DAVID ASHTON
(shouting up the stairs to his wife)
Come on, Sheila! We're waiting!

PETER ASHTON
She's painting her face. Mrs. Thomas says painting faces is wicked.

DAVID
(laughing)
Does she?
(serious again)
So, uh, what did you do at school, then?

PETER
(shrugging his shoulders)
Well...you know.

DAVID
Well, what are you good at?

PETER
Nothing much.

DAVID
Hey, you'll have to pass exams, you know, if you want to go in the Air Force.

(Peter shrugs again, disinterested.)

DAVID
(angry at Sheila)
Where is she?

(He turns his attention back to Peter.)

DAVID
Women! They always keep you waiting, hey? Anyway, we'll have a good time at your Granny's today. She always puts on a good dinner.

(Peter remains silent.)

DAVID
Well, answer me, Peter.

PETER
Yeah...

DAVID
(very serious)
Look, when I get annoyed with you sometimes, and I...I shout at you, I'm only shouting because I, uh, think a lot about you. You know that, don't you?

(Peter does not respond.)

DAVID
Look, with me not...you know...being able to be here on Christmas morning, uh, you can have your present now if you like. Or would you rather wait 'til tomorrow?

PETER
Tomorrow...

DAVID
(disappointed)
All right. I'll, uh... I'll give it to Mommy, and she'll give it to you in the morning. Are you sure you wouldn't like it now?

PETER
(aloof)
No.

DAVID
All right, please yourself.

(He storms toward the stairs.)

DAVID
Where the heck is your mother?
(shouting)
Come on, Sheila! You'll have it dark!

(He returns to Peter.)

DAVID
Hey, you've time to clean those shoes while we're waiting.

PETER
I cleaned them yesterday.

DAVID
It's today now, isn't it? Come on now. There's a good lad. Give them a quick polish.

(Peter frowns but walks toward the scullery.)

DAVID
And for God's sake, Peter, give over sulking. Come on...buck up a bit.

 

(from "A Hero's Welcome" by John Stevenson)