BILL | Listen, lady. I don’t know who you are, or what you’re after, but I’m not the sort of man you can play these games with. |
MARY | No. I’m sure you’re not. |
BILL | Try and get clever here and you’ll find I can play very rough. |
MARY | Is that what Mark Tilling found out? (PAUSE) You look taken aback, Bill. |
BILL | Mark Tilling? Is that where you got all this filth? |
MARY | Why – did he know about it too? (PAUSE) Bit of a slip, that. Rather given yourself away there, haven’t you? |
BILL | Who the bloody hell are you? |
MARY |
The question is, who are you? Are you an honourable man? Do you play according to the rules, or are you someone whose confidence can mean a stab in the back at any moment? (HE STARTS TOWARDS HER. SHE INSTANTLY RAISES THE VASE)
Don’t come any nearer. (HE STOPS)
|
BILL | You’re on the wrong track. I’m not the villain you appear to think. |
MARY | The evidence would not appear to support you. |
BILL | What evidence? |
MARY | The evidence Mark Tilling found, for one. |
BILL | I thought so. You’ve been talking to him. |
MARY | I can’t talk to him any more though, can I? He’s dead. Smashed up and burned to a cinder in his car. How convenient for you. |
BILL | That was nothing to do with me. I was miles away, on my way to Frankfurt. |
MARY | You weren’t miles away the day before yesterday. |
BILL | What the hell are you suggesting? |
MARY | I’m asking whether you’ll go to any lengths to get what you want. I’m asking whether you’ll commit murder. |
| (HE STARTS FOR HER WITH HIS FIST RAISED. SHE CALMLY LETS THE VASE FALL. IT SMASHES IN THE HEARTH. STUNNED PAUSE. HE STAGGERS BACK) |
BILL | Jesus Christ! You’re insane! |
MARY | I don’t think so. It’s only a vase. What’s that against a man’s life? |
BILL | What do you want? |
MARY | Just the truth. |
BILL | What is your connection with Mark Tilling? |
MARY | None.He’s dead. |
BILL |
What was your connection?
|
MARY | I was hoping to marry him. |