should have read his horoscope, like I did, then perhaps he wouldn't have gone.
Under Aries it said, "Avoid all unnecessary journeys".Of course, he hadn't seen Julia all week - and when the flesh drives, well, a tree on a dark country lane doesn't stand a chance, does it?
EXTRA LOUD SOB FROM JULIA
She's very upset. It's quite embarrassing.I've sold the rest of those houses Greg built - for quite a good price, actually.
JULIA'S SOBBING INTERRUPTS AGAIN
(SIGHS, A BIT EXASPERATED) I think she'll get over it fairly quickly when she's heard my offer. Gemini's are like that - capable of dispassionate judgement. She's always done what was to her advantage, has Julia.
SCENE 16.
THE LOUNGE. IN THE DISTANCE TAPPING AND HAMMERING. CLOSE TO THE MIC SUSAN IS UNPACKING PLATES AND CUPS. A LIGHT KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
1. JULIA: Can I come in?
2. SUSAN: Yes. The dinner plates and coffee cups have arrived. I'm just checking it all.
3. JULIA: I've made us a nice fresh salmon salad for lunch. Is that all right?
4. SUSAN: Lovely. I do hope they're going to finish laying the carpet in the bar soon.
5. JULIA: Oh, is the banging giving you a headache? I'll have a word with them.
SHE EXITS.
6. SUSAN: (TO HERSELF) She does look after me, does Julia. She always did - when it suited her.
PAUSE.
The Fortuna hotel we've called it. Greg's money has come in very handy, paying for the alterations and furnishings. It's going to be very elegant and luxurious. My mother would have been pleased. She always got a lot of satisfaction out of spending my Dad's money on the house.
7. SUSAN: (TO HERSELF) Julia is thrilled to be manageress, especially on the sort of salary I'm paying.
(SHE STACKS THE LAST OF THE PLATES.)
I think she's quite relieved really that she'll never have to look for a husband again.
JULIA ENTERS AGAIN.
8. JULIA: I forgot to tell you. I've made us appointments at the hairdresser's for Wednesday afternoon. If that's convenient?
9. SUSAN: Yes, fine. And we'll go shopping afterwards. I've seen a rather chic little dress in Annabel's.
(TO HERSELF) I'm having a perm. Julia thinks it will make me look a lot younger. I'm paying for her to have a re-style too. It'll cheer her up. She still gets a bit down when she thinks of Greg.
10. JULIA: (HESITANT) Susan, shall we call in at a travel agents on the way to the hairdresser's? Like you said, it would be nice to have a little holiday before we open. Spain's very cheap at the moment. We could have a smashing week in somewhere like Torremolinos.
11. SUSAN: No. Not Torremolinos. I've always wanted to go to Florence, or Vienna.
12. JULIA: (NOT ENTHUSIASTIC) Oh.
13. SUSAN: And Julia. There's something I've been meaning to mention. Will you not call me Susan any more? Make it Sue. Much lighter and brighter, don't you think? More suitable for a hostess?
14. JULIA: Yes.
15. SUSAN: (TO HERSELF) I found a book on names and the influence they have over your character. For Julia, it says 'dazzling, amorous and superficial'. I think they got that about right.
Susans need someone to advise and help them. That's why I've got Julia here. She's going to run the hotel, while I play the hostess - I'll chat to interesting guests, that sort of thing. And I've never wanted to be on my own.There you are, timid Cancerian again!Like Dorothea predicted, this was the year I had to make a new life for myself, before it was too late.
SHE SELECTS A TAPE AND PUTS IT ON THE RADIOGRAM
She was so right! I've sent her a cheque, as a thank you. And as a kind of final payment.
A STRAUSS WALTZ BEGINS.
16. SUSAN: Dorothea's given me the sort of guidance I needed over the past few months, but I think that, in a way, you have to learn to make your own destiny in the end, don't you?
FADE UP THE WALTZ. SUSAN LA LAS JOYOUSLY.
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