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 .
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