Act + 

III + 

The scene is Florence‚Äôs bedroom the same night. About two hours have elapsed. When the curtain rises Florence is lying face downwards on the bed; she is dressed in a very beautiful but slightly exotic negligee. + 

Helen is standing by the window, fully dressed; she is holding the curtain aside, and a bar of moonlight comes in to mingle with the amber of the dressing-table lights. Florence is obviously extremely hysterical. + 

Helen + 

Florence, what is the use of going on like that? + 

Florence + 

I wish I were dead! + 

Helen + 

It‚Äôs so cowardly to give way utterly‚ÅÝ‚Äîas you‚Äôre doing. + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt care‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI don‚Äôt care! + 

Helen + 

If you don‚Äôt face things in this world, they only hit you much harder in the end. + 

Florence + 

He loved me‚ÅÝ‚Äîhe adored me! + 

Helen + 

Never! He hadn‚Äôt got it in him. + 

Florence + 

After all I‚Äôve done for him, to go to‚ÅÝ‚Äîto Bunty! + 

Helen + 

Leaving the window. + 

If it hadn‚Äôt been Bunty it would have been someone else‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt you see how inevitable it was? + 

Florence + 

How dared they!‚ÅÝ‚ÄîHere!‚ÅÝ‚ÄîIn this house! + 

Helen + 

That‚Äôs a little thing; it doesn‚Äôt matter at all. + 

Florence + 

It does‚ÅÝ‚Äîit does‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Helen + 

Florence, sit up and pull yourself together. + 

Florence + 

Sitting up slowly. + 

I think I‚Äôm going mad. + 

Helen + 

Not a bit of it; you‚Äôre just thoroughly hysterical. + 

Florence + 

Give me some water. + 

Helen goes to the bathroom and returns with a glass of water. + 

Florence + 

Taking it. + 

What time is it? + 

Helen + 

Looking at her watch. + 

Ten past one. + 

Florence + 

Don‚Äôt go to London by the early train, Helen; stay and come up with me in the car. + 

Helen + 

Very well. + 

Florence + 

Thank God, you were here! + 

Helen + 

I wish I‚Äôd known what was happening; I might have done something. + 

Florence + 

What can I do to get him back? + 

Helen + 

Don‚Äôt be silly. + 

Florence + 

What can I do‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhat can I do?‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Helen + 

Do you mean to say you‚Äôd take him back after tonight? + 

Florence + 

No, never. Not if he crawled to me‚ÅÝ‚Äînever‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Helen + 

Well, then, make up your mind definitely never to see him again whatever happens. + 

Florence + 

Yes‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI will. + 

Helen + 

Why don‚Äôt you go to bed now? + 

Florence + 

I couldn‚Äôt sleep. + 

Helen + 

Put it all out of your mind‚ÅÝ‚Äîmake an effort. + 

Florence + 

I can‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôm too unhappy. + 

Helen + 

Think of Nicky. + 

Florence + 

Nicky‚Äôs young. + 

Helen + 

That doesn‚Äôt make it any better for him. + 

Florence + 

He‚Äôll get over it in the long run. + 

Helen + 

The long run never counts at the moment. + 

Florence + 

He wasn‚Äôt in love‚ÅÝ‚Äîreally? + 

Helen + 

As much as either you or he are capable of it. + 

Florence + 

He‚Äôs well rid of her. She‚Äôd never have appreciated him properly‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe hasn‚Äôt the intelligence. + 

Helen + 

I don‚Äôt agree with you there‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe‚Äôs got intelligence right enough. + 

Florence + 

Treacherous little beast! + 

Helen + 

Yes, but farseeing. + 

Florence + 

Are you standing up for her? Do you think it was right of her to get Tom away from me? + 

Helen + 

Yes, quite right. + 

Florence + 

Helen! + 

Helen + 

To do her justice, she didn‚Äôt deliberately set herself out to get him away from you at all. She discovered that in spite of the somewhat decadent years Tom was still her type, and likely to remain so. So with common sense she decided to shelve Nicky forthwith and go for him. + 

Florence + 

Her type indeed! + 

Helen + 

Yes, she‚Äôd have been quite a nice girl really if she‚Äôd been left alone and not allowed to go to Paris and get into the wrong set. + 

