ORTON   I’m only looking. I’m fixed up elsewhere.

HALLIWELL   Is it a northern light?

MRS SUGDEN   Never had any complaints. It’s in dire need of decorating of course.

HALLIWELL   What’s that smell?

MRS SUGDEN   Air-freshener. The carpet came from Reading originally. Friends, are you?

ORTON   Students.

MRS SUGDEN   I’ve nothing against friendship. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. Within reason.

ORTON   I’m only looking.
Halliwell is testing the beds.

HALLIWELL   They say Islington’s coming up.

MRS SUGDEN   It is. They’ve turned the greengrocer’s into an antique shop, and the pub does salad.

HALLIWELL   What do you think?

ORTON   I think I ought to keep an open mind.

MRS SUGDEN   Nice woolly.
She strokes Orton’s new jumper.
A glance at the toilet might clinch it.
She shows Halliwell the toilet while Orton remains looking at the room, obviously liking it.

(voice-over) Every Wednesday I give the whole place a good going over with Dettol. You ought to feel secure in your mind in a toilet.
Mrs Sugden and Halliwell go downstairs.

(voice-over) Waiting for Miss Right, are we?
Orton is still in the room.

(voice-over) Got a lovely skin, hasn’t he? I like a nice skin.
Orton sits on one of the beds. After a while Halliwell comes back and sits on the other.

HALLIWELL   Well?
Orton lies on his back on the bed and puts his hands behind his head, looking at Halliwell. Halliwell is about to go to him when Mrs Sugden comes in with a tray and some hot drinks.

MRS SUGDEN   We were just having our hot drink.
Mr Sugden comes in.
This is my hubby.

MR SUGDEN   You’re older than him.
Halliwell shrugs.

MRS SUGDEN   Some people might take advantage.

MR SUGDEN   No. Women don’t understand, do they? You’re a lucky lad. Friend like this. Your own little flat. It’s a real start in life.

EXT. BUILDING SITE. DAY. 1953.

A street in Islington. The sound of distant church bells. Decorations.

A dusty, half-naked young brickie is talking to Orton, laughing.

BRICKIE   Help yourself.
Orton takes three or four bricks.
Here.
He piles about half a dozen bricks into Orton’s arms, and watches him as he staggers away.

INT. ORTON AND HALLIWELL’S FLAT. HALLWAY. DAY. 1953.

Orton nudges the door of the flat. Halliwell opens it.

INT. ORTON AND HALLIWELL’S FLAT. DAY. 1953.

HALLIWELL   Where did you get them?

ORTON   Nicked them while he wasn’t looking.
He starts arranging the bricks against the wall with two planks across to make bookshelves. Halliwell is hanging a picture. Orton opens a case and gets out a framed certificate and hangs that.
Halliwell looks at it.

HALLIWELL   You can type?

ORTON   Forty words a minute. Neither of us seems to have any family photos.

HALLIWELL   I’m an orphan.

ORTON   I’ve always wanted to be an orphan. I could have been if it hadn’t been for my parents.