JAN It is quite clear, and I’m sure we will. It’s completely my fault for giving you the impression that I didn’t know the rules. I shan’t break them, I assure you.
MARTHA There’s nothing to worry about. It’s not the first time that someone’s tried to go too far. There’ve been others before you.
JAN There is no confusion. The trouble is, I can’t think of anything to say. Not now. At least, not for the moment.
MARTHA Oh, but there’s no need for that. There are plenty of things that a guest can talk about with full confidence.
JAN Name some of them.
MARTHA Well, most of our guests talk about most things, from their travels all the way through to politics. But they don’t talk about us. That’s all we ever ask. Once or twice it’s even come to the point where they talked about their own lives, the kind of people they were. I don’t object to that. It’s part of the job. We’re paid to do many things, and one of them must be to listen. But there’s no way in which the price of board and lodging could be seen to include an obligation on the landlady to answer personal questions. My mother has done so, on occasions, as I’m willing to admit. But that’s because she doesn’t care one way or the other. But I do. I refuse on principle. So if that’s thoroughly understood, then there’s going to be no need for awkwardness of any kind. You needn’t worry. You’ll soon discover that you’ve quite a lot to say to us. Most people like to have an audience, if only to talk about themselves.
JAN Unfortunately, I’m not very good at that. And anyway, I doubt if there’ll be an opportunity. If I don’t stay long, you won’t have the chance to get to know me. And if I do, you won’t need my help. You’ll find out for yourselves.
MARTHA Well I only hope that what I’ve said hasn’t made you feel hostile. That really would be pointless. But it’s always been policy to clear away any possible source of confusion. If I’d let you carry on the way you were going it was bound to end up in embarrassment for all of us. If you look at it from that point of view you’ll see I was thoroughly justified in
speaking out when I did. After all, before today we had nothing whatsoever in common. To assume a tone of familiarity on the spur of the moment would have been rather foolish.
JAN There’s no need to apologise. You’re quite right. Familiarity doesn’t spring from nowhere. It takes time to establish itself. But if in your opinion everything is, as you would say, now quite straight between us, then I have every reason to be thankful. Or so it seems.
(The mother comes in.)
Scene six
MOTHER Good evening, sir. Your room’s ready now. JAN Thank you very much.
(The mother sits down.)
MOTHER (to Martha) Did you fill out the form? MARTHA I did.
MOTHER Do you mind if I look at it ? I hope you’ll excuse me, sir, but the police round here are very strict. There you are! What did I tell you? My daughter has forgotten to note down whether you came here for health reasons, on business, or as a tourist.
JAN I suppose tourism would be the best description.
MOTHER It’ll be the monastery that’s brought you, I expect. I gather it’s very well thought of.
JAN Yes I have heard of it. But I was actually thinking of looking round the whole area. I used to know it very well, some time ago. Good memories.
MOTHER You’ve lived here before?
JAN No. But I passed through once, a long time ago. I haven’t forgotten it.
MOTHER And yet it’s only a little village.
JAN True. But I had a good time here. And since I’ve been back, I could almost say that I’ve felt at home.
MOTHER Do you intend to stay long?
JAN I don’t know. I expect that seems a bit strange, but I’m afraid it’s the way I feel. You have to have a reason for staying in a place. Some friends there, personal ties, something like that. Otherwise, there’s no real incentive to stay there rather than anywhere else. And until you know what kind of reception you’re going to get, you can’t be sure what you’re going to do. That’s only natural.
MARTHA I don’t think I follow you.
JAN No. I dare say you don’t. But I can’t think of a better way or putting it.
MOTHER Well, I expect you’ll soon get tired of it here.
JAN Oh I don’t know. I’m a man of warm feelings, and I’ll soon find something to remember, if I’m given the chance.
MARTHA (with impatience) This isn’t a place for ‘warm feelings’. JAN (who doesn’t seem to have heard her, to the mother) You seem very disillusioned with the area. Have you been in this hotel for so very long?
MOTHER Time comes and goes. It’s been many years now, so long that I can’t remember when it started, and I’ve forgotten what I was like before. This is my daughter.
MARTHA There’s no call for a family history, mother. MOTHER No, of course there isn’t, Martha.
JAN (very quickly) Let her go on. I think I understand the point you are making. At the end of a working life that’s the way you feel. But things might have been very different if you’d had a man to help you. A strong right arm is something every woman needs.
MOTHER Oh, I’ve had help, in my time. But there was always too much to do. At best we managed, my husband and myself. But we never had the time to give each other a moment’s thought. Why, I think I’d almost forgotten who he was before he was in his grave.
JAN Yes. I can understand that too. But… (he hesitates for a second or two) perhaps a son? A son who’d have lent you a hand? You wouldn’t have forgotten him, would you?
MARTHA We’ve a great deal to do, mother.
MOTHER A son? Oh, there have been too many years. When it comes down to it, we old women lose the habit of love, even far our own sons. The heart wears out, young man, like the rest of you. JAN Yes that’s true. But I know it never forgets.
MARTHA (stepping between them decisively) A son who came in here would be assured of the same treatment as any other guest: he would be offered the usual standard of impersonal consideration. Every man who has ever come to stay with us has accepted those terms and never asked for more. Each one of them has paid the price of a room and received a key in exchange. And none of them, ever, spoke of his feelings. (Pause.) It was that above all that used to keep our work free of complications.
MOTHER Martha!
JAN (thoughtfully) And did they stay long? On those terms? MARTHA Some of them did. For a very long time. We did what was necessary to make them stay. Others, who were less well-off, left the next day. We did little for them.
JAN Well, I have plenty of money, and if it’s all right with you I should like very much to stay here, in your hotel. I had forgotten to tell you that I can pay in advance. MOTHER Oh, we don’t ask for that.
MARTHA If you’re not short of money, then everything will be fine.
But please don’t mention your feelings. We can do nothing for them. In fact, I was getting so tired of that approach that I had almost asked you to leave. Here’s your key. The room is yours. But remember. This house holds nothing for the feelings. Too many grey years have hung upon its walls and on us, and gradually the chill has spread. Blame them, if you must, for our lack of fellow-feeling. But you must expect no familiarity. I’ve already told you that. You’ll have at your disposal everything we keep in store for our very few visitors. But sympathy is not included. Take your key (she holds it out to him), and don’t forget: if we have offered you a quiet welcome, we have done so out of self-interest. And if we choose to maintain that relationship then that, too, will be because in its own quiet way it will be serving our best interests.
(He takes the key, and watches her as she goes out.)
MOTHER Don’t let her worry you, sir. I’m afraid there have always been some things she could never bear to talk about.
(She starts to get up out of the chair, and he makes an effort to help her.)
That’s all right, my boy, I’m not a cripple yet. Look at these hands. They’re strong enough, aren’t they? Strong enough at any rate to lift a man’s weight.
(Pause. He looks at the keys)
A penny for your thoughts. Was it something I said?
JAN No, not at all. You’ll have to excuse me. I wasn’t really listening. But why did you say «my boy»?
MOTHER Oh, don’t give it a second thought. I was just a bit confused, that’s all. I can assure you that it wasn’t familiarity, ifthat’s what’s worrying you. It was just an expression. JAN I see. (Pause.) May I see my room?
MOTHER Of course, sir. Go on up. The old man will show you where it is. He’s waiting in the corridor.
(He looks
