BARBARA
Well, it's a no go...really. Is it?

TONY BRIGGS
I'd have thought it was.

BARBARA
What with me living in the past, and you waiting for me to let it go. Is that what you want? Ghosts around the house?

TONY
I want you.

BARBARA
I have to wait, in any case...to know what happened, to know if there's the smallest hope.

TONY
I'll wait too.

BARBARA
(doubtfully)
Will you? I want a father for Stevie.

TONY
You've got one...here.

BARBARA
No, his flesh and blood.

TONY
Aw...it doesn't count. It doesn't mean anything.

BARBARA
Well, it does to me.

TONY
It can be worse than nothing.

BARBARA
Worse than being second best?

(Tony is stung by that comment and looks away.)

BARBARA
I'm sorry. I've hurt you. Well, if he hadn't come back...but he did. And those two people walked into the minefield.

TONY
Yes.
(sighing)
Yes.

(He laughs.)

TONY
I told him you wouldn't have me...my father. But I had to try.

(He laughs again.)

TONY
It was quite beyond his comprehension...couldn't believe that you'd turn me down. I'm not very sure that I like him, you know.

BARBARA
Yeah, but you go on being his son.

TONY
(annoyed)
What does that mean, for God's sake?

BARBARA
Well, I don't know. It's just there. It's a...a fact of life, I suppose. When there's no one else, there's always your own flesh and blood.

(She turns and walks out of Tony’s life, leaving him alone with his thoughts.)

 

(from "Flesh and Blood" by John Finch)