the break-up

"What is it, Marjory? You seem a little... nervous..."
"It's over, Gerald. We're finished. I'm moving out tomorrow morning."
"But Marjory... why, I mean, what?"
"I'm leaving you, Gerald. I can't live like this any more."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"It's your behaviour! I mean, look at you. You just sit here all day, hardly moving, rarely speaking..."
"I'm a triangulation pillar, Marjory. I'm not really designed for small talk or ballroom dancing. Besides, you knew what I was when we met."
"Oh yes, but things were different then. I was young, and foolish, and.. and you were something solid, a pillar of stability. I thought you would steady me but that in time you could change too..."
"I have changed a little, Marjory. Eight years ago I was quite different."
"Don't be silly Gerald, you've hardly changed at all. If anything you've just become a little more chipped and mossy..."
"I'm still dependable, Marjory. I'm always right here for you..."
"That's part of the problem, Gerald. You're always right here, all day and all night..."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not stupid, Gerald. I know what goes on here at night. I know you do too but still you're here every night, hard as a rock, lurking in the shadows..."
"Marjory! Stop this nonsense!"
"It's no use, Gerald. Besides, I've.. found someone else..."
"What. No!"
"It's true. They're everything I thought you would be. They have direction, they have purpose, they..."
"It's that bloody silly little viewpoint thing on Arthur's Seat, isn't it? That little.. THING with the points of the compass and distances to visible summits scrawled all over it! Why, Marjory? I have purpose too."
"You had purpose a long time ago, Gerald. Nowadays no-one looks at you any more. The last time anyone used a triangulation pillar to make a map must have been in the seventies. It's not even as if any hikers might find you useful. You're in a modern city now; they have street names, and road signs. As a navigational aid, you're... obsolete."
"But it's all I know to be. It's all I've ever been. Marjory, please... if you leave me, how would I ever find anyone else?"
"Sorry Gerald. This is the best thing for both of us. I have to go now. I'll probably see you again sometime. Goodbye..."
"Wait, Marjory. MARJORY!"

Fin


Haven't been up Calton Hill with this camera yet so trundled up therewards this afternoon when I was too late getting to the Vue or whatever it's called to see the 14:00 edition of Casino Royale. My lateness was in part due to tarrying on the way to photograph a stray banana skin, witchfinder and bad parenting decision. Plenty of time for films tomorrow although first priority is popping over to Oxgangs to try and get some pictures of a couple of tower blocks being demolished despite the horrible indecision which will strike me concerning the choice between capturing as a movie or series of stills...

Thanks to Anonymoose for pointing out that I had failed to notice it was past midnight when I posted this...