ROY: I don’t need a break with you. I can stay home and read a book and be more relaxed. I’m not wasting time and money on airfare and room service if you’re going to spend all your time staring at people.

CORAL: I’ll be good! I’ll improve. Watch me get better.

ROY: I can’t take it, Coral.

CORAL: I won’t think about death, about—

ROY: I’m not asking you to forget, I won’t forget.

CORAL: I’ll be calm, interested, aware of people. I’ll look after myself. I’ll get up at a proper time. I’ll have fun.

ROY: You can sit by a pool all day if you like. But like a normal human being.

CORAL: We won’t mention helicopters, or jungles, or mines—

ROY: I’ll tear up the tickets. I’ll give them away. I’ll send someone else who’ll enjoy it.

CORAL: I’ll be silent on all controversial topics. Will that do? I won’t bring up anything upsetting or worrying. Death, war, loss—

ROY: Be reasonable. Give it a rest.

CORAL: I won’t blame anyone.

ROY: Please, please stop doing it to me. I didn’t send him. He had to go. Would you rather not pay the price for the life we have? We could just lie down in the street, defenceless, and let whoever wanted to come and take what we have. Would that have been better for you? Would you have been happy then? Jesus, Coral, you’re too selfish. We were picked out to pay. I can’t help that. We’ve paid. I can’t bring him back. So we have a duty to go on with what we have. Maybe we should even be proud? We’re living in a country with one of the highest standards of living on earth and we have shown ourselves willing to defend that standard.

CORAL: Shhhh, Roy… shhhh, relax. We need a break. A rest. Rest and recreation. Let’s get away. Just the two of us.

ROY: Coral… be like you were.

CORAL: I will, I will.

ROY: Smile.

CORAL: I will. I’ll be as good as gold. I’ll be like Kim Novak. I’ll purr like a kitten.

ROY: Sweetheart…

CORAL: I don’t think this dress is the right one.

ROY: Coral…

CORAL: I know.

ROY: Look at me.

CORAL: There.

ROY: You remind me of Kim Novak.

CORAL: You remind me… but I mustn’t say.

Silence.

We’ll have a wonderful, wonderful time.

SCENE FOUR

TOM and VIC.

VIC: I heard something. I thought we had burglars.

TOM: I was thirsty. I’m all right. I think I must be a bit excited. I can’t sleep.

VIC: I can’t sleep either.

Silence.

Have you packed everything you need?

TOM: I don’t want to take much.