Books: Night Must Fall
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Williams, Emlyn >> Night Must Fall
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MRS. BRAMSON: There's plenty of food! Stay to lunch!
DAN: Well--I don't know ... all right, so long as you let me help a bit
this morning ... Don't you want some string for this? Where's it kep'?
MRS. BRAMSON: That woman knows. In the kitchen somewhere.
DAN: Through here?
_He tosses the books on the sofa and hurries into the kitchen_.
MRS. BRAMSON _holds out her hands and studies them with a new
interest_.
MRS. BRAMSON: That boy's got understanding.
OLIVIA: Enough to marry Dora?
MRS. BRAMSON: You ought to learn to be a little less bitter, my dear.
Never hook a man if you don't. With him and that Dora, I'm not so sure
it wasn't six of one and half a dozen of the other. I know human
nature, and, mark my word, that boy's going to do big things.
_A scurry in the garden_. MRS. TERENCE _rushes in from the front
door, madly excited_.
MRS. TERENCE: The paper-boy's at the back gate, and says there's a
placard in Shepperley, and it's got "News of the World--Shepperley
Mystery" on it!
MRS. BRAMSON: What!
OLIVIA: They've got it in the papers!
MRS. TERENCE: They've got it in the papers! D'ye want any? (_Beside
herself_.)
MRS. BRAMSON: Catch him quick!
MRS. TERENCE: First time I ever 'eard of Shepperley being in print
before--hi!
_She races out of the front door_.
MRS. BRAMSON: Running around the house shouting like a lunatic!
Sensation mad! Silly woman!
DORA _runs in from kitchen_.
DORA: They've got it in the papers!
MRS. BRAMSON: Go away!
MRS. TERENCE (_off_): I've bought three!
MRS. BRAMSON (_shouting_): Be QUIET!
MRS. TERENCE _runs back with three Sunday newspapers and gives one
to_ OLIVIA _and one to_ MRS. BRAMSON.
OLIVIA (_sitting left of the table_): I expect it is a bit of an
event.
MRS. TERENCE (_leaning over the table, searching in her paper_):
'E says they're sellin' like ninepins--
MRS. BRAMSON (_turning pages over, impatiently_): Where is it?...
MRS. TERENCE: Oh, I expect it's nothing after all....
OLIVIA: Here it is.... (_Reading_) "Disappeared mysteriously ...
woods round the village being searched" ... then her description ...
tall ... blonde....
MRS. TERENCE: Blonde? I should think she is ... I can't find it!
OLIVIA: Here's something ... "A keeper in the Shepperley woods was
closely questioned late last night, but he had heard nothing, beyond a
woman's voice in the woods on the afternoon in question, and a man's
voice, probably with her, singing 'Mighty Lak a Rose.' Enquiries are
being pursued...."
MRS. BRAMSON: "Mighty Lak a Rose." What rubbish!...
MRS. TERENCE: Oh yes.... It's the 'eadline in this one. (_Humming the
tune absently as she reads_) "Don't know what to call you, but
you're mighty lak a rose." ... Those men have done rummaging in the
garden, anyway.
MRS. BRAMSON: I must go this minute and have a look at my pampas grass.
And if they've damaged it I'll bring an action.
MRS. TERENCE: Fancy Shepperley bein' in print.
MRS. BRAMSON: Wheel me out, and don't talk so much.
MRS. TERENCE (_manoeuvring her through the front door_): I could
talk me 'ead off and not talk as much as some people I could mention.
OLIVIA _is alone. A pause. She spreads her paper on the table and
finds_ DAN'S _hat under it. She picks it up and looks at it_;
DAN _comes in from the kitchen with a ball of tangled string, a
cigarette between his lips. He is about to take the books into the
kitchen, when he sees her. He crosses to her_.
DAN: Excuse me ... (_Taking the hat from her, cheerfully_) I think
I'll hang it in the hall, same as if I was a visitor ...
_He does so, then takes up the book, sits on the sofa, and begins to
unravel the string. A pause_.
