Hilary, Mark. Bedroom.
Hilary gets into bed.
Pause.
Hilary That’s quite a day. It’s strange isn’t it? Not waiting for someone to come in.
How was the drive to the station?
Mark Uneventful.
Hilary I don’t think she wanted me to come. I think I made the right decision not to come.
Mark You said goodbye here.
Hilary I offered to go up on the train with her. She said that would be a waste of money. She’d rather have the money.
Mark Well –
Pause.
Hilary I suppose that’s considerate. I’m not working. How’s it at your work?
Mark Hanging on.
Hilary I expect we’ll survive. (She gets Great Expectations.) Where were we? Pip. (She searches through. She stops.) Then I said to her yesterday, I said, ‘Well it’s been a bumpy ride, hasn’t it?’
Mark What did she say?
Hilary Nothing. She was packing. I mean what do you say? I was starting to sound like something out of a Powell and Pressburger film. And then I said – ‘It’s all a journey of self-understanding, of knowing what you want and standing up for it. And that’s very important especially if you’re a woman.’ And that I’ve tried to pass on those values to her – even though – you know – I’m not perfect.
Mark Yes.
Hilary And she turned to me and she laughed.
Mark What kind of a laugh?
Hilary Well, I was thinking about that afterwards.
And I couldn’t really – I don’t know.
Mark Right.
Hilary I just want her to be all right.
Mark Of course.
Hilary I think she will be. Do you?
Mark Yes.
Hilary As long as she doesn’t get into drugs or become the victim of a random terrorist attack or turn into a Tory. As long as she’s confident about being a woman.
Mark Yes.
Hilary She will ring us.
Pause.
She took that old toy. That – monkey thing. Jumpy.
And I was really touched that she was taking it because she never used to be able to sleep without it. And I said, ‘Oh, you’re taking that,’ and she said, ‘There’s this ceremony at Freshers’ Week. They light a bonfire and each fresher burns something that represents their childhood. Like a rite of passage. You drink shedloads and then you throw this object on to the fire and watch it burn.’ She thought she’d immolate Jumpy.
So I tried to be, like we said, not to be too – to hold on too tight. So I said, ‘Well, if that’s your decision –’ and she said, ‘God no, what do you think I am, some sort of sick bitch?’
It was a joke.
Pause.
Are you awake?
Mark Yes, I’m awake.