Mrs. Chauvenent
Elwood
Veta
Myrtle

(ELWOOD enters. MRS. CHAUVENET turns back to pick up her scarf from chair, and sees him.)

MRS. CHAUVENET. (Rushing forward.) Elwood! Elwood Dowd! Bless your heart.

ELWOOD. (Coming forward and bowing as he takes her hand.) Aunt Ethel! What a pleasure to come in and find a beautiful woman waiting for me!

MRS. CHAUVENET. (Looking at him fondly.) Elwood—you haven't changed.

VETA. (Moves forward quickly, takes hold of her.) Come along, Aunt Ethel—you mustn't miss the party.

MYRTLE. There's punch if you don't like tea.

MRS. CHAUVENET. But I do like tea. Stop pulling at me, you two. Elwood, what night next week can you come to dinner?

ELWOOD. Any night. Any night at all, Aunt Ethel—I would be delighted.

VETA. Elwood, there's some mail for you today. I took it up to your room.

ELWOOD. Did you, Veta? That was nice of you. Aunt Ethel—I want you to meet Harvey. As you can see he's a Pooka.

(Turns toward air beside him.) Harvey, you've heard me speak of Mrs. Chauvenet? We always called her Aunt Ethel. She is one of my oldest and dearest friends.

(Inclines head toward space and goes "Hmm!" and then listens as though not hearing first time. Nods as though having heard someone next to him speak.) Yes—yes—that's right. She's the one. This is the one. (To MRS. CHAUVENET.) He says he would have known you anywhere.

(Then as a confused, bewildered look comes over MRS. CHAUVENET's face and as she looks to L. and R. of ELWOOD and cranes her neck to see behind him—ELWOOD not seeing her expression, crosses toward VETA and MYRTLE MAE.) You both look lovely.

(Turns to the air next to him.) Come on in with me, Harvey—We must say hello to all of our friends—

(Bows to MRS. CHAUVENET.) I beg your pardon. Aunt Ethel. If you'll excuse me for one moment—
(Puts his hand gently on her arm, trying to turn her.)

MRS. CHAUVENET. What?

ELWOOD. You are standing in his way—(She gives a little—her eyes wide on him.) Come along, Harvey. (He watches the invisible Harvey cross to door, then stops him.) Uh-uh!

(ELWOOD goes over to door. He turns and pantomimes as he arranges the tie and brushes off the head of the invisible Harvey. Then he does the same thing to his own tie. They are ALL watching him, MRS. CHAUVENET in horrified fascination. The heads of VETA and MYRTLE, bowed in agony.)
Go right on in, Harvey. I'll join you in a minute.

(He pantomimes as though slapping him on the back, and ushers him out. Then turns and comes back to MRS. CHAUVENET.) Aunt Ethel, I can see you are disturbed about Harvey. Please don't be. He stares like that at everybody. It's his way. But he liked you. I could tell. He liked you very much.

(Pats her arm reassuringly, smiles at her, then calmly and confidently goes on out at R. After his exit—MRS. CHAUVENET, MYRTLE and VETA are silent. Finally VETA—with a resigned tone—clears her throat.)

VETA. (Looking at MRS. CHAUVENET.) Some tea—perhaps—?

MRS. CHAUVENET. Why, I—not right now—I—well—I think I'll be running along. (Crosses back of table.)

MYRTLE. But—

VETA. (Putting a hand over hers to quiet her.) I'm so sorry—

MRS. CHAUVENET. I'll—I'll be talking to you soon. Goodbye—goodbye—

(She exits quickly out L. VETA stands stiffly—her anger paralyzing her. MYRTLE finally tiptoes over and closes one side of door —peeking over, but keeping herself out of sight.)