RUTH. (without raising her eyes—dully) Good-by.
ANDREW. (mechanically) I’ll walk to the car with you, Doctor. (They go out of the door. RUTH sits motionlessly. The motor is heard starting and the noise gradually recedes into the distance. ANDREW re-enters and sits down in his chair, holding his head in his hands) Ruth! (She lifts her eyes to his) Hadn’t we better go in and see him? God! I’m afraid to! I know he’ll read it in my face. (The bedroom door is noiselessly opened and ROBERT appears in the doorway. His cheeks are flushed with fever, and his eyes appear unusually large and brilliant. ANDREW continues with a groan) It can’t be, Ruth. It can’t be as hopeless as he said. There’s always a fighting chance. We’ll take Rob to Arizona. He’s got to get well. There must be a chance!
ROBERT. (in a gentle tone) Why must there, Andy? (RUTH turns and stares at him with terrified eyes).
ANDREW. (whirling around) Rob! (Scoldingly) What are you doing out of bed? (He gets up and goes to him) Get right back now and obey the Doc, or you’re going to get a licking from me!
ROBERT. (ignoring these remarks) Help me over to the chair, please, Andy.
ANDREW. Like hell I will! You’re going right back to bed, that’s where you’re going, and stay there! (He takes hold of ROBERT’S arm).
ROBERT. (mockingly) Stay there ’til I die, eh, Andy? (Coldly) Don’t behave like a child. I’m sick of lying down. I’ll be more rested sitting up. (As ANDREW hesitates—violently) I swear I’ll get out of bed every time you put me there. You’ll have to sit on my chest, and that wouldn’t help my health any. Come on, Andy. Don’t play the fool. I want to talk to you, and I’m going to. (With a grim smile) A dying man has some rights, hasn’t he?
ANDREW. (with a shudder) Don’t talk that way, for God’s sake! I’ll only let you sit down if you’ll promise that. Remember. (He helps ROBERT to the chair between his own and RUTH’S) Easy now! There you are! Wait, and I’ll get a pillow for you. (He goes into the bedroom. ROBERT looks at RUTH who shrinks away from him in terror. ROBERT smiles bitterly. ANDREW comes back with the pillow which he places behind ROBERT’S back) How’s that?
ROBERT. (with an affectionate smile) Fine! Thank you! (As ANDREW sits down) Listen, Andy. You’ve asked me not to talk—and I won’t after I’ve made my position clear. (Slowly) In the first place I know I’m dying. (RUTH bows her head and covers her face with her hands. She remains like this all during the scene between the two brothers).
ANDREW. Rob! That isn’t so!