Mr Pim Passes By | Page 7

I think you know my views, Strange.
(DINAH, disappointed, crosses down R. again to below table R.C.)
OLIVIA. George, wait a moment, dear. We can't quite leave it like this.
GEORGE. I have said all I want to say on the subject.
(DINAH sits on settee R.)
OLIVIA. Yes, darling, but I haven't begun to say all that I want to say on the subject.
GEORGE (crossing down to back of table L.C.). Of course, if you have anything to say, Olivia, I will listen to it; but I don't know that this is quite the time--(OLIVIA _makes a marked movement as she is sewing the curtains), or that you have chosen--(looking darkly at the curtains_)-- quite the occupation likely to--er--endear your views to me.
DINAH (_mutinously, rising quickly and crossing to stool on which she kneels and looks up into GEORGE'S face and bangs the table_). I may as well tell you, Uncle George, that I have got a good deal to say, too.
(BRIAN crosses down to her R., _gingerly pulling her sleeve, trying to restrain her_.)
OLIVIA. Yes, darling. I can guess what you are going to say, Dinah, and I think you had better keep it for the moment.
DINAH (meekly, backing to R. below BRIAN and to L. of table R.C.). Yes, Aunt Olivia.
OLIVIA. Brian, you might take her outside for a walk. I expect you have plenty to talk about.
(BRIAN and DINAH move up R.)
GEORGE (following them up). Now mind, Strange, no love-making. I put you on your honour about that.
BRIAN (looking round dubiously at DINAH). I'll do my best to avoid it, sir.
DINAH (cheekily). May I take his arm if we go up a hill?
OLIVIA. I'm sure you'll know how to behave--both of you.
BRIAN (R. of writing-table). Come on, then, Dinah.
DINAH (following him). Right-o. (_They exeunt through windows and off to_ L.)
GEORGE (as they go). And if you do see any clouds, Strange, take a good look at them. (He chuckles to himself.) Triangular clouds--I never heard of such nonsense. (_He goes back to his chair at the writing-table and sits_.) Futuristic rubbish... Well, Olivia?
OLIVIA (sewing curtains). Well, George?
GEORGE. What are you doing?
OLIVIA. Making curtains--(grunt of disapproval from GEORGE)--George. Won't they be rather sweet? Oh, but I forgot--you don't like them.
GEORGE. No. I don't like them, and what is more, I don't mean to have them in my house. As I told you yesterday, this is the house of a simple country gentleman, and I don't want any of these new-fangled ideas in it.
OLIVIA. Is marrying for love a new-fangled idea?
GEORGE. We'll come to that directly. None of you women can keep to the point. What I am saying now is that the house of my fathers and forefathers is good enough for me.
OLIVIA. Do you know, George, I can hear one of your ancestors saying that to his wife in their smelly old cave--(GEORGE _looks up annoyed at her levity_)--when the new-fangled idea of building houses was first suggested. "The Cave of my Forefathers is good enough for----"
GEORGE (rising and coming to R. of L.C. table). That's ridiculous. Naturally we must have progress. But that's just the point. (_Indicating the curtains_.) I don't call this sort of thing progress. It's--ah-- retrogression.
OLIVIA. Well, anyhow, it's pretty.
GEORGE. There I disagree with you. And I must say once more that I will not have them hanging in my house. (Going up R.C.)
OLIVIA. Very well, George. (But she goes on working.)
GEORGE (seeing her continuing to sew, stops). That being so, I don't see the necessity of going on with them.
OLIVIA. Well, I must do something with them now I've got the material.
(GEORGE goes up to writing-table, sits and writes.)
I thought perhaps I could sell them when they're finished--as we're so poor.
GEORGE (turns to her with surprised look). What do you mean--so poor?
OLIVIA. Well, you said just now that you couldn't give Dinah an allowance because rents had gone down.
GEORGE (annoyed). Confound it, Olivia! Keep to the point! We'll talk about Dinah's affairs directly. We're discussing our own affairs at the moment.
OLIVIA. But what is there to discuss, dear?
GEORGE. Well, those ridiculous things.
OLIVIA. But we've finished that. You've said you wouldn't have them hanging in your house, and I've said, "Very well, George."--(GEORGE _is again annoyed_.)--Now we can go on to Dinah, and Brian.
GEORGE (shouting). But put these beastly things away.
OLIVIA (rising and gathering up the curtains). Very well, George.
(Going up L. she places the curtains on the cabinet.)
GEORGE (_waits impatiently until she has put them away on top of cabinet_). Ah! That's better.
(OLIVIA comes to table L.C., _closes her workbox and then crosses down to settee_ R.)
GEORGE (rising and crossing down to OLIVIA _and placing arms lovingly on her shoulder_). Now look here, Olivia, old girl, you've been a jolly good wife to me--(takes his arms from her shoulder)--and we don't often have rows, and if