Pam
A Play
Maurice Rowdon
COPYRIGHT LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS WASHINGTON


P A M
A Play
In Threo Acls
Maurice Rowdon.
COPYRIGHT, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS,
VASHINGTON No.


S C E N E.
An apartment in London.
Spacious, airy and
ra ther sophisticated---professional people--on the top
floor.
On the left is a door leading into the lobby.
Facing us---so that we look straight into these rooms---are
the kitchen and PAM's tiny bedroom.
The doors of these
rooms are opentthroughout the play.
We can see PAM'S bed,.
with a large teddy bear on it; a chest of drawers covered
with photographs, ash-trays, letters, scissors, coloured
thread, pieces of cloth. PAM'S Bathroom leads off her bed-
room---we can only see the door.
The kitchen is untidy but clean---up-to-date
CHARLOTTE sleeps in the big room---there is a double
divan-bed covered with cushions to the right of PAM'S door.
Between the kitchen-door and PAM'S door there is a table
with two cream-coloured telephones, and here we see signs of
the professional life -some files (under the table there is
a box of them) ---business letters---a used cup and saucer-
a coffee pot---a typewriter---CHARLOTTE is as untidy as her
daughter.
Two upright chairs on, either side of this table.
There are two armchairs in the middle of the room and a
long coffee table knee-height.


CHARACTERS.
CHARLOTTE MANNHEIM, a powerful and hearty but not
necessarily big woman:. émphatic, a great bluffer but
with something curiously hesitant now and then.
She has
a sort of blunted and puzzled wisdom. Also a dark,
superstitious side. She loves company---anything for a
laugh---let's get together! She will help anyone, this is
what people say about her. But she doesn' 't go all the way:
the creature with the stunted wisdom is there at the botton
all the tine, observant, even watchful, and not hearty---
lonely, certainly alone.
PAMELA, her daughter, is a bright blonde teenager who
cackles with laughter and has inhèrited the basic character
of her mother, not the hearty side.
CLIFFORD BRIGHT, a remote, observant, thoughtful, self-
involved young man with a kind of inhérited sense of
responsibility which he. isn't really aware of yet.
All three are American, but only CLIFF by birth.
CHARLOTTE is German by birth and went to America when she
was in her early twenties, a refugee from Nazism.
PAM
was born a German but has lived most of her life in New York.
They work in London temporarily. By choice CHARLOTTE
and PAM would be in New York now. Only CLIFF seems to like
it here-but more by way of revolt from his own country.


CLIFF is alone, reading a news-
paper in one of the armchairs.
One of the telephones begins
ringing. He pays no attention.
Enter CHARLOTTE, in outdoor
clothes, rushing.
CLIFF: (without taking his eyes off the paper) Hi, Charlotte!
CHARLOTTE (picking up the phone with a mighty heave) Hullo,
Quick Translations Limited! Well, you don't say!
(Laughs) I'll never get used to that 'Limited!"
Why do the English want to limit everything?
(Laughs again.) You did? Well, that's fine!
Oh, not too bad! There's a big job on the way, the
chemical industry, dead easy! Why, she's fine, yes!
You do? I'll tell her that! Oh, sure, is she ever
without? I can't keep up with the names! (CLIFF
looks up for a moment)
Shets a mess! That's
what I always tell her, you're a mess, Pam! Well,
that's it, all you have to do is call Charlotte-the-
harlot and she'il put you right! Now listen here--
(Laughs) Well--I call that familiarity: Good bye,
Helga, honey!
dowr the phone and takes
(Slams
off
her coat)
Bitch! Hi, CLifIT Been here long?
CLIFF:
See what it says here? There '11 be vast machines
poised in the air, invisible to the earth, like
stars, ready to conduct war at a moment's notice,
watching every movement on the earth! You won't
have armies or even aeroplanes!
There won't be any
need. It'll all be fought out in the upper air like
a game of chess---done by machines---and winning on
a points-system:
CHARLOTTE: What's that? (to and fro from the kitohen.)
CLIFF:
It makes earth a peaceful place!
CHARLOTTE: Do you believe that crap? What have you got there,
the comic page? How did you get in?
CLIFF:
Key.
CHARLOTTE: See Pam this norning?
CLIFF:
Yes!
CHARLOTTE: You still in love with that girl?


CLIFF (reflecting) I'don't know! You look beat, Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE: A hell of a day!
CLIFF:
I got a new job!
CHARLOTTE: You did?
Where?
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: What's that?
CLIFF:
Synthetic Warfare Lab. We work in with the
English, sort of.
CHARLOTTE: You don't say!
Sounds all right!
CLIFF:
Well, it's not too bad. Dad's pleased. (Half to
himself) He 'should have been something harmi ul,
that man---like a gun--or a germ spray!
CHARLOTTE: Did you say Synthetic Warfare Lab?
CLIFF:
Yes!
CHARLOTTE: What in the name of hell's that?
CLIFF:
Synthetic. You know---artificial---artificial
warfare!
CHARLOTTE: Government stuff, you mean?
CLIFF:
it's
On contract
Government.
private.
to the
The American Government.
CHARLOTTE (approaching him) Are you kidding? Hey, lower
that paper! Are you kidding?
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: It sounds phoney.
CLIFF:
Hundred and fifty dollars a week. - That's not
phoney!
CHARLOTTE: Is that what you get? What happened---you walked
right Into it?
CLIFF:
No. It was dad. He phoned these people ffom New
York.
CHARLOTTE: Oh! (Leaving him again) I thought you didn't like
dad!
CLIFE:
I don't!


CHARLOTTE: You're nuts! You're both nuts, you and Pam!
What's wrong with kids nowadays?
They don't
make sense!
CLIFF: :
I figured out it didn't matter what I did! You
see, I reckon I'm going to suffer quite a lot---!
CHARLOTTE: Here we go:
CLIFF:
That's the real thing--what happens to me in the
flesh---not the work!
CHARLOTTE (laughing) What the hell are you talking about?
CLIFF:
I thought you'a laugh!
(Getting up to follow her)
I'm going to take a lot of blows; and it's like the
flesh being whipped, do you get me? Pam was the
first one, the first whip!
CHARLOTTE: (attending to the kitchen) Listen, you've got to
try and forget. that!
CLIFF:
No, I've got to find out what went on, you see, why
she gave me up, what kind of girl she is, I've got
to get interested in her, you see, I want to see
what's behind all this suffering, what we 're made of!
We' 've forgotten what we're made of, you see,
Charlotte---I
CHARLOTTE: You're nuts! That's what you're made of---nuts!
Pam looked dead this morning?
CLIFF (turning away) Not specially, no!
CHARLOTTE: Did you wake her up?
CLIFF (picking up his paper again) I came round ten.
CHARLOTTE: You shouldn't do that, Cliff! That girl needs
sleep: Haven't I told you that?
CLIFF (flopping into the armchair)
She was up, more or less!
CHARLOTTE: Want some coffee?
CLIFF:
No, thanks!
CHARLOTTE: I have to push her to bed!
CLIFF:
That's right!
CHARLOTTE: Did she say where she was last night?
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: With No. 2. I suppose!


CLIFF:
Is it right he's in the air force?
CHARLOTTE: That's what she says! Boy, oh, boy, does that
girl worry me!
CLIFF:
Is it right Pam's father died ina concentration
camp?
CHARLOTTE: Why... (Hesitating) Sure!
He died in the war.
Sure, he did!
CLIFF:
Did he die in a concentration camp?
CHARLOTTE: Is that what she said?
CLIFF:
Yes.
Didn't you say once he died on the Russian
front?
CHARLOTTE: Well, we lost touch! Nobody knows.
Bustling
in the kitchen)
We heard they pushed him in the
army!
CLIFF:
That's what I thought.
She said he died in your
armsi
CHARLOTTE: My what?
(Staring at him.)
CLIFF:
Your arms!. In the same concentration camp!
CHARLOTTE: She's nuts!
CLIFF:
That's what she said!
CHARLOTTE (laughing) She's way up in the air, Cliff, you
should know better than believe all that stuff!
CLIFF:
I didn't.
CHARLOTTE (a little darkly) Well, maybe you shouldn't say
too much... a She's sensitive about that.
CLIFF:
That's what I thought.
CHARLOTTE (withe conventional sigh of relief) I guess the
war left its mark, CliffT
CLIFF:
She was born in America, that's no reason for the
war leaving its mark on her!
CHARLOTTE: You don'tthink so? Would you like to lose your
father that way?
CLIFF:
Well---I wouldn't mind...
CHARLOTTE: That's what beats me with you kids---you don't
seem to have hearts, not like my generation!


CLIFF:
I was only joking!
CHARLOTTE: About your dad?
CLIFT:
Yes:
CHARLOTTE: Is that good?
CLIFF:
He jokes about me :
CHARLOTTE: What was that. juhk you were reading in the paper?
CLIFF: :
About the satellites.
You've heard of satellites,
haven't you?
CHARLOTTE: Sure, I have! Why didn't you say satellites in
the first place?
CLIFF:
The rose would be as sweet...
CHARLOTTE: What's that?
CLIFF:
The rose would be as sweet...
CHARLOTTE (Laughing) You're crazy! I give up! Gee, does
the. spring do Charlotte good: (Shouting from the
kitchen) Did you ever see a morning like this
morning? That was just like Hamburg when I was a
kid! I used to come down the steps of the house,
Cliff, and everything used to look white---I guess
we had a lot of white statuary around! Do you
know what I mean, when the sky looks as if you could
riding on it way out as far as you can see, and
fe doesn't look like air any more---? Now I'm being
crazy!
CLIFF:
When was that?
CHARLOTTE: Oh, about the time of the first world war!
(Appearing fully again) That always gets you,
doesn it it--the magic words--'Hamburg'---"the first
world war'?
CLIFF: (gazing before him). Did you have shutters on the
windows?
CHARLOTTE: Now why do you always ask that question?
Sure
we did!
CLIFF:
I just like the picture...
CHARLOTTE: My father had about the first car there was in
Germany, I reckon! He used to poop-poop all
over the country with it!
CLIFF:
It must have been. a nice city...


CHARLOTTE: Well, they certainly flattened it out since!
CLIFF:
People were different, weren 't they?
CHARLOTTE: What do you mean?
CLIFF:
Europe's different from here?
From America,
I mean?
CHARLOTTE (turning back to the kitchen) They 're different
all right! It's all fear, you know what I mean?
You get feathers down below in the belly when you
go in sonebody'soffice, that kind of thing!
It's not like that in America! It's all fear
over here! It's father, or your fanily, or your
boss, or you*ve only got a third-class ticket on
the train instead of first, or you. haven't got the
education, it's something you 've got to curtséy to
all the time! In Anerica. you're---Freei--- No-
body's got any power over you!
CLIFF:
None?
CHARLOTTE: Not if you keep inside the law! Listen, why
don't you go over to Europe and live there for
six months, that'll cure you!
CLIFF:
It might cure me of America, too.
CHARLOTTE: You kids don't know when you're lucky! You're
free and you don't like freedom, that's what!
CLIFF:
I told you lastnight, I can't get in touch, I
want to find : out about myself, whatts undernea th
I don't even know what's wrong in myself!
CHARLOTTE: It was just now you told me that, not last night!
You and Pam sure are the nuttiest nuts this side
of Manhattan!
CLIFF (perplexed) tas it just now? You should move out of
London.
It makes me nervous!
CHARLOTTE: You find me the money and I'll go right back to
the States and take a house next to: your dad's
and sit looking across the Sound all day!
CLIFF:
You'd be bored.
CHARLOTTE: That's it! (suddenly in a quiet voice) Cliff--
I want to tell you something before she comes!
You know what---she wants to go into the church,
did she tell you that?
CLIFF: :
What?
CHARLOTTE: She wants to be sworn in---whatever they do in
the Catholic church!
CLIFF:
That's why she's wearing a rosary round her neck,
with a crucifix as big as my fist!


CHARLOTTE: 8he says sho's been talking to some Father,
over at Parm Street church.
He baptised
Johnny Fergusson.
She wants to be baptised,
too.
CLIFF:
Isn't she baptised?
CHARLOTTE: No.
She's a nut!
CLIFF:
Vell---let her!
CHARLOTTE: What does that mean, can you tell me, Cliff?
CLIFF:
Well, she just goes to church, that's all!.
She takes communion, she confesses when she
feels like it:
CHARLOTTE: That's what I wanted to know---about the con-
fessions.
How do they go about that, Cliff?
CLIFF:
Well, let's say you've been mean to somebody
and the thought won't let you alone---you go
along to the priest and he makesy ou say over
a few Hail Maries, a few prayers---it's a kind
of punishment, in a way...
CHARLOTTE (really alarmed) Punishment: Like hell they
do! They ain't punishing ny daughter!
CLIFF:
Do you mean to say you never heard of conféssion,
Charlotte?
what kind of a world to you live in?
CHARLOTTE: Well, I knew about it, I guess! I just didn't
think of it in connection with Pam.
CLIFF:
So it wasn't alive until now.*
CHARLOTTE: It doesn't seem right!
CLIFT:
What?
CHARLOTTE: It's me she should tell it to, she should tell
her mother what's on her mind, don't you think so?
That priest doesn't know her from Eve! So how
can he help her?
CLIFF:
He doesn't want to help her!
CHARLOTTE: You're wrong there! She says he does---and so
does he!
CLIFF:
Yes, but hot help in your sense! You just mean
to make her feel good. They want her to do good
things, do you see what I mean? That might make
her feel bad!
CHARLOTTE: How could that be good, then? -


CLIFF:
Suppose being mean to somebody made her feel
good---it'd still be bad! Suppose you wanted
her to do something mean, well, that might make
her feel good, obeying you--but for them she
ought to disobey you, even if it makes her feel
bad!
CHARLOTTE (after gazing at him in puzzlement)
It's baby-
snatching!
CLIFF:
Paby-snatching?
CHARLOTTE (shouting)
How do they know what she's like?
She's just a kid! And they talk as if she'd
got forty years of age! Oh, I know that one-
she'll tell 'em, 'Yes, that's right, that's
right!' (imitating PAM) and she '11 nod her head
and they 'II think, iGee, this kid understands
everything!' But she doesn't! She doesn't
understand a thingt She's just playing, like.
she used to play right in front of where you're
sitting now, in that Bavarian playpen I used to
have! And Kurt and Lisa are the same--"why
don't you let the kid alone?' they say. 'Let
her go free!' By God, if I let that nut go
free for five minutes she'd have the fire-squad
out all over town!
CLIFF:
She's free all the time you're at the office.
CHARLOTTE: But she's got. to account to me for everything
she does! And she knows it.
CLIFF:
That's just what she says about you.
CHARLOTTE (stopping)
What?
CLIFP:
She says, 'I can't let her go free, she 's
irresponsible:"
CHARLOTTE (bluffing) Oh, I've heard that, too!
CLIFF:
I wishmy ma could shout like you... She kind
of dried up years ago!
CHARLOTTE: She's a fine woman!
Don't you know that?
CLIFT:
Yes, but I'd give anything to see her shout
and cry like you!
CHARLOTTE: She's got nothing to cry over, maybe!
CLIFF:
Oh, she has---plenty!
CHARLOTTE (with a laugh) You, for instance!
Well, I'll
go down the delicatessen:


CLIFF:
Not tonight you won tt!-
One of the telephones rings.
CHARLOTTE (answering) Quick Translations Inc: I mean,
TLimitedt (No reply. The other telephone
rings. She puts down the first and picks up
the second.) I Charlotte here, hullo, hullo!
Oh, heck, press the button, will you? (She
slams down that receiver, too)
CLIFF:
I was going to---.
The first telephone rings
again.
CHARLOTTE (answering again) Quick Translations! Hullo,
hullo! Hullo! (Puts down receiver slowly)
0.K, Wait for it.
Promptly the second
telephone rihgs) Just what I thought.
(Into
phone:) O.K. sweetheart, you've had your Tun!
Come on, talk. - (A pause) Pam. I said, talk.
Do you hear me? Pam! (Another pause) I
know you're there!
(Laughing) Now, come on,'
will you, talk, you crazy nut! (A voice replies
at last) You can't fool me! Now, come on, pull
yourself together---Pam: Pam: Look, just
stop giggling, will you? Cliff's here! You're
going to make yourself sick one day, giggling
like that! You what? Sure you're coming home!
Where are you? Well, come on up! What's that
noise behind you? Is that a drug-store? A
what? Oh, you've been eating there? I see!
CLIFF:
Tell her we're eating out tonight.
CHARLOTTE: Hold on a minute. (To Cliff) What's that?
CLIFF:
Tell her we're éating out, the three of us!
I'll drive you but to Boulanger's in old
Greenwich, I mean, the Duck-and Baby in Slough!
Celebrate my job!
CHARLOTTE: Hear that, Pam? Cliff wants to drive us out to
that place in Slough where
get American ham-
burgers! That's right! Y90 CLIFF) She's
eestatic, the nut! Well, come on up! (Puts
down phone) That's a long way, Slough.
CLIFF:
We *11 start as soon as she's here.
CHARLOTTE (going to the kitchen) Well, I don't know, she
had a late night last night--!
CLIFF:
There we go!