You don't mind me stayin' and havin' a bit o' lunch ... in the kitchen,
do you?
OLIVIA: It's not for me to say. As I told you before, I'm really a
servant here.
DAN (_after a pause_): You're not a very ordinary servant,
though, are you?
OLIVIA (_turning over a page_): N-no ...
DAN: Neither am I.
_He unpicks a knot, and begins to hum absentmindedly. The humming
gradually resolves itself into faint singing._
(_Singing_) "I'm a pretty little feller ... everybody knows ..."
OLIVIA _looks up; a thought crosses her mind. She turns her head and
looks at him.
The Curtain begins to fall slowly.
(Singing, as he intently unravels the string_)
"Don't know what to call me--but I'm mighty lak a rose...."
THE CURTAIN IS DOWN
ACT II
SCENE I
_An afternoon twelve days later. The weather is a little duller._
MRS. BRAMSON _is sitting on the right of the table in her invalid
chair, puzzling out a game of patience. She has smartened up her
appearance in the interval and is wearing purple, and earrings._
OLIVIA _is sitting opposite her, smoking a cigarette, a pencil and
pad on the table in front of her; she is pondering and writing. A
portable gramophone on a small table next the desk is playing the
H.M.V. dance record of "Dames."
A pause_. MRS. BRAMSON _coughs. She coughs again, and looks at_
OLIVIA, _waving her hand before her, clearing away billows of
imaginary smoke_.
OLIVIA: I'm sorry. Is my cigarette worrying you?
MRS. BRAMSON (_temper_): Not at all. I like it!
OLIVIA _stubs out her cigarette with a resigned look and goes on
making notes_. DAN _enters from the kitchen, keeping time to the
music, carrying a bunch of roses, wearing overalls over flannel
trousers and a brown golf jacket, and smoking. He goes to the fireplace
and clumps the roses into a vase on the mantelpiece, humming the tune.
He crosses to the gramophone, still in rhythm,_ MRS. BRAMSON
_keeping time skittishly with her hands. He turns off the gramophone
and looks over_ OLIVIA'S _shoulder at what she is writing._
DAN (_singing_): "Their home addresses ... and their caresses ...
linger in my memory of ... those beautiful dames" ... (_His hand to
his forehead_) That's me!
OLIVIA _looks at him coldly and continues her notes._
MRS. BRAMSON: It won't come out....
DAN _shrugs his shoulders, stands behind_ MRS. BRAMSON'S _chair,
and studies her play._ OLIVIA _follows his example from her
side._
OLIVIA (_pointing to two cards_): Look.
MRS. BRAMSON (_infuriated_): I saw that! Leave me alone, and
don't interfere.
_A pause._ DAN _makes a quick movement and puts one card on
another.
(Pleased and interested, quite unconscious to the difference in her
attitude_) Oh, yes, dear, of course....
OLIVIA (_as_ MRS. BRAMSON _makes a move_): No, that's a
spade.
MRS. BRAMSON (_sharply_): No such thing; it's a club. It's got a
wiggle on it.
DAN: They both got wiggles on 'em. (_Pointing to another card_)
This is a club.
MRS. BRAMSON: Oh yes, dear, so it is! OLIVIA (_writing_): The
ironmonger says there _were_ two extra gallons of paraffin not
paid for.
MRS. BRAMSON: And they _won't_ be paid for either--not if I have
to go to law about it.
_A pause. She coughs absently_.
DAN: I'm sorry. Is my cigarette worrying you?
MRS. BRAMSON: No, no, dear.
_This has its effect on_ OLIVIA. DAN _sits on the left of the
table, where "East Lynne" is open on the table_.
I'm sick of patience.
DAN (_reading laboriously_): "You old-fashioned child--"
MRS. BRAMSON: What?
DAN: _East Lynne_.
MRS. BRAMSON: Oh....
DAN (_reading_): "'You old-fashioned child!' retorted Mrs. Vane.
