- [first lines]
- Judith Reynolds: Daddy!
- Martin Reynolds: Darling! How you've grown! Is Mummy in?
- Judith Reynolds: Mummy isn't here. She went out.
- Martin Reynolds: Didn't she get my cable?
- Franca: I'm the children's nanny.
- Martin Reynolds: How do you do? I had expected Mrs. Reynolds to be here. When do you expect her back?
- Franca: She didn't tell me. Will you take Judith out?
- Martin Reynolds: Yes, of course.
- Franca: Would you prefer it if I came with you? Mrs. Reynolds thought that if I...
- Judith Reynolds: Oh, no, Franca. I'll behave myself, I promise.
- Franca: Judith, will you come down?
- Judith Reynolds: Come and get me.
- Franca: Judith, come down!
- Judith Reynolds: Come and get me!
- [Franca looks at Martin, who shrugs]
- Franca: Judith, come on now.
- Judith Reynolds: [laughing] Come up here, Franca. Daddy wants to see you play in the water.
- Franca: Now you're just being silly, showing off in front of your father. You wouldn't disobey me if your mother was here.
- Judith Reynolds: I had a lovely time.
- Martin Reynolds: So did I.
- Judith Reynolds: Will I see you tomorrow?
- Martin Reynolds: Of course. As long as I'm here.
- Judith Reynolds: How long?
- Martin Reynolds: Well, I don't know.
- Judith Reynolds: Sort of?
- Franca: Judith, you haven't to make such a nuisance.
- Judith Reynolds: I'm not asleep.
- Jane Reynolds: Oh, yes, you are. Do you know what time it is?
- Judith Reynolds: Have you seen Daddy?
- Jane Reynolds: What time did you go to bed?
- Judith Reynolds: Have you? Ask him to come home.
- Jane Reynolds: You just settle down and go to sleep.
- Judith Reynolds: He'd come home, I know he would, if you asked him.
- [Peggy comes in]
- Peggy: We don't want him to come home. It isn't his home, we don't want him here.
- Jane Reynolds: Peggy, for heaven's sake!
- Peggy: Where have you been? Why are you so late?
- Jane Reynolds: Well, you didn't have to wait up for me.
- Peggy: I couldn't sleep.
- Judith Reynolds: I want Daddy to come home!
- Peggy: Have you seen him?
- Jane Reynolds: I don't think that's any of your business, either one of you.
- Peggy: [shouting] Have you seen Daddy?
- Jane Reynolds: No.
- Peggy: Will he come back and live with us?
- Jane Reynolds: Do you want him to?
- Peggy: Sometimes I think yes, but then... why did he go away? If only I knew. Do you know? Was it something I did?
- Jane Reynolds: No, nothing you did, believe me.
- Peggy: Why did he go away?
- Jane Reynolds: Why don't you ask him?
- Peggy: I don't want to see him.
- Tommy Reynolds: Did you go back to his hotel?
- Jane Reynolds: What? Why should I?
- Tommy Reynolds: You're still married.
- Jane Reynolds: Not so you'd notice.
- Tommy Reynolds: You still call yourself Mrs. Reynolds.
- Jane Reynolds: Only when I sign checks.
- Tommy Reynolds: Are you going to see him again?
- Jane Reynolds: I don't know.
- Judith Reynolds: Mummy, Franca says I can't phone Daddy.
- Jane Reynolds: What do you want to talk to him for?
- Judith Reynolds: He said I could have lunch with him today.
- Jane Reynolds: You're going to school.
- Judith Reynolds: Tommy's having lunch with him.
- Jane Reynolds: Tommy is seventeen and he doesn't go to school.
- Judith Reynolds: It's not fair! I want to have lunch with Daddy!
- Jane Reynolds: Well, you can't!
- Jane Reynolds: You shouldn't have left me.
- Martin Reynolds: You mean you're only faithful to me when I'm with you, because you have no choice?
- Jane Reynolds: Of course not. I always have a choice. But you shouldn't have left me alone in Rome.
- Martin Reynolds: Who is it? Someone I know?
- Jane Reynolds: Of course. Do you think I'd go off with some stranger? It's a friend.
- Martin Reynolds: Is Mrs. Reynolds at home?
- Franca: No.
- Martin Reynolds: When do you expect her back?
- Peggy: Mummy doesn't want to see you!
- Martin Reynolds: Peggy!
- Peggy: She doesn't want to see you!
- [Judith comes in and runs to Martin]
- Judith Reynolds: Daddy!
- Peggy: Go away!
- Judith Reynolds: What are you doing here? I didn't know. You didn't say.
- Peggy: Go away!
- Martin Reynolds: I'm sorry, Peggy.
- Judith Reynolds: No, don't go away. You only just got here.
- Peggy: [crying] Leave us alone! You can't you leave us alone?
- Judith Reynolds: Don't go away.
- Martin Reynolds: I'll come back very soon. I won't stay away long.
- Judith Reynolds: You told Daddy to go away, and now he's not coming back!
- Franca: What's going on?
- Judith Reynolds: I'm talking to Peggy, not you. She sent Daddy away! I hate her!
- Franca: Judith, you cannot say things like that.
- Judith Reynolds: She's mean and hateful and so are you!
- Peggy: Judith, go away.
- Franca: Peggy, be quiet. Judith, go to your room.
- Judith Reynolds: I won't! And I won't speak to any of you!
- Tommy Reynolds: [coming in] What's going on? What's all the noise about?
- Judith Reynolds: Her. I'm fed up with her and with you.
- Franca: Judith, I'm telling you for the last time.
- Judith Reynolds: Let me go!
- Tommy Reynolds: Look, you just cool it, all right? Get into your room.
- Franca: Madam, the children.
- Jane Reynolds: What's wrong?
- Franca: Their father came to see them.
- Jane Reynolds: What happened?
- Franca: There was so much anger.
- Jane Reynolds: Are they all right?
- Franca: They won't speak to me.
- Judith Reynolds: Daddy's gone away.
- Jane Reynolds: I know, darling, but he'll come back soon.
- Judith Reynolds: No, he won't.
- Jane Reynolds: Yes, he will. He promised.
- Judith Reynolds: [crying] But I told him I don't want him coming back.
- Jane Reynolds: Thanks for telling Peggy about my seeing Daddy last night.
- Tommy Reynolds: Was it a secret?
- Jane Reynolds: Not anymore.
- Tommy Reynolds: Sorry.
- [last lines]
- Judith Reynolds: Has Daddy gone?
- Jane Reynolds: Yes, he has.
- Judith Reynolds: He didn't say goodbye.
- Jane Reynolds: He sent his love.
- Judith Reynolds: Will you read me a story?
- Jane Reynolds: That I will.