Part 26 (1/2)

GRICE. (_Plaintively_) We missed you, Celia.

SMITH. Miss Faraday couldn't go without hearing Colonel Smith's last message.

(AUNT IDA _laughs hysterically_.)

FARADAY. (_Crossing to_ AUNT IDA. _Sternly_) Not again, Ida, not again.

(AUNT IDA _relapses into a state of semi-oblivion_.)

SMITH. It's not nearly ended yet.

STEELE. Well, she has had over two hours to hear it in.

SMITH. (_Scornfully_) Two hours? It was a long message. He lay for _weeks_ on his sickbed gazing across the thatched roofs of Berbera to--watching----

RALEIGH. Oh, yes, watching the Arab cows feeding at their anchors.

SMITH. Dhows, man, dhows!

RALEIGH. Well, dhows or cows, I don't care. And as for Smith, I tell you, I am fed with the fellow.

(CELIA _explodes into laughter, covers her face with handkerchief, and sits_ R. _of table_.)

STEELE. (_Thinking_ CELIA _is crying_) You brute! You--you blundering idiot!

TARVER. (_Coming down_ R. _of_ CELIA) Even now he's dead, he's kept you from the concert to-night. My agent told me that we just shouldn't do it. He expects I will lose by a hundred votes.

FARADAY. How's that?

CELIA. (_Looking up quickly_) Oh, no, Bobby, it's not too late. We'll help you. (_Rises and crosses to_ SMITH, _who is_ R.)

SMITH. I am at your service, Miss Faraday.

TARVER. (_To_ SMITH, _eagerly_) And you're some good--aren't you?

(_Goes up to_ PHYLLIS, _back_ C.)

FARADAY. We may call on you later, Vavasour.

SMITH. Do. Do.

FARADAY. (_Taking_ ADMIRAL _by the arm and going_) Come along, Admiral. Come and have a cigar and we'll talk it over. (_Spoken off stage_ R.) Smith or no Smith, we must win this seat.

TARVER. (_Taking_ PHYLLIS' _arm_) Madge--Evelyn. Let's go and count the names of the hundred beasts who won't vote for me.

(PHYLLIS _and_ TARVER _and_ MADGE _move to door_ C. _and exit_ R.)