CORAL: Here in the corner. In the dark. A boy like you… talk… talk to me… say something… laugh…

Silence for a moment. ROY comes onto the roof. He paces around, searching.

ROY: Coral? Sweetheart? Come back to the party. Why did you run out? Come back to the party. Where are you? I followed you. I had to. I love you. Don’t hide away like this. Don’t hide from me. I brought you a drink. To celebrate. To toast the New Year. A better year. This one’ll be a better year all round. We’ll make it a better year. No looking back.

In the distance we hear cheering, singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, car horns.

There it is. You’ll miss it, quick. Nineteen sixty-eight.

CORAL: Here we are. We’re here.

RICK: Where are you going?

CORAL: We’re here. Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

CORAL and RICK come out of the dark.

We were hiding. Here we are. You’ve only got two glasses. That’s all right. We’ll share. Happy New Year! Drink from the glass with me. Here you are.

RICK takes the glass.

We’re all here together. Look at that sky. There’s a storm down south. Watch for the lightning.

ROY: Straighten yourself up, boy.

CORAL: Don’t nag.

ROY: Somebody’s probably looking for you.

RICK goes.

What am I going to do with you?

CORAL: You sent him away.

ROY: I’m going to have to do something. See someone.

CORAL: [a great cry] You sent him away!

ROY: Do you want me to send you to a doctor? Do you want to see a doctor? Do you want me to arrange shock treatment? I can. I looked into it. It’s very easy. I just have to take you to a doctor and they plug you in and that’s that. Look at you. Look at me. I’ll lock you up if that’s what it takes. I’ll keep you under lock and key if you insist. But you won’t behave like this. You won’t ever see another living person. You won’t bother anyone. You won’t see another living person. I’ll look after you. I’ll come and visit you.

CORAL: Don’t worry about me. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m going down to our room and I’ll have a good think about what you said. I’ll sort things out. Give me the key, darling. Is it in this pocket? Give me a little while. I’ll be as right as rain. [Leaving] I’ll gather my thoughts and turn things over and over in my mind. I’ll weigh things up and come to a decision. But don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.

ROY leans out over the parapet and listens to the sound of the party.

SCENE FOUR

Storm scene.