MARGARET ASHTON
Has Dad said anything?

PHILIP ASHTON
What about?

MARGARET
Well, that we'd asked Uncle, I mean.

PHILIP
In what way?

MARGARET
I forgot to...like an idiot. It didn't occur to me 'til after.

PHILIP
Well, what didn't occur?

MARGARET
Reg Clark's died, and we'll all be sitting there, wondering when Sefton will announce he's going to give Dad the job.

PHILIP
Yeah, well, surely...I mean...if he makes the...

MARGARET
(interrupting)
It was the wrong time. I mean, it could just look as if that was why we asked him.

PHILIP
Oh, now, Mags. Now, that really is being too sensitive.

MARGARET
Is it? Aren't we all a bit sensitive where Sefton's concerned? I am! I mean, you remember all the hoo-haw about having a phone in. He only did it so he could talk to Dad about work seven days of the week. Look, he knows that Dad's carried Reg Clark for the last few years. Every time he comes into the house, he makes sure to remind us that it's his...unless the roof happens to be leaking.

(Philip smiles.)

MARGARET
(becoming angry)
A man like Dad. He's worth twenty Seftons, and he has to wait around like a lackey to be told he's going to get the reward he should have gotten years ago.

PHILIP
Good for you!

(He kisses his sister on the cheek.)

MARGARET
No. Well, really!

PHILIP
(teasing)
Good for you! I love every word you've said. Up the revolution!

MARGARET
And don't bring politics into it.

PHILIP
(serious again)
But it is politics. Well, what hope is there when people like you can talk like that and not see that it is politics?

MARGARET
No, I won't have it.

PHILIP
It is politics.

MARGARET
I won't have it. No, any minute we're going to be off...and I won't. I won't! Not tonight. Now, tonight's going to be all right. Now, Mum's had a lot of worrying lately, and it's about time we let her know that we're on her side.
(sighing)
Look, now I've gone and forgotten the oven.

(She hurries to the kitchen.)

MARGARET

Hey, pass me that oven cloth, will you?

(Margaret ties on her apron.)

PHILIP
She knows, though, anyway.

MARGARET
Does she?

(With the oven cloth, she removes a pot that contains a baked chicken.)

MARGARET

Ah, she must have had grave doubts...mustn't she?...when you went off to Spain to actually fight in a war.

PHILIP
Well, I didn't actually fight in a war, but that's beside the point anyway.

MARGARET
(basting the chicken)
Yes. The point is, she was worried sick.

PHILIP
Well, do you think I didn't care?

MARGARET
Whether you cared or not, you did it. You'd do it again, wouldn't you?

(Philip does not answer.)

MARGARET
Well, wouldn't you?

(He remains silent.)

MARGARET
Oh, now, stop looking so guilty...and, for heaven's sake, go put your jacket on.

PHILIP
(smiling)
Yes, miss.

(He turns and walks away, and Margaret cannot help but smile too.)

 

(from "The Facts of Life" by John Finch)