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turning to page one
The corridor outside Richie’s room. Etheline fills out some insurance forms. Ari and Uzi sit on Chas’ lap. Margot sits next to Raleigh. Raleigh stares into space.
RALEIGH
You’ve made a cuckold of me.
Everyone looks at Raleigh and Margot. Silence.
MARGOT
I know.
RALEIGH
Many times over.
MARGOT
I’m sorry.
RALEIGH
And you’ve nearly killed your poor
brother.
ETHELINE
What’s he talking about?
MARGOT
It doesn’t matter.
RALEIGH
She’s balling Eli Cash.
Everyone looks surprised and extremely uncomfortable.
ETHELINE
Oh, my goodness.
RALEIGH
May I have a cigarette?
MARGOT
What?
RALEIGH
Shall I repeat the question?
MARGOT
You don’t smoke.
RALEIGH
(bitterly)
I bloody well know that.
Raleigh stares at Margot in silence. Margot sighs. She reaches into her pocket and takes out a pack of cigarettes. She gives one to Raleigh. He puts it in his mouth.
RALEIGH (CONT’D)
And a light, please?
Margot takes out some matches and lights Raleigh’s cigarette.
CONTINUED: (2)
RALEIGH (CONT’D)
Thank you.
Raleigh stands up and walks away, down the hall, out the door. Silence. Margot lights a cigarette for herself. Etheline looks disturbed.
ETHELINE
How long have you been a smoker?
MARGOT
(pause)
ETHELINE
Well, I think you should quit.
Margot nods.
The door opens at the end of the hall. Henry Sherman comes in. Etheline sees him and stands up. He goes over to her. He starts to put on his glasses. As he unfolds them, he unintentionally clamps them to his necktie and pulls his necktie up to his temple. He says earnestly:
HENRY
How can I help?
Etheline begins to point to Henry’s necktie suspended near his ear, but she hesitates. Henry senses something wrong in his peripheral vision and looks confused. He swats at the necktie, hurling his glasses off his face and on to the floor.
Henry picks up his glasses and puts them back on. He looks to Etheline with an embarrassed expression. Etheline puts her arms around him. She hugs him tightly and starts to cry.