THE THIRD ACT
The same room as before, and immediately following the preceding situation—not even a few seconds later, for the Detectives and the Constable are just putting away their revolvers.
Doll Blondin, her admiration for The Devil growing, looks triumphant as he irritably disengages Fanny’s embrace. Some hope is revived in Doll of being rid of her.
Fanny’s look is grimly determined.
Agnus, relieved from a terrible situation, looks for the first time gratefully at The Devil.
Schwartzenhopfel, feeling his power as Magnus and enjoying it, has assumed an air of enormous importance—by the simple method of flattening his jowls on the collar and clearing his throat, thus deepening his voice.
Judge Critty is divided between his desire to serve Magnus and his horror at open defiance of the Law—when he knows Magnus is aware that the Law could have been circumvented secretly. He has the air of saying, “Why didn’t you tell me, and I’d have arranged it.” Also his manner is extra-apologetic and anxious, for he has blundered, and he fears the loss of Magnus’s good offices.
The three detectives are blankly dismayed at having crossed the path of one so powerful as Magnus. They are anxious to retreat, but realize that some concessions must be made to the conventions.
St. Elmo Peattie, the Sheriff, is simply confounded: for he is an honest villager, fearing God, and, consequently, no man. He is shocked at The Devil daring to put any man—Magnus, Taft, Wilson, Morgan, Rockefeller, or even Roosevelt—above the Law. Though he has no authority in the matter—the warrants being in the Lieutenant’s hands—Peattie feels called upon to protest in the name of civic dignity, and to uphold the faith of his fathers—the faith in which Jefferson wrote; on which Burr, a Vice-President, was convicted of treason; for which Washington fought and Nathan Hale died.
PEATTIE (to the Detectives)
What’s gone wrong, pardners? Why don’t you handcuff that there dynamiter?
LIEUTENANT (roughly)
What dynamiter?
PEATTIE (points to Agnus)
Fellow you’ve been hunting for all day—
LIEUTENANT (taking out his note-book)
Will you swear he’s a dynamiter?
PEATTIE
I ain’t never heard of him before. How’ll I swear?
LIEUTENANT (trying to make his tone official by speaking sternly, as if determined to get at evidence)
You’ve seen him about the village every day?
PEATTIE
Sure—but—
LIEUTENANT
Just answer my questions: how has he behaved?
PEATTIE
I see him going into Pete Mellish’s and into Gus Hobbs’s—
LIEUTENANT (with heavy constabulary levity)
And—did he try to dynamite—er—Pete Jellyfish—or Corn Cob’s—whatever their names are?
PEATTIE
Hush, man! Pete’s our grocer. Gus’s our butcher. Prisoner’s human, ain’t he? He’s got to eat—
LIEUTENANT (making note)
Bought groceries and meat daily. (Relieved) Well, that ain’t criminal.
PEATTIE (sulkily)
I never see him dynamite nobody, if that’s what you’re trying to get at. Allus bin civil enough to me. Gi’me a cigar once.
LIEUTENANT (poising pencil with same heavy police humor) Ah! Cigar! Loaded?
PEATTIE (annoyed)
No, ’twarn’t. ’Twas as good as any two fer a nickel I ever bought myself.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (scandalized as he remembers the episode and the price) Two for a nickel! It was a—(Pulls himself up sharply)
LIEUTENANT (explaining apologetically, supposing the outbreak to be due to a millionaire’s ignorance of such cheap matters) An expression, Mr. Magnus—“twofera nickel” is two cigars for five cents. Rubes smoke ’em.
PEATTIE (angry)
Rubes, eh? Well, thank Joshyouway, I ain’t a New Yorker, mister—where every next fella’s a Harp or a Ginny, a Kike or a Polack; where haff of ’em don’t even talk Amurrican. (Turning to The Devil, who has been listening with approval) Doctor Agnus, be ashamed of yourself! I’m older’n you: old enough to be Sheriff here when your daddy was Senator. And your dad, young gentleman, he told me to arrest old Commodore Vanderbilt. Yes, sir—the Commodore—driving his hosses too fast ‘long Main Street, endangerin’ lives and limbs of old women and children. Your dad, he sez: “St. Elmo, no matter who he is, any big man that breaks laws is little.” Little, yes, sir; and why? “Because,” says your dad, the Honnible Maxwell Agnus, “because, Sheriff, people who don’t know no better is goin’to say: ‘If the biggest man in the country breaks laws then them laws ’es no good’—and so,” sez your dad, “ignorant people start breakin’ ’em too—” and, sez he, “the law’s like a brick barn, Sheriff; taking one brick out makes the walls git weak and, pritty soon, the whole blamed thing starts tumbling down.”
THE DEVIL (interested)
And did the Honorable Maxwell Agnus get elected to the Senate again after telling you to arrest the biggest man in the country?
PEATTIE
Betcha he did! People was different then. They was Amurricans. And when they found out why the Commodore hated your dad; why he was tryin’to keep him outa office agin; why, they just swan to goodness that was the sorta fella they wanted in Congress—what would take up for the weak agin’ the strong. He was Senator pritty nigh fifteen years after—
THE DEVIL (smiling)
And then?
PEATTIE (reluctantly)
Wa-al then. Then that there Eye-talian colony got so big over to Cove Neck, and, seeing as how their votes war only a dollar apiece and a kiss for the babies, why, our votes warn’t strong enough to beat the politicians.
THE DEVIL
You see, money has a long memory, Sheriff. And it always wins in the end.
PEATTIE
But think of all the good he done in them fifteen years.
THE DEVIL
With the result that the railroad doesn’t run within seven miles of this village and the population has fallen to two thousand inhabitants.
PEATTIE (sulkily)
Wa-al—we’re all Amurricans, anyway. It kept the Eye-talians and the Polacks out. You—can’t—buy—votes—here—and he (points to Schwartzenhopfel, meaning Magnus) can’t scare anybody like he kin New Yorkers. (He jerks his head with a sneer at the Detectives) Keeping ’em from arresting the man they’re sent to git—a furriner—not Amurrican, mind—a cowardly furriner that blows people up. Magnus, nor twenty Magnuses couldn’t keep me from doing my dooty on sich a villin—couldn’t keep any real Amurrican. (Turning to the Detectives) I’ll bet you folks ain’t Amurricans?
