You couldn’t ‘prevent sea level from rising’ in just one place. That was the whole point of sea level. You had to change the climate of the whole world.
-- Narrator (“Houston”)

Importance: As Michiel is talking about wanting to do something to prevent the sea level from rising as a way to protect Venice, Saskia judges his thoughts as being self-centered. She knows there is no way to influence the sea levels in just one area of the world. To stop the sea level from raising in one area would also keep it from rising in others.

There are some in Venice who, sadly, agree,’ Michiel said. ‘We are not among them. We are here to represent those Venetians for whom the Lagoon is the map. Nothing else matters. Venice is our country — our whole country — and if we lose it, we are stateless.
-- Michiel (“West Texas”)

Importance: Michiel describes the sense of homelessness that he...