BELAINE
Sre is ho ratondss
Srapurs Ste delyhefpl ritlo Runian dous
CHIASTOUSCHKA
l Shice she dee, a HEIA
Rassias dance sTefp.


ELAINE
A Play
in Eleven Scenes
Maurice Rowdon


CHARACTERS
HAROLD JAMESON, -
ELAINE, his wife.
MARTHA, their first daughter.
ROSE, their second daughter.
DICK, their son.
BOB SHAW, a nephew.
A UDRY POWERS, a neighbour.


se NE
The back room of the Jàmeson cottage. There is a stove on the
actor's right; three doorscluster together on the aetor's left,
one façing us into the garden, ar other to the staircase and
another to BOB's room.
he sek
+ lr sifent


playAen
2 Korres Rof
tnen
o Vu He pesker. (6 diest ACT ONE
Onls Bog's m3
ecuhiid
BoB - lyis t4
Late afternoon. ELAINE, ROSE and AUDRY
are in the parkur midale nafemveration
- Russian te mais asca - K
Sha 4 Polin
al way
ELAINE is an attractive woman in her mid-
rigin
forties. She has quick,
imaginative,
J - A
slightly wilful
estald Aicl
eyes.
famil, f.
ROSE, her daughter, has Htttenfher a ceslasi
pretti
dignity -erectand
mute.
Eione
AUDRY, the neighbour, is a loud-sexed
woman in hér thirties: rather ruined;
sad
amereus pity is her
saving grace.
(h ELAINE, with a slrg)
ROSEA
She's your daughter, not mine!
LA eittle Kit -
X 7 Whal doe, a matter?)
AUDRY:
When I was that age
ROSE:
And look at you now! Divorced and living on alimony!
ELAINE:
Don't you mind her, Audry. It's about time she had a
boyfriend, then she wouldn't be SO jealous of other
people's.
ROSE:
'Jéalous' :
(ro ROSE),
AUDRY
Kou've got a crush on Bob haven 't you ? It's the first
thing I noticed.
ROSE: :
Well if that's all you saw you didn't see much
you were too busy with Dick!
ELAINE:
(to AUDRY) There, you see? It's always on her mind.
Just like her father
on the look-out from morning
to night.
ROSÉ:
There's plenty to see in this house, that's why.
ELAINE:
You won't believe it, Audry, but he used to set people
to watch me before we were married. He used to
call in at all hours of the day to make sure I was home
- push past the servant in the hall, walk straight upslais
to ER F - God knows what he was afraid of!


Yn. Kad ho sevaut ! Even yoas
motter didie!
ROSE:
I wonder what hé was afraid of. 'Servant in the hall'!
ELAINE:
He used to frighten me.
AUDRY:
I think he is frightening!
(ROSE
ls Ixclain wh
iu &
ELAINE:
I was et
- then.
an *
dea what-mart B
I didn' 't understand for years why he suddenly dashed uptains
a like that, straight from the street.
hose dass
just youkHow woman
rewed
wtsheof-her-ewn-
AUDRY:
Imarried for love. And that wasn' 't any better.
ELAINE:
Yes but you knew the man
you'd at least been
alone with him. Fwasit EETE
unifoe C I fell in love with the
not
the man.
AUDRY:
Why didn't you leave him then ? Seeing you had the h cney,
means, I mean.
ROSE:
Dadd's all right. And he never was a cavalry officer.
He can't even ride a horse. And you were SO free
when you were young
ym usese
he-garden-door apons-and MARTHA
enters. She is older than ROSE but less
mature. She hs inherited her mother's
prettiness, withmore-freshness tant
tightin
mot-dueontytoher-being
youger But ELAINE 's distinction of
manner is missing)
MARTHA:
(to ROSE) When did you get back then ?
ROSE:
I had the afternoon off.
ELAINE:
Tired darting? Mastka ?
MARTHA:
ELAINE:
What a yawn! Now slip upstairs and change and we'll
have some tea.
MARTHA:
(to ROSE as she passes) Are you getting off for the -
show?
ROSE:
Me ? It's no use even asking at my place. Why, are
you?


- L Tm She loke, nt R o
Ged, J
MARTHA:
Not this year. Short on staff, the same old grouse.
But I notice the under-manager goes.
(She leaves by the staircasex. Si goes
Litl
3 a
ELAINE:
You'H
eacup-oftea witht
rud
AUDRY:
FH-keep
ae - Eyordon't-mind It's lovely, it
really is!
ROSE:
Well it's intoxicating.
ELAINE:
he grooms seem to get
most offit!
(kAndsta le)lh
- à e : A
ROSE:
table hoy
tkik * - a
ama
BOB appears. Women find his apparent
openness and fun irresistible)
ELAINE:
I thought you were out, darling!
BOB:
Was that Marty just came in?
ROSE:
She's gone upstairs.
BOB:
(giving AUDRY a sudden kiss): from
Hullo, - -
dartitg
AUDRY:
HF away with a laugh, LE
Is that boy ever se rious ? (as BOB goes upstairs)
ELAINE:
Oh more than you think, Audry. (to ROSE) Is your
father in the garden ?
tiiluig yrwton,
AUDRY:
He was at thet mp ne sawhm
ELAINE:
Go and fetch him, Rose. (but ROSE doesn't move)
giais)
AUDRY( L What's the matter?
(ELAINE points upstairs) lc Bog aud MARTHA
Ja fntle
ELAINE:
Darling, helf/wanthis tea.
ROSE:
You encourage them.
AUDRY:
(as ROSE gets up to go) Go on, you are in love with
him!
who ape AOL tagets i
rrom Ae hegiu hekluir a


ROSE:
I love my family better.
(She leaves)
AUDRY:
She's a funny girl.
ac +o a - - 3 A
ELAINE:
I'm glad you moved/here, Audry. It's nice having
someone.
AUDRY:
Well I've got a lot to forget.
ELAINE:
You're free. Isn't that wonderful when you might R
have been tied down to a family? I've been here neat Y
twenty years. Martha's going to be twenty-three in
November. We moved in here when she was four.
I've never left this house for more than a week at a
time, and then always with the children. Two meals
a day
a family of five or six.
ne-wonder-the
maids always leave.
*Maids
ELAINE:
Oh I don't mind being alone. But I'd like to go out
sometimes. I'd like to put on a dress that didn't get
stained every five, minutes.. Why is it, Audry?
Suddenly a death comes over our lives. (AUDRY
just stares at her) We haven't shared the same bed
since Dick was born.
AUDRY:
(suddenly intrigued) You haven't? (she waits for
more but ELAINE is quiet) The way he stood there
with his mouth open when I walked in the front gate with
the housing agent! Like eating me - looking me up
and down!
ELAINE:
He always does that..
AUDRY:
And his hands - they always want to touch!
ELAINE:
He was very handsome once, you know, a tall, fine-
looking man, especially in his uniform. I loved him,
but Iike a daughter. The moment he touched me in
bed I felt a shudder go all over me.
AUDRY:
Ucch'


ELAINE:
If it hadn't been for Martha I might have left him by
now. She was like a little woman from the day shé
was born, so submissive and gentle, as if she knew
what I was feeling all the time. Listen, Audry, why
don't we go out one evening, just you and me ? There's
a bus back at 10.4 42.
AUDRY:
What about the Captain?
ELAINE:
We'll go the night before the show, when he's over at
the stables. He won' 't even know.
AUDRY:
It's a shame to keep you indoors like this!
ELAINE:
You tell him then. He' 'll take notice of you. Let me
show you something, Audry. (goes E df under
the staircase)
ne Las
A large
(She returns wearing an autumn coat
trooch m
lege Rem,
of a deep scarlet which gives her a
Ha bstom comes
striking and rather dramatic appearance: .
it looks just this side of the outrageous. K
She-turms
mmgpuhnr-tor-atiDRY
tesee-hery.
AUDRY:
Elaine - - 4 what a nice -: - (gagipuit amsprise 3
Ae enoch)
thegarden Edeeropene-and HAROLD
JAMESON the
enters with
ROSE behind him. HAROLD is nearly sixty,
ust tis ràther powerful
features belied by something flabby, E
He stands by-the-door
peering at his wife, intrigued-ant
auspicions derpives
HCR
exual eppraising-tok-toot
HAROLD:
What the hell's that? Anotker coak : NA
ELAINE:
It's Aspring_e eeat.
ROSE
leage
HAROLD:
Seen it before, Rose?
ROSE:
What?


HAROLD:
This coat of your mother's?
ROSE:
HAROLD:
When did you get it?
ELAINE:
Last summer. I only brought it out today.
HARCE
What-do our-think-oftt?
Emink - I S HOV A
urHs wery, suddent
ed-ofthe
suaject
puts Fa-cup-of-tea-ir
t (ELAINE returns-her stays in X
coat)
EERTERRESE
atousty seeming wan
ne-othe
Ehen-as-abmmpthy-be
a mE a - Ee-agatut
HAROLD:
Martha back yet?
ROSE:
She's upstairs.
tis Ae
HAROLD:
cemestack Was that-gbat expensive ?
ELAINE:
Not very.
AUDRY:
(taking the plunge) She 'll be wearing it soon - I'm
taking her out one evening.
HAROLD:
(to his wife, peering) Is that right?
ELAINE:
(a little afraid of AUDRY's directness
she finds
it isn 't her way of doing things) We'll have dinner
somewhere and catch the 10,42 back.
HAROLD:
Dinner? Where ?
V à he Kan
ELAINE:
At the ves
EHE It's such a time
ROSEE
HAROLD:
You're always out.
ELAINE:
(mildly) Always .
HAROLD:
And who cooks for us ?


A tA tt
Rose (in an mttust) Bul- why 6 froocd tue
nidiculou!
Baine (suinely) I6i lovels.ym mean. IE; hue


ELAINE:
Oh Martha's going to be here, don 't worry.
HAROHD)
What horse did Dick take ?
ROSEELETZ
HAROLD:
The chestnut. Got a bit of a whistle, I thought.
Wonderful stayer though. Never have to push him
along. Bob in his room ?
ROSE:
(at once) No. He's upstairs with Martha.
HAROLD:
(to ELAINE) What's he upstairs for?
ELAINE:
Oh don 't be silly, Harold.
HAROLD:
How long have they been up there?
AUDRY:
(laughing) A couple of hours!
(His face falls and he glances at his
watch) : e
HAROLD:
(to ROSE) Call your sister, down.
(She goes to the staircase and calls
'Martha! Tea's ready! ')
ELAINE:
What are you afraid of, Harold?
HAROLD:
She's better down here, that's all. (to ROSE - he
is now in a general state of suspicious alarm) Was
she on the 5.13?
ROSE:
Of course she was.
HAROLD:
Did you catch it together?
ROSE:
I had the afternoon off.
ELAINE:
Really, Harold, you saw her come in for lunch!
(He puabes-hi
: a broods in silence.
MARTHA appears, followed by BOB)


close l
BOB:
(sitting provocatively. on-the-temnt AUDRY)
E : Hullo.
AUDRY:
Hullo.
Ch MARTHA)
HAROLDA
Do you have to spend all evening upstairs?
MARTHA:
All evening ?
BOB:
(with a laugh) He thinks we 've been making love!
(putting his arm round AUDRY) Not a hope of that!'
She
teoremtite-shechanged/hadto
ELAINE:
(quietly) Well, then, she knows how to behave.
HAROLD :
(to AUDRY) Do you need any help over there ?
ELAINE:
(laughing) Where ?
HAROLD:
Over at the house. She's moving in, isn 't shé?
ELAINE:
(to AUDRY) Oh, I thought he wanted to sit on the
other E side!
HAROLD:
No, I mean ifthere's any wayi can help. What about
the morning?
BOB:
Here we go.
HAROLD:
That's a fair rent, you know, I worked it out
strictly on the basis of costs, lànd tax, rates and
so forth. It's not a penny more thanit should be.
You wouldn 't find another place with four rooms,
kitchen and bathroom, standing in its owngarden,
apple trees and a nice lawn, for that price.
ELAINE:
All right, Harold.
HAROLD:
It's a fact. I'm just talking facts.
ROSE:
The facts are you aren 't the landlord.
HAROLD:
(to MARTHA) Have you seen your mother's new coat?
ELAINE:
I bought it in the. summer. I was showing it.to Audry.
gallop
HAROLD:
She's giving it a.
next week
with Audry.


