Pause.
That’s what stopped me taking it, by the way, and bringing it to you, the thought that I could very easily be a total stranger.
Pause.
What they of course did not know, and had no way of knowing, was that I am your husband.
EMMA
Pretty inefficient bunch.
ROBERT
Only in a laughing Mediterranean way.
Pause.
EMMA
It was from Jerry.
ROBERT
Yes, I recognised the handwriting.
Pause.
How is he?
EMMA
Okay.
ROBERT
Good. And Judith?
EMMA
Fine.
Pause.
ROBERT
What about the kids?
EMMA
I don’t think he mentioned them.
ROBERT
They’re probably all right, then. If they were ill or something he’d have probably mentioned it.
Pause.
Any other news?
EMMA
No.
Silence.
ROBERT
Are you looking forward to Torcello?
Pause.
How many times have we been to Torcello? Twice. I remember how you loved it, the first time I took you there. You fell in love with it. That was about ten years ago, wasn’t it? About … six months after we were married. Yes. Do you remember? I wonder if you’ll like it as much tomorrow.
Pause.
What do you think of Jerry as a letter writer?
She laughs shortly.
You’re trembling. Are you cold?
EMMA
No.
ROBERT
He used to write to me at one time. Long letters about Ford Madox Ford. I used to write to him too, come to think of it. Long letters about … oh, W. B. Yeats, I suppose. That was the time when we were both editors of poetry magazines. Him at Cambridge, me at Oxford. Did you know that? We were bright young men. And close friends. Well, we still are close friends. All that was long before I met you. Long before he met you. I’ve been trying to remember when I introduced him to you. I simply can’t remember. I take it I did introduce him to you? Yes. But when? Can you remember?
EMMA
No.
ROBERT
You can’t?
EMMA
No.
ROBERT
How odd.
Pause.
He wasn’t best man at our wedding, was he?
EMMA
You know he was.
ROBERT
Ah yes. Well, that’s probably when I introduced him to you.
Pause.
Was there any message for me, in his letter?
Pause.
I mean in the line of business, to do with the world of publishing. Has he discovered any new and original talent? He’s quite talented at uncovering talent, old Jerry.
EMMA
No message.
ROBERT
No message. Not even his love?
Silence.
EMMA
We’re lovers.
ROBERT
Ah. Yes. I thought it might be something like that, something along those lines.
EMMA
When?
ROBERT
What?
EMMA
When did you think?
ROBERT
Yesterday. Only yesterday. When I saw his handwriting on the letter. Before yesterday I was quite ignorant.
EMMA
Ah.
Pause.
I’m sorry.
ROBERT
Sorry?
Silence.
Where does it … take place? Must be a bit awkward. I mean we’ve got two kids, he’s got two kids, not to mention a wife …
EMMA
We have a flat.
ROBERT
Ah. I see.
Pause.
Nice?
Pause.
A flat. It’s quite well established then, your … uh … affair?
EMMA
Yes.
ROBERT
How long?
EMMA
Some time.
ROBERT
Yes, but how long exactly?
EMMA
Five years.
ROBERT
Five years?
Pause.
Ned is one year old.
Pause.
Did you hear what I said?
EMMA
Yes. He’s your son. Jerry was in America. For two months.
Silence.
ROBERT
Did he write to you from America?
EMMA
Of course. And I wrote to him.
ROBERT
Did you tell him that Ned had been conceived?
EMMA
Not by letter.
ROBERT
But when you did tell him, was he happy to know I was to be a father?
Pause.
I’ve always liked Jerry. To be honest, I’ve always liked him rather more than I’ve liked you. Maybe I should have had an affair with him myself.
Silence.
Tell me, are you looking forward to our trip to Torcello?
1973 Later
SCENE SIX
Flat. 1973. Summer.
EMMA and JERRY standing, kissing. She is holding a basket and a parcel.
EMMA
Darling.
JERRY
Darling.
He continues to hold her. She laughs.
EMMA
I must put this down.
She puts basket on table.
JERRY
What’s in it?
EMMA
Lunch.
JERRY
What?
EMMA
Things you like.
He pours wine.
How do I look?
JERRY
Beautiful.
EMMA
Do I look well?
JERRY
You do.
He gives her wine.
EMMA (sipping)
Mmmnn.
JERRY
How was it?
EMMA
It was lovely.
JERRY
Did you go to Torcello?
EMMA
No.
JERRY
Why not?
EMMA
Oh, I don’t know. The speedboats were on strike, or something.
JERRY
On strike?
EMMA
Yes. On the day we were going.
