I can’t.

Charlotte stands up, starts getting her things together. They stand looking at each other, he goes to kiss her, she moves away, kisses his face and walks offstage. He stands there looking like he’s been kicked in the guts. She doesn’t look back. He stares after her until she’s

gone.

Ted Where’s Charlotte?

Danny Gone.

Ted What do you mean, gone?

Danny I mean gone, mate.

Ted What, gone home, or –?

Danny Nah, like gone, gone away.

Ted Gone away?

Danny She’s booked a flight. She’s off, mate. Travelling. She’s gone. She just. Left.

Ted Fuck.

Danny I know.

Ted You alright?

Danny Yeah.

Ted Ah, mate.

Danny It’s alright. It’s not a thing.

Ted You ask her to stay?

Danny No.

Ted You gonna go after her?

Danny What? Nah. Nah. I couldn’t.

Ted Why not?

Danny What, like, go with her?

Ted Yeah. Why not?

Danny Well, you know, we got this gig next week. You know, a big one. Might be some labels there.

Ted You’re joking, right?

Danny No.

Ted Mate. I ain’t being funny, right? But I known you a long time, and every week of your life you got a gig, and it’s always gonna be a big one, and there’s always gonna be some label there, but there never is, is there? It’s just some dirty little bar that people think is cool coz the drinks are expensive and no one’s fuckin’ smiling. Every week, mate. And you ain’t been signed yet.

Danny So?

Ted So? Danny. I’m sorry, but your band’s no good, mate. I’m sorry. But, mate – your band’s fuckin’ shit.

Danny What?

Ted I’m sorry, mate.

Danny Prick.

Ted True though, innit?

Danny Fuck off.

Ted Mate, just this morning you’re chewing my ear off about this girl. I’m just sat there, trying to have a peaceful beer, give a little time to remembering our mate, and there you are, Charlotte this, Charlotte that; I’ve changed Ted, I’ve changed. I want more. I’ve had an epiphany.

Danny So?

Ted So what?

Danny So, what you saying?

Ted I’m saying, that I told you, Dan, I told you you had to take your chance.

Danny Did you know she was leaving?

Ted You know what your problem is, mate? You just sit around, expecting life to happen for you. Waiting for it all to just land in your fuckin’ lap. You’ve never failed, Dan. You’ve never fuckin’ failed. You’ve never tried. You need to fuckin’ try at least once, Dan, really fuckin’ go for it and try.

Danny What you talking about?

Ted I’m talking about sacrifice, Dan. What life’s all about. You gotta grow up, mate. Put yourself second. You know, you don’t have a right to happiness, Dan. You can’t just, you know, get it. It’s hard, innit, life. It’s tough. And loving someone, that’s hard too. It’s not meant to be roses and blow jobs forever. It’s fuckin’ hard work. It’s commitment, mate. It’s knowing the kind of day she’s had just by hearing the way her key turns in the door.