– A happy ending?
Just look at the last page.
– The last page, right … Well, there seem to be these two people …
These two people. Good. Go on.
– And they’re having some kind of conversation …
Some kind of conversation. That sounds nice. What kind of conversation?
– I’m just looking … Hold on …
What? What is it? You’ve gone a funny colour! What’s happening …?
– Wait, wait … Good God …!
Darling, please …! Say something!
– I’m going to say something, believe me! I’m going to say a great deal! In court! If I can just … just …
Just what?
– Remember the name of our solicitor …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Frayn was born in London in 1933 and began his career as a journalist on the Guardian and the Observer. His novels include Towards the End of the Morning, Headlong, Spies and Skios. His seventeen plays range from Noises Off, recently chosen as one of the nation’s three favourite plays, to Copenhagen, which won the 1998 Evening Standard Award for Best Play of the Year and the 2000 Tony Award for Best Play. He is married to the writer Claire Tomalin.
ALSO BY THE AUTHOR
FICTION
The Tin Men
The Russian Interpreter
Towards the End of the Morning
A Very Private Life
Sweet Dreams
A Landing on the Sun
Now You Know
Headlong
Spies
Skios
NON-FICTION
Constructions
Celia’s Secret: an investigation
(with David Burke)
The Human Touch
Collected Columns
Stage Directions
My Father’s Fortune
TRANSLATIONS
The Seagull (Chekhov)
Uncle Vanya (Chekhov)
Three Sisters (Chekhov)
The Cherry Orchard (Chekhov)
The Sneeze (Chekhov)
Wild Honey (Chekhov)
The Fruits of Enlightenment
Exchange (Trifonov)
Number One (Anouilh)
PLAYS
The Two of Us
Alphabetical Order
Donkeys’ Years
Clouds
Balmoral
Make and Break
Noises Off
Benefactors
Look Look
Here
Now You Know
Copenhagen
Alarms & Excursions
Democracy
Afterlife
Matchbox Theatre
Pocket Playhouse
FILM AND TELEVISION
First and Last
Remember Me?
COPYRIGHT
First published in the UK in 2020
by Faber & Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2020
All rights reserved
© Michael Frayn, 2020
Cover design by Faber
The right of Michael Frayn to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All characters, names, places and events in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, places or events is entirely coincidental
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–35501–3