LEWIS: Don’t you have to be back in your ward?

DOUG: Trying to get rid of me, mate? You should have done a Little Richard opera. I thought you were lousy in my role by the way.

LEWIS: Thanks, Doug.

DOUG: A bit sissy. Personally, I think you’re a closet fag. I would have given Ferrando balls.

CHERRY comes in and watches them.

So, you’re no longer with Lucy. She a good fuck? Might visit her, give her the old pork rattlesnake. You said she was into free love, didn’t you? Can’t get over it. You do this old-fashioned opera—this is the era of free love and orgies. See, ya. [To CHERRY] Bye, fat dog.

CHERRY: Go burn a cat.

DOUG: [to CHERRY] Who writes your lines? Oscar Wilde? [As he exits] I have only one word for you, Lewis—Awopbopalooboplopbamboo!

DOUG goes.

CHERRY: He’s jealous because he didn’t perform tonight. Say, ah! Go on, pretend I’m a doctor. Say, ah!

LEWIS: Ah—

In saying it LEWIS opens his mouth and CHERRY thrusts a chocolate liqueur down it.

CHERRY: Cherry brandy chocolate liqueur. Bought it for you. Like paradise, eh?

He nods to please her.

Here’s a love letter. There’ll be plenty more where that came from. Doug gave me your address. I love chocolate. Give me a kiss. No, open your mouth, I want a tonguey.

She slaps him on the cheek, his mouth automatically opens and she kisses him long and passionately.

Hmmmmm, lovely. Chocolate.

HENRY enters.

I’m going to miss you, lover boy. But once I’m out of here, it’ll be wham, bam, thank you, Lewis. I better go before I start crying.

She goes and HENRY comes over to LEWIS and shakes his hand. This time with his left hand because his right hand is now paralysed.

HENRY: Ttttthank you.

LEWIS: Thank you, Henry. Hey, your right arm is paralysed, it used to be your left one.

HENRY: It changes.

He goes. LEWIS continues to undress, taking off the top half of his army jacket and putting on a clean shirt. JULIE enters and watches him for a time.

JULIE: Nice bod.

He smiles, pleased to see her.

We had them in the palm of our hand.

She laughs.

LEWIS: You’re very happy.

JULIE: I enjoyed tonight. Also, I’m in good spirits because I’m leaving this place.

LEWIS: You’re leaving the institution?

JULIE: Yep. Flying the coop next Thursday. Then straight out of here and the first train to Sydney.

LEWIS: [disappointed] Sydney? [A beat.] I can take you to the railway station if you like.

JULIE: I don’t know if you should.

LEWIS: Why?

JULIE: I think I fell for you.

LEWIS: What’s the matter with that?

JULIE: I need something stable in my life. I need my girlfriend. She’s stood by me, through thick and thin, mostly thin. She’s coming up to Sydney with me.

LEWIS now understands.

Without her I would be dead. I do like you. I do. You’ll visit me before I go, will you?