ARTHUR (high-pitched, Giddy): John! John!

ARTHUR (high-pitched, giddy): John! John!

JOHN: God damn it, Arthur, what?!

ARTHUR (happy): You remember!

JOHN: You don’t know because there is nothing fundamentally different. I was just made aware –

ARTHUR: By Lilly. By your time in the hospital.

JOHN: By you.

ARTHUR (breathing hard, pleading): Don’t let go! Don’t let go!

JOHN: Arthur! (Both exerting themselves, Arthur is pulled onto the ledge again.) Damn it.

ARTHUR (shocked): You… you… you… you grabbed on!

JOHN: I told you I would!

ARTHUR (sniffling): I’m lost… I’ve lost… I’ve sunk too far.

JOHN: No. I know you, my friend. You are in there. You saved me before. I will not let you drown. (Arthur starts to sob again. John soothes.) Don’t be scared.

JOHN (slowly, amidst Arthur’s shaky breathing):

Whose woods these are… I think I know. His house is in the village, though. He will not see me stopping here… (Arthur breathes shakily, soon falling quiet.) To watch his woods fill up with snow. My horse must think it queer, to stop without a farmhouse near… (Fabric rustles.) Between the woods and frozen lake, the darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bell a shake, to ask if there is some mistake. And only other sounds to sweep, of easy wind, and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark, and deep… (Arthur sobs again.) But I have promises to keep.

And miles to go before I sleep.

(Quieter.) And miles to go before I sleep.

ARTHUR: I’m sorry, John. I’m so sorry. For everything.

JOHN: I’m sorry, too.

ARTHUR: Why? For what? You-

JOHN: For leaving you for so long.

ARTHUR: I feel cold. I feel cold.

JOHN (in misery): No.

ARTHUR (almost lighthearted): We’ve had worse.

JOHN (near tears): No, no, no.

ARTHUR: Maybe not.

JOHN: No.

ARTHUR: I…

JOHN (pleading, his voice quiet and shaking): No. Arthur. No.

ARTHUR: I think this … I think this may be it –

JOHN (suddenly shouting): Arthur! Arthur, no!

ARTHUR: Goodbye, my friend. (His breaths grow shaky)

JOHN (still shouting): Arthur, no! (Quieter.) Arthur, no. (A whisper.) No.

ARTHUR: Did you do this? (In disbelief.) You… you sewed up my wound. You – I knew. (Warmly.) I knew it. We weren’t gonna go out like this.

JOHN: I know.

ARTHUR: I knew you wouldn’t give up.

JOHN (determined): Never!

ARTHUR (audible smile): Just like me.

ARTHUR: Do you trust me?

JOHN: Of course, Arthur!

ARTHUR: Then trust me.

[...]

JOHN: (quickly) Do you trust me?

ARTHUR (taken aback): What?

JOHN: Do you… trust me?

ARTHUR: I trust you, John.

If I told you I cried three times during this fucking season would you believe me? S3 Malevolent fucked me raw with no prep while occasionally kissing me but still leaving me on the fucking ground afterwards because THAT FUCKING ENDING AND KAYNE? HIS DEAL WITH JOHN? I HAVE SUCH A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS OH GEEZ OF FUCK OH PLEASE DON'T LET THEM FIGHT AND FALL APART AGAIN PLEASE MY FATHERS! I NEED THEM HAPPY THESE FUCKING STUPID IDIOTS THESE LOVELY DUMB FAGS!!!!! (I greatly enjoy their sufferings and development, I'm eating everything up don't be fooled by my tears and ugly sobs ok? BUT STILL HNGGGGUSJDJFJF)