Ben interrupting a conversation between Marie & Marius -
Ben: Oh. Please don't run off on my account. I'll be out of your way.
Marie: Marius told me you wouldn't be here today.
Ben: I came back sooner than I planned. I was out walking around your magnificent city.
Marie: I'm sorry if I've been rude. But you just don't understand.
Ben: New Orleans is a strange city. Strange and unpredictable.
Marie: There's none other like it in the world.
Ben: I find the people rather difficult to understand too. They're a blend of so many things.
Marie: Yes. Good and evil. Bitterness and sorcery and virtue. You can live a lifetime and find nothing worse than warm sunshine or bubbles and honey. Or you might suddenly become aware of the most, the most terrible rottenness.
Ben: The west is like that too. Out west there are trees that touch the blue of the sky. Unimaginably beautiful and yet there's an anger and violence about nature that seem to be there just to test people. But it hardens them too, makes them strong and unfeeling. It's a man's country.
Marie: Are you going back soon ?
Ben: Yes. I thought maybe before I go, maybe we could have supper together and I promise not to talk about anything more personal than bubbles and honey.
Marie: I'm sorry. Good day monsieur.
(Come back next week to see how this turns out.
)