MAMIE. All we’ve got to do is to keep on saying “Poor John!”
TULLY. Poor John!
MAMIE. I’m to pretend I’m John’s wife.
TULLY. Poor John!
MAMIE (rising). What do you mean?
(NIXON TRIPPETT enters, shown on by CHALMERS. He is a very ugly man of forty, dressed in frock coat and wearing spectacles. He is almost shabby genteel. CHALMERS retires—TULLY nervously retreats from MAMIE and seeing TRIPPETT advances with uncertainty.)
TULLY (to TRIPPETT). Poor John! I mean Mr. Ayers won’t be a minute. Will you take a seat. (Brings chair down from table L.C. and places it C. in a line with arm-chair R. and small chair L.)
TRIPPETT (places hat on table L.C. and coming down to chair C.). Thank you, sir. (All sit. MAMIE in arm-chair. TRIPPETT chair C. TULLY chair L.) Thank you, sir. (Removes gloves.)
(JOHN groans loudly off R.)
(All rise slowly and simultaneously with eyes fixed on door R., then sit again.)