BRADSHAW. You think I just stepped off the boat, you can’t tell me anything about my Carrie I don’t already know. I would die for that girl, cos she’s mine, but she’s a pain in the arse. She’s had more opportunity than anyone ever gave me. Teachers offering to coach her, books, trips, computers. Her mother’s got her own business, killed herself so she could have French lessons, ballet, all that. She doesn’t want for nothing except the things we won’t give her. Took her to see Father Christmas at the Arndale Centre three years ago, he takes her on his knee, says ‘And what do you want for Christmas?’ She says ‘I want a Labradoodle and a boob job,’ I just about died of shame cos I drink with Graham sometimes, and he looked up at me, over his white beard and I could see him thinking ‘What the bloody hell have I got on my lap?’ Her friends are bright young women, don’t give a toss about anything but shopping. But she’s a nice-looking girl and she’s worked out how to get on with it, that’s not stupid, to my mind, that’s canny. Her cousin’s got four A Levels, works in a Greggs. Speaks fluent German, all she gets for it is a discount on sausage plaits. I’m well aware that all you’ve done is give her the rope to hang herself with, but I don’t want any part of it.

AIDAN. Then what do you want, Mr Bradshaw?

BRADSHAW. I want to destroy you. Not this magazine, but you, personally. I want every man or woman who ever thinks about doing your job to know there are men like me who will see to it that they are exterminated.

,

CHARLOTTE steps back in quietly, closes the door.

Did anyone ever tell you your daughter looks exactly like the girl in the orange-squash adverts?

He takes AIDAN’s picture again. AIDAN looks at CHARLOTTE.

AIDAN. No.

BRADSHAW. Well, she’s the spit.

AIDAN. Mr Bradshaw –

BRADSHAW. I think we’re done here, don’t you?

AIDAN. Your bravado is embarrassing. You’ve already accepted free travel, accommodation, perks, spoils, whatever you / want to call it –

BRADSHAW. The least you could do.

AIDAN. The least we could do and we did it, but truth of it is your daughter is, sorry but there it is. She’s fourteen. And this is what she wants.