Cam and Hilary.
Cam Me and Dad used to sit there like ghosts in front of the telly.
The light flickering on his face, and his face was impassive and I was scared to say anything, in case I made him come round.
We spent nights like that. Months. I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t see a way out.
Catatonic. That’s what we were.
Well, that’s life. That’s what I told myself. You can’t expect everything to work out.
And after Mum died I just thought to myself, well, that will have screwed me up but I’ll just have to live with it. It takes ages for the fact that it really happened to sink in. Even now I think – maybe it didn’t happen. Cognitive dissonance.
Maybe she wasn’t knocked off her bike. Maybe she didn’t die.
That’s why it was so weird when you came in and you’d been knocked off your bike.
That could have been her, you know, a happy ending.
Mind if I smoke?
Hilary No.
Cam Sometimes I think, maybe it’s all some kind of practical joke and one day Mum’s going to come giggling out of a cupboard and say ‘Got you!’ We were a family that played a lot of jokes.
Hilary That’s just –
Cam My defences. Yes. Once my dad walked naked into the living room with a rose tied to his penis, only it was my gran. Mum had popped to the shop.
Hilary What must you think of me?
Cam I like you, obviously.
Hilary You must think – I mean this is –
Cam Lost your job, it’s thrown you off balance. Blame David Cameron. He’s a cunt.
Hilary I’d like to blame him – for this – but I’m not sure it’s rational.
Cam I wasn’t going out with Tilly.
Hilary I know. But you were in a way.
Cam I wasn’t her boyfriend. We hadn’t got to that point yet.
Hilary I just wanted –
Cam You really wanted me, didn’t you?
Hilary Yes, I did.
Cam I liked that.
Hilary Did you?
Cam Yes.
Hilary I don’t think we should do this any more.
Cam All right.
Hilary So that’s OK with you?
Cam Sure. I mean, have I got a choice?
Hilary Because that’s the best thing. I’m thinking of getting back with my husband.
Cam Look, I can take it. I can take anything after Mum.
Hilary I’m too old for you anyway.
Cam What’s the point in thinking like that? You like someone or you don’t.
Age doesn’t have to come into it.
Hilary That’s a good way to think.
Cam Unless you want to have kids. Even now science can do wonders.
That woman who had a baby when she was seventy but then she died of cancer.
Do you want a cigarette?
Hilary No. I gave up.
Cam Poor fucking baby. How weird is that. A test-tube dad and a pensioner mum whose carked it. I mean, who the fucking hell would you be?
Hilary I don’t know. I don’t want to judge those women.
Cam Pussy. Really irresponsible. Do you want to go for a walk?
Hilary I thought you had an essay to do.
Cam I get restless. Easily.
Well, you’ve got a nice memory.
Hilary That’s a strange way to put it.
Cam How else do you want me to put it?
Hilary I don’t know. It sounded a bit punishing.
Cam Yeah?
Hilary Yes.
Why did you come round again?
Cam I left my jumper. I was passing.
Hilary That was convenient.
Cam I thought you seemed – up for it.
Hilary Don’t tell Tilly.
Cam State the obvious.
Hilary How did you meet her?
Cam At a party. Months back. It was just after Mum, and we both were destroyed.
Hilary Destroyed?
Cam Booze. And we talked a lot and went upstairs.
Hilary And you?
Cam I cried. Mainly. Yes. Not much else went on. I tried to, but I was too rammed. She said, ‘How do you ever get over something like that? Your mum.’
She couldn’t imagine getting over it.
Hilary Did she say that? About me?
Cam Yeah. Even though you were an alcoholic.
Hilary I am not an alcoholic.
Cam Teenagers speak in totalities. They don’t know grey.
Hilary She said that?
Tilly (voice, off) Hello.
Hilary (indicating kitchen) In there.
Cam goes into kitchen with clothes, closes the door.
Tilly Forgot my purse, free period.
Tilly goes upstairs.
Comes down.
See ya.
Hilary You don’t have to rush home after school tonight. If you want to hang out after. That’s OK.
Pause.
Tilly OK.
Hilary I trust you. I’m sorry.
Tilly OK.
Hilary Give me a hug.
They hug.
I think things are going to be fine. Between us.
What’s out there scares me, that’s all. I think you’re fantastic.
Tilly You don’t hate me?
Tilly OK. Laters.
Exits. Goes out without her bag.
Cam comes out naked with a flower tied to his penis.
Cam That was fucking close.
Tilly re-enters for her bag.
Tilly Forgot my –