RUDOLPH has entered by the service door. He now flings a tablecloth between them on table.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Rudolph, what are you doing?

RUDOLPH:

A table’s been reserved here. Special orders.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Stop right where you are. That party can eat inside. This veranda’s ours.

RUDOLPH:

I’m very sorry. This veranda is open to anybody who wants it. Ah, there comes the man who brought the order.

Enter MALACHI from the kitchen, drunk.

MRS. MOLLOY:

To Malachi.

Take your table away from here. We got here first, Cornelius, throw him out.

MALACHI:

Ma’am, my employer reserved this room at four o’clock this afternoon. You can go and eat in the restaurant. My employer said it was very important that he have a table alone.

MRS. MOLLOY:

No, sir. We got here first and we’re going to stay here—alone, too.

MINNIE and BARNABY come forward.

RUDOLPH:

Ladies and gentlemen!

MRS. MOLLOY:

Shut up, you!

To Malachi.

You’re an impertinent, idiotic kill-joy.

MALACHI:

Very pleased.

That’s an insult!

MRS. MOLLOY:

All the facts about you are insults.

To Cornelius.

Cornelius, do something. Knock it over! The table.

CORNELIUS:

Knock it over.

After a shocked struggle with himself CORNELIUS calmly overturns the table. AUGUST rights the table and picks up cutlery, weeping copiously.

RUDOLPH:

In cold fury.

I’m sorry, but this room can’t be reserved for anyone. If you want to eat alone, you must go upstairs. I’m sorry, but that’s the rule.

MRS. MOLLOY:

We’re having a nice dinner alone and we’re going to stay here. Cornelius, knock it over.

CORNELIUS overturns the table again. The girls squeal with pleasure. The waiter AUGUST again scrambles for the silver.

MALACHI:

Wait till you see my employer!

RUDOLPH:

Bringing screen down.

Ladies and gentlemen! I tell you what we’ll do. There’s a big screen here. We’ll put the screen up between the tables. August, come and help me.

MRS. MOLLOY:

I won’t eat behind a screen. I won’t. Minnie, make a noise. We’re not animals in a menagerie. Cornelius, no screen. Minnie, there’s a fight. I feel ten years younger. No screen! No screen!

During the struggle with the screen all talk at once.

MALACHI:

Loud and clear and pointing to entrance right.

Now you’ll learn something. There comes my employer now, getting out of that cab.

CORNELIUS:

Coming to him, taking off his coat.

Where? I’ll knock him down too.

BARNABY has gone up to right entrance. He turns and shouts clearly:

BARNABY:

Cornelius, it’s Wolf-trap. Yes, it is!

CORNELIUS:

Wolf-trap! Listen, everybody. I think the screen’s a good idea. Have you got any more screens, Rudolph? We could use three or four.

He pulls the screen forward again.

MRS. MOLLOY:

Quiet down, Cornelius, and stop changing your mind. Hurry up, Rudolph, we’re ready for the soup.

During the following scene RUDOLPH serves the meal at the table left, as unobtrusively as possible.

The stage is now divided in half. The quartet’s table is at the left. Enter VANDERGELDER from the right. Now wears overcoat and carries the box of chocolates.