Glaspell, Susan, 1882-1948. Trifles: A Play in One Act
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
| Table of Contents for this work |
| All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRIFLES
[SCENE: The kitchen in the now abandoned farmhouse of JOHN WRIGHT, a gloomy
kitchen, and left without having been put in order -- unwashed pans under the
sink, a loaf of bread outside the bread-box, a dish-towel on the table -- other
signs of incompleted work. At the rear the outer door opens and the SHERIFF
comes in followed by the COUNTY ATTORNEY and HALE. The SHERIFF and HALE are men
in middle life, the COUNTY ATTORNEY is a young man; all are much bundled up and
go at once to the stove. They are followed by the two women -- the SHERIFF'S
wife first; she is a slight wiry woman, a thin nervous face. MRS. HALE is larger
and would ordinarily be called more comfortable looking, but she is disturbed
now and looks fearfully about as she enters. The women have come in slowly, and
stand close together near the door.]
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[Rubbing his hands.]
This feels good. Come up to the fire, ladies.
MRS. PETERS
[After taking a step forward.]
I'm not -- cold.
SHERIFF
[Unbuttoning his overcoat and stepping away from the stove as if to mark the
beginning of official business.]
Now, Mr. Hale, before we move things about,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-4-
you explain to Mr. Henderson just what you saw when you came here yesterday
morning.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
By the way, has anything been moved? Are things just as you left them yesterday?
SHERIFF
[Looking about.]
It's just the same. When it dropped below zero last night I thought I'd better
send Frank out this morning to make a fire for us -- no use getting pneumonia
with a big case on, but I told him not to touch anything except the stove -- and
you know Frank.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Somebody should have been left here yesterday.
SHERIFF
Oh -- yesterday. When I had to send Frank to Morris Center for that man who went
crazy -- I want you to know I had my hands full yesterday. I knew you could get
back from Omaha by today and as long as I went over everything here myself --
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Well, Mr. Hale, tell just what happened when you came here yesterday morning.
HALE
Harry and I had started to town with a load of potatoes. We came along the road
from my place and as I got here I said, "I'm going to see if I can't
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-5-
get John Wright to go in with me on a party telephone." I spoke to Wright about
it once before and he put me off, saying folks talked too much anyway, and all
he asked was peace and quiet -- I guess you know about how much he talked
himself; but I thought maybe if I went to the house and talked about it before
his wife, though I said to Harry that I didn't know as what his wife wanted made
much difference to John --
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Let's talk about that later, Mr. Hale. I do want to talk about that, but tell
now just what happened when you got to the house.
HALE
I didn't hear or see anything; I knocked at the door, and still it was all quiet
inside. I knew they must be up, it was past eight o'clock. So I knocked again,
and I thought I heard somebody say, "Come in." I wasn't sure, I'm not sure yet,
but I opened the door -- this door [indicating the door by which the two women
are still standing]
and there in that rocker -- [pointing to it]
sat Mrs. Wright.
[They all look at the rocker.]
COUNTY ATTORNEY
What -- was she doing?
HALE
She was rockin' back and forth. She had her apron in her hand and was kind of --
pleating it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6-
COUNTY ATTORNEY
And how did she -- look?
HALE
Well, she looked queer.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
How do you mean -- queer?
HALE
Well, as if she didn't know what she was going to do next. And kind of done up.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
How did she seem to feel about your coming?
HALE
Why, I don't think she minded -- one way or other. She didn't pay much
attention. I said, "How do, Mrs. Wright, it's cold, ain't it?" And she said, "Is
it?" -- and went on kind of pleating at her apron. Well, I was surprised; she
didn't ask me to come up to the stove, or to set down, but just sat there, not
even looking at me, so I said, "I want to see John." And then she -- laughed. I
guess you would call it a laugh. I thought of Harry and the team outside, so I
said a little sharp: "Can't I see John?" "No," she says, kind o' dull like. "Ain't
he home?" says I. "Yes," says she, "he's home." "Then why can't I see him?" I
asked her, out of patience. "'Cause he's dead," says she. "Dead?" says I. She
just nodded her head, not getting a bit excited, but rockin' back and forth.
"Why -- where is he?" says I, not
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-7-
knowing what to say. She just pointed upstairs -- like that [himself pointing to
the room above]
. I got up, with the idea of going up there. I walked from there to here -- then
I says, "Why, what did he die of?" "He died of a rope round his neck," says she,
and just went on pleatin' at her apron. Well, I went out and called Harry. I
thought I might -- need help. We went upstairs and there he was lyin' --
COUNTY ATTORNEY
I think I'd rather have you go into that upstairs, where you can point it all
out. Just go on now with the rest of the story.
