The Vortex

epub:type="z3998:persona">Nicky Mother! Florence Go away⁠—go away⁠—I hate you⁠—go away⁠— Nicky Mother⁠—sit up⁠— Florence

Pulling herself together.

Go out of my room⁠—

Nicky Mother⁠— Florence I don’t ever want to see you again⁠—you’re insane⁠—you’ve said wicked, wicked things to me⁠—you’ve talked to me as though I were a woman off the streets. I can’t bear any more⁠—I can’t bear any more! Nicky I have a slight confession to make⁠— Florence Confession? Nicky Yes. Florence Go away⁠—go away⁠— Nicky

Taking a small gold box from his pocket.

Look⁠—

Florence What do you mean⁠—what is it⁠—? Nicky Don’t you know? Florence takes the box with trembling fingers and opens it. She stares at it for a moment. When she speaks again her voice is quite dead. Florence Nicky, it isn’t⁠—you haven’t⁠—? Nicky Why do you look so shocked? Florence

Dully.

Oh, my God!

Nicky

What does it matter?

Florence suddenly rises and hurls the box out of the window.

That doesn’t make it any better.

Florence

Flinging herself on her knees beside him.

Nicky, promise me, oh, promise you’ll never do it again⁠—never in your life⁠—it’s frightful⁠—horrible⁠—

Nicky It’s only just the beginning. Florence What can I say to you⁠—what can I say to you? Nicky Nothing⁠—under the circumstances. Florence What do you mean? Nicky It can’t possibly matter⁠—now. Florence Matter⁠—but it’s the finish of everything⁠—you’re young, you’re just starting on your life⁠—you must stop⁠—you must swear never to touch it again⁠—swear to me on your oath, Nicky⁠—I’ll help you⁠—I’ll help you⁠— Nicky You! He turns away. Florence

Burying her face in her hands and moaning.

Oh⁠—oh⁠—oh!

Nicky How could you possibly help me? Florence

Clutching him.

Nicky!

Nicky

Almost losing control.

Shut up⁠—shut up⁠—don’t touch me⁠—

Florence

Trying to take him in her arms.

Nicky⁠—Nicky⁠—

Nicky I’m trying to control myself, but you won’t let me⁠—you’re an awfully rotten woman, really. Florence Nicky⁠—stop⁠—stop⁠—stop⁠— She beats him with her fists. Nicky Leave go of me! He breaks away from her, and going up to the dressing-table he sweeps everything off on to the floor with his arm. Florence

Screaming.

Oh⁠—oh⁠—Nicky⁠—!

Nicky Now then! Now then! You’re not to have any more lovers; you’re not going to be beautiful and successful ever again⁠—you’re going to be my mother for once⁠—it’s about time I had one to help me, before I go over the edge altogether⁠— Florence Nicky⁠—Nicky⁠— Nicky Promise me to be different⁠—you’ve got to promise me! Florence

Sinking on to the end of couch, facing audience.

Yes⁠—yes⁠—I promise⁠—The tears are running down her face.

Nicky I love you, really⁠—that’s why it’s so awful. He falls on his knees by her side and buries his face in her lap. Florence No. No, not awful⁠—don’t say that⁠—I love you, too. Nicky

Sobbing hopelessly.

Oh, mother⁠—!

Florence

Staring in front of her.

I wish I were dead!

Nicky It doesn’t matter about death, but it matters terribly about life. Florence I know⁠— Nicky

Desperately.

Promise me you’ll be different⁠—promise me you’ll be different⁠—

Florence Yes, yes⁠—I’ll try⁠— Nicky We’ll both try. Florence Yes, dear.⁠—Oh, my dear⁠—! She sits quite still, staring in front of her⁠—the tears are rolling down her cheeks, and she is stroking Nicky’s hair mechanically in an effort to calm him. Curtain.

Colophon

The Vortex
was published in 1924 by
Noël Coward.

This ebook was produced for
Standard Ebooks
by
Robin Whittleton,
and is based on a transcription produced in 2022 by
Tim Lindell, hekula03, and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team
for
Project Gutenberg
and on digital scans from the
Internet Archive.

The cover page is adapted from
The Earring,
a painting completed in 1911 by
Ambrose McEvoy.
The cover and title pages feature the
League Spartan and Sorts Mill Goudy
typefaces created in 2014 and 2009 by
The League of Moveable Type.

The first edition of this ebook was released on
May 13, 2024, 6:28 p.m.
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