Delilah - Present

- “Samson WHAT?” – Thomas speaks in a raised voice.

- “I guess that I am going to expel my good friends from my establishment for the first time.” – Joseph quickly reached their corner and, with his hands on the hips, he asks them to lower their voice. – “It’s almost closing time… Could you just wait a moment and then let me join your conversation? I’m a person of interest too.”

- “You forgot to say, and I quote “my best clients, one of them being my lover”. Right?” – Thomas winks the barman, who rolls his blue eyes and mumbles in return. Still shaking his head due to his boyfriend’s answer, Joseph invites the other customers to leave the bar while Thomas doesn’t take his eyes off him. – “Why did I take so long to confess my feelings to this guy?”

- “Beats me, bull-headed friend… Better now than never…” – Delilah feels calmer now in Thomas’ company, besides, this place is one of her safe havens even knowing that Joseph is Samson’s best friend.

About twenty minutes later, Joseph joins them but not Anna. In between placing the glasses in the washing machine, she avidly texts someone whose answers make her smile and think, before texting in return. It’s a strange sight for the trio, who stops staring when the barwoman raises them her middle finger and, with a lot of cursing, she asks them to keep the nose out of her life. With their hands raised in surrender, they look each other in return and laugh.

A few seconds later, Delilah describes her most recent encounter with Samson. Both men exchange troubled looks.

- “And without thinking I gave him my phone number… I’m so stupid…” – Delilah feels Thomas’ hand holding hers and lightly squeezing it for comfort.

- “It’s ok, darling… Don’t punish yourself for that. If he calls or sends you a message for any meeting without us, warn me. The audacity of the guy…” Thomas drinks the rest of the whiskey from his glass.

- “Samson won’t do it. He is too strict to rules. Tom, if he accepted your terms, he will follow them. I know Samson and I believe that he really felt disturbed when Delilah unexpectedly opened the door.” Joseph unties his long blond hair and lets it fall over the short cut sides.

- “Then why was he there in the first place? Samson should have left right after I did… I can’t trust him.” Thomas squints his eyes and raises his lip in anger.

- “If you give Samson the chance, you will know him better and then trust him like I do.” Joseph turns to Delilah. “Did Samson try to speak about anything while you were walking here?” - Delilah lightly shakes her head.

- “Not a word. I was so nervous that didn’t small talk either…” Delilah twists her fingers.

- “See? I bet he was overanalysing just to avoid any misinterpretation. That’s what he does all the time.” Joseph’s eyes turn from Thomas to Delilah again. “I know you have a picture of Samson in your mind because of the history you have together, but a lot happened in between. Even you are different for sure. Maybe it’s time to clear everything out and then decide about what to do next. Soon… You don’t need to stay friends afterwards… Just talk… It will be good for you to move on… Both of you.”

Silence… Delilah stares the ceiling with her head rested on the armchair. Thomas blankly stares the table with empty glasses.

- “Are they finally dead?” Anna coldly asks from behind her brother.