the lion
and the unicorn E X T R A C T * |
CHAMBERLAIN …..Forgive me, Clementine, I hope that little ploy of mine just now wasn't too obvious. CLEMENTINE Ploy? CHAMBERLAIN To divert Winston for a moment. I've no doubt he has his own reasons for wanting tonight's get-together. But so do I. CLEMENTINE You have? CHAMBERLAIN Annie knows my problem. I, er.... this is very sensitive, but I... I would like your advice. CLEMENTINE Please. Ask me anything. CHAMBERLAIN HESITATES, GLANCING AT INCHES. CLEMENTINE TAKES THE HINT. Inches, would you tell the cook we'll be dining in about twenty minutes? INCHES Yes, ma'am. INCHES GOES OUT. CHAMBERLAIN You see, Clementine, your husband poses me a dilemma. Well, two dilemmas. One is the threat to my position. But that's my problem. I won't trouble you with it. CLEMENTINE Oh, I'm sure, Neville, he would never... CHAMBERLAIN (STOPPING HER WITH A GESTURE) The other, you may be able to help with. (SHE WAITS) My predicament... well, the whole Cabinet's predicament... which I'm sure you are familiar with... is that he is so much more brilliant than everyone else... so much more loquacious than everyone else... that.... CLEMENTINE No-one else can get a word in? CHAMBERLAIN Well, to be blunt, yes. It's the reason, you see, that none of them would tolerate him in office until now. It's the reason... one reason Baldwin, and now myself, have had to resist his very legitimate claims for so long. The fact is, you see, his opinions on any topic are so definitive, his thought processes are so sweeping, his oratory is so overwhelming, that it's a serious problem for anyone in the same room as him to ever determine what their own thoughts are. CLEMENTINE I sympathise. CHAMBERLAIN Now I don't want to seem disloyal over this. I don't wish to put you in a difficult situation. But I would sincerely welcome your expert views as to how... how I should handle him. You see, although I have huge respect for his phenomenal abilities, I have never yet discovered the way to... harness them. CLEMENTINE Mm. CHAMBERLAIN I may theoretically be in charge... I may be chairman of the proceedings, as it were, but, like King Canute, once the tide is in full flow I simply have no idea how to stop it. PAUSE. CLEMENTINE Yes... well... I do understand. It's a common problem. CHAMBERLAIN I apologise for bringing it to you, but I'm rather at my wits end. CLEMENTINE Well, the answer's quite simple really, Neville. CHAMBERLAIN It is? CLEMENTINE Give him more to do. CHAMBERLAIN More? CLEMENTINE It all stems from frustration, you see. He has such energy, such a wealth of ideas, that when it's not utilised he's like a balloon that's about to burst. I know from long experience that's there's never any point in debating with him. You'll never beat him in an argument, and he won't hear your side of it in any case. The thing to do is distract him with activity. Set him a task, give him a challenge. Once he's got his teeth into a project then he has no interest in anyone else's, and they can get on in peace. You just have to make sure it's a big enough one. CHAMBERLAIN But, good heavens, he's in charge of the navy - you can't get much bigger than that! CLEMENTINE Give him more. Exploit the energy. Deluge him with tasks. You'll never overstretch him. CHAMBERLAIN The trouble is, I fear it'll never be enough. Not until he has everyone's else's job - including mine. CLEMENTINE Ah, well. That may be. I'm afraid I can't answer that. But, Neville, you need have no fear. Until that moment comes - if it should - you'll always have his loyalty. CHAMBERLAIN Yes. That I do not doubt. CLEMENTINE I do think you'll find it's better to have him inside the cage roaring with you, than prowling around outside roaring at you. HE NODS. SLIGHT PAUSE. ANNE And Winston's reason? CLEMENTINE Sorry? ANNE For tonight? CLEMENTINE Ah. Well... CHURCHILL ENTERS WITH A BUNCH OF PAPERS. ...you'll have to ask him that yourself. * |
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