Setting: Stef and his mother, Mary, are having dinner together in their dining room.

Mary: How was your day?

Stef: OK.

Mary: Have you finished your homework?

Stef: I’ll do it later. By the way, where’s dad?

Mary: Oh, still working, probably. I wonder where my Laura Ashley evening dress went to?

Stef: Mum, dad can’t possibly be working. He’s…

Mary: Perhaps I should get a new one. There’s this really adorable dress at Ted Baker that I just have to get!

Stef: Mum, you don’t need a new dress. The old ones are just fine.

Mary: But it’ll be perfect for this gala dinner I’m going to on Saturday.

Stef: We can’t afford it now, Mum. Not with dad re…

Mary: And I’ll have to get shoes, and a bag to go with it. And make an appointment with the hairdresser…

Stef (interrupting loudly): We haven’t got money for that anymore!

Mary: [Pause] Have you finished your homework yet?

Stef: Mum, you know as well as I do that things are changing.

Mary: Oh are things changing in school? You still have to do your homework, Stef.

Stef (exasperated): That’s not what I meant.

Mary: I think you should go and do your homework now.

Stef: Mum, face up to the truth.

Mary starts clearing the dishes and hums a little tune.

Stef (quietly): Dad’s retrenched, Mum. He’s retrenched.

Mary continues to clear the dishes.

Stef (stands up and bangs the table): DAD LOST HIS JOB!

Mary drops the dishes she was carrying.

Mary (yelling): You have no right to talk to me like that!

Stef: Mum, please…

Mary (sobbing): It’s so hard. I can’t…It’s not true. How could it be? We’ll be alright… He’ll find a job. Things will be back to normal. Right, Stef?