HALE
Well, my first thought was to get that rope off. It looked . . . [Stops, his
face twitches]
. . . but Harry, he went up to him, and he said, "No, he's dead all right, and
we'd better not touch anything." So we went back down stairs. She was still
sitting that same way. "Has anybody been notified?" I asked. "No," says she,
unconcerned. "Who did this, Mrs. Wright?" said Harry. He said it business-like
-- and she stopped pleatin' of her apron. "I don't know," she says. "You don't
know?" says Harry. "No," says she. "Weren't you sleepin' in the bed with him?"
says Harry. "Yes," says she, "but I was on the inside." "Somebody slipped a rope
round his neck and strangled him and you didn't wake up?" says Harry. "I didn't
wake up," she said after him. We must 'a looked as if we didn't see how that
could be, for after a minute she said, "I sleep sound." Harry was going to ask
her more questions but I said maybe we ought to let her tell her story first to
the
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-8-
coroner, or the sheriff, so Harry went fast as he could to Rivers' place, where
there's a telephone.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
And what did Mrs. Wright do when she knew that you had gone for the coroner?
HALE
She moved from that chair to this one over here [Pointing to a small chair in
the corner]
and just sat there with her hands held together and looking down. I got a
feeling that I ought to make some conversation, so I said I had come in to see
if John wanted to put in a telephone, and at that she started to laugh, and then
she stopped and looked at me -- scared. [The COUNTY ATTORNEY, who has had his
notebook out, makes a note.]
I dunno, maybe it wasn't scared. I wouldn't like to say it was. Soon Harry got
back, and then Dr. Lloyd came, and you, Mr. Peters, and so I guess that's all I
know that you don't.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[Looking around.]
I guess we'll go upstairs first -- and then out to the barn and around there.
[To the SHERIFF.]
You're convinced that there was nothing important here -- nothing that would
point to any motive.
SHERIFF
Nothing here but kitchen things.
[The COUNTY ATTORNEY, after again looking around the kitchen, opens the door of
a cupboard closet. He gets up on a chair and looks on a shelf. Pulls his hand
away, sticky.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-9-
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Here's a nice mess.
[The women draw nearer.]
MRS. PETERS
[To the other woman.]
Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. [To the LAWYER.]
She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire'd go out and
her jars would break.
SHERIFF
Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
I guess before we're through she may have something more serious than preserves
to worry about.
HALE
Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.
[The two women move a little closer together.]
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[With the gallantry of a young politician.]
And yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies? [The women
do not unbend. He goes to the sink, takes a dipperful of water from the pail and
pouring it into a basin, washes his hands. Starts to wipe them on the
roller-towel, turns it for a cleaner place.]
Dirty towels! [Kicks his foot against the pans under the sink.]
Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-10-
MRS. HALE
[Stiffly.]
There's a great deal of work to be done on a farm.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
To be sure. And yet [With a little bow to her]
I know there are some Dickson county farmhouses which do not have such roller
towels.
[He gives it a pull to expose its full length again.]
MRS. HALE
Those towels get dirty awful quick. Men's hands aren't always as clean as they
might be.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Ah, loyal to your sex, I see. But you and Mrs. Wright were neighbors. I suppose
you were friends, too.
MRS. HALE
[Shaking her head.]
I've not seen much of her of late years. I've not been in this house -- it's
more than a year.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
And why was that? You didn't like her?
MRS. HALE
I liked her well enough. Farmers' wives have their hands full, Mr. Henderson.
And then --
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Yes -- ?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-11-
MRS. HALE
[Looking about.]
It never seemed a very cheerful place.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
No -- it's not cheerful. I shouldn't say she had the homemaking instinct.
MRS. HALE
Well, I don't know as Wright had, either.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
You mean that they didn't get on very well?
MRS. HALE
No, I don't mean anything. But I don't think a place'd be any cheerfuller for
John Wright's being in it.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
I'd like to talk more of that a little later. I want to get the lay of things
upstairs now.
[He goes to the left, where three steps lead to a stair door.]
SHERIFF
I suppose anything Mrs. Peters does'll be all right. She was to take in some
clothes for her, you know, and a few little things. We left in such a hurry
yesterday.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Yes, but I would like to see what you take, Mrs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-12-
Peters, and keep an eye out for anything that might be of use to us.
