June Moon

don’t want to any more, Eddie! I know it now! I don’t want to! Edna Don’t say that, Fred! Don’t! Don’t say it unless you mean it! I couldn’t stand it! Fred But I do mean it, Eddie! I mean it more than anything in the⁠— Eileen comes on. You knew she would. Eileen Rather gaily. I’m sorry. Fred As Edna shows signs of bolting. No⁠—don’t go away. This is⁠—Miss Fletcher. Eileen Appraisingly. Hello. Fred And this is Miss Baker. She’s the little girl⁠—I mean, I used to know her when⁠— Edna Who can’t stand it. I’ll be going if you don’t mind. Goodbye, Fred. Fred No⁠—look! Don’t go away! Edna Yes, I must! I⁠—goodbye, Miss Fletcher! She rushes off. Fred hesitates for a second; then starts out after her. Eileen Fred! Fred Stopping short. Huh? Eileen Why, what’s the matter with you? One would almost think it was her you were going to marry instead of me. Fred Facing her. I got to tell you something. Eileen Why, what is it? Fred I don’t want to get married! I mean⁠—you and I! Eileen Do you know what you’re saying? Fred I can’t help it! I shouldn’t ever have done it! I didn’t realize! Eileen Well! This is a fine time to tell me! Why didn’t you wait till Friday! Fred I just now realized it! Eileen I see! And you think all you have to do is tell me and that settles it. Well, it doesn’t work quite that way! Fred What? Eileen You think I’m going to stand by and let you throw me over for that little snip! Fred She is not! Eileen Not by a damned sight! I’ll sue her for alienation⁠—that’s what I’ll do. Fred You can’t. She was born right here in New York State! Eileen You seem to have forgotten something! Did you beg me to marry you or didn’t you? Fred But I didn’t know then. Eileen You seem to have forgotten that I was engaged to another man, and that you took me away from him! What about that? Fred I can’t help it. Eileen A change of method. But that isn’t the main thing. I love you, Freddy. You made me love you. I didn’t at first, but you made me. And now you want to leave me. Fred But you don’t want me to marry you, if I feel that way. Eileen What would you think of a man that made a girl love him, when she was already engaged, and then threw her over? Do you think that would be quite⁠—honorable? Fred With sudden inspiration. Honorable! That’s just what I got to be! That’s why I can’t marry you! Eileen What do you mean? Fred I mean I got to marry another girl, to save her from⁠—from worse than death. Eileen That little kid? A gesture. Fred Yes! Eileen You mean you’ve got her in trouble? Fred Yes! That’s it! Eileen I don’t believe you! I’m going to call her back! Fred Stopping her. No, no! You mustn’t tell her that! Eileen Why not? Fred I⁠—I want to surprise her. Eileen A scornful surveying. Did you think I was going to fall for any story like that? Fred turns away. I’m the one you’re engaged to, and I’m the one you’re going to marry. Paul comes in. Paul Not interrupting, am I? Eileen Slowly, and narrowly observing Fred. No, I was just going. With great deliberation. We understand each other. Don’t we? She watches Fred; gets no response; goes out. Paul What’s the matter? Fred Dully. Huh? Paul You haven’t had a fight, have you? Fred Shakes his head. There ain’t anything the matter. Paul I thought maybe we might get after one of those numbers. Fred I don’t feel much like working. Paul I’m sorry if anything’s happened. Fred It ain’t nothing. I’ll be all right soon. Paul The only thing is⁠—there isn’t much time left if we’re going to finish before you go. Here it is Tuesday. Fred How about starting in early tomorrow morning? Paul What are you doing this afternoon? Fred I got to go to the French passport place. Paul I thought you went there yesterday. Fred I couldn’t. I told you I went with Eileen while she was shopping. Paul Oh, yah. Four hundred dollars. Fred She certainly knows how to spend. Paul Lightly. You must have had a swell time, running around with two women all afternoon. Fred No, I wasn’t. What two women? Paul Her and Lucille. Fred Lucille wasn’t along. Just I and Eileen. Paul Yesterday? Fred Nods. We was together from one till five-thirty. Why? Paul Trying to fit things together. Nothing, only⁠—and it was yesterday she spent the four hundred? Fred It was three eighty-seven. Paul That’s funny. Fred What’s the matter? Paul Slowly. I don’t know. I guess I got things kind of mixed up. Fred What things? Paul Didn’t Lucille ever meet you, during the afternoon? Fred No. Why? Eileen and Lucille look in. Lucille We’re going out to lunch. Want to come along? Paul Almost too casually. I want to talk to you. Lucille What? Paul I said I want to talk to you. Lucille What about? Eileen Catching a note of something in Paul’s manner. What’s the matter with him? Paul Where were you yesterday afternoon? Lucille Trying to do some quick thinking. I was⁠—out. Paul Quiet, but terrifying. I said, where were you? Lucille Do I have to report all my movements? Paul You do when I catch you lying! Where were you? Fred is following this with wide but uncomprehending eyes. Eileen is scared but wary, waiting to go to the defense if she can. Lucille I had an engagement! It was⁠—with an old friend of mine, and I thought you might not want me to do it, and so I told you I was with Eileen. Fred Beginning to understand. Oh! Lucille I know it was foolish of me! I was going to tell you later. Eileen She was going to tell you tonight! She told me so. Lucille Yah! Paul Yah? After another terrible pause. Where’d you get that dress? Lucille What? I bought it. Eileen I treated her to it, if you want to know. Paul Is that so? That wasn’t what you told