Nicky
Then it’s between us alone.
Florence
I tell you I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Nicky
Mother—don’t go on like that; it’s useless. We’ve arrived at a crisis; wherever we go—whatever we do we can’t escape from it. I know we’re neither of us very strong-minded or capable, and we haven’t much hope of coming through successfully—but let’s try. It’s no good pretending any more—our lives are built up of pretenses all the time. For years—ever since I began to think at all, I’ve been bolstering up my illusions about you. People have made remarks, not realizing that I was your son, and I’ve pretended that they were inspired by cattiness and jealousy. I’ve noticed things—trivial incriminating little incidents, and I’ve brushed them aside and not thought any more about them because you were my mother—clever and beautiful and successful—and naturally people would slander you because you were so beautiful—and now I know—they were right!
Florence
Nicky—I implore you—go away now—leave me alone.
Nicky
No, I can’t.