MARTHA:
(as if the floor had fallen through) What do you mean ?
ELAINE:
We're having an evening out. (to AUDRY) They're
so enthusiastic, aren't they?
HAROLD:
(to MARTHA) You'll have five mouths to feed that
night, if Dick turns up.
BOB:
What, is she cooking?
MARTHA:
It's all arranged, is it?
ELAINE:
What do you mean, all arranged? We don't even know
ourselves when we're going..
MARTHA:
Don't you think I've got enough to do at the office,
without looking after your family for you? I brought
up your son for you; what else do you want!
ELAINE:
You brought up my son for me, did you? and who do
you think's been doing the shopping for thirty years,
and cooking your meals, and making your beds? Just
because you took him on your knee for a minute every
day!
HAROLD:
(to ELAINE) You needn't take her up. She's tired,
you can see that.
ELAINE:
No, it's because I'm having an evening out! But it
doesn't matter. We'll forget about it, Audry.
ROSE:
More wine, Audry?
AUDRY:
No thanks.
ROSE:
More tea, dad?
HAROLD:
(his eyes still on ELAINE) Not for me.
(BOB gets up and stretches)
ELAINE:
Did you have a nice sleep, darling?
BOB:
Yes thanks.
ROSE:
That's right. He's tired from doing nothing all day.
ELAINE:
Oh that won't last long, don't you worry, my girl.
He's got a cal reer in front of him.


ROSE:
It's been in front of him for nearly twelve months now.
BOB:
And what's it got to do with you ?
ROSE:
This -I go: out at seven in the morning like Marty
does to keep this house on its feet!
HAROLD:
(finding this distasteful) Rose!
ROSE:
Well how do you think we live? On threepence a gallon
commission on petrol - and about twenty gallons a
day?
BOB:
Oh well we can't all be like you, good as well as
beautiful.
Elaine:
ROSE:
(as he strolls over to the reçord player) Now don't
touch that machine! JE: mine!
HAROLD!
ELAINE:
Why not, Rose-? Slanie 2
SHe
puts on a disc. It blares out)a sadlussias
Grale
koB
BOB:
(to ELAINE) Let's have a dance! To hell with them!
(Though he is burlesquing she takes him
seriously, to his surprise, and begins
dancing. HAROLD watches her with awe,
a little smile on his lips, his eyes narrowed.
MARTHA seems crushed. Only ROSE
is disengaged: she watches the couple with
a remote, appraising eye, as if trying to
divine something in ELAINE.
The music stops. We see what ELAINE
would look like if she lived a bigger
life)
ELAINE:
I don't think I've danced for years!
AUDRY:
(to BOB) What about your girlfriend ?
BOB:
Yes, Mart, come on!
MARTHA:
No it's all right.
ELAINE:
(to AUDRY) A woman should dance every day, she
really should!


(BOB takes MARTHA's hand but she
won't move)
BOB:
(to ELAINE) You tell her.
ELAINE:
Yes, go on, darling.
(Hé succeeds in getting MARTHA to
her feet. Determined to shake her out
of her mood he grabs her and begins
whirling her round. At first she smiles
against her will, then she tries to break
free and can't, and gets furious. He
heaves her off her feet and whirls her
round. She begins slapping at him until
he lets her down. Something splits.
She switches the record player off
angrily)
MARTHA:
You' 've ruined my skirt! Look!
(Seeing him unconcerned, she goes up
to him, white with anger, and smacks
him round the face. He stares at her
for a moment, then marches off to his
room and stome-the-dpory Aenow kinsey
A ki Ked)
ELAINE:
Martha, really.
HAROLD:
There's no need for that, Martha.
MARTHA:
Oh yes there is. And now he can sulk all he wants to.
AUDRY:
(inspecting MARTHA's skirt) Oh you can't see a
thing.
ELAINE:
After all, Martha, it was only in fun. Now go and
make it up, darling.
(MARTHA shakes her head like a child
but ELAINE brings her round, fondling
her)
Go on, my baby. Be nice to him.
MARTHA:
What did he have to ---?
ELAINE:
It doesn't matter now.


(MARTHA goes over to BOB's room and
enters)
HAROLD:
(to ELAINE) You encourage them, don 't you?
ELAINE:
What, to be nice to each other?
HAROLD:
You start it, then you
ELAINE:
Me start it?
HAROLD:
Anyway get her out of that room.
(ELAINE doesn't budge, so he jumps
up and with amazing fury shouts):
MARTHA! Martha!
(She appears again, frightened)
MARTHA:
Yes?
ELAINE:
Your father wants you heré.
(BOB comes out, puzzled) HARCEE
U B thegardandonramt-putisit
HAROLD:
(still to ELAINE) One in the family's enough!
ELAINE:
(subdued by his anger but wanting to show defiance in
front of the others) One what?
BOB:
What's he talking about ?
(HAROLD goes cout) sta
E A
BLACKOUT)


Evening. ROSE and MARTHA are/alone,
BOB's door is ajar.
The house is in silence. MARTHA goes
to the window, looks into the night
restlessly.
ROSE:
And it won't be the last of her evenings out. She's
got àn ally now.
MARTHA:
(breathlessly) She hasn 't been! seeing Talbot, has
she ?
(ROSE silences her with a glance: she
has seen BOB come out of his bedroom)
BOB:
What's the matter with everybody tonight?
ROSE:
Minding their own business mostly.
BOB:
(strolling over to the record player) What a rotten
dinner that was.
ROSE:
Now don't switch that on!
BOB:
We're not in church, are we ?
MARTHA:
It's late. We're going to bed.
BOB:
It's because she's out. Honestly, a girl of twenty-
three like you!
MARTHA:
It's none of your business, I've told you that before!
(A noise on the step outside makes the
girls start. It is HAROLD)
HARO LD:
(holding the garden door ajar) How's the time ?
ROSE:
Just after eleven.
HAROLD:
Didn't I hear that bus?
ROSE:
It isn't due in for another minute.


HAROLD:
I could have sworn I heard it come in.
ROSE:
That was the ten o'clock. Why don' 't you go to bed?
HAROLD:
With the show tomorrow? I'm over with the grooms,
girl.
ROSE:
Oh yes. (to MARTHA) I'd clean forgotten the show.
HAROLD:
All the tackle's down
twenty- -nine pairs of boots,
thirteen saddles, there's enough/leatherwork for a
squadron of horses there
MARTHA:
You're letting the draught in.
HAROLD:
Well you know where I am.
(He goes)
ROSE:
'With the grooms'. I'm ashamed to walk past the
stables sometimes. They must think he's mad, when
he can't even ride a horse.
BOB:
Let's go and,see thè marquee going up.
MARTHA:
You go.
BOB:
(kissing her) Please.
ROSE:
Aren't you embarrassed, in front of other people ?
BOB:
(to ROSE) Your eyes are burning. Look at her,
Marty.
MARTHA:
(in a moment of lightness) Theylare burning, Rose!
ROSE:
Here's the bus!
(They listen but there is nothing)
BOB:
There are lots of other buses she could catch, going
deep into the night
the 11.33, the 1.04 the 3.17,
the 6--
MARTHA:
(with disproportionate anger) Shut up!


fELATNEenters-by the garden-door,in
her-new-cuat: Sheris flushed, her-eyes
are-livety-and-dark. AUDRY-is-behind
her)
BOB:
Hullo, we were just talking about you.
AUDRY:
(to MARTHA) You ought to have seen that dinner!
ELAINE:
We must make a party of it one evening 1 all of
us together. (to MARTHA and ROSE) You'd love
(She stops, seeing their deliberately
impassive faces)
BOB:
Don't mind, Elaine.
ELAINE:
No, the evening's finished now. (to AUDRY) You
see how they are ?
AUDRY:
Why can't you be nicer with her?
(There is the sound of a bus outside.
MARTHA and ROSE sta re at each other.
ELAINE meanwhile returns her coat to
the hall: she is wearing a black evening
gown, a bit too grand for a simple evening
out)
BOB:
I've never seen you dressed like that before.
ELAINE:
(kissing him) Oh yes you have, darling, but you
were too small to look twice.
ROSE:
Wasn't that the bus?
ELAINE:
What?
ROSE:
That was the 10. 42 just came in!
ELAINE:
What about it? (realising) Oh
we got a lift
back.
MARTHA:
A lift?
AUDRY:
(to BOB) What's the matter with these two ?
MARTHA:
You got a lift ?


ELAINE:
Yes.
MARTHA:
Who from ?
ELAINE:
Oh some man. What are you looking at me like that
for?
ROSE:
She's just curious.
Neapclan
ELAINE:
Some man at the Matroputs He walked out just as
we did.
AUDRY:
What do they think for God's sake ?
ROSE:
He just came up to you?
ELAINE:
He saw us leaving
and he offered us a lift.
MARTHA:
What was his name ?
ELAINE:
How do I know ?
MARTHA:
Does he live here?
ELAINE:
Beyond the Quarry I think. Where's your father?
ROSE:
Over at the stables, making believe.
ELAINE:
Isn't it the show tomorrow ?
(Neither of her dàughters answe rs this)
BOB:
Yes.
AUDRY:
Hasn 't Dick turned up?
MARTHA:
He sent word to say he 'd be spending the night over
there.
ELAINE:
(to AUDRY) What race is he booked for?
AUDRY:
After lunch some time.
ELAINE:
It always worries me, those fences.
AUDRY:
Me too, now.
ELAINE:
That was a lovely evening, wasn 't it?


AUDRY:
(to BOB) You ought to have seen the food!
Totta
ice
ELAINE:
(also to BOB) We had trout and a tovely-Atsattar Soave
wine and it was all so nice and quiet, you would have
liked it, wouldn't you, darling? It's your sort of style.
ROSE:
Well, as long as he didn't have to pay for it.
ELAINE:
If Dick's not here you'd better see Audry home, Bob.
There's a torch in the drawer.
ROSE:
Dad can take her, hé'll be back in a minute.
AUDRY:
I'd rather go alone then.
BOB:
(getting the torch) Come on.
MARTHA:
I'd like a walk too.
BOB:
(with burlesque) She's jealous! That's the style,
Marty! I'll play you and Audry against each other.
ROSE:
You'd better watch out for Dick, then.
ELAINE:
All right, Rose, he's only playing.
ROSE:
Is he ?
AUDRY:
Good night, everybody, see you in the morning.
ELAINE:
Good night, dear, and thank you ever so much.
ROSE:
Good night, Audry.
(ELAINE and ROSE are left alone)
ELAINE
How do you- think I feel when you ask-me questions
like that - Who gave you alift? what was his
name? where does he come from ?'
ROSE:
Martha asked most of the questions.
ELAINE:
But the intention comes from you. It always does.
ROSE:
Don't answer the questions then!
ELAINE:
No, just tell me. Tell me what's on your mind, Rose.
ROSE:
It's the way things are going in this place, what with
Audry


ELAINE:
(laughing) What's Audry got to do with it?
wha
bat!
ROSE:
ne dives
nd goingaut
ankat And you don 't seem to mind if Martha goes
the same way!
ELAINE:
But you can't compare them
Audry and Mar rtha!
ROSE:
Dad's quite right, you always encourage them, going
into that room
ELAINE:
Who?
ROSE:
Bob and Mai rtha. She's my sister - I do care about
her! howshre
I do!
aabeNtme
ELAINE:
(with her own preoccupations) And what do they do
in that room then ?
ROSE:
You mean you don't know?
ELAINE:
Ithuik ttay kis, And
61 care Sex Lal else?
Rose:
Whav else
CCELAINE Cau
HAROLD enters from thegurden mtsids)
HAROLD
atrymmirbark
ton
HAROLD:
Was the 10.42 on time ?
ELAINE:
I think so.
lad,
HAROLD:
You think so! One of the grooma said you weren 't
on it. I said you must have been.
ELAINE:
Well I wasn't.
HAROLD:
What?
ELAINE:
I said I wasn't.


HAROLD:
What happened then ?
ELAINE:
(with a sigh) We got a lift back.
(A pause during which he tries not to ask
the next question but it gets the better of
him)
HAROLD:
Who from?
MLAINE
ent inow-wheuffered-uslift
Rose says we 've got to find work for Bob.
HAROLD:
(changing the subject with difficulty) Oh he's all
right helping me at the pump.
ROSE: :
You see ? You both want to spoil him. And the other
day you were shouting at Marty to come outof that
room. It isn't very fair on her! It wasn*him you
shouted at. But he was the cause.
HAROLD:
All right, let's have a talk about it in the morning.
Was that dinner expensive ?
ELAINE:
Audry paid.
HAROLD:
Did she by God? Well I'm off to bed. Good night.
ELAINE:
Good night.
(He leayés by the staircase)
ROSE:
"Tomorrow'. He can never set about things today.
ELAINE:
Well it isn'téasy. Bob's your cousin you know.
He never réally had a home.
ROSE:
You just have to choose betwèen him and Martha,
that's'all.
(She leaves too, by the stairs.
ELAINE follows her thoughtfully,
switching out the lights.
The garden door opens and we see BOB
and MARTHA silhouetted. They whisper
together)
BOB:
Let's go in my room.


MARTHA:
No. (trying to break free)
BOB:
a Why not ?
m kaw Row mad Ye !
MARTHA:
Because of dad.
sarces
BOB
per
tereinpeace-when-we'nerdear Every
timettomiyr-ynnitispipeace.
Yourenotrooped-mpinamoffice-att-dayt
kim!
BOB:
It's because of you, not pour-dad-urymrjormmrjobr Itis,
at work all day Coad I'ms tired
MARTHA:
tkebein FAREEERE a
h me
Oh come Oh .
BOB:
Mauted' You-said-rov-lked-kissingt
ses
a ret all-the-timet
BOB.
Ohcomeon, Martyt
MARTHA
tove met
BOB
Yourbody a your
vett
(TRag lzias.
MARTHA
Notquite,HOr EhAINE leave, Las room
Co me, do snu -
her
MARTAA: There! It's dad Lim!
appean at k
I s-actual ELAINEA Steris foot
:5 5 ge V VA -
ewr cat-gives-heTAsITtking
pera c
Stairs)
mgimg danp
aotectig
gamst sex
amt HO
MARTHA:
(easier) I thought it was dad!' NEHE= F
a a TNE
I aer
sayupstairs thatsthe
mat
iedr
ouhear mert


MARTHA:
What?
ELAINE:
Now go to bed. And you too.
BOBN
ELAINE
And we 'll keep the love scenes until you/get a job.
MARTHA:
(to BOB) I told you!
(She stalks upstairs)
ELAINE:
(ta BOB) I'm not blaming you/ I wouldn't blame the
man But just be careful, that's all. I've got to bear
the brunt of it all. Try and think of me sometimes.
If sométhing goes wrong théy always come to me.
BOB:
ELAINE:
Where are you going/how?
BOB:
Help Dick with the marquee or something.
ELAINE:
I bet you end at Audry's.
BOB:
Well what about it?
(He leaves by the garden door, and she
watches him from the.window, in the
dimness.
BLACKOUT)
all
Morning. ELAINE is alone andBOB
is just emerging from his room .
ELAINE:
Look how nice it is, and you get up half way through
the morning.
BOB:
What about some'coffee ?
ELAINE:
I've just made some.


Stelael
(She pours him a cup and he drinks it
down ravenously)
BOB:
I had a late night.
ELAINE*
With Audry?
BOB:
I watched them put the marquee up.
ELAINE:
Was Dick around?
BOB:
Qh, go on, you're like the others - questions all
the time.
ELAINE:
Still, you can't go on like that for ever.
BOB:
You'rel still angry, aren't you ?
ELAINE:
I wasn 't angry with/you, darling, I told you that.
There'd have to bé something wrong with you if you
didn't find Martha attractive, wouldn't there ? Are -
you in love with her, Bob?
BOB:
Yes, I think so.
ELAINE:
'I think/so'. You know you aren't. You know it.. What
about marriage ?
BOB:
I haven't thought about that.
ELAINE:
Of course you haven' 't. The one I blame is Martha,
for not seeing through you, But we're all like putty
in your hands, aren 't we ? Harold won't hear a word
against you. You make everything a joke. We need
that in this house. Sometimès I think we'd murder
each other if it wasn't for you. And I've got you to
thank for my evening out.
BOB:
ELAINE:
Iwouldn't have dared do it a year ago. I knew you'd
be there waiting when I got back, ready to make it a (
joke.
BOB:
I can't see what's wrong with you going out a bit.
ELAINE:
They don' 't know where to take their worriek if I'm
not here. And they have worries every day, every
hour.


BOBT
Fourknow, this-honse-feets-sorcold-when-you're-away.
sxcttompent-goes Shetonksmnotofthewindox
ARC
ELAINE:
Who?
BOB:
Marty. They never forget you. He pops his head in
the door every five minutes. They've got the bus
time-table written in their heads.
ELAINE:
It's the show today, they couldn 't have it nicer. Look
at those fields.
BOB:
Why don't you play truant for once ? If you went out
more they'd get used to it. Let's hae-lunch-owes J* ca
smems Roue a driwa
A drik! A& says ia drnk I
Aavsr
kroul'se
ELAINE:
Hve TV
Doym
show-before.
tean t the Xow A 2
BOB:
What? And you're a hundred yards away!
ELAINE:
I WEB afraid' of Dick falling. Ican't bear tesee
HE Are those Hder fences. t J a - o S 20 €
injune tey get!
BOB:
We'll stay in the marquee while he's racing then.
Come on.
Magds
ELAINE:
But like this ?
youfoolt
BOB:
I'll get your shoes.
(He goes LE=E : dett and fetches
her walking shoes)
ELAINE:
How did you know where they were ?
BOB:
Oh I don't know.
ELAINE:
And that they were the ones I wanted?
BOB:
Why are you so muffled up?
(He undoes her blouse at the neck)
ELAINE:
(delighted) You fool!
BOB:
Shall we go then ?
ELAINE:
All right!


(A muffled cry from upstairs of 'Mum! f )
ELAINE:
(contd
(going to the staircase) Yes, Dick?
DICK:
Seen those new boots?
ELAINE:
Your father took them across.
DICK:
6n the landing above) What the hell's he
playing at? It's always the same!
ELAINE:
Oh he did it to help!
DICK:
What do I walk over in, my socks ?
ELAINE:
Your old ones! Anyway what's the hurry?
DICK:
I'm weighing in, that's the hurry!
Bol.
ELAINE:
(to BOB) You go ahead, da
BOB:
It's all right, I'll wait.
ELAINE:
I said go ahead, didn'tI?
BOB:
(He leaves) HE
ELAINE:
Shall I call your father? E
DICK:
(coming downstairs) No it's all right. He's probably
sold them anyway. Or wearing them himself.
Dreaming himself on a horse. If he'd been on as
many as I have he wouldn 't be SO keen.
CHe comer
ata
her a0
Laffab
A but there
ome
toout S Hips)
ELAINE:
All right, Dick.
DICK:
All my riding crops have gone. It's like having a big
fat-arsed baby round the place.
ELAINE:
Why don't you tell him then?


DICK:
Because he's dreaming all the time. 'The captain'!
Even thegrooms call him captain. I can't tell if
lad,
they're joking or not. I wish/Thad a serious father.
He's always over at the stablès, interfering
can't get forward -- - I :
ELAINE:
Oh, Dick, come on
don't let it go on for ever, that
row, always the two of you, just let him dream and
make a fool of himself, you're usually away, you
ride here once or twice a year
DICK:
But the stories follow me round the stables, of a
berserk father!
ELAINE:
Berserk?
DICK:
They call him Captain Whistle. Every horse in the
stable's got a whistle according to him.
ELAINE:
Perhaps they have all got whistles?
DICK:
What, seventeen of the finest Irish thoroughbreds?
You know as much as he does!
ELAINE:
w teth I E
centtroubtels, Dick You want
that room again, don 't you? (indicating BOB's
bedroom)
DICK:
It was mine until last year.
ELAINE:
Do you hate him ?
DICK:
ELAINE:
What's the matter, then ? He's your cousin. You
seem to get on well enough.
DICK:
ELAINE:
What's the matter?
DICK:
He's cock of the walk all the time, that's what.
ELAINE:
Cock of the walk?
DICK:
Well, he gets away with everything!
ELAINE:
You mean you're jealous of him.


DICK:
If you like. It's when I come in here and all the girls
are looking at him. I can't behave like myself any
more, I just want to run away and hide. I mean I'm not
against him, I don't hate him, I agree with everybody
really, he is better to look at. But I mean when I come
home I want some peace, I want to forget myself, and
here I can't, I remember how wrong Iam, all wrong.
ELAINE:
Which means you want to be like him, I suppose.
DICK:
Yes. I try and make jokes like him over at the stables.
It only lasts two minutes. Then I feel all heavy. I
can't try here because everybody knows me.
ELAINE:
Can't you just be yourself?
DICK:
If I liked myself I would be.
ELAINE:
Can you get him a job with Talbot?
DICK:
What?
ELAINE:
Isn't there a job for him over there ? He needs some
work.
DICK:
He can't even ride!
ELAINE:
There's the farm.
DICK:
Oh I can imagine that!
ELAINE:
He'd learn.
DICK:
Talbot's got some land in Scotland.
ELAINE:
In Scotland yes, but - - -:
DICK:
You want him here, don 't you?
ELAINE:
I'm like a mother


DICK:
He was over at Audry's last night.
ELAINE:
She was out with me all evening!
DICK:
Afterwards.
ELAINE:
Yes, I guessed.
DICK:
One of the lads saw him.
ELAINE:
He might just have gone for a çhat, you know hé's
always larking!
DICK:
He didn't come back till two in the morning. They
had the light out. The lads told me.
ELAINE:
Dick! Poor Dick!
out)
DICK:
(on his way torthu-pardenadoort Shall I ask for the
job up north, then?
ELAINE:
I suppose so, yes. Then you'll get your peace.
(He leaves)


The evening of the same day. MARTHA
and ROSE are alone.
MARTHA:
(again at the window) We ought to move out, then
they'd come to their senses.
ROSE:
They could try living on Dick's money. Or the three-
pence a gallon dad makes, when a car passes, which
is about once a week.
MARTHA:
What's the time?
ROSE:
After eleven.
MARTHA:
I specially asked her, Shall I bring something in
for tonight, and she said, Oh no, I'll be going down
to Lowley Gate, darling -
ROSE:
'Darling'.
MARTHA:
And now there isn't a thing in the house.
ROSE:
Do you remember last year when we tried to drag
her over to the show? It was a Sunday and she said
she couldn't bear seeing Dick take the hurdles. Well,
she seems to have got herself a stronger stomach
this year. She's with Bob, Irexpect.
MARTHA:
What?
ROSE:
She'd do anything for him. Let the housework go.
Are you in love with him, Martha?
MARTHA:
I think so.
ROSE:
Does he want to marry you?
MARTHA:
He never said.
ROSE:
He ought to find work. Get away from here. But of
course she'd never allow it.
MARTHA:
Who - mum ? -
ROSE:
Of course.
MARTHA:
Why not?


ROSE:
Oh I mean for herself. She'd hate itfor herself.
MARTHA:
Why?
ROSE:
Well youknow how she loves him.
MARTHA:
Yes.
fThe-garden-donren-donr-opens-amd-AtDRY
comestismiies)
AUDRY:
Hullo! Areue
comins tau 2 These', haupag
chickes. Did yn
ROSET
WEL
alrut Dick ?
à HEX
a ERW-UIG = RFS
Wewe-usriut-sups
aihat-there-ws.
ter wemer - A a asthe-marquse
pagmer - cand-chicken
sandwisheg-and-fmaitouundacs
thydoyorsitIver
heren mroping?
ROST:
Thredy-you-ment
AUDRY:
Dit-ym-bezeahont-Dtck?
ROSE:
NT? Dick?
AUDRY:
He fell at the first fence. It was the nearest thing
I ever saw. Your mother went quite green. The
filly nearly rolled over him. But he's all right.
ROSE:
Was she watching?
AUDRY:
Yes, she was with me and Bob.
MARTHA:
Bob!
ROSE:
Who did she go with?
AUDRY:
Well Bob I suppose. Why?
MARTHA:
Was she wearing the new coat?
AUDRY:
(laughing) No. What a funny question!
MARTHA:
What's that?
AUDRY:
I heard something too.


(There is the sound of running outside.
EERE
It is
ELAINE, out of breath. She stares
back into the night for a moment before
e eCI
coming ")
ELAINE:
I'm sorry about tonight. You had to cook for your-
selves.
MARTHA:
That scarft! I
ELAINE:
It's Bob's'
Is there anything wrong with that?
AUDRY:
Elaine,
EEBE
whal up ?
ELAINE:
It's Dick! He's over at the stables.
AUDRY:
Dick? What about it?
ELAINE:
He seems mad. Go and look after him. He walked
alongside me and didn't say a word. Bae
Juyt glaring a me!
ROSE:
Did he get a concussion? He miget Kave done! !
it une hi, Kead.
ELAINE:
I was there when he fell, dar
been-eheer-
He frightened me, Audry!
AUDRY:
Oh it's just one of his tantrums. I'll SEE=THE
pe swt Km out, doit yo wrony
SiE
(She leaves)
ELAINE:
He looked so terrible.
ROSE:
Where did you find
ELAINE:
At the marquee.
EREE I thought he
was going to n me home.
ROSE:
And what did he say?


ELAINE:
I didn't see him at first, we were all standing round
the table
you know how dark the lamps are
just took me by the arm and led me outside. I thought
your father wanted me, you know how he never comes
to these suppers. But all the way he didn't say a
word.
MARTHA:
Was Talbot in the marquee ?
ELAINE:
Yes.
MARTHA:
And you were talking to him.
ELAINE:
I -- - I hardly spoke to him at all, darling.
ROSE:
Was he standing next to you then?
ELAINE:
Who?
ROSE:
Oh Talbot of course!
ELAINE:
Yes.
ROSE:
Dad told you never to talk to him again.
ELAINE:
There was this show, darling, everybody was there.
Talbot came up to me and said, 'Your son had a stroke
of bad luck this afternoon, Mrs. Jameson ---'
ROSE:
Oh do shut up!
ELAINE:
Is that them?
A r,
(They all look towards the dBGE. ELAINE
steps back as if for the protection of her
daughters) ET
ree * er B sent
ROSE:
What are you so frightened about?
ELAINE:
You didn't see his eyes!
MARTHA:
He's probably as fed up as I am!
ELAINE:
But I didn't do anything, darling!
MARTHA:
Stop calling me darling for Christ's sake! You went
out this morning
left nothing to eat ---!