JERRY
Ah. What about the gondolas?
EMMA
You can’t take a gondola to Torcello.
JERRY
Well, they used to in the old days, didn’t they? Before they had speedboats. How do you think they got over there?
EMMA
It would take hours.
JERRY
Yes. I suppose so.
Pause.
I got your letter.
EMMA
Good.
JERRY
Get mine?
EMMA
Of course. Miss me?
JERRY
Yes. Actually, I haven’t been well.
EMMA
What?
JERRY
Oh nothing. A bug.
She kisses him.
EMMA
I missed you.
She turns away, looks about.
You haven’t been here … at all?
JERRY
No.
EMMA
Needs hoovering.
JERRY
Later.
Pause.
I spoke to Robert this morning.
EMMA
Oh?
JERRY
I’m taking him to lunch on Thursday.
EMMA
Thursday? Why?
JERRY
Well, it’s my turn.
EMMA
No, I meant why are you taking him to lunch?
JERRY
Because it’s my turn. Last time he took me to lunch.
EMMA
You know what I mean.
JERRY
No. What?
EMMA
What is the subject or point of your lunch?
JERRY
No subject or point. We’ve just been doing it for years. His turn, followed by my turn.
EMMA
You’ve misunderstood me.
JERRY
Have I? How?
EMMA
Well, quite simply, you often do meet, or have lunch, to discuss a particular writer or a particular book, don’t you? So to those meetings, or lunches, there is a point or a subject.
JERRY
Well, there isn’t to this one.
Pause.
EMMA
You haven’t discovered any new writers, while I’ve been away?
JERRY
No. Sam fell off his bike.
EMMA
No.
JERRY
He was knocked out. He was out for about a minute.
EMMA
Were you with him?
JERRY
No. Judith. He’s all right. And then I got this bug.
EMMA
Oh dear.
JERRY
So I’ve had time for nothing.
EMMA
Everything will be better, now I’m back.
JERRY
Yes.
EMMA
Oh, I read that Spinks, the book you gave me.
JERRY
What do you think?
EMMA
Excellent.
JERRY
Robert hated it. He wouldn’t publish it.
EMMA
What’s he like?
JERRY
Who?
EMMA
Spinks.
JERRY
Spinks? He’s a very thin bloke. About fifty. Wears dark glasses day and night. He lives alone, in a furnished room. Quite like this one, actually. He’s … unfussed.
EMMA
Furnished rooms suit him?
JERRY
Yes.
EMMA
They suit me too. And you? Do you still like it? Our home?
JERRY
It’s marvellous not to have a telephone.
EMMA
And marvellous to have me?
JERRY
You’re all right.
EMMA
I cook and slave for you.
JERRY
You do.
EMMA
I bought something in Venice – for the house.
She opens the parcel, takes out a tablecloth. Puts it on the table.
Do you like it?
JERRY
It’s lovely.
Pause.
EMMA
Do you think we’ll ever go to Venice together?
Pause.
No. Probably not.
Pause.
JERRY
You don’t think I should see Robert for lunch on Thursday, or on Friday, for that matter?
EMMA
Why do you say that?
JERRY
You don’t think I should see him at all?
EMMA
I didn’t say that. How can you not see him? Don’t be silly.
Pause.
JERRY
I had a terrible panic when you were away. I was sorting out a contract, in my office, with some lawyers. I suddenly couldn’t remember what I’d done with your letter. I couldn’t remember putting it in the safe. I said I had to look for something in the safe. I opened the safe. It wasn’t there. I had to go on with the damn contract … I kept seeing it lying somewhere in the house, being picked up …
EMMA
Did you find it?
JERRY
It was in the pocket of a jacket – in my wardrobe – at home.
EMMA
God.
JERRY
Something else happened a few months ago – I didn’t tell you. We had a drink one evening. Well, we had our drink, and I got home about eight, walked in the door, Judith said, hello, you’re a bit late. Sorry, I said, I was having a drink with Spinks. Spinks? she said, how odd, he’s just phoned, five minutes ago, wanted to speak to you, he didn’t mention he’d just seen you. You know old Spinks, I said, not exactly forthcoming, is he? He’d probably remembered something he’d meant to say but hadn’t. I’ll ring him later. I went up to see the kids and then we all had dinner.
Pause.
Listen. Do you remember, when was it, a few years ago, we were all in your kitchen, must have been Christmas or something, do you remember, all the kids were running about and suddenly I picked Charlotte up and lifted her high up, high up, and then down and up. Do you remember how she laughed?
EMMA
Everyone laughed.