'Why did you not put on your diamonds?' 'I-did-put on my diamonds,'
stammered Lady Isabel. 'But I--took them off again.' 'What on earth
for?'" That's the other lady speaking there--
MRS. BRAMSON: Yes, dear....
DAN: "'What on earth for?' ... 'I did not like to be too fine,'
answered Lady Isabel, with a laugh--" (_turning over_) "--and a
blush. 'They glittered so! I feared it might be thought I had put them
on to look fine.'"
MRS. BRAMSON (_absently_): Good, isn't it?
DAN (_flicking ash_): Oh, yes, reelistic.... (_Reading_) "'I
see you mean to set up among that class of people who pree-tend to
dee-spise ornyment,' scornfully ree-marked Mrs. Vane. 'It is the
ree-finement of aff-affectation, Lady Isabel----'"
_An excited knock at the kitchen door._ DORA _enters._ DAN
_turns back the page and surveys what he has been reading, scratching
his head._
MRS. BRAMSON (_the old edge to her voice_): What is it?
DORA: Them men's in the wood again.
MRS. BRAMSON: What men?
DORA: The men lookin' for that Mrs. Chalfont.
_A pause._ DAN _hums "Dames" under his breath._
MRS. BRAMSON: You don't mean to tell me they're still at it? But
they've been pottering about since ... when was that day Mr. Dan left
the Tallboys?
DORA (_stressing a little bitterly_): _Mister_ Dan?
DAN (_smiling_): Ahem!...
DORA: _Mister_ Dan first came to work for you, mum, a week last
Monday....
MRS. BRAMSON: Well, I think it's a disgrace----
DORA: _I_'ve found something!
DAN'S _humming stops abruptly; he swivels round and looks at_
DORA, _his face unseen by the audience._ OLIVIA _and_ MRS.
BRAMSON _stare at_ DORA; _a pause._
MRS. BRAMSON: _You've_ found something?
OLIVIA: What?
DORA (_excited_): This!
_She holds out her left arm and lets jail from her fist the length of
a soiled belt. A pause._ OLIVIA _puts down her pencil and pad,
goes to her, and looks at the belt._
OLIVIA: Yes, of course, it's mine! I missed it last week....
MRS. BRAMSON (_baulked of excitement_): Oh yes, I thought I
recognised it.... What nonsense!...
DAN _looks at her; chuckling._
DORA (_going, dolefully_): I'm ever so disappointed....
_She goes into the kitchen._ OLIVIA _goes to the armchair by the
fireplace._
MRS. BRAMSON: She'll be joining Scotland Yard next.... Go on, dear.
DAN (_reading_): "'It is the ree-finement of affectation, Lady
Isabel----'"
_The clock chimes.
(Clapping his hands, to_ MRS. BRAMSON) Ah!
MRS. BRAMSON (_pleased_): Oh, Danny ...
_He hurries to the medicine cupboard and pours medicine into a
spoon._ HUBERT _comes in from the front door._
HUBERT (_eagerly_): Have you heard?
MRS. BRAMSON (_eagerly_): What?
HUBERT: Dora's found a belt!
MRS. BRAMSON (_disappointed again_): Oh ... it was Olivia's.
HUBERT: I say, what a shame!...
MRS. BRAMSON: Tch, tch!... All this sensation-mong----
DAN _drowns her speech by deftly pouring the spoonful of medicine
down her throat. He pushes her chocolate-box towards her, and strides
briskly into the hall._
Horrid....
DAN (_taking a soft hat from the rack and putting it on_): Good
for you, though, the way you are....
MRS. BRAMSON: Yes, dear.
DAN (_coming into the room, and beginning to take off his
overalls_): And now it's time for your walk.... (_Smiling at_
OLIVIA) It's all right, I got trousers on.... (_Peeling the overalls
over his feet, and tossing them on to the left window-seat_) Listen
to me talking about your walk, when you'll be in a chair all the
time.... (_Chuckling, to_ HUBERT) That's funny, isn't it!...
