CLAIRE: (_her voice coming up_) Harry! Choke that phonograph! If you want to be lewd--do it yourselves! You tawdry things--you cheap little lewd cowards, (_a door heard opening below_) Harry! If you don't stop that music, I'll kill myself. (_far down, steps on stairs_) HARRY: Claire, what _is_ this? CLAIRE: Stop that phonograph or I'll-- HARRY: Why, of course I'll stop it. What--what is there to get so excited about? Now--now just a minute, dear. It'll take a minute. (CLAIRE _comes back upstairs, dragging steps, face ghastly. The amorous song still comes up, and louder now that doors are open. She and_ TOM _do not look at one another. Then, on a languorous swell the music comes to a grating stop. They do not speak or move. Quick footsteps_--HARRY _comes up_.) HARRY: What in the world were you saying, Claire? Certainly you could have asked me more quietly to turn off the Victrola. Though what harm was it doing you--way up here? (_a sharp little sound from_ CLAIRE; _she checks it, her hand over her mouth_. HARRY _looks from her to_ TOM) Well, I think you two would better have had your dinner. Won't you come down now and have some? CLAIRE: (_only now taking her hand from her mouth_) Harry, tell him to come up here--that insanity man. I--want to ask him something. HARRY: 'Insanity man!' How absurd. He's a nerve specialist. There's a vast difference. CLAIRE: Is there? Anyway, ask him to come up here. Want to--ask him something. TOM: (_speaking with difficulty_) Wouldn't it be better for us to go down there? CLAIRE: No. So nice up here! Everybody--up here! HARRY: (_worried_) You'll--be yourself, will you, Claire? (_She checks a laugh, nods_.) I think he can help you. CLAIRE: Want to ask him to--help me. HARRY: (_as he is starting down_) He's here as a guest to-night, you know, Claire. CLAIRE: I suppose a guest can--help one. TOM: (_when the silence rejects it_) Claire, you must know, it's because it is so much, so-- CLAIRE: Be still. There isn't anything to say. TOM: (_torn--tortured_) If it only weren't _you_! CLAIRE: Yes,--so you said. If it weren't. I suppose I wouldn't be so--interested! (_hears them starting up below--keeps looking at the place where they will appear_) (HARRY _is heard to call_, 'Coming, Dick?' _and_ DICK's _voice replies_, 'In a moment or two.' ADELAIDE _comes first_.) ADELAIDE: (_as her head appears_) Well, these stairs should keep down weight. You missed an awfully good dinner, Claire. And kept Mr Edgeworth from a good dinner. CLAIRE: Yes. We missed our dinner. (_her eyes do not leave the place where_ DR EMMONS _will come up_) HARRY: (_as he and_ EMMONS _appear_) Claire, this is-- CLAIRE: Yes, I know who he is. I want to ask you-- ADELAIDE: Let the poor man get his breath before you ask him anything. (_he nods, smiles, looks at_ CLAIRE _with interest. Careful not to look too long at her, surveys the tower_) EMMONS: Curious place. ADELAIDE: Yes; it lacks form, doesn't it?