Tarnished Armor
Part 167

A courtroom.

Liza sits on her side with Nora Gannon. Adam sits on his side with Barry. Hayley, Stuart and Marian are at the back of the room.

The judge sits on his bench.

Judge Evans: So in the case of Chandler vs. Chandler, I see that this is a consensual divorce.

Barry: Yes.

Nora: That’s right, your Honor.

Judge Evans: Mrs. Chandler, do you have anything to say?

Liza rises.

Liza: Judge Evans, I just want to say that I’m very much opposed to this divorce. But I love my husband. If he feels that being married to me is painful for him, I can’t bear to see him hurt.

Liza turns and faces Adam.

Liza: I love you very much. I only hope that one day you know how much.

Liza sits.

Judge Evans: Well, if there are no other --

Adam rises. He faces Liza.

Adam: I love you, too. I’m so... sorry for having done this. The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt you in any way.

Liza: I know.

Adam: I wish we could just forget this and go home.

Liza: What?

Stuart: Oh, thank heavens.

Liza tentatively rises and faces Adam.

Liza: No. You’ve made your feelings clear. I know you want this divorce.

Adam: Actually, I don’t.

Liza: What?

Adam: I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I think I’d like to try to work things out.

Liza: But you said --

Adam: I don’t know. It’s just that I am very moved by what you said here today. I’m always moved by you. I love you completely.

Liza: No.

Judge Evans: No?

Liza looks up at Judge Evans and then back towards Adam.

Adam is silent.

Judge Evans: Mr. Chandler, do you want to stay in this marriage?

Adam: I do.

Judge Evans: Then I see no point in continuing these proceedings. Case dismissed.

Judge Evans bangs his gavel.

Liza hurries over to Adam.

Liza: What are you doing?

Adam: I’ll explain everything when we get home.

Liza: Home?

Adam: Our house. Home.

Adam looks down at Liza’s feet.

Adam: Hmmm.

Liza: What are you doing?

Adam: Just checking to see if the shoe is on the other foot yet again. Smile, darling.

Liza: What?

Adam: We have company.

Stuart, Marian and Hayley join Adam and Liza.

Stuart: Well, someone stopped acting like a knucklehead. Right, Liza?

Liza smiles weakly.

Marian leans towards Liza.

Marian: Darling, I’m so happy for you.

Hayley: I think it’s about time for me to move out. I’ll head over to Uncle Trevor’s tonight and collect my things tomorrow.

Adam: Thanks so much, sweetheart. Isn’t that nice of Hayley, Liza?

Liza is distracted.

Adam: Liza? Dumpling?

Liza stares at Adam.

Liza: What?

Adam: Hayley is letting us have the house to ourselves tonight. And then she’s moving out. Giving us room to explore our newfound happiness.

Liza glances over at Hayley.

Liza: Yeah. Right. Thank you. So much.

Adam: And now, I think we should be going. So if you’ll all excuse us...

Liza looks at Adam and then moves quickly out of the courtroom. Adam follows her.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Sixty Six
Part One Hundred and Sixty Eight