You know her?

Pause.

Did she hurt you?

CORAL: [forcing herself to speak] She’s very unhappy.

RICK: I’d say so.

CORAL: You’ve lost your wife?

RICK: I think I’m in the doghouse. All I wanted for lunch was hot dog. We were in the restaurant. She got a bit upset.

CORAL: Did she?

RICK: I should have had something flash. Steak diane or something. Prawn cocktail.

CORAL: And you wanted a hot dog.

RICK: And a beer.

CORAL: Was she embarrassed?

RICK: A bit, I s’pose.

CORAL: You’d better go and have a good dinner, then. Lobster thermidor.

RICK: She said she’d be in the ballroom. Wanted to be by herself. At least I got her pressie wrapped up.

CORAL: You’re on your honeymoon, aren’t you?

RICK: That’s right.

CORAL: I can see that.

RICK: Remind you of yours? Sorry, that wasn’t very nice.

CORAL: What’s your name?

RICK: Rick.

CORAL: Rick. On your honeymoon in this palace and your wife’s got the huff. It’s a wonderful place, isn’t it? Does your room have a view?

RICK: I think so.

CORAL: [laughing] You haven’t looked!

RICK: [embarrassed] Yeah, yeah, over the pool.

CORAL: I’ll bet you haven’t tried the pool either.

RICK: Have you?

CORAL: It’s always full of kids. It’s marvellous for them, though. They’re so lucky to have been born in this country. We have such a high standard of living here.

RICK: Looks like it.

CORAL: There is a price that has… [running out of conviction] and we all must… You’d better hunt down your wife, Rick.

RICK: She’ll turn up when she’s ready.

CORAL: Go in and order some real dinner for her.

He starts to go then stops.

RICK: I think I’ll wait. I don’t like being in a room full of people I don’t know on my own. You know any of them?

CORAL: Oh, yes, we’re regulars here. I know so many people. There’s a couple who are both very ill and not telling each other. Cancer, I think. Quite a few marriages on the rocks. A lot of them can’t stand their own kids. And a lot of the kids hate their parents. Leonie’s husband is having an affair. I know most of them, I think.

RICK: All these people.

CORAL: Quite a lot of them. We come here every year. Except last year. I wasn’t the best last year. I got a bit withdrawn. I was a bit fraught. But I’m over that now. I’m much better. Much, much better.

RICK: Susie wanted to come up here. I didn’t mind. But it’s a bit flash for a fitter and turner. Not really the place for me.

CORAL: A fitter and turner.

RICK: Just finished me apprenticeship. I waited till then to get married.