‘I hardly call that having control.’ And then Anthony sighed. ‘And who goes to fringe performances, except other actors to see their mates. Performance Art indeed.’ He leant back in the sofa, closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Oh God Pauly I do worry so much about her. I know you think I’m a dreadful male chauvinist and all that stuff and of course I am, but even I know it’s a terrible profession for women. We should have worked harder to warn her off it.’

‘Too late darling. We can only support her now, hope she’s one of the ones who makes it.’

‘She is good,’ said Anthony fiercely.

‘I know.’

‘But someone like Emmy Lou Brown is good. And look at her.’

‘I know. She looked old, I thought, at the garden party.’

‘She is old,’ said Anthony.

‘She’s at least two years younger than you Tony.’

‘Yes but she’s a woman. I’m in my prime.’ Pauline laughed. Anthony reluctantly joined in. ‘But you know what I mean.’

‘I know only too well what you mean,’ said Pauline.

Anthony lay back on the sofa, put his arm around his wife again. ‘I’m glad to be home,’ he said.

She said nothing but they sat together in companionable silence. Now this should be the time for him to mention the television series, she thought.

But Anthony Bonham said nothing.

‘I found my father,’ she said finally.

‘Mmmm?’ Anthony was nearly asleep.

‘I found my father.’

He jerked his eyes open.

‘You mean your real father?’

‘Yes. Harry Donaldson of all people found him. He met him by chance.’

‘Jesus we all know Harry would fuck anything that moves, is he into old men now?’

Pauline only smiled. ‘He met him at an Old Age Home for actors – did you know there were such things? – anyway he took me there to see him a couple of days ago.’

Anthony sat up now.

‘Well?’

‘Well – it was strange of course.’

‘Well – did you tell him you were his daughter?’

‘I didn’t actually tell him, he was very old, I didn’t want to give him a heart attack. But – yes, I think he guessed. Yes, he knew.’

Anthony digested this. ‘So what happens next?’

‘I – I don’t know. I though I’d wait till I talked to you.’

Anthony looked alarmed. ‘You weren’t thinking of bringing him to live happily ever after here? Set him up at our place with your mother?’ He sounded quite comically distressed.

‘No no, keep calm, I think he’s got his home where he is. But I thought I might at least – bring him here, introduce him to the kids, get Mum round even.’

‘You mean before three o’clock in the afternoon?’

‘Before three o’clock in the afternoon.’

Anthony placed one hand idly inside the silk blouse she was wearing.