Thomas Wolfe, page 537
thin far voice (With evil mockery, rushing away on the wind). Conversion, Conversion!
(The great black figures continue to pad swiftly and softly past. A church bell rings slowly and sweetly, far away)
Curtain
[¬]
ACT ONE
When the curtain rises, all within the house is dark, though on the porch outside, between the contour of the great white columns, the moon has printed blocks of misty radiance.
Outside may be heard the noises of the encampment—the shouts and cries of men, the shrill whinnying of horses, the coming and going of feet, confused, disordered, as they would actually.
Blended, but coming from the house, is the sound of music, slow, soft, seductive—the feet of the dancers, and the voices of many people, men and women, boys and girls,—fine, young, melodious.
Bugles are sounded.
There is a wind about the corners of the house; a thin gray spume of clouds is washed about the window of the moon; the scene is darkened.
All the sounds become ordered; the noise of the encampment sinks into a steady, distant hum with momentary climaxes.
Within the house, it is possible to detect, in the orderly confusion of young laughter and speech, certain recognizable phrases. They are saying:
all (Speaking at once). 119 at 17, sir. . . Who’s seen Eugene? (Laughter) He’s drunk . . . (Laughter) Feel for his family . . . Outrageous . . . no manners . . . Ralph’s my pick . . . Yes, sir . . . Courtly figure . . . They stepped forward to a man, sir . . . 119 at 17 . . . Ralph is handsome in his uniform . . . Shop-keeping Yankees. (Laughter) Isn’t it thrilling! . . . Six weeks, sir,—drive the whole pack into Washington . . . (Many voices together) Music—Music—where’s the music? Have you seen ’Gene’s uniform? Looks like a balloon. Yes, I say six weeks, sir—no more. Snap your fingers at them, and they’ll run like rabbits. (All, laughing delightedly) Yes, yes. If you snap your fingers at them—(A great snapping of fingers is heard within the house)
a thin high voice (Far and dim—in the upper air, but howling faintly with malevolent laughter). Snap your fingers, gentlemen. Snap your fingers!
all (In hushed voices). Who was that? Who was it?—Eugene. . . . It was Eugene. Always up to something—Drunk as a lord, you know. (Laughter)
several voices. Yes—yes—it was Eugene.
(The moon drives out of heavy clouds, and the scene goes dimly visible again)
a voice (Speaking from the borders of the house). General!
general’s voice (Deep, calm, melodious). Yes?
voice. We are ready.
general’s voice. At midnight, then.
voice. Yes, sir.
general’s voice. Where is the music? (A waltz is played) There is but one night in all the world, and it is yours. So dance, my boys and girls. Dance.
a voice. That was a good line, General, a damn good line.
(The music swells in volume until it seems to fill the house. The lights blaze on. The room is empty; the dance goes on within another quarter of the house. Shadows of the dancers are printed on the walls)
(eugene, a young man with a thin, bright face, alive with dark intelligence, with lank black hair, and unkempt person, enters swiftly from the darkness beyond the windows)
(The general, a man near sixty, with a thick, blunt beard, and a fine bold valiant face, crosses the room from the door to the right. They meet in the center of the room)
eugene (Saluting with a drunken flourish). In the beginning, General, was the manner.
general (In a low, vibrant angry voice). You clown! You drunken fool! (He goes out directly to the left)
eugene (Calling after him, walking unsteadily toward the door). And what’s a clown, General, but a man with a funny manner? (To himself, with fierce elation) Ah, they do things with a manner in this house, and I’ve invented a new one. (Hoarsely, fiercely) My own! My own! (A pause) Now is the time for endings.
(There is a sound of ribald laughter, and of maudlin singing from the encampment outside. eugene goes to window; drunken voices salute him)
the maudlin voices (Mockingly). Captain. Oh—oh! Captain!
eugene (With a gesture of his arm). Hi, boys!
voices (Loud with laughter). Our Captain’s drunk!
eugene (Laughing unsteadily). Never mind that! What I say is: “What’s the matter with my manner, eh?” (Rapidly with a fierce cry) What’s the matter with my manner?
