Two/ Three Parter - In his anger, Peter reminds Carla of a night she'd tried to forget
Their voices were raised, overlapping each other, neither listening to the end of each other's sentences. It was a cacophony of undignified chaos; accusations, insults, put downs and infuriating tension.
He was livid, yet again she'd tried to 'help' and it had left him even less of a chance of gaining custody of the son he loved so dearly. It was as though each time so made an effort to 'aid' him, she clumsily kicked another of the foundations away, until he had none left and he was falling further and further away from stability.
She was hurt, she was angry with herself, and she was tired. She loved him and every time she thought she was doing the right thing, it turned on her and she was confronted with mistakes she'd made all her life leaving her feeling like a usless shell of a body.
'Trying to help, you're always trying to help' he mocked, an angry and yet smarmy smile plastered on his face.
'I'm sorry, I thought I was doing the right thing, it just slipped out' Carla said, her guilt withering away at her usually feisty, unapologetic exterior.
'Slipped out? Slipped out?' he repeated, his fists clenching up.
'I said I'm sorry, I didn't plan it, I just wanted to do the right thing, for you' Carla said honestly, regretting ever saying a word to Leanne.
'This isn't some funny game Carla, this is my son, the son I'm so close to losing, the one's who life we've ruined!' he shouted, turning his body away from her as his thoughts fell on the child he'd hurt so badly, the one she'd described as 'damaged', the more he thought about it her words rang more true.
'You don't think I know that? I know how much you love that boy, you don't think I feel guilty every day knowing what I've done?' Carla said,
'Yeah well it's not good feeling guilty, what's done is done now, Simon's a mess and it doesn't look like I'll ever get custody now, no thanks to you' Peter said, his tone lower than before, laced with despondency.
'You can't think like that Peter, you're a good dad, a wonderful dad, and they'll see that, just like I do' Carla said softly hoping her words would soothe him a little and bring him closer to her, only she didn't get the desired effect.
'If you'd have seen that you'd have never gone over and bribed Leanne, if you'd have believed what you're saying we wouldn't be in this mess' he said, suddenly his anger more prominent than before, his fists tightening as he turned round to face her, taking a step forward, his eyes narrowed, his lips pursed. He hadn't intended to frighten her, and he'd had no plans on hitting her, but as she bolted backwards, her body smacking against the kitchen wall, before sliding weakly down to the floor, clutching her legs like a lonely child he realized he'd made a huge mistake.