ROSIE: Carter just went out to see you. Did you know that? That’s what he said he was up to anyway. You didn’t somehow miss him did you? “Ships in the night”?

VINNIE: No. I saw him.

ROSIE: Oh, good. Did you work things out? I know it’s been a long and bitter negotiation.

VINNIE: He said you two were on the outs.

ROSIE: Who?

VINNIE: You and him.

ROSIE (laughs): Is that what he said? Just like that? “On the outs”! Those were his words?

Pause.

VINNIE: Is it okay if I—sit down?

ROSIE: Help yourself! Mi casa es su casa, Vinnie. You know that. Just like the old days. Nothing’s changed.

VINNIE sits on edge of sofa, clutching shoebox under his arm.

ROSIE: So, what’ve you got, a bomb in the box or something? Gonna blow us all to Kingdom Come?

VINNIE: I’m not going to hurt you.

ROSIE: You’re not still harboring something, are you Vinnie? That’s not healthy. That’s the kind of thing that leads to cancer and insanity.

VINNIE: I just wanted to see you.

ROSIE: Well, here I am! Still in the bloom of things. I never would’ve recognized you though, Vinnie. You’ve let yourself go. I was watching you from the window and I was asking myself, “Now who is this? Who in the world could this be, arriving by taxi, with a package under his arm?” It’s not roses, is it Vinnie? Roses for Rosie?

VINNIE: No.

ROSIE: I didn’t think so. Too short for roses. Too compact. Unless you’ve cut the stems off. Out of spite or something. Wouldn’t that be a shame.

VINNIE: So, how did you know?

ROSIE: What.

VINNIE: How did you recognize me?

ROSIE: Oh. The voice. Something in the voice rang a bell. A kind of apologetic menace. I don’t know how else to describe it.

VINNIE: I’m not going to hurt you.

ROSIE: I’d feel a lot more reassured if you didn’t keep repeating that.

VINNIE: I just want you to know. I didn’t come here for that.

ROSIE: Good. That’s good news. Now we don’t have to talk about it anymore, do we? (Pause.) So you met up with Carter then? How did that go?

VINNIE: All right.

ROSIE: He said you were in some kind of an emergency again. He left here in a big rush.

VINNIE: I am.

ROSIE: Still?

VINNIE: Yes. I’m at the end of my rope. I may not look like it but I am.

ROSIE: Well, actually, you are looking a little rough around the edges, Vinnie. I didn’t want to say anything—

VINNIE: I got arrested.

ROSIE: Oh. That’s too bad. When was that?

VINNIE: A while back. Couple weeks ago.

ROSIE: Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Vinnie. What was it this time?