Posted by Diorite Gabbro on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/Greetings-tp1509895p1509945.html


--- [hidden email] wrote:

> But that type of situation can be hell on a
> marriage, ask any military
> spouse or corporate executive. Mary expected to have
> a marriage that somewhat
> resembled the way she was courted by Ed. When Ed
> became head of SHADO and had to
> start keeping very big secrets from her, her
> reactions were probably very
> normal under the circumstances.

When I first wrote my comments I actually wrote a
long, rambling commentary on "Confetti Check". It was
too long, and I cut it down a lot. Some of what I
said is appropriate here.

I blame Mary for the demise of the Straker marriage,
obviously. Coming down on her hardest comes from the
fact that it appears to me she was just giving lip
service to understanding his job from the start. And,
I confess, I'm also hard on her because Straker is my
favorite character. ;D

But there are others who share in the blame. One may
surprise at least a couple of folks. One of the
people I hold partially responsible is Alec Freeman.

So let's look at the scene: Alec and Ed are touring
the headquarters nearing completion. Alec asks about
Mary and Ed gives the usual platitudes, then takes it
back and says Mary's problem #1. He closes the door.
Then Ed reveals a young husband's anguish over how to
handle the problem. He's asking his best friend for
help. My gut feeling is that baring his personal
problems isn't a common thing for Straker even when
things were better.

Ed wants to tell Mary enough to help her understand
why is he working such ridiculous hours. Alec's
response? Don't tell her anything. That's a help?
He doomed his friend's marriage on that advice.

And I realize I can't let Straker completely off the
hook (as much as I might like to!). His biggest sin
is his complete lack of imagination. Ed could have
told Mary lot's of things without compromising SHADO's
security. It could have been as simple as "I've been
given a lot more responsibility. There's something
very important I have to accomplish and I'm going to
have to work almost 24 hours a day for some time to do
it. I'd rather be here with you, but people (or my
country) are counting on me." And then he could quote
a little poetry to her - the poem I have in mind goes
something like "I could not love, thee, near so well,
my dear, loved I not honor more". (Just don't vilify
me for a misquote, I haven't read it in decades!)

Even though Mary saw the evidence that suggest Ed was
having an affair, I don't think the marriage was
irrevocably over. She woke up in the hospital wanting
Ed. He probably had a chance to explain then if he
had been there. It's that darned Alec Freeman again!

But if Straker had decided he needed to let Mary go,
the easiest way to do it would be to let her continue
to think he has been unfaithful. She would be hurt,
but she could feel justified in kicking Ed to the
curb. And she wouldn't know it was ultimately Ed's
decision.

Diorite, overinterpreting and loving it