I stuck by this good man who was to lead me in a good way toward a good life.  And all the time I was getting older, never quite so pretty one day as I had been the day before.  I never knew then what it was to be tinkered with by hair-dressers and manicures or a hundred and one of those other people who make you look good.  I didn’t have to have them then. [Rises, crosses to right of table, facing LAURA.] Well, you know, Laura, what happened.

LAURA.  Wasn’t it partly your fault, Elfie?

ELFIE. [Speaking across table angrily.] Was it my fault that time made me older and I took on a lot of flesh?  Was it my fault that the work and the life took out the colour, and left the make-up?  Was it my fault that other pretty young girls came along, just as I’d come, and were chased after, just as I was?  Was it my fault the cabs weren’t waiting any more and people didn’t talk about how pretty I was?  And was it my fault when he finally had me alone, and just because no one else wanted me, he got tired and threw me flat—­cold flat [Brings hand down on table.]—­and I’d been on the dead level with him! [With almost a sob, crosses up to bureau, powders nose, comes down back of table.] It almost broke my heart.  Then I made up my mind to get even and get all I could out of the game.  Jerry came along.  He was a has-been and I was on the road to be.  He wanted to be good to me, and I let him.  That’s all.

LAURA.  Still, I don’t see how you can live that way.

[Lies on bed.

ELFIE.  Well, you did, and you didn’t kick.

LAURA.  Yes, but things are different with me now.  You’d be the same way if you were in my place.

ELFIE.  No.  I’ve had all the romance I want, and I’ll stake you to all your love affairs. [Crosses back of bed, touches picture over bed.] I am out to gather in as much coin as I can in my own way, so when the old rainy day comes along I’ll have a little change to buy myself an umbrella.

LAURA. [Rising and angrily crossing to armchair.] What did you come here for?  Why can’t you leave me alone when I’m trying to get along?

ELFIE.  Because I want to help you.

LAURA. [During speech crosses to up-stage side of bed, angrily tosses quilt to floor and sits on bed in tears.] You can’t help me.  I’m all right—­I tell you I am.  What do you care anyway?

ELFIE. [Sits on bed, crosses down stage to lower left side of bed, sits facing LAURA.] But I do care.  I know how you feel with an old cat for a landlady and living up here on a side street with a lot of cheap burlesque people.  Why, the room’s cold [LAURA rises, crosses to window.], and there’s no hot water, and you’re beginning to look shabby.  You haven’t got a job—­chances are you won’t have one.  What does [Indicating picture on bed with thumb.] this fellow out there do for you?  Send you long letters of condolences?