Green Stockings Part 8

RALEIGH. (_Speaking from card room, turning in his chair and holding card aloft_) Yes, it's just girls like you, Miss Faraday, who win the day.

TARVER. Righto!!

GRICE. (_Thumping the table_) Have you none of that suit, sir?

RALEIGH. (_Whirling around and playing_) Oh, yes, I beg your pardon.

(MADGE _comes to desk, gets her letter, goes down to foot of sofa and hands it to_ PHYLLIS. STEELE _sees that_ CELIA _has finished letter and comes slowly down_ C.)

CELIA. Of course, I will help you, Mr. Tarver. It's awfully nice to have _you_ ask _me_ for help, you know.

TARVER. Oh, thanks awfully. (_Goes up and around to_ PHYLLIS, _who is on sofa, talks to_ MADGE _and_ PHYLLIS.)

STEELE. You have finished, Miss Faraday?

CELIA. Yes.

STEELE. May I put that letter in the box for you?

CELIA. No, thanks. I will see to it.

STEELE. Well--wouldn't you like to come and play a game of billiards?

CELIA. No, thank you. I really must go and change my shoes.

(_Indicating her feet_) You can see that these are quite damp.

STEELE. (_Most graciously_) I can't be expected to see things so small as that. But--(_Getting chair from left_) Won't you let me talk to you for just a minute?

CELIA. (_Rising_) I really must go and change.

(STEELE _disconsolately and slowly puts back chair, leaving it turned on stage. He stands watching_ CELIA _for a moment, then walks up_ L.

_of table_ L., _looking at big picture on left wall as he goes_. NOTE: EVELYN _should give him a signal when_ CELIA _exits_.)

MADGE. I will go with you, dear. (_Goes to door_ R.I _and takes the k.n.o.b in her hand_.)

(TARVER _sits on fender, leans over and talks intently to_ PHYLLIS.)

CELIA. No, don't bother, Madgie.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Green Stockings" _Page_ 19]

MADGE. It's no bother. I have a lovely new frock I want to show you.

You might want to copy it for your trousseau. (_Exit_ R.)

CELIA. (_Puzzled_) My trousseau? (_Recovers herself_) My trousseau, oh, yes, yes, my trousseau. (_Looks quickly and vainly about for some place to hide letter, either in her dress or under the table. No one is looking at_ CELIA _during this business. She sees large blue envelope in which she has already placed two unopened letters_. NOTE: _The flap of this large envelope must be turned in. She quickly holds it up and slips the letter to_ SMITH _inside and hides it between the periodicals on lower end of table. She then looks around to see that no one has observed her and exits quickly_ R.)

(PHYLLIS _beckons to_ TARVER _and he sits beside her on sofa.

Immediately_ CELIA _exits_, STEELE _starts after her. When he gets down_ R.C., RALEIGH _rushes after him, carrying a card_.)

RALEIGH. Where are you going?

STEELE. I thought perhaps Miss Faraday might let me put on her slippers.

RALEIGH. (_Taking_ STEELE _by the arm_) Well, she is not going to put them on in the hall. She has gone to her room. You come back here.

GRICE. (_Shouts loudly and bangs table and jumps up_) Raleigh!

FARADAY. Is this a game of bridge or a game of tag?

RALEIGH _and_ STEELE. I beg your pardon! (_They rush back to card room and_ RALEIGH _plays card that he has carried away_.)

FARADAY. There now, he revoked too, and that's game and rubber.

(STEELE _strolls down extreme_ L., _goes_ R. _a few steps and stands watching door where_ CELIA _has made her exit_.)

RALEIGH. (_Coming down_ R.C., _also looking toward door_ R.I) Do I owe anything?

(FARADAY _goes_ C. _up stage_. GRICE _comes_ C. _down stage_. EVELYN _comes_ R. _of_ L. _table with a bridge score in her hand_.)

GRICE. (_Coming down center above and to the_ L. _of_ RALEIGH) Do you owe anything? You have revoked, lost the rubber, played the worst game I have ever seen, and now you ask if you owe anything. Yes, you owe Lady Trenchard three and six.

(RALEIGH _turns_ L. _to_ EVELYN _and pays her_.)

FARADAY. (_Moving_ R. _toward morning room_) Come and have a whiskey and soda.

TARVER. Whiskey and soda. What, ho! (_He rises_.)

(GRICE, FARADAY _and_ TARVER _exit through morning room. Enter_ MARTIN L.I _with salver_. STEELE _starts for door_ R.I _and gets to door_.

RALEIGH _goes up to morning room. Just as he gets to the door, he sees_ STEELE, _who is about to exit after_ CELIA.)

RALEIGH. No, you don't, Steele. You come along here.

(STEELE _goes up_ R. _of sofa and exits with_ RALEIGH, _protesting.