Inside Shop

Question 1

*Madame Knorr’s Fashion House Scene Starr

Answer 1

WEINBERL: What do you think?

Question 2

CHRISTOPHER: It has a certain Scottish audacity.

*Shoplady humfps

Answer 2

WEINBERL: Ah, there you are at last. Am I addressing the arbiter of this fashion house?

Question 3

PHILIPPINE: I’m sure I don’t know, sir. I will fetch Madame at once. But excuse me, sir, that is a lady’s cape.

Answer 3

WEINBERL: I know. I was trying it on for a lady of my size and acquaintance.

Question 4

PHILIPPINE: That cape is reserved. It has a ticket on it.

Answer 4

WEINBERL: Yes. I know. (Reads the ticket.) Frau Fischer. I have come to collect it and pay for it.

Question 5

CHRISTOPHER: Not exactly to pay for it.

Answer 5

WEINBERL: No, not exactly to pay for it, but to confirm payment.

Question 6

CHRISTOPHER: I think it is all clear now, Herr Fischer.

Answer 6

WEINBERL: Is that clear?

Question 7

PHILIPPINE: I’m not sure. I’d better go and fetch Madame.

Answer 7

WEINBERL: Excellent idea.

Question 8

CHRISTOPHER: Meanwhile we’ll be off.

Answer 8

WEINBERL: -ally grateful if you would take care of this. (He hands her the cape grandly.)

Question 9

PHILIPPINE: Yes, sir. Did you say Herr Fischer?

Answer 9

WEINBERL: Certainly. Would I pay –

Question 10

CHRISTOPHER: Confirm payment.

Answer 10

WEINBERL: Confirm payment for somebody else’s wife?
(To CHRISTOPHER.) Why don’t you see if our friend is anywhere in sight?

Question 11

CHRISTOPHER: Good idea. I’ll be back in a moment.

Answer 11

WEINBERL: Is anything the matter?

Question 12

PHILIPPINE: Frau Fischer has been a widow for three years.

Answer 12

WEINBERL: She thinks she has, yes.

Question 13

PHILIPPINE: She thinks she has? What about the funeral?

Answer 13

WEINBERL: It was the funeral that put the idea into her head. That she’d always be a widow. However, three days ago she did me the honour of becoming my wife.
(To CHRISTOPHER who has paused in admiration on his way out)
You will come back, won’t you?
(CHRISTOPHER goes.)

Question 14

PHILIPPINE: I’ll fetch Madame immediately. She’s upstairs in the workroom.

Answer 14

WEINBERL: Tell her there’s no hurry – she’s probably busy hemming and hawing.

Question 15

PHILIPPINE: But, Herr Fischer, why didn’t Frau Fischer change her name to yours instead of you changing your name to hers?

Answer 15

WEINBERL: She did. I didn’t. My name, as it happens, is also Fischer. That’s how we met. We were placed in alphabetical order in a fire drill at the riding academy.

Question 16

MRS FISCHER: Not long at all.

Answer 16

WEINBERL: No, not long.

Question 17

MME KNORR: Isn’t she priceless?

Answer 17

WEINBERL: I expect you think I’m rather presumptuous.

Question 18

MRS FISCHER: No, I wouldn’t say you were presumptuous. Presumption one has encountered before.

Answer 18

WEINBERL: Well, a little forward.

Question 19

MME KNORR: Oh do tell.

Answer 19

WEINBERL: My dear wife can tell you just as well as I.

Question 20

MRS FISCHER: But I would like you to tell her.

Answer 20

WEINBERL: And I would like you to tell her – after all she’s your friend.

Question 21

MRS FISCHER: It was a whim of my dear husband’s.

Answer 21

WEINBERL: And at the same time a whim of my dear wife’s.

Question 22

MME KNORR: But it is extraordinary.

Answer 22

WEINBERL: There is nothing extraordinary about it. When two attractive people …

Question 23

MRS FISCHER: Entirely.

Answer 23

WEINBERL: Yes, indeed. Well, I must be going.

Question 24

MRS FISCHER: Going? What do you mean?

Answer 24

WEINBERL: I have some business to attend to.

Question 25

MRS FISCHER: Aren’t you going to see me try on my new Scottish cape? After all it wouldn’t be fair if you didn’t like it.

Answer 25

WEINBERL: Why?

Question 26

MRS FISCHER (To MADAME KNORR, joshingly) Why?! – isn’t he the soul of generosity? If I like something, that’s enough for him.

Answer 26

WEINBERL: Actually, I think this tartan fad has had its fling, you know.

Question 27

MRS FISCHER: Had its fling! – such a sense of humour. We’ll take it.
MME KNORR: (To WEINBERL) Will it be cash or account?

Answer 27

WEINBERL: Account, I think. Well, if that’s all you wanted … Delighted to have met you at last – my wife has told me so much about you.

Question 28

MRS FISCHER: Don’t be so impatient, my dear – I’ve had such a wonderful idea.

Answer 28

WEINBERL: One needs a lot of patience in a marriage, I find.

Question 29

MRS FISCHER: I hope I’ve never given you cause for complaint.

Answer 29

WEINBERL: Oh no.

Question 30

MRS FISCHER: Have I ever contradicted you on matters large or small?

Answer 30

WEINBERL: No never. I am sure you won’t mind if I now leave you with your friend and your Scottish cape and go about my business.

Question 31

MME KNORR: A celebration supper! Isn’t fate extraordinary! I was hoping my fiancée would pin me down at the Black and White Chop House tonight, but, not for the first time, he preferred to stand me up.

Answer 31

WEINBERL: Did he?

Question 32

MRS FISCHER: So you will oblige us, won’t you?

Answer 32

WEINBERL: I would adore to but alas –

Question 33

MRS FISCHER: Very well! – Eugenia, my dear, I’m afraid I have to tell you – that this man –

Answer 33

WEINBERL: Why don’t we all walk around to the Black and White Chop House and raise a foaming tankard to our happiness. And after that I really must dash.

Question 34

MME KNORR: That’s a wonderful idea! I do think your wife deserves a kiss for that.

Answer 34

WEINBERL: Do you think so?

Question 35

MME KNORR: Oh, I do!

Answer 35

WEINBERL: Well, I’m not going to deny anyone their due. Permit me.
(WEINBERL kisses MRs Fischer, to her embarrassment.)

Question 36

MME KNORR: Do you call that a kiss? You don’t have to stand on ceremony in front of me.

Answer 36

WEINBERL: Oh very well. (He gives her a lingering kiss on the mouth.) And in case my bride has any more good ideas I’ll give her one on account.
(He kisses her again. CHRISTOPHER enters the shop.)

Question 37

CHRISTOPHER: All clear.

Answer 37

WEINBERL: Ah, there you are. I don’t think you’ve met my wife. This is my cousin from the country. I’m the kissing cousin, he’s the country cousin. My wife – my wife’s friend, Madame Knorr – my cousin – the four of us are going to have supper together at … (He looks enquiringly at MRS FISCHER.)

Question 38

MRS FISCHER: The Imperial Gardens Café.

Answer 38

WEINBERL: The Imperial Gardens Café. (Together to and with Christopher) Where else? Go and fetch a cab …
(He ushers CHRISTOPHER out.)
He’ll be back in a few moments.

Question 39

MRS FISCHER: We’ll keep the cab and go on somewhere else.

Answer 39

WEINBERL: Another good idea!