Rainbow's End by Jane Harrison

Author:Jane Harrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Currency Press
Published: 2013-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

SCENE TEN: THE BANK VS MRS BANKS

The interior of a BANK MANAGER’s office.

GLADYS, who’s all dressed up, is sitting in the visitor’s seat while the BANK MANAGER sits behind his desk.

BANK MANAGER: And how can I be of service, Mrs…?

GLADYS: Banks. Mrs Len Banks.

BANK MANAGER: Mrs Banks. You’re inquiring about a loan, perhaps?

GLADYS: Oh, no. It’s about my youngest, Dolly.

GLADYS rummages in her bag.

BANK MANAGER: And she…?

GLADYS: Pardon?

She triumphantly produces a photo of DOLLY. The BANK MANAGER puts on his glasses and studies the photo.

BANK MANAGER: Yes. Very pretty face. [Beat.] But I’m still not sure why you’re here…

GLADYS: The teller’s position, of course.

BANK MANAGER: I don’t think so…

GLADYS: But she’s just completed her Leaving Certificate—the first in the family—with real good grades… ’N’ top of her class in algebra…

Her earnest dialogue is hardly heard as we hear DOLLY, who becomes visible behind the gauze, picking fruit in an orchard and singing the chorus of ‘Catch a Falling Star’.

On the BANK MANAGER’s desk is a tray with two china cups of tea, milk jug and sugar bowl. He pours a cup for himself, but doesn’t offer one to GLADYS. As the song ends, and the image behind the gauze fades, we return to GLADYS’s words.

… She’d be a fine asset. Here’s her school report—see, all As and Bs—and she won this for best and fairest for women’s basketball…

She hands over the report and a ribbon.

BANK MANAGER: Well, it’s all very impressive… What I’m wondering is how she’d fit in.

GLADYS: [steely] She’d fit in fine.

BANK MANAGER: In a job such as this, reliability is important… I wondering how would she get into town each day.

GLADYS: She has a bicycle. She’s on time for school. Look… [She pulls out of her bag a special certificate for punctuality.] For punctuality.

BANK MANAGER: Splendid. Now, rapport with our customers is important—sorry, rapport means—

GLADYS: [through gritted teeth] —getting along. Making people feel comfortable, like.

BANK MANAGER: Yes. [Beat.] Mrs Banks, are you a customer of this bank?

GLADYS: Well, no. [Confessing] I’ve never even been in one of these before.

BANK MANAGER: A bank manager’s office?

GLADYS: A bank!

BANK MANAGER: But everyone needs savings…

From his drawer, he produces a tin money bank and a passbook and hands them over to GLADYS.

You put your pennies in here, when they add up to a pound, you bring them in to us and we write the amount in your savings book.

It helps you to save for something special, and you know that your money is safe.

GLADYS: Just like jam tins.

BANK MANAGER: Just like jam tins.

GLADYS looks at the tin then, seeing the BANK MANAGER’s gesture, she gets out her purse. He indicates to her that payment is not needed and she puts the tin in her bag. They both smile weakly.

Well, if that’s all…

He stands up, as if their business has concluded.

DOLLY: [voice-over echo] Have you learnt not to be shamed by them? Eh?

GLADYS: No. The trainee position. For my Dolly.

BANK MANAGER: To be honest, Mrs Banks—

GLADYS: She’d be an asset. She’s a hard worker.

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