BIGELOW--Once you're back on the job again, you'll be all right. You're still determined to go on this expedition, aren't you? CURTIS--Yes. I was supposed to join them this week in New York but I've arranged to catch up with them in China--as soon as it's possible for us to go. BIGELOW--Us? You mean you still plan to take-- CURTIS--[Angrily aggressive.] Yes, certainly! Why not? Martha ought to be able to travel in a month or so. BIGELOW--Yes, but--do you think it would be safe to take the child? CURTIS--[With a bitter laugh.] Yes--I was forgetting the child, wasn't I? [Viciously.] But perhaps--[Then catching himself with a groan.] Oh, damn all children, Big! BIGELOW--[Astonished.] Curt! CURTIS--[In anguish.] I can't help it--I've fought against it. But it's there--deep down in me--and I can't drive it out. I can't! BIGELOW--[Bewildered.] What, Curt? CURTIS--Hatred! Yes, hatred! What's the use of denying it? I must tell someone and you're the only one who might understand. [With a wild laugh.] For you--hated your wife, didn't you? BIGELOW--[Stunned.] Good God, you don't mean you hate--Martha? CURTIS--[Raging.] Hate Martha? How dare you, you fool! I love Martha--love her with every miserable drop of blood in me--with all my life--all my soul! She is my whole world--everything! Hate Martha! God, man, have you gone crazy to say such a mad thing? [Savagely.] No. I hate it. It! BIGELOW--[Shocked.] Curt! Don't you know you can't talk like that--now--when--CURTIS-- [Harshly.] It has made us both suffer torments--not only now--every day, every hour, for months and months. Why shouldn't I hate it, eh? BIGELOW--[Staring at his friend's wild, distorted face with growing horror.] Curt! Can't you realize how horrible-- CURTIS--Yes, it's horrible. I've told myself that a million times. [With emphasis.] But it's true! BIGELOW--[Severely.] Shut up! You're not yourself. Come, think for a moment. What would Martha feel if she heard you going on this way? Why--it would kill her! CURTIS--[With a sobbing groan.] Oh, I know, I know! [After a pause.] She read it in my eyes. Yes, it's horrible, but when I saw her there suffering so frightfully--I couldn't keep it out of my eyes. I tried to force it back--for her sake--but I couldn't. I was holding her hands and her eyes searched mine with such a longing question in them--and she read only my hatred there, not my love for her. And she screamed and seemed to try to push me away. I wanted to kneel down and pray for forgiveness--to tell her it was only my love for her--that I couldn't help it. And then the doctors told me to leave--and now the door is locked against me--[He sobs.] BIGELOW--[Greatly moved.] This is only your damned imagination. They put you out because you were in their way, that's all. And as for Martha, she was probably suffering so much-- CURTIS--No. She read it in my eyes. I saw that look in hers--of horror--horror of me! BIGELOW--[Gruffly.] You're raving, damn it!