BOY SCENE MAN I might have to go away for a while. Boy doesn’t seem to hear him. MAN (CONT’D) Just a couple of days, no big deal. Why?

BOY

MAN My dad’s not well. On Boy. BOY Mum says there’s someone else. On Man. MAN Women say stuff... Is there?

BOY

He turns to look at Man. And Man starts twisting up inside. No. Promise?

MAN BOY

BOY (CONT’D) Don’t leave. He looks down at Boy. MAN Your dad’s due back in a day or two. Please.

BOY

On Boy. Full of love and loneliness; terror and hope.

2. MAN You’re frightened of him, aren’t you? Promise?

BOY

On Man. Who in some wretched, deep-rooted desperation to make up for being the rootless, selfish, lonely and miserable drunk that deep down he fears he will always be, says: I promise.

MAN