EXT. PARKING LOT NEAR TRAIN STATION. DAY - LATER.
MARIA and MATTHEW are sitting by the column.
MARIA
What time is it?
MATTHEW
Five-o-three.
MARIA
Did you mean it? Would you marry me?
MATTHEW
Yes.
MARIA
Why?
MATTHEW
Because I want to.
MARIA
Not because you love me or anything like that, huh?
MATTHEW
I respect and admire you.
MARIA
Isn't that love?
MATTHEW
No. That's respect and admiration. I think that's better than love.
MARIA
How?
MATTHEW
When people are in love they do all sorts of crazy things. They get jealous, they lie, they cheat. They
kill themselves. They kill each other.
MARIA
It doesn't have to be that way.
MATTHEW
Maybe.
MARIA
You'd be the father of a child you know isn't yours.
MATTHEW
Kids are kids, what does it matter?
MARIA
Do you trust me?
MATTHEW
Do you trust me first?
MARIA
I trust you.
MATTHEW
You sure?
MARIA
Yes.
MATTHEW looks at MARIA and then kneels down in front of her.
MATTHEW
Then marry me.
MARIA
I'll marry you if you admit that respect, admiration, and trust equals love.
MATTHEW
OK. They equal love.
MARIA and MATTHEW kiss. MARIA looks at MATTHEW, then removing her glasses she climbs to the top of the base of the column and, turning around, falls backward off the base. MATTHEW runs and . . . catches her in his arms, shocked. She opens her eyes and smiles up at him. MATTHEW can't speak. He's gone white as a sheet.
MARIA
Good. I trust you. Now it's your turn. She rolls out of his arms and stands at the foot of the column
base.
MATTHEW
What?
MARIA
Go on up.
MATTHEW
Maria, that's pretty high.
MARIA
Don't you trust me?
MATTHEW
Of course I do.
MARIA
Then go on on up.
MATTHEW
Maria, I'm twice your size. If I fall on you from that height I'll kill you.
MARIA
Trust me.
MATTHEW hesitates. He looks at the column base and then back at her.
MATTHEW
This is not a matter of trust.
MARIA
Matthew, go up. I will break your fall. I promise.
MATTHEWholds her resolute gaze for a while, then sighs and heads up. He reaches the top and hesitates again.
MATTHEW
If I do this, will you leave your mother?
MARIA
What?
MATTHEW
You heard me.
MARIA
Maybe.
MATTHEW
Not good enough.
MARIA
You're being selfish.
MATTHEW
The woman's a sadist.
MARIA
She's just in shock. What's a sadist?
