NATHANIEL
Some day you may be proud of them.
JONATHAN
See—she wrote this, and I wrote this. I was a bad writer, wasn't I?
NATHANIEL
What do you want to do, Jonathan?
JONATHAN
You mean what do I want to be?
NATHANIEL
Yes.
JONATHAN
I want to write plays.
NATHANIEL
Is that all?
JONATHAN
Well, I'd like to run a theatre.
NATHANIEL
What else?
JONATHAN
I'd—you won't tell anyone, will you?
NATHANIEL
Of course not.
JONATHAN
You see, Uncle John wants me to go to Somerset School to study engineering and learn the business.
NATHANIEL
And you don't want to—Is that it?
JONATHAN
I'd rather be a writer.
NATHANIEL
They say you can't make any money at writing.
JONATHAN
That's what Uncle John says, but I want to just the same.
NATHANIEL
If you follow John's advice, you'll be a rich man.
JONATHAN
I'd rather be poor. What would you do, Uncle Nathaniel?
NATHANIEL
I—why I'd—Oh, come now, Jonathan—you know John is the head of the Clay family and you and he must decide this question.
JONATHAN
Wouldn't you want to be what you want to be?
NATHANIEL
Perhaps I should.
JONATHAN
I don't see how anyone can decide what you want to be—no matter how old he is.
NATHANIEL
Have you ever talked to John?
JONATHAN
Oh, yes, sir.
NATHANIEL
What did he say?