Disclaimer: The Matrix belongs to Warner Bros. and the Wachowski brothers.
I don't own Smith or anybody from the film. The other characters may or may
not show up later.
If anything is familiar to you from this or any other movie I don't own it.
I'm just playing with them.
Chapter Sixteen: Bridges
Go. Apologize. Apologize? Well, although Smith was quite intelligent he needed several seconds to realize what the Prof. said. It was unbelievable and so ridiculous at the same time. He couldn't believe that the Prof. was serious. He must have been more intelligent than that.
"What?"-asked Smith finally.
"You heard me well, my friend."
Smith appeared calm. Then a smirk appeared on his face.
"You mustn't be serious."
"I am serious, Smith."
The smirk vanished.
"It's completely out of question. I'm not going to humble myself. Don't count upon it!"
"Go and do as I said."
"Don't dare give me orders. You said you could help me. What was that? A tease?"
"No. I meant what I said."
"Really? Then if you are going to give me advice or conversation or consolation, you got to be better than you are doing."
"But how could I help if you aren't willing to do anything."
"I'm not willing to do anything that is illogical and humiliating."
"Can you just leave logic for a second? I know that it is your lifeline but humans work in a different way. They often do senseless and insane things. Too often. ...............silence.....................Do you want to gain her trust? Do you want her to accept you? To help you?"
Smith nodded his head.
"Well, that's the key to all of these things. Let her know that you don't make a blind tool of her."
Smith was in silence.
"I know that it seems humiliating for you. But it is difficult for almost everybody. 'Sorry' said to be the hardest word."
Smith's face still registered nothing.
"So, what do you think?"-asked the Prof..
"I don't know what would I do without you."-said Smith.
The Prof. was smiling.
"But I would try it willingly."-added Smith and turned on his heel and started walking.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll look for her."
"And what about the apology?"
"I'll take it into consideration."-said Smith but he didn't look back.
Meanwhile Kate changed her mind. She didn't want to meet or talk with anybody. She rather wanted a quiet place where she could collect her thoughts. A place where she could think. It was high time to start it. And soon she found that place. It was not far from the B&B's backyard. There was a little hill with a large oak tree. There was silence and peace and she could see the whole neighborhood from there. First she just stood and stared at it. It was a beautiful woodland scenery. Far from big cities. Far from people and wars. But not far enough from her problems. They were still with her. They always found her. But this time - among several others - there was a huge one. And it had a name too. Smith. But now she wasn't angry at him. She was rather worried. She was scared. She brought down an Agent's wrath on her. And in spite of her special situation it wasn't a comforting thought at all. Then she went to the tree and sat down in the grass. From there she could see the sun rising. And it was beautiful. And for some seconds she could forget about all of her fears, aches, and doubts. But it didn't last for long. Behind the tree she could hear footfalls and rustling leaves. But it wasn't necessary to turn and see who was it. Soon Kate could see two polished black shoes in front of her in the grass. She was staring at them for a while. But why should she look up? She knew well who was in those shoes. And she was unable to see him in the eye. No. No way.
Smith was standing and waiting. He wasn't sure what he should do or say. But the silence started to become tense. So he had to start the conversation. But how? And then an idea came to him.
"Kate."
That was something. Her first name. From his mouth. And it seemed effective because she slowly lifted her eyes. But the magic didn't take for a long time.
"Go away."-said Kate. She tried to show as less fear as she could.
"I....."-started Smith but he couldn't finish.
"Please, just leave and spare me your superior crap."
Smith hated interruptions. Especially when he was speaking. But he didn't want to start another debate. So he tried again.
"That's not why I'm here."
"Then why?"
Smith remained silent.
"Or is it a secret what are you doing here?"
Smith bent down and then he started:
"I got why you're angry. But I think I don't have to explain why I was like that and......."
"No. I....I could understand you. And I think- I know that my behavior will take some explaining."
"That's correct."
"To be honest not even me can explain it. I ...I don't know what's wrong with me. ..................... Have you ever let a romantic moment make you do something you know is stupid?
That was a quite absurd question at that moment. And Kate knew it as soon as she asked it. And she immediately regretted asking it.
"OK, forget it. But one thing is certain: What I said, you know, that you are a hopeless...."
"I know."