ELAINE:
It was a lovely day.
MARTHA:
You didn't even clear the breakfast things
a (DICK, white
with fury, comes in with AUDRY behind
him. He
ept
ELE He goes across to her/and ELAINE)
catches hold of her roughly) a-st ghtr
DICK:
I've been watching you at it all day, sidling up to him
and showing him your teeth
I've just about had
enough of it!
AUDRY:
Dick!
DICK:
Leave this to me!
(ROSE and MARTHA come nearer,
intrigued - not to protect her)
domes CICC
DICK:
I've been five years in those bloody stables and if you
think I'm going to have. him breathing down my neck
you're mistaken! It's bad enough having him here all
day! Listen to me, you're going back there first thing
tomorrow morning and you're going to tell him it's
not on! DEE a ne veEE
e yoHt
dotaor à -
MARTHA:
What happened, Dick ?
DICK:
She's been hanging round Talbot all day.
(ulmost with relieg)
MARTHA
I thought so!
DICK:
(turning on her) Oh you and your thought-so' - do
you think I give a damn what she does with Talbot?
A fat lot your eyes can see' What do you think she
went out last night for, exercise ?
MARTHA:
When?
DICK:
(pointing at A UDRY) With her.
AUDRY:
Dick!


DICK:
Talbot was there!
MARTHA:
What?
ROSE:
(tOELAINE) You never said!
AUDRY:
I'm sorry, Elaine. I didn't know
MARTHA:
How long had that been arranged?
ELAINE
It hadn't:
ROSE:
You mean to say you didn't know he'd be there?
(ELAINE nods)
DICK:
But he gave you a lift back, didn't he' ?
(She nods again)
pegh
ROSE:
You said it was/ som
AUDRY:
What's wrong with Talbot?,
ELAINE:
They hate me! My children hate me!
DICK:
Well, tell the truth, FeEtert, instead of standing
there trying to look tragic! (to the others) I tell
you, she's as cunning as they come! You ought to
have seen her showing Talbot her teeth
she
didn't leave his table/a minute!
S #allfer
A tuch.!
MARTHA:
she
as she
ELAINE:
tmakinptotwrOSMAR :
IEST Hou a wicked
irt
tmmp
mother
mon E ret her catonet Tais-tot
Tavent ET
ent theenoutt
AUDRY:
PEr
ded 7
DICK:
That's right
I'm the one to blame! It doesn't matter
what she does! She knows how to cover her traces!
AUDRY:
But what's she done?
DICK:
Ask her yourself!


AUDRY:
There's no need to shout
I've got good ears!
DICK:
She's rotten all the way through. 'Bob', 'Bob',
'Bob', I'm sick of that name being pushed down my
throat : - coming here and sleeping in my bed!
MARTHA:
What's Bob got to do with it?
DICK:
(to ELAINE) Go on. You heard what she said.
What's Bob got to do with it? (ELAINE makes no
reply, so he goes on) He's Talbot's new agont. mas Ae',
1 H hex jobs ja iLe nntgie!
HOEEE
MAEEE
EenE-tor-what?
MARTHA:
(to ELAINE) What's Bob got to do with you?
ELAINE:
I'm a mother to him, that's why
he ste'
DICK:
He doesn't know an ear of corn from)er backsidelas But
ed + AREE
agent yo Convinced Rim!
Ym à incad Tallot all nghe!
OSE
mototd-you-althis?
Imagine Hl ! My toss!
Tatbotdtd EE
Rvaga - newboss
sgie Baat
AUDRY:
(to ELAINE) You can't expect him to work under Bob.
MARTHA:
Oh she's not thinking of Dick!
ELAINE:
(to DICK) I wanted you and Bob to be friends.
snad
he d
DICK:
With him as my boss? You must be
R A
ELAINE:
But Talbot was only joking, you know how he is!
And he suggested it, not me. I didn't ask for anything
he said it off his own bat.
DICK:
That's a lie!
ELAINE:
gat-him-on-the-rawt It isn't
a lie!
ROSE:
Why did you go to the show at all? You've never
been before. Ya always dand yo couddit
feas A jumpan


AINES
dontt know-
HEK
She-stways-keoow-whnat-sshe"
ELAINE:
Bob asked: me.
MARTHA:
What, to get him the job' ?
ELAINE:
No, to go to the show. (to DICK) You heard me agree
this morning to get him a job in Scotland, if Talbot
said all right.
DICK:
But you regretted that little scheme. That's why you
went to the show. You didn't want him in Scotland.
MARTHA:
Who said he should work in Scotland?
DICK:
I did! Because I'm not having him breathing down my neck
every day!
AUDRY:
Bat-dens-an-agent-go-near-thestables?
DICK:
Oh he'd be round here all day, you know how he is.
AUDRY:
But you said yourself, he can't even ride.
DICK:
Itell you - - I'm sick of his name.
AUDRY:
You're jealous of him, youfool!
DICK:
I've a right to be, haven' 't I - - - you should know that
- you
(The garden door opens and HAROLD
comes in followed by BOB. They have
clearly been brought by the noise)
HAROLD:
What's up? What's all the shouting?
AUDRY:
It's all about Bob.
BOB:
HAROLD:
(to DICK, savagely) Have you been upsetting your
mother again?
DICK:
(the sound of his father's voice is the last straw
for him) That's right, that's right! I'm upsetting
her again!


HAROLD:
What's wrong with Bob then?
AUDRY:
Talbot wants himras-his-agent K give Rim a jol.
BOB:
Ewint A Jor? GRare - a
Hisagent
Agent-tor-whatz
thrisuppose yrfonkafterancountsandpaywages
EN Cou're-puttingmy
And what's he (indicating DICK) worried about?
AUDRY:
He doesn't want you at the stables.
BEE
ta -
HAROLD:
(to DICK) You jealous idiot!
DICK:
It's nothing to do with Bob!
BOB:
You don't think I'm taking the job, do you? It's just
a joke
like Talbot always is.
maai
workingoutactOuntsandpaying
FHCLEE
ELAINE:
(seeing her husband interested) He said he'd give you
a year to learn the ropes
a nominal wage at first.
HAROLD:
It sounds a wonderful chance. I could give you a bit
of a hand myself.
ROSE:
(to HAROLD) How do you think Dick's going to feel?
HAROLIT
Viat
dewthitt
REKE
ae ezr
them Bob comes
c dous
Any was
HAROLD:
Dick's a jockey! He hasn't got Bob's brains.'


DICK:
(to ELAINE) It's working out nicely, isn't it?
HAROLD:
(to DICK) Well, do you think you've got the brains?
DICK:
No! No!
HAROLD:
What's the trouble, then? It's a first-class opportunity
for Bob.
DICK:
She's the trouble!
HAROLD:
Your mother?
DICK:
Yes, my mother!
HAROLD:
(to ELAINE) What's he talking about?
ELAINE:
He says he can't be himself or something when Bob's
in the-room.
HAROLD:
(still addressing her) And what's that got to do with
you?
ELAINE:
He says I spoil Bob.
DICK:
I didn't say that! (recklessly, at the last ditch) She's
been talking to Talbot! She got him the job!
HAROLD:
CI What's that?
ELAINE:
He's lying. Talbot saw me in the marquee and said,
What about Bob being my agent m annger?"
DICK:
She smarmed it out of him!
Becaua ym thik Talht owes yo
ELAINE:
You mean you wish I had! A Youv-boon-working-owes iok
teret
I - 1 ram I a PessIses yorovertor-Bntt 1E
SontCaIs
me-hehind-it jreloury!
HAROLD:
How
Jeslous!
long was Talbot there?
DICK:
All day.
AUDRY:
He just came up and offered the job and that was that.
HAROLD:
Were you there?
DICK:
She wasn't - -
AUDRY:
I was standing by her all the time! Now shut up!


HAROLD:
Why didn't Talbot come to me?
AUDRY:
He looked high and low for
you. Ask any of the lads!
HAROLD:
(to DICK) Oh to hell with you and your whims!
DICK:
That's right - to hell with Dick! You can shove his
kit in the corner and wear his new boots, it's only
HAROLD:
And what about you coming in at all hours and shooting
your mouth.off? Boots! Who gives a damn about your
boots!
lv I uh a - D'n
DICK:
All right - let him have it a I'm clearing out!
HAROLD:
And a bloody good riddance! You walk round the place
like a damned scarecrow and then when somebody
snaps up the job you're been too slack to get you
come crying to mumre!
DICK:
And just keep out of the stables in futuref Captais whistle!
HAROLD:
Have they made you king of the stables HEBE then? ?
veete I heard your
big mouth from the other side of the garden just now
well you can sling it somewhere else! A tuppenny
ochey
- halfpenny Rsom who can't even jump a ted on the
best little filly they've had in the stables for years!
ace
DICK:
(with tears) The going was hard!
HAROLD:
With rain last Monday?
DICK:
I nearly got the cup a - I did! I did!
HAROLD:
Three years ago, yes we've heard about that
nearly every day since!
DICK:
(retreating to the garden door) You fool! You fool!
(pointing at ELAINE) Who do you think she was with
at the Metropole last night? Talbot was there!
Ask Audry! Talbot was there!


(HAROLD is stunned. He stares at his
son' with a dark, beaten, lowering
expression. Then he marches with sudden
long strides across the room and delivers
him a punch on the-chest that sends him
flying)
Glaine:
AUDRY:
AipDick!
DICK:
(picking himself up)ant sng -
R denrt She's-Talbot's-whore! Shess Talbot's
whore/ youfool! And yoa kancteen aee toa
(He rushes out, with AUDRY after him,
calling 'Dick! Dick!")
HAROLD:
(to ELAINE) Go upstairs.
ELAINE:
Now, Harold.
HAROLD:
(with increasing menace) Get upstairs.
(She goes to the staircase, and he
follows her, while ROSE watches them
with-fasrinationinher ay: = tascinalay.
We-hour-the-doorupstairs close atter
them.
ROSE now goes after them, withsilent
steps. BOB and MARTHA watch her go)
BOB:
What's this about Talbot?
MARTHA:
Rosewas his child.
BOB:
Rose?
MARTHA:
What do I care? bet her look after herself.
(From upstairs there is the sound of
raised voices. They listen intently.
Then there is the sound of HAROLD
striking ELAINE
something
crashing down
steps across the
floor - heavy, violent sounds which
frighten BOB but do not seem to
disturb MARTHA.
Unable to bear the sounds any longer
BOB rushes towards the staircase)


MARKHA:
Come back!
BOB:
But it's mad!
MARTHA:
It's none of your business. She's just getting fome
medicine, that's all.
(There is an incoherent yell from ELAINE
and we hear her scream out 'Bob! Bob!
A look of fear comes into MARTHA'sface
for the first time. BOB rushes out of the
room and up the stairs.
We hear more movements from above,
muffled voices. Then ÉLAINE appears,
whimpering and pale, her hair dishevelled,
with BOB holding hef close to him)
BOB:
He's mad! Panching her in the face! He might have
killed her.
MARTHA:
Look, he tore her coat.
ELAINE:
(to MARTHA) Go tobed..
BOB:
(also to MARTHA) Vilsee to her.
MARTHA:
(to ELAINE) When are you coming up?
ELAINE:
I'm sleeping down here.
MARTHA:
Why?
ELAINE:
I don't want to see you. You're all wicked.
MARTHA: .
(reluctant to leave) What about blankets?
BOB:
I'll see to that.
ELAINE:
For God's sake get out! I can't stand you any more
none of you! Get out!
MARTHA:
Good night then.
(She leaves)
ELAINE:
Lock the door, Bob! He frightens me.
ist
(He locks the door to the hall)


BOB:
I've never seen him like that before. Mad!
ELAINE:
You haven't seen Dick - the same look. There
must be something wrong in me. They all hate me
so! Even Martha does.ADo you hate me too?
BOB:
6o L
a S
ELAINE:
Never? Not for a single moment?
BOB:
No. He's given you a bruise, look.
ELAINE:
She didn't put you against me?
BOB:
Who?
ELAINE:
Martha. If I hadn't called you up, wouldyou have
come just the same ?
BOB:
Yes, I tried to but - -!
uk A covd 4 N2.
ELAINE:
How quiet it is. I've always loved this house really.
BOB:
Do you still love Talbot?
ELAINE:
Why, Are you blaming me too?
BOB:
No. I'm asking.
ELAINE:
He was only a relief from Harold, that's all. I
never did love him. The fools. We haven't touched
each other for twenty years.
BOB:
He's in love with you. I saw it in his eyes this
morning. Is that why he never married?
ELAINE:
If I give him one glance back there's trouble for a
month afterwards.
BOB:
You talked to him for hours today.
ELAINE:
I didn't care. Iwasn't going to let them send you
away.
BOB:
ELAINE:
They wanted you sent away.
BOB:
Who?


