To Speak or Not to Speak

We have been dabbling with speech in Penelope and Odysseus. Amanda and Alex are old moving partners now and have a lot of chemistry onstage. I find it fascinating to watch them talk like Penelope and Odysseus.

Last night, however, I found more tension in watching them search for  something to say, but fail. I mean, what do you say when you're about  to not see your spouse for years, and maybe never again?