The Price Of An Expedition.

A woman sits eagerly on a couch in the lounge room of her house. On the coffee table beside the couch rests a small clock, ticking. The woman's eyes repeatedly refer to the clock. She is awaiting the arrival of her husband who has been away for quite some time. After about ten seconds establishing this scene, we hear a door open, the sound of luggage being dropped and then a door closing. Excitement owns the woman's face as she jumps up excitedly from her sitting position. After a few more seconds, a man, her husband, enters the lounge room, broad smile on his face. The man and woman's eyes lock for a moment before they embrace warmly. A tight hug and relieved kiss are exchanged before they begin speaking.

WOMAN: Oh, I've missed you so much!

MAN: I've missed you too. (looks around the room with a grin) It's so great to be back. Those three months in Antarctica were the loneliest of my life.

WOMAN: It was lonely for me too. But let's not talk about that. How did the expedition go?

MAN: So-so. If you don't mind, I'd really prefer not to talk about work, though. I want to know what's been going on around here? What have you been up to? Has there been anything big I've missed while I was away?

WOMAN: Actually, quite a bit has been happening. Mark and Jodie split up.

The man is shocked by this news.

MAN: Really? Why?

WOMAN: Jodie caught Mark cheating on her with another woman.

MAN: Mark cheated on her? With who?

WOMAN: A married woman.

MAN: Wow. I never would've picked Mark as a cheater. How's Jodie taken it?

WOMAN: I'm not sure, honestly. She hasn't returned any of my calls.

The man looks slightly puzzled by the situation.

MAN: Strange. Maybe I'll pop over and give her a visit. Is she living in the house or did she move out?

WOMAN: She's living in the house. She threw Mark out. Had all the locks changed. It seems like she's going to extremes to keep him out of her life for good.

MAN: Jeez. So, where's Mark staying?

WOMAN: With the married woman.

The man is visibly perplexed by this news.

MAN: WHAT? Where's her husband?

WOMAN: He's been away. On an expedition.

Somehow this last statement washes over the man without him catching anything. He is shaking his head, trying to figure out the predicament.

MAN: God. Where will Mark go when the husband returns?

WOMAN: Nowhere. The wife and Mark are going to kill the husband when he returns. They're going to bash his head in with a cricket bat.

As the woman says this line, a man (MARK) enters silently through the doorway that the husband entered earlier. He has a bat in his hand and stealthily takes position behind Mark. He raises the bat for an almighty swing. He brings it down but at the last moment relents. He tries again but just can't do it. The husband is absolutely oblivious to all of this but his wife who is still standing ahead of him is looking past his head to Mark, mouthing the words "do it". Mark shakes his head and mouths "I can't."

WOMAN: (half whispered) Do it!

MAN: Pardon, honey?

WOMAN: Ah... nothing. The woman eyes Mark angrily.

MAN: Oh well, I'd better start unpacking.

The man turns around to exit the room, only to see Mark who panickedly throws the bat away. From off-screen we hear a cat cry.

MAN: Mark! What are you doing here?