The Ninth Annual Elmbridge Literary Competition 2013

A Fortnight In September

A LATE HOLIDAY

(Word count 1573)

Connie McChesney

9, Montrose Walk

Weybridge,

Surrey

KT13 8JN

Tel: 01932 843530

Email:

A LATE HOLIDAY

A SOLICITORS’ OFFICE

PAPERS BEING SHUFFLED

SOLICITOR: As you can see it’s a very straightforward will. £5000 to you Michael and the residue of the estate to you Mrs Simmons. The house is willed to Michael on your demise.

MICHAEL: So when do we get the funds?

SOLICITOR: There is still some work to be done but the sums involved are small. Unless anyone contests the will I would think it would be a matter of weeks rather than months.

MICHAEL: Weeks! For a stingy five thousand. Can’t you just give me a cheque now and reclaim it later?

SOLICITOR: I’m afraid we don’t do things that way. There are regulations to be followed. But, Mrs. Simmons, are you able to cope financially in the mean time?

SARAH : I have a small pension from my work with the local council and my State Pension too. I’ve lived on a tight budget all my married life so I’ll be fine.

SOLICITOR: Then I will be in touch soon. It has been good to meet you at last. Goodbye.

FAMILY LEAVING OFFICE

DOOR CLOSING

STREET SOUNDS

MICHAEL: What did she mean: to meet us at last? Did you know Dad used a solicitor?

SARAH : I had no idea he’d paid to have a will made. I thought he would have used a Post Office form.

MICHAEL: I can’t believe that’s all he had to leave. He never spent a penny he didn’t have to. Are you sure he didn’t hide cash in the house? Buried it in the garden? He always said he didn’t trust banks.

SARAH : The only money in the house is what’s in my purse. That’s how it’s always been as you well know. And don’t think I didn’t see you hunting through your father’s desk on the day of his funeral.

MICHAEL: Well, I’m going home with you now and I intend to search that house from top to bottom.

FURNITURE BEING MOVED

DRAWERS BEING SLAMMED SHUT

SARAH : Satisfied? I really don’t know what you hoped to find.

MORE BANGING

MICHAEL: There’s got to be more than five thousand quid. He worked for 45 years and he was a mean old skinflint He’s tucked his savings away somewhere.

SARAH : We bought this house remember. It wasn’t cheap and it took us twenty five years to pay for it.

MICHAEL: No. I’ll swear he was worth more.

SARAH : And how much have you got to show for your university education and fifteen years in a well paid job?

MICHAEL: That’s got nothing to do with it. I’m going now but I expect you to keep searching. And Mother, you’d better look after this house. It’s my inheritance.

STARTS TO WALK AWAY

(mutters) And don’t make me wait until I’m too old to enjoy the proceeds.

SOME DAYS LATER

COFFEE SHOP

MUTED CHATTER

SARAH : There you are Liz. One skinny latte. I just love our coffee mornings. I couldn’t do anything like this while Charles was alive. Have an éclair.

LIZ: Ooh, you wicked woman. Have you come into a fortune?

SARAH: Well, I have got something to tell you.

LIZ: Tell away.

SARAH: A few days after Michael and I had been to see Charles’s solicitor this letter came. Look, you can read it,

LETTER UNFOLDING

LIZ SIPS COFFEE

LIZ: Dear Mrs Simmons,

“We have been informed of your husband’s death by Rathbone and Partners and would like to introduce ourselves to you.

FADE OUT LIZ

FADE IN ACCOUNTANT’S VOICE

We understand that Mr Simmons left the bulk of his estate to you. We have been handling his investments for many years. We would, therefore like to meet with you so that we may discuss your intentions for what are now your funds. We would be happy to continue doing business with you and to this end request that you phone us

FADE BACK TO LIZ

to arrange a meeting in the near future.”

Investments? What, where? It must be a scam.

SARAH: No, it’s genuine. I checked with Rathbones. They said it was connected with Charles’s estate. They knew all about his investments because all the paperwork was sent to them. Charles said they could tell me after his death but Michael was a wastrel and a spendthrift and should neverknow.

LIZ: So did you go?

SARAH: Certainly. What did I have to lose?

LIZ: And?

