At a public ceremony Renee announces she wants a divorce from Simon after attendees publicly heckle him as a childhood friend who disappeared for years and then leached off her family. The crowd's insults escalate while Helen and others argue about his loyalty. Renee says today's event is too important and she must declare the split publicly to stop people using their marriage to smear her name. Simon, stunned, asks if she ever loved him. Renee hands him the papers and orders him to sign. He now faces a public choice: sign or risk further disgrace.