The Upside of Not Knowing Which Fork to Use

At Edward’s dinner with James and David Morse, to which Edward has requested Vivian accompany him, Vivian struggles with the many items of cutlery that form part of her place setting. Struggling with one item, Vivian is saved by James Morse who declares himself, old school gallant that he is, equally befuddled by which fork to use first. As such, he dispenses with formality, ditches the fork, and takes the appetizer firmly in hand. Relieved, Vivian goes one better. She scrapes the appetizer clean, with a fork (the wrong one, no doubt), and follows James Morse’s example.

The ice thus broken, socially, Edward and the Morses are able to find common economic ground. But Vivian’s work is not yet done.

Morse Industries is spared the wrath of PEF, with some restructuring, of course, and James Morse leaves Edward and David to their discussion while he and Vivian engage in a pleasant tête-à-tête.

To save late industrial capital from the guillotine of postindustrialism, it helps if you do not know which piece of silverware to use.

If only it were that simple.