Frank: (Smiling) He’s nothing like me then.
Rita: No.
Frank: Excellent! He sounds like a splendid teacher Ri…
Rita: (Interrupting) Don’t be daft Frank. Look at you, head of department here in Sydney, that’s hardly doing badly for yourself is it, you must have done something right mustn’t you, well?
Frank: Not really, I’ve just had good students, I’ve been lucky.
Frank sighs and then opens a desk in his draw and pulls out a bottle of Whisky
Drink?
Rita: No ta. So y’ never gave it up then?
Frank: (Pouring himself a glass of Whiskey) The Drink? No, I never had enough willpower, anyway it still tastes as good as it always has done and the authorities over here don’t have such an aversion to my little problem.
Rita: Tch. It will kill you y’ know Frank, its like what Trish used say, erm…oh yeah - Drinking is a frivolous dispensation of the prosperous, or some rubbish like that.
Frank: (laughing) Trish used to say that.
Rita: Well, I moved out of her place about four months ago, I’ve got me own flat now.
Frank: Why did you move?
Rita: Trish got a bit to pretentious if y’ know what I mean. When I first met her I looked up to her because I wanted to have my opinions not your ones Frank. I thought that you couldn’t tell me what to do anymore. I thought I could think for me-self. But then I realized that when I was with Trish I just had her views and not my own so I was basically back to square one.
Frank: So what did you do?
Rita: I told her that I needed a change of scene so I got myself enrolled to do this course at Manchester and I rent a flat up there and work in a hairdresser.
They laugh and then there is a pause.
Rita: Why d’y still have that painting up.
Frank: It reminds me of you, I suppose.
Rita: Ta very much, you remember me by a naked women getting off with some angel, and I always thought you would remember me essays or my humour or something
Frank: Well, I suppose it reminds of the first time I met you, all your nervous comments and uncaring attitude, it took me aback. I suppose it reminds me of the person who saved my life from going down the pan.
Rita: (looking at the painting) Who some horny naked angel?
Frank: Be Serious Rita, I mean you.
Rita: Tch. Anyway, how y’doing over here? Have you been persuaded to start writing again?
Frank: Most certainly not, I told you before I left tha…
Rita: Not even by the lovely Miriam?
Frank: Not even by Miriam, however lovely she may be.
Rita: Ah well, I hope you two last longer than you did with that other bird, what was her name?
Frank: Julia?
Rita: Yeh Julia, but she was always a bit to serious for you if you ask me.
Frank: I didn’t. Anyway Rita, I hate to say it but I have a pupil coming in half an hour and so I will have to adjourn this little meeting of ours, how long are you staying in Sydney?
Rita: Till Thursday.
Frank: Ok… Well then can you meet me here tomorrow evening we can go out somewhere.
Rita: (Hopefully) To a play?
Frank: (Sighing) Alright then, to a play, Twelfth Night alright?
Rita: Twelfth Night’s perfect.
Frank: Until then Rita, or should I say (Smiliing) Susan.
Rita: (Turning towards the door) Until then Frank. Rita goes towards the door and as she is about to exit turns back towards Frank. By the way Frank, Rita is fine.
Rita exits and once she has left the stage Frank sinks back into his chair and takes a large drink of his whiskey.
Black Out.