(Sheila is calling on her father-in-law at the printing works, now owned by Eric Fraser.)

SHEILA ASHTON
Dad?

(Deep in thought, Edwin is startled to hear a voice.)

SHEILA
(laughing)
Hello. Were you miles away?

EDWIN ASHTON
Not so much miles...more years. What brings you over here on Christmas Eve?

SHEILA
Well, David has come home.

EDWIN
Oh. Well, come sit down.

(She walks over to the chair.)

EDWIN
Put your feet up, if you like.

SHEILA
He turned up last night, out of the blue.

(She sits in the chair.)

EDWIN
Are you pleased or sorry?

SHEILA
(smiling)
Oh, what do you think?

EDWIN
I think you're either a saint or a fool...a bit of both, maybe.

SHEILA
I don't know. Maybe I'm just somebody who's only got one life to live and is stuck with a man for...
(shrugging her shoulders)
... better or worse.

EDWIN
You wouldn't have said that if you'd gone through with that divorce...and this is his father talking.
(sighing)
I remember saying to him in this very office, "When are you going to grow up?" or words to that effect.

SHEILA
I think perhaps he has now, actually. Maybe it's too late...I don't know. Anyway, that's why I've come.

EDWIN
How'd he get on in London?

SHEILA
Oh, Dad, I haven't dared ask.

EDWIN
I suppose that means you don't need to.

SHEILA
(quietly)
He's... He's right down there, Dad.

EDWIN
All dressed up, and nowhere to go...

SHEILA
(giggling)
No, he's not even that now. He looked as if he'd slept in his suit for a week when I opened the door to him. He's got piles of dirty washing in his bag...weeks old, by the smell of it.

EDWIN
I was thinking of him just now, you know.

SHEILA
Were you?

EDWIN
The time he came to this office and asked me for a job.
(frowning)
My God, times haven't changed, have they?

SHEILA
(laughing)
Well, not for me they haven't, no. I still can't afford to live.

EDWIN
Ah... I'll see what I can do.

SHEILA
Thank you.

EDWIN
Would you like me to try and wangle you a cup of tea?

SHEILA
Oh, no thanks, no. I'm supposed to be out shopping. I better get back. Um...you won't let him know I came here, will you?

EDWIN
Don't you think he ought to be made to realise what he's owed to you all these years?

SHEILA
Oh, no, Dad. Come on. I don't want to rub his nose in it. Anyway, what do I do, huh? Come around here, bothering you for help? That's about all I do.

EDWIN
Yes, well, I'll, uh... I'll come around this evening on the way home. I'll find some excuse.

(Smiling, Sheila stands up and heads toward the door.)

EDWIN
How are the kids?

SHEILA
Oh, they're fine. They... They keep asking when they can go back to Wales, hey? They don't like Liverpool anymore.

EDWIN
(smiling)
Ah... I'll see you tonight, then.

(Sheila walks over to Edwin and puts her arm around his shoulders.)

SHEILA
Oh, thanks, Dad.

(She kisses him on the cheek, and Edwin nods his head with a smile, though it only lasts for a few brief seconds before a worried look takes its place.)

 

(from "...Yielding Place to New" by John Finch)