Bench

The bench is a symbol of a relationship. This bench is located in Paris in the garden of the Musée Rodin. Armand and Stephen sit on this bench to talk after both have traveled to Paris to be with Armand’s daughter, Annie, who is expecting a baby. Armand remembers Stephen taking him to this same park during his first visit to Paris after his parents died when he was nine. The park became one of Stephen and Armand’s favorite places.

Screw

The screw is a symbol of wrongdoing. Armand knows that Stephen has a sample of the neodymium, but is not sure where that sample is. He finally concludes that the screw on which Stephen has hung the watercolor is the one made of neodymium. It is because of this screw, and others like it, that multiple accidents have taken place. Some of...