Two days later, after sleeping in a hotel and an avalanche of missed calls from Kate, Gregory returns home.
GREGORY: (Stands stunned in the doorway of the Abott lounge) What the …? Kate!
KATE: (Cheerful) Welcome home Pooh Bear!
GREGORY: (Grinding his teeth) Kate, what the hell is this lounge suite doing back in our house? The same damn lounge suite I arranged to be collected a few days ago.
KATE: Calm yourself cheapskate. My dad paid for it, so you can keep your damn money. (Smug)
GREGORY: You just don’t get it do you? Do you really think that by running to your daddy or getting someone else to simply pay for what you want, despite my strong reservations, not to mention the massive fight we just had … Do you really think that money can fix our problems?
KATE: Your negative attitude towards how I choose to spend money is based on the simple fact that you are as poor as a church mouse. My dad paid for the suite, not you! It’s my father’s money!
GREGORY: (Exasperated) Are you even listening to yourself?
KATE: The couches are staying. Get over it!
GREGORY: How are we going to grow as a couple, trust each other, when you continue to undermine me by running to your dad every time I say we can’t afford something?
KATE: How are we going to grow as a couple when you insist on embarrassing me in front of my friends? Why don’t you just admit that you can’t afford to give me the lifestyle I deserve?
GREGORY: First of all, I think you are more than capable of embarrassing yourself. Secondly–
KATE: (Interrupts) Get stuffed Gregory! (Now screaming) You should be thanking me for agreeing to marry you in the first place and giving you the kind of status you clearly don’t deserve!
Stunned prolonged silence.
GREGORY: (With a vague stare, mumbles) I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.
KATE: I’m glad to hear you finally starting to see things my way. If only you–
GREGORY: (Interrupts, now looking directly at Kate) No … I think we rushed into marriage without really talking about our expectations.
KATE: What?!
GREGORY: Our priorities are different. You want to live your best life no matter what the cost; I want us to build a home together based on mutual respect and trust.
KATE: (Confused) What are you saying? Please … don’t …
GREGORY: The other night I … I almost …
KATE: (With tears in her eyes) That was nothing. We both behaved badly and said and did things in the heat of the moment. Please Greg … we can work through this.
GREGORY: Kate, I’m not that guy. I’m not a wife beater, and yet I almost …
KATE: (Desperate, puts her arms around Gregory’s neck, pleading) I know you are not a violent man. Please. Please don’t leave me.
Gregory: (Gently taking hold of both her hands) We need time apart. I need counselling and you need to figure out if your social status and material wealth is more important than our marriage.
KATE: (Now sobbing) No! No Greg! No! You can’t do this to me … to us! What will people say?
GREGORY: (Shaking his head slowly) You’ve just proven my point.
KATE: What bloody point?!
GREGORY: (With tears in his eyes, Gregory turns, takes his car keys) I’m so sorry Kate, but if we are to each have a future we need to do this.
Door closes behind Gregory as Kate is left standing in the middle of the room with tears streaming down her mascara-stained cheeks.
***
Tell us: Do you think Greg did the right thing? Do you think their marriage can be saved. If so, how? If not, why?
