Andrew lines scene 6

Max assaulted her in a café full of people. I don’t believe that.

Assault is my word, but anytime a man raises his hand against a woman——

assault is your word? What’s Becky’s word?

he grasped her forearm, Suzanna

He grasped her forearm. You left work…you made me leave work because Max grasped her forearm?

It is never acceptable for a man to dominate a woman by force!

Agreed. But you said this was an emergency

This is an emergency, Suzanna!

No…it isn’t. Look, you know I find your radical feminist side an incredible turn on.

This is not a joke.

Sweetie, I know that. But I just walked out on a patient who has actual, real problems. In the future ... A forearm grab is not an emergency. (She tries to kiss him. He recoils.)

Max assaulted my friend, Suzanna. He is out of our lives.

Out... He's out of yours, maybe.

You want me to be a man and make the decisions in this marriage? I just made one. You, Max — done. (A beat. Is she gonna escalate this or bullshit agreement and go back to work?)

You know what? Fuck you, Andrew. Here's a reality check. What Max is guilty of is fuck-and-run. It's not very nice, but it's also not a war crime. He blew her off. He didn't strangle her cat!

Jesus! Why do you and Max have to use such violent examples to make your points?

Because we have some fucking perspective on life! Becky needs to get over it and you need to stop the Sir Lancelot bull-shit. You have spare time to manufacture drama where none exists but in your writing so you can get published and we can keep our apartment!

Jesus, I feel like I don’t know you.

Why?

When I met you, Max and your mom were telling you to "get over" your dad's death. I listened and I cared.

That's true! Your love healed me. But Becky needs to find her own savior, she can't have mine.

She doesn't have anyone else!

That's not our fault.

Her pain is our fault. You knew Max's record with women. Fixing him up with her was thoughtless.

I have apologized! What more can I do?

You've done enough. It is up to me now to ... (Off Suzanna's look.) I'm not going to abandon this woman when she's drowning!

Right. You'll save her and then you'll abandon her. That's what you do, right? Your anorexic girlfriend gained ten pounds, you married me.

You want to tell yourself I'm turned off by you getting healthy? Go ahead. I'm not turned off by your health, I'm turned off by your character.

(Wounded.) My character?

Max treated Becky like garbage from the moment she walked in that door. And I watched you that night. You didn't care then, and you don't care now. Your lack of compassion for her is incredibly unattractive.

I do care, Andrew, but ...

But what? How could you fix Max up with her? How could you fix him up with anyone?

Max is a good man, Andrew. Just because —

( Overlapping.) Are you kidding me? Fine. You know what? We've reached an impasse on this Max ... thing. I'm gonna stay with friends for a couple days.

Why?

I need to think.

Think about ... us? Oh, no. No. Andrew, listen to me.

When I married you, I married up. I married a better person than I am. I love that you want to help Becky. I love that you don't think the bubbla story is funny and I love that pornography makes you cry. You're good like my dad was good —

Your dad was a dishonest, irresponsible alcoholic. Jesus, Suzanna. Your dad was good ... Max is good ... Here's a "reality check" for you: Loving Suzanna is not the sole criteria for goodness!

Wait. Andrew. I’m gonna tell you something. Max doesn't know and you can never tell him ... My father bought Max. From his father.

What do you mean, he bought him?

He gave Max's dad a lot of money not to send him away. When Max's mom died. His dad was gonna send him to some great-aunt in Texas. And my father said no! He knew it would kill Max, it would break his heart. So he ... He bought him. (A beat.) My father was good like you, see? Max wasn't his problem, but he just couldn't walk away. Like you and Becky. It's goodness. You don't have ... feelings for her. Do you? (A hideous pause.) Oh, no.

Our problem is not Becky. (Off her devastation.) Let's talk in a few days. I think it would be good for you to do some thinking, too.