ACT II
The scene is the hall ofMrs. Lancaster’shouse, about forty miles from London.
When the curtain rises it is just after dinner on the Sunday of the week-end party—the gramophone is going and there is a continual buzz of conversation.Clara Hibbert,an emaciated soprano, is dancing withTom Veryan,HelenwithPawnie,andNickywithBunty.Florenceis seated on the club fender, talking intellectually withBruce Fairlight,an earnest dramatist, the squalor of whose plays is much appreciated by those who live in comparative luxury.
There must be a feeling of hectic amusement and noise, and the air black with cigarette smoke and superlatives. During the first part of the scene everyone must appear to be talking at once, but the actual lines spoken while dancing must be timed to reach the audience as the speakers pass near the footlights. This scene will probably be exceedingly difficult to produce, but is absolutely indispensable.
Helen
It’s much too fast, Nicky.
Tom
Do slow down a bit.
Nicky
It’s the pace that’s marked on the record.
Pawnie
I’ve never danced well since the War, I don’t know why.
Florence
But your last act was so strong, when she came in half mad with fright and described everything minutely.
Bruce
I try to write ashonestlyas possible.
Clara
I gave her three for manners, but seven for charm, because I had to be alittlenice!
Tom
I thought she was rather a decent sort.
Bunty
No, but really, Nicky, his technique completely annihilated his inspiration.
Nicky
Not with Debussy and Ravel, with the older masters, yes; but he’s probably tired of them.
Bunty
That’s so stupid, I think.
Helen
My dear, it was the most “chic” thing you’ve ever seen, but unfortunately the wrong color.
Pawnie
Marion Ferris had that Poiret model copied in the most frightful blue!
Clara
I believe my shoe’s coming off.
Tom
Shall we stop?
Clara
No, it’s all right.
Florence
I wonder if you could gouge this cigarette-end out of the holder for me?
Bruce
I’ll try. [He does so.] I always smoke a pipe when I’m working.
Florence
How soothing!
Bunty
I suppose one can never really judge properly from a recital.
Nicky
Not with him, because he’s not dramatic enough.
Bunty
Dramatic pianists make me uncomfortable.
Helen
Pawnie, your tongue grows more venomous every day.
Pawnie
[Giggling]
Well, I had to say something—anyhow, it was true.
Helen
Especially about her ankles.
Pawnie
My dear, yes!
[They both laugh.][The record comes to an end, andNickybegins to change it. Everyone talks and laughs.]
[They both laugh.]
[The record comes to an end, andNickybegins to change it. Everyone talks and laughs.]
Clara
You must come next Sunday week.
Tom
Thanks awfully, I’d love to.
Clara
I’m only singing ballads, but you know what Sunday concerts are.
Tom
Oh yes, rather.
Clara
[ToNicky]
What’s on the other side?
Nicky
“You’ve got the cutest ears and eyes and nose.”
Pawnie
Do put on “Spoony Moon in Upper Carolina.”
Helen
No, don’t put it on, Nicky; play it yourself; you always make the gramophone go too quickly.
Bunty
Yes, go on, Nicky.
Florence
[RefusingBruce’soffer of a cigarette]
No, thanks, not another—I’m dancing with Tom.
Bunty
[Gayly]
Missing one, Tom.
Tom
Righto!
[Nickycommences to play a fox-trot.]
[Nickycommences to play a fox-trot.]
Bunty
[DraggingBruceto his feet]
Come on, Mr. Fairlight, don’t overdo the serious dramatist stunt!
Bruce
I warn you I’m no good.
[He dances with her, and confirms the truth of his warning.Clara Hibbertsquashes down onthe piano-seat next toNickyand endeavors with one finger in the treble to follow the tune he is playing.HelenandPawniestand right down close to the footlights, smoking and talking; their backs are half turned to the audience, but their remarks must be perfectly audible.]
