Calm Before the Storm

"Did you hear about the storm?"
"Orleans again? Such a troublesome little city,
    isn't it, with the blinking lights and spicy food,
    all those people dancing as though their bodies were toys.
    It was Orleans, wasn't it?"
"No, farther north I think."
"How much farther?
    By the time you hit Oklahoma,
    rain turns to dust and the cities to ghost towns."
"Further than Oklahoma.
    May have been Mississippi,
    didn't read too closely."
"You should have paid attention-
    where did you leave that wrinkled old newspaper?
    Must've had it a moment ago,
    I can still see the ink stains on your fingertips.
    How many times do I have to tell you
    not to let the paper sit out in the rain?
    It'll take an hour to wash those stains off."
"I don't mind them,
    not really."
"What are you?
    Some sort of harlot?
    Jesus, I don't understand you women."
      ...
      "Sarah?  Oh come now, honey,
      I didn't mean it."
"But-but that's just the problem-
    you did.
    You did and you always do."
"Now you're being silly.
    Where's that paper?
    And stop crying-
    Jesus, Sarah, what'll the neighbors think,
    these walls are thin as paper.
    They're going to think I beat you-
    is that what you want?"
"N-no, Robert."
"Good girl.
    Now fetch me that paper.
    I wanna read about that storm,
    case it's headed this way."
"Robert?"
"What?"
"I-nevermind.
    You're right,
    always right."
"You remember that."