LOUISE: Not greedy? Not greedy? Come off it, Joanne! When someone gets so fat he needs government handouts that could be spent on cancer research—but no, he needs to gorge himself to death… When someone’s anus is so encased in flesh he needs a… a ‘bum buddy’ to wipe his backside and still his mother shovels ham sandwiches down his bloated mass because she has the intellectual capacity of a pea shoot and wants to sustain a lifestyle where she doesn’t miss a repeat of ‘Murder, She Wrote’—then yes, it is greed and sloth and selfishness and… blatant stupidity! Every day with you people, every bloody day, it’s the same. ‘I had to quit, some bastard cut me up’ or ‘Got no clothes for the interview ’cause I spent all my benefits on gear’ and we pay for the programs, and we put you through rehab and we teach you the skills and set up the interviews and you fuck up every time because none of you have any self-control, not a single one of you has any self-control and don’t you think I want to sit around in my undies, popping out ADHD babies, watching ‘Jerry Springer’ and smoking crack but I can’t because some of us have to have some fucking self-control!

Beat.

LOUISE is shocked by her own outburst.

JOJO: I knew I had you worked out. Acting all fancy in your lesbian shoes and two-piece suit when really you’re as fucked as a fruitcake.

LOUISE: I won’t let you destroy him.

JOJO: With cream puffs?

LOUISE: Your son has a chance! You don’t know how rare that is. Obviously I tell everyone they have a chance but when you’re sitting opposite someone who’s just pissed himself and has the booze shakes—you both know you’re lying. But Arthur’s special. He’s actually smart. He’s articulate. He could work in an office!

JOJO: What, like you y’mean? And what’s so good about your life, eh?

LOUISE does not know what to say.

Exactly. If I was you, pet, I’d take my imitation leather / handbag

LOUISE: But—

JOJO: Don’t deny it, love, ’cause I know vinyl when I smell it—and fuck right off back to the nuthouse you came from.

LOUISE: If you love your son—

JOJO: Love? Love’s the only thing I’ve got for that boy so don’t be putting any ‘ifs’ about it. Love’s the reason you come near my Art-Art again, I’ll have your eyes like they were Maltesers—do you understand me?

The two women stare at each other.

Now say goodbye and if I ever see you again I’ll have you reported for unprofessional conduct, verbally abusing a client. They’ve got it all recorded, don’t they? Every blessed moment.

LOUISE looks around and remembers the cameras.

She goes to ARTY’s room.

ARTY: Louise?

LOUISE: I need to go.

ARTY: Already?

Pause.

LOUISE doesn’t move.

Um… Louise?

LOUISE tries not to cry.