You’re just being polite. I dance like an elephant.

Carol

Don’t be ridiculous. It would be terribly funny if anyone suddenly came in and found us.

Evelyn

There’s not the least chance of it.

[They dance in silence for a little.]

Carol

Oh!

Evelyn

What is it?

Carol

We nearly crashed into that chair.

Evelyn

I’m afraid I wasn’t concentrating.

Carol

That’s very naughty of you. You must.

Evelyn

All right.

[The record comes to an end.]

Carol

Put on another.

Evelyn

Very well.

[While he does so, Carol looks at herself carefully in the glass over the mantelpiece.]

Carol

I’m enjoying myself frightfully.

Evelyn

Are you, really?

Carol

Aren’t you?

Evelyn

You know I am.

[He takes her in his arms again.]

Carol

You really must hold me a little tighter—it’s so much easier to follow.

Evelyn

Like that?

Carol

Yes—like that.

[They stand still, she surrendering herself to him, and holds up her face deliberately to be kissed.]

Evelyn

[Softly]

Carol!

[He kisses her. They stand tightly clasped for a moment; then he firmly disentangles himself and turns off the gramophone.]

Carol

[Sinking onto the sofa and passing her hand across her eyes]

Oh, Evie!

Evelyn

[In a different tone]

I thought so.

Carol

[Looking up quickly]

What do you mean?

Evelyn

It’s unbelievable.

[He strides about a little.]

Carol

[Alarmed]

What on earth are you talking about?

Evelyn

I was right. I knew it.

Carol

[Becoming exasperated]

Knew what?

Evelyn

I’m not quite such easy game as all that.

Carol

[Rising]

Evie!

Evelyn

What a little rotter you are.

Carol

[Outraged]

What!!

Evelyn

Yes, you may well look surprised. I, unfortunately, am not surprised.

Carol

[After a pause]

I’m beginning to understand.

Evelyn

I’m glad.

Carol

Very clever. I must congratulate Edward.

Evelyn

It’s nothing to do with Edward.

Carol

Liar!

[She goes and takes up her cloak.]

Evelyn

You’re not going yet.

Carol

On the contrary, I’m going immediately.

Evelyn

Not until I choose.

Carol

Don’t speak to me like that.

Evelyn

I’m going to speak to you as you’ve never been spoken to before.

Carol

Pompous ass!

[She flings her cloak over her arm and goes toward the door. Evelyn stands between her and the door.]

Evelyn

You’re going to stay here.

Carol

[Contemptuously]

Don’t be so ridiculous.

Evelyn

I mean it.

Carol

Are you quite mad?

Evelyn

No, not at all; I’m unflatteringly sane.

Carol

Do you intend to use force to keep me here?

Evelyn

Yes, if necessary.

Carol

Evie—what have you been reading?

[She flings down her cloak and returns to the sofa.]

Evelyn

That’s right.

Carol

[Helping herself to a cigarette]

I always thought you were a fool.

Evelyn

Thank you. I’m sorry I was less of a fool than you hoped.

Carol

I didn’t hope for much, whatever happened.

Evelyn

You’d forgotten I was Edward’s best friend.

Carol

You’re very, very sure of yourself.

Evelyn

I can afford to be. I live decently.

Carol

Rubbish!

Evelyn

And I’ve got a little honor left.

Carol

Even after living decently.

Evelyn

You would say a thing like that.

Carol

I did.

Evelyn

I should like to say one thing—

Carol

Please do.

Evelyn

If you and I were alone on a desert island I wouldn’t touch you.

Carol

That would be very silly of you.

Evelyn

[Rapidly losing his temper]

Haven’t you any modesty or shame anywhere?

Carol

[Smiling]

Oh dear!

Evelyn

Stop being flippant; it’s only a mask to cover your humiliation.

Carol

How discerning you are!

Evelyn

I know you much better than you think I do.

Carol

Idiot!

Evelyn

Flinging epithets at me won’t help.

Carol

Fatuous prig.

Evelyn

Shut up.

Carol

[Rising]

May I go now please?

