Lantana Page #2

Are you feeling guilty?

Do you think I should be?

It doesn't matter|what I think.

He feels manipulated by her.

How?

She's very needy.

Are you trying|to justify his deceit?

No, I'm trying|to understand it.

- It's complex.|- Mmm-hm.

But isn't it still|an act of deceit?

No marriage|can be based on that.

Most marriages|are based on that.

You think you know what goes on|in most marriages?

What? Because I'm gay,|I can't have an opinion...?

- It's not what I was--|- She's not the victim in this.

She chose to marry him.

Not knowing he was gay.

There's knowing,|and there's ''knowing.''

What do you mean?

I think some women|like to live the lie.

It's easier than dealing|with the truth.

Maybe she loves him.

But so do I.

Then he has|to make a choice.

Unless one of us withdraws|from the contest.

Is love a contest for you,|Patrick?

Patrick?

Yes.

Sometimes.

What happened to your head?

I bumped it on a clothes line.

Listen...

thanks for last night.

I'll lie for you|to anyone, except Sonja.

I don't want|to lie to her again.

Fair enough.

Why are you trying|so hard to f*** up your life?

You don't know how lucky you are|to have the marriage you've got.

And you're pissing|all over it.

( salsa music playing )

It's great your husband|comes with you.

Yeah.

- What about yours?|- I'm separated.

Ah...

- Can you tell?|- No.

No, you just have this...

- kind of look.|- What? Desperate?

No.|Full of potential.

Sorry I'm late.

- Jane, this is my husband Leon.|- Hi.

Yeah...

Instructor:
|Excuse me, everybody.

There is a salsa band playing|tonight and tomorrow at The Latin.

Leon. Sonja.

Are you guys coming?

I thought we'd have|a nice dinner together.

Come on. You can go out|to eat anytime.

I'd like to go.

- I'm kind of tired.|- Okay.

Sonja:
|I'll see you at home.

Bye.

- What was that about?|- Hey, she needed a partner.

- And you happened to volunteer?|- She chose me.

I'd never say|anything, Leon.

Nik:
Pete!

G'day, Nik.

How are you, mate?

Drove by to see Jane.|Doesn't look like she's in.

Did you see her tonight?

No.

You don't know|where she is then?

No, sorry.

How is she?

The last time|I saw her, okay.

That's good.

- How are you going?|- Good.

Good.

It's late.|I thought she'd be home.

Sorry,|I haven't seen her.

If there was something|I should know, you'd tell me?

'Cause...

if she's seeing someone,|I'd want to know.

It'd be easier.

Of course.

I hate this.

- Thanks, man. See you later.|- Take care.

So why did you|and your husband split up?

I don't know.|I just turned around one day

and I realized I was living with a man|I didn't love anymore.

- It was that simple?|- No.

But you knew that much.

Maybe my expectations|were too high.

You're a brave woman.

You are.|Most people settle for less.

I really like you, Leon.

Maybe a little too much.

But I'm--

I'm starting|to wonder just...

where this might go.

I'm still in love|with my wife, Jane.

Right.

Leon:
I'm sorry.

So...

I'm wondering why--

why have you been seeing me if|you're still in love with your wife?

I don't know.

It's not something|that I planned.

Look, Jane, I--

This doesn't have|to end badly.

Just go.

Jane:
Just go. Go.

It's twofold actually.|He thinks he runs the faculty,

but he hasn't published|anything decent since 1 985.

You seem preoccupied.

I'm having trouble|with a client.

I'm not handling him|very well.

Refer him on.

I find him|a little threatening.

Why?

I don't like...

- what he's doing.|- You're judging him.

Darling, you have|to refer him on.

I'll see you outside.

Excuse me.

I hate what's happening to us.|I hate it.

We don't talk anymore.

We lost our daughter.

That could have|brought us closer.

Do you think|about her very much?

Of course I do.

I just don't need|to write a book about it.

Do you think|I did the wrong thing?

I just wanted the whole...

world to know.

Look at me, John.

Look at me.

( bird chirping )

Nik:
Come on, kids.|We're late for school.

Paula:
|Watch the road.

Come on. In you get.

- Nik:
Goodbye, love|- Paula: Bye, Derek.

( baby crying )

Hi.

Hi.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

I'll pop around|after work.

Okay.

Claudia:
Hey, Nik.

You want coffee?

Yeah, sure.

Pete was over|last night.

How is he?

Not good.

How's the job hunting going?

Are you guys|all right for money?

- Yeah.|- Yeah?

'Cause if you need some money,|I'll be more than happy to--

No.

I know Paula|wouldn't take it.

She's doing|extra shifts now.

You sure there's no bill|you want to clear?

It's fine.

- The offer's there.|- ( baby cooing )

- Thanks.|- It's all right.

Why didn't you wake me up?

I thought you could do|with the rest.

- I'll go have my shower.|- Actually, I've got an early start.

- I'll only be 1 0 minutes.|- Just take your own car.

- Come on, wait for me, please.|- Jesus.

Sorry.

I have a lecture|tonight anyway.

So, you'll be home late?

Yeah.

Bye.

I think|he's having an affair.

He's distant,|preoccupied,

like he's holding something|back from me.

What would you do|if he was?

I--|I think I'd leave.

Yeah.

And does that|scare you?

Yeah.

I'm--

I'm middle-aged. I don't know|what it's like out there.

You know?

And I have these two...

beautiful boys.

But I--

I would survive

if I had to.

I like being this age.

And I--

I like the lines|around my eyes.

I don't know|if he does, but...

I do.

It's not that he might have slept|with another woman,

you know?

It's that he might|not tell me.

That would be|the betrayal.

Do you still love him?

( cell phone rings )

Assistant:
Valerie?|Patrick Phelan is here.

Give me a minute, okay?

- You don't like me, do you?|- Is it important to you?

Would it make a difference|if I were straight?

I don't have a problem|with your sexuality.

But it is a problem that I'm having|an affair with a married man.

You must stop trying|to make me the subject.

It's just another form|of defense.

I'm curious about|your role in this triangle.

My role?

I'm a respite from a marriage|that's gotten too hard.

How?

He takes refuge in me.

- In what I offer him.|- What do you offer him?

Sex unencumbered by need.

Why doesn't he leave her?

Good men don't know|how to leave their wives.

Good men|or cowardly men?

He told me that making love|to her was like

trying to fill|an empty well.

What did you say?

What?

- You said something to me.|- No, I didn't.

- Yes, you did!|- I didn't say anything.

- You heard him, didn't you?|- This is bullshit--

- Bullshit?|- Yeah.

I want your name.|Give me your name!

I want your name!

A bourbon, please.

A double bourbon with ice.|Thanks.

You all right?

Yeah.

You sure?|You don't look all right.

What?|Are you a cop?

Yeah.

Really?

Really.

Sorry, I just--

something weird|really happened.

I was walking and this woman|started yelling at me.

She thought|I said something to her.

- What for?|- I don't know.

I was walking down the street|and she went nuts.

- Did you?|- No.

I didn't do anything.|I don't do stuff like that.

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