LIEUTENANT (who all along has spoken with an Irish accent, and now, when violently angry, speaks with a pronounced brogue) Go on, ye scut! (He makes threatening motion at him)
PEATTIE (triumphantly)
Amurrican! Huhnh? (To second Detective) And you?
SECOND DETECTIVE (excitedly)
I haf my naduraladion pabers got us goot as you or any udder man—
PEATTIE (more triumphantly)
Amurrican! Hey? (To the third Detective) And you?
THIRD DETECTIVE (trying to speak carefully)
I—was—born—in—New—York—
[Peattie slaps thigh and grins unbelievingly.
THIRD DETECTIVE (angrily)
By your lave, Lootenant, I’ll—(Losing his temper, he takes a step forward)
PEATTIE (clapping his hands in glee)
You see? Not an Amurrican in the lot. (To The Devil) And so it’s with such cattle—and with anarchists—for just as your dad said of the Commodore, he’s (points to Schwartzenhopfel, meaning Magnus) as much of an anarchist as him (points to Agnus, meaning Schwartzenhopfel)—it’s with such—that the son of my old Senator has truck today. Good day to you, sir, and (sorrowfully) may you learn better before you come to my age.
[He goes out.
THE DEVIL (to Judge Critty, indicating Detectives)
See that these fellows are paid something to keep their mouths shut—
LIEUTENANT (protesting)
Now, Doctor—you know—
THE DEVIL
Pshaw! No nonsense, my man! That old fellow just gone is worth the lot of you. With such men in your shoes, we’d hear no more talk of police graft and extortion.
LIEUTENANT (sarcastically, pointing to Agnus)
We’ll take this fellow if it’ll please you better—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (thoroughly enjoying himself)
Keep your tongue quiet, policeman!—Here! (Takes out a handful of bills and gives them to Judge) Give ’em these. (He looks for approval toward The Devil, who nods) Now get out: the lot of you!
LIEUTENANT (hurt)
That’s no kind of language to use to men doing their best to favor you, Mr. Magnus. And, as for the money, that’s an insult—
THE DEVIL
I suppose you want it sent mysteriously? From an unknown benefactor who loves your fat housewife and your ugly babies. Well—you’ll—take—it—this way—(He has snatched the bills from the Judge while talking and separated them into three parts; now he forces one on the Lieutenant)
[The Lieutenant pretends to push them away.
THE DEVIL (finishing)—or—not at all—(He looks at Schwartzenhopfel to back him up)
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (importantly)
Or not at all—
[The Lieutenant hesitates, but takes the money shamefacedly. The two Detectives repeat his actions and manners.
LIEUTENANT (to Schwartzenhopfel diffidently, after looking at the women, the Judge and Agnus) I suppose (humbly) there’ll be no come-back to this? It’s value received, ain’t it, sir?
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Yes. Get out.
LIEUTENANT
Yes, sir. (He tips his hat and goes out on tip-toe)
SECOND AND THIRD DETECTIVES (in the same manner)
Yes, sir. (They go out)
JUDGE CRITTY (to Schwartzenhopfel)
Such actions cause talk, sir—
THE DEVIL
If I’ve promoted even the germ of Socialism in those robber-barons’men-at-arms, I’m satisfied—
JUDGE CRITTY (stiffly)
I was not addressing you, Doctor Agnus—
THE DEVIL
Don’t try that fake dignity with me, you hoary-headed old fraud, because you haven’t the moral dignity back of it to hold you up. Get out, you arrant knave! (Catches Schwartzenhopfel’s eye)
JUDGE CRITTY (dumfounded)
Mr. Magnus—will you allow me to be so insulted by this cockerel? He’s either drunk or crazy.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (softly motioning The Devil to wait) Didn’t you say once, Judge, that to properly punish anarchists they should not be hanged but burned?
JUDGE CRITTY (with swelling dignity, thinking that Magnus is recalling the incident favorably) I certainly did, Mr. Magnus.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
You didn’t say anything about the causes that make them anarchists, though—did you? (Catching The Devil’s eye) But how about a six-months’strike prolonged because millionaires wouldn’t pay fifty cents more a day to men who work with hot rivets two hundred feet in the air—twenty-five per cent of them killed every year? How about the wives of those strikers who died of overwork and little food trying to support homes and husbands until employers gave in? How about their children who died unborn—eh? Who was it murdered wives and children? And who, after six months, still refused even to compromise? Was it any wonder that men went crazy? Murder for murder—they said—murder for murder. Schwartzenhopfel had such a wife, such children, all dead now, and he shouted: Dynamite, the worker’s friend! (Fiercely to the Judge) And so it isn’t enough to hang him? You’ve got to burn him, have you? Well, what about the men who took an honest workman and made him what he is today?
JUDGE CRITTY (frantically)
Mr. Magnus—
[The Devil goes to the garden door, opens it and points the way out.
JUDGE CRITTY (nervously, suddenly changing his attitude) Mr. Magnus, your admission delights me—for the first time in my relations with you, I—I find it—possible—to—to—be—to be—perfectly natural with you. You cannot blame me for being a hypocrite. If you will pardon me, sir: who made me a hypocrite?—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (disgruntled)
I didn’t tell you to burn anarchists, did I?
JUDGE CRITTY
Pardon me, sir—theoretically, no; but practically, yes, you did. If my bench orations hadn’t been passionately opposed to everything that even threatened the divine right of capital, why, you wouldn’t be considering me for the Supreme Bench now. How can a lawyer succeed nowadays except through capital?
THE DEVIL (closes door and stands with his back to it)
True enough, Magnus; true enough—(Looks at the light, which has hung gravely suspended through these operations)
THE DEVIL
The greedy millionaire criminal makes all the little criminals. He needs men like this hypocrite here (pointing to the Judge)—needs them to save corporations from fines, their officers from jail—with that damnable word “unconstitutional”; just as he needs Senators to make trust laws easy to break; Governors to sign exemptions and pardons; aldermen to steal city franchises; bosses to elect those aldermen to order; murdering gangsters to kill honest voting; and police who will permit the gangsters to steal, pimp and kill, and who share in their spoils. (Still addressing the light) And every crime of the lot—yes—don’t shrink from your guilt—even the stealing, the pimping, and the killing—is the fault of the greedy millionaire. (Pointing to the Judge) Even that might have been a man—
JUDGE CRITTY (anxiously)
But, Mr. Magnus—
THE DEVIL
No hypocrite may be trusted upon the Supreme Bench, Judge.
