The Early Ayn Rand

INGALLS: Bill. Listen to me. It doesn't matter. Even your legs and the wheelchair — it doesn't matter, so long as you don't let anyone into your mind. Keep your mind, Bill — keep it free and keep it your own. Don't let anyone help you — inside. Don't let anyone tell you what you must think. Don't let anyone tell you what you must feel. Don't ever let them put your soul in a wheelchair. Then you'll be all right, no matter what they do.

BILLY: You understand. Steve, you're the only one who understands. [FLASH enters Right]

FLASH: Come on, Bill. The grub's ready. Do you want it here?

BILLY: I'm not hungry. Take me to my room, please. I'm tired.

FLASH: Aw, hell! After I went to all the bother —

BILLY: Please, Flash. [FLASH starts wheeling the chair out] Good night, Steve.

INGALLS: Good night, kid. [FLASH and BILLY exit, and we hear TONY's voice in the next room]

TONY'S VOICE: Going, Billy? Good night.

BILLY'S VOICE: Good night. [TONY enters Right]

TONY: What about the great fireworks? All over?

INGALLS: I guess so. Billy said something went wrong.

TONY: You didn't watch them?

INGALLS: No.

TONY: I didn't either.

[HELEN appears at the top of the stairs. She has her hat and coat on, and carries a small suitcase. She stops short, seeing the two men below, then comes resolutely down the stairs]

INGALLS: Helen? Where are you going?

HELEN: Back to town.

TONY: Now?

HELEN: Yes.

INGALLS: But, Helen -

HELEN: Please don't ask me any questions. I didn't know that someone would still be here. I wanted to... I wanted not to have to talk to anyone.

INGALLS: But what's happened?

HELEN: Later, Steve. Later. I'll talk to you afterward. Tomorrow, in town, if you wish. I'll explain. Please don't —

[From a distance in the garden there comes ADRIENNE's scream— a horrified scream. They whirl to the French doors]

INGALLS: Where's Adrienne?

HELEN: I don't know. She-

[INGALLS rushes out into the garden. TONY follows him. FLASH comes running in, Right]

FLASH: What was that?

HELEN: I... don't... know...

FLASH: Miss Knowland! It's Miss Knowland! [CURTISS enters Right]

CURTISS: Madam! What happened!

[INGALLS, TONY, and ADRIENNE enter from the garden.

INGALLS is supporting ADRIENNE. She is trembling and out of breath]

INGALLS: All right. Take it easy. Now what is it?

ADRIENNE: It's Walter... out there... in the garden... He's dead. [Silence, as they all look at her] It was dark... I couldn't see... He was lying on his face... And then I ran... I think he's shot... [HELEN gasps and sinks into a chair]

INGALLS: Did you touch anything?

ADRIENNE: No... no...

INGALLS: Curtiss.

CURTISS: Yes, sir?

INGALLS: Go down there. Stand by. Don't touch anything. And don't let anyone near.

CURTISS: Yes, sir.

ADRIENNE: [Pointing] There... to the left... down the path... [CURTISS exits into the garden]

INGALLS: Tony, take Helen to her room. Flash, go to Billy. Don't tell him. Put him to bed.

FLASH: Y-yes, sir.

[Exits Right. TONY helps HELEN up the stairs and they exit, while INGALLS reaches for the telephone]

ADRIENNE: Steve! What are you doing?

INGALLS: [Into phone] Operator?...

ADRIENNE: Steve! Wait!

INGALLS: [Into phone] Give me District Attorney Hastings.

ADRIENNE: No!... Wait!... Steve, I-

INGALLS: [Into phone] Hello, Greg? Steve Ingalls speaking. From the house of Walter Breckenridge. Mr. Breckenridge has been — [ADRIENNE seizes his arm. He pushes her aside, not violently, but firmly] — murdered... Yes... Yes, I shall... Yes, the new house... [Hangs up]

ADRIENNE: Steve... you wouldn't let me tell you...

INGALLS: Well? What is it?

ADRIENNE: [Fulls a man's handkerchief from her pocket and hands it to him] This. [He looks at the initials on the handkerchief] It's yours.

INGALLS: Yes.

ADRIENNE: It was caught on a branch — there — near the... body.

INGALLS: [Looks at the handkerchief then at her] It's good evidence, Adrienne. [Slips the handkerchief calmly into his pocket] It's evidence that you still love me — in spite of everything — in spite of what happened this afternoon.

ADRIENNE: [Stiffening] Merely circumstantial evidence.