_SIMPSON is laying the table for breakfast. He is looking very
solemn. A bell rings. He starts and looks nervously over his
shoulder at the door. LIEUT.-COMMANDER BELSON appears in the
doorway. SIMPSON takes a few steps towards him, salutes, and then
stands at “attention.”_
BELSON (_in a hard, quarterdeck voice_). Is that you, Simpson?
SIMPSON. Yes, sir.
BELSON (_coming into the room_). Where is Mr. Maitland?
SIMPSON. Gone riding, sir.
BELSON. When do you expect him back?
SIMPSON. To breakfast, sir. About half an hour.
BELSON (_looking SIMPSON up and down_). You’re a bright beauty,
aren’t you?
SIMPSON (_moving his feet awkwardly_). You don’t know what I’ve been
through, sir. I did all a man----
BELSON (_sharply_). Oh, yes, I know.... When you sent that letter to
the Captain saying where we could find Mr. Maitland--and you, why
didn’t you explain why he was hiding away?
SIMPSON. Well, sir, his business is no business of mine. I done all I
could to get him back to the ship, sir, but he wouldn’t listen to me,
sir. He said he’d stop and marry her if the Navy went to the bottom for
it.
BELSON. Marry her! Marry whom?
SIMPSON. The little Japanese lady, sir.
BELSON (_startled, shouting_). The what?
SIMPSON (_very uncomfortably_). The little Japanese lady, sir. Miss
Ometsu.
BELSON (_more startled_). And who the devil’s she?
SIMPSON. She’s the daughter of a Japanese naval officer, sir. He was
killed in the war. Her brother’s in the service too, sir. She talks
just like you and me, sir. She lives here with her mother, sir.
BELSON (_draws back and again looks SIMPSON up and down_). The deuce
she does! Then Mr. Maitland is a guest here!
SIMPSON. Yes, sir.
BELSON. How long has this been going on?
SIMPSON. Oh, for a long time, sir; nearly a year.
BELSON. And do you tell me that Mr. Maitland is going to _marry_ this
Japanese lady?
SIMPSON. Yes, sir. That’s why I wrote, sir. I didn’t want him to leave
the Navy, sir.
BELSON (_grunts_). And what about yourself?
SIMPSON. I don’t want to leave it neither, sir. I’ve got fifteen years’
service and I should like to earn a pension.
BELSON. I should think you’re more likely to earn six months for
desertion. Do you know that you are absent from the ship now?
SIMPSON (_in agony_). Not until to-night, sir, is it? I thought there’d
be time----
BELSON. I don’t want to know what you thought. Why didn’t you write
before--when you knew what he meant to do?
SIMPSON. I ’oped against ’ope, sir.
BELSON. You hoped! And what were you stopping for? Were you to marry a
Japanese, too?
SIMPSON (_putting out his hands_). No, sir, no. I don’t hold with it,
sir. But she’s a sweet little thing, sir, and I know she’s very fond of
him. It makes me real bad to think what’ll happen when they see you,
sir. I think he’ll half-kill me. (_Turning away._) I wish we’d never
come to Japan!
BELSON (_looking round the room_). And where are the ladies?
SIMPSON. They’ll be down to breakfast in a minute, sir!
BELSON (_immediately uneasy_). Well, I’ll go and meet Mr. Maitland, and
you’d better get ready to come back at once. We’ve no time to lose if
we’re to catch the ship. (_Turns to go out._)
SIMPSON. When does she sail, sir?
BELSON. To-morrow morning.
SIMPSON (_gasping_). For home, sir?
BELSON (_going out_). Yes.
(_SIMPSON shows signs of perturbation, and wipes his face with his
handkerchief. He looks in a half-dazed way round the room, and then
goes to the table to complete preparations for breakfast. Through
the curtained doorway on right, OMETSU appears, dressed in a
charming Japanese costume, with satin slippers to match her robe._)
OMETSU. Good-morning, Simpson.
SIMPSON. Good-morning, miss.
OMETSU (_going to table_). Mother is not coming down to breakfast,
Simpson. So there’ll only be Mr. Maitland and me. (_Skips._) Isn’t it
lovely. Has he gone riding?
SIMPSON (_still fooling about the table_). Yes, miss.
OMETSU. And he will be back quite soon, won’t he, Simpson? It always
seems so long when he’s away. (_She runs to the door and looks out._)
It’s heavenly, and to-day! I am so happy to-day. (_Goes to table and
looks up at SIMPSON._) Do you know what to-day is, Simpson? It’s my
birthday! I’m seventeen--quite a woman now, and next week at this time
I shall be Mrs. Maitland, and you’ll be calling me mam! (_She gives a
happy little laugh._) Aren’t you going to wish me many happy returns,
Simpson?
SIMPSON (_turns to her sadly, tries to speak, shakes his head and turns
away_).
OMETSU (_in a tone of anxiety_). Why, what’s the matter? Are you not
well?
SIMPSON (_pulls himself together_). Yes, miss.... No, I don’t think I
am, miss. I don’t know. Something’s come over me which makes me feel
quite bad. I don’t think this climate quite suits me, miss.
OMETSU. Not suit you? Why, you’ve always been quite well until now. It
can’t be the climate. (_Anxiously._) Would you like a little brandy?
SIMPSON (_eagerly_). Yes, yes, please, miss. (_He sinks into a chair
while she runs to the sideboard and pours him out a peg._)
OMETSU (_brings the brandy_). There! I am so sorry, I wonder what’s
brought this on?
SIMPSON (_gulps down the brandy_). Thank ye, miss. I shall be better
now. (_He gets up and takes the glass to the sideboard and then
turns._) Do you know, miss----Your father was a sailor, wasn’t he?
