"Where is the telephone, please?" " Here, sir." "Thank you." "Hello?" "This is Jim." "I'm sorry." "I've been held up." "Well, don't be so impatient." "Alright, I'm on my way." "Goodbye." "Oh, I'm terribly sorry." "Here you are, sir." " Oh, thank you." "Would you like anything else, sir?" "You've been a long time." "What are you doing here?" " I owe you an apology." "Are you following me?" " I didn't follow you." "I raced you." "I think you are extremely impertinent." "Oh..." "That's why I followed you." " Raced me." "I wouldn't mind a coffee now." "Anyhow, thank you very much." " No, no." "Please don't go." "Could you come out to supper with me?" "Do you always ask girls out to supper?" " No, not if I meet them at lunchtime." "I'm sorry." "But I have a lot of work to do." "You had better be going." " Please." "Hanna?" "No?" "Henrietta?" "Hortense?" "Why don't you go, Helen?" "I think he's rather nice." "Thank you, Marjorie." "I'm perfectly capable of making up my own mind." "Good." "Then where shall we go?" "Helen." "Alright." "If it will make everybody happy, I'll go." "But only for a coffee." "Thank you, Marjorie." "That was nice of you." "Yes, I'm like that, but it doesn't seem to get me anywhere." "Back in half an hour, Marjorie." "I won't wait up for you, dear." "I think you're misjudging him." "I want a pot of very hot coffee, please." "And a bottle of '47 champagne." "You don't mind if I take a drink?" "No." "If you don't mind if I take to my heels in ten minutes." "Let's dance while we're waiting for the drinks." "What... dressed like this?" "Look at me." "I am looking at you." "And now, ladies and gentlemen." "Miss Gloria will sing for you one of her latest successes:" ""With you."" "Helen." "Time we got a move on." "I've never been so happy." "In all my life." "No regrets?" " None." "And you?" "No." " Jim." "Helen, I should have told you before." "I'm leaving for India, today." "My father lives there and he's very ill." "I've got to go." "I wish I'd never met you." " Jim, please don't say that." "Oh... it's you." "Well, who else do you expect to see at this time of the morning?" "The milkman?" "Looks like we're going to have another wet spell." "Well, what's he like?" "Where did you go?" "Alright." "If you don't want to answer me." "I'm sorry I told you to go, if it turned out to be..." "It was nothing of the kind." "Really?" "How marvellous." "When are you seeing him again?" "He's leaving for India today." "Fancy a bookworm like you gadding about with a strange man until 7 this morning." "I wonder what Professor Bernardy would say if he knew?" "What's he got to do with it?" "Oh nothing." "I just thought he might be jealous." "That's all." "Don't be ridiculous." "He's old enough to be my father." "That doesn't stop him being fond of you." "He's a great scientist." "I admire him." "And he considers me as one of his most promising pupils." "Yes, well he won't if you don't hurry." "Oh, I nearly forgot." "He's lecturing this morning." "In case you've forgotten where, dear." "It's the University College." "Have you ever heard Professor Bernardy lecture?" "No." "Is he good?" " I'm afraid so." "I mean, does he lecture well?" "I never listen." "I just feast my eyes on him." "How long does Professor Bernardy lecture for?" "Never long enough for me." " I wonder if he'll wear that gray suit." "The one with the pinstripes?" "Come in." "Oh." "Hello, Miss Norwood." "I was just..." " I'm sorry..." "I thought that..." " You see..." "Come, sit down." "I wanted to say... to apologize for having missed your lecture." "I was disappointed, Miss Norwood." "Lecturing students can be a thankless task." "One likes to be assured of at least one intelligent member in the audience." "You're very kind." "It makes me feel even more guilty." "I have taken a great interest in your career during the last three years." "I might almost say a personal interest." "You have helped me." "It was good of you." "I believe my research work, in connection with the transmutation of metals." "To be worthy of the most sincere workers that I can acquire." "You mean?" "I mean, when