[He dances with her, and confirms the truth of his warning.Clara Hibbertsquashes down onthe piano-seat next toNickyand endeavors with one finger in the treble to follow the tune he is playing.HelenandPawniestand right down close to the footlights, smoking and talking; their backs are half turned to the audience, but their remarks must be perfectly audible.]
Helen
Tom Veryan doesn’t dance as well as he thinks he does.
Pawnie
With that figure he ought to be marvelous.
Helen
He’s too athletic.
Pawnie
Anyhow, I’m sure he’s a success at the Bath Club.
Helen
Doesn’t Florence look astounding?
Pawnie
Absolutely. She knows exactly what suits her.
Helen
Where’s David?
Pawnie
He went off to his study to smoke.
Helen
I do wish Florence wouldn’t be irritable with him in front of everybody. I felt acutely uncomfortable at dinner.
Pawnie
It makes Nicky furious as a rule, but to-night he was too occupied with that stupid little fool Bunty Mainwaring to take any notice.
Helen
She’s an excellent type.
Pawnie
Very average; I only hope nothing will come of Nicky’s mania for her.
Helen
I don’t think we need worry.
Pawnie
Why?
Helen
Wait and see, my dear.
Clara
[LeavingNickyat the piano and advancing onPawnie]
Come and dance, Pawnie, and tell me how divinely I sang on Tuesday.
Pawnie
[Agreeably]
You didn’t.
Clara
Ten for cruelty.
[They start to dance.Helenmoves over to the mantelpiece for a cigarette.]
[They start to dance.Helenmoves over to the mantelpiece for a cigarette.]
Helen
Have you a match, Nicky?
Nicky
Isn’t this a marvelous tune?
Helen
Fascinating! [She goes over and sits next to him. Gently slipping her hand into his coat pocket.] Darling, Idowant a match. [She brings out a little box.] What a divine little box!
[Nickystops playing and jumps up.]
[Nickystops playing and jumps up.]
Nicky
[Violently]
Helen, give that to me!——
[Everyone stops dancing.]
[Everyone stops dancing.]
Clara
Nicky dear,don’tbe tiresome.
Nicky
[Recovering himself.]
I’m sick of playing. Let’s have the gramophone again. [ToHelen.] Here’s a light, dearie.
[He takes match-box out of another pocket and lightsHelen’scigarette. She looks at him queerly for a moment, then he restarts the gramophone and everyone begins to dance again exceptHelenandBruce Fairlight.Helengoes over to the fireplace and takes a coffee-cup from the mantelpiece.]
[He takes match-box out of another pocket and lightsHelen’scigarette. She looks at him queerly for a moment, then he restarts the gramophone and everyone begins to dance again exceptHelenandBruce Fairlight.Helengoes over to the fireplace and takes a coffee-cup from the mantelpiece.]
Helen
Whose coffee is this? Some one drank mine, and I’d hardly touched it.
Bruce
If it had no sugar in it, it’s mine.
Helen
[Draining it]
It had no sugar in it.
Florence
You’re dancing abominably, Tom.
Tom
Oh, Am I?
Florence
What’s the matter with you?
Tom
I don’t know. I suppose I’m tired.
Florence
You’re not usually tired when you’re dancing with me.
Tom
Oh, Florence, don’t nag!
Florence
How dare you speak to me like that?
[She stops dancing and goes over to the fireplace.]
[She stops dancing and goes over to the fireplace.]
Tom
[Following her]
I say, Florence—I’m sorry——
Pawnie
Let’s stop the music for a moment and think of something really marvelous to do.
Bunty
No, let’s go on dancing.
Clara
I’m exhausted.
Pawnie
[Stopping the gramophone]
What was that divine game we played coming back from Paris, Helen?
Helen
Just ordinary “Clumps,” wasn’t it?
Bunty
I loathe “Clumps.”
Nicky
What about the History game?
Bruce
What’s that?
Bunty
Oh no, Nicky; it’s too intellectual.
Florence
There’s a Mah-Jong set in the drawing-room.
