A Scene- Under The Bright Lights

(Nigel is warning Stacey that his wife might be leading Scott on)

Nigel: We have to talk about..the situation between our two families.

Stacey: (tentatively) The crash?

Nigel: No, I don't want to ever talk about that again. I mean my wife and Scott.

Stacey: I can't say sorry enough for my son. I raised him better than doin'
things like that. Your wife must be very uncomfortable.

Nigel: It's not all his fault. You see, I'm slightly older than her, you know.

Stacey: (hands him a glass of whiskey) I did think.

Nigel: (puts it on the table) 10 years over, and he's 10 under. Which
do you think she'd choose?

Stacey: (now shocked) She hasn't?! They ain't?!

Nigel: Like I said, I don't know.

Stacey: Y'didn't say that.

Nigel: (hands her the glass) Maybe you need this.(Stacey takes a
big swig) Perhaps it's just middle-age talking but she
seems...uninterested in me. You know?

Stacey: She won't sleep with you, huh?

Nigel: (coughs) Not that I should be talking about that but...

Stacey: Well, it's a fair point, ain't it? If y'been doin' it regular an' all of a
sudden she stops...Oh, whaddam I sayin'? He's an adult and it's his
fault too!

Nigel: I just can't believe she would jepoardise this. We've been trying to
make a relationship because of our children...well, we're like family...we
were a family.

Stacey: If we stop this, we still can be.

Nigel: (sighs) And if we can't, it'll tear our family apart...

Stacey: Your kids?

Nigel: You and Jack too.

(Caroline is half-reading a book she picked up in a second-hand store. Enter Scott)

Scott: I didn't know y'liked readin'.

Caroline: (not looking up) The TV doesn't work.

Scott: That'll be the rain. Gets kinda stormy this time o'year. (drops down his jacket) You wanna drink?

Caroline: In here?

Scott: Ricky ain't gonna be doin' much business in this weather. Come on, don't look at me as if you hate me.

Caroline: I don't hate you; I just dislike you.

Scott: What's your problem? I'm tryin' to be friendly and all you do is...

Caroline: Can't I get any privacy? Is there anywhere you don't have the keys to?

Scott: Our cleaner comes in t'clean the place. Nigel said you didn't want one so I borrowed her keys to come and see you.

Caroline: I'm aware it's your, well, your boss's place, but you have no right to barge in.

Scott: And you have no right to be sitting here lonely. Where the hell is your husband?

Caroline: He met a man in town and the man invited him to a party somewhere. Spur of the moment, so he didn't bring me. (she stares at the telephone) He should have rung by now.

Scott: I'll get you a drink.

Caroline: I doubt you'll find much in there.

Scott: Even if I only find a can of soda, at least that's something.

Caroline: You just want to talk.

(Scott exits to kitchen)

Scott: (off-stage) Sometimes that's all a person needs. (returns with a can of soda) I'm afraid it's only soda.

Caroline: Thank you. (she sips and makes a face) What on earth is this stuff?

Scott: Never had cream soda?

Caroline: It's vile (she hands it to him and he drinks it)

Scott: Don't they have cream soda in London?

Caroline: Not where I go.

Scott: Lady, you're starting to sound like a snob.

Caroline: And you're starting to bother me! Go back to your parents.

Scott: Caroline, I...

Caroline: I'm starting to think you have an ulterior motive for coming here, and if that is what you're thinking, you can get out now.

Scott: You can't condemn me for a thought! And no, I don't want that. Not everybody wants that. Maybe there's been some guys who used to do that sorta thing with you...

Caroline: Excuse me? I've never cheated on my husband. The sort of woman who'd do that...

Scott: Is clearly unhappy.

Caroline: You're wrong- I don't make a practice of inviting men ten years my junior around when my husband's out.

Scott: Sorry.

Caroline: You're trying to be a man but you just keep acting like a boy.

Scott: Sure you don't want no cream soda?

Caroline: You're teasing me. There must be other drinks.