Act Five AFTERWARDS
Colonel Pickering and Henry come in with Eliza after eating their supper. She is still in her beautiful clothes. They sit and Eliza gets Henry's slippers.
H: What an evening! Thank God it's over. (Suddenly he sees the slippers) Oh, thank you, Eliza.
CP: Were you nervous? I was, but Eliza wasn't.
H: Oh, I knew she'd be all right. This project was interesting enough at first, but it became boring.
CP: Oh, but the ambassador's party was extremely exciting.
H: Yes, at first. But then I saw we would win easily.
CP: Yes. It's been a great triumph (胜利) for you.
They both leave. Eliza throws herself into a chair and sobs violently. Henry returns.
H: Where did I leave my shoes?
E: Here they are. Take them!
She throws them at Henry.
H: (amazed) What on earth ...? Is there anything wrong?
E: Nothing wrong - for you. I've won your bet for you, haven't I?
H: YOU won the bet! I won it!
E: Oh - you selfish brute (野兽;冷酷的人)! What's to become of me?
H: How should I know?
E: You don't care! I'm nothing to you - worthless than those shoes.
H: Are you complaining of your treatment here?
E: No.
H: Has anyone been unkind to you? Colonel Pickering? Mrs Pearce? Me?
E: No.
H: Well, perhaps you're just tired.
E: I'm sorry, but I have to be careful. Are these clothes mine or Mrs Pearce's? I wouldn't like to be accused of stealing when I leave.
H: Leave? You're not leaving! To think I spent all my hard-earned knowledge on you!
Mrs Pearce comes in with a letter.
MP: A letter for you, Eliza.
E: For me? Oh! It's from Freddy.
H: That silly young man!
E: He's not so silly. (she reads) He loves me and wants to marry me.
H: A mad idea indeed!
E: That's just it, isn't it?
H: What do you mean, Eliza?
E: Nothing. I'm not blaming you. You see the difference between a lady and a flower girl is the way she's treated. I shall always be a flower girl to you. But to Colonel Pickering I'll always be a lady.
H: What, aren't my manners the same as Pickering's?
E: No. He treats a flower girl as if she were a duchess.
H: And I treat a duchess as if she were a flower girl. Is that correct?
E: Yes. You don't love me, so tomorrow I shall go and marry Freddy because he does.
H: And you'll leave me?
E: Yes, because he'll make me happy.
H: Marry Freddy! What nonsense!
E: (Proudly) Goodbye, Professor Higgins. I won't see you again.
H: Now then, Eliza. Stop this nonsense. Tomorrow I want you to order the meat and buy me a new pair of gloves. I leave the colour to you.
Eliza leaves the room, and Henry suddenly feels very upset.
H: Leave me and marry Freddy? Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Henry is still laughing as the play ends.
