Catherine Monologue from The Return of Peter Grimm

From The Return of Peter Grimm by David Belasco

female · anguished · 1:26 min

It will seem very strange when I come back home.... Uncle gone ... and you, James. [ (Her voice trembling.) (JAMES: I hope you'll be happy, Catherine.) James, Uncle died smiling at me--thinking of me... and just before he went, he gave me his mother's wedding ring and asked me to marry Frederik. I shall never forget how happy he was when I promised. That was all he wanted. His last smile was for me... and there he sat--still smiling after he was gone... the smile of a man leaving the world perfectly satisfied--at peace. It's like a hand on my heart--hurting it-- when I question anything he wanted. I couldn't meet him in the hereafter if I didn't do everything he wished; I couldn't say my prayers at night; I couldn't speak his name in them.... He trusted me; depended upon me; did everything for me; so I must do this for him.... I wanted you to know this, James, because... (JAMES: Why haven't you told Frederik the truth?) I have.

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