Pawnie
How divine! Let’s make up a table immediately.
Clara
I won’t be happy until some one gives me a set made entirely of jade.
Nicky
Come on, Bunty.
Bunty
[Looking atTom]
I can’t play it.
Nicky
You can; you used to play in Paris with Yvonne.
Bunty
I’ve forgotten it.
Nicky
You’ll soon remember again.
[He drags her off.]
[He drags her off.]
Pawnie
Come along, Clara.
Clara
I insist on Mr. Fairlight learning.
Bruce
I’m afraid I’m no good at that sort of thing.
Clara
You’ll be able to put it in one of your plays.
Pawnie
Come and watch; it’s too thrilling for words.
[Clara,BruceandPawniego off.]
Helen
Have you only one set, Florence?
Florence
Yes. Isn’t it maddening? Clara promised to bring hers down, but forgot.
Helen
Does Bruce Fairlight play Bridge?
Florence
No, I don’t think so.
Helen
Dramatists are such a comfort in a house party, aren’t they?
[She goes off.]
[She goes off.]
Tom
Are you coming, Florence?
Florence
No.
Tom
[Nonplussed]
Oh!
Florence
But please don’t let me stopyougoing. I’m sure you’redyingto be with the others.
Tom
I say, Florence, I wish you wouldn’t go on like that.
Florence
I don’t know what’s the matter with you; you’ve never behaved like this before.
Tom
I haven’t behaved like anything.
Florence
You’ve been exceedingly rude to me, both at dinner and afterwards.
Tom
I wasn’t at dinner.
Florence
Yes, you were; you snapped me up when I said I didn’t like Elsie Saunders.
Tom
You know perfectly well she’s a friend of mine.
Florence
Well, she oughtn’t to be, after the things she’s said about me.
Tom
You will go on imagining.
Florence
Nothing of the sort—Iknow! If you weren’t so dense you’d see, too—the jealousy I have to put up with. I get so tired of it all, so desperately tired.
[She becomes a little pathetic.]
[She becomes a little pathetic.]
Tom
Talk about being different, you’re different too——
Florence
I’m unhappy.
Tom
Why?
Florence
Because I hate to see you being put against me.
Tom
Florence!
Florence
You’ll understand one day. They’re all very subtle, but I can see.
Tom
Nobody’s said a word to me about you; they’d better not try.
Florence
Why, what would you do?
Tom
I’d—I’d be furious.
Florence
Oh!
Tom
And I’d let them see it, too.
Florence
[Holding out her hands]
Tom——
Tom
Yes?
Florence
I forgive you.
Tom
I can’t bear you being angry with me.
Florence
Can’t you, really?
Tom
It makes me feel beastly.
Florence
Come and sit here.
Tom
[Sitting next to her on the club fender]
That’s a lovely dress.
Florence
It is sweet, isn’t it?
Tom
You always wear wonderful clothes.
Florence
Do I, Tom?
Tom
You know you do.
Florence
Do you remember the very first time we met?
Tom
Rather.
Florence
Oxford’s so full of romance, isn’t it?
Tom
It was when you came down.
Florence
Thank you, Tom dear.
Tom
We did have fun.
Florence
You used to come up tomatinées, and I’d motor you back afterwards.
Tom
Ripping!
Florence
That reminds me, I’ve got seats for “Rolling Stones” on Tuesday. Don’t forget.
Tom
You never said you were going to get them.
Florence
It doesn’t matter. I thought I did. We’d better dine at Claridges.
Tom
But, Florence, I—I can’t come!
Florence
Why not?
Tom
I promised to go out.
Florence
Who with?
Tom
Mother.
Florence
Can’t you put her off? It will be such a good first night.
Tom
Well—you see, as a matter of fact—it’s rather awkward. I put her off the other day——
[There is a slight pause.]
[There is a slight pause.]
Florence
[A trifle coldly]
Oh, well, never mind, we’ll go some other night.
