242
RONALD TAVEL
elses in the world, then you actually, you see,
(etc., etc., etc., etc.,
etc.,
.... ).
Jo
has been applying makeup during the speech and at this
point is instructed by the
FILMMAKER
to turn on the malted
milk ma'chine. While the machine grinds away,
MIKIE
begins
his speech all over again and then rambles on and on, becom–
ing more and more neurotic as he gets less and less attention.
His appeals to the
FILMMAKER
terminate in his being forcefully
led to the rear of the stage to continue his complaint there. He
talks to the walls, into the wings, mounts the ladder where he
carries on a two-part conversation with himself, spies on the
neighbors' open bedroom window, bemoans his acrophobia, etc.
He descends, peeks into the commode
-
"My God! - she has
no clothes on !",
and finally sinks, completely exhausted, onto
the open commode.
FILMMAKER: OK, Mary, you can turn off the machine.
Jo
(obeying the order):
Thank God that awful noise is over!
Very long pause.
I
just can't stand the sound of that awful machine.
It
drowns out
what a person is saying.
I
mean, you just can't hear yourself
think when that machine is grinding away.
Long pause.
Mikie, did you hear what
I
said?
MlKIE: What, dear?
Jo:
I
said did you hear what
I
said?
MIKIE: Yes, Jo. You said you can't hear what you're saying.
Jo: No,
I
said you can't hear what I'm saying.
I
said
I
can't hear
what I'm thinking.
MIKIE: Oh? Are you thinking?
J
0:
No, .believe it or not,
I
am!
JOE,
attired in beach-wear, enters running and screaming up–
stage left. He carries a mattress on his head.
JOE: Good friends should lie together!
Jo: We always do, dear! - Joe, how are you? Do put your mat–
tress down and make yourself comfortable.
JOE:
I
think
I
will. Heavens, but business was bad today!
JOE
drops the mattress on the floor, revealing
MIKEY,
a blonde
wearing a long fur coat, standing behind him.
MIKIE: Mikey, love, how are you?
