[Scene: Sophie’s cozy kitchen in Lyon. A baguette, cheese, and a small bowl of olives sit on the table. Sophie reaches for the salt shaker, and — oops! — knocks it over, scattering salt across the table.]
Sophie (gasping): Oh là là! No, no, no! Where’s the salt — quick! (She grabs a pinch and dramatically tosses it over her left shoulder.)
Claire (laughing): Sophie, really? You just nearly hit me in the eye! Careful with your “anti-misfortune missiles.”
Sophie (dead serious): Claire, you know the rule — spilling salt brings bad luck. Throwing it over your left shoulder keeps the devil away.
Claire (smirking): And here I thought I was the devil in your kitchen. Come on, Sophie — you don’t really believe a few grains of salt control the universe, do you?
Sophie (folding her arms): Listen, last month I didn’t throw it, and two days later — poof! My bike tire was flat, I burned my tart, and I spilled coffee on my white blouse before an important meeting.
Claire: Or… maybe your tire was old, you were distracted baking, and you need a better travel mug?
Sophie: Coincidence? Hmm? You can explain away everything, can’t you, Madame Scientist?
Claire (grinning): That’s kind of the point. I like understanding why things happen — not blaming poor salt grains for life’s chaos.
Sophie (teasing): So, you’ve never been tempted? Not even once?
Claire: Well… (pauses) when I was little, my grandma would make me do it. But now? I’d rather clean up the mess than fling it around. Plus, you’re just wasting salt — think of all the pretzels we could season!
Sophie (laughing): True, true… but don’t you think there’s something comforting about these traditions? They connect us to the past, to family. My grandmother used to say, “Better to look foolish with salt on your back than invite trouble to dinner.”
Claire (softening): I get that. Rituals can feel cozy. But they’re meaningful because we give them meaning, not because they actually control luck.
Sophie: Hmm… but some things are just… weird, Claire. Like that time you refused to walk under a ladder outside the bakery last month.
Claire (raising an eyebrow): That was practical, not superstitious! The guy on the ladder was painting — I didn’t fancy a bucket of paint on my head.
Sophie (grinning): Aha! So you do avoid bad luck!
Claire: I avoid gravity, not bad luck.
Sophie (chuckling): Fine, fine. But when life’s chaotic, don’t you ever wish for a little magic?
Claire (gently): Sure, wishing is human. But when we understand why things happen, we’re less at the mercy of fear. I’d rather fix the bike, improve my baking, and get a travel mug than fear a salt spill.
Sophie (sighing, but smiling): You’re annoyingly reasonable.
Claire (mock bowing): Merci.
Sophie (playfully): But just in case… (grabs another pinch of salt and tosses it over Claire’s shoulder)
Claire (laughing and brushing salt off her sweater): Oh great. Now I’m protected. Thanks, Soph.
Sophie (winking): You’re welcome. You never know — it might save your rational little soul.
Claire: Or at least season my sweater.
[They both burst into laughter as Sophie grabs a broom and Claire reaches for the wine.]
[End scene.]
Science Vs Superstition 
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