The Bad Penny
by Rachel Field

Lil Penny, who left the home of her Puritan family to become an actress, became known as the "Bad Penny."

When the play opens, we find her sisters apprehensive for fear that Lil may turn up and claim her share of what little remains of the family fortunes.

Lil, like the proverbial bad penny, does return and in a very poignant scene tries to reestablish herself with her sisters.

After she is gone it develops that The Bad Penny is a very rich woman, and the sisters are left to drink the dregs of disappointment.