LEWIS: Walk to that spot there and count the steps.

RUTH: [walking to the spot] One, two, three, four, five, six. Six.

LEWIS: It’ll be six steps, then.

RUTH: Large or small? Because, if it’s small, then it could be up to ten, maybe eleven.

LEWIS holds his head in his hands. ZAC comes in wearing a battered and dusty piano-accordion.

ZAC: She’s a real beauty. A bit dusty.

ROY: We are trying to rehearse!

ZAC: The music’s just as important.

ZAC starts to play a tune.

ROY: That’s not Mozart.

ZAC: Of course not. It’s Wagner.

ROY: I hate to point this out, but we’re doing Così fan Tutte.

ZAC: Such a pissy opera. Wagner—he’s got balls.

ROY: Get out! Get out!

LEWIS: Roy, calm down. [He turns to ZAC.] He’s right, we are doing Mozart.

ZAC: I’m prepared to play the pissy score for the whole opera, only if I do the overture my way, or else it’s exit the pianist.

LEWIS: [to ROY] Seems fair enough, after all, it’s only the overture.

ROY: Someone’s just brought a dinner gong to the music of the spheres.

LEWIS: [taking him aside] People really don’t listen to overtures. They’re too busy finding their seats, coughing, opening up their lollies.

ROY: Yes, yes. I’m going to have a word with his doctor though, I think his Lithium should be upped. [To ZAC, magnanimously] You can play the Wagner.

RUTH is doing her steps.

RUTH: I can make it nine, ten or eleven. If I took really big steps I could make it five.

LEWIS has had enough.

LEWIS: A break! Let’s take a break.

ROY: Is it time for one?

Lewis: Yes.

ROY: Well, you’re the boss.

People head outside.

DOUG: [to ROY] I hear the boys of D ward have taken up another petition to try to get rid of you.

ROY: The boys of D ward… what a bunch of whackers.

ZAC begins to practise Wagner’s ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’, humming loudly along with it. LEWIS slumps in a chair, exhausted.

LEWIS: I wonder, Zac, if you could practise outside?

ZAC: Sure. [A beat.] How do you want me dressed? Tux? Perry Como cardigan?

LEWIS: Anything. Anything you like.

ZAC is pleased and heads outside, still playing. He stops when he hears a noise. He goes over to the wall and listens closely.

ZAC: Sounds like Doug is pissing against the outside wall. Maybe he doesn’t like your direction, Lewis?

LEWIS smiles and ZAC, returning to his playing, heads outside. The hall is quiet now. LEWIS, thinking he is alone, takes out a student newspaper and begins to read it when he suddenly notices JULIE has remained in the room. JULIE’s mood swings wildly as she seems preoccupied with something.

LEWIS: Thought you’d gone outside.You seem a bit preoccupied.

JULIE: Bit over the shop today. I had to go and see one of the shrinks. They don’t know how to deal with drug users. He called it a ‘crutch’, I said it was a ‘rocket to the stars’. Needless to say, we didn’t get on. I’m surprised to see you here. I thought you wouldn’t come back. [A beat.] They still scare you?