Philomena    I need to . . . it’s about the scene. The big . . . the big scene.

Bert    This is the big scene, right? Garland, the fucken Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, the other one –

Raymond    Tin Man? Tin Woodsman?

Bert    Yeah, yeah, Tin Man.

Raymond    Jack Haley?

Bert    Whoever, you fucken listening to her?

Raymond    Yes, go on, Philomena: this big scene . . . and . . . ?

Philomena    And this big scene they’re shooting, all of a sudden a Munchkin – oh Holy Mary, mother of God! Poor Charles, my sweet angel . . .

Raymond    What? What about a Munchkin, Miss Kinsella?.

Philomena    Mr Taylor . . . Mr Taylor, he said it was Charles.

Raymond    What was Charles for heaven’s sake? What was Charles?

Philomena    . . . he’s . . . Charles has . . . they’re saying, Jaysus, they’re saying . . . there’s a rumour, there’s talk, they’re saying he’s . . . saying he’s hung himself from a tree. Charles, our little Charlie. They’re saying –

Raymond    What!

He turns away, clasping his face in shock, as Bert puts an arm around a wailing Philomena. Raymond turns round and looks at her again.

What did you say?

Bert    You heard her fine, Ray. Don’t make her say it again, OK?

Raymond    . . . This . . . this is what they’re saying? They’re saying this out in the corridor? Charles has . . . suicide? Suicide right out there – in front – out on the sound stage he’s committed –

Philomena    Not just in the corridor, they’re saying it all over the place.

Bert    Poor fucken kid. Knew he was close to the edge. Didn’t realise how close.

He looks pointedly at Raymond, who is visibly disturbed. He gets up and paces around.

Raymond    . . . So . . . so they’re saying a Munchkin . . . Charles, Charles has hung himself from a tree, from a tree on the sound stage?

Philomena    . . . Sure it was Charles, our little Charlie; Charles Merryweather, he was the Munchkin that hung himself . . .

Raymond    I don’t believe it.

Bert    Tiny Taylor always gets his facts right. Tiny Taylor’s great with facts. I believe it. Shit, why shouldn’t I? The mess Charlie was in it makes sense he’d do something like that.

Raymond    And he says it’s Charles? . . . Let me get this straight. He’s saying Charles, our Charles has hung himself on the sound stage in front of –

Philomena    Yes! My poor, sweet Charlie. (Pulls away from Bert.) My angel. Corrupted by the evil around him!

She runs to the door, banging on it, then falling on her knees, pleading.

Let me out! I shouldn’t be here! It was a mistake . . . (Sobbing.) Please, let me out. (Turns back to Bert.) You killed him, Kowalski! You killed him with your unholy ways, just as surely as if you’d shot him with a gun!

Raymond    A sentiment I heartily endorse, Miss Kinsella. (To Bert.) You’ve been the bad apple in the barrel right from the start, Kowalski.