CHARLES GOULD
Grace is having a bath. I'm Gould, her husband. You're a friend of Peter's, I believe.

DAVID ASHTON
(flustered)
Uh, yes. Yes, that's right.

CHARLES
You called to pick up a racquet.

DAVID
A racquet?

(He notices the tennis racquet on a table.)

DAVID
Oh, yes, a racquet, yeah.

(He hands Charles a small package.)

DAVID
Oh, some coffee.

CHARLES
Thank you. Did Grace pay you for this?

DAVID
No. Five and six.

CHARLES
(paying David)
Thank you.

DAVID
Thanks.

CHARLES
Grace, uh, didn't tell me your name, I think.

DAVID
Uh, Ashton. David Ashton.

CHARLES
Oh, I took your shaving gear out of the bathroom. It's in the case.

DAVID
Oh.
(guiltily)
Look, Gould, I...

CHARLES
No explanations, Ashton.

DAVID
I'm sorry, mate.

(Charles says nothing in response.)

DAVID
Well, there's not much point, is there?

CHARLES
No.

(David takes his belongings and begins to leave.)

CHARLES
Oh, give my regards to Peter. Tell him I didn't exactly get a hero's welcome.

(He sighs.)

CHARLES
Well, I'm not exactly a hero, though, am I?

 

(from "The Lucky Ones" by John Finch)