after having a drop taken, and he stopping in at the saloon at evening. But he ain t like some are, sir, spending all his wages for the drink ACT i] PUNISHMENT 35 CALVIN. At present, however, he is confined for drunkenness, a fact that will prevent his seeing you. My wife persuaded me to explain to you that this is a rule of the prison and that therefore no exception can be made in your favor. I am sorry. MRS. MOYNE. [turning to MRS. CALVIN.] Do you know what it is to have a boy, ma am? May he never be taken away, and he the sole support of his old mother and three childer. [There is a momentary pause and CALVIN looks at his wife expressively. CALVIN, [to MRS. CALVIN.] You see, Mary? MRS. CALVIN. [to MRS. MOYNE.] It IS Very hard for you. MRS. MOYNE. Indeed, indeed, ma am, $15.00 a week regular we lost when he was sent away. MRS. CALVIN. And you have been saving to come here and see him? MRS. MOYNE. Sure, it s eight months since last I saw Dan, ma am. Little Jimmy that s the baby has a new tooth, ma am. CALVIN. Really, Mary ! [MRS. CALVIN shakes her head at him, smiling a little. MRS. MOYNE. [to CALVIN.] And, your honor, some of Dan s friends has been trying their 36 PUNISHMENT [ACT i influence with the Governor, God save him, to get Dan a pardon. CALVIN. Ah! MRS. MOYNE. Yesterday was the day we heard he could not get it, sir. [to MRS. CALVIN.] Oh, I m almost frightened to tell him, ma am; he was that eager for his pardon, and him hoping and waiting. . . . MRS. CALVIN. Oh, I m so sorry! MRS. MOYNE. It s hard surely. [She begins to cry with the monotonous weeping of old age.] I wanted to see Dan to tell him that the childer was still alive, and to say to him May God Almighty and the Blessed Saints protect you until such time as you re released from bondage. [Cries gently.] [MRS. CALVIN turns to her husband who has been watching MRS. MOYNE keenly. He has been thinking hard, his face lit by a new idea. CALVIN, [to MRS. MOYNE.] You say Moyne s pardon was refused, and that he doesn t know it yet? [MRS. MOYNE nods half fearfully. CALVIN, [briskly.] You shall see your son at once, and here. [Rings bell. To MRS. CALVIN.] A week in the dark cells with that to think about ought to reduce him to order. ACT i] PUNISHMENT 37 MRS. CALVIN. Oh, John! MRS. MOYNE. [in terror.] What are they go ing to do to Dan, ma am? [MARTIN appears in the doorway. CALVIN. Martin, ask the P. K. to send Moyne here before he goes to the dark cells. I want to see him. MARTIN. Yes, sir. [Goes out.] MRS. MOYNE. Is he coming here now? To this room is it? Oh ma am it s a little thing might I kiss my boy? I ain t even touched his hand since he came to this place. [MRS. CALVIN is too moved to speak. CAL VIN is as cold and as hard as steel. CALVIN. Your son will come here, but you must not touch him. I want you to tell him that his pardon has been refused. [MRS. CALVIN starts to speak. CALVIN to her.] Stringent measures are necessary. I ve told you, Moyne must be broken. [To MRS. MOYNE.] I m doing this for your son s own good. MRS. MOYNE. May God bless your honor, and the Blessed Saints CALVIN. And then he will go at once to the punishment cells. You will be allowed to see him for a few moments only. I shall remain in the room. Mary, you had better go. MRS. CALVIN. I will stay. 38 PUNISHMENT [ACT i MRS. MOYNE. [weeping.] It is a pleasant thing to see your only son after eight months, ma am, but it s very sorrowful to have nothing but disappointment to bring him; misery and disappointment to your only son, and he so hoping. . . . MRS. CALVIN, [crosses to her and speaks gently.] You have forgotten that the children are well, and that the baby has a tooth. MRS. MOYNE. Oh, ma am yes, ma am. [MARTIN comes to the door. MARTIN. Shall Moyne ? CALVIN. Bring him in. [MARTIN steps out and admits KING who leads in DANIEL MOYNE. DAN is hag gard and surly. At first he does not look up. His mother stops her crying and looks at him. There is a long moment of silence. MRS. CALVIN does not take her eyes from the old woman. CALVIN is simply stern and cold a just judge. MRS. MOYNE. Dannie! [DAN starts violently and sees his mother. For a moment the face, which was once sensitive, lights up with pleasure. Then his eyes travel to MRS. CALVIN and to the Warden, and his face sets again. He ACT i] PUNISHMENT 39 glares at them all like some trapped animal, saying nothing. KING reaches back and raps on the door. MRS. MOYNE. Dannie boy, it s mother! [Keeper SCOTT enters and takes up his position on the other side of DAN. CALVIN. He knows you, Mrs. Moyne. [At his brisk tone the old woman shrinks, and DAN looks furiously at the Warden} Moyne, you took a bad time to disgrace yourself. This was the day for your mother s visit. Men in Punish ment don t see visitors. [DAN makes an in articulate sound.] I have, however, broken a rule because I think it well for you to hear the news which your mother. . . . DAN. [trying to leap forward] Did they get it? [There is a moment s pause. MRS. MOYNE moves forward a step. On her face is written her disappointment. She sobs, but says nothing. MRS. CALVIN watches DAN. She is pale with sympathy. CAL VIN is quite unmoved. DAN. [with a broken cry] Oh, the stinking cowards! MRS. MOYNE. They tried, sonny, they tried, but the Governor. . . . DAN. Damn the Governor! 40 PUNISHMENT [ACT i CALVIN. Moyne ! DAN. You too! What do you and the Governor know about it hey? CALVIN. Take him away. [MRS. CALVIN moves swiftly to her hus band. MRS. CALVIN, [in a quick, decided tone.} Wait, John. You said this was to be my affair. Let me manage it. [The shock stops everyone. CALVIN lifts his shoulders half unwillingly. MRS. CALVIN, [briskly to DAN.] Your mother has made this long journey to see you. Don t waste time in raging. [DAN stares at her blankly.] Of course you re disappointed about your par don, but cursing won t do any good. [She moves over to MRS. MOYNE.] Your mother has other news, news of home and your children. You must not let her go away again without hearing it. [DAN looks at MRS. CALVIN as if she were some new and strange creature. CALVIN moves forward and then checks him self. DAN. [hoarsely to his mother.] Kids well? MRS. MOYNE. Yes, Dannie, they re well. Only the baby was a bit ailing on account of his teeth, but the tooth came through, and they re ACT i] PUNISHMENT 41 all well. They sent their love and a kiss to their dad. . . . The baby s tooth is like that, Dan nie, you would like to feel it biting on your finger like a grown man. [CALVIN moves toward his wife impa tiently. She checks him. He goes to the other end of the room and starts walking up and down with increasing restless ness, glancing at his watch, which he holds open in his hand, from time to time. DAN. [to his mother.] Do they get enough to eat? MRS. MOYNE. They have enough now, since the boys sent us DAN. [sharply.] Never mind about that! MRS. MOYNE. But Maizy, she is needing shoes for the school. [To MRS. CALVIN.] A great child for shoes, she is, ma am, Maizy. [MRS. CALVIN is listening calmly, but in tently. DAN looks at her again in won derment. MRS. CALVIN. How old is Maizy? MRS. MOYNE. Maizy, now. . . . DAN. [to MRS. CALVIN.] She s ten. MRS. CALVIN. She must wear a twelve or a twelve and a half shoe. MRS. MOYNE. [pleased.] Twelve D. 42 PUNISHMENT [ACT i DAN. [suspiciously.] She don t need charity. [MRS. CALVIN is rather taken aback and says nothing. Before she can pick up the broken thread the next scene is in full swing and has checked her. MRS. MOYNE. [to DAN reprovingly.] Dannie she has a kind heart. [To MRS. CALVIN.] I says to Maizy, ma am, now when your dad has his pardon got DAN. [breaks in with passionate fury.] Par don! Pipe-dream! You re fools, the lot of you! And that damn dude Governor s the worst of the bunch! [CALVIN stops short in his quick march, and snaps his watch in a decisive way. CALVIN. Take him away ! [DAN is hauled from the room by KING who threatens him with his club. KING. Come on now! [KING is aided by SCOTT in dragging DAN out. DAN. [snarling as he is jerked out.] Yes, and you, Mr. Warden, with your rules and your punishment. Go on and find out! Put me in the jail. String me up by my wrists again! You can t break me! I ll beat you to it yet! I ll get you good! I ll get you. . . . [Exit.] [At a motion from CALVIN, who has been utterly unmoved by DAN S outburst, ACT i] PUNISHMENT 43 the old woman is led weeping from the room by SCOTT, who returned for her after helping to eject DAN. [MRS. CALVIN is startled, half frightened. She goes quickly to her husband. MRS. CALVIN, [anxiously.] Dearest! CALVIN, [coldly, but putting an arm about her shoulders.} No, Mary. I am in no danger. The man is powerless against me. [Immediately following his words the lights go out in the cell-block, and some distant door slams to with a heavy metallic clang. THE CURTAIN FALLS ACT II punishment cells, otherwise known as the * dark cells, the jail, or the cooler, are five in number, each measuring 7ft. x 7ft. x 3% ft. and are made of steel. They are situated in a vaulted stone chamber below the surface of the ground. On entering this chamber, the visitor finds himself in a small square ante-room, with a narrow corridor into which the doors of the individual cells open, directly in front of him. As his eyes become accus tomed to the light which filters dimly through two narrow slits high in the gray wall, he will see on his left a bench, with a sink just behind it, and in front of him at the end of the first steel cell, a locker in which the "jail clothes" are kept. When a keeper enters the room, he lights it by means of a single electric light on a long leader. This light may be carried into the cells, which are themselves unlighted. They are bare of furniture; in the door of each is a grated opening a foot square. The doors of cells 1, 3, and 5 are open, the cells being empty. In cell 2 is JACK WILSON, and in cell 4 near the entrance to the room is DANIEL MOYNE. ACT 11] PUNISHMENT 45 When the curtain rises there is silence in the cells. Then JACK coughs and coughs in a long spasm. The door of the room rattles and a key grates in the lock. The door opens and admits keepers SCOTT and FRANCIS with JOSEPH RUFFIO, a prisoner. FRANCIS closes the door again. JOE. I tell you I never. . . . SCOTT. Shut up! JOE. But, Cap n, I was looking. . . . SCOTT. Take off your clothes. [FRANCIS opens the locker and takes out the suit of jail clothes which RUFFIO is to wear. Both men in the cells listen in tently, crouched close to their doors. JOE. Well I guess I got no kick coming. I m lucky not to get rail-roaded to the Chair. There s no comeback anyhow. But I never had a knife. That runner s got it in for me. He framed me up. [JOE stands in his underclothes with his hands held above his head. SCOTT searches him by passing his hands rapidly over his body and limbs. SCOTT. All right. Put on those duds. [He points to the clothes FRANCIS holds.] JOE. [hesitating.] Cap n, who wore those last? 46 PUNISHMENT [ACT n SCOTT. Don t make so much talk. Put em on. [They complete the process. FRANCIS opens the door of cell 1 and JOE is thrust into it. FRANCIS goes to a row of small red buckets, standing against the back wall of the outer room, takes one and carries it into JOE S cell, where he leaves it. Then he goes out of the cell closing the door behind him. He locks the cell- door. The key turns gratingly. Mean while SCOTT has been cutting off the white disk and good conduct stripes from the sleeve of the coat RUFFIO wore when he came in. After he has done this SCOTT puts the clothes in the locker. [The two keepers put out the light and leave the room. The door slams and the key grates heavily. JOE. Hello, pals! Who s among those pres ent? JACK. I m Jack Wilson in number two. JOE. Sure. And Dan Moyne s here too, ain t he? Anybody else? JACK. Dan s here, in number four, but he ain t talking much. No one else. Who are you? JOE. Joe Ruffio. Weave shop. Cap t Smith s all right, but that damned little runner ACT n] PUNISHMENT 47 of his is a rat. He framed me up. Planted a knife in my locker. Just wait. He ll get his all right. [JACK coughs violently. JOE. Ain t got the T.Bs., have you, kid? JACK. Wish I had. I m sick. Sore in my ear. It runs. JOE. Cheer up, old-timer! What do you do down here to make things lively? Ever sing? [He hums a little.} Know this? [He sings a few bars of an Italian street song.] [JACK has another spasm of coughing which leaves him so weak and ill that the coughs finally change to sobs. JOE. Come on, kid. Cheer up. JACK. Oh yes, you can talk. JOE. [with firm quietness.} Why can I talk better than anyone else? JACK. You ain t been down here four days. [He groans.} JOE. [rather tenderly.} I know it. JACK. Oh, my head! JOE. Pretty bad, is it? JACK. Feels like a house on fire. [He whim- pers a little like a child.] I want a handkerchief. I wish I had a handkerchief. JOE. [a little bitterly.] That wouldn t be safe. You might. . . . [He pauses significantly.] 