Prince (suddenly turning, hand on door knob, pointing his cane at Stark and lowering his voice to a near whisper): Iceberg, listen ... why don't you come up and see the world, the sea gulls and the ships to Europe? (Coming back into the room.) When did you look at another woman last? The year they put the buffalo nickel on the market? Why don't you suddenly ride away, an airplane, a boat! Take a rocket to the moon! Explode! What holds you back? You don't want to hurt Belle's feelings? You'll die soon enough --

Stark: I'll just have to laugh at that!

Prince: Laugh ... But make a motto for yourself: "Out of the coffin by Labor Day!" Have an affair with -- with -- with this girl ... this Miss Cleo. She'll make you a living man again.

Stark: I thought of you all last night. I was walking on the boardwalk and I thought of you. Do you know what the waves are saying?

Cleo: What?

Stark: Your name ...

Cleo: Well, were you walking alone?

Stark: No.

Cleo: With your wife?

Stark: Yes ... (There is a pause; Cleo walks to the water cooler.)

Belle: You won't throw me away for that dirty rag of a girl!

Stark: To hell with the girl! I'm talking of us ...

Belle (wildly): I gave you too much of my life for that. You've used me up ...

Stark: Belle, for Pete's sake ...!

Belle: And now you want to throw me off. But you're a man, not an animal -- you can't do that!

Stark (quietly): Much more mine. I don't know what happened. I thought about these things a lot these past few months. You expect many things from marriage, but I can't give them. I feel a moral obligation but I don't know what to do. These scenes go on. We're always worried ... we're two machines counting up the petty cash. Something about me cheats you -- I'm not the man to help you be the best woman it's in you to be. So your attitude's justified. I know I owe you a lot, Belle --

Prince: Listen, a man in the fullness of his life speaks to you. I didn't come here to make you unhappy. I came here to make myself happy! You don't like it -- I can understand that. Circumstances insulted me enough in my life. But your insults I don't need! And I don't apologize to no man because I try to take happiness by the throat! Remember, Dr. Benny, I want what I want! There are seven fundamental words in life, and one of these is love, and I didn't have it! And another one is love, and I don't have it! And the third of these is love, and I shall have it! (Beating the furniture with his umbrella). De corpso you think! I'm dead and buried you think! I'll sit in the long winter night with a shawl on my shoulders? Now you see my face, Dr. Benny. Now you know your father-in-law, that damned smiling villain! I'll fight you to the last ditch -- you'll get mowed down like a train. I want that girl. I'll wait downstairs. [...]

Stark (after a pause): I feel so helpless ... no judgment left. I don't know what I'm doing or saying. I almost want to cry.

[...]

Stark: Try to understand my problems, darling.

Prince: What can he offer you? He loves you -- his memoirs are written on his face. But I see a big chapter heading: "No Divorce." Why not? Ten years they're married. She runs his life like a credit manager. They lost a child together ... they're attached underground by a hundred different roots. But if he left her -- as he knows -- could he leave his practice? Never! Then you'd be a credit manager ... But why go on? He won't leave her. That needs courage, strength, and he's not strong.

Prince: Miss Cleo, believe me, life is lonely, life is empty. Love isn't everything. A dear true friend is more than love -- the serge outlasts the silk. Give me a chance. I know your needs. I love your needs ... What do you have to lose?

Cleo: (immobile): Everything that's me.

Cleo (to both men): Yes, if there's roads, I'll take them. I'll go up all those roads till I find what I want. I want a love that uses me, that needs me. Don't you think there's a world of joyful men and women? Must all men live afraid to laugh and sing? Can't we sing at work and love our work? It's getting late to play at life; I want to live it. Something has to feel real for me, more than both of you. You see? I don't ask for much ...