JACK LONDON
Glen Ellen, California,
August 13, 1911.

A WICKED WOMAN
(Curtain Raiser)
BY JACK LONDON

Scene—­California.

Time—­Afternoon of a summer day.

CHARACTERS

LORETTA, A sweet, young thing.  Frightfully innocent.  About nineteen years old.  Slender, delicate, a fragile flower.  Ingenuous.

NED BASHFORD, A jaded young man of the world, who has philosophised his experiences and who is without faith in the veracity or purity of women.

BILLY MARSH, A boy from a country town who is just about as innocent as Loretta.  Awkward.  Positive.  Raw and callow youth.

ALICE HEMINGWAY, A society woman, good-hearted, and a match-maker.

JACK HEMINGWAY, Her husband.

MAID.

A WICKED WOMAN

[Curtain rises on a conventional living room of a country house in California.  It is the Hemingway house at Santa Clara.  The room is remarkable for magnificent stone fireplace at rear centre.  On either side of fireplace are generous, diamond-paned windows.  Wide, curtained doorways to right and left.  To left, front, table, with vase of flowers and chairs.  To right, front, grand piano.]

[Curtain discovers LORETTA seated at piano, not playing, her back to it, facing NED BASHFORD, who is standing.]

LORETTA. [Petulantly, fanning herself with sheet of music.] No, I won’t go fishing.  It’s too warm.  Besides, the fish won’t bite so early in the afternoon.

NED. Oh, come on.  It’s not warm at all.  And anyway, we won’t really fish.  I want to tell you something.

LORETTA. [Still petulantly.] You are always wanting to tell me something.

NED. Yes, but only in fun.  This is different.  This is serious.  Our . . . my happiness depends upon it.

LORETTA. [Speaking eagerly, no longer petulant, looking, serious and delighted, divining a proposal.] Then don’t wait.  Tell me right here.

NED. [Almost threateningly.] Shall I?

LORETTA. [Challenging.] Yes.

[He looks around apprehensively as though fearing interruption, clears his throat, takes resolution, also takes LORETTA’s hand.]

[LORETTA is startled, timid, yet willing to hear, naively unable to conceal her love for him.]

NED. [Speaking softly.] Loretta . . .  I, . . . ever since I met you I have—­

[JACK HEMINGWAY appears in the doorway to the left, just entering.]

[NED suddenly drops LORETTA’s hand.  He shows exasperation.]

[LORETTA shows disappointment at interruption.]

NED. Confound it

LORETTA. [Shocked.] Ned!  Why will you swear so?

NED. [Testily.] That isn’t swearing.

LORETTA.  What is it, pray?

NED. Displeasuring.