BOBBIE (_above Chesterfield to_ MRS. CROMBIE, _admiringly_). Isn't he technical, the way he uses all the right expressions--it gives one such a professional air to call cars "buses." MRS. DERMOTT. It's very muddling. (_A motor horn is heard._) JOYCE (_rushing to window_). Here they are. BOBBIE. I wonder how Uncle Daniel is. MRS. CROMBIE (_rising_). You must all be wondering that. (_Goes to table powdering._) Faith, I shall go soon. I'm sure this man is going to be simply odious. (_All except_ MRS. CROMBIE _and_ FAITH _go out to meet_ DANIEL. _All enter together talking about their various professions._ BOBBIE _to fireplace;_ OLIVER _behind table;_ SYLVIA _up stage;_ JOYCE _to form;_ EVANGELINE _above fireplace;_ MRS. CROMBIE _below table;_ MRS. DERMOTT C.; DANIEL L.C.; FAITH R. _of table._) MRS. DERMOTT. Oh, Danny, darling--let me introduce you to Mrs. Crombie--my brother. And this is Faith--such a dear girl. MRS. CROMBIE. How do you do. I've heard so much about you. Are you feeling better? DANIEL (L.C., _jovially_). Better! Why, I never had a day's illness in my life--(_look from all_)--at least--that is until I had the illness. Yes, it's very tiresome. (_He gulps._) A short life and a gay one, you know. (_He laughs forcedly._) MRS. DERMOTT. Danny, darling, I _do_ hope---- DANIEL. Nonsense, dear--there is no hope--but that's a comfort to me. I always imagine hope weary after a game of blind man's buff sitting on an orange--so uncomfortable. (MRS. CROMBIE _and_ FAITH _sit below and_ R. _of table respectively._) MRS. DERMOTT (_sits Chesterfield, dabbing her eyes_). Really, Danny, you are too absurd.... I'm so glad Sylvia brought you safely, I never really feel happy in my mind when she's out with the car. It's not really woman's work. DANIEL (_sitting armchair_). As far as I can gather from what she has been telling me--filming seems to require a certain amount of unwomanly abandon! SYLVIA (_at back of Chesterfield, laughing_). I was only telling him about that day in the middle of the village street, when I had to do three "close ups" on top of one another. MRS. DERMOTT. It all sounds vaguely immoral to me, but I hope it's all right. DANIEL. Define the expression "close up." What does it mean? SYLVIA. When they bring the camera right up to your face and you have to register various emotions--fear--suspicion--joy--yearning--sorrow--(_she does them_) that's a close up. MRS. DERMOTT. Isn't she wonderful? MRS. CROMBIE. It really is most entertaining. DANIEL. I think they ought to film Evangeline's novel--it's chock full of incident. EVANGELINE (_rising, poses by mantel_). Yes, uncle, but only psychological incident--they want luridly exciting episodes for a real thriller. I mean to write a scenario one day though, it's a money-making game. (_Sits again._)