July 22, 2023:

She liked Strictly Ballroom. I thought I'd try another.

"He also has a very good modernized Romeo + Juliette, with Leonar — "

"I don't like modernized Shakespeare."

"Okay, but this one is — "

"I don't like modernized Shakespeare."

"Okay, but if you'd have an open — "

"I don't like modernized Shakespeare."

Sigh. Deep breath. Hold it in.

That's how it went. Months and months. New attempts, shot down, one after the next.

Eventually I gave up trying.