GWEN: I want to know. They have no special privileges. No-one asked them to come out to this country. They have no right to behave any differently.

MEG: He’s just excited tonight. You were awful.

GWEN: Was I? Was I? Awful. Some people may be happy living like pigs but I’m not. I will not have you hanging around with that kind of life.

MEG: What kind of life?

GWEN: Motor bikes. Tattoos. Drink. A sad, dirty life. Unless you’d rather live like that? If that’s the case you’d better speak up now. Let us know now so your father can stop slaving in that office and we can both stop killing ourselves to give you everything. My head will split.

She stalks out. MEG and JIM follow her.

SCENE THREE

Outside. CORAL, alone.

CORAL: When that woman woke up and saw that donkey at her feet I thought my heart would break. I had to wipe away tears. To wake up and find something you want so badly. Even an animal. And then she woke up again and saw her husband and loved him. That boy! In that blue light the shadows on his face and neck were like bruises. He looked so sick yet so wonderful, so white, so cold and burning. ‘What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?’ I kept saying it over and over in the dark. All these children, having fun, playing, and me sitting there in the dark wiping away tears. I could hardly watch them. Their legs and arms painted gold. And that boy’s hair, so black. And his smile. ‘What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?’ Is it better for them to die like that? Looking like gods? Burning, gold, white. What’s that word they always say in those plays? Alas?

She sighs.

Alas.

ROY comes in.

ROY: I thought I told you to wait in the car.

CORAL: I was hot. Just walking.

ROY: Let’s get home.

CORAL: I’m hot.

ROY: We’ll have a drink when we get home.

CORAL: I was just walking.

They go.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE

At home. HARRY and TOM.

TOM: You didn’t have to wait up for me.

HARRY: There’s still a lot to do, you know.

TOM: I was all right.

HARRY: Last minute things.

TOM: I got home in one piece, didn’t I?

HARRY: I think your mother’ll need a trailer for her stuff.

TOM: I won’t need much.

HARRY: You feeling all right?

TOM: I’m not tired. I feel wide awake.

HARRY: You looking forward to this trip?

TOM: Of course I am.

HARRY: We are.

TOM: We’ve been talking about it for months.

HARRY: It’ll be a good break.

TOM: That’s right. I’m thirsty.

HARRY: We need a good break. From home, work.

TOM: You want a drink?

HARRY: A cup of tea?