THE VORTEX
The scene is the drawing-room ofMrs. Lancaster’sflat in London. The colors and decoration are on the verge of being original. The furniture is simple but distinctly expensive.
Persons shown areHelen SavilleandPauncefort Quentin.Helen SavilleandPauncefort Quentinare shown in byPreston.Helenis a smartly dressed woman of about thirty. “Pawnie”is an elderly maiden gentleman.
Preston
I’m expecting Mrs. Lancaster in at any moment now, ma’am.
Helen
Thank you, Preston, we’ll wait a little.
Preston
Shall I get you some tea?
Helen
No, thanks, we’ve already had some—give me a cigarette, Pawnie; they’re in that box on the table.
[Pawniehands her cigarette box.Prestongoes out.]
[Pawniehands her cigarette box.Prestongoes out.]
Pawnie
It may be tiresome of me, but I think all this coloring is oppressive.
Helen
You make such a “fetish” of house decoration, Pawnie.
Pawnie
[Wandering round the room]
Not at all, but I do like things to be good and right.
Helen
Well, I don’t consider the new frieze in your bathroom either good or right.
Pawnie
How can you, Helen! It’s too marvelous for words. Parelli designed it specially for me.
Helen
Personally, it would make me self-conscious to sit in a bath surrounded by frisky gods and goddesses all with such better figures than mine.
Pawnie
I find it encouraging. This whole room is so typical of Florence.
Helen
In what way?
Pawnie
Every way. Look at the furniture.
Helen
A little artificial perhaps, but quite harmless.
Pawnie
Dear Helen, you’re such a loyal friend.
Helen
I’m very fond of Florence.
Pawnie
We all are. Oh, my God, look at that lampshade!
Helen
I gave it to her last Christmas.
Pawnie
Wasn’t that a little naughty of you?
Helen
I don’t see why; it’s extremely pretty.
Pawnie
Too unrestrained. Such a bad example for theservants. [He takes up frame from desk.] Who’s this boy?
Helen
Tom Veryan. You must have seen him.
Pawnie
Florence’s past, present, or future?
Helen
Present.
Pawnie
He has that innocent look that never fails to attract elderly women.
Helen
Don’t be a cat.
Pawnie
I wasn’t meaning Florence; she’s too divine to be in any marked category.
Helen
I wonder.
Pawnie
Oh, yes, Helen, deathless sort of magnetism, you know.
Helen
I often wonder what will happen to Florence eventually.
Pawnie
My dear, I’m far too occupied in wondering what’s going to happen to me to worry about other people.
Helen
I’ve always thought your course was quite clear, Pawnie.
Pawnie
However offensive that remark was intended to be, Helen, I shall take it in the most complimentary spirit.
Helen
I’m sure you will.
Pawnie
I expect Florence will just go on and on, then suddenly become quite beautifully old, and go on and on still more.
Helen
It’s too late now for her to become beautifully old, I’m afraid. She’ll have to be young indefinitely.
Pawnie
I don’t suppose she’ll mind that, but it’s trying for David.
Helen
And fiendish for Nicky.
Pawnie
Oh, no, my dear; you’re quite wrong there. I’m sure Nicky doesn’t care a damn.
Helen
It’s difficult to tell with Nicky.
Pawnie
He’s divinely selfish; all amusing people are.
Helen
Did you hear him play in Paris?
Pawnie
Yes.
Helen
Well?
Pawnie
Erratic—one or two things perfect, but he’s slovenly.
Helen
He only takes things seriously in spurts, but still he’s very young.
Pawnie
Do you really think that’s a good excuse.
Helen
No, I’m afraid not, especially when so much depends on it.
Pawnie
What does depend on it?
Helen
Everything—his life’s happiness.
Pawnie
Don’t be so terribly intense, dear.
Helen
It’s true.
Pawnie
I’m quite sure Nicky will be perfectly happy as long as he goes on attracting people; he loves being attractive.
Helen
Naturally, he’s Florence’s son.
Pawnie
Such an exciting thing to be.
Helen
You don’t believe Nicky’s got anything in him at all, do you?
Pawnie(lightly)
I don’t think it matters, anyway.
Helen
I do.
Pawnie
But you’ve got a loving nature, Helen. I always know it.
Helen
Nicky hasn’t had a chance.
Pawnie
Nonsense—he’s had everything he wanted ever since the day he was born, and he’ll go on wasting his opportunities until he dies.
Helen
Quite possibly.
Pawnie
Well, there you are then.
