What the Butler Saw [antikvár]

Act One A room in a private clinic. Morning. Doors lead to the wards, the dispensary and the hall. French windows open on to pleasant gardens and shrubberies. Sink. Desk. Consulting couch with curtains. dr prentice enters briskly, geraldine Barclay follows him. She carries a small cardboard box. prentice (turning at the desk). Take a seat. Is this your first job? GERALDINE (sitting). Yes, doctor. DR PRENTICE puts on a pair of spectacles, stares at her. He opens a drawer in the desk, takes out a notebook. PRENTICE (picking up a pencil). I'm going to ask you a few questions. (He hands her a notebook and pencil.) Write them down. In English, please. (He returns to his desk, sits, smiles.) Who was your father? Put that at the head of the page. GERALDINE ^Mis the cardboard box she is carrying to one side, crosses her legs, rests the notebook upon her knee and makes a note. And now the reply immediately underneath for quick reference. GERALDINE. I've no idea who my father was. dr prentice is perturbed by her reply although he gives no evidence of this. He gives her a kindly smile. PRENTICE. I'd better be frank. Miss Barclay. I can't employ you if you're in any way miraculous. It would be contrary to established practice. You did have a father?