ELAINE:
Oh, Rose and Dick.
BOB:
Where to?
ELAINE:
Scotland, where Talbot has another farm.
ETINE:
- make amat o VOEH Me:
BOB:
They must hate me too!
ELAINE:
Do I look awful?
BOB:
I shan't let them hurt you again!
ELAINE:
Oh, my poor hair!
BOB:
Let me do it.
ELAINE:
(as BOB dresses her hair) I used to do yours once.
BOB:
I can remember.
ELAINE:
You remember.
BOB:
Yes.
wotking
ELAINE:
Wouldn't you like i # here?
BOB:
It doesn't seem right. Noripre feel, Eike that,
ELAINE:
No. So let's stay as we are.
BOB:
I'd do it for you!
ELAINE:
Do it for yourself.
BOB:
They'd hate me even more. They'd take it out on you.
Graining Kas Vance do * He nor 9 tha You ue ca Rea-)
ELAINE
They will anyway
they take out all their
distresses on me, wherever they come from.
BOB:
And Rose is his daughter?
ELAINE:
What? Who told you that?
BOB:
Martha.


ELAINE:
I told her once. Eter another night like this.
BOB:
Does Rose know?
ELAINE:
She thinks she hates him. She's so like him, in
every way.
BOB:
You could tell her - it might do her good, bring
her down a bit.
ELAINE:
FEXE ER I've got
to preserve them against themselves. I daren't tell
too much.
BOB:
Does it hurt?
ELAINE:
Beginning to sting.
BOB:
Let me bathe it for you.
ELAINE:
You can kiss it better, since you know all my secrets.
a a
BOB:
I always used to kiss you there.
ELAINE:
You haven't changed. What would she say if she
saw us here?
BOB:
(not understanding this at first) Martha, you mean?
ELAINE:
You had a little rhyme - 'one for the eyes, one for
the brow -
I Sous Rue
BOB:
'One for the lips, I'll teach you how'.
ELAINE:
'One for the eyes' (he kisses her eyes), 'one for the
brow' (he kisses her brow), 'one for the 1---' (he
kisses her on the lips)
(They remain long like that. They clasp
together like lovers. She pushes herself
away)
ELAINE:
Go to bed!
BOB:
Elaine!
ELAINE:
Go to your room! Go on!


Sheremains there.
Then she switches out the lights.
She goes not to the hall-door, but to
BOB's; we see the light from his room,
and his waiting figure, as a shadow.
Then the door closes/behind them and
everything is darkness)
Next morning. The hall-door is hanging
open, its lock forced
BOB is pouring coffee.
BOB:
Elaine.
(She appears from his room, using her
new torn coat as a dressing gown. They
an ssygaatenchnther)
ELAINE:
Darting. Ye,
(They stretch and yawn) begtrdri
BOB:
The door' EBn forced.
ELAINE:
He kicked it open. And you didn't even hear.
BOB:
ELAINE:
They had their breakfast like mice. Didn't make a
sound.
BOB:
Do you think they know
ELAINE:
Oh they're always like that after a fight. AsrIt
cleans them out
me being punched! - Callad
a tir I hs
He ms
BOB:
They won't do it again.
ELAINE:
If I'd always had you, if I'd known you
say you'd
been my age = I wouldn't have left this house a
single day, my children would all be yours, no
Talbot, no


BOB:
No Bob even.
ELAINE:
No! I yearned to be in love. Yearned, darling.
Forced myself to be when Talbot came along. Made
him love me
forced him. I needed it so much -
my whole life cried out to love somebody. And I
never guessed how it would happen one day - - at the
end, suddenly.
BOB:
End?
ELAINE:
I shan't have children any more. That's a kind of end
for a woman.
BOB:
I realise I never did love her.
ELAINE:
You shouldn't say that. It makes it worse. Say
what you love, not what you don't.
BOB:
She seemed to know it was going to happen, more than
I did. She was afraid last night. You could see it
in her eyes. She didn't want to go upstairs.
ELAINE:
There's no need to say it.
BOB:
Elaine, Elaine - - I could say it all day.
ELAINE:
I've got money saved up, we can go out every night
if we want to. We could take a room atthe - C sashes
B set I don't care. It's nice not caring. Just
not caring does me good. I never thought I'd have to
wait all this time, so many years, to feel really
good - and be myself.
BOB:
I wish they weren't coming back.
Nen
Lusertodream oout
: house-where-TWas DOTT
and the servants
until I really believed it. And
how he was in the cavalry. It helped me bear the
drudgery. Iused to share work at the petrol station,
do afive-hour stint a day, untifthe new road came
and therewas no more work. They'll close it soon,
you'll see. Then Lbrought in a bit of money with
upholstery work. And the children found jobs. That
gave them power. They found they could criticise
me,make me feel ashamed
BOB:
But you didn't do anything wrong!


ELAINE:
I don't know if it was him or me who got me into your
arms. He needed me to dream too. He needed me
to go out and explore and fhf be adventurous. I
wonder if I could run away with you. I don't think I
could. They sort of prepare the stage for me, don't
they
they're like my audience, the four of them?Becaus
They only give me one exit, I have to go through it.
Do you see what I mean? Icould make love to you
all night but there'd still be this house waiting in
the morning, with its one little exit. Becaus He
Cay lue. 1U uns Cow à
BOB:
Then I haven't changed a thing.
ELAINE:
You will, slowly. Or suddenly. I wonder if all the
other little houses round here
? We don't even
know our neighbours. We're too busy making believe.
I wonder if they're all doing the same, behind their
windows?
BOB:
Sometimes you're like
a girl who's never made
love before - - so excited - -
ELAINE:
I'm breaking free. You can't understand that because
you're free already. But we've built our prison so
carefully here
for twenty years and more. Bob,
if there's a war and we all go up in flames, and life
stops, do you think that would be the reason a so
many people making believe, and letting the world
outside go hang? People used to have real thoughts,
talk about things that happened but now
BOB:
Love can't make a war.
ELAINE:
Yearning can. Perhaps they're all yearning to do
what I did, in their little houses. They dream about
it all night, laying next to their husbands. But I
didn't want my dreams to. fester. Not like Harold
with his horses that he can't ride. That's where
I'm different, b V 6< Caande I'm a stag dan!
BOB:
He's begun to watch us. Did you notice that?
ELAINE:
He wanted me to have Talbot. He almost told me so.
BOB:
Martha seems frigid -- - - not like you. She's frightened
of it
ELAINE:
Whenever Harold slept with me she and Rose used to
sit down here and huddle themselves up in their coats
like this until it was over. He used to call me upstairs.


ELAINE:
When he couldn't hold it any longer. I used to
(contd)
leave it as long as possible: I enjoyed leaving it,
Bob. I used to say I couldn't stand his touch. But
I'm different now - I realise it was better that
way, more thrilling
I used to enjoy it, and enjoy
them sitting down here waiting for it to finish, I used
to enjoy making a sort of moaning noise as if I was
in pain, I was getting enjoyment all the time. I can
tell you that now a I mean I can see it.
BOB:
That's why she shudders when I touch her. She does.
ELAINE:
He's got volumes of nude pictures upstairs, did you
know that? That's why he goes to bed early. He sits
poring over them. It was like sex being prepared
upstairs, over days and weeks, then it would sort
of explode and the whole house knew it.
BOB:
I'd like to sleep
for/ weeks and weeks
ELAINE:
Go on then. You're frée. We're free. It's
difficult to realise, isr't it?
(He goes, yawning)
It's a lovely day.
BOB:
(from his room) Elaine.
ro Ki, room
Has saegin t
(She follows him/ and
ases
mate lore A
There
the-gardenontside:
DICK comes inrathes tealthily-and doiostais)
rates - upstairs
ELAINE:
(from BOB's room) Who's that?
Abem,
da 1A - a
a He >Tops, as
(ack ro <
with Lene stepo.
ELAINE(calling) Was that you, Dick?
DICK:
(from upstairs) Yes.
(He pens a draues and rake, out
ELAINE:
Is anything wrong?
a vetniarg pistce)
DICK
ELAINE:
Aren't you riding?


DICK:
She fell.
ELAINE:
Fell?
DICK:
Broke her leg. I've come back for the pistol.
ELAINE:
To shoot her? No!
Comer -
Aae
Ike
(He appe
with the veterinary gunga
What's the matter? Your cyes'are-popping-owtok
your-head!
DICK:
Nothing. She just fell, that's all.
ELAINE:
Were you hurtdarting'
DICK:
(BOB appears-behind F AINE)
BOB.
Hutte,
(giving-him a ERE horriffed-took) Hulle.
BOB:
You've got to shoot her?
DICK:
Yes.
ELAINE:
Ican't bear it when they're shot. Be careful,
darling.
DICK:
I'll be careful.
(He leaves.
- : Tm Jechipcold.
BOB-returns tohis-room She-watehes
tawe
DICK DESEE
m::e et BUr Then she
Just-as-she-does. salhere isa shot quite
close by)
ELAINE:
Bob! Bob! It's too close for the paddock! Bob!
BOB:
Whata lds brow!
* tat
dem doer
H and
runs out):


ELAINEA
Dick! Dick!
BOB:
He's just shot a horse, that's all a he's - -!
(A horrified yell in the distance B we
recognise HAROLD
'Elaine! Elaine!"
A babble of voices: and then ELAINE's
long scream)
ELAINE:
(off) Dick! Oh Dick! My baby child!
heomy
emeendles
in BOB's room. The dooris open:
DICK's body has been laid out there.
We become aware of AUDRY sitting in
the dimness ofthe parlour, quite alone.
For a. long time she does not move,
gazing before her.
sheyawns.
A longery of grief breaks the silence,
from upstairs. It is ELAINE. AUDRY
starts a lithle, then subsides.
There is silence again.
The door from the gerden opens quietly.
It is HAROLD, muffled up.
She neither moves nor glànces at the door.
HAROLD looks round the room, sees her.
He stands for a moment watching her, then
comes in. He goes to BOB's room, stands
looking at the body of his son, his shadow
falling across the parlour floor.
He returns to the parlour and sits neah
AUDRY.


The silence continues. He yawns, sighs
a little:
HAROLD:
I've been walking round all night. I don't mind dying.
I know that now. (looking at her closely) Would you
have married him?
(She simply shrugs.
The silence goes on)
AUDRY:
He never did me. any good in bed. I might have
taught him, in time.
Blaie
HAROLD:
But shagot there first, eh?
AUDRY:
She was crying just now.
HAROLD:
I heard her outside. You-know
even fehuckles
quietly)
(He rises and goes to look at his son's
body again)
HAROLD:
He couldn't really enjoy a joke. That's the worst
pain a man can have, Audry.
AUDRY:
Oh he was all right with me. We used to have a laugh.
Why didn't he think of me? It's so selfish ---!
HAROLD:
Perhaps he did think of you, in bed with Bob!
AUDRY:
I've had that on my mind m turning over and over
HAROLD:
It's funny, you shake somebody's hand or give them a
kiss and nobody says a thing. You undress a bit and
bounce about on a bed and the whole world changes
murder, nightmares. I used to sit upstairs thinking
of my own wife by the hour. And she was one floor
down. Then when you see what happens to your body.
He looks beautiful. Have you seen him? (she shakes
her head) The wound was at the back. It's all the
same
trees, horses, men. It isn't the body that
counts. I've realised that much tonight. That's what
he was looking for all the time. How to get rid of the
body. He used to fall at all the point-to-points. The
number of scrapes that boy had. And he got through
at last. You don't understand that, do you?


(An other long cry of grief from
ELAINE, upstairs.
Silence again)
HAROLD:
He couldn't see what she was up to. She's making
(contd)
something all the time. She's even making something
now. Do you think so? Do you think there's a point
where she stops ---? Even the way she cries! -
it's marvellous./ It's all thought out.
AUDRY:
She cried herself to sleep. She was sick.
HAROLD:
Oh I don't mean she: doesn't suffer. But she keeps
the tone right. She's always looked after the feelings
like that. There's never been a minute to read
the paper or doze over the fire like you see some
other people. She's always kept things hopping
AUDRY:
'She'. It's always 'she', ever since I moved here.
I didn't have a chance.
HAROLD:
You didn't want one. You didn't love him.
AUDRY:
God knows what brought me here.
HAROLD:
Ignorance. You didr't know a thing. Iremember
that. You came here to learn. We don't always know
why we do things until afterwards.
AUDRY:
That's why I opened the door to Bob that night. It was
her.
HAROLD:
Audry - - what was your husband like?
AUDRY:
Just brawn. The brawn had to be fed three times a
day and swilled through with bitter beer every night.
He never got soused. He just went to bed and slept.
And he did the same every day mo to me as well.
Said the same things. He hasn't got anything to say,
but there's nothing bad in him. It was just the brawn.
I was with it all the time. I touched his arm once and
it was all rubbery. He didn't realise. He never felt
me touch him. I pinched him, ever so lightly. I got
tired of him doing exactly what I expected him to do,
even in his sleep. He didn't seem to have blood in
him. I felt sorry for him. He lives alone now. He
never should have married.
HAROLD:
Still, you must have fallen in love with the brawn, eh?