48 PUNISHMENT [ACT n DAN. [suddenly.] Huh! He could use his shirt. What good to take away his handker chief? Tie the sleeves of his shirt round his neck that s the way. JOE. [calmly.] Well, the chap that did it last, down here, used his handkerchief, Dan. They never let you keep your handkerchief since that. DAN. [growling.] All the comforts of home here, ain t there? God, Jack, that pen of ours in the cell-block looks like a modern improvement flat when I think about it. JACK, [whimpering.] I m sore all over from the rivets on the floor. I wish I had a bed. It s cold on the floor. I m cold all over except my head. My head s burning up burning up. DAN. Cut it, can t you, Jack? It was my fault, but you know how full of booze I was. [A pause. His voice comes, full of pleading and affection.] Don t you, Jack? JACK. Sure I do, Dan. JOE. [easily.] Well, when two fellows are locked in one cell from noon Saturday till Tuesday morning, no wonder they get restless. DAN. I never hit a pal, when I ain t been drinking. JOE. You can t never tell what you will do, cooped up that way, with the best pal in the world. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 49 DAN. [rather pathetically.] I never hit you before, did I, Jack? JACK. No, Dan. Ever since I come here you ve been white to me. [Stubbornly.] But I was right if I was sick. DAN. Aw, your mind s queer. JACK. It ain t. The guard was talking to the P. K., I tell you. [He draws a long groaning breath.] JOE. [soothingly.] What did he say, old man? JACK. Tell him, Dan. I can t talk much. DAN. Jack thought the P. K. was talking about Casey. You know who Casey is, don t you? JOE. For one thing he s your ward-boss, ain t he? DAN. Yes, sort of. Jack sick the way he is took it into his head that Casey sent us the booze the keeper slipped us. Well, what if he did? Was it poisoned? JACK, [with sick petulance.] There was some thing phony about it. The P. K. said, Casey s orders. I know he did. What did he mean orders? DAN. It don t cut no ice if he did. A man might send a present to a pal treat him to a drink. JOE. He might if he was a pal. Jack s got 50 PUNISHMENT [ACT n the right dope, Dan. Politicians don t give presents for nothing. Casey is a politician. DAN. [with rising anger.] You re crazy, both of you. What do you know about Casey? Why you never saw him in your life! JACK. That s so, Dan, but. . . . DAN. Mr. Casey has been good to me. JOE. He wants something, you bet. DAN. [with a short laugh.] From me? Now what? Casey s a big man. He don t need to bother with me, but he likes to be friendly. Look at the boys that tried to get me my par don hell burn the Governor! JOE. Dan, the Party don t do nothing for love. The Party is out for cash only. DAN. Then why does it send my mother five plunks a week? She can t do nothing for them. JOE. Ain t she taking care of your kids? DAN. Sure! JOE. The Party knows a man feels grateful to anybody who d look out for his kids while he s doing his bit. And when you got a man grateful you got him tied hand and foot. Let politics alone, Dan. You ll never get anywhere except where you are, sticking to them. DAN. Sticking to em is the only way you can ACT n] PUNISHMENT 51 get anywhere! How else can you get your term cut? Who else d get a pardon for you? JOE. Pardon? That don t always work, does it, Dan? DAN. Oh, damn that Governor! JOE. Cut loose, Dan. Shake Casey s crowd. They may help you now, but when they do get you out, they ll put you on some dirty job, and you ll come back. You ll go down and out. DAN. Might as well as rot in this hole. God it was bad enough with the old Warden, but what it ll be now the reformers are having fun with us, the devil alone knows. JACK. Mr. Calvin is. ... DAN. [mockingly.] Mr. Calvin is the only Warden you ever saw, Jack. Well, he won t break me. I ll see him frying in hell first! JOE. The Warden is stiff. He s got the wrong hunch. DAN. Let him be. Stiffer the better. He won t last so long. JOE. No. A stiff Warden don t have much chance, even if he is honest. [JACK moans as if in protest at this senti ment. JOE. Nobody wants a stiff Warden. Do you 52 PUNISHMENT [ACT n want to live in hell, Jack? [Jack groans weakly.] And [He stumbles over the thought.] and people outside won t stand for this reform stuff. JACK. What people? JOE. You got me there, Jack. Politicians, I guess. DAN. Lay everything on to politics, Joe! JOE. Well, you remember Warden Perkins? He got run out fast enough. DAN. Served him right. JACK, [thickly.] Talk louder, Joe. My head buzzes. I can t hear you. JOE. Somebody kept sending the men booze, and dope, and then there was riots. Place was so upset they thought they d have the militia down. The Governor thought it was Warden Perkins fault so did the fathead public but it was all a plant, stirred up from outside. DAN. Good stuff! JOE. You re all for the Party now, Dan, but the Party ain t for you, and don t you forget it. The Party s out for money. They have dirty work to do and you re a crook, fit to do it. They might get you off this time, but they wouldn t let you make good anywhere. Once a crook, always a crook, is their motto. If they have a line on you, then you can t go straight. Sooner or later you ll be back here. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 53 DAN. I may always be a crook, but I m damned if I ever get caught again. I ll show em, the rotten. . . . [There is the sound of the key in the door. SCOTT enters, bringing bread and water. He takes the light on its long leader into the passage with him and throws it through the grating into each cell. He looks into the empty cells which stand always with their doors open. The keeper does not open the cell doors. He pokes the piece of bread through the slot in the door and then pours the water into the cup the man holds out through a fun nel with a very long spout which reaches through the grating. He goes first to DAN and gives him his allowance. DAN sees him through the cell grating by the aid of the light. DAN. [with a start of surprise.] Hello, Scotty! What the. . . . SCOTT. Can t talk now. Back later. [SCOTT goes on to JACK S cell. He flashes the light into the cell. JACK is stretched on his back in a half stupor. He does not move. SCOTT. Hey! What s the matter with you? [The light is held steadily for a moment 54 PUNISHMENT [ACT n straight in JACK S eyes. He moves un easily. The others are listening. JOE. He s sick, sir. SCOTT, [without emotion.] Sick? [The light continues to focus on JACK S face. He slowly rolls over, sees the keeper, and struggles to his feet. JACK, [gasping.] Water? [He pours the few drops that remain in his cup down his throat, and greedily extends his cup for another gill. The keeper fills the cup, and thrusts in the bread.] Say, my throat s burning up look it only covers the bottom of the cup. Couldn t you fill it full? Just this once! SCOTT. Against the rules. JACK. For God s sake, sir. [He cries.] I m sick, sir. Water would save my life. Couldn t I have the cup full just this time? So I could drink a whole mouthful at once. For God s sake, sir ! SCOTT, [in a slightly lowered tone.] What do I get out of it? JACK, [faltering.] I I haven t. . . . SCOTT. I m no charity organization. JACK, [in despair.] For the love of God, sir! [SCOTT goes on to JOE, gives him his allow ance, turns out the light, and leaves the room. JACK settles back. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 55 JOE. You didn t get it, Jack? JACK. I ought to have known better than to ask. JOE. Tough luck. Wish I could slip you mine. I don t need it so much. I ve been hav ing all I wanted. JACK. You re all to the good, Joe. You ll need it before you get out anyhow. Oh, my head! JOE. Better sleep. JACK. Seems as if I d smother when I lie down. I might sit in the corner and sleep if it weren t for the bed-bugs. JOE. Ain t they hell? JACK. I m so damn thirsty I could drink the whole river. Last night I didn t sleep at all. First my head then the rivets on the floor then the bed-bugs and no water. And in the morning that dynamo next door, beat and beat. . . . Did you hear me choking, Dan? DAN. I talked to you. JACK. Oh, sure. Well, I got to thinking about the death-house next door. Wondered how the fellows in there feel when they hear the dynamo buzzing. JOE. Poor devils ! They re worse off than we are. JACK. Anyhow they know they ll be out of it soon. 56 PUNISHMENT [ACT n DAN. Say! Cheerful party, ain t we? For the love of Mike, buck up. Can t you think of any thing better than the death-house to gas about? JOE. Eaten your supper, Dan? DAN. Supper huh ! I chewed the stale stuff they call bread. JOE. Mine s mouldy, too. DAN. This here chunk s been mouldy for three days. I can think of a supper now. A steak, smothered in onions, with fried potatoes and vegetables. . . . JACK. For God s sake, Dan! DAN. Go to your downy, Jack. Sweet dreams! JOE. Take a drink, Jack, and get to sleep, old man. JACK. Don t dare. A fellow might choke to death down here without getting help. I wake up when the midnight train whistles, and I ll never get off again without a bit of water. JOE. Save it then. JACK. I put it away in a safe corner till my throat gets cracking. JOE. Say, how do you lie down here? DAN. Take off your shoes and shirt and make yourself a pillow. Throw your coat over you. It s warmer so. follows these directions, and the others do the same. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 57 JOE. Good night, fellows. DAN. Night. JACK. Good night, Joe. [There is a momentary stirring as they settle for the night. [The curtain falls for a moment to indicate the passing of hours. [The whistle of a train is heard faintly. [The curtain rises. The stage is in black darkness. There is the rattle of keys and the clang of drawn bolts. The iron hinges of the door creak. The men are still asleep. SCOTT enters and turns on the light. He takes it to DAN S cell and flashes it in. SCOTT, [briskly.] Cell four! DAN. Huh? SCOTT. Cell four! DAN. [half awake.] What s yours? SCOTT, [roughly.] For Christ s sake answer your name, so I ll know you ain t dead! DAN. [snapping.] Daniel Moyne. SCOTT, [cheerfully.] Hello, Dan. DAN. [sitting bolt upright in the light; he cannot see the speaker because of the glare.} Who is it? SCOTT. Scott. [They talk in lowered tones. DAN rises and leans against the cell door, 58 PUNISHMENT [ACT n DAN. Said you d be back, didn t you? What are you doing down here ? This ain t your regular. SCOTT. P. K. s orders. For to-night only. DAN. Say, the stuff you gave us sure got us in wrong. SCOTT. Stuff was all right. [He grins in.] DAN. [grins.] Sure. SCOTT. On my way. DAN. [settling back.] Bad luck to you! [SCOTT goes to JACK S cell. JACK is huddled in a corner. When the light is flashed on him he does not move. The keeper turns the light into every corner of the cell. In the corner nearest JACK S feet he pauses for a moment to rest the light on the tin cup of water. SCOTT. Cell two! [JACK does not move. SCOTT. Hey, you, two. [He holds the light in JACK S eyes. JACK jumps awake.] Two! JACK. Yes, sir? SCCTT. Answer your name. JACK. Wilson. SCOTT. John Wilson? JACK. Number 25,683. SCOTT. Right. [He goes on to JOE, and JACK tries to find his former position. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 59 SCOTT, [coming to JOE who has been waked.] Cell one! JOE. Joseph Ruffio. Is it morning? SCOTT. Midnight round. [JOE mutters half to himself. SCOTT. What s eating you? JOE. Can t sleep. First night here. SCOTT, [friendly.] You ll get used to it. [SCOTT leaves the room, putting out the light, and locking the door behind him. The stage is again in utter dark- ness. JOE. How s the head, Jack? JACK, [crying out miserably.] Why can t they let us alone at night? JOE. Precaution against accident. Get back to sleep, kid. [There is a moment s silence. Suddenly, tearing the heaviness of the darkness, comes a wailing scream, hopeless, bitter, as of a child who is tortured unspeak ably. Both DAN and JOE leap to their feet, speaking together. JOE. Who s hurt? DAN. For God s sake JACK. I ve spilled my water! My water is spilled ! DAN. [with infinite relief, his voice broken from 60 PUNISHMENT [ACT n nervous strain.