SHEILA ASHTON
He must care for you a great deal, your husband. A good man.

PEGGY GARTSIDE
Yes, he is.

SHEILA
There are one or two of them about, thank goodness.

PEGGY
You feel very bitter about David...

SHEILA
Well, don't you?

PEGGY
Oh, not now. I feel...well, I feel sorry for him, in a way. He told me you were going to marry another man, last time I saw him.

SHEILA
Is that when he asked you marry him?

PEGGY
(embarrassed)
Oh. He told you.

SHEILA
Yes. Yes, he said that you can love people in different ways.

PEGGY
Doesn't he want a divorce?

SHEILA
I think so. I don't know. I don't care all that much either. It wears off, you know.

PEGGY
Yes.

SHEILA
Look, Peggy, it's me that wants it...me. That's why I came to see you.

PEGGY
I would have said yes...given evidence, I mean...only it's him.

SHEILA
Your husband?

PEGGY
Yes. He's married me with another man's child. It's because of that I can't go against him, you see. He doesn't want to see the whole thing all stirred up again. He thinks it might get in the papers or something and people know. Well, we've started again out here. He likes people to think that she's...that June is his, you see. His pride, I suppose.

SHEILA
Yes, well, I can understand all that, but I don't really see why it should, you know, get in the papers.

PEGGY
I couldn't risk it. I'd never forgive myself if it's like he fears. Well, I know I could say to him it doesn't matter about people knowing...but it matters to him.

(Sheila says nothing, realising that Peggy's mind is set.)

PEGGY
Won't David give you the evidence? I mean, there must have been other...women.

SHEILA
Well, sometimes he will, sometimes he won't. He keeps changing his mind. I don't know. I'm... God, I'm sick of it.

PEGGY
I'm sorry. I'd like to help. Honestly, I would.

SHEILA
(sighing)
Well, never mind. It doesn't matter. I wouldn't have asked you if I'd known.
(smiling)
I'm glad I came anyway.

PEGGY
Curiosity?

SHEILA
Yes, a bit. You?

PEGGY
Yes.

 

(from "Thicker Than Water" by John Finch)