[ roy stares down into the glass of water, watching his reflection ripple upon its surface. it looks like little more than a smear of dirt. ]

I used to be up there with the lot of you, y'know.

[ ignoring the glass, he folds his arms over the table, resting his forehead against his wrists. the blood-red undersides of his eyelids. someone coughing in the background. a whining dog. ]

I was - [ he turns his head, one dark eye opening to fix itself on the sorry guy who'd stooped to show him kindness. ] an actor. Maybe you even saw me up there on the silver screen. Took your lady for a night out and - [ a grin, showing all of his teeth. ]

Maybe she fell in love with my face before yours.