The Spirit of Contradiction | Page 9

to sign the papers.
(Exit Mrs. Townly to the house, and after a moment enter Lucas)
Townly: Well--did I play my part well?
Lucas: Like an expert this time. She is going to do what we want
willingly and for the first time in her life.
Townly: There--is the lawyer here?
Lucas: I'll go see. And when I see her, I am going to tell her I like
Richly better. To add a little fuel to the fire.
(Exit Lucas)
(Enter Angelica)
Townly: We've done wonderfully, daughter.
Angelica: I've heard. I was under the swing with the lawyer--he's just
come. It's time and he's on schedule.
Townly: I am going to speak to him. Go quickly and rejoin your
mother.
(Exit Townly)
Angelica: Things are at the point where I wish them. And the measures
I have taken will succeed. Watch and see what happens.
(Exit Angelica; after a moment enter Mrs. Townly and a Lackey)
Mrs. Townly: Tell me child, where did you get this letter from? Who is
your master?
Lackey: I am forbidden to tell you that--and to prevent you from
forcing it out of me, I am leaving right away.
(Exit Lackey)
Mrs. Townly: Now what's this mystery?
(Reading low) Hmm, hmm, hmm. "I advise you that your daughter is in
communication with Mr. Nelson and wants to marry him and to make
you sign the wedding contract, they have a lawyer ready who will
appear as if by chance." Indeed, that's the lawyer I just saw with
Angelica. The warning is obviously true. "In a word your husband
pretended not to want Nelson so you would prefer him." So! Mr.
Nelson is the choice of my husband.
(Enter Lucas and Townly)
Lucas: Courage, sir. Tell her quickly that I am against Mr. Nelson.
Townly: Listen, my dear wife--
Lucas: I tell you that--
Townly: I want you to know that--

Lucas: (to Mrs. Townly) That I and your husband--
Townly: You say that you want Mr. Nelson for a son-in-law, right? I
tell you that my daughter doesn't want him.
Lucas: The matter is a little delicate.
Mrs. Townly: It isn't my daughter's will or mine that ought to
decide--it's yours my husband--and in this and in everything else, you
are master.
Lucas: As for me, I think--
Mrs. Townly: You're a good advisor, Lucas, and I willingly listen to
your advice.
Townly: In a word, my wife, you have proposed Mr. Nelson to me, and
I don't want him.
Mrs. Townly: Let's speak softly. I love peace and harmony. I will do
whatever you find most agreeable.
Townly: (aloud) What's agreeable to me is
(low) not to have such complaisance about this.
Mrs. Townly: To me it's to have a husband that I love and respect.
Townly: You're joking, but I tell you Mr. Nelson is not to my taste.
Mrs. Townly: Your taste determines mine and I tell you I won't give
another thought to Mr. Nelson.
Townly: Lucas?
Lucas: (low) Try harder. Her contradictory spirit isn't on fire yet.
Townly: Tell me, Madam, are you making fun of me?
Mrs. Townly: But what makes you think that when I give you my
word?
Lucas: Good! Your word comes and goes like the air.
Mrs. Townly: (sweetly) Wait till you see.
Lucas: You can't make up your mind.
Mrs. Townly: To prove my sincerity and my submission, I am going
this moment to forbid Mr. Nelson to set foot in this house.
(Exit Mrs. Townly)
Townly: I believe she's going to do it. What should have caused this
miracle?
Lucas: Listen, it must be that--
Townly: It would be, just my luck. The only time in her life she doesn't
contradict me it's to contradict me.
Lucas: For her to obey you is not natural.

Townly: I am going to see what's happening. I still don't believe it.
(Exit Townly)
Nelson: (entering) Well, well, Lucas. We are going to sign the contract.
Here's the money I promised you--
Lucas: Madam is going to give you your walking papers--she's looking
for you to do just that.
Nelson: She doesn't want me, you say?
Lucas: Something has happened, I don't know exactly what. Wait for
me here, I'm going to see for myself.
(Exit Lucas)
Nelson: I love waiting for this little Angelica--but I'm joking about that.
If I don't marry her, I can marry at least four others.
(Enter Angelica followed by Edward who is determined to fathom her
tricks)
Nelson: Well, well, poor girl, it's bad for you. You won't get married.
Angelica: What an irritating thing.
Nelson: It makes me mad, but I'm easy. You're crying because you love
me, and that's swell. Don't cry, come on, don't cry. You'll make me do
it, too.
Angelica: Go quickly, join my father, second him, speak