Dialogue Extract (Revenge)

by Robin Hawdon
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.