CHARLOTTE: No, I mean it, Cliff! Maybe we should make it
Saturday night, when we 're all unwinding!
CLIFF:
Oh, come on, Charlotte, I don't get a job like
this every day, a job that's going to kill mé
and break my heart!
CHARLOTTE: Is that what you want to celebrate---heartbreak?
CLIFF:
That's right! I feel lonely---do you ever have
it come over you---when you go hollow---you feel
nothing exciting's going to happen---you don't
know anybody---you 've got no friénds---and the
ones you 've got don't count? (As if struggling
past her to get to the window) Let me jump out
of that window, will you?
CHARLOTTE: You and Pam can jump together? She's always
telling me how she's going to!
CLIFF (stopping) I do love Pam... I love her because
I've got nobody elsel
CHARLOTTE: And you '11 never get anybody else while you go.
on moping round her!
CLIFF:
Will she come back to me, Charlotte, doés she
talk about that? Doés she ever say she loves
mé and only wants a rest? Does she talk about
No. 2 like she used to talk about me?
CHARLOTTE: That's a lot of questions!
CLIFF (half-seriously) Tell me, save my lifel
CHARLOTTE: She loves you in a way, sure. Well, she's full
of Johnny Fergusson right now, of course!
CLIFF:
She never talks about me?
CHARLOTTE: Yes, she does!
She includes you--!
CLIFF:
That's what I mean! She thinks of me being here
all the time!
CHARLOTTE:
sure! You're oneof the family for Pam, and
HOY1 (A ring at the doorbell) vell, talk of
the devil!
She hurries to the door and
admits PAMELA.
CHARLOTTE: (yelling joyfully) Now what in the name of hell
did you think you were d oing on that phone, you're
the craziest---:
PAM (with familier, mild indifference) OK, OK, that's
enough, you sure hate got a voice! Hi, No.1!


CLIFF:
Hi, Pam! Listen to this, I-
CHARLOTTE (to CLIFF, as she helps PAM off with her coat)
For crying out loud, will you let her take her
coat off? You kids are all wound up, all the
time!
PAM:
Well, listen to who's talking! (Letting
Charlotte take her coat away) Got any coffee?
CHARLOTTE: Why, sure!
You want some?
(Going to the
kitchen, PAM following hér) Now go and sit
down! You look dead-beat, didn't I tell" you
that last night? You need sleep, girl,
you' 've got to have sleep, and tonight you'll go
to kuschi right after we eat, I'll get some
sturf at the delicatessen!
PAM (stroking her hair) OK, OK, ma. Don't wanna talk
till three. in the morning, not like this mornin'?
CHARLOTTE (laughing) Now get off me , will you? You're
crazy, you know that?
PAM (in an atrocious accent---nearly a new language!)
Gehts gut, mutsi-tutsi?
CHARLOTTE: Ya! Aber-! Um Gottes Willen---diese
schreckliche Arbeit, die Kurt und Lise m I
Aoh! ioh kann nicht- de
PAM:
Isht gut, isht gut, mutti- --Du musht nisht. so
viel arbeiten, und dann wurden wir Alle fairy-
Iike) glucklich sein:
(To CLIFE) Nicht wahr,
Nummer Einz?
CLIFF:
Don't get a word! Where's your crucifix, Pam?
PAM (seeing it miesing on her chest) Hey!
(Darts
straight to the phone and dials a number)
le that the kitchen? Yeah, yeah! The
kitchen! Mr. Fergusson, quick! Mr. Fergusson!
CHARLOTTE: What's that you snid---"kitchen*? Hey, you,
what kitchen is that?
PAM (cupping her hand over the phone) It's a downtown
place, he's eating there, it's called The
Kitchen.
CHARLOTTE: I've never heard of a place called the Kitchen!
(winking at CLIFF) Why, do the English eat?
PAM:
What the heck an I talking ebout?---it's called
The Soup Kitchen! Hullo, hullo, yeah, is that
you, Johnny? Hi, Johnny!
(Burlosque-sweet)
Why, sure! Hey, listen, have you got my rosary?
Rosary! Ros-ar-y! You have? Oh, fine, fine!
You know, that's what I'm being received in!
What? Round the néck, of course! "Received,'
I said. (To CLIFF with a deliberately inane


grin.) He thought I said 'deceived':
Again to phone) Now don't let it out of your
sight---slip It. in your tail-pocket:
CHARLOTTE (to CLIFF) His what? Have you ever heard
crazier talk then that?
CLIFF:
No, I haven't!
PAM:
Yeah, I'll pick it up tonight---!
CHARLOTTE (snapping- it out--from long practice) Listen,
you' 're not picking up anything tonight, do you
hear that? You're going--!
PAM:
Sesh! (Sweet again) What's that, honey?
Yeah, it's my ma, kind-a got a loud voice!.
She's sweet when you. getto know her, though!
CHARLOTTE: I'll give you 'sweet!'
PAM:
Hear her laugh? She certainly don't need an
emplifier, do she?
CHARLOTTE: You're a nut!
PAM:
OK, honey, good bye! (Puts down phone)
CHARLOTTE: Well, as long as. you know you're going to call
Mr. Fergusson right back and tell him you can't
make it tonight-
PAM:
It'll take me two minutes!
CHARLOTTE (e tremendous volley) To go downtown?
Are
you crazy?
Silence follows this.
CLIFF:
Sit down, Pam.
CHARLOTTE: Yos, si' down! You look dead-beat, have I told
you that? Now have you eaten?
PAM (sitting down limply)
Sure I have!
CHARLOTTE: What did you eat t?
PAM:
A couple of sandwiohes.
CHARLOTTE : What sandwiches?
PAM:
Lettuce?
CHARLOTTE: Lettuce? Who ever heard of lettuce sandwiches?
Couldn't you run to chicken or ham?
PAM:
I wasn't hungry!


CHARLOTTE: You never are! Listen, kid, you're going to
kill yourself if you go on like that! Now
you sit right there at the table and I'll
grill you a nice piece of steak!
PAM (quietly) You haven't got any steak.
CHARLOTTE: I can get some :
PAM:
I don't want any!
CHARLOTTE: What do you want?
PAM (sheepishly) Rice crispies...
CHARLOTTE: Didn't I know it! 'Rice crispies'... OK!
(She hurries off to the kitchen, quite glad
to be getting PAM anything)
PAM (to CLIFF) I'm worried about that rosary.
CLIFP (without interest) You are?
PAM:
What arè you looking at me like that for?
CLIFF:
What the hell does a rosary matter?
That's
superstition, isn't it?. What does silver-
plated chrome matter?
PAM:
Are you crazy?
CLIFF:
Well, just tell me!
PAM:
That's a religious symbol!
CLIFF:
That's nothing religious at all! That's what
Moses got so annoyed at in the desert!
PAM:
What's that you said?
CLIFF:
Moses.
PAM:
What about Moses?
CLIFF:
When he caught Aaron worshipping the gilded
bull, don't you know about that?
PAM (after a silence) I don't get you.
CLIFF:
What don't you get?
PAM:
What you just said!
'Aa-rond-w-what's that?
CLIFF:
You never heard of the guy?
PAM:


CLIFF:
Well, the holy church should know!
CHARLOTTE (bringing in coffee and a plate of rice crispies)
It's all crazy about the church, she's taking us all
for a ride, do you hear that, Cliff?
CLIFF:
I heard it..
PAM (as CHARLOTTE puts the plate down before her) Hey,
now look at that, rice crispies!---Goody-goody!
What do you know about that? Whoopee!
CHARLOTTE: Just eat it and cut the noise! (Facing her
squarely)
Is this Johnny Fergusson a Catholic?
PAM (to CLIFF) You hear the way she talks?
'This' Johnny
Fergusson! (To CHARLOTTE) Thatts somet thing I
don't like about you. You kind of run over people.
CHARLOTTE (hesitantly)
Run over'?
PAM:
You know what I mean all right. Remember the
guy who stopped us on the highway? You wouldn't
have stopped at all if I hadn't made you!
CLIFF:
What did he want?
PAM:
He needed a hospital. His wife was bad. (To
CHARDDTTE) And you begrudged the time looking
for the hospital, didn't you?
CHARLOTTE: Well, maybe you're right...
I'm no angel!.
PAM:
It's sonething other people notice. Is that
what the Germans are liké?
CHARLOTTE: I said, maybe you're right! I started off a
German! Maybe that's the reason!
(Seriously)
I know I'm wrong in a lot of things...
PAM:
Well, I wish youtd be nicer to Nox 2 when he calls!
CHARLOTTE (herself egain) Nicer! I talk to that kid with
gloves on!
PAM:
You put the phone down on him last night!
CHARLOTTE (bluffing) Was that Johnny Fergusson? I didn't
know!
PAM:
You knew all right!
CHARLOTTE: I told you, I was dead-beat last night!
PAM:
Well, you don't put the phone down on people just
because you*re déad-beat---you don't do it any
time!


CLIFF (cutting in) Know something, Pam? I got the job!
PAM:
You did?
CLIFF:
Letter came this af ternoon. 150 dollars a
week!
PAM:
That's swell! (Stopping) Hey, that's quite
a sum of monéy for a kid! Maybe I should have
married you!.
CLIFF:
There's still a chance.
I can put you on the
list?
CHARLOTTE (also cutting in) Know what Helga said about
you this evening?
PAM:
What?
CHARLOTTE: She said you were cute to look at, she's always
saying that-she said you had big things mapped
out for you in lifemmeyou had a. lot of uncanny
wisdom, she said, underneath the cute college-kid:
PAM (chowing uncomfortably) She did?
CHARLOTTE: She wants you to come in the firm.
PAM (after a pause) You hate her, don't you?
CHARLOTTE (with a laugh) Helga? Are you erazy?
PAM:
You hate each other. But you live on her trans-
lations and she lives on your contracts.
CHARLOTTE: She's a fine translator! I couin't do better!
What do you want me to:do, deny it?
PAM:
You hate each other but you live. on each other.
I can't stand to see you two together. She's
got that black hair all over her head---!
CHARLOTTE: Are you crazy? (delighted)
PAM:
And those big round black eyes:
She should
have been a spy. Shets a hate-maching, that
onee
I can't stand to see you two making up
to each other like a couple of cats.
CHARLOTTE (putting on a solemn face suddenly) OK, that's
enough! Do you hear?
PAM (returning to her food) You keep on asking people if
they can hear.
CLIFF:
It's what you call a rhetorical question.
CHARLOTTE: You want me to whisper?
PAM (to CLIFF) The words you come out with: 'Rhetorical'!


CHARLOTTE: Well, he learned something at college, not
like you--!
PAM:
Oh, here we go!
CHARLOTTE: Vell, it's true, isn't it? You only went to
lectures because they were co-ed!
CLIFF:
And you tried to elope with the Dean.
PAM (laughing, her pléasant cackle) His name was Dean,
screwy!
CLIFF:
I thought you said the Dean!
PAM:
The Dean was fifty years of age!
CHARLOTTE: Well, anyway, that's no way to behave.
And
it's going to stop.
There's going to be a
big change, you're going to find a job, you
can come into Quick Translations Inc--!
PAM:
I am not coming into Quick Translations Inc.
CHARLOTTE; All right, then stay at home! But you don't
get yourself expelled from college and then
come home and do the same here---you're in a
capital city, girl---you can get yourself into
big trouble!
PAM:
What are you talking about?
CHARLOTTE: Question---where 've you been all day?
PAM:
With Johnny.
CHARLOTTE: Where?
PAM (sullenly) Oh, around.
CHARLOTTE: 'Oh, around.' And he's.a Catholic, ie he?
PAM:
Thatts right.
CHARLOTTE: Have they got a church in tho Soho juke-box -
saloons, because that's where you two 've been
every Sunday for the last month!
PAM (looking at her sharply) How do you know that?
CHARLOTTE: I've got my spiest
PAM (really interested) No, come on, tell me.
CLIFF:
I told her.
PAM:
How do you know?


CLIFF:
I followed you oné Sunday!
PAM:
You what? Haven't you got any pride?
CLIFF:
That's just what I was trying to get rid ofi
I was curious but too proud to do it. So I
made myself do it!
CHARLOTTE: It's true you were there every Sunday, isn't
PAM:
Well, what about it?
CHARLOTTE: You worry me, that's all!
CLIFF (getting up) Shall we go, then?
PAM:
Sure! Coming, ma?
(also rising slowly)
CHARLOTTE: You can hardly keep your eyes open, can you?
PAM:
Will you let me alone?
(Going towards her
bedroom)
CHARLOTTE (to CLIFF) Let's go to Slough another night,
Cliff, she worries me sick!
CLIFF (with a tired shrug) OK!
PAM:
Listen, I'm going to Slough with Cliff, I'm
going to pick up my rosary on the way, and
if you don't like it you can stay at home!
CHARLOTTE: I give up!
PAM:
Yes, that's what I'm going to do!
(going
to fetch her coat)
CHARLOTTE (calling out to her) OK, I'll stay up and
wait for you, I guess? I've got work to
do, I've get the accounts, you don't have
to worry about that!
(She pulls out the
box of papers from under the table) You
look after yourself, Pam!
PAM (turning) You were invited, too, mat
CHARLOTTE (deafening) Didn't I tell you before, you've got
to sleep, you can't go on unless you sleep!
(To CLIPF) What do you want to help kill her
for, Cliff.
CLIFF:
OK, let's call it off!
PAM:
We're going! (To CLIFF) Don't take any
notice---she '11, tag along!


CHARLOTTE: I'm sitting right here with these invoices and
I'll be here when you come back!
PAM (quietly) That's blackmail.
CHARLOTTE: You call me names, that's all right!
(pulling on her glasses and settling down at the
table)
PAM (caressing her) Now, come on, little Lottelein,
come on, be a good ma.
CHARLOTTE (sweeping off her glasses again with a laugh)
Now let me alone, will you? You're crazy, I
tell you I'm not interested in you any more,
you're too crazy!
PAM:
I tell you what, I'll just go down and get the
rosary with Cliff.
CHARLOTTE: You'll get that rosary tomorrow!
PAM (suddenly quiet) Hey! (She sways as if suddenly
ill)
CLIFF brings her a chair
at once.
CHARLOTTE (jumping up with a bound)
Pam! What's the
matter? Pam! Are you sick?
PAM sinks into the chair.
PAM (faintly) I feel--kind of sick...
CHARLOTTE (triumphant) Well, that does it!
(Striding
into the bedroom and tearing the bed-cover off,
banging the pillows, tucking in the blankets)
That really does it! Oh, yes!
CLIFF:
What's the matter, Pam?
PAM:
I just feel sick...
She suddenly dashes out of
the room, past CHARLOTTE,
nearly Imocking her over,
and locks herself in the
bathroom.
CHARLOTTE (rushing to the bathroom door) Pam! Let me
In: What's the matter?
What's wrong, kid?
(Quietly, turning away) She's being sick.
She eats nothing, she never sleeps, she's crazy,
and that's why she gets stomach-upsets. Well,
Cliff, you sure must like crazy households!
CLIFF:
I guess we '1l cancel Slough!


CHARLOTTE (with a sigh) I guess we will!
(Packing
her work up again) You should have been a
nurse, Charlotte!
CLITF:
Shall I go down the delicatessen?
CHARLOTTE: Would you?
CLIFF:
Sure!
It always seems to end that way..
CHARLOTTE: With a nut like that, what do you expect?
Fotch three steaks, Cliff. And some ham
and maybe pickles.
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: Here's the money (looking in her bag) Oh,
hell--t (Fiddling about with change)
CLIFF:
This is on me Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE: Here's a note! Now take it and bring me the
change!
CLIFF:
Listen, Charlotte---!
CHARLOTTE: TAKE THAT MONEY:
CLIFF:
He goes, deafened, by the
left door.
CHARLOTTE: These kids! - (Dashing across to the bat throom)
Pam!
Are you there? (A faint reply
Have
you finished? Well, open up! Now come. on,
open the door!
PAM opens the door slowly
and walks out, pale and tired.
CHARLOTTE (quietly, putting her arm round her) Nun,
schnuppi-nuppi, was ist los, liebIing?
Pammilein! Komm, komm, leg dich hierhin, mein
Kind, leg dich hierher!
Trying to get PAH to
lie down on the bed.
A slight struggle takes place.
CHARLOTTE (sharply)
Now, come on! You're going to bed!
Pam!
PAM (quietly)
Let me go, will you? Can't you see I'm
ill?
CHARLOTTE: You've been sick, haven't you!
PAM:
Just let me go:
CHARLOTTE (pleading with her' again) Pammi, liebling,
komm, komm--


PAM:
Und Cliff? Er kommt gleich!
CHARLOTTE: What about Cliff? I'll tell him you're sick!
PAM (walking from the bedroom) Get me some lipstick,
will you?
CHARLOTTE: OK, have it your own way!
(Looking in her
bag) Is that the first thing you think of,
Iipstiok? If you were healthy you wouldn't
need the stuff at all, not at your age! It's
no good putting the health on afterwards, Pam!
People can see through that!
However, she gives her a
lipstick.
PAM (painting her lips) Oh, sure. They sée through me
anyway a
CHARLOTTE: What do you mean? They think you're a swell
girl, you heard what Helga said!
PAM:
Oh, sure!
CHARLOTTE (after a pause) That's the second time you 've
been sick this week.
(No answer from PAM---a
long silence)
CHARLOTTE stands watching
her closely.
PAM:
What do you mean?
CHARLOTTE: Tell me. Come on.
PAM (her head sunk down) Yeah. I'm having a baby.
CHARLOTTE: Oh, Christ and all the angels... What are
you going to do next, Pam?
PAM (after a pause) Marry.
CHARLOTTE: Who?
PAM:
Johnny, of course!
CHARLOTTE: Is it Johnny Fergusson's?
PAM:
Yes.
CHARLOTTE: And I haven't even seen him!
PAM:
You will.
CHARLOTTE: Does he know?
PAM:
Yes.


