tell you, the moment Ned told me, something happened to me! I can’t explain it, but—I’ll make good now, Nina! I know I’ve said that before but I was only boasting. I was only trying to make myself think so. But now I say it knowing I can do it!
[Softly]
It’s because we’re going to have a child, Nina. I knew that you’d never come to really love me without that. That’s what I was down on my knees for when you came in. I was thanking God—for our baby!
Nina
[Tremblingly]
Sammy! Poor boy!
Evans
Ned said when he came back he’d expect to find us both happy—in our baby. He said to tell you that. You will be happy now, won’t you, Nina?
Nina
[Brokenly and exhaustedly]
I’ll try to make you happy, Sammy.
[He kisses her, then hides his head on her breast. She stares out over his head. She seems to grow older]
[Thinking as if she were repeating the words of some inner voice of life]
Not Ned’s child! . . . not Sam’s child! . . . mine! . . . there! . . . again! . . . I feel my child live . . . moving in my life . . . my life moving in my child . . . breathing in the tide I dream and breathe my dream back into the tide . . . God is a Mother. . . .