} Damn you thought you were killed! JACK, [wailing.] Might as well be! Might as well murder me in cold blood. I ll die with out water. I m sick . . . sick. I need water! JOE. [gently] How did you do it, old man? JACK. I got turned round. Hit it with my foot and tipped it over. Thought it was at my head, and reached for it. And then I hit the cup with my foot. [His voice rises uncertainly] It s all spilled . . . it s all spilled! [The tin cup rattles on the iron floor] My cup of water . . . I want water ... I want water now! JOE. Wish I could get you mine. DAN. [snapping] Well, you can t! JACK, [quickly; feverishly] I ve got to have water. I can feel it on the floor. [His voice flames up again in delirium] I ll take my shirt and throw it over his head! . . . There s water out there. ... I can see it ... a whole pond . . . [He goes to bars and clutches them as he stares into the black corridor] and it s cool. . . . Oh, please! . . . I ll throw my bucket at him . . . while he s cursing me I ll get his gun ... if I only had one swal low . . . just one . . . it s on the floor . . . in drops . . . but when the keeper comes I ll . . ah-h-h! ACT n] PUNISHMENT 61 JOE. [briskly.] You re a sick boy, Jack. JACK, [wildly.] I ain t so sick I can t put it over on him when he comes with his can of water. You wait. I ll put it over on all of them. They think they ll starve me to death. I ll show em! I ll show the whole lot. Casey too, Dan ... I don t care if he is a friend of yours . . . he s a damned . . . I ll get water. . . . I ll just take my bucket and throw it at the keeper ... he won t be looking for that. [He laughs horribly.] . . . Oh, I m sick! JOE. Men sicker than you have been here, Jack. You tell us all about it, old man. JACK, [speaking in gasps.] I was sick when Casey sent us that stuff. [Yelling.] He did send it, Dan! I heard the P. K. I tell you ... Joe, I m sick ... I want to go to the hospital ! JOE. [soothingly.] Maybe you can in the morning. JACK, [now utterly delirious begins beating with his cup on the iron floor. He keeps it up until the curtain falls. His voice rises and falls in a steady singsong.] Kill me, will you? Wait . . . you wait. Wait till you come in. You won t have a chance . . . not a chance. I ll jump at you, and . . . Ah-h-h-! [His voice wails away in a long moan.] [The curtain falls for a moment to indicate 9 62 PUNISHMENT [ACT n for the second time, the passing of hours. Silence. [The curtain rises to show the cells lit by the faint, gray light of early morning. DAN lies flat on his back, breathing heavily. JACK coughs pitiably, but does not wake. JOE is sleeping quietly. Suddenly the dynamo in the power house next door starts up for the day. Its beat and throb are endless, implacable. It con tinues to the end of the act. Next the levers opening the cell-rows in the build ing above can be heard clicking. Click! Click! Click! Click! Four times re peated; sixteen in all. Then the tramp of the marching men leaving their cells follows, rhythmically. As the sound of the feet dies away there is a pause. JACK coughs. DAN grunts like an animal with the night-mare. The grate of a key is heard in the door of the jail. The bolts are shot back. JACK coughs again, and JOE open his eyes and half sits up with a start. Keepers SCOTT and FRANCIS come in. FRANCIS goes to the clothes locker while SCOTT goes to JOE S cell. SCOTT opens the door of No. 1 and leaves it open. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 63 SCOTT. Joseph Ruffio? JOE. [trembling with eagerness.] Number one, sir. Do I get out now? SCOTT. Yes. Come out. Change your clothes. [DAN wakes easily and listens during the following. JOE, followed by SCOTT, goes to the anteroom where FRANCIS has put out his clothes on the bench. JOE slips out of his jail suit and puts on his regular prison clothes. As he puts on the coat he sees that the disk and stripe have been taken off. JOE. These aren t my clothes! I had a disk and a good conduct stripe. SCOTT, [impatiently.] Well? JOE. [looking from him to FRANCIS.] They re gone. SCOTT. Say, come on now. You know you don t keep good conduct stripes when you go to the cooler. Do you think you ve been on a Sunday school picnic? Hurry up unless you want to stay here. [JOE says nothing more, but hurries on with his clothes. SCOTT goes out and JOE follows him. FRANCIS turns out the light again and goes out, locking the door behind him. DAN groans, yawns 64 PUNISHMENT [ACT n noisily, stretches himself, and gives a disgusted grunt. The door rattles, and a key is heard again. DAN listens. SCOTT comes in alone and goes at once to DAN S cell SCOTT, [to DAN through the grating.] Wake, Dan? DAN. [tensely.] Sure. SCOTT. Visitor for you. Wait a minute. [While DAN sits nervously waiting, SCOTT goes back to the outer door and looks out. SCOTT, [to someone outside.] All right, sir. [CASEY comes in and waits while SCOTT locks the door again. Then SCOTT takes him to DAN S cell and unlocks the door which squeals on its hinges. JACK coughs and wakes up. CASEY appears in DAN S cell. DAN. [under his breath.] Mr. Casey. . . . CASEY. Shut up, Dan. [Sharply.] Anybody else in here, Scott? SCOTT, [who has been standing in the door of the cell.] Wilson in number two; two doors away. DAN. My cell-mate. He s a pal. CASEY. Don t trust nobody! DAN. He s sick anyway. CASEY. Keep your eye out, Scott. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 65 SCOTT. Yes, sir. [SCOTT closes the cell door and goes and sits on the bench in the anteroom. During this JACK has wakened fully. He stretches slowly and painfully, holding his head between his hands. He reaches for his cup and, finding it empty, moans a little, remembering. CASEY is not wholly at ease. He takes out a cigar and chews it. DAN. Good of you, Mr. Casey, to. ... CASEY. Nothing. Sorry you didn t get your pardon, Dan. [Champs on his cigar.] DAN. Damn hard luck. It s the Governor. CASEY. He s a fool. All reformers are, Dan. Thinks he ll turn our State into a little heaven on earth. DAN. Well I should worry. CASEY, [feeling his way slowly.] Every boy in the ward is sore over your pardon. The Governor made a lot of enemies when he did that. DAN. The boys have been mighty good to me. CASEY. They like you, Dan. [Chews steadily.] Don t blame em. Like you myself. DAN. Huh! [Embarrassed.] Quit your kid ding. CASEY. Let me have my little joke eh, Dan? 66 PUNISHMENT [ACT n DAN. Sure thing, Mr. Casey. CASEY. Stopped in to see your mother the other day. Smart old lady, Dan. And that girl, Maizy some kid! DAN. [eagerly.] Maizy s like her mother quick. CASEY, [leading up to his point.] Getting to be quite a woman, the little scrap. Made me a cup of tea, she did! DAN. [heavily.] Casey, I ain t seen Maizy in fourteen months. CASEY. Well, she s grown, I ll bet, in that time so you d hardly know her. [He plays with DAN S emotion.] You won t see her for some time either, I m thinking. DAN. I ll serve out the rest of my bit, I guess . . . there ll be no chance till there s a new administration. CASEY, [lowering his voice.] Dan, how d you like to see the kid well say, next week? DAN. [staring at him.] What s the use of kidding me, Mr. Casey? CASEY, [raising his voice again.] I m giving you straight stuff, Dan. [When CASEY S voice rises, JACK who has been sitting on the floor of his cell, gets up and goes to the grating in his door. He listens. ACT n] PUNISHMENT 67 JACK. Joe, did you say something? [SCOTT springs from his bench and goes to JACK S door. CASEY and DAN are tense and silent. SCOTT. Here, you. Shut your noise. Ruffio went upstairs long ago. JACK. I heard someone talking to Dan. [CASEY stands with his finger on his lips. SCOTT. You re off your nut. You re hearing things. How could anyone be talking to Dan? JACK, [pausing an instant.] Dan ! You been talking? [DAN hesitates a moment. CASEY makes violent signs for him to say No. DAN. [blurts out.] You re dreaming, Jack. Joe s gone. SCOTT. You lie down there and mind your own business! [CASEY goes on talking to DAN in dumb show for a moment. JACK lies down again slowly, unconvinced, and still listening. DAN S face as he listens to CASEY, shows surprise and then frank incredulity, and finally, utter disbelief, as CASEY tries to convince him of the truth of what he is saying. DAN. Don t con me, Mr. Casey ! CASEY. I speak truth! The boys say to 68 PUNISHMENT [ACT n me Dan is a friend of ours. He s a good friend, the kind that would do anything for a pal. We want to help him. You can help him, Mr. Casey, they say to me. DAN. [much moved.] They re good friends to me, all right. CASEY. Help Dan, they say. The Governor won t give him no pardon because he s a stink ing reformer. Well let s get him out another way then. [DAN S eyes grow wide. He clenches his fists. CASEY. Dan what I say is the straight goods. If you ll take a chance, and beat it, out of this, you ll get all the help you need inside and out! DAN. The guards. . . . Oh, I couldn t make it! CASEY. Sure you could. Buck up, man! DAN. [his voice rising.] How could I? JACK, [springing upright.] Dan? [At a sign from CASEY, DAN answers. DAN. What s yours, Jack? [SCOTT has again risen from his bench, but this time he goes, not to JACK, but to CASEY. He opens the door of DAN S cell, and he and CASEY talk a moment in low tones. ACT n] PUNISHMENT JACK. Ain t you been talking, Dan? DAN. Pipe-dreams, old man. Lie down and forget it. [SCOTT leaves CASEY and goes to JACK S cell, where he speaks to Jack through the grating. His attitude has changed to one of the greatest friendliness. SCOTT. Say, kid, what do you want most in the world? JACK, [eagerly.] Water! SCOTT. Hold on then. [SCOTT goes out to the bench near which stands a can of water and the keeper s funnel. He takes these up and goes back to JACK S cell. Meanwhile the whispered conversation between CASEY and DAN goes on. SCOTT thrusts the end of his funnel through JACK S grating. JACK, [hoarsely.] Water! SCOTT, [soothingly.] Go to it, Wilson. JACK scrambles for his cup which he holds to the mouth of the funnel. CASEY con tinues to urge DAN in an indistinguish able tone. JACK holds his cup which SCOTT fills and refills while JACK drinks. DAN. \in a low voice.} But I work inside. 70 PUNISHMENT [ACT n CASEY. I ll fix that. And I ll make it right with [his voice drops again.] [There is a moment s pause; the beat and throb of the motor is the only sound. DAN is tense. JACK, [with a long, quivering breath.] I can t . . . any more. [He staggers across the cell into a corner, where he slips to the floor.] [DAN has not moved. SCOTT goes grinning back to the bench. CASEY watches DAN intently. He waits for a moment. JACK is quiet. DAN S breath comes in long gasps. CASEY, [keenly.] Well, Dan? DAN. [lifting his head slowly and looking CASEY straight in the eyes. He draws a long breath.] I ll do it, Mr. Casey! [CASEY S face lights with triumph. He slaps DAN on the back. DAN S face is set for battle. THE CURTAIN FALLS ACT III rHE Warden s office. Right are two long French windows. Back is a door, the only one, and Left, a safe and letter files. Center is the Warden s large, flat top desk, with a swivel desk- chair behind it. Down stage Left is a wash-stand, around which is a great leather screen. This screen serves to hide the wash-stand from the people on the stage, but not from the audience. The room is cold looking with an indefinable air of menace. From the windows can be seen a bit of the prison yard, and a corner of the cell-block. CALVIN is standing near the window looking intently into the yard. As the curtain rises he turns away nervously and paces the room once or twice. The telephone on his desk rings and he jumps to answer it. CALVIN. Yes? [His voice changes all the life leaves it.] Tell him I can see no one to night. [He walks back to the window impatiently. There is the sound of someone coming outside the door and he listens anxiously 71 72 PUNISHMENT [ACT in until the footsteps die away. Then, with a long sigh of disappointment) he seats himself at his desk. He takes the telephone. CALVIN. The Principal Keeper. [There is a knock at the door and CALVIN leaps in his chair. CALVIN. Come in! [The door opens to show CASEY standing on the threshold. CALVIN frowns, but CASEY without waiting for an invitation, enters. CALVIN, [turning back to the telephone.] Is Mr. King with the search party? Well, if the orders for to-morrow are on his desk, please send them in to me at once. I ll sign them now. [He hesitates, and then adds tensely.] No news? [CASEY is all attention although he seems to be engrossed with the cold cigar he is chewing. CALVIN. Thanks. [He hangs up the receiver and turns to CASEY.] Mr. Casey, I CASEY, [breaking in affably.] They told me you were busy, but I said I d come right in. [CALVIN stares at him in growing amazement and anger.] Thought you d be glad of diversion. Ain t all roses being Warden of this shebang, is it? ACT m] PUNISHMENT 73 CALVIN, [icily.] No. CASEY. We-e-11. . . . CALVIN, [in a burst of cold rage.] Mr. Casey, by what right do you enter this room? When you telephoned I refused to see you. That still holds good. I cannot see anyone to night. CASEY, [grinning.] Hospitable, ain t you? CALVIN. If your business is very impor tant. . . . [CASEY starts to speak, but CALVIN cuts him off. CALVIN. I can t listen now. It may be that later in the evening I can give you a mo ment. CASEY. You re the boss, Warden, you re the boss. I ll drop in later. Oh re-voir! [He moves smoothly to the door, and with a wave of his hand, vanishes. When the door has closed behind CASEY there is a muttered ejaculation from CALVIN. He sits at the desk, glancing idly through the papers that strew the top, and then with a long sigh sits for a moment with his head in his hands. From outside there comes a low rumbling, the banging of metal, the shouts of keepers, and the yells of prisoners. 