Florence + 

You are extraordinary, Helen. Do you realize that you‚Äôre making excuses for the girl who‚Äôs betrayed your best friend? + 

Helen + 

Don‚Äôt be so utterly absurd. I‚Äôm not making excuses, and, anyhow, she hasn‚Äôt betrayed you. She hardly knows you, in the first place, and she‚Äôs just followed her instincts regardless of anyone else‚Äôs feelings‚ÅÝ‚Äîas you‚Äôve done thousands of times. + 

Florence + 

Helen‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre being horrible to me! + 

Helen + 

I‚Äôm not, I‚Äôm trying to make you see! You‚Äôre battering your head against silly cast-iron delusions, and I want to dislodge them. + 

Florence + 

Helen, I‚Äôm so unhappy‚ÅÝ‚Äîso desperately unhappy. + 

Helen + 

Yes, but not because you‚Äôve lost Tom; it‚Äôs something far deeper than that. + 

Florence + 

What then? + 

Helen + 

You‚Äôre on the wrong tack, and have been for years. + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt understand. + 

Helen + 

You won‚Äôt understand! + 

Florence gets off the bed and goes over to the dressing-table. She sits and stares at herself in the glass for a moment without speaking. + 

Florence + 

My eyes are sore. She powders her face and sprays a little scent on her hair. It‚Äôs so lovely this‚ÅÝ‚Äîand so refreshing. + 

Helen + 

I think I‚Äôll go to bed now. + 

Florence + 

No, wait a little longer with me‚ÅÝ‚Äîplease, Helen‚ÅÝ‚Äîjust a few minutes. + 

Helen + 

It‚Äôs so hot in here. + 

Florence + 

Open the window then. + 

Helen + 

All right. + 

She goes to the window and opens it. Florence takes a cigarette out of a box and then shakes a scent-bottle and rubs the cigarette lightly with the stopper. + 

Florence + 

Do you ever do this? It‚Äôs divine. + 

Helen + 

What a wonderfully clear night. You can see the hills right across the valley‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe moon‚Äôs quite strong. + 

Florence goes to the window and stands next to Helen, looking out‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe is puffing her cigarette. + 

Florence + 

I chose this room in the first place because the view was so lovely. + 

Helen + 

Do you ever look at it? + 

Florence + 

Listlessly. + 

Of course I do, often! + 

Helen + 

It‚Äôs been raining. I wish you‚Äôd throw away that cigarette‚ÅÝ‚Äîit spoils the freshness. + 

Florence + 

Turning away. + 

It‚Äôs soothing me‚ÅÝ‚Äîcalming my nerves. + 

Helen + 

I do wish I could help you‚ÅÝ‚Äîreally! + 

Florence + 

You are helping me, darling‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre being an angel. + 

Helen + 

Suddenly angry. + 

Don‚Äôt talk so emptily, Florence; I‚Äôm worth more than that. + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt know what you mean. + 

Helen + 

It sickens me to see you getting back so soon. + 

Florence + 

Getting back? + 

Helen + 

Yes, to your usual worthless attitude of mind. + 

Florence + 

Helen! + 

Helen + 

A little while ago you were really suffering for once, and in a way I was glad because it showed you were capable of a genuine emotion. Now you‚Äôre glossing it over‚ÅÝ‚Äîswarming it down with your returning vanity; soon you won‚Äôt be unhappy any more‚ÅÝ‚Äîjust vindictive. + 

Florence + 

Don‚Äôt go on at me like that‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôm too wretched. + 

Helen + 

Going to her. + 

Florence dear, forgive me, but it‚Äôs true‚ÅÝ‚Äîand I don‚Äôt want it to be. + 

The door opens and Nicky enters. He is in dressing-gown and pyjamas. His face looks strained and white. + 

Florence + 

Nicky! + 

Nicky + 

Helen, I want to talk to mother, please. + 

Helen + 

All right, Nicky. + 

Florence + 

What is it? + 

Nicky + 

I couldn‚Äôt sleep. + 

Helen + 

Florence dear‚ÅÝ‚Äîgood night. + 

Florence + 

No‚ÅÝ‚Äîno, Helen‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt go yet‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Helen + 

