Summary
The drama unfolds over three captivating acts, stretching across ten vibrant days in May, set against the backdrop of a quaint apple farm nestled about twenty miles from the dynamic heart of New York City.
Act 1
As the first act opens under the shroud of midnight, the scene is set in the cozy living room. Mollie Lovejoy, roused from her slumber, gently soothes her thirteen-year-old son, Paris, who is rattled by a dream where his father, Phillip Lovejoy, turns into a burglar. Paris, displaced onto the couch due to the visit of his grandmother, Mother Lovejoy, and his aunt Loreena Lovejoy, affectionately known as Sister, seeks comfort in his mother's arms.
Meanwhile, Mollie and John Tucker, an architect residing temporarily in the house, have been sharing quiet moments over steaming cups of tea in the kitchen. Mollie confides in John, expressing that his imminent departure would leave her feeling "desolate." Paris, ever observant, questions John, "Why do you keep your arms around my mother? Why do you look at her in that zany way?" to which John candidly reveals his affection for Mollie. Twice divorced from Paris's father, Mollie now finds herself in a complex web of emotions.
A call from Phillip heightens Mollie's anxiety, as she fears he might appear unannounced after discharging himself from a sanatorium where he was recovering from a suicide attempt. Paris boasts about his father's acclaim as a famous author and threatens to disclose John's affections to him. Unfazed, John boldly declares he will personally inform Phillip of his love for Mollie. As they muse over Phillip's latest play, which faced a swift demise, Mollie and John reminisce about their serendipitous meeting just ten days prior, when Mollie picked him up as he was caught in car troubles, extending her hospitality in a gesture filled with unexpected generosity.
Mollie reveals to John the qualities she cherishes in him: his genuine interest in her intellect rather than her physicality. She reflects on her impulsive and youthful encounter with Phillip at a peach festival in her hometown, where their romance quickly escalated to marriage. Despite the tumultuous nature of their relationship, marked by Phillip's charm and spells of abuse, Mollie admits to a lingering enchantment he holds over her. Their conversation veers towards Sister, whose transition from debutante to a single, bookish librarian is a source of familial disappointment.
Sister's sudden entrance prompts John to excuse himself to tend to a clattering garage door. Sister cautions Mollie against Phillip's potential return, suspecting he might propose marriage for the third time. Although Mollie dismisses the idea of remarrying Phillip, she confesses a vulnerability to his charismatic allure. When asked about her romantic experiences, Sister provides whimsical tales of love that exist only in her imagination, scattered across the globe.
Mother Lovejoy bustles in, searching for milk of magnesia, dismayed to learn that Sister has already divulged Phillip’s potential visit. As Sister and Mother Lovejoy exit, John returns, and discussions resume about Phillip, John's past loves, and the prospects of a future together.
After John retires for the night, Phillip makes a dramatic appearance, bearing flowers for Mollie, attempting to rekindle the memories of their married life. Confident in the success of his next book, he heads upstairs, assuming Mollie will join him. Left pondering, Mollie questions Paris, "My child, if your mother told you she is in love with two people, what would you think?" Phillip’s voice beckons from upstairs, drawing the act to a poignant close as the curtain falls.
Act 2
The second act unfurls in the gentle light of the following afternoon. Paris...
(This entire section contains 1508 words.)
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engages in a lively discussion with his school friend, Hattie, about a recent test, with the rhythmic clattering of his father's typewriter echoing nearby. Hattie confesses her fear of Phillip, labeling him as "crazy." Their conversation dips into a fleeting memory of childlike curiosity, abruptly ending with Hattie's departure as Phillip enters.
In a rare candid exchange, Phillip and Paris explore their father-son dynamic, with Paris accusing his father of forgetfulness and thoughtless gifts. Their differing memories of life on the apple farm reveal Phillip's idyllic dreams of pastoral life, clashing with Paris's recollections of his father's disdain for milk and preference for whisky, leaving Paris to tend the garden alone.
Paris exits as Mollie arrives from a grocery trip, trailed by Mother Lovejoy and Sister. The room fills with their animated chatter, with Mother Lovejoy noticing Mollie's newfound radiance, crediting it to "S-E-X," while attributing Sister’s lack of allure to its absence.