(_Going to_ MRS. BRAMSON) Come on, I got your shawl and your rug
in the hall....
MRS. BRAMSON (_as he wheels her into the hall_): Have you got my
pills?
DAN: I got them in my pocket.
MRS. BRAMSON: And my chocolates?
DAN: I got them in my pocket too. Here's your hat--better put it on
yourself.
MRS. BRAMSON: Yes, dear.
DAN: And here's your shawl.
MRS. BRAMSON: It isn't a shawl, it's a cape.
DAN: Well, I don't know, do I? And I carry your rug on my shoulder....
(_To the others_) See you later! Be good!
_Shutting the front door, his voice dying as the chair passes the
left window._
Down this way to-day....
_A pause. HUBERT and OLIVIA look at each other._
OLIVIA (_suddenly_): What do _you_ think of him?
HUBERT (_a little taken aback_): Him? Grannie's white-headed boy,
you mean? Oh, he's all right. (_Heavily_.) A bit slow on the
uptake, of course. I wish he'd occasionally take that fag-end out of
his mouth.
OLIVIA: He does. For _her_.
HUBERT: That's true. That's why he's made such a hit with her. Funny I
haven't been able to manage it. In two weeks, too ... it's uncanny.
OLIVIA: Uncanny?... I think it's clever.
HUBERT: You don't think he's a wrong 'un, do you?
OLIVIA: What do we know about him?
HUBERT: Why ... his Christian name?
OLIVIA: And that's all.
HUBERT: He looks pretty honest.
OLIVIA: Looks? (_After a pause_.) It's rather frightening to think
what a face can hide.... I sometimes catch sight of one looking at me.
Careful lips, and blank eyes.... And then I find I'm staring at myself
in the glass ... and I realise how successfully I'm hiding the thoughts
I know so well ... and then I know we're all ... strangers. Windows,
with blinds, and behind them ... secrets. What's behind _his_
eyes? (_After a pause, with a smile_) You're quite right, it
_is_ morbid.
HUBERT: D'you think he's a thief or something? By Jove, I left my links
on the washstand before lunch!
OLIVIA: He's acting ... every minute of the time. I know he is! But
he's acting pretty well, because I don't know _how_ I know....
He's walking about here all day, and talking a little, and smiling, and
smoking cigarettes.... Impenetrable ... that's what it is! What's going
on--in his mind? What's he thinking of? (_Vehemently_ ) He
_is_ thinking of something! All the time! What is it?
_DAN enters from the front door and smiles broadly at them._
DAN: Anybody seen my lady's pills? It's a matter of life and death....
I thought _I_ had 'em.
_HUBERT chuckles._
OLIVIA (_after a pause, in a level voice_): Oh, yes. They're in
the top drawer of the desk. I'm so sorry.
DAN: Thank you.
_He salutes her, goes to the desk, and takes out the pills. They
watch him._
MRS. BRAMSON (_off_) Danny!
DAN: Oh, yes, here they are....
HUBERT (_to say something_): Is she feeling off colour again?
DAN (_on his way to the front door_): Off colour? She's never been
on it, man! To hear her go on you'd think the only thing left is
artificial respiration, And chocolates.... (_Laughing, and
calling_) Coming!
_He goes, shutting the front door behind him._
HUBERT: No, really you have to laugh!
OLIVIA: But what you've just seen ... that's exactly what I mean! It's
acting! He's not being himself for a minute--it's all put on for our
benefit ... don't you see?
HUBERT (_banteringly_): D'you know, I think you're in love with
him.
OLIVIA (_with rather more impatience than is necessary_): Don't
be ridiculous.
HUBERT: I was only joking.
OLIVIA: He's common and insolent, and I dislike him intensely.
MRS. TERENCE _comes in from the kitchen._
MRS. TERENCE: What'll you 'ave for tea, scones or crumpets? Can't make
both.
OLIVIA: What d'_you_ think of Dan?