"And that you don't deserve to exist. Well it was a really bad thing to say. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that I somehow ..what....like you, I think."-said Kate and fell silent for a while. Then she looked at Smith who was still squatting in front of her. He was just listening. It seemed the best.
"You know, .....well, I don't know if it is a wise thing to talk about it with you, but" ..........silence and a sigh........"When I first saw you I thought you were handsome."
'It's getting interesting.'-thought Smith.
"And then of course you spoke. .........And the truth is that you do bother me enormously. And I know-I think that it would be the best for me to not have contact with you because you are still an Agent for God's sake and I don't want to like you at all. And as for my behavior........ I don't know.....I haven't been sleeping. I haven't been clear or felt like myself. I'm in a great trouble, I know. But some son of a bitch is burning my bridges behind my back. And everything looks confused, distorted. Everything is moving in the wrong direction. .....................And nothing worse than having to feel this way in front of you."
Wow. That was a brief summary of what she felt at that moment. And Smith just listened. These things were interesting. And it didn't seem that he would apologize.
"Oh, and as for the kiss: It was also a mistake. But not just mine. A kiss requires two person. Normally. So you aren't innocent either. But.........just forget this ever happened."
"Already have. Anything else?" -asked Smith with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. What about you?"
"Oh, please! Aren't we past that?"-asked Smith as he stood up.
"No, because you haven't answered yet."-said Kate still sitting.
Smith looked at her and then he reached out his hand toward her. Kate held it and Smith helped her up. They stared at each other.
"What's wrong?"-asked Kate.
"I can't understand you, Kate Thompson. Your entire being is beyond me. And I do not trust what I can't explain."
"That's great but it's not the answer to my question. .....................What is wrong, Smith?"
"I.............. "
"Yes?"
"Fear.......... that I've somehow been infected by you."
That was difficult to say. Agents usually don't feel fear or any other emotions.
"Smith, craziness is hereditary not infectious. So don't worry."- said Kate and smiled at him.
"Are you average among humans?"
"I don't know. But it's a fact that I have more energy than an average person. And I try to enjoy life. Every minutes, every seconds of it. That's why I gave you that kiss. You were close and it was a case of now or never. And I took the opportunity. ..................And I think that is what you miss about life, Smith. The joy."
"I don't need it or any other craziness."
"You say it because you haven't tried it yet."
"I hope it remains unchanged."
"I hope it doesn't."
Chapter Sixteen: Bridges
Go. Apologize. Apologize? Well, although Smith was quite intelligent he needed several seconds to realize what the Prof. said. It was unbelievable and so ridiculous at the same time. He couldn't believe that the Prof. was serious. He must have been more intelligent than that.
"What?"-asked Smith finally.
"You heard me well, my friend."
Smith appeared calm. Then a smirk appeared on his face.
"You mustn't be serious."
"I am serious, Smith."
The smirk vanished.
"It's completely out of question. I'm not going to humble myself. Don't count upon it!"
"Go and do as I said."
"Don't dare give me orders. You said you could help me. What was that? A tease?"
"No. I meant what I said."
"Really? Then if you are going to give me advice or conversation or consolation, you got to be better than you are doing."
"But how could I help if you aren't willing to do anything."
"I'm not willing to do anything that is illogical and humiliating."
"Can you just leave logic for a second? I know that it is your lifeline but humans work in a different way. They often do senseless and insane things. Too often. ...............silence.....................Do you want to gain her trust? Do you want her to accept you? To help you?"
Smith nodded his head.
"Well, that's the key to all of these things. Let her know that you don't make a blind tool of her."
Smith was in silence.
"I know that it seems humiliating for you. But it is difficult for almost everybody. 'Sorry' said to be the hardest word."
Smith's face still registered nothing.
"So, what do you think?"-asked the Prof..
"I don't know what would I do without you."-said Smith.
The Prof. was smiling.
"But I would try it willingly."-added Smith and turned on his heel and started walking.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll look for her."
"And what about the apology?"
"I'll take it into consideration."-said Smith but he didn't look back.
