Download “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell (1916) and more Study notes Voice in PDF only on Docsity!
“Trifles” by Susan Glaspell (1916) CAST
- GEORGE HENDERSON, County Attorney
- HENRY PETERS, Sheriff
- LEWIS HALE, A Neighboring Farmer
- MRS. PETERS
- MRS. HALE ———————————————————————————————————— Scene: The kitchen in the now abandoned farmhouse of John Wright, a gloomy kitchen, and left without having been put in order—unwashed pans under the sink, a loaf of bread outside the breadbox, a dish towel on the table—other signs of uncompleted work. At the rear the outer door opens, and the Sheriff comes in, followed by the county Attorney and Hale. The Sheriff and Hale are men in middle life, the county Attorney is a young man; all are much bundled up and go at once to the stove. They are followed by the two women—the Sheriff’s Wife first; she is a slight wiry woman, a thin nervous face. Mrs. Hale is larger and would ordinarily be called more comfortable looking, but she is disturbed now and looks fearfully about as she enters. The women have come in slowly and stand close together near the door. COUNTY ATTORNEY ( rubbing his hands ). This feels good. Come up to the fire, ladies. MRS. PETERS ( after taking a step forward ). I’m not—cold. SHERIFF ( unbuttoning his overcoat and stepping away from the stove as if to the beginning of official business ). Now, Mr. Hale, before we move things about, you explain to Mr. Henderson just what you saw when you came here yesterday morning. COUNTY ATTORNEY. By the way, has anything been moved? Are things just as you left them yesterday? SHERIFF (looking about ). It’s just the same. When it dropped below zero last night, I thought I’d better send Frank out this morning to make a fire for us—no use getting pneumonia with a big case on; but I told him not to touch anything except the stove—and you know Frank. COUNTY ATTORNEY. Somebody should have been left here yesterday. SHERIFF. Oh—yesterday. When I had to send Frank to Morris Center for that man who went crazy—I want you to know I ha d my hands full yesterday. I knew you could get back from Omaha by today, and as long as I went over everything here myself— COUNTY ATTORNEY. Well, Mr. Hale, tell just what happened when you came here yesterday morning. HALE. Harry and I had started to town with a load of potatoes. We came along the road from my place; and as I got here, I said, “I’m going to see if I can’t get John Wright to go in with me on a party telephone.” I spoke to Wright about it once before, and he put me off, saying folks talked too much anyway, and all he asked was peace and quiet—I guess you know about how much he talked himself; but I thought maybe if I went to the house and talked about it before his wife, though I said to Harry that I didn’t know as what his wife wanted made much difference to John— COUNTY ATTORNEY. Let’s talk about that later, Mr. Hale. I do want to talk about that, but tell now just
what happened when you got to the house. HALE. I didn’t hear or see anything; I knocked at the door, and still it was all quiet inside. I knew they must be up, it was past eight o’clock. so I knocked again, and I thought I heard somebody say, “Come in.” I wasn’t sure, I’m not sure yet, but I opened the door—this door (indicating the door by which the two women are still standing), and there in that rocker— (pointing to it ) sat Mrs. Wright. ( They all look at the rocker.) COUNTY ATTORNEY. What—was she doing? HALE. She was rockin’ back and forth. She had her apron in her hand and was kind of—pleating it. COUNTY ATTORNEY. And how did she—look? HALE. Well, she looked queer. COUNTY ATTORNEY. How do you mean—queer? HALE. Well, as if she didn’t know what she was going to do next. And kind of done up. COUNTY ATTORNEY. How did she seem to feel about your coming? HALE. Why, I don’t think she minded—one way or other. She didn’t pay much attention. I said, “How do, Mrs. Wright, it’s cold, ain’t it?” And she said, “Is it?"—and went on kind of pleating at her apron. Well, I was surprised; she didn’t ask me to come up to the stove, or to set down, but just sat there, not even looking at me, so I said, “I want to see John.” And then she—laughed. I guess you would call it a laugh. I thought of Harry and the team outside, so I said a little sharp. “Can’t I see John?” “No,” she says, kind o’ dull like. “Ain’t he home?” says I. “Yes,” says she, “he’s home.” “Then why can’t I see him?” I asked her, out of patience. “’Cause he’s dead,” says she. “Dead?” says I. She just nodded her head, not getting a bit excited, but rockin’ back and forth. “Why—where is he?” says I, not knowing what to say. She just pointed upstairs —like that ( himself pointing to the room above ). I got up, with the idea of going up there. I talked from there to here—then I says, “Why, what did he die of?” “He died of a rope around his neck,” says she, and just went on pleatin’ at her apron. Well, I went out and called Harry. I thought I might—need help. We went upstairs, and there he was lying’— COUNTY ATTORNEY. I think I’d rather have you go into that upstairs, where you can point in all out. Just go on now with the rest of the story. HALE. Well, my first thought was to get that rope off. I looked… ( Stops, his face twitches. )… but Harry, he went up to him, and he said, “No, he’s dead all right, and we’d better not touch anything.” So we went back downstairs. She was still sitting that same way. “Has anybody been notified?” I asked.” “No,” says she, unconcerned. “Who did this, Mrs. Wright?” said Harry. He said it business-like—and she stopped pleatin’ of her apron. “I don’t know,” she says. “You don’t know?” says Harry. “No,” says she, “Weren’t you sleepin’ in the bed with him?” says Harry. “Yes,” says she, “but I was on the inside.” “Somebody slipped a rope round his neck and strangled him, and you didn’t wake up?” says Harry. “I didn’t wake up,” she said after him. We must ’a looked as if we didn’t see how that could be, for after a minute she said, “I sleep sound.” Harry was going to ask her more questions, but I said maybe we ought to let her tell her story first to the coroner, or the sheriff, so Harry went fast as he could to Rivers’ place, where there’s a telephone.