MRS. PETERS
Yes, Mr. Henderson.
[The women listen to the men's steps on the stairs, then look about the
kitchen.]
MRS. HALE
I'd hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticising.
[She arranges the pans under sink which the LAWYER had shoved out of place.]
MRS. PETERS
Of course it's no more than their duty.
MRS. HALE
Duty's all right, but I guess that deputy sheriff that came out to make the fire
might have got a little of this on. [Gives the roller towel a pull.]
Wish I'd thought of that sooner. Seems mean to talk about her for not having
things slicked up when she had to come away in such a hurry.
MRS. PETERS
[Who has gone to a small table in the left rear corner of the room, and lifted
one end of a towel that covers a pan.]
She had bread set. [Stands still.]
MRS. HALE
[Eyes fixed on a loaf of bread beside the bread-box,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-13-
which is on a low shelf at the other side of the room. Moves slowly toward it.]
She was going to put this in there. [Picks up loaf, then abruptly drops it. In a
manner of returning to familiar things.]
It's a shame about her fruit. I wonder if it's all gone. [Gets up on the chair
and looks.]
I think there's some here that's all right, Mrs. Peters. Yes -- here; [Holding
it toward the window]
this is cherries, too. [Looking again.]
I declare I believe that's the only one. [Gets down, bottle in her hand. Goes to
the sink and wipes it off on the outside.]
She'll feel awful bad after all her hard work in the hot weather. I remember the
afternoon I put up my cherries last summer.
[She puts the bottle on the big kitchen table, center of the room. With a sigh,
is about to sit down in the rocking-chair. Before she is seated realizes what
chair it is; with a slow look at it, steps back. The chair which she has touched
rocks back and forth.]
MRS. PETERS
Well, I must get those things from the front room closet. [She goes to the door
at the right, but after looking into the other room, steps back.]
You coming with me, Mrs. Hale? You could help me carry them.
[They go in the other room; reappear, MRS. PETERS carrying a dress and skirt,
MRS. HALE following with a pair of shoes.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-14-
MRS. PETERS
My, it's cold in there. [She puts the clothes on the big table, and hurries to
the stove.]
MRS. HALE
[Examining the skirt.]
Wright was close. I think maybe that's why she kept so much to herself. She
didn't even belong to the Ladies Aid. I suppose she felt she couldn't do her
part, and then you don't enjoy things when you feel shabby. She used to wear
pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls
singing in the choir. But that -- oh, that was thirty years ago. This all you
was to take in?
MRS. PETERS
She said she wanted an apron. Funny thing to want, for there isn't much to get
you dirty in jail, goodness knows. But I suppose just to make her feel more
natural. She said they was in the top drawer in this cupboard. Yes, here. And
then her little shawl that always hung behind the door. [Opens stair door and
looks.]
Yes, here it is. [Quickly shuts door leading upstairs.]
MRS. HALE
[Abruptly moving toward her.]
Mrs. Peters?
MRS. PETERS
Yes, Mrs. Hale?
MRS. HALE
Do you think she did it?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-15-
MRS. PETERS
[In a frightened voice.]
Oh, I don't know.
MRS. HALE
Well, I don't think she did. Asking for an apron and her little shawl. Worrying
about her fruit.
MRS. PETERS
[Starts to speak, glances up, where footsteps are heard in the room above. In a
low voice.]
Mr. Peters says it looks bad for her. Mr. Henderson is awful sarcastic in a
speech and he'll make fun of her sayin' she didn't wake up.
MRS. HALE
Well, I guess John Wright didn't wake when they was slipping that rope under his
neck.
MRS. PETERS
No, it's strange. It must have been done awful crafty and still. They say it was
such a -- funny way to kill a man, rigging it all up like that.
MRS. HALE
That's just what Mr. Hale said. There was a gun in the house. He says that's
what he can't understand.
MRS. PETERS
Mr. Henderson said coming out that what was needed for the case was a motive;
something to show anger, or -- sudden feeling.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-16-
MRS. HALE
[Who is standing by the table.]
Well, I don't see any signs of anger around here. [She puts her hand on the dish
towel which lies on the table, stands looking down at table, one half of which
is clean, the other half messy.]
It's wiped to here. [Makes a move as if to finish work, then turns and looks at
loaf of bread outside the breadbox. Drops towel. In that voice of coming back to
familiar things.]
Wonder how they are finding things upstairs. I hope she had it a little more
red-up up there. You know, it seems kind of sneaking. Locking her up in town and
then coming out here and trying to get her own house to turn against her!
