Complete Works, Volume III (11 page)

DISSON
shakes his hand warmly
.

DISSON
. Marvellous.

WILLY
. Diana, I want to tell you something.

DIANA
. What?

WILLY
. You have married a good man. He will make you happy.

DIANA
. I know.

DISSON
. Wonderful speeches. Wonderful. Listen. What are you doing these days?

WILLY
. Nothing much.

TOASTMASTER
. My lords
. . .

DISSON
(
whispering
). How would you like to come in with me for a bit? See how you like it, how you get on. Be my second in command. Office of your own. Plenty of room for initiative.

TOASTMASTER
. My lords, reverend gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen –

WILLY
. Marvellous idea. I'll say yes at once.

DISSON
. Good.

DIANA
kisses
DISSON
.

DIANA
. Darling.

TOASTMASTER
. Pray silence for the groom.

DISSON
moves forward
.

Applause. Silence.

DISSON
. This is the happiest day of my life.

Sumptuous hotel room. Italy.

The light is on. The camera rests at the foot of the bed. The characters are not seen. Their voices heard only.

DISSON
. Are you happy?

DIANA
. Yes.

DISSON
. Very happy?

DIANA
. Yes.

DISSON
. Have you ever been happier? With any other man?

DIANA
. Never.

Pause.

DISSON
. I make you happy, don't I? Happier than you've ever been . . . with any other man.

DIANA
. Yes. You do.

Pause.

Yes.

Silence
.

Disson’s house. Workroom.

DISSON
at his workbench. With sandpaper and file he is putting the finishing touches to a home-made model yacht. He completes the job, dusts the yacht, sets it on a shelf and looks at it with satisfaction.

Disson’s house. Breakfast room. Morning.

DISSON
and
DIANA
at the table
.

DISSON
. Your eyes are shining.

Pause.

They're shining.

DIANA
. Mmmnnn.

DISSON
. They've been shining for months.

DIANA
(
smiling
). My eyes? Have they?

DISSON
. Every morning.

Pause.

I’m glad you didn't many that . . . Jerry . . . whatever-hisnamewas . . .

DIANA
. Oh, him . . .

DISSON
. Why didn't you?

DIANA
. He was weak.

Pause.

DISSON
. I’m not weak.

DIANA
. No.

DISSON
. Am I?

He takes her hand.

DIANA
. You're strong.

THE TWINS
enter the room
.

THE TWINS
mutter
, ‘Morning’.

DIANA
and
DISSON
say
‘Good Morning’.

Silence
.
THE TWINS
sit
.
DIANA
pours tea for them. They butter toast, take marmalade, begin to eat.

Silence
.

Would you like eggs?

TOM
. No, thanks.

DIANA
. John?

Silence
.

DISSON
. John!

JOHN
. What?

DISSON
. Don't say what!

JOHN
. What shall I say?

DIANA
. Would you like eggs?

Pause.

JOHN
. Oh.

Pause.

No, thanks.

The boys giggle and eat. Silence.

JOHN
whispers to
TOM
.

DISSON
. What are you saying? Speak up.

JOHN
. Nothing.

DISSON
. Do you think I'm deaf?

TOM
. I've never thought about it.

DISSON
. I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to John.

JOHN
. Me? Sorry, sir.

DISSON
. Now don't be silly. You've never called me sir before. That's rather a daft way to address your father.

JOHN
. Uncle Willy called his father sir. He told me.

DISSON
. Yes, but you don't call
me
sir! Do you understand?

Willy's office. Morning
.

DISSON
leads
WILLY
in
.

DISSON
. Here you are, Willy. This’ll be your office. How'd you like it?

WILLY
. First rate.

DISSON
. These two offices are completely cut off from the rest of the staff. They're all on the lower floor. Our only contact is by intercom, unless I need to see someone personally, which is rare. Equally, I dislike fraternization between the two offices. We shall meet only by strict arrangement, otherwise we'll never get any work done. That suit you?

WILLY
. Perfectly.

DISSON
. There was a man in here, but I got rid of him.

DISSON
leads
WILLY
through a communicating door into his own office
.

Disson's office
.

On a side table coffee is set for two
.

DISSON
goes to the table and pours
.

DISSON
. I think I should explain to you the sort of man I am. I'm a thorough man. I like things to be done and done well. I don't like dithering. I don't like indulgence. I don't like self-doubt. I don't like fuzziness. I like clarity. Clear intention. Precise execution. Black or white?

WILLY
. White, please.

DISSON
. But I've no patience with conceit and self-regard. A man's job is to assess his powers coolly and correctly and equally the powers of others. Having done this, he can proceed to establish a balanced and reasonable relationship with his fellows. In my view, living is a matter of active and willing participation. So is work. Sugar?

WILLY
. Two, please.

