SUGAR: Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?
JOE: Not very likely.
SUGAR: Are you staying at the hotel?
JOE: Not at all.
SUGAR: Your face is familiar.
JOE: Possible you saw it in a newspaper — or magazine — Vanity Fair –
SUGAR: That must be it.
JOE: Would you mind moving just a little? You’re blocking my view.
SUGAR: Your view of what?
JOE: They run up a red-and-white flag on the yacht when it’s time for cocktails.
SUGAR: You have a yacht? Which one is yours — the big one?
JOE: Certainly not. With all that unrest in the world, I don’t think anybody should have a yacht that sleeps more than twelve.
SUGAR: I quite agree. Tell me, who runs up that flag — your wife?
JOE: No, my flag steward.
SUGAR: And who mixes the cocktails — your wife?
JOE: No, my cocktail steward. Look, if you’re interested in whether I’m married or not –
SUGAR: I’m not interested at all.
JOE: Well, I’m not.
SUGAR: That’s very interesting.
Joe resumes reading the paper. Sugar sits on the sand beside his chair.
SUGAR: How’s the stock market?
JOE: Up, up, up.
SUGAR: I’ll bet just while we were talking, you made like a hundred thousand dollars.
JOE: Could be. Do you play the market?
SUGAR: No — the ukulele. And I sing.
JOE: For your own amusement?
SUGAR: Well — a group of us are appearing at the hotel. Sweet Sue and Her Society Syncopators.
JOE: You’re society girls?
SUGAR: Oh, yes. Quite. You know — Vassar, Bryn Mawr — we’re only doing this for a lark.
JOE: Syncopators — does that mean you play that fast music — jazz?
SUGAR: Yeah. Real hot.
JOE: Oh. Well, I guess some like it hot. But personally, I prefer classical music.
SUGAR: So do I. As a matter of fact, I spent three years at the Sheboygan Conservatory of Music.
JOE: Good school! And your family doesn’t object to your career?
SUGAR: They do indeed. Daddy threatened to cut me off without a cent, but I don’t care. It was such a bore — coming-out parties, cotillions –
JOE: Inauguration balls –
SUGAR: Opening of the Opera –
JOE: Riding to hounds –
SUGAR: — and always the same Four Hundred.
JOE: You know, it’s amazing we never ran into each other before. I’m sure I would have remembered anybody as attractive as you.
SUGAR: You’re very kind. I’ll bet you’re also very gentle — and helpless –
JOE: I beg your pardon?
SUGAR: You see, I have this theory about men with glasses.
JOE: What theory?
SUGAR: Maybe I’ll tell you when I know you a little better. What are you doing tonight?
JOE: Tonight?
SUGAR: I thought you might like to come to the hotel and hear us play.
JOE: I’d like to — but it may be rather difficult.
SUGAR: Why?
JOE: I only come ashore twice a day — when the tide goes out.
SUGAR: Oh?
JOE: It’s on the account of the shells. That’s my hobby.
SUGAR: You collect shells?
JOE: Yes. So did my father and my grandfather — we’ve all had this passion for shells — that’s why we named the oil company after it.
SUGAR: Shell Oil?
JOE: Please — no names. Just call me Junior.