Pause.
It's been a great boon, to have you work for the firm.
DIANA. Oh, I'm glad. I am glad.
Pause.
Be nice to get away to Spain.
Pause.
DISSON. You've got enough money, haven't you? I mean, you have sufficient money to see you through, for all you want?
DIANA. Oh yes. I have, thank you.
Pause.
DISSON. I'm very proud of you, you know.
DIANA. I'm proud of you.
Silence.
Disson’s office.
DISSON. Have you written to Corley?
WENDY. Yes, Mr Disson.
DISSON. And Turnbull?
WENDY. Yes, Mr Disson.
DISSON. And Erverley?
WENDY. Yes, Mr Disson.
DISSON. Carbon of the Erverley letter, please.
WENDY. Here you are, Mr Disson.
DISSON. Ah. I see you've spelt Erverley right.
WENDY. Right?
DISSON. People tend, very easily, to leave out the first R and call him Everley. You haven't done that.
WENDY. No. (She turns.)
DISSON. Just a minute. How did you spell Turnbull? You needn't show me. Tell me.
WENDY. TURNBULL.
DISSON. Quite correct.
Pause.
Quite correct Now what about –?
The screen goes black.
Where are you?
Pause.
I can't see you.
WENDY. I'm here, Mr Disson.
DISSON. Where?
WENDY. You're looking at me, Mr Disson.
DISSON. You mean my eyes are open?
Pause.
WENDY. I'm where I was. I haven't moved.
DISSON. Are my eyes open?
WENDY. Mr Disson, really . . .
DISSON. Is this you? This I feel?
WENDY. Yes.
DISSON. What, all this I can feel?
WENDY. You're playing one of your games, Mr Disson. You're being naughty again.
Vision back.
DISSON looks at her.
You sly old thing.
Disley’s surgery.
A torch shines in DISSON’S eyes, first right, then left. Torch out. Light on.
DISLEY. There's nothing wrong with them.
DISSON. What then?
DISLEY. I only deal with eyes, old chap. Why do you come to me? Why don't you go to someone else?
DISSON. Because it's my eyes that are affected.
DISLEY. Look. Why don't you go to someone else?
DISLEY begins to clear away his instruments.
Nothing worrying you, is there?
DISSON. Of course not. I've got everything I want.
DISLEY. Getting a holiday soon?
DISSON. Going to Spain.
DISLEY. Lucky man.
Pause.
DISSON. Look. Listen. You're my oldest friend. You were going to be the best man at my wedding.
DISLEY. That's right.
DISSON. You wrote a wonderful speech in my honour.
DISLEY. Yes.
DISSON. But you were ill. You had to opt out.
DISLEY. That's right.
Pause.
DISSON. Help me.
Pause.
DISLEY. Who made the speech? Your brother-in-law, wasn't it?
DISSON. I don't want you to think I'm not a happy man. I am.
DISLEY. What sort of speech did he make?
Disson’s house. Sitting-room. Evening.
DISSON. Tell me about Sunderley.
WILLY. Sunderley?
DISSON. Tell me about the place where you two were born. Where you played at being brother and sister.
WILLY. We didn't have to play at being brother and sister. We were brother and sister.
DIANA. Stop drinking.
DISSON. Drinking? You call this drinking? This? I used to down eleven or nine pints a night! Eleven or nine pints! Every night of the stinking week! Me and the boys! The boys! And me! I'd break any man's hand for . . . for playing me false. That was before I became a skilled craftsman. That was before . . .
He falls silent, sits.
WILLY. Sunderley was beautiful.
DISSON. I know.
WILLY. And now it's gone, for ever.
DISSON. I never got there.
DISSON stands, goes to get a drink.
He turns from drinks table.
What are you whispering about? Do you think I don't hear? Think I don't see? I've got my memories, too. Long before this.
WILLY. Yes, Sunderley was beautiful.
DISSON. The lake.
WILLY. The lake.
