TWO WEEKS LATER

Martha and Lucy are in the main room of the mansion, now festooned with bunting and lanterns. They are with the musicians. Higgins and Pickering are waiting at the bottom of the stairs for Liza, occasionally greeting and chatting with guests. Drums can be heard in the background.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] What is that, a marching band?

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Well, they are military. Perhaps they will play Sousa marches.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] Ah, yes, I love a good military march. Doesn't seem to lend itself to dancing, though.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Well, Lucy certainly seems to recommend them.

Thantasy: <From the top of the stairs, Liza begins her descent. She is clad in a lovely sky-blue strapless ball gown.>

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Looks up, gives a sudden slight gasp.)

Thantasy: <She is radiating self-confidence and charm.>

Thantasy: <Not the same girl who came to work as a chargirl.>

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (Turns to see where Higgins is looking, says quietly.) My word!

Thantasy: [Liza] Good evening, Professor, Colonel.

Cardaniel80: (Both men stand waiting at the botttom of the stairs.)

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Holds out his hand to Liza.) You look very lovely, my dear.

Thantasy: [Liza] Thank you, Professor. <Giving him her hand.>

Thantasy: [Liza] <She tingles when he takes it.>

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] I would have asked if that was one of Miriam's dresses, but the question is unnecessary. It is surely yours.

Thantasy: [Liza] Well, I did some modifications.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] You look quite charming, Eliza.

Thantasy: [Liza] Thank you, Colonel.

Thantasy: [Liza] Well, shall we join the party?

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Yes, we should. I believe some dancing is planned.

Thantasy: [Liza] Yes, I could dance all night!

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Listening to Lucy, I believe that may be the plan.

Thantasy: [Liza] Well, until midnight, at least.

Thantasy: [Liza] Shall we go in?

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Indeed! (Holds his arm out for Liza to take.)

Thantasy: [Liza] <She takes it!>

Thantasy: <They enter the party room.>

Thantasy: [Lucy] Professor, Colonel, and Liza. How good to see you all!

Thantasy: [Lucy] Oh, this is going to be a wonderful night!

Thantasy: [Lucy] You look lovely, Liza.

Thantasy: [Liza] Thank you.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] It looks quite wonderful. We don't often entertain. I believe Eliza has helped with preparing the room, has she not?

Thantasy: [Liza] Oh, I done --- did a thing or two. Not much.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (Looking around, smiling.) I hardly recognize the place.

Thantasy: [Liza] It was mostly Miss Lucy and Martha and the help they brought in.

Thantasy: [Martha] Very nice to see you, again, Colonel.

Thantasy: [Martha] <Beaming smile!!!!>

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (Smiles as well.) Ah, I see a punch bowl over here. Would you like some, Martha?

Thantasy: [Martha] <Dressed in dark blue gown, accentuating her figure.> Yes, let's indulge ourselves.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] Indulgence is my middle name.

Thantasy: [Lucy] Oh, but first come and meet the band, all of you.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Ah, the band, indeed. I see they are already preparing diligently.

Thantasy: [Lucy] <Leads them to the alcove where the band has set up.>

Thantasy: [Lucy] Professor Henry Higgins, Colonel Hugh Pickering, and Miss Eliza Doolittle....

Thantasy: [Lucy] May I present the members of Sgt. Pepper's band.

Thantasy: [Lucy] Paul.

Thantasy: [Paul] It's wonderful to be here.

Thantasy: [Lucy] John.

Thantasy: [John] It's certainly a thrill.

Thantasy: [Lucy] George.

Thantasy: [George] You're such a lovely audience, we'd like to take you home with us.

Thantasy: [Lucy] Richard.

Thantasy: [Richard] <Looking at Liza.> We'd love to take you home!

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Covers his surprise shaking hands with Richard. He is wearing several rings.)

Thantasy: [Richard] Oh, sorry. I didn't nick you with one of those did I?

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Smiling.) Not at all.

Cardaniel80: [Richard] I was just admiring your soofa over there, Professor. It looks very coomfitable.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Turns) Ah, yes. And the frame was quite costly. Isn't it good Norwegian wood?

Thantasy: [Paul] Well, Martha, my dear, are you ready to dance?

Thantasy: [Martha] Oh, yes.

Thantasy: [Paul] Well, Let's all get up and dance to a song that was a hit before your mother was born.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Turning as the dancing is ready to begin.) Where did Eliza go? I thought I saw her standing there.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (To Martha.) May I have the first dance?

Thantasy: [Martha] Certainly, Hugh.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (Smiling.) I'm happy just to dance with you.

Thantasy: [Liza] Sorry, I had to ckeck the punch bowl, but I did my best to get back in time to dance.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] As the hosts, I believe we should share a dance.

Thantasy: [Liza] I think so, too.

Thantasy: [Liza] <Offers herself to be taken into his arms.>

Cardaniel80: (They sail across the floor as a sprightly dance begins.)

