That doesn't look like a potato, says Hedley.
Irrelevant, says Ageless. Give me a snog.
What's a snog? asks Hedley.
Sloppy kisses, says Ageless. That's what I'm paying for.
Yuck, says Hedley.
Come here, Hedley, says his mother.
Hedley goes back to his mother.
Don't worry about that nasty lobster, says Hedley's mother. He's not going to be in it.
He certainly isn't, says Vello. At least not as a sailor.
Good, says Hedley's mother. We'll be off now. When will Hedley be getting his costume?
Should be ready by tomorrow's rehearsal, says Belle.
What's it like? asks Hedley.
Belle shows him a sketch of the costume.
I'm giving you a kilt, says Belle. With a safety pin at the front. And that school tie would look good with it. Your school needn't know.
Is he supposed to be a minor? asks Hedley's mother.
She is looking at Vello.
He is supposed to be a girl of easy virtue, says Vello. Her age is not mentioned.
But you wrote it, says Hedley's mother. You must know.
All right, says Vello . She's twenty one. Happy?
Hedley's mother walks out with Hedley.
Twenty one. At least Hedley looks happy.
How old am I? asks Terence.
I knew it! says Vello.
What? asks Terence.
That you'd ask, says Vello. The henchman is thirty two and a half, and the florin is from the twelfth century.
Great. Both are older than Hedley.
Arthur comes into the office.
You're late, says Vello. Where were you?
Sorry, slept in, says Arthur.
Ageless took your place in the scene with Hedley, says Vello.
How did that go? asks Arthur.
Ageless went too far, says Vello. I need to be sure you won't do the same.
Okay, says Arthur. Let's run through it. Who'll play Hedley?
Me, says Terence.
Not you, says Vello. How about you, Belle?
Love to, says Belle.
Hello lovely, says Arthur.
Hello sailor, says Belle.
Do you like poetry? asks Arthur.
Yes, no, maybe, says Belle.
You'll like this, says Arthur:
Hot knees pounding, heat grinding sinews to sludge, black blood shrieks behind sightless eyes, a red wave descends from the summit as I rise.
Now YOU've gone too far, says Belle.