DR. MASTERSON. I know. But since it was begun... it's so difficult to
explain...

MRS. MASTERSON. No more of this! I won't hear it!

HENRY. [Enters; stares about.] Mrs. Masterson, what have you done here?

MRS. MASTERSON. There is no reason why you should concern yourself with
it.

HENRY. But I wish to know.

MRS. MASTERSON. What do you wish to know?

HENRY. Did you stop Oceana's dance?

MRS. MASTERSON. I did.

HENRY. And why?

MRS. MASTERSON. Because I saw fit to.

HENRY. But your guests...

MRS. MASTERSON. I will attend to my guests.

HENRY. But what is Oceana going to do?

MRS. MASTERSON. She is going to leave our house.

HENRY. This is a shame. Most of the people enjoyed the dance. They would
like to see more...

MRS. MASTERSON. Henry, you will permit me to decide about what goes on
in my home.

HENRY. You may decide for yourself. But if Oceana leaves tonight, I will
leave also... and I will never return.

MRS. MASTERSON. Very well, Sir; as you please.

OCEANA. Henry, let me have a say. I am obliged to you, but I don't want
to stay. It's absurd for me to be here... I don't belong here. I've
lived all my life under the open sky; I've been free. I've swum several
miles every day and run several more; I've hunted and fished and danced
and played; and here they dress me up in long skirts and sit me in a
corner and tell me I'm a lady! I can stand it just so long ... I've
stood it twenty-four hours, and I feel like a wild animal in a cage.
If I don't find something to do... something real... something that is
thrilling... truly, I'll murder some one. [She paces the room; DR. and
MRS. Masterson shrink away from her.] Yes, I mean it! [With increasing
vehemence.] Picture me at home. When I was hungry, I went out for game;
and unless I got the game, I stayed hungry. Or I went fishing, and I had
to get my canoe through the surf. I had the zest of danger... I had
real struggle. But here I have nothing. They bring me my food on silver
platters; they get up and give me their seats, they even push the doors
open in front of me! And so I'm panting for something to do... for some
opposition, some competition, some conflict. I'm spoiling for a fight!
You, Henry, don't you know what I mean? A fight! [With a sharp, swift
gesture.] I want to meet some wild animal again! Is there a wild animal
in you? [They stare at each other; suddenly she springs and takes the
other single-stick from FREDDY.] Here! You know this