MURIEL SPARK
CHARLIE: That's the dangerous type.
CATHERINE: You've never thought her dangerous before.
CHARLIE: That makes her more dangerous now.
CATHERINE: No-one would believe that a university teacher like
Leonora--
CHARLIE: That makes her more dangerous than ever. Remember
Sarah Desmond.
CATHERINE: Who?
CHARLIE: Senior lecturer in comparative religions. The author of
The Life Force.
Life. Force. She was discovered in the bath with
a wine waiter in a Folkestone hotel.
It
was hushed up, but she had
to resign. What's more they were both naked.
CATHERINE: Leonora doesn't teach the Life Force. Greek
is
a very
different thing from the Life Force, Greek
is
an old sound subject.
CHARLIE: It comes to the same thing in a woman scholar. Once they
break out, they break out.
CATHERINE: I've got as good a degree as Leonora has, and I don't
go round inviting men to give me a child.
CHARLIE: You've got a daughter of sorts and you've got a good
husband. When will Leonora be back from her walk?
MRS. S.
comes in with a carton from which she lifts various
garments as
CHARLIE,
at the same time, places various papers in
his brief-case.
CATHERINE: She's usually back by half past ten. Where are you
going? You mustn't leave me alone with her.
MRS. S.: What you want to throw this away for?
CATHERINE: I've finished with it, Mrs. S. You can keep it if you
like.
MRS. S.: And what you want to throw
this
away for?
CHARLIE: I couldn't face her.
CATHERINE: Well, Charlie, neither can I, in a way.
CHARLIE: I'm glad to hear it.
CATHERINE: Although, of course, it's incredible.
MRS. S.:
A
good vest, what's wrong with it?
CATHERINE:
It
got shrunk in the laundry.
MRS. S.: It would come in for Daphne. She's filling out.
CATHERINE: She doesn't wear vests. Charlie, you're a rat.
CHARLIE
is putting more things in his brief-case.