[Schwartzenhopfel nods.
JUDGE CRITTY (wildly)
You use me—cast me aside—
THE DEVIL
Just what a prostitute would say when the man to whose worst passions she has pandered seeks to be clean again and casts her off. (He opens the door again and points) Get out! (He fixes the unhappy Judge with his eyes. Unable to resist, the Judge follows the slowly pointing finger and goes out)
DOLL BLONDIN (whose admiration for The Devil has grown quickly, as evidenced by the expression on her face as she has sat listening almost with awe) You are some man—believe me!
FANNY (turns quickly on her at this danger-note in her voice, and speaks with an effort at politeness) You said you would not like a certain party to hear a certain story—
[The Devil, being recalled to this situation, looks hopelessly around.
DOLL BLONDIN
Let the certain party go—
FANNY (glares at her)
What?
DOLL BLONDIN (glares back)
I wouldn’t stay where I wasn’t wanted if I were some people—
FANNY
And I suppose you think you are wanted?
[Doll Blondin smiles aggravatingly.
FANNY
What?
DOLL BLONDIN
I’ve been asked to stay anyhow. That’s more’n some people have—
FANNY
Addington! You’ll let this woman insult me?
THE DEVIL
Certainly, my dear.
DOLL BLONDIN
You see—(She spreads hands and her manner becomes still more aggravating)
FANNY
I’ll go and get mother. Even she will see who’s in the wrong now. When I’m prepared to give up everything for you—
THE DEVIL
But you aren’t—
FANNY (wildly)
I am. You needn’t even have a flat in town. I’ll stay here. Why, I’ll even live on your income.
THE DEVIL
You only say that until you get me safely married.
FANNY (beside herself)
I swear it. Addington—I didn’t realize how much I loved you until I saw you save your friend (points to Agnus); heard you defy those policemen, and—then—the way you talked to that nasty old Judge. Oh! I want you—I love you—
THE DEVIL (stepping back to avoid an embrace)
Well, you can’t have me!
DOLL BLONDIN
You see—(Spreads her hands as before)
FANNY
You give me up—for this woman?
THE DEVIL (desperately)
Yes!
FANNY (suddenly realizing she is combating Fate)
Oh, Addington, Addington, Addington—I love you—I love you—(She bursts into real tears; there is no tragedy in her attitude now, no affectation, no theatricalism—just real sorrow and regret)
AGNUS (wildly to The Devil) You must explain! You must! You must!
THE DEVIL (whispering)
Who’d believe us? We’d all be clapped into a lunatic asylum. Is one woman to stand in the way of science—a big step in world-regeneration? Think, man! One woman against a million better men? For the sake of humanity—think!
[Agnus turns away. It is his tragic moment; his face should be that of a combined Hamlet and King Lear—for, while to others Fanny is comedic, to him she represents earthly happiness. Fanny continues her sobbing like an animal in pain. Doll Blondin looks troubled, but stands her ground.
THE DEVIL (awkwardly)
See here, Fanny—
FANNY (trying to stem, her tears)
Yes, dear—
THE DEVIL
It isn’t any woman—it’s my work. It needs me—all of me—
DOLL BLONDIN
Then you don’t love me?
THE DEVIL (impatiently)
Of course not. I only just saw you—didn’t I?
FANNY
You don’t love her? Your work? You’re giving me up for—
THE DEVIL
The good of humanity, Fanny—
FANNY (forgetting tears)
Ah, I knew you were too noble, Addington, too big to jilt me for another woman. “For the good of humanity!” That’s different. We’ll work together, dear. I’ll help, not hinder.
[The Devil groans.
FANNY
You’ve brought out my true nature. I’m changed. I see now how hateful I was.
THE DEVIL
Fanny—
FANNY
Yes, dear—
THE DEVIL
No!
[Doll Blondin catches his eye above Fanny’s head and winks hopefully.
THE DEVIL (to Doll, in the same tone)
No!
[Mrs. Felix and Tromper enter, bundled up for motoring. They are followed by Magnus’s chauffeur and his valet carrying motoring coats.
VALET
Miss Felix, miss! (He holds up her coat)
[Fanny inserts her arms mechanically in sleeves.
TROMPER (grumpily, showing his watch to Schwartzenhopfel) I took the liberty of getting ready to go back, Mr. Magnus. I thought you’d forgotten the time.
VALET
You have an appointment for dinner with Mr. Gayton, sir.
[Schwartzenhopfel looks blank.
VALET
You know, sir—the Secretary of the Treasury—
[The Devil nudges Schwartzenhopfel.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (arrogantly)
The Secretary must wait; that’s all! I’m staying here tonight.
THE DEVIL (sotto voce to Agnus, indicating Tromper)
Who’s he?
[Agnus whispers the information in a thoroughly miserable manner.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (to the chauffeur)
You take these ladies back to New York. (To the valet) You go with him and bring me some clothes back.
THE DEVIL
Enough for a week or so.
[The light shows that it is struck motionless by this last statement.
And now, Mrs. Felix, good-bye! Come and see me some time. I’ll find a husband for you yet.
[The light flirts across his eyes.
THE DEVIL (looks at it meditatively)
I don’t know but what you’re right, Magnus. After I start training you—she might be able to complete the training—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (viewing Mrs. Felix with approval) Suits me!
[The light darts as viciously at Schwartzenhopfel as the latter once did when he was in Magnus’s condition.
THE DEVIL (to the light)
I meant you—Magnus—
[The light hovers, sullenly suspicious.
THE DEVIL (to all)
And—now—good day to all of you. Schwartzenhopfel and I are about to do some important work together. (Puts his arm on Agnus’s shoulder) So we must ask you to excuse us.
DOLL BLONDIN
And what about me?
THE DEVIL
Aren’t the rooms good?
[Doll Blondin nods.
THE DEVIL
And the food?
[Doll Blondin nods again.
THE DEVIL
And the service?
