Anna：According to most accepted social norms, a person should not drink alone after 10 p.m unless they have a good excuse. What's yours?
Kate：Gosh, don't have one.
Anna：l do. My youngest left for college this morning. Marie. One day she's splashing around a wading pool in diapers then she's packing up a Volvo and driving to California. l just hope she knows what she's getting into.
Kate：Don't tell me. Premed?
Anna：Bingo.
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Morgan：Hey, how are you? Good to see you.
Alex：l'm well, thanks.
Morgan：l want you to meet some friends of mine. Alex, Mona, the Wootch. Susan, Johnny.
Alex：Hi.
Morgan：Let's get you something to drink. Come on. Bar's back here. Come on. Hey, this is Marjorie.
Anna：Why didn't you mention it was today? We would have had a cake for you or something.
Kate：Oh, it's just time passing. l hate making a big deal out of it.
Anna：You keep a lot to yourself. Nothing wrong with it. But l've sometimes wondered what else you have in your life besides work. Family? Boyfriend?
Kate：Well, l did. Once. His name was Morgan.
Anna：Morgan? Morgan. That's a sexy name.
All：Surprise! Happy birthday, Kate. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. We got you.
Morgan：This is Kate, obviously.
Someone：Hi, Kate.
Morgan：This is Alex and Mona. This guy's gonna help us find our lake house. Right?
Alex：You haven't had cake.
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Kate：Anyway, well, I ended it. And l'm happy now, and it was the right thing to do.
Anna：So who is it you write to? l couldn't help... every time you get a break at the hospital...you're writing something.
Kate：There is someone. lt's kind of a long-distance relationship.
Anna：How did you meet?
Kate：We haven't.
Anna：What?
Kate：No. The story of my life.
Anna：You're kidding.
Kate：Keep everything at a distance. Everyone. The man who was standing in front of me, the one that wanted to marry me, him, l push away. l run from him. ln the meantime, the...the one man l can never meet...him, l would like to give my whole heart to.
Anna：He must write one hell of a letter.
Kate：lt's nice. lt's safe.
Anna：Christ, he's in prison, isn't he?
Kate：No.
Anna：You're one of those women, aren't you?
Kate：No. No, he's just a guy who lives on a lake. He's an architect.