you were friends, too. MRS. HALE ( shaking her head .) I’ve not seen much of her of late years. I’ve not been in this house—it’s more than a year. COUNTY ATTORNEY. And why was that? You didn’t like her? MRS. HALE. I liked her all well enough. Farmers’ wives have their hands full, Mr. Henderson. And then— COUNTY ATTORNEY. Yes—? MRS. HALE ( looking about .) It never seemed a very cheerful place. COUNTY ATTORNEY. No—it’s not cheerful. I shouldn’t say she had the homemaking instinct. MRS. HALE. Well, I don’t know as Wright had, either. COUNTY ATTORNEY. You mean that they didn’t get on very well? MRS. HALE. No, I don’t mean anything. But I don’t think a place’d be any cheerfuller for John Wright’s being in it. COUNTY ATTORNEY. I’d like to talk more of that a little later. I want to get the lay of things upstairs now. ( He goes to the left, where three steps lead to a stair door .) SHERIFF. I suppose anything Mrs. Peters does’ll be all right. She was to take in some clothes for her, you know, and a few little things. We left in such a hurry yesterday. COUNTY ATTORNEY. Yes, but I would like to see what you take, Mrs. Peters, and keep an eye out for anything that might be of use to us. MRS. PETERS. Yes, Mr. Henderson. ( The women listen to the men’s steps on the stairs, then look about the kitchen .) MRS. HALE. I’d hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticizing. ( She arranges the pans under sink which the Lawyer had shoved out of place .) MRS. PETERS. Of course it’s no more than their duty. MRS. HALE. Duty’s all right, but I guess that deputy sheriff that came out to make the fire might have got a little of this on. ( Gives the roller towel a pul l.) Wish I’d thought of that sooner. Seems mean to talk about her for not having things slicked up when she had to come away in such a hurry. MRS. PETERS. ( who has gone to a small table in the left rear corner of the room, and lifted on end of a towel that covers a pan ). She had bread set. (S tands still .) MRS. HALE ( eyes fixed on a loaf of bread beside the breadbox, which is on a low shelf at the other side of the room. Moves slowly toward it. )she was going to put this in there. ( Picks up loaf, then abruptly drops it. In a manner of returning to familiar things .) It’s a shame about her fruit. I wonder if it’s all gone. ( Gets up
on the chair and looks. ) I think there’s some here that’s all right, Mrs. Peters. Yes—here; (Holding it toward the window .) This is cherries, too. ( Looking again .) I declare I believe that’s the only one. ( Gets down, bottle in her hand. Goes to the sink and wipes it off on the outside. ) She’ll feel awful bad after all her hard work in the hot weather. I remember the afternoon I put up my cherries last summer. (She puts the bottle on the big kitchen table, center of the room, front table. With a sigh, is about to sit down in the rocking chair. Before she is seated realizes what chair it is; with a slow look at it, steps back. The chair, which she has touched, rocks back and forth .) MRS. PETERS. Well, I must get those things from the front room closet. [ She goes to the door at the right, but after looking into the other room, steps back.] You coming with me, Mrs. Hale? You could help me carry them. (T hey go into the other room; reappear, Mrs. Peters carrying a dress and skirt, Mrs. Hale following with a pair of shoes. ) MRS. PETERS. My, it’s cold in there. ( She puts the cloth on the big table, and hurries to the stove .) MRS. HALE ( examining the ski rt). Wright was close. I think maybe that’s why she kept so much to herself. She didn’t even belong to the Ladies’ Aid. I suppose she felt she couldn’t do her part, and then you don’t enjoy things when you feel shabby. She used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls singing in the choir. But that—oh, that was