Evelyn

[Almost shouting]

No.

Carol

[Sitting down]

Very well.

Evelyn

I’m Edward’s best friend.

Carol

You’ve said that before.

Evelyn

And I’m damned if I’m going to stand by and see him cheapened and humiliated by you.

Carol

You’re insufferable.

Evelyn

That’s beside the point.

Carol

[Suddenly furious]

It is not beside the point! How dare you behave like this! If you were Edward’s Siamese twin you’ve no right to ask me here and insult me. You surely don’t imagine that by talking until you’re blue in the face you could ever alter my life one way or another. You’ve played a filthy second-rate trick on me and you think you did it for Edward’s sake, but all the time it was only to prove to yourself how clever you are. You’ve got to let me go now—at once. Do you hear? If not I’ll scream the place down. [She rises and makes a dash for the door. He intercepts her. She struggles. He grasps her wrist.] Let me go. Help! Help!

Evelyn

Shut up, you little fool!

[He puts his hand over her mouth and drags her back to the sofa, upon which she collapses, sobbing.]

Carol

[Almost hysterical, in muffled tones]

How dare you! Oh, how dare you! It’s outrageous! It’s—

Evelyn

Do you want some brandy?

Carol

Don’t speak to me.

Evelyn

[With emphasis]

Do you want some brandy!

Carol

No.

Evelyn

You’d better have some. Stay where you are. [He goes over and pours out a glass of brandy and brings it to her.] Here—sit up.

Carol

Go away. Don’t come near me.

Evelyn

You’re hysterical. Drink this and pull yourself together.

[He puts his arm round her to lift her up. She wriggles free of him, sits up quickly by herself, snatches the glass from his hand and flings it into the fireplace.]

Carol

I don’t want your filthy brandy.

Evelyn

That was childish.

Carol

Why are you doing this to me? Why? Why? What have I ever done to you?

Evelyn

You’re on the verge of ruining the life of one of the best men that ever lived.

Carol

[Tearfully]

How?

Evelyn

You know perfectly well how.

Carol

It’s no business of yours—what I do—ever.

Evelyn

I’ve made it my business. What you attempted to-night with me you’ve accomplished with other men—you’ve flirted and encouraged them to make love to you, and in many cases you’ve given yourself to them—

Carol

Evie!

Evelyn

I don’t want you to deny it or affirm it. I know it’s true, but I don’t think Edward does; he loves you too much to believe it possible, and my object in playing on you this second-rate trick, as you call it, is to make you realize what a hideous mess you’re making both of his life and your own. [During this speech Carol is looking at Evie intently. He begins to stride up and down while he talks.] Edward’s too sensitive and reserved to fight for his own rights. I’ve known for ages that he wasn’t happy—that something was weighing on his mind. To-day I asked him plump out and he admitted—

[He pauses.]

Carol

What did he admit?

Evelyn

That he was worried and miserable about you.

Carol

[Calmly]

And what did you advise him to do?

Evelyn

Give you hell.

Carol

How crude of you!

Evelyn

Women of your sort require a little crudity occasionally.

Carol

What do you mean “women of my sort”?

Evelyn

Do you want me to tell you?

Carol

No; I don’t want you to say any more at all.

Evelyn

You have the soul of a harlot!

Carol

[Suddenly bursting out laughing]

Oh, Evie!

Evelyn

[Losing control]

Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh.

Carol

[Continuing to laugh]

What do you expect me to do? You’re so ridiculous—

Evelyn

I suppose you consider anyone with decent ideals ridiculous?

Carol

[Laughing helplessly]

Oh dear! Oh dear!

Evelyn

[Working himself up more and more]

You think it funny that I should make an attempt to defend the honor of my best friend, who is too shamed by your utter wantonness to defend himself—

Carol

[Growing hysterical]

You’re mad—quite, quite mad—

Evelyn

You’re deliberately ruining his reputation and wrecking his happiness because you never make the slightest effort to control your rotten passions—

Carol

[Rising, trying to control her hysteria]

How dare you say that—how dare you—

Evelyn

Dare! I’ll say it again and again. Rotten passions! All you live for, all you think of—women of your type can’t exist without men—men—nothing but men all the time—

Carol

[Frantically]

Stop! Stop! You shan’t say any more. [She gives him a ringing slap on the face. He stands quite still.] Cad! cad! unutterable cad! [She gives him another slap between each word. He remains motionless. They stand facing each other. Carol puts her hand to her head.] I think—I think I’m going to be ill.

