Complete Works, Volume III Read Online Free Page B

changed the lock.
    Pause.
    RUTH . No-one's here.
    TEDDY ( looking up ). They're asleep.
    Pause.
    RUTH . Can I sit down?
    TEDDY . Of course.
    RUTH. I'm tired.
    Pause.
    TEDDY . Then sit down.
    She does not move.
    That's my father's chair.
    RUTH . That one?
    TEDDY ( smiling ). Yes, that's it. Shall I go up and see if my room's still there?
    RUTH . It can't have moved.
    TEDDY . No, I mean if my bed's still there.
    RUTH . Someone might be in it.
    TEDDY . No. They've got their own beds.
    Pause.
    RUTH . Shouldn't you wake someone up? Tell them you're here?
    TEDDY . Not at this time of night. It's too late.
    Pause.
    Shall I go up?
    He goes into the hall, looks up the stairs, comes back.
    Why don't you sit down?
    Pause.
    I'll just go up . . . have a look.
    He goes up the stairs, stealthily.
    RUTH stands, then slowly walks across the room.
    TEDDY returns.
    It's still there. My room. Empty. The bed's there. What are you doing?
    She looks at him.
    Blankets, no sheets. I'll find some sheets. I could hear snores. Really. They're all still here, I think. They're all snoring up there. Are you cold?
    RUTH . No.
    TEDDY . I'll make something to drink, if you like. Something hot.
    RUTH . No, I don't want anything.
    TEDDY walks about .
    TEDDY . What do you think of the room? Big, isn't it? It's a big house. I mean, it's a fine room, don't you think? Actually there was a wall, across there . . . with a door. We knocked it down . . . years ago . . . to make an open living area. The structure wasn't affected, you see. My mother was dead.
    RUTH sits .
    Tired?
    RUTH . Just a little.
    TEDDY . We can go to bed if you like. No point in waking anyone up now. Just go to bed. See them all in the morning . . . see my father in the morning. . . .
    Pause .
    RUTH . Do you want to stay?
    TEDDY. Stay?
    Pause.
    We've come to stay. We're bound to stay . . . for a few days.
    RUTH . I think . . . the children . . . might be missing us.
    TEDDY. Don't be silly.
    RUTH. They might.
    TEDDY . Look, we'll be back in a few days, won't we?
    He walks about the room.
    Nothing's changed. Still the same.
    Pause.
    Still, he'll get a surprise in the morning, won't he? The old man. I think you'll like him very much. Honestly. He's a . . . well, he's old, of course. Getting on.
    Pause.
    I was born here, do you realize that?
    RUTH . I know.
    Pause.
    TEDDY . Why don't you go to bed? I'll find some sheets. I feel . . . wide awake, isn't it odd? I think I'll stay up for a bit. Are you tired?
    RUTH . No.
    TEDDY . Go to bed. I'll show you the room.
    RUTH . No, I don't want to.
    TEDDY . You'll be perfectly all right up there without me. Really you will. I mean, I won't be long. Look, it's just up there. It's the first door on the landing. The bathroom's right next door. You . . . need some rest, you know.
    Pause.
    I just want to . . . walk about for a few minutes. Do you mind?
    RUTH . Of course I don't.
    TEDDY . Well . . . Shall I show you the room?
    RUTH. No, I'm happy at the moment.
    TEDDY . You don't have to go to bed. I'm not saying you have to. I mean, you can stay up with me. Perhaps I'll make a cup of tea or something. The only thing is we don't want to make too much noise, we don't want to wake anyone up.
    RUTH. I'm not making any noise.
    TEDDY . I know you're not.
    He goes to her.
    ( Gently .) Look, it's all right, really. I'm here. I mean . . . I'm with you. There's no need to be nervous. Are you nervous?
    RUTH . No.
    TEDDY . There's no need to be.
    Pause.
    They're very warm people, really. Very warm. They're my family. They're not ogres.
    Pause.
    Well, perhaps we should go to bed. After all, we have to be up early, see Dad. Wouldn't be quite right if he found us in bed, I think. ( He chuckles. ) Have to be up before six, come down, say hullo.
    Pause.
    RUTH . I think I'll have a breath of air.
    TEDDY . Air?
    Pause.
    What do you mean?
    RUTH ( standing ). Just a stroll.
    TEDDY . At this time of night? But we've . . . only just got here. We've got to go to bed.
    RUTH . I just feel