Murdoch sets out to break the deadlock that is preventing his marrying Julia. It won't be easy. He knows he must deny years of training and faith in order to secure their future together. This dilemma has caused his mood to careen from giddy silliness to desperate melancholy. What he has yet to realize, is that she is in this, as in everything, his partner.

"William," said Julia suddenly. "May I ask you something rather personal?"