Mario, the Bolex, and Avril on sadness
‘How can you tell if somebody’s sad?’ A quick smile. ‘You mean whether someone’s sad.’ A smile back, but still earnest: ‘That improves it a lot. Whether someone’s sad, how can you tell so you’re sure?’
Context
Mario, camera off, in the Dean of Females's office at 2100h., asking the book's plainest question about the theme — and Avril's first response is a grammar correction. Nobody says "Hal" out loud for the whole exchange, though everyone means him. (Carlisle reads the scene as Gertrude/Hamlet's "seems, madam?" with roles scrambled.)