74 PUNISHMENT [ACT in The noise grows rapidly in volume until it is a cursing, screaming pan demonium. Almost before it reaches CALVIN S consciousness., a sharp knock at the door brings him to his feet. CALVIN. Come ! [KING throws the door open. The two men stare at each other for a moment. KING is evidently much excited, but his face looks sullen. CALVIN. They ve found him? KING. He s in his cell. CALVIN. Where was he? KING. Not five minutes outside the walls. CALVIN. Man, he s been gone for hours! KING, [with some resentment.] He was asleep. CALVIN. Asleep ! KING, [disgusted.] Drunk in a hollow tree. [lower.] The poor fool. CALVIN, [thoughtfully, with a sharp look at KING.] Drunk. [The disturbance outside dies slowly away. From the moment of KING S entrance CALVIN becomes active again. CALVIN. [with sudden decision.] I shall thrash this out now. KING. It s late, Warden. CALVIN, [looking at his watch.] I ll take time ACT m] PUNISHMENT 75 for something to eat. It s nine o clock now. Did you have dinner? [KING nods.] I didn t. Is Moyne sober yet? KING. Yes he d slept most of it off. But it s CALVIN. The sooner we examine him, the less time he has to cook up a story. [Keenly.] A confession will save trouble all around. KING. He was getting away fast enough. CALVIN, [suddenly.] Where did he get his whiskey? KING, [blank and then defiant.] I don t know. CALVIN, [in his old brisk tone.] Have him here in twenty minutes. And his cell-mate [hesitates.] KING. Wilson. CALVIN, [watching KING.] And the keeper in charge of the road-gang from which Moyne escaped. KING, [swallowing.] I ll find out who it was, sir. CALVIN, [swiftly.] Don t you know? KING. I think it was Scott. CALVIN, [without emotion.] We shall want Scott. [There is a pause. CALVIN thinks hard. KING shifts from one foot to the other, stealing glances at his superior. There 76 PUNISHMENT [ACT m is a knock at the door. CALVIN goes to it and receives from someone outside the orders he has asked for. He keeps them in his hand. CALVIN, [through the door as he closes it.] Thank you. [To KING.] Who caught Moyne? KING. Francis. CALVIN. Bring Francis too. [Glances at the papers he is holding.] I ll get these orders signed for you so that nothing need interrupt us if the examination keeps us late. That s all. [He watches KING as he goes toward the door.] Better eat something, King. This business has fagged us all. [KING goes out with a nod. CALVIN looks at the papers on his desk. He takes up the telephone without sitting down. CALVIN, [in a tired voice.] The kitchen. . . . Martin? How soon can you have something for me to eat? Oh, then I ll come at once put it on the table. What? Yes, you can leave on the six-thirty train. Come in and say good bye before you go. I shall be up most of the night, I think. [CALVIN glances again at the papers on his desk 9 and after a moment s thought, grimly gathers them all up and puts them into the desk drawer which he locks. ACT in] PUNISHMENT 77 CALVIN leaves the room and there is a moment s silence. There is a knock at the door, twice repeated. The door opens and CASEY slides in. He goes to the desk and looks over it, and finding nothing, takes a key from his vest pocket and unlocks the drawer. He finds the papers with a grunt of delight which changes to one of disgust as he sees that they are still unsigned. He swears under his breath and glances over the desk again only to turn away disap pointed. There is a sudden knock at the door. CASEY has a moment of panic. Then he goes over and slips in behind the big screen. The knock is repeated, and the door opens to admit KING who hesitates upon the threshold. CASEY, who has been peering through a crack in the screen, now comes out. CASEY. Calm yourself. KING. You d better keep out of this. CASEY. Where s the Warden? KING. Eating something. CASEY. Then keep your shirt on. He won t have an appetite long. Here s what I came after. Had to use your key to get em. [He motions towards the papers which he still holds.] They 78 PUNISHMENT [ACT m aren t signed yet, worse luck. It s a good lot several in pencil easy to [he makes a gesture of erasure.] KING, [irritably. ] I wish you d let em alone. Ain t it bad enough to have Dan Moyne caught? CASEY. I want those orders. As soon as he signs em and gives them to you you slip them over to me. [KING starts to protest. CASEY. Oh, your hide s safe enough. Dates will be changed as well as other things. You can say you mislaid them in the excitement. KING. You re safely out of this CASEY. No safer than you. Nobody can touch us, King. You hand the orders over. That s all you have to do. His papers may be straight now, but a little changing will make em incriminating enough to damn a saint. Then we have our high and mighty Warden by the neck. [He makes an unpleasant gesture of pulling a noose tight under his left ear, and chuckles.] Violent deaths run in the family. Son killed himself, didn t he? [KING nods.] Maybe Pa will follow suit! KING. I don t want to take such long chances. CASEY, [impatiently.] Well, I got an order for them, if that makes you feel any better. [He takes from his pocket a paper in a blue ACT m] PUNISHMENT 79 envelope which KING reads. CASEY grins.] You notice it don t specify what papers. I can take any I want and with authority. KING, [brightening.] If you give the Warden this [tapping letter] he ll have to give you the papers himself. CASEY, [taking the letter and putting it back in his pocket.] I ll give him the letter after I ve got the papers in my pocket. KING. But it s so much easier to do the other thing. CASEY. The fancy Warden is getting foxy. He might have the originals witnessed to or some such nonsense. [Suddenly severe.] You do as you re told! KING, [sulkily.] Oh, very well. [Flaring up again.] You don t seem to realize that Moyne s getting caught puts us in the hell of a hole! CASEY, [grunts.] Dan is safe enough. [CASEY goes over to the desk and replaces the papers in the drawer, leisurely locking it again. KING. He could give the whole thing away like that. [Snaps his fingers.] CASEY, [coolly.] He thinks I m a pal of his. I took care of that when I picked him for the job. . . . Dan won t squeal on a pal. 80 PUNISHMENT [ACT m KING. You can t tell what the skunk will do. I wish he d made his getaway. CASEY, [assenting.] He was a fool to drink the whole bottle. It was put there to give him nerve, not to get soused on. KING. He d been in the cooler for a week with nothing much to eat. CASEY. Hard luck. I wish he d made it. KING, [flatly.] Well, I m damned nerv ous. CASEY. Oh, come on. Don t fret about Dan. He s the real goods; hates the Warden like poison. He won t squeal. And when those orders [pointing to desk] get up to the Chief good-night, Mr. Calvin! [KING shakes his head in uncertainty. CASEY moves to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. CASEY. Cheer up, man! You hand me the papers and I ll leave the note as I go. He knows I m waiting to see him. I told him so myself so he wouldn t think there was anything phony about it if he heard I was here. It s up to you to get me those orders before I have to make good on my bluff. Then our tracks are covered all right. [With a final slap on the back he slips to the door, looks out, and goes. ACT m] PUNISHMENT 81 CASEY, [as he exits.} I ll wait for you in the outside office. [KING growls to himself when the door has closed on CASEY. He walks over to the window and stands looking out into the dark yard. The rumble and roar of the men rises again suddenly from the cell- block. There are footsteps outside the door. KING jumps nervously and crosses quickly to a chair where he sits waiting. The door opens to admit CALVIN. CALVIN, [briefly.] Ready. KING, [moving his head toward the growing uproar.} They re bringing him. CALVIN. Do you think there will be trouble? KING. Men are in a bad state. You re too easy on them. [CALVIN makes an enigmatical sound, with a swift glance at KING. The noise out side seems to come nearer and nearer. CALVIN goes to his desk and seats him self. KING goes over to the window again and stands looking out, but his eyes fur- lively seek CALVIN who, however, is not paying the slightest attention to him. Suddenly the riot outside ceases. There is a moment of silence and then a quick knock on the door. KING goes at once to 82 PUNISHMENT [ACT nr the door and throws it open. DAN MOYNE, JACK WILSON, Keepers SCOTT and FRANCIS enter. They stop in a group in front of the Warden s desk. At a gesture from CALVIN, KING brings a chair to the desk beside the Warden and seats himself. CALVIN. Daniel Moyne, step forward. [DAN does so. He is haggard and un kempt, and at first his eyes droop, almost as if he were in a stupor. As the situa tion grows more tense, this apathy is succeeded by a resentful sullenness which grows more and more vigorous. He is like a small boy who has resolved to brazen it out. CALVIN. Moyne, you are accused of trying to escape. You know, as every inmate of this prison knows, that attempted escape is no light offense. You ll be given a chance to defend yourself. What term are you serving? [DAN does not answer. JACK, who is as pale and thinner than DAN, listens alertly to all that goes on. CALVIN turns inquiringly to King. KING. Six years, I think. CALVIN. Moyne? DAN. Six to twenty-four. ACT m] PUNISHMENT 83 CALVIN, [startled.] You are serving the minimum sentence for your offense six years and the maximum is twenty-four years? [DAN growls assent. CALVIN. Do you know that when a man serv ing less than his maximum sentence tries to escape, he is compelled by law to serve out his full term in your case twenty-four years and that the County Court may add several years to this at their discretion as punishment? [There is a pause. DAN makes no reply, but his hands clench and his body stiffens. CALVIN. That s the law. . . . Francis. [FRANCIS steps forward. CALVIN. You found Moyne? FRANCIS. Yes, sir. CALVIN. Where? FRANCIS. Hill-top to the north, sir. CALVIN. What was he doing? FRANCIS, [with a smile.] Sleeping, Warden. He was in a big hollow tree in a stupor, sir, with an empty whisky bottle in his hand. CALVIN, [to KING.] Where have repairs been made on the road? KING. At the foot of the hill. CALVIN, [to FRANCIS.] How far from the tree is that? 84 PUNISHMENT [ACT m FRANCIS. Two hundred yards, I should say. CALVIN. Thank you. [to DAN.] What were you doing in that tree, Moyne? [No answer. CALVIN. When did you come out of the punishment cells? KING. A week. . . . CALVIN, [stopping KING.] Moyne? DAN. Week yesterday. CALVIN. You were put on the road-gang at once? [DAN nods.] Your idea, wasn t it, King? KING, [uneasily.] He was in bad shape from the cooler. I had no idea. . . . CALVIN, [smoothly.] Naturally not. [To DAN.] How did you get to the tree from the foot of the hill? [Pause.] How did you get to the tree? DAN. Hid in the long grass. When the rest of the bunch had gone inside I crawled to the tree. CALVIN. No one saw you? DAN. No. CALVIN. Where was the keeper? [SCOTT moves slightly. DAN. There. CALVIN. What? ACT m] PUNISHMENT 85 DAN. He was there. CALVIN. Couldn t he see you? DAN. He might! [He grins.] [At this a stir runs through the room. KING carefully avoids looking at anyone. SCOTT shifts from one foot to the other. JACK moves toward DAN. CALVIN tight ens. CALVIN. Why did you go to the tree? [Silence. CALVIN. You wanted to hide so that you could escape after dark, didn t you? [JACK half speaks, and the others listen closely. DAN. [uncertainly.] No. . . . CALVIN. Then why did you go to the tree? DAN. [gulping.] To get the whisky. CALVIN. To get the whisky hidden in the tree. [Pause.] And then? DAN. [with relief.] I drank it. That s all I remember till he found me. CALVIN. How did you know the whisky was in the tree? DAN. [seeing the trap.] I didn t! CALVIN. You just said you went to the tree to get the whisky. Isn t that true? . . . Where did the whisky come from? 86 PUNISHMENT [ACT m DAN. [doggedly.] I don t know. CALVIN. Then you went to the tree not know ing it was there? [DAN glances from side to side, but makes no answer. CALVIN. Come, Moyne, answer. DAN. I don t know. CALVIN. Either you knew the whisky was there or you didn t. DAN. I ve told you all I know. CALVIN. If you did not know the whisky was there, you must have gone to the tree to hide until you could escape. If you did know it was there. . . . DAN. I ve told you all I know. CALVIN. You won t answer any further ques tions? Then step back. [DAN steps back, and everyone, except CALVIN, draws a long sigh of relief. CALVIN. Mr. Scott. [SCOTT comes forward. His attitude is one of defense and defiance. SCOTT. Yes, sir. CALVIN. You were in charge of the road-gang from which Moyne escaped? SCOTT. Yes, sir. CALVIN. Did you count the men when they came back into the prison yard? ACT m] PUNISHMENT 87 SCOTT, [shaking his head.] When they passed into the cell-block, sir. CALVIN. That must have been about five o clock. SCOTT. A few minutes after five. CALVIN. What did you do then? SCOTT. Reported to the Principal Keeper. CALVIN, [sharply.] It was six o clock before the whistle blew. [He makes the statement sharply, yet sim ply. KING shifts in his chair. DAN glances at the keeper and then at KING. JACK looks at CALVIN as if trying to read his face. There is a pause and then the moment passes. JACK seems always more interested in what SCOTT says than in anything else. CALVIN. Do you know anything about the whisky that Moyne says he found in the hollow tree? SCOTT. No, sir. CALVIN. What is your regular duty? SCOTT. Hall-keeper in the cell-block, sir. CALVIN, Were you on duty there when Moyne was sent to the cooler for drunkenness? SCOTT. Yes, sir. CALVIN, [to KING.] Nothing was ascertained of that whisky, King. 88 