PHILIP. You can go. But I’ve been to all those places and I’ve left them all behind. And where I go now I go alone, or with others who go there for the same reason I go.

DOROTHY. And I can’t go there?

PHILIP. No.

DOROTHY. And why can’t I go wherever it is? I could learn and I’m not afraid.

PHILIP. One reason is I don’t know where it is. And another is wouldn’t take you.

DOROTHY. Why not?

PHILIP. Because you’re useless, really. You’re uneducated, you’re useless, you’re a fool and you’re lazy.

DOROTHY. Maybe the others. But I’m not useless.

PHILIP. Why aren’t you useless?

DOROTHY. You know—or you ought to know.

[She is crying]

PHILIP. Oh, yes. That.

DOROTHY. Is that all it means to you?

PHILIP. That’s a commodity you shouldn’t pay too high a price for.

DOROTHY. So I’m a commodity?

PHILIP. Yes, a very handsome commodity. The most beautiful I ever had.

DOROTHY. Good. I’m glad to hear you say it. And I’m glad it’s daylight. Now get out of here. You conceited, conceited drunkard. You ridiculous, puffed-up, posing braggart. You commodity, you. Did it ever occur to you that you’re a commodity, too? A commodity one shouldn’t pay too high a price for?

PHILIP. [Laughing] No. But I see it the way you put it.

DOROTHY. Well, you are. You’re a perfectly vicious commodity. Never home. Out all night. Dirty, muddy, disorderly. You’re a terrible commodity. I just liked the package it was put up in. That was all. I’m glad you’re going away.

PHILIP. Really?

DOROTHY. Yes, really. You and your commodity. But you didn’t have to mention all those places if we weren’t ever going to them.

PHILIP. I’m very sorry. That wasn’t kind.

DOROTHY. Oh, don’t be kind either. You’re frightful when you’re kind. Only kind people should try being kind. You’re horrible when you’re kind. And you didn’t have to mention them in the daytime.

PHILIP. I’m sorry.

DOROTHY. Oh, don’t be sorry. You’re at your worst when you’re sorry. I can’t stand you sorry. Just get out.

PHILIP. Well, good-bye.

[He puts his arms around her to kiss her]

DOROTHY. Don’t kiss me either. You’ll kiss me and then you’ll go right in to commodities. I know you.

[PHILIP holds her tight and kisses her]

Oh, Philip, Philip, Philip.

PHILIP. Good-bye.

DOROTHY. You—you—you don’t want the commodity?

PHILIP. I can’t afford it.

[DOROTHY twists away from him]

DOROTHY. Then, go then.

PHILIP. Good-bye.

DOROTHY. Oh, get out.

[PHILIP goes out the door and into his room. MAX is still sitting in the chair. In the other room DOROTHY rings the bell for the maid]

MAX. So?