DISSON. The long windows.
WILLY. From the withdrawing-room.
DISSON. On to the terrace.
WILLY. Music playing.
DISSON. On the piano.
WILLY. The summer nights. The wild swans.
DISSON. What swans? What bloody swans?
WILLY. The owls.
DISSON. Negroes at the gate, under the trees.
WILLY. No Negroes.
DISSON. Why not?
WILLY. We had no Negroes.
DISSON. Why in God's name not?
WILLY. Just one of those family quirks, Robert.
DIANA (standing). Robert.
Pause.
Come to bed.
DISSON. You can say that, in front of him?
DIANA. Please.
DISSON. In front of him?
He goes to her.
Why did you marry me?
DIANA. I admired you. You were so positive.
DISSON. You loved me.
DIANA. You were kind.
DISSON. You loved me for that?
DIANA. I found you admirable in your clarity of mind, your surety of purpose, your will, the strength your achievements had given you –
DISSON. And you adored me for it?
WILLY (to DISSON). Can I have a private word with you?
DISSON. You adored me for it?
Pause.
DIANA. You know I did.
WILLY. Can I have a private word with you, old chap? (To DIANA.) Please.
DIANA goes out of the room.
DISSON looks at WILLY.
DISSON. Mind how you tread, Bill. Mind . . . how you tread, old Bill, old boy, old Bill.
WILLY. Listen. I've been wondering. Is there anything on your mind?
DISSON. My mind? No, of course not.
WILLY. You're not dissatisfied with my work, or anything?
DISSON. Quite the contrary. Absolutely the contrary.
WILLY. Oh good. I like the work very much. Try to do my best.
DISSON. Listen. I want you to be my partner. Hear me? I want you to share full responsibility . . . with me.
WILLY. Do you really?
DISSON. Certainly.
WILLY. Well, thank you very much. I don't know what to say.
DISSON. Don't say anything.
Disson’s office.
WILLY at the door.
WILLY. Coming, old chap?
DISSON. Yes.
WILLY (to WENDY). Important lunch, this. But I think we'll swing it, don't you, Robert? (To WENDY.) Great prospects in store.
DISSON and WILLY go out. WENDY clips some papers together.
DIANA comes in through the inner door.
WENDY. Oh, hullo, Mrs Disson.
DIANA. Hullo, Wendy.
Pause.
DIANA watches WENDY clip the papers.
Do you like being a secretary?
WENDY. I do, yes. Do you?
DIANA. I do, yes.
Pause.
I understand your last employer touched your body . . . rather too much.
WENDY. It wasn't a question of too much, Mrs Disson. One touch was enough for me.
DIANA. Oh, you left after the first touch?
WENDY. Well, not quite the first, no.
Pause.
DIANA. Have you ever asked yourself why men will persist in
touching women?
WENDY. No, I've never asked myself that, Mrs Disson.
DIANA. Few women do ask themselves that question.
WENDY. Don't they? I don't know. I've never spoken to any other women on the subject.
DIANA. You're speaking to me.
WENDY. Yes. Well, have you ever asked yourself that question, Mrs Disson?
DIANA. Never. No.
Pause.
Have lunch with me today. Tell me about yourself.
WENDY. I’ll have lunch with you with pleasure.
DISSON comes in. They look at him. He at them. Silence.
DISSON. Forgotten . . . one of the designs.
DIANA smiles at him. WENDY clips her papers. He goes to his desk, collects a folder, stands upright.
DIANA looks out of the window. WENDY clips papers. He looks at them, goes out. DIANA and WENDY remain silent.
Disson’s house. Games room.
DISSON and WILLY playing ping-pong. They are in the middle of a long rally. THE TWINS watch. WILLY is on the attack, DISSON playing desperately, retrieving from positions of great difficulty. He cuts, chops, pushes.
TWINS (variously). Well done, Dad. Good shot, Dad. Good one, Dad.
WILLY forces DISSON on to the forehand. He slams viciously.
