My back's broken, Hank. [_Hank looks at him._ Tired? HANK Sure.... JONATHAN I think Uncle Nathaniel would help me if he saw me. HANK He couldn't do nothin' for you. You can't straighten a crooked back.... JONATHAN Hank, I'm tired of this and I'm going back. HANK Going back where? JONATHAN I'm going back home. HANK Your Uncle John won't let you in. JONATHAN Uncle Nathaniel will take me in. HANK He ain't there no more and besides he won't know you. JONATHAN Honest--don't you think he would? HANK Sure, he wouldn't. JONATHAN I wish I hadn't run away. HANK If you don't quit wishing I'll run away from you. JONATHAN You wouldn't leave me, would you, Hank? HANK Sure, I'd leave you.... What do you think I am--a wishing stone?... I want peace, I do.... An' your wishing's disturbing my peace.... Every day fer six years you squeal about what you done.... Your Uncle John swatted you and you burned your theatre things and jumped out o' the window and broke your back and I saved you.... JONATHAN I can't do anything with a broken back! HANK What do you want to do anything for? JONATHAN Sometimes I'd like to write a little. HANK Go ahead.... I'll wait for you. JONATHAN And I'd like to give a show. You know, Hank, I used to want to be an actor.... HANK Sure, all kids want to be actors or go in a circus or do something where a lot o' people are lookin' on. JONATHAN But I can't be an actor now, because nobody'd want to look at me. HANK You act like that hump's ruined your life, when all you got to do's crouch over a little more and look sad and you can get anything you want. Why, it's money in your pocket, that's what that hump is; it's money in your pocket. [_He closes the conversation by whistling._ Say, go on over to that house and get us something to eat. [_Jonathan prepares for the quest and Hank rolls over to go to sleep._ _As Jonathan crosses, lights disclose a hill with pleasant green slopes. At its foot stands a little cottage, all cool and pleasant with great glass doors. There are no locks and bolts to keep one out or to keep one in. A high plaster and brick wall flanks the cottage._ _As Jonathan nears the cottage he meets Uncle John, whose austerity is more apparent than ever._ _Jonathan cowers a moment, then attempts to smile._ JONATHAN Hank said you'd turn me away if I came back. JOHN Were you talking to me, boy? JONATHAN I'm so sorry I ran away, Uncle John. JOHN Uncle John? JONATHAN Don't you know me, Sir? JOHN Indeed I do not. JONATHAN I'm Jonathan-- JOHN Jonathan! My nephew Jonathan?--Ha! Ha! JONATHAN Don't you remember I didn't want to study engineering--I didn't want to go to Somerset School? JOHN Where is Jonathan? JONATHAN I'm Jonathan, sir. You remember I jumped out of the window and I tried to run away. JOHN You seem to know a lot about it. Where is Jonathan? JONATHAN