An hour or two later. Dave alone, still at the desk. He holds a bundle of letters in one hand, and in the other hand a single letter, which he is reading. After a time, he grunts, replaces the pile of letters on the desk, pauses, reflects, looks at his watch, takes a small diary out of his top pocket and crosses to the telephone. He looks a number up, dials and waits.
Dave (North Country accent) ’Ello. Could I have the electrical department, please? … the electrical department … oh, is it? … oh, beg your pardon, mate, sorry … tara. (He puts the receiver down, riffles through his diary, dials again, waits. This time, he speaks with his normal accent.) Hello, Emma? … this is Dave … yes … yes, I know … what you up to this afternoon? … well, I thought you might like to pop round and visit me at the Savoy … that’s right … oh … can’t you put them off? … oh, well, never mind, perhaps next week sometime … well, I’m not sure, I’ll ring you nearer the time … OK, love, have to run now … yes … speak to you soon … bye. (He puts the receiver down, turns to another page in the diary, puts his hand out towards the phone, hesitates, then picks up the receiver, dials a number, waits.) Hello … yes, that’s right … well, I’ve been away … Cyprus … can you make lunch? … (With some relief.) Well, then, this afternoon … well, get your mother round … about three would be good … the Savoy … the Savoy Hotel … in the Strand … I don’t know what tube it is, get a taxi, I’ll pay you back … yes, ask for me at the desk … bring your wellies and half a pound of butter … it’s a joke … yes, all right … all right, love, see you later.
He puts the receiver down, sighs, puts his diary back in his top pocket, smooths his hair, crosses to the mirror, combs his hair, puts his comb away, rubs his chin, studies himself in the mirror. He stands looking at himself for some time, expressionless. Then he moves to the bookshelf, looks through the records and selects the Bob Dylan L.P. ‘Nashville Skyline’. He switches on the record-player, puts the record on and sets the needle down carefully at the beginning of the track ‘I Threw It All Away’. Then he sits down to listen to it. When the song finishes, he gets up quickly and moves the needle back to the beginning of the track, and, as the song begins again, returns to the mirror.