HANA
I know it’s difficult to leave, I know you love him, I’m here for you if you need a place to stay or a place to vent, but I will never forgive you if you let him make you another statistic.
MALLORY
I know. I know! That’s the worst part of it. The rational part of me knows that this will end with me leaving him or with me dead but I can’t bring myself to leave him.
HANA
Do we need to make a plan?
MALLORY
I have a plan. I just need to act on it.
HANA
Would it help if I took your phone and locked you in the bedroom to detox?
MALLORY
I know that was a joke, but I’m seriously considering it.
HANA
Just let me know. I’ll fix you a supper that I can slide under the door.
MALLORY
How did I let myself get into this situation? I should know better.
HANA
No. Stop that. He played a part for you to fall for him. He knew the strings to pull, he practiced with past girlfriends and became a pro. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s him.
MALLORY
But now that I know it’s him why can’t I leave him?
HANA
Chou-chou, it’s hard to walk away. You married him when he was pretending to be a prince but now that he’s a beast you hope he’ll turn back. You are confused and you love a version of him you knew, we knew!, for years. And I know it’s difficult. We stick to your plan, we are gentle with ourselves, and we get you out.
MALLORY
Okay.
HANA
What is the first step of the plan?
MALLORY
I already have some money saved, and I’ve been moving things into a storage unit, things I know he won’t notice…
HANA
That’s good, things are in motion.
MALLORY
And he has a business trip at the end of the month so I thought that would be a good time to move out.
HANA
So we just need to get you to the end of the month?
MALLORY
Yes.
HANA
Then that’s what we will do.