(Edwin has answered the telephone.)

EDWIN ASHTON
(shouting to his daughter upstairs)
Freda...

(There is no response.)

EDWIN ASHTON
Freda!

FREDA ASHTON
(running downstairs)
For me?

EDWIN
Who else...at this time of the morning?

FREDA
Who is it?

EDWIN
The jolly swagman.

FREDA
Owen?

EDWIN
I gather he's coming on leave, and he wants to stay.

FREDA
(brightly)
Oh!

(Edwin hands the telephone receiver to his daughter.)

EDWIN
And tell him, "Bed and breakfast, seven and six."

(Edwin walks away, toward the kitchen.)

FREDA
(to Owen Thomas, over the telephone)
It's all right...just Dad having his little joke.
(smiling, in response to Owen)
Yes. Yes, if you want to.

(Edwin enters the kitchen, where Jean is preparing breakfast.)

EDWIN
(playfully)
You know, we ought to get a register. It's like an hotel these days...people coming and people going.

JEAN ASHTON
(glumly)
She didn't come back last night, then.

EDWIN
Margaret? No. Well, it's just as well she didn't, once that raid got started. It was as nasty as any we've had.

JEAN
It's no use pretending with me, Edwin. I know she's gone to live with him. She wouldn't have come back anyway. She'll come back today for her things, I suppose.

EDWIN
Do you mind very much?

JEAN
Yes. It's the best thing for her, though, isn't it? The only thing, probably, for her and the babies.

EDWIN
Will John George stay here, for the time being?

JEAN
In the daytime, I suppose...until she's finished at the school anyway. Did she say anything to you about handing her notice in?

EDWIN
Well, she won't hand it in just yet...not until things are settled.

JEAN
Settled? In what way?

EDWIN
Well, between her and Michael.

JEAN
They are settled, aren't they?

EDWIN
Well, there's a chance that he might go into one of the services.

JEAN
He's a conscientious objector. He's been exempted.

EDWIN
Well, it seems he's not too sure of his beliefs anymore. I talked to him the other night.

JEAN
Well...?

EDWIN
(becoming agitated)
Well, I can't decide his beliefs for him, can I?

JEAN
Don't you think he owes Margaret a little certainty?

EDWIN
(resentfully)
Yes, I do. And if what you've just seen is the only way, it could've been settled weeks ago if you'd faced up to it at the time. Why else do you think they held back? They were waiting for you...to get used to the idea.

(The doorbell rings.)

EDWIN
I’ll go.

(He leaves the kitchen, and Freda comes in, beaming with joy.)

FREDA
Owen's coming!

JEAN
(smiling)
Yes, I know that, love...but when?

FREDA
Oh...well...today.

JEAN
(laughing)
I better go and put some clean sheets on Margaret's bed, hadn't I?

 

(from "Hope Against Hope" by John Finch)