By Design

My goodness.

That chair is gorgeous.

Look at its body.

Its material.

Its design.

Must be expensive.

What a stunner.

You wouldn't know to look at her.

But Camille is a secure and satisfied person.

She keeps a quote from a book.

"Resentment is like drinking

poison and waiting

for the other person to die".

Camille agrees with that.

Camille enjoys going to lunch

with Lisa and Irene.

Each week she hopes that lunch will be a salon

of ideas ranging in topics, vast and tremendous.

But lunch is devoid of ideas

and filled with crisis.

Even though Camille can't relate to crisis,

she listens with sympathy.

She would rather wipe their tears than be home.

Home is also devoid

of ideas.

And food.

Camille always says yes

to lunch

and to shopping after lunch.

I like this one.

It's very nice.

But you don't need it.

No. Do you need a stool?

I don't think so.

I guess you're done buying furniture.

I'm at the end of my space.

I need a chair.

For what?

Guests?

Oh, a hopeful chair.

A chair with promise.

Let's really look then, instead of all this, what if.

Ooh, I'm excited.

Me too. We never buy.

No. Never.

Hmm.

That's interesting.

Sort of unfinished.

I think it's above my head.

Hmm. Good point. Good point.

This is a set of four.

That is a set of four.

It's a set of four.

It's quite a lovely

primary yellow.

Oh, yeah.

But does that go with the

scheme of your apartment?

I can't remember. What do you think of that?

I don't like it.

No? Too primitive?

You'd think it would be.

Comfortable.

Well, I mean, it's Camille's chair to be had.

Do you want me to spin you?

I could go for a spin.

Squishy.

Is it comfortable?

I don't think so.

Oh, you like it?

I like, I sort of like it.

Do you like it?

I don't know.

No. I don't really love it. No.

Do you like this one?

It's pink.

Oh, it's pink

Isn't your apartment pink?

Some is pink.

Some is pink.

It's not a full concept.

It's different.

Just a brush of paint.

Is it fancy?

Who made?

Okay. Are you ready?

You look pretty, Anna.

And there we go.

Camille feels

nothing.

None of the chairs in the showroom call to her

until she sees

the stunner.

Here's a woman who's never been particularly jealous

of any other woman,

realizing that

she deeply envies this chair.

Its beauty.

Its usefulness.

Its deserving of praise.

It's so easy to compliment a gorgeous chair.

Who needs or appreciates

Camille

as much as they do a chair?

Anyone?

She's never been able

to just sit there silently

and still be seen.

Loved.

That's a life that she wants

instead of the life

of always having to perform.

Camille.

Excuse me.

Which one of you works here?

I do.

Well there's no price tag on the chair.

I know.

Is it for sale?

Of course.

How much does it cost? I'm a serious buyer.

We don't do installments.

We are wondering, what kind of chair is it?

I don't understand

the question.

Where did it come from?

A vendor.

What is a vendor?

A dealer, an art collector.

Someone who sells us furniture.

What is their name?

Our vendors don't sell directly to customers.

I'm gonna buy it.

I just have a few questions.

What are your questions?

I'm asking them.

The chair came in yesterday. It was priced last night.

A very fair price, and now put in the showroom this morning.

So here it is. And clearly

it's made out of wood.

It's very nice wood.

But do you have the space for it? It isn't very small.

Do you own anything wood?

You can't have mismatched with them.

It is beautiful.

I'm gonna buy it.

This is a very expensive store

Camille.

We never buy.

We could always go to sidewalk sales.

Absolutely.

My kitchen mat is from a sidewalk sale.

But that's a kitchen mat.

How much do you think it costs? But really.

Let me really look at it.

God. Just look at it.

Beautiful.

Maybe.

I have the space for it.

Of course

you can afford a new chair.

This chair would match

what I'm already

doing with the house.

It would look perfect in the room.

What are you two saying?

It's a great expense.

What if Lisa bought it?

She can afford to, and you could come and visit it.

That sounds funny, but you know what I mean?

The chair would stay in our lives is what she means.

Her friends also admire the chair.

In fact, they're fawning.

An object of desire.

How simple.

How essential.

Camille just

wants it

very much.

I'll just look into

my finances

and go through my checkbook

tonight.

I'm sure I'll have enough.

Oh, Camille

I envy your restraint.

Of course

it'll be here tomorrow.

What time do you open?

11.

I'll be here at 11:00 AM

tomorrow.

We don't hold.

I never see anyone in here.

The chair will be yours

Camille.

It's so hard to say

goodbye.

Camille's monthly

expenses