MRS. PETERS
But Mrs. Hale, the law is the law.
MRS. HALE
I s'pose 'tis. [Unbuttoning her coat.]
Better loosen up your things, Mrs. Peters. You won't feel them when you go out.
[MRS. PETERS takes off her fur tippet, goes to hang it on hook at back of room,
stands looking at the under part of the small corner table.]
MRS. PETERS
She was piecing a quilt.
[She brings the large sewing basket and they look at the bright pieces.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-17-
MRS. HALE
It's her log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn't it? I wonder if she was goin' to quilt
it or just knot it?
[Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The SHERIFF enters followed
by HALE and the COUNTY ATTORNEY.]
SHERIFF
They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it!
[The men laugh, the women look abashed.]
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[Rubbing his hands over the stove.]
Frank's fire didn't do much up there, did it? Well, let's go out to the barn and
get that cleared up.
[The men go outside.]
MRS. HALE
[Resentfully.]
I don't know as there's anything so strange, our takin' up our time with little
things while we're waiting for them to get the evidence. [She sits down at the
big table smoothing out a block with decision.] ]
I don't see as it's anything to laugh about.
MRS. PETERS
[Apologetically.]
Of course they've got awful important things on their minds.
[Pulls up a chair and joins MRS. HALE at the table.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-18-
MRS. HALE
[Examining another block.]
Mrs. Peters, look at this one. Here, this is the one she was working on, and
look at the sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even. And look at
this! It's all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn't know what she was
about!
[After she has said this they look at each other, then start to glance back at
the door. After an instant MRS. HALE has pulled at a knot and ripped the
sewing.]
MRS. PETERS
Oh, what are you doing, Mrs. Hale?
MRS. HALE
[Mildly.]
Just pulling out a stitch or two that's not sewed very good. [Threading a
needle.]
Bad sewing always made me fidgety.
MRS. PETERS
[Nervously.]
I don't think we ought to touch things.
MRS. HALE
I'll just finish up this end. [Suddenly stopping and leaning forward.]
Mrs. Peters?
MRS. PETERS
Yes, Mrs. Hale?
MRS. HALE
What do you suppose she was so nervous about?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-19-
MRS. PETERS
Oh -- I don't know. I don't know as she was nervous. I sometimes sew awful queer
when I'm just tired. [MRS. HALE starts to say something, looks at MRS. PETERS,
then goes on sewing.]
Well I must get these things wrapped up. They may be through sooner than we
think. [Putting apron and other things together.]
I wonder where I can find a piece of paper, and string.
MRS. HALE
In that cupboard, maybe.
MRS. PETERS
[Looking in cupboard.]
Why, here's a bird-cage. [Holds it up.]
Did she have a bird, Mrs. Hale?
MRS. HALE
Why, I don't know whether she did or not -- I've not been here for so long.
There was a man around last year selling canaries cheap, but I don't know as she
took one; maybe she did. She used to sing real pretty herself.
MRS. PETERS
[Glancing around.]
Seems funny to think of a bird here. But she must have had one, or why would she
have a cage? I wonder what happened to it.
MRS. HALE
I s'pose maybe the cat got it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-20-
MRS. PETERS
No, she didn't have a cat. She's got that feeling some people have about cats --
being afraid of them. My cat got in her room and she was real upset and asked me
to take it out.
MRS. HALE
My sister Bessie was like that. Queer, ain't it?
MRS. PETERS
[Examining the cage.]
Why, look at this door. It's broke. One hinge is pulled apart.
MRS. HALE
[Looking too.]
Looks as if someone must have been rough with it.
MRS. PETERS
Why, yes. [She brings the cage forward and puts it on the table.]
MRS. HALE
I wish if they're going to find any evidence they'd be about it. I don't like
this place.
MRS. PETERS
But I'm awful glad you came with me, Mrs. Hale. It would be lonesome for me
sitting here alone.
MRS. HALE
It would, wouldn't it? [Dropping her sewing.]
But I tell you what I do wish, Mrs. Peters. I wish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-21-
I had come over sometimes when she was here. I -- [Looking around the room]
-- wish I had.
MRS. PETERS
But of course you were awful busy, Mrs. Hale -- your house and your children.
MRS. HALE
I could've come. I stayed away because it weren't cheerful -- and that's why I
ought to have come. I -- I've never liked this place. Maybe because it's down in
a hollow and you don't see the road. I dunno what it is, but it's a lonesome
place and always was. I wish I had come over to see Minnie Foster sometimes. I
can see now -- [Shakes her head.]
