Sud [tearing his hair—going to them]. Parrots! Nothing but parrots! Increase the stress—build up the scene—build—build!
Inkwell. How can we build when you don't give us any lines?
Sud. What do you call yourselves actors for if you can't supply acting when the playwright uses dashes!—This is the biggest scene in the play. [Crosses to lower left.] The very fact that I don't give you a lot of literary lines puts me in the class of the most forceful dramatists of the day! My plays are not wishy-washy lines! They are full of action—red-blood—of flesh and blood! Now you do your part—bing-bang stuff!—shake them in their chairs out there—make shivers run up their spines! Make 'em feel you! Compel their applause! Now go to it! Go to it!!!
[Sud sets the tempo, repeating their words.]
Inkwell. You!
Mrs. Pencil. I?
Inkwell. You!
Mrs. Pencil. I?
Sud [shouts]. Get it over! Get it over!
Inkwell. You!