SARAH: Well, let’s say the residue in the will is not as residual as I had thought. A very helpful man talked me through everything and explained what I should sell because of death duties and what I should keep. He said he would be happy to continue handling my investments. My investments! Doesn’t that sound good?

LIZ: Unbelievable. And it’s all above board. Charles wasn’t a bank robber or a people trafficker or anything?

SARAH: No. It’s all genuine and it’s all mine. Now, can I ask you a favour?

LIZ : Anything

SARAH: Can I come and stay with you for the last couple of weeks of September?

LIZ : Stay? Of course. I want to get to the bottom of this story. Are you going to splash out and have the house up-dated?

SARAH: No. What was good enough for Charles’s mother is good enough for Michael. I’m going to update me!

HAIRDRESSERS

HAIRDRESSER MUSIC,

SCISSORS ETC.

SARAH : Oh, Liz. Do you think I’ve gone over the top? I haven’t had my hair cut for years.

LIZ : You look fantastic. And that colour suits you so well. Ronnie really has a way with hair.

SARAH: I hardly dare look in the mirror. That’s surely not me.

LIZ: That’s you alright and you look twenty years younger. Where next?

STREET SOUNDS

TAXI PULLS UP

TAXI DRIVER: Where to ladies?

SARAH AND LIZ: Harrods

SARAH : What do you think Liz? I’ve never worn trousers before. Charles wouldn’t let me

LIZ : Charles doesn’t know what he missed. You look terrific in that suit. Here, let me carry some of those bags. We’ll need a van to get home, not a taxi.

TAXI THROB

LIZ: Where now?

SARAH: The Savoy.

LATER

LIZ: Thank you. That was a marvellous lunch. But how did you manage to get a table?

SARAH : I think the ‘Maitre de’ mistook me for someone else. He kept calling me Miss Streep.

TAXI THROB

LIZ : Where next?

SARAH: Bond Street. Boodles, I think. I like the name.

TAXI THROB

LIZ: No more today please Sarah. It’s getting dark and I can’t walk another step.

SARAH: Neither can I. But it’s been wonderful. Now you see why I asked to stay with you. I didn’t want the neighbours to see a strange woman loading parcels into my house. They’d have been on to Michael straight away.

LIZ: Where is Michael, by the way?

SARAH: He has gone to New York for two weeks. Spending his £5000 in one fell swoop.

LIZ: Does he know about your, Hmm, investments?

SARAH: No way. And he isn’t going to know either.

LIZ : Where did Charles get all the money to invest? I bet he was up to no good.

SARAH: I realise now; he was a miser. He couldn’t bear to spend his money; he was a compulsive saver. It’s like an illness. If I hadn’t worked Michael and I would have starved. Not that Michael has ever appreciated that. I provided everything he asked for but I don’t even get a birthday card from him.

SOME DAYS LATER

LIZ’S HOUSE

SARAH : These two weeks have flown by. I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed staying with you.

LIZ: I’ve had a great time too. And you have been so generous. Look at all the lovely things you’ve bought me.

SARAH: You have been my one true friend. Your friendship kept me going all through my marriage.

LIZ : I’ve never understood why you stayed with Charles? If he’d been my husband I’d have walked out.

SARAH: I was tempted but then there was Michael. I wanted him to have a good home.

LIZ : So what now? Are you going back home?

SARAH: No. I’m going to travel.

LIZ : Where?

SARAH: Anywhere. Everywhere. I haven’t had a holiday in years. I’ve been nowhere and seen nothing. Now’s my chance.

LIZ : And the house?

SARAH: Michael can have it and welcome. There is a letter waiting for him when he gets home from New York. Now I’m going to start packing.

BUSY AIRPORT

DEPARTURES LOUNGE

LIZ: But what happens when the money runs out? It won’t last forever. Not at the rate you’ve been spending these last two weeks. You know you are always welcome to stay with me if you need to.

SARAH: What I like about you is that you’ve never asked the How Much question. Anyone else would have pestered me silly, but not you.

LIZ: Well, knowing how you’ve had to scrimp I was just glad you could afford to splash out for a change.

SARAH: (softly) Apparently I am worth several million pounds. That should see me out.

LIZ: And Michael?

INTERCOM

FLIGHT CALL

SARAH: I must go. That’s the last call for my flight. As for Michael, his father was right about him. I might leave him another £5000 - but the rest is willed to you

AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF.

THE END