CURTIS--I feel that you are deliberately ruining my highest hope. How can I go on without you? I've been trying to imagine myself alone. I can't! Even with my work--who can I get to take your place? Oh, Martha, why do you have to bring this new element into our lives at this late day? Haven't we been sufficient, you and I together? Isn't that a more difficult, beautiful happiness to achieve than--children? Everyone has children. Don't I love you as much as any man could love a woman? Isn't that enough for you? Doesn't it mean anything to you that I need you so terribly--for myself, for my work--for everything that is best and worthiest in me? Can you expect me to be glad when you propose to introduce a stranger who will steal away your love, your interest--who will separate us and deprive me of you! No, no, I cannot! It's asking the impossible. I am only human. MARTHA--If you were human you would think of my life as well as yours. CURTIS--I do! It is OUR life I am fighting for, not mine--OUR life that you want to destroy. MARTHA--Our life seems to mean your life to you, Curt--and only your life. I have devoted fifteen years to that. Now I must fight for my own. CURTIS--[Aghast.] You talk as if we were enemies, Martha! [Striding forward and seizing her in his arms.] No, you don't mean it! I love you so, Martha! You've made yourself part of my life, my work--I need you so! I can't share you with anyone! I won't! Martha, my own! Say that you won't, dear? [He kisses her passionately again and again.] MARTHA--[All her love and tenderness aroused by his kisses and passionate sincerity--weakening.] Curt! Curt! [Pitiably.] It won't separate us, dear. Can't you see he will be a link between us--even when we are away from each other--that he will bring us together all the closer? CURTIS--But I can't be away from you! MARTHA--[Miserably.] Oh, Curt, why won't you look the fact in the face--and learn to accept it with joy? Why can't you for my sake? I would do that for you. CURTIS--[Breaking away from her--passionately.] You will not do what I have implored you--for me! And I am looking the fact in the face--the fact that there must be no fact! [Avoiding her eyes--as if defying his own finer feelings.] There are doctors who-- MARTHA--[Shrinking back from him.] Curt! You propose that--to me! [With overwhelming sorrow.] Oh, Curt! When I feel him--his life within me--like a budding of my deepest soul--to flower and continue me--you say what you have just said! [Grief-stricken.] Oh, you never, never, never will understand! CURTIS--[Shamefacedly.] Martha, I--[Distractedly.] I don't know what I'm saying! This whole situation is so unbearable! Why, why does it have to happen now? MARTHA--[Gently.] It must be now--or not at all--at my age, dear. [Then after a pause--staring at him frightenedly--sadly.] You have changed, Curt. I remember it used to be your happiness to sacrifice yourself for me.