‘And there’s the film coming up. I thought you’d be pleased for me.’

‘OK, that’s all great, or it should be.’

‘So then.’

‘The other night …’

‘I told you, the other night was just one of those things– I don’t know what came over me.’

‘We don’t go out together.’

‘I’m busy – busy at last. What do you expect?’

‘More than this. I want to talk. I want you to tell me things. I want to be held and touched.’

‘That’s new.’

Irene flinched. ‘That’s below the belt.’

‘OK. I shouldn’t have said that. Sorry.’

‘So you’re saying there’s nothing the matter? You’re just busy and caught up with all of this?’

‘Yup.’

‘Really sure?’ she persisted. ‘I need to know. You have to tell me if something’s wrong otherwise how can I do anything about it?’

‘You never let up, do you?’

‘What?’

‘Everything has to have a meaning for you, everything has to be significant. Sometimes you should let things be – let me be.’

‘I was simply asking you what was wrong.’

‘Maybe it’s with you that something is wrong.’

‘Me?’

‘You’re such a fucking absolutist.’

‘You used to say that as a compliment.’

‘Did I?’

‘Yes, you did. What’s happened that everything’s so changed?’

‘You’re the one who’s changed,’ said Adrian. He didn’t want to look into her large grey eyes while he was speaking; he wanted to feel aggrieved. ‘Look at you! You can’t relax any more, not for a minute. Nothing satisfies you – nothing about me, anyway. Pick this up, ring so-and-so, look at the mess; don’t eat that, drink that …’

‘I don’t …’

‘Sometimes you look at me as if I’m some pig who’s come blundering into the room, messing everything up.’

‘What!’

‘How do you think it feels to live with someone who’s forever wanting you to turn into someone else? It’s enough to send you mad.’

Irene gazed at him. She waited while her anger burned along the fuse of her remaining patience. She took a deep breath.