ADELAIDE: Yes; it lacks form, doesn't it?

CLAIRE: What do you mean? How dare you?

(It is impossible to ignore her agitation; she is backed against the curved wall, as far as possible from them. HARRY looks at her in alarm, then in resentment at TOM, who takes a step nearer CLAIRE.)

HARRY: (trying to be light) Don't take it so hard, Claire.

CLAIRE: (to EMMONS) It must be very interesting-helping people go insane.

ADELAIDE: Claire! How preposterous.

EMMONS: (easily) I hope that's not precisely what we do.

ADELAIDE: (with the smile of one who is going to 'cover it'.) Trust Claire to put it in the unique and-amusing way.

CLAIRE: Amusing? You are amused? But it doesn't matter, (to the doctor) I think it is very kind of you-helping people go insane. I suppose they have all sorts of reasons for having to do it-reasons why they can't stay sane any longer. But tell me, how do they do it? It's not so easy to-get out. How do so many manage it?

EMMONS: I'd like immensely to have a talk with you about all this some day.

ADELAIDE: Certainly this is not the time, Claire.

CLAIRE: The time? When you-can't go any farther-isn't that that-

ADELAIDE: (capably taking the whole thing into matter-of-factness) What I think is, Claire has worked too long with plants. There's something-not quite sound about making one thing into another thing. What we need is unity. (from CLAIRE something like a moan) Yes, dear, we do need it. (to the doctor) I can't say that I believe in making life over like this. I don't think the new species are worth it. At least I don't believe in it for Claire. If one is an intense, sensitive person-

CLAIRE: Isn't there any way to stop her? Always-always smothering it with the word for it?

EMMONS: (soothingly) But she can't smother it. Anything that's really there-she can't hurt with words.

CLAIRE: (looking at him with eyes too bright) Then you don't see it either, (angry) Yes, she can hurt it! Piling it up-always piling it up-between us and-What there. Clogging the way-always, (to EMMONS) I want to cease to know! That's all I ask. Darken it. Darken it. If you came to help me, strike me blind!

EMMONS: You're really all tired out, aren't you? Oh, we've got to get you rested.

CLAIRE: They-deny it saying they have it; and he (half looks at TOM-quickly looks away)-others, deny it-afraid of losing it. We're in the way. Can't you see the dead stuff piled in the path? (Pointing.)

d.i.c.k: (voice coming up) Me too?

CLAIRE: (staring at the path, hearing his voice a moment after it has come) Yes, d.i.c.k-you too. Why not-you too. (after he has come up) What is there any more than you are?

d.i.c.k: (embarra.s.sed by the intensity, but laughing) A question not at all displeasing to me. Who can answer it?

CLAIRE: (more and more excited) Yes! Who can answer it? (going to him, in terror) Let me go with you-and be with you-and know nothing else!

ADELAIDE: (gasping) Why-!

HARRY: Claire! This is going a little too-

CLAIRE: Far? But you have to go far to-(clinging to d.i.c.k) Only a place to hide your head-what else is there to hope for? I can't stay with them-piling it up! Always-piling it up! I can't get through to-he won't let me through to-what I don't know is there! (d.i.c.k would help her regain herself) Don't push me away! Don't-don't stand me up, I will go back-to the worst we ever were! Go back-and remember-what we've tried to forget!

ADELAIDE: It's time to stop this by force-if there's no other way. (the doctor shakes his head)

CLAIRE: All I ask is to die in the gutter with everyone spitting on me. (changes to a curious weary smiling quiet) Still, why should they bother to do that?

HARRY: (brokenly) You're sick, Claire. There's no denying it. (looks at EMMONS, who nods)

ADELAIDE: Something to quiet her-to stop it.

CLAIRE: (throwing her arms around d.i.c.k) You, d.i.c.k. Not them. Not-any of them.

d.i.c.k: Claire, you are overwrought. You must-

HARRY: (to d.i.c.k, as if only now realizing that phase of it) I'll tell you one thing, you'll answer to me for this! (he starts for d.i.c.k-is restrained by EMMONS, chiefly by his grave shake of the head. With HARRY's move to them, d.i.c.k has shielded CLAIRE)

CLAIRE: Yes-hold me. Keep me. You have mercy! You will have mercy. Anything-everything-that will let me be nothing!

(CURTAIN)

ACT III

In the greenhouse, the same as Act I. ANTHONY is bedding small plants where the Edge Vine grew. In the inner room the plant like caught motion glows as from a light within. HATTIE, the Maid, rushes in from outside.

ANTHONY: (turning angrily) You are not what this place-

HATTIE: Anthony, come in the house. I'm afraid. Mr Archer, I never saw him like this. He's talking to Mr Demming-something about Mrs Archer.

ANTHONY: (who in spite of himself is disturbed by her agitation) And if it is, it's no business of yours.

HATTIE: You don't know how he is. I went in the room and-

ANTHONY: Well, he won't hurt you, will he?

HATTIE: How do I know who he'll hurt-a person's whose-(seeing how to get him) Maybe he'll hurt Mrs Archer.

ANTHONY: (startled, then smiles) No; he won't hurt Miss Claire.

HATTIE: What do you know about it?-out here in the plant house?

ANTHONY: And I don't want to know about it. This is a very important day for me. It's Breath of Life I'm thinking of today-not you and Mr Archer.

HATTIE: Well, suppose he does something to Mr Demming?

ANTHONY: Mr Demming will have to look out for himself, I am at work.

(resuming work)

HATTIE: Don't you think I ought to tell Mrs Archer that-

ANTHONY: You let her alone! This is no day for her to be bothered by you. At eleven o'clock (looks at watch) she comes out here-to Breath of Life.