Scene ~ Q den (Carly's leaning against the open door frame, her arms crossed, crying.)
Lila: I thought I heard someone in here. (Carly turns and Lila sees that Carly's been crying) Would you prefer to be alone?
Carly: Of course not, Lila. (she walks over to the couch and takes a seat near Lila) I always enjoy hanging out with you.
Lila: Even when you've been crying?
Carly: I was just looking at the garden. The last roses are blooming. I remember you telling me that the prettiest ones always bloom... before the frost. (pause) I hate thinking of the rose garden barren and desolate. The house surrounded by snow. It was like that when I came here last year. And it's so isolated, it just feels like you never can get away.
Lila: Do you want to get away?
Carly: I shouldn't. This is everything I've ever wanted... When I was a kid, I used to cut out magazine pictures of, you know, houses, and jewelry and clothes. I always told myself that I would be married to the perfect man. He'd be rich and powerful. And... I promised myself that I would be powerful... Someday. That I would always dress right and act right. I just thought that that's what mattered, you know? I... I thought it mattered more than it does. Except - Michael. He seems happy here, doesn't he?
Lila: He seems to be.
Carly: And that should be enough, shouldn't it? I mean, if my child is happy, then I should just let go of the things that I can't have? How it feels to play pool and slow dance to the juke box... Or watch somebody come out of the water, holding my baby and know that I gave him... the best... I'm not making sense, am I?
Lila: My dear, I understand you perfectly.
Carly: You know what? I think you do. And you don't even seem to hate me for it. You're like him. You know? I mean, you're really like him. You're a great listener with a beautiful heart. You would never do half of the things I have done in a million years. But you seem to know... You seem to understand why I did them. I'm more like Edward, you know. Where as I've always got some sort of a scheme or a plan. Or... I'm always... gearing up to fight - over something. That half the time, once I get it, I don't even want it... (pause) He's hurt you a lot, hasn't he? Edward?
Lila: From time to time.
Carly: Well you know what? He didn't mean to. He just- He just knows that you're so much stronger than he is. And so much more true to yourself. That he made a mistake in thinking that if you could understand what he did, that you couldn't be hurt by it. See the thing is... You forgave Edward, and the two of you got to try again. But what if you never got that chance? What if love never came back, and all you were left with was this house? And the jewlery, and the little tiny bit of hope that maybe you were doing the right thing for your child? Could you stay? Could you be happy?
Lila: I can't answer you that, dear. You see, I'm married to the man I love.