1.4 continued (Day 12)

Anne: Of a sort, I suppose. Old married couple spat.

Marie: You do not look old, and I wish I could have such a thing.

Anne: Thanks, but why would you want a spat?

Marie: Ah, not the spat as such, but to be so clearly a couple that you can have one.

Anne: It's a two-edged sword.

Marie: Aren't they all?

Monsieur: Non, the guillotine, it has only one edge.

Marie (startled): Oh, Monsieur, you are not supposed to be listening.

Monsieur: Pardon.

Marie (to Anne): Never mind Monsieur. He says nothing to anyone—well nothing of consequence (there's a shuffling of cards)–he tells no stories, yes?

Anne: Yes. Anyway, the problem with being a couple who can fight, is that you tend to do so.

Marie: Doesn't everyone fight?

Anne: I don't think we used to so much. You start to bicker when the little things are the only things you see. What do you fight about?

Marie: Ay. Gilbuert. He, I..., he has the cancer.

Anne: I'm sorry.

Marie: Yes, but it is not like there is no treatment. The chances of survival are really quite high, but he...he acts like he has been sentenced to death.

Anne: Well, a lot of people still feel that way about cancer—for so long it was true.

Marie: I know, but he is young, he is not stupid, he knows the odds are good, but ...ay....I think it is something else and I said so and he leaves because I have none of the sympathy.

Anne: Ah. Maybe he just needs more time to get used to the idea. It's a big shock, especially if you're young. I had breast cancer at 39—I thought it was the end of the world too.

Marie: Ay, I'm sorry. I do not think...

Anne: It's ok. It's 12 years now. But it is something that stays with you. You never forget your mortal after that.

Matt returns

Matt: Anne, I'm sorry. We don't have to go tour the base, we don't even have to see the launch.

Anne: I want to see the launch. I just wish you'd said, “I want to see the first manned launch.” No, I wish you could have known it was ok to say that.

Matt: I do, really, or...I don't know why it gets the way it does.

Anne: Routine. I was just trying to figure it out with Marie (Matt nods to her), Routine kills everything. When you date, the other person is the thing that makes things special. After you're married awhile, they just become part of the everyday—they become the thing you want to escape from instead of the escape.

Marie: I do not think you are trying to escape each other, but I think you are right—that is what most fights are really about.

Anne takes Matt's hand and stands up

Anne: I think we'll return your table to you now. It was very nice to meet you Marie.

Marie (kisses her cheek): And you, thank you.

Matt and Anne exit holding hands

Monsieur: She may be right. Your Gilbuert, he may not have realized he's mortal. That is very big news to most people.