COUNT—[_In polite resignation._] No ... no ... wait ... I’ll dictate,
if I must. [_She sits at the machine. He repeats mechanically,
distrustfully._] I’ll dictate, if I must. [_Eyes her narrowly._]
PAULA—We stopped at “The deplorable policies inaugurated by the Minister
of Agriculture——”
COUNT—Deplorable policy ... yes. Well ... if I must ... go ahead ...
[_Sighs._] “The very deplorable policy ...”
PAULA—[_Writing._] Policy.
COUNT—“Inaugurated by the Minister ... leaves the farmer bewildered and
quite helpless.”
PAULA—[_As she writes, bows her head lower over the machine._] Helpless.
COUNT—“Now the farmer is devoted to the minister ...” [_His quick
expressive glance meets her eye as she looks up._] “... but the minister
does not love the farmer.”
PAULA—[_Writing._] Farmer.
COUNT—“And can the farmer be blamed for feeling abandoned and betrayed?”
PAULA—And betrayed.
COUNT—“But I, for one, know that his excellency, the minister of
agriculture ... belongs to the old school of honor ... to those who will
not abuse——”
PAULA—Abuse.
COUNT—“The faith that was placed in them.”