Scene 2

The scene starts with Arthur entering a pharmacy. Erica is already there, and the pharmacist is prescribing her something from behind a counter. A sales boy is sweeping the floor. Erica’s face is hidden by long black hair. Arthur waits behind her.

Pharmacist: Use this twice a day and you’ll see changes in about two months.

Erica: Sobbing Two months? But my wedding is in two weeks sir!

Pharmacist: Well are you sure you don’t want to tell me what happened to your face?!
If you did I would be able to help you better you know.

Erica: It’s stupid, and unfortunate. I should have known better than to put my head behind random doors. But sir, if Adam were to look at me in this state, he would never marry me!

Pharmacist: Dear girl, the boy is missing half his teeth! If you want, you could ask Augusta who has her shop next door if she has anything that might work for you. A thick layer of makeup might just hide the marks.

Erica dejectedly turns around and leaves. The other side of her face comes into view, hideously burnt.

Arthur: Poor dear.

Pharmacist: Yes indeed. But life still goes on. What can I do for you, old man?

Arthur: Not that old. It’s this cough, it’s been hacking away at me since yesterday.

The pharmacist searches under his counter for something.

Pharmacist: Searches under the counter Goodness knows what a nice bit of fresh air could do for you, Arthur. You spend all day cooped up in that office. Comes back up. The village is nicer than you think.

Arthur: Maybe I will. But is it as dangerous as it is nice? People in this town seem to injure themselves often, too often.

Pharmacist: We’re born in the age of the clumsies. Word has it, that once you step into 34th Street you don’t come back in one piece.

Arthur: Farce.

Pharmacist: I don’t dare go into that place myself. The air, it’s bad.

Arthur stows the bottle of pills in his coat, pays, and leaves the shop.

Pharmacist: To sales boy He’ll come back tomorrow.

Sales boy: They all do, sir.

Thunder booms overhear and the scene ends.