The Early Ayn Rand

SERGE: But you will excuse me, Mr. Breckenridge, no? I will try most quick as I can to be back. Would you permit that I take the car?

BRECKENRIDGE: Certainly, if you insist.

SERGE: [To INGALLS] Where do I find the nearest place with the newspapers?

INGALLS: Just follow the road straight to Stamford. The first drugstore you come to — a little place called Law-ton's, on the corner, near the Breckenridge Laboratories. They have all the papers. Let's see... [Looks at his watch] They get the last city editions at ten o'clock. In fifteen minutes. They'll have them by the time you get there. Joe Cheeseman said it would be in today's last edition.

SERGE: Thank you so much. [To BRECKENRIDGE] You will please excuse me?

BRECKENRIDGE: Sure. [SERGE exits Left]

FLASH: [As no one seems inclined to talk] And another thing that bothers me is why nobody ate any dinner tonight. The lobster was wonderful. [There is the distant sound of a small explosion, and far away, beyond the lake, a rocket rises, bursts in the air and vanishes]

BRECKENRIDGE: Our neighbors across the lake are celebrating early.

BILLY: I want to see it.

BRECKENRIDGE: You'll see something much bigger than this — in a little while.

[FLASH turns the wheelchair toward the French doors. Another rocket goes off in the distance. TONY enters, Left]

TONY: Say, where's Serge going in such a hurry? Just saw him driving off.

BRECKENRIDGE: To Stamford. To get a newspaper.

INGALLS: You haven't got today's Courier by any chance, have you, Tony?

TONY: The Courier? No. [Hesitates, then:] Mr. Breckenridge, could I speak to you? For just a moment. I've tried all day —

BRECKENRIDGE: Well, what is it, Tony? What is it?

TONY: It's... about Billy. I didn't want to — [Looks at BILLY]

FLEMING: About Billy? What?

BRECKENRIDGE: Surely it can't be a secret. Go ahead.

TONY: If you wish. I saw Professor Doyle this morning.

BRECKENRIDGE: Oh, that? You're not going to begin again to —

FLEMING: Doyle? That's the doctor who's taking care of Billy?

TONY: Yes. He's my teacher at college.

FLEMING: What did he say?

BRECKENRIDGE: Really, Tony, I thought we had settled —

FLEMING: What did he say?

TONY: [To BRECKENRIDGE] He said that I must speak to you and beg you on my knees if I have to. He said that if you don't send Billy to Montreal this summer and let Dr. Harlan perform that operation — Billy will never walk again. [FLEMING makes a step forward slowly, ominously]

BRECKENRIDGE: Just a minute, Harvey.

FLEMING: [In a strange, hoarse voice] Why didn't you tell me about this?

BRECKENRIDGE: Because I didn't have to.

TONY: Mr. Fleming, it's Billy's last chance. He's almost fifteen now. If we wait longer, the muscles will become atrophied and it will be too late. Professor Doyle said —

BRECKENRIDGE: Did Professor Doyle say also that we'd risk Billy's life in that operation?

TONY: Yes.

BRECKENRIDGE: That's my answer.

HELEN: Walter, please. Please let's reconsider. Professor Doyle said the risk wasn't too great. It's a small chance against... against the certainty of being a cripple for life!

BRECKENRIDGE: A small chance is too much — where Billy is concerned. I would rather have Billy as he is than take the risk of losing him.

FLEMING: [Screams ferociously] That's going too far, you lousy bastard! You won't get away with this! Goddamn you, not with this! I demand, do you hear me? — I demand that you let them do the operation!

BRECKENRIDGE: You demand? By what right? [FLEMING stands looking at him, helplessness coming almost visibly to his gaunt, slumping figure]

INGALLS: [His voice hard] Do you mind if I don't witness this? [Turns and exits through the French doors] BRECKENRIDGE: I must warn you, Harvey. If we have any more... incidents such as this, I shall be forced to forbid you to visit Billy.

HELEN: Oh, no, Walter!

FLEMING: You... wouldn't do that, Walter? You... you can't.

BRECKENRIDGE: You know very well that I can.

BILLY: [It is the first time that his voice is alive— and desperate] Father! You won't do that! [As BRECKENRIDGE turns to him] Please, Father. I don't mind anything else. I don't have to have the operation. Only you won't... Mr. Fleming, it's all right about the operation. I don't mind.