thirty years ago. This all you was to take? MRS. PETERS. She said she wanted an apron. Funny thing to want, for there isn’t much to get you dirty in jail, goodness knows. But I suppose just to make her feel more natural. She said they was in the top drawer in this cupboard. Yes, here. And then her little shawl that always hung behind the door. (O pens stair door and looks .) Yes, here it is. ( Quickly shuts door leading upstairs. ) MRS. HALE (a bruptly moving toward her .) Mrs. Peters? MRS. PETERS. Do you think she did it? MRS. HALE (in a frightened voice .) Oh, I don’t know. MRS. PETERS. Well, I don’t think she did. Asking for an apron and her little shawl. Worrying about her fruit. MRS. PETERS (s tarts to speak, glances up, where footsteps are heard in the room above. In a low voice .) Mrs. Peters says it looks bad for her. Mr. Henderson is awful sarcastic in speech, and he’ll make fun of her sayin’ she didn’t wake up. MRS. HALE. Well, I guess John Wright didn’t wake when they was slipping that rope under his neck. MRS. PETERS. No, it’s strange. It must have been done awful crafty and still. They say it was such a — funny way to kill a man, rigging it all up like that. MRS. HALE. That’s just what Mr. Hale said. There was a gun in the house. He says that’s what he can’t understand. MRS. PETERS. Mr. Henderson said coming out that what was needed for the case was a motive; something to show anger or—sudden feeling.
MRS. PETERS. Yes, Mrs. Hale? MRS. HALE. What do you suppose she was so nervous about? MRS. PETERS. Oh—I don’t know. I don’t know as she was nervous. I sometimes sew awful queer when I’m just tired. ( Mrs. Hale starts to say something looks at Mrs. Peters, then goes on sewing.) Well, I must get these things wrapped up. They may be through sooner than we think. (Putting apron and other things together. ) I wonder where I can find a piece of paper, and string. MRS. HALE. In that cupboard, maybe. MRS. PETER. ( looking in cupboard ). Why, here’s a birdcage. (Holds it up .) Did she have a bird, Mrs. Hale? MRS. HALE. Why, I don’t know whether she did or not—I’ve not been here for so long. There was a man around last year selling canaries cheap, but I don’t know as she took one; maybe she did. She used to sing real pretty herself. MRS. PETERS. ( glancing around ). Seems funny to think of a bird here. But she must have had one, or why should she have a cage? I wonder what happened to it? MRS. HALE. I s’pose maybe the cat got it. MRS. PETERS. No, she didn’t have a cat. She’s got that feeling some people have about cats—being afraid of them. My cat got in her room, and she was real upset and asked me to take it out. MRS. HALE. My sister Bessie was like that. Queer, ain’t it? MRS. PETERS. ( examining the cage ). Why, look at this door. It’s broke. One hinge is pulled apart. MRS. HALE. ( looking, too .) Looks as if someone must have been rough with it. MRS. PETERS. Why, yes. ( she brings the cage forward and puts it on the table .) MRS. HALE. I wish if they’re going to find any evidence they’d be about it. I don’t like this place. MRS. PETERS. But I’m awful glad you came with me, Mrs. Hale. It would be lonesome of me sitting here alone. MRS. HALE. It would, wouldn’t it? ( Dropping her sewing ). But I tell you what I do wish, Mrs. Peters. I wish I had come over sometimes she was here. I— ( Looking around the room .)—wish I had. MRS. PETERS. But of course you were awful busy, Mrs. Hale—-your house and your children. MRS. HALE. I could’ve come. I stayed away because it weren’t cheerful—and that’s why I ought to have come. I—I’ve never liked this place. Maybe because it’s down in a hollow, and you don’t see the road. I dunno what it is, but it’s a lonesome place and always was. I wish I had come over to see Minnie Foster sometimes. I can see now—( Shakes her head .)
