The Pumpkin Eater Page #2

- Why with us? We've enough people.

- She's looking for another one.

- I've never seen it.

- Who is she?

- A friend of a friend of Daddy's.

Why does she have to sleep

in my bed?

- Why can't I sleep in my bed?

- Why doesn't she go home?

Because she hasn't got a home.

- She smells of fish.

- She smells of onions.

She had a spot on her chin, but

she squeezed it out this morning.

- Ugh!

- She stinks of fish.

No, she doesn't stink. Now stop it.

- What's the difference?

- It's just perfume.

- It's fish!

- I like her.

Dad had to catch her yesterday

when she fainted.

- I bet it was awfuI, the smell.

- Fainted?

Is this how you faint?

Do you faint like this?

For goodness' sake, get up.

You' re covered in mud! Look at it!

Now hurry up. It's turning cold.

I want no more talk about Philpot.

That's the end of it.

It must be wonderfuI to have a man

working in the house, mustn't it?

Working at home.

Oh, you shouldn't have

brought me tea, really!

I should get up.

I mustn't have tea in bed, really.

It's bad for me.

But honestly, it must be challenging,

don't you think, to write for the films?

It must be so challenging,

don't you think, the cinema is?

Wouldn't you say?

Of course, his understanding

is so extraordinary, his innate...

Like the way he draws his characters.

Swift strokes, so swift.

And, of course, for you,

after all your struggles,

to suddenly have

success on the doorstep.

After all those husbands

you've had and everything.

Of course, you' re so intelligent

and everything,

and, of course, so beautifuI.

Do you help him much with his work?

No, not much.

Are you feeling any better?

Better?

You weren't too well.

Oh, I'm perfect.

It's... It's so warm here.

So reaI.

I've never felt such a sense

of reality as there is here.

Do you know what I mean?

- Does Philpot faint much?

- What?

Philpot. Does she do a lot of fainting?

How the hell should I know?

And why should she faint?

What's she got to faint about?

- Children said she fainted yesterday.

- I don't know.

Did she?

- They said you caught her.

- Me?

- Yes.

- Well, why should I catch her?

- To stop her head from banging on...

- What are you talking about?

- Did you catch her when she fainted?

- How would I know?!

- There's no need to shout.

- Shout?!

My God. I'm not shouting.

You' re the one who's shouting.

Where's she gone?

She's just gone out the front door.

Has she?

- Don't you think that's a bit odd?

- What?

I mean, we've just come in,

haven't we? Now she's gone out.

She's probably gone for a walk.

Why don't you take your coat off?

What?

Why is she gone?

- Do you want some coffee?

- No, thank you.

What did you think of the film?

What did you think of the bloody film?

Nothing.

I didn't think anything about it.

Is your film going to be

any better, the one you' re writing?

- Do you think it'll be better?

- Now, listen...

Do you like sitting between

two women? Does it give you a thrill?

Yes, it does. It really does.

What do you think

I ought to do about it?

Should I go and see a psychiatrist

about it?

- All right. What's...

- Look. Listen, it was nothing.

Do you understand?

What do you mean, it was nothing?

What do you mean, nothing?

- What do you think I mean?

- Why did you catch her?

- I didn't!

- She fainted.

What does it matter?

I didn't catch her.

What does it matter?

Don't you understand? Who cares?

- I care.

- About what?

I care about you. Who else?

Me? You don't care about me.

All you care about is

that bloody great army of kids

I'm supposed to

slave my guts out for.

That's all you care about.

Where do I come in?

I can't even have a bath in peace.

I can't even go to bed with you

without one of them barging in.

But so what? You don't care.

I'm sick of living in a bloody nursery.

Where do I come in?

What are you sniggering for?

Think it's funny

because I tell the truth for once.

The truth?

That I'm capable of fancying

somebody else.

I'm a perfectly normaI man and I'm

capable of fancying somebody else.

Come on.

She was just here, that's all.

I was bored with the script.

It was nothing. Forget it.

- Did you sleep with her?

- Don't be silly.

- You didn't?

- No.

- Promise?

- Yes.

- Do you still want to?

- Yes.

Come on, Daddy.

What do you want?

Jake, my...

Jake, my...

Oh! Oh!

I couldn't find Daddy.

I called the studio

but he wasn't there.

I left a message.

- Shall we go in here?

- Yes.

- Would you like a drink?

- No, not for me, thanks.

I should have got in touch

with you before.

It's been getting worse all the time.

Going on for ages.

A girlfriend of hers was staying

with us at the time, then she left.

Yes, it was around that period, but

it's been getting worse all the time.

What exactly?

I don't know.

I can't get near her.

She thinks everybody's against her,

keeps finding fault all the time.

Haven't you any idea why?

No.

I mean, breaking down in Harrods

like that.

Harrods, of all places!

- Any kind of trouble between you?

- No.

There's nothing particular,

no specific problem?

No. Nothing at all.

I think perhaps she should see

a psychiatrist.

- Should she?

- It might be a good idea.

All right. If she wants to.

- He might want to see you, too.

- Me?

Yes. After all, you are her husband.

I don't really see what I... She

probably wants to have another child.

Why doesn't she?

She's a healthy woman.

We've got enough.

Have you counted them?

Any sane person would know

we've got enough.

When is she going to face facts?

She's beautifuI.

She could join in, live.

But all she wants to do is

sit in a corner and give birth.

Well, I'll get in touch with this man.

- Be kind to her.

- Kind? I'm always kind to her.

Good night, Doctor.

No, I tried.

I couldn't get through to you before.

No, there was somebody here.

I just couldn't...

- Asleep?

- No.

- Has he gone?

- Mm-hm.

- What did he say?

- Oh, nothing much.

- You'll be all right.

- Yes.

I am.

When are they going

to finish the new house?

Soon.

We've finished the script.

Mmmm.

We' re going to Morocco

in a couple of weeks.

Would you like to come? I mean...

it would mean living in tents

and all that, but if you feeI like it...

Well, I couldn't just sit in a tent.

You wouldn't

have to stay in the tent.

You could come and watch

what's going on, if you wanted to.

Anyway, there's all that sun.

You could drive about.

- It's a beautifuI country.

- Fergus loved the train.

What train?

Your birthday present.

The one your secretary sent for you.

Anyway, the doctor...

We arranged for a good psychiatrist

for you to go and see.

Why don't you come down

to the studio tomorrow?

- What for?

- To meet everyone.

They all want to meet you.

Watch the work. It might interest you.

- I don't want to.

- You' re not interested in what I do?

- You never ask me.

- I just did.

- I've asked a dozen times.

- You don't want me to come.

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