AUDRY:
Oh yes.
HAROLD:
You need a lifetime of tricks to please a woman.
You've got to go straight to the body, and you've got to
know that the body is the least of it.
AUDRY:
Did she teach you that?
HAROLD:
Well I learned it watching her. I'll tell you where
the blood comes from
up here.(pointing to his
brain) If you haven't got anything up here there's
no love, no tricks
you can't please a woman,
even if she's got nothing up here either. Blood
comes from the brain, girl. And that's where she
wins every time, even when her son's lying dead"
in the same house.
To 1.61 Zawads
(Silence again)
AUDRY:
Is that how they/re burying him
in his jockey
outfit?
HAROLD:
Yes. Another damn-fool idea. He hated riding.
But the grooms wanted it. The body doesn't matter.
It's either one outfit or another. You've got to wear
something. He never understood that. He couldn't
bear a mess. And I need one. By God, I need it!
Are you asleep?
AUDRY:
Well nigh.
HAROLD:
I'll see you over to the house. Come on. You've had
enough.
AUDRY:
Is it dawn yet?
HAROLD:
Another couple of hours.
AUDRY:
I don't want to sleep.
HAROLD:
No more: do I.
AUDRY:
I don't want to wake up and suddenly realise, like I
did yesterday. I'd rather drain myself out
wait
till I can't stay awake any more
I'd like to get
rid of everything
all my energies
HAROLD:
Make me a cup of something over at your place.
We can't here.


(AUDRY gets up.
They are on their way ae P the gom
CE seler when there is another
cry of grief from ELAINE, quick and
broken this time, almost like a scream)
HAROLD:
(half calling out) For once I'm not listening, Elaine!
(taking AUDRY by the shoulder towards BOB's room)
You see what I mean - how beautiful he is? He's
riding now. Don't be afraid. Look how beautiful
death is. Riding
on all that silence! Come on.
(They leave.
BLACKOUT)
ELAINE - in Ka
oom.
Morning some days later. BOB alone,
in his best clothes.
HAROLD comes in, clearly looking for
kE BoB.
HAROLD:
What the devil are you doing there, boy? Your
interview was due five minutes ago. What's the
matter?
BOB:
Nothing. I'm going.
HAROLD:
Are you brooding on Dick?
BOB:
I'd like to go away. I don't want to sleep there any
more!
HAROLD:
Well, get stuck into some work, then! You've got
to look after your future - you can't let things
twine themselves round your life I it's none of
your fault, you know!
BOB:
What isn't?


HAROLD:
About Dick. I used to lam into him, you saw me do
it yourself! It's more me than anybody else. Anyway,
he liked you. I doubt if he did me. I lived off him
in a way.
BOB:
I'd better be going.
HAROLD:
I got on his nerves, deliberately
I knew what I was
doing!
BOB:
He didn't have anything really, did he, even Audry?
HAROLD:
What do you mean, even Audry?
BOB:
I went over there one night, I ---
HAROLD:
All right, all right, I-den't-want-your-bloedy-eeody-eonfes-
sions. Anyway I know all about it!
BOB:
She seems to blame me ever since, as if I did it,
HAROLD:
She's got herself to blame. If she'd stuck to him
it wouldn't have happened. She had you and one or
two others. She's dipped her hands in too much
jam
the colour sticks.
BOB:
She's all right.
HAROLD:
We're all all right! But things go wrong. So we
can't be as. all right as all that. If Dick came on the
earth again I'd say the same things, and he'd say the
same things back. Somebody else would have gone
down the pub and drank it all away, but not Dick. You
see, Bob, it's when we all get together the trouble
starts, we're not ourselves any more, so it doesn't
matter how all right we are when we're alone.
BOB:
You've changed since then.
HAROLD:
I've got a few more grey hairs. And I don't eat.
BOB:
Is he on your mind
all the time?
HAROLD:
I think. of him shooting himself. Putting the gun in
his mouth and pulling the trigger. Just that, over
and over again. But as to him being my son, I mean
my son being dead, it hasn't sunk in yet, I can't
believe it, what he did
I mean he was always
something inside me, he was like another me, that's
why I didn't admire him, even when he did well in a


HAROLD:
race, and he was a good little jockey really, I
(contd)
always pulled him down again, because that wasn't
what he wanted and I knew it. He wanted something
else.
BOB:
What?
HAROLD:
Well, to be somebody like you.
BOB:
So I did make him do it in a way.
HAROLD:
You've got older. You talk older. No, he'd have
found somebody else to admire, if it hadn't been you.
As soon as I saw Audry wobbling her arse through
that garden gate I knew he was for the high jump.
It's the women - they
(ELAINE E
your interview!")
BOB:
(calling out) Yes I'm going.
HAROLD:
Good luck.
BOB:
Thanks.
HAROLD:
And don't mention anybody here. Nst l Tallwt !
(BOB leaves, and HAROLD watches him
from the garden door)
(to himself) Because she twined herself round his
life once too. And he made the mistake of not
getting out In fact I think everything that man's
done ever since, including
himself
getting
rich,
G10i
was to prove himself for us. Of course I don't
aplau
mean really us. Eh, Elaine? I mean you. You
always wanted your little tragedy didn't you, mate?
Well you've got it now. We played our hands too
hard that time, eh? Even your name's right for
tragedy, eh, Elaine?
tans -lof -iael L
snackrs)


EAAINE : im Kar oo A as hefore
The same morning. Bben
TE TOMT
AUDRY comes in
ELAINE:
(upstairs) Who's that?
AUDRY:
It's me.
ELAINE:
(off) I'll come down.
AUDRY:
No don 't worry :
ELAINE:
(off) Why, don 't you want to see me any more ?
AUDRY:
It isn't that -
(ELAINE aE Comad o an stair)
ELAINE:
You're blaming me really, aren't you
like the
rest of them ?
AUDRY:
What for?
ELAINE:
Dick.
AUDRY:
I came looking for Harold.
ELAINE:
He went looking for you, I expect.
AUDRY:
Bob's gone for the interview, then.
ELAINE:
Yes. Would you like some wine ?
AUDRY:
No, thanks.
ELAINE:
Come on, don't be a fool.
(She pours her a glass)
Harold's round your way a lot. He seems to have
taken Dick's place.
AUDRY:
Is there anything wrong in that?
ELAINE:


AUDRY:
And what about you? You're out every night, some-
times you don't come in at all.
ELAINE:
You think you're doing wrong, not me!
AUDRY: -
Oh yes, you can see through us all, can't you?
ELAINE:
He's so proud - - - almost happy.
AUDRY:
Who?
ELAINE:
Harold. And it's such a relief. Like a weight off my
back after all these years. Ialmost want to thank you.
AUDRY:
We don 't have any secrets here, do we ? I was tired
one night and I couldn't be bothered to put up a fight
any more. It was like making it up with Dick -
through his father
I don't think any of us realised
how much Dick loved -
ELAINE:
All right, all right.
AUDRY:
You always say that. As if you don't want to hear his
name any more. And you're in love!
a few days
after your son 's buried.
ELAINE:
Harold talks a lot, doesn 't he ?
AUDRY:
Yes.
ELAINE:
Makes you one of the family. ANotice how you blame
me now for staying out at night? You know damned
well you never loved Dick.
AUDRY:
There = that's why I don 't want to see you!
ELAINE:
Because it's the truth!
AUDRY:
The truth is you and Bob killed him
he couldn't
stand Bob being round the place
he said So
and
you rubbed his face in it!
ELAINE:
What I did wrong to Dick was not have my own life,
not be free. But I'm free now. And you're not going to
steal that
you won 't drag me back into all that
AUDRY:
Oh you and your words!


ELAINE:
They're certainly not your strong point, are they -
words?
AUDRY:
Bob was always trying to get me too - Dick knew
the lads at the stable ta lked
ELAINE:
They talked when he got you! It was you who did it,
not Bob, you laid yourself down, didn't you?
AUDRY:
At least I don 't say I'm in love, when all I do is lay
myself down.
ELAINE:
Because you're not, darling. He didn' 't mean a thing
to you, did he
Bob? But he's all the world to me.
That's what they call variety.
AUDRY:
I didn't know what I was walking into when I came in
that garden gate the first day.
ELAINE:
You're like all the rest, mygirt, afraid of your
feelings. When something happens you flinch. It
was all a game till he shot himself. But it isn't a
game for me. You let other people do the dreaming
and the yearning and the scheming for sex, and you
just give way
but when something real happens -
when a boy puts a gun in his mouth and -:
AUDRY:
You shouldn't say that!
ELAINE:
That's why you all blame me! You think you blame
Bob too but you don't. Because I make the life go
round here. It's the active one who's blamed! Even
he'll blame me in the end.
Recrdfbuce?
AUDRY:
Who ?
ELAINE:
Never mind.
(Se Mowh serays kta hueris)
AUDRY:
I can still see his hurt face, with. the blood on it.
ELAINE(damim)I can't. I can't remember my own son's face. None
of you think of me! What I had to bear for so many
years. There was bound to be a shot one day, Audry.
Ialways thought
but I thought it would be Martha
funny. Shall I tell you something? Dick saved up
a lot of money. Hundreds of pounds. It's in one of
those drawers. (pointing to BOB's room) He left it
to Mar rtha. There was a letter in her room, with a
key to the drawer. So he hurts me even after his death!


SAal
Gat
AUDRY:
He thought of Martha - not me! He knew he was
going to do it - :
ELAINE:
You're right to get a divoree
you avoid tragedies
that way. Buttfyouhave their children, they twine
themselves-round you
their thoughts grow and
moveabout and.get so big thatyou can't do anything
about them any more, they become realpeople. And
then one day, when you find yourself happy for the first
time, quite by accident, there's a shot.
AUDRY:
He was so jealous of me I had to divorce
I mean I
still see him but - I even still love him in a way
ELAINE:
It's good you didn' 't have children. Then you couldn 't
have got away. Women with children never really
divorce
they just sign a bit of paper. They do it
to possess their own children, take the man's thoughts -
out of them, make their children mirrors of themselves.
Au dance t ne I
rum outrids)
ran
(BOB appears
Inta
Tosel
(to BOB) What did he say?
BOB:
It's all right.
ELAINE:
You got it?
She mitche
BOB:
ggdue.
Yes.
AUDRY:
I'd better be going.
(She leaves the house)
BOB:
They all do that - when I appear.
ELAINE:
They're running away from themselves. Don'tI
deserve a kiss this morning ?
BOB:
(kissing her) It's for a term of five years.
ELAINE:
That's wonderful, darling.
BOB:
He seemed to know something. He kept looking at me.
ELAINE:
Does that matter?
BOB:
Yes.


ELAINE:
Not to me.
BOB:
You're older.
ELAINE:
BOB:
They look at me like they used to look at you. I
know what it feels like now. A prison.ch
h L
Aase I
ELAINE:
But I'm out of the prison now.
BOB:
Martha never says a word to me.
ELAINE:
And you're in the prison. Is that right ?
BOB:
Oh I don't care really. All she thinks about is the
food that goes down her gullet and
ELAINE:
Who?
BOB:
Marty.
ELAINE:
BOB:
And how much money is coming in. And her mouth
turns down when there isn 't a cup of tea for her.
That's all they believe in. So it's all they get.
ELAINE:
You're right. They leave the dreaming to me, and
then blame me.
BOB:
Yes.
ELAINE:
You won't blame me?
BOB:
What for?
ELAINE:
Ever? You won't ever think - 'She
1 You know
what I mean?
BOB:
ELAINE:
Ican't even say it.
BOB:
Martha's eyes aren' 't deep like yours. She's prettier
but sort of shrivelled up, she's cringing from life all
the time, she seems bent over a typewriter even when
she's not. She doesn't think love and things like that
are serious. But you do. She swallows it on the way to
work. That's why her eyes don't have anything in them.


ELAINE:
Ybu've come to kill me really.
BOB:
What?
ELAINE:
I douldn 't have dreamed of a lovelier execution.
BOB:
They'd all be so dreary and damp and dull without you,
wouldn't they? I can't stand the way she puffs through
her teeth in the morning when she's getting the first pot
of tea, as if it was the highest thing in the world. Her
face isn't made by thoughts and feelings like yours is.
Really you teach them all about life, don't you?
ELAINE:
I shouldn't teach her too much then, should I -- - - in
my own interests?
BOB:
Why not ?
ELAINE:
You might fall in love with her.
BOB:
I couldn't do that. She's like a smaller you for me.
ELAINE:
Let's go out.
BOB:
What did you mean About execution?
Arey
ELAINE:
Dont-look-se-sad! Bob! Don'ttugf frightened!
(They leave.
BLACKOUT)
Kout
|To P 52.1
Early wen L
HAROLDantAUDRY
areale # *
- - - BoB i fo
- - former n
And ELAINE roi
HAROLD:
Where does she keep the wine ?
io L
1 sn
upstain.
AUDRY:
Down there.
HAROLD:
Show's what a good housewife she used to be. By
the state of the place now. And the glasses s?


