SIMON turns toward the voice of JESSICA.
SCENE THREE
Squash court.
SIMON and ANDY are playing squash.
SIMON misses a ball.
SIMON: Dammit. Eleven all.
I dunno—
It’s just getting so difficult.
I just want to tell her.
Something.
Just something small even.
ANDY, a woman, comes into view as she runs across the court to hit a ball.
ANDY: You can’t.
SIMON: She’s talking about babies!
ANDY: You can’t tell her anything.
SIMON: So…
You’re the only one who can really know me?
Is that it?
ANDY: We’ve been through this, Simon.
SIMON: I thought you wanted me to be a man in the world
Not some eternally fucked-up teenager?
ANDY: Simon, I know you’re a man.
I know that man.
SIMON: You like having power over me, don’t you?
He slams the ball.
Did you hear a little boy disappeared?
ANDY: Yes.
SIMON:—
He slams the ball hard.
ANDY: What’s going on Simon? /
SIMON: I’m just sick of always doing everything your way.
ANDY: Is that how you see it? ‘My way’?
SIMON: Shit.
Game Ball Match.
ANDY: Okay so tell her everything.
Is that what you want me to say?
SIMON: No. I—
Moment.
ANDY: Watch the ball Simon.
SIMON: I am watching the fucking ball.
He loses another point.
ANDY: Fowl. Score.
And stops.
Pause.
SIMON: I love her so much but—
I just don’t want to lose her.
She asked me to—
Hold her down. /
ANDY: Hold her down!?
Beat.
SIMON: It scared me.
SCENE FOUR
Sound of radio tuning. LACHLAN either reads the announcement, wearing earphones, or talks into a dictaphone.
LACHLAN: The entire district continues to be on alert following the suspicious disappearance of two-year-old Denis Pritchard. Little Denis was last seen playing in his back garden. His mother, Ms Pritchard, raised the alarm. Ms Jane Pritchard, the boy’s single mother, raised the alarm. Authorities are looking to inform the child’s biological father of the emergency.
Police are continuing an intensive search, but say his safety is cause for grave concern.
This is Lachlan Cooper reporting for Radio 6.
LACHLAN removes his earphones and the next scene begins.
SCENE FIVE
LACHLAN and CAMILLE at home.
He enters the room where CAMILLE is just sitting.
LACHLAN: He’s just gone down.
Eyes closed almost before I lay him in the cot.
CAMILLE: I would have done it.
LACHLAN: What hon?
CAMILLE: Got him to sleep.
LACHLAN: Of course you would have,
You’re doing great with him.
Silence.
They both know this is a lie.
You look tired.
CAMILLE: No actually.
Not at all.
LACHLAN: Why don’t you call a friend and catch a movie?
CAMILLE: You want me out of your way!?
LACHLAN: God Camille, I was being nice.
CAMILLE: Really?
It doesn’t feel that way.
LACHLAN: For God’s sake
Most parents would leap at the chance to /
CAMILLE: So come with me.
To the movies.