Ascot Flashcards
(Beginning of scene 6)
Colonel Pickering I dont understand. Do you mean that my sons is coming to ascot today?
Pickering:
Yes he is Mrs. Higgins. As a matter of fact. He’s here!
What a disagreeable surprise. Ascot is usually the one place I can come to with my friends and not run the risk of seeing my son. Whenever my friends meet him, I never see them again.
Pickering
He had to c ok me, Mrs. Higgins. You see, he’s taking the girl to the annual Embassy Ball, and he wanted to try her out first.
I beg your pardon?
Pickering
You know the annual embassy ball
Yes I know the ball; but what girl?
Pickering
Oh I didn’t mention that?
No, you did not
Pickering
Well, it’s quite simple, really. One night I went to the opera at Covent garden to hear1 of my favorite operas Aida; and as I was coming out incidentally they didn’t do aidathat night, no they did Gotterdammerung instead. I’d never heard of gotterdammerung. by george, that’s a rackety one! When the tenor chap…
What about the girl colenel?
Pickering:
Oh yes, as I was coming out, I met your son, henry, who, in turn, met miss Doolittle, who now lives with henry
Lives with henry! Is it a love affair?
Pickering
Heavens no! She’s a flower girl. He picked her up off the kerbstone.
A flower girl?
Pickering
Yes. Higgins said to me: “Pickering, you see this girl? In six months I could make a duchess of her.” I said: “nonsense” he came right back with: “ yes I can” “all right,” I said, “ I’ll make a bet with you you cant.” And I did. And he is.
But, colonel, I still dont understand.
Pickering
Excuse me, mrs.higgins. I must fetch her.
But colonel, am I to understand that henry is bringing a flower girl to ascot?
Pickering
Yes mrs. Higgins! That’s it that’s it precisely! Jolly good Mrs. Higgins! Jolly good!
Charles, you better stay close to the car. I may be leaving abruptly.
Higgins
I dont know where the devil they could be. Oh darling! Have you seen Pickering? My you do look nice!
I saw colonel Pickering, and henry, dear, I am most provoked. I’ve heard you brought a common flower girl from Covent garden to my box at ascot.
Higgins
Oh, darling, she’ll be all right. I’ve taught her to speak properly, and she has strict orders as to her behavior. She’s to keep to 2 subjects: weather and everybody’s health - sort of fine day and how do you do. And not just let herself go on things in general. Help her along darling and you’ll be quite safe
Safe? To talk about our health in the middle of a race?
Higgins
Well she’s got to talk about something
Henry, your not even dressed properly.
Higgins
I changed my shirt
Where is the girl now?
Higgins
Being pinned. Some of the clothes we bought for her didn’t quite fit. I told Pickering we should have taken her with us.
You’re a pretty pair of babies playing with your live doll. Ah mrs. Eynsford-hill!
Mrs.eynsford-hill
Is this your celebrated son? Mrs. Higgins?
I’m sorry to say my celebrated son has no manners. He may be the life and soul of the royal society soirees, but he’s rather trying on more commonplace occasions
Higgins
Ah!
Ah colonel Pickering, you’re just in time for tea.
Pickering
Thank you. Mrs. Higgins, may I introduce miss Eliza Doolittle?
My dear miss Doolittle.
Eliza
How kind of you to let me come.
Delighted my dear. Mrs. Eynsford-hill. Miss Doolittle.
Eliza
How do you do? (2)
And freddy Eynsford-hill
Freddy
The first race was very exciting, miss Doolittle. I’m so sorry you missed it
Will it rain do you think?
Eliza
My aunt died of influenza, so she said.but it’s my belief they done the old woman in.
Done her in?
Yes, lord love you! Why should she die of influenza when she come through diphtheria right enough the year before? Fairly blue with it she was. They all thought she was dead; but my father, he kept ladling gin down her throat. Then she came to so sudden that she bit the bowl off the spoon.
Dear me!
If I was doing it proper, what was you laughing at? Have I said anything I oughtn’t?
Not at all my dear.
Pickering
I dont suppose there’s enough time before the next race to place a bet? Come my dear.
I’m afraid not colonel Pickering.
