MRS. SCHUYLER:  Remember the night you let me flop?

PHIL:  I couldn’t get into my part at all that night.  I kept saying to myself:  Phillip, be a bench, be a bench; but when I felt you near me, all the benchiness left me.  When you sat on me, I put my arms about you, like this. (Does so.)

MRS. SCHUYLER:  Ah—­how it all comes back to me now!  When you would put your arms about me, I would close my eyes and make believe it was Otis Skinner. (Business.)

PHIL:  And then before all the crowd, I kissed you so. (He illustrates as PAUL enters with ROSE from arbor.)

PAUL:  (Seeing PHIL and MRS. SCHUYLER.) Well—­(They break apart.) I’m surprised!

MRS. SCHUYLER:  (Works PHIL around to hide him first, then turns him around to PAUL.) You wouldn’t be if you were as used to it as I am.

PAUL:  (Aside to PHIL.) What did I tell you to do?

(PHIL seizes MRS. SCHUYLER and runs her into house—­she saying: 
“What’s the idea,” etc., till off.) (Sunset falls upon scene.)

SONG—­PAUL and ROSE—­“My Little Persian Rose.” (ROSE exits at end of song.)

PAUL:  (Left alone.) I won’t let her marry him. (A girl passes, crying out “Persian Plums—­who will buy?”)

PAUL:  Persian Plums—­Mrs. Schuyler said the old Sheik had such a passion for them, they might prove his death.  Here!  Girl—­let me have a basket. (Hands her a roll of money.) There! (As he comes down with plums, the girl exits.) But she said whoever was caught sending him any would suffer the penalty of death. (Gets idea and calls off.) Phil—­Phil! (Moonlight effect.  As PHIL enters, anxiously, PAUL extends the basket of plums to him.)

PHIL:  (Taking plums, greedily.) Oh thanks, I was starving—­

PAUL:  (Stopping him as he is about to eat.) Here—­here—­they’re not for you.  Quick—­take them to the palace of the old Sheik Abu Mirzah.

PHIL:  But I left him asleep in his bed, sir.

PAUL:  Well, place them where he’ll see them when he wakes, and (ominously) don’t let anyone catch you with them, for the country is full of revolutionists and it might mean death.

PHIL:  (Trembling.) My death!  Is there any other little thing I can do for you?

PAUL:  No. (Several pistol shots are heard.  PHIL drops plums and starts to run into house.  PAUL catches him by the hair—­business.) You coward!  I’m surprised!  Go to the Palace of the Abu Mirzah. (He places basket in PHIL’s hands.) Go!

(As PHIL backs off with plums, he bumps into a fierce looking Persian who enters.  PHIL starts and has comedy exit.  The Persian is the Emir Shahrud, who has disguised himself as DOWLEH the chef.  DOWLEH grinds his teeth at PAUL, who runs off.)

(DOWLEH sneaks over to house mysteriously—­sees someone coming, and then runs and hides behind rosebush.)

(Now, moonlight floods scene.  MRS. SCHUYLER enters in evening gown with LETTY and BETTY.  Waiter enters and sets two tables.)