Helen
He may have had everything he wanted, but he’s had none of the things he really needs.
Pawnie
Are you talking socially or spiritually?
Helen
You’re quite right, Pawnie, you wouldn’t be so beautifully preserved if you’d wasted any of your valuable time or sincerity.
Pawnie
I forgive you for that, Helen, freely.
Helen
Thank you so much.
Pawnie
You must realize one thing, everyone is sacrificed to Florence—it’s as it should be—of course, she’s a couple of hundred years too late—she ought to have been a flaunting, intriguing King’s mistress, with black page boys and jade baths and things too divine——
[EnterPreston.]
[EnterPreston.]
Preston
[Announcing]
Miss Hibbert.
[EnterClara Hibbert—she is affected, but quite well-dressed.Prestongoes out.]
[EnterClara Hibbert—she is affected, but quite well-dressed.Prestongoes out.]
Clara
Mydears. Isn’t Florence backyet?
Helen
No, we’re waiting for her.
Pawnie
You look harassed, Clara.
Clara
I am harassed.
Helen
Why?
Clara
I’m singing to-night for Laura Tennant—she’s giving a dreadful reception at her dreadful house for some dreadful Ambassador——
Pawnie
How dreadful!
Clara
No one will listen to me, of course—they’ll all be far too busy avoiding the Cup and searching for the Champagne.
Helen
What are you singing?
Clara
One Gabriel Faure, two Reynaldo Hahn’s and an Aria.
Pawnie
Which Aria?
Clara
I can’t think, but my accompanist will know—I’ve got a frightful headache.
Helen
Why don’t you take off your hat?
Clara
My dear, I daren’t—I’ve just had my hair done—I suppose you haven’t got a “Cachet Faivre,” either of you?
Helen
No, but Florence has, I expect—Preston will know where they are—ring the bell, Pawnie.
Pawnie
[Ringing bell]
My poor Clara—I do hope your singing to-night will justify the fuss you’re making this afternoon.
Clara
Don’t be sobrutal, Pawnie.
Helen
Is Gregory going with you?
Clara
Ofcourse—Ineversing unless he’s there—he gives me such marvelous moral support.
Pawnie
“Moral” is hardly the wordIshould have chosen, dear.
[EnterPreston.]
[EnterPreston.]
Helen
Do you know if Mrs. Lancaster has any “Cachet Faivre” anywhere?
Preston
Yes, ma’am—I think so.
Clara
Doget me one, Preston, I’m sufferingtortures.
Preston
Very well, miss.
[She goes out.]
[She goes out.]
Pawnie
Preston has such wonderful poise, hasn’t she?
Helen
She needs it in this house.
Clara
I do wish Florence would hurry up. I want to borrow her green fan. I’ve got a new Patou frock that positivelydemandsit.
Helen
She can’t be long now.
Clara
I suppose I daren’t ask Preston for the fan and creep away with it?
Helen
I shouldn’t, if I were you—Florence is very touchy over that sort of thing.
Clara
She promised it to me ages ago.
Pawnie
Surely there isn’t such a desperate hurry? You won’t be singing until about half-past eleven.
Clara
[Petulantly]
Mydear, I’ve got torehearse—I don’t know aword——
[Re-enterPrestonwith a “Cachet Faivre” and a glass of water.]
[Re-enterPrestonwith a “Cachet Faivre” and a glass of water.]
Clara
You’re asaint, Preston—thank you athousandtimes——
Pawnie
Soak it a little first, dear, or you’ll choke, and I shoulddetestthat.
[Clarasoaks “Cachet” and then swallows it.Prestongoes out.]
[Clarasoaks “Cachet” and then swallows it.Prestongoes out.]
Clara
Now I must lie downflat—get out of the way, Helen.
Pawnie
Perhaps you’d like usbothto gorightout of the room and sit in thehall?
Clara
No, Pawnie, I should never expect the least consideration from you.
[She lies down flat on the divan,Helenarranges cushions for her.]
[She lies down flat on the divan,Helenarranges cushions for her.]
Clara
Thank you, Helen darling—I shall always come to you whenever I’m ill.
Helen
Thatwillbe nice.
[EnterFlorence Lancasterfollowed byTom Veryan.Florenceis brilliantly dressed almost to the point of being “outré.” Her face still retains the remnants of great beauty.Tomis athletic and good-looking. One feels he is good at games and extremely bad at everything else.]
[EnterFlorence Lancasterfollowed byTom Veryan.Florenceis brilliantly dressed almost to the point of being “outré.” Her face still retains the remnants of great beauty.Tomis athletic and good-looking. One feels he is good at games and extremely bad at everything else.]