CHARLOTTE: You're sure it's a baby?
(PAM nods)
You went to a doctor?
PAM:
Yes.
CHARLOTTE: What did he. say?
PAM:
Just that.
CHARLOTTE: Nothing wrong?
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: Whère does he work?
PAM:
Johnny?
CHARLOTTE: Who else?
PAM:
Here's the lipstick.
(Hands it back calmly)
I told you before, he's In the air force.
CHARLOTTE: You said he worked in a newspaper office.
But that was a week ago!
PAM:
An air force newspaper!
CHARLOTTE; What as?
PAM:
Oh, some kind of editor!
CHARLOTTE: Wouldn't he be kind of young for an editor?
PAM:
Well, I don't know.
Something like that.
CHARLOTTE: And what's he doing with you in' the juke-box
dives every Sunday if he's in the air force?
PAM:
Hets finished his service.
CHARLOTTE: So he's not in the air force?
PAM:
He's on long léave, he's waiting to go back,
he's thinking of signing on for another two
years,maybe more.
CHARLOTTE: He's on long leave in England, Pam?
PAM:
That's what he told me! He's here for me--
I suppose..*
CHARLOTTE: He wants to be an airman all his life?.
PAM:
Maybe.
CHARLOTTE: And what do you say about that?


PAM (with a shrug) It's OK. He might get stationed
here for good.
CHARLOTTE: You want to stay in England for good-are
you crazy?
PAM:
What's crazy about that?
CHARLOTTE: I give up!
PAM:
Anyway, he's young yet, he's--.
CHARLOTTE: OK, OK, don't give me that forty-year old
stuff!
(After a pause) And what does
he , say about the bal by?
PAM:
He wants to marry me.
CHARLOTTE: 'Marry*! You're just out of school!
PAM:
You asked me what he said.
CHARLOTTE (half to herself) If that doesn *t take the
cake! And what am I going to tell Kurt and
Lisa?
PAM:
The truth.
CHARLOTTE: And I'11 get the blame! tue could see it
was going to happen! t---that's what they'll
say! You certainly do land me in some nice
problems, Pam!
The doorbell.
CHARLOTTE
goes and admits CLIFF in
silence.
PAM (quietly, to make talk) What's it like down there?
CLIFF (taking out the provisions) Oh--the streets are
crowded. It seems Iike an important city.
For an American airbase, anyway!
CHARLOTTE (to PAM) It's all in your mind!
That's all
the trouble!
CLIFF:
Pardon me?
CHARLOTTE: I was talking to Pam.
CLIFF:
How do you feel, Pam?
PAM:
CLIFF:
Been sick?
PAM:
Just a bit.


CLIFF:
I'll maké you some broth--shall we start
cooking, Charlotte?
CHARLOTTE: I guess so!
CLIFF :
Is something wrong?
CHARLOTTE: Is it ever right with my daughter?
CLIFF:
What's she done?
CHARLOTTE: She's having a baby.
PAM (flaring up) Let me tell my own secrets, will you?
CLIFF:
Vell: (He goes and sits down slowly)
How do you know?
PAM:
The doctor.
CLIFF:
Who's dad?
PAM:
It's OK, No.l, you don't have to worry!
CLIFF:
I wasn't worrying!
I think babies are
wonderful!
CHARLOTTE: Oh:
A pause, during which he
gazes at her.
PAM:
It's Johnny's.
CLIFF (crestfallen)
I seeae
PAM:
I believe you're sorry!
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: That's what Kurt and Lisa always said---'It's
written up in feon. lights what she's. going
to do one day!' And now they'll say, *There,
we told you, remember? 1
PAM:
Why worry what they think?
CHARLOTTE: It's all the talking I've got to do!
PAM (watching her steadily) No, it's because they keep
you alive.
CHARLOTTE (indignantly) And why not? How do you think
we'd live without Kurt and Lisa, where do you
think I'd get the contracts? I sent you to
college, Pam, I never tried to push you into
a job-was that wrong?


PAM:
I didn't mean that!
CHARDOTTE: Sure I depend on Kurt and Lisa!
PAM:
But what's wrong if I get married?
CHARLOTTE: Oh, quit that! You've been engaged to be
married since you were fourteen years of age!
PAM:
Woll, it's serious this time.
CHARLOTTE: It certainly is serious!
CLIFF:
What does Johnny think?
CHARLOTTE (turning on him) What the hell doès it matter
what Johnny, thinks! He most likely doesn't
know!
PAM (disregarding her) He likes the idea.
CHARLOTTE: Well, it's some situation and I don't know how
we're going to get out of it, I don't, not this
time!
CLIFF:
What sort of fellow is he?
PAM (reverting to e strangely pleasant conversational tore)
Oh, you'd Like him. He's nice.
CLIFF:
Tall and blond?.
PAM:
Yes! How did you guess?
CLIFF:
Well, I'm dark, and that's the usual rhythm,
from dark to light.
PAM:
Hey, but you said you saw us together along
Broadway!
CLIFF:
I--I only had eyes for you.
CHARLOTTE: He's signing up for two more years in the air
force, Cliff, and staying in England, can you
beat that?
PAM:
I didn't say for sure, did I?
CLIFF:
He's a pilot?
PAM:
Well, it's a kind of danger-job.
CHARLOTTE: What?
PAM:
Will you let me talk? - (To CLIPF) He doesn't
say too much. He gets special pay and all that.
For the danger.


CLIFF:
What sort of danger?
PAM:
He won't say. They call him squadron-leader,
that's all I know.
CLIFF:
What can you do that's dangerous up in the air?
short of throwing yourself around or jumping
out---something like that?
PAM:
Don't ask me! Hè certainly looks a gentleman
in his uniform! I reckon my baby'l1 take
after him--I always picture a boy!
CHARLOTTE: You haven't had it yet!
PAM:
I'm going tot
CHARLOTTE: All right, but don't build too fast, that's all!
You and me are going round to the doctor's to-
morrow, and then we'll see if there's a baby or
not, but I'm not taking anything you say!
That's right! (Going to the kitchen) Your
stomach's been enpty too Iong, that's why you
were sick, most likely!
PAM (to CLITF) Who's crazy now?
CHARLOTTE: I may be crazy but we'll find out all about it
tomorrow morning and in the meantime we' *11 defer
our marriages and our babies with blond hair,
and our danger-service in England!
PAM (to CLIFF, quietly, while CHARLOTTE slaps about in the
kitchen) He told me once he drops by parachute,
a sort of human bomb.
CLIFF:
Oh! That sounds quite dangerous!
PAM:
It's funny. I can handle him just like a baby,
he's soft, buthe's the terror of his men!
CLIFF:
How?
PAM:
Well, there's no democracy in a danger-squad,
he says. You can say what you like to your
men, and that's the agreement when they come
in, they've got to take the insults! You can
treat 'em like dirt!
CLIPF :
Does he do that?
PAM:
It's funny--I can't imagine him doing it--
you know, he's such a gentleman! But that's
what he says!


CLIFF:
PAM:
That's where he's fascinating, you see---he
doesn't go out to people (hesitates!)
CLIFF:
How do you nean?
PAM:
He lets people come to him. He isn't nice
in that way, if you see what I mean, He
doesn't look at you friendly. And that seems
to fascinate his men---like it fascinates me!
He told me they tremblé when they come in his
room! Ho can see their hands shaking!
CLIFF:
He sounds horrible, Pam. Ican't understand
you!
PAM:
But you would if you knew hims You'd be
fascinated like me!
CLIFF:
And you're going to marry him?
PAM:
I hope so!
CLIFT:
Well: I'll have a lot to think about!
(Rising) You knov---it's the first time I
felt like-.
PAM:
What?
CLIFF: (with a smile) Crying.
I think I'll eat at home.
Do you mind?
PAM:
Did I upset you, Cliff?
CLIFF:
No, I'd just like to walk--you know how I
amass (Going to the door) Good night Charlotte!
There is no reply.
CLIFF:
Tell your mother good night, will you?
PAM:
Sure!
(Puzzled) Call me in the morning?
CLIPF:
As usual! Good night!
PAM:
Exit CLIFF.
She sits
gazing before her.
PAM:
You should have said good night to Cliff! :
(No roply again) Aren't you going to put
this lipstick away? (Puts it in her mother's
handbag) She then walks over to the bedroom)
Vell, you sure have made a mess of this. bed!


Why didn't I get a tidy mother?-
In the lack
of a reply she walks slowly round to the
kitchen and, as she suspec ted, her mother is
weeping silently, her back turned) Hey, now,
come on.
(Trying to touch her mother)
CHARLOTTE: (at the top of her. voice) Le' me alone!
What've I ever done to you! You dirty--
PAM (guietly) OK, let it-come out.
CHARLOTTE: What did you want to do it for?
(Banging her
hands on the table) What did you want to do
It for?
PAM:
Let the words come out, say what you want to, ma.
CHARLOTTE: You dirty---rotten---low--mean---whore! Oh,
Christ, what have I got this daughter for?
Oh, Christ!
She weeps on PAM, who puts
her arm round her in a
motherly way.
CHARLOTTE: Oh, Pam!
What have you. done?
PAM:
Eaoy, ma, easy!
CHARLOTTE: Oh, Pam!
(Slowly stops crying)
PAM:
Let me get in here
the
(meaning
kitchen). I'll
make some coffee. Come on, ma, go and sit down.
CHARLOTTE: You just go to bed!
PAM:
You certainly made a mess. of that bed!
CHARLOTTE (sniffing) - I'll get it straight---right now!
She goes across to the bedroom
and begins pulling bedolothes
vigorously together. Silence,
while PAM prepares coffee.
PAM:
That was a pretty bad name you called me.
CHARLOTTE bangs the pillows
together in answer, her lips
pursed.
CHARLOTTE: Well, I expect you know I aidn't méan it.
PAM:
Oh, I know that! But you must have a pretty
funny picture of me, just the same!


CHARLOTTE: It's the true one, for all that!
PAM:
Did you never make a mistake, then?
CHARLOTTE: Surc, I made mistakes!
PAM:
Well, that's all I've done!
CHARLOTTE: I told you, it's a mistake that's been up in
neon-lights for the last two years!
PAM:
What do I do, then, slit my throat?
CHARLOTTE (suddenly alert) What's that?
She then strides round to
the kitchen.
PAM: L
Shall I slit my throa t?
CHARLOTTE: (bellowing) Now that's not the right talk for
a girl your age! Look at me! Look me in the.
face!
(Pulling PAM round to face her) You're
crazy enough to do 1t, toof
PAM (quietly)
Well, give me one good reason for living.
CHARLOTTE: Now quit that talk! Do you hear me? And how
many times do.I have to tell you not to make
coffee that way? Have you never heard of
filter-papers? Now, just get out of my way!
She takes over the
coffée-making.
CHARLOTTE (putting down the coffee-things suddenly) And
that reminds me! (She goes straight to the
telephone and dials a nunber) Hullo, is that
Dr. Steiner's surgery? Does Dr. Steiner
happen to be theré? Would you tell him it's
Mrs. Mannheim?
Thanks!
(A pause) Ach, Hérr
Doktor, wie geht es Ihnen? Hier spricht
Charlotte Mannheim! Ya! Es geht mir SWELL,
danke shon! Nein! Ist das Wetter heute nicht
schon? Und der first day of spring! Ya ---es
ist wegen meiner Tochter! Konnt te ich morgen
fruh mit ihr zu Ihnen kommen? Ya? Gut!
Um zehn uhr bin ich im office- konnte Ich um
halb zehn kommon? Yat Sehr gut! So-
aufwiedersehen, Herr Doktor! (Puts down phoné)
So that's that! Half past nine tomorrow morn-
ing! And meantime, bed! Do you hear me?
PAM:
(She slouches to
the bedroom) I found a
picture of Otto today. What was he doing in
Nazi uniform?


CHARLOTTE: What was that? (with a little menace in her
voice)
Say that again, will you?
PAM (quietly) You heard. He was handsome, like you
said. He must have been fair, like Johnny
Fergusson...
CHARLOTTE: You're crazy! That's not your father!
Are you mad?
PAM:
It looks like the other pictures.
CHARLOTTE (entering the bedroom)
Where is it?
PAM:
Right here.
CHARLOTTE (snatching photo and laughing) That!
It's
a burlesque! He was always getting up in
clothes like that? He used to hate the Nazis!
PAM:
It looks serious to me.
CHARLOTTE: That was before they really came to power!
In the early days it was just à joke!
PAM:
I don't. know when you met him, where, what my.
own father talked about...
CHARLOTTE: I can't help it, Pam... If I can't talk---?
Howwould you feel2--?
PAM:
OK, OK!
(Turning away) Let me get to bed,
wiil you?
CHARLOTTE: Let you? That's where I've. been wanting you
for the last hour!
PAM:
I'm tired!
(Leaning back) Tired!
CHARLOTTE (taking off PAM's shoes and putting them on the
Floor) You know. some thing?
I ought to have
called you Ottolein! My little Otto! Maybe
as a second. name!
Kissing her) Sucha
pretty little face! Du bist meine kleine angel-
face, die schonste, beste little nut die Immer
war, nicht, nicht? (PAM puts her arms round her
mother) Mein bested Kind, mein Ottolein!
PAM:
Hey, you're ticklin':
CHARLOTTE: Now, come on, it's a long day tomorrow, we're
going to see Dr. Steiner, and he's not going to
see little Pam's'eyes all screwed up, no, sir,
sie ist mein bestes, bestes, bestes, bestes--
Ttickling her)!
PAM (with.her cackle) Can it, will you?


CHARLOTTE (serious again) Is that really a baby?
PAM:
Sure!
(After a pause) I suppose so!
CHARLOTTE: You suppose so! And didn't I tell you a
hundred times, didn't I plead with you, 'For
God's sake, Pam, be careful! Be careful!'?
PAM:
I didn't méan to do it! (Turning away)
In a way, I did...
(With a sigh) I don't
know!
CHARLOTTE: You don't know anything!
PAM:
Ma---(touching her again) when are we going
back. to New York?
CHARLOTTE: Soon, I hope! Just as soon as I get this
company going! But you know what the English
are like! (Frowning and looking down)
That wouldn't have happened in Now York.
PAM:
What?
CHARLOTTE: The baby! You need your own country! Your
own kind of people! I know it's my fault but
money's money! One day, Pam---(radiantly)
we'll have a place like Cliff's dad--ma nice
old wooden house painted white with those
funny old chimneys---and chipmunks in the
walls---squeak:
(tickling her again) squeak!
squeak! We'll go surf-riding in the summer
and grow black tulips on the lawn---do you like
black tulips?
PAM (with a yawn) Never seen 'em:
CHARLOTTE: You love 'em, you know it! You picked a hand-
ful in Los Angeles your first day of college---!
PAM:
What a day that was!
CHARLOTTE (sharply) It seems to me you look for trouble
wherever you go---you've got an eye for it!
PAM (loudly) You showed me up, thatts what!
CHARLOTTE: There's no need to shout!
PAM:
Shout? Can't you hear yourself?
CHARLOTTE: I'm your mother!
PAM (laughing)
You're crazy: (Pinching her suddenly)


CHARLOTTE: Now, Pam: Hoy, that hurts!
PAM (kissing her) Iou wec just born with a loud mouth,
mum. And if you ever closed it up I'd fade
away quietly and slowly, just fade into
nothing all out of sadness...
(She lies back
sleepily)
CHARLOTTE: I'd'like to know how I showed you up, that's
PAM:
By making me out a kid!
The first day of
college, that's important! Not to be a kid
in front of all those other kidsl---it's a
game you should have played just for me, just
for one afternoon! But you didn't!
CHARLOTTE: Didn't I?
PAM:
No! You kept telling me to piok up my feet
and not stare round at the boys and why didn *t
I cléan my nails before I came out? I reckon
I lost more friends that first day than all
the year afterwards:
That's what started me
off bad!
CIARLOTTE: Oh! I started you off bad: Well-! It
seems to me that Mr. Dean. made you a friendly
enough cesture---anysay, they threw you out of
college for it!
PAM (with a confidential look of disgust) Jim Dean was
screwy * * .
Real screwy!
CHARLOTTE: In what way?
PAM:
Well, you inow, he'd put a hat on, that kind
of thing!
CHARLOTTE: What?
PAM:
Yeah--when he was kissing me up! He had to
have a hat on:
CHARLOTTE: Well-!
PAM:
He was screwy all the way through, that one!
And he got me screved-up as well! You know
what?---he pinned ten-dollar bills together and
made B tablecloth out of them, can you beat
that?
CHARLOTTE: He must have had plenty!
PAM:
He did! Oh---he spent the tablecloth all
right-he tore a piece off every day'. But
isn't that a screwy thing to do?


