Husbands and Wives Page #4

He was just raging because I didn't|turn out to be what he thought...

He thought I'd be one thing.|His mother, to be exact.

And I couldn't take the fact that|he was unromantic in every way.

He'd give you an appliance|for your birthday.

I never got her a Melior coffeemaker|for a birthday present.

I got her a camera once.

And an enlarger for our anniversary.

She asked for it.

What are you thinking about?

I don't know.

I was thinking about|that manuscript you're reading.

- It's just a terrible novel...|- Very autobiographical.

- What else can I work on?|- Should I be insulted?

Why insulted?

The way we met.|That party in the Hamptons?

"He spotted her from a distance|and Harriet leapt to mind.

He was drawn to her instantly|because she reminded him...

...of his only genuine passion.

His sixth sense told him|to move on it.

But she wasn't Harriet. The minute|he met her, the dream evaporated. "

- So she wasn't crazy.|- No, just boring.

She's the best.|That's why he marries her.

- But he pays a price.|- This is junk. I'll throw it away.

You're wrong. It's full|of vitality and wit. It's good.

- You're prejudiced, you're my wife.|- Your dull wife.

I don't know why you ask|for my opinion. You don't care.

- It's not true.|- It is true.

I think it's a mediocre novel.

You have no respect for my judgment.|If somebody else said that...

...you'd accept it totally.|- I would not.

After some time,|Judy and Sally had lunch.

Sally made a surprising announcement.

I like being single.

You do?|I had the opposite impression.

That's anticipatory anxiety.

You realize it's not as bad as you|fantasized. Like pulling a bad tooth.

All the festering wounds of your|marriage, the disappointments...

...the resentments, they're gone|in one clean yank and you're free.

After years of accumulating problems|and swallowing one's anger...

...you have a chance to begin again.|- Yeah. I can imagine.

The clock ticks faster for a woman.|Do it while you have some allure left.

The one advantage|of being older is...

...you have a lot of experience.

I have a better shot|at making things work out...

...if I met someone.

If Gabe and I met now,|knowing all the things we know...

...we'd have a better relationship.|No question.

Would you still marry him?

God, what a question!

You know, for me, I just...

The thought of breaking up|is just so painful.

You can't stay out of fear.|You know what you become?

- What?|- My mother and father.

Well...

...I've pictured myself free.

- I know you have.|- How do you know?

Because you got so angry|that night...

...when Jack and I said|we were splitting.

I realized we must have|touched a nerve.

- No.|- Yes! It's like Hamlet and Oedipus.

You were angry because I did|what you really want to do.

You're over-dramatizing.|Gabe and I are okay.

- Nobody has it perfect.|- I know. I know.

When it's good,|nothing's better.

Listen, I think maybe I have|a possibility for you.

- Tell me.|- Michael Gates?

The one you said was attractive?|In your office?

He's only been there a few months.

He had a girlfriend,|but they've broken up.

I do think he's attractive.|He's charming, he's bright.

The timing's perfect.

Come up to the office now|and meet him. See how you feel.

If you're interested,|we could all...

...arrange something|or go out together.

Michael, this is Sally.|I'm finding some back issues for her.

- She's with the Preservation Committee.|- Preservation?

I don't believe in capital punishment|except for New York builders.

Not just New York.

There's always a blind passion|for the new, the young.

Listen, you two wait here|and I'll be right with you.

- Take your coat off.|- All right.

Throw it anywhere.|We're putting out an issue...

...of German furniture styles|in the '20s and '30s.

I hate that period. I did my college|thesis on Bauhaus architecture.

It was called "Function and Fascism."|This was years ago at Radcliffe.

It was very unpopular. Not that it|won't make a good magazine subject.

Have a look at that chair.|Remember that?

- Isn't it wonderful?|- I truly dislike that chair.

- This one?|- I hated that.

What do you think?|Isn't he sweet?

- Well, yes. He seems nice.|- Yeah.

- I think he's great-looking.|- And he's single and not gay.

I'm telling you, he just broke up.

I don't know him that well.

He's quiet.|I like that about him.

He's got a great sense of humor.|He's a very charming drunk.

There was a party here|and he'd had a lot.

He was quoting Yeats' poems|and he was crying.

He was? He weeps?

But in the sweetest way.|So shall I get us all together?

He already asked me to lunch.

He did?

We both took courses at Cambridge.

He suggested we have lunch|next week.

That would be great.|I'd be the matchmaker.

I took an instant liking for Sally.|I was immediately attracted.

She spoke her mind,|she spoke her thoughts.

And she's very sexy, you know?

Look, I wasn't looking|for another relationship because...

...I'd just split up with Amy|and sworn off getting involved.

But with Sally, there was something|that just hooked in at once.

- So you were grateful to Judy?|- Yes, I was. Very.

It's funny, you know.|When l...

When I first got to know Judy,|I thought she was flirting with me.

And I thought she must be|unhappily married.

I met her husband, they seemed|fine. That's typical of her.

She's very giving...

...and she did me this favour|by introducing me to Sally.

Your second story was as interesting|as your first. It was wonderful.

- Great!|- I was knocked out.

I'm thrilled.|I'm so glad you like it.

You're so encouraging to me.|I want you to know that.

Don't be silly.|I'm just one opinion.

You're the opinion.

Your line was great. " Life doesn't|imitate art, it imitates bad TV."

- I think it's completely true.|- Right.

I can't tell you how much your|opinion means to me, you know.

Listen, you wanna go for a walk?|I mean...

A walk?

- You're busy, right?|- No, no.

I just meant for a walk,|to discuss...

You want to hear more|about your story.

The way you structured the story...|The tension built up...

...beautifully and you released|the energy in the last paragraph.

- That was very sophisticated.|- Thanks.

I spent five days searching for|the word to describe the husband...

...and came up with "appucious."|- Appucious.

- I couldn't find it in the dictionary.|- I made it up.

- Oh, really?|- Yeah, it described it perfectly.

Tolstoy is a full meal.

Turgenev is a fabulous dessert.|That's how I characterize him.

Dostoyevsky?

Dostoyevsky is a full meal with|a vitamin pill and extra wheat germ.

"I fall upon the thorns of life.|I bleed."

I used to think that was|so romantic.

To write, to fall in love,|and to experience real passion.

Really? You think passion|could actually be sustained?

I don't know.

Time magazine said you lose|your sexual attraction...

...for the other person|in four years, I think it was.

Time must know, right?

I sometimes think|of living in Paris.

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