[Humphrey is sat in his office, texting someone on the phone. He’s wearing a red sweater with a brown blazer over the top, along with some neatly ironed trousers and brown shoes. The smaller table in front of his chair now has a single picture on it facing him, showing an image of him wearing a suit with his wife, June. She’s brunette with long hair, with a big smile and button nose. He glances at the picture and smiles as he continues to text her.]

Humphrey:	[text only] Lessons well?

June:		[text only] A student threw up. How’s your contract?

Humphrey:	[text only] I have doubts, don’t worry.

		[She takes a while to respond, Humphrey staring at the picture again. He gives a sigh, quickly texting back.]

Humphrey:	[text only] I have things to think about.

June:		[text only] Nothing wrong with doubts. I know, take your time.

		[Humphrey sighs a bit, clearly nervous as he slowly types his next message.]

Humphrey:	[text only] I’ve been thinking about kids and

		[The door suddenly starts to open up, Gary standing in the doorway wearing a black hoodie, a white and blue “Blue Lantern” shirt underneath it and carrying a blue scarf. He’s drenched in rain.]

Gary:		Sorry I’m late!

		[Humphrey quickly turns off his phone, pocketing it. He looks up to Gary and smiles.]

Humphrey:	No issue at all, Mr Gray! Please, take a seat.

		[Gary takes off his hoodie, putting it down on the floor next to the chair as he sits down. He budges himself a bit forward and takes off the hoodie.]

Gary:		Sorry still. Bus line wasn’t running like it should, so couldn’t get one here. I was going to be here at ten but then it started to rain-

Humphrey:	I understand, believe me, it’s fine.

		[Humphrey stares at the scarf as Gary drops his hoodie on the ground.]

Humphrey:	[quickly] I actually met my wife because of the weather.

Gary:		[chuckling] Wait, really?

Humphrey:	I had ducked into a coffee shop because of the rain and immediately bumped into her. She spilt coffee on herself, I quickly gave her my coat, helped clean up the mess and bought her a new one.

		[He looks to Gary, chuckling.]

Humphrey:	Hardly a good first impression, but I’ve had worse.

		[Gary smiles a bit as Humphrey’s fades.]

Gary:		Well, um… not to sound too eager, but I’m looking forward to this! Y’know, after yesterday's session, I just kinda feel like a bit of that weight has been lifted. And I mean you are terrible at first impressions but I really think I can-

Humphrey:	I have some questions about your parents, Mr Gray.

		[Gary goes silent, quickly nodding and faking his smile.]

Gary:		[hesitant] Mhm, yep, alright then. Yeah, sure, okay, yeah.

Humphrey:	Say yes one more time and I’ll believe you.

Gary:		Totally.

Humphrey:	Excellent.

		[Gary gives a nervous chuckle as Humphrey looks at him.]

Humphrey:	Do you have a good relationship with your parents?

Gary:		It is… good enough a relationship.

		[Humphrey strongly stares at Gary.]

Gary:		[confused] What?

Humphrey:	Mr Gray, from what I know, “good enough” usually doesn’t mean good enough.

Gary:		[defensive] It’s fine! Me and Dad get along fine!

Humphrey:	And your mother?

Gary:		[hesitant] It’s… y’know, it’s fine. We’re all fine.

Humphrey:	And you promise me?

Gary:		Yes!

		[Humphrey leans a little closer to Gary.]

Humphrey:	Mr Gray, with all due respect, I’m struggling to believe there isn’t at least some form of turmoil in your house between you and your family. Your parents are gone, aren’t they?

		[Gary perks up quickly.]

Gary:		The hell is that supposed to mean?


Humphrey:	Would you like to know?

		[Gary nods. Humphrey nods back, stretching his neck a bit before giving Gary full eye-contact.]

Humphrey:	Your father, he has a good job if he can afford a house like you live in, but doesn’t buy a car? That doesn’t make sense to me, I say the car’s not there because he’s out of town for the time being. Your mother didn’t come out to greet you after you’d been missing for about three hours, which also doesn’t add up to me, she must be absent in some form, possibly working with your father? I can only hope they’d be absent and not hurting you in some way, considering your own insistence not to let them know what happened to you yesterday. And then there’s the matter of a room in your house, at the very top of the house, covered in cobwebs like it hasn’t been used. That’s because it hasn’t, there’s a room in there that your family seems to refuse to go into. I have to ask, before we properly begin, what compels a family to not only leave their child home alone without any form of supervision but also to live in a building while abandoning a room? Could you answer that for me, Mister Gray?

		[Gary stares at Humphrey, not moving, as Humphrey leans back in his chair.]

Humphrey:	Feel free to take your time, I hardly want to pressure you into-

Gary:		My dad doesn’t like the room.

		[Humphrey nods slowly, Gary slumping into the corner of the seat.]

Humphrey:	And why is that?

Gary:		[hesitant] Because… he says that it reminds how it feels to be alone.

		[Gary looks up, giving a small smile.]

Gary:		[hesitant] The whole house does, apparently, that’s why he… works mainly abroad. Paris, Moscow, California, Sydney, he tends to stay there most of the time. He’s back maybe… a week every other month. That’s the only time I ever see him because of how much he hates the house. He won’t even see his son there.

		[Gary’s head drops, looking at his feet. Humphrey gives a sigh.]

Humphrey:	Your mother isn’t in the picture anymore… is she?

		[Gary hesitantly shakes his head.]

Humphrey:	I’m terribly sorry, Mister Gray.

Gary:		[quickly] It’s fine, really, it’s fine… I mean I’ve never even met her.

		[Humphrey frowns.]

Gary:		I was a baby when it happened, new born. I don’t even know what she looks like, dad kept all the pictures in the loft and hides the key somewhere in the house.

Humphrey:	With respect, that’s horrible.

Gary:		No… no, it’s just like him.

		[Gary puts his face into his hands, groaning. Humphrey leans forward, placing a hand on Gary’s shoulder.]

Humphrey:	I’m going to ask you a question, it’s harsh but I want you to answer truthfully, do you understand?

		[Gary nods, looking up. He’s gotten more red in the face.]

Gary:		[hesitant] Yeah, no, it’s fine. What is it?

Humphrey:	Gary Gray… does your father look after you?

Gary:		[upset] I… yeah, I think so. He has to! I-I mean, he has to.

Humphrey:	Do you think he loves you?

		[Gary starts to choke up a bit, getting more red.]

Gary:		[breaking down] S-sorry, I-I-I can’t, I can’t-

Humphrey:	[quickly] It’s fine! It’s fine, you don’t have to tell me! That was too far, I’m sorry.

		[Gary starts to take deep breaths, Humphrey starting to slightly hold him.]

Humphrey:	I’m going to ask one more question, don’t feel you have to answer me. But do you trust your father?

		[He looks at Humphrey for a few moments, giving a poor chuckle.]

Gary:		[upset] I… no. No I don’t.