James. That might have been us a few yea...

James. That might have been us a few years ago. Drink?

Carol. White wine please. You blame me for that don’t you?

James. (To Barman). A white wine and a Bacardi and coke please. (To Carol) Well yes and no, at the time I was really angry with you but now when I look back I realise I wasn’t much of a catch back then.

Carol. No you were right to be angry.

James. I was young; I thought I could conquer the world and take you with me.

Carol. Not very realistic was it, we were only fifteen or so.

James. No, you’re right it wasn’t very realistic and to be honest I couldn’t have got as far as I have if I’d had someone else to worry about, you can’t fly off all over the world and expect someone to just go along with it. After Uni I wasn’t in one place for more than a month or so for over five years.

Carol. Building up your business?

James. Yes and it worked out well, I made a good living, still do.

Carol. Do you have kids?

James. No, my ex wife and I were only together a couple of years; it was never going to work out. No kids thank God. You?

Carol. Just one, Brian, he’s in Dubai working for a Bank.

James. So you’re on your own now?

Carol. Well not really, Mary and Barbara are always around, though I’m not sure how much I’ll see of them now.

James. I’m sure they won’t desert you, they’re your friends and you know I am too. Anyway it’s getting late and I promised to meet someone. I’ll have to go.

Carol. You’ve only just got here, can’t you stay for a while, or is she the type who dislikes it when people are late, I know I do.

James. To be honest I don’t know, only just met her this week, she works on the reception at my offices.

Carol. (Hiding her disappointment that it is a woman he is meeting). Well you’d best get off then, you don’t want to make a bad impression on your first date.

James. I can hang on for a while if you want me to.

Carol. No, you don’t want to be late on a first date.

James. I seem to remember you were late the first time we went on a date, (Laughing) we nearly missed the “Pearl and Dean” adverts.

Carol. God, that was so long ago.

James. March the fifteenth 1962.

Carol. (Incredulously) You remember the date?

James. Why wouldn’t I? I was going out with the prettiest girl in town, that’s something I’m hardly likely to forget.

Carol. I didn’t remember the exact date but I do remember it was very cold and the film was “West Side Story.”

James. And you cried when Tony died.

Carol. Well it was so sad.

James. Romeo and Juliet, only in New York.

Carol. Yes, only Juliet didn’t die too.

James. I will have to go, but maybe we will bump into each other again, you never know.

Carol. That would be nice; it would be nice to chat about old times.

James. That’s very true. Look, I’ll give you my mobile number, ring me anytime. (He gives her the number on a piece of paper and leaves, holding her hand and kissing her on the cheek as he goes).

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