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MADAME BUTTERFLY
and looking about the room.) He no come?
Madame Butterfly. No. . . .
Suzuki. (Pityingly.) Oh!
Madame Butterfly. (With an imperious gesture.) No "Oh"! He will come. . . . Bring fresh flowers. (She collects the lanterns as Suzuki brings in fresh flowers. Madame Butterfly tears up the roses and throws their leaves in Pinkerton's room. Then pointing to the upper part of the house.) Now I watch from liddle look out place. (She picks up the child whose doll drops from its hand. Have mos' bes' nize breakfas' ready w'en he come.
She leaves the room and Suzuki goes to prepare the breakfast.)
(The stage is empty. Very faintly a strain of "I call her the Belle of Japan" is heard. Madame Butterfly is singing that she may not weep. A pause. Some one knocks on the door. Lieutenant Pinkerton's voice calls outside the shoji.)
Lieutenant Pinkerton. Madame Butterfly? Madame Butterfly? (Coming into the room, he looks about.) Butterfly?
Sharpless. {Following him.) They've seen the ship—these decorations were not here when I called.
Madame Butterfly. {Singing to hush the baby.)
"Rog'—a—bye, bebby,
Off in Japan,"
(Lieutenant Pinkerton listens to the song coming from above.)
"You jus' a picture,
Off of a fan."
Lieutenant Pinkerton. She is watching the ship. {Noticing the screened off part of the room.) My room . . . just as it used to look . . . my chair. {Picking up the doll which the child has dropped.) Poor kid! Poor little devil! . . . Sharpless, I thought when I left this house, the few tears, sobs, little polite regrets, would be over as I crossed the threshold. I started to come back for a minute, but I said to myself: "Don't do it; by this time she's ringing your gold pieces to make sure they're good." You know that class of Japanese girl and—
Sharpless. {Seeing Nakodo who is at the shoji.) Look here: I have something to settle with you! (Nakodo comes in cautiously.) Why did you seek out my friend's wife at the pier?
Lieutenant Pinkerton. Why did you tell her that story—the child and all? Answer me?
Nakodo. {To Sharpless.) Your Excellency, I but thought if trouble came between the two women, he would surely break with Cho-Cho-San, and then she would be glad to marry the rich Yamadori and I get big fee. (Exit.)
Sharpless. You'll never get it. {To Pinkerton.) She'll starve first.
Lieutenant Pinkerton. Sharpless, thank God, that's one thing I can do—money. (He takes out an envelope containing some money.)
Sharpless. What did your wife say, Pinkerton?
Lieutenant Pinkerton. Well, it was rather rough on her,—only married four months. Sharpless, my Kate's an angel,—she offered to take the child . . . made me promise I'd speak of it to Butterfly.
Madame Butterfly. {Calling from above.) Suzuki?
Sharpless. She's coming.
(Pinkerton instinctively draws behind the screen.)
Madame Butterfly. {Coming down the stairs with the sleeping baby on her back, calling.) Suzuki? Come for bebby. {Kissing the child.) Nize liddle eye, pick out of blue sky, all shut up.
Lieutenant Pinkerton. {Aside to Sharpless, his eyes fixed on the mother and child.) I can't face it! I 'm going. Give her the money.
Suzuki. {Entering, and seeing Pinkerton as he passes out of the door.) Ah!
(Sharpless gives her a warning gesture.)
Madame Butterfly. (Seeing Suzuki's astonished face.) Wha'—? (She puts the baby in Suzuki's arms. Suzuki goes out quickly. Madame Butterfly sees the Consul.) You! Oh! (Joyously.) You seen him?
Sharpless. Yes.
Madame Butterfly. An' you tole him?
Sharpless. Well . . .
Madame Butterfly. But you tole him . . . of bebby?
Sharpless. Yes.
Madame Butterfly. (Wiping her dry lips.) Yaes . . . tha's right. Tha's
