SIMON and ANDY are unaware of her presence. SIMON puts his head in his hands, and ANDY after some hesitation, puts her arm around him.

JESSICA sees this and exits.

SCENE FOURTEEN

JESSICA sits in candlelight.

LACHLAN is broadcasting on the radio.

LACHLAN: Volunteers from the district are joining police, emergency crew and staff from the National Parks and Wildlife in a fully orchestrated search combing outlying bush areas for the missing toddler Denis Pritchard, last seen in his back garden. Police have been recruited from Specialist Task Forces in an attempt to bring the child home safely.

Grave fears are now held as to whether the toddler could survive such heat and isolation after so many days. The child’s mother is sedated and being supported by neighbours and family. The search continues throughout the night. This is Lachlan Cooper reporting for Radio Six.

SIMON arrives home. JESSICA is asking questions with a tone that unnerves SIMON, though he doesn’t know why.

JESSICA: Did you win squash?

SIMON: No.

JESSICA: Andy played good hey?

SIMON: Yeah, sure did.

JESSICA: He was in good form?

Andy?

SIMON: Yeah.

JESSICA: You’ve never invited him over?

SIMON: Andy’s just a squash mate.

SIMON:—

JESSICA:—

SIMON: You wanna eat out tonight?

JESSICA:—

SIMON: Italian, or something Asian?

JESSICA: I know.

SIMON:—

JESSICA: [sarcastically quoting him] ‘I could never look at another woman.’

SIMON: What? /

JESSICA: You’re having an affair, aren’t you?

SIMON: What?

JESSICA: I came down to the squash courts.

SIMON: You went—

Beat.

You checked up on me?

JESSICA: I had something to / tell you.

SIMON: You checked up on me.

JESSICA: I saw her!

Who is she?

SIMON: Don’t you fucking trust me?

JESSICA: As it turns out maybe I shouldn’t.

Just tell me—who is she?

I need the truth.

SIMON: Jess she’s no-one.

JESSICA: Do you love her?

Because if you do—

Look at me, and tell me the truth.

Do you love her? /

SIMON: You have it all wrong.

JESSICA: Tell me!

SIMON: Andy. She is Andy.

JESSICA: You said she was a man.

SIMON: You assumed /—

JESSICA: Tell me the truth Simon,

How long have you been fucking her?

SIMON: Jess. No.

I just talk to her.

JESSICA:—?

SIMON: It’s private.

JESSICA: Private!?

SIMON: She’s a psychologist.

JESSICA: A psychologist!

You were at squash. I saw you.

SIMON: It makes it easier to talk.

She just bent the rules a bit.

Jess, I love you. You.

JESSICA: You never said you saw a psychologist.

SIMON: I’m not supposed to talk about it. I’m okay. It helps.

JESSICA: So what do you talk about? Me?

SIMON: No. Yeah. You, work. Everything.

My past. Childhood stuff.

JESSICA: About your stepfather?

SIMON nods.

Did he do more than the broken arm?

Oh babe, did he—?

SIMON: I’m tired Jess,

It’s—

I’m trying—

I want to be someone worthy of you.

A worthy husband.

But /—