Page 131 - Sterling 2k21

Harrison: Wonderful! How charming the winter is!
Cochran: That’s right—but a little cold, don’t you think?
Harrison: (putting on his overcoat on top of his complete winter overalls) Cold? Not at all.
Cochran: No, no, not at all! (imitates)

Harrison: (looking up at the sky) What a sight to gladden the eye! Vague puffs of clouds
sailing like swans in the tranquil lake that is the sky, and amidst them the moon, like—
Cochran: (has a violent fit of coughing ) Ahem, ahem, ahem!
Harrison: …the moon like—
Cochran: Cough, cough—ahem!
Harrison: (nudging him roughly) Do you hear me, Mr. Cochran? The moon like—
Cochran: Wait a minute—ah, ah, ahem, ahem, cough, cough!

Harrison: (losing his temper) What sort of a barbarian are you, sir? If you must go on
wheezing like this, then perhaps you should consider wrapping yourself in a blanket and
huddle in a corner of your room. In such a garden…
Cochran: (frightened, desperately suppressing another cough ) But I have nothing!
neither a blanket nor an overcoat! Ah – h – choo!

Harrison: Get out. Get out of my garden!
Cochran: Just a minute—ahchoo!
Harrison: Get out at once, you…
Cochran: All right, all right. I’m going. I’m going. I don’t want to stay here a moment
longer. If I don’t leave at once my life will take leave of me—ahchoo! The liquid sweetness
of winter is overflowing through my nose and eyes—I’ll sneeze my life
out in a moment—ahchoo! ahchoo! But Mr. Harrison, about that job—ahchoo!

(exits.)
[Mr. Harrison draws his overcoat more tightly around himself and gazes silently at the
moon. Then the butler’s voice is heard.]
Butler: Dinner is served, Mr. Harrison.
Harrison: Why so late? Does it take two hours to get the food ready? (rushes out.)

CURTAIN FALLS
THE END
-Sarthak Pahwa
XII A