Act 2 - 1 Joanna Flashcards
I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re in. I’ve done the most idiotic thing.
Why, what’s happened?
I’ve forgotten my latchkey!
Oh, Joanna!
It’s no good looking at me like that — I’m not in the least In efficient as a rule, this is the first time I’ve ever done such a thing in my life. I’m in an absolute fury. I had to dress in the most awful rush to dine with Freda and get to the Tuscany concert and I left it in my other bag.
And I suppose the servants sleep at the top of the house?
They do more than sleep, they apparently go off into a coma. I’ve been battling on the door for nearly a half hour.
Would you like a drink?
Very much indeed — I’m exhausted.
We must decide what’s best to be done.
I went to a telephone booth just now and rang up Liz but she must be out because there wasn’t any reply.
You rang up Liz and there wasn’t any reply!
Yes, I hadn’t any more change in the taxi man hadn’t either, I came straight here.
Here you are.
Thank you.
Cigarette?
No – thank you – you’re looking very whimsical, don’t you believe me?
Of course I believe you, Joanna, why on earth shouldn’t I?
I don’t know, you always look at me as though you didn’t trust me an inch. It’s a shame because I’m so nice really.
I’m sure you are, Joanna.
I know that voice, Gary, you used it in every play you’ve ever been in.
Complete natural Ness on the stage is my strong suit.
You’ve never liked me really, have you?
No, not particularly.
I wonder why
I always had a feeling you were rather tiresome.
In what way tiresome?
Oh, I don’t know. There’s a certain arrogance about you, a little too much self-assurance.
You don’t care for competition, I see.
You’re lovely looking, of course, I’ve always thought that.
Thank you.
If perhaps a little too aware of it.
You’re being conventionally odious but somehow it doesn’t quite ring true. But then you never do quite ring true, do you? I expect its because you’re an actor, they are always apt to be a bit papier-mâché.
Just puppets, Joanna Deere, creatures of tinsel and sawdust, how clever of you to have noticed it.
I wish you’d stop being suave, just for a minute.
What would you like me to do, fly into a tantrum? Burst into tears?
I think I should like you to be kind.
Kind?
Yes. At least kind enough to make an effort to overcome your perfectly obvious prejudice against me.
I’m sorry it’s so obvious.
I’m not quite an idiot… My reward has been rather meager, from you particularly, nothing but artificial politeness and slightly frigid tolerance.
Poor Joanna.
I see my appeal has fallen on stony ground. I’m so sorry.
What is all this? What are you up to?
I’m not up to anything.
Then sit down again.
I’d like you to call me a taxi.
Nonsense, there’s nothing you’d hate more. You came here for a purpose, didn’t you?
Of course I did. I lost my key, I knew you had a spare room and —
Well?
I wanted to get to know you a little better.
I see.
Oh no you don’t.… I’m sure for instance that you don’t believe for a moment that I’ve lost my latchkey!
Your good — my God, you’re good!
What’s the number of the taxi rank — I’ll ring up myself.
Sloan 2664.
Hello — hello — is that Sloan 2664? — oh! It’s the wrong number. Oh! The lines in gauge! What are you laughing at?
You, Joanna.
You’re enjoying yourself in Normas Lee, aren’t you
You win.
Give me the telephone and don’t be so infuriating.
Have another drink?
No thank you.
A cigarette?
No.
Please — I’m sorry.
I wish you were really sorry.
Maybe I am.
I could cry now, you know very Effectively, if only I had the technique.
Technique’s terribly important.
Oh dear.
Conversation seems to have come to a standstill.
I think perhaps I would like another drink after all, a very small one.
Good. Soup song.
You make me feel extraordinarily self-conscious. Of course that’s one of your most renowned gifts, isn’t it — frightening people?
You’re not going to pretend that I frighten you.
It’s personality, I expect, plus a reputation for being — well — rather ruthless.
Amorously or socially?
Both.
Well — how are we doing?
Better I think.
That’s a very pretty dress.
I wore it for Toscanini.
He frightens people to, when they play the wrong notes.