MRS. PETERS
Well, you mustn't reproach yourself, Mrs. Hale. Somehow we just don't see how it
is with other folks until -- something comes up.
MRS. HALE
Not having children makes less work -- but it makes a quiet house, and Wright
out to work all day, and no company when he did come in. Did you know John
Wright, Mrs. Peters?
MRS. PETERS
Not to know him; I've seen him in town. They say he was a good man.
MRS. HALE
Yes -- good; he didn't drink, and kept his word as
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-22-
well as most, I guess, and paid his debts. But he was a hard man, Mrs. Peters.
Just to pass the time of day with him -- [Shivers.]
Like a raw wind that gets to the bone. [Pauses, her eye falling on the cage.]
I should think she would 'a wanted a bird. But what do you suppose went with it?
MRS. PETERS
I don't know, unless it got sick and died.
[She reaches over and swings the broken door, swings it again, both women watch
it.]
MRS. HALE
You weren't raised round here, were you? [MRS. PETERS shakes her head.]
You didn't know -- her?
MRS. PETERS
Not till they brought her yesterday.
MRS. HALE
She -- come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself -- real sweet
and pretty, but kind of timid and -- fluttery. How -- she -- did -- change.
[Silence; then as if struck by a happy thought and relieved to get back to every
day things.]
Tell you what, Mrs. Peters, why don't you take the quilt in with you? It might
take up her mind.
MRS. PETERS
Why, I think that's a real nice idea, Mrs. Hale. There couldn't possibly be any
objection to it, could
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-23-
there? Now, just what would I take? I wonder if her patches are in here -- and
her things.
[They look in the sewing basket.]
MRS. HALE
Here's some red. I expect this has got sewing things in it. [Brings out a fancy
box.]
What a pretty box. Looks like something somebody would give you. Maybe her
scissors are in here. [Opens box. Suddenly puts her hand to her nose.]
Why -- [MRS. PETERS bends nearer, then turns her face away.]
There's something wrapped up in this piece of silk.
MRS. PETERS
Why, this isn't her scissors.
MRS. HALE
[Lifting the silk.]
Oh, Mrs. Peters -- its --
[MRS. PETERS bends closer.]
MRS. PETERS
It's the bird.
MRS. HALE
[Jumping up.]
But, Mrs. Peters -- look at it! It's neck! Look at its neck! It's all -- other
side to.
MRS. PETERS
Somebody -- wrung -- its -- neck.
[Their eyes meet. A look of growing comprehension, of horror. Steps are heard
outside. MRS. HALE slips box under quilt pieces, and sinks into her chair. Enter
SHERIFF and
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-24-
COUNTY ATTORNEY. MRS. PETERS rises.]
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[As one turning from serious things to little pleasantries.]
Well, ladies, have you decided whether she was going to quilt it or knot it?
MRS. PETERS
We think she was going to -- knot it.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Well, that's interesting, I'm sure. [Seeing the birdcage.]
Has the bird flown?
MRS. HALE
[Putting more quilt pieces over the box.]
We think the -- cat got it.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[Preoccupied.]
Is there a cat?
[MRS. HALE glances in a quick covert way at MRS. PETERS.]
MRS. PETERS
Well, not now. They're superstitious, you know. They leave.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[To SHERIFF PETERS, continuing an interrupted conversation.]
No sign at all of anyone having come from the outside. Their own rope. Now let's
go up again and go over it piece by piece. [They start
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-25-
upstairs.]
It would have to have been someone who knew just the --
[MRS. PETERS sits down. The two women sit there not looking at one another, but
as if peering into something and at the same time holding back. When they talk
now it is in the manner of feeling their way over strange ground, as if afraid
of what they are saying, but as if they can not help saying it.]
MRS. HALE
She liked the bird. She was going to bury it in that pretty box.
MRS. PETERS
[In a whisper.]
When I was a girl -- my kitten -- there was a boy took a hatchet, and before my
eyes -- and before I could get there -- [Covers her face an instant.]
If they hadn't held me back I would have -- [Catches herself, looks upstairs
where steps are heard, falters weakly]
-- hurt him.
MRS. HALE
[With a slow look around her.]
I wonder how it would seem never to have had any children around. [Pause.]
No, Wright wouldn't like the bird -- a thing that sang. She used to sing. He
killed that, too.
MRS. PETERS
[Moving uneasily.]
