Scene 24--The Lakeside Conversation

24  EXT. LAKE - EVENING                                 24

    Michael and Mimi sit on the rocks by the water in the 
    evening, talking and watching the night fall.  They hold 
    hands, and are affectionate with each other, though a bit 
    restrained.

                          MIMI
              Did your family have this place when 
              you were growing up?

                          MICHAEL
              They bought it when I was pretty 
              young.

                          MIMI
              And you came here a lot?

                          MICHAEL
              We were here all the time in the 
              summer.  

                          MIMI
              Did you used to sit here and catch 
              fish?

                          MICHAEL
              Sometimes.  Sometimes I'd use that 
              boat over there.  Often I'd go over 
              there, near that cove.  Do you 
              fish?

                          MIMI
              No.
                   (pause)
              I like it here.  It's so very quiet.

                          MICHAEL
                   (smiling ruefully)
              Except sometimes.

                          MIMI
              Ohhh.
                   (pause)
              I don't want it to be like that.

                          MICHAEL
              Neither do I.

                          MIMI
              It's just very very hard for me.  
              I'm trying to behave as I'd like to, 
              I really am.  I feel such pressure 
              to behave the right way, and I don't 
              always know what the right way is.

                          MICHAEL
              Ne too.

                          MIMI
              Oh, Michael.
                   (pause)  
              I hope you don't mind this question, 
              but - did you ever 
              had sexual problems before?  
              Problems getting aroused?

                          MICHAEL
              No.
                   (pause)  
              Well, maybe once or twice.  But nothing 
              chronic.

                          MIMI
              Well, how did you deal with it?

                          MICHAEL
              It never really amounted to anything.  I 
              didn't have to deal with it.

    There is a pause.

                          MIMI
              Was it terrible for me to ask that?

                          MICHAEL
                   (sighing)
              No.

                          MIMI
              I'm not trying to put it all on you.

                          MICHAEL
              It's okay, Mimi.

    Another pause.

                          MICHAEL
                   (cont.)
              This sort of thing must have 
              happened pretty often in the old 
              days when people got married.
                   (pause)  
              I wonder how they handled it.

                          MIMI
              Probably they just stayed miserable 
              for the rest of their lives.

    Michael looks at her with a funny expression.

                          MIMI
                   (cont.)
              I'm kidding!  I'm kidding!

    Michael turns away with a smile.  Mimi kisses him on the 
    cheek.