Sanctity of Marriage

from Ally McBeal

by David E. Kelley

Billy:   Nobody turns out to be exactly what you thought you were marrying. And people continue to evolve after marriage. The point is you take your partner for better or for worse, for what you know or what you don't know; it's the sanctity of this institution. It's supposed to be a sanctity. Now we have people trotting in for annulments with the snap of a finger. A Catholic can't marry after divorce (snap), boom - get an annulment. You fall out of love with your wife because she has implants (snap), boom - get an annulment. What happened to the sanctity?

A while ago, I turn on the television. There was this show; Who Wants to Marry A Multimillionaire? Two people, who never met, get married during the broadcast. Excuse me? Did that actually happen or did I hallucinate it?

Where the hell is the sanctity? People get married for Green Cards, tax purposes - it's supposed to mean something. It's about love so strong that it could survive the discovery of cheek implants or a laser peel, it's supposed to...

See that woman? (points) I've been married to her for twelve years, and everyday when I go home to her and our kids it's everything. What I'm trying to say is, in the end love is the only thing that counts. I've loved her since I was eight years old. We've never been apart, not a single day and I will love her for all my days. And it's all that will ever count.

All my... heart... forever. I...uh...need to rest.

(passes out on the floor)