PHAE:
Hello Auntie, is something wrong?

THYSSA:

Yes child, we must speak.

PHAE:

I understand. I'll be sad to see you go.

THYSSA:

You will be fine. Shichi will continue to protect your interests and act as body guard. He knows what will happen if he fails me a second time.

PHAE:
Oh Auntie, you’re always so hard on him. He’s been

very good to me. I think he tries to do the best he can.

THYSSA:
It is not enough. He must do better. He knows the

consequences if I return due to a fault of his.

PHAE:

You don’t like him very much, do you?

THYSSA:

It is not a question of liking him. He is here to serve you,

that is all. Is that not correct, Zam?

THYSSA:
… Zam I know you’re under the table.

You will stop your eavesdropping now.

ZAM:
Uh hello Ma’dam. I wasn’t eavesdropping, really.

I only needed to get from there to here, and continue 

into there. I was trying not to interrupt you.

THYSSA:

Then you have failed.

PHAE:

Zam, Auntie Thyssa’s leaving us.

ZAM:

Yes, I heard my dear.

THYSSA:

Of that, I have no doubt.

ZAM:
I couldn’t help but hear part of your

conversation. It wasn’t intentional.

THYSSA:
That is irrelevant. I have already spoken with Shichi. He knows what

is expected of him. Zam, I expect you to keep him focused.

ZAM:

Yes Ma’dam – I'm honored to do anything for Miss Phae.

THYSSA:

Then it's settled.

THYSSA:

... Come child, give your Auntie a fair-well hug.

PHAE:

I'm really going to miss you, Auntie.

THYSSA:

I shall miss you too, my child.

Then in the living room ...

THYSSA:

Orrie, I come to bid you good bye.

ORRIE:

You're going to that boy you told me about?

THYSSA:

My son.

ORRIE:
His daddy’s in big trouble.

THYSA
He is. 

ORRIE:
Don’t worry, you’ll get him back, your son I mean

… his daddy just got busy and forgot.

THYSSA:
That sounds very much like him. Orrie may I count on you to look after Phae in my absence?

ORRIE:
OK.

THYSSA:

Then I shall be in your debt.

KARANTHIR:
Orrie my boy, do you know what day it is?

ORRIE:

It’s happy meal lunch day!

ZYFAN:

Thank you for asking, but I shall let you have your 

brother all to yourself.

ORRIE:

OK. You gonna go see Phae now? She’s sad 

because Thyssa's gone away.

KARANTHIR:

Is that so? Our Auntie Thyssa left us without so much as a

good bye kiss. And to think, I was just beginning to like her.

KARANTHIR:
So my prince, this is a wonderful opportunity for you

to be a hero. Go find Phae and ... comfort her.

ZYFAN:

I did not appreciate the way you said 'comfort'.

KARANTHIR:

Go on Zyfan, you know you can't allow her to be sad. 

She's to be your wife, after all.

ZYFAN:

I have not yet made that decision.

ORRIE:

You will.

KARANTHIR:

I agree. I think she has great potential. Shall we go Orrie?

ORRIE:

Yup. 

ZYFAN:
I hate it when they are so smug. It is most irritating.

Meanwhile ...

PHAE:

Oh Zam, I miss her terribly and she's only just left us.

ZAM:

I know my dear.

PHAE:

I will not cry. I refuse to cry!

ZAM:
It’s OK my dear. You’re not alone you know.

You still have me and Shichi and ...

ZYFAN:
I did not know she had plans to go.

Are you alright?

PHAE:

I’ll be fine.

ZYFAN:
There there, everything will be all right.

ZYFAN:
Shall I tell you what helps me when I feel as you do right now?

PHAE:

Yes, please.

ZYFAN:

I find that ice cream can make everything better. 

Would you like to go for a walk with me and get some?

PHAE:

That sounds nice but, I haven't had lunch yet.

ZYFAN:

Neither have I. We will have ice cream for lunch.

PHAE:

Oh, I don't know... Do you think we could? If my

mother were here, she'd never let me indulge like that.

ZYFAN:
Neither would mine. However, I still do every so often.

PHAE:

Do you really? Don't you feel ...

ZYFAN:
Naughty?

PHAE:
Yes!

ZYFAN:

I have found that feeling naughty can be quite 

satisfying at times.

PHAE:

Do tell?

ZYFAN:

Most definitely. I blame it on Karanthir. Some

would say he has had a bad influence on me.