The sounds of a future world find their voice in the distant past, as snatches of poetry (eGood Pilgrim, you do wrong your hande) provide the inspiration for this light-hearted fantasy about love and commitment. Marriage has been forbidden because The Ancients discovered it led to breakdowns, insanity and object throwing. Instead, people renew their coupling vows every seven years, often taking advantage of the escape clause. This seems perfectly natural to Celia, whoes celebrating her 20th birthday, her Womanes Birthday, when she becomes legally free to choose her first coupling partner. Shees hoping that will be Mike, her fellow literary restorer, whoes working with her on creating a story for the upcoming Festival of the Ancients from the poetry fragments. Mike loves Celia, but, inspired by those heady fragments and by a book on ancient coupling practices, hees decided to convince her to marry him. Given that this radical practice will mean they must leave the City and live in the wilderness without any technology or rent control, Mike is going to have to do a lot of convincing. And fast. The boat leaves in three hours and they still have to take care of all the preliminaries listed in the book (like the eshowere). Complicating Mikees plans is Celiaes muscular intended, Drake, whoes rarine to couple with the birthday girl. Approximate running time: 45 minutes.