FullReads

JIMMY.
You are an unscrupulous wretch. If these are the manners of Heaven, I am glad it is so far away, and means of communication so difficult. A few more of you would corrupt the morals of five continents. You are utterly depraved–Here! what are you doing?

THE ANGEL.
I am taking off my robes, so as to put on my new clothes.

JIMMY.
Spare the common decencies at least. Go in the other room.

THE ANGEL.
Certainly, if that is the custom here.
With the clothes over his arm, he goes into the bedroom.

JIMMY.
( sternly, to Annabelle )

And now tell me, what do you mean by this?

ANNABELLE.
( simply )

–We are in love.

JIMMY.
Do you mean to say you would throw me over for that fellow?

ANNABELLE.
Why not?

JIMMY.
What good is he? All he can do is sing hymns.
In three months he’ll be a tramp.

ANNABELLE.
I don’t care. And he won’t be a tramp. I’ll look after him.

JIMMY.
( sneeringly )

The maternal instinct! Well, take care of him if you like.
But of course you know that in six weeks he’ll fall in love with somebody else?

ANNABELLE.
No he won’t. I’m sure that I am the only girl in the world to him.

JIMMY.
Of course you’re the only girl in the world to him–now. You’re the only one he’s ever seen. But wait till he sees the others! Six weeks? On second thought I make it three days. Immortal love! ( He laughs.)

ANNABELLE.
What difference does it make? You don’t understand. Whether it lasts a day or a year, while it lasts it will be immortal. The Angel enters, dressed in Jimmy’s old clothes, and carrying his wings in his hands. He seems exhilarated.

THE ANGEL.
How do I look?

JIMMY.
It is customary to wear one’s tie tucked inside the vest.

THE ANGEL.
( flinging the ends of the gorgeous necktie over his shoulder )

No! Though I have become a man, I do not without some regret put on the dull garb of mortality. I would not have my form lose all its original brightness. Even so it is the excess of glory obscured.

ANNABELLE.
( coming over to him )

You are quite right, darling.

She tucks the tie inside his vest.

THE ANGEL.
Thank you, beloved.–And now these wings! Take them, and burn them with your own sweet hands, so that I can never leave you, even if I would.

ANNABELLE.
No! I would rather put them away for you in a closet, so that you can go and look at them any time you want to, and see that you have the means to freedom ready to your hand. I shall never hold you against your will. I do not want to burn your wings. I really don’t! But if you insist–!

She takes the wings, and approaches the grate.

JIMMY.
( to the Angel )

Don’t let her do it! Fool! You don’t know what you are doing. Listen to me! You think that she is wonderful– superior–divine. It is only natural. There are moments when I have thought so myself. But I know why I thought so, and you have yet to learn. Keep your wings, my friend, against the day of your awakening– the day when the glamour of sex has vanished, and you see in her, as you will see, an inferior being, with a weak body, a stunted mind, devoid of creative power, almost devoid of imagination, utterly lacking in critical capacity–a being who does not know how to work, nor how to talk, nor even how to play!

Annabelle, dropping the wings on the hearth,

stares at him, in speechless anger.

THE ANGEL.
Sir! Do you refer in these vulgar and insulting terms to the companion of my soul, the desire of my heart, the perfect lover whose lips have kindled my dull senses to ecstasy?

JIMMY.
I do. Remember that I know her better than you do, young man. Take my advice and leave her alone. Even now it is not too late! Save yourself from this folly while there is still time!

THE ANGEL.
Never!

JIMMY.
Then take these tickets–and I hope that I never see either of you again! He holds out the tickets. Annabelle, after a pause, steps forward and takes them.

ANNABELLE.
That is really sweet of you, Jimmy!
The blast of an auto-horn is heard outside.

JIMMY.
( bitterly )

And there’s my taxi. Take that, too.

THE ANGEL.
Farewell!

He opens the door. Annabelle, at his side, turns and blows Jimmy a kiss. Stonily, Jimmy watches them go out. Then he picks up his suitcase and goes, with an air of complete finality, into the other room.

There is a moment’s silence, and then the door opens softly, and the Angel looks in, enters surreptitiously, seizes up the wings, and with them safely clasped to his bosom, vanishes again through the door.