PUNISHMENT [ACT m SCOTT, [quickly to CALVIN.] I knew nothing of that, sir. CALVIN, [watching him quietly.] Of course not. [CALVIN continues to look for a moment steadily at SCOTT, who feels that he has made a mistake and is consequently un comfortable. KING SCOwls at SCOTT. CALVIN looks at JACK who is watching SCOTT intently. CALVIN, [abruptly.] Wilson. [JACK steps forward 9 and SCOTT drops back. CALVIN. You are Moyne s cell-mate? JACK, [rather breathlessly.] Yes, sir. CALVIN. How long have you locked-in the same cell? JACK. Ever since I came here, sir; six weeks. CALVIN. Nothing you say will be used against you in any way, Wilson. I want the truth. Did you and Moyne ever talk of escape? JACK. No, sir. Dan was expecting a pardon, sir, CALVIN. And when you were together in the dark cells, after his pardon had been refused? JACK. No, sir. CALVIN. And when you came out of punish ment? ACT m] PUNISHMENT 89 JACK. I went into the hospital. CALVIN. Oh, so you didn t go back to your own cell? JACK. No, sir. CALVIN. Is there any information you can give me relative to Moyne s being found in the hollow tree? [JACK has been showing throughout this scene a restless, half desire to speak. Now he gulps and, looking at DAN, hesitates. JACK. No, sir. [KING draws a breath of evident relief. SCOTT too, is pleased. DAN smiles at JACK. CALVIN speaks sharply. CALVIN. Very well, Wilson. [He glances around the room.] This is merely a beginning. I shall know more by the time I have finished with Moyne. [DAN shudders involuntarily at the menace in CALVIN S tone. A look passes between KING and SCOTT. JACK sees it. He glances at DAN who is steeling himself. Suddenly JACK makes up his mind and moves forward. JACK. Mr. Calvin! [The change in his tone electrifies the room. 90 PUNISHMENT [ACT m CALVIN. Well? JACK. Can I see you alone, sir? CALVIN. No. Anything you have to say must be said here and now. What is it? [JACK hesitates. He does not like this, but he feels that he has gone too far to retreat. JACK. I m fond of Dan, sir. He s a good pal. I want him to get a square deal. CALVIN. He will be treated fairly. JACK. He ain t been, sir. Somebody is trying to double-cross Dan. CALVIN. What do you mean? JACK. Dan is getting a dirty deal. [CALVIN looks up sharply.] Oh, it ain t you, sir. I don t know who it is, but. . . . [He hesitates, puzzled.] CALVIN, [impatiently.] Do you know some thing or are you guessing? JACK. I ain t guessing. Somebody is double- crossing Dan. [Again the thrill runs around the room. KING is trying to make out just what JACK knows. SCOTT is very uneasy. JACK is wholly self-possessed. CALVIN, [impressed.] What makes you think that? JACK. Two things. [Suddenly CALVIN sees JACK for the first time, not as a convict, but as an intelli- ACT m] PUNISHMENT 91 gent human being. He speaks to him in a new tone. CALVIN. Will you tell me what they are? JACK. When we was in the cooler, somebody came to see Dan. . . . CALVIN. What! JACK. Dan and the keeper pretended there was nobody there. But I heard them both Dan s voice and the other. The other voice was different I d never heard it before. CALVIN, [leaning forward.] Wilson. You say that Moyne had a visitor while he was in the punishment cells? [KING squirms, and SCOTT is restless. JACK. Yes, sir. DAN. [in a quick undertone.] Aw you was loony from sickness. JACK, [to CALVIN.] Dan kept telling me I was queer in the head, sir, but I know I heard them talking. . . . And the cell door opened and shut. CALVIN, [to KING.] Would it be possible for Moyne to have a visitor in the punishment cells? KING. No, Warden. Keeper, probably. [CALVIN turns back to JACK. JACK shakes his head. JACK. The keeper came with him to let him in. 92 PUNISHMENT [ACT in CALVIN, [pleased, nods.] A keeper would have let himself in. You are sure there was a keeper there beside the other? JACK, [involuntarily turning to SCOTT.] Why yes, sir. He gave me water to drink while they were talking. . . . Keepers don t give you water for nothing, Warden. I d been sick all night, and begging for water. [SCOTT stares furiously at JACK. CALVIN turns and looks at SCOTT.] CALVIN. Keeper Scott was on duty there? [With bitter emphasis.] You move about a good deal, Scott. [SCOTT starts to speak.] The cell- block, the road-gang, and now the jail. SCOTT, [taking a chance.] He was out of his head, Warden raving. I gave him water because he was making threats. KING, [too quickly.] Wilson was a sick man, Warden, when we took him out of the jail. CALVIN, [to JACK; sarcastically.] The con sensus of opinion, Wilson, is that you were raving. However, I want to hear all you have to say. It is your opinion that Moyne had a visitor who was not a keeper. Another pris oner? JACK. Only Dan and me was in the jail, sir. Ruffio had just been taken out. . . . And Dan didn t talk like he would to a pal. ACT in] PUNISHMENT CALVIN. Then this call took place on the morning of Ruffio s release from punishment? JACK. Yes, sir. CALVIN. At what time do you think? JACK. Early about six-thirty. CALVIN, [startled.] What in the morning? [JACK nods. KING and SCOTT grow in perturbation. CALVIN. You think that someone from out side the prison saw Moyne at that hour? JACK. Yes, sir. And I think it s the same man that sent Dan a present of whisky to make him drunk. I told Dan then, and Joe Ruffio told him, that man wants something. CALVIN. Wants what? JACK. Well if Dan made his getaway, you d look pretty cheap, wouldn t you, Mr. Calvin? Is the whole world so dead for you that nobody wouldn t like to see you lose this job? You wouldn t be the first Warden that got framed up and jolted out of office. [KING and SCOTT are genuinely and frankly frightened. DAN has become alert. He is a different man from the sullen, dull creature who came into the room. He is also deeply enraged with JACK. CALVIN. You mean ? 94 PUNISHMENT [ACT m JACK. Dan did try to beat it, Warden. But it was a plain frame-up and he s not to blame. Somebody else got him into it. And they don t just say to him, here s something for you if you make your getaway; they pretend to be friends with him, and help him. . . . But what they want is something for themselves ! DAN. [in a low, tense voice.] Shut up, Jack. Keep out of this! CALVIN, [to JACK, convinced by his earnestness.] Do you know who this man is? DAN. [to JACK again.] Jack! [to CALVIN in an appealing tone.] He was sick, sir, and when the keeper slipped us the whisky CALVIN, [cutting in.] The keeper, eh? [DAN gasps. SCOTT cringes. KING glares at DAN. DAN. [frightened, and on the defensive.] It ain t the first time a keeper has done a man a favor and got him a bit of JACK, [flashing at him.] It s the first time he ever gave it to us! And [pointing to SCOTT] he knows who sent it. [SCOTT S guilt is written all over his face. There is a moment s pause. KING half rises from his chair. SCOTT. I do not! [Snarling at JACK.] You damned rat! ACT in] PUNISHMENT 95 CALVIN, [whirling on SCOTT.] You be quiet! [to JACK.] We ll see. [He takes up the phone and says into it.] I wish to consult the General Register the Visitors Book. Yes, here, at once. [He rises, and going to the filing cabinet, unlocks it, takes out a drawer, and looks through the cards.] Ruffio was released from punish ment at six o clock on the morning of the twelfth. [He smiles at JACK grimly.] You were sane enough to know the time of day, Wilson. JACK. Yes, sir. [There is a knock at the door. CALVIN mo tions to FRANCIS and goes back to his desk. The room is tense and silent. FRANCIS goes quickly to the door and opens it far enough for him to take in the great Prison Register which is handed to him from someone outside. He takes it at once to CALVIN. KING and SCOTT look at each other. SCOTT looks as if he would like to run. KING scowls at him. CALVIN opens the book in silence. He runs his finger down the page while they all watch him. SCOTT still fur tively looks at the door. KING is white with rage at SCOTT and JACK, and with a great uneasiness for his own skin. CALVIN S finger stops, and his face PUNISHMENT [ACT m shows that he has found something. He reaches for the telephone and then hesitates. Then with a sharp glance at JACK, he takes a pencil and writes on a card. CALVIN. Mr. Francis. [FRANCIS goes to him and CALVIN in an inaudible voice gives him instructions. KING, who has been trying hard to listen to CALVIN, jumps suddenly. FRANCIS nods and goes to the door. CALVIN, [fo FRANCIS.] At OIICC, please. FRANCIS. Yes, sir. [Exits.] [KING rises with great nonchalance. KING. Warden, if you ll excuse me a mo ment. . . . CALVIN. I will detain you only a few minutes longer, Mr. King. [KING sits down again. He waits closely. There is a moment of silence. Then outside, CASEY S voice is heard. KING rises again that he may attract CASEY S attention when he enters and warn him. DAN and CALVIN watch JACK who has moved forward at the sound of CASEY S voice. CASEY, [outside.] I dropped in to see him a little earlier, but I know how it is with busy ACT in] PUNISHMENT 97 men. I m busy myself sometimes. Shall we go right in? I suppose this escape now. . . . [FRANCIS throws the door open. CASEY comes in. For a moment CASEY is non plussed by all the people he sees. KING makes a desperate effort to attract his attention, but fails to do so. JACK searches CASEY S face and finds it un familiar. CALVIN and DAN still watch JACK. CASEY, [with unfailing sang froid.] Decided to see me after all, Warden? [JACK half takes a breath and nods a little. CALVIN Waits. DAN turns tO CASEY as if he would shout to him to run. CASEY, [with a chuckle.] You seem to be having a regular show-down. [JACK whirls to CALVIN. The words seem to be torn out of him. JACK. That s the voice, Warden! Who is that man? [There is again a slight pause. CALVIN turns to CASEY who stares at JACK in amazement. KING sinks back into his chair. DAN makes a gesture of despair and anger. CALVIN, [smiling, and with his finger on a line in the Register.] Yes, come in, Mr. Casey. 98 PUNISHMENT [ACT m I want to ask about a visit you paid Daniel Moyne, in the punishment cells, on [consults Register] the twelfth of this month, at six-thirty in the morning. [A slight flicker passes over CASEY S face. JACK looks at DAN in triumph. At a signal from CALVIN, FRANCIS closes the door behind CASEY and stands in front of it. THE CURTAIN FALLS ACT IV flT HE Warden s office, unchanged, except in * time. It is just before dawn the next morn ing. At the opening of the action the window spaces show black, but during the act they grad ually lighten, until at the close, the sun rises. CALVIN and CASEY sit on opposite sides of the desk. CALVIN is alert and dogged, though evi dently somewhat baffled. His face is set and grim. CASEY chews his cold cigar with an affectation of boredom and easy sarcasm. After a moment of silence, CASEY yawns. CASEY, [stretching.] If you re going to make folks spend the night here, Warden, you ought to have a trundle bed in the office. [He slides back in his chair.} [CALVIN makes no reply. Another silence. CASEY yawns again. CASEY. Now in some men I d take it hard. [CALVIN, although he watches CASEY, seems far away. CASEY looks at him sharply, grins, and takes a match from the box which stands in an ash tray on the desk. 100 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv With seeming nonchalance he strikes the match suddenly on the box in an effort to startle CALVIN to attention. As he does this the telephone bell rings sharply. CASEY leaps in his chair and the match goes out. CALVIN snatches the instru ment. CALVIN, [into the 9 phone.] Yes? Oh yes, Martin, to-day. Stop on your way out. You can take the early train. [He works the hook up and down.] Where s Mr. Francis? He s dis covered nothing yet? [As CALVIN returns the receiver to the hook 9 the tense offhandedness with which CASEY has been listening, vanishes. Un consciously he reveals great relief. The strain has been telling, even upon him, and the result has been to exaggerate his ease. CASEY. Come now, Warden, throw down your cards. You re up against it. Why should Dan Moyne confess when he ain t got anything to tell? He tried to make a getaway. He didn t pull it off. You know that as well as I do. And you know that there s nothing in that crazy story of Wilson s! CALVIN, [snapping.] I intend to find out just how much there is in it before morning. CASEY, [looking at his watch.] My train ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 101 leaves at six-thirty. [CALVIN scowls.] Come, Warden, you can t keep me here forever. Last night I wanted to show you that you were sus pecting me without any reason. You must see by this time that I was right. Better drop the whole matter. [CALVIN looks at him in unmoved silence. CASEY. You ve got your runaway. What more do you want? If you must have blood, give him a little taste of discipline. [CALVIN, his face more stern than ever, looks steadily at CASEY, who becomes annoyed under this silent inspection. CASEY. Don t start something you can t fin ish, Warden. [CALVIN moves, but does not look away.] You can see you aren t fitted for this job. You take things too hard. Why not step out while you got the chance? We d be glad to [CASEY is leaning over the desk in friendly enthusiasm. There is a sudden knock at the door and CALVIN leaps to open it. MARTIN, dressed in his new suit of citizen s clothes stands on the threshold. MARTIN. Came to say good-bye, Warden. CALVIN. Good-bye, Martin. My good wishes go with you. MARTIN, [his face aglow.] This is a great day for me, sir. I ve often dreamed of the day when 102 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv I d leave, but I never thought it would be like this. CALVIN. I m glad of that. MARTIN. You ve always had friends, War den. You don t know what it means to me to have a friend like Mrs. Calvin, sir. She s a saint from God, sir, begging your pardon, Warden. [CALVIN is slightly embarrassed. MARTIN. I m going to a good job, sir. I m going straight. I couldn t go wrong with her trusting me. Say often when I was alone in your rooms I ve stood by the door looking out. Nobody in sight. All I had to do was to walk out. But when I d put my foot over the step I d see Mrs. Calvin, smiling a little, like she does, sir. That s why I ain t tried to run for it these last two months, Warden. CALVIN, [thoughtfully.] I hope you ll keep your resolutions, Martin. MARTIN. Do you think I d hurt Mrs. Calvin? It ain t my place to say so, Warden, but I m an old man and you ll excuse it. I wish every man could go out of this prison hopeful like me. I ve been here sixteen years, Warden. I ve seen lots of men come and go. And I ve seen more men go with hate than hope. [There is a knock at the door, and MARTIN opens it. MRS. CALVIN and Keeper ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 103 FRANCIS stand outside. FRANCIS carries a small tray upon which is a pot of coffee and several cups. CALVIN. Mary! MRS. CALVIN. Good-morning, John. I ve brought you coffee. CALVIN. You should be in bed. MRS. CALVIN, [shakes her head, smiling.] When I saw how breakfast improved Mr. Fran cis [She nods to FRANCIS who has put the tray on the desk. MRS. CALVIN sits down behind it.] Thank you. [ There is a slight pause during which MRS. CALVIN glances at CASEY.] Mr. Casey, isn t it? CALVIN, [recovering himself.] I beg your pardon, Mary. Mrs. Calvin Mr. Casey. [FRANCIS withdraws upstage, where MAR TIN is standing, watching MRS. CALVIN in fascinated admiration. CASEY rises, bows, and sits. CALVIN. One moment, Francis. CASEY, [to MRS. CALVIN.] You re a minis tering angel, Mrs. Calvin, a ministering angel. MRS. CALVIN. Do you take sugar? [CALVIN has been listening to FRANCIS who has just been answering a question CAL VIN put to him. Now CALVIN S voice snaps back. 104 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv CALVIN. Use every means in your power force, if necessary. [MRS. CALVIN lifts her head, tensely. CALVIN. We must get at the truth of this one way or another. MRS. CALVIN. John, you won t get at it by torturing Dan. [CALVIN hardens. He looks at his wife and then dismisses FRANCIS with a nod. There is silence while FRANCIS goes. MARTIN stands, forgotten, by the door. CASEY, [nodding.] Why, there s no truth to get at, in a man like that. Ain t I been saying so all along, Warden? MRS. CALVIN. We mean different things, I think. I object to the method. . . . CALVIN, [dryly.] Just what do you suggest, Mary? MRS. CALVIN. I I wish I knew. CALVIN. I confess I m ready to try anything. I must have the truth. [MARTIN moves forward with great interest, but he does not speak. CASEY, [cheering up under the influence of the coffee.] There s no such a thing as truth in a convict. [MARTIN moves again. MRS. CALVIN. You are wrong, Mr. Casey! ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 105 MARTIN, [nervously.] Excuse me. . . . [They all turn and look at him. He has been forgotten. He stops, embarrassed. MRS. CALVIN, [kindly.] Yes, Martin? MARTIN. I can t help saying it! I can t help it! I knew Dan before he ever came here. . . . Dan s a square guy. . . . [He hesitates again.] MRS. CALVIN. Yes? MARTIN. He won t squeal on his friends. That s why he won t talk. CALVIN, [thoughtfully.] That s what Wilson said. MARTIN. It s true, Warden, but if. ... [Hesitates.] CALVIN. Well? MARTIN. Let Mrs. Calvin speak to him, Warden. [He turns to MRS. CALVIN.] Talk to him like you talked to me, ma am, about your trusting me. If you trust him, he ll be on the level with you. Honest, he will ! MRS. CALVIN. You think he ll tell me the truth ? MARTIN. I know he will, ma am. [There is a short pause. CASEY. Trust that con bah! MARTIN, [quickly.] She trusted me. [CALVIN is thinking, looking from one to another of the trio. MRS. CALVIN has her eyes on MARTIN. 106 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv MARTIN. I know because she trusted me. Trust Dan, too, Mrs. Calvin. He ll be on the level. MRS. CALVIN, [briskly to CALVIN.] Could I talk with Dan? CALVIN. He s in his cell. You can t go there. MRS. CALVIN. Bring him here. CALVIN. What could you say to him . . .? MRS. CALVIN. I don t know. I ll find some thing. Bring him here. [CALVIN hesitates.] Surely you have nothing to lose by letting me try. You said you d use any means. Don t you remember his mother s visit? He listened to me then. Let me try, John! CASEY. I agree with your husband, this time, Mrs. Calvin. It s tomfoolery senti- mentalism! [CALVIN gives CASEY one look and takes the telephone. MRS. CALVIN smiles a little and crosses to the window. CALVIN, [into the phone.] Francis ... I want Moyne brought to the office. Yes . . . at once. [He hangs up.] CASEY, [crossing to MRS. CALVIN.] You ladies let your feelings get the best of you. Moyne is just a crook. You can t trust him. For that matter I know some things about his past. [He indicates MARTIN.] ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 107 MARTIN, [steadily.] So does Mrs. Calvin, Mr. Casey. [For a moment CASEY and MARTIN are eye to eye. MRS. CALVIN. I can t talk to Dan while Mr. Casey is here, John. [To CASEY.] You understand that, Mr. Casey. CASEY. Certainly, certainly. MRS. CALVIN. I ll have to be with Dan alone. CALVIN, [shaking his head.] That isn t possi ble, Mary. I shall insist on being here. MRS. CALVIN. Don t you see that you and Mr. Casey will both frighten Dan? He won t dare say anything against either of you. I must see him alone. CALVIN. Even if the prison rules allowed it, I could not, Mary. CASEY. If I m in Mrs. Calvin s way, I d better run along. It ll be train time soon, any how, and I ll walk to the station. CALVIN. Not yet Mr. Casey. MRS. CALVIN. Take Mr. Casey into the outer office, John. I must talk to Dan alone. CASEY, [turning away; jocular.] What can I do? Warden won t let me go; Mrs. Calvin won t let me stay. I m not interested, of course ! 108 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv MRS. CALVIN, [to her husband, in a lowered voice.] Let me see Dan alone, dear. CALVIN, [to her in the same tone.] I couldn t, Mary. [CASEY, who has been strolling aimlessly about the room, looks at the wash-stand about which is the great screen. This evidently recalls to him his past skir mishings, for he remarks in a bantering tone, not unaware of the irony: CASEY. Put me behind the screen, Mrs. Calvin! Put me behind the screen! MRS. CALVIN. I have no intention of being anything but fair with Dan. You will have to take Mr. Casey away, John. CALVIN, [flatly.] You cannot be left alone with a criminal who has just made a desperate attempt to escape. [There is a pause. MRS. CALVIN. Then I can do nothing. [In voluntarily she turns to MARTIN.] MARTIN, [his eyes aflame.] Let them do it! If Dan s square with you, and tells you the truth, he won t be afraid of having it heard. It s more fair for him to have a chance than to be condemned without a hearing. MRS. CALVIN. You really think so? MARTIN. Yes! Yes, Mrs. Calvin. You ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 109 believe somebody is double-crossing Dan, and that he won t squeal, don t you? If you really trust him it won t hurt for the Warden and Mr. Casey to hear what he says! MRS. CALVIN. You re right, Martin. You may sit behind the screen, Mr. Casey. CASEY. Say, you don t think I meant that, do you? MRS. CALVIN. Perhaps not, but I did. CALVIN. It s too far-fetched, Mary. MRS. CALVIN. I feel no anxiety about what Dan may tell me. [She turns quickly to CASEY.] Do you? CASEY. I do not. MRS. CALVIN. Then you won t object to doing what I ask? CASEY. It s nonsense wasting time for nothing. [CALVIN has been watching CASEY closely. CALVIN. I agree, Mary. MRS. CALVIN. Good. Put two chairs behind the screen then. It may take some time. CALVIN. Two ! MRS. CALVIN. Dan must feel free to talk, John. [CASEY enjoys CALVIN S dismay.] You and Mr. Casey may sustain each other s dignity. CALVIN. Nonsense! MRS. CALVIN. That s just what Mr. Casey 110 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv said. Don t hesitate because of a little false pride. CASEY. She s got us in a forked stick, Calvin. [There is the sound of someone outside the door. MRS. CALVIN stands between the two men. She appeals to CALVIN with a gesture. CALVIN replies by going be hind the screen. CASEY follows him out of sight. There is a knock at the door. MRS. CALVIN draws a long breath. Then, with a quick glance at MARTIN, she opens the door. Keeper FRANCIS stands there with DAN. FRANCIS. The Warden said to. ... MRS. CALVIN. Come in. The Warden has said I may speak to Dan. [FRANCIS and DAN come inside. FRANCIS sees the empty room with a start. DAN gives one quick, suspicious glance about and drops his eyes again. MRS. CALVIN, [holding out her hand to MARTIN.] Thank you, Martin. Write to me. Good-bye. [DAN looks up in time to see MARTIN take MRS. CALVIN S hand. MARTIN. Good-bye, Mrs. Calvin. . . . May God bless you! [MARTIN S eyes travel to DAN. MRS. CAL VIN smiles. ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 111 MRS. CALVIN. You know Dan. MARTIN, [to DAN.] Well, old pal be good! [He steps forward and puts out his hand. He chokes, unable to find words. Then in a low tone She s white! [He exits.] MRS. CALVIN. That s all, thank you, Mr. Francis. Will you wait outside? FRANCIS. Outside? MRS. CALVIN. I have something to say to Dan. FRANCIS. Alone? MRS. CALVIN. Just as you see me. FRANCIS. But, Mrs. Calvin, it s against the rules. MRS. CALVIN. It s never been done, I know. But I am personally responsible for Dan s safety, and for my own. If any accident should happen it will be wholly my fault. [DAN is interested in this view. FRANCIS. Well, I never. . . . MRS. CALVIN. I ll Call VOU. [She closes the door behind him although he is but half convinced. She turns to DAN and smiles. DAN looks around the room with suspicion. MRS. CALVIN goes to the desk and draws the chair away from it, sitting comfortably. MRS. CALVIN. Sit down, Dan. [He is em barrassed and half refuses.] Please do. We can PUNISHMENT [ACT iv talk better so. [DAN perches on the edge of a chair uncomfortably.] You haven t been very comfortable for the last two days, have you? [DAN scowls.] Oh, I know all about it, and I think I understand more than you d think. [She pauses a moment, uncertain how to go on.] [DAN does not look at her. She watches him and then throws a swift query at him. MRS. CALVIN. You don t like the Warden, do you, Dan? [DAN lifts his face to her 9 startled. MRS. CALVIN, [following it up.] I knew you didn t. I m not surprised. He s been very hard with you, hasn t he? [She pauses. DAN S eyes are fastened to her face.] He s been hard with me too, Dan. [Behind the screen, CALVIN S face sets. CASEY turns to look at him. They are both unhappy and uneasy, though for different reasons. MRS. CALVIN. How many children did your mother say you had; three, wasn t it? [DAN nods.] Three. And the baby is a boy Jimmy. [DAN nods again, pleased that she remembers. He sits more at ease in his chair.] I remember your mother said he had a new tooth. [She smiles.] DAN. [for the first time; gruffly.] He was two weeks old when I saw him. ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 113 MRS. CALVIN, [gently.] His mother died when he came? [DAN nods. MRS. CALVIN. It s sad that women should die when their babies are born. . . . DAN. [looking away.] She s better out of it. MRS. CALVIN. But you re not better without her. [VAN flashes another look at her. MRS. CALVIN. I can t help thinking how she d have loved little Jimmy. DAN. Maizy s my pet. [Behind the screen both CALVIN and CASEY fail to see where MRS. CALVIN is leading. They cannot fail to be interested in the fact that she is making DAN talk, even though the conversation is about some thing which is apparently beside the point. CASEY, who understands her method better than CALVIN /or after all, her method is his method grows in creasingly uneasy. MRS. CALVIN. How old is Maizy? DAN. She s ten, ma am. MRS. CALVIN. You told me that before, I remember. DAN. She s a little woman. You ought to see 114 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv her, sewing on her daddy s buttons, or making him a cup of tea. MRS. CALVIN. Like her mother, isn t she? DAN. Just like. MRS. CALVIN. I had a little boy, Dan two years ago. [DAN waits, slightly embarrassed. MRS. CALVIN. He was older than your Maizy he was twelve. We were pals. [She smiles.] He used to call us that when he could scarcely talk. His name was Walter. [There is a tense pause. Behind the screen CALVIN grows stiff with fury. CASEY is more on edge than ever. MRS. CALVIN. I know how you feel about Maizy. It was that way with Walter. I never looked at him without seeing his father. He was eager, too eager, too quick, impulsive, too easily hurt by things just like his father. [DAN looks up in surprise. MRS. CALVIN. You don t see those things in the Warden, Dan. It s hard for me to see them now. He s hidden them. But they were all there when we were married. [Without realizing it MRS. CALVIN has been pleading, not only with DAN, but with her husband. CALVIN S face is a study ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 115 in incredulity. CASEY is restless. DAN forgets his embarrassment and suspi cion; all but his interest in MRS. CAL VIN S simple earnestness. MRS. CALVIN. I see things in the Warden that you do not; just as I see much in you which the Warden cannot see. DAN. [with polite acquiescence.] Yes, ma am. MRS. CALVIN. Walter was very like his father; too like him. They couldn t understand each other. I used to be very unhappy, some times, but I always hoped that Walter would grow into a fine, strong man. . . . [DAN nods. MRS. CALVIN, [swiftly.] Do you know how my little boy died? ... He took poison. [DAN gulps. CALvm s/ace is set with pain. Even CASEY flinches. MRS. CALVIN, [in a monotone.] It came from a little thing. Walter wanted to go to the circus. His father said, no. And Walter was rude. He spoke to his father in a way which the War den could not forgive. [DAN looks at her mute with suffering. MRS. CALVIN. I d been ill. That very day Walter carried up to the medicine chest my strychnine. He knew it was poison. We d talked about it. And so when his father sent 116 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv him up to a dark room for punishment he swallowed four of the little pills, Dan. [For a long moment MRS. CALVIN looks straight into DAN S eyes. MRS. CALVIN. Strychnine. Do you know. . . . [DAN turns his head away. MRS. CALVIN. I found him that way ... on the floor of the dark room. [Dumb with emotion, DAN turns back to her. There is silence. MRS. CALVIN rises and stands looking into the gray light outside the window. MRS. CALVIN. The Warden never understood. He does not know, as I know, just what the child was thinking. Walter was unhappy because he had hurt his father. He thought he d been wicked. He knew that he d made me unhappy too. And he was afraid to stay alone in the dark. [She turns. For the first time, her voice quivers.] The dark is very terrible sometimes, to children. [DAN rises. He stands in misery, looking at her. MRS. CALVIN. Do you know what kept me alive, Dan? The Warden. [DAN darts a glance at her. MRS. CALVIN. I pitied him so much. My old ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 117 love for him all swept back. . . . He s tragic, Dan. He believes he s right. The truth is, he s afraid afraid to let himself feel afraid to believe in good, wholesome things. . . . My hopes for Walter were gone. He could never grow into a fine, gentle man. After he had come to me, I d loved him better than my husband. But I longed to have his father take his place again. When we came here I felt that here per haps he might throw off his shell, and try to help the men, building up their lives instead of tear ing them down. [DAN S face lights in admiration. There is a moment s pause and then MRS. CAL VIN turns to him quickly. MRS. CALVIN. Do you know what I want to see in this prison? Cheerful men. [DAN looks up.} Healthy men. Men who are helping one another. Good pals, Dan fifteen hundred friends of the Warden. And I d like to see the Warden an honest pal to every man here. Every man should go out better than when he came in instead of worse. . . . Couldn t you go straight, Dan, if you had a chance? DAN. What s the use? I was straight enough the first time I got sent up. MRS. CALVIN, [eagerly.} Yes? Tell me. DAN. I was living in a house with some pals 118 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv and then I got married. We just went to the priest. But when I went to my room to get my things, the old woman was mad. Said I couldn t leave without permission. I didn t care for her, so I went. Well they framed me up, and sent me here for two years. MRS. CALVIN. And your wife? DAN. [with infinite meaning.] She waited. When I got out we thought everything would be right. But no one wants to give a good job to an ex-con. . . . The boys was there ready to help me if I d help them. What could I do? It was the only chance I could find. So I took it. If I got pinched, they helped me out. They tried to get me a pardon this time. MRS. CALVIN. Was this last sentence a fair one, Dan? DAN. Oh, I soaked the guy, all right. But he hit me first. [Defiantly.] Your law s damn foolishness ! MRS. CALVIN. I don t wonder that you think so. DAN. The Warden hated me from the first. They tipped him off, I was an old-timer. He made up his mind I was bad. [Snarling.] So I gave him what he was looking for! MRS. CALVIN. Of course. We all do that. DAN. Does he think I care a damn for his ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 119 punishment? I ll bet I can hold out as long as he can! MRS. CALVIN. If if the Warden helped you if he really tried to understand you couldn t you help him? DAN. [puzzled.] Help him? MRS. CALVIN. Oh, Dan I want him to be a friend to all the men. He ought not to stand over them with a club ! You can help him. You can help me! Will you? [DAN is pleased, even eager, but he is still a little gruff. DAN. How? MRS. CALVIN. The Warden won t believe me. You re the one to do it you and Jack and the rest. Show him you ll stand by each other, not against him, but with him! Martin s been help ing me ... won t you? DAN. I ll I ll do what I can. MRS. CALVIN, [putting out her hand.] We ll be friends pals? DAN. All right. MRS. CALVIN. Help me to show the Warden his mistakes. I ll promise that no harm comes to any friend of yours. [Behind the screen, CALVIN draws a long, quivering breath. His face is white, and wet with perspiration, but it is set 120 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv in new lines. CASEY turns and stares at him. MRS. CALVIN. We ll trust each other. Even if circumstances point against us, you ll trust me as I trust you. Is that a bargain? [DAN nods.] Dan, tell me the truth about Mr. Casey. [CASEY gives a quick, uneasy movement. CALVIN is all attention. This is the turning point for him. If DAN speaks frankly, and sincerely, CALVIN S shell will break, and his whole philosophy be shattered. But if the man fails to meet the test, the new ideas which have been kindled by the train of circumstances, since JACK S information on the night before, will be lost. MRS. CALVIN. Mr. Casey says you re a crook, and can t be trusted to tell the truth, Dan. [DAN has a momentary return of sus picion. MRS. CALVIN. Remember don t be afraid to trust me. [He looks at her longingly.] You stick by people who stick by you, don t you? DAN. You bet I do ! MRS. CALVIN. Jack Wilson s a friend of yours? [DAN frowns.] DAN. He was. ACT iv] PUNISHMENT MRS. CALVIN. He thinks Mr. Casey is double- crossing you. DAN. [bitterly.] Jack s turned stool-pigeon. MRS. CALVIN. He only did it to help you. He only wants you to have fair play, Dan. And you want him to have it too. If Mr. Casey is really back of all this, and you tell me that he isn t, you ll double-cross two pals Jack and me. [She waits. DAN thinks this over. CASEY clenches his fists. MRS. CALVIN. Jack thinks you re square; so does Martin. And so do I ! [She pauses for an instant.] Mr. Casey did manage your escape, didn t he, Dan? [For a moment DAN looks straight into MRS. CALVIN S eyes. CASEY tries to leap out and so prevent the answer, but CALVIN is prepared for this, and throwing one arm around CASEY S shoulders, with his free hand over CASEY S mouth, prevents his escape until after the monosyllable has left DAN S lips. MRS. CALVIN returns DAN S gaze without flinching. DAN. Yes ! [CASEY makes a violent lunge and the screen totters. The two men struggle for 122 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv an instant. Both DAN and MRS. CALVIN turn toward them. DAN, forgetting he is a prisoner, strides past her toward the screen. Then he turns and looks back at MRS. CALVIN. At this moment CAL VIN thrusts CASEY back and steps out. DAN. [to MRS. CALVIN.] You tricked me! [CASEY also appears. CALVIN is a changed man, and is elated in the change. CASEY is raging.] It s a plant you ve double-crossed me! Ah MRS. CALVIN. No, Dan! Trust me! Remem ber trust me! CALVIN, [speaking to DAN as one man to an other.] She s square, Dan. Trust her. [DAN looks at him in stunned bewilderment.] And trust me too. I ve been wrong wrong for a long while. We ve been pulling different ways it s time we pulled together. . . . you re a pal of Mrs. Calvin s. ... I d like her pals to be mine. I ll stand by you. Wilson s right. You have been getting a dirty deal. So have a good many others. . . . But that s over now. [DAN gazes at him in stunned awe. CALVIN. We ll just shake hands on this, Dan. [DAN and CALVIN shake hands, not without sentiment, but wholly without senti mentality. CASEY, who has been en- ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 123 gaged in assembling his routed forces, sneers. CASEY. Very touching scene! CALVIN, [whirling on him.} As for you. . . . CASEY, [cutting in flatly.] Now just what are you going to do about me, Warden Calvin? You can t do anything! If you ve got the sense of a louse, you ll let me strictly alone. [He goes to the desk, and takes the blue envelope from his inside pocket, removing the enclosure.] Slide your eye along that, Mister Warden. It may give you just an idea of what you re up against. [He hands the letter to CALVIN who takes it unwillingly.] Read it read it! [CALVIN reads the letter and looks up with a start to meet CASEY S grin. CALVIN. The [his look shows how startled he is.} CASEY, [nodding] The Superintendent of Prisons in this State is no fool ; he knows a good thing when he sees it. He s your boss, ain t he? Well he s mine too. He ain t going to let you turn this place into a comic supplement Sunday School. [He points to the letter.] Take what you want, he said leave this when you go. ... Well what could you say when I [he takes the desk key from his waistcoat pocket, and opens the desk drawer, taking out papers.] 124 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv took these and left that order behind? [He tosses the papers back in the drawer and slams it shut.] [CALVIN, by his expression, shows that he could have said or done nothing. CASEY. Don t think the Superintendent is the only boss I ve got. There are bigger than him. You aren t fighting me, Stephen Casey. There s more to it than that, friend Warden. Powerful men are behind men I don t even know! They send me my orders and I jump! And don t you forget it they ll spend money against you. This prison is too slick a thing to let slip. There s money to be made from it it s a paying proposition! We d be crazy to let it go without a fight! . . . You re one man and you re fighting a machine. Drop it! [CALVIN is thinking hard. The windows reflect the rosy light of dawn. Of a sudden there is heard the clicking of the levers opening the cell-rows. Then there follows the sound of the men marching from the cells. At the sound CALVIN involuntarily straightens. He looks at CASEY. CASEY, [pointing to the letter which CALVIN has dropped on the desk.] You ain t got evidence of ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 125 anything. I told you to find out the difference between testimony and evidence once before. [He turns to DAN, laughing nastily.] Do you think your word s worth an ounce of plug-cut in any court in the country? It ain t! [He turns back to CALVIN.] You can t touch me. CALVIN, [slowly.] No. CASEY. Don t be a fool. Throw up the sponge, while you can, Warden. We re organ ized, rich. You re one man! [A flash the old fanatic look sweeps CALVIN S face. He turns to DAN. The sound of the men marching is beginning to die away. CALVIN. Dan listen [the marching ceases] They ve gone to breakfast. ... If I stand by them, will they stand by me? DAN. [huskily.] You bet they will, Warden or we ll know the reason why! [CALVIN looks past DAN to his wife. She smiles at him and involuntarily moves nearer^ but stops by DAN, as CALVIN with a smile of understanding, moves to the door. CALVIN, [calling into the outer office.] Francis! [He turns to CASEY.] I begin to see what I m fighting, Mr. Casey. And I ve found, I believe, the one weapon which will prevail against it. 126 PUNISHMENT [ACT iv [He drops his hand lightly on DAN S shoulder. The gesture is half unconscious.] [FRANCIS stands in the doorway waiting for orders. DAN stands between CALVIN and MRS. CALVIN. CASEY, in spite of his bravado, is impressed. CASEY. Think you ll try a little brotherly love, eh? Huh that s a joke. You re a fool. You forget they re only a lot of crooks. MRS. CALVIN, [flashing at him.] We hope