Part 27 (1/2)
DAN: Good day sir....
_A pause,_ DAN _crumples to the floor in a dead faint._
QUICK CURTAIN
ACT III
SCENE 1
_Half an hour later. The light has waned; the fire is lit and throws a red reflection into the room._ DAN _is lying on the sofa, eyes closed._ NURSE LIBBY _sits at the end of the sofa holding his pulse._ MRS. TERENCE _stands behind the sofa with a toby jug of water._
NURSE: There, lovey, you won't be long now.... Ever so much steadier already.... What a bit o' luck me blowin' in to-day!... Tt! tt! Pouring with sweat, the lad is. Whatever's he been up to?
MRS. TERENCE: When I walked in that door and saw 'im lyin' full stretch on that floor everything went topsy-wopsy. (_Pressing the jug to_ DAN'S _lips_) It did! The room went round and round....
NURSE:(_as_ DAN _splutters_): Don't choke 'im, there's a love....
MRS. TERENCE: D'you know what I said to meself when I saw 'im lyin'
there?
NURSE: What?
MRS. TERENCE: I said, ”That murderer's been at 'im,” I said, ”and it's the next victim.” I did!
NURSE: So you would! Just like the pictures.... 'Old your 'ead up, love.
MRS. TERENCE (_as_ NURSE LIBBY _supports_ DAN'S _head_): Got a _nice_ face, 'asn't he?
NURSE: Oh, yes!... (As DAN'S eyes flicker) Shh, he's coming to.... DAN _opens his eyes and looks at her._
Welcome back to the land of the living!
MRS. TERENCE: Thought the murderer'd got you! _A pause._ DAN _stares, then sits up abruptly._
DAN: How long I been like that?
NURSE: We picked you up ten minutes ago, and I'd say it was twenty minutes before that, roughly-like, that you pa.s.sed away.
MRS. TERENCE: Pa.s.sed away, don't frighten the boy!... Whatever come over you, dear?
DAN: I dunno. Felt sick, I think. (_Recovering himself_) Say no more about it, eh? Don't like swinging the lead.... (_His head in his hand._)
MRS. TERENCE: Waiting 'and and foot on Madame Crocodile, enough to wear King Kong out....
NURSE: That's better, eh?
DAN: Is it really getting dark?
MRS. TERENCE: It's a scandal the way the days are drawin' in.... 'Ave another sip----