GWEN: Why don’t you go and live with your friend for a while, then, if you want to have fun all the time? They look like they always have fun. Nothing to show for it, of course, but if it’s fun that you’re after then you go right ahead. This case won’t close.

MEG: I’ll sit on it.

They struggle with the case until it is shut.

GWEN: My head is spinning.

MEG: Go to bed.

JIM comes in.

Make her go to bed.

JIM: Is that the lot?

MEG: Just this case.

JIM: We’re ready to roll, then.

GWEN: Ha! There’ll be something. There always is.

MEG: Go to bed.

GWEN: I’m going to have a powder, then I’ll be off. Take that case out tonight.

She goes.

MEG: When you’re married to someone, do you ever wish they were dead?

JIM: Please don’t be hard towards your mother.

MEG: If you spend a long time with one person don’t you ever wish you could be rid of them?

JIM: You mustn’t expect too much from her.

MEG: Do you expect much from her?

JIM: No.

MEG: Do you expect anything from her?

JIM: She is very worried about that boy in the play. He hasn’t got a hold over you, has he? Tell me if he has.

MEG: He doesn’t have a hold over me.

JIM: He’s never been around you, all these years of school, then suddenly you’re in this play and all we hear is Tom this, Tom that, Tom said, Tom thinks. We notice.

MEG: You worry too much.

JIM: Your mother thinks I don’t worry enough.

MEG: I’m not having a baby.

JIM: I know that.

MEG: That’s what you’re really asking.

JIM: Not only that. You might be drawn away, pulled away from us. That would be very upsetting.

MEG: I won’t stay here forever.

JIM: But you mustn’t go at the wrong time, with the wrong person.

MEG: Wrong?

JIM: Don’t abandon your mother.

MEG: I won’t.

JIM: Everything has been so good up till now, everything has gone so well. Don’t just walk away.