We don't know who killed the bird.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-26-
MRS. HALE
I knew John Wright.
MRS. PETERS
It was an awful thing was done in this house that night, Mrs. Hale. Killing a
man while he slept, slipping a rope around his neck that choked the life out of
him.
MRS. HALE
His neck. Choked the life out of him. [Her hand goes out and rests on the
bird-cage.]
MRS. PETERS
[With rising voice.]
We don't know who killed him. We don't know.
MRS. HALE
[Her own feeling not interrupted.]
If there'd been years and years of nothing, then a bird to sing to you, it would
be awful -- still, after the bird was still.
MRS. PETERS
[Something within her speaking.]
I know what stillness is. When we homesteaded in Dakota, and my first baby died
-- after he was two years old, and me with no other then --
MRS. HALE
[Moving.]
How soon do you suppose they'll be through, looking for the evidence?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-27-
MRS. PETERS
I know what stillness is. [Pulling herself back.]
The law has got to punish crime, Mrs. Hale.
MRS. HALE
[Not as if answering that.]
I wish you'd seen Minnie Foster when she wore a white dress with blue ribbons
and stood up there in the choir and sang. [A look around the room.]
Oh, I wish I'd come over here once in a while! That was a crime! That was a
crime! Who's going to punish that?
MRS. PETERS
[Looking upstairs.]
We mustn't -- take on.
MRS. HALE
I might have known she needed help! I know how things can be -- for women. I
tell you, it's queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live far apart.
We all go through the same things -- it's all just a different kind of the same
thing. [Brushes her eyes, noticing the bottle of fruit, reaches out for it.]
If I was you I wouldn't tell her her fruit was gone. Tell her it ain't. Tell her
it's all right. Take this in to prove it to her. She -- she may never know
whether it was broke or not.
MRS. PETERS
[Takes the bottle, looks about for something to wrap it in; takes petticoat from
the clothes brought from the other room, very nervously begins winding this
around the bottle. In a false voice.]
My, it's a good thing the men couldn't hear us. Wouldn't they just
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-28-
laugh! Getting all stirred up over a little thing like a -- dead canary. As if
that could have anything to do with -- with -- wouldn't they laugh!
[The men are heard coming down stairs.]
MRS. HALE
[Under her breath.]
Maybe they would -- maybe they wouldn't.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
No, Peters, it's all perfectly clear except a reason for doing it. But you know
juries when it comes to women. If there was some definite thing. Something to
show -- something to make a story about -- a thing that would connect up with
this strange way of doing it --
[The women's eyes meet for an instant. Enter HALE from outer door.]
HALE
Well, I've got the team around. Pretty cold out there.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
I'm going to stay here a while by myself. [To the SHERIFF.]
You can send Frank out for me, can't you? I want to go over everything. I'm not
satisfied that we can't do better.
SHERIFF
Do you want to see what Mrs. Peters is going to take in?
[The LAWYER goes to the table, picks up the apron, laughs.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-29-
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Oh, I guess they're not very dangerous things the ladies have picked out. [Moves
a few things about, disturbing the quilt pieces which cover the box. Steps
back.]
No, Mrs. Peters doesn't need supervising. For that matter, a sheriff's wife is
married to the law. Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters?
MRS. PETERS
Not -- just that way.
SHERIFF
[Chuckling.]
Married to the law. [Moves toward the other room.]
I just want you to come in here a minute, George. We ought to take a look at
these windows.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[Scoffingly.]
Oh, windows!
SHERIFF
We'll be right out, Mr. Hale.
[HALE goes outside. The SHERIFF follows the COUNTY ATTORNEY into the other room.
Then MRS. HALE rises, hands tight together, looking intensely at MRS. PETERS,
whose eyes make a slow turn, finally meeting MRS. HALE'S. A moment MRS. HALE
holds her, then her own eyes point the way to where the box is concealed.
Suddenly MRS. PETERS throws back quilt pieces and tries to put the box in the
bag she is
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-30-
wearing. It is too big. She opens box, starts to take bird out, cannot touch it,
goes to pieces, stands there helpless. Sound of a knob turning in the other
room. MRS. HALE snatches the box and puts it in the pocket of her big coat.
Enter COUNTY ATTORNEY and SHERIFF.]
COUNTY ATTORNEY
[Facetiously.]
Well, Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was
going to -- what is it you call it, ladies?
MRS. HALE
[Her hand against her pocket.]
We call it -- knot it, Mr. Henderson.
[(CURTAIN)]