Publisher's Synopsis
ACT ICovent Garden at 11.15 p.m. Torrents of heavy summer rain. Cab whistlesblowing frantically in all directions. Pedestrians running for shelterinto the market and under the portico of St. Paul's Church, where thereare already several people, among them a lady and her daughter inevening dress. They are all peering out gloomily at the rain, exceptone man with his back turned to the rest, who seems wholly preoccupiedwith 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 theone on her left] I'm getting chilled to the bone. What can Freddy bedoing all this time? He's been gone twenty minutes.THE MOTHER [on her daughter's right] Not so long. But he ought to havegot us a cab by this.A BYSTANDER [on the lady's right] He won't get no cab not untilhalf-past eleven, missus, when they come back after dropping theirtheatre fares.THE MOTHER. But we must have a cab. We can't stand here until half-pasteleven. It's too bad.THE BYSTANDER. Well, it ain't my fault, missus.THE DAUGHTER. If Freddy had a bit of gumption, he would have got one atthe theatre door.THE MOTHER. What could he have done, poor boy?THE DAUGHTER. Other people got cabs. Why couldn't he?Freddy rushes in out of the rain from the Southampton Street side, andcomes between them closing a dripping umbrella. He is a young man oftwenty, in evening dress, very wet around the ankles.THE DAUGHTER. Well, haven't you got a cab?FREDDY. There's not one to be had for love or money.THE MOTHER. Oh, Freddy, there must be one. You can't have tried.THE DAUGHTER. It's too tiresome. Do you expect us to go and get oneourselves?FREDDY. I tell you they're all engaged. The rain was so sudden: nobodywas prepared; and everybody had to take a cab. I've been to CharingCross one way and nearly to Ludgate Circus the other; and they were allengaged.THE MOTHER. Did you try Trafalgar Square?FREDDY. There wasn't one at Trafalgar Square.THE DAUGHTER. Did you try?FREDDY. I tried as far as Charing Cross Station. Did you expect me towalk to Hammersmith?THE DAUGHTER. You haven't tried at all.THE MOTHER. You really are very helpless, Freddy. Go again; and don'tcome back until you have found a cab.FREDDY. I shall simply get soaked for nothing.