|  | Scene One The student house, the morning after the party. CLAIRE: Michael isn't here, but I don't think this can wait.
RICHIE: What are you going to tell me now?
CLAIRE: What happened last night will not happen again.
RICHIE: What did happen last night? Because I had a lot to drink, and I can't really remember what happened.
CLAIRE: You know what happened. The police were called because the music was too loud and people you brought home were arrested.
RICHIE: Oh yes. I remember that. It was a good night. Sarah tries not to laugh. CLAIRE: This is not funny. If there was any way to get on the wrong side of the neighbours it was what happened last night.
RICHIE: What can I say? Last night should not have happened. And I shouldn't have invited those people around. They were friends of a friend. Obviously they were not to be trusted.
LUCY: You can say that again.
CLAIRE: Lucy, I am sorting this out.
LUCY: They were doing drugs.
CLAIRE: They were doing what? I cannot believe you, Richie!
RICHIE: For Christ's sake. I didn't know, Claire. I honestly didn't. You have got to believe me.
CLAIRE: I don't want to hear any excuses.
RICHIE: Claire, look. We've started on the wrong foot, but I promise this will not happen again.
CLAIRE: You are right about that. I really should tell the landlord. He would be interested in this.
SARAH: There is no need for this, Claire. It will only be bad for all of us.
RICHIE: You know, Claire, I think Sarah is right.
CLAIRE: I am not going to say anything
RICHIE: Thank you, Claire.
CLAIRE: But only, only because of the problems it could cause all of us. Scene Two Out in the Gardens, Sid and Sheila Jones meet Mollie Wallwalk and Rex. MOLLIE: Did you hear the racket last night?
SID: Hear it? Felt like I was in it!
SHEILA: Oh, Sid! It was only young people doing what young people do. Even you were young once, Sid. Oh, the nights we had in the NAAFI!
SID: Different matter altogether! NAFFI didn't do drugs.
MOLLIE: Drugs? There was drugs involved last night?
SID: Stands to reason. Police everywhere.
SHEILA: Sid! They were just there to quieten the noise.
MOLLIE: I knew it! I knew they'd turned Number Four into an opium den! Rex knew it, too. I'm sure in another life my Rex was one of them sniffer dogs. Bark, bark, bark. He must have smelled it. Sex, too, I daresay.
SHEILA: Ah, now that they did have at the NAAFI, eh, Sidney? Scene Three Lunchtime at the Bully. Harry Carson joins Richie at his table. HARRY: I think, lad, we might have to have a little talk.
RICHIE: I know what you are going to say, Mr Carson. Claire has already lectured me on what happened.
HARRY: There is no need for that, son. Call me Harry.
RICHIE: Only if you call me Richie.
HARRY: All right, Richie. Just one thing, though. If anything like what happened last night ever happens again, you are barred. Jade Carson has been listening to what has been said. JADE: Don't be too hard on him, dad. He was only trying to have a good time.
HARRY: I don't care. I have to think of my regulars. This is nothing to do with you, princess.
JADE: Dad, I thought I told you not to call me that.
HARRY: But you are my princess. Harry gets up and walks back to the bar. Jade sits at Richie's table. JADE: Hi, I'm---
RICHIE: Jade. I know. So what do you get up to of an evening then?
JADE: That's a bit forward isn't it? Trish Carson walks in from the back of the pub. At the bar Harry is talking to Sid Jones and Sam Coverdale. SID: Disgraceful. All I will say. Manners. None of them. Shouldn't have students around here.
SAM: They were only having some fun, Sid. Do you remember fun?
HARRY: And they do bring in more business.
SID: Not the business you want. Wrong types. Students. And you, Sam Coverdale. I know your fun.
TRISH: Can't you talk about anything else? And as for you, Sid Jones, keep your opinions to yourself. I have already told Harry we should attract a younger clientele.
SID: Warned you. Can't do anything else about that. Jade is still talking to Richie. RICHIE: I think they are talking about me.
JADE: They probably are. Yes.
RICHIE: Not that I care. Anyway I'd better go. It was nice talking to you Jade. I'm sure next term I will see more of you. Scene Four Out in the Gardens, Phil Smith manages to bump into theatre nurse Jay Khan. PHIL: Morning! On your way to work, are you?
JAY: Yes, we've a full list today. You?
PHIL: Just coming back. Not much to do at the Uni this time of the year. Half the students have gone home for Christmas and the others, well, their minds tend to be on other things.
JAY: So I gather. You must have seen the police car outside Number Four last night.