I must. + 

Florence + 

Helen‚ÅÝ‚Äîstay with me. + 

Nicky + 

Please go. + 

Helen + 

I can‚Äôt stay, Florence‚ÅÝ‚Äîit‚Äôs quite impossible. + 

She goes out. + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt know what you mean‚ÅÝ‚Äîby coming here and ordering Helen out of my room. + 

Nicky + 

I‚Äôm sorry, mother. I felt I had to talk to you alone. + 

Florence + 

At this hour of the night? You‚Äôre mad! + 

Nicky + 

No, I‚Äôm not; I think I‚Äôm probably more unhappy than I‚Äôve ever been in my life. + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre young‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôll get over it. + 

Nicky + 

I hope so. + 

Florence + 

I knew the first moment I saw her‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhat sort of a girl she was. + 

Nicky + 

Oh, mother! + 

Florence + 

It‚Äôs true. I had an instinct about her. + 

Nicky + 

It‚Äôs all been rather a shock, you know‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Becoming motherly. + 

Yes, dear‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI know‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI know‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut you mustn‚Äôt be miserable about her; she isn‚Äôt worth it. She goes to kiss him. + 

Nicky + 

Gently pushing her away. + 

Don‚Äôt, mother! + 

Florence + 

Listen, Nicky. Go back to bed now‚ÅÝ‚Äîthere‚Äôs a dear; my head‚Äôs splitting. + 

Nicky + 

I can‚Äôt yet. + 

Florence + 

Take some aspirin; that‚Äôll calm your nerves. + 

Nicky + 

I‚Äôm afraid I‚Äôm a little beyond aspirin. + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt want you to think I don‚Äôt sympathize with you, darling‚ÅÝ‚Äîmy heart aches for you‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI know so well what you‚Äôre going through. + 

Nicky + 

Do you? + 

Florence + 

It‚Äôs agony‚ÅÝ‚Äîabsolute agony‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut, you see‚ÅÝ‚Äîit will wear off‚ÅÝ‚Äîit always does in time. Nicky doesn‚Äôt answer. Nicky, please go now! + 

Nicky + 

I want to talk to you. + 

Florence + 

Tomorrow‚ÅÝ‚Äîwe‚Äôll talk tomorrow. + 

Nicky + 

No, now‚ÅÝ‚Äînow! + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre inconsiderate and cruel‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôve told you my head‚Äôs bursting. + 

Nicky + 

I want to sympathize with you, too‚ÅÝ‚Äîand try to understand everything‚ÅÝ‚Äîas well as I can‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Understand everything? + 

Nicky + 

Yes, please. + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt know what you mean‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Will you tell me things‚ÅÝ‚Äîas though I were somebody quite different? + 

Florence + 

What kind of things? + 

Nicky + 

Things about you‚ÅÝ‚Äîyour life. + 

Florence + 

Really, Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre ridiculous‚ÅÝ‚Äîasking me to tell you stories at this hour! + 

Nicky + 

With dead vehemence. + 

Mother‚ÅÝ‚Äîsit down quietly. I‚Äôm not going out of this room until I‚Äôve got everything straight in my mind. + 

Florence + 

Sinking down‚ÅÝ‚Äîalmost hypnotized. + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîplease‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Tom Veryan has been your lover, hasn‚Äôt he? + 

Florence + 

Almost shrieking. + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîhow dare you! + 

Nicky + 

Keep calm‚ÅÝ‚Äîit‚Äôs our only chance‚ÅÝ‚Äîkeep calm. + 

Florence + 

Bursting into tears. + 

How dare you speak to me like that‚ÅÝ‚Äîsuggest such a thing! I‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

It‚Äôs true, isn‚Äôt it? + 

Florence + 

Go away‚ÅÝ‚Äîgo away! + 

Nicky + 

It‚Äôs true, isn‚Äôt it? + 

Florence + 

No‚ÅÝ‚Äîno! + 

Nicky + 

It‚Äôs true, isn‚Äôt it? + 

Florence + 

No‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI tell you‚ÅÝ‚Äîno‚ÅÝ‚Äîno‚ÅÝ‚Äîno! + 

Nicky + 

You‚Äôre lying to me, mother. What‚Äôs the use of that? + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre mad‚ÅÝ‚Äîmad‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Does father know? + 

Florence + 

Go away! + 

Nicky + 

Does father know? + 

Florence + 

Your father knows nothing‚ÅÝ‚Äîhe doesn‚Äôt understand me any more than you do. + 