DOLL BLONDIN
Yes—but—
THE DEVIL
Then what about you? And as for amusement: why, there’s Magnus. (He points to Schwartzenhopfel. Then he goes, almost dragging Agnus with him)
[Agnus’s head is turned, with lack-lustre eyes, toward Fanny. They pass out through the folding-doors, closing these behind them.
TROMPER (whose indignation has been mounting, now vents himself explosively) Well, damn his nerve! I beg your pardon, ladies. Mr. Magnus, you let a whippersnapper doctor talk that way to you? You! Why, sir, I wouldn’t—I actually wouldn’t permit you to talk that way to me!
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (viciously)
You wouldn’t?
TROMPER (nervously)
With all respect: no, sir.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Then you’re discharged.
TROMPER (thunderstruck)
Have you gone crazy, Mr. Magnus? Discharged? After twenty-five years’service? After saving you hundreds of thousands of dollars?
MRS. FELIX (putting her hand on his shoulder)
John, that’s petty! That’s small, John. I never knew you to be petty or small before.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (to Mrs. Felix)
Wait! (To Tromper) Saving? How?
TROMPER (stuttering)
Why, the Churchstead strike alone—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (militantly)
Strike! Ha! Go on! What did you do?
TROMPER (miserably)
You know well enough what I did, sir—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Tell me anyhow—
TROMPER
I locked ’em out, the bums!
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
What did they want? Just union rates, union hours; white men’s pay, white men’s hours; not nigger slaves—?
MRS. FELIX (admiringly)
Bravo, John! You ’re shaping up!
[The light moves closer, as if listening intently.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (nodding)
I told you to wait! (To Tromper) You beat them, didn’t you?
TROMPER
And a tough job! Strike-breakers weren’t enough—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (to Mrs. Felix)
New York thugs, gunmen—with brass knuckles, hand spikes, and automatics—licensed to bruise, maim and kill—
TROMPER
Weren’t the strikers breaking windows and burning fences? Didn’t they threaten to burn the works?
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Fighting for their children and their homes, they were—for the right to have more than cattle or pigs—more than a place to sleep—and enough food to keep them working. Food! Ha! Like gasoline put into a motor-car—
TROMPER
I was fighting to save you money—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Against the men you used to work with, side by side, your own blood-brothers—
TROMPER
No brothers of mine, those sweating, smelly ignorant dogs! I might have been born one. That wasn’t my fault. But I didn’t stay one.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
No, and I’ll bet I know why. Because you spied on them, carried tales, for little foreman jobs, and sweated more work out of them.
TROMPER (bitterly)
Always saving you money—
MRS. FELIX (to Schwartzenhopfel)
You see, John: all crime, bloodshed, murder finally comes back to yourself. He said it: “Always saving you money.”
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
I’m going to change all that. Consequently I don’t need his sort any more.
MRS. FELIX (delightedly)
You are? (Suspiciously) But so suddenly—what’s changed you?
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (points toward the laboratory) The—(corrects himself) D—Doctor. (Enthusiastically) The trouble about us human beings is that we don’t know nothing about nothing—
MRS. FELIX
Can’t you be moral and retain your grammar?
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (disregarding her, enthusiastically) Then he comes along (pointing toward laboratory) and shows us that millionaires on one hand—anarchists on the other—are one part right, ninety-nine parts wrong—
FANNY (bursts into wild tears again)
And I’ve lost him! I’ve lost him!
[Mrs. Felix comforts her.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (to Tromper)
How much have you saved? Not for me—for yourself?
TROMPER (haughtily)
I don’t save; I invest.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Worth half a million, aren’t you? Not above grafting some of that sweat-and-blood money you saved for me, are you?
TROMPER
I defy you to prove it. I defy anybody. I’ve been strictly honest.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
No matter, Tromper, no matter—you ’re fired! I never want to see your face again.
TROMPER
You’ll regret this the longest day you live, you—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Be careful. I still own the judges and the politicians. Don’t try to stand in my way, or I’ll job you into jail. Get out!
TROMPER (suddenly whining)
How am I to get back to New York?
MRS. FELIX (touching Schwartzenhopfel’s shoulder)
Don’t be little, John—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (repressing himself)
The automobile will take you back. Wait for it at the Inn.
TROMPER (thinking he is relenting)
One word, sir—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Not one. (Points to the door)
[Tromper goes out abjectedly.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (turning suddenly to valet)
What do I pay you?
VALET (alarmed on behalf of his own position)
Only a hundred a month, sir.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
And what you can steal, eh?
VALET (earnestly)
Mr. Magnus, sir.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Percentages from haberdashers and shirt-makers, tailors, bootmakers, jewellers. Double bills: one for me, one for you—you pocket the difference?
VALET (astounded at his accuracy)
Mr. Magnus, I swear—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Don’t perjure yourself. Take one hundred and fifty dollars a month—I’m buying back your self-respect with the extra fifty and giving it to you. But if you cheat again—remember, if you cheat again—jail!
VALET (with tears in his eyes and choking voice)
Sir—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Wait in there. (Points to the door, and the valet goes out; then to chauffeur) And I give you?
CHAUFFEUR (trembling)
One hundred and twenty-five dollars a month, sir.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
And the gasoline you take out every night and put back in the morning? The extra shoes that don’t wear out? The valve-cleaning and new parts that only figure in the bill? Other things—how much do they come to?
CHAUFFEUR
Mr. Magnus—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Don’t lie. Please—how much?
CHAUFFEUR (whining)
I don’t know, sir. Please—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Take one seventy-five and be a decent man—a skilled mechanic who respects himself and his craft too much to be a thief. Will that do?
CHAUFFEUR (thickly)
If they all treated us like that, nobuddy ’ud steal except dirty scoundrels, sir. (Goes out)
MRS. FELIX
You see: the generals make the morals of their soldiers. Let generals loot a church-treasure, and the privates will loot a hen-roost. Magnus steals a Subway. Therefore, his manager steals his profits, his valet steals his stickpins, his chauffeur his gasoline.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Reform always begins at the top, I know. The trouble with us—(corrects himself) with Socialists and anarchists—they try to begin reforms among the ignorant. It will take me many years to break even with my criminal misunderstanding.
