At this time of the year? [_With sudden furious indignation._] You’ve got a lot of nerve, asking me that! Nobody ever did that much for me, and I’ll be damned if I’ll do it for you! JACK You’re hard. LEE You bet I’m hard. I’m in a hard business. It’s like being in an army. The soft man gets licked. You’re soft—and you’re getting licked. JACK [Raises his head]. Soft, because I’m giving up the biggest night of my life to keep my mother’s heart from breaking? Soft, because I’m going to pray in a synagogue so that my father can be proud of his family name—so that my father may live?... You think it’s going to be easy for me to stand there singing stuff that doesn’t mean anything to me anymore and give up playing to a big Broadway opening night?... Soft because I’m giving up the only girl I ever loved— LEE Giving her up? JACK Yes, giving her up. She’s like you. Hardened to the stage idea. She thinks I’m soft, too—sentimental. Don’t you think I went through hell before I came down here? LEE [_Harshly_]. You’re kidding yourself. You really want to sing in a Synagogue tonight. You’re getting a kick out of feeling like a martyr. I’ve seen this sort of thing before. First-rate people don’t pull it. If you were made of the stuff that succeeds, you, with your brains and personality, could have talked your father and your mother out of it.... JACK What’s the use of words, Mr. Lee? My father’s religion is a stone wall, and so is your business. [_Rises._] I took my chance.... Good-bye, Mr. Lee—I have to run along. SARA [_Enters from the kitchen_]. Jakie, I got ready for you a cup of tea. JACK Not now, Mama. [_There is a pause as he and_ SARA _regard each other._] This is my mother, Mr. Lee. Mama, this is Mr. Lee, the producer of the show I was rehearsing with—my boss. LEE How do you do. SARA I’m pleased to meet you. JACK I’ve got to practise with the choir. I’ll be back. [_He goes. There is a silence._] LEE Do you mind if I use your telephone? SARA Go ahead—use all you want. LEE Thank you. [_Goes to phone._] Circle 13876.... SARA You are Jakie’s boss? LEE Not any longer.... Hello. I want to talk to Gene. Mr. Lee. Tell him to call me here as soon as possible. This is Orchard 5374. [_Hangs up phone._] SARA You know Jakie’s papa is sick? LEE Yes. I know. SARA