MARTIN. Naturally. The transaction hasn't been according to Hoyle. Now if Ted were a Georgian Prince, and your grandpa had started the ten-cent stores, it would be a different matter. There'd be grandeur in it; intrigue, romance, finance--something to write up for the Sunday papers. But room rent and a suit of clothes ... that's shoddy. It's got to be Rolls Royces and polo ponies or nothing. KATE. Oh shut up. Do you think I like the situation? But I can't see him starve. MARTIN. Damn that woman! If he could have got a job ... KATE. [_With sudden determination._] All right. If he wants a job, I'll get him a job. MARTIN. How? KATE. By asking for it. How do you suppose? I'll go right now, before I lose my nerve. [_She powders nose before pocket mirror_.'] MARTIN. You were smart to dress him up first. Those clothes should spell the diff between wages and a salary. KATE. I'll take anything I can get for him. TIPPY. [_Enters._] Well, I'm back.... Where's our Beau Brummel? KATE. He went to change his hat. TIPPY. That's good. [_Crosses to yard._] Bet you never looked at Itzy. [_Goes out to yard._] MARTIN. [_As_ KATE _puts on fur coat._] Funny time of day, Kate, to start out to get a man a job. KATE. That depends on whom you have to see to get it. MARTIN. What's it to be? Bouncer at the Union League Club? TIPPY. [_Re-enters from yard._] 'Im still smells a eetle bit soapy.--Kate! Where are you going? Ken and Laura will be here any minute. KATE. Sorry, Tippy. I got my dates mixed. But I'll be back. Only don't wait dinner for me. [_She goes._] TIPPY. Now what the hell? Where's she going? MARTIN. You can't tell. She works irregular hours. TIPPY. But she promised to be here for dinner. Isn't her soul her own? MARTIN. Hadn't you heard she'd sold it? TIPPY. [_Glumly._] That's a hell of a note.--I hope Ted gets back in time. I don't want my dinner party spoiled. MARTIN. He'll be back. TIPPY. He looked nifty in the new clothes, didn't he? Laura will like them. MARTIN. Let's hope she doesn't say too much about them. TIPPY. She'll be too busy telling you what a fine husband she has. MARTIN. And her husband will tell me what a fine job he has, and all about the sweet spirit of loyalty that exists in that wonderful corporation. [_Stops to light cigarette._] Jesus, Tippy, if prosperity really does come back, life is going to be an awful bore for us revolutionists. [_There is a knock_, TIPPY _goes and lets_ KEN _and_ LAURA _in. They are happy and gay and terribly in love. She can hardly keep her hands from caressing him. She finds threads to flick off his sleeve and must straighten his tie._] LAURA. [_Embracing_ TIPPY.] YOU dear! KEN. Hello--hello. LAURA. Hello, Martin,--you still a Communist? MARTIN. And how! LAURA. [_To_ TIPPY.] Are Kate and Ted going to be here too? TIPPY. You bet! LAURA. Oh, how grand! It's going to be like old times. KEN. [_Tolerantly._] For anyone who so hated those times, Laura, I must say ...