Doctors of Philosophy Read Online Free PDF Page B

stone a number of stone tablets. Later investigation has proved that these tablets, inscribed in cuneiform characters, date back to the 5th century B.C., and apparently were the family records of a wealthy steward under Nebuchadnezzar, ranging in subject matter from the morning prayers of the household to the cost of eyepaint for concubines. “Even at a glance it is obvious that these finds are going to affect all our previous conceptions of dates, writings, customs, symbolism and religious observances of the Babylonians,” said Professor G. Smart Dwight, the American Assyriologist, who—’
    LEONORA. Dwight!
    A NNIE. Dwight. ‘… who flew here today. Professor Dwight added, “all our previous work on Assyrian pal … pal …’
    CATHERINE. Palaeography.
    ANNIE. ‘ “will have to be completely revised. We shall have to start again from scratch.” Professor Locking of Oxford University, who has—’
    CATHERINE. Locking!
    ANNIE. Locking. ‘… of Oxford University, who has also flown to the site, confirmed this and added, “This is in the nature of a revelation. It— ” ’
    LEONORA. Let me see it.
    CATHERINE. Let me have a look.
    ANNIE. You can see it all for yourself, Leonora, in black and white. You see it blows all your theories to hell.
L EONORA reads while CATHERINE looks over her shoulder.
    CATHERINE. It seems there will have to be some slight rethinking, Annie.
    ANNIE. Slight re-thinking, my eye. It blows—
    CATHERINE. How does it seem to you, Leonora?
    LEONORA . It’s exciting.
    ANNIE. What do you mean, it’s exciting. I blow all your theories to hell and you say it’s exciting. Two years’ work.
    L EONORA. That doesn’t matter, Annie. Forty years wouldn’t matter. What matter are the new discoveries.
    CATHERINE. There is a scholar’s point of view, Annie, which you will never share. But we are obliged for your interesting snippet of information.
    ANNIE. Well, at least I’ve saved Leonora another day or two’s fruitless work. She’s looking pale.
    L EONORA. Fruitless.
    A NNIE. Absolutely fruitless. If I were you, Leonora, I’d go and see a doctor, even if it’s only about your health. I must go and change into something suitable for gazing across the canal by dusk. Whenever there’s a gap in my life I go and see a doctor. That’s my philosophy. (Exit.)
    CURTAIN
    END OF ACT 1

ACT TWO
SCENE I
    A WEEK LATER.
    Another view of the same room. French windows open, ANNIE, dressed in an opulent dressing-gown, sits writing by a desk near the window. CHARLIE is in the room.
    A NNIE. Take no notice of it.
    CHARLIE. I can’t.
    A NNIE. Well then, don’t be so mean. After all, Leonora’s one of the family. Give her a child if she wants a child, anything for a quiet life. How do you spell susceptible?
Enter CATHERINE with a shopping basket.
    CATHERINE. Annie, it’s gone twelve.
    A NNIE. So it has. I’ve only written two and a half letters. Charlie has been giving me the full story of his experiences during the past week.
    CATHERINE. Hadn’t you better be getting dressed in case anyone comes in or something?
    CHARLIE. ‘Give me a child …’
    A NNIE. I am dressed.
    CATHERINE. I meant dressed in something different from your bedroom attire. Not that I myself care in the—
    A NNIE. I chose this as being specially suitable for sitting by a sunny window writing letters.
    C HARLIE. I don’t think she knows what she’s saying at the time.
    CATHERINE. It does look rather charming, I must admit. Stand up and turn round slowly.
    CHARLIE. Looks very nice, Annie. I say I don’t think she knows what she’s saying at the time.
    CATHERINE. But I wouldn’t myself call it suitable for writing letters, particularly.
    ANNIE. It depends what sort of letters you write.
    CHARLIE. Looks very nice, Annie— I don’t think she wants a child. It is simply something she says. She’s under a compulsion to say it.
    A NNIE. That’s exactly what I suffer from. I’m always saying things. Something inside me makes