[She falls in a heap at his feet. He carries her back to the sofa. He deposits her there and rushes to get some more brandy. When his back is turned she lifts her head sharply and looks at him, then lets it drop attractively against the side of the sofa. He returns and ministers the brandy. After a slight pause she opens her eyes and sits up and finishes the brandy.]

Evelyn

Be careful. Don’t spill it on your dress.

Carol

I’m awfully sorry to be so stupid.

Evelyn

I didn’t mean to make you ill.

Carol

[Meekly]

Please may I go home now?

Evelyn

You’d better wait a moment until you feel stronger. I won’t say any more—I promise.

Carol

My head aches.

Evelyn

Would you like some aspirin? I think I’ve got some somewhere.

Carol

No, thanks.

Evelyn

It wasn’t out of any personal spite, you know—

Carol

It doesn’t matter—it—

[She bursts into tears.]

Evelyn

I say, don’t cry—please.

Carol

I can’t help it.

[She cries a little more.]

Evelyn

Please! Please!

Carol

Leave me alone. I’ll be all right in a minute.

Evelyn

I had no intention of losing my temper. I apologize.

Carol

[With a fresh burst of tears]

It’s all so—so horrible!

Evelyn

Carol—please, please don’t!

Carol

[Sobbing bitterly]

I’d no idea—anyone could think of me like that.

Evelyn

I was only trying to show you, for Edward’s sake—

Carol

Don’t—don’t say any more. You promised.

Evelyn

All right, but you see I—

Carol

I understand why you did it. It’s not that I’m crying for. It’s—it’s— O God!

Evelyn

[Appealingly]

Carol—

Carol

I’m crying because I’m so bitterly ashamed—

Evelyn

[Gently]

Carol—

Carol

I don’t want you to despise me utterly—

Evelyn

It’s all right. Don’t think any more about it.

Carol

The things you’ve said to me are right—I have been shallow and cheap; but there’s a reason that you don’t know.

Evelyn

Reason?

Carol

You’ve heard Edward’s side of the story and you’ve mixed yourself up in our lives—more than ever now. It’s only fair for you to hear my side, too—

Evelyn

Now look here, Carol. Don’t let’s say any more about it at all.

Carol

Do you mean that?

Evelyn

Yes.

Carol

[Rising]

Very well—I suppose I deserve it. Good night.

[She walks sadly toward the door.]

Evelyn

Carol—

Carol

[Turning]

Yes?

Evelyn

I’ll hear your side if you want me to, but what’s the use of going on any further?

Carol

Only that unless I explain now I can never look you in the face again.

Evelyn

Carol, don’t be so absurd.

Carol

There are circumstances that justify me more than you realize.

Evelyn

Come back, then, and sit down.

Carol

[Wearily returning]

I feel so horribly tired.

[She comes back to the sofa and leans against it, looking at him. Her face is pale and she looks extremely sad and quite lovely.]

Evelyn

Do sit down.

Carol

No, but I want you to. Sit here where you needn’t look at me.

Evelyn

Very well.

[He sits down on the sofa and stares into the fire. Carol stands just behind him with her hands resting on his shoulders. Both their faces are half turned to the audience. She speaks very slowly.]

Carol

You’ve been pretty brutal to me to-night and some of the hard things you said I deserve, but not all of them. I’m selfish and occasionally cheap and rather vain—and I have been unfaithful to my husband, but not before he had been unfaithful to me—

Evelyn

[Starting]

What!

Carol

[Pressing him down]

Keep still, please. I’m telling you the truth—

Evelyn

You mean that Edward—

Carol

I mean exactly what I say. I was completely faithful to Edward until eighteen months ago, when I discovered that he was having an affair with Zoe St. Merryn—

Evelyn

Good God!