Nicky + 

Then it‚Äôs between us alone. + 

Florence + 

I tell you I don‚Äôt know what you‚Äôre talking about. + 

Nicky + 

Mother‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt go on like that; it‚Äôs useless. We‚Äôve arrived at a crisis; wherever we go‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhatever we do we can‚Äôt escape from it. I know we‚Äôre neither of us very strong-minded or capable, and we haven‚Äôt much hope of coming through successfully‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut let‚Äôs try. It‚Äôs no good pretending any more‚ÅÝ‚Äîour lives are built up of pretenses all the time. For years‚ÅÝ‚Äîever since I began to think at all, I‚Äôve been bolstering up my illusions about you. People have made remarks, not realizing that I was your son, and I‚Äôve pretended that they were inspired by cattiness and jealousy. I‚Äôve noticed things‚ÅÝ‚Äîtrivial incriminating little incidents, and I‚Äôve brushed them aside and not thought any more about them because you were my mother‚ÅÝ‚Äîclever and beautiful and successful‚ÅÝ‚Äîand naturally people would slander you because you were so beautiful‚ÅÝ‚Äîand now I know‚ÅÝ‚Äîthey were right! + 

Florence + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI implore you‚ÅÝ‚Äîgo away now‚ÅÝ‚Äîleave me alone. + 

Nicky + 

No, I can‚Äôt. + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre cruel‚ÅÝ‚Äîcruel to torment me‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

I don‚Äôt want to be cruel‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Go to bed then, and we‚Äôll talk everything over quietly another time. + 

Nicky + 

It is true about Tom Veryan, isn‚Äôt it? + 

Florence + 

No. No‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

We‚Äôre on awfully dangerous ground. I‚Äôm straining every nerve to keep myself under control. If you lie to me and try to evade me any more‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI won‚Äôt be answerable for what might happen. + 

Florence + 

Dropping her voice‚ÅÝ‚Äîterrified. + 

What do you mean? + 

Nicky + 

I don‚Äôt know‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôm frightened. + 

Florence + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîdarling Nicky‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

She approaches him. + 

Nicky + 

Don‚Äôt touch me, please. + 

Florence + 

Have a little pity for me. + 

Nicky + 

Was Tom Veryan your lover? + 

Florence + 

In a whisper. + 

Yes. + 

Nicky + 

I want to understand why‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

He loved me. + 

Nicky + 

But you‚ÅÝ‚Äîdid you love him? + 

Florence + 

Yes. + 

Nicky + 

It was something you couldn‚Äôt help, wasn‚Äôt it‚ÅÝ‚Äîsomething that‚Äôs always been the same in you since you were quite, quite young?‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Yes, Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîyes‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

And there have been others, too, haven‚Äôt there? + 

Florence + 

With her face in her hands. + 

I won‚Äôt be cross-questioned any more‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI won‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI won‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

I wish you‚Äôd understand I‚Äôm not blaming you‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôm trying to help you‚ÅÝ‚Äîto help us both‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

What good can all this possibly do? + 

Nicky + 

Clear things up, of course. I can‚Äôt go on any more half knowing‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Why should that side of my life be any concern of yours? + 

Nicky + 

But, mother! + 

Florence + 

I‚Äôm different from other women‚ÅÝ‚Äîcompletely different‚ÅÝ‚Äîand you expect me to be the same. Why can‚Äôt you realize that with a temperament like mine it‚Äôs impossible to live an ordinary humdrum life. You‚Äôre not a boy any longer‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre a man‚ÅÝ‚Äîand‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

I‚Äôm nothing‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôve grown up all wrong. + 

Florence + 

It‚Äôs not my fault. + 

Nicky + 

Of course it‚Äôs your fault, mother‚ÅÝ‚Äîwho else‚Äôs fault could it be? + 

Florence + 

Your friends‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe people you mix with‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

It wouldn‚Äôt matter who I mixed with if only I had a background. + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôve got as much money as you want‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôve got your home‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Bitterly. + 

Home! That‚Äôs almost funny‚ÅÝ‚Äîthere‚Äôs no peace anywhere‚ÅÝ‚Äînothing but the ceaseless din of trying to be amused‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