[EnterDavid.]
[EnterDavid.]
David
Hallo, Florence! I thought you were in the drawing-room.
Florence
They’re playing Mah-Jong, and there’s only one set. I shall break in presently.
Tom
I’ll just go and see how they’re getting on.
[This obvious excuse for getting out of the room is not lost uponFlorence.]
[This obvious excuse for getting out of the room is not lost uponFlorence.]
Florence
Yes, do.
Tom
Come and play soon.
[He goes out quietly.]
[He goes out quietly.]
Florence
Don’t you think this is a divine frock?
David
Very pretty.
Florence
You and Helen seemed to be very thick at dinner. What were you talking about?
David
Nothing much. I like Helen.
Florence
Only because she flatters you and listens to everything you say.
David
She doesn’t flatter me.
Florence
I suppose she was talking about the farm, and giving her opinions.
David
We did discuss the farm a little.
Florence
She doesn’t know a thing about it, really.
David
Perhaps not, but it passed the time.
[He goes out.][Florencesits still for a moment, then she wearily buries her face in her hands. EnterNicky.]
[He goes out.]
[Florencesits still for a moment, then she wearily buries her face in her hands. EnterNicky.]
Nicky
[Going to her]
What’s the matter, darling?
Florence
Nothing. I’ve got a slight headache.
Nicky
Why don’t you go Byes?
Florence
I can’t; it’s much too early.
Nicky
I’m sick of Mah-Jong.
Florence
Who’s playing now?
Nicky
Pawnie and Helen and Clara are trying to teach Bruce Fairlight; he’s an awful fool at it.
[He sits down at the piano and plays absently.]
[He sits down at the piano and plays absently.]
Florence
You must get Bunty out of that habit of contradicting everything people say.
Nicky
I don’t see why.
Florence
It’s bad breeding.
Nicky
[Striking a note viciously]
Who cares nowadays? We’ve all got a right to our opinions.
Florence
She seems to forget that I’m much older than she is.
Nicky
That’s no argument, mother; it’s silly only to remember your age when some one says something you don’t like.
Florence
She’s having a bad effect on you.
Nicky
Nonsense!
Florence
You’ve changed since Paris.
Nicky
Naturally.
Florence
You never used to be rude to me.
Nicky
Oh, damn, I’m not rude.
Florence
Yes, you are.
Nicky
Well, don’t start running down Bunty.
Florence
Stop playing—stop playing!
Nicky
[Getting up angrily]
Oh, God!
[He goes towards door and collides withHelen.]
[He goes towards door and collides withHelen.]
Helen
What’s happening?
Florence
Nothing. Bunty’s just putting Nicky against me. I knew she’d try to.
[She goes out.]
[She goes out.]
Helen
You must be having a delightful evening! You leave the drawing-room, having rowed with Bunty, and come here and row with Florence.
Nicky
Mother’s impossible.
Helen
She’s no different from what she’s always been.
Nicky
Well, I haven’t realized it before.
Helen
[Taking a cigarette and lighting it]
You haven’t been engaged before.
Nicky
I’m hating this house party.
Helen
[Lightly]
Don’t say that, dear; it’s not kind.
Nicky
You know I don’t mean you.
Helen
Are you very much in love?
Nicky
Yes.—No.—I don’t know.
Helen
I wonder.
Nicky
It’s utterly devastating, anyhow.
Helen
When did you meet her?
Nicky
About five months ago.
Helen
What was she doing in Paris?
Nicky
Oh, I don’t know—fooling about.
Helen
Splendid.
Nicky
She’s been studying French literature.
Helen
Why?
Nicky
She’s going to write—herself—some day.
Helen
Oh, I see!
Nicky
Helen, do you like her?
Helen
I can’t tell yet—yesterday was the first time I’d ever set eyes on her.
Nicky
She’s wonderfully intelligent.
Helen
Yes—I’m sure she is.
Nicky
Youdon’tlike her?