you have completed your final examinations..." "You can come to my laboratory as my assistant." "Well that is... if the idea appeals to you." "Oh... you think I'm good enough for that?" "Yes... you are keen on your work." "And that is very valuable these days." "I suppose half my students this morning were asleep." "Because they had been dancing all night." "Or out at parties." "You may be quite wrong about me." "I may not be the kind of person you think I am at all." "I've made my suggestion." "There is no hurry." "Please, think it over seriously." "Oh, fresh air indeed." "A regular gale, I calls it." "Anyhow, it's done the dusting for me." "And in my search for a corrosion-resistant alloy." "I have produced a method." "Which will meet all requirements for mechanical strength..." "Ductility and corrosion resistance." "The results have been so successful." "That I am arranging a large-scale trial in a steel works." "And now with your permission, I will bring a personal note into this lecture." "And introduce to you someone who has..." "During the past five years, been of invaluable help to me in my work." "Ladies and gentlemen." "My wife." "Who is it?" "His wife." " Huh?" "His wife." "Oh, is she going to lecture on astronomy as well?" "I don't know." " Huh?" "Won't you and your wife dine with us before leaving?" "That's very kind of you, but I have so much work to do tomorrow." "As it is, we shall be late in getting home." "It's one of the perils you should know, of living in the country." "Well Martha, we had a marvellous reception tonight." "You did, Mr Bernardy?" " Oh, yes." "The less they understood, the more they applauded." "Any telephone messages, Martha?" "I put your slippers over by the fire, Mr Bernardy." "And I put out a bottle of wine." "The 1915 Shiraz." "Oh good." "You think of everything." "Thank you." "Well darling, here we are on the way to success." "Martha is a strange woman, Paul." "Sometimes I think she almost... hates me." "Oh no, no." "I know Martha has a strange manner." "But after all, she has looked after me for twenty years." "No... come darling." "Let's be gay now." "This is our great night." "Yours and mine." "To our work." " To our love." "I've been very selfish to let you work so hard." "But that's all got to stop." " To stop?" "Helen..." "I want you to give up the laboratory." "But it's my life." "It will be a very short life at the rate you work." "Rubbish." "You've trained your assistant very thoroughly." "Why not rest and enjoy home life?" "Just settle down here?" "And be "Mrs Bernardy"?" " Exactly." "We have finished our experimental work." "It is up to the financial people now." "You mean a holiday?" "Call it a holiday." "Try." "Just to please me." "To Mrs Bernardy." "Darling." "Alright..." "I shall sit all day knitting jumpers for my husband." "The famous scientist." "Will I have to wear them all?" "Well, you might go on a lecture tour in Iceland." "I'm beginning to like the idea of just being Mrs Bernardy." "After one year of marriage, I feel honoured." "Good morning." " Good morning, Mr Bernardy." "Well, how does it feel to be promoted to First Assistant?" "Fine, thank you, sir." "I hope I shall prove myself as efficient as Mrs Bernardy." "Oh, I'm sure." "Call on the Scottish Steel Company in Glasgow." "Tell them that I'll go up there any time they're ready." "Yes, sir." "Mr Coleman to see you, sir." " Send him in." "Good morning, Mr Bernardy." "Good morning." " Good morning." "Your agreement." "I've got the clauses you altered." "And how is Mrs Bernardy?" "Very well, thank you." "She has decided to live a domestic life, I'm happy to say." "I'm glad to hear it." "It is a woman's duty to keep the home fires burning." "Can I have a word with you, Mum?" "Certainly, Edward." "What's the trouble?" "It is that I am worried about the budding." "Budding?" " Aye, budding." "The Professor wants tea-roses now." "And tea-roses do better budding on seedling briar." "Rosa phoeniciana thrive on briar cuttings." "See, briar cuttings has a straight stem, so budding is easier on seedling briar." "Yes." "Yes, of course." " Well, shall