Florence
Helen—Pawnie, have you been here long?
Pawnie
No, only a few hours.
Florence
My dear. I’m so frightfully sorry—we’ve been held up for ages in the traffic. Davis is a congenitalidiot. Always manages to get to a turning just as the policeman puts out his hand. No initiative whatever. What’s happened to Clara? Has she been run over?
Clara
No, dear, I’ve got a frightful head.
Florence
Pawnie, you know Tom, don’t you?—Tom Veryan, Mr. Quentin, I’m sure you’ll adore each other.
Tom
[Shaking hands]
How are you?
Pawnie
Very well, thank you—how sweet of you to ask me?
Florence
Is there anything I can do, Clara?
Clara
Yes, dear, lend me your green fan for to-night.
Florence
All right—but youwon’tget too carried away with it, will you, dear? I should hate the feathers to come out. Does anyone want any tea?
Helen
No thanks, dear.
Florence
Cocktails, then?
Pawnie
It’s too early.
Florence
[Ringing bell]
It’s never too early for a cocktail.
Clara
I should like to go quite quietly into a convent and never see anybody again ever——
Pawnie
Gregory would be bored stiff in a convent.
Florence
We’ve just been to a most frightful Charitymatinée. Nothing but inaudible speeches from dreary old actors, and leading ladies nudging one another all over the stage. [Prestonenters.] Cocktails, Preston, and ask Barker to wrap up my green fan for Miss Hibbert to take away with her.
Preston
Very good, ma’am.
[She goes out.]
[She goes out.]
Clara
You’re an angel, Florence—I think I’ll sit up now.
Florence
Do, dear, then Tom will be able to sit down.
Clara
[Sitting up]
I really do feel most peculiar.
Pawnie
You look far from normal, dear.
Clara
If Pawnie’s rude to me any more I shall burst into tears.
Florence
Tom, give me a cigarette.
Pawnie
Here are some.
Florence
No, Tom has a special rather hearty kind that I adore.
Clara
Lend me your lip stick, Helen; mine has sunk down into itself.
Helen
Here you are.
Clara
What a lovely color! I look far prettier than I feel.
Florence
[ToTom]
[ToTom]
Thank you, angel.
Clara
I shan’t be able to get down to the house until Saturday evening, Florence—I’m seeing Gregory off to Newcastle.
Pawnie
Why Newcastle?
Clara
His home’s just near there—isn’t it too awful for him?
Florence
Well, wire me the time of your train, won’t you?
Clara
Of course, dear.
Helen
You’re smelling divinely, Florence. What is it?
Florence
[Flicking her handkerchief]
It is good, isn’t it?
Pawnie
“Narcisse Noir” of Caron. I use it.
Florence
Yes, you would, Pawnie.
[Re-enterPrestonwith parcel.]
[Re-enterPrestonwith parcel.]
Preston
Here is the fan, miss.
Clara
[Taking it]
Thank yousomuch—you are sweet, Florence. A fan gives me such a feeling ofsecuritywhen I’m singing modern stuff. [Prestongoes out.] I must rush now——
Florence
Don’t you want a cocktail before you go?
Clara
No, darling—I should only hiccup all the evening. Good-bye, you’ve beensucha comfort—good-bye, Helen—Pawnie, you will be nicer to me over theweek-end, won’t you? I shall besodepressed, what with Gregory going away and everything—Good-bye, Tom—I shall dine in bed and give way at every pore——
[She goes out.]
[She goes out.]
Pawnie
Poor Clara—she eternally labors under the delusion that she really matters.
Helen
We all do that a little.
Florence
[Laughing]
You’re awfully cruel to her, Pawnie.
Pawnie
She upsets my vibrations.
Florence
[Before glass]
[Before glass]
I’ve taken a sudden hatred to this hat. [She takes it off.] That’s better—are you going to the “New Elaine” to-night, either of you?
Helen
I’m not—but Pawnie is, of course.
Pawnie
It’s going to beamazing—what a cast, my dear! Marvelous Selwyn Steele, Nora Dean, and that perfect woman, Lily Burfield——
Helen
I can’t stand her, she always over-acts.
Pawnie
[Incensed]
[Incensed]
Howcanyou, Helen! Did you see her in “Simple Faith”?
Helen
Yes, unfortunately.
Pawnie
Oh, you’re really too tiresome for words!
Helen
Her technique creaks like machinery.
