JAYSON—[Tremblingly.] Sh-h-h, they say this is the crisis. [Puts his arm around CURT.] Bear up,my boy, it will soon be over now. [He sits down in the chair BIGELOW has vacated, pointedly ignoring the latter. The door is opened again and EMILY,ESTHER, JOHN and SHEFFIELD file in quickly as if escaping from the cries of the woman upstairs.They are all greatly agitated. CURT groans, pressing his clenched fists against his ears. The two women sit on the lounge. MARK comes forward and stands by JAYSON'S chair, JOHN sits by the door as before.BIGELOW retreats behind CURT's chair, aware of their hostility. There is a long pause.]