MRS. TERENCE: Dan? Oh, 'e's all right. Bit of a mystery.
HUBERT: Oh.
MRS. TERENCE (_shutting the kitchen door and coming into the middle
of the room_): Terrible liar, o' course. But then a lot of us are.
Told me he used to 'unt to 'ounds and 'ave 'is own pack. Before 'e went
up in the world and went as a page-boy, I suppose.
OLIVIA (_to_ HUBERT): You see? He wouldn't try that on with us,
but couldn't resist it with her.
HUBERT: I wonder how soon the old girl'll get his number?... Oh, but
fair play, we're talking about the chap as if he were the most
terrible----
MRS. TERENCE: Why, what's 'e done?
HUBERT: Exactly.
OLIVIA: I don't know, but I feel so strongly ... Is Dora there?...
(_Calling cautiously_) Dora!
MRS. TERENCE: Oh, she won't know anything. She's as 'alf-witted as
she's lazy, and that's sayin' a lot. She'd cut 'er nose off to stop the
dust-bin smelling sooner than empty it, she would.
DORA _comes in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron._
DORA: Did somebody say Dora?
OLIVIA: Has Dan said any more about marrying you?
DORA: No. _She_ 'asn't brought it up again, either.
OLIVIA: Does he talk to you at all?
DORA (_perplexed_): Oh ... only how-do-you-do and beg-your-pardon.
I've never really spent any time in 'is company, you see. Except, o'
course--
HUBERT: Quite. What's your idea of him?
DORA: Oh.... (_Moving to the centre of the room_) 'E's all right.
Takes 'is fun where 'e finds it. And leaves it.... Cracks 'imself up,
you know. Pretends 'e doesn't care a twopenny, but always got 'is eye
on what you're thinking of 'im ... if you know what I mean.
OLIVIA: Yes, I do. That incredible vanity ... they always have it.
Always.
HUBERT: Who?
_A pause._
OLIVIA: Murderers.
_A pause. They stare at her._
HUBERT: Good God!...
MRS. TERENCE: D'you mean ... this woman they're looking for?
OLIVIA: I'm sure of it.
MRS. TERENCE: But 'es's such a--such a ordinary boy--
OLIVIA: That's just it--and then he's suddenly so ... extraordinary.
I've felt it ever since I heard him sing that song--I told you--
HUBERT: That "mighty-lak-a-rose" thing, you mean? Oh, but it's a pretty
well-known one--
OLIVIA: It's more than that. I've kept on saying to myself: No,
murder's a thing we read about in the papers; it isn't real life; it
can't touch us. ... But it can. And it's here. All round us. In the
forest ... in this house. We're ... living with it. (_After a pause,
rising decisively_) Bring his luggage in here, will you, Mrs.
Terence?
MRS. TERENCE (_staggered_): 'Is luggage? (_Recovering, to_
DORA) Give me a 'and.
_Wide-eyed, she goes into the kitchen, followed by_ DORA.
HUBERT: I say, this is a bit thick, you know--spying--
OLIVIA (_urgently_): We may never have the house to ourselves
again.
_She runs to each window and looks out across the forest._ MRS.
TERENCE _returns carrying luggage: one large and one small
suitcase_. DORA _follows, lugging an old-fashioned thick leather
hat-box_. MRS. TERENCE _places the suitcases on the table_;
DORA _plants the hat-box in the middle of the floor._
MRS. TERENCE (_in a conspiratorial tone_): This is all.
HUBERT: But look here, we can't do this--
OLIVIA _snaps open the lid of the larger suitcase with a jerk. A
pause. They look, almost afraid_. DORA _moves to the back of the
table._
MRS. TERENCE (_as_ OLIVIA _lifts it gingerly_): A dirty shirt ...
HUBERT: That's all right.
OLIVIA: A clean pair of socks ... packet of razor-blades ...
HUBERT: We shouldn't be doing this--I feel as if I were at school
again--
MRS. TERENCE: Singlet ...
OLIVIA: Half ticket to Shepperley Palais de Danse ...