David never complains. + 

Nicky + 

I don‚Äôt suppose you‚Äôve looked at father during the last few years‚ÅÝ‚Äîor you wouldn‚Äôt say that. + 

Florence + 

He‚Äôs perfectly happy because he‚Äôs sensible‚ÅÝ‚Äîhe lives his own life and doesn‚Äôt try to interfere with mine. + 

Nicky + 

It must be your vanity that makes you so dreadfully blind‚ÅÝ‚Äîand foolish. + 

Florence + 

Understand once and for all, I won‚Äôt be spoken to like this‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

You‚Äôve had other lovers besides Tom Veryan‚ÅÝ‚Äîhaven‚Äôt you? + 

Florence + 

Yes, I have‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI have. Now then! + 

Nicky + 

Well, anyhow‚ÅÝ‚Äîthat‚Äôs the truth‚ÅÝ‚Äîat last‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

He rises, turns his back on her and stands looking out of the window. + 

Florence + 

After a pause‚ÅÝ‚Äîgoing to him. + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt be angry‚ÅÝ‚Äîplease don‚Äôt be angry with me. + 

Nicky + 

I‚Äôm not angry a bit. I realize that I‚Äôm living in a world where things like this happen‚ÅÝ‚Äîand they‚Äôve got to be faced and given the right value. If only I‚Äôd had the courage to realize everything before‚ÅÝ‚Äîit wouldn‚Äôt be so bad now. It‚Äôs the sudden shock that‚Äôs thrown the whole thing out of focus for me‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut I mean to get it right. Please help me! + 

Florence + 

Dully. + 

I don‚Äôt know what to do. + 

Nicky + 

It‚Äôs your life, and you‚Äôve lived it as you‚Äôve wanted to live it‚ÅÝ‚Äîthat‚Äôs fair‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Yes‚ÅÝ‚Äîyes. + 

Nicky + 

You‚Äôve wanted love always‚ÅÝ‚Äîpassionate love, because you were made like that. It‚Äôs not your fault‚ÅÝ‚Äîit‚Äôs the fault of circumstances and civilization; civilization makes rottenness so much easier. We‚Äôre utterly rotten‚ÅÝ‚Äîboth of us‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

How can we help ourselves? We swirl about in a vortex of beastliness. This is a chance‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt you see‚ÅÝ‚Äîto realize the truth‚ÅÝ‚Äîour only chance. + 

Florence + 

Oh, Nicky, do stop‚ÅÝ‚Äîgo away! + 

Nicky + 

Don‚Äôt keep on telling me to stop when our only hope is to hammer it out. + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre overwrought. It isn‚Äôt as bad as you think. + 

Nicky + 

Isn‚Äôt it? + 

Florence + 

No, no. Of course it isn‚Äôt. Tomorrow morning you‚Äôll see things quite differently. + 

Nicky + 

You haven‚Äôt understood. + 

Florence + 

Yes, I have‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI have. + 

Nicky + 

You haven‚Äôt understood. Oh, my God, you haven‚Äôt understood! You‚Äôre building up silly defenses in your mind. I‚Äôm overwrought. Tomorrow morning I shall see things quite differently. That‚Äôs true‚ÅÝ‚Äîthat‚Äôs the tragedy of it, and you won‚Äôt see. Tomorrow morning I shall see things quite differently. All this will seem unreal‚ÅÝ‚Äîa nightmare‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe machinery of our lives will go on again and gloss over the truth as it always does‚ÅÝ‚Äîand our chance will be gone forever. + 

Florence + 

Chance‚ÅÝ‚Äîchance? What are you talking about‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhat chance? + 

Nicky + 

I must make you see, somehow. + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre driving me mad. + 

Nicky + 

Have patience with me‚ÅÝ‚Äîplease‚ÅÝ‚Äîplease‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Wildly. + 

How can I have patience with you? You exaggerate everything. + 

Nicky + 

No I don‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI wish I did. + 

Florence + 

Listen‚ÅÝ‚Äîlet me explain something to you. + 

Nicky + 

Very well‚ÅÝ‚Äîgo on. + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre setting yourself up in judgment on me‚ÅÝ‚Äîyour own mother. + 

Nicky + 

No, I‚Äôm not. + 

Florence + 

You are‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou are. Let me speak. You don‚Äôt understand my temperament in the least‚ÅÝ‚Äînobody does‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

