JAMES. As a coffin nail.

MARGARET. But… what happened? When?

JAMES. Never mind Cochrane.

JAMES is pulling MARGARET towards the standing mirror. It has been covered with a cloth.

It’s from Venice. The glassworkers of Venice have discovered this extraordinary technique. They can make mirrors that reflect the real world, exactly as it looks, no distortions, no blurred shadows… you see things exactly as they are. It’s remarkable. No one’s ever looked in mirrors like this before.

Look at this.

He guides her to stand in front of the mirror. He pulls the cover off.

MARGARET has stepped back so she can’t see her reflection, only his.

MARGARET. Oh!

JAMES. Yes?

MARGARET. That’s you! That’s exactly what you look like! That’s what my eyes see!

JAMES grabs her impatiently and pulls her so she is looking at her own reflection.

MARGARET gasps in shock. She stares at herself for a moment.

Is that…?

JAMES. Yes.

MARGARET. That’s me!

She starts to laugh.

JAMES. What are you laughing about? That’s you! That’s what you look like. That’s what I see, that’s what everyone sees.

MARGARET is laughing even harder, she points at the mirror.

MARGARET. Look at her!

JAMES. Look at you! That’s you!

MARGARET controls her laughter. She looks at herself, considering.

MARGARET. James, this is making me so happy.

JAMES. What!?

Look at your face. Look how old you are.

MARGARET. Oh, I thought I was much older than that!

JAMES. Look at your skin! Look.

He pushes in beside her, pointing at his own face and hers.

Look at the holes! Look, tiny holes in your skin, look at the hairs, look at these lines, look, like the skin on porridge. Look how ugly you are.

MARGARET. I thought I was much uglier than that.

I like this woman! Look at her! She’s ready for a laugh, isn’t she? I’d love to get drinking with this woman. I really like the look of her. Is that really me?

JAMES. That’s what you’ve come to. Yes.

When I married you, you had skin like milk and rose petals and a mouth like a fresh berry.

Pause.

MARGARET. But you never told me that. No one ever told me that. That pretty girl is dead and gone and I never knew her.

I like this woman.

She notices his state.

You thought this would upset me? That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? You wanted to taunt me?

JAMES. No! No, I didn’t! I wanted…

I thought you would see it too.

I thought you would feel it too. You usually…

I wanted you to understand, you bloody aggravating woman!

JAMES stares at the mirror for another angry moment, then he turns away from his reflection.