CHARLOTTE: It certainly is?
PAM:
You know, ma--?
CHARLOTTE: Yes?
PAM:
When I think of all the kids I know over
there---they're all crazy---mele and female---
they've all got a tick or a twitch or some-
thing missing or a funny side you only get to
know after a time! I reckon I'in about the
only sane one!
CHARLOTTEA Youre not so sane!
PAM (smiling) You say that. to your own daughter?
CHARLOTTE : You're all nuts---that's what I tell you all
the time and you don't believe me! You
néedn't be nuts but you all are--just for
some thing to do! Now ifmm-!
PAM (putting her hand ovèr her mother's mouth)
a naughty word, ma! "If I had a talkin'
picture of- yew----w! A Remember that song?
Screwy Dean used to collect all the old songs
from his dadts time! Remember that one?
CHARLOTTE: I was a Gcrman, Pam, a little German girl with long
plaits!
PAM:
Didn't you have songs?
CHARLOTTE: Not that kind!
PAM:
Not 'You're the crean in my coffee! m'Tea
for two, just ne and you, Two for tea, just you
and me!i (She burlesques each song in a wild
way, pulling ont her hair and making enormous
Taces) "Have you ever seen a dream weikint
Vell, I did!' Yow! (Pinching her mother again)
'A pretty girl is like a mel-od-y, she haunts
you night and. day-y-y!'
CHARLOTTE: Now, come on, (laughing) chuck it---l (She
stops suddenly Hey--- just look at me.
(Turning PAM'S face towards her)
PAM:
What's up?
CHARLOTTE: You're not having a baby.
PAM:
What are you talking about?
CHARLOTTE (still holding her face) I can tell by your
eyes. There's no baby in your eyes.
PAM (really puzzled) What are you saying?


CHARLOTTE: You're not having ababy!
(Beginning to
laugh) Pam---! It's too damned silly -
you having a baby---a kid just out of college-
how could I ever believe it?
(Laughing easily
and pleasantly) You come out with some good
stuff- ---you really do!
(Wiping the tears of
laughter out of her eyes) You come out with
some real good stories! Oh, Christ Jesus--
I---can't stop---laughing! Oh, help me :
PAM (Smiling) You're going crazy, mum. e
CHARLOTTE: I sure am! I sure am! (Wiping her eyes
again) Because I've got the craziest
daughter anybody ever had by a natural process!
(They laugh together at this) And she 's--
making me crazy as well! I'm going crazy---
(helpless) by contamination:
PAM:
You'd better get yourself disinfected!
CHARLOTTE: I certainly should!
(Recovering slowly)
Oh! Oh! Pam---you make me laugh! Really
laugh! My insides ache!
PAM (quietly) Well, it's good to see you laugh, mum.
I wouldn't change you for a palace of gold,
you know that?
CHARLOTTE: Well---(wiping her eyes finally) I hope not :
PAM:
Will you let mè sleep now?
CHARLOTTE: Let you? Listen to that!
PAM:
You sat talking on this same bed till four
o'clock this morning, Frau Mannheim!
CHARLOTTE: I did?
PAM:
Oh, I don't say I don't like it---I
CHARLOTTE: Well, then!.
(Looking round the room) Gee,
what a tidy girl you are!
PAM:
Glad you think so!
CHARLOTTE (looking at her suddenly again) And who said
It was a, baby?
PAM:
The docior!
CHARLOTTE: An English doctor?
PAM:
Sure!


CHARLOTTE: They're hopeless!
(Rising in a final way)
They're known all over the worid for being
hopeless!
(Clearing up the mess on the +
chest-of-drawers) )
If you go to them with
cancer they say it's nerves!
PAM:
Listen, ma. I'd like to go over and see Kurt
and Lisa.
CHARLOTTE turning round to stare at her) What?
Doubtfully) Are you crazy?
PAM:
Tell me why that's crazy.
CHARLOTTE: Because. Germany's a long way off--!
PAM:
Germany?
CHARLOTTE: You 've never been there!
That's what!
They'd never understand that crazy accent of
yours, for one thing! (Slamming things
down on the chest-of-dravere)
I just don't
Iike the idea and there's no reason for it,
there's nothing to see Kurt and Lisa abouti
PAM:
They keep us alive!
CHARLOTTE: I keep us alive---just you get that straight!
They send me the contracts and I send back
the work! It's hard work, too!
PAM (with a sigh) OK, OK...
CHARLOTTE: Don't you get the idea they keep a charity
organisation, that's all!
PAM:
If I'm having a baby, I'd--
CHARLOTTE: You're not having a baby! I can see it in
your eyes! Now tomorrow you're going to
see a real doctor and we' '11 hear the trutht
PAM (with quiet insistence) But just suppose I'm
having a baby, can I go and see Kurt and
Lisa then?
CHARLOTTE: I told you, Pam, we '11 hear what the doctor
says!
PAM:
But just suppose.
Will you let me?
CHARLOTTE (looking at her daughter closely and then
sitting down on the bed again) That's so
important about it?


PAM:
I'd like to get away, ma. You can understand
it-I'm sure you can---you know, I'm German-
I was born aGerman---but I've never been there--
I'd like to go there to clear things up---I
don't know why exactly---I just want to find out
about myself---(She pauses) Can you understand
that?
CHARLOTTE (after gazing at her seriously) I can understand
that, honey, yes.
PAM:
If I'm having a baby---just if---and if there's
going to be a big change in ny life---well, I
want to go there---I want to see the people-
to find out who I should marry---does that sound
funny?---I want to know what kind of a person I
am underneath, that's all!
CHARLOTTE: Well, if it clears anything up, you can go--I
suppose! (with a shrug) If it gets something
out of your mind!
PAM (hesitantly) You won't go, mum?
CHARLOTTE: Me? Are you crazy?
PAM:
Why not?
CHARLOTTE (with a sigh) Some day I might! When the
Nazi nightmares stop.
PAM:
Fifteen years are a long time!
CHARLOTTE: I - know! But I'd still see a Nazi on every
street-corner!
PAM:
But--just the two of us?- Couldn't we go, ma?
CHARLOTTE: One day. (She thinks) One day I'll show
you the country where I was born, I'll show the
pine-forests and the lakes, and the funny velvet
trousers the carpenters wear in my home-town,
and I'll take you to the North Frisian islands,
that's really wild and you hear the larks
wheeling high-up in the sky all day and there's
sand-dunes everywhere...
A trip south---when
there's snow on the mountains!
PAM:
You always make it sound so far away!
CHARLOTTE: It is far avay! It's far away from everybody!
PAM:
And Kurt always said, if I was in trouble, to
come to him...
CHARLOTTE (her attention returning to PAM slowly) Pam,
tell me the real réason you want to see Kurt.


PAM:
If I have to bring up the child, if I can't
marry straightaway---you know vhat Imean?---he
might give me an allowance---he's got the
money, ma! - (CHARLOTTE doesn' 't speak) Ma!
CHARLOTTE: OK...
PAM:
what's wrong with that?
CHARLOTTE: Nothing. Only it's not quite right...
PAM:
Taking money?
CHARLOTTE: Oh, no! By-passing your mother all the time-
that's not right!
PAM:
By-passing you? -
CHARLOTTE (rising) That's it! Whenever you're in
trouble- --you get thrown out of college--
you lose your first job---you fall in love--
it's always, get in touch with Kurt and Lisa!
Well!
Tucking PAM up in bed) I don't
mind, honey! Kurt's my brother and he's the
finest guy in. the world1---but---: It's
hurtful!
PAM (getting under the sheets) I don't mean to hurt!
CHARLOTTE: Irealise that!
PAM:
It's because I need a father---I dare say!
CHARLOTTE: I realise that, too!
PAM:
It's just the sound of his voice.
It makes
me go calm...
You know, I used to cry at
college if I saw a girl with her dad?
CHARLOTTE: I know!
PAM:
You must feel lonely sonetimes...
CHARLOTTE (bending down and kissing her) Not. with you
around, honey. You make up for everything!
(Rising) Ve'll see what the
morning brings!
PAM:
OKI
CHARLOTTE switches out the
light in PAM's bedroom and
comes back into the sitting
room.
PAM:
You're not, going to eat?


CHARLOTTE (pulling the cushions off the double divan and
taking out pillows) No, I'm deaid beat!
PAM:
You talk to me about eating! You'll crack up
one day!
CHARLOTTE: I'm old and half-dead anyway! It's not so
important!
PAM:
Good-night, maf
CHARLOTTE: Good-night, honey!
Silence, while CHARLOTTE
prepares for bed. After
a time she tiptoes to
PAM's door and gazes in.
It seems that PAM is already
asleep. The curtain
slowly falls.


CHARLOTTE is in the kitchen
washing up, PAM is sitting
at the table---which is
perfunctorily spread for
breakfast.
There is a half-filled
suitease in the bedroom:
PAM has beon packing.
CHARLOTTE (calling out from the kitchen) Now will you
eat your breakfast?
PAM (motionless) I told you! I'm nervous.
CHARLOTTE: You're what t? (PAM sighs, picks up the paper
lazily, stares at it and throws it down again)
What? (Clattering with the dishes)
PAM:
I'm nervous, I said!
CHARLOTTE (leaving the kitchen) Why, sure you 're nervous!
Who wouldn't be flying a thousand miles into
nowhere?
PAM (sullenly) You lived there most of your life:
And it's only 500.
CHARLOTTE (drying herchands) It's nowhere asfar as you're
concerned! A big nowhere! There are two
people you know on the whole dontinent of Europe
and that's Kurt and Lisa!
PAM (screwing up her face) OK, OK, I can hear!
CHARLOTTE (snatching up the newspaper) And look at that!
Look at it! It's full of crisis! Get that
into your nut! What happens if tha Reds start?
BAM (sighing) What are you talking about?
CHARLOTTE: Suppose the Russians start a war, ever thought
about that?
PAM:
Well, I guess I'll come back!
CHARLOTTE: You think it's as easy as that? You know what
country you're going to?
PAM:
Germany, to the ticket says:


CHARLOTTE: Well, you know that much!
So let me tell you,
the Russians are right next door and they might
step across the frontier and start a was-
they're like that!
Then what happens to Pamela
Mannheim?
PAM:
I come back, I told you!.
CHARLOTTE (suddenly pleading) Listen, honey, why don't
you wait for this to blow over? Let the
Russians. oool off a bit!
PAM:
I got the tickets. Now, come on, ma, help this
once, will you? I'm having a bad time---you've
got to help me!
CHARLOTTE (trying a more quiet tone) It isn't only me, 1
schat atz, it's what Dr. Steiner says as well.
He says---you shouldn't have that baby, you're
not ready for it, it'll break you down.
PAM (sharply) He never said thatt
CHARLOTTE (shouting again) That's what he told me :
PAM:
He said to take it easy, that's all:
CHARLOTTE: So you go flying off to Europe:
PAM (rising) I'll pack!
CHARLOTTE (suddenly) And I'm going to phone Kurt and
Lisa!
She steps across to the phone.
PAM (dashing to stop her) Don't you do that! How long
are you going to persecute me? How long? I
told you, Kurt and Lisa want to talk things
over with me, I've got to get away from you, I
don't: see things straight while I'm here, I want
my own life, I want my own life, I'll kill my-
self, I'll slit my throat- (She screams
frantically, one incoherent, deafening yell after
another)
CHARLOTTE (very frightehed) OK! OK, Pam! I won't phone
Kurt and Lisa. Gee, you frighten me: (Embrac-
ing her)
PAM (slumped) You. shouldn't.do it...
CHARLOTTE: I'm wrong, I know it! 'I can't help it, Pam?
(Also in tears) It's not because I'm bad.
It's
because I love you, Schatz. I've got nothing
else!


PAM:
I know, I know.
But just leave me alone
this once.
Just a few days in another
country. Another world.
CHARLOTTE: But I'm afraid about that child, Pam, I'm
afraid Lisa '11 want you to have it, and it's
not right for your health. I don't want you
a cripple all your life---you'll be cutting
yourself off too young---that's what I say,
you're only a kid and you're going to be a
mother before you've even taken alook round,
it's not right, you need life like anybody
else---you don't seem to realise, I'm thinking
of you!
PAM:
I told you, my mind's not made up. I'm
going there to find out, Kurt and Lisa'll
tell me what to'do!
CHARLOTTE: They don't know you, honey. :
PAM:
That's why I'm going!
CHARLOTTE: They don't know your tricks and your crazy
stories, they '11 take it all like God's truth!
Well!
(Going back to the kitchen) Go your
own way! I've done all I can! And take
that woollen undershirt! Hamburg's like an
ice-box!
(She stops) Hey! (She walks
into the room again---PAM is about to go on
with her packing) How do I know you're not
spoofing? Let me see those tickets!
(Pascinated by the idea---but PAM doesn't
move) You hear me? Christ in heaven, she's
kidding me:
(Beginning to laugh) She's
kidding---! Well, of all the m :
PAM slowly pulls out an
air-travel wallet from
her suitcase, and shows
the tickets in silence to
her mother.
CHARLOTTE
stares at them and her
smile fades.
PAM:
Satisfied?
CHARLOTTE: When did the money arrive?
PAM:
Yesterday.
CHARLOTTE: I didn't see a letter from Germany!
PAM:
They sent it to a bank.
The probably know
your tricks if they don't know mine!
Remember the letter you kept in your bag
once, by accident?


CHARLOTTE: I get tired ot your crazy boyfriends, that's
all!
PAM:
That's no reason to steal other people's
letters!
CHARLOTTE: 'Steal?' He couldn't even spell the word
'love'! (Returning to the kitchen)
'Romance' with a "Z'T
PAM:
He was simple, that's all...
CHARLOTTE: He was stupid: Listen---suppose you do get
caught In a war over there, how do you think
I'm going to feel, that'll be my fault, and
other people'll let me know it, too!
PAM:
I'll be with Kurt and Lisa.
CHARLOTTE: I tell you, Europe's going to be a morgué if
war breaks out! The first thing you do is
get your name on the books at the American
Consulate, so they know you're there! Do
you hear me? And listen---are you listening?
PAM (at her packing) Yeah!
CHARLOTTE: If there's an emergency---do you know what an
emergency is?
PAM:
A kind of a war, you mean?
CHARLOTTE: Yes-a'a kind of a war!' Well, if 'a kind of
a war'. breaks out just you wave your American
passport about until you 're on a plane, that
passport'11 blow holes anywhere, do you hear
me? That's if you can't get to the American
Consulate, do you hear me?
PAM:
Yes, I hear you!
Cliff says people puke
when they see an American passport. He got
it from a guy in the State Department.
CHARLOTTE: To hell wi th that rubbish!
Just do what I say!
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: And, listen, no nightspots.
Do you understand?
PAM:
I'll be with Kurt and Lisa!
CHARLOTTE: Never mind Kurt and Lisa!
I'm talking about
you! Hamburg's crawling with nightspots!
There's a street called the Reperbahn---now
don't go near it!


PAM:
What, did you say it was called?
CHARLOTTE: The Reperbahn!
PAM (flippantly)
Sounds interesting:
CHARLOTTE (with a half-smile) I thought you'd say that!
PAM (kissing her) Now, come on, ma, don't look so sad!
CHARLOTTE: I guess I can't laugh about the morgue...
PAM:
The what?
CHARLOTTE: That's what it is for me over there, a kind of
morgue: I suffered too much, Pam-w-! I had
my hair cut off---they dragged a crowd of us
through the streets---children as well---!
PAM:
Ma. (Stopping her packing with a sigh) Just
try and forget. I've told you before.
CHARLOTTE: I'll try, I'll try! (with sudden emphasis) I
tell you, I don't want my daughter Tlying over
there and talking that language, I don' *t want
my daughter knowing about it! (She stands
with her feet planted astride in a curious
strained and haunted way, like someone re-
peating a terrible dirge) It's a dead world,
I tell you, a dead world, it's dead, dead, and
we're new, we're alive, we're alive--! We're
alive, we've got a new civilisation, we've got
no fear over there in America, we're new, we 're
making a big, new life over there--! Oh, Pam,
Pam, don't go! For God's sake, don't go!
PAM:
Ma, ma... Kurt and Lisa are over there. (Tired)
They suffered, too. They say it's all right.
CHARLOTTE: But it isn't all right for you: You've been
brought up different. Anyway, you should have
me to show you around! You should have your
mother with you. It's your first big trip.
That's not right! You'll go through all those
places like it was a lot of junk, you've got to
know about it, you've to go to the museums and
all the castles, you've got to see Salzburg,
that's in Austria, there's a town right by Hamburg
called Luneberg, it's a real historical town,
you've got to have a guide!
It's no good walking
through Europe like the Grand Central Station!
PAM:
I've got Kurt and Lisa...
CHARLOTTE: They're too busy! They'l1 have breakfast with
you, and then the day's yours.
And that's what
I don't like!


