DA: (Looking out) There she is at long last. It’s gone half-past six; I thought she was run over. (He opens the door)

Mother comes into the kitchen. She’s in a good mood, humming to herself.

I say, we thought you were under the wheel of a bus. Where were you at all? The boy is home before you, with his stomach roaring for tea.

MOTHER: (Unruffled) He’ll get it when it’s put in front of him, not before

DA: (grumbling) We didn’t know what happened to you. Was the picture any good?

[... ... ...]

MOTHER: (quietly) Go on. Go on, do it And that’ll be the first time and the last. I’ll leave here if I was to sleep on the footpath. (Half to herself) You went behind my back to him because you knew I wouldn’t have you.

(DA runs to the table and raises a cup as if to dash it to pieces. Instead, he