TOM: Though I miss much. Much, (_the buzzer_. TOM _looks around to see if anyone is coming to answer it, then goes to the phone_) Yes?... I'll see if I can get her. (_to_ DICK) Claire's daughter has arrived, (_looking in the inner room--returns to phone_) I don't see her. (_catching a glimpse of ANTHONY off right_) Oh, Anthony, where's Miss Claire? Her daughter has arrived. ANTHONY: She's working at something very important in her experiments. DICK: But isn't her daughter one of her experiments? ANTHONY: (_after a baffled moment_) Her daughter is finished. TOM: (_at the phone_) Sorry--but I can't get to Claire. She appears to have gone below. (ANTHONY _closes the trap-door_) I did speak to Anthony, but he says that Claire is working at one of her experiments and that her daughter is finished. I don't know how to make her hear--I took the revolver back to the house. Anyway you will remember Claire doesn't answer the revolver. I hate to reach Claire when she doesn't want to be reached. Why, of course--a daughter is very important, but oh, that's too bad. (_putting down the receiver_) He says the girl's feelings are hurt. Isn't that annoying? (_gingerly pounds on the trap-door. Then with the other hand. Waits_. ANTHONY _has a gentle smile for the gentle tapping--nods approval as,_ TOM _returns to the phone_) She doesn't come up. Indeed I did--with both fists--Sorry. ANTHONY: Please, you won't try again to disturb Miss Claire, will you? DICK: Her daughter is here, Anthony. She hasn't seen her daughter for a year. ANTHONY: Well, if she got along without a mother for a year--(_goes back to his work_) DICK: (_smiling after_ ANTHONY) Plants are queer. Perhaps it's _safer_ to do it with pencil (_regards_ TOM)--or with pure thought. Things that grow in the earth-- TOM: (_nodding_) I suppose because we grew in the earth. DICK: I'm always shocked to find myself in agreement with Harry, but I too am worried about Claire--and this, (_looking at the plants_) TOM: It's her best chance. DICK: Don't you hate to go away to India--for ever--leaving Claire's future uncertain? TOM: You're cruel now. And you knew that you were being cruel. DICK: Yes, I like the lines of your face when you suffer. TOM: The lines of yours when you're causing suffering--I don't like them. DICK: Perhaps that's your limitation. TOM: I grant you it may be. (_They are silent_) I had an odd feeling that you and I sat here once before, long ago, and that we were plants. And you were a beautiful plant, and I--I was a very ugly plant. I confess it surprised me--finding myself so ugly a plant. (_A young girl is seen outside_. HARRY _gets the door open for her and brings_ ELIZABETH _in_.) HARRY: There's heat here. And two of your mother's friends. Mr Demming--Richard Demming--the artist--and I think you and Mr Edgeworthy are old friends.