LITMIR.BIZ

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What is a cosmogony, Uncle?

      RALPH. My dear, I—I don't know.

      He goes out, followed by BUILDER. MAUD goes quickly to the table, sits down and rests her elbows on it, her chin on her hands, looking at the door.

      BUILDER. [Re-entering] Well, Maud! You'd have won your bet!

      MAUD. Oh! father, I—I've got some news for you.

      BUILDER. [Staring at her] News—what?

      MAUD. I'm awfully sorry, but I-I've got a job.

      BUILDER. Now, don't go saying you're going in for Art, too, because I won't have it.

      MAUD. Art? Oh! no! It's the—[With a jerk]—the Movies.

      BUILDER. who has taken up a pipe to fill, puts it down.

      BUILDER. [Impressively] I'm not in a joking mood.

      MAUD. I'm not joking, father.

      BUILDER. Then what are you talking about?

      MAUD. You see, I—I've got a film face, and—

      BUILDER. You've what? [Going up to his daughter, he takes hold of her chin] Don't talk nonsense! Your sister has just tried me to the limit.

      MAUD. [Removing his hand from her chin] Don't oppose it, father, please! I've always wanted to earn my own living.

      BUILDER. Living! Living!

      MAUD. [Gathering determination] You can't stop me, father, because I shan't need support. I've got quite good terms.

      BUILDER. [Almost choking, but mastering himself] Do you mean to say you've gone as far as that?

      MAUD. Yes. It's all settled.

      BUILDER. Who put you up to this?

      MAUD. No one. I've been meaning to, ever so long. I'm twenty-one, you know.

      BUILDER. A film face! Good God! Now, look here! I will not have a daughter of mine mixed up with the stage. I've spent goodness knows what on your education—both of you.

      MAUD. I don't want to be ungrateful; but I—I can't go on living at home.

      BUILDER. You can't—! Why? You've every indulgence.

      MAUD. [Clearly and coldly] I can remember occasions when your indulgence hurt, father. [She wriggles her shoulders and back] We never forgot or forgave that.

      BUILDER. [Uneasily] That! You were just kids.

      MAUD. Perhaps you'd like to begin again?

      BUILDER. Don't twist my tail, Maud. I had the most painful scene with Athene this morning. Now come! Give up this silly notion! It's really too childish!

      MAUD. [Looking at him curiously] I've heard you say ever so many times that no man was any good who couldn't make his own way, father. Well, women are the same as men, now. It's the law of the country. I only want to make my own way.

      BUILDER. [Trying to subdue his anger] Now, Maud, don't be foolish. Consider my position here—a Town Councillor, a Magistrate, and Mayor next year. With one daughter living with a man she isn't married to—

      MAUD. [With lively interest] Oh! So you did catch them out?

      BUILDER. D'you mean to say you knew?

      MAUD. Of course.

      BUILDER. My God! I thought we were a Christian family.

      MAUD. Oh! father.

      BUILDER. Don't sneer at Christianity!

      MAUD. There's only one thing wrong with Christians—they aren't!

      BUILDER Seizes her by the shoulders and shakes her vigorously. When he drops her shoulders, she gets up, gives him a vicious look, and suddenly stamps her foot on his toe with all her might.

      BUILDER. [With a yowl of pain] You little devil!

      MAUD. [Who has put the table between them] I won't stand being shaken.

      BUILDER. [Staring at her across the table] You've got my temper up and you'll take the consequences. I'll make you toe the line.

      MAUD. If you knew what a Prussian expression you've got!

      BUILDER passes his hand across his face uneasily, as if to wipe something off.

      No! It's too deep!

      BUILDER. Are you my daughter or are you not?

      MAUD. I certainly never wanted to be. I've always disliked you, father, ever since I was so high. I've seen through you. Do you remember when you used to come into the nursery because Jenny was pretty? You think we didn't notice that, but we did. And in the schoolroom—Miss Tipton. And d'you remember knocking our heads together? No, you don't; but we do. And—

      BUILDER. You disrespectful monkey! Will you be quiet?

      MAUD. No; you've got to hear things. You don't really love anybody but yourself, father. What's good for you has to be good for everybody. I've often heard you talk about independence, but it's a limited company and you've got all the shares.

      BUILDER. Rot; only people who can support themselves have a right to independence.

      MAUD. That's why you don't want me to support myself.

      BUILDER. You can't! Film, indeed! You'd be in the gutter in a year. Athene's got her pittance, but you—you've got nothing.

      MAUD. Except my face.

      BUILDER. It's the face that brings women to ruin, my girl.

      MAUD. Well, when I'm there I won't come to you to rescue me.

      BUILDER. Now, mind—if you leave my house, I've done with you.

      MAUD. I'd rather scrub floors now, than stay.

      BUILDER. [Almost pathetically] Well, I'm damned! Look here, Maud— all this has been temper. You got my monkey up. I'm sorry I shook you; you've had your revenge on my toes. Now, come! Don't make things worse for me than they are. You've all the liberty you can reasonably want till you marry.

      MAUD. He can't see it—he absolutely can't!

      BUILDER. See what?

      MAUD. That I want to live a life of my own.

      He edges nearer to her, and she edges to keep her distance.

      BUILDER. I don't know what's bitten you.

      MAUD. The microbe of freedom; it's in the air.

      BUILDER. Yes, and there it'll stay—that's the first sensible word you've uttered. Now, come! Take your hat off, and let's be friends!

      MAUD looks at him and slowly takes off her hat.

      BUILDER. [Relaxing his attitude, with a sigh of relief] That's right! [Crosses to fireplace].

      MAUD. [Springing to the door leading to the hall] Good-bye, father!

      BUILDER. [Following her] Monkey!

      At the sound of a bolt shot, BUILDER goes up to the window. There is a fumbling at the door, and CAMILLE appears.

      BUILDER. What's the matter with that door? CAMILLE. It was bolted, Monsieur.

      BUILDER. Who bolted it?

      CAMILLE. [Shrugging her shoulders] I can't tell, Monsieur.

      She collects the cups, and halts close to him. [Softly] Monsieur is not 'appy.

      BUILDER. [Surprised] What? No! Who'd be happy in a household like mine?

      CAMILLE. But so strong a man—I wish I was a strong man, not a weak woman.

      BUILDER. [Regarding her with reluctant admiration] Why, what's the matter with you?

      CAMILLE. Will Monsieur have another glass of brandy before I take it?

      BUILDER. No! Yes—I will.

      She pours it out, and he drinks it, hands her the glass and sits down suddenly in an armchair. CAMILLE puts the glass on a tray, and looks for a box of matches from the mantelshelf.

      CAMILLE.

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