John and Liz are going nowhere...

 

"Oh, John, smell that ozone."

"Liz! Stay away from the edge. The path's crumbled away over there."

"Don't worry, darling. I couldn't fall if I tried. I could fly in this updraught. Look, I can lean right into it."

"Stop it! Sorry...sorry, sweetheart. Come and join me. Help me with the spread."

"Well, John, haven't you done us proud? Ham-and-watercress, smoked salmon, crab pate, Liebfroumilch German white -- a touch dry, dear, wouldn't you say? And what have we here...After Eights! How very seventies."

"You used to like my picnics."

"Yes. Well, we've changed...we've moved on."

"You've moved on."

"If you're going to start that again --."

"No! No...sit down, sweetheart. Here, weigh down that side of the blanket. The breeze is picking up."

"Hmmm, it's not very comfortable. I can feel the grass up my --. Lord, what did I ever see in the outdoors?"

"You were younger then."

"Is that another dig?"

"We were both younger. Enjoy the view, Liz."

"What view? Twenty feet of grass, then sky. Where's the beach?"

"It's there."

"Where, for Christ's sake?"

"Straight down. About two hundred feet."

"Oh. I wanted to walk along the shore, John. You know, like we used to."

"The cliffs dip further along, about two miles. There are steps down to the beach. We can go later, if you want to."

"What's wrong with the path over there? It's a bit steep, but it leads down. We could use that."

"If we were mountain goats. No, Liz...that path was closed last winter after the storms. It's not safe."

"Not safe. Not safe! That just about sums you up, doesn't it? Steady, plodding John. My father was right about you. `John will get you where you want to go in life,' he said. `But by then you'll be too old to enjoy it.' God, was he right."

"We do all right."

"Yes, John, that's it in a nutshell. We don't do fantastically well, we don't blaze trails -- we do all right."

"Liz, I thought we had a truce today."

"Stuff your --. Fine. You have your truce, John. You sit here and enjoy the view. Don't you worry that you have a marriage, a career, and a life that are going absolutely nowhere. Me, I'm going for a walk."

"Liz, I told you...stay away from the edge."

"Edge? What edge? John, we live on the edge, you and I. Don't we just live for danger? Anyway, if I go over, that's the end to all your problems, eh, darling? Just think...no more nagging, no more pushing...a life of peace and tranquillity. And don't forget the insurance. Hey, that's it. There's your goal. Something to aim for. Something to get off your fat arse for. Is a hundred thousand enough, John? Would that get you over here? That's right, come on, just a few more steps. It wouldn't take much, darling...just one little shove. Here, I'll help you. Look, I'm leaning into the wind. I'm almost off balance. I'm falling -- John! I'm fall--"

"Liz!"

"John, my hand...don't let go. It's all moving. Don't let go!"

"I've got -- I've got you."

"John. John, I nearly --. I could've --"

"I know, sweetheart. Come on, let's get you back to the car. We've had enough for today. Here, let me help you...watch out for that dog mess. Steady now. Along this way."

"You know, John...you really missed a golden opportunity back there."

"I know, dear. That's the story of my life."

The End
© Frank Swales