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15INT. ROMANTIC RESTAURANT - EVENING

Kaufman eats with Margaret. Margaret raises a glass.

MARGARET

To a fucking awesome assignment, man.

Kaufman, pleased, clicks glasses. He takes a breath.

KAUFMAN

Hey, I'm going to an orchid show Sunday?

For research? Maybe you'll come?

MARGARET

Absolutely. I think David, this guy I'm

seeing, would enjoy it, too. He's a real

naturalist. Okay if he comes along?

KAUFMAN

(covering heartbreak)

Yeah, of course. Sure.

MARGARET

He wants to meet you anyway. All I do is

tell him how great you are.

KAUFMAN

Oh, thanks. That's nice to hear.

MARGARET

You'll like him. He's so honest and

smart. It's rare to find someone in this

town who thinks about things other than

this fucking business, y'know?

KAUFMAN

Yeah. That's great. He sounds great.

MARGARET

Like the other day we were in bed

discussing Hegel. Hegel! In bed! It

was fucking amazing. Have you read much?

KAUFMAN

Y'know, a long time ago. A bit. Y'know.

MARGARET

Well, anyway, David and I were discussing

his Philosophy of History and I was...

The entrees arrive.

MARGARET (cont'd)

... struck by his notion that history is

a human construct...

Kaufman begins the laborious task of getting through his plate of food. He can no longer look up at Margaret.

KAUFMAN

Yeah.

MARGARET

... that nature doesn't exist

historically, but rather cyclically.

CONTINUED: (2)

MARGARET (cont'd)