[She has come over from the door and is standing by the bed while they have been talking. PHILIP looks up at her, then stands up, takes her in his arms and lifts her against him onto the bed, silver foxes and all]

PHILIP. They feel very fine and soft.

DOROTHY. They don’t smell badly, do they?

PHILIP. [His face over her shoulder in the foxes] No, they don’t smell badly. And you feel lovely in them. And I love you, I don’t give a damn. I do. And it’s only half-past five in the afternoon.

DOROTHY. And while we have it we can have it, can’t we?

PHILIP. [Shamelessly] They feel really marvellously. I’m glad you bought them.

[He holds her very close]

DOROTHY. We can have it now just this little while that we have?

PHILIP. Yes. We’ll have it.

[There is a knock on the door and the handle turns to admit MAX. PHILIP gets off the bed. DOROTHY remains seated on it]

MAX. I disturb? Yes?

PHILIP. No. Not at all. Max, this is an American comrade. Comrade Bridges. Comrade Max.

MAX. Salud, Comrade.

[He goes over to the bed where DOROTHY is still seated and puts out his hand. DOROTHY shakes it and looks away]

MAX. You are busy? Yes?

PHILIP. No. Not at all. Will you have a drink, Max?

MAX. No. Thank you.

PHILIP. ¿Hay novedades?

MAX. Algunas.

PHILIP. You won’t have a drink?

MAX. No. Thank you very much.

DOROTHY. I’ll go. Don’t let me bother you.

PHILIP. There’s no need to go.

DOROTHY. You’ll come by later, perhaps.

PHILIP. Quite.

[As she goes out MAX says with great politeness]

MAX. Salud, Camarada.

DOROTHY. Salud.

[She shuts the door between the two rooms before she goes out the regular door]

MAX. [When they are alone] She is a Comrade?

PHILIP. No.

MAX. You introduced her as so.

PHILIP. Just a manner of speech. You call every one comrade in Madrid. All supposed to be working for the same cause.

MAX. It is not such a good manner of speech.

PHILIP. No. I suppose not. I seem to remember saying something like that myself once.

MAX. This girl, how do you call her? Britches?

PHILIP. Bridges.

MAX. She is something serious to you?

PHILIP. Serious?

MAX. Yes. You know what I mean.

PHILIP. I wouldn’t say so. You could call her comic, rather. In some ways.

MAX. You spend much time with her?

PHILIP. A certain amount.

MAX. Whose time?

PHILIP. My time.

MAX. Never the Party’s time?

PHILIP. My time is the Party’s time.

MAX. That is what I mean. I am glad you understand so easily.

PHILIP. Oh, I understand very easily.

MAX. Do not be angry about something that is not you nor me.

PHILIP. I’m not angry. But I’m not supposed to be a damn monk.