When she’s old enough to access that money.

Tell her.

Tell her to call us.

And if they still look like that. We’ll put her on the cover.

He stares at her for a moment. Nods at AIDAN.

BRADSHAW. He’s too old for you.

BRADSHAW goes. CHARLOTTE shuts the door.

AIDAN. That was unnecessary.

CHARLOTTE. You can talk.

AIDAN. That was, necessary force, that was, the ends justify the means, I have to protect jobs. He could have damaged us, you do know that? I’m just doing my best, Char, this is, we’re on the ropes as it is. Lawsuit like that, in this climate –

CHARLOTTE. I know. But I couldn’t help it.

AIDAN. You don’t think I’d actually talk to a man like that if I had any choice in the matter, do you? When he started on about the metal detector, I nearly broke then. I nearly actually broke.

CHARLOTTE. Embarrassing.

AIDAN. You didn’t have to say that.

CHARLOTTE. I’m sorry.

AIDAN. It’s okay just –

CHARLOTTE. I just felt like I had to.

AIDAN. I need a shower.

CHARLOTTE. It’s just he reminded me of my dad.

AIDAN. Did he?

CHARLOTTE. Yeah.

,

AIDAN. No harm done.

CHARLOTTE. I fucking hate my dad.

AIDAN. I know.

He touches her arm. She pulls away, goes to exit.

Sweetheart?

,

She looks back at him from the doorway.

CHARLOTTE. What?

AIDAN. Nothing. What do you tell them?

CHARLOTTE. What?

AIDAN. Your group. Your women. What do you tell them you do?

CHARLOTTE. I say I’m an estate agent.

Sudden black.

3.

Nine months later. The editor’s office of Electra magazine, a weekly publication for young women. As before, the magazine’s name in neon on the wall. Framed past covers. Healthy-looking women Photoshopped to perfection. There is a massage table to one side, strewn with products that the magazine is road-testing. Products are very important here.

MIRANDA, trendily but classically dressed in black. She sits on the edge of her desk, which holds papers, magazines, and a desktop Apple computer. SAM sits in a chair in front of her. In the background, the sound of heightened office chatter, female laughter, voices. They’ve knocked off early, the sounds of socialising rather than work. Maybe some faint strains of music.

MIRANDA. It’s a fun office.

SAM. Great.

MIRANDA. Bit crazy.

SAM. Yeah?

MIRANDA. Yeah. You don’t have to be mad to work here – but actually you do a bit!

They laugh. MIRANDA picks up a tube of moisturiser, moisturises her hands.

We often go for drinks after work.

SAM. Uh-huh.

MIRANDA. Do you like going for drinks after work?

SAM. Sure.

MIRANDA. Then you’ll fit right in.

An eruption of female voices, laughter, screams, off.

You can hear, can’t you? Lot of fun. Lot of laughs. Lots of work too of course.

SAM. No, of course.