OMETSU (_wonderingly_). Yes.
SIMPSON. In your Navy?
OMETSU. Yes.
SIMPSON. And he was an officer, wasn’t he?
OMETSU. Yes, a commander--but why----?
SIMPSON. And he was killed in the war, wasn’t he?
OMETSU (_nods her head_).
SIMPSON. Well, wouldn’t you like Mr. Maitland to go and do that?
OMETSU (_eyes wide with terror_). Mr. Maitland ... killed.... Has
something happened?... Oh, what is it?
SIMPSON (_alarmed at her being alarmed_). No, no, I don’t mean that,
miss; I don’t mean that. I mean---- (_Blows his cheeks out._) I don’t
know what I mean?
OMETSU (_coming to him_). Simpson, what _do_ you mean?
SIMPSON (_with supreme effort_). Well, miss, I mean Once a Sailor
always a Sailor! (_He draws back as if he had explained everything._)
OMETSU. Oh, is that all?
SIMPSON. All? Why, miss, it’s everything. Mr. Maitland can never help
being a sailor now.
OMETSU (_laughs with relief_). You funny man, Simpson. You make such a
lot out of nothing. Of course Mr. Maitland’s a sailor. Isn’t he going
to take me--and you--for a long cruise among the South Sea Islands? We
shall be perfectly happy down there, Simpson. You will get rid of all
your troubles then.
SIMPSON (_groans, looks at her and shakes his head_). I don’t think he
ought to leave the Navy, miss. Think what----
OMETSU (_walks away towards piano_). Simpson! Mr. Maitland has told you
that you are not to speak to me about this. He has quite made up his
mind, and you have promised to leave the service too and come with us.
Surely Mr. Maitland has offered you sufficient----
SIMPSON. Yes, miss, yes, but it isn’t that. It isn’t my pension I’m
thinking about ... but I’d like to finish my time with him.
OMETSU. Oh, Simpson, don’t be silly.... You will finish it with him.
He’s going to do ever so much more for you than your Navy can. And
didn’t he say you should come to our wedding and be his best man
and sign the register? And when we go away you will be in charge
of everything. Why, you will be quite a big man; and Jack--Mr.
Maitland, says we may go pearl-fishing, and you will make your fortune
then.... (_SIMPSON still looks dully at her._) Oh, you _are_ grumpy
this morning. I don’t like you a bit. I wish I hadn’t given you the
brandy now. (_Shakes an accusing finger at him._) I think you’ve been
drinking. (_She goes to the piano and plays a snatch of Mandalay.
Almost immediately MAITLAND’S voice joins in the song. As he reaches
the doorway she gives a little scream of delight, jumps off the stool
and runs to meet him. He catches her in his arms. SIMPSON quickly
leaves by the door on left._)
JACK. Sweetheart!
OMETSU (_holding her face to his_). Dear--dear!
JACK (_leading her down and then stopping to kiss her forehead_). Many
happy returns, sweetheart Quite a grown-up, now, aren’t you?
OMETSU (_standing on tiptoe_). Yes, quite a woman--look! (_He catches
her to him._)
JACK (_leading her to chair at table and sits himself_). And what _do_
you think I’ve got for you? One of them is wonderful--I shall give only
that one in my whole lifetime.
OMETSU (_looking eagerly at him_). Sweetheart! Tell me! (_He takes two
packets from his pocket, one of them is an envelope. He unfolds the
small packet and holds up a bracelet. She gives a little gurgle of
delight and holds out her left wrist. He clasps it, and then touches a
spring. A lid flies open like a watch. She gives a little scream._) Oh,
oh, it’s your portrait. Isn’t it lovely! (_She looks at it, and then
says, curiously, as she closes it down._) You darling! And what’s the
other? I _am_ a lucky girl! (_He takes a document from an envelope,
unfolds it and offers it to her._)
JACK. Our marriage license! (_Laughs joyously as she stares at it._) So
we can be married next Thursday, if mother says yes. By the way, where
is she?
OMETSU. She said she wouldn’t come down this morning. She said she knew
I’d like to have breakfast alone with you to-day. Isn’t she a dear!
JACK. She’s a clinker. Well, we’ll ask her when she comes down. But
what about some breakfast? I’m famished! (_Shouts._) Simpson! (_Bangs a
bell on the table._) Simpson! (_Turns to OMETSU._) You can’t make love
properly when you’re starving, you know pettling. Wait till I’ve had
some breakfast, and then----I’ll tell you! (_Bangs the bell again and
shouts._) Simpson! Confound the man, what’s up with him this morning?
OMETSU. Well, he is funny, dear! He’s been on again about your leaving
the Navy.
JACK (_jumps up and bangs the table_). I won’t have it. I won’t have
it! I’ll kick him out. He can go back alone. How dare he talk to you
about it when I told him not to. (_Turns to door on left._) I’ll let
him know if he’s going to defy orders. (_At the door he meets SIMPSON
with breakfast on tray._) Here, you blackguard, what do you mean by
it? Didn’t I tell you that I wouldn’t have you talking to mam’zelle
about my leaving the Navy?
SIMPSON (_going towards table and looking straight to his front_). Yes,
sir. (_Goes on with his work._)
JACK (_following behind and shouting_). Haven’t I sent in my papers?
SIMPSON. Yes, sir.
JACK. Haven’t I sent in the money for your discharge?
SIMPSON. Yes, sir.
JACK. Didn’t I say that the Navy could go to the devil?
SIMPSON. Yes, sir.
JACK. And didn’t I say that I’d break your neck if I heard any more
about it?
SIMPSON. Yes, sir.
JACK. And aren’t you satisfied with my terms?