Pawnie
It’s sacrilege—she’s too, too marvelous.
[EnterPrestonwith a tray of cocktails. All help themselves.]
[EnterPrestonwith a tray of cocktails. All help themselves.]
Florence
What do you think about it, Tom?
Tom
I’ve never seen her.
Florence
Yes, you have. About three months ago, at the Comedy.
Tom
Oh.... I don’t remember.
Pawnie
Don’t remember! An artist like that! Good God, it’s agony!
Helen
You’ll look awfully tired at dinner-time, Pawnie, if you don’t calm down a little.
Florence
This is special—my own invention.
Helen
Absolutely delicious.
Tom
A bit too sweet.
Florence
Tom,darling, don’t be so taciturn—he’s always taciturn after amatinée.
Pawnie
When’s Nicky coming back?
Florence
To-morrow. Isn’t it too divine? He’s been away for a whole year, but I saw him for a moment on my way through Paris last month.
Pawnie
Has he been working hard?
Florence
I suppose so, but you know what Nicky is—bless his heart!
Pawnie
I heard him play at Yvonne Mirabeau’s.
Florence
She’s a loathsome woman, isn’t she?
Helen
Not as bad as that.
Pawnie
She’s a half-wit. I can’t bear half-wits.
Florence
She goes on so dreadfully about things—devastating.
Pawnie
Funny Nicky liking her so much.
Florence
Only because she keeps on saying how wonderful he is—that always appeals to Nicky.
Pawnie
How old is he now?
Florence
Twenty-four. Isn’t it absurd to think I have such a grown-up son—old General Fenwick said last Thursday that—— [The telephone rings; she goes to it.] Hallo—hallo! Yes, my dear. How are you?... Yes, so am I, simply worn out.... No. When? How perfectly marvelous!... No, dear, it’s a prescription; but I can let you have a little in a jar.... Quite easy. All you do is just rub it on at night.... Don’t be so silly.... Not in the least; if you send the car round that will be all right.... Very well.... Good-bye, darling. [She hangs up receiver.] I give Clara Hibbert ten for stupidity. Don’t you, Helen?
Helen
A hundred and ten.
Pawnie
Ten’s the limit.
Tom
I say, Florence—I think I’d better be getting along if I’ve got to be dressed and back here by half-past seven——
Florence
You’ve got half an hour.
Tom
That’s not very much.
Florence
The car’s outside ... take it and send it straight back.
Pawnie
Can it drop me, Florence dear? I always feel so much richer in your car than anyone else’s.
Florence
Of course, Pawnie.
[The telephone rings again.]
Florence
[At telephone]
Hallo!... Yes ... speaking.... How do you do——?
Pawnie
Good-bye, Helen. It’s been divine——
Helen
Ring me up at tea-time to-morrow.
Florence
How perfectly sweet of you!... Now, now, really.... Well, naturally, if you persist in saying such charming things ... [laughing gayly] ... What nonsense!...
Pawnie
Good-bye, Florence——
Florence
[She puts her hand over mouthpiece]
It’s that awful General Fenwick.... Good-bye, Pawnie dear. You’re coming down to the house on Friday?
Pawnie
Yes; too lovely——
Florence
Helen’s coming by the five-o’clock—you’d better travel together.
Pawnie
Perfect. [ToTom.] Are you ready?
Tom
Quite.
Pawnie
[As they go out]
Youcandrop me first, can’t you? I’m not as young as I was——
Florence
[At telephone]
Please forgive me. People rushing in and out, this house grows more like a railway station every day.... Now, General, that was a deliberate compliment. [She laughs.] Ridiculous man.... Very well.... Good-bye. [She hangs up receiver.] My God! ten for dreariness!
Helen
He’s not a bad old thing.
Florence
No, but he tries to be, and that’s what’s so frightful. [Arranging her hair before glass.] I look like Death.... Isn’t Tom a darling?
Helen
Yes, dear, without being aggressively brilliant.
Florence
I’m afraid, Helen, you’re getting rather bitter.
Helen
Nonsense.
Florence
It’s silly to be sarcastic about Tom.
Helen
It’s better than being maudlin about him.
Florence
I don’t know what you mean, dear. I’m not in the least maudlin, and never have been about anybody. I sometimes wish I could be—I’m too hard.
Helen
[Taking a cigarette]
Tom will let you down.
Florence
Let me down? Why ... how ... I don’t understand——
Helen
You’re more in love with him than he is with you.
Florence
Don’t be soabsurd, Helen.
Helen
It’s true.
Florence