I?" "Oh, I see." "That is what you wanted to know." "Well, perhaps you'd better wait for Mr Bernardy's decision." "Alright, Mum." "You see, Martha always gives me my instructions." "But she sent me into you." "Telling me, as you might say, that you are in charge now." "We'll talk about it later." " Alright, Mum." "Lunch is served." "It's rather early for lunch, Martha?" "It's the day for cleaning the silver." "If I don't get the lunch over early, I can't get on with my silver." "Tired, Mr Bernardy?" " No." "Where is Mrs Bernardy?" "Upstairs." "Thank you." "How grand to see you." " It's good to see you, sir." "It's just like you to suddenly turn up without warning." "Yes." "I ought to have warned you." " Oh, that doesn't matter, my boy." "Only I should have had the pleasure of looking forward to your arrival." "I didn't know until the last moment." "I got a job to bring back one of those new flying-boats." "Oh you literally arrived out of the blue, huh?" "Not much blue... pretty filthy weather." "You've certainly grown up." "Oh, Helen... hello dear." "Helen... this is Jim Wyndham." "My wife." "How do you do?" "You know, I feel very ashamed of myself for being such a bad correspondent." "I don't think there is any need for you to call me "sir"." "Now, you are a grown up." "Well I can remember when I was a kid, being ticked off for calling you "Paul"." "That's true." "You know, Jim is here on holiday." "You've heard me speak about my old friend, the late Dr Wyndham." "In Ceylon." "This is his son." "Oh, really?" "Yes, I was a sort-of guardian to him when he was at school here." "Oh..." "I'll be late for my work." "Uh..." "Jim, you stay here as long as you can." "Helen will fix up a room for you, won't you darling." "And take care of him until I get back." "How about a little party tonight?" " Fine." "Right." "The Continental." "Eight-thirty... alright." "Well, Martha." "Does it make you feel younger or older having Mr Wyndham with us again?" "Neither." "It just annoys me." "Ah, you've never forgiven him for chasing you around the house with a broom." "I hope he's grown out of that now." "Not a line from him in all these years." "Nice behaviour, I must say." " Oh come, come." "This is your room and the bathroom is over there." "You see, the geography of a house of this size... isn't very difficult." "You know, I've met you somewhere before." "Very unlikely." "Have you ever been out East?" "No... have you ever been out West?" "No." "Then it must have been two other people." "Thank you." "You don't mind young Wyndham staying here, do you?" "No." "Why should I?" "He's a bit of a scamp, but likeable." "Imagine him, flying all the way from Ceylon." "What's wrong with that?" "I've always wanted to fly." "Now wait a minute." "It's very well for foolish young men to risk their lives, but I won't let you fly." "You mean too much to me." "Promise me you won't." "I promise." "Flying." "You know, I'm sure I've met you somewhere before." "Oh hello." "Here you are, darling." "No, nothing for me." "You will have to excuse me tonight." "It's very important." "I have to go up to Scotland." "Not tonight, surely?" "I'm afraid so, dear." "The 9:25 from Euston." "I must leave now." "Oh, Paul." "It's that business with the Scottish Steel Works." "They wired me to attend a director's meeting." "I think they should have given you longer notice." "Oh but still, you and Jim can stay here and dance." "Of course." "No." "I don't think so." "You make me feel a killjoy." "We'll have dinner and then go home." "Well." "Just as you like." "I'm terribly sorry." "Goodbye, dear." "Wish me luck." "Look after her, Jim." "Waiter." " Yes, sir?" "Give me the bill will you?" " Alright, sir." "Cigarette?" "Oh, I'm terribly sorry." "Thank you." "Now I remember." "45 Woburn Square." "Let's go." "Why didn't you answer my cable?" "What cable?" "I never heard from you." "Oh yes you did." "And I sent you a cable telling you..." " Please don't discuss what happened." "Or what didn't happen." "I hate to." "In this house." "Shall we dance?" "No." "Why not?" "You wouldn't refuse if I were a