Me: What’s the matter with Poppy? She looks awfully glum.
Nell: She’s sulking. Just ignore her. She’ll get over it.
Me: Why? Is it this horrid grey rainy weather?
Nell: Poppy’s bad mood has nothing to do with the weather.
Me: She’s not going to go wild, is she? Only I’m not dressed for confrontation.
Nell: That’s not Poppy’s fierce face.
Me: But is she Poppy today, or the Evil Mrs Snow?
Nell: A combination of the two, which is what she’s like most days, to be honest.
Me: What happened?
Nell: If you must know, she had a run in with Wibbly Wobbly Woof during rehearsal.
Me: Manuel is coming out of his shell then?
Nell: He’s an octopus, not a lobster.
Me: I never mentioned lobsters.
Nell: With hindsight Gladys probably shouldn’t have suggested a Pasa Doble.
Me: Did Manuel get carried away?
Nell: Have you ever seen an octopus twirling a cape?
Me: I can’t say I have.
Nell: It’s spectacular.
Me: He is from Barcelona.
Nell: Everyone was applauding until Poppy marched on stage and shouted ‘This has to stop!’
Me: Was that in the script?
Nell: No, but I always allow for a little improvisation.
Me: Did Manuel stop?
Nell: Not until Poppy sliced through his cape with her sword.
Me: That wasn’t very nice of her.
Nell: No. Everyone booed. I blame it on the chilli. She made spicy fajitas for lunch and she gets easily overheated.
Me: Was Manuel upset?
Nell: Yes. He said ‘You very bad naughty evil Mrs Poppy Snow.’
Me: I’d keep that line in, if I were you.
Nell: I’m keeping the whole scene.
Me: Good idea.
Nell: Poppy doesn’t agree.
Me: Nobody likes to be upstaged by an octopus.
Nell: The show must go on.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
