The Dinner Party -1994- May 2026

Early in the evening, a spirited debate erupts among the guests about how people—especially women—react in moments of extreme fear or crisis. A young woman argues that women have outgrown the "age of the scream" and can remain as calm as any man. A colonel disagrees, asserting that women are prone to panic and would scream in a dangerous situation.

During the debate, the hostess notices a strange expression cross the face of the American naturalist seated across from her. She sees him subtly signal, then stiffen slightly. The naturalist, observing the floor, realizes a large, deadly cobra is slithering across the room, just inches from the guests' feet.

When the naturalist reaches two hundred eighty, he sees the snake slip out onto the veranda. He stops counting, then casually explains what just happened. As the guests exhale in relief, the hostess smiles and calls for the servants to bring coffee.

To avoid panic, the naturalist announces calmly, "I want to see how much control you have. I will count to three hundred. Not one of you is to move a muscle. Anyone who moves will forfeit the bet—and dinner." The guests, amused but intrigued, freeze in place. The snake glides slowly across the room toward the veranda doors.

One guest asks the hostess how she knew the snake was there. She replies, "I didn't know. But I saw it crawling across the floor a moment ago."