It was like a moment from a Noël Coward play. You know, the bit where the lovers meet again for the first time in many years and it’s all slightly formal and awkward.
There always seems to be a moment like that in a Noël Coward play. Not that I’m an expert, although there was one on the radio a few weeks ago in which the leading man was haunted by his ex-wife, and he didn’t seem particularly pleased to see her.
Anyway, the setting was almost romantic. It was a warmish day, the sky was blue, the sun was glinting through trees in the background, and the action went something like this:
Her: You can’t imagine what a pleasure it is to see you again.
Him: (Coughs in slightly embarrassed way.) Yes, it’s been a long time.
Her: A long, long time.
Too long. Him: A long time. Her: There were times when I wondered whether I’d ever see you again. Him: Surely things were never that bad.
Her: I don’t know, everything just seemed to build up. We’ve not been able to move in our shed for weeks.
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