CURTIS-[Avoiding her eyes-teasingly.]What do you think you'll do all the time I'm gone?
MARTHA-Oh, I'll be lost-dead-I won't know what to do. I'll die of loneliness- [yearning creeping into her voice]unless-
CURTIS-[Inquisitively.]Unless what?
MARTHA-[Burying her face on his shoulder-passionately.]Oh, Curt, I love you so! Swear that you'll always love me no matter what I do-no matter what I ask-
CURTIS-[Vaguely uneasy now, trying to peer into her face.]But, sweetheart-
MARTHA-[Giving way weakly to her feelings for a moment- entreatingly.] Then don't go!
CURTIS-[Astonished.]Why, I've got to go. You know that.
MARTHA-Yes, I suppose you have.[Vigorously, as if flinging off a weakness.] Of course you have!
CURTIS-But, Martha-you said you'd be lonely unless-unless what?
Martha-Unless I-[She hesitates, blushing and confused.]I mean we-oh, I'm so afraid of what you'll-hold me close, very close to you and I'll whisper it.[She pulls his head down and whispers in his ear. A look of disappointment and aversion forces itself on his face.]
CURTIS-[Almost indignantly.]But that's impossible, Martha!
MARTHA-[Pleadingly.]Now don't be angry with me, Curt-not till you've heard everything.[With a trace of defiance.] It isn't impossible, Curt. It's so! It's happened! I was saving it as a secret-to tell you to-day-on my birthday.
CURTIS-[Stunned.]You mean it-is a fact?
MARTHA-Yes.[Then pitifully.] Oh, Curt, don't look that way! You seem so cold-so far away from me.[Straining her arms about him.] Why don't you hold me close to you? Why don't you say you're glad-for my sake?
CURTIS-[Agitatedly.]But Martha-you don't understand. How can I pretend gladness when-[Vehemently.]Why, it would spoil all our plans!
MARTHA-Plans? OUR plans? What do you mean?
CURTIS-[Excitedly.]Why, you're going with me, of course! I've obtained official permission. I've been working for it for months. The letter came yesterday morning.
MARTHA-[Stunned.]Permission-to go with you-
CURTIS-[Excitedly.]Yes. I couldn't conceive going without you. And I knew how you must be wishing-
MARTHA-[In pain.]Oh!
CURTIS-[Distractedly-jumping to his feet and staring at her bewilderedly.] Martha! You don't mean to tell me you weren't!
MARTHA-[In a crushed voice.]I was wishing you would finally decide not to go-to stay at home.
CURTIS-[Betraying exasperation.]But you must realize that's impossible. Martha, are you sure you've clearly understood what I've told you? You can go with me, do you hear? Everything is arranged. And I've had to fight so hard-I was running the risk of losing my own chance by my insistence that I couldn't go without you.
MARTHA-[Weakly and helplessly.]I understand all that, Curt.
CURTIS-[Indignantly.]And yet-you hesitate! Why, this is the greatest thing of its kind ever attempted! There are unprecedented possibilities! A whole new world of knowledge may be opened up- the very origin of Man himself! And you will be the only woman-
MARTHA-I realize all that, Curt.
CURTIS-You can't-and hesitate! And then-think, Martha!-it will mean that you and I won't have to be separated. We can go on living the old, free life together.
MARTHA-[Growing calm now.]You are forgetting-what I told you, Curt. You must face the fact. I cannot go.
CURTIS-[Overwhelmed by the finality of her tone-after a pause.] How long have you known-this?
MARTHA-Two months, about.
CURTIS-But why didn't you tell me before?
MARTHA-I was afraid you wouldn't understand-and you haven't, Curt. But why didn't you tell me before-what you were planning?
CURTIS-[Eagerly.]You mean-then-you would have been glad to go- before this had happened?
MARTHA-I would have accepted it.
CURTIS-[Despairingly.]Martha, how could you ever have allowed this to happen? Oh, I suppose I'm talking foolishness. It wasn't your seeking, I know.
