OWEN: You do realize that we're about to climb twenty-seven flights of stairs, right? ELIZABETH: Yes, Owen, I'm fully aware. But consider this - have you ever really looked at an elevator cable? How thin it is? OWEN: I have, but that's not what I think about when I'm in an elevator. I think about the potential energy being converted to kinetic energy, the friction on the pulley, the— ELIZABETH: —Owen, you are missing my point. It's not about the scientific details. It's about trust. Can we really trust that thin cable with our lives? OWEN: Well, you trust a bunch of concrete blocks stacked on top of each other with your life when you're in a building. ELIZABETH: That's different. There's solidity, there's a sense of permanence. OWEN: But that sense of permanence is an illusion. Earthquakes, erosion, human error in construction - all of these factors can make a building just as dangerous, if not more so, than an elevator. ELIZABETH: I'd still take my chances with the stairs. Besides, it's a good workout. OWEN: Is that what this is about? You're trying to sneak in a cardio workout before lunch? ELIZABETH: Well, why not? It's better than being lazy. OWEN: Lazy? I prefer to call it energy conservation. Why waste energy climbing stairs when we can get there effortlessly using an elevator? ELIZABETH: Because life isn't meant to be effortless, Owen. Struggle, effort, exertion - they give life meaning. OWEN: I don't disagree. But I believe in choosing my struggles wisely, not creating unnecessary ones. ELIZABETH: And I believe in appreciating the little struggles in life - like climbing stairs instead of taking the easy way up. OWEN: So, you're saying you want to climb twenty-seven flights of stairs for... the experience? ELIZABETH: Exactly. And who knows, we might even stumble upon something interesting on the way up. OWEN: Like what? A discarded pizza box? A broken heel? ELIZABETH: Or a beautiful painting on one of the landings, or a friendly neighbor with an interesting story to share. The possibilities are endless, Owen. OWEN: I don't see the appeal. But I'm willing to entertain the idea for the sake of argument. ELIZABETH: That's the spirit, Owen. After all, we're not in a hurry, are we? OWEN: No, we're not. But I can't help but think our friend upstairs might be expecting us. ELIZABETH: Oh, she's used to waiting. In her line of work, punctuality is a rarity. OWEN: Still, it's a matter of courtesy. ELIZABETH: And it's also a matter of courtesy to respect your host's choice of transportation, especially when she lives in a city as beautiful as Budapest. OWEN: I don't see how climbing the stairs gives you a better view of the city. ELIZABETH: Not the city, Owen, the building. Have you seen the beautiful murals on the stairwell? The history etched into each step? OWEN: Well, no, I haven't. I've always taken the elevator. It's efficient. ELIZABETH: Efficiency isn't everything, Owen. Sometimes, it's the slower path that offers the most reward. OWEN: I suppose you're right. But if we run into a grumpy neighbor or a rat, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so.' ELIZABETH: Fair enough. And if we discover something wonderful, I reserve the same right. OWEN: Agreed. Let the stair-climbing adventure begin. But remember, it's a long way up. Don't say I didn't warn you. ELIZABETH: I wouldn't dream of it, Owen. After all, what's life without a little adventure?