CHERRY: [entering] It stinks in there, you been in there before me?

DOUG: No, I haven’t, but I’ll use it now you’ve warmed up the seat.

He goes.

CHERRY: I know why you’re in here, you’ve got nothing to eat.

LEWIS: No, it’s fine.

CHERRY: No, it isn’t. I’ll go and get my sandwiches so I can share them with you.

LEWIS: It’s all right, I’ll just look at the translation.

CHERRY: I won’t talk. I’ll eat and watch you work. I like watching people work.

She goes. ZAC lifts up his head and looks around. Only LEWIS is there.

ZAC: Is it time to go?

LEWIS: The others are outside having lunch.

ZAC: Oh. [A beat.] Why?

LEWIS: Why?

ZAC: Why is everything ringing?

LEWIS: Are you all right?

ZAC: Can’t hear you.

His face crashes down on the keys again.

CHERRY: [entering with food] This is the best part, isn’t it? Not having to eat lunch in a ward. But in a theatre! [Giving a sandwich to the reluctant LEWIS] Go on, you’re too skinny.

He takes it and eats slowly.

So the maid is a big part?

LEWIS: Oh, yes, she gets to pretend to be a doctor, a priest—

CHERRY: Something to extend my acting range? Will outsiders see the show?

LEWIS: People from outside the institution? Don’t know.

CHERRY: If it’s going to be a large role then I’ll invite my dad. He’ll be surprised to see me out of water. Dad was a great duck hunter. But we were poor and couldn’t afford a dog. He used me to point and fetch the ducks. Those lakes can get cold when you’re swimming in them with a dead duck in your mouth.

LEWIS is astonished by the story. She laughs.

Just pulling your leg. Sucked you right in, didn’t I? [A beat.] You know, I really like you.

ZAC stands up, slamming the keys, then to no one in particular he yells out.

ZAC: All right, I’ll get The Electric Prunes album!

He storms out, much to LEWIS’s astonishment, but CHERRY is used to this type of behaviour. As he goes ZAC almost runs into JULIE who enters and stands nearby, too shy to ask LEWIS something.

LEWIS: [noticing her] You want something, Julie?

JULIE: Someone told me you had a transistor.

LEWIS: That one.

JULIE: You’re not using it now?

CHERRY: [to LEWIS] Eat!

She stuffs a sandwich into his mouth.

Get some flesh on your bones.

JULIE: Can I use it? I wouldn’t mind listening to some music.

LEWIS, his mouth full, can only nod.

Thank you.

She walks out with it.

CHERRY: [whispering to LEWIS] Typical junkie, needs stimulus all the time or else her thoughts turn to you-know-what.

DOUG runs in from the toilet, yelling.

DOUG: Fire! Fire in the dunnies! Quick! Get help!

JULIE and LEWIS run off to the toilet. ROY and RUTH rush in. DOUG addresses them.

Fire! Fire in the dunnies!

They rush into the toilet, then out of the corner of his eye DOUG notices CHERRY advancing on him.