Rope Page #6

the whole afternoon for it.

The whole afternoon,

after that mad rush in the morning.

- Did he say why?

- No, just a whim, l suppose.

But when l came back, he and Mr Phillip

were going at it hammer and tongs.

Oh. What about?

Now, Mr Cadell, even if l did know,

do you think l'd tell?

- Well, I hope so.

- Not me. l'm like the grave.

Look at this mess!

Just makes double the work.

After I have this cleaned off,

I have to clear all those books off

the dining room table,

bring them here,

put them back in the chest,

which is where

they were in the first place.

- Why did you serve from here, anyway?

- It wasn't my idea.

I had everything laid out in the

dining room and it was just beautiful.

(Whispering) On this thing,

it doesn't have... (Dade Out)

(Undiscernable)

Is she still harping on her table and

how awkward it is to serve from this?

It's much more convenient, you know.

Because this way, people don't have

to go all the way into the dining room

to get food and come

all the way back to eat it.

Seems to me they've gone in there

now for their dessert and coffee.

Mrs Wilson, please serve the guests.

Don't lecture them.

We did get up on the wrong side

of the bed, didn't we?

(Piano)

- I'm in quite an embarrassing position.

- How do you mean?

I seem to be the only one

having a good time.

You and Mrs Atwater.

What's going on, Phillip?

Would you mind turning that off?

- Sorry.

- I don't like the light in my eyes.

You know, Phillip,

I get quite intrigued when people don't

answer questions and quite curious.

- Did you ask me a question?

- Yes, Phillip, I asked you a question.

(Sirens)

Well, what was it?

I asked you what is going on here.

- A party.

- Yes, but a rather peculiar party.

What's it all about, Phillip?

What's what all about? Stop playing

"Crime and Punishment", Rupert.

If you want to know something

come out with it! Otherwise -

Now, now, temper, temper.

- Don't stop.

- I'd like a drink.

Wait, I'll get it for you. Keep playing.

What would you like, Scotch?

(Phillip) No, brandy.

(Piano Continues)

You're very fond

of that little tune, aren't you?

You know, I wish I could come

straight out with what I want to know.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything.

I merely suspect.

- I said that -

(Phillip) - l heard you.

- This alright?

(Phillip) - Thank you.

(Guests Laughing)

- Do you use this?

- Sometimes.

I thought only beginners did.

- I must say -

- Alright, Rupert, I'll ask you.

What do you suspect?

Oh, I'd forgotten. Where's David, Phillip?

I don't know. Why?

- Brandon knows.

- Does he?

- Doesn't he?

- Not that I know of.

- Oh, come now.

- I don't. Why don't you ask Brandon?

I have,

but he's too busy manoeuvring

the other two points of the triangle.

What for, Phillip?

Just what is Brandon trying to do

with Janet and Kenneth?

(Laughs)

- What are you laughing at?

- Nothing.

What is it?

What, am I so far off the track?

There's nothing going on at all, Rupert.

You're, uh...

more than usually allergic

to the truth tonight, Phillip.

That's the second time

you haven't told it.

Thanks. When was the first?

When you said that you'd

never strangled a chicken.

You're confused.

Brandon dreamt that up

for the sake of a very unfunny joke.

No, he didn't. No, he didn't, Phillip.

And if you'll think back carefully,

you'll realise that I know he didn't.

About a year ago,

I was up at the farm. Remember?

One morning

I saw you display your handiwork.

You're quite a good chicken strangler,

as I recall.

Well, I... I just meant

that Brandon's story wasn't true.

- I didn't mean I hadn't killed chickens.

- That's what you said.

Well, I didn't think it was a suitable topic

of conversation while we were eating.

- You could have said that.

- Alright, I didn't.

We're not eating now, Phillip.

What did you lie to me for?

- Because I don't like to talk about -

- About what? Strangling -

- I can't play with that thing!

(Brandon) - l want you to have them.

(Kentley) - lt's extremely generous

of you, Brandon. l don't -

(Brandon) Please, l know you appreciate

first editions more than l, Mr Kentley.

(Kentley) - lt's very nice of you.

- What's wrong?

(Kentley) - You must come to dinner...

- What's wrong now, Phillip?

Don't you want

Mr Kentley to have the books?

- No. I don't care if he has them, I just -

- What? What?

I think it's a clumsy way

of tying them up, that's all.

(Brandon) David's never had

trouble taking care of himself.

(Mr Kentley)

l know but l cannot understand this.

Whenever he's been detained before,

he's telephoned us. lsn't that so, Janet?

(Janet) Oh yes. He's always

been after me to be more punctual.

(Kenneth) And well he might.

You wouldn't know me these days.

l'm a new woman, punctual as a clock.

(Atwater)

That's very unfeminine, my dear.

(Kentley) Perhaps,

but l prefer manners to femininity.

(Atwater)

Oh Henry, you sound just like Daddy.

l remember once, when David

was still at home...(Fades Out)

Take it easy, Phillip.

- Rupert's onto something.

- He isn't. Now, let up.

- I've got to have a drink.

- Enough.

Take your hand off my arm!

Don't you ever again tell me

what to do and what not to do.

- I don't like it, and I'm not going -

- Keep your voice down.

I, uh, hope I didn't upset Phillip.

Uh, no, he's more likely mixing his drinks.

- You seem rather upset yourself.

- Do I?

Yes, there's something upsetting

both of you a great deal.

- Something that -

(Wilson) - Excuse me, sir.

There's a lady phoning

for either Mr Kentley or Mrs Atwater.

- It must be Alice. I'll talk to her, Henry.

- (Kentley) Alright.

Down the hall to your left, dear.

- Thank you.

- The first bedroom.

(Janet) Mr Kentley,

do you suppose David could be home?

(Kentley) l don't know. l hope so.

(Rupert) l hate to throw a damper,

but if David was home, l think he'd

be calling instead of Mrs Kentley.

- Wouldn't you say so, Brandon?

(Brandon) - l wouldn't know.

(Rupert) The David l remember

was polite as well as punctual.

(Janet) He hasn't changed.

(Rupert) Of course,

if he's not home, where could he be?

(Kenneth) Don't ask me. l don't know.

(Brandon)

He might be at any number of places.

(Rupert) - Such as?

(Brandon) - The club, or Bradley's party.

- Maybe he went down to Janet's.

(Rupert) - Why?

(Brandon) Perhaps he decided

to pick her up, after all.

(Janet) l phoned my place

after l spoke to Mrs Kentley.

(Kentley) - He wasn't there?

(Janet) - No. l left a message in case.

(Rupert) We might have a better chance

of finding out where he is now

if we knew where he was this

afternoon. What do you think, Brandon?

(Brandon) l haven't the least idea

where he was this afternoon.

(Rupert) Don't you think lt would help

if we found out where he was?

(Brandon) l suppose so.

(Kentley) l know he went to the club

this afternoon to play tennis.

- l know he got there.

(Rupert) - Why?

(Kentley) Someone phoned with a

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