Albert: Mr. Ryan’s leaving. You know Ryan. He’s leaving the firm. He’s been there years. So Mr. King’s giving a sort of party for him at this house… well, not exactly a party, not a party, just a few…you know…any way, we’re all invited. I’ve got to go. Everyone else is going. I’ve got to go. I don’t want to go, but I’ve got to.
Mother(bewildered, sitting): Well, I don’t know.
Albert(with his arm round her): I won’t be late. I don’t want to go. I’d much rather stay with you.
Mother: Would you?
Albert: You know I would. Who wants to go to Mr. King’s party?
Mother: We were going to have our game of cards.
Albert: Well, we were going to have our game of cards.
(Pause.)
Mother: Put the bulb in Grandma’s room, Albert.
Albert: I’ve told you I’m not going down to the cellar in my white shirt. There’s no light in the cellar either. I’ll be pitch black in five minutes, looking for those bulbs.
Mother: I told you to put a light in the cellar. I told you yesterday.
Albert: Well, I can’t do it now.
Mother: If we had a light in the cellar you’d be able to see where those bulbs were. You don’t expect me to down to the cellar?
Albert: I don’t know why we keep bulbs in the cellar!
(Pause.)
Mother: Your father would turn in his grave if he heard you raise your voice to me. You’re all I’ve got, Albert. I want you to remember that. I haven’t got everyone else. I want you…I want you to bear that in mind.
Albert: I’m sorry…I raised my voice. He goes to the door.
(Mumbling.) I’ve got to go.
Mother: (following): Albert!
Albert: What?
Mother: I want to ask you a question.
Albert: What?
Mother: Are you leading a clean life?
Albert: A clean life?
Mother: You’re not leading an unclean life, are you?
Albert: What are you talking about?
Mother: You’re not messing about with girls, are you? You’re not going to go messing about with girls tonight?
Albert: Don’t be so ridiculous.
Mother: Answer me, Albert. I’m your mother.
Albert: I don’t know any girls.
Mother: If you’re going to the firm’s party, there’ll be girls there, won’t there? Girls from the office?
Albert: I don’t like them, any of them.
Mother: You promise?
Albert: Promise what?
Mother: That…That you won’t upset your father.
Albert: My father? How can I upset my father? You’re always talking about upsetting people who are dead!
Mother: Oh, Albert, you don’t know how you hurt me, you don’t know hurtful way you’ve got, speaking of your poor father like that.
Albert: But he is dead.
Mother: He’s not! He’s leaving! (Touching her breast .) In here! And this is his house!
(Pause.)
Albert: Look, Mum, I won’t be late…and I won’t…
Mother: But what about your dinner? It’s nearly ready.
Albert: Seeley and Kedge are waiting for me. I told you not to cook dinner this morning. (He goes to the stairs.) Just because you never listen… He runs up the stairs and disapprears.