AUDRY:
In there, I think.
HAROLD:
We-had-it-good. (pouring two glasses) Here you
are, duck. Put some blood into you. Lusedte
thinkt-Hiked-horses, for the ride, _but byGod --
AUDRY:
He-gotthe job then..
HAROLD:
Yes. Ohidon't-bla-me him. He'salad. It's her
that stirs things up - it gets into the furniture, her
thoughts, over the years. She used to talk about me
being in the cavalry and I swear I got to believe it.
I swear I thought I could ride a horse. I almost
believe it now. It's her mind. It gets into you.
AUDRY:
Yes.
HAROLD:
She did the same with Dick. Made him feel he wasn't.
enough. I could have built up that petrol pump into a
nice little business but she was holding me back all the
time. She was having this love affair with Talbot, I
mean she wasn't even seeing him, but they were think-
ing about each other all the time, every day, all through
those years. He was getting richer and richer and she
was sitting dreaming about him and comparing him with
me, and making me feel small. See what I mean ? And
she didn't even love him. The thing was he loved her.
She could dream a lot about that. Yet she made life
exciting.
AUDRY:
You talk as if she was dead.
HAROLD:
Iused to keep myself clean for her. Never touched
another woman. Iwas always wattingfor-her, But
now.that's.changed.
AUDRY:
You-mean-you've.done_something dirty
you talk
about dirt---!
HAROLD:
No, Idon't-mean-that, duck. Butit's mai rvellous really,
a woman like that. Working class stock. Iswear
she could pass for royalty. She alwayshad something
interesting to-say. You never-knew when it was
coming. You couldn't pely on a simple yes or no like
with other women. She atways put a new.point of view.
She took meout of myself. Hoterdont Ay, udey I
realise-Tthought about that woman fortwenty, thirty
years. Not my job or anything.
Ipided heup
Loho -
Brch 6527


AUDRY:
Nor your children!
HAROLD:
Oh shut up.
AUDRY:
And one of them shot himself! You' 're a mean bloody
lot!
HAROLD:
Chin chin.
(He drinks)
AUDRY:
You're the same as Dick. One eye open for her all
the time.
HAROLD:
He gave me the courage to come over that night. I
mean, the way he died. He seemed to say, 'Go on, go
over and try your luck with Audry. P And by God you
gave me a good time. He was a young fool, not to
appreciate that.
AUDRY:
Are you sure about that?
HAROLD:
But did you give it to him like that
the same?
AUDRY:
HAROLD:
Well then.
AUDRY:
I'd been mai rried before. He was too young.
HAROLD:
So was I married. But I never had a woman took it
straight like that. Did I make you shudder too ? -
the way I did her?
AUDRY:
HAROLD:
Tell me.
Phut
AUDRY:
What?
HAROLD:
What you said the other night.
AUDRY:
I've never enjoyed it so mych.
HAROLD:
Yes. It's good to hear. And me
The C K ardeniopropens.
I MART - 17
returning romy A KHAROh 2 V AUDRY
itty
You look washed out.
lads
Alasta Co Ma A


MARTHA:
I'd like some tea.
HAROLD:
Rose on the bus?
MARTHA:
Yes.
AUDRY:
Have some wine instead.
MARTHA:
No thanks.
HAROLD:
Where is she then' ?
MARTHA:
She walked up to the house.
HAROLD:
What house ?
MARTHA:
Talbot's.
HAROLD:
Rose did, up to Talbot's house ?
MARTHA:
Yes.
HAROLD:
Well, s'help me God! They've never spoken a word
in their lives.
MARTHA:
Is mum in?
HAROLD:
She's out with Bob.
MARTHA:
Well that I could guess.
(BOB suddenly comes in from his room)
HAROLD:
Bob!
BOB:
Hullo.
MARTHA:
Hullo.
HAROLD:
So you got the job, eh?
BOB:
Yes. (to MARTHA) Iheard you come in.
HAROLD:
Good for you. Is it true he's sending you to Scotland ?
BOB:
Yes.
MARTHA:
What?


BOB:
Are you surprised ?
HAROLD:
He's better off there.
AUDRY:
Well congratulations, Bob.
BOB:
Thanks.
AUDRY:
I ought to go. Thanks for the wine.
HAROLD:
I'll see you across.
AUDRY:
No it's all right
HAROLD:
I'm going to the pump.
AUDRY:
Cheerio all.
MARTHA:
Cheerio.
(AUDRY and HAROLD leave)
BOB:
You've changed a Iot.
MARTHA:
Have I?
BOB:
You look as if you've cried a lot. It's made your
face different.
MARTHA:
I cried for Dick.
BOB:
Only?
MARTHA:
Yes. I loved him!
BOB:
I know that.
MARTHA:
We played together
BOB:
I'm going away, Mart.
MARTHA:
To Scotland ?
BOB:
She
she looks for me all the time.
MARTHA:
Nobody looked for Dick. Not even Audry did.
BOB:


MARTHA:
And I don 't know who you mean by she.
BOB:
Would you come away with me ?
MARTHA:
BOB:
Why not?
MARTHA:
I'm getting a rise. It's the wrong time to leave my
job. Why, do you love me ?
BOB:
MARTHA:
Well then. You needn 't have told me anyway. Because
I knew.
BOB:
We're more like brother and sister. I mean I do love
you in a way. I think of you. I don't sleep much.
There's Audry seems to blame me all the time
for Dick. Imust get away.
MARTHA:
You'll sleep when you've got work.
BOB:
If you came it might make it better with her - I
don 't know what I mean - I want to be with her all
the time
MARTHA:
I don't know who you mean!
BOB:
I want to make love all the time
the moment I see
her - - I don't want another soul
MARTHA:
Bob!
BOB:
There's no end to it - - I don' 't know what I mean
I can't take her away
MARTHA:
Would I remind you of her?
BOB:
Yes.
MARTHA: :
What a fool you are.
BOB:
It's all I want to do - she's upstairs
it's like
sucking her blood
MARTHA:
Upstairs ?
BOB:
And I want another face, I want ordinary things
again


MARTHA:
And you want them from me ? Well I won 't! I won't!
BOB:
Because you're the fool, not me - -
from
(ROSE comes in
ROSE:
Anything wrong?
MARTHA:
ROSE:
Where's dad?
MARTHA:
Gone to the pump.
ROSE:
(to BOB) Is it true you're going away ?
BOB:
Yes.
(He goes off to his room again) teses
ROSE :
Ialways thought I couldn't stand his face, and I
realised I'd never really looked at it before.
MARTHA:
Whose ?
ROSE:
Talbot's.
MARTHA:
Dad asked where you'd gone.
ROSE:
'Dad'! The word seems funny now. I'll never feel
AFA close to you again. It makes it better. I never
did like the way this family was run. It's funny, isn 't
it? I love everybody more. And he's nice. He's so
reserved.
MARTHA:
You take after him.
ROSE:
Since when did you know' ?
MARTHA:
Oh years. She told me. She needed me for all her
secrets then.
ROSE:
And you left it to her to tell me ?
MARTHA:
Oh I only half believed it. I didn't think people
really did it. But I know now. Dick taught me a lot.
He really did something.
ROSE:
And I wonder why she did tell me?


MARTHA:
To get free of it. She's never been free before,
that's her song now. Perhaps she's right.
ROSE:
Oh I'm glad she did tell me. I know the kind of person
Iam. My father's rich.
MARTHA:
Yes. I hadn't thought of that before!
ROSE:
Ican't believe it. I feel giddy. All day at the
office my head's been going round. Iused to hate
it when she didn't have the ta ready. Now it doesn't
matter.
dinner
MARTHA:
So she is free of you. She's clever.
ROSE:
Do you notice how happy she looks ?
MARTHA:
Yes.
ROSE:
I've never seen her look so beautiful. Talbot kept
looking at me. I think he was trying to see her face
in mine. She must have a power, mustn 't she ? All
these years.
MARTHA:
You used to rave if she as much as looked at him.
ROSE:
Life changes All of a sudden.
MARTHA:
With Dick/not here
we were fighting for him a
lot of the time, don't you think so?
ROSE: :
Poor darling Dick.
MARTHA:
It made me feel - - when I saw him, with the blood all
over him
never to quarrel again, always remember
that things come to an end, he seemed so silent, he
was like the paddock, do you know what I m ean?
ROSE: :
(lowering her voice, after glancing at the hall-door)
He's not going to Scotland at all.
MARTHA:
Who?
ROSE:
Bob. Talbot said. And you mustn' 't breathe a word
It's Canada. Talbot fixed it up.
MARTHA:
And she 's going too ?


ROSE:
She doesn't even know! She mustn't hear a word of
MARTHA:
But Bob isn't telling her?
ROSE:
MARTHA:
She 'll go mad. She 'll never stand it!
ROSE:
He's giving her an address in Scotland - Talbot's
other place. Don't tell dad.
MARTHA:
We should tell her. It seems cruel!
ROSE:
If she went too, with somebody who didn't love her,
a boy half her age! Imagine it!
MARTHA:
He doesn't love Her?
ROSE:
Well, if he's taken the job
asked for it -
MARTHA:
He does love her. Only he's frightened.
ROSE:
Did he say so ?
MARTHA:
Yes. He looks so frightened. Like I used to. At
the thought of losing her.
ROSE:
Yet he's going away.
MARTHA:
He asked me to go with him.
ROSE:
He did?
MARTHA:
I said no.
ROSE:
You said no ?
MARTHA:
I wish he'd take her
in a way. I do. There's
nothing left any more. Dad's with Audry all the time.
ROSE:
I admire Audry in a way.
MARTHA:
She's got no life, only other people. It's funny, I
don't want to marry..
ROSE:
Ido.


(We hear ELAINE calling from
upstairs: 'Rose. ')
ROSE:
Yes?
(contd)
ELAINE:
(aff) Where's Bob ?
ROSE:
In his room.
MARTHA:
We'd bettex clear up.
ROSE:
Yes.
In the night. The room is dark.
We hear footsteps down the stairs.
ELAINE switches on the light goes to
BOB's room. His door is locked.
ELAINE;
Bob. : (no reply) Bob.
BOB;
(off) Yes ?
E D
Eet-me-86e-Yo
BOB:
pentag He dooE What's the time ?
ELAINE:
You can 't sleep. I could feel it.
BOB:
Elaine.
ELAINE:
Kiss me.
BOB:
I dream abbut Dick -:
ELAINE:
Darling!
BOB:
I can't getit out of my head - you're giving me what
he should have got
ELAINE:
I'd give you all my life. Anything - the whole family.
I can't help it.


BOB:
I've never had so much love, Elaine. It makes me
numb. I can feel your kisses like stings. I can
feel them on my body afterwards!
ELAINE:
It's true - - I'm giving jyou whati couldn't give them
- you mustn't be frightened of that!
BOB:
He could see it coming. When it happened he got the
gun. He knewyou were on that bed with me.
ELAINE:
It was his father - he'd never hit him like that
before
BOB:
N6, no!
ELAINE:
Is that why the kisses sting then ?
BOB:
Ijust think pf his face and how he needed the love
you're giving me
ELAINE:
You can live at the farm. Forget. We can have lovely
times, darling. The summer's coming. You neédn't
be in that room.
BOB:
I'd rather go away
ELAINE:
You always say that
you did even when you we re
a child, to your mother - 'I want to go away'
where is it this time ?
BOB:
Scotland, somewhere like that.
ELAINE:
You're not telling the truth.
BOB:
Yes I am!
ELAINE:
To his other farm ?
BOB:
Yes.
ELAINE:
Was it your idea ?
BOB:
In a way -
ELAINE:
It was Talbot's! He doesn't want us together! He's
jealous --!


