The music begins. It is another variation of ‘The Missouri Waltz’, played dreamily and softly, with perfect orchestral form, and with a theme of weeping in the horns repeated a number of times.

At first Tom listens with something close to irritation, since he can’t understand what is so attractive in the music to Joe, and what is so painful and confusing in it to himself. Very soon, however, he is carried away by the melancholy story of grief and nostalgia of the song.

He stands, troubled by the poetry and confusion in himself.

Joe, on the other hand, listens as if he were not listening, indifferent and unmoved. What he’s interested in is Tom. He turns and glances at Tom.

Kitty Duval, who lives in a room in the New York Hotel, around the corner, comes beyond the swinging doors quietly, and walks slowly to the bar, her reality and rhythm a perfect accompaniment to the sorrowful American music, which is her music, as it is Tom’s. Which the world drove out of her, putting in its place brokenness and all manner of spiritually crippled forms. She seems to understand this, and is angry. Angry with herself, full of hate for the poor world, and full of pity and contempt for its tragic, unbelievable, confounded people. She is a small, powerful girl, with that kind of delicate and rugged beauty which no circumstance of evil or ugly reality can destroy. This beauty is that element of the immortal which is in the seed of good and common people, and which is kept alive in some of the female of our kind, no matter how accidentally or pointlessly they may have entered the world. Kitty Duval is somebody. There is an angry purity and a fierce pride in her.

In her stance, and way of walking, there is grace and arrogance, Joe recognises her as a great person immediately. She goes to the bar.

Kitty Beer.

Nick places a glass of beer before her mechanically.

She swallows half the drink, and listens to the music again.

Tom turns and sees her. He becomes dead to everything in the world but her. He stands like a lump, fascinated and undone by his almost religious adoration for her. Joe notices Tom.

Joe (gently) Tom.

Tom begins to move toward the bar, where Kitty is standing.

Joe (loudly) Tom.

Tom halts, then turns, and Joe motions to him to come over to the table. He goes over.

Joe (quietly) Have you got everything straight?

Tom (out of the world) What?

Joe What do you mean, what? I just gave you some instructions.

Tom (pathetically) What do you want, Joe?

Joe I want you to come to your senses.

He stands up quietly and knocks Tom’s hat off. Tom picks up his hat quickly.

Tom I got it, Joe. I got it. The Emporium. Fourth floor. In the back. The toy department. Two dollars’ worth of toys. That you can put on a table.