stranger." "You are a stranger." "You must be." ""And now ladies and gentlemen."" ""An old favourite of five years ago."" ""With you. "" "When did you remember?" "When I first saw you." "Shall I wait up for Mr Bernârdy?" "No, Martha... you can lock up now." "Mr Bernardy won't be home tonight." "Goodnight, Mr Wyndham." "Helen." "Good morning." "I've borrowed a plane from the airport." "Why not come down there for a flip?" " I can't, Jim." "Paul made me promise never to fly." "Oh." "Oh, well that's that." "I hope you haven't been upsetting the order of the Professor's books." "Mr Wyndham." "There is no reason why I shouldn't got to the aerodrome with you." "Good." "Now there is no danger with a really good pilot." "Meaning yourself?" " Of course." "Come on." "We'll flip down to the coast." "I don't like the look of the sky." "I think we ought to be off." "The corrosion of steel and iron costs the world 700 million pounds a year." "Your own Forth Bridge has thirty painters working on it continuously..." "To protect it against rust." "It takes three years to complete each coating." "And at the end, they have to start all over again." "During each overhaul, the Queen Mary is given a new coat of paint." "And each coating requires seventy thousand gallons." "Now my corrosion-resistant steel would eliminate all this waste." "It will prove a boon to mankind and a great national asset." "It is quite true that the Forth Bridge has thirty painters on it." "But I must point out to you that we have the contract." "As for the 70.000 gallons of paint on the Queen Mary." "We are manufacturers of paint, you know, Mr Bernardy." "Well then it seems to me, that if you acquire my process you get it both ways." "Corrosion, or non-corrosion." "You make money hand over fist." "Aye, but we've got corrosion at present, and we can rely on it." "I should like Mr Bernardy to explain the method of money making..." "Frequently referred to in England as "hand over fist"." "It's a more gentle method than the Scottish one." "Which is usually just fists." "I think we can assure Mr Bernardy that we are definitely interested." "We shall of course, have to inquire into the exact costs of the outlay." "Another Scottish custom." "Thank you, gentlemen." "Well, as far as I can see, we're absolutely stranded." "In any case the young lady should rest here tonight after an accident like that." "I think it's mostly shock, though." "Thank you." "Now just go to sleep and forget all about it." "How are you now?" " Did you get through to the house?" "No." "We cut the wires when we crashed and there's no telephone within five miles." "Isn't there a car here?" "You can't see a thing in this fog and you couldn't even walk for five miles." "Oh Jim, what can we do?" "I'm sorry, Helen." "I'm afraid it means staying here." "Don't worry." "Please don't worry." "I'll say goodnight." " Goodnight." "Shall I show you to your room, sir?" " Thank you." "Good morning, sir." "I didn't expect you quite so early." "I came straight from the train." "I have good news." "Everything went splendidly." "The steel company is financing our tests." " Good." "Send these flowers by hand to my house." "Come with me." "Just a moment, everyone." "At last we have the opportunity of testing our theory." "And it means hard work for everyone." "You can prepare the figures for the generating plant." "Right, sir." "And you, the control apparatus." " Very good, sir." "Electricity supplies." " Very good, sir." "Labour." " Right, sir." "Raw materials." "And you will help with the electrometer." " Yes, sir." "It's a very urgent job and I want you all to set to work at once." "Mr Bernardy, you're wanted on the phone." " Thank you." "Hello?" "Can you tell me if Mrs Bernardy will be home for lunch, sir?" "Mrs Bernardy?" "I suppose, yes." "But why ask me, Martha?" " I'd rather not say, Mr Bernardy." "Oh, well if you must know." "Mrs Bernardy and Mr Wyndham went out yesterday morning." "And they haven't come home." "Shall I put out the report on experiment number six or not, sir?" "Yes... no, no." "We'll decide it later." "I must go home