NANCY: But he came here before the war. Even worked as an interpreter—

EMMA: Don’t ask questions. They just hear the voice.

JOSEF: The accent. Yes.

EMMA: Wouldn’t mean a thing to me, of course. Long as people pay their board and are decent in the house— [another pointed look at BARNEY] —I make allowances. But then I run this place more as a sideline. And now the war is over, looks like I’ll be givin’ up the business altogether.

This statement draws some attention, which EMMA ignores by concentrating on JOSEF.

Anyway, you could try these. [Handing him the trading cards] Mightn’t be a bad idea to call now, Missus Reed is just the next block. I can point her out to you.

EMMA moves up to the hallway. NANCY picks up JOSEF’s hat.

JOSEF: Such trouble you have taken. Very kind.

NANCY: ’S nothin’. [Firmly presenting him with the hat] Drop into the pub some time. Let’s know how you get on.

JOSEF accepts the hat. Then, before leaving, addresses himself to BARNEY:

JOSEF: Is true what you say—I did wangle myself out of Europe, came here as a refugee. But not before the trouble starts. By 1939, I had already lost the only relatives I had. German cousins, who last sent me word when they were taken off to Dachau.

He bows formally and follows EMMA as she leads him out to the front verandah.

EMMA: Missus Reed’s the second end house on the other side. [Moving off the verandah towards the street] Got a blue door.

OLIVE: [mystified, to NANCY] What was that about his cousins? He mean they were—?

NANCY: [abruptly] Yes. [To BARNEY] You didn’t have to say those things, y’know. All he’s wanting is a place to stay.

BARNEY: Righto, I’m a reffo basher. [Dragging on a nearby pair of slippers] But I notice even you weren’t keen to have him livin’ here in the house. Okay, round the corner, maybe—

ROO: Will you two stop your rousin’? What I want to know about is Emma? You hear her, what she told him? Could be givin’ up this place—the boarders?

BARNEY: Said it just to get him out the door.

ROO: Not like Emma. Make excuses—

EMMA returns to the front verandah, to re-enter the house.

Somethin’ on the go, I reckon.

EMMA: [addressing NANCY] Next time you got someone lookin’ for a room, you tell me beforehand. Don’t want people goin’ out of here, sayin’ that I run a dosshouse. [With a referring glance at BARNEY] Even if I am givin’ it up.

ROO seizes his chance, as she starts to pass on.

ROO: That’s the second time you’ve waved the hankie.

EMMA pauses.

Said you’re givin’ up?

EMMA: Surprise you, does it?