Act I

ACT I

Covent Garden at 11.15 p.m. Torrents of heavy summer rain. Cab whistles blowing frantically in all directions. Pedestrians running for shelter into the market and under the portico of St. Paul's Church, where there are already several people, among them a lady and her daughter in evening dress. They are all peering out gloomily at the rain, except one man with his back turned to the rest, who seems wholly preoccupied with a notebook in which he is writing busily.

The church clock strikes the first quarter.

THE DAUGHTER
[in the space between the central pillars, close to the one on her left] I'm getting chilled to the bone. What can Freddy be doing all this time? Hes been gone twenty minutes.

THE MOTHER
[On her daughter's right] Not so long. But he ought to have got us a cab by this.

A BYSTANDER
[on the lady's right] He wont get no cab not until half-past eleven, missus, when they come back after dropping their theatre fares.

THE MOTHER
But we must have a cab. We cant stand here until half-past eleven. It's too bad.

THE BYSTANDER
Well, it aint my fault, missus.

THE DAUGHTER
If Freddy had a bit of gumption, he would have got one at the theatre door.

THE MOTHER
What could he have done, poor boy?

THE DAUGHTER
Other people got cabs. Why couldnt he?

Freddy rushes in out of the rain from the Southampton Street side, and comes between them closing a dripping umbrella. He is a young man of twenty, in evening dress, very wet around the ankles.

THE DAUGHTER
Well, havnt you got a cab?

FREDDY
Theres not one to be had for love or money.

THE MOTHER
Oh, Freddy, there must be one. You cant have tried.

THE DAUGHTER
It's too tiresome. Do you expect us to go and get one ourselves?

FREDDY
I tell you theyre all engaged. The rain was so sudden: nobody was prepared; and everybody had to take a cab. Ive been to Charing Cross one way and nearly to Ludgate Circus the other; and they were all engaged.

THE MOTHER
Did you try Trafalgar Square?

FREDDY
There wasnt one at Trafalgar Square.

THE DAUGHTER
Did you try?

FREDDY
I tried as far as Charing Cross Station. Did you expect me to walk to Hammersmith?

THE DAUGHTER
You havnt tried at all.

THE MOTHER
You really are very helpless, Freddy. Go again; and dont come back until you have found a cab.

FREDDY
I shall simply get soaked for nothing.

THE DAUGHTER
And what about us? Are we to stay here all night in this draught, with next to nothing on. You selfish pig--

FREDDY
Oh, very well: I'll go, I'll go. [He opens his umbrella and dashes off Strandwards, but comes into collision with a flower girl, who is hurrying in for shelter,