MRS. FELIX (suddenly touched)
I’ll help you. (In a whisper) I love you, John—
[The light jumps.
MRS. FELIX (with her hand on his shoulder)
I’ve always wanted to say “Yes”—always hoped for the day when your great brain would resent the petty use you were making of it—
[Fanny does not hear this. For some time she has been sitting all humped up, staring blankly into space. Doll Blondin sits in same position, showing the same attitude, and the same lack of expression. The two of them look more like decorative statues than human beings, one on either side of the room. The light flies about distractedly. Mrs. Felix slowly drawing the startled Schwartzenhopfel around until he faces her and stares into her eyes.
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (stutters)
When I’m—wor—worthy, I—I ’ll ask you to say “Yes” again—I don’t de—deserve you yet—
[Doll Blondin turns wearily around to watch them. Fanny does the same. The light pauses, satisfied.
MRS. FELIX
John Magnus—you’re a great man at last— (Smiling shyly, she practically offers her cheek to be kissed) Remember my worthless years, too, and consider you’re worthy now—
[The light begins again to fly about distractedly. Schwartzenhopfel looks at it apologetically before he bends over to kiss her. The light deliberately flashes between them. Both of them stand back dazzled.
MRS. FELIX (blinking)
What a powerful reflection! (Smiling and holding out her hand to Schwartzenhopfel, she bends toward him again)
[The light again flashes between them.
MRS. FELIX (as they stagger back again)
What is it, John? I see no mirrors or lenses—
DOLL BLONDIN (who has been watching the light in an awed way ever since she turned) It doesn’t come from mirrors or lenses. (In an awed tone) There’s something queer about that light—almost as if it were human—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL
Non—nonsense!
MRS. FELIX (noting his look)
John Magnus! You—frightened?
DOLL BLONDIN (pointing to the light)
Look at it now, as though it was listening!
FANNY (with a little cry)
Mother! mother! Forgive me—
MRS. FELIX (patting her hair)
Forgive you—why, my dear?
FANNY (shivering)
I don’t know—but I’m afraid.—There’s something wrong in this house—
[The light twitches as if trying to sneak out of the room.
FANNY (with a little scream)
Look at it—now!
[The light stands still. The three women huddle together with that feminine instinct that prefers to die with its worst enemy rather than alone.
DOLL BLONDIN
Whenever he made a move to even touch you, it flew at him—
FANNY (shrieking)
It moved again!
[Mrs. Felix clutches Schwartzenhopfel. Fanny gives another short scream. At that moment the folding-doors fly open and Agnus reënters quickly, disclosing The Devil inside.
THE DEVIL (with his eye to microscope, examining slide)
As well as I could do myself! Bravo! Bravissima!
AGNUS (agitated)
Can I do anything? (Sees the tableau of the three frightened women, clinging to Schwartzenhopfel; his eyes follow theirs, and he sees that they are watching the light; then he falls back, holding his head)
DOLL BLONDIN (seeing Agnus’s look)
See! He’s frightened, too.
THE DEVIL (puts up the microscope and comes out)
What’s wrong?
FANNY (running to him)
Addington, Addington!
DEVIL (wearily)
Not gone yet?
FANNY (pointing to the light, which twitches sullenly)
Addington, I’m frightened. What is it?
THE DEVIL (shaken, but retaining his mastery)
Oh—that? (He tries to move over to the table and shake Fanny off)
FANNY
Oh, Addington, don’t leave me! I’m frightened, I tell you, frightened!
THE DEVIL
I thought you wanted to know what that was?
| MRS. FELIX |  | (simultaneously) |
| What is it? | ||
| DOLL BLONDIN | ||
| Yes, what? | ||
| FANNY | ||
| We do— |
THE DEVIL (to Fanny in an irritated tone)
Well, how can I explain while you hang on to me?—
FANNY
Just let me hold one hand—just your little finger—that’ll make me brave—
[The Devil crosses to the table, scowling. Fanny tags after him, holding on to one of his fingers. The Devil looks sternly at the light. Then he turns to the women and touches the switch-key of the lighted electric cigar-lighter.
THE DEVIL
When I turn this off, it will disappear! (He waits for Magnus to understand. Then, showily, he snaps off the electric-lighter, bending down as if it required some effort) You see?
[The light does not budge.
DOLL BLONDIN (since Fanny is looking admiringly at The Devil and Mrs. Felix is hiding her head on Schwartzenhopfel’s shoulder)
But it didn’t work!—
THE DEVIL (looking up and seeing it, nonplussed and desperate)
No?
DOLL BLONDIN
No. There it is. See?
THE DEVIL (boldly)
Nonsense. (He fixes her with his eyes) It’s gone: d’you hear? It’s gone!
DOLL BLONDIN (fascinatedly watching him)
It’s gone?
MRS. FELIX
But I see it!
THE DEVIL (fixing her with his eyes)
Nonsense. It’s gone, d’you hear? Gone!
MRS. FELIX (with the same expression as Doll)
Gone?
[Fanny looks up.
THE DEVIL (catching her eye before she can look at the light) You see, it’s gone, don’t you? Gone?
FANNY (in the same manner as others)
Gone?
THE DEVIL
And now, why haven’t you—gone?
FANNY
And leave her in the house? (Nodding toward Doll)
THE DEVIL
Is it your house?
FANNY (boldly)
Yes, it is!
THE DEVIL (taken aback)
What?
FANNY
Our house! (Sweetly) And, Addington, dear: it could be mine if I sued you for breach of promise! You know I’d win—your letters are so dear! And the engagement announcement that was in all the papers—and our pictures together in that Sunday Supplement—I can’t imagine where they get those pictures, can you? Framed heart-shape with the dearest little Cupids shooting arrows at us—you know, how you loved it—
THE DEVIL (revolted)
I loved it!
FANNY (continuing)
And your money’s in trust, dear. You can’t touch the principal. So you’d have to sell this house to pay my damages. And you know I wouldn’t let you sell it, not to strangers—I’d just come and live in it, going about every day and kissing things I knew your dear hands had touched, and sitting in your favorite places, waiting for the day you’d come back and we’d sit there together!
[The Devil grits his teeth.
