SOLDIER. Well, I s’pose it’s on my way . . . but it’s too early for me. I’ve got a few more dances in me yet. I’ve got the whole night . . . I don’t have to be back at barracks till midnight. I’m going to go on dancing.

MAID. Oh, I get it. It’s Squinty Blonde’s turn now, is it?

SOLDIER. She’s not that bad.

MAID. God, men are such bastards. I suppose you do this with every girl.

SOLDIER. I couldn’t manage them all.

MAID. Oh please, Franzi, not tonight. Just me tonight. Stay with me. Please . . .

SOLDIER. Yeah, yeah, all right. But I can have a couple more dances, can’t I?

MAID. I’m not doing any more dancing tonight!

SOLDIER. And there it is.

MAID. What?

SOLDIER. The dance hall. Didn’t take us long. And it’s that tune again . . .

Singing along.

Ta da ra da, ta da ra da. Look, if you want to wait for me, I’ll see you home. Or I’ll see ya. Up to you.

MAID. All right, I’ll wait.

They enter the dance hall.

SOLDIER. Look, Marie, why don’t you get yourself a beer?

Turning to a blonde who is just dancing past with a young man. All formal.

Would you care for a dance?

3. The Maid and the Young Master

Hot summer afternoon. His parents have left for the country. The cook is on her day off. The MAID is in the kitchen, writing to the Soldier. The bell from the YOUNG MASTER’s room rings. She gets up and goes through to his room. He is lying on a divan, smoking and reading a French novel.

MAID. You rang, sir?

YOUNG MASTER. Oh, yes, Marie, so I did . . . Now, what was it . . . ? Oh, yes, I know, pull the blinds down, would you. It’s cooler with the blinds down . . . hm.

She goes to the window and pulls down the roller-blind. He goes on reading.

What are you doing? Oh, yes, of course. But now there’s not enough light to read.

MAID. Oh, sir, you study too much.

YOUNG MASTER (graciously letting it pass). Yes . . . mm . . .

She leaves. He tries to continue reading. Soon drops the book and rings again. She returns.

Oh, Marie . . . Yes, now, what was I going to say? Ah, yes . . . Is there any brandy?

MAID. Yes, sir, but it’ll be locked away.

YOUNG MASTER. So who’s got the keys?

MAID. Lini has the keys.

YOUNG MASTER. Who’s Lini?

MAID. You know, sir, the cook.

YOUNG MASTER. Well, go and ask Lini, then.

MAID. Yes, but it’s her day off.

YOUNG MASTER. I see.

MAID. Shall I nip over to the café for you?