MRS. TERENCE: Oh, it's a proper 'aunt!
DORA: Oh, 'ere's a pocket-book. With a letter.
(_She gives the letter to_ MRS. TERENCE _and the pocket-book
to_ OLIVIA.)
HUBERT: Look here, this is going a bit too far--you can't do this to a
chap--
MRS. TERENCE (_taking the letter from the envelope_): Don't be
silly, dear, your wife'll do it to you 'undreds of times....
(_Sniffing the note-paper_) Pooh.... (_Reading, as they crane
over her shoulder_) "Dear Baby-Face my own ..." Signed Lil....
OLIVIA: What awful writing....
MRS. TERENCE (_reading, heavily_): "... Next time you strike
Newcastle, O.K. by me, baby...." Ooh!
HUBERT: Just another servant-girl.... Sorry, Dora....
DORA (_lugubriously_): O.K.
OLIVIA (_rummaging in the pocket-book_): Bus ticket to Thorburton,
some snaps ...
MRS. TERENCE: Look at 'er _bust_!
OLIVIA: Here's a group.... Look, Hubert....
HUBERT _joins her in front of the table._
HUBERT: This wench is rather fetching.
MRS. TERENCE (_crowding between them_): Look at _'er_!... The
impudence, 'er being taken in a bathing-suit!...
DORA: He's not in this one, is 'e?
HUBERT (_impressed_): Oh, I say ... there _she_ is!
MRS. TERENCE and DORA: who?
HUBERT: The missing female! In front of the tall man.... You remember
the photograph of her in the _Mirror_?
DORA: It's awful to think she may be dead. Awful....
MRS. TERENCE: Looks ever so sexy, doesn't she?
DORA: 'Ere's one of a little boy--
OLIVIA: How extraordinary....
HUBERT: What?
OLIVIA: It's himself.
DORA: The little Eton collar.... Oh, dear ... ever so sweet, isn't it?
MRS. TERENCE: Now that's what I call a real innocent face....
HUBERT (_going to the centre of the room_): Well, that's that....
OLIVIA: Wait a minute, wasn't there another one? (_Seeing the
hat-box_) Oh, yes....
HUBERT (_lifting it on to a chair_): Oh, this; yes....
DORA: Old-fashioned, isn't it?
MRS. TERENCE: I should think he got it from a box-room at the
Tallboys--
OLIVIA (_puzzled_): But it looks so extraordinary--(_She gives a
sudden gasp.)
They look at her. She is staring at the box. A pause._
HUBERT: What is it?
OLIVIA: I don't know.... Suppose there is something ... inside it?
_A pause. They stare at her, fascinated by her thought. The front
door bangs. They are electrified into action: but it is too late. It
is_ DAN. _He goes briskly to the table._
DAN: She wants to sit in the sun now and have a bit of _East
Lynne_. Talk about changin' your mind--
_He sees the suitcases on the table before him, and is motionless and
silent. A pause. The others dare not move. He finally breaks the
situation, takes up "East Lynne" from the table, and walks slowly back
to the front door. He stops, looks round at_ HUBERT, _smiles, and
comes down to him. His manner is normal--too normal._
Could I have it back, please? It's the only one I got....
HUBERT: Oh ... yes, of course.... (_Handing him the pocket-book._)
DAN (_taking it_): Thank you very much.
HUBERT: Not at all ... I ... (_To_ OLIVIA) Here, you deal with
this. It's beyond me.
DAN (_to him_): Did you see the picture of me when I was a little
fellow?
HUBERT: Yes.... Very jolly.
DAN (_turning to_ MRS. TERENCE): Did _you?_ It was in the
inside of my wallet.
MRS. TERENCE: Oh ... was it?
DAN: Yes. Where I should be keeping my money, only any bit of money I
have I always keep _on_ me. (_Turning to_ HUBERT) Safer, don't
you think?
HUBERT (_smiling weakly_): Ye-es....