FANNY (almost cloyingly sweet)
Oh, you could come here every day and work in your laboratory. I’d let you—you’d be quite welcome—
DOLL BLONDIN (her sense of humor triumphing)
You’re some sticker, sister—I gotta hand it to you. Talk about glue!
THE DEVIL (desperately)
You wouldn’t do that—your womanly instinct—your sense of shame—your position in society—
DOLL BLONDIN
No use grasping at straws like that, Doctor. You’re gone!
MRS. FELIX (in wonderment)
I never imagined she had it in her. (Mildly) There’s no doubt she loves you, Addington. No girl would endure the insults you’ve heaped on her today—(hastily) not that she didn’t deserve them—
FANNY (naïvely)
I did—I was a selfish beast—
MRS. FELIX
She wouldn’t have admitted she was a beast just now—unless she loved you—madly—
THE DEVIL (bitterly)
She knows I’ve got a check for two million in my pocket—
FANNY
Oh, I know I deserve that, too. But I wish you didn’t have the old check just to prove to you—
THE DEVIL
You do?
FANNY (hastily)
No. I don’t mean that. Forgive me for being selfish. The check means triumph for your work—
THE DEVIL (grinning maliciously)
Means houses in New York, and motors, and private railroad cars, and boxes at the opera, too, doesn’t it?
FANNY (earnestly)
Addington, I’d be content to live on the top of a mountain if I had you, dear.
THE DEVIL
That’s all right as a popular song, darling! (He grits his teeth again)
AGNUS (in agony)
She means it, can’t you see? She’s changed. The fear of losing the man she loves has made her forget all the little things—realizing that the only big thing is—love!—
FANNY
Oh, Mr. Schwartzenhopfel, you have loved! You understand. Make him understand—
THE DEVIL (to Agnus)
You sentimental idiot! You think she means it, do you?
AGNUS (boldly)
I know it!
DOLL BLONDIN (herself touched)
Honest, Doctor, I believe she does.
[Fanny looks gratefully at them.
THE DEVIL (desperately)
You see this? (He thrusts the check under her nose) What is it?
FANNY
The two-million-dollar check.
THE DEVIL
All right. (He puts it in her hand) Tear it up!
FANNY (paling)
But—Addington—your work—
THE DEVIL (with a sneer to Agnus)
You see? (To Doll) See?
FANNY (joyously)
I see, too! It’s wrong, but it makes me the happiest girl in the world.
THE DEVIL (exasperated)
What does?
FANNY
It’s wicked for me to feel that way—I know I shouldn’t.—Forgive me.
THE DEVIL (shouting)
What damned mare’s-nest have you foisted on me this time? What’s the latest crazy eroticism you’re going to pretend to see in me?
FANNY
Don’t swear, dear. You’re above it. But as for the check: I understand and I love you the more for it.
THE DEVIL (shouting louder)
Love me the more? By Saturn! this is too much—this passes all endurance—
FANNY
You’re angry because I’ve discovered your secret. Because you know now that I know that no matter how much you try to make your work come first, you can’t.
THE DEVIL (swearing wildly)
Oh, Jupiter! Oh, the Pleiades! Oh, the Milky Way, the Crab, and the Gemini!—Where under the light of the sun or in the bowels of the earth—in what corner of a lunatic asylum did you find that colossal, preposterous and utterly insane hallucination of a disordered brain?
FANNY
In your heart, dear—in your heart. This morning I made you give up work that was dearer to you than life. You promised. Your better nature made you break that promise. Then I came again, tempting you; threatening to leave you forever. Your heart betrayed you again. And—when I was gone—you loathed yourself for your weakness.
THE DEVIL (reduced to the frigid politeness of a man who realizes he will be stricken with apoplexy if he allows his feelings to get the better of him again) I—I see—and now I should like to know—what was the President of China thinking while in his bath this morning?—
FANNY (placidly, seeing, in his loss of control her own dominance of the situation) Don’t sneer, darling. You loathed yourself for giving in to me a second time. “Even though my heart is broken, I will cast her out of it,” you said sternly.
THE DEVIL
Just like the kind of novels you read, wasn’t it?
FANNY
You had been so modest, dear, that I didn’t realize you were a great man. That was your fault. “She doesn’t love me,” you said, “or she’d want me to go on winning Nobel prizes and being a great man. All she loves is the money I can make.” (Triumphantly) Am I right? Isn’t that what you thought?
THE DEVIL (wildly)
You’re never right! And I never think.
AGNUS
You are right—you are!
THE DEVIL (looking morosely at him)
I’ll settle with you later—
[Agnus, terrified, remains silent.
FANNY
Don’t be ashamed to concede a woman’s wit, dear. It’s all your teaching. Today you taught me to use my brain. “All she loves is the money I can make,” you said—
THE DEVIL
You said I said that once—
FANNY (unheeding)
And you still believe it? Don’t you?
THE DEVIL
Yes.
FANNY
I know you do. That’s why you gave me the check. Sooner than marry me—thinking that I was playing a part until I could get control of the two million dollars—sooner than be married for your money you said: “Tear it up.” And that shows you love me more than your work, more than your future fame, more than the gratitude of the world—more than humanity—more than everything. And it makes me love you more than ever. (She takes his hand)
THE DEVIL (almost in a shrill scream)
Love me more than ever?
FANNY (hurt)
You don’t believe in me, yet?
THE DEVIL (as before)
No! No! No!
FANNY
Then—I’m sorry for you. Sorry for your work, your fame, your future. But if I can’t make you believe in me any other way, why—then—here goes. (She twists up the check, strikes a match and lights it; following an old childish game, she says) He loves me, he loves me not; loves me, loves me not. (The flame scorches her fingers, but she holds it long enough to say) He loves me! (Then she throws the last blazing bit into ash-receiver and throws her arms around The Devil)
MRS. FELIX (judicially)
I think now—Addington—you can be sure!
THE DEVIL (wrenching himself free)
Damn it!—Doesn’t she know that if Magnus will write one check, he’ll write another!
FANNY (her lip drawn)
Oh, I forgot that! I forgot that! (Sobbing on her mother’s breast) Oh, mammy, what can I do to prove it to him? This is my punishment—this is my punishment!
DOLL BLONDIN (to The Devil, herself in tears)
She’s on the square with that stuff, old boy. Don’t be a devil!