Helen
I tell you—I’m not sure yet.
Nicky
It’s generally the way—one’s friends always hate one another.
Helen
[Smiling]
Itisdifficult for you, isn’t it?
Nicky
I should so like you to like her.
Helen
Very well—I’ll try.
Nicky
She’s utterly opposite to me in every way.
Helen
Yes, I see that.
Nicky
But that’s as it ought to be, isn’t it?
Helen
It depends.
Nicky
I need a sort of restraining influence terribly.
Helen
Yes, Nicky.
Nicky
She’s awfully good for me.
Helen
Is she?
Nicky
Yes—she curbs me when I get temperamental and silly.
Helen
I always felt you needed encouraging more than curbing.
Nicky
[Laughing]
Oh, Helen—aren’t you a darling!
Helen
I mean it.
Nicky
You’re wrong, though—I’m all over the place.
Helen
Anyhow, I do hope you’ll be very happy with her.
Nicky
I don’t suppose I shall ever be that. I haven’t got the knack.
Helen
Do you work hard?
Nicky
Yes.
Helen
Really hard?
Nicky
Frightfully.
Helen
Liar!
Nicky
If you’d seen me in Paris—studying, studying—all night long until the gray dawn put the guttering candle to shame—and my nerveless hands dropped from the keys——
Helen
Candles gutter awfully quickly when they’re burned at both ends.
Nicky
Meaning that I look a debauched wreck of my former self?
Helen
Exactly.
Nicky
If you go on encouraging me at this rate I shall commit suicide.
Helen
You do resent anyone taking a real interest in you, don’t you?
Nicky
I distrust it.
Helen
Why?
Nicky
I don’t know—I’m not worth it.
Helen
You seem to be suffering from a slight inferiority complex.
Nicky
Not a bit of it—I’m gay and witty and handsome.
Helen
Oh, Nicky, you’re so maddening.
Nicky
Don’t be cross, Helen.
Helen
I’m one of the few people who know what you’re really like, and you won’t give me the credit for it.
Nicky
Do you think you do, honestly?
Helen
Yes—and I’m exceedingly worried about you.
Nicky
You needn’t be.
Helen
You’re sensitive and reserved and utterly foolish.
Nicky
Thank you—I’m beginning to feel beautifully picturesque.
Helen
And you’re scared.
Nicky
Why! What have I to be scared about?
Helen
Would you like me to tell you?
Nicky
No.
Helen
Why not?
Nicky
Because you’re a sentimentalist, and you see things that aren’t there at all.
Helen
You’re far more sentimental than I.
Nicky
Darling Helen—you’ve got such a lovely mind—like a Christmas card—with frosted robins and sheep wandering about in the snow—bleating.
Helen
All the same, I should give up drugs if I were you.
Nicky
Helen!
Helen
Well?
Nicky
I don’t know what you mean.
Helen
Do you think I can’t see?
Nicky
[Forcing a laugh]
You’re being terribly funny, aren’t you?
Helen
You fool! You unutterable little fool!
Nicky
Don’t be dramatic, dear.
Helen
I thought you had common sense; I credited you with more intelligence than that.
Nicky
If you persist in being absurd.
Helen
[Suddenly with intense feeling]
Nicky, don’t resist me, don’t fight me; I’m your friend; I wouldn’t have said a word if I weren’t. You’ve got to stop it; you haven’t gone very far yet; there’s still time. For God’s sake listen to reason.
Nicky
Shut up, shut up, don’t speak so loudly.
Helen
Nicky, throw it away.
Nicky
When did you find out?
Helen
To-night, you know, when you were playing, but I’ve guessed for ages.
Nicky
You needn’t be frightened, Helen; I only take just the tiniest little bit, once in a blue moon!
Helen
If anything goes wrong, you’ll take a lot. Throw it away.
Nicky
What could go wrong?
Helen
Never mind, throw it away!
Nicky
I can’t. Look out; somebody’s coming.