You‚Äôre deceiving yourself‚ÅÝ‚Äîyour temperament‚Äôs no different from thousands of other women, but you‚Äôve been weak and selfish and given way all along the line‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Let me speak, I tell you!‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

What‚Äôs the use? You‚Äôre still pretending‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre building up barriers between us instead of helping me to break them down. + 

Florence + 

What are you accusing me of having done? + 

Nicky + 

Can‚Äôt you see yet? + 

Florence + 

No, I can‚Äôt. If you‚Äôre preaching morality, you‚Äôve no right to. That‚Äôs my affair‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôve never done any harm to anyone. + 

Nicky + 

Look at me. + 

Florence + 

Why‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhat do you mean? + 

Nicky + 

You‚Äôve given me nothing all my life‚ÅÝ‚Äînothing that counts. + 

Florence + 

Now you‚Äôre pitying yourself. + 

Nicky + 

Yes, with every reason. + 

Florence + 

You‚Äôre neurotic and ridiculous. Just because Bunty broke off your engagement you come and say wicked, cruel things to me‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

You forget what I‚Äôve seen tonight, mother. + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt care what you‚Äôve seen. + 

Nicky + 

I‚Äôve seen you make a vulgar, disgusting scene in your own house, and on top of that humiliate yourself before a boy half your age. The misery of losing Bunty faded away when that happened‚ÅÝ‚Äîeverything is comparative, after all. + 

Florence + 

I didn‚Äôt humiliate myself‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

You ran after him up the stairs because your vanity wouldn‚Äôt let you lose him. It isn‚Äôt that you love him‚ÅÝ‚Äîthat would be easier‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou never love anyone, you only love them loving you‚ÅÝ‚Äîall your so-called passion and temperament is false‚ÅÝ‚Äîyour whole existence had degenerated into an endless empty craving for admiration and flattery‚ÅÝ‚Äîand then you say you‚Äôve done no harm to anybody. Father used to be a clever man, with a strong will and a capacity for enjoying everything‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI can remember him like that‚ÅÝ‚Äîand now he‚Äôs nothing‚ÅÝ‚Äîa complete nonentity because his spirit‚Äôs crushed. How could it be otherwise? You‚Äôve let him down consistently for years‚ÅÝ‚Äîand God knows I‚Äôm nothing for him to look forward to‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut I might have been if it hadn‚Äôt been for you‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Don‚Äôt talk like that. Don‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt. It can‚Äôt be such a crime being loved‚ÅÝ‚Äîit can‚Äôt be such a crime being happy‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

You‚Äôre not happy‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre never happy‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre fighting‚ÅÝ‚Äîfighting all the time to keep your youth and your looks‚ÅÝ‚Äîbecause you can‚Äôt bear the thought of living without them‚ÅÝ‚Äîas though they mattered in the end. + 

Florence + 

Hysterically. + 

What does anything matter‚ÅÝ‚Äîever? + 

Nicky + 

That‚Äôs what I‚Äôm trying to find out. + 

Florence + 

I‚Äôm still young inside‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôm still beautiful. Why shouldn‚Äôt I live my life as I choose? + 

Nicky + 

You‚Äôre not young or beautiful; I‚Äôm seeing for the first time how old you are. It‚Äôs horrible‚ÅÝ‚Äîyour silly fair hair‚ÅÝ‚Äîand your face all plastered and painted‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚ÄîNicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîstop‚ÅÝ‚Äîstop‚ÅÝ‚Äîstop! + 

She flings herself face downwards on the bed. Nicky goes over to her. + 

Nicky + 

Mother! + 

Florence + 

Go away‚ÅÝ‚Äîgo away‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI hate you‚ÅÝ‚Äîgo away‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Mother‚ÅÝ‚Äîsit up‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Pulling herself together. + 

Go out of my room‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Mother‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

I don‚Äôt ever want to see you again‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre insane‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôve said wicked, wicked things to me‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôve talked to me as though I were a woman off the streets. I can‚Äôt bear any more‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI can‚Äôt bear any more! + 

Nicky + 

I have a slight confession to make‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Confession? + 

Nicky + 

Yes. + 

Florence + 

Go away‚ÅÝ‚Äîgo away‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Taking a small gold box from his pocket. + 

