Dada. My old mother used to say to me, “Horatio—” [He brings this word out with an impressive roundness, but as his eye, at that moment, catches sight of the Bible, he loses track of his thought. He pounces upon the Holy Book and drags it out, pulling with it two or three other books, which crash to the floor. The sound of their fall is very faint on his ears—and under the delusion that his error is unnoticed, he slyly kicks the books under the bookcase. Jerry and Charlotte exchange a glance. With his Bible under his arm Dada starts stealthily toward the staircase. He sees something bright shining on the first step, and, not without difficulty, stoops to pick it up. His efforts are unsuccessful.] Hello, here’s a nail that looks just like a ten-cent piece. [He starts up-stairs.]
Jerry. He thought he found a ten-cent piece.
Charlotte [significantly]. Nobody has yet in this house.
In the ensuing silence Dada can be heard ascending the stairs. About half-way up there is a noise as if he had slipped down a notch. Then a moment of utter silence.
Jerry. You all right, Dada?
No answer. Dada is heard to resume his climb.
He was just resting. [He goes over and starts picking up the books. Cli-n-ng! There’s the front door-bell again. It occurs to him that it’s the b-o-o.] I’ll answer it.
Charlotte [who has risen]. I’ll answer it. It’s my own sister Doris, I know. You answered the last one.
Jerry. That was a mistake. It’s my turn this time by rights.
Answering the door-bell is evidently a pleasant diversion over which they have squabbled before.