Woman in a Dressing Gown Page #5

I want the money

for a sort of surprise, see?

Yes, madam? Can I help you?

You... you do ladies' hair?

Do you want to make an appointment?

It's... You see, I...

(Sighs) It's rather difficult.

I know it's asking a lot, but could you

do me now? I'd be really grateful.

We're full right up, I'm afraid, madam.

I couldn't fit you in at such short notice.

- It wouldn't take long, would it?

- I'm sorry, madam.

- Miss Joy?

- Oh, are you the manageress?

I was just saying to this young lady

I've got the money.

It's just that I must have it done.

I... l've got it all planned.

I must have it done for tonight.

All right, Miss Joy,

I'll attend to this lady.

I'm sorry, madam. I'm afraid we're

behind with our appointments as it is.

Couldn't you...

I mean, it's hard to explain.

But I've got... l've got a very urgent

personal reason, personal.

- Well, I really don't see how...

- I tell you what I want.

I... I want it set

like they're wearing it now.

I wouldn't ask, only it's so important,

important to me. I just want it set.

- It needs more than a set, madam.

- Ooh, no.

I don't want anything too special,

you understand. Please.

It's a special occasion, is it?

Very well, madam.

I'll give you a shampoo and set.

But it wants more than that, really.

A perm. But still...

Oh, thank you, thank you ever so.

I'm really grateful.

Well, perhaps you'd go

into that end cubicle

and I'll send someone to you

as soon as I can.

My hair used to be so pretty, you know

that? It used to be my best feature.

I've told you, Georgie.

I don't like you coming back this evening.

What good can it do?

It can only embarrass all of us.

But she was pleading with you

on the telephone.

Can't refuse the only thing

she's ever asked of us.

It's not right. This has got to be

settled between Amy and me.

- It concerns me too.

- Oh, please, Georgie.

- Please try to understand.

- I do understand.

But I think without me

you're not very good at fighting.

I want to be there tonight. I must be.

It will be so wonderful after this evening.

We... we can start planning everything.

We'll be so happy, so very happy.

Oh, that's much better, madam.

A credit to any occasion.

Thank you very much.

(Mouths) Thank you.

Thank you.

- Thank you very much. Bye.

- Oh, thank you.

Good day, madam.

(Vehicle sounds horn)

Oh. Could you tell me, please,

how much is a bottle of whisky?

- 37 shillings.

- Oh.

You can have a half bottle, 18 and 9.

Would that be enough for three people?

- It all depends how much they drink.

- Oh, yes.

Well, my husband likes a drop of whisky

and I thought for a treat...

Yes, I'll take it, please.

- It's good whisky, isn't it?

- None better.

- Would you like some soda water?

- Soda water?

Oh, yes, I think I'd better.

That'll be 22 and 6.

Oh, is that the time?

(Vehicle sounds horn)

(Baby crying)

(Man) Hurry along, please.

Hurry along, please.

- Give us time, won't you?

- No more upstairs. Inside only.

Inside only.

Inside only. Inside only.

Sorry, madam. Full up.

(Bell rings)

- Get to the back of the queue.

- But I was...

My hair. Just had it done.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Excuse me! Do you mind a moment?

Thank you.

You don't mind? You see, my hair...

(Orchestral music playing on radio)

(Sneezes)

(Orchestral music playing on radio)

When it's dry.

Be better when it's dry.

Oh!

(Grunts)

(Gasping)

(Music stops)

(Music starts)

Oh!

- (Knock at door)

- Who is it?

Amy! Amy, what is it?

- Tell me.

- I'd got everything planned.

I was gonna be so cool and get the

place so nice with drinks and everything.

I wanted to show him I could do it.

- I wanted to look nice.

- You do look nice.

I mean, if we fix your hair

and get you a dress.

It was the rain.

Today of all days, it had to rain!

Here, slip this on.

(Amy sniffs)

- You had a row with Jim?

- He wants to leave me.

Oh, nonsense.

It's a girl at his office.

He wants to divorce me.

And what you want

is some of this whisky.

- No, no, that's for Jimbo!

- Drink it. He doesn't deserve it.

(Coughs and gasps)

(Both laughing)

I must look a sight!

- Terrible!

- Waste of money!

- I could have paid the insurance.

- Insurance?

You pay it for 50 years so your relations

can get blind at your funeral.

Talk about it, Amy.

Nothing to talk about.

He says it's all settled.

Settled?

My old man left my mother.

Did I ever tell you?

He did, just scarpered.

She lost a stone and a half in a fortnight.

Then one morning she took a look at

herself in the mirror. Got such a shock.

She decided she'd got to snap out of it.

Know what she did?

She got herself a pan of hot water

and scrubbed the place out, straight up.

She started putting on weight

from that moment.

Men are all the same. When

they want you, they can't do enough.

But when they've got you

it's like the never-never.

They think they've paid

after the first instalment.

Jimbo's not like that.

I know he loves me.

But he's in love with her.

There's a world of difference.

(Orchestral music playing on radio)

Hilda?

I've got to lay the table, got to get

everything tidy. I've got to be ready.

- Ready?

- For Jimbo and... Jimbo and Georgie.

They're coming back here to talk.

I've got to be ready.

- Can I help?

- No! Run along. I'll be better by myself.

- You sure now?

- Yes.

You mustn't leave the baby too long.

You run along. Better by myself.

Now pull yourself together, girl.

Oh.

Ooh. I wonder if there's any left.

Oh, yeah. A little for Jimbo.

No, a little more for Jimbo.

A little for her. A little for me.

Just right.

Oh.

- (Music stops)

- Well, I won't need any.

(Coughs)

Knives and forks. Spoons.

(Hiccups) Pardon. Granted.

# Oh, oh, Antonio!

# He's gone away...

Tablecloth.

# Oh, oh, the tablecloth!

# He's gone away

- # He left...

- (Clock beeping on radio)

(Beeping and crackling)

# I'd like to meet him

# With his new sweetheart...

# And off will go Antonio

With his ice cream cart

# Oh, oh, Antonio, he's gone...

Sauces for Jimbo.

(She grunts)

(Glass clinking)

(Sighs)

# I'd like to meet him

With his new sweetheart...

(Gasping)

Oh.

(Sobs)

("Oh, Oh, Antonio" plays in her head)

(Piano playing out of tune)

(Piano playing out of tune)

Gasps)

(Door shuts)

(She sobs)

Mum!

Mum, what's happened?

Come on, Mum, stand up.

Mum.

- Come and lay down on the bed.

- (She sobs)

Here we are.

Mum?

Mum! Mum, what's the matter?

(Brian) Mum!

Mum!

- Mum!

- I won't let you do it, Jimbo!

(Amy) Jimbo! Jimbo, please!

I won't! I won't let you do it, Jimbo!

I won't!

- What's happening, Brian?

- Dad, something's wrong with Mum!

Yes, all right.

(Jim) Go on, close that door.

(Amy sobbing)

Amy, Amy.

Amy, Amy, it's me.

It's me, Amy.

- It's Jim.

- (Sniffs) Jimbo.

I did try. My hair...

I don't drink usually.

You know that, Jim.

Shh. Yes, Amy. Now, don't you worry.

You just lie there and have a good sleep.

(Sniffing)

I have just a drop of beer now and then

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