PHIL: Not really. Once I've got my nose stuck into a potential text book, I'm pretty much lost to the world. Anyway, the thing is
Jay
I was wondering
Are you doing anything special over the festive season?
JAY: I'm Muslim, Mr Smith. Christmas is pretty much a Christian activity.
PHIL: Yes. Quite. It's just
When I was asking you to come to the theatre with me, that dreadful old bat from across the way blundered in, accusing me of all manner of things, and that rather but a dampener on things. So I thought
hoped
JAY: What exactly do you have in mind?
PHIL: Nothing special. That is, I mean, well
I thought we might pop across to the Bull on Christmas Eve. It's a quite a good night, apparently. I've never been. And it's a public place - lots of people about - in case
JAY: In case I believe the Wicked Witch of Quincey Gardens?
PHIL: Well, yes. I mean
JAY: Christmas Eve? I think my housemates are all going to the party at the LRI.
PHIL: Yes. Quite. Naturally
JAY: Have you ever been to a hospital party, Mr Smith?
PHIL: No, no. I wouldn't. That is
I don't actually like hospitals very much.
JAY: Neither do I. Mr Smith, you've got yourself a date. Scene Five Back at the student house, Richie walks in from the kitchen, with a plate of food. Sarah is watching the television. RICHIE: I hope all the people around here aren't like that old man.
SARAH: Which old man?
RICHIE: Sid Jones. He just said if it happened again, he would report us to the police. It wouldn't surprise me if it was him who called the police last night.
SARAH: It could have been anyone. The party last night probably upset a lot of people.
RICHIE: I think it was him. He is one of those type of people who belongs to neighbourhood watch and always has his nose in other people's business.
SARAH: I enjoyed myself last night, but it's different for our neighbours being woken up like that.
RICHIE: I know what I did was wrong, but I don't have to be reminded constantly.
The front door opens and in walks Michael.
And talking of last night. Where have you been you dirty stop out?
MICHAEL: Do I look like I am about to tell you?
RICHIE: Well if you keep doing these disappearing acts. What are we meant to think? You could be doing anything. We don't really know you.
MICHAEL: And I don't know you. So I would prefer it if you didn't ask so many questions.
SARAH: You don't have to tell us if you don't want to. But I am always here if you do.
MICHAEL: Thank you, but I'm fine. Michael walks upstairs. RICHIE: I like him, but there is something about him.
Lucy and Claire return to Number 4 Quincey Row.
How are you girls then?
LUCY: Don't try that on with us. I think the compliments are wearing a little thin.
RICHIE: What's wrong with you?
CLAIRE: We have just had one of our neighbours on our back. And I don't think either of us, really appreciated it.
LUCY: That is the least of it.
RICHIE: Let me guess. The old soldier. Mr Jones.
CLAIRE: Yes. Mr Jones was clear about what he thought of last night.
RICHIE: I got that earlier. I can see we will have some fun living near him.
LUCY: No, Richie. Because you won't be able to use your charm on him or us. I like going out and I like parties, but you can't just do whatever
RICHIE: I know that. Perhaps you should tell some other people that as well. Scene Six It's three o'clock and the kids are coming home from their last day at school and college. Leon Flaherty and Dean Quick round the corner from Canal Street just as Neville is putting out the poster with today's headline from The Mercury. DEAN: Blimey, dad! Not another one!
NEVILLE: Twenty years old, apparently. According to the paper, he jumped her just the other side of the underpass there.
LEON: When did it happen, Mr Quick?
NEVILLE: Last night. Well, more like this morning. Round about the time that student party was being broken up. That's how come the police responded so quickly, apparently.
DEAN: They don't think the two things are connected, do they, dad?
NEVILLE: The party and the attack?
DEAN: No, the attack and that business with Kelly Nayler.
LEON: Nah, they can't be. That was just a peeper and this, this was a---
NEVILLE: Rape, son. It's a nasty word, but it's the only one. And as rapes go, this was apparently a particularly nasty one. According to Radio Leicester, she's still not recovered consciousness.
LEON: Yeah, but peeping and raping, they're two different things.
NEVILLE: To you and me, yes, Leon. But in the mind of a pervert
DEAN: It's that Smith bloke! Everybody knows that.
NEVILLE: Steady on, Dean. You can't go making those sort of accusations. Mollie Wallwalk thinks it might have been Mr Smith but the police haven't even bothered to question him. I think we can safely say that rules him out. No, if this maniac is from the Gardens, I fancy it's someone a bit closer to home.
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