the cellar door] [Frederick not moving, Miranda gets close to him] Get out of the
way.
Frederick: You can’t go yet. Please don’t oblige me to use force again.
Miranda: [fierce look to Frederick] I don’t know who you think I am. If you think I’m
somebody’s rich daughter and you’re going to get a huge ransom, you’ve got a
shock coming.
Frederick: I know who you are. It’s not money. [expression to show that he did not know what
to say], [excited, nervous], [Miranda staring at him], [funny pause]
Miranda: [accusing tone] And don’t I know who you are? [slowly] Town Hall Annex.
[Fredrick blushes]
Frederick: I don’t know what you mean.
Miranda: You’ve got a moustache. [Frederick confused] You’re photo was on the
newspaper.
Frederick: I am only obeing orders.
Miranda: Orders? Whose orders?
Frederick: I can’t tell you. [Miranda staring at him and keeping a distance]
Miranda: Whose orders?
Frederick: Mr Singleton’s orders. [Looking amazed] I’m not meant to tell you, he’d kill me if
he knew.
Miranda: Mr Singleton?
Frederick: He’s not what you think.
Miranda: [sitting down on the arm chair] You mean Mr Singleton ordered you to kidnap
me? [Frederick nodded] But I know his daughter. He’s...oh! It’s mad!
Frederick: Do you remember the girl of Penhurst road?
Miranda: What girl in Penhurst Road?
Frederick: The one that dissappered three years ago.
Miranda: I was probably away at school. What happened to her?
Frederick: I don’t know. Except he did it.
Miranda: Did What?
Frederick: I don’t know. I don’t know what happened to her. But he did it, whatever it
was. She’s never been heard of since.
Miranda: [suddenly] Have you got a cigarette?
Frederick: [get the packet and lighter from his pocket and pass them to her] You haven’t eaten
anything. [Miranda holding the cigarette very ladylike]
Miranda: [inhaling] You are telling me that Mr Singleton is a sex maniac and kidnaps girls
and you help him?
Frederick: I have to. I stole some money from the bank, I’d go to prison if they found out,
he holds it over me, you see. [Miranda continuosly staring at him]
Miranda: You won a lot of money, didn’t you? Why don’t you pay back the money then?
What was it- seventy thousand pouds? You didn’t steal all that? Or perhaps you
just help him for fun of it?
Frederick: There are other things that I can’t tell you. I am in his power.
Miranda: [standing up with her hands in her pocket, staring herself in the metal mirror] What is
he going to do to me?
Ferderick: I don’t know.
Miranda: Where is he now?
Frederick: He’ll be coming, I except.
Miranda: [After a minute of silence, she suddenly stares at him] Of course. This must be his
house in Suffolk.
Frederick: Yes.
Miranda: [suprised] He hasn’t got a house un Suffolk!
Frederick: [feebly] You don’t know. [feeling that he has to stop the questioning] I came to ask
you what you would like for breakfast, there’s cereal, eggs...
Miranda: [moving towards her bed]I don’t want any breakfast. This horrid little room. And that anaesthetic. [turning suddenly around looking at Frederick]What was it?
Frederick: I didn’t know that it would have made you sick. Really.
Miranda: [sarcastically] Mr Singletonshould haven’t told you?
Frederick: [in a hurry] Would you like tea or coffee?
Miranda: Coffee.
Frederick moves towards the cellar door. Shutting the door.
Miranda: You have forgotten your lighter!
Frederick: [lieing] I have another.
Miranda: Thank you. [almost smiling]