PAM:
You going to work this morning?
CHARLOTTE: OK, I've said enough! Have it your own way!
But don't blame me after-,
PAM:
OK, OK!
CHARLOTTE (taking up her handbag and coat resolutely)
I guess I won it -see you till you come back!
PAM:
What?
(Staring) : You're not coming to the
airport?
CHARLOTTE: I told you, Pam, I can't make it: I would if
I could? That's about the worst time at. the
office!
Preparing to leave, her lips tight
closed)
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: It's a bad week!
PAM:
So don't come---it's Of! (On the verge of
tears)
CHARLOTTE: Have a good trip and I'll see you in a week's
time!
PAM:
Good-bye, then.
CHARLOTTE: Are you crying? (She steps towards PAM from
the door, peering)
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: You are!
PAM (in an outburst) You squeeze out the last drop,
don't you? You're cruel!. Real cruel!
CHARLOTTE: I told you--! All right, have it your own
way---maybe you'd better slip up to the office
round lunchtime and see if I'm free.
PAM (as CHARLOTTE goes) And maybe I won't, too!
CHARLOTTE: Don't forget the woollen undershirt!
I think
you're a fool for going but---it's your own
life!
Good-bye!
she leaves. PAM stares
before her.
Picks up the
newspaper again, tries to
read it, throws it down.
The phone rings.


PAM:
Yeah?
(Brightening) Hullo, Johnny!
Getting tired of drawing off coffee? (Laughs)
Oh, honey, I wish I could, yes, I do love you,
you know that, you know I'm Mrs. Fergusson
deep down inside! You'd what? Yeah, I'd
swim round the stars for you, too-- and get up
on the moon---twinkle my toes in space--
circle your orbit for all timet (Laughs again
in a stagey way) I wish I could! I told you,
honey, I'm off to Germany! Today. No, for
sure! This afternoon! Oh, you know---some
sort of television thing! These agents are
vague, didn't I tell you tha t? Oh, that won't
be the only thing! * I'll be visiting my father's
grave as well! Sure! (Her voice softening
sentimentally) Yes, thatT1I be quite something!
Sort of ceremony! There '11 be wreaths from all
over the world, so they tell me. He was some
guy, dad! That's what you call a real warrior,
you know that? He held out till five minutes
before the Americans got there---can you believe
that? Just five minutes and he'd have been all
right!
They're giving me the freedom of
Luneberg, can you beat that? At the graveside.
That's a real historical town, Johnny.
He was
born there.
They're all golden-haired like me!
I guess, itts a kind of nostalgia drawing me
back. Racial!
Some day---maybe we should go
there, to live maybe! I think there's a family
house. Big? I'll say it's big! The grounds
are about as big as Central Park. So you can
guess the size of the house! That's where the
Americans relieved dad.
The servants are still
around, so ma says.
You know, they're real
simple people, they really look up to us like
kings and queens! They almost. don't get any pay
at all, but they're satisfied! Dad used to give
parties---they could see the lights twenty miles
around! So there 'll be me---getting the freedom
of the town while my future husband draws off
coffee!
(Dropping her voice again---stage-
solemnity) No, honey, you'll get your break.
(Stage-bright again) Oh, well, after that I
guess there TI1 be a walking tour through the Black
Forest? Well, I feel I know it like the back of
my hand just from ma's descriptions!
Sure it's
black! It's like night-time inside even when the
sun's shining! Sure you've got to have lights!
I'll say! (Tiring) Well, honey, I'm blowing
you a kiss down the wire, be good, see you when I
get back! Good-bye, honey! Good-bye! What's
that? Who---Cliff? Are you crazy? I sent him
avay a nonth ago with his tail between his legs!
You should have seen his face! He said he was
going to shoot himself but we haven't heard the
bang yet! Good-bye, honey!


Puts the phone down with
a look of perfect self-
disgust and once more stares
before her disconsolately,
worn-out. For some time
she doesn't move.
Then she
picks up the phone again and
dials a number.
PAM:
Hullo? Could you give me reservations?
(Pause) Hullo, I'm booked for flight 103
to Hamburg, Germany, this afternoon.
like to cancel thé reservation, if you
please. Mannheim. Flight 103. That's
right! Thanks a lot.
She puts the phone down again.
The doorbell rings.
She
goes to the door and admits
CLIFF.
CLIFF:
PAM (hardly looking at him). Hi, No.1! Not working
today?
CLIFF:
Sure! I'm on my way now. I met your mother
downstairs!
PAM:
You did?
CLIFF:
She looked eaten up. The first defeat of her
life, eh? (Looks in at the bedroom)
Finished packing?
PAM:
CLIFF:
What's the matter, Pam?
PAM:
I cancelled the trip. :
CLIFF:
You what? What did you do that for?
PAM: I
I just did it! I just felt like doing it.
CLIFF: :
It's funny. I sensed it! That's why I
dropped by:
PAM:
I can't stand it when shats like that!
CLIFF:
Like what?
PAM:
When she sloses up. She snaps her mouth
closed and. she knows I'd rat ther have her
screaming.
CLIFF:
What are Kurt and Lisa going to say?


PAM:
Oh, they'll blame her--they always do!
CLIFF (taking hold of her enthusiastically) Listen---
why don't you go? Make the reservation
again! Pam---come on!
PAM (turning away) It's---not there any more... I
don't want to go! The paper's full of crisis.
She says there 'l1 be a war over there.
CLIFF:
Do you believe that?
PAM:
CLIFF:
What about the baby? Weren tt Kurt and Lisa
going to help you decide---?
PAM:
Vell, I guess I have it.
CLIFF:
You guess? I thought you said it was your
lifebelt or something, you couldn't live
without it?
PAM:
Hell, that's true!' I saw Dr. Steiner again.
He said it wouldn't be good for my health.
I'll have to be careful round the third month.
She's dead against it!
CLIFF:
But it's your baby!
PAM (listlessly) 'here'd I get the money---without her?
There's the baby-olothes and the schooling and
all the special baby-food! She hates: Johnny
Fergusson, that's what.
CLIFF:
But she doesn't know him!
PAM:
That don't matter, she hates him!
CLIFF:
Well, you nake it difficult---why fall in love
with a flying ace?
PAM:
He's no flying ace. He nerves coffee round
at the PX!
CLIFF (gazing at her in astonishment) Vhat was all that
about staying in England, then, and being a
human bomb?.
PAM:
Vell, he wants a break!
He's got dreams
(Awkwardly) It wasn't just talk. He'd like
to sign on for good:
CLIFF (fixing her with his eyes) I don't even believe
he serves at the PXT
PAM (indifferently) Well, he does.


CLIFF:
No wonder Charlotte looks eaten up
sometines!
PAM:
Yeah, no wonder!
(Going to the kitchen)
Want some coffee?
CLIFF:
No, thanksi
PAM (from the kitchen) You always go to work this
late?
CLIFF:
No. (Almost to himself) But they've got
my whole life---so they're not worried about
an hour or two!
PAM:
We don't seem none of us free, do we?
CLIFF:
No: Iget good money.
That's what dad
says. I get good money.
Over the Iong-
distance phone. Get good money. That's
one thing--I get good money. I get good
money.
(Like a puppet)
PAM:
You're screwy! (with a cackle) Do it again!
CLIFF:
Then you fade out--20 or 30 years before you're
old! You never look old. Because you never
had the life to age the tissues. No conflicts
or feelings.
(Suddenly) You know, you're the
biggest liar I've ever met. You' 're such a big
liar you're not one any more. You cancel
yourself out! There wasn tt any truth to start
with. There's just no truth. So, how can
there be lies?
PAM (with a kind of agreeable lear) Thanks.
CLIFF:
That's all right. It's funny, I don't even
believe in that child! I can see a little
bulge but it's a kind of ghost-child.
It's
probably another lie, even if it's there!
That's it, I've just realised, Pam, you 've got
no soul!
PAM (without interest, at work in the kitchen) Boy,
you're a comfort this morning. Yousay the
sweetest things!
CLIFF:
But it's a new kind of freedom.
Do you want
a soul?
PAM:
Why, sure! What is a soul? That's why I
went to church for a couple of weeks! And
wore the crucifix! But nothing happened!
CLIFF:
A soul means carrying somebody else inside you.
He frowns when you tell a lie.


PAM:
I haven 't got that...
Silence.
CLIFT:
So Europe's off? What was all that build-up
for a couple of weeks, Pam? About Kurt and
Lisa giving you the money to keep the child?
and they were going to find you a nice nursing
home, and they told Charlotte just to keep her
nose out of it this time? Did they send the
money for the ticket?
PAM:
Sure.
CLIFF:
Did they? Wait a minute.
(Approaching her,
intrigued) Have you got that air-ticket?
Let me see it. (A pause) Do Kurt and Lise
exist? Have they really got money? Where's
that air-ticket, Pam?
She gazes at him in silence,
her face unmoving.
PAM:
That's just what ma asked me :
CLIFF:
You haven't got it, have you?
PAM:
I don't know!
CLIFF:
You don't know?
PAM:
CLIFF:
Which world do you live in? You pack your
clothes, (glancing in at the bedroom again)
everything's s0 neat, just like a dream.
And nothing happens! (He stands looking at
the suitcase)
PAM:
Look in the flap.
CLIFF: : (turning to face her) - What?
Look in the flap, go on!
CLIFF (taking out PAM'S wellet from the suitosse) There's
PAM:
Look inside.
CLIFF (finding the air-ticket)
Well, you 're not that
crazy, after all! Pan---T wonder---she makes
you crazy, doesn't she? You're OX in yourself!
She stops you doing things! So all you can do
is dream! Like now. She '11 stop you having
the baby. But if you force yourself to have the
baby, that'll be somet thing real, you'll have
something for the first tine in your life, this
dreaming'1l stop!


PAM:
I told you. I'm having the baby.
CLITF:
But she doesn't want you to have the baby,
Pam, so you won' tr I'm telling you, you
won't! Remember we went down to Florida
and you kept calling on the long distance?--
you need her, Pam! She didn't call you!
You've got to fight for your own lifet Do
you see what I mean?
PAM:
I'm tired. (Slumping in a chair)
CLIFF:
Pam, why don't we go away together?
I've
got the money---!
PAM:
Like I said.
I don't love you any more.
Just that.
CLIFF:
How do you know?
PAM:
CLIPF:
You don't know! Kiss me:
PAM:
OK! (She does so) Hey, you wear the same
scent!
CLIFF:
That's after-shave.
PAM:
Oh, boy! (She kisses him again) I could
eat you this morning!
CLIFF: :
It's funny---this town! We 're all strangers.
We all talk logical, it all looks sensible.
But underneath everything swims around like a
nightmare. Why don't you go to Germany and
find out---find out what's underneath? You
might get there and think, 'I'm a real person!
I'm staying here to have my baby!" You might
find you love me!
PAM:
You know, I don't hate Germany. I never did.
Even in the war when I was a kid. I could
stay there---:
CLIFF:
Well, then! What are you going to do? Stay
here?---she'll murder your baby, Pam! I know
she will! Think of him when hets six or seven,
and he ts got flaxen hair, and that lovely olive
skin German boys have sometimes, and he 's
running about like a little god! You couldn't
murder hin, could you? Well, it would be murder,
wouldn't it? If you murder him in the womb or
six yeare later, it's still nurder---his life's
still not there! There's still a murder on
your consclence! And it's your own child.
your own body. Listen---how do you know there
isn't something German in her---coming out--
they killed all those people in the concentration


camps! How do you know she isn't like
that underneath?
PAM:
She didn't kill me!
CLIFF:
You were hers! But your baby's different!
What I mean is, if you 've got this murder be-
hind you, if you murder a little boy with
flazen hair, you'd never forgive her latèr,
would you, you'd never love her the same,
you'd have to go on dreaming and dreaming
all your life and never get dowm to anything,
you'd lose your sex, Pam, you'd lose your
appeal for men, you'd go all empty! Whereas
all your life you'll have this iittle boy, to
show you could do. one thing, to prove your
character!
Think of what it'll feel like
being called a mother! Why don't you go to
Germany? Pam! Pam! Why don't you get on
that plane? I'll talk to her afterwards.
I'll drop by this evening and talk her round.
You know, she takes notice of mel
PAM (gazing at him) Why are you so interested in me?
CLIFP:
It's a change from germ warfare,
I suppose!
PAM (with a movement of interest towards him) Do you
know, that's the first thing you've said that
makes me feel I'll go?
CLIFF:
What?
PAM:
When you said you'll talk to Charlotte. I
feel different.
Suppose I went, would you
come over every evening and talk to ma?
CLIFF:
Sure!
PAM:
Every evening while I'm away? Don't let her
out of your sight until she's yawning her face
off ready for bed! Agreed?
CLIFF:
Agreed!
PAM:
I won't go unless you do it. I'll never
speak to you again if you miss a night. Do
you understand? I'll go to Germany if you
come here straight from the airport this after-
noon and talk to me, and stay with her until
she looks like she's dropping! Do you hear?
CLIFF: (gazing at her) You sure love her, don't you?
Which of you is the child, can you tell me that?


PAM:
Come on, do you.agree?
CLIFF:
I said so, yes! I'll come over every
evening and kéep her laughing and talking
until her eyes close up!
PAM:
That's it! Keep her laughing! Keep her
laughing for a couple of weeks until I come
back:
CLIFF (as a joke) Then you'll marry me?
PAM (seriously) I'll think about it.
CLIFF (starting a little)
Shall I make the reservation,
then?
PAM:
Yes!
CLIFP (picking up the phone) You'll never get away
from her, Pam...
Have you got the number?
PAM:
It's right in front of you.
CLIFF (dialling) This is your last chance. Yes or no?
Have you decided?
PAM:
Yes, I'm going!
(He still gazes at her in
doubt) I'm going. It's OK!
CLIFF:
Hullo? I'd like to make a reservation.
(To PAM) What's your flight number?
PAM:
CLIFF:
I'd like to reserve a seat on flight 103 to
Hamburg, it was cancelled earlier this morning
by error..
That's right.
The name is
Mannheim... It is? Oh, fine!
Thanks a lot.
Good-bye.
(He puts the phone down) It was
still in your name. Well, you've done it,
Pam!
PAM (rising) I guess I'll finish packing.
It's funny,
I don't feel nervous any more.
The phone rings.
PAM (before picking up the receiver) You know who this
is? Ma. She always knows when I've decided
somthing.
PAM:
Hullo? Hullo, there, ma : Am I what? Sure!
Sure I'm going! What? No! I told you, I'm
going! What's that? Oh, heck, won 't she havd
towels? How am I going to carry all that"stuff?


OK, OK!
Anything for a quiet life! No,
the woollen ones... Yes, two overcoats...
The beige. Yes. No. Oh, ma, come on,
they weigh a ton! High heels. What, to
the airport? You're crazy---I told you,
they weigh a ton! OK, OK. That's right.
Well, good-bye for now. Yes, yes. Now
come on, ma, I've got things to do, good-bye!
(replacing the receiver) Can you beat that,
she wants me towear my walking shoes to the
airport!
CLIFF:
Why not?
PAM:
They 're like mountain boots!
I'll have to
take another suitcase!
CLIFF:
How: did she sound?
PAM:
Oh, fine!
CLIFF:
You're one person, not two!
PAM (at her packing again) It can't be all that cold
over there! Don't they have spring in
Europe? :
CLIFF (in a strange wry way). Sure, I think so! Some-
times, anyway. Of course, they don't have the
full four seasons like we do over here.
It's
done on a kind of lease-lend.
(PAM packs
busily) We give them a summer one year, an
autumn next, and so on. France complained she
only got one spring in four years, Western
Germany was getting the whole lot, 60 it's
going up before the State Department for dis-
cussion. They'll discuss it, sure they will,
and don't.you believe that the result won't be
right and fair because it will, this is a
democracy, and we believe in the small man!
PAM (quietly) Why don't you go to work?
CLIFF (looking at the paper)
It says here, somé guy,
he's the president of the United States or
something, he says there's going to be a war if
somebody doesn't watch out, and two lines down
he says there isn't going to be a war! What
do you make of that?
PAM:
It's funny (discomfited by any straight talk)
You're like an old man.
CLIFF:
Why?
PAM:
The way you talk sideways all the time.


