AUGUST
Is it so easy that you take the swearin' o' false oaths?
ROSE
That's nothin'! Nothin'! How could that be anythin'? There's somethin' that lies, out there, under a willow … That's … somethin' … The rest don't concern me! There … there … I wanted to look up at the stars! I wanted to cry out an' to call out! No heavenly Father stirred to help me.
BERND
[Frightened, trembling.] You're blasphemin' our heavenly Father? Has it gone so far with you? Then I don't know you no more!
ROSE
[Approaching him on her knees.] 'Tis gone so far! But you know me anyhow, father! You cradled me on your knees, an' I've stood by you too many a time.—Now somethin' has come over us all—I've fought against it and struggled against it….
BERND
[Deeply perplexed.] What is it?