(Freda has arrived at the Mackenzie home, wishing to have a frank talk with Ian about his ex-wife, Mary.)

IAN MACKENZIE
Freda, before you say anything, there was some question of Mary staying longer. Well, I'm asking her to go.

FREDA ASHTON
Well, I hope it isn't because of me. I mean, it really doesn't concern me, don't you know?

IAN
Well, it would...if there was anything to be concerned about. But there isn't...honestly.

FREDA
(smiling)
I know there isn't...not in that way. It's not that.

(Mary enters the room.)

MARY RAMSDEN
(seeing a young woman with Ian)
Oh! Hello.

IAN
Uh... Uh, Freda, this is Mary.

(Mary walks over to Freda, and they shake hands.)

FREDA
Hello, Mary.

MARY
Hello.
(to Ian)
Ian, I’ve been thinking...

IAN
Look it doesn't seem as if anything is going to crop up for you for at least a week or two. Um, the problem is accommodations, so I thought that if...

MARY
That's very sweet of you, Ian, dear, but I've been thinking. Pauline asked me to go and help out at Blackpool some time ago. She's... She's full of RAF boys...they train at the Winter Gardens. I think I'll give it a try. Might solve the problem.

IAN
(relieved)
Well, yes, it would actually.

MARY
I should've thought of it before, shouldn't I?
(to Freda)
Well, Freda, it's hello and goodbye, then.

FREDA
Yes.

MARY
(to Ian)
I'll just go and say goodbye to your mother. Goodbye, Ian.

(She kisses her former husband, as Freda looks on.)

IAN
Goodbye, Mary.

(Mary begins to leave the room, but Ian has one more thing to say to her.)

IAN
Oh...if it doesn't work out...

MARY
I'm sure it will, but thanks anyway.
(to Freda)
Goodbye.
(to both of them)
Good luck.

(Mary leaves the room and closes the door behind her.)

FREDA
Now she tells you...
(fuming)
...as if she hadn't thought of it before! Can't you see that, Ian?

IAN
Freda, I'm not a fool.

FREDA
Just got a soft spot for her, is that it?

IAN
Well, of course I have! When you've been married to someone, and they go away, there's always something left behind. People become a part of you for all time, whether you like it or not. Good or bad, it...

FREDA
You gave her an open invitation to come back, Ian.

IAN
I'm all she's got, and all I can give her is help and advice...and not very much of that. Now, don't you think that's rather sad?

FREDA
Well, I just don't seem to be able to come to terms with the fact that I'm just one of the women in your life.

IAN
Well, that's only because you're so young. Now, I can't explain that logically. You have to take that on trust.

FREDA
Well, I can't be very trusting, then, can I? I'm obviously not very sophisticated or mature or understanding...

IAN
(interrupting)
Freda, I took you out last night to ask you to marry me.

FREDA
(surprised)
Oh. Well, it's a good job you didn't, then, isn't it? I mean, just look what you would've been stuck with...just somebody else to feel sorry for.

IAN
Freda, you're not being rational.

FREDA
(angry)
Well, then that's something else I'm not, isn't it? Rational!

IAN
Look... Look, I've got to go away tomorrow for three weeks. Now, if we're going to settle this, we'll have to do it now. Now, can we please talk about it calmly and...

(Freda turns and storms from the room.)

IAN
...rationally?

(Ian hurries after her, but Freda is in no state of mind to discuss their future "rationally.")

 

(from "Take It on Trust" by Roy Russell)