Laura and Marcie settle into a peaceful domestic routine together while Jean is away on a European tour. Working at the office alongside the doctors, Laura takes great pride in learning new skills and gaining confidence. At home, she and Marcie enjoy a calm and friendly relationship free from typical roommate drama. Marcie is slightly amused by Laura s old-fashioned shyness and bookish nature, while Laura feels a quiet satisfaction in her simple affection for Marcie, careful not to let deeper complications arise.
The quiet atmosphere is shattered when Burr, Marcie s powerfully built and zealous ex-husband, unexpectedly arrives at the apartment. Burr immediately focuses all his attention on Marcie, pulling her into a passionate embrace that leaves Laura feeling awkward and out of place. A volatile and loud argument erupts between Marcie and Burr, featuring playful bickering, name-calling, and a physical scuffle involving a wet dishcloth. Although the couple seems to thrive on this chaotic dynamic, it fills Laura with a profound sense of revulsion. Burr eventually turns his attention to Laura, dragging her into the conversation by asking about her background in Chicago and her newspaperman father, while making unsettling remarks about her relationship with Marcie.
Overwhelmed by the tension and her growing discomfort, Laura retreats to the bedroom to take a bath and try to calm her racing thoughts. Examining her reflection in the mirror, she contemplates her body, her past capacity for love, and her conviction that she is simply not made for romance. She reads a book in bed and eventually drifts into a restless slumber while listening to the faint sounds of the couple continuing their turbulent interaction in the kitchen.
Hours later, muscle cramps awaken Laura, and she realizes that Burr has finally left and the kitchen lights are off. Marcie breaks the silence of the night by whispering to Laura and asking her if she was ever in love. Overcome by a wave of painful emotion, Laura confesses that she once experienced love, describing it as a mixture of occasional paradise and mostly hell. After Marcie offers her warm sympathy and remarks that Burr likes her, the two roommates say goodnight. Marcie quickly falls back asleep, but Laura remains awake for the remainder of the night.