The Early Ayn Rand

BRECKENRIDGE: Oh say, I mustn't forget. I'll tell you all while Billy isn't here; it's a little surprise for him. Tonight, at ten o'clock, when it gets dark, I shall give you a demonstration of my invention. Its first public demonstration. We'll start celebrating the Fourth of July tonight, a little in advance. We'll have fireworks — I've had them lined up — [Points] — over there, on the other side of the lake. I'll set them off — from the garden — without touching them, without wires, by remote control — by mere electrical impulses through the air.

TONY: Could I see the machine?

BRECKENRIDGE: No, Tony. Nobody can see the machine till tomorrow. Don't try to find it. You won't. But you will all be the first witnesses of its action. [Shrugs gaily] Think of it! If someday they make a movie of my life, you will all be impersonated in that scene.

SERGE: They always make the lives of the great men in the cinema.

INGALLS: All that Walter needs now to be a great man is to get assassinated.

HELEN: Steve!

INGALLS: Well, he came pretty close to it once — so I guess that'll have to do.

HELEN: He... did what?

INGALLS: Didn't you know that Walter almost got bumped off — about a month ago?

HELEN: [Aghast] No!...

INGALLS: Oh, yes. Someone's tried to get him. Under very mysterious circumstances, too.

BRECKENRIDGE: Just an accident, probably. Why talk about it?

HELEN: Please tell me, Steve.

INGALLS: There isn't really much to tell. Walter and Serge drove down to Stamford, one evening, and stopped at the laboratory, and dragged me down here to see the house — the "Dawsons' " house — it was just being finished then. Well, the three of us got separated, looking around, and then I heard a shot — and I saw Walter picking up his hat, with a hole through it. It was a new hat, too.

HELEN: Oh!...

INGALLS: Well, we called the police, and all the building workers were searched, but we never found the man who did it or the gun.

HELEN: But it's fantastic! Walter doesn't have an enemy in the world!

INGALLS: I guess you never can tell.

[FLEMING enters, Right, goes to sideboard, pours himself a drink, and stands drinking, ignoring the others]

HELEN: And then?

INGALLS: That's all... Oh, yes, there was another funny thing. I had a bag in the car — just a small bag with some old junk in it. When we got back to the car, we found the lock of that bag broken open. There was nothing inside that anyone would want, and whoever did it hadn't even looked inside, because the things were just as I'd left them, but the lock was broken. We never figured that out, either.

HELEN: Walter!... Why didn't you tell me about this?

BRECKENRIDGE: That is precisely why, dear — so that you wouldn't be upset, as you are now. Besides, it was nothing- An accident or a crank. I told Curtiss about it — told him not to admit any strangers to the house — but nobody came and nothing happened.

INGALLS: I told Walter that he should carry a gun — just in case — but he wouldn't do it.

HELEN: But you should, Walter!

BRECKENRIDGE: I do. I got one.

INGALLS: I don't believe it. You know, Walter is afraid of guns.

BRECKENRIDGE: Nonsense.

INGALLS: You said so yourself

BRECKENRIDGE: [Indicating cabinet] Look in that drawer.

[INGALLS opens the drawer and takes out the gun]

INGALLS: You're right — for once. [Examining the gun] Nice little job. That will take care of any — emergency.

HELEN: Oh, put it away! I don't like them myself.

[INGALLS replaces the gun in the drawer and closes it]

TONY: It doesn't make sense. A man like Mr. Breckenridge — why would anyone —

BRECKENRIDGE: Of course it doesn't make sense. And I don't see why Steve had to bring that up — today of all days... Well, shall we go on to look at the grounds? Wait till you see the grounds, Helen!

HELEN: [Rising] Yes, of course.

[FLEMING swallows another drink and exits Right]

BRECKENRIDGE: Adrienne, my dear — coming?

ADRIENNE: [In a flat voice] Yes.

BRECKENRIDGE: No hard feelings, of course?

ADRIENNE: No.

BRECKENRIDGE: I knew you'd be all right. I wasn't angry. An actress' temper is like a summer storm.

ADRIENNE: Yes.

[She walks out through the French doors, followed by BRECKENRIDGE, SERGE, and TONY]

HELEN: [Stops at the French doors, turns] Coming, Steve?

[He does not answer and stands looking at her. Then:]

INGALLS: Helen... HELEN: Yes?

INGALLS: You are not happy, are you?

HELEN: [With amused reproach] Steve! That's one of those questions that should never be answered — one way or the other.

INGALLS: I'm asking it only... in self-defense.

HELEN: In... your own defense?

INGALLS: Yes.