CLIFF:
Sideways?
PAM:
Yes, you seem to be talking about something
else--about something you're hurt about, but
you don't say what it is. You seem to be
talking from a long way off, like an old man-
do you know what I mean? An old man looks at
things from a long way off, he talks quiet
like you do. You ought to be shouting and
screaming, and talking about your own life,
where it hurts, but it doesn 't come out like
that, it's all quiet stuff about democracy and
the president and all that.
Do you see what
I mean?
CLIFF:
I think so!
PAM:
You're weak. My father used. to bang the table
and shout, so ma says, then he 'd forget about it.
But you seem to be mumbling to yourself all the
time. That quiet talk isn't nat tural.
CLIFF (intrigued by her analysis) Who did hurt me, then?
You tell me, Pam! What's really on my mind?
PAM:
I don't know who hurt you, honey!
CLIFF:
Nor do I! That's why I talk in cireles. I
don't know who to fight! It isn't dad! He's
a nice guy! I'li be worse than him if I have
kids!
PAM:
Your father's a man, he may be wrong but he
doesn't sit being funny about life.
You talk
like in a prison all the time.
Why don't you
do something about it?
CLIFF:
I can't see the prison bars, I don't know where
they are, I can't see who the warders are! I
don't know where to break out---which wall!
PAM:
Then why don't you just sit still? Stay there?
CLIFF:
I can't do that, either!
PAM (out of patienoe) t'ell, just go to vork, it's late:
You've got me all jammed up in" the head, like
you always used to!
CLIFF (on his way out, but stopping) Have Kurt and Lisa
got a house?
PAM:
Sure: Ma says it's by the river, you can pass
by on a steamboat, it's got iron balcomies and a
lawn in front, down to the water, and weeping
willow-trees hanging into the river!


CLIFF (studying her) Is that true?
PAH:
It's what ma says!
CLIFF (Testing her) What's the river called?
PAM:
The Elbe.
CLIFF:
Good. What's the road they live on?
PAM:
The Bismarckallee.
CLIFF (with a laugh) You're the funniest kid in all
creation!
PAM:
Why?
CLIFF:
You're telling the truth!
Because I'm No.2!
I don't count any more! You only lie for
Johnny Pergusson! Pam, listen! (He goes
to her) Haven't you got a little lie for me?
Just me? Don't you love me a little tiny bit?
PAM (discomfited also by his burlesque) Now, come on,
honey, I've got to pack!
CLIFF:
Your lies are like big fruity kisses!
PAM (laughing) You're a nut!
CLIFF (trying to embrace her) Come on, Pam, just one
lie! Just one big little juicy lie!
Haven't you got one, for old time's sake?
Remember when you told me your mother was
related to the Battenbergs and she had two
flunkies and a maid just to curl her hair in
the morning? That was real love---I bet
she never even had a pet dog! Remember when
you told the hotel-proprietor .on Martha's
Vineyard Island that we had two children and
they were at school in Switzerland, and how
you missed them, and, boy, what a haddful
they were! Remémber how you told me you
played Scarlatti on the piano and you can't
play a note? That's love, Pam! (Kissing
her in a burlesque way) And the way you
went to the NBC television studio every day
for a week for rehearsals that didn' tt happen
in a play that didn't exist through an agent
you'd never met? Oh, Pam!
Come on, give
me one more sweet little lie, one sweet
spring-lie to make me happy with!
PAM:
Hey---look at met - Are you serious?


CLIFF (trying to kiss her in earnest) Pam :
PAM:
What's the matter?
CLIFF:
For Christ's sake! I think about you all
the time! (She tries to pull away) That's
what's on my mind!
PAM:
OK, cool off, honey...
Cool off!
CLIFF:
I guess I'd better go...
PAM:
I didn't know it was that bad, Cliff.
CLIFF (hoarsely) It's bad all right.
PAM (screving up her face with puzzlement) And you can
see what sort of person I am? and it doesn't
make any difference?
CLIFF:
PAM (thoughtfully) I guess that's my mistake- ---thinking
it'd make a difference!
CLIFP (facing her suddenly)
Is that baby mine?
PAM (at once) Not.
CLIFT:
You've only known Johnny a couple of months!
PAM:
Three months!
CLIFF (with a tired smile) If that's a lie, Pam, it's
just what I asked you for, isn't it? A
sweet little lie! After all, a liar can't
announce a lie, can she?
PAM (returning to her packing) lell, that one's the
truth. For one thing, I'd be after you for
maintenance, don't worry about that! You've
got the money---Johnny hasn't!
CLIFF:
Doés Johnny even know?
PAM:
About the baby? Sure!
CLIFF:
That was a lie.
PAM:
Vell, I haven't told him yet... He's a kid.
He needs a break--!
CLIFF: :
You know what I ought to do? Throw up
everything and come over to Germany! How
about that? I'd find a job! Look at the
way we talk together, Pam---we know each other,


isn't that the truth? Look what we could
do in Europe---there's, time ovef there for
talk, we could take a boat along the river,
you know what Imean, this weight'd lift off!
It's like a wall---we can't get together
properly--we don't count' enough, as people- -
the love-part's all wrong---it comes out in
bursts, but over there we could live in it,
we wouldn't be ashamed, life's more easy-going -
over there, isn't that so, isn't that what
Charlotte says-?
PAM:
It sounds fine. But I don 't love you any
more, Cliff.
CLIFF:
Why not?
PAM:
I just don't! God switched off the current!
It's when you started analysing me, I guess.
CLIFF:
Analysing you?
PAM:
You know what I mean-wall this talk...
CLIFF:
"hat does Johnny do?
PAM:
He just sits! Ve just---have fun!
CLIFF:
(Silenced by this)
PAH:
(He doesn 't reply) Cliff!
CLIFF:
Yes?
(He is hurt and she sees this)
PAM:
Don't be like that!
CLIFF:
Like what?
PAM:
Don't go dumb.
You did it before, over
Johnny. Cliff, don't sort of---give it all
to me. I can't deal with it.
Talk to me.
CLIFF (abstractly) I will.
PAM:
I don't know myself: Perhaps I don't love
Johnny! You see through me.
That's what
I can't stand!
CLIFF:
I see through to where you're good, Pam,
that's all.
PAM:
That's what I can't stand! It makes me go
all funny!
CLIFF:
Funny?
PAM:
Sort of disgusted!


CLIFF:
I disgust you?
PAM:
I just feel it. Partly you do
disgust me---because you can love mel
It doesn't feel good, someone looking
right inside...
CLIFF (sadly) Yes, I understand.
PAM:
What do you understand?
CLIFF:
I get the idea now!
(Moving away)
PAM:
It's a mess!
CLIFF:
OK, Pame (Going to the door) I'll keep
her laughing for a fortnight. She '11
laugh so much her sides'll burst!
PAM:
You will?
CLIFF:
I'll pick you up about five---for the
airport!
PAM:
CLIFF:
And don't cancel that seat again.
PAM (following him to the door) What do you understand,
honey?
CLIFF (with a shrug) Just, what you said---I understand
what you said, that's allt
PAM:
You seem swicthed df all of a sudden...
CLIFF:
Wouldn't that be better for me?
PAM:
Is it true---are you switched off?
CLIFF (turning away) - No.
PAM:
Are you trying to be?
CLIFF:
(Suddenly looking
at her) Uhy should you be interested?
PAM:
It's-! No, maybe you'd better go!
CLIFF (wearily) Just an ebb and flow, like wrecks on
a seashore!
PAM:
Cliff---(suddenly kissing him again) don't go
quiet again!


CLIFF (about to embrace her again) Pam!
PAM (keeping him off gently) Leave it for a week,
honey - Give me a week!
CLIFF (brightly) Pam---I'll give you a month!
Stay
a month:
Pam!
PAM:
Honey!
They kiss hurriedly.
CLIFF:
I'll give you all the time you want!
Come
back with---Europe all over your shoulders--
like a queen!
So long!
PAM:
So long, Cliff!
He leaves.
She stands there humming
to herself.
Then she
skips in the air.
PAM:
Europe!
Ya-hoo:
The sound she makes is
wild and pathetic.
There isn't real joy.
And she seems to stand
and listen to it---to its
echo---in a puzzled way as
the curtain falls.


CHARLOTTE and CLIFF.
CHARLOTTE is working at
her accounts.
CHARLOTTE (bursting out) I'd like to kill Helga
sometimes! Maybe I should do all the work
myself! Talk about nuts---I'm surrounded
with 'em!
(Slamming papers down)
CLIFF (quietly, after watching her at work) You
certainly hate Helga, don't you?
CHARLOTTE: I certainly do! I' hate her black hair and
I hate her smile and I hate the dirt in her
fingernails. I hate every bit of her grissle
and bone!
CLIFF:
Why don't you let Pam say so, then?
CHARLOTTE: Because she ought to have more respect, that's
why! She ought to know where her bread and
butter comes from!
CLIFF:
So she shouldn't say the truth.
That seems
crazy to me!
CHARLOTTE: A lot seems crazy when you're kids.
A pause.
CLIFF:
When should we tell the truth, then?
CHARLOTTE: There's a time and a place.
You know it and
I know it!
CLIFF:
Like when?
CHARLOTTE: Like when you call me over to your house for
a meal, say you're a poor man, and I say, no,
thanks, I'll just have a cup of coffee, I've
just had a meal big enough. to last me a month!
That's a lie maybe, but you do it for him!
CLIFF (perplexed by this) Oh!


CHARLOTTE: Out of consideration. Did you ever think of
that side of it?
CLIFF (still puzzled) Which side?
CHARLOTTE: Other people's side! It's a side you kids
don't seem to care for!
CLIFF:
What's that got to do with Pam saying you
hate Helga?
How does her bread and butter
lose, I mean?
CHARLOTTE: To hell with it! You've got me all mixed
up! (Returning to her accounts) If I
could do this alone I'd do it! If I had
a daughter who loved me just a tiny bit I
could do it, too---she 'd give me a hand.
Not that one!
CLIFF:
You'd never trust her. You know it!
CHARLOTTE: And maybe you're not far wrong, either:
She did the accounts once and it took us a
fortnight to straighten 'em out!
So maybe
you're right!
She. works again.
CLIFF:
I passed by the PX, did I tell you?
CHARLOTTE (still working)
The PX?
CLIFT:
Where Johnny Fergusson works!
CHARLOTTE: You did? What's he like?
CLIFF:
Well, he's dumpy. and small---she said he was
tall, remember? And she said he was blond--
vell, he's got black hair.
Jet black!
CHARLOTTE (laughing)
The nut!
Sometimes I think she
just hates people, she has to turn them all
CLIFF (enthusiastically) That's right!
She hates the
world---she has to give it different colours!
If he was tall and blond, she'd have to say he
was dumpy and dark and powerful!
She's got
to make it all a dream!
CHARLOTTE (gazing at him in silence) What do you have
to think about her so much for? Cliff, you've
got to change your compass bearings!
CLIFF:
She says I seem old. Is that why she gave me
CHARLOTTE shrugs) I'd liké to let off
steam some times--I wish I could get up and
shout and scream like you two! That's what I


mean by European.
Dad taught me to keep
tight shut and look where I'm going all
the time. He uses his brain to pick up
signals, it's like navigating ship.
seems wrong to me! We never seem to get
lost, Charlotte...
CHARLOTTE (trying to sound business-like, as shè works)
Do you want to get lost? You're the same
as Pam!"
CLIFF:
I'd like not to know where' I was going, just
for a couple of minutes!
CHARLOTTE: Vhat about twenty years? That's how long
I didn't know where I was going!
CLIFF:
And now you do?
CHARLOTTE: That's right!
CLIFF:
Since you came to the States?
CHARLOTTE: Dead right?
CLIFF:
Like dad, he can see so straight ahead you
wouldn't think there were circles anywhere.
That's where Pam's dreams come from---because
you see so straight ahead! Life isn't
straight!
CHARLOTTE (laughing) You're nuts!
CLIFF:
Like Pam said to me last week, she said, you
don't talk straight, you don't seem to be
looking at things straight on, you're just
making noises under your breath, you're not
putting up a real fight! Life's too under-
neath---none of it's allowed to come on top---
so.s. it's in the shadows all the time.
I'm fighting shadows...
(A pause) Do you
get me?
CHARLOTTE (quietly) You'd better be careful you don't
float right away, Cliff. Keep to your feet.
CLIFF:
That's why I like Pam. Ve're in the same
boat! She's the only person I can really
float away with, in the same boat! We can
float away: Because we're both liars!.
(radiantly) I'm a liar in my work--I don't
give a heck for it! Lies are instead of
being alive! They're dreams. And you can't
live unless you've got a dream..
You can't
have a real drean unless you've got a life, a


CHARLOTTE (trying to go déeper in her work, as if to
deliberately not understand him)
jell, I
shouldn't float away too much, you and Pam,
unless you want to end in the hatch...
CLIFF (very quietly, gazing at her) I wouldn't mind
that.
CHARLOTTE::I don't think you would, either! (Suddenly
looking up, with attempted authority) You've
got a hell of a good brain, Clifford Bright,
and it's all tucked inside so as nobody else
can see it, is that right?
CLIFF:
Would you be proud of breeding germs?
CHARLOTTE: I might-- I might! If I loved my country
enough!
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: I knew you'd groan! Hhat's wrong with loving
your country nowadays---is it so bad?
CLIFF:
Not if you know what your country is! But I
don't! I've never had a chance to find out,
because it never stops talking!
I'm immobile,
Charlotte---that's why that word 'country'
stings---it's what makes me immobile! It's
sitting on top of me all the time---it stops
me being natural!
Natural like you are. Or
like you used to be...
CHARLOTTE: 'hen I was European, I suppose!
CLIFF:
If you like!
CHARLOTTE: Well, one visit to Europe 'd cure you, son, and
that's the truth! They all get the same idea
at first--wise old Europe, human old Europe,
natural old Europe! Crap! And they find it's
crap on the f irst visit! They realise we 've
got the answers to all the modern questions!
CLIFF:
You think so?
CHARLOTTE: I certainly do! They've had two wars over here
in fifty years, and ve got them out of both!
Yes, sir!
CLIFF:
There e's nothing unusual about . wars.
CHARLOTTE: There is if it gets a habit!
CLIFF:
What's my job, then?
Isn't that war?


CHARLOTTE: Sure! We're still fighting out the problem!
CLIFF:
Oh, so war's a problem:
Then Europe started
on the problem before we did!
CHARLOTTE: But we're going to solve it! Because the
people are in charge over there!
CLIFF (bitterly)
Oh! Democracy:
CHARLOTTE: You're not a democra t?
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: that are you, then, a Nazi or something?
CLIFF:
No, all I say is, government by most people
isn't the best necessarily! It might be
the worst!
CHARLOTTE, : What's the best, then?,
CLIFF:
Government by the best people: And they're
always a minority!
CHARLOTTE: Like in ancient Greece, I know!
Well, you've
got a long way to go!
CLIFF:
Meanwhile I've got my germs.
(They pause
breathlessly, as if much unspoken bitterness
had passed between them) Know what happened
today?
CHARLOTTE: No?
(without looking at him)
CLIFF (with bitter irony) The boss came up to me and
said, Listen, Cliff, son--he always calls me
Cliff-son-- --listen, Cliff, son, he said, I
want you to concentrate on something lethal
like that proxydoxydiddledidoola that finished
the rabbits off, know what I mean? Something
we can drop on the Russians and it'll spread
by itself, over, say, a couple or three years.
Sure, I said, that's as easy done as said, how
many'a you like to exterminate, and he said,
well, Cliff, son, he said you know the way I
think, I always think big, I'm thinking in
millions, Cliff, son. - Then there's the after-
germ, he said. The after-germ? I. said.. He
1 said, yes, sure, you need something to clear
up with, something to stop it spreading, we
don't want it spreading across the Atlantic, he
said, no, sir, ha, ha, he laughs like that, ha,
ha, maybe you'd better find somethun that can't
swim, ha, ha, can't swim the Atlantic, that'll
cook 'em all, ha, ha! (He pauses, looking at
CHARLOTTE) You're not laughing, Charlotte.


CHARLOTTE: (half-offended) No.
CLIFF:
That's a pity. I promised Pam to make you
laugh.
CHARLOTTE: It's a kind of bitter humour, Cliff.
I'd be
laughing at your life if I did! Listen, if
you don't like your work, why don't you get
out?
CLIFF:
The phone rings.
CHARLOTTE (answering) Hullo?. Vell, hullo, what a
surprise! (She makes a face at CLIFF) How
are you, Helga? Sure! I'm working on them
right now! They're fine, just fine...
Nothing I can see--why, got a bad conscience?--
ha, ha, ha! You what? When?... You're
kidding!
(With sudden astonishment to CLIFF)
She's just seen Pam. (Again to phone J Where?
Oh, that nut...
Are you sure, Helga? It
couldn't have been a girl just like her? Did
you see where she was going? Oh, well, that's
something!
(To CLIFF)
On her way home.
(Again to phone) Well, thanks, Helga, thanks
a lot, it looks like trouble's coming my way!
Good-bye!
(Puts down phone)
She brings you
news like a rat in her mouth!
CLIFF:
You said Pam?
CHARLOTTE: That's it! - At the airport, half and hour ago.
(Jumping up) Well, here it comes, Charlotte,
get your fall-out suit on!
CLIFF :
I'm trembling all over!
CHARLOTTE: You're trembling!
(Rushing to the kitchen,
with a peculiar suppressed joy) I'm running
a tempera ture!
CLIFF (approaching CHARLOTTE) Do you think she came back
early because of me? (Youthfully)
How does
she know that baby isn't mine?
Suppose she
knows it is? and she's coming back to have it?
(Trying to dance CHARLOTTE round the table)
She's coming, Charlotte, she's coming!
CHARLOTTE (laughing) Now let go, will you? Now stop it!
Oh, boy, do I wish I lived alone!
CLIFF:
You're happy, Charlotte!
I can see it in your
The phone rings again.


