(Ian has been tricked into taking a look at Sheila's place, which she is vacating as part of her big move.")

IAN MACKENZIE
Well, hello, David.

DAVID ASHTON
(confused)
Hello, mate.

IAN
On leave?

DAVID
Uh, yes...uh, just a week.

IAN
Uh, I didn't know you were coming.

DAVID
Uh, no, I didn't know myself until yesterday. I thought I'd spend a few days at home with the old man and then go and see the kids. You, uh... You don't happen to know where Sheila is, do you?

IAN
Well, she's staying with us, actually. Uh, but she's gone out for the day. Why? Did you want to see her?

DAVID
No. No, I just... I just came around to pick up a few odds and sorts, you know.
(puzzled)
What are you doing here, anyway?

IAN
(chuckling)
Ah! Well, they were pulling my leg...Freda and Sheila. I've never been here before, you see, and, uh, Sheila said she'd be leaving here soon...

DAVID
Leaving? Where's she going, then?

IAN
Uh, she didn't say.
(resuming his thought)
It's just that Freda and I were thinking of buying a place. I've always wanted to move into somewhere smaller, you see, and...

DAVID
(smiling)
Ah, big joke, hey?

IAN
Well, it was, uh, intended to be.

DAVID
Yeah, well, it's no joke living here, mate, believe you me.

IAN
No. I was going to say I think perhaps it was intended to have serious undertones.

(Though sad, David cannot help but laugh at the irony.)

DAVID
So, when are you and Freda going to start a family, then?

IAN
Oh, I don't know...sometime, I suppose.

DAVID
You were lucky, though, weren't you?

IAN
Lucky?

DAVID
Yes, that you didn't have children by your first marriage. Otherwise, you'd have been stuck with it.

IAN
Well, we wanted them, actually...only, uh, it just didn't happen. Maybe if it had...well, you always seem to try harder when there's children involved, don't you?

(Instantly, he regrets making that thoughtless remark.)

IAN
Oh, God, I'm sorry. This must be very painful for you.

DAVID
No. No, I...
(laughing nervously)
I think you're right. I think you do try a bit harder. But, uh...not always hard enough, it seems.

 

(from "Thicker Than Water" by John Finch)