(Bob O'Connell, NAAFI delivery man, is finishing the meal Sheila prepared for him, and she is amused by his appetite.)

BOB O'CONNELL
I was hungry.

SHEILA ASHTON
There you are. You see, I knew you were. You are a bit shy, aren't you?

(He offers her a cigarette.)

SHEILA
No, thanks. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, should I? It's awful being told you're shy if you are, isn't it?

BOB
Well, I am a bit, I suppose.

SHEILA
How do you manage on your own?

BOB
Oh, I get along.

SHEILA
Best of a bad job?

BOB
Yeah, I suppose so.

SHEILA
Do you miss your wife?

BOB
(embarrassed)
Yeah.

SHEILA
No chance that she...?

BOB
No, no, no.

SHEILA
People are funny, aren't they?

BOB
Why?

SHEILA
Well, they are, aren't they?

BOB
No, I mean... How do you mean, funny?

SHEILA
Well, funny...queer, you know. I mean, she liked you enough to marry you, and I don't think you've changed all that much, have you?

BOB
No. I don't think so.

SHEILA
You're a nice man. I like you, and I think you are. So it must have been her that changed.

BOB
Yeah.

SHEILA
Why do you think she did?

BOB
I think it was the leg.

SHEILA
Do you mean she...?

BOB
No...I don't know. I just think that's what it was.

SHEILA
How did you get it?

BOB
Well, it was an accident. I was steward on a liner, and it got crushed during boat drill.

SHEILA
I don't think it was that, you know, that made a change. People don't change for things like that. People change for no reason...or no reason that you can see anyway. It wouldn't have made any difference to me. I want you to believe that. I want you to know that it's got nothing to do with that...why I don't want you to get keen on me, because I think you are a bit, aren't you?

BOB
Yeah.

SHEILA
It wouldn't be any good, you see. I'm sort of married for good and all. Do you know what I mean?

BOB
(sighing)
Yeah.

SHEILA
I'm very flattered, though...very.

(He looks downcast.)

SHEILA
Hey, come on... Oh, I feel awful, saying all this. I wouldn't have dreamed of it if I didn't like you so much. Hey, she must have been off her rocker, your wife. Are we friends, then?

BOB
(smiling)
Yes.

(He puts his hand on her arm, and just then David arrives.)

DAVID ASHTON
Sheila...

 

(from "The War Office Regrets" by John Finch)