PATIENT LADY—Good morning.
PHILIP—Good morning, madame. I’ll be with you in a moment.
PAULA—[_Sulkily._] I don’t want to detain you. Good-bye, Mr. Juhasz.
[_She extends her hand. He takes it._]
JUHASZ—Good-bye. [_OSCAR enters through the archway. The PATIENT LADY
goes to him._]
PAULA—There is something I forgot.
JUHASZ—Yes?
PAULA—You used to have a certain French perfume.
JUHASZ—Yes.
PAULA—It seems to me it was called “Exquisite heur.” A very strong,
sensuous perfume. A perfume for bad women.
JUHASZ—Oh!
PAULA—At least you said only bad women would use it, and even they ...
only for ... the most intimate occasions.
JUHASZ—[_Wincing._] Yes, I have some left.
PAULA—I’ll have a bottle, please.... Two bottles....
JUHASZ—You are a bit cruel, Paula. You might at least have bought _that_
somewhere else.
PAULA—I’d rather buy it here.
JUHASZ—As you like. [_To OSCAR._] The lady wants some perfume.
[_OSCAR takes his place._] That penetrating stuff.... Exquisite heur.
[_Sharply._] That perfume for harlots! [_To the PATIENT LADY._] What can
I show you, madame?
OSCAR—Yes, sir.
PATIENT LADY—I’d like to look at some scarfs, Mr. Juhasz. And a nice
sweater.
JUHASZ—Shall we look at the sweaters first? [_Indicates the archway._]
Will you step in here, please? [_She exits through the archway. He
follows her. PAULA stares thoughtfully after them._]
OSCAR—[_Shrilly._] Exquisite heur?
PAULA—[_Starts._] For mercy’s sake ... you?
OSCAR—It’s me.
PAULA—Mr. Oscar! You here again?
OSCAR—I’m here, but I’m not Mr. Oscar any more. [_He goes quickly to
the table down left, selects a bottle of perfume, gives it to her._]
Exquisite heur. [_Crosses right, behind the counter._]
PAULA—[_Shakes her head._] What are you doing here?
OSCAR—[_Cheerfully._] My affairs didn’t go so well.