The Pumpkin Eater Page #3

- That's silly.

- No.

It's not what you want.

You never show the slightest

interest in anything I do...

Why are we talking about it?

You' re just not interested

in what I do, are you?

You leave me. You' re never with me.

I have to work. It's my life.

- Where's mine? Where's my life?!

- With me!

I've worked. I've had to.

The children go to good schools.

- Do you love me?

- I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

- You'd always be here if you did.

- That's ridiculous.

- Always.

- You resent the money.

Money! It has nothing to do

with the money.

Look at that damned kitchen!

And all of this!

What about the new house?

You wanted it. I did it.

You just want to go back

and live in that barn!

It has nothing to do with the kitchen.

It has nothing to do with the money.

It has nothing to do with any of it.

Well, what? What is it?

What do you want? Hm? What?

- You' re going out.

- I have to.

Don't go out now.

Why are you going out now?

I've got to. You know that.

I can't not go.

Stay.

Not for long.

I'm late. It's business, not friends.

- If it was friends, you could come.

- What friends?

We haven't got any friends.

The only friend I ever had

was Philpot.

But she was more YOUR friend,

wasn't she, than mine.

But you've had lots of friends

since Philpot.

Lots of nice friends. For years.

You' re quite wrong.

I don't want to come to the studio.

I don't want to meet your... people.

Never.

Never.

They' re ready for you to say

good night to them, Mrs Armitage.

Mrs Armitage?

Are they out of the bath?

Yes, sir.

- Bye, Dad.

- Bye.

- Say goodbye to Daddy.

- Goodbye, Daddy.

Bye!

Bye!

Bye!

Goodbye, Daddy!

Goodbye!

So you do like children,

Mrs Armitage?

- Well, they don't do you any harm.

- Yes.

Yes. Let's see.

- Now, you have...

- I had them of my own free will.

- Of course.

- Nobody forced me to have them.

Your two eldest boys have been

at boarding schooI for some years.

- Yes. For some years.

- You agreed to their going away.

Yes.

Have you seen them recently?

No. Not recently.

Do you want to see them?

I believe they' re doing terribly well.

Tell me about your first husband.

- I can't remember.

- Oh?

You were married to him

for two years.

Well...

He was sweet.

Quite sweet.

Drank a bit, I think.

He was nice.

He was killed.

The second one was a violinist. Giles.

He was nice.

We lived in this, uh...

barn with the children.

Hardly went out, really.

For some years, I think.

Why did you leave him?

What happened?

Happened?

Jake happened.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

I do hope you don't mind.

I've just been looking at a photograph

of you in one of these magazines.

A photograph of you all,

all your family,

your wonderfuI children

and your wonderfuI husband.

I thought it must be the same person.

Yes.

I think you' re much lovelier

than your photo.

I do, really.

- Do you mind my speaking to you?

- No.

To tell you the truth,

my life is an empty place.

To tell you the honest truth.

Your eyes are much more beautifuI

than your photograph.

You didn't always have things

so good.

That's why you appreciate, don't you?

I never dreamed I'd meet you like this.

And, well, you' re so kind to me,

you' re so full of sympathy for me.

My husband

doesn't come near me any more.

No, nowhere near me.

But don't you think I'm still attractive

any more? I think I am.

Of course you are.

I'm not as attractive as you are.

But in a different way I am.

That's one thing I do know.

I had a hysterectomy operation

four months ago.

Yes, a hysterectomy.

You know, they take it all away.

You should see the way men look

at me. The way they still look at me.

You can tell by that, you see.

I'm desirable.

I'm not old. I know.

But... he doesn't seem to care

about cheering me up any more.

I'm so thirsty.

- Would you like some tea?

- I'm off liquids.

Oh.

- I am sorry.

- It's no use your being sorry!

What are you going to do about it?

I've just told you,

my life is an empty place!

Well, what do you want me

to do about it?

Well, don't do me any favours,

for a start.

Don't patronise me, for a start!

But I'm not.

- I'm really not.

- " I'm not. "

" I'm really not. "

God, I thought you'd be different.

I thought you'd be

a very different woman, miss.

Very different

from the woman you are!

- I'm sorry.

- Are you? Yes, you look sorry

You've got such wonderfuI children.

Well, they' re wonderfuI, wonderfuI.

I think you' re wonderfuI, too.

You must be a lovely woman.

You must be such a lovely woman.

I think women are the only ones.

I think they' re the only ones.

I can see your grace and

sweetness just sitting there.

What does your husband

think of you?

Does he find you attractive?

Hm?

Hey! I've been thinking,

do you think your husband

would find me desirable?

- Look, I really...

- I'd show him some tricks.

I'd show him some tricks.

You want to bet?

I'd show him a few things

I bet you don't know.

My love. My little darling.

Anyone ever clawed your skin off?

Hm? You see these claws?

Ever had your skin clawed off?

Is your hair dry yet, madam?

Are you...

Are you going to give me

two little curls this time?

Are you? Over the ears?

You know, one each side?

Are you? Are you?

What has Jak e got to do with me?

Why do you keep asking me

about Jake?

I come here and all you ask me about

is Jake. Why don't you see Jake?

Perhaps it's him

you should be seeing, not me.

Besides, there's nothing to say

about him.

Do you like him?

No.

- Do you love him?

- Yes. So what?

- You don't...

- What?

I've forgotten what I was going to say.

Do you think Jake is likely to change?

No.

What would you say

was the difference

between Jake

and your previous husbands?

They weren't necessary.

When you say

they weren't necessary...

You need a bowI

in front of that gas fire.

- A bowI?

- Of water.

- A bowI of water.

- Ah, yes.

- You need it, for God's sake.

- Mm.

Trouble is, if you have

a bowI of water,

people throw matchsticks into it.

They float about for days and become

soggy, the water becomes black,

and anyway... it all dries up anyway.

Do you find the thought of sex

without children obscene?

No.

Are you sure the idea doesn't

disgust you?

Perhaps you find the idea... messy.

Perhaps sex is something you feeI

you must sanctify, as it were,

by incessant reproduction.

I shall have to give that question

a little thought.

You would do well to, I think.

I won't be seeing you

for a couple of weeks.

- Just go on with the pills.

- A couple of weeks?

Didn't my secretary tell you?

I'm off to Tenerife on Friday

for a spot of water-skiing.

- It's my great passion.

- Water-skiing!

And cut down on liquids

as much as you can.

Can we make an appointment

for the 19th?

Can't make it.

No. Can't make the 19th.

Then what about the... 20th?

- Can't make it.

- Oh, come now.

- What liquids?

- Well, liquids.

Yes, but what liquids?

Listen, why are you going

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