Intermezzo

Margaret does front-of-house and hosting duties for a performance of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations at the arts center. During the performance, Margaret fantasizes about sharing a life with Ivan. As she imagines him coming into her social circles Margaret becomes anxious thinking of how Anna might judge her.

After the performance, Ollie Lyons, the chess club captain, approaches Margaret to say that he has recently seen Ivan in town. Margaret reacts innocently, though she cannot help feeling that Ollie knows about their relationship. She mentally traces the network of connections from Ollie to her mother and Ricky.

Margaret calls Ivan and tells him about her encounter with Ollie. Ivan supports her theory by recalling a comment about them at the workshop. Margaret fears that Ricky will be upset with her. Ivan wishes that he could instantly turn older, which Margaret urges him to take back out of respect for the years he has ahead of him.

Ivan tells her that he has brought Alexei home and suggests that he might be able to bring Alexei to Leitrim. He plans to pick up his father’s car from the family’s old house in Kildare and drive to Margaret. After hanging up, Margaret considers how systems of judgment and conflict make connection possible. She feels unable to escape from her life in Leitrim and equally unable to return to the monotony of a life without Ivan.

Peter texts Naomi that he will be staying over at Sylvia’s place to look after her. He helps Sylvia to eat and take her medicine. After she falls asleep, Peter goes to the pub. Peter’s mind is preoccupied with thoughts of his conflicting relationships with Naomi and Sylvia and his inability to choose between them. Naomi represents the decadence of youth while Sylvia represents principle and maturity. He does not know whether to obey the love he’s always felt for Sylvia or to move on from her with Naomi.

At the pub, Peter’s coworkers express their desire to meet Naomi. When he imagines Naomi’s disappointment at being left alone for the night, Peter is reminded of the embarrassment he felt for his father before he died. Peter opens up about his rift with Ivan to his coworker Gary. Peter admits that it wasn’t right for him to insult Ivan’s girlfriend, but he also explains that he worried about someone with ulterior motives. Recognizing his hypocrisy, he doesn’t want Ivan’s girlfriend to exploit Ivan the way Peter is clearly exploiting Naomi.

Peter walks back to his apartment, deciding that he must end one of his relationships to resolve his problems. He considers the way Sylvia seemed so satisfied with him in bed earlier that day. He envisions the life he wants to share with her, in which they will be able to bond over ideas and culture.

Drunk and distraught, Peter apologizes to Naomi. He has not been able to regain control of his life ever since Sylvia experienced her accident and broke up with him. He is in love with Sylvia and decides to end his relationship with Naomi, but offers to let Naomi stay in his father’s house in Kildare and support her while she continues to look for a permanent place to live. He loves Naomi also, but cannot move forward with her.

When Naomi suggests finding a workaround to Peter’s dilemma, Peter argues that it isn’t realistic. Naomi criticizes Peter for disregarding her agency. Upset, she tries to walk away from him, but he takes her in his arms and they kiss. She offers to have sex with him before he goes, but he declines and offers to have sex in the morning instead. She predicts he will declare his love for her again. He affirms this prediction just to end the conversation.