The Fight

The Carwell family, consists of Bronwen, Tom and their five year old daughter, Rebecca. They live in a super little house in Holland Park. They are a happy family. Bronwen and Tom are planning to have a baby.

One night Bronwen hires a babysitter, until midnight, for Rebecca, as she and Tom are going to go to a little dinner party in Notting Hill Gate. Tom says: "Pretty soon, Rebecca will have a little friend". Bronwen looks delighted. The dinner party is serving Greek food from a local restaurant. Tom rings Kerry, the babysitter, at 9:30 pm, to check that everything is alright. Things are ok. Bronwen is getting drunk as the evening wears on, while Tom only allows himself two glasses of wine. Tom only drinks on special occasions.

It's nearly 11:00pm. Tom is about to ring for a cab, yet Steven Smith (one of the other dinner party guests) asks for silence at the table and says: "Folks, I have room for four passengers in my car, going as far as Shepherd's Bush. Hands up, please". Tom puts his hand up first and says "My wife and I, please. We live in Holland Park avenue". Steven tells them that he plans to leave the party at 11:30pm, "...on the dot".

Mrs Carwell, is now doing wild dancing in the corner of the living room, next to the green velvet curtains. Tom is glad when they finally get back home.
The next morning, at breakfast, Tom tells Bronwen off. He says that her drunkenness can not go on and that it's becoming a bad influence on Rebecca and has to stop. Tom wants Bronwen to put a stop on drinking before dinner. She is only to consume her wine at the dining table, otherwise Rebecca will get the wrong idea.
Bronwen cries out "Rebecca is too young to be influenced"! Tom shouts back: "You will do as I say. Rebecca is five years old"! Bronwen sobs and clasps her hand around the handle of the green kitchen cabinet.

Tom, later, takes Rebecca to school and then goes to work. When he gets back home from work, Bronwen is sipping a large glass of red wine. He shakes her: "You'll pour that wine down the sink"! Bronwen holds on to the glass tightly, but when Tom makes a grab for the glass, it drops to the floor and smashes. Tom then receives a punch to the arm and Bronwen receives a slap to her cheek. The rice is boiling over, on the cooker. Bronwen throws the boiling pot at Tom, who ducks away, narrowly avoiding being scalded. He slaps Bronwen again. They fight briefly, kicking and punching each other, resulting in Bronwen bursting into tears and crying out "I'm sorry! I was only drinking because Rebecca is staying the night with one of her school friends". Tom does not believe that this is the reason. He thinks that she would have drank anyway. He says sternly: "It is me or the drink, I fear. These are my final words". Mrs Carwell doesn't reply.

The next morning, Bronwen has vanished with a suitcase of clothes. She's left a letter on Tom's bedside table: "Dear Tom, I chose the drink and not you. Please don't try to find me. With no feelings, Bronwen".

Tom will have to find a maid.