ACT 1 SCENE 1. (ESME enters. She is weeping and wiping her eyes with a tissue. SHE sniffs heavily. ESME sits down at the kitchen table and lights a cigarette. ESME'S daughter, KAREN enters and stands next to ESME. KAREN has her hands on her hips.) KAREN : (Angrily) How long are we going to keep this up mother? How long before you realise that I'm right and John's only after you for your money? ESME : And how do you know that Karen? Eh? He may not be your father but he's a wonderful man and I love him. We're getting married with or without your approval! KAREN : Yeah? Well don't you dare come crying to me when you've lost all of your money to him; he's a slimy little man who'll end up cleaning you out and leaving you with nothing. See things from someone else's point of view for once! (ESME smashes her fist down onto the table and glares at KAREN.) ESME : Get out! Go on! Get out of my house, leave John and I alone! I'm sick and tired of hearing this rubbish! KAREN :(Severely) Fine! EXIT KAREN. ENTER JOHN, carrying a newspaper. HE walks over to the table, sits down and puts the paper in front of him. He takes ESME'S hand. ESME is sobbing.) JOHN : (Soothingly) Hey, hey, hey. What's all this? What's got you so upset on the eve of your wedding? ESME : Oh John I'm sorry. (ESME wipes her nose with the tissue) ESME : She just gets me so wound up you know? Bad mouthing you and winding me up. What gives her the right? What gives her the bloody right? JOHN : Who's done this Esme? Karen? Is that who you mean? (ESME nods, wipes her nose with her tissue and inhales on her cigarette.) JOHN : Well don't let her get to you love. She'll come æround, you'll see. Let's face it, it has been a bit of a whirlwind romance, we've only been together for five months and we're not exactly spring chickens anymore. What's she said this time? (ESME forces a smile.) ESME : Same as usual. No need to remind me about the age either! I don't know why she begrudges me this happiness, I mean, she's married now, she's got a wonderful son, she's happy and she's got a career. What's wrong with me finding a new fella? Mike and I have been divorced for four years; its not as though I'm on the rebound is it? (Pause) She says you're after my money. (JOHN laughs and squeezes her hand.) JOHN : (Jovially) You're money? Does she think I'm going to marry you then poison you to get my hands on your cash? I'm marrying you because I love you. I'm not interested in your money or getting your business. (Apprehensively) I'll understand if you want to call it off - the wedding. (ESME looks horrified.) ESME : Call it off! I wouldn't dream of it! I adore you and I'm going to marry you tomorrow whether Karen likes it or not. Her and Rob are invited but I doubt that they'll show. Hopefully it'll all settle down soon enough. I'll get back to the business and bury my head in the sand as usual! At least having your own publishing company means that you can do as much or as little as you like. I just wish that Karen would listen! JOHN : Why don't you let me talk to her? Try to iron out the creases? I'm sure that I'll be able to talk her around. (ESME smiles at him and stubs out her cigarette.) ESME : Thanks John but no. I'm going to go to bed, I have a headache and I want to be fresh for tomorrow. I'll see you when you come up. EXIT ESME.