immediately." " Yes, but Mr Bernardy." "Is Mrs Bernardy back?" "She's upstairs." " Oh." "They came back ten minutes ago." "Thank you." "Why, Paul." "What on earth are you doing home at this time of day?" "I went straight to my laboratory but hurried back." "I was worried by your absence." "Whatever happened?" "Oh my dear." "I'm so sorry." "Mr Wyndham and I were in town all day." "We went to a cinema." "And after supper, it was so foggy, we decided it was best to stay there." "Stayed where?" "I stayed at my club, and Mr Wyndham stayed at his." "Why, Paul." "I believe you're angry with me." "Perhaps it's foolish of me, but..." "You wouldn't want me not to worry about me, would you." "It was too late to ring Martha." "She would never have heard the telephone up in her room." "It's alright, Martha." "Mrs Bernardy is answering the door." "I want to speak to you in the study." "For Mrs Bernardy." " Thank you." "Oh, Paul." "I'm just going to have a few words with Martha before I go." "Martha, why did you behave like that on the telephone?" "I thought you ought to know that Mrs Bernardy hadn't come home last night." "That is true." "Naturally I was worried something might have happened to her." "Might have happened to her." "I go about with my eyes open." "How dare you stand there and speak like that about my wife." "It's time someone spoke out." "Mrs Bernardy and Mr Wyndham were detained by fog." "So I've been told." "If you are determined to behave in this manner." "I am determined to stop other people behaving as they are behaving." "I hated lying to him, but he would never have forgiven me for flying." "Martha, you have been very impertinent to Mrs Bernardy for some time." "I won't stand any more of your insulting remarks." "The sooner we part, the better." "You can take a month's notice." "After..." "Twenty years." "Hello?" "Yes." "Goodbye, darling." " What have you been saying to Martha?" "I've given her a month's notice." "But Paul, you'll hate parting with her." "You are not doing this for me?" "Sometimes I think she's more comfort to you than I am." "My dear." "Your happiness is my comfort." "Hold on." "Mr Bernardy." "You are wanted on the telephone." "Hello." "I've just explained all the details to someone." "The point is, a young couple stayed here last night." "I knew your phone number because they asked me to ring up." "But the telephones weren't working." "All I want to say is, the young lady left her ring here." "And I want to know where to send it." "Keep it." "Keep it until I give you further instructions." "Thank you." "Kay." "Anna." "Joe." "Henrietta." "Hortense." "I'm desperate." "Give me a kiss or I'll shoot." "I never kiss desperadoes." "Put your hands behind your back." "No, Jim." "It might be loaded." " Well, of course it is." "Let me show you." "My gosh, it is loaded." " Hadn't you better unload it?" "No, no..." "I'm frightened of firearms." " What a desperado." "No, Jim." "It's impossible." "Good girl." "I'm going to bed." "Goodnight." "What's the matter, darling?" "Helen, what...?" " Goodnight, Mr Wyndham." "Hello?" "It's Mrs Bernardy, sir." " Tell her I'm not in." "Oh, wait a minute." "Hello?" " Paul." "I'm sorry to worry you with domestic details." "But..." "Martha is threatening to leave." "To leave at once." " Well, what do you expect me to do?" "I gave her notice." "It's no use begging her to stay now." "Will you be home... to dinner?" "Uh... no." "No." "I've had an urgent call out of town." "Don't expect me back tonight." "Martha, you can't leave me like this." "You must stay until tomorrow." "Why?" "Mr Bernardy won't be home tonight." "And I can't be left..." "Don't you see?" " Very clearly." "Jim." "Jim, there's something I want to ask you." "Martha's gone." "Well, we knew she was leaving anyway." "Paul won't be home tonight." "And I wondered..." "If perhaps, you'd better go up to town." "Will my going up to London for one night make any difference?" "If we're so afraid of each other, doesn't it prove we are meant for each other?" "Didn't we know that five years ago?" " Yes, but that's the past." "Since then... there's