David Nicholls

During a 1995 dinner party, a young, socially awkward scientist named Douglas tries to flirt with Connie while navigating a hostile conversation with Jake, an arrogant trapeze artist. The scene reaches a boiling point when Douglas uses a gruesome hypothetical medical scenario to defend the necessity of scientific intervention against Jake's anti-science rhetoric.

Connie confesses to Douglas that she feels their marriage has reached its natural conclusion now that their son is leaving home. While Douglas tries to offer solutions and travel plans, Connie expresses a deep-seated fear of a stagnant future and questions if their 'work' as a couple is finished.