CRYSTAL is in the corner with a cup of tea, minding her own business for a change. She is reading a book. Close in on the book's cover: 'The Secrets of Solitary Witches - And How To Make Your Spells Work.'
LENA, late 20s, attractive, is surreptitiously eating a Wispa Bar alongside a black coffee. Opposite her is her friend MICHELLE, late 20s, who wears a starched white uniform - she works in a dentist - and has chopsticks in her hair. She stirs sugar into a cup of tea.
LENA
Bit of a night last night. Too much
of that. (She presses in one side of
her nose: cocaine)
MICHELLE
You naughty girl.
LENA
(By way of explanation) Ben's going
to Kandahar.
MICHELLE
(A moment) Why's that, babe?
LENA
'Cos he's in the army.
MICHELLE
Did I know that?
LENA
He's being posted to Afghanistan.
MICHELLE
I know where it is, I'm not stupid.
(A moment) Afghanistan's the
place to be at the moment, isn't it?
What with Prince Harry and stuff.
(Thinking of the Taliban strategy) I
imagine they'd use rockets. Wouldn't
they? To make sure. Rather than
relying on bullets. (A moment) Are
you alright about it?
LENA
It's a strange day, today. You know ..
it doesn't really exist.
MICHELLE
Doesn't it?
LENA
It's a leap year. If you were born today,
your next birthday isn't for three years.
MICHELLE
Oh. Okay. Does that mean that you're ..
you age slower than your mates?
LENA
If we didn't have leap years, December
would end up in the summer.
MICHELLE
That's got to be rubbish.
LENA
It's true. 'Cos the months're always
going over. They, like, keep the
calendar in shape by letting the
pressure out. (A moment) I love
your hair like that, by the way.
MICHELLE
(Of the chopsticks in her hair) The best
ones are the cheap ones you get from
takeaways, 'cos they're rough and don't
slide out ..
LENA
Tomorrow is St. David's Day ..
MICHELLE
.. As the actress said to the bishop.
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