THE DEVIL (suddenly realizing)
A devil: that’s what I am—a devil. No human being would act as I’m doing, would he?
DOLL BLONDIN (judicially)
Oh, you’ll come out of it, now you see the girl’s all right, won’t you?
THE DEVIL
But suppose I didn’t?
DOLL BLONDIN (indignantly)
Then you would be a devil! Not fit to associate with human beings.
FANNY (crying to her mother)
Can’t you think of something I can do to prove I’m not the same girl who came here this morning?
MRS. FELIX (crying)
It’s my fault. If I’d been a good mother, instead of a good bridge player—
AGNUS (agonizedly)
Oh! for God’s sake! Can’t something be done? I’ll kill myself—
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (who has also been moved, says now sharply) Here, here! (In a hoarse whisper) Don’t you go taking such liberties with what don’t belong to you.
THE DEVIL (who has been musing on what Doll has said)
Not fit to associate with human beings. No, I guess not. (Looking at Schwartzenhopfel) I should have remained the Dutchman with no human ties. Sentiment and romance just make me ill.
DOLL BLONDIN (indignantly)
Shame on you! (She goes over to comfort the other two women)
THE DEVIL (still musing)
I suppose that’s how The Devil got his bad name. Trying to cure Faust of Marguerite in order to use him for the world’s advancement. Same ingratitude, same mix-up; everybody calling me names. (Sharply to Schwartzenhopfel, who has listened) Very incorrectly reported, even at that—very unjustly—that Faust affair. Those stupid Germans—when they’re not drinking themselves into sentimental poetry, the ravings of a disordered brain, they’re guzzling themselves into gloomy philosophy—the pessimism of a disordered liver—and the fellow who wrote up the Faust-Marguerite case had both maladies (viciously) in their most virulent form! And that’s what most humans get their idea of me from—when, actually, the case was just about like this one—(meditatively) I wonder what I did to straighten things out that time? (Meditates)
[All the others watch him in awe.
FANNY (lifting a tear-stained face, whispers)
What is he saying, mammy? Is it about me?
THE DEVIL (giving the Faust matter up)
No use, I forget—
AGNUS (piteously)
You will do something, won’t you?
THE DEVIL (sadly)
I suppose I ’ll have to. Humanity has to suffer as usual. Sentiment, always sentiment, maudlin sentiment: that’s what keeps abuses unrectified, men ignorant, women slaves, the world’s intellect developing no faster than a snail crawls. Sentiment—maudlin sentiment—and I’ve lived so long among men that the cancer’s in me, too—
AGNUS
You have got a heart then—they did wrong you. I’ll devote years to setting you right in the eyes of the world.
THE DEVIL
What?
AGNUS (stammering)
A book!
THE DEVIL (harshly)
Set me right in men’s eyes? Have my conduct applauded by stupid human beings? When the world applauds anybody whole-heartedly, without a dissenting voice, be sure he’s a fool or a knave! Your whole being has been in arms against me ever since I came to bring you wisdom. Now that you think there’s a chance I’ll let you be a fool again, you talk of setting me right! Let me be or I’ll repent it. (To Fanny) What would you do if I made you realize that I don’t and can’t love you?
FANNY
I know you do.
THE DEVIL
But you can’t make me marry you?
FANNY
You wouldn’t want the scandal of a suit discrediting you with the world?
THE DEVIL
You’d do that, loving me?
FANNY (gently)
To bring you to your senses. You would be unhappy without me.
THE DEVIL
And unhappy with you.
FANNY
Not after the change that has come over me today.
THE DEVIL (throwing up both hands)
Useless—useless! I give in—I’m vanquished.
FANNY
Love conquers all, dear—
THE DEVIL
Oh, those damned novels! (Fending her off) Wait! Go in there! The three of you. (He points to the hall door) Tell the chauffeur to get ready to go back to New York, Fanny.
FANNY
One kiss, dear!
[The Devil sighs heavily as he permits it.
FANNY (in rapture)
My dear one! My dearest!
[The Devil points to door. Fanny goes with Mrs. Felix.
THE DEVIL (to Doll)
You, too!
[Doll Blondin shrugs her shoulders and goes after the other two women.
THE DEVIL (throwing himself down in utter weariness)
I give in. I must find another body—go through another sentimental riot before I can begin my work here again. Bernard Shaws don’t grow in every village or every London. (He rises and crosses toward the window) Oh, Mars! Mars! I’m homesick again. (He stretches out his hands) Only a day away from you, and homesick already: homesick, how homesick I am—
AGNUS (trembling eagerly)
I know, we’re not advanced enough for you yet. Why don’t you go back and wait until we are?
THE DEVIL (turning on him with a terrible look)
Man! If I only could: if I only could! But this is my punishment, and here—(waves all about him) is my hell. You—all of you—my friends, my familiars, my imps, the red fellows that frightened your own youthful dreams. Here is the fiery pit—here! But you are the Devils, and I am the tortured soul. You are the flames—I am the burning body. Yes, you:—for here is where Devils rule—this Earth is Hell! (At the window, his hands outstretched) Here I am debased, my sullen angers stirred, my soul held back from the Sun by inhuman humans who spend their lives stanching a pretty woman’s tears, while a hundred thousand fellow-creatures die for the want of a pound of summer ice, a basket of winter fuel! You: who worship a Man of Peace, and make bloody war in His Name; who worship a Prince of Purity, and wed the women of your lust in His Name; who worship a Poor Man’s Christ, and in the same breath those who steal the Poor Man’s Bread—in His Name. (Looks up to the sky) You said I had ruled long enough, Crucified One! So you came to do through men’s Love what I had done through men’s Hate, Lust and Greed. So you died for men, and thereafter men called hate Anger Against The Heathen; lust—the Woman Leading Them to Holier Things; greed—World Conquest in your Name. (Drops on his knees) I see you ever, Son of the Sun, sad and weary in that bright star of your exile; hoping against hope that a stray seed sown two thousand years ago may yet bring men to wisdom through Love. While I still go on among them to bring them to Wisdom through Understanding, teaching them that Ignorance and Hate bring no gain—the only reasoning they can understand. And so sustained by you in your lonely star, while you shine on hoping men will look up, ever up—I work bitterly among them here below—until I have won Wisdom for them and Freedom for us; freedom that we may go on to our Father, the Sun, we two Exiles; Star of the Morning, and Red Light of Mars! (While speaking thus, he seems irradiated with a light hardly seen, only felt—a dim suffusing glow; he stands for a second statuelike; then, as the glow fades, he says gently to Agnus) Are you ready?
