Act 1 Scene 3

Question 1

(Enter)

Answer 1

Oh, Jesus, Jimmy. You scared me.

Question 2

Oh. Sorry. I was just going.

Answer 2

I’m just out of the bath. Norma and I are going to the opera with Kitty tonight. She says she can’t take her husband now because, you know–

Question 3

It’ll turn him gay?

Answer 3

Precisely. That’s my bread. And my milk.

Question 4

I’m hungry. There’s no food at our house.

Answer 4

Well, you do have to buy it.

Question 5

…Alone and confused with nothing but cheese.

Answer 5

Make a grocery list and give me five dollars. I’ll go for you.

Question 6

…and suddenly our whole world’s gone sour.

Answer 6

Jimmy, everything wasn’t fine yesterday morning. We just… Sometimes the compromises you make for the things, the people, you want… It can take a toll.

Question 7

…Get some sunshine.

Answer 7

Book a couple of adjoining rooms.

Question 8

…whatever outdoorsy girls like to do.

Answer 8

Norma still wants a baby.

Question 9

Does she know where they come from?

Answer 9

She knows we can’t. Not with the way things are. Not ever, if we’re bring realistic. But it’s things like that, the hopes you have that you give up, that’s what keeps you up at night.

Question 10

…Focus on what’s in front of you.

Answer 10

Oh, well if that’s the order from Bob…

Question 11

The order? What is this?

Answer 11

We’re doing our best, Jimmy. It’s just different for us that it is for you.

Question 12

We give up things too, Millie.

Answer 12

Really? What do you and Bob lose?

Question 13

…You two would be hard pressed to survive on just Norma’s salary.

Answer 13

I could get a job. I was a really good waitress. Or I could write again, I never should have given that up.

Question 14

Absolutely, I’m sure a secretary and a waitress could afford the lifestyle you’ve grown accustomed to.

Answer 14

It is a set, Jimmy. It is a set, and these are the costumes. I would gladly give it up to have one photograph of Norma and me displayed anywhere in my home. Instead, I keep our photos stashed in a little box inside the writing desk.

Question 15

You’d give up all that we have to put up photographs.

Answer 15

Yeah. I really would.

Question 16

Must be some great snapshots.

Answer 16

They are, Jimmy. They’re proof of who we are.

Question 17

Got the mail. I put coffee on.

Answer 17

Thanks, babe.

Question 18

What you got there?

Answer 18

The photos of us at Yellowstone. In the canoe. Before it overturned.

Question 19

…I just don’t feel like running into him just yet.

Answer 19

You’re safe. He’s out. Jimmy’s over there eating a cheese sandwich. Let me throw on some clothes, I told Jimmy I’d go to the market for him. Might drag him along, he’s morose today.

Question 20

What time does Kitty’s car arrive?

Answer 20

Not til six, I just wanted an excuse to take a bubble bath in the middle of the day.

Question 21

(Door buzzer sounds)

Answer 21

That’s the laundry! There’s money in my purse!

Question 22

And you as well. (Enter)

Answer 22

So that was–

Question 23

Barbara Grant. The most popular gal in translation.

Answer 23

Is she under investigation?

Question 24

Of course she is. For the company she keeps.

Answer 24

That poor woman.

Question 25

She’s prepared for the attack. Said she’s not vulnerable to blackmail because she has nothing to hide.

Answer 25

One can say that until the character attacks actually begin.

Question 26

…Perhaps she’s made of stronger stuff than the rest of us.

Answer 26

Norma, really. I would say we are more morally sound than some dish.

Question 27

…Would you do that? (Door buzzer)

Answer 27

Please let that be the laundry.

Question 28

Oh, hello.

Answer 28

Hello there.

Question 29

You must be Mrs. Martindale.

Answer 29

And you must be… I have no idea.

Question 30

Barbara Grant. I work at the Department with your husband.

Answer 30

That’s so exciting! A career gal! Norma told me you stopped by.

Question 31

Is Mrs. Baxter still here?

Answer 31

No. She went home. You forgot your hat! I’ll get it.

Question 32

Thank you, I’d forget my head, I swear it.

Answer 32

I’m so sorry, Barbara Grant, but–

Question 33

Forgive me, Mrs. Martindale, you look so farmiliar.

Answer 33

Have you ever seen the girl in the ads for Lustre Creme hair shampoo? Billboards were everywhere, and in Life Magazine.

Question 34

Yes, I have!

Answer 34

Well, I look a lot like her. I must be on my way. To the grocer, for flour, I’m completely and utterly out, and if I try to bake a cake without it again, Bob will be so cross.

Question 35

All right. Well, thank you again.

Answer 35

Of course, I’ll tell Bob you stopped by.

Question 36

Mrs. Martindale, I’m certain we’ve met before.

ISWH,IGTSMDWOCFTMOW.

Answer 36

I’m sure we have, I go to so many dinners with overcooked chicken for the Maharaja of Whosawhatsit. I never know what to say at those things. I’ll bet you’re there, to translate. How do you say “This chicken is a little dry” in some other language?

Question 37

Das Hanchen schmeckt ein bisschen ausgetrcoknet.

Answer 37

Oh, that sounds so angry, what is that?

Question 38

German.

Answer 38

Maybe I’ll meet Marlene Dietrich one day and I can use that! But I’m sure they wouldn’t give her dry chicken, she’s far too glamerous. Probably swordfish, something exotic.

Question 39

Did you ever live–

Answer 39

I’d hate to plan a meal for her, I can’t even remember to buy flour. I’ll bet they’d give dry chicken to Hitler. If he wasn’t dead. But I don’t think I’d attend that dinner, it wouldn’t feel right. You never met him, did you?

Question 40

Um, no. I never met Hitler.

Answer 40

He was just awful, wasn’t he?

Question 41

Yes, he was awful – I can’t –

Answer 41

My goodness, all this talk of poultry and Nazis, and I still need flour!

Question 42

But–

Answer 42

Bye-bye, Miss Grant!

Question 43

What’s wrong? You look vexed.

Answer 43

The summer in Quebec, when I was nineteen.

Question 44

Where is your mind?

Answer 44

The professor, remember?

Question 45

Yes, my angel, you do love to tell that story.

Answer 45

Norma. The professor. Was Barbara Grant.