DAN: I only keep one ten-bob note in this wallet, for emergencies....
(_Looking_) That's funny. It's gone.
_He looks at_ HUBERT. _The others look blankly at one
another._ ... I expect I dropped it somewhere.... What did you think
of the letter?
HUBERT: Letter?
DAN: You got in your hand.
HUBERT: Well, I didn't--er--
DAN: Means well, does Lil; but we had a row. (_Taking back the
letter_) She would spy on me. And if there's anythin' I hate, it's
spyin'. Don't you agree?
HUBERT: Ye-es.
DAN: I'd sooner have anythin' than a spy. (_To_ MRS. TERENCE) Bar
a murderer, o' course.
_A pause. He is arranging his property in his wallet._
HUBERT (_incredulous_): What--what did you say?
DAN (_turning to him casually_): Bar a murderer, o' course!
OLIVIA _steps forward_. MRS. TERENCE _steps back from the chair
on which the hat-box has been placed_.
OLIVIA (_incisively_): Talking of murder, do you know anything
about Mrs. Chalfont's whereabouts at the moment?
DAN _turns to her, and for the first time sees the hat-box. He
stands motionless. A pause._
DAN: Mrs. Who? OLIVIA: You can't pretend you've never heard of her.
DAN (_turning to_ HUBERT, _recovering himself_): Oh, Mrs.
_Chalfont's_ whereabouts! I thought she said her name was Mrs.
Chalfontswear. (_Profusely_) Silly.... Swear--about--couldn't
think----
OLIVIA: Well?
DAN (_still looking at_ HUBERT, _brightly, after a pause_):
I've nothin' to go on, but I think she's been ... murdered.
HUBERT: Oh, you do?
DAN: Yes, I do.
MRS. TERENCE: Who by?
DAN: They say she had several chaps on a string, and----(_Suddenly_)
There was one fellow, a London chap, a bachelor, very citified--with a
fair moust----(_He stares at_ HUBERT.)
HUBERT (_touching his moustache, unconsciously_): What are you
looking at me for?
DAN: Well ... you wasn't round these parts the day she bunked, was you?
HUBERT: Yes, I was, as a matter of fact.
DAN (_significantly_): Oh....
MRS. BRAMSON'S VOICE (_calling in the garden_): Danny!
HUBERT (_flustered_): What in God's name are you getting at?
DAN _smiles and shrugs his shoulders regretfully at him, and goes out
through the front door._ OLIVIA _sits at the table._
MRS. TERENCE (_to_ HUBERT, _perplexed_): Are you sure you
didn't do it, sir?
HUBERT: I'm going out for a breath of air.
_He takes his hat and stick as he goes through the hall, and goes out
through the front door._
MRS. TERENCE (_to_ OLIVIA): You don't still think--
OLIVIA: I won't say any more. I know how silly it sounds.
DORA _runs into the kitchen, snivelling._
MRS. TERENCE (_to_ OLIVIA): The way you worked us all up! Doesn't
it all go to show--
_She hears_ DAN _return, and looks round apprehensively. He goes
to the table slowly and looks at the two suitcases._
DAN (_smiling, to_ MRS. TERENCE): Would you mind please givin' me
a hand with the tidyin' up?... (_Taking up the suitcases_) And
carryin' the other one?... (_Going into the kitchen, followed by_
MRS. TERENCE _carrying the hat-box_) Looks as if we're goin' on
our holidays, doesn't it?...
OLIVIA _is alone for a moment. She stares before her, perplexed._
DAN _returns. She looks away. He looks at her, his eyes narrowed. A
pause. Studying her, he takes from a pocket of his jacket a formidable-
looking clasp-knife, unclasps it, and tests the blade casually with
his fingers. He glances at the mantelpiece, crosses to it, takes down a
stick, and begins to sharpen the end of it._ OLIVIA _watches him.
A pause. _ OLIVIA: _Did_ you do it?
_He whittles at the stick._
DAN: You wouldn't be bad-lookin' without them glasses.
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