they ll forget it too, Mr. Casey ! [CALVIN smiles and turns to FRANCIS. CALVIN, [briskly.] Mr. Casey will go to town by the first train. Release King and Scott we shall not need them. They may resign by letter. FRANCIS. Yes, sir. CALVIN. Moyne will go to the mess-hall. FRANCIS. Yes, sir. CALVIN. And in ten minutes I wish to speak to the men. FRANCIS. Yes, Warden. [CALVIN nods dismissal and FRANCIS goes. CASEY. Think you ll stick it out, do you? I tell you, John Calvin, within one month there will be a new Warden appointed for Riverside Prison! CALVIN. Riverside Prison has a new Warden, ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 127 Mr. Casey. He was appointed some fifteen minutes ago, by my wife. His name is Calvin, and if he s not enough for you and your su periors you will find fifteen hundred of his deputies in the mess-hall at breakfast. . . . Good morning! THE CURTAIN FALLS By GEORGE MIDDLETON POSSESSION With THE GROOVE, THE BLACK TIE, A GOOD WOMAN, CIRCLES and THE UNBORN. One-act American Plays. (Just pub lished.) $1.35 net. These plays respectively concern (1) A divorced couple and their little girl; (2) A girl s wish to escape village monotony; (3) a woman s reputation and a man s public usefulness; (4) The quiet tragedy of a mulatto maid; (5) A mother s sacrifice to keep a home for her daughter, and (6) How an unknown woman brought a message to a young couple. EMBERS With THE FAILURES, THE GARGOYLE, IN His HOUSE, MA DONNA and THE MAN MASTERFUL. One-act American Plays. $1.35. RICHARD BURTON, in The Bellman: "Embers is a volume of sketches which show the trained hand of the expert and are, moreover, decidedly interesting for their psychological value." PROF. WILLIAM LYON PHELPS of Yale: "The plays are admirable; the conversations have the true style of human speech, and show first-rate economy of words, every syllable advancing the plot. The little dramas are full of cerebration, and I shall recommend them in my public lectures." TRADITION With ON BAIL, MOTHERS, WAITING, THEIR WIFE and THE CHEAT OF PITY. One-act American Plays. $1.35. New York Times: Mr. Middleton s plays furnish interesting read ing. . . . The author deserves praise for his skill and workmanship . . . succeeds admirably as a chronicler of striking events and as an interpreter of exceptional people in exceptional circumstances." NOWADAYS A three-act comedy of American Life. $1.00. The Nation: "Without a shock or a thrill in it, but steadily interest ing and entirely human. All the characters are depicted with fidelity and consistency; the dialogue is good and the plot logical." ALICE STONE BLACKWELL, in Woman s Journal: "The spirit of the Twentieth Century is in his plays and also a spirit of justice anl gener osity towards women." HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK A FEW RECENT PLAYS BY AMERICANS Beulah M. Dix s ACROSS THE BORDER A play against war, showing in four scenes, two "beyond the border" of life, the adventures of a highly likable, young Lieutenant. He goes on a desperate mission, finds The Place of Quiet and The Dream Girl, as well as The Place of Winds, where he learns the real nature of War, and finally in a field hospital tries to deliver his message. With 2 illustrations. 80 cents net. New York Tribune: "One of the few pleas for peace that touch both the heart and the intelligence. . . . Its remarkable blending of stark realism with extravagant fancy strikes home. ... It is well nigh impossible to rid one s mind of its stirring effect." New York Times: "Impressive, elaborate and ambitious. ... A voice raised in the theater against the monstrous horror and infamy of war. . . . The Junior Lieutenant has in him just a touch of The Brushwood Boy. " Of the author s "ALLISON S LAD" and other one-act plays of various wars ($1.35 net), The Transcript said, "The tech nical mastery of Miss Dix is great, but her spiritual mastery is greater. For this book lives in the memory." Percival L. Wilde s DAWN and Other One- Act Plays "Short, sharp and decisive" episodes of contemporary life. Notable for force, interest and at times humor. $1.20 net. DAWN, a tense episode in the hut of a brutal miner, with a supernatural climax. THE NOBLE LORD, a comedy about a lady, who angled with herself as bait. THE TRAITOR is discovered by a ruse of a British command ing officer. A HOUSE OF CARDS, about a closed door, and what was on the other side tragic. PLAYING WITH FIRE, a comedy about the devotion of a boy and girl. THE FINGER OF GOD points the way to an ex-criminal by means of a girl he had never seen before. Lily A. Long s RAD1SSON: The Voyageur A highly picturesque play in four acts and in verse. The central figures are Radisson the redoubtable voyageur who explored the Upper Mississippi, his brother-in-law Groseil- liers, Owera the daughter of an Indian chief, and various other Indians. The daring resource of the two white men in the face of imminent peril, the pathetic love of Owera, and above all, the vivid pictures of Indian life, the women grind ing corn, the council, dances, feasting and famine are notable features, and over it all is a somewhat unusual feeling for the moods of nature which closely follow those of the people involved. $1.00 net. HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Fanny Cannon s WRITING AND SELLING A PLAY Probably the most common-sense and practical book on its subject, which the author knows from the inside as actress, manageress, playwright, and "play-doctor." She was for years Vice-President of The Actors Society of America. This book warns the writer of the many "breaks" that cause rejection, gives detailed constructive advice, tells him how to look out for his rights, includes a model con tract, two detailed scenarios, and a bibliography of refer ence books and plays. I2mo. With full index. $1.50 net, Hartford Courant: ". . . this rare book ... the author has the lessons she would convey at tongue s end and in orderly brain arrangement. . . . She teaches so lucidly and with per sonal fascination. . . ." Providence Journal: ". . . ought to do real good. The au thor not only has practical experience, she has a genuine artistic as well as common sense. . . . One may conscientiously recom mend it as fulfilling its purpose admirably." Archibald Henderson s THE CHANGING DRAMA By the author of George Bernard Shaw: His Life and Works, European Dramatists, etc. 321 pp. 121110. $1.50 net. It includes: Drama in the New Age; The New Criti cism and New Ethics; Science and the New Drama; Realism and the Pulpit Stage; Naturalism and the Free Theatre; The Battle with Illusions; The Ancient Bond age and the New Freedom ; The New Technic; The Play and the Reader; The Newer Tendencies, etc. * * * Descriptive circular with sample pages on application. New York Tribune: ". . . Deserves the serious attention of all students of the modern drama. . . . The first adequate sur vey of that drama s linked conscious effort, the world over, to hold up the mirror to our new consciousness of individual free dom and of collective social responsibility for justice and evil . . . not only the first book in its field; in the completeness of its scope, the scholarly, well-balanced thoroughness of the treat ment of its material, it is likely to remain the standard work as well for some time to come . . . one of the small number of books on the modern drama which the serious student cannot afford to leave unread." HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK BY BARRETT H. CLARK THE CONTINENTAL DRAMA OF TO-DAY Outlines for Its Study Suggestions, questions, biographies, and bibliographies with outlines, of half a dozen pages or less each, of the more important plays of twenty-four Continental dram atists. While intended to be used in connection with a reading of the plays themselves, the book has an inde pendent interest. I2mo. $1.50 net. Prof. William Lyon Phelps, of Yale: ". . . One of the most useful works on the contemporary drama. . . . Extremely prac tical, full of valuable hints and suggestions. . . ." BRITISH esf AMERICAN DRAMA OF TO-DAY Outlines for Its Study Suggestions, biographies and bibliographies, together with historical sketches, for use in connection with the important plays of Pinero, Jones, Wilde, Shaw, Barker, Hankin, Chambers, Davies, Galsworthy, Masefield, Houghton, Bennett, Phillips, Barrie, Yeats, Boyle, Baker, Sowerby, Francis, Lady Gregory, Synge, Murray, Ervine, Howard, Herne, Thomas, Gillette, Fitch, Moody, Mackaye, Sheldon, Kenyon, Walters, Cohan, etc. I2mo. $1.50 net. THREE MODERN PLAYS FROM THE FRENCH Lemaitre s The Pardon and Lavedan s Prince D Aurec, translated by Barrett H. Clark, with Donnay s The Other Danger, translated by Charlotte Tenney David, with an Introduction to each author by Barrett H. Clark and a Preface by Clayton Hamilton. One volume. I2mo. $1.50 net. Springfield Republican: " The Prince d Aurec is one of his best and most representative plays. It is a fine character crea tion. . . . The Pardon must draw admiration for its remark able technical efficiency. . . . The Other Danger is a work of remarkable craftsmanship." HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK BY CLAYTON HAMILTON STUDIES IN STAGECRAFT CONTENTS: The New Art of Making Plays, The Pictorial Stage, The Drama of Illusion, The Modern Art of Stage Direction, A Plea for a New Type of Play, The Undramatic Drama, The Value of Stage Conventions, The Supernatural Drama, The Irish National Theatre, The Personality of the Playwright, Where to Begin a Play, Continuity of Structure, Rhythm and Tempo, The Plays of Yesteryear, A New De fense of Melodrama, The Art of the Moving-Picture Play, The One-Act Play in America, Organizing an Audience, The Function of Dramatic Criticism, etc., etc. $1.50 net Nation: "Information, alertness, coolness, sanity and the command of a forceful and pointed English. ... A good book, in spite of all deductions." Prof. Archibald Henderson, in The Drama: "Uniformly excellent in quality. . . . Continuously interesting in presentation . . . uniform for high excellence and elevated standards. . . ." Athenaeum (London) : "His discussions, though incomplete, are sufficiently provocative of thought to be well worth reading." THE THEORY OF THE THEATRE THE THEORY OF THE THEATRE. What is a Play? The Psychology of Theatre Audiences. The Actor and the Dra matist. Stage Conventions in Modern Times. The Four Leading Types of Drama : Tragedy and Melodrama ; Comedy and Farce. The Modern Social Drama, etc., etc. OTHER PRINCIPLES OF DRAMATIC CRITICISM. The Public and the Dramatist. Dramatic Art and the Theatre Business. Dramatic Literature and Theatric Journalism. The Inten tion of Performance. The Quality of New Endeavor. Pleasant and Unpleasant Plays. Themes in the Theatre. The Function of Imagination, etc., etc. 4th printing. $1.50 net. Bookman: "Presents coherently a more substantial body of idea on the subject than perhaps elsewhere accessible." Boston Transcript: "At every moment of his discussion he has a firm grasp upon every phase of the subject." THE GERMAN DRAMA OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY By GEORG WITKOWSKI. Translated by PROF. L. E. HORNING. Kleist, Grillparzer, Hebbel, Ludwig, Wildenbruch, Sudermann, Haupt- mann and minor dramatists receive attention. 12mo. $1.00. New York Times Review: "The translation of this brief, clear and logical account was an extremely happy idea. Nothing at the same time so comprehensive and terse has appeared on the subject." HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK THE NEW POETRY CHICAGO POEMS By CARL SANDBURG. $1.25 net. In his ability to concentrate a whole story or picture or character within the compass of a few lines, Mr. Sand burg s work compares favorably with the best achieve ments of the recent successful American poets. It is, however, distinguished by its trenchant note of social criticism and by its vision of a better social order. NORTH OF BOSTON By ROBERT FROST. 6th printing, $1.25 net. "The first poet for half a century to express New England life completely with a fresh, original and appealing way of his own." Boston Transcript. "An authentic original voice in literature." Atlantic Monthly. A BOY S WILL By ROBERT FROST. 2nd printing, 75 cents net. Mr. Frost s first volume of poetry. "We have read every line with that amazement and delight which are too seldom evoked by books of modern vene." The Academy (London). THE LISTENERS By WALTER DE LA MARE. $1.20 net. Mr. De la Mare expresses with undeniable beauty of verse those things a little bit beyond our ken and con sciousness, and, as well, our subtlest reactions to nature and to life. ^a Other Poets" By Louis UNTERMEYER. $1.25 net. Mirth and thought-provoking parodies, by the author of "Challenge" of such modern Parnassians as Mase- field, Frost, Masters, Yeats, Amy Lowell, Noyes, Dob- son and "F. P. A." HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 36 WEST 33o STREET (3 16) NEW YORK JV>1* 9 [>EC 18 livfi 50rn-7, 16 Burleigh.L Puniahmf 343510 mt. \ 960 B961 flPR 18 1911 5 V I**. 29 % :i: r MAY 26 m >9 - DFn 1 s ia wa^ri jLtLjjuLU ^) 1 1X947 ~^ LHjy V UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY