TOM: No. I knew, though. I went straight up to her and wished her a Happy New Year. I called her name and she turned around. I called out ‘Gotcha’, and she laughed. She told me the whole story. We’re great friends. She ran away from him because he was going to have her put away.

MEG: Is she crazy?

TOM: She has been. She’s better now.

MEG: Really mad?

TOM: Not anymore. She’s been talking to people, she said. She doesn’t feel any different to any one else anymore. I told her… well, I told her a thing or two that helped. She’s ready to get back into the swim, she says.

MEG: But she’s not a real lunatic.

TOM: She might have been for a minute or two.

MEG: And she’s in disguise.

TOM: That’s right.

MEG: She looks like a film star.

TOM: Kim Novak.

MEG: Does she?

TOM: Yeah, I picked it straight off.

MEG: Kim Novak?

TOM: What do you think of our beach?

MEG: It’s fantastic. We had a terrible argument before we came here. Mum just wanted to get back to the Pinocleen and Rinso. I kept nagging. I was being a real pain in the neck. But it would have been such a waste. We would have spent months in misery just getting over it. I wanted us to take a chance for once and see what was here.

TOM: Good on you. Do you want to sit down?

MEG: Aren’t we walking to the headland?

TOM: Eventually. Sit down.

Pause.

MEG: Ummm. No. Let’s keep walking.

TOM: Let’s sunbake for a while.

MEG: I don’t have a costume.

TOM: Don’t need one.

MEG: No.

TOM: What’s the problem?

MEG: Now look—

TOM: Come on—

MEG: You’re frightening me.

TOM: I’m not.

MEG: All of a sudden I’m scared.

TOM: Come on—

MEG: I’m afraid.

TOM: Bull!

MEG: Please.

TOM: Lie down.

MEG: Why did you lead me here?

TOM: Lie down here.

MEG: Don’t be like this.

TOM: I said lie down.

MEG: No.

TOM: Come here!

MEG: I can scream really well.

TOM: I want you to let me do it to you.

MEG: Let you? I don’t want to.

TOM: Please.

MEG: No.

TOM: You have to.

MEG: I’m going to scream.

TOM: All right, I’m in love with you.

MEG: No you’re not.

TOM: I want to. I have to. Please, please. Just once. Oh Christ, please. Come on. Just lie down. I won’t hurt you. I have to.

MEG: Why are you crying?

TOM: Don’t say no. Do you want me to beg?

MEG: No.

TOM: I will. Please, I beg you.

MEG: Stop it, get up. What’s the matter? Maybe you’re cracked as well, maybe it’s catching.