You can't undo the past, my boy, but you can make the future. JONATHAN I can't straighten my back. NATHANIEL Perhaps not, but you can straighten your life. JONATHAN I'm only a beggar, sir. NATHANIEL There is something everybody can do. JONATHAN There isn't any place for me.... NATHANIEL My boy, there is a place for everybody who wants a place. JONATHAN Do you remember what your nephew wanted to do? NATHANIEL Yes, he wanted to write plays and run a theatre and be an actor. JONATHAN I couldn't ever be an actor, could I? NATHANIEL No, my boy. JONATHAN Supposing you had your heart set on something and couldn't do it, what would you do? NATHANIEL I'd not give up.... I'd try something else. JONATHAN Supposing I were your nephew, what would you do? NATHANIEL I'd find out what you wanted to be. JONATHAN Don't I look like Jonathan? NATHANIEL Jonathan must be very tall now. JONATHAN If Jonathan weren't tall? NATHANIEL But he _is_ tall and splendid. I know Jonathan! And he's doing what he set out to do. JONATHAN I hope you'll find him, sir, and I hope he'll make you proud. NATHANIEL (_very earnestly_) My boy, how old are you? JONATHAN I'm twenty. NATHANIEL Twenty.... Will you try to pull yourself out of the rut? JONATHAN What do you mean, sir? NATHANIEL Look at that man. What is he to you? JONATHAN He's my pal. NATHANIEL You mustn't waste your life on such emptiness as his. JONATHAN I'm going to try, sir.... And if I make good, will you believe I'm Jonathan? NATHANIEL I'll believe you are you.... Here.... [_He offers Jonathan a coin._ JONATHAN Oh, no, sir.... I can't--from you-- NATHANIEL Well, you are a strange beggar-- JONATHAN I'm not a beggar at heart.... I don't want to be what I am. But I don't know which way to turn. I'm all mixed up. NATHANIEL All mixed up? [_Nathaniel turns and looks toward the hill._ Boy, there is a green hill far away. Climb to the top of it, look about and you will see-- JONATHAN I know: the whole wide world! NATHANIEL Exactly. JONATHAN Yes, sir. NATHANIEL Go to the hilltop alone--and cry out to your heart's content.--There's nothing like a hilltop to make a man feel worth while! JONATHAN I knew that, sir; but I forgot it. I'm going-- NATHANIEL Good-bye, boy; God bless you. [_The two clasp hands and Nathaniel goes._ JONATHAN He believes in me.... [_He watches Nathaniel with wide eyes, then calls to Hank._ Hank! Hank! HANK What you want? JONATHAN _He_ didn't know me! HANK Who didn't know you? [_Hank lies down._ JONATHAN Uncle Nathaniel.... He just passed by.... But, Hank, he believed in me! He believed I'd make good. HANK Say, what's the matter with you today? JONATHAN I'm goin' to leave you, Hank. HANK Huh? JONATHAN Old pal, I'm going to leave you forever. You've stuck by me-- HANK Sure, I've stuck by you. [_Makes himself comfortable._ Ain't you saved me a heap o' trouble? JONATHAN