Judy      … Don’t you get bored?

Anthony      Yes! It’s wonderful. We’d fill the day with nothing. We’d cook food and read trashy magazines and go for walks.

Judy      Oh, I don’t walk – people follow me.

Anthony      But you’ll be happy. So people won’t recognise you.

Judy      If I’m on a pier in the rain, they fucking well better.

Anthony      … You’ll never reach for pills or drown yourself in whisky. You’ll never need to sing … Well – maybe just for good friends late at night. And I’ll spend every hour of every day looking after you.

Judy      It sounds … Well, it –

Anthony      I’m a wonderful cook. Do you like shepherd’s pie?

Judy      I love shepherd’s pie. And what’s that thing with the frogs and the sausages –?

Anthony      … Oh – toad in the hole. I can do that.

Judy      Will you show me?

Anthony      Yes.

Judy      I’d love you to show me. I’ve hardly ever cooked, it takes too long – there are TV shows to record …

Anthony      Sometimes I cook the whole day. Make a feast.

Judy      But all that clearing up. When I made pancakes once, it was like armageddon in there.

Anthony      It doesn’t matter, we can have a maid.

Judy      Can we?

Anthony      Yes, we can afford that. She can come in while we’re asleep.

Judy      In the same … Would we sleep in the same …?

Anthony      I haven’t really thought about that.

Judy      No, I don’t suppose you have.

Anthony      Well … there – won’t be many fireworks in that department. But you won’t miss it. You’ll be too happy to notice.

Judy      Do you think?

Anthony      … Well, if you’re desperate, I’m sure we could find someone at the end of the pier.

He takes both her hands and looks earnestly into her eyes.

… Listen … Don’t marry Mickey. Don’t marry that awful man. Come away with me. Let me look after you … Let me love you …

Nothing happens for a moment. Then, the door opens and Mickey comes back into the room, carrying a small bucket of ice. He looks at both of them.

Mickey      What’s going on? … Judy?

Judy (after a moment)      Nothing … Nothing – we were just … Anthony and I – (Full of sorrow, but resolute.) we were just saying ‘goodbye’.

She turns away from Anthony, fighting back the tears. He is devastated. After a moment, he gets up and moves to the door, and exits.

Mickey      … How are you feeling?

Judy      Oh … God knows …

Mickey      We should think about something to eat. You need to be getting ready. You’ve got a show in five hours.

Judy      Do you think they’re still expecting me?

Mickey      Of course. They hate it when you fall down, but they love watching you get back up again. That’s what you do.

Judy      That’s who I am …

Mickey (seeing her sadness)      Hey, don’t look so … It’s nearly over.