Bee answers for him.

– And exactly – what was your husband rented to do – as a white foreigner?

Raymond is shaky.

– Well!

– Well!

Husband and wife smile at each other affectionately.

Bee continues.

– You, brooding young Peter, so dashing aren’t you, I found enough time to visit your sister, Rose, as well, in Hong Kong. I heard all the news about her boyfriend, about your father’s disappointment in you – so sad – your early training… the thirty-six oaths you took to help free a fellow gang member if you inadvertently got them arrested…

Peter pulls out his gun and unlocks the barrel.

– Except you got a lot more than one prior gang member arrested, didn’t you, Peter?

– No!

– They are very annoyed. In fact, they said you are a really naughty boy. I only have two good methods for dealing with those. Do you want to hear what they are?

Peter shakes his head and nods at the same time.

– Well, my dear husband here – the ram as he is for tonight… and actually that’s often how I think of him – if he has been a naughty boy, if he, for example, has been down to the brothel and had a little threesome and come home without any money for me – well – I bullwhip him…

– With a bullwhip?

– Big one. Six feet long. I have to wear heels to really crack it – I’m not so tall!

– She’s an expert, Rab verifies.

– Really?

– Yes, Peter, that’s the first thing that I do to punish naughty boys. The problem is – my darling husband likes it far too much. But after a proper whipping and all the other accoutrements – he doesn’t look at any other girls for a good, long while, he just comes home, hands over his money, pours me a bath, whilst I go for a long soak to soothe away sad memories.

Rab refuses to meet the amused glances of Ali and Davey.

The two women laugh under their hands.

– What you actually want to know, Peter, is what I do to really naughty boys, right?

With the fox mask and with her tight clothes and boots – and her soft voice – Bee is hypnotising the entire room. She whispers so they all have to strain to hear what she is going to say next.

– I put on this – latex catsuit.

– You do?

– I do.

– And then…

– Well, then I have them oil me up in it – I keep them naked in a collar and leash – and I make them rub oil into every crevice. Do you know how nipples feel through the finest, thinnest oiled latex?

– No, I mean, no.

– Hard, slippery and smooth, all at the same time.

– Then?

– They often beg me at that point…

– For what?

Both young women are listening.

One has poured herself a gin and tonic.

The other one smokes a small joint.

The monkey tips his head.