My father and mother are different. I’m the only son, and they ... had other ideas about me.... I ran away from home.... They don’t think I’ll ever be any good.
Mary
Oh, my dear, serious young man, there’s nothing terrible in that.
Jack
You don’t know my father and mother, Mary.
Mary
Jack, there’s nothing as selfish as the selfishness of parents. Do you think my people liked the idea of my being on the stage? Mother threatened to have a nervous collapse. Father was frantic. But I did what I wanted, and they both got over it. And now they brag about me to the rest of the family.
Jack
Well, my father ain’t ever going to brag about me, I can tell you that!
[There is a deepening cloud on his face as he moves away from Mary. He has almost forgotten the excitement of the dress rehearsal. Lee and Franklyn Forbes enter briskly. Forbes is snappily dressed, about 30. The two of them bring back the speed and exuberance of the theatre.]