on the way
you're doing.

TED. Did I ask for your advice?

KEN. Now don't get sore. I'm trying to help you.

TED. The hell with your help!

KEN. All right. You don't want advice and you won't take it. What
are you going to do? Go on living off Kate forever?

TED. That's my affair.

KEN. It's your affair, but everybody knows it. And everybody knows
what it is. It's the second oldest profession in the world--and the
lousiest one.

TED. [_Wildly._] Drop it, I say!

KEN. You know where Kate gets her money and how she earns it.--And
you know what that makes you.

[_With an inarticulate cry_, TED _tries to stop him, but_ KEN
_goes on almost in spite of himself_'.] A pimp! That's what it
makes you. A pimp.

TED. Damn you! Damn you!

KEN. It doesn't sound pretty, does it?

TED. Not from you.

KEN. It will sound the same no matter where it comes from.

TED. Not from you.--Because we're in the same boat. We're in the
same boat, do you hear? We're in the same boat!

KEN. [_Contemptuously._] The hell you say!

TED. You'd rather die than accept favors from a woman, wouldn't
you?

KEN. You bet you ...

TED. You'd rather eat Salvation Army bean soup than go on living
off your father, too.

KEN. Sure. So I got out and got a job.

TED. A job. What kind of a job? [_Hysterically._] Who got that job
for you? Who is paying your salary?

KEN. Ah, you're crazy!

TED. I'll tell you who got you that job and I'll tell you who's
paying your salary. Your father.

KEN, You're a god-damned liar.

[MARTIN _and_ LAURA _enter, their arms laden with bundles._]

TED. Prescott is just a go-between. It's your father who's paying
your salary!

LAURA. [_In horror._] Ted!

TED. Ask her. She knows. It was her idea.--If I'm a pimp, what does
that make you? [_Takes his hat and coat, brushes by her and streaks
out._]

KEN. [_Unconvincingly._] He's crazy. He's--crazy.

[_Silence,_ LAURA _leans against the table, as though she had
difficulty in breathing_, TIPPY _enters, apron on, egg beater in
hand._]

TIPPY. Hello. You back? [_Takes groceries._] What's up? [_No
answer._] Where's Ted? [_No answer._]

KEN. [_To_ LAURA.] What are you whimpering about? [_Seizes her by
the arms._] It's true. What he said was true, wasn't it? [_She
tries to speak, but cannot._] Who got my job for me? Who is paying
my salary? Answer me!

LAURA. Your father.

KEN. My father! How could he do such a thing?

LAURA. It was my idea. I--I to