(David is with Sheila in her new flat, and she is massaging her husband's weary shoulders after his long day of job hunting.)

SHEILA ASHTON
David, didn't your Uncle Sefton once say that he might have something for you?

DAVID ASHTON
Well, he knows I'm looking. If he had, I think he'd say. I'm not going begging, Sheila.

SHEILA
Well, even if he hasn't, he must know plenty of business people. I mean, people who are looking for somebody...well, somebody like you.

DAVID
Look, I'll find what I'm after without anybody's help. Then we're in nobody's debt.

SHEILA
(sighing)
Well, what are you after?

DAVID
What do you think I'm after? What we've never had...that's what I’m after.

SHEILA
You really think, then, that money would make all that difference?

DAVID
Well, it helps, doesn't it?
(smiling)
I mean, you can't do much without it. It's nice to go shopping with, isn't it?

SHEILA
Mmm.

DAVID
And about a decent school for the children when they come back...nice home, with a bedroom you can walk into without worrying about the bloody floor going through.

(They both laugh.)

SHEILA
Oh, come on. It wasn't all that bad. We had some good times before the war, didn't we?

DAVID
What...living in a slum?
(laughing)
Nicking the money for a pint out of the gas meter...

SHEILA
(smiling)
You never did that, did you?

DAVID
Didn't I?

SHEILA
(whispering)
David!

 

(from "The Sensible Thing" by Roy Russell)