MRS. PETERS. Well, you mustn’t reproach yourself, Mrs. Hale. Somehow we just don’t see how it is with other folks until—something comes up. MRS. HALE. Not having children makes less work—but it makes a quiet house, and Wright out to work all day, and no company when he did come in. Did you know John Wright, Mrs. Peters? MRS. PETERS. Not to know him; I’ve seen him in town. They say he was a good man. MRS. HALE. Yes—good; he didn’t drink, and kept his word as well as most, I guess, and paid his debts. But he was a hard man, Mrs. Peters. Just to pass the time of day with him. ( Shivers .) Like a raw wind that gets to the bone. ( Pauses, her eye falling on the cage .) I should think she would ’a wanted a bird. But what do you suppose went with it? MRS. PETERS. I don’t know, unless it got sick and died. (S he reaches over and swings the broken door, swings it again; both women watch it. ) MRS. HALE. She—come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself—real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and—fluttery. How—she—did—change. ( Silence; then as if struck by a happy thought and relieved to get back to everyday things .) Tell you what, Mrs. Peters, why don’t you take the quilt in with you? It might take up her mind. MRS. PETERS. Why, I think that’s a real nice idea, Mrs. Hale. There couldn’t possible be any objection to it, could there? Now, just what would I take? I wonder if her patches are in here—and her things. ( They look in the sewing basket. ) MRS. HALE. Here’s some red. I expect this has got sewing things in it (Brings out a fancy box .) What a pretty box. Looks like something somebody would give you. Maybe her scissors are in here. ( Opens box. Suddenly puts her hand to her nose .) Why— (M rs. Peters bend nearer, then turns her face away. ) There’s something wrapped up in this piece of silk. MRS. PETERS. Why, this isn’t her scissors. MRS. HALE ( lifting the silk .) Oh, Mrs. Peters—it’s— ( Mrs. Peters bend closer .) MRS. PETERS. It’s the bird. MRS. HALE (jumping up .) But, Mrs. Peters—look at it. Its neck! Look at its neck! It’s all—other side to. MRS. PETERS. Somebody—wrung—its neck. ( Their eyes meet. A look of growing comprehension of horror. Steps are heard outside. Mrs. Hale slips box under quilt pieces, and sinks into her chair. Enter Sheriff and County Attorney. Mrs. Peters rises.) COUNTY ATTORNEY ( as one turning from serious thing to little pleasantries ). Well, ladies, have you decided whether she was going to quilt it or knot it? MRS. PETERS. We think she was going to—knot it. COUNTY ATTORNEY. Well, that’s interesting, I’m sure. (Seeing the birdcage .) Has the bird flown?
MRS. Peters ( looking upstairs ). We mustn’t—take on. MRS. HALE. I might have known she needed help! I know how things can be—for women. I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live far apart. We all go through the same things—it’s all just a different kind of the same thing. ( Brushes her eyes, noticing the bottle of fruit, reaches out for it .) If I was you, I wouldn’t tell her her fruit was gone. Tell her it ain’t. Tell her it’s all right. Take this in to prove it to her. She—she may never know whether it was broke or not. MRS. PETERS (t akes the bottle, looks about for something to wrap it in; takes petticoat from the clothes brought from the other room, very nervously begins winding this around the bottle. In a false voice ). My, it’s a good thing the men couldn’t hear us. Wouldn’t they just laugh! Getting all stirred up over a little thing like a—dead canary. As if that could have anything to do with—with—wouldn’t they laugh! ( The men are heard coming downstairs .) MRS. HALE (under her breath). Maybe they would—maybe they wouldn’t. COUNTY ATTORNEY. No, Peters, it’s all perfectly clear except a reason for doing it. But you know juries when it comes to women. If there was some definite thing. Something to show—something to make a story about—a thing that would connect up with this strange way of doing it. ( The women’s eyes meet for an instant. Enter Hale from outer door .) HALE. Well, I’ve got the team around. Pretty cold out there. COUNTY ATTORNEY. I’m going to stay here awhile by myself ( To the Sheriff ). You can send Frank out for me, can’t you? I want to go over everything. I’m not satisfied that we can’t do better. SHERIFF. Do you want to see what Mrs. Peters is going to take in? (The Lawyer goes to the table, picks up the apron, laughs .) COUNTY ATTORNEY. Oh I guess they’re not very dangerous things the ladies have picked up. ( Moves a few things about, disturbing the quilt pieces which cover the box. Steps back. ) No, Mrs. Peters doesn’t need supervising. For that matter, a sheriff’s wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters? MRS. PETERS. Not—just that way. SHERIFF (chuckling). Married to the law. (M oves toward the other room .) I just want you to come in here a minute, George. We ought to take a look at these windows. COUNTY ATTORNEY ( scoffingly ). Oh, windows! SHERIFF. We’ll be right out, Mr. Hale. ( Hale goes outside. The Sheriff follows the County Attorney into the other room. Then Mrs. Hale rises, hands tight together, looking intensely at Mrs. Peters, whose eyes take a slow turn, finally meeting Mrs. Hale’s. A moment Mrs. Hale holds her, then her own eyes point the way to where the box is concealed. Suddenly Mrs. Peters throws back quilt pieces and tries to put the box in the bag she is wearing. It is too big. She opens box, starts to take the bird out, cannot touch it, goes to pieces, stands there helpless. Sound of a knob turning in the other room. Mrs. Hale snatches the box and puts it in the pocket of her big coat. Enter County Attorney and Sheriff .)
COUNTY ATTORNEY ( facetiously ). Well, Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies! MRS. HALE ( her hand against her pocke t). We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson.
