[He would have thought of her. It would have hurt. But she's right; it wouldn't have stopped him.

It wouldn't have stopped him before now. Now, he's watching a girl who's been bright and strong, canny and sweet, unhappy and frightened and demanding, cry for him. Because of him. Lortel's crumpling before his eyes because he failed to understand her feelings.

He's supposed to be good at reading others. He's supposed to know what people want. It was always his one redeeming feature.]

Lortel.

[He covers the back of one of her hands with his, not to pull it from her face, but to overlay his palm, his fingers, his thumb on top of hers. To help her shield herself.]

You told me you bought my loyalty with your help. But you've given me far, far more than I... have any ability to repay, in these few weeks.

So, if... you want to extend the length of our agreement... it can be until you feel I've fulfilled the terms. It'll be up to you to determine when... or if... you want to let me go.

[Only after saying that does he bring his hand away.]

If I can... I'll use that time to make this up to you.