[He moves again, but the holds him firmly.]

Carol

That broke me up, rather.

Evelyn

I don’t believe it.

Carol

I can’t help that; it’s true, all the same.

Evelyn

How did you discover it? What proof have you?

Carol

I suspected for a little while and said nothing until I could bear it no longer; then I asked Edward and he admitted it—

Evelyn

[Twisting round]

I must look at you.

Carol

[Firmly, looking into his eyes]

He admitted it.

Evelyn

It’s incredible.

Carol

Why? Edward’s awfully weak, and Zoe—[She laughs sadly.] Will you turn around again now, please. [Evelyn does so and buries his face in his hands.] Don’t be upset about it, Evie—it’s between Edward and me, really, and nobody knew—until now. I made him swear never to tell a soul, otherwise he’d have told you ages ago—he always tells you everything. I’ve behaved rather badly since then, I know, but something went dead, inside me and—well, it doesn’t seem to matter much, does it?

Evelyn

[After a pause]

May I get up now and get a drink?

Carol

There’s nothing more to say, anyhow.

[Evelyn goes over and pours himself out a drink. He turns suddenly.]

Evelyn

You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?

Carol

[With dignity]

Even I have a little decency left.

[She turns to go again.]

Evelyn

Carol!

Carol

[Turning]

Yes.

Evelyn

What can I say to you?

Carol

Nothing.

Evelyn

I’m desperately sorry.

Carol

All right.

Evelyn

I’ve been an abject, blundering fool. It wasn’t my business, anyhow.

Carol

[With a wan smile]

Your motives were sound.

Evelyn

Can you forgive me?

Carol

Yes, of course.

Evelyn

I mean really forgive me?

Carol

[Holding out her hand.]

Completely.

Evelyn

You’re very generous.

[He takes it.]

Carol

There’s one more thing I want to clear up.

Evelyn

What?

Carol

I came here to-night for one reason only.

Evelyn

Yes?

Carol

I love you!

Evelyn

[Dropping her hand]

Carol!

Carol

It’s all right—don’t be afraid. I’m going now—but I didn’t want you to think me too cheap—that’s all.

Evelyn

I’m utterly bewildered.

Carol

It hasn’t been very easy for either of us, has it?

Evelyn

You can’t mean what you say.

Carol

You know I do—you’ve known it all along, subconsciously.

Evelyn

Carol—I’m dreadfully—horribly embarrassed.

Carol

Poor old Evie.

Evelyn

I don’t know what to do.

Carol

We’ll both laugh over to-night one day, won’t we?

Evelyn

Will we?

Carol

[With beautifully forced gayety]

Yes—you see.

Evelyn

You are an extraordinary woman.

Carol

Just rather silly, I’m afraid. Good night.

Evelyn

I’m going to see you home.

Carol

No, please. I’d rather go alone. Please, I mean it, honestly.

Evelyn

But—

Carol

It’s only just round the corner.

Evelyn

I can’t let you go alone.

Carol

[With gentle firmness]

You must—please.

Evelyn

[Looking down]

All right.

Carol

We’re friends, aren’t we?

Evelyn

[Still looking down]

Yes.

Carol

In spite of everything?

Evelyn

Yes.

Carol

Because of everything?

Evelyn

Oh, Carol!

Carol

Good night, my dear. [She comes to him and kisses him gently on the mouth. Suddenly he crushes her to him. After a moment she disentangles herself.] No, no! I didn’t mean it, really. I’m not going to be cheap any more. Stand quite still where you are, not looking. I don’t want you to move until I’ve gone.

[She goes out quietly, leaving him standing stock-still. After a moment the front door slams. Evelyn turns in the direction of the sound.]

Evelyn

[Emotionally]

Carol—O God!

[He goes over to the sofa and flings himself down on it, with his face buried in his hands. Carol comes softly in again. Her cloak is over her arm. She gives one look in his direction and then goes noiselessly into his bedroom, closing the door after her.]

Curtain