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| John | I thought you'd come sneaking back over the weekend. |
| Carol | I'm not sneaking. I've come for my things. |
| John | It was a pretty cowardly way to go, leaving a note. Didn't you have the guts to say it face-to-face? |
| Carol | Goddamit, John, I wanted to talk to you. I was in such a state and you didn't come home. Again! That night, of all nights, you had to go drinking. |
| John | We were OK till you went to university. Now you've turned into a ratbag bloody feminist. |
| Carol | I'm not a feminist, John. I'm a woman. And that's a whole lot better than being a drunken slob. |
| John | That's lovely, isn't it! I have a beer after work a couple of nights a week . . . |
| Carol | Until God knows how late! |
| John | And a game of golf on the weekend . . . |
| Carol | And come home reeking of liquor! |
| John | While you, Miss Goody-Bloody-Two-Shoes, spend all your time on that blasted course. What happened to home comforts? |
| Carol | What about my home comforts? Do you think I can attend lectures all week and spend my spare time being the little woman? I've got to study, damn you! Are you too stupid to see it would have been good for both of us? |
| John | It was always going to come to that, wasn't it. I wasn't stupid till you stepped up in the world, was I? Well I'm not stupid now! You can take what you want and get out. |
| John | Carol? What are you doing here? |
| Carol | Waiting for the bus, obviously. |
| John | Have you been to the office? |
| Carol | I wanted to see somebody. |
| John | Who? Have you been telling everyone about us? |
| Carol | I worked there too, remember. I'll visit when I want to. |
| John | I want you to come home, Carol. |
| Carol | Shh! Not here, John. |
| John | Look, I'll change. You'll see. It'll be good again, just like it used to be. |
| Carol | Only until you feel secure again. |
| John | I'll let you keep on with the course. |
| Carol | You're unbelievable, John. I don't need your permission. I'm my own person now and I like it. |
| John | Carol, Carol, do you hate me so much? |
| Carol | Of course I don't hate you. I never did. I just can't live with you, that's all. |
| John | You know I love you, don't you. |
| Carol | For God's sake, John, not here, not now. |
| John | Will there be another time? – Well, will there? |
| Carol | Maybe. We'll see. |
| John | I'll do anything for you. Give me a chance. |
| Carol | Look . . . |
| John | A month. Give it a month and see how you feel. Isn't it worth a chance? |
| Carol | All right. In a month. We'll meet then. |
| John | You look well, Carol |
| Carol | Hello John. |
| John | I've missed you. |
| Carol | I've missed you too. I suppose we got used to each other. How are you coping? |
| John | Well enough, I suppose. I've got a lot to learn. I guess I took you pretty much for granted. |
| Carol | I guess you did. |
| John | Have you reconsidered? |
| Carol | No, John. I'm sorry, really sorry. There weren't any dramatic problems, were there? We just drifted apart. |
| John | It was that course of yours that started the trouble. |
| Carol | You're probably right, but not for the reason you think. When I needed your support it wasn't there. You weren't just apathetic, you were hostile. – You know, I was so proud of my results last year. I wanted so much to share them with you, but you weren't even interested. |
| John | I thought you'd shut me out of that part of your life. |
| Carol | You weren't excluded, John. You felt excluded. There's a big difference. |
| John | You were selfish too, you know. |
| Carol | I suppose I was. I wanted so badly to be successful. |
| John | Even though I was alienated by it? |
| Carol | Yes, you're right. I have been selfish. |
| John | I know this sounds corny but could we still be friends? |
| Carol | Of course we can. But not yet. We need time to adjust. |
| Carol | Your partner looks . . . interesting. |
| John | Jackie? She's fun. Being unattached does have its advantages. You haven't been seeing anyone yourself? |
| Carol | Well, I've been awfully busy. |
| John | Oh, yes, the study. You ought to take time off to get a bit of sex. Do you the world of good. You wouldn't have much trouble – you're not bad looking, you know. |
| Carol | You certainly haven't changed for the better. |
| John | Hey! I'm only thinking of you. You've got no man, no income and no accommodation of your own. You were the one who walked out but I've got all the advantages. |
| Carol | I'm not doing so badly. |
| John | How are you making ends meet? Part time work? Waitressing, maybe, or pushing a broom? Anyway, you know you won't be happy living with your parents indefinitely. |
| Carol | Do you remember the day we met at the bus stop? (He nods.) I'd just been to see Alan Grimble. |
| John | The personnel guy? |
| Carol | The company apppoints cadet managers from time-to-time. |
| John | I know that. There's one starting in my section next Monday. A woman, for Chrissake! |
| Carol | Uhuh! A woman. |
| John | Oh my God! You don't mean . . . |
| Carol | It'll be tough at Uni part time but there's study leave included in the package. I hope you and I will be friends, John – but as of Monday, you can call me Boss. |
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