Scene IV
Time—present. The interior of a one-room shack in an alley. There is a small window in the rear wall upstage left. There is an enlarged crayon drawing of a man and woman—man sitting cross-legged, woman standing with her hand on his shoulder. A center table, red cover, a low, cheap rocker, two straight chairs, a small kitchen stove at left with a wood-box beside it, a water-bucket on a stand close by. A hand towel and a wash basin. A shelf of dishes above this. There is an ordinary oil lamp on the center table but it is not lighted when the curtain goes up. Some light enters through the window and falls on the woman seated in the low rocker. The door is center right. A cheap bed is against the upstage wall. Someone is on the bed but is lying so that the back is toward the audience.
Action—As the curtain rises, the woman is seen rocking to and fro in the low rocker. A dead silence except for the sound of the rocker and an occasional groan from the bed. Once a faint voice says “water” and the woman in the rocker arises and carries the tin dipper to the bed.
Woman. No mo’ right away—Doctor says not too much. (Returns dipper to pail.—Pause.) You got right much fever—I better go git the doctor agin.
(There comes a knocking at the door and she stands still for a moment, listening. It comes again and she goes to door but does not open it.)
Woman. Who’s that?
Voice Outside. Does Emma Beasely live here?
Emma. Yeah—(pause)—who is it?
Voice. It’s me—John Turner.