Thantasy: [Liza] <She relaxes in his arms, feeling warm and secure.>

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Pickering and Martha seem to have hit it off rather well.

Thantasy: [Liza] Yes. He seems to think of her as a honey pie. I've got a feeling. this is going to be a wonderful night.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Indeed, I feel fine. I believe Lucy will be pleased.

Thantasy: [Liza] Yes, it's going to be a good night.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Smiling.) Well, all the world loves a taste of honey.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Finds it delightful holding Liza's waist, with her warm and moving beside him, and compares it with her inert unconscious body he is so familiar with. Yes, not bad, he thinks.)

Thantasy: [Liza] Oh, hold me tight!

Thantasy: [Liza] I was wondering what to wear... I thought I might wear a green dress, but I thought, for you, blue.

Thantasy: <The band's first number ends.>

Cardaniel80: (Higgins and Pickering applaud)

Thantasy: [Paul] Thank you, thank you.

Thantasy: [Paul] In my life, applause means a lot to me.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (To Liza.) Now, I'm really quite clumsy, my dear. If I fell, I should hope you are prepared to catch me.

Thantasy: [Liza] I would do my best to help, sir.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] I'm sure I can count on you any time at all.

Thantasy: [Liza] I wonder if the colonel could do the same for Martha.

Thantasy: [Liza] She's a very attractive woman, but she's so heavy, it might be too much for him.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Oh, I've got a feeling the colonel would do quite anything for Martha.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] Paul, my good man! Another, if you please!

Cardaniel80: [Paul] Ah, I'm so tired already. (Leads the band into another song.)

Thantasy: [Liza] <Offers herself again, to Higgins. Then thinks...> Sir, perhaps you should ask Miss Lucy to dance.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Looks, notices Lucy unoccupied.) Yes, we can't have our guest of honor not joining in the festivities.

Thantasy: [Liza] Yes, because we do want her to enjoy this party.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (To Lucy.) Would you care to have this dance with me, Miss Harker?

Thantasy: [Lucy] Yes, I will.

Thantasy: [Lucy] <Offers herself for a dance.>

Cardaniel80: (They begin to glide across the dance floor.)

Thantasy: [Lucy] I want to tell you, I'm having a wonderful time.All my loving friends are here.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Yes, friends are very precious. You should never let anyone tell you you've got to hide your love away.

Thantasy: [Lucy] You're right, you can't do that.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Now who is that woman singing with the band.... oh, wait, I believe you said her name was Molly. Molly Jones, I think?

Thantasy: [Lucy] Yes, back home, in the evening she's a singer with the band.

Thantasy: [Lucy] During the day, though, she stays at home and does her pretty face.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] She is quite a good singer. They're going to lose that girl to another band if they aren't careful.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] Now, Martha, I believe people may be talking about us. Just act naturally.

Thantasy: [Martha] Yes, I'll behave myself. Later though, when it's just the two of us, things may be different.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] I don't believe we have finished the Kama Sutra yet.

Thantasy: [Martha] Yes, we have to get back to that.

Thantasy: [Martha] How many positions are there? I've always heard that the one after 909 is especially exciting.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] I want to tell you my favorite, but I shall wait until later.

Thantasy: <The band ends another song.>

Cardaniel80: (The dancing couples applaud.)

Thantasy: [Paul] Thank you, thank you.

Thantasy: [Paul] <Taps John on the shoulder. John takes over the band for the next number, while Paul goes down to ask Liza to dance.>

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Keeps an eye on Paul, as John leads the band into another tune.)

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (To Martha.) Let's go over to that table. I believe they have some Savoy truffle.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] Ah, look they have strawberries! If I ever had the opportunity I believe I could sit in strawberry fields forever and be quite content.

Thantasy: [Paul] Miss Dolittle, would you do the honor of dancing with me?

Thantasy: [Liza] Certainly. It would be an honor.

Thantasy: [Liza] <As they dance.> Are you feeling all right?

Thantasy: [Paul] Oh, I'm fine.

Thantasy: [Paul] But I think I'm gonna be sad.

Thantasy: [Paul] I was talking to Lucy and, well, the things we said today made me realize that it won't be long, now.

Thantasy: [Paul] Oh, tell me why...

Thantasy: [Paul] something like this has to happen to someone like her?

Thantasy: [Paul] I mean, yesterday seems so far away.

Thantasy: [Paul] Now, I guess you could say she's leaving home.

Thantasy: [Paul] and I'll be fixing a hole in my life for a long, long, long time.

Thantasy: [Paul] But, I'll get by with a little help from my friends.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Listens to the heavy rain which has begun to drum outside the window.) It's a good thing your guests arrived before the weather turned.

Cardaniel80: (There is a sudden pounding at the door. As a servant opens it, a fireman rushes in from the pouring rain.)

