ANN (Off, quietly): What’s that?
(He has an erection.)
PETER (Off): I’m sorry.
ANN (Off): Don’t be. Me?
PETER (Off): Ann, I’m trying to take a—
ANN (Still from behind the screen): The first erection I ever saw, he was a miner, he was all black.
PETER (Off): I don’t want to know, Ann.
(Pause.)
ANN (Off): You going to do something with that?
PETER (Off): It’ll—calm down.
ANN (Off): Will it?
PETER (Off): Not if you keep staring at it.
ANN (Off): And if I touch it?
PETER (Off): Ann, what are you . . .?
(From behind the screen we hear the water move around as Ann touches Peter.)
ANN (Off): If you don’t want me to . . . Say something.
PETER (Off): Ann.
ANN (Off): Something besides Ann.
(She is masturbating him. The water sounds get quicker, as her hand moves quicker, then splashing, then he comes.
Silence.
Ann comes out from behind the screen, trying to dry the arm she has just had in the water. She is shaking.
She sits, unable to say anything. From behind the screen no sound whatsoever.)
(Finally) Mind if I turn on the radio?
(She does. Music. We hear Peter get out of the bath. He puts on his trousers and comes out, holding his shirt. As he reaches Ann, she grabs his shirt.)
Look at that. Let me darn it.
(He stands uncomfortably, not knowing what to do with himself, with his hands, etc. Music continues on the radio.)
(With the shirt) My God, was there no one looking after you? (Gets the sewing box and sits. After a moment she looks up, smiles at him, then begins to darn. As she sews:) At school in Wales, there was this big sign—official poster from the government: “What girls can do to win the war.” What jobs— Like— (Nods to her darning) “Study your sewing machine,” it said. “Snug slippers from old felt hats.” But we didn’t have any old felt hats in Wales . . . things to fix—so you wouldn’t depend upon, I suppose, your father. Get used to him not . . . there?? “When a drawer sticks . . .” Vi and I used to pretend that our “drawers” were stuck— (Mimes underpants stuck. She looks at Peter who smiles) They can get a child to believe anything.
(Peter comes up to her. He is still shirtless, sockless. He looks at her from behind, holds her shoulders. She sighs and leans back.)
I’m sorry.
(He touches her hair, then leans down and tries to kiss her.)
No!!
(She pushes him back and slaps his hand. He is very confused now.)
No. (Rubs her eyes, then) Some days I lie awake in bed and I think—but I’m still a child myself. What the hell am I doing having a baby? (Beat) But I’ll be a good mother. Won’t I?
(He hesitates, then nods.)
I think I’m ready. I was like a mother to Vi for so long. (Beat) And before that, before you—left—to you.
PETER: I thought Betty mostly—
ANN: We shared. She dressed you. (Beat) I bathed you.
(Suddenly the door bursts open and Vi enters. Ann and Peter nearly jump, and move quickly and guiltily away from each other.)
VI (As she enters, noticing nothing): It’s raining! They won’t be shooting outside. At least I didn’t waste my money on the tube. (She is off down the hall to her room)
ANN (To Peter): Have you finished your bath?
(Beat. Peter goes and turns the tub over into a drain. As the water pours out, Vi returns, having taken off her blouse. She carries another shirt. She wears a bra but doesn’t seem in the least bit self-conscious in front of her brother.)
VI: So what are you two doing today?
ANN: I have some cleaning and washing—
VI: Peter, what about you?—
ANN (Over this): Mike’s asked him to drop by the surgery this afternoon. See what he thinks.
PETER: I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I think I want to take my time before—
VI: Then come to the pictures with me!! (Puts her arm in his, still both shirtless) I hate going alone. A girl alone—they come out of the woodwork. (To Ann) Don’t they?
ANN: I wouldn’t—
VI (To Peter): Come on, protect me! I’ll put my arm around you and pretend you’re my big boyfriend. (Laughs. She goes to get the paper) What’s showing? It’ll say in the . . . Where’s—?
(She sees the paper. Ann heads off.)
PETER: Where are you—?
ANN: I have a headache. I’m going to lie down. (Starts to leave, stops) Vi?
(Vi turns to her.)