DISSON skids.
The screen goes black.
Good shot!
DISSON. Aaah!
Vision back.
DISSON is clutching the table, bent over it.
WILLY throws the ball on to the table.
It bounces gently across it.
Disson’s house. Sitting-room. Evening.
DISSON’S parents.
MOTHER. Have I seen that mirror before?
DISSON. No. It's new.
MOTHER. I knew I hadn't seen it. Look at it, John. What a beautiful mirror.
FATHER. Must have cost you a few bob.
MOTHER. Can you see the work on it, John? I bet it must be a few years old, that mirror.
DISSON. It's a few hundred years old.
FATHER. I bet it must have cost you a few bob.
DISSON. It wasn't cheap.
FATHER. Cheap?
MOTHER. What a beautiful mirror.
FATHER. Cheap? Did you hear what he said, Dora? He said it wasn't cheap!
MOTHER. No, I bet it wasn't.
FATHER (laughing). Cheap!
Pause.
MOTHER. Mrs Tidy sends you her love.
DISSON. Who?
FATHER. Mrs Tidy. The Tidys.
DISSON. Oh yes. How are they?
FATHER. Still very tidy. (Laughs.) Aren't they, Dora?
MOTHER. You remember the Tidys.
DISSON. Of course I remember them.
Pause.
How have you been keeping, then?
FATHER. Oh, your mother's had a few pains. You know, just a few.
MOTHER. Only a few, John. I haven't had many pains.
FATHER. I only said you'd had a few. Not many.
Pause.
MOTHER. Are the boys looking forward to their holiday?
DISSON. Yes, they are.
FATHER. When are you going?
DISSON. I'm not.
Disson’s office.
DISSON. Tighter.
WENDY ties the chiffon round his eyes.
WENDY. There. You look nice.
DISSON. This chiffon stinks.
WENDY. Oh, I do apologize. What of?
Pause.
You're very rude to me. But you do look nice. You really do.
DISSON tears the chiffon off.
DISSON. It's useless. Ring Disley. Tell him to come here.
WENDY. But he'll be here at four o'clock, for your tea party.
DISSON. I want him now! I want him . . . now.
WENDY. Don't you like my chiffon any more, to put round your eyes? My lovely chiffon?
Pause.
He sits still.
I always feel like kissing you when you've got that on round your eyes. Do you know that? Because you're all in the dark.
Pause.
Put it on.
She picks up the chiffon and folds it.
I'll put it on . . . for you. Very gently.
She leans forward.
He touches her.
No – you mustn't touch me, if you're not wearing your chiffon.
She places the chiffon on his eyes.
He trembles, puts his hand to the chiffon, slowly lowers it, lets it fall.
It flutters to the floor.
As she looks at him, he reaches for the telephone.
Disson’s office.
DISSON in the same position.
DISSON. I need a tight bandage. Very tight.
DISLEY. Anyone could do that for you.
DISSON. No. You're my eye consultant. You must do it for me.
DISLEY. All right.
He takes a bandage from his case and ties it round DISSON’S eyes.
Just for half an hour. You don't want it on when your guests arrive, do you?
DISLEY ties the knots.
This'll keep you in the dark, all right. Also lend pressure to your temples. Is that what you want?
DISSON. That's it That's what I want
DISLEY cuts the strands.
DISLEY. There. How's that?
Pause.
See anything?
Disson’s office. Afternoon.
DISSON sits alone, the bandage round his eyes.
Silence.
WILLY enters from his office. He sees DISSON and goes to him.
WILLY. How are you, old chap? Bandage on straight? Knots tight?
He pats him on the back and goes out through the front office door.
The door slams.
DISSON sits still.
Corridor.
MR and MRS DISLEY approaching the office.
LOIS. Why didn't he make it a cocktail party? Why a tea party, of all things?
DISLEY. I couldn't say.
Office.
DISSON’S head.
