Separate Tables Page #8

Because they can't stop it,

I suppose.

Then this wasn't the fist time?

No.

Oh, it's horrible.

Yes, it is, of course.

I'm not trying to defend it.

You've never guessed this,

I know, but...

ever since school I've always

been scared to death of women.

Of everyone, in a way, I suppose,

but... but mostly of women.

I had a bad time at school.

Which wasn't Wellington, of course.

It wasjust a council school.

Boys hate other boys to be timid and shy,

and they gave it to me good and proper.

My father despised me, too.

He was a sergeant major in the shots guards.

He made mejoin the army,

but I was always a...

A bitter disappointment to him.

He died before I got my commission.

I got that by a wangle, too.

It wasn't very difficult

at the beginning of the war,

but it meant everything to me,

just the same...

being saluted,

being called 'sir.'

I thought, "I'm someone now,

a real person."

Perhaps...

some woman might even...

But it didn't work.

It never has worked.

I'm made in a certain way,

and I can't change it.

It has to be in the dark, you see,

and strangers, because...

Oh, stop it! Stop! Stop!

I don't want to hear any more.

I don't want to hear any more.

It'sjust that you asked me

why I did such things and I...

wanted to talk to somebody about it.

I never have, you see,

not in my whole life.

- I'm sorry if I upset you, of all people.

- Why me, especially? Why not the others?

Oh, I don't give a hang about the others.

They'll all take in their various ways, I suppose.

But it won't mean much more to them

thanjust another bit of gossip

to snort and snigger over.

But it'll be different foryou, Sibyl,

and that makes me very unhappy.

- That's the fist time you've called me Sibyl.

- Is it? Is it really?

Well, there's not much point

in all that Miss R-B" stuff now, is there?

What makes me

so different from the others?

I suppose it's because

you're so scared of...

well, shall we call it... 'life? '

That sounds more respectable than

that word I know you hate.

We're awfully alike, you know,

you and I, in many ways.

I suppose that's why we've drifted

so much together in this place.

How can you say

that we're alike?

Well, it'sjust that we're both

so frightened of other people,

and we somehow managed to forget out fright

when we've been in each other's company.

Speaking for myself,

I'm grateful. I... I always will be.

I can't expect you to feel

the same way now, of course.

Well, I'd better start packing, I suppose.

I should be able to

catch the 10:
45.

- The old wellingtonian colors...

- Why have you told so many awful lies?

Because I don't like myself

the way I am, I suppose.

I've had to invent somebody else.

It's not too harmful, really.

We all have our daydreams.

Mine havejust gone a step

furtherthan most people's.

Sometimes... sometimes, I've even managed

to believe in "the Major" myself.

Well, I'd better get cracking,

I suppose.

Packing up after4 years

is hellish business, really.

Has to be done, though.

Well, if I don't see you again

before I go, I'll, ah...

I'll write and say goodbye.

- But where will you go?

- I don't really know.

There's a chap in London

who might up me up a couple of days.

Only, I don't really want to go there.

But why not?

Well, it's really rather a case of...

birds of a feather.

Oh, don't go to him.

Oh, you mustn't go to him.

- I don't really know where else.

- Another hotel.

Well, it can't be Bournemouth, you see,

or... or anywhere near here.

It would have to be London,

I suppose, and...

I don't know anywhere

there that I can afford.

- Well, I-I'll lend you some money.

- No, you certainly won't.

Y-yes, I can, I have

some savings certificates.

You can have those

and I can get you some more...

No, Sibyl.

No, thank you, but... but no,

I'll think of somewhere.

As a matter of fact, I'vejust

remember a place now, in Cheltenham.

L-it's a very pleasant spot.

I'll go and telephone them right away.

I hate to do this, but could you...

could you possibly lend me a sixpence?

Oh, oh, yes, of course, I can.

- Here you are.

- Thank you so much.

Oh, but...

No, don't bother about me.

Don't worry, please.

I'll be perfectly all right. Please.

Are you all right?

Yes, thank you, I'm quite all right.

- Is there anything I can do to help?

- No... no, thank you.

I'm perfectly all right, thank you.

You're...

You're fond of him, aren't you?

No, I hate him, I despise him.

He's a vile, wicked man

and he's dome a horrible, beastly thing,

and it's not the first time, either.

He admitted that.

Oh, god, it's so horrible!

It's so horrible!

He says we're alike, he and I.

Did he?

He says we're both afraid of

life and people and... and sex.

There, I've said it.

I've said the word.

He says I hate saying it, even.

And I do! He's right,

I do, I do!

Please, try and control yourself.

Someone may come in.

Will he be all right, do you think?

Because, in spite of what he's done,

I don't want anything bad to happen to him.

I just want him to be happy.

I want him to find anotherfriend in his other hotel,

help him to forget his fright.

Do you think that he will?

I hope so.

So do I.

Oh, god, so do I!

Here's your sixpence.

I'm afraid that place was full up, but, ah...

I'll find something else.

Well, ah... goodbye, Sibyl.

God bless you.

I know perfectly well

what you must think of me.

Thank you for being so kind to her.

I have a couple of pipes here somewhere.

I bettertake them with me

I suppose. That's everything,

I think.

- Are you all right?

- Yes, yes, I'm all right.

I'm all right, Pat.

Well, what... th-that was a-a fine way

to behave, dashing out into the night.

- Where've you been?

- I don't know. I-I walked a long way.

How is she?

Is she all right?

- Your hands are like ice.

- What about her? Is she all right?

She's all right, John.

I'll get you some tea.

- Did I hurt her?

- No.

She was pretty hysterical last night,

but that was hardly surprising.

She fell, though, didn't she?

I seem to remember pushing her.

Herfalling, hitting her head...

She's all right, John.

Whateveryou did, there's been

no damage, no damage at all.

She's leaving this morning.

Did you ring, Miss?

Some tea for Mr. Malcolm, please.

- Tea? Just before breakfast?

- That will be all, Doreen.

Oh, okay, Doke.

We talked most of the night. I...

didn't want to get a doctor.

John, did you knowthat

she took drugs?

Drugs?

It's only the kind to make you sleep,

but she takes about 3 times the proper dose.

- The damn little fool.

- She takes them in the daytime, too.

Why does she do it?

Why do you go to the Feathers?

But I don't understand.

She was going to be married...

That's not true.

- But she told me.

- I'm simply telling you, that's not true.

Well, there's not much to choose

between you two is there?

When you're together,

you slash each otherto pieces,

and when you're apart,

you slash yourselves to pieces.

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