Meanwhile Kate changed her mind. She didn't want to meet or talk with anybody. She rather wanted a quiet place where she could collect her thoughts. A place where she could think. It was high time to start it. And soon she found that place. It was not far from the B&B's backyard. There was a little hill with a large oak tree. There was silence and peace and she could see the whole neighborhood from there. First she just stood and stared at it. It was a beautiful woodland scenery. Far from big cities. Far from people and wars. But not far enough from her problems. They were still with her. They always found her. But this time - among several others - there was a huge one. And it had a name too. Smith. But now she wasn't angry at him. She was rather worried. She was scared. She brought down an Agent's wrath on her. And in spite of her special situation it wasn't a comforting thought at all. Then she went to the tree and sat down in the grass. From there she could see the sun rising. And it was beautiful. And for some seconds she could forget about all of her fears, aches, and doubts. But it didn't last for long. Behind the tree she could hear footfalls and rustling leaves. But it wasn't necessary to turn and see who was it. Soon Kate could see two polished black shoes in front of her in the grass. She was staring at them for a while. But why should she look up? She knew well who was in those shoes. And she was unable to see him in the eye. No. No way.
Smith was standing and waiting. He wasn't sure what he should do or say. But the silence started to become tense. So he had to start the conversation. But how? And then an idea came to him.
"Kate."
That was something. Her first name. From his mouth. And it seemed effective because she slowly lifted her eyes. But the magic didn't take for a long time.
"Go away."-said Kate. She tried to show as less fear as she could.
"I....."-started Smith but he couldn't finish.
"Please, just leave and spare me your superior crap."
Smith hated interruptions. Especially when he was speaking. But he didn't want to start another debate. So he tried again.
"That's not why I'm here."
"Then why?"
Smith remained silent.
"Or is it a secret what are you doing here?"
Smith bent down and then he started:
"I got why you're angry. But I think I don't have to explain why I was like that and......."
"No. I....I could understand you. And I think- I know that my behavior will take some explaining."
"That's correct."
"To be honest not even me can explain it. I ...I don't know what's wrong with me. ..................... Have you ever let a romantic moment make you do something you know is stupid?
That was a quite absurd question at that moment. And Kate knew it as soon as she asked it. And she immediately regretted asking it.
"OK, forget it. But one thing is certain: What I said, you know, that you are a hopeless...."
"I know."
"And that you don't deserve to exist. Well it was a really bad thing to say. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that I somehow ..what....like you, I think."-said Kate and fell silent for a while. Then she looked at Smith who was still squatting in front of her. He was just listening. It seemed the best.
"You know, .....well, I don't know if it is a wise thing to talk about it with you, but" ..........silence and a sigh........"When I first saw you I thought you were handsome."
'It's getting interesting.'-thought Smith.
"And then of course you spoke. .........And the truth is that you do bother me enormously. And I know-I think that it would be the best for me to not have contact with you because you are still an Agent for God's sake and I don't want to like you at all. And as for my behavior........ I don't know.....I haven't been sleeping. I haven't been clear or felt like myself. I'm in a great trouble, I know. But some son of a bitch is burning my bridges behind my back. And everything looks confused, distorted. Everything is moving in the wrong direction. .....................And nothing worse than having to feel this way in front of you."
Wow. That was a brief summary of what she felt at that moment. And Smith just listened. These things were interesting. And it didn't seem that he would apologize.
"Oh, and as for the kiss: It was also a mistake. But not just mine. A kiss requires two person. Normally. So you aren't innocent either. But.........just forget this ever happened."
"Already have. Anything else?" -asked Smith with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. What about you?"
"Oh, please! Aren't we past that?"-asked Smith as he stood up.
"No, because you haven't answered yet."-said Kate still sitting.
Smith looked at her and then he reached out his hand toward her. Kate held it and Smith helped her up. They stared at each other.
"What's wrong?"-asked Kate.
"I can't understand you, Kate Thompson. Your entire being is beyond me. And I do not trust what I can't explain."
"That's great but it's not the answer to my question. .....................What is wrong, Smith?"
"I.............. "
"Yes?"
"Fear.......... that I've somehow been infected by you."
That was difficult to say. Agents usually don't feel fear or any other emotions.
"Smith, craziness is hereditary not infectious. So don't worry."- said Kate and smiled at him.
"Are you average among humans?"
"I don't know. But it's a fact that I have more energy than an average person. And I try to enjoy life. Every minutes, every seconds of it. That's why I gave you that kiss. You were close and it was a case of now or never. And I took the opportunity. ..................And I think that is what you miss about life, Smith. The joy."
"I don't need it or any other craziness."
"You say it because you haven't tried it yet."
"I hope it remains unchanged."
"I hope it doesn't."
