— Yes well, yes maybe postponing it would be a good idea wouldn't it, let the movie run in the theatres while their profits pile up and then sue them and the theatres and distributors and advertisers all of them sue all of them, that way we'd get…
— Try that and they'll get you on laches first cat out of the bag.
— Oh. Well what, Harry warned me about laches but what…
— That's where you do exactly what you're saying here, what they call sleeping on your rights even if it's plain negligence, leges vigilantibus and the rest of it. The laws aid the vigilant, you hold back like that and give them grounds for laches you're out of the ball game before it hardly starts.
— Oh. I see what you mean yes but I thought, these legal fees I was thinking once we break through this No Fault nonsense and get down to the damages for the pain and suffering in this accident case and my scar, my academic career and the whole lecture circuit where I, what are you doing…
— Just show you something.
— But you, why are you taking off your shirt what…
— Not taking it off, just show you something here.
— God!
— Collar bone right down to the groin, how's that. See if I was this male model or some ballet dancer there goes my living, see what I mean? I mean maybe you haven't got the greatest case there either.
— I, yes I see what you mean but I, but this case it's all on a contingency basis so even if I…
— Tell you what I'll do. I'll go see the movie and you give me a copy of the play, read it on my own time I just got kind of interested in it and if…
— But this is my only copy, this and the one in the sealed envelope I can't…
— No, you keep that like it is then. I'll go see the movie for the hell of it and that letter, you call me up if you find that rejection letter maybe we can still get someplace.
— Yes wait, wait your shirt's not tucked in… squeezing the horn, — she can let you out through the front.
— I'll find it. Sounded like a car pulling up out there. Hope you're feeling better.
— Yes and thanks Mister Basic, thanks for coming out here.
— You'll get the bill.
A cry pierced the hall — Eeeeeeee! a glass door slammed, the clatter of heels and then — Who was that!
— I told you on the phone, he's the…
— When I saw him I thought you were being robbed. Then I heard your little horn, are you okay Oscar?
— Yes but what are you doing here? You said you had all this shopping and something so awful you can't even tell me running around buying shoes and dresses what…
— Well look at me! Can you just look at me? My hair's a mess I know it, you don't have a comb do you you never have a comb and I broke a nail trying to open the window this morning, the way you sounded on the phone you probably think I just came to see you to get some money you always look so uncomfortable whenever it's mentioned the way your lips get real tight the way you're looking at me now because you hardly ever look at me when I've got any clothes on and look at them, I can't go to the funeral like this can I? All I've got are these tight skirts and blouses in these bright colours I don't even have shoes to go with this black dress that I just…
— To what funeral!
— It's Bobbie! Didn't I tell you it's always Bobbie?
— God. What, look there are tissues right there by the lamp here, sit down and tell me about it but, ow! my leg…
— It's like a matte jersey only they have to let the skirt down with this real low cut V neck but I can pin it with that bunny rabbit pin you gave me that time when we went to that battlefield place where the motel had that bed with the magic fingers and you wanted me to, are you even listening to me?
— Will you just tell me what happened?
— Don't you even remember? where the bed kept jiggling and…
— To Bobbie! What happened!
— I told you didn't I? that he got this Porsche? I don't know what to do. Did you eat yet? All I had was some coffee I'm starved, maybe it's something else feel right here, that lump? No inside, you can't feel through my clothes, did it get any bigger since last time? No, harder…
— If you'd go see a doctor…
— How can I go see a doctor if I can't pay him, I haven't even got that insurance they gave me at the phone company that's why I didn't ask you. I thought you were mad at me.
— About what, why should I be angry.
— When I went to that movie with Kevin, why shouldn't I. You never take me anyplace.
— How can I take you anyplace! I can't even, you didn't even really see the movie anyhow did you except for the parts about, where did you sit.
— Where did I sit?
— In the back? in the dark? where he could…
— Where he could what, what do you mean after this favour he's doing for you with this accident case where you haven't even paid him anything?
— It was his idea wasn't it? that he gets paid if we win? that he might take almost half? And what about your divorce? how are you paying him for that unless he, unless you're paying him with some different kind of coin…
— I don't even know what you're talking about.
— You know exactly what I'm talking about I, have you? been to bed with him?
— What?
— I said have you slept with him.
— No!
— All right then, if that's…
— No stop it! Get your hand away, you hurt my feelings you don't even think I have any, everything I say you insult my intelligence right to my face while you're trying to put your hand in my…
— All right then. If you, oh Ilse? Wait, listen do you want some of that Alfredo sauce with the…
— I'm not hungry! I have to go anyway, I don't know why I even came over here to see you. I thought I could talk to you but you don't even listen, do you think I came over here to beg? The way you're looking at me right now that's all you ever…
— Listen. Sit down. Do you need…
— I can't sit down. I told you I have to go didn't I? to get my hair done, do you think I can go to Bobbie's funeral down there like this where everybody's looking at me? They won't even do the alterations on that dress till I pay them a hundred seventy nine dollars and they can still get it done by tonight if I can even go in the first place because the airplane fare is over four hundred dollars and…
— Listen. Right over there, my checkbook's right there where you left it the last time, there's a pen…
— That's round trip. You want me to come back don't you? Here. And two dollars for that stuff you spray underneath so the dress doesn't cling to my, with this minister they've got down there that's why I need the skirt lengthened or they'll think I'm some kind of a…
— Wait. Wait, before you go there's just one thing, there's a letter I have to find it may be in one of those boxes over there behind the…
— I can't! I can't Oscar I have to hurry before the stores close and this hairdresser… folding the check, leaving a streak of lipstick on — your little scar, I'm glad it's all better you'd hardly notice it… and after the clatter of heels, the slam of the glass doors, the parting roar of the car left a stillness broken finally, hesitantly, by a toot, toot, echoing into the hall, and then abruptly more insistent, as though fusing despair with a note of defiance, of hazard, even merriment, envisaging the rakish tilt of that careening tricycle rounding the blind corner, toot! toot! toot!
— You can see the shape the lawns are in, and the painting, of course the whole place needs painting, all the trim I mean, it's too late to do anything about the shingles the dampness comes up from the ground and simply rots them but you can't really be surprised, standing out here for almost a hundred years in the weather that comes in from the ocean, the way the veranda sags you came in that way, didn't you? You wonder what holds it up. I've asked Ilse to bring in some tea, the therapist has him out there in the sunroom, they shouldn't be much longer. Would you like some toast or anything?