CORNELIUS:

Hat off.

Here, Cornelius Hackl.

BARNABY:

Hat off.

Here, Barnaby Tucker.

MRS. MOLLOY:

I’m very happy to meet you. Perhaps I can help you. Won’t you sit down?

CORNELIUS:

Thank you, we will.

The BOYS place their hats on the table, then sit down at the counter facing Mrs. Molloy.

You see, Mrs. Molloy, we’re looking for hats. We’ve looked everywhere. Do you know what we heard? Go to Mrs. Molloy’s, they said. So we came here. Only place we could go . . .

MRS. MOLLOY:

Well now, that’s very complimentary.

CORNELIUS:

. . . and we were right. Everybody was right.

MRS. MOLLOY:

You wish to choose some hats for a friend?

CORNELIUS:

Yes, exactly.

Kicks Barnaby.

BARNABY:

Yes, exactly.

CORNELIUS:

We were thinking of five or six, weren’t we, Barnaby?

BARNABY:

Er-five.

CORNELIUS:

You see, Mrs. Molloy, money’s no object with us. None at all.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Why, Mr. Hackl . . .

CORNELIUS:

Rises and goes toward street door.

. . . I beg your pardon, what an interesting street! Something happening every minute. Passers-by, and . . .

BARNABY runs to join him.

MRS. MOLLOY:

You’re from out of town, Mr. Hackl?

CORNELIUS:

Coming back.

Yes, ma’am—Barnaby, just keep your eye on the street, will you? You won’t see that in Yonkers every day.

BARNABY remains kneeling at street door.

BARNABY:

Oh yes, I will.

CORNELIUS:

Not all of it.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Now this friend of yours—couldn’t she come in with you someday and choose her hats herself?

CORNELIUS:

Sits at counter.

No. Oh, no. It’s a surprise for her.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Indeed? That may be a little difficult, Mr. Hackl. It’s not entirely customary.—Your friend’s very interested in the street, Mr. Hackl.

CORNELIUS:

Oh yes. Yes. He has reason to be.

MRS. MOLLOY:

You said you were from out of town?

CORNELIUS:

Yes, we’re from Yonkers.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Yonkers?

CORNELIUS:

Yonkers . . . yes, Yonkers.

He gazes rapt into her eyes.

You should know Yonkers, Mrs. Molloy. Hudson River; Palisades; drives; some say it’s the most beautiful town in the world; that’s what they say.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Is that so!

CORNELIUS:

Rises.

Mrs. Molloy, if you ever had a Sunday free, I’d . . . we’d like to show you Yonkers. Y’know, it’s very historic, too.

MRS. MOLLOY:

That’s very kind of you. Well, perhaps . . . now about those hats.

Takes two hats from under counter, and crosses to back center of the room.

CORNELIUS:

Following.

Is there . . . Have you a . . . Maybe Mr. Molloy would like to see Yonkers too?

MRS. MOLLOY:

Oh, I’m a widow, Mr. Hackl.

CORNELIUS:

Joyfully.

You are!

With sudden gravity.

Oh, that’s too bad. Mr. Molloy would have enjoyed Yonkers.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Very likely. Now about these hats. Is your friend dark or light?

CORNELIUS:

Don’t think about that for a minute. Any hat you’d like would be perfectly all right with her.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Really!

She puts one on.