Tom entered the living room.

"Glad I've caught you," he said.

"Oh, it's Tom. Hallo, Tom. Haven't seen you for ages. How are you?" Norman said.

"Yes. I--wanted a word with you. The point is..." Tom began, and then he wandered over to the window. "Is that cat still up the tree, by the way?"

"Hanging on grimly. As we all are," Norman replied.

Tom continued. "I suppose he'll come down eventually... The point is, something seems to be going on which I'm not being let into."

"Has it?" Norman said.

"Apparently. Sarah was talking about something..." Tom said slowly.

"Come on, let's have it. What did she say?" Norman said.

"That's it, you see. I couldn't make it out," Tom said with a perplexed look.

"You couldn't?" Norman said incredulously.

"Not really. Thought perhaps you could enlighten me." Tom said.

"Oh--good." Norman said still in disbelief.

Annie broke in, "Would you both like something to drink?"

"Yes please. A great deal." Norman replied, speaking to Annie but still looking at Tom, still not quite believing.

Annie went out of the room briefly and gathered a few bottles of homemade wine from the kitchen. Passing by the door on her way back, she saw Sarah and Reg in the dining room, limbering up for a row it seemed.

When she got back to the living room, Tom was contemplating the cat again, while Norman was contemplating Tom.

Seeing Annie with the bottles, Tom grabbed the bottle opener. "Well...parsnip or dandelion?" he said.

"We have a choice?" Norman joked as he settled himself on the couch.

"Both last year's," said Tom, "I'd recommend the parsnip. It's slightly mellower. The dandelion's rather lethal. Oh and there's some carrot."

"Don't touch the dandelion," said Annie. "It's a killer. I didn't mean to bring it in."

"Parsnip then?" said Tom.

"Dandelion." said Norman, looking at Annie.

Tom poured each of them a glass, and Norman moved the dandelion slightly closer to him.

As they settled in to drink, a loud crash came from the dining room.

Startled, Annie rushed out to investigate.