CARTER: He told me—now this could just be another one of his bizarre delusions—but he told me that you had become a little bit miffed at him over some incident or other. That you had filed certain charges against him. Criminal charges.

CECILIA: Charged him? You mean gone to the police?

CARTER: That’s right. That’s what he claims. He says he was arrested.

CECILIA: Now why would I do something like that? We were having an affair, for Christ’s sake.

CARTER: You were?

CECILIA: Yes. We were. We are as far as I’m concerned. Unless he’s changed his mind. Is that what this is all about? He couldn’t bring himself to face me directly so he sent you with the bad news? His old “buddy”?

CARTER: What bad news? No, look—

CECILIA (standing suddenly): If it’s over, it’s over! He doesn’t have to send a middleman. Tell him that for me!

CARTER: It’s not over! He wants to see you. He’s desperate about it in fact. He called me all the way out here.

CECILIA: Yeah, he’s so desperate he’s got to send somebody else to take his place!

CARTER: I’m not—He was under the impression that you were pissed off at him!

CECILIA: I am pissed off at him!

CARTER: Not now! Then!

CECILIA: When?

CARTER: At the time you made the charges against him!

CECILIA: I never made any crumby charges!! I might have called the police but I—

Pause.

CARTER: Oh. Then—

CECILIA: Why don’t you just get the hell on outa here, mister, and tell your old pal to take a hike for me. Go on! Get outa here!

CARTER (standing awkwardly): Now wait a second—Just wait a second. This whole thing has gotten outa hand. I’m very, very sorry if I gave you the wrong idea here. Vinnie’s crazy about you. He really is. I’ve never seen him act this way before. He talks about you like you were sent from heaven or something.

CECILIA: Heaven?

CARTER: Yeah. He said you answered this little prayer of his.

CECILIA: What prayer? Get outa here. This is too weird.

CARTER: All he wants is to see you and talk to you. That’s all he wants. He misses you terribly.

CECILIA: Then why doesn’t he come over here himself? Why does he send you?

CARTER: He didn’t “send” me. I volunteered.

CECILIA: There’s something very fishy about this.

CARTER: I guess he thought you weren’t going to be very receptive to him. I mean, assuming he was telling the truth.

CECILIA: About what?

CARTER: ABOUT BEING ARRESTED!

Pause.

CECILIA: Don’t raise your voice in my home, mister.

CARTER: I’m sorry. It’s just—that I’m worried about him.

CECILIA: You’re worried?

CARTER: I am. I’ve seen this pattern of his before.

CECILIA: What pattern?