Jessica: [taking a sip of her wine] God it's good to be alive.
Lillian: It must be good to have Alistair back.
Jessica: It's wonderful.
[heaves]
Jessica: Since he's been back, he's been different - distant. I supposed it's understandable. I can't imagine what it must be like to be that close to death, to see your friends killed, to take another man's life.
Lillian: It must be hard. Has he spoken about it?
Jessica: That's the thing; he doesn't confide in me anymore. There was a time we kept nothing from each other and now...
[looks at Lillian]
Jessica: Since he's been back we haven't... he just wants me to hold him. He cries when he thinks I'm asleep.
Lillian: At least he's here.
[stretches out a consoling hand]
Lillian: Oh Jess, he'll be fine. He just needs time to adjust, to forget.
[smiles]
Lillian: I had the most wonderful dream this morning: Charlie was with me. He kissed me and told me everything will be alright. He said he will be coming home soon, that this terrible war would end and everything will be just the way it used to be. When I woke, his warmth still lingered - his smell, it felt me with such happiness.
[Jessica strokes Lillian's face]
Lillian: Don't you see? Everything will be just the way it used to be; you and Alistair, and Charlie and I, back together again, happy.
[Jessica and Lillian embraces, and Alistair arrives, holding a letter]
Lillian: [astonished] Alistair! We were just talking about you.
[Alistair walks towards the two women]
Jessica: [looks up at Alistair] What is it?
Alistair: A letter's arrived. It's addressed to Lillian.
[Lillian looks away erectly, realizing what the letter is]
Jessica: [takes the letter from Alistair] It could be release papers.
Lillian: I don't want it.
Jessica: Should I open it?
[Jessica opens the letter and reads it. Lillian looks back at Jessica, who gapes sadly. Lillian gets up and leaves]
Alistair: Lillian.
[stands up]
Alistair: Lillian!
[Lillian takes a last look at both Jessica and Alistair and runs off]
