CECILIA: Soon as I saw you step up on my porch and arch your neck back like you were trying to relieve yourself of serious pain.

CARTER: I came here to talk about my friend, Vinnie! That’s the only reason I came. I’m not here to be psychoanalyzed.

CECILIA: As though the pain in your neck was only a symptom of something much bigger. A much bigger pain.

CARTER: Look—I have a plane to catch. I’m only here for a very short time. I would like to keep the conversation on Vinnie, if you don’t mind. Do you think that’s possible?

CECILIA: I don’t see why not. More tea?

CARTER: No, thank you.

Pause.

CECILIA: Where are you flying off to?

CARTER: Kentucky.

CECILIA: Aah, my favorite state!

CARTER: Is that right.

CECILIA: “Home of the Derby”!

CARTER: Exactly.

CECILIA: The “Blue Grass State”.

CARTER: Yes.

CECILIA: “My Old Kentucky Home”!

CARTER: Look—Could we—

CECILIA: I used to dream about the Derby.

CARTER: Is that a fact.

CECILIA: One of the last bastions of true American aristocracy, don’t you think?

CARTER: Yeah, sure.

CECILIA: The closest thing we have to English royalty. Pomp and circumstance!

CARTER: I don’t know.

CECILIA: Have you ever been?

CARTER: Where?

CECILIA: To the Kentucky Derby?

CARTER: Many times.

CECILIA: No, really? And you say it so casually, as though you’ve almost become bored with it. I would die to go to the Derby!

CARTER: It’s part of my business.

CECILIA: What business?

CARTER: The horse business. Thoroughbreds.

CECILIA: You’re kidding! Vinnie was involved in that too, wasn’t he? A long time ago. Seems like he told me something about that. Of course it wasn’t on the same scale as the Derby.

CARTER: He may have been. I don’t know. Could we please—

CECILIA: You two must have a lot in common.

CARTER: We used to.

CECILIA: But now you’ve drifted. That’s too bad. It’s sad actually. It’s the one thing that breaks my heart.

CARTER: What’s that.

CECILIA: People drifting apart. It’s worse than death, I think. Worse than dying alone, like a dog. Don’t you think?

CARTER: I don’t know. I don’t know anything about that stuff. All I want to do is just try to explain something to you here and then I’ll be on my way. I don’t want to take up any more of your time.

CECILIA: I’m not a busy woman. I’ve got all the time in the world.

CARTER: Fine. That’s fine. I’d just like to—I’m not sure you realize exactly how much you mean to Vinnie.

CECILIA: No, I’m sure I don’t. We’ve only known each other a short while.