You look strangely young every now and then. It would be nice to know what you were really like, under all the trappings.
Just a simple boy, stinking with idealism.
Sentimental too, almost Victorian at times at Times
I spend hours at my sampler.
Are you happy on the hall?
Ecstatically.
You never get tired of fixing peoples lives, of being the boss, of everybody adoring you and obeying you?
Never. I revel in it.
I suspected that you did but I wasn’t sure.
Pause
Would you like me to play you something?
No thank you.
Why ever not? You must be mad!
Not mad, just musical.
Snappy too. Quite rude in fact.
Yes, that was rather rude, wasn’t it? I’m sorry.
Never mind. What shall we do now?
Do? Is there any Necessity to do anything?
I don’t know, my social sense tells me that something is demanded of me and I’m not quite sure what it is. That’s why I suggested playing to you.
I’m so glad I’m an adult. You must be pretty shattering to the young and inexperienced. You glitter so brightly — all the little Bealls tingling.
I sound like a circus horse.
You are a rather like a circus horse as a matter of fact! Prancing into the rain to be admired, jumping, with such assurance, through all the paper hoops.
Now listen, Joanna. You’ve got to make up your mind. This provocative skirmishing is getting me down. What do you want?
I want you to be what I believe you really are, friendly and genuine, someone to be trusted. I want you to do me the honor of stopping your eternal performance for a little, ring down the curtain, takeoff your make up and relax.
Everyone keeps telling me to relax.
One can hardly blame them
Shouldn’t I be very vulnerable, dear Delilah, shorn of my nice silky hair?
Why are you so afraid of being vulnerable? I should think it would be rather a relief? To be perpetually on guard must be terribly tiring.
I was right about you from the first.
Where are you?
You’re as predatory as hell!
Gary!
You got the wretched Hugo when he was convalescent, you’ve made a dead set at Morris, and now by God you’re after me! Don’t deny it — I can see it in your eye. You suddenly appear out of the night wreaking with the lust of conquest, the whole atmospheres quivering with it! You had your hair done this afternoon didn’t you? And your nails and probably your feet too!That’s a new dress, isn’t it? Those are new shoes! You’ve never worn those stockings before in your life! And your mind, even more expertly groom to vanquish than your body. You want to know what I’m really like, do you under all the glittering veneer? Well, this is it — fundamentally honest! When I’m driven into a corner I tell the truth, and the truth at the moment is that I know you, Joanna, I know what you’re after, I can see you through every trick. Go away from me! Leave me alone!
Curtain!
Dammit, there isn’t any more soda water.
Take it and eat, darling.
How dare you call me darling.
Because I think you are a darling – I always have. You’re really the reason I married Hugo.
Are there no depths to which you want to send?
Absolutely none. I’m in love with you — I’ve been in love with you for over seven years now, it’s high time somethings done about it.
This is the end!
No, my sweet, only the beginning.
Now listen to me, Joanna —
I think you better listen to me first.
I shall do no such thing.
You must, it’s terribly important to all of us. Please sit down.
I’d rather walk about if you don’t mind.
Sit down, dear sweet Gary, please sit down. I’ve got to explain and I can’t if you’re whirling about all the time.
This is dreadful!
First of all I want you to promise me to answer one question absolutely truthfully. Will you?
What is it?
If you had never seen me in your life before, if we had never met for the first time tonight, if I were in no way concerned with anyone you know, would you have made love to me. Would you have wanted me?
Yes.
Well, that’s that. Now then! —
Look here, Joanna —
Shut up! You must be fair, you must let me explain. What I said just now that you were the reason I married Hugo, that was only partly true.… He’s probably having a high old time in Brussels at this very moment.
You’re lying Joanna.
I’m not lying. I don’t mind enough to lie. He was a darling and I wouldn’t leave him for anything in the world, but you’re the one I’m in love with and always have been.
What about Maurice? Is he in love with you? Has there been anything between you?
Of course there hasn’t.
Do you swear to that?
There’s no need for me to swear it, you can see can’t you?… Who could you and I possibly harm by loving each other for a while?
Please may I get up now?
