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there was a key in here, I wouldn’t be in here. Helen took it, the only thing on my side is me.
    KELLER: Miss Sullivan. I—
    (He tries, but cannot hold it back.)
    Not in the house ten minutes, I don’t see how you managed it!
    (He stomps downstairs again, while ANNIE mutters to herself.)
    ANNIE: And even I’m not on my side.
    KELLER [ ROARING ]: Viney!
    VINEY [ REAPPEARING ]: Yes, Cap’n?
    KELLER: Put that meat back in the oven!
    ( VINEY bears the roast off again, while KELLER strides out onto the porch. KATE is with HELEN at the pump, opening her hands.)
    KATE: She has no key.
    KELLER: Nonsense, she must have the key. Have you searched in her pockets?
    KATE: Yes. She doesn’t have it.
    KELLER: Katie, she must have the key.
    KATE: Would you prefer to search her yourself, Captain?
    KELLER: No, I would not prefer to search her! She almost took my kneecap off this evening, when I tried merely to—
    ( JAMES reappears carrying a long ladder, with PERCY running after him to be in on things.)
    Take that ladder back!
    JAMES: Certainly.
    (He turns around with it. MARTHA comes skipping around the upstage corner of the house to be in on things, accompanied by the setter BELLE. )
    KATE: She could have hidden the key.
    KELLER: Where?
    KATE: Anywhere. Under a stone. In the flower beds. In the grass—
    KELLER: Well, I can’t plow up the entire grounds to find a missing key! Jimmie!
    JAMES: Sir?
    KELLER: Bring me a ladder!
    JAMES: Certainly.
    ( VINEY comes around the downstage side of the house to be in on things; she has MILDRED over her shoulder, bleating. KELLER places the ladder against ANNIE’S window and mounts. ANNIE meanwhile is running about making herself presentable, washing the blood off her mouth, straightening her clothes, tidying her hair. Another Negro servant enters to gaze in wonder, increasing the gathering ring of the spectators.)
    KATE [ SHARPLY ]: What is Mildred doing up?
    VINEY: Cap’n woke her, ma’am, all that hollerin’.
    KELLER: Miss Sullivan!
    ( ANNIE comes to the window, with as much air of gracious normality as she can manage; KELLER is at the window.)
    ANNIE [ BRIGHTLY ]: Yes, Captain Keller?
    KELLER: Come out!
    ANNIE: I don’t see how I can. There isn’t room.
    KELLER: I intend to carry you. Climb onto my shoulder and hold tight.
    ANNIE: Oh, no. It’s—very chivalrous of you, but I’d really prefer to—
    KELLER: Miss Sullivan, follow instructions! I will not have you also tumbling out of our windows.
    ( ANNIE obeys, with some misgivings.)
    I hope this is not a sample of what we may expect from you. In the way of simplifying the work of looking after Helen.
    ANNIE: Captain Keller, I’m perfectly able to go down a ladder under my own—
    KELLER: I doubt it, Miss Sullivan. Simply hold onto my neck.
    (He begins down with her, while the spectators stand in a wide and somewhat awe-stricken circle, watching. KELLER half-misses a rung, and ANNIE grabs at his whiskers.)
    My neck, Miss Sullivan!
    ANNIE: I’m sorry to inconvenience you this way—
    KELLER: No inconvenience, other than having that door taken down and the lock replaced, if we fail to find that key.
    ANNIE: Oh, I’ll look everywhere for it.
    KELLER: Thank you. Do not look in any rooms that can be locked. There.
    (He stands her on the ground. JAMES applauds.)
    ANNIE: Thank you very much.
    (She smooths her skirt, looking as composed and ladylike as possible. KELLER stares around at the spectators.)
    KELLER: Go, go, back to your work. What are you looking at here? There’s nothing here to look at.
    (They break up, move off.)
    Now would it be possible for us to have supper, like other people?
    (He marches into the house.)
    KATE: Viney, serve supper. I’ll put Mildred to sleep.
    (They all go in. JAMES is the last to leave, murmuring to ANNIE with a gesture.)
    JAMES: Might as well leave the l, a, d, d, e, r, hm?
    ( ANNIE ignores him, looking at HELEN; JAMES goes