Cardaniel80: [Fireman] Where's the fire?

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] My good man, there is no fire here.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] Here, why don't you dry yourself off before you head out again. Good thing you were wearing a Mac.

Thantasy: [Lucy] Yes, back home we have a banker and he never wears a mac in the pouring rain. Very strange.

Thantasy: [Liza] (To Paul.) Oh, dear. I hope it clears up. Wait, look... here comes the sun. I'm sorry, where were we?

Thantasy: [Paul] I mean, there are other girls....

Thantasy: [Paul] Michelle...

Thantasy: [Paul] Julia...

Thantasy: [Paul] lovely Rita...

Thantasy: [Paul] sexy Sadie...

Cardaniel80: [Paul] Anna...

Thantasy: [Paul] even Eleanor Rigby.

Thantasy: [Paul] But rather than date any of them when I get home, I guess I'll cry instead.

Thantasy: [Liza] Well, you have to think for yourself, Paul.

Thantasy: [Liza] You'll find that soon things will be getting better.

Thantasy: [Liza] I know I don't want to be alone when I'm sixty-four.

Thantasy: [Liza] I hope that love don't pass me by.

Thantasy: [Paul] Yes, you're right, of course.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (To Martha.) Let's sit this one out, my dear. Oh, there's a place over on the sofa.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] Let us relax a bit while the others twist and shout.

Thantasy: [Paul] Is there anyone special in your life now, Liza?

Thantasy: [Liza] In my life? Well, yes. I guess you could say that I'm, well, fond of the professor.

Thantasy: [Paul] The Professor? Yes, he is a nice chap.

Thantasy: [Paul] At first I thought he was a real nowhere man...

Cardaniel80: (Higgins has the odd sensation that his ears are burning.)

Thantasy: [Paul] But now I can see that he's no fool on the hill.

Thantasy: [Paul] He's being so nice to Lucy. Take it from this boy, I'm sure things will go your way.

Thantasy: [Liza] Yes, we has our differences in background, but I'm sure that we can work it out.

Thantasy: <The band ends another song. All applaud.>

Thantasy: [Paul] Well, thank you, Liza. I had better get back to me duties.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] I want to tell you how much I have enjoyed our time together. Shall we dance again, Martha?

Thantasy: [Martha] Yes, as soon as the band begins to play again.

Thantasy: <Now it seems to be the drummer's turn to take a break. Richard leaves the stage.>

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] He's quite a good drummer, don't you think? I've forgotten the man's name. I simply think of him as The Ring Man.

Thantasy: [Richard] <Goes over to the punch bowl, where Higgins has just headed.>

Thantasy: [Richard] Oh, Professor! Are you enjoying the music?

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Indeed I am, ahh..... Richard.

Thantasy: [Richard] We are all very appreciative of the kindness you have been showing Lucy. After the tough time she had with that minister chap...

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Yes, what atrocious behavior! And from a man of the cloth!

Thantasy: [Richard] He came down on her so hard. A regular mean Mr. Mustard, he was. You would think he thought he was The Magic Christian or something.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Well, I'm quite happy to help Lucy any time at all.

Thantasy: [Richard] Well, I hope that you enjoy the show.

Thantasy: [Richard] <Excuses himself and wanders over to where Liza is standing.>

Thantasy: [Richrad] I see you had quite a nice dance with Paul.

Thantasy: [Liza] Oh yes. He does seem quite broken up about Lucy.

Thantasy: [Liza] But he does seem to have some other women interested in him.

Thantasy: [Richard] Oh, did he mention dear Prudence?

Thantasy: [Liza] No, he didn't mention her.

Thantasy: [Richard] How about Maggie Mae?

Thantasy: [Liza] No, not her, either.

Thantasy: [Richard] Well, he could have enough women to keep him busy eight days a week. There was even one girl, she was so anxious to get to him that she came in through the bathroom window.

Thantasy: [Richard] Well, I had better get back on stage.

Thantasy: [Richard] Got some very nice special percussion effects coming up in the next number.

Thantasy: [Richard] To get a special metalic effect, I borrowed me friend Maxwell's silver hammer.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] (Meets Pickering at the punchbowl.) We're all noticing you're quite taken with Miss Hargrove.

Cardaniel80: [Pickering] (Grinning.) Yes... Something in the way she moves attracts me like no other lover.

Cardaniel80: [Higgins] Well, don't let me keep you. Get back to her, by all means.

Thantasy: [Liza] It has been good talking to you, Richard.

Thantasy: [Richard] Really, Paul does have sincere feelings for Lucy.

Thantasy: [Richard] I know he appears to be a bit of a rounder, but I told him I knew better. I told him I'm looking through you and I can see that you really care for her.

Thantasy: [Richard] And he agreed. He said, I should have known better than to try to fool you.

Thantasy: [Liza] Well, thank you for the chat.

Thantasy: [Richard] <Returns to the stage.>