silence and look at it_, MIFFLIN _watching them, benevolently
chuckling. The bell rings again._]

CARTER [_blankly_]: The telephone is ringin'.

MIFFLIN: Well, answer it, answer it!

SIMPSON: Who?

MIFFLIN: Why, you--any of you. It's yours--it's your telephone.

SIMPSON: You answer it, Carter.

[CARTER _goes to the telephone and picks it up in a somewhat
gingerly way._]

CARTER: Hello!... Yes.... Yes, it's The Gibson Upright.... No, he ain't
here.... What? Wait a minute. [_Puts his hand over the mouthpiece._] He
wants to know who it is talking.

FRANKEL: My goodness! Can't you tell him it's you?

CARTER: He wouldn't know who that was.

MIFFLIN: Tell him it's one of the owners of the company.

CARTER [_looks at_ MIFFLIN _solemnly; then in a hushed voice_]: It's one
of the owners of the company.... Wait a minute; let me get that. "The
Central Associated Lumber Companies?" I hear you. Wait a minute. [_Looks
round._] This here company says they want to lower their bid for a
couple hundred thousand feet o' lumber to forty-seven dollars a
thousand. They say that's a dollar lower than they offered yesterday and
a half a dollar lower than they offered this morning--says got to know
now.

FRANKEL: Says they come _down_ to forty-seven, do they?

CARTER: Yes; says so!

SIMPSON: Well, tell 'em that's good; we'll take it.

THE OTHERS: Sure, that's right!... That's a good offer.... Sure, we'll
take it!

CARTER [_at the telephone_]: We'll take it. [_Pause._] You're welcome.

[_Puts down the telephone amid general buzz from all the
others. They rise somewhat dazedly, but relaxing, beginning to
take in their surroundings in the new life._ SHOMBERG _and_
SIMPSON _shake hands._ FRANKEL _goes over and examines the
safe._ SALVATORE _picks up a basket of correspondence from the
desk as if it were a strange bug._ SHOMBERG _opens a drawer in
the table. There is a buzz of congratulative, formless talk.
They spread over the stage, looking at everything._]

MIFFLIN [_transfigured, his right hand lifted_]: Gentlemen, this is the
New Dawn!

ACT II

_The yard beside_ GIBSON'S _house. Upon our left is seen the
porch or sun-room wing of a good "colonial" house of the
present type. A hedge runs across at the back, about five feet
high, with a gateway and rustic gate. Beyond is seen a
residential suburban quarter, well wooded and with