CHARLOTTE (answering) Hullo? Hullo? Hell!
(She Yinds it must be the other phone and puts
the first one down, speaking into the second)
Hullo? Hullo? (First phone rings again)
Now what the--? Hullo? Hul10? (Quietly)
Ok, OK, I think I know who that is...
CLIFF (with real happiness)" It's Pam.
CHARLOTTE (picking up both receivers and bellowing into
them) Ok, you can talk! I've got 'em both
In my hand! Didn't I know it!
(Laughing)
Pam, Pam---! (To CLIFF) It's Pam all right!
She's home! Pam, Susse, Susse---und wie geht
es meinem Kindchen?.
(Suddenly stopping)
Pam? Are you OK? Pam? Pam? What's that?
bell, talk louder, will you? Where are you?
(To CLIFF) She just whispers!
(To phone
again) Where? 'ell, come on up! What are
you doing down there? Come on up! Pam, are
you coming? Well, hurry!
(She puts the
phone down again, puzzled) She sounds---dead.
Maybe it's just the journey..
CLIFF:
Well, keep your fingers crossed!
CHARLOTTE (after a pause, abstracted). 'hat?
CLIFF:
Keep your fingers crossed!
CHARLOTTE: "ho for?
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: Oh!
(Busying herself in the kitchen again)
If I kept my fingers crossed for all Pam's
boyfriends I'd have permanent knots in my hands!
CLIPF:
Do you think the baby's mine?
Come on, you've
got instincts, Charlotte---is it mine?
CHARLOTTE (turning on hin with sudden fury)
I've told
you, Cliff, and I'm telling you again, that
baby shouldn't be born!
CLIFF (stung with equal suddeness) Isn't that murder?
CHARLOTTE: To hell with murder!
It's murder, murder,
murder on your lips all the time!
It'll
murder her if she has it, I can tell you that!
And she's not going to have it! She's under-
nourished, she won't ear, she never sleeps--
how do you think a kid like that can take a
baby?
She's only a baby herself!
CLIFF:
She seened all right to me..


CHARLOTTE: To you she did, but not to Dr. Steiner!
You can talk about murder, Clifford Bright, but
you're not murdoring my child : And if she's
still talking about having that baby, I'll go
and see a psychologist and get a certificate to
say she can't have it---Dr. Steiner said you
oould do that-- I'll do it all myself, don't
you worry about that, she's not having that
baby because of a bunch of kids and that's flat!
CLIFF:
Suppose it's my baby?
CHARLOTTE: Suppose it is? She's under age and she's
in my hands:
CLIFF:
You really play low when you're cornered,
don't you?
CHARLOTTE: I fight, that's what---for sanity!
CLIFF:
Sanity! Is that what youcall it?
CHARLOTTE: Yes, and I heerd her on that phone just now,
she's dead beat, I tell you, she's finished,
because that baby's taking it out of her!
CLIFP (trembling) Perhaps I wouldn't like Germany so
CHARLOTTE: And you can cut "out that Germany-theme!
You're a kid, all Americans are kids, they're
big spoilt kids who need a couple of wars to
bring 'em level with the rest of mankind!
Just keep off that Germany-theme:
CLIPF:
You're frightened...
CHARLOTTE (hysterically) Leave me alone, for Christ's
sake leave me along! (In tears) Jesus, if
that girl isn't enough! I've got strangers
coming in and--telling me--! Just leave me
alone!
CLIFF:
Charlotte!
CHARLOTTE: Just because I watched over her eighteen
years---I kept her like a diamond ring---I got
her out of Germany in a suitcnse---I drilled
holes in it for air!
CLIFF:
But---Charlotte, you don't think I'm a stranger,
do you?
CHARLOTTE: I've got one person in the world and that's Pam!
CLIFF:
What does one do to be your friend, then?
CHARLOTTE: Be nice!


CLIPF:
And agree all the time?
CHARLOTTE (flaring up again) I'tola you, didn't I---
this is my Iife, Pam's my girl, and this is
my home! Do you dispute any of that?
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: Well, then! (Suddenly) You want to hear
something honest?
CLIFF:
What?
CHARLOTTE: You're always talking about how you've got
to be honest---you're always twining these
little moral problens round your fingers---
I'm glad you've got time for that, you're
luckièr than me!
CLIFP:
Well?
CHARLOTTE: vell!
Mannheim was a Nazi.
CLIFF:
Who?
CHARLOTTE: Who'?
(Imitating him) You should
set up as a preacher! "Who 1? Pam's father,
that's who! Herr Mannheim! He was 8 Nazi
he was black right through to his boots!
What do you think of that? He was in the party,
he had a uniform, he went to all the meetings--
and I loved him!
CLIFF:
CHARLOTTE: 'Oh'! How does that square out in your moral
needlework? Have you got me fixed up yet?
Will you talk to me any nore or not? Just
think it over! Sleep on it!
And tell me in
the morning how I'm fixed up morally, where I
come in the moral needlework, and. I'il say, oh,
thanks, Cliff, I'm glad to know how I am in front
of the judgement seat, I'm glad you found out
what the Almighty thinks, because you being
American and inheriting the earth, sort of thing,
of course you 've got the whole moral needlework-
system of the universe worked out! And, why, if
you decide you can't talk to me any more, I'li
still feel cleansed, because a little American
boy from Long Island was thinking about me, and
that sure was a compliment for a soap-opera
European!
CLIFF:
I haven't said anything yet, Charlotte...
CHARLOTTE (in tears again) And I loved him so much---!
I did! He didn't even stop me getting arrested!
He didn't help me get across the frontier!


CLIFF:
I'm sorry..
CHARLOTTE:
'Sorry!
damned! Who are you to be sorry
for me?
Just listen to this---you've got
to have a life to use big words, it takes
more than a needlework brain to handle pain
and dirt---and shame...
CLIFF:
If I could share the pain, Charlotte, I---I---!
The door-bell rings.
CIARLOTTE (going to the door wiping her eyes)
lell,
here it comes...
(Upening the door)
PAM comes in, pale and
haggard. It seems she
can hardly even walk.
CHARLOTTE gazes at her
in stunned silence.
CHARLOTTE: Liebling...
(Following her) What's wrong,
Pam? Tell me what's wrong?
CLIFF:
Pem!
PAM:
CLIFF:
Anything wrong, Pam?
PAM (sinking into a chair) I'm just---dead-beat, that's
allr
CHARLOTTE (hardly able to talk) I've never seen you
look so bad...
PAM:
I told you, I'm just tired!
CHARLOTTE (suddenly, panic-stricken), Pam, Pam, is it
kicking?
PAM:
No! No!
I'm OK.
CHARLOTTE: You certainly are not, kid--!
PAM:
Got any coffee?
CHARLOTTE: Sure, sure!
Hurrying to kitchen)
PAM:
I didn't sleep too much last night, eithér.
CLIFF:
Hant a cushion?
PAM:
Thanks.
He puts one behind her head.


CHARLOTTE: Did you catch something in Germany?
PAM:
No. I tell you, I'm OK!
CHARLOTTE: Well, I wish you looked it!
Black or
milky?
PAM:
Black!
CHARLOTTE: Didit take you all that time to get
upstairs?
PAM:
I stopped.
CHARLOTTE: What?
PAM:
I stopped down below a time...!
CHARLOTTE (peering at her) Listên, Pamela Mannheim,
do you want me to call a doctor?
PAM:
No. Please ma. I'm OK!
CHARLOTTE: Darling!
(Embracing her) Haven't you got
a kiss for your ma?
PAM:
Sure! I'll be OK in a second!
It was just
the journey--
CHARLOTTE: Have you been sick in the mornings?
PAM:
No, I've been fine!
I tell you, it's just
the journey:
CHARLOTTE (getting the coffee) Well, I just hope that's
the truth, that's all! Now, drink this!
PAM (as CHARLOTTE puts the coffee down) Is. this fresh?
CHARLOTTE: It's not fresh but it's hot!
Drink it, you 're
chilled right through, I can see that! Then
I'll get you a nice cup of fresh coffee!
PAM:
CLIFF:
What did you come home a week early for, Pam?
PAM:
I got rid of the baby.
They stare at her for a
long time in silence.
CHARLOTTE: You what?
PAM:
I got rid of the baby.


CHARLOTTE: Vhere, fof Christ's sake?
PAM:
In Germany.
CHARLOTTE: In Germany?. Pam!
(Shaking her) Pam,
look at me, for God's sake!
PAM (passively) I did.
CHARLOTTE: Why? Why?
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: Why?
PAM:
I don't know!
CHARLOTTE: I've been through a lot, but you can scare
You. scare me!
PAM:
I. thought you'd be--: (Peering at her for
a moment with a quick, vanishing interest)
CHARLOTTE: What?
PAM:
I don't know. I thought you'd be glad!
CHARLOTTE: Glad? Of nearly killing yourself? Pam!
PAM:
I don't Inow---I didn't think anything.
CHARLOTTE: How was it done, baby? Who looked after you?
PAM:
Oh, Kurt arranged it!
CHARLOTTE: Kurt?
PAM:
He saw my mind was made up.
CHARLOTTE: But what made you do it, Pam?
Over there?
PAM:
I was alone...
CHARLOTTE: You talked to Kurt and Lisa?
Let's get that
straight first.
PAM:
Yes.
CHARLOTTE: About the baby?
PAM:
Yes.
CHARLOTTE: What did they say?
PAM:
They said do what you like. If you want it,
have it. If you don't, don't. Well, I
didn't. I thought I didn't. So I told Kurt.
He said had I made up my mind? I said yes.


CHARLOTTE: And he got you a doctor?
PAM:
Yes.
CHARLOTTE: And what happened then?
PAM:
He did it.
Two days ago. I kept on
losing blood.
CHARLOTTE: Oh, Pam!
PAM:
But it was OK. They wanted me to stay.
But I couldn't.
CHARLOTTE: How do I know he hasn't wrecked your inside,
Pam? some crazy German doctor?
PAM:
He, was. American.
CHARLOTTE: American?
PAM:
Kurt found him.
CHARLOTTE (with relief) Oh!
PAM:
You're glad undernea th.
:henI said
'American.' I could see it. In your eyes.
CHARLOTTE: Don't talk like that, Pamela!
CLIFF:
Didn't you like it over there, Pan---before?
PAM:
I felt lonely.
It was all---empty there.
I looked out of the window. There was just
willow trees. And the river.
It all
felt funny. The language sounded funny.
The way they did things!
CLIFF:
What do you mean?
PAM (gloomily) It was so funny. I wanted to laugh,
too, sometimes. At the way the lift worked.
I got the giggles. I was all alone. It
all seemed- --funny.
And the. smells. The
sausages. And the black bread.
The
coffee---you don't get American coffee...
Not the way I like it. (Passively, in tears)
Am I like a queen, Cliff?
CHARLOTTE: What does that mean?
CLIFF:
No, Pam... What did you do it for?
PAM:
I don't know.
It didn't seem real. I didn't
feel I was---anywhere:


CHARLOTTE: Liebling...
You're home now!
PAM (still to : CLIFF) Did you think about me?
CLIFF:
I dreamed about you. Well, I daydreamed.
I thought of your hair.
And then the Black
Forest. And people talking German.
And
those little fairy castles along the Rhine.
And our children would speak both languages.
CHARLOTTE: 'Our children?'
PAM (to her mother) what's wrong with that?
CHARLOTTE (angrily) Oh, I just thought somebody else
was involved, by the name of Fergusson!
PAM:
He can still say it!
CHARLOTTE: Oh, sure, he can say. it!
CLIFF (awkwardly, to change topic) Shall I get your
bags?
PAM:
You want to? They're with the janitor.
CHARLOTTE (as CLIFF goos to the door) I don't know
what you wanted to do it for?
PAM:
For you, maybe...
CHARLOTTE (flaring up) For me? So as you could put
it on my conscience for the rest of your life!
You were scared," is that it--?
Scared!
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: 'My mother made me kill my child!*---and you
can sit back and remind about it every time
you look across the table!
PAM:
CHARLOTTE (in tears) You certainly give ne plenty to
think about!
PAM (to CLIFF) Found another girlfriend yet, Cliff?
CLIFF turning at the door) What's that?
PAM:
You found a girlfriend yet?
CLIFF:
Why, sure---sure!
PAM:
Is that true, ma?


CHARLOTTE: I don't know!
("iping her eyes) He's
been around here every night, that's all
I know! (To herself) Vith crazy talk...
They're all crazy!
PAM:
Who is she?
CLIFF:
She's dead.
PAM:
What?
CHARLOTTE: Listen to it!
PAM:
Dead?
CLIFF:
Yes.
She committed suicide.
PAM:
He leaves.
CHARLOTTE: That's the kind of crazy talk I've been
getting for a week! Now are you losing
blood?
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: Are you?
PAM:
No! It's OK, I - tell yous
The doctor
examined me and he said it's OK.
CHARLOTTE: The American doctor?
PAM:
Yes, the American doctor.
CHARLOTTE: And he said to take it easy?
PAM:
For a bit. But I'm OK.
CHARLOTTE: You don't look it! You look fit to die!
PAM:
I have died...
Just like Cliff said!
CHARLOTTE: Now you can just drop that talk, do you
hear me?
PAM:
It was his baby, you see..
CHARLOTTE: Vhat?
PAM:
It was Cliff's baby.
CHARLOTTE: Pam... You're really mad, I'm afraid for
you, kid! You don't know that!
You don't
do'you?


PAM:
Sure! I never let Johnny Fergusson get too
close! So I know. There's nobody else.
CHARLOTTE: But what did you tell him---?
PAM:
I don't know! I don't understand these
things! But that's why I did it! I
wouldn't have done to Johhny's baby---!
It's because I'm close to Cliff--- I couldn't
stand it, you see! I don't know these things,
I just didit. And I knew he was
waiting...
CHARLOTTE: Don't you tell him a word!
Do you hear?
PAM:
I wonder if he knows? You know, that's the
last time he comes to this place. I can see
it. He's finished.
I'm right alone now...
CHARLOTTE: You're home and you can just a uit that talk"
PAM:
There 's a couple of ltters from Lisa.
(Looking în her handbag)
CHARLOTTE: I am afraid for you, Pan...
PAM (handing them to her) She'll tell you how I am.
CHARLOTTE (opening one of them, but still looking at PAM)
You know what? I wish you was a bigger liar
than you are- --even bigger! so I could read
now, in this letter that you didn't do it-
you. just felt homesick, and she's sending you
PAM:
I don't even wish I hadn't done it...
CHARLOTTE (reading) Well...
(Looking up after reading
a few Iines) You always tell the truth about
the terrible things...
They're always true!
PAM:
Well, they are! They're most of what happens!
CHARLOTTE: Only you do tem!
PAM:
Sure!
CHARLOTTE: But why?
PAM:
I don't know! Now leave me alone, will you?
After an impatient glance
at her CHARLOTTE reads on.
CHARLOTTE: She says something about an engagement party...


PAM (beginning to rise) I think I'll go to bed.
CHARLOTTE (like a shot) Don't you nove!
What's this
she says? What's this engagément party?
PAM:
You can read, can't you?
CHARLOTTE: And she got a cake!
Icing on top and two
tiers! About twenty guests. Some of our
old friends.
The American doc. Whose
engagement party?
PAM:
Mine.
CHARLOTTE: Y-mw-? (Staring at her) What are you
talking about?
PAM (uncomfortably) Hell---it was a party Kurt and
Lise rigged up..
CHARLOTTE: I know that! They 'rigged it up' all right,
it sounds expensive to me! But engaged to
who? Pam---who? Pam---(suddenly scared by
a thought) not--not the---American doctor?
PAM (nearly smiling) No!
CHARLOTTE: Well, wi th you you've got to think of every-
thing.
PAM:
I told them I was engaged, that's all!
CHARLOTTE: Who to?
PAM:
Cliff.
CHARLOTTE: Cliff?
PAM:
Well--I started thinking---on the way across---:
CHARLOTTE: But Cliff---and you' 've just---! You know, I
think you need some kind of mental doctor---!
Pam, you*re not telling me a bunch of lies-
just new ones---to break me in again---are you?
Honey? Pam, you're joking!
PAM:
No. I mean it! Cliff!
CHARLOTTE: But that was finished six months ago!
PAM:
I know.
CHARLOTTE: What made you say Cliff, then?
PAM:
It was a sort of---accident:
CHARLOTTE: Oh!
PAM:
we were sitting round---!


