JOHN PORTER
(to Ian)
Do you mean to say that that's the absolute maximum...?

(Margaret walks into the room and interrupts John's conversation with Ian.)

MARGARET PORTER
What's all this, then...Men's Christian Fellowship?

(She is on her way to the kitchen to prepare tea, until John speaks up.)

JOHN
(surly)
There's some in the pot.

MARGARET
Oh. Thank you.
(to Ian)
Freda still asleep?

IAN MACKENZIE
(taking the hint)
Yes, I... I think I'll go and see.

MARGARET
Uh, look, if you two were telling each other smutty stories, please carry on.

JOHN
Oh, just shut up, Margaret.

(Ian takes this opportunity to leave the room.)

MARGARET
(snapping at John)
Don't tell me to shut up.

JOHN
Come back to have a row, have you?

MARGARET
I've had a good walk and a good think, and I've made up my mind about one or two things.

JOHN
(cynical)
Oh? Lovely.

MARGARET
Are you still interested in that house I told you about?

JOHN
Yes, of course I'm interested.

MARGARET
Then you'd like to go and have a look at it?

JOHN
Well, we can look at it, I suppose. It wouldn't put us under any obligation, would it?

MARGARET
You mean it doesn't put you under any obligation.

JOHN
I meant what I said.

MARGARET
Well, whether you did or not, if I like that house, we're going to have it.

JOHN
(offended)
What if I don't like it?

MARGARET
I go with the house, John.

JOHN
(laughing sarcastically)
Ah, that gives me a big say in where we live, doesn't it?

MARGARET
And about that teachers' training course? You'd better make up your mind whether you're going to do it or not by Christmas because that's when I hand in my resignation. Unless, of course, you do decide to do it...then I'll gladly carry on working.

JOHN
Issuing ultimatums now?

MARGARET
Yes, I am. I've come to the conclusion that men are basically selfish creatures. They put themselves first and their families afterwards...

(John mumbles to himself, mimicking his wife.)

MARGARET
...and if they feel like packing up, they just pack up and go, leaving the responsibilities, in the form of children, for someone else to look after.

JOHN
(resentful)
I'm not David.

MARGARET
Oh, no, no. You wouldn't leave me for just sordid, physical reasons. There'd have to be something much loftier there for you. But I'm not going to sit at home like Sheila, John, with two kids and no money, wondering whether my husband's coming home for Christmas...and what lies I'll have to tell them if he doesn't.

JOHN
(still hurt)
Comparing me to David...

MARGARET
There'll be no second chance with me, John. If you go, you go.

JOHN
Suppose I did go, what difference would this house business make?

MARGARET
It would make it that much harder, wouldn't it?

JOHN
Mmm.

MARGARET
I can be selfish, too. If you don't like it, you're going to have to make your mind up pretty soon.

 

(from "The Old Order Changeth..." by John Finch)