FIONA shrugs.

SIMMONDS: How many children have you got altogether, Mrs Mason?

KATE: Three.

Pause. SIMMONDS keeps looking at her.

Mark’s the eldest. He’s eight. Dionne is six and Anthony’s five.

SIMMONDS: Well spaced.

KATE: Too well spaced, but they’re all at school now, thank God.

SIMMONDS: Gives you more spare time, I suppose.

KATE: Yes. It does give me a bit more breathing space.

SIMMONDS: [flatly] I hope you’re using it to good advantage.

KATE: Yes. I’m able to get out and about a bit these days.

SIMMONDS: You’re doing a bit of shopping, I take it?

KATE: That’s right.

SIMMONDS: For cars?

There is an awkward pause. ROSS and the REMOVALIST walk through with the bed.

KATE: [stiffly] Not really.

SIMMONDS: I was wondering how you met your friend?

KATE: What friend?

SIMMONDS: Your car salesman friend.

KATE: [embarrassed] Oh. Eric. Oh. He isn’t really a car salesman in that sense. He’s the Marketing Manager of one of our largest car manufacturers.

SIMMONDS: That’s a very responsible position.

KATE: Yes. It is.

SIMMONDS: I wouldn’t have thought that a man in a position like that would have very much spare time.

KATE: No. He’s kept very busy.

SIMMONDS: I wouldn’t have thought he’d have very much spare time at all. [Pause.] Is he married?

KATE: [warily] Eric?

SIMMONDS: Mmm.

KATE: [defensively] Yes. He is.

SIMMONDS: Children, I suppose?

KATE: [defensively] Yes. Three boys.

SIMMONDS: Private schooling, I suppose?

KATE: As a matter of fact, yes. His eldest’s at uni now, studying Law.

SIMMONDS: Law, eh?

KATE: He’s doing very well.

SIMMONDS: I bet he is. It’s much easier studying Law than administering it. [Pause.] Do his children know he’s an adulterer?

KATE: [shocked] If you don’t mind!

SIMMONDS: Do your children know you’re an adulterer?

FIONA: Sergeant! I don’t think—

SIMMONDS: [a hard edge in his voice, indicating KENNY] I can understand the likes of this bastard behaving like that. But I can’t understand it from people in responsible positions, Mrs Mason. I can’t understand that at all.

KATE: I don’t think my private life is any of your business, Sergeant.

SIMMONDS: I didn’t say it was, Mrs Mason. I am merely expressing an opinion.

ROSS and the REMOVALIST enter.

KATE: [icily] I’m not interested in your opinion, Sergeant.

SIMMONDS: [loudly] I couldn’t care less whether you are interested in my opinion or not, Mrs Mason. I am certainly entitled to express it. In my opinion people in responsible positions have a duty to ensure that their behaviour is beyond reproach. Does your husband know about this?

KATE: If you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait for my taxi outside.

SIMMONDS: [loudly] A position of privilege carries certain responsibilities, Mrs Mason. A man who occupies a position of leadership in industry should not abuse that responsibility. I hope he doesn’t work for Ford. I drive a Ford.

KATE: [leaving] Excuse me.

SIMMONDS: [following her and talking loudly] Some of you people think you can do anything. Do you ever spare a thought for your husband? Working to give you and your children a better life. It can’t be much fun peering into other people’s mouths, fiddling with their bloody molars, half of them with bad bloody breath. Why don’t you try being grateful for a change, instead of cheating on him behind his back with a man who’s got a family of his own?