Peter’s not a little boy anymore. I don’t think we should walk around like that in front of him.
(She goes. Vi smiles, then looks at Peter and smiles, then as she looks through the paper, she rather self-consciously puts her blouse on and begins to button it.)
SCENE 4
That night.
Vi sits at the upright, slightly out-of-tune piano, playing as the others sing. The others now include Hugh, late forties, and his daughter Rose, nineteen. Betty is in the kitchen.
ALL (Singing):
The Bells of St. Mary’s
I hear they are calling
The young loves
The true loves
Who come from the sea.
And so my beloved
When red leaves are falling
The love bells shall ring out
Ring out for you and me.
(They finish, but Hugh, who has been standing and singing enthusiastically, starts one more chorus—alone. Vi plays for him. He has an OK voice, though obviously thinks it is a very fine one.)
HUGH (Singing):
The Bells of St. Mary’s
I hear they are calling
(He sits on the piano bench next to Vi. He looks at her and smiles as he sings.)
The young loves
(He puts a hand on Vi’s shoulder.)
The true loves
Who come from the sea.
(Vi, without missing a beat, pushes his hand off her shoulder.)
And so my beloved
When red leaves are falling
(He gestures for all to join in.)
ALL (Singing):
The love bells shall ring out
(Peter tries to catch Ann’s eye, but she won’t look at him.)
Ring out for you and me!
(As they finish, Hugh laughs and applauds the others. They laugh and applaud as well.
Mike, who has been holding a tray of drinks, begins passing them out. When Hugh gets his, he raises it to Peter:)
HUGH: And Pete, my boy—welcome home to England!
PETER (Under his breath, correcting): Peter.
ALL: Welcome home!
(Those who don’t have glasses reach for one, and the “welcome home” sort of fades out around the spilling drinks, clinking glasses, etc.)
ANN: And how we’ve missed him.
(Peter suddenly turns to Ann, who turns away. Betty enters from the kitchen carrying a cake.)
BETTY: Did I hear “welcome home”?!
(Reactions from the others: “Look at this!” “Oh my God!” “It’s beautiful!” “A cake!” etc.)
(Over this) Four eggs went into this!
VI (Explaining): We pooled our coupons.
BETTY: It’s just out of the oven.
(The others smell.)
PETER (Touched): Thank you.
BETTY: It was Ann’s idea.
(Peter turns to Ann, hesitates.)
VI: Go ahead and hug her. She’s not going to bite.
(Peter gives Ann a gentle hug of thank you.)
(To the others) Why are men like that with pregnant women? They think they’re going to break them?
(She laughs. Ann smiles, first at Peter, then at the others.)
MIKE (About the cake): Why are you showing him now? We haven’t eaten.
VI: As if he c
ouldn’t smell it.
MIKE: What happened to surprises?
BETTY: We’ve had enough surprises.
HUGH (Over some of this): A cake! So now we start to have cakes again! Now there’s a sign that it’s all over.
MIKE: I think it’s just a cake.
HUGH: I haven’t even seen four eggs together since— Things are back the way they used to be!—
BETTY (To Ann, over this): Is that what a cake means?
(Ann shrugs.)
I’d better take it back.
VI (Standing): I can do that. Sit down, Betty.
BETTY: Supper will be ready—in ten minutes.
(Vi takes the cake from Betty.)
PETER (To Betty): Beautiful cake. Really.
BETTY (Pinching his cheek): For my baby.
HUGH (To Vi as she starts for the kitchen): I’m sorry about—putting my arm on . . . I didn’t mean . . . It must have been a—reflex?
(He smiles at her. This has got the attention of the room. Vi says nothing and leaves for the kitchen.)
MIKE: What did you do?
HUGH: At the piano, I touched her shoulder. She flinched— You’d think I’d . . . (Laughs) I didn’t mean—
BETTY (Suddenly grabs his hand and puts it on her shoulder): Here. You can put it here. (Laughs) All of us don’t mind.
(The others laugh. She wears her new blouse—without a bra. Hugh catches a quick look down her blouse.)
HUGH: Nice blouse.
BETTY (Turns to Peter and says a little too loud): See!
PETER (To Ann, confused): See what?
