Start: Girl’s voice: Mom? MOM? Anybody home? (Silence; then more softly.) See? I told you. She isn’t here. (Sarah appears in the doorway, with Helen behind her.)

Helen: Where is she?

Sarah: She works. At a boutique. Four days a week. And my father’s away on business. In Atlanta. Or Denver or somewhere. Anyway. Come on, I’ll show you where they keep the liquor.

[.. ... ..]

End: Helen: I mean, wouldn’t it be cool, sitting around this shiny table with Eddie and Duane, drinking gin and Fresca and vodka?

Sarah: (Coming out from the kitchen.) No way. Absolutely no way. In here? I’d get all up tight in here. (She heads for the hall.) Now come on. Let’s call them. (Helen starts after her.) Having boys in the dining room? Jesus, Helen. You really are a wimp sometimes.

Gurney, A.R., The Dining