Through & across

4 college age girls sit semi circle around a television.
All halfheartedly watching a film about a man who claimed his fame in television before any of them were even born.

Midway through the film there is a scene depicting the relationship between said famous t.v. star's parents. The father, sitting in an uncomfortable wooden chair listening to a radio in a sepia hued 1940s backdrop, while the mother passes behind him & mutters

"We need a new ice box."

He turns his head slightly as she walks out of frame. End scene.
Everyone takes in this part of the movie & one of them announces

"That was depressing."

The girls nod & chuckle in agreement.
Inspired by the remark one asks

"Do you know anyone who has a happy marriage?"

They sit quietly for a moment trying to run through a list of every married couple they'd ever met. Assessing whether or not they were happy.
None of them could reply with anything sturdy aside from a collective

"No."

"Getting married terrifies me!" One exclaims.

They all shift their eyes & silently agree, accepting marriage as an inevitability because being alone would be far worse.

Especially for a woman.
They all continue watching the screen.
Hoping to God they don't wind up like their parents.