DISSON
. Now, dependence isn't a word I would use lightly, but I will use it and I don't regard it as a weakness. To understand the meaning of the term dependence is to understand that one's powers are limited and that to live with others is not only sensible but the only way work can be done and dignity achieved. Nothing is more sterile or lamentable than the man content to live within himself. I've always made it my business to be on the most direct possible terms with the members of my staff and the body of my business associates. And by my example opinions are declared freely, without shame or deception. It seems to me essential that we cultivate the ability to operate lucidly upon our problems and therefore be in a position to solve them. That's why your sister loves me. I don't play about at the periphery of matters. I go right to the centre. I believe life can be conducted efficiently. I never waste my energies in any kind of timorous expectation. Neither do I ask to be loved. I expect to be given only what I've worked for. If you make a plum pudding, what do you do with it? You don't shove it up on a shelf. You stick a knife into it and eat it. Everything has a function. In other words, if we're to work together we must appreciate that interdependence is the key word, that it's your job to understand me and mine to understand you. Agreed?

WILLY
. Absolutely.

DISSON
. Now, the first thing you need is a secretary. We’ll get on to it at once.

WILLY
. Can I suggest someone? I know she's very keen and, I’d say, very competent.

DISSON
. Who?

WILLY
. My sister.

Pause.

DISSON
. Your sister? You mean my wife?

WILLY
. She told me she'd love to do it.

DISSON
. She hasn't told me.

WILLY
. She's shy.

DISSON
. But she doesn't need to work. Why should she want to work?

WILLY
. To be closer to you.

Willy's office.

WILLY
and
DIANA
at their desks, both examining folders intently.

Silence
.

Disson’s office.

DISSON
and
WENDY
at their desks
.
WENDY
typing on an electric typewriter
.
DISSON
looking out of the window
.
DISSON
turns from the window, glances at the door leading to
WILLY’S
office
.
The intercom buzzes on
WENDY’S
desk. She switches through
.

WENDY
. Mr Disson does not want to be disturbed until 3.30.

DISSON
glances again at
WILLY’S
door
.

Silence
.

Disson’s house. Sitting-room. Early evening.

DIANA
and
THE TWINS
are sitting about, reading
.

DIANA
. Do you miss your mother?

JOHN
. We didn't know her very well. We were very young when she died.

DIANA
. Your father has looked after you and brought you up very well.

JOHN
. Oh, thank you. He'll be pleased to hear that.

DIANA
. I've told him.

JOHN
. What did he say?

DIANA
. He was pleased I thought so. You mean a great deal to him.

JOHN
. Children seem to mean a great deal to their parents, I've noticed. Though I've often wondered what ‘a great deal’ means.

TOM
. I've often wondered what ‘mean’ means.

DIANA
. Aren't you proud of your father's achievements?

JOHN
. We are. I should say we are.

Pause
.

DIANA
. And now that your father has married again . . . has the change in your life affected you very much?

JOHN
. What change?

DIANA
. Living with me.

JOHN
. Ah. Well, I think there definitely is an adjustment to be made. Wouldn't you say that, Tom?

DIANA
. Of course there is. But would you say it's an easy adjustment to make, or difficult?

JOHN
. Well, it really all depends on how good you are at making adjustments. We're very good at making adjustments, aren't we, Tom?

The front door slams.
DIANA
and
THE TWINS
look down at their books.
DISSON
comes in. They all look up, smile
.

DISSON
. Hullo.

They all smile genially at him.

DISSON
looks quickly from one to the other
.

Disson's office. Morning.

Sun shining in the window
.
DISSON
at his desk
.
WENDY
at the cabinet. He watches her. She turns.

WENDY
. Isn't it a beautiful day, Mr Disson?

DISSON
. Close the curtains.

WENDY
closes the curtains
.

Got your pad?

WENDY
. Yes, sir.

DISSON
. Sit down.

WENDY
sits in a chair by the corner of his desk.

Warwick and Sons. We duly acknowledge receipt of your letter of the twenty-first inst. There should be no difficulty in meeting your requirements. What's the matter?

WENDY
. Sir?

DISSON
. You're wriggling.

WENDY
. I'm sorry, sir.

DISSON
. Is it the chair?

WENDY
. Mmn . . . it might be.

DISSON
. Too hard, I expect. A little hard for you.

Pause.

Is that it?

WENDY
. A little.

DISSON
. Sit on the desk.

WENDY
. The desk?

DISSON
. Yes, on the leather.

Slight pause.

It'll be softer . . . for you.

WENDY
. Well, that'll be nice.

Pause.
WENDY
eventually uncrosses her legs and stands. She looks at the desk
.

I think it's a little high . . . to get up on.

DISSON
. Of course it isn't.

WENDY
(
looking at the desk
). Hmmmn-mmmn . . .

DISSON
. Go on, get up. You couldn't call that high.

WENDY
places her back to the desk and slowly attempts to raise herself up on to it
.

She stops
.