(He is answered by a burst of ribald laughter, cat calls, and mockery which subsides presently. He comes to the center of the room and stands perfectly motionless a moment. His lean dark face writhes. He begins to laugh suddenly in a rapid high pitched key—a terrible laugh. He plants one hand fiercely over his mouth to check the sound. Presently he removes the hand)
(In a low voice) Oh, God! I shall go mad! (A pause) That was a good line too; a damn good line. Perhaps it would go well in a play. But I believe in endings. (He goes out swiftly under the window)
(The faithful dog, a big shag beast, with comically sentimental head and eyes, pads slowly and clumsily across the room, and goes out)
(In a moment the general re-enters the room and strikes a bell. tod, a giant negro, a man of terrible and savage majesty, which even the coat and buttons of a butler cannot conceal, appears with the swift stealth of a great cat)
general. You have watched him, Tod?
tod. Dar, suh. (He nods toward the window)
general. Find him now. Tell him his mother wishes to speak with him.
tod (With a stern, inflexible bow). Yes, suh. (He is gone like a cat into the darkness)
(There enters a young captain, and the glory of arms and of his youth has given him radiance)
the young captain (Saluting). Sir, we are ready.
general. All?
captain. All, sir.
general. That is good! We march at midnight. See that our men are cared for.
captain. Yes, sir. I have.
general You are dancing?
captain. Yes, sir.
general. The young men have all been introduced?
captain. Yes, sir.
(A slight pause)
general. And all the young men who should be invited are here? You understand, Captain?
captain. Yes, sir. All the gentlemen are here.
(A pause)
captain. I took a slight liberty, sir?
general. Yes?
captain. A young man of good family and breeding, enlisted in the regiment as a private soldier, although he brought his own darkies—
general (Quickly). Who is he?
captain. His name is Robert Morton.
general. The son of Bob Morton of Fairfields?
captain. Yes, sir.
general. He was invited, of course?
captain. Through an unfortunate inadvertence, no.
general. What a stupid blunder!
captain. I took the liberty, sir.
general. You were quite right. Thank you. (A waltz is played) Back to your dance, Captain.
captain. Thank you, sir.
general. You have a good moon tonight; and not so far away a good war gives you glory. And in my house, young Captain, there is music, and the dance, and pretty girls.
captain. A pretty girl.
general. A pretty girl—Ah, well, the world grows tame since I was young. A pretty girl! And at your age!
captain (With composure). Yes, sir. (A pause; and music is played again) She is here, sir, now . . . (He coughs) . . . waiting.
general. Into her arms, you scamp.
captain. Thank you, sir. (He turns to go. The general watches him with grave affection as he leaves the room)
general (Recalling him suddenly). Captain!
captain (Turning). Yes, sir.
general. How old are you, my boy?
captain (Flushing a little). Twenty-one, sir.
general. Ah, that is very young to be a captain.
captain (With dignity). It is a very good age, sir. (With slight emphasis) I’m a West Pointer, sir.
general. True! You should be at least a major, fortunate boy! Twenty-one with braid and buttons, and a sword that clanks; with a moon, and a war, and pretty girls all at your service.
captain. A pretty girl, sir. (Coughing again) Waiting, sir.
general. Take care, take care, young Captain. The gods have served you well. Whom the gods love—
captain (In a low voice). Die young. I know, sir. But that is tomorrow, sir.
general. Ah, boy! Tomorrow will come.
(Music is heard again)
captain. There is the music, sir.
general. Good night, Captain.
captain. Good night, sir. (He goes out)
(eugene comes in from darkness and goes across the room)
eugene (As he passes). There are too many trees around the house. You cannot see the road from here. I have just tried, General; this is a very significant remark. (He goes out in the direction of the music)
(tod appears under the windows)
general. Watch him. And tell him again his mother wants him. (tod bows and goes out to the left)
(To himself) (And yet, ah yet, somehow to the audience, in a low tone) I have never cared to see the road.