[Agnus hows his head.
THE DEVIL (to Schwartzenhopfel)
And you, too?
[Schwartzenhopfel bows his head.
THE DEVIL
Then one word before I lose the power to speak. When I hover above you again—a Red Light again—I will wait to see you, Magnus, and you too, Agnus, each do a single thing. And when I have seen each of you do that one thing, I will know you have begun to carry out my teachings—and the Red Light will fade away in search of a new body and a new fortune. (A ring at the garden door interrupts him) I will tell you—in there. (He points to the laboratory)
[Agnus, Schwartzenhopfel and the light go out hurriedly, The Devil following. He is last seen by the audience, suffused in the glow again, as he stands between the two folding-doors, bringing them close together until they shut the laboratory and all within it from sight. The ringing at the door grows louder and is followed by a series of staccato knocks with a knocker. Mrs. Felix opens the hall door and shows her face.
MRS. FELIX (speaking to Fanny outside)
There’s no one here. I suppose I should answer the door?
FANNY (outside)
By all means, mother.
[Mrs. Felix goes to the garden door. Fanny trails in after her. Mrs. Felix opens garden door for Professor Vanillity.
VANILLITY (who comes in excitedly)
I must see Addington, Mrs. Felix! At once! At once—
MRS. FELIX (pointing to the laboratory)
He’s in there.
VANILLITY
I must interrupt him once at least—at least once. (He knocks at the laboratory door—no response—knocks again—no response)
VANILLITY (desperately)
I can’t help it: I must see him.
[He flings open the laboratory door, revealing the room with its blinds drawn and Agnus, Schwartzenhopfel and Magnus seated in a sort of stupor, side by side. Above them hovers a Red Light.
VANILLITY
Addington, my boy! Addington! (He shakes him)
[Agnus opens his eyes slowly and sees Vanillity.
VANILLITY
Addington—just a moment alone—
AGNUS (joyously)
Addington.—You called me Addington.—Then it’s so—it’s so. (He brushes past Vanillity, runs into the room, disregarding women, and throws back curtain from mirror) It’s so! It’s so! (Sees Fanny) Fanny!
FANNY (comes toward him eagerly)
The actress is gone, dear. She said she wouldn’t stand in the way of our happiness once I convinced her how much you loved me. I helped her re-pack her trunks. (Puts her hands out to Agnus)
VANILLITY (taking him aside before he can take Fanny’s hands) One minute, my boy, one minute. (Leads him up-stage so that their backs become turned to the others)
MAGNUS (in the meanwhile has opened his eyes and sees Agnus at mirror; as Agnus moves up stage, he runs to mirror and sees himself) It’s so—it’s so—
VANILLITY (in a low tone to Agnus, not seeing Magnus at mirror) My boy, I’ve been eating out my heart all day for permitting you to accept that offer. But Judge Critty can break me like matchwood, just as Mr. Magnus can break him. So I seemed to consent. But I do not. Don’t take the offer.
[Schwartzenhopfel, who has also opened his eyes and come down to the mirror, now touches Magnus’s arm and nods approval of Vanillity.
VANILLITY
It’s damnable—
MAGNUS (who has turned to listen, motioning Mrs. Felix and Fanny to silence) Damnable?—
VANILLITY (turning around, white and trembling)
Mr. Magnus! (Recovering himself, with dignity) I will tender my resignation tomorrow, sir.
MAGNUS
Why?
VANILLITY (bitterly)
Don’t trifle with a broken man, sir. My university is in your debt. The Judge is your mouthpiece. What you tell him to ask, my university will not dare to refuse!
MAGNUS
I will tell the Judge nothing!
VANILLITY (gasping)
I—I—what, sir?
MAGNUS
But I will tell the president of your university that he is old enough to be a President Emeritus—with a pension—and I will name his successor—(pauses) Professor Thomas Vanillity—
VANILLITY (trembling)
I can’t believe it, sir. You’re amusing yourself with me.
[Magnus shakes his head.
VANILLITY (desperately)
Then—why?
MAGNUS
For proving you are not of Judge Critty’s stripe; for risking your position at your age; for braving the anger of the rich and powerful, to save your friend. We need such men as you to work with us—(smiling and holding out his arm toward Mrs. Felix) the future Mrs. Magnus and I—
[Mrs. Felix comes forward.
MAGNUS
Loo!
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (nods toward the Red Light)
Your promise!
MAGNUS (remembers and motions Mrs. Felix back) One minute! (Then sits down at the desk and takes out his check-book)
AGNUS (warmly)
Mr. Magnus, the Professor feels too strongly to speak. (He pats Vanillity on back; then turns to Fanny) Fanny!
[Schwartzenhopfel nudges him.
AGNUS (turning from Fanny)
Eh?
SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (lifts his eyes)
Your promise!
AGNUS (follows Schwartzenhopfel’s glance and sees the Red Light) Oh, yes—thanks. (Raises his hand to hold Fanny back)
MAGNUS (twirling check over shoulder to dry it)
The torn-up check, Agnus. (Rises) Loo! (Puts his arm about Mrs. Felix)
[The Red Light wags.
AGNUS (deliberately seating himself with his eyes on the Red Light) Get the check, Fanny. (He takes a cigarette from his case)
FANNY
Yes, dear. (She goes for it)
[Agnus places the cigarette in his mouth. Fanny returns with the check.
AGNUS
A light, please—
FANNY
Yes, dear. (She reaches for the cigar-lighter, turns it on and lifts it forward to him)
[Agnus ignites the cigarette, looking at the Red Light. The Red Light wags, pleaded. It is growing dark outside—an early winter’s evening. A star appears.
AGNUS (patting Fanny’s hand)
That’s a good girl! I’m sure—now you’ve had your lesson, we’ll be very happy together. (He puffs at the cigarette)
[The Red Light flies out of the window and disappears.
CURTAIN