ESTELLE looks at GARCIN, who still has his head in his hands. ✎
ESTELLE, ✎ — to GARCIN. ✎ No! No, no, don’t raise your head. I know what’s behind your hands, I know you don’t have a face anymore. 🔊✎ (GARCIN removes his hands.) ✎ Ha! 🔊✎ (Pause. Surprised:) ✎ I don’t know you. 🔊✎
GARCIN ✎ — I am not the torturer, madame. 🔊✎
ESTELLE ✎ — I didn’t think you were the torturer. I … I thought someone was playing a rather mean trick on me. 🔊✎ (To the VALET.) ✎ Who are we still waiting for? 🔊✎
THE VALET ✎ — No one else will be coming. 🔊✎
ESTELLE, ✎ — reassured. ✎ Ah ! So it’s just us then, the gentleman, the lady and me? 🔊✎
GARCIN, ✎ — shortly. ✎ There’s nothing to laugh about. 🔊✎
ESTELLE, ✎ — still laughing. 🔊✎ But these couches are so ugly. And look how they’re arranged, it’s like it’s New Year’s Day and I’m making my duty call to Aunt Marie. I suppose we have one each. This one’s mine? 🔊✎ (To the VALET:) ✎ But I can’t sit on that, it’ll be a disaster. I’m wearing sky blue, it’s spinach green. 🔊✎
INÈS ✎ — Would you like mine ? 🔊✎
ESTELLE ✎ — The bordeaux? That’s very thoughtful of you, but it won’t be any better. 🔊✎ Well, what can you do? We’ve each got our couch, we’ll keep them. 🔊✎ (Pause.) ✎ The only one which might just work is the gentleman’s. 🔊✎
INÈS ✎ — As she said, Garcin. 🔊✎
GARCIN, ✎ — starts. ✎ The ... couch. Oh! Sorry. 🔊✎ (He gets up.) ✎ All yours, madame. 🔊✎
ESTELLE ✎ — Thank you. 🔊✎ (She removes her coat and throws it on the couch. Pause.) ✎ If we’re going to live together, we should introduce ourselves. I’m Estelle Rigault. 🔊✎
GARCIN bows and is about to say his name, but INÈS gets in first. ✎
INÈS ✎ — Inès Serrano. I am so happy to meet you. 🔊✎
GARCIN ✎ — bows again. ✎ Garcin. Joseph Garcin. 🔊✎
THE VALET ✎ — Do you still need me for anything? 🔊✎