TED. How did you get this job?

KATE.  I got it the only way you can get jobs for anybody these days—­by asking it as a favor from someone who had it to give.

TED. I see.

KATE. [Resentful.] You don’t seem very appreciative.

TIPPY.  Wait a minute, Kate.  He doesn’t know yet what the job is.

KATE.  He doesn’t act as if he wanted to know.

TIPPY.  Don’t get sensitive.—­And I haven’t played my game out.

KATE.  All right.  Go on.

TIPPY. [Thinks a moment, then brilliantly.] Will he wear a uniform?

KATE.  Yes.—­You guessed it. [TED grows dismayed.] The job is elevator operator in the Graybar Building.  It’s a cinch.  You don’t even have to stop the car.  You just push buttons.

TIPPY.  Automatic.  All but the phonograph.  And you’re it.

TED. In uniform!

KATE. [Impatiently.] Well, what of it?

TED. And push buttons....  Floor, please.  Two please.  Five please. 
Right please. [Laughs harshly.]

KATE.  Oh, so it isn’t good enough for you!

TED. Fifteen please.  Twenty-six please.

KATE.  Well, what do you want?  Vice-president in a bank?  Wake up!  This isn’t 1929.  This is 1935.  You take what you get and are grateful.

TED. Like a bellboy!—­

KATE.  It’s a job.  You said you wanted a job.

TED. Oh God, Kate ...

KATE.  It pays more than I got for years.  And I supported myself on it and you, too.

TED. Listen, Kate ... [Has some difficulty going on.] If it were an old freight elevator in a warehouse, and I could wear overalls, and pull on a rope that blistered my hands ...

KATE.  It’s the uniform that stalls you, is it?—­Now I see why they make soldiers wear them.

TIPPY. [Wishing to save the situation.] The British started that with their Red Coats, to make them better targets so we could win the Revolutionary War.—­I learned that in school.

KATE. [Bitter.] You got it wrong, brother.  It’s to take the conceit out of a coward by making him realize he’s no better than anybody else.  That’s what it’s for!

TED. Kate ...

KATE.  You said you wanted a job.  I believed you.  I asked for a job; any kind of a job that a man who had never worked could do.  And I got one. [To TIPPY.] But he doesn’t want it.  It’s not because of the uniform.  It’s because it’s a job! [She has turned her back on TED. He quietly takes his new hat and coat and sneaks out.  She turns as she hears the door.] He’s gone. [Pause.] I never talked like that to him before. [With sudden fright.] Where’s he going?—­Ted!  Ted! [She runs out after him.]

[TIPPY follows to the door which she leaves open.  An elderly, richly-dressed spinster, whom KATE has nearly knocked down as she fled, stalks into the room.  She glowers at TIPPY.]