Soft clicks of door opening and closing, muffled steps, an odd cough, slight rattle of teacups.
Corridor.
DISSON’S parents approaching the office.
MOTHER. I could do with a cup of tea, couldn't you, John?
Office.
DISSON’S head.
Soft clicks of door opening and closing, muffled steps, an odd cough, slight rattle of teacups.
Corridor.
THE TWINS approach, silent.
Office.
DISSON’S head.
Soft clicks of door opening and closing, muffled steps, an odd cough, slight rattle of teacups, a short whisper.
Corridor.
DIANA and WILLY approach.
DIANA. Why don't you come to Spain with us?
WILLY. I think I will.
Office.
DISSON’S head.
Soft clicks of door opening and closing, muffled steps, an odd cough, slight rattle of teacups, whispers.
Corridor.
WENDY approaches.
Office.
DISSON’S head.
Soft clicks of door opening and closing, muffled steps, an odd cough, slight rattle of teacups, whispers.
Office.
A buffet table has been set out. Two ELDERLY LADIES serve tea, sandwiches, bridge rolls, buns and cakes. The gathering is grouped around the table in silence. DISLEY whispers to them.
DISLEY. His eyes are a little strained, that's all. Just resting them. Don't mention it. It'll embarrass him. It's quite all right.
They all take their tea, choose edibles, and relax.
JOHN (choosing a cake). These are good.
TOM. What are they?
DIANA (choosing a bridge roll). These look nice.
LOIS. You look wonderful, Mrs Disson. Absolutely wonderful. Doesn't she, Peter?
DISLEY. Marvellous.
LOIS. What do you think of your grandsons?
FATHER. They've grown up
now, haven't they?
LOIS. Of course, we knew them when they were that high, didn't we, Tom?
FATHER. So did we.
TOM. Yes.
WILLY. Big lads now, aren't they, these two?
JOHN. Cake, Granny?
MOTHER. No, I've had one.
JOHN. Have two.
FATHER. I'll have one.
MOTHER. He's had one.
FATHER. I'll have two.
WENDY takes a cup of tea to DISSON and puts it into his hands.
WENDY. Here's a cup of tea, Mr Disson. Drink it. It's warm.
LOIS (to DIANA). You're off to Spain quite soon, aren't you, Diana?
DIANA. Yes, quite soon.
DISLEY (calling). We'll take off those bandages in a minute, old chap!
LOIS. Spain is wonderful at this time of the year.
WILLY. Any time of the year, really.
LOIS. But I think it's best at this time of the year, don't you?
DIANA. What sun lotion do you use, Lois?
DISSON’S point of view.
No dialogue is heard in all shots from DISSON’S point of view.
Silence.
Figures mouthing silently, in conspiratorial postures, seemingly whispering together.
Shot including DISSON.
TOM. I went into goal yesterday.
WILLY. How did you do?
LOIS. You can get it anywhere. It's perfect.
JOHN. He made two terrific saves.
TOM. The first was a fluke.
LOIS. How do you sun, then?
DIANA. I have to be rather careful.
TOM. Second save wasn't a bad save.
LOIS. How do you sun, Wendy?
WENDY. Oh not too bad, really.
LOIS (to MRS DISSON). We go to our little island every year and when we go we have to leave our poor little Siamese with my mother.
MOTHER. Do you really?
LOIS. They're almost human, aren't they, Siamese?
DIANA. I'm sure my Siamese was.
LOIS. Aren't they, Peter, almost human?
DIANA. Wasn't Tiger a human cat, Willy, at Sunderley?
WILLY. He adored you.
DISLEY. They really are almost human, aren't they, Siamese?
DISSON’S point of view.
Silence.
The party splits into groups. Each group whispering.
The two ELDERLY LADIES at the buffet table.
DISSON’S PARENTS, sitting together.
THE TWINS and the DISLEYS.
WILLY, WENDY and DIANA in a corner.
Complete Works, Volume III Page 10