Paul." "Can't you see what it would do to him?" "And to me if I.." "Betrayed him." "Paul is my husband." "Why should we consider him?" "It's no good, Jim." "Helen!" "Helen, you must listen to me, please." "All the things I've been wanting to say over the last days have got to be said." "Don't you see, we can't fight against them." "This locked door isn't going to stop me saying it." "Don't you understand, Helen?" "Please." "It's no good, Jim." "It's all true... and I know it is." "Help me." "I've made a decision." "Please help me to stand by it." "Please open the door, Helen." " No." "I can't, Jim." "May I speak with the landlord?" " There he is." "It's a pity to interrupt him." "He's doing a bit of work for once." "Could you spare me a moment?" " Yes, sir." "Hey... twenty-six." "Chalk it up." "I'd like to speak with you." "Chalk it up." " Alright." "I spoke to you on the telephone about the ring that was left here." "Aye, but you're not the man who stayed here with the lady, though." "Here, what were the ring like?" "Square-cut emeralds, set in platinum." "Where did the young lady leave the ring?" "Upstairs." "The young couple were terribly upset." "What did they come here for?" " Bed and breakfast." "They just dropped in on us, as you might say." "Lucky they weren't killed." "Those aeroplane things are dangerous." "Aeroplanes?" " Yes." "They crashed in the fog." "Cut the telephone wires and ruined some of my grazing." "Still, that's nothing." "The young lady were properly shaken up." "She had the best room and he slept in the box room." "It's called the box room because that's what the bed is made of." ""I wouldn't let you fly."" ""You mean too much to me."" ""Promise you won't."" "] "We went to the cinema." "We got caught in the fog."" ""We stayed at our respective clubs." "That's all."" "So that's why she lied." "What's that?" "Nothing." "Oh, I thought perhaps you was ordering drinks." "You are right." "I want everybody to drink the health of the most foolish man in the world." "Here, not meaning anything personal, I hope?" "Oh no... no." "Ah, thank you." "Helen." "Surely you'll see me to say goodbye." "If you're going, Jim." "Why did you come back?" "Even to say goodbye." "Helen, I must see you." "Just once more." "Jim." "Helen darling." "I can't leave you." "We love each other." "You're going away with me tonight." "We go up to town now and leave by air for Marseilles in the morning." "And then the East." "Say yes." " No." "Yes." "Yes!" "What's that?" "There is somebody in the house." "What are we going to do?" "Tell him the truth." "Tell him we're going away together." "Don't be a fool." "We can't do that." "I don't want any unpleasantness." "Jim." "Martha!" "What are you doing here?" "I came to catch them." "Making love... under your own roof." "And you are away." "Jim went in to Mrs Bernardy." "Now." "This minute... in your bedroom." "Well go on... see for yourself." "Are you afraid?" "Afraid of the truth?" "Afraid of losing a woman twenty years younger than you are." "And you wouldn't believe me." "Treated me as if I were a blackmailer or something." "So maybe you'll be wanting to apologize." "To apologize to me." "Wanting my sympathy when the rest of the world is laughing at you." "You, an old man!" "Thought you could hold the love of a girl." "A girl young enough to be your own daughter!" "You dare to speak to me like that." "Have you lost all sense of decency and truth?" "But..." "Martha Russel, you must be mad." "I didn't go away." "I've been in this house with Mrs Bernardy the whole of this evening." "Now then." "Get out." "Get out." " No!" "You heard him." "Paul defending me." "He knew you were here, and yet he lied to Martha." "For me." "For you." "You were afraid to face him." "I couldn't leave with you." "Not now." "Goodbye." "I see." "I've come to say goodbye." "Leaving?" "Yes." "I've got to get up to town tonight." "I'm leaving by air for Marseilles in the morning." "Marseilles?" "Yes, I'm flying east direct from there." "So I thought I'd..." "Better come and say goodbye." "Thank you." "Darling." "You'll catch cold." "T" " G"