JERRY
She was so light. And there was your husband and my wife and all the kids, all standing and laughing in your kitchen. I can’t get rid of it.
EMMA
It was your kitchen, actually.
He takes her hand. They stand. They go to the bed and lie down.
Why shouldn’t you throw her up?
She caresses him. They embrace.
1973 Later
SCENE SEVEN
Restaurant. 1973. Summer.
ROBERT at table drinking white wine. The WAITER brings JERRY to the table. JERRY sits.
JERRY
Hullo, Robert.
ROBERT
Hullo.
JERRY (to the WAITER)
I’d like a Scotch on the rocks.
WAITER
With water?
JERRY
What?
WAITER
You want it with water?
JERRY
No. No water. Just on the rocks.
WAITER
Certainly signore.
ROBERT
Scotch? You don’t usually drink Scotch at lunchtime.
JERRY
I’ve had a bug, actually.
ROBERT
Ah.
JERRY
And the only thing to get rid of this bug was Scotch – at lunchtime as well as at night. So I’m still drinking Scotch at lunchtime in case it comes back.
ROBERT
Like an apple a day.
JERRY
Precisely.
WAITER brings Scotch on rocks.
Cheers.
ROBERT
Cheers.
WAITER
The menus, signori.
He passes the menus, goes.
ROBERT
How are you? Apart from the bug?
JERRY
Fine.
ROBERT
Ready for some squash?
JERRY
When I’ve got rid of the bug, yes.
ROBERT
I thought you had got rid of it.
Why do you think I’m still drinking Scotch at lunchtime?
ROBERT
Oh yes. We really must play. We haven’t played for years.
JERRY
How old are you now, then?
ROBERT
Thirty-six.
JERRY
That means I’m thirty-six as well.
ROBERT
If you’re a day.
JERRY
Bit violent, squash.
ROBERT
Ring me. We’ll have a game.
JERRY
How was Venice?
WAITER
Ready to order, signori?
ROBERT
What’ll you have?
JERRY looks at him, briefly, then back to the menu.
JERRY
I’ll have melone. And Piccata al limone with a green salad.
WAITER
Insalate verde. Prosciutto e melon
e?
JERRY
No. Just melone. On the rocks.
ROBERT
I’ll have prosciutto and melone. Fried scampi. And spinach.
WAITER
E spinaci. Grazie, signore.
ROBERT
And a bottle of Corvo Bianco straight away.
WAITER
Si, signore. Molte grazies. (He goes.)
JERRY
Is he the one who’s always been here or is it his son?
ROBERT
You mean has his son always been here?
JERRY
No, is he his son? I mean, is he the son of the one who’s always been here?
ROBERT
No, he’s his father.
JERRY
Ah. Is he?
ROBERT
He’s the one who speaks wonderful Italian.
JERRY
Yes. Your Italian’s pretty good, isn’t it?
ROBERT
No. Not at all.
JERRY
Yes it is.
ROBERT
No, it’s Emma’s Italian which is very good. Emma’s Italian is very good.
JERRY
Is it? I didn’t know that.
WAITER with bottle.
WAITER
Corvo Bianco, signore.
ROBERT
Thank you.
JERRY
How was it, anyway? Venice.
WAITER
Venice, signore? Beautiful. A most beautiful place of Italy. You see that painting on the wall? Is Venice.
ROBERT
So it is.
WAITER
You know what is none of in Venice?
JERRY
What?
WAITER
Traffico.
He goes, smiling.
ROBERT
Cheers.
JERRY
Cheers.
ROBERT
When were you last there?
JERRY
Oh, years.
ROBERT
How’s Judith?
JERRY
What? Oh, you know, okay. Busy.
ROBERT
And the kids?
JERRY
All right. Sam fell off –
ROBERT
What?
JERRY
No, no, nothing. So how was it?
ROBERT
You used to go there with Judith, didn’t you?
JERRY
Yes, but we haven’t been there for years.
Pause.
How about Charlotte? Did she enjoy it?
ROBERT
I think she did.
Pause.
I did.
JERRY
Good.
ROBERT
I went for a trip to Torcello.
JERRY
Oh, really? Lovely place.
ROBERT
Incredible day. I got up very early and – whoomp – right across the lagoon – to Torcello. Not a soul stirring.
JERRY
What’s the ‘whoomp’?
ROBERT
Speedboat.
JERRY
Ah. I thought –
ROBERT
What?
JERRY
It’s so long ago, I’m obviously wrong. I thought one went to Torcello by gondola.
ROBERT
It would take hours. No, no, – whoomp – across the lagoon in the dawn.