(John, Margaret, and Gwyn are in the front room of the Ashton home, and the two men are drinking whisky.)

MARGARET PORTER
(to Gwyn)
Wouldn't you like some water with that?

GWYN ROBERTS
Oh, well, uh...don't bother.

MARGARET
It's no bother.

(Margaret leaves the room.)

GWYN
I can't remember the last time I had anything stronger than beer. I thought you couldn't get this stuff.

JOHN PORTER
Oh, Margaret's uncle brings it. He knows there won't be any here, so he brings his own.

GWYN
Eh, black market, hey?

JOHN
Uh...probably.

GWYN
That, uh, won't stop me drinking it, you know.

JOHN
No, I didn't think it would.

GWYN
(laughing)
Trouble is, I don't hold my drink well. Get loud and nasty. Remember?

JOHN
Yeah.

GWYN
Amorous, too, these days. That's another thing I can't remember the last time. Can't seem to get interested in cows, you know.

JOHN
(chuckling, but then becoming serious)
What went wrong between you and Phil tonight?

GWYN
Oh, I don't know. What did? Philip used to think with his head. Now he's like all the rest of them...sloppy and sentimental. Between you and me, John, I'm... I'm highly critical of my own opinions presently. Get shut away from people too much, and you go a bit funny in the head, you know. Oh, I give Philip the benefit of the doubt, but...

(He laughs.)

(Margaret returns to the room with a small pitcher of water.)

GWYN
(to John)
Hey, listen. How are the class wars to be won? A story Philip was telling me...

(Margaret begins diluting Gwyn's drink, and he tries to get her to stop pouring the water.)

GWYN
Oh, thank you...Uh, thank you... Thanks.

(Margaret sits in an arm chair near the sofa, where Gwyn and John are talking.)

GWYN
Now, I don't remember why. Now, apparently there's this lovely wife who loves hubby, that's gone off for to be a soldier.

(Margaret eyes him suspiciously.)

GWYN
Now that's enough to break your heart for a start, isn't it? But it gets worse. Now, apparently, big, brave hubby gets caught short by the nasty, old Boches, doesn't he? Anyway, they all think he's killed. Lady waits.

JOHN
(softly)
Yes, I know what you mean...

GWYN
Now, I can warrant that there's nothing worse than waiting...and nothing happens. I mean, you'd almost rather anything happen than just nothing. Anyway, this lady ups and gets herself another...

(Margaret interrupts his story by reaching for the whisky bottle.)

MARGARET
John! Would... More to drink?

JOHN
Uh, no...
(looking at the clock)
Is that... Is the clock right?

GWYN
Look, I'm telling you about the faithless lady, man.

JOHN
(glancing at his wristwatch)
My watch must have stopped.
(standing)
You're going to miss your train.

GWYN
Oh, it doesn't matter. I can always sleep on the floor, if Philip's home.

MARGARET
(pointedly)
No, I don't think we could manage that.

GWYN
(rather hurt)
Not even the floor?

JOHN
Well, I'll get your coat. Yeah...

(He leaves the room.)

GWYN
(smiling again)
Oh, I was telling you about, uh...Philip's faithless friend. Now, where was I?

MARGARET
(furious)
No! If you ever come back to this house... If you so much as show your nose even...

GWYN
(confused)
Me? Why?
(laughing nervously)
Well, what have I done?

MARGARET
Just... Just go away from here! You only ever cause trouble when you come to this house.

(She turns away from him, and Gwyn is stunned by the accusation. Then he realises that the woman in Philip's story is Margaret.)

GWYN
It...
(swallowing hard)
I swear, I...
(shaking his head)
I didn't know.

 

(from "For the Duration" by David Weir)