JOHN: Let me introduce you--Colin Mackenzie ... my father. MR. FREEMAN: Oh!... How d’you do? How d’you do? (_He shakes hands._) Glad to make your acquaintance. I was just telling my boy here, I should like to--one likes to show a little decent hospitality. COLIN: Thank you. MR. FREEMAN: Sit down, won’t you, sit down. COLIN: Thank you. [_A little silence._ JOHN: I believe you saw Colin’s play the other night ... didn’t you go to the Criterion?--“A Pair of Pyjamas”---- MR. FREEMAN: Yes? JOHN: The author! MR. FREEMAN: Really!? By jove ... did you really write it? COLIN: Yes. MR. FREEMAN: By jove yes ... my wife and I enjoyed it immensely ... most amusin’ ... _most_ amusin’.... By jove! ... it’s a great success, isn’t it? COLIN: It’s been on some time. JOHN: A year; _and_ in America; _and_ three touring companies; _and_ in the colonies; _and_ the world’s film rights. MR. FREEMAN (_offering the box of cigars_): Try one o’ these? COLIN: Thanks. MR. FREEMAN: Have a drink? COLIN: No, thanks. MR. FREEMAN: Wouldn’t you like to come into the drawing-room? ... my wife would be delighted to meet you ... she really did enjoy it immensely--very funny--very funny indeed--immensely. JOHN (_cutting in_): I’m going to take him upstairs. He’s been away and I’ve been away; we haven’t seen one another for months. MR. FREEMAN (_rising_): Well, I’m glad to have met you. I hope you’ll look in again one evening. COLIN (_rising to shake hands_): Thank you. MR. FREEMAN (_going_): See you again, John ... don’t forget Frankie’s here. Good night. COLIN: Good night. [_MR. FREEMAN goes._ JOHN (_at once_): Come upstairs. COLIN: I can’t stay. I want to borrow your score of the new ballet. At least Margaret does. I’m taking her to hear it. JOHN: It’s upstairs. COLIN: They’re doing it last. I needn’t go for a few minutes. JOHN: Then you’d better have a drink. COLIN: Right. JOHN: Whiskey? COLIN: Thanks. JOHN: Have a good holiday? COLIN: Yes. JOHN: It’s nearly three months since I’ve seen you. How’s life? COLIN: Very good. (_He gets his drink._) Thanks. And with you? JOHN: Rotten. COLIN: Why? JOHN (_with some deliberation_): We only have a certain amount of energy and vitality in us, Colin; and I’m using mine up on things that are utterly unimportant. COLIN: The same tack you were on last time I saw you? JOHN: Yes. COLIN: You’re not going to get much sympathy out of me. JOHN: Oh! ... why? COLIN: John! You can overdo ideals ... they can make one rather useless and a little bit silly.... I’ve been thinking about you a good deal while I’ve been away.... I’d made up my mind to tell you what I thought of you one of these days. JOHN: Now, please. I’m in no mood to wait. COLIN: Well---- JOHN: Come on; out with it; what have you been thinking? What’s wrong with me? [_There is a certain eager impatience in his manner._