The scene is a village hall where preparations are being made for the annual bazaar of the Eppleworth women’s friendship circle. Several women are arranging items on stalls, moving tables and chairs and so on. Enter stage right Jean Jones and Margaret Dash carrying bags of goods for the stalls.

MARGARET... haven’t seen you for ages, you never come to the meetings. Is everything all right?

JEAN Yes, of course it is, I’m just very busy that’s all.

MARGARET How’s that boy of yours these days? Does he come home at all?

JEAN “That boy” as you call him is my son Adam, and of course he comes home, quite often in fact..

MARGARET Is he working?

JENA He’s a student. Do you imagine he spends his time swanning around the Med. on his yacht?

MARGARET Sorry Jean, I didn’t mean to

JEAN It’s all right, forget it. (Turns away wiping her eyes surreptitiously. Margaret goes over to the stall and starts unloading the bags. enter Dorrie Martin)

DORRIE Hello Margaret, same old faithful few here I see. My Jack says we are muggins, we should make some of the others take a turn.

MARGARET Your Jack is always full of bright ideas.

DORRIE Here, What’s up with Jean?

MARGARET She’s a bit snappish, but she says she’s all right. Why do you ask?

DORRIE She seems to be crying.

MARGARET I think it is something to do with that son of hers.

DORRIE I shouldn’t be surprised. I saw him yesterday morning, lying propped up against a tombstone in the cemetery. He looked as if he were asleep. No respect these days, even for the dead.

MARGARET I guess he was dead ... dead drunk (laughs)

DORRIE I don’t think so. He had a book on his chest as if he had been reading, but the funny thing was I had the feeling he wasn’t really asleep but was watching everyone that went by.

MARGARET What, with his eyes shut?