BOB:
No it was me. I said it. I said I want to get away.
He thought it was Dick's death, I mean the reason
I wanted to leave. Well it's right 1 I should : to
recover. I don' 't know where I am. I see you every- -
where I look, Elaine. I've only got one thought
ELAINE:
What's that?
BOB:
You, you!
ELAINE:
Oh, darling.
BOB:
Can't we sleep together, all night ? Every night? And
then I'd sleep.
ELAINE:
Why can't we go away - Ir never thought I'd want
that - but I'd do anything.
BOB:
Is he upstairs ?
ELAINE:
I don't know!
BOB:
Sleep with me every night - - until I go away
ELAINE:
He isn't my husband any more
he doesn 't mind
he doesn't think of me, Bob : he's with Audry - I
belong to you
BOB:
Make me go away. Make me leave you Elaine.
ELAINE:
What?
BOB:
You can come and see me. We can have whole weeks
together. I couldn't work, not if you were there. I
have to think about you all the time, about your body,
and the way you kiss me, it's like floating, I lose
myself
ELAINE:
Will you promise me something too ?
BOB:
Yes.
ELAINE:
Always to love me.
BOB:
Yes.
ELAINE:
Never-to-blame de .


siss outsids)
(A bang
D 1
Neith of
ELAINE:
(contd)
Who is it?
HAROLD:
(off) A message from Talbot
ELAINE:
(gotnge to-the-domm-qutnkd
E Taleot!
(HAROLD Es comasin)
HAROLD:
He phoned down to Audry.
BOB:
Is it five -?
HAROLD:
(to BOB) He said about your bags
they're supposed
to be up at the house
ELAINE:
Bags ?
HAROLD:
Well what's the matter, Bob?
BOB:
I'm coming! (as Ra pulls à k clolRes)
ELAINE:
Where ?
BOB:
They were taking my bags up early - an early
train
HAROLD:
E Are they packed?
BOB:
I was packing!
HAROLD:
Well look sharp, lad - - I'll give you a hand
(He goes into BOB's room)
ELAINE:
Bob!
BOB:
I forgot
Greeing 7 suirease
HAROLD: L
You haven't done a blime thing!
ELAINE:
I'll see Talbot. I will!


tuslas wt dres L
(She a
cOr
HAROLD:
Where did she say?
BOB:
Talbot's. 1,
HAROLD:
Come on, we 'd better look sharp!
(BOB joins him in the other room)
Later the same morning. FRR gardon
des
Eeh MARTHA is eU
inn
Ccalling
hain abea, RoSE in *
mm a
MARTHA: L (Emiing You coming, Rose ?
ROSE:
Won't be a minute.
= TE
OTE
e B
(ELAINE appears with some spring
flowers in her hand)
iken
MARTHA:
You look smart.
ELAINE:
You heard the news then.
MARTHA:
Yes.
ELAINE:
Icouldn't sleep. I knew something was up. I
went down to him in the middle of the night
MARTHA:
And then you went up to Talbot's?
ELAINE:
Who told you that?
MARTHA:
Rose.


ELAINE:
She 's got eyes like a fox. I went before it was light.
I'm so used to storms I'd forgotten what the quiet
voice of reason sounds like. He was so nice. He was
sitting in his dressing gown sipping his tea, I'd never
been inside the house before. He told me Bob was
going to Scotland. And I didn't feel a tremor. I mcan,
it couldn't go on like this, Martha. We were burning
each other to death - with love. You don't even look
sad when I say that.
MARTHA:
Why should I?
ELAINE:
It's a change from the looks you used to give me.
MARTHA:
It's Saturday. I'm off for the day.
ELAINE:
Oh is that why? And you don 't love him a little scrap?
MARTHA:
ELAINE:
Would you marry him ?
MARTHA:
What ?
ELAINE:
You could set up home in Scotland.
MARTHA:
I don't love him, I tell you! All I did was see him
through your eyes. I used to watch you watching him -
ELAINE:
MARTHA:
You did it all the time! I thought he must be marvellous.
But he isn't.
ELAINE:
You'd be like a home for him.
MARTHA:
Are you thinking of him or me ?
ELAINE:
Him. Yes I admit it..
MARTHA:
You' 've never been able to help your children, have you ?
ELAINE:
There's been too much else to do. I said it once to
Audry
if you haven't married right
oh I forget
what I said.
MARTHA:
And you want me to marry wrong too.


ELAINE:
It could help you both.
MARTHA:
I don' 't know, I've never heard anybody talk like you.
As if there wasn't a rule in the world. If they heard
it at the office they'd think we were mad.
ELAINE:
Won't you put something nice on? He'll be here in a
moment. / Pi heuchek) -
MARTHA:
I'll stay as I am. This is how I'd be if I married him.
ELAINE:
You make good coffee.
MARTHA:
(calling) Rose!
ROSE:
Coming!
MARTHA:
She'd make a good wife. But you wouldn't like that, if
she married Bob. He might forget about you then.
With me he'd never forget you. He 'd see you every
time he looked at me. I'm beginning to see into your
mind.
ELAINE:
That means you'll be like me one day. That's how I
started life too, all squeezed up, not believing in
myself.
sx ilcal
MARTHA:
I'm sure she was in love with him.
ELAINE:
Who?
MARTHA:
Rose.
ELAINE:
Oh that was just Audry's joke!
MARTHA:
Every time we kissed her eyes used to
ELAINE:
I can't bear to hear you say that
'we kissed'
(ROSE a ger ES - me dounstair
- Lethou
ROSE:
Hullo.
A im
ELAINE:
Another dressing gown for Bob see.
MARTHA:
He's coming to say good bye.
ROSE:


ELAINE:
I'm not going to be frightened by a little trip to
Scotland. Talbot made me feel so sâfe. It was
wonderful tal Iking to him and not feeling ashamed,
I mean even your father's free now, isn 't he ?
MARTHA:
If you can call it that.
ELAINE:
He's cheerful. He never looks at his photographs.
MARTHA:
What photographs ?
ELAINE:
I realise Talbot was the best friend I ever had. I
know that from this morning. He calmed me down
completely.
SE ERE -
SSE *
I'll put these flowers there. In case he peeps in.
(turning) Bob, I mean.
(She goes to BOB's room with the
flowe rs)
B1ac: (from BOB's room) Already it looks ordinary.
Just a room. Martha, what shall I do ?
MARTHA:
Now don't cry!
ELAINE:
Ican't live like that again - - I shan't know what
to do every day
and you don 't care any more
we don't give a damn for each other any more
I've lost Dick - -:
MARTHA:
We've all lost him!
ROSE:
It's gone eleven.
MARTHA:
What ?
ELAINE:
Don 't think I'm going to stay in this house mourning
over him every time I look at that room.because I
shan't. Scotland's not so far
he' 'll love those raw
mountains - I've tried to make something of your
lives but you took it all wrong. Instead of helping me
you made me feel bad every time Istepped -out of the
house. Well now you've got the result. I wanted
something big, not a hen-coop stuck next door to a
petrol pump
that's why wars happen, because we're
all cooped up in our houses with our little problems --


ROSE:
ELAINE:
You wouldn 't let light come in! That's why Dick did
away with himself. A boy has to have the light.
MARTHA:
What's so unusual about what you did? You only went
out for one thing ---!
ELAINE:
Why didn't you do the same
defy somebody
get
married ?
MARTHA:
Because I loved you
looked up to you - and you
stopped me every time!
ELAINE:
That's not true, your father
ROSE:
Oh do be quiet!
MARTHA:
He won't come anyway. That's the boy you threw us
all away for.
ELAINE:
Threw you away
threw away my prison warders!
ROSE:
The train must have gone.
ELAINE:
I've half a: mind to follow him.
MARTHA:
He might not like it. And you'd have to follow him a
long way
ROSE:
Martha!
MARTHA:
Why shouldn't she know? has she ever spared us
anything?
ELAINE:
Know what?
ROSE: :
Nothing.
MARTHA:
He isn' 't going to Scotland.
ELAINE:
ROSE:
To Canada.
ELAINE:
What ?
ROSE:
Yes.


ELAINE:
To Canada
when ?
ROSE:
Today. The boat leaves tonight.
ELAINE:
He'd have told me!
MARTHA:
Are you sure ?
ELAINE:
You're lying! I'll kill myself! I'll never live with
you again! Bob! Bob!
(She grabs her spring coat from under
the stairs.
She collides with HAROLD as he comes
in -
He's going to Canada! You knew! You arranged it
with Talbot!
HAROLD:
Talbot did it himself. I haven't even seen him!
Now pull yourself together
he'll be here in a
minute to say goodbye - Bob'll be here!
ELAINE:
Iv won't ever say goodbye! I'll go with him! He said
he wanted me to come! I'll goito Canada! I've got
Dick's savings
(She rushes to BOB's room and begins
wrenching at one of the drawers, which
is locked)
MARTHA:
The money was promised to Hesend me!
ELAINE:
Nothing's yours! It was all made by me
by my
love' I burned myself
you never did
you
always watched me go in the flames with your nasty
eyes!
(She manages to tear the drawer open
and begins pulling out a great quantity
of notes, which she stuffs into her coat
pockets)
HAROLD:
Elaine, you're not going to leave -! Elaine!
Elaine!
(His panic convinces MARTHA that
ELAINE means it)


MARTHA:
Mum
ELAINE:
I don't want to hear that word again
I'm free
I know what freedom is!
ROSE:
Let her go!
MARTHA:
Mumegy, mumey!
HAROLD:
Listen, Elaine, he's coming across now, I'll try
and get him to stay -
ROSE:
That's right, she knows how to get her will!
HAROLD:
Ipromise!
MARTHA:
Mummy, please don't go away!
ELAINE:
You knew
all of you knew - letting me sit here
waiting.--- and my own boy was being taken away
from me!
HAROLD:
Elaine, I'll go up to the house - I'll bring him down
again a - he won' 't go - - I've given you a promise!
(He leaves hurriedly, by
dANE
We hear him running away)
ROSE:
You're clever.
ELAINE:
I've got a heart, which is more than I can say for
you!
ROSE:
And what about her - hasn 't she got a heart
can't you see her?
ELAINE:
(to MARTHA) You don't have to worry. They'll find
a way to keep me here.
MARTHA:
You seem to be SO cruel sometimes.
ELAINE:
Do you think cold eyes aren't cruel? I've had cold
eyes from the two of you for as long as I can remember!
Well then, you get your medicine back! All this having
children - it doesn't do any more. Set them on their
feet and say good bye to them. What are you staring at,
both of you ? Why look to me for your life all the time?
Don't worry, we shall get to Canada. Talbot's going to
pay for two trips instead of one! I shall be on those raw
mountains, don 't you worry! Scotland or Canada, it


ELAINE:
doesn't matter!/ And you were storing up the news
(contd)
for me
storing up another wound, like you always
do! Always thinking, watching -: Well] I tasted
freedom! Nobody owns me! Only love counts! You
çan tell your father that some day. When the three of
you are sitting here! You'll see what it is to have her
as a mother!
ROSE:
(quietly) Ah, you're jealous of her.
ELAINE:
Oh you're a fine psychologist, but it took me to tell
you whose child you, wel re! That's how clever you were,
hating your own father until you realised you were his
- hating him because of me - just to hurt me
as always - --:
MARTHA:
We love you!
ELAINE:
What a pity you have to show it in wounds! Every time
you fetch blood I have to tell myself, it's because they
love me! You're grown people now. You have talons!
You're not children any more, with soft little hands.
When you scratch you fetch blood!
(HAROLD returns out of breath)
HAROLD:
He's gone! He didn 't want to say good bye! Talbot
was going to drive him down here to say good bye
but Bob said no.
ELAINE:
Bob .
MARTHA:
(with sudden vehemence, seeing that ELAINE can no
longer leave with BOB) That's the boy you wanted me
to marry! He's gone to Canada and he couldn't even
kiss you goodbye! He never loved anybody! Including
you!
ELAINE:
He did! Oh Bob!
MARTHA:
He wanted me to do it - be his wife
be on that
bed all day
and you did it for me, that's all -
that's all he wanted!
ELAINE:
We'll see, when I talk. to Talbot
we'll see who told
him not to say good bye - -- -:
HAROLD:
Talbot was more surprised than me - he said, the
boy's gone down to say goodbye ---:


ELAINE:
He said I can feel your kisses on my body afterwards
like stings - and you're in my mind all day -
HAROLD:
Elaine!
ELAINE:
I loved him! We loved each other
we were burning
each other to death - you couldn 't imagine! - you're
too small!
MARTHA:
You are cruel!
ELAINE:
He said I see you everywhere I look
he said
Martha's cold and she hates the body - I can't stand
the way she makes tea in the morning, as if it was the
only thing in the world, she's shrivelled up, she can't
let go, she's afraid of her feelings -!
MARTHA:
Please don't!
ROSE:
Martha!
ELAINE:
You were all afraid of your feelings until I showed
you the way! Especially you (to HAROLD)
with
your photographs
iyous sex ! Always sex I
ROSE:
(to MARTHA) Can't you see she's broken, because
he didn't come and say good bye!
ELAINE:
That's right! I'm broken now! (taking the money
out of her pockets and flinging it in handfuls towards
ROSE and MARTHA) The re, take a month off from
work, go on a holiday, both of you, and find out what
love is! And then you'll get some love from me. If
I'm not in Canada! (she leaves)
HAROLD:
Look, Elaine ---
(He follows her)
ROSE:
(picking up the money) Look what you could do with
all this. Go and find him in Canada.
MARTHA:
Why does she say such terrible things ?
ROSE:
Because you're so like her! She thinks of you as a
rival!
MARTHA:
Me - - I'm the opposite!


ROSE:
In Canada it might be different. Well - one day.
It might happen. You might suddenly wal lk out of here.
MARTHA:
Yet he did love her. He told me.
ROSE:
Always a surprise! One day it was Audry. Then the
spring coat. And Bob. She always has something new
for us!
MARTHA:
And-Dick, that was new too
but he 'll never come
back!
ROSE:
She'll get all the servants she wants. And the big
house. She'll be up therelevery day. That's the next
episode. And he hasnf realised it yet. He's a brave
man really.
Talls
MARTHA:
Who?
ROSE:
Your father.