Arthur has seen the car and the driver and he has recognized both of them. Who has Arthur recognized? Yes, you’re right. It’s Bruce Fanshawe, the Casanova of Middleford. Dr Newton has examined his patient and now he is in the ambulance on his way to Applefield Hospital. He’s going to stay there for a few days. A breakdown lorry has arrived from the local garage and is going to take Bruce’s car away. The policeman has written down Bruce’s name and address and he has looked at his driving licence and insurance certificate.
Dr Newton and Arthur have driven back home now. The party has finished. Jennifer has said goodbye to her guests and all of them have gone home. Mrs Newton has just arrived home and she is going upstairs to bed. Jennifer is still up. She’s taking all the dirty glasses and plates into the kitchen and she’s going to do the washing up in a minute. She has put all the records away and tidied the sitting-room.
Now it’s eleven o’clock on Sunday morning. All the Newtons have got up and have had their breakfast. Arthur has just telephoned Mary and Sheila and told them about Bruce. Dr and Mrs Newton have both gone to church. Neither Arthur nor Jennifer has gone because Jennifer is cleaning the house and Arthur is too lazy. He has not even had a shave. He has asked both Mary and Sheila to meet him in The Applefield Arms, the village pub, at twelve o’clock.
***
- Oh, Arthur! Look at the time. It’s twenty to twelve and you haven’t had a shave. You’ve been in that armchair all the morning reading the News of the World and I’ve done all the cleaning and I’ve done all the vegetables. I’ve put the meat into the oven and I’ve had a bath. Come on! Get ready! We’re going to meet Sheila and Mary in a quater of an hour.
- Oh, shut up, Jennifer! I’m reading the paper. It only takes me a couple of minutes to get ready. Here! I say! What are you doing with that paper? Give it back!
- You can read it after lunch. Now hurry up. Don’t you want to see Mary? … Oh, he’s gone up to the bathroom at last.
***
- Hallo, Jennifer. Hallo, Arthur. Thanks for the lovely party. I say, it’s bad news about Bruce. Mary’s gone to the hospital so she’s going to be a bit late.
- And we’re a bit late too, thanks to Arthur. Now none of the seats are free and neither of us can sit down.
- You can have my seat.
- No, sit down, Sheila. Arthur!
- What?
- Neither Sheila nor I have got a drink. Are we going to stand here all day without one?
- There are a lot of people at the bar. Can we wait a minute?
- No, we can’t. All that work in the house has made me thirsty.
- All right. I’m going.
- Arthur, come back!
- What is it now?
- You haven’t asked either of us …
- Oh dear. I’m sorry. Sheila, what do you want to drink?
- Oh, just a sweet sherry for me, please.
- And I’m going to have a tomato juice.
- That’s a sweet sherry, a tomato juice, and a half of bitter for me … Oh dear! I say, Jennifer …
- Well?
- Can you lend me a couple of pounds?
