As a matter of fact, I don't
But what
about him?
The waiter brought him a
message
during dinner, at which point
he left
the table?
Well...I first saw him that
morning in
the lobby. He was checking
in and he
was following the bellboy
with his
luggage to the elevator.
but didn't stop until
he had gone a few
more steps. Then he turned
and
looked at me.
In fact, it seemed to me
that he
scowled. Maybe I did the same
thing.
I was very stirred by him.
That whole
day I lay on the beach,
lost in dreams.
Go on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALICE
That afternoon you and I made
love
and talked about our future,
and our
child.
and he passed below us without
looking up.
and I thought if he wanted me,
I could
not have resisted. I thought
I was
ready to give up you,
the child, my whole future.
understand it - you were dearer
to me
than ever, and I stroked your
forehead
and kissed your hair, and
at that
moment my love for you was
both
tender and sad.
said I was very beautiful.
It might not
have been just an accident that
he and
his friends sat near
us.
considered getting up, walking
over to
him and like someone in a
movie,
saying, 'Here I am, my love,
for whom
I have waited - take me.'
brought him the envelope. He
read it,
turned pale, said goodbye
to his friends
- and glancing at me mysteriously,
he
left the room.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I barely slept that night and
woke up
the next morning very agitated.
I didn't
know whether I was afraid that
he had
left or that he might still
be there... But
by dinner I realised he was
gone and I
breathed a sigh of relief.
And if he hadn't left?
I don't know.
mouth.
Hello?...Oh... When did they
call?...
No, I have the address...If
they call
again say I'm on my way.
Lou Nathanson just died.
Oh, that's too bade. But
you were
expecting that, weren't
you?
Yes..
I have to go over there for
a while.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALICE
Now?
I have to show my face.
Obviously, it was a mistake
to have told
you.
Not at all.. We must always
tell each
other everything.
It was the pot.
It doesn't really matter.
Nothing
happened. Just a passing
fancy.
BILL's taxi pulls up to the stylish,
lower 5th avenue apartment.
Doorman opens the door.
Bill walks to the elevator
Bill exits elevator and find's
her door ajar.
He knocks softly and enters without
waiting for a reply.
Marion?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MASTER BEDROOM
The body of LOU NATHANSON lies
on a large bed with an oxygen
cylinder and other medical paraphernalia
on tables on each side of
the bed.
sits at the foot of the bed, exhausted,
her arms hanging limply at her
side.
hand, and she merely greets him
with a nod, her eyes large and sad.
on the forehead of the dead man
and on his arms.
slight expression of regret.
I hope his last moments were
peaceful.
until they finally rest again
on Marion.
Well, Marion, at least you
weren't
entirely unprepared for
this.
Dad seemed pretty good today.
Around
nine o'clock he said he
felt like taking a
nap. So I went into the
living room to
watch television. I don't
think I was out
of his room for more than
half-an-hour.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marion starts to weep.
When I went back, at first I
though he
was still asleep... The I realized
he
wasn't breathing... I
did everything you
had told me but.. he was....
despairingly.
I called the emergency people...
But
when they got here they just
said he
was...dead and asked whether
I
wanted them to take him
away?
Marion, from what you've said,
it
sounds like your father died
in his
sleep. He wouldn't have suffered.
Oh, God...I hope not... I've
been so
afraid of the actual...
dying business...
But he made it _so_ _easy_,
just as he tried to
make everything else in my life
easy.
Have you notified any of
your
relatives?
I phoned Carl - my fiancee.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
She does not look BILL straight
in the eye when she says, fiancee/
He's going to make some calls
for me
and then he's coming over.
Oh, that's good.
I think you've met Carl here
a few
times? We're planning to get
married
in April.
Oh, that's wonderful. I'm very
happy
for you.
I certainly do remember
Carl. So she's
going to marry him, Bill thought
to
himself. I wonder why? She
surely
can't be in love with
him. He's nothing
to look at, and he hasn't
got any
money... He's just an assistant
in
professor of something
or other... But
then it's none of my business.
Still... if
she were my mistress,
her hair would be
less dry and her lips would
be fuller and
redder.
Dad had so many worries
and
disappointments. My mother
was never
well... And my _brother_...he
was such a
disappointment... I don't
even know
where he is. The last we heard
from
him was from some small town
in
Mexico. I can't even remember
where.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[POSSIBLE MISSING PAGE]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In spite of himself, BILL places
his hand on her head, caressing it. He
feels her body begin to tremble
and her sobs become louder and
finally quite unrestrained.
clasping his legs with her arms
and pressing her face into them.
ardently:
I don't want to leave here...
Even if
you never return... Even
if I am never to
see you again... I want,
at least, to live
near you.
Please - get up, Marion.
around her in a very hesitant
embrace and kisses her on the
forehead.
against ALICE.
door.
umbrella in his hand and a serious
face appropriate to the situation.
by their actual state of acquaintance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
They walk to the bedroom and CARL
has an embarrassed look at the
deceased.
Oh, my poor, dear Marion.
I am so
sorry.
couple sit, hand in hand, by the
bed of the dead man.
I'll get it.
almost inaudibly:
I love you.
Marion.
presence gives BILL the opportunity
to make his goodbyes and leave.
I hope we'll see you soon.
Bill walks outside. It has become
even milder. A gentle breeze carries
[illegible] from the nearby park
to the street. BILL inhales the fresh air.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOORMAN
Taxi?
No thanks. I think I'll
walk for a bit.
Bill walking.
Walking through the park, BILL
notices on some of the benches in the
shadows, that couples are kissing,
just as if Spring had actually
arrived and no danger lurked in
the deceptive warm air.
hat over his face.
The image of the tramp made
him think
of the dead man he had just
left,
and he shuddered and felt
slightly
nauseated at the thought that
decay
and decomposition had already
begun
their work in the body he just
left.
probability that these ugly
things were
still far removed from
him, and that he
was, in fact, still in
the prime of life,
had a beautiful wife and could
have
several women in addition,
if he wanted
to, although doing so would
require
more free time than he
had.
of them taking up the whole walkway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
But as they pass, one of them,
a tall boy with an open overcoat,
deliberately bumps into him with
his raised elbow.
separating them.
strangely.
Had he become a coward, he
asked
himself, and noticed his knees
were
shaking a little bit.
Ridiculous! Why
should he get involved
in a street fight
with some drunken college student
who
had five friends with
him.
physician, a married man and
father of
a child. He might wind up
in the
hospital or worse and tomorrow
be in
the same position as the man
he just
left.. Then he thought about
his
profession? There were
dangers lurking
there, too, everywhere
and at all times -
except that one usually forgets
about
them.
BILL walking.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surely, it had been nothing
but
common sense to avoid a ridiculous
fight with the student...
but if he ever
meet the Naval officer with
whom
Alice...
But what insanity! After all,
nothing
happened... What was he thinking
about?... But then, wasn't
it really just
as bad as if she had actually
fucked him
- she might just as well
have. Wasn't it
even worse, in a way. What
a joy it
would be to teach _him_ a
lesson.
Bill passes a young girl, DOMINO,
who falls into step beside him.
Hi.
lips.
Hi.
How're you doing?
Fine. How are you doing?
I'm doing great...Listen,
how would you
like to have a little
fun?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry?
Have a little fun. Come
inside with me?
I just live over there.
Come inside with you?
Yes. It's a lot nicer than
it is out here.
Do you live there?
Yes.
By yourself?
I have a roommate but she's
not
home.
It's okay - no one will bother
us.
Really, it's okay. Come
on.
Come on.next page
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