Look‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

What do you mean‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhat is it‚ÅÝ‚Äî? + 

Nicky + 

Don‚Äôt you know? + 

Florence takes the box with trembling fingers and opens it. She stares at it for a moment. When she speaks again her voice is quite dead. + 

Florence + 

Nicky, it isn‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou haven‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äî? + 

Nicky + 

Why do you look so shocked? + 

Florence + 

Dully. + 

Oh, my God! + 

Nicky + 

What does it matter? + 

Florence suddenly rises and hurls the box out of the window. + 

That doesn‚Äôt make it any better. + 

Florence + 

Flinging herself on her knees beside him. + 

Nicky, promise me, oh, promise you‚Äôll never do it again‚ÅÝ‚Äînever in your life‚ÅÝ‚Äîit‚Äôs frightful‚ÅÝ‚Äîhorrible‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

It‚Äôs only just the beginning. + 

Florence + 

What can I say to you‚ÅÝ‚Äîwhat can I say to you? + 

Nicky + 

Nothing‚ÅÝ‚Äîunder the circumstances. + 

Florence + 

What do you mean? + 

Nicky + 

It can‚Äôt possibly matter‚ÅÝ‚Äînow. + 

Florence + 

Matter‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut it‚Äôs the finish of everything‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre young, you‚Äôre just starting on your life‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou must stop‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou must swear never to touch it again‚ÅÝ‚Äîswear to me on your oath, Nicky‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôll help you‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôll help you‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

You! + 

He turns away. + 

Florence + 

Burying her face in her hands and moaning. + 

Oh‚ÅÝ‚Äîoh‚ÅÝ‚Äîoh! + 

Nicky + 

How could you possibly help me? + 

Florence + 

Clutching him. + 

Nicky! + 

Nicky + 

Almost losing control. + 

Shut up‚ÅÝ‚Äîshut up‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt touch me‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Trying to take him in her arms. + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚ÄîNicky‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

I‚Äôm trying to control myself, but you won‚Äôt let me‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre an awfully rotten woman, really. + 

Florence + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚Äîstop‚ÅÝ‚Äîstop‚ÅÝ‚Äîstop‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

She beats him with her fists. + 

Nicky + 

Leave go of me! + 

He breaks away from her, and going up to the dressing-table he sweeps everything off on to the floor with his arm. + 

Florence + 

Screaming. + 

Oh‚ÅÝ‚Äîoh‚ÅÝ‚ÄîNicky‚ÅÝ‚Äî! + 

Nicky + 

Now then! Now then! You‚Äôre not to have any more lovers; you‚Äôre not going to be beautiful and successful ever again‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôre going to be my mother for once‚ÅÝ‚Äîit‚Äôs about time I had one to help me, before I go over the edge altogether‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Nicky‚ÅÝ‚ÄîNicky‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Promise me to be different‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôve got to promise me! + 

Florence + 

Sinking on to the end of couch, facing audience. + 

Yes‚ÅÝ‚Äîyes‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI promise‚ÅÝ‚ÄîThe tears are running down her face. + 

Nicky + 

I love you, really‚ÅÝ‚Äîthat‚Äôs why it‚Äôs so awful. + 

He falls on his knees by her side and buries his face in her lap. + 

Florence + 

No. No, not awful‚ÅÝ‚Äîdon‚Äôt say that‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI love you, too. + 

Nicky + 

Sobbing hopelessly. + 

Oh, mother‚ÅÝ‚Äî! + 

Florence + 

Staring in front of her. + 

I wish I were dead! + 

Nicky + 

It doesn‚Äôt matter about death, but it matters terribly about life. + 

Florence + 

I know‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

Desperately. + 

Promise me you‚Äôll be different‚ÅÝ‚Äîpromise me you‚Äôll be different‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Florence + 

Yes, yes‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôll try‚ÅÝ‚Äî + 

Nicky + 

We‚Äôll both try. + 

Florence + 

Yes, dear.‚ÅÝ‚ÄîOh, my dear‚ÅÝ‚Äî! + 

She sits quite still, staring in front of her‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe tears are rolling down her cheeks, and she is stroking Nicky‚Äôs hair mechanically in an effort to calm him. + 

Curtain. + 