HOST:
One of the most enjoyable evenings I have ever spent in a theater was the occasion in which I last saw Miss Madge Kennedy and Mr. Otto Kruger. The play was Noël Coward's "Private Lives." Mr. Coward has given us permission to reproduce for you an episode from his comedy, with Miss Kennedy and Mr. Kruger here in person to resume their familiar roles.
MUSIC:
BRIEF INTRODUCTION ... NOËL COWARD'S "SOMEDAY I'LL FIND YOU" ... PLAYED BY HOTEL ORCHESTRA ... THEN IN BG, UNTIL THE END OF THE SKETCH
HOST:
The scene of this episode is a hotel balcony overlooking the Mediterranean on the Riviera. The characters: Amanda and Elyot, her former husband. Amanda and Elyot were married and divorced five years before the play opens. They have each married again and, by accident, the two couples have chosen the same hotel for their honeymoon. By accident again, they have been assigned adjoining suites. And, quite by accident, they have met on a balcony shared by the two apartments. Below them, a hotel orchestra is playing ... playing a melody full of memories for both of them.
MUSIC:
"SOMEDAY I'LL FIND YOU" ... UP BRIEFLY ... THEN IN BG
ELYOT:
What are you doing here?
AMANDA:
I'm on my honeymoon.
ELYOT:
Very interesting. So am I.
AMANDA:
I hope you're enjoying it.
ELYOT:
It, er-- It hasn't started yet.
AMANDA:
Neither has mine.
ELYOT:
Oh. Are you happy?
AMANDA:
Perfectly.
ELYOT:
Good.
AMANDA:
Are you?
ELYOT:
Ecstatically.
AMANDA:
What's she like?
ELYOT:
Fair. Very pretty. Plays the piano beautifully.
AMANDA:
Very comforting.
ELYOT:
How's yours?
AMANDA:
I'd rather not discuss him.
ELYOT:
Oh, it doesn't matter. He'll probably come popping out in a minute and I shall see for myself.
AMANDA:
Have you known her long?
ELYOT:
About four months. We met in a house party in Norfolk.
AMANDA:
Very flat, Norfolk.
ELYOT:
There's no need to be unpleasant.
AMANDA:
Oh, that was no reflection on her. Unless, of course, she made it flatter.
ELYOT:
Mm hm. Do you know your voice takes on an acid quality whenever you mention her name?
AMANDA:
I swear I'll never mention it again.
ELYOT:
Good. I'll keep off yours.
AMANDA:
Thank you.
ELYOT:
Not at all. (PAUSE FILLED BY MUSIC) That orchestra seems to have a remarkably small repertoire.
AMANDA:
Strange how potent cheap music is. (WORDLESSLY CROONS THE MELODY, CONTINUES IN BG)
ELYOT:
(SLOWLY) Seems a long time ago, doesn't it?
AMANDA:
(CROONS WORDLESSLY)
ELYOT:
Beautiful song.
AMANDA:
(CROONS WORDLESSLY)
ELYOT:
Do you remember the words?
AMANDA:
(SINGS)
I'll leave you never,
Love you forever,
All our past sorrows redeeming.
Try to make it true,
Say you love me, too.
Someday I'll find you again.
MUSIC:
"SOMEDAY I'LL FIND YOU" CONTINUES IN BG, TO THE VERY END
ELYOT:
You always had a sweet voice, Amanda.
AMANDA:
Thank you.
ELYOT:
What exactly were you remembering at that moment?
AMANDA:
Lots of things.
ELYOT:
So was I.
AMANDA:
What fools we were to ruin it all. What utter, utter fools.
ELYOT:
We were so ridiculously over in love.
AMANDA:
Elyot--?
ELYOT:
Yes?
AMANDA:
And here we are starting afresh with two quite different people. In love all over again, aren't we? (NO ANSWER) Aren't we?
ELYOT:
No!
AMANDA:
(PUZZLED) Elyot?
ELYOT:
(SHARPLY, BITTERLY) We're not in love all over again, and you know it! Good night, Amanda.
AMANDA:
(UNNERVED, PLEADING) Oh, Elyot, don't leave me. We won't talk about ourselves any more; we'll talk about outside things; anything. Only-- Only just don't leave me 'til I've pulled myself together.
ELYOT:
Very well.
AMANDA:
(PAUSE, AIRILY) What have you been doing lately? During these last years?
ELYOT:
(MATCHES HER) I, um-- I went 'round the world, you know, after--
AMANDA:
(INTERRUPTS, HURRIEDLY) Oh, yes, yes, of course I know. How was it?
ELYOT:
The world?
AMANDA:
Yes.
ELYOT:
Very enjoyable.
AMANDA:
China must be very interesting.
ELYOT:
Very big, China.
AMANDA:
And Japan?
ELYOT:
Very small.
AMANDA:
(MERRILY) And did you eat sharks' fins and take your shoes off and use chopsticks and everything?
ELYOT:
Mm. Practically everything.
AMANDA:
And India? The burning Ghars? Or Ghats, or whatever they are. And the Taj Mahal? How was the Taj Mahal?
ELYOT:
(SOBERLY) Unbelievable. A sort of dream.
AMANDA:
Oh, that was the moonlight I expect. Of course you saw it in the moonlight?
ELYOT:
Yes. Moonlight can be so cruelly deceptive.
AMANDA:
And it didn't look like a biscuit box? You know, I've always felt it might.
ELYOT:
(QUIETLY, DEEPLY) Darling--? Darling, I do love you so.
AMANDA:
(FORCED GAIETY) I - I do hope you met a sacred elephant. They're lint white, I believe, and very, very sweet.
ELYOT:
I've never loved anyone else even for an instant.
AMANDA:
(PROTESTS WEAKLY) Elyot--
ELYOT:
You love me, too, don't you? There's no doubt about it anywhere, is there?
AMANDA:
(SADLY) No. No doubt anywhere.
ELYOT:
You're looking very lovely, you know, in this damned moonlight, Amanda. Your skin is clear and cool, and your eyes are shining, and you're growing lovelier and lovelier every second as I look at you. (HIS VOICE FADES OUT)
MUSIC:
FADES OUT BEHIND--
SOUND:
APPLAUSE