ANNIE.  Yassum. [She appears at the door.

LAURA.  Annie, I’m going away, and I’ve got to hurry.

ANNIE.  Goin’ away?

LAURA.  Yes.  I want you to bring both my trunks out here,—­I’ll help you,—­and start to pack.  We can’t take everything.

[ANNIE throws fur rug from across doorway into bedroom.], but bring all the clothes out and we’ll hurry as fast as we can.  Come on.

Exit LAURA with ANNIE. In a very short interval she re-appears, and both are carrying a large trunk between them.  They put it down, pushing sofa back.

ANNIE.  Look out for your toes, Miss Laura.

LAURA.  I can take two.

ANNIE.  Golly, such excitement. [Crosses to table; pushes it over further, also armchair.] Wheah yuh goin’, Miss Laura?

LAURA.  Never mind where I’m going.  I haven’t any time to waste now talking.  I’ll tell you later.  This is one time, Annie, that you’ve got to move.  Hurry up.

LAURA pushes her in front of her.  Exeunt the same way and re-appear with a smaller trunk.

ANNIE.  Look out fo’ your dress, Miss Laura.

These trunks are of the same type as those in Act II.  When the trunks are put down LAURA opens one and commences to throw things out. ANNIE stands watching her. LAURA kneels in front of trunk, working and humming “Bon-Bon Buddie."

ANNIE.  Ah nevah see you so happy, Miss Laura.

LAURA.  I never was so happy.  For heaven’s sake, go get something. 
Don’t stand there looking at me.  I want you to hurry.

ANNIE.  I’ll bring out all de fluffy ones first.

LAURA.  Yes, everything. [ANNIE enters with armful of dresses and hat-box of tissue-paper; dumps tissue-paper on floor, puts dresses in trunk.

ANNIE. [Goes out again.  Outside.] You goin’ to take dat opera-cloak? [Enters with more dresses, puts them on sofa, takes opera-cloak, spreads it on top of dresses on trunk.] My, but dat’s a beauty.  I jest love dat crushed rosey one. [Exit.

LAURA.  Annie, you put the best dresses on the foot of the bed and I’ll get them myself.  You heard what I said?

ANNIE. [Off stage.] Yassum.

ANNIE hangs dresses across bed in alcove. LAURA continues busily arranging the contents of the trunk, placing some garments here and some there, as if she were sorting them out. WILL quietly enters and stands at the door, looking at her.  He holds this position as long as possible, and when he speaks it is in a very quiet tone.

WILL.  Going away?

LAURA. [Starts, rises, and confronts him.] Yes.

WILL.  In somewhat of a hurry, I should say.

LAURA.  Yes.

WILL.  What’s the plan?

LAURA.  I’m just going, that’s all.

WILL.  Madison been here?