Editing The Missing Arm (section)

=== Scene 2					===
Time: a day after the events in Scene 1

Place: the local prison. OLD WILLIAM is sitting on a bench in a cell.






Enter MILDRED, with a basket on her arm.

OLD WILLIAM. (Looks at her with displeasure.) Why, it’s our own Lady Ellingham.					

MILDRED. Old William, it’s nice to see you. I have been visiting the village, and I thought I would stop by and see you.					

OLD WILLIAM. I’ve been getting quite enough visits, thank you. MILDRED. Really? I’m glad to know that you aren’t forgotten.					

OLD WILLIAM. (Looks at her maliciously.) Oh, it was quite a nice visit! You remember Richmond?					

MILDRED. Not very well. Didn’t he leave town the day Ervyne—

OLD WILLIAM. (Harshly.) Don’t mention that man’s name to me again!					

MILDRED. You mustn’t hate my husband! How would you like being slandered in front of you whole village? You did wrong, Old William.					

OLD WILLIAM. I spoke the truth. Richmond knew that, anyway. MILDRED. When did he return?					

OLD WILLIAM. Two days ago. He visited me, and we talked about...that man. Richmond was shocked when he heard the sort of lies that man was telling.					

MILDRED. (Rises.) Please, I won’t listen to you slandering my husband.					

OLD WILLIAM. Slander! (MILDRED prepares to leave.). Richmond saw your husband get wounded! He knows what happened! It’s just as I predicted—your husband was wounded by an axe!

MILDRED. You are lying, Old William, and I’m sorry, but I have to leave.					

OLD WILLIAM. Ask your husband if he knows a man named Richmond! See his reaction!					

(MILDRED exits, stopping her ears, while Old William continues to shout from his cell. Curtain.)