ANN (Ignoring Peter): All he gave me was a necklace.
(She is wearing it. Rose turns and looks at it and smiles. Beat. Then, as Vi is out of the room:)
HUGH: She’s a charming girl, Vi.
MIKE: She is.
HUGH: Plays the piano—very nicely. (Turns to Betty, whom he is still holding) She’s the youngest?
PETER: No, I am.
HUGH (To Betty): An actress too? I can see that.
BETTY: Why are we talking about Vi?
ANN (To Rose): What about you, Rose, any brothers or sisters?
(Rose shakes her head. Hugh grabs her and hugs her—she barely lets him.)
HUGH (Hugging Rose): All alone in the world, poor baby. (As he hugs her, he turns to Peter) So you were gone—five years?
PETER: Nearly six.
HUGH (Still hugging Rose): My God, will our children ever forgive us?
MIKE (Sipping his drink): What choice was there? So what is there to forgive us for?
BETTY (Looking at Peter): Still—look how well he’s turned out. Except for the accent! (Smiling, goes to Peter) And we’ll get rid of that!!! (Starts tickling him)
PETER (Trying to get away): Betty, stop it! Stop! Ann!
(Ann doesn’t move.)
ROSE: I think he sounds like a movie star.
BETTY: A movie star!! Oh that’s even worse!! (Tickles him even more)
HUGH (Over this, nodding to Rose): Her mother ran off with an American.
(This quiets Betty.)
(To Rose) When was this? (Smiles)
ROSE: You know very well.
HUGH (Continues): August ’43. A journalist. He comes to talk to me about the demands of surgery. At home. What we have to cope with. I told him—we work twelve-hour days. “Don’t you even come home for tea?” he asks. “No, sir. Not these days.” Then for some reason—I come home for tea—and guess who’s in bed with her mother? (Laughs) So there he is, trying to put on his trousers and he’s shouting at me: “You lied to me! You lied to the press!”
(Laughter. Perhaps Hugh laughs a little too hard.)
BETTY (Laughing, still a little giddy): Father would have liked that. (To Rose) He was a journalist.
HUGH (To Rose): She’s where now? I always forget.
ROSE: No, you don’t.
HUGH: Cleveland, Ohio. I found a magazine with some pictures. Looks like a godforsaken place. (Shrugs) But I’m sure she’s right at home.
(Short pause.)
ROSE (Quietly): That’s not how it happened.
(Vi comes out of the kitchen, everyone turns to her.)
VI (Confused): What??
ROSE (Graciously): You’re an actress, I understand. You sing and play wonderfully well.
(Vi smiles, but is still a little confused why she is the center of attention.)
BETTY: She was almost in Autumn Fire.
ROSE: Which one—?
HUGH (Interrupting): Rose sings. (Beat) Sing.
ROSE: Father—
HUGH: Like a bird. And dances. (Turns to Peter) When she was a kid, she used to pull up her skirt and really kick like she’d seen in the pictures. It was the sweetest thing—and sexy. (To Rose, smiling) I can say that now.
ROSE: Father—
PETER: I’m sure—
HUGH (Over this, continuing): Now she’s going to be a teacher. And that’s very clever, isn’t it?
PETER (Being polite): How interesting—
HUGH (Over him, to Ann): You know you’ve got lots of company, don’t you?
ANN (Confused): Company? What . . .?
HUGH (To the room): I don’t think a day goes by— (Turns to Mike) Does it?
MIKE: I don’t know what you’re—
HUGH (Continuing): —without two, three, sometimes five, even six women coming in—pregnant.
ANN: I do know two or—
HUGH (Not listening): It’s like a—what’s the word I’m looking for?
PETER: Plague?
(Others laugh, then Peter laughs.)
HUGH (Laughing): No! Anyway, I figure, and I’ve talked about this with Rose—and I think she’s listened—it’s teachers that are really going to be needed now. Someone to take care of all these bloody babies. (Beat) It’s the field right now.
BETTY: Sounds like it.
HUGH: And Rose has got it worked out so . . . Tell them.
ROSE (Embarrassed): Tell them what, Father?
HUGH: That if—you—how it’s not a waste . . .
