SCENE: _The office of “The People,” a morning in March, 1917. There is little furniture--a long table strewn with manuscripts and papers, a desk. On the walls are revolutionary posters; wads of paper are thrown about on the floor--the office of a publication which is radical and poor. This is an inner office; at the rear is the door into the outer one. OSCAR is seated at the table writing. TOM, a printer who loves the cause--or the crowd--almost enough to print for it, comes from the other room, a galley-proof in his hand._ TOM Why are you writing? OSCAR [_Jauntily._] Because I am a writer. TOM But I thought you said there wasn’t going to be another issue of _The People_. OSCAR [_With dignity._] I am writing. TOM There’s a woman here with a suit case. OSCAR What’s in it? TOM She wants to see the Editor. OSCAR [_After writing._] All right. [_TOM goes out and a moment later the woman appears. She is middle aged, wears plain clothes not in fashion. Her manner is a little shrinking and yet as she stands in the doorway looking about the bare room, her face is the face of one who has come a long way and reached a wonderful place._ THE WOMAN This _is_ the office of _The People_? OSCAR Um-hum. THE WOMAN [_In a bated way._] I came to see the author of those wonderful words. OSCAR [_Rising._] Which wonderful words? THE WOMAN About moving toward the beautiful distances. OSCAR Oh. Those are Mr. Wills’ wonderful words. [_Begins to write as one who has lost interest._ THE WOMAN Could I see him? OSCAR He isn’t here yet. He’s just back from California. Won’t be at the office till a little later. THE WOMAN [_With excitement._] He has been to California? He has just ridden across this country? OSCAR Yes. Long trip. He was very cross over the ’phone. THE WOMAN Oh--no. I think you’re mistaken. OSCAR Anything you care to see me about? THE WOMAN [_After considering._] I could see him a little later, couldn’t I? OSCAR Yes, if its important. Of course he’ll be very busy. THE WOMAN It is important. At least--yes, it is important. OSCAR Very well then--later in the morning. THE WOMAN [_Thinking aloud._] I will stand down on the street and watch the people go by. OSCAR What? THE WOMAN The people. It’s so wonderful to see them--so many of them. Don’t you often just stand and watch them? OSCAR No, madam, not often. I am too busy editing a magazine about them. THE WOMAN Of course you are busy. You help edit this magazine? [_Looks about at the posters._ OSCAR I am associate editor of _The People_. THE WOMAN That’s a great thing for you--and you so young. Does Mr. Wills write in this room? OSCAR That is his desk. THE WOMAN [_Looking at the desk._] It must be a wonderful thing for you to write in the same room with him. OSCAR Well, I don’t know; perhaps it is a wonderful thing for him to--I am Oscar Tripp, the poet. THE WOMAN