The two friends shared a light lunch and entertained each other with small talk to break the intensity. There was plenty of ground to cover. A flare of female sexuality, lit by a phenomenal run of best-selling novels written by women, for women, had ignited a fire-storm.

With coffee, they settled into the second film and the solemn cross Max had marked at 38% on the Graph of Happiness the day he booked his ticket to India. To the President the objective looked clear from the outset – get to 100%… get to bliss.

In India, the film picked up pace with Max living in a classic room, with a beautiful woman, suddenly choosing a strange and solitary existence out on the street. The sadhu gave the film sound and an old man, who the President assumed to be Shard, gave it direction.

“You will witness God. I am a holy man.”

The build up to renunciation was brief, inevitable and full of gloom and the President was relieved to be finally heading up the mountain with Max, locked together with his friend John in a web of suspense.

Something is going to happen.

At the top of the mountain the President felt himself suspended in time as Max gazed up into the beautiful morning sky.

Is that it? It’s certainly a huge relief after the chaos of Mumbai.

But… is it bliss?

Suddenly Max got up, as if he too felt there had to be more and with each determined step he took towards the door the President felt his senses sharpen in anticipation of some ultimate confrontation.

With the President’s nerves on edge, Max entered the castle, breezed past the men at the table and stepped into the ante-room… like a visitor from another planet.

No more talking.

No more crying.

Nothing you see will be destroyed.