Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones Page B

thought she was invited.
    George    ( intense, sexual ) Hello, bunny.
    George immediately tries to steal a moment with Flora. She is evasive.
    Flora    And George, you can go and get the wine out of the fridge. Then once Rosie arrives we’ll be more or less there.
    George    What is it?
    Flora    It looks like we’ve seen the last of summer.
    George    What’s wrong, bunny?
    Flora    I just want it all to go well.
    George    It will. This is the beginning of everything for us.
    Flora    Yes. Yes.
    They kiss.
    You will see to the wine though?
    George    Don’t worry. ( He exits singing. )
    Love is in the air, everywhere you look around
    Love is in the air, every sight and every sound –
    Flora smiles. She is left on her own. She looks around the garden, shivers slightly. She checks the table, moves a few things that Mercy had rearranged. Then she sees the pot of ashes.
    Flora    Oh Felix.
    She is about to move it when Rosie enters and interrupts her. She puts the pot back down.
    Rosie    Hello, Mrs Humble.
    Flora    Rosie. I’m glad you could come. It’s a crime we see so little of each other.
    They think about it and then embrace awkwardly. Rosie hands her a bottle of wine.
    Rosie    I’m not sure if it’s a very nice one.
    Flora looks at the label dubiously.
    Flora    Actually I never drink Italian white. It doesn’t agree with me. But I’m sure we can find a use for it.
    Rosie smiles knowingly, nods. Their chat is stilted.
    Take a seat. The others will be out in a minute.
    Rosie doesn’t sit.
    Rosie    The garden looks lovely.
    Flora    I’m worried it’s going to rack and ruin.
    Rosie    The flowers smell wonderful.
    Flora    Do they? This summer I don’t seem to be able to – How is the nursing?
    Rosie    I’m training to be a midwife now.
    Flora    Your father said. How lovely.
    Rosie    Yes. Although I get sick of the dads. The weeping and overwhelmed fathers. I could do without them.
    Flora    Mmm.
    Rosie    Probably because I had to go through it all on my own.
    Flora    Yes. ( She knows her name very well. ) How is…?
    Rosie    Felicity.
    Flora    Oh, yes. I should remember that.
    Rosie    She’s tremendous, in a little alien kind of way. At the moment her mission in life is to part her hair in the middle, in a perfect, undeviating straight line.
    Flora    You should have brought her.
    Rosie    I don’t think so. I’m still at the protective stage.
    Pause.
    Flora    I would have liked to have a daughter. I was convinced mine was going to be a little Jennifer. I knitted ferociously in pink. But it turned out to be a Felix.
    Rosie    Felicity is desperate for a little brother.
    Flora    I only had one viable fallopian tube and that had to be blown through. After Felix was born, I decided to rest on my laurels. It’s a funny thing, realising that you are no longer the heroine of your own life.
    Rosie    Mmm.
    Flora    ( awkward ) You must bring her round another day. Let her play in the garden.
    Rosie looks at her a moment.
    Rosie    You didn’t tell him that Felicity was his daughter. He didn’t know.
    Flora    ( carefully ) I told him the facts as I knew them. I thought if there was something important to say, that you would say it.
    Rosie    In your infinite wisdom.
    Flora    As far as I remember, just after Felix left you seemed to have rather a lot of male friends. In any case we didn’t really talk about you.
    Rosie    No, of course not. It must have been a relief. I didn’t cut the mustard, did I? Oh, it doesn’t matter. I’m very much of the ‘fuck you,