ROSE (Biting the bullet): If I study to be a teacher and—and I get married, then well, I haven’t really wasted my time. I can put what I’ve learned into helping my own children.
HUGH (Rubs her head): Clever, isn’t she? And realistic. Did you know that there are nearly two girls for every boy right now? (To Peter) Maybe you shouldn’t be hearing this. (Laughs) For every healthy boy. So you’ve got to be realistic. (Beat) Betty’s realistic.
BETTY: Am I?
HUGH: I’ve seen you at Mike’s side. He’d better be careful or I’ll steal you away! (Laughs)
BETTY (Over the laughter): Please, steal me away!
(More laughter. She catches Mike’s eye.)
MIKE (Joining in the “joking”): You’ll have to fight me first!
BETTY (Smiling): Is that really true?
(The laughter subsides, then:)
MIKE: Seriously, Betty’s a fine nurse. Any surgeon would be lucky to have her at his side. (Looks at Betty, then “presents her”) And she cooks!
(Peter laughs, thinking this is still the joking, but no one else does. Suddenly the conversation has taken a more serious tone.)
HUGH: I’m looking forward to supper. (Turns to Betty) And that is a very handsome blouse.
BETTY: Thank you.
MIKE: She manages the whole household. Doesn’t she?
(He turns to Ann and Vi, who say nothing.)
BETTY: And I keep the books.
PETER (Confused): What is—?
ANN: Sh-sh. (Hits him to be quiet)
(Hugh stares at Betty, who stands perfectly still.)
HUGH (Finally): And you’re the oldest.
(Betty nods.)
Usually the oldest is the most responsible. Most trustworthy.
MIKE: When Ann and Vi returned from Wales—Betty was like their mother. She did everything. (Looks Betty over again)
HUGH: I can’t believe you wouldn’t miss her, Mike.
MIKE: I know I would.
(Short pause.)
BETTY (Finally): Dinner should be ready. Excuse me. (Goes off to the kitchen)
PETER (Half-whisper to Ann): Isn’t he going to look at her teeth?
ANN: Sh-sh!
MIKE (To Hugh, as he fills his glass): Always the responsible one. She runs the surgery for me, Hugh. There are days when I think why did I even bother to come in.
(Beat.)
ROSE: Are you looking for a nurse, Father?
(No response. Suddenly Hugh turns his attention to Vi:)
HUGH: But you—you are a wonderful singer. And I love—to sing. As you probably figured out.
VI (Barely hiding the lie): And you sing very well.
HUGH: Thank you.
ROSE: If a little too loudly.
(They laugh. Hugh turns back to Vi.)
HUGH: You sing. You play. You act?
VI: Yes. (Stands, feeling awkward, caught in his stare)
ANN: When we were at school, Vi won third prize for her singing.
HUGH: Only third prize?
VI: This was in Wales.
HUGH: Of course. What sort of plays do you like to act in?
(Vi doesn’t know how to answer.)
I’ve always thought that backstage in a theatre must be one of the most—I don’t know—there must be a real kind of excitement. Of life. Actors rushing around, changing costumes— right off the stage, I’m told— Waiting. Anticipating. Then!
(Slaps his hands) I’ve had two patients who were actresses. I know something about acting.
(He stares at her, then she goes and sits. He turns to Ann.)
And you, Ann, we haven’t said a word about you.
ANN: I don’t think Mike will let you steal me away.
(Laughter.)
(To Mike) Will you?
(More laughter.)
HUGH (Looking at her): I haven’t delivered enough babies. I should deliver more. (Beat) They’re inducing more and more now, aren’t they, Mike? It’s so much easier to schedule that way. You go from one to the next, I’m told. And it’s even safer for the mother, isn’t it?
MIKE: As soon as her waters break, we plan to induce.
VI (To Ann): Do you know about this?
ANN: Mike’s told me what to expect.
MIKE: Which isn’t much. We’ll put her under. She won’t feel a thing. She won’t even know what’s happening to her.
(He takes Ann’s hand and squeezes it. Hugh suddenly turns to Peter.)
HUGH: Rose here, Peter, is also a very good cook.
ROSE: Daddy!
PETER: That’s— (“nice”)
Goodnight Children Everywhere and Other Plays Page 28