John's entrance shifts the conversation as Mother Lovejoy inquires if he is a "professional man," considering Sister as a potential match and suggesting Mollie leave them alone. Sister confides in John about her quest for "the right man." Once Sister departs, Mollie returns, and John pours out his affection, only for Mollie to reveal Phillip's return to their home.
Paris strides in, clutching the blueprints of a house that John dreams of constructing. Together, they discuss the features and possibilities that might adorn this future home. Amidst their conversation, Paris shares a tale of a scuffle, recounting how he had to defend his name from a mocking student. John confides his own story of youthful hurt, recalling how a girl once wounded him with her jibes about his teenage acne. In a philosophical turn, John muses on the "square root of sin," the grievous act of wounding another's feelings, equating it to the gravity of murder. Both agree on the satisfaction of their heartfelt "man-to-man" exchange.
Paris departs as his father steps into the room, visibly agitated by the growing bond between John and Mollie. Phillip claims dominion over the farm, declaring it all belongs to him, "including my wife." He probes the couple about their intimacy, receiving Mollie's assurance of "No." Phillip reminisces on the past, boasting about the passion shared with Mollie, before exiting in search of applejack.
Characters flit in and out, their conversations ranging from chess games to Mother Lovejoy's unwavering belief in Phillip's destined genius. When the stage clears, leaving Phillip and John alone, Phillip casually reveals that Mollie spent the night with him. Upon Mollie's return, John confronts her. She admits the truth, pleading for forgiveness and attributing her actions to weakness. "When will you be strong enough to love the strong?" he challenges.
Left alone with his mother, Phillip's dialogue spirals into a heated argument, sending her storming out. Mollie reappears with a resolute announcement to Phillip: she is leaving him for John. Despite Phillip's disdain for John, he begins to implore Mollie, "without you I will die," but Mollie remains steadfast in her decision. As emotions flare, Phillip seizes her arm, prompting Mollie to grab a knife. Desperately, Phillip suggests a compromise—"You can be in love with him, that's all right, but stay in love with me! Let me stay and I will write again." Mollie's refusal leads to a fierce confrontation. In a fit of rage, Phillip lifts the grandfather clock and shatters it, the incessant chime echoing ominously, leaving them both unnerved.
Act 3, Scene 1
As dawn breaks, Phillip rouses Paris, proposing an escape together. "I need you," he tells his son. When Paris questions their destination, Phillip cryptically promises voyages to "zones and latitudes you never imagined." He shares a Biblical tale about talents, an ancient currency, which Paris mischievously confuses with the modern sense of skill. Sensing his father's unsettling demeanor, Paris clings to his plans of fishing, promising to join another time. Phillip departs in his car, moments before Mollie comes down to see Paris.
Act 3, Scene 2
A week later, the truth settles in through Paris and Hattie's conversation: Phillip has perished in a car accident, his vehicle submerged in a nearby pond. Paris staunchly denies any intent of self-harm, asserting, "It was a defective steering wheel," convinced his father's strength would never allow such an act. They exit as Mother Lovejoy and Sister enter, suitcases in hand.
Sister reveals that Mollie is bound for New York City to pursue work as a cosmetologist, though Mother Lovejoy recalls with humor how Mollie's last attempt at the job ended with a bald client. They chatter about their luxurious limousine, waiting to whisk them to the train station for their journey back to Society City.
As the limo arrives, Mollie descends the stairs, burdened with the belief that she is to blame for Phillip's demise. "Because I loved you, Phillip died," she confides to John, lamenting her inability to save him. John consoles her, reminding her of all she did for Phillip during his life.
Paris makes an entrance, and John shares his intention to marry Mollie and bring the envisioned house to life. Paris responds wistfully, "it sounded wonderful; the square root of it, in fact." After he exits, Mollie questions John about this "square root of wonderful," to which he tenderly replies, "You." Confused, Mollie reflects, noting, "love multiplies." As the scene closes, she speaks of how love, when truly felt, multiplies all things, bringing the play to a poignant end.
