ACT TWO
A loud thunderclap. The storm increases in intensity throughout the remainder of the play.
CAROLINE continues laying the table.
LEO: Will you please look at me!?
CAROLINE: I am looking at you, darling!
LEO: No, youāre not!
CAROLINE: You couldnāt help me with this, could you?
LEO: I want to know why you havenāt told him yet.
CAROLINE: Weāll have the champagne before we eat of course.
LEO: This is really importantā¦
CAROLINE: Think your father wants to give you a little speech.
She stops moving and grabs the kitchen top, breathing hard.
LEO: Mum?
CAROLINE: Oh, Leo, I have done such a terrible, terrible thing.
LEO: Falling out of a taxi is hardly a terrible thing.
CAROLINE: You donāt understand.
LEO: You gave me your word that by the time Iād graduated youād haveā¦
CAROLINE: Will you pass me those please?
He passes her some plates etc.
LEO: If you donāt tell him right now then I promise you Iāllā¦
CAROLINE: Tonight is really not the best time.
LEO: Do you understand what Iām saying to you?
CAROLNE: And please donāt mention this silly idea of going off toā¦
LEO: In what way is it silly?
CAROLINE: Because itās yet another thing youāve not thought through properly.
LEO: You need to start putting me first for once in your life!
CAROLINE: I do put you first.
LEO: You always put him first.
CAROLINE: He needs me.
LEO: I need you.
CAROLINE: Not as much as he does.
LEO: Iāve only had your voicemail for the last four months!
CAROLINE: Iāve had the show, Iāve been publicising this book up and down the country, Iāve been renovating this house for sale.
LEO: Feels like youāre cutting me outā¦
CAROLINE: Iāve been buying the place in Cornwall.
LEO: Like youāre cutting me right out.
CAROLINE: Iāve also got my mother down there to deal with.
LEO: Whatever.
CAROLINE: Whom Iāve recently had to put into a home, Leo.
LEO: But you could still return my calls!
CAROLINE: Iām sorry I havenāt told your father yet. Because I will. But please, please let me pick the right time.
He sits, head in hands, as she continues to set the table around him.
This is supposed to be a happy occasion, darling. Youāve worked so hard for all these years and weāre both so enormously proud.
LEO: Well, you might be butā¦
CAROLINE: Oh God, Leo, what have I done?
LEO: What do you mean?
CAROLINE: What the hell have I done?
With an effort she calms herself.
Please. Tell your mother. Tell your mother about this broken heart of yours. What silly idiot has let you slip through their fingers?
LEO: Who do you think itās been broken by?
CAROLINE: I really donāt know.
LEO: Yes, you do!
CAROLINE: So it wasnāt byā¦Iwo-Jima?
LEO: What is the matter with you?
CAROLINE: I got her name wrong again, didnāt I?
LEO: Why are you doing this to me?
CAROLINE: Iām not intentionally doing anything to you!
LEO: Itās like youāre completely insane.
CAROLINE: Iām sort of all over the place right nowā¦
LEO: Is it because it goes against your stupid religion?
CAROLINE: My religion is not at all stupid!
LEO: Iāve had my heart broken by Rory! You understand? By Rory! Who is male!
CAROLINE: Can you please keep your voice down?
It now starts to rain outside. The rainfall increases throughout.
Rory is theā¦the Scottish chap?
LEO: (Angry.) Of course heās the Scottish chap!
A silence.
(Quieter.) Of course heās the Scottish chap.
CAROLINE: Iām sorry if you feel I havenāt been there for you. I really am.
No response.
But youāre still so young. There are so many bright, brilliant people out thereā¦
LEO: I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.
CAROLINE: I know itās hard if you believe you love someoneā¦
LEO: I donāt just believ...