Muriel's husband Ralph has just died, leaving her well off, until her son Giles invests the money unwisely. Eventually, neglected by Giles and her disturbed daughter Margaret, Muriel ends the play alone and poor, determined to cheerfully "soldier on". From the stage version of "Talking Heads".

Muriel's husband Ralph has just died, leaving her rather well off - until that is, her son Giles gets his hands on the money. Unused to thinking about financial matters, Muriel submits to Giles' plans and comes out the loser as he has invested unwisely. Eventually, neglected by Giles and no longer needed by her disturbed daughter Margaret, Muriel ends the play alone and poor. Brisk, bright and eternally optimistic, she is determined to "soldier on", her persistent cheerfulness striking an icy note in this cool and merciless monologue of self-deception and moral blindness from the stage version of "Talking Heads".