Mr Pim Passes By | Page 5

adore you. (He kisses her and holds her hands.)
You know, you're rather throwing yourself away on me. Do you mind?
DINAH (_putting her legs up on settee and reclining her head on his
shoulder_). Not a bit.
BRIAN. We shall never be rich, but we shall have lots of fun, and meet
interesting people, and feel that we're doing something worth doing,
and not getting paid nearly enough for it, and we can curse the
Academy together and the British Public, and--oh, it's an exciting life.
DINAH (seeing it). I shall love it.
BRIAN (sincerely). I'll make you love it. You shan't be sorry, Dinah.
DINAH. You shan't be sorry either, Brian.
BRIAN (looking at her lovingly). Oh, I know I shan't.... What will
Olivia think about it? Will she be surprised?
DINAH. Olivia? Oh, she's never surprised. She always seems to have
thought of things about half an hour before they happen. George just
begins to get hold of them about half an hour after they've happened.

(Considering him, stroking his hair.) After all, there's no reason why
George shouldn't like you, darling.
BRIAN. I'm not his sort, you know, really.
DINAH. You're more Olivia's sort. Well, we'll tell Olivia this morning.
(OLIVIA comes in from top of staircase up R.)
OLIVIA (coming in). And what are you going to tell Olivia this
morning? (They jump up and go to her.)
DINAH. Olivia, darling--
OLIVIA, Oh, well, I think I can guess,
(DINAH goes to her R, and BRIAN to her L., _and they bring her
down_ C.)
BRIAN (following). Say you understand, Mrs. Marden.
OLIVIA. Mrs. Marden, I am afraid, is a very dense person, Brian, but I
think if you asked Olivia if she understood--
BRIAN. Bless you, Olivia. I knew you'd be on our side.
DINAH. Of course she would.
OLIVIA. I don't know if it's usual to kiss an aunt-in-law, Brian, but
Dinah is such a very special sort of niece that--(_she inclines her cheek
and BRIAN kisses it_).
DINAH (backing away to B. a little). I say, you are in luck to-day,
Brian.
(BRIAN moves up C. laughing.)
OLIVIA (crossing below settee L. and up L. to cabinet). And how
many people have been told the good news?

BRIAN. Nobody yet.
DINAH. Except Mr. Pim.
BRIAN (crossing down to DINAH). Oh, does he--
OLIVIA (timing as she reaches cabinet, up L.), Who's Mr, Pim?
DINAH. Oh, he just happened--(OLIVIA _takes curtains and
work-basket from centre cupboard of cabinet_.)--I say, are those the
curtains? Then you're going to have them after all?
OLIVIA (_with an air of surprise, coming down L., and putting work-
basket on table L.C. and sitting with curtains_). After all what? But I
decided on them long ago. (To BRIAN.) You haven't told George yet.
BRIAN (moving to below stool L.C.). I began to, you know, but I never
got any farther than "Er--there's just--er--"
DINAH (crossing quickly below OLIVIA and speaking into her face).
George would talk about pigs all the time.
OLIVIA. Well, I suppose you want me to help you.
DINAH (sitting to L. of OLIVIA). Oh, do, darling.
BRIAN (sits on stool L.C.). It would be awfully decent of you. Of
course, I'm not quite his sort really--
DINAH. You're my sort.
BRIAN. But I don't think he objects to me, and--
(GEORGE _comes in from terrace, a typical, narrow-minded, honest
country gentleman of forty odd. BRIAN rises hurriedly and crosses to
above piano to R. DINAH rises and stands by fireplace. OLIVIA unfolds
curtains and prepares to sew_.)
GEORGE (at the windows--he does not see BRIAN). Hullo! Hullo!

Hullo! What's all this about a Mr. Pim? Who is he? Where is he? (_He
puts his cap on table, and comes down, into room_.) I had most
important business with Lumsden, and the girl comes down and cackles
about a Mr, Pim, or Ping, or something. Where did I put his card?
(Bringing it out.) Carraway Pim. Never heard of him in my life,
(_Moves back to writing- table and puts down card_.)
DINAH. He said he had a letter of introduction, Uncle George.
GEORGE. Oh, you saw him, did you! (Comes down C. to R.) Yes, that
reminds me, there was a letter--(he brings it out and reads it).
DINAH. He had to send a telegram. He's coming back.
OLIVIA. Pass me those scissors, Brian.
BRIAN (crossing to above table L.C.). These? (he passes them.)
OLIVIA (giving BRIAN a nod of encouragement and looking round at
DINAH). Thank you.
GEORGE (reading). Ah well, a friend of Brymer's, Glad to oblige him.
Yes, I know the man he wants. Coming back, you say, Dinah? (DINAH
nods.) Then I'll be going back too. Send him down to the farm, Olivia,
when he comes. (Going up meets BRIAN.) Hallo, what happened