(major patton enters. He is a short man of apoplectic appearance—fine thick white hair above a red round face; loyal, prejudiced, courageous and intolerant. He speaks in a high fat thick wheezing voice, and seems forever panting out important news just gained)
major. And have you heard, sir? Have you heard? 117 of the men, all under nineteen, stepped forward. It was magnificent. The entire cadet corps.
general. You told me this morning.
major (In disbelief). Not really.
general. After that, you came over to tell me at lunch.
major. No! Did I?
general. You told me again when you arrived tonight.
major. But such spirit as that is unconquerable. With boys like these, we shall drive the shop-keeping Yankees back into Washington, pell-mell in . . . in a month! In two weeks, General.
general. That is very wild and foolish talk.
major. Oh, come! You do not think this business will last any longer.
general. This business will last much longer. This business will eventuate as a very dangerous war!!
major. Oh, nonsense, sir. A holiday only, pleasant exercise for our horses—call it what you will. But not a war, General.
general. A very desperate and determined war.
major. Then let us say two months or, say, by Autumn. I tell you it will be done by Autumn. Three months—three months at the longest.
general. Three months! The winter, too, and longer.
major (Stammering slightly). But—but—see here—you know, against gentlemen—
general. Perhaps we shall be burdened by our armor. And the battle of Crecy was decided long ago.
major (In a low, but very earnest tone). Sir, I believe in gentlemen. It is my religion.
general. I have said prayers, too, Major.
major. And I believe in justice and truth and honor—in our cause.
general. Our hearts are blind upon their warmest side, I think.
major. We must fight.
general. That is assured.
(eugene passes again and goes out under the window)
major. About Eugene—
general (Rising; a trifle brusquely). Yes?
major. It is most distressing. Known him as a boy; one of my cadets. I want to talk with you.
(Music is played)
general. Shall we return to the dancers?
(They go out)
(eugene enters the room and pours whiskey from a decanter on the table. He drinks)
eugene (Sharply, without glancing round). Yes, Tod!
(tod enters the room)
tod (With a stern, grave bow). De mist’ess want to see yo’, suh.
eugene (Harshly). Say it without bowing, you old fool.
tod (Bowing). Yes, suh.
eugene (Ironically, with a bow). I forgot! Your majesty!
tod (Inflexibly). Yes, suh.
eugene. And so you have learned the manner, too? And your fathers were kings!
tod. Yes, suh.
eugene. Old man, you have degenerated. You have become a gentleman. Kings do not have manners.
tod. Yes, suh. (With the same stern courtliness)
eugene. Get out, you fool.
tod. Yes, suh. The mist’ess—
eugene. I will find her. (tod bows and retires. eugene drinks again. A young cadet, a boy with straw-colored hair, enters the room) What’s your name, boy?
cadet. Cameron, sir.
eugene. That’s your last. And your first?
cadet. Dinwiddie.
eugene. Virginia, eh? (cadet nods) Where all good things come from? (cadet laughs) And most of the gentlemen, (cadet is silent. eugene drinks and is silent also for a moment. He puts down his glass; presently) Going to war, Cadet?
cadet. Yes, sir.
eugene. Want to go?
cadet (With enthusiasm). Oh, yes, sir.
eugene (With cynical imitation). Oh, yes, sir. It will be great fun, won’t it?
cadet (Eagerly). Oh, yes, sir.
eugene. Yes—great fun, Cadet, getting shot at in a pretty uniform with shiny buttons, so they can see you better. (He laughs) (He laughs again as he has laughed before—with a terrible note in his laughter) Great fun, Cadet. (They are both silent) Young, aren’t you?
cadet (Hotly). I’m as old as the others,—and bigger than most of them.
eugene. You wanted to go?
cadet (Fiercely). I’ve as much right to go as the others.
eugene. Yes, I suppose so. The supply of damned young fools is inexhaustible. (The cadet turns stiffly on his heel) (In a more kindly tone) Come back, Cameron. I didn’t mean to offend you. After all, you did the only thing you could do, didn’t you?
cadet. Yes, sir. All the others volunteered.
eugene. And so did you?
cadet. Yes, sir.
eugene. Now, tell me, Cadet—is there any particular branch of the service you would prefer?
