(As Peter Bryant enters the billet, there is a noisy commotion out in the hallway.)

DAVID ASHTON
What the hell is that all about?

PETER BRYANT
Oh, Baxter's complaining. He lost the station bike in June, and they're taking it out of his pay. You know, he reckons he gets sixpence a night, after deductions. Sixpence for a trip over Hamburg...my God! Oh, thanks for the book, old chap.

(He tosses the book on a table and begins to leave.)

DAVID
Hey, Peter. Do you have any idea where we're going tonight?

PETER
Oh, it's been scrubbed. So it's leave from now on, my lad.

DAVID
Oh! Thank God for that!

PETER
Yes, I thought you'd be pleased. Uh, I rang Grace last night, as a matter of fact.

DAVID
Oh, yeah...

PETER
Well, Charles is in Scotland, and I get the impression they've more or less separated.

DAVID
Did... Did she tell you to tell me that?

PETER
Well, she dropped a fairly massive hint that you wouldn't object if I did. So why don't you come down to London with me and see where the bright lights used to be, hmm?

 

(from "Happy Returns" by David Weir)