CHARLOTTE: Who?
PAM:
Kurt and Lisa, and the Américan doc, and
some other people---they 're all connected
with Quick Translations Inc---they all know
CHARLOTTE (impatiently) OK, OK! And what happened?
PAM:
Well, this American doc. said he knew some
of the guys in S.W.L.
CHARLOTTE: What's that?
PAM:
That's where Cliff works.
CHARLOTTE: And what about that?
PAM:
Well, it was over drinks, you see, and I
said I had a good friend worked in S.W.L.
too, and this doc. said---you know, with a
funny kind of little smile---'The way you
talk about him, it sounds like your fiancé!'
And everybody else smiled. And--I said,
'Well, yes, it is!'
CHARLOTTE: Oh!
PAM:
And Lisa said, We haven't heard anything
about this---I can see you and me are going
to have a little private chat afterwards!",
with a little twinkle in her oye! And
everybody smiled again. -And they made me
feel important, you see. It seemed important
being engaged to Cliff. More so than wit th
Johnny Forgusson. It's funny---somebody says
something and vham, you find out about yourself!
CHARLOTTE: You certainly do!
PAM:
And when I had the private chat with Lisa, I
couldn't go back on it, could I?--it all
seemed settled...
And she made me feel ex-
cited with the idea, just asking me questions.
She said she wanted us to marry in Germany.
We'd do it in style. You'd come over, too.
CHARLOTTE: Well!
You certainly don't stand still, do you,
Pamela Mennheim!
So you had an engagement
party!
PAM:
Yes.
CHARLOTTE: And now you 've made the mess how are you going
to get out of it?.
PAM:
Why should. I try?


CHARLOTTE: What do you mean by that?
PAM:
I don't mind being engaged to Cliff!
CHARLOTTE: You don't mind the idea of marrying him?
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: Not after all you said about how he gets
your mind all twisted up and you can't sleep
afterwards? You said that every day till my
ears were sick of it! How are you going to
live with that for fifty years---twining little moral
problems round his fingers all daye
PAM:
He's got standards, that's all!
They're some-
thing for me to live up to!
CHARLOTTE: Who said that? You didn't!
PAM (with an uncomfortable glanoe at her)' What do you mean?
CHARLOTTE: It sounds like Kurt to me!
(Before PAM oan
speak) All right, don't say 'no ---your face
told me 'yes'! Well, well!
PAM:
Anyway, I told Cliff I'd think it over. - The
day I took the plane. I must have known
sonething like that was going to happen.
CHARLOTTE: So he said.
PAM (eagerly) What did he say?
CHARLOTTE: Oh, he just talked---about you!
That's the only
reason he came around!
PAM:
He could make me good if we, married!
That's
what I started to think!
CHARLOTTE (tidying the table to occupy herself) You're
crazy!
PAM:
But then---! It happened afterwards---I didn't
realise till afterwards...
CHARLOTTE: What?
PAM:
I didn't know I loved him till after I'd killed
his baby!
CHARLOTTE: Therets no need for that 'killing' talk!
Leave that to him!
You didn't kill anything!
The doctor would have done it if you hadn't
done!
PAM:
That's why I say you're glad...


CHARLOTTE: Glad! (But she knows she is)
PAM:
I want to marry him, ma! I know it now!
What's wrong with it if I know and I'm sure?
CHARLOTTE: Nothing!
Nothing at all, I guess! But
don't come crying to me afterwards, saying
he twists your mind up in knots, that's all!
PAM:
I won't. You needn't worry about that.
CHARLOTTE: You don't even know what you're going to feel
in half-an-hour, let alone half-a-year! And
if you're engaged to Cliff, you've certainly
got a funny way of showing it---you didn't
even look at him when you came through that
door! As for telling him!
PAM (unable to explain this) I---!
CHARLOTTE: All you do is talk about queens---crazy talk!
Well, that's in his style all right!
PAM:
I couldn't---face
I meant to give him
a kiss. I love ham..
CHARLOTTE: Oh, don't pull that, Pam!
PAM:
I do! I couldn't look in his eyes. Life
can change like that---a week away and wham...
CHARLOTTE: : Yours can change all right! Shall I tell you
something? You don't know who you love!
That's why it can change just Iike that---just
because an American doc. smiled at you and says
the first thing that comes into his head! Is
that love?
PAM:
I told you, I realised---I---!
CHARLOTTE: Shall I tell you something else? Do you re-
member that day you were sitting right there
talking to Cliff about Johnny Fergusson? And
I was in the kitchen? Do you remember what
you said about him?
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: Well, I do! And that was why I made you think
I wasnTt listening.
Shall I tell you why?
PAM (with a flickering interest)
Yes?
CHARLOTTE: Because I couldn't believe my ears!
You know
who you were describing? Because it wasn't
Johnny Fergusson! He's not tall and blond.
Shall I tell you who was. Your father!


PAM (watching her) What about that?
CHARLOTTE: You described your father! You never saw
your father, you never heard me talk about
him, I've never talked to a living soul
about that man, all you've got is a faded
old photograph, but you described that man,
you described his character, just as he was!
You described him so well I had to hang on
to the sink, I thought, *She must know him!
He must still be around!*
What?
CHARLOTTE: Sure!
You described him exactly as he was!
*He looks a gent tleman in his uniform,' you
said.
That wash't Johnny Tergusson, he's
dumpy and dark and small! And you said you
could handle him like a baby- -that's what I
used to feel about your father!
'He's the
terror of his men'---isn't that what you said?
It frightened me, Pam, listening to you! And
you said he wasn 't nice with people, he wasn't
friendly, he let them do all the friendly talk!
And that's what fascinated you, you said...
Now how could you have meant that about Johnny
Pergusson?
PAM:
You're crazy...
I was just dreaming, I guess.e
CHARLOTTE: And then you said---just what he told me once-
his men used to tremble---!
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: When they came in his room---he could see their
hands trembling!
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: How how did you know it, Pam? How did you
know they still loved him, they loved him for
not being nice, for shouting at them and telling
them just what to do every minute of the day!
How did you know it?
PAM:
I didn't know anything...
It's too crazy!
I must have dreamed it!
CHARLOTTE: How could you dream the truth?
PAM:
I was just---saying what came in my head...
Like I do sometimes...
CHARLOTTE: What I mean is, you don't know who you love, I
didn't know who I loved, I got fascinated once,
the same drean got hold of me...


PAM:
What do you mean?
CHARLOTTE: I say---you don't know who you love! I
didn't. I thought I was in love with some-
body else. I thought I ought to be in love
with him. Then this man came along, he was
tall and blond...
PAM (with a kind of defeated firmess) I love Cliff OK.
CHARLOTTE: You think you do!
PAM:
I love him, and if he wants to marry me I'll
say OK!
CHARLOTTE: Well, don't say I haven 't told you!
PAM:
Vhat have you told ne, exactly?
We're the
same? I'm going to have your life?
CHARLOTTE: I'm saying I heard you talk that day, just be
careful you marry the right guy---!
PAM:
Who should I marry?
CHARLOTTE: I'm not saying you should marry anybody!
But
just be sure---! That's all!
PAM (pondering)
That's a funny thing to happen...
CHARLOTTE: Well, we've got the same blood in our veins!
PAM:
He sounds like a Nazi!
CHARLOTTE: Now quit that talk!
(Going to the bedroom to
arrange PAM's bed) And you can come to bed---
right now!
PAM (levering herself weakly fron the chair)
I'm coming.
CHARLOTTE: Can you even walk?
(Rughing across to help
her) Liebling, was hast Du getan? Aber
warum, mein Schatz, warum? (Helping her to-
wards the bedroom) IlI get the doctor right
away!
PAM (suddenly hysterical) It's OK, I tell you---if you
get the doctor I'll scream! I really will,
CHARLOTTE (frightened at once) OK, OK, take it easy!
PAM:
Just let me get back---slow...
CHARLOTTE: OK!
PAM (with a sigh, lowering herself on to the bed) Well, I
certainly needed that! My own bed!


CHARLOTTE: Of course you did---you should never have gone!
Like I told you before!
PAM:
Do you think Cliff'll marry me?
CHARLOTTE (impatiently, returning to the kitchen) I
don't think--that's the trouble with you,
thinking---it's the trouble with. the other
one, too! And I'll tell you something---
he started you on all this---all this
European stuff---Germany: He put you on
that plane more or less---I know!
PAM:
Remember that photograph?
CHARLOTTE: What photograph?
PAM:
In Nazi uhiform?
CHARLOTTE: I told you, didn't I-m-?
PAM:
Who cares if he was a Nazi? I don't!
That's history!
CHARLOTTE: It's not history to me, that's all!
Don't
forget what they did to about six million
people---that'1i never be history!
PAM:
No, I mean the uniform's history.
It doesn't
change the blood in his veins.
I've got his
blood in my veins just the same.
CHARLOTTE: Well, that's true!
A pause.
PAMéquietly) He was a Nazi, wasn't he?
CHARLOTTE: I can't tell you what he was, Pam... (busying
herself in the kitchen)
PAM:
Why not?
CHARLOTTE: Because I don't know---I---!
PAM (again calmly) You knew enough to tell Cliff. I
heard you shouting OK. I stood on the stairs
waiting for you to finish. I reckon the
whole of London heard that!
CHARLOTTE (hardly able to speak) Pam.
You didn't!
PAH:
It's OK. He was a Nazi.
You don't have to lie
any more. Why don't you come on out and show
me your face?
(CHARLOTTE remains in the kitchen)
Come on out!


CHARLOTTE (walking slowly round to the bedroom) Pam,
you shouldn't...
PAM (facing her wi th sudden anger)
'You shouldn't,
'you shouldn't---It's always 'you shouldn't!'
You tell me what to do! You tell me about
my boyfriends and how you can't count tem--
how they talk crazy---you can't answer the
phone-- -and I've got to change! You tell me!
(with real threatening violence, crouched on
her bed in a strange, wild way) What did you
do---what was it, a one-night stand? You tell
me when to kill my own baby! You call me
names! Remenber that name you called me some
time back?
CHARLOTTE: (aghast) Pam...
PAM:
Remember that word you used? - Just you tell
me---what was it, just a dirty, rotten,
snatching thing---just a one-night stand--
you ought to be ashamed---and then you went
away and had me---and I came out of that---
a dirty, snatched, one-night stand---!
GHARLOTTE: Pam!
PAM:
And all that build-up---telling me your
'husband' this and your 'husbandt that--
and where ho was---and where he died may -
be---just a dirty---just nothing---just a
one-night stand! Don't you call me names
again---(at the top of her voice) do you hear
it? do you hear it?
CHARLOTTE (completely sunken) Pam... You're right, Pam...
Oh, Pan.
PAM:
(Astonished to see her' mother like this)
CHARLOTTE: Oh, Pam, the pain... You don't know the
All these years...
Pam!
PAM (panic-stricken) Ma! Ma, please!
Stop that!
Oh, ma! Don't be like that! (Flinging
herself on her) I didn't mean itr Ma,
don't be like that! Be---strong!
CHARLOTTE: Pam... *
PAM:
Ma! Ma! Look at me! I can't stand it--
if you---go like that... It knocks the bottom
right out of my life! Ma!
CHARLOTTE: OK, OK...


PAM:
Don't be ashamed! Never be ashamed again,
do you hear? I can't stand that! You 've
(Sinking on the bed
again) Don't forget, I just couldn't take
that--if you--! It knocks evefything---
to pieces...
CHARLOTTE (weakly) I'll get you something to eat.
(Sniffing) Ve're screwed up---both of us!
(Leaving the bedroom) You want fresh coffee
with your hamburger?
PAM (faintly) Just give me the coffee.
CHARLOTTE: You've got to eat!
PAM:
Well---burn the hamburger---like I like it.
CHARLOTTE (still weakly)
'Burn' itt You should eat
snitfing) charcoal.
PAM:
I didntt mean any of that, ma!
CHARLOTTE: It's OK. Ve both said something we shouldn't---
s0 we're quits!
PAM:
The words just ran out of my mouth...
CHARLOTTE: Well, that's enough,
It's linished now!
A pause.
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: Yes?
PAM:
What do they have that lift for?
CHARLOTTE: Kurt and Lisa?
(Attempting to laugh) Isn't
it crazy? A house that size with a lift!
PAM:
I could have fried eggs on the radiator in my
bedroom---it was hot enough to burst!
CHARLOTTE:. Well, these people got so cold in the war---they
need frying up again---to get human!
PAM:
CHARLOTTE: You did?
PAM:
Why not?
CHARLOTTE: Oh, well! I guess you don't see it quite the
way I do!
PAM:
They're like us---only---i


CHARLOTTE: Only what?
PAM:
They don't see outside---they---just kind of
know about themselves---not what other people
feel like.
CHARLOTTE: Dead right!
PAM:
Like you..
All you know is what you want,
and what you're going to have---!
CHARLOTTE: Thanks:
PAM:
And you'll only drop it if somebody knocks it
out of your hand... Like a baby.
CHARLOTTE (changing the subject)
So you'll marry Cliff?
PAM:
That's right!
CHARLOTTE (coming into the bedroom again) Listen, Pam--
you just get back to normal first---stop talking
strange! Cut out all the big thoughts and just
waitand see. You're not up in the clouds any
more, sitting in a plane! You're home---right
here! And take your shoes off! How many
times have I told you not to put your feet up
like that!
You certainly beat 'em all! And
you're going to marry! Well, we 'l1 see!
She removes PAM's shoes
with a sweep.
PAM:
Now take it casy, will you? You nearly ripped
my feet off!
CHARLOTTE: And I'm telling you something else, too!
In just about fourteen months from now you and
me are going to take a real trip to Germany--
and that'll be your first trip! There won 't
be any thinking---you won't be coming back here
after a week this time---you're going to see
everything there is to see from Paris to Bad
Gastein---that's a little place your grandfather
used to go down to in Austria---vyou're going to
have somebody with you who speaks the language
and knows all the tricks, you're going to learn
r something, not sit and watch the willow-trees
outside your window and get yourself in a big
mess because you can't keep your mouth shut at
the right time! Oh, I know you, Pamela
Mannheim!
PAM (happy again) You do?


CHARLOTTE: And you're just taking it easy for a few
days! On Friday we're going to Helga for
PAM (completely the daughter again) Oh, Heck!
CHARLOTTE: Never mind about 'heck,' she keeps you in
fancy black underwear---(bafore PAM can speak)
oh, I know, you don't have to worry about fool-
ing ne---you took all that black silk stuff
across with you, didn't you?
PAM (with her cackle) Ma!
CHARLOTTE: Do you know you haven't given me a real kiss
since you came back?
PAM (kissing her) I just hate you, that's why. You
know that, don't you, honey? Mumsy? I
just hate you! You know what?---Kurt and
Lisa sent you lots of presents! About a
suitcase full!
CHARLOTTE: They did? Well, I tell you what--we'll eat--
have a cup of coffee---then we '11 unwrap! How
about that?
PAM:
OK! But maybe I won't let you have nothing---
(playfully) maybe you don't deserve anything
at all!
CHARLOTTE: Nov quit it!
(Tickling her)
PAM:
A playful struggle.
CHARLOTTE: Even when you look half-dead---(kissing her)
mein Schatz-!
The front door opens.
CLIPF has let himself in
with a key. He stands there
listening, with a frowing
look of disillusion and
loneliness.
CHARLOTTE (completely absorbed in adoring PAM) You still
Iook cute---with your (tickling her again)
little yellow curls---and your little pale.
peeping oyes---like when I used to lift you up
out of kuschi and say, 'Kuschi all over now,
Kindlein!"
CLIFF lowers the bags
heavily.
CHARLOTTE (starting up) Is that you, Cliff? Oh!
(Seeing the bags) You bought the bage up?


CLIFF:
I thought I'd say. good-night. Are. you.OK
now, Pam?
PAM:
Sure, honey!
CLIPF:
Oh! (He hands CHARLOTTE the key
in his hand) I thought you'd need the key.
CHARLOTTE: Oh, thanks!
CLIFF:
Good-night, Pam!
PAM:
Good-night, No.1!
CHARLOTTE: Thanks a lot, Cliff!
See you soon!
CLIFF:
Sure!
Good-night:
He leaves, completely
crushed.
Silence.
PAM:
CHARLOTTE (studying the key in her hand ) Yes?
PAM:
What was that he gave you?
CHARLOTTE: Oh, nothing!
PAM:
What was it?
CHARLOTTE: It's a key!
That's all:
I gave him a key
two nights ago---he already had yours---he left
it at home---he's just given me one back!
CHARLOTTE remains where
she is, out of view to PAM.
PAM (staring before her) That's what he said---'She's
dead!" She's dead...
It's right. He's
never coming back!
CHARLOTTE (sinking into a: chair) Now quit that talk!
Do you hear? Quit that talk---and-- --get---
your pyjamas- -on-
PAM continues to stare
before her, as does
CHARLOTTE;
There is an awful silence
which they can't fill.
CURTAIN.