cadet (Promptly). Yes, sir.
eugene. What is it?
cadet. The cavalry.
eugene. Oh, the cavalry! Like horses, eh?
cadet. Yes, sir.
eugene. The kind with lots of fire, you know. They step around like this. (He teeters about drunkenly on his legs, and they both laugh)
cadet. Oh, yes. I like that kind. (A pause) I like the uniform, too.
eugene. Oh, yes—the uniform. Spurs, eh?
cadet. Yes, sir. And a sash of yellow silk around the waist.
eugene. Oho! That’s quite fine, isn’t it?
cadet. Yes, sir. I like the hat, too.
eugene. Ah, the hat. And why the hat, Cadet?
cadet. There is a plume—
eugene (With mockery that escapes unnoticed). A plume! A plume! Just like those worn by the invincible knights of old.
cadet (With entire innocence). Yes, sir. But it doesn’t stick straight up as theirs did. It goes around the side.
eugene. Why, this is better and better. Cavalier fashion, eh?
cadet. Yes, sir.
eugene. And, no doubt, a sword that will clank, Cadet.
cadet. Yes, sir. (A slight pause) I have a picture of it here. Would you like to see it, sir?
eugene. By all means.
(The cadet fumbles at the pocket of his jacket, with trembling fingers, and draws forth a small object wrapped carefully in tissue paper, tied with a ribbon of silk)
Ah, precious!
cadet (Removing the paper). You see, sir.
eugene (Examining the picture). Ah, yes. Very handsome uniform, Cadet. (A pause) There’s a man in it.
cadet. Yes, sir. That’s Mr. Stuart. General Stuart. My people know him. I’d join his troop!
eugene. Handsome fellow. Ask him why he doesn’t shave the beard. (He returns the picture) So you’d j’ine the cavalry.
cadet. Yes, sir. I hope to.
eugene (Winningly). Got a girl, Cadet?
cadet (Blushing). Yes, sir.
eugene. She’d like the uniform, too, eh?
cadet (Laughing). Yes, sir.
(There is a pause)
eugene. I am going to ask you a very personal question, Cadet.
cadet. Yes, sir.
eugene. People who go to war are sometimes . . . wounded.
cadet. Yes, sir.
eugene (Steadily and mercilessly). Sometimes, Cadet, they are even . . .
cadet (Quickly, with a slight gasp). Oh, yes, I know, sir.
eugene. Ah, you’ve thought of that. Good. Now, Cadet, if you should be wounded, where would you prefer the wound to be?
(There is a pause)
cadet (In a hesitant tone). Why, sir . . . the leg or the arm, I suppose.
eugene. I see. (Smoothly) A clean hole, Cadet,—no bone.
cadet (With a slight shudder). No, sir.
eugene. And if you should be . . . killed.
cadet (Very slowly). Why, sir, here . . . or here. (He taps his head and breast)
eugene. Exactly. (With irony which is not noticed) Face to the foe.
cadet (With enthusiasm). Yes, sir. In front of all the cadets—leading the charge.
(There is a pause)
eugene. Yes, exactly. And . . . otherwise, Cadet?
(The cadet does not answer, but he makes a quick spasmodic gesture, with his hands, and turns away. His shoulders heave once)
cadet (In a muffled unsteady voice). Then, do you think, sir—
eugene (With sudden fierce harshness). Of course not, you little fool. For you’re a gentleman. (With a great cry) Only the peasants get it in the guts. For you, Cadet, there is only gracefulness. God is a great romancer. He’ll save your prettiness.
(Music is played. The cadet lowers his head and weeps)
eugene (Speaking with a voice now filled with tenderness). Go back to your dance, Cadet. There will be gray dawns, hereafter. Tonight you are young; and you can never die.
(The cadet goes out in the direction of the music. Bugles are blown. The negro, tod, goes through the room. In a moment mrs. ramsay enters. She is a woman just past fifty, with hair which has grayed quite beautifully; to emphasize her sincere, but gravely calculated emotionalism, she employs a tiny lace handkerchief before her mouth as she comes)
