A Patch of Fog Page #2

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And while I'm chasing him, what's

the other fella doing in me shop?

I suppose he's

filling his pockets.

Yeah. Yeah.

See, you'd be good at this, you.

Then there's the telephone.

And that's the one where the

thief pre-sets his phone to go

while he's inside the shop,

you see.

And then he walks out

with the goods.

Can I get you another one, sand?

You know, Robert,

I'd like nothing more,

but I really have to go.

Jesus Christ.

- Alright, Sandy?

- Yeah, listen, Robert.

I really appreciate

all your help.

Thanks again.

That's alright, pleasure.

I'm sure everything'll be fine.

What do you mean

everything'll be fine?

Well, we've got a

little bit of a problem.

See, the disc.

They all get collected,

you see, at the end of the week,

and me boss reviews them all.

Just to keep me on me toes.

Yeah, my name's on that disc.

I know. It'll be ok.

Don't worry. I'll fix it.

I'll get it, and we'll just meet

here, same time, same place.

Well, can you not just erase it

and throw it away, Robert?

Can you not just

meet me on Sunday?

- Yeah, alright.

- Alright.

You get home safe.

Nice to meet you, Sandy.

Thank you.

There you go, Maggie.

Din-dins.

There you go.

Yeah. That's it.

Bullshit!

- Sorry?

- Oh, sorry, Sarah. I was miles away.

- Sorry about that.

- Ok.

- Shall we continue?

- Mm-hmm.

What did you study

at university?

English literature

and creative writing.

Then along came fog.

It's hard to believe

you were only 25 at the time.

Where did the idea come from?

My family.

My father was agoraphobic.

One day there was

a terrible fog.

I went out into it.

I got lost in it.

I was six years old.

How come you never told me your

father suffered from agoraphobia?

I thought I did.

It's no big deal.

It is when you're young.

Did he live to see

your book published?

No.

Did you love him?

I'm sorry,

are we on or off the record now?

Why? Is it a difficult question?

He was a difficult man

to get to know.

Good evening, miss.

That's a lovely dress you have

on if you don't mind my saying.

What, this old thing?

You think?

Listen, there's

a new movie playing in town

and I was wondering if...

Now, does he really

wanna go and see a movie?

Subtext.

The actual meaning

hidden below the words.

So when will the show air?

It's a TV special, at the end

of the series, next month.

And will they come here to film?

You know, observe the creature

in his natural habitat?

Have you had a chance

to start my book yet?

Ah. Look, I was gonna start it

the other night but I got

trapped by this, well,

a fan I suppose you'd call him.

Sad little man. It was hours

before I could get away.

But I'll start tonight,

I promise.

Robert.

What are you doing here?

I got off early, so thought

I'd come and say hello.

Troy Griffin, Robert green.

- Hi.

- Hi. Nice to meet you, Troy.

- Are you a lecturer as well?

- Oh, I...

Doesn't look old enough,

does he?

That's the nicest thing

I've heard all week.

So are you in the

education game, Robert?

Security, Troy.

Business is booming.

Time of year.

Thieves everywhere.

So how do you two

know each other?

Oh, me and Robert go way back.

Yeah.

I gotta go.

It was nice meeting you, Robert.

- You too, Troy.

- All the best.

- See you again.

- Yeah. Great.

Take care.

Seems like a nice fella.

So, what are you

doing here, Robert?

Told ya.

I've come to see you.

You've seen my office, so,

thought I'd come and see yours.

Well, now you've seen it.

Let's go for a walk, huh?

Sandy, I couldn't help overhear

Troy talking about your TV special.

- Ah.

- When's that gonna be on?

Uh... wouldn't have a clue.

Why did you

only ever do one book?

Did you get the old

writer's block, did you?

No. I didn't get

the old writer's block.

- Any sign of my disc, Robert?

- Yeah, I've got it.

It's safe.

It's in my house.

Right, this way.

I watched your

show the other night.

Does that Lucy one fancy you?

No. I wish.

We're just colleagues.

You and that big fruit went at

it hammer and tongs, didn't ya?

- Does he hate your guts, sand?

- Nah. It's all an act.

It just makes for

better television.

No, but I didn't like

the way he spoke to you.

It wasn't nice.

But you were so cool.

Took him apart with your words.

- Well, that's my job.

- Yeah, you're the best in the world.

Being paid to

read books and watch movies.

Do you think I could come

along with you one time and,

you know,

give you a layman's opinion?

Look, Robert,

where exactly are we going?

Just down here. Oh, come on,

we're nearly there now.

Sand, you know

when you was a kid,

did ya, did you ever put two coins

on the track with a friend?

Kinda like a blood brothers

kinda thing?

No.

No, me neither.

For god's sake, Robert.

We're trespassing.

I didn't see no signs.

I've never been any good

at making friends, Sandy.

I don't know why.

For god's sake.

Robert! I'm never gonna

get that disc, am I?

You crazy f***!

There you go.

I've seen

this sort of thing before.

- Yeah?

- It's more common than you think.

- Has he made sexual advances?

- God, no.

- Well, at least not yet.

- You have to be tough with him.

Threaten him with exposure.

Well, see, that's the problem.

- He wants to expose me.

- Expose what?

One accidental

incident of shoplifting?

I take it it was just the once?

Yeah, but it only needs once

for someone in my position.

I really don't want this

to get into the papers.

You just say you've

taken legal advice.

Threaten him with the police.

The main thing is, show no fear.

Be firm and be tough.

Watch him crumble.

Listen, Freddie. Can this

meeting just be between us?

This meeting never happened.

Sandy. Where have you been?

What time do you call this?

I almost give up on you.

Sorry. I was... sorry.

Alright. Don't catastrophize.

Well, it's a line from

your book. Don't you remember?

There's some big words

in here, isn't there?

Me dictionary's in tatters.

Look.

Right. Belfast awakes

to find itself a-wrapped

in a dense shroud of fog.

"Honest and emotional."

The independent.

"A fine de-boot. Sandy Duffy has a

way with words." The Irish press.

Well, I'll say he does.

Look what he talked me into.

Can I ask you something, Sandy?

Yeah.

I find it difficult

reading properly.

- I hear that.

- I never told anyone that before.

What'd be really good,

if you could do me one of them,

you know them audiobooks

that you can get?

Hey?

What you doin'

all the way over here?

I just wanted

a quiet smoke, Robert.

We've left our drinks in there.

Sand,

what's that word say there?

- Peripatetic.

- And what does that mean?

It means to be nomadic.

To wander from place to place.

Sandy Duffy.

Smarter than my dictionary.

Yeah, well, it's only a wee dictionary.

Look, I've gotta head.

I've an art exhibit this evening

for this week's night vision.

- Oh, great.

- No, Robert.

You're not going anywhere.

What's wrong, Sandy?

Have I done something wrong?

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