Plenty Page #2

---

- Is that his name?

- Hm

the mission all think it's God's joke.

God dashing off a modern Darwin who is in

every respect less advanced than the last.

I'm sorry. We sit about in the

evenings and polish our jokes.

Brussels is rather a debilitating town.

Mm.

Is this a bad posting for you?

Well, I had hoped for

something more positive.

Fresher air.

The flag still flies over a quarter of the human

race and I would have liked to have seen it, really

Whereas here we're left with

the problems of the war.

- I wasn't his wife.

- No.

- Had you realised that?

- I thought it possible.

What about Darwin?

- Did he realise?

- Lord, no. It would never occur to him.

We met during the war.

Tony was a wireless operator for the S.O.E.

I was a courier

motoring together it was easier to

say we were man and wife.

In fact, I was barely even his mistress.

He rang me a few weeks ago, and

I was amazed that people in our organisation

didn't know each other all that well. I mean...

even now you don't know who

most of your colleagues were.

Perhaps you were in it.

Perhaps I met you.

I don't know.

Those of us who went

through this kind of war

I do think we have something

in common. It's a kind of

impatience. We don't suffer fools.

Back in England, the people who stayed

behind can seem childish, and a little

silly. I think that's why

Tony wanted to get away.

If you haven't suffered

Well. So, driving through Europe at least I knew I'd

be able to act as I pleased for a while. That's all.

May I ask you a question?

Yes. Of course.

- If you are not his wife... did he have one?

- Oh... yes.

- I see.

- And three children.

I had to lie about those.

I couldn't claim them, somehow.

She lives in Crediton in Devon.

She believes Tony was travelling alone. I

think he told her he needed two weeks by himself.

That's what I was hoping you could do for me

Ah.

phone her.

I've written the number down.

I'm afraid I did it before I came.

And lie?

Well, yes I would prefer it if you lied.

But it's up to you.

All right. it doesn't matter.

- No, that's not what I said.

- Please, it... it doesn't matter.

Why did you choose me?

- What?

- For the job. You didn't choose Darwin?

Well, I might have done.

You don't think you wear your

suffering a little heavily?

This smart club of people you belong

to who had a very bad war?

I know it must put you on a different level

from the rest of us.

You won't shame me, you know.

There's no point.

I wasn't particularly fond of Tony.

But we had known some sorrow together

and I came with him.

And it seemed a shocking injustice when he fell in the

lobby. Unjust for him, of course. But also for his wife.

Bitterly unfair if she had to have the

news from me. Unfair for life.

So, I approached the Embassy.

It makes no difference. Lie or don't lie.

It's a matter of indifference.

Would you um, perhaps... we could

have dinner? Just so we can talk.

No. If I told you anything about myself

now you would only think I was pleading.

I'll just say, "look at me."

Don't creep round the furniture.

Look at me, and make a judgement.

Well, that's done.

- First flight tomorrow morning, without a hitch.

- Thank you very much.

If there's anything else there is a small chapel attached

to the Embassy if you'd care to visit it before you go.

- Thank you.

- Excuse me.

Have you been posted here long?

Oh, no, not at all.

Just a few months.

Before that, Djakarta. We were hoping for

something sunny but Brussels came along

er, not that we're complaining.

They've certainly got things going here.

- Really?

- Oh yes. New Europe.

Reconstruction. Massive

work of reconstruction.

Marvellous time to be alive in Europe.

No end of it. Roads to be built.

People to be educated.

Land to be tilled. Lots to get on with.

Have another gin.

Your wife is asking if you're

ready to go the reception, sir?

- Right.

- And she wants your advice on her face.

Oh. Goodbye, Mrs Radley.

I'm sorry this hasn't been a happier day.

- I'll lock up after you, sir.

- Thank you.

I've put in a call to England.

There's an hour's delay. I've decided to lie.

- I've told you before, get off!

- Oi!

Taxi?

- Could have done with you earlier.

- It's all right. We're almost there.

Goodness.

I expected something grander.

- Why?

- I don't know.

I'm a single working woman.

Over there you're out of touch

with how tough it is at home.

- It's worse than the war.

- No doubt. Well

I've only got two days to put up with it.

Do you may I come back next weekend?

Oh is that what you're going to do?

Commute on the cross-channel ferry?

- What's wrong with that?

- Nothing.

But the winter gets rough.

Right, let's 'ave a look.

One more, darlin', that's yer lot.

My gawd

Oh, dear.

She didn't get them

on the rations, did she?

Mr Medlicott. Mr Medlicott?

I'm afraid you've confused your Guyanas.

- I beg your pardon?

- French...

French Guyana is not in Africa.

The Himalaya is coming

from Cape Town, you see.

But you have it from Panama.

Ah, yes quite. Quite so.

That is, of course, what I intended.

- Quite. Shall I correct it?

- And is there anything else?

Well, the Mooltan is due at twelve

from Bombay. I should think...

- Miss Park!

- Yes?

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr Medlicott, I must be

a little bit late. It's because, um

- I've been finding the work a bit much.

- Miss Park, you only joined us yesterday.

The shock the pace I

- And your clothes?

- Yes, I haven't been home.

- But, that was yesterday, Miss Park

- Yes, well, it's just

oh, God, you know what it's like. Last night

there was this really nice-looking boy.

It was lovely

Well, Mr Medlicott, if you were his boss

this morning come on, be grateful!

You'd be saying, "Isn't your hem a bit high?"

I don't mind being sacked.

Work's going out of fashion.

Oh, really?

Certainly. In a few years,

nobody's going to work.

How are you going to live, then?

Oh, by the way

is there any room for me at your place?

I did live somewhere, but I had to move out. I

was disappointed in love. That happens to girls

- Oh, yes

- Mackerel, please, love.

Right, 'ere you are, love 'alf a pound.

I can't stand queues.

- What about you?

- Oh, I have a boyfriend.

- A diplomat.

- Golly.

- Yes, but he's only here at weekends.

- I don't mind, I can make myself scarce.

At heart, I'm a novelist. I can't help it,

that's what I am I think.

The writer has to experience

every kind of degradation.

It's really the degradation that

attracted me to the job.

You have to live it before you can write it.

This is the place. Look, it's super. If you want

to know what's going on you need to come here.

- Haven't you heard about it?

- No, no I haven't.

Oh, yes. Everyone comes.

- Is this him?

- Yes.

He's not very glamorous.

No... but he's very kind.

- Here you go.

- Ouch.

Alice! Hullo, Alice

- Mick! Darling!

- How are you?

Brilliant.

This is a bloody disgrace!

There'll be a riot here pretty soon.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes