Alice Page #2

- Penguins.

- Penguins?

What about penguins?

They mate for life.

Yes? You think penguins are Catholic?

The man... he kisses me.

Who is man?

I wanna know him better...

...but I don't dare.

Please explain.

My feelings are... too scary.

I never had these feelings before.

Never?

Oh.

Once. There was a young man once.

- Not husband?

- No.

Feelings for my husband are different.

What are deepest feelings for husband?

I love him, but I...

But what, Mrs Tait?

Please tell husband.

Husband here in room.

You see him? Tell him.

But what, Mrs Tait?

I'm the wife, you know.

I take care of the kids...

...I host the dinner parties,

arrange the social schedule...

...try to look pretty so your

friends can admire your taste.

I've become one of those women who

shops all day and gets pedicures.

But I wanna be more.

There's more to me.

- You have children to raise.

- I can still raise the children.

I wanna do something with

my life before it's too late.

- Do what?

- I don't know what. There's lots I can do.

Every time I ask you to be

specific, you become tongue-tied.

I had a career. I gave

up a career to marry you.

What career? You were a small-town

girl from a Catholic school...

- I was working.

- You were struggling...

...to break into the fashion industry.

- I was struggling because I was young.

You were so pretty.

And we went for a drive

to that amusement park.

- I can't stay out too late.

- Why not?

I have to help the costume

designer shop in the morning.

The show opens in six weeks.

- Is the costume designer your boyfriend?

- No. I don't exactly have a boyfriend.

If I did, I wouldn't be here.

You're very beautiful.

- And you're very rich.

- No, I'm not, actually.

My family is, but...

...I wanna make it on my own.

- And I will.

- I'm sure you will.

- And what are your plans?

- Oh, definitely something in fashion.

A designer for the theatre, or costume

designing, just regular clothing designer.

I don't know. It's still just a dream.

And if I said marry me,

and have my children...

...and stay by my side,

and be Mrs Douglas Tait?

I'd say you were getting ahead of

yourself. After all, we just met.

But I'll confess you're very handsome.

And now, Mrs Tait?

Now I... spend hours...

...trying so hard to

hold on to my youth.

And he doesn't notice.

Mrs Tait angry.

I'm at a crossroads.

I'm lost.

I'm lost.

Sleep. Sleep.

Deeper. Deeper.

At the count of three, you will

awaken and remember nothing.

You will have no memories of

these trance feelings. None.

You will not be upset by them.

One:
You are coming out.

Two:
You are nearly conscious.

Three...

Maybe I strained my back

playing tennis, you know?

My husband was trying to

teach me, but I'm not athletic.

Relax, Mrs Tait. Just relax.

We will start the

treatment with these herbs.

What is schedule for today?

Oh, well, I was gonna

do a little shopping.

And then I was going to... to...

Yes?

...to pick up my children at school.

Or maybe not. No, I think I'll

let the baby-sitter do that.

Mrs Tait, Dr Yang would like

you to go through day as planned.

- Sudden changes too impulsive.

- Really?

Mrs Tait should take

lunch with no shellfish.

Then, at 2.30, she

will take herbs, yes?

- 2.30. All right.

- After, she can retrieve children.

- But these are not dangerous, are they?

- Very mild.

Will take effect quickly.

Will wear off quickly.

Mild.

Mrs Tait, you wanted some water.

Is it 2.30 already?

Just about.

Your eyes are really... on fire.

Thank you.

- Joe Rufallo.

- Joe Rufallo.

Tufallo.

What do you do, Joe?

I'm a musician.

Saxophone?

How did you know?

You look like you blow tenor to me.

Well, you hit it right on the head.

- Actually, I'm in rehearsal now.

- Rehearsal?

Yeah, for a tribute to Duke Ellington.

- The Duke? My favourite, Joe.

- Is he?

Oh! So...

What number reed do you use?

- Reed?

- Reed, Joe.

- Between the lips.

- Yeah. A three.

- Do you play tenor?

- No.

I just... love the sax.

Yeah. Well, it's a great horn.

- Oh, the best.

- Yeah.

I'm fooling around a little

with a soprano now, too.

Really? Soprano?

- Uh-huh.

- Joe.

That'll extend your range.

You know that, don't you?

- Yeah.

- So...

Tell me, Joe.

Your wife, a musician too?

- I'm not married.

- Not married?

- No.

- Joe.

And you love Edna Millay.

- Yeah. I...

- Yeah. My favourite.

- I know that.

- Yeah.

So... I was just thinking...

...we should get together and

talk about her, don't you think?

- I think so.

- Yes.

When?

- When, Joe?

- Tomorrow.

What time?

You tell me.

Three o'clock. Inside

the penguin house.

At the zoo.

- Great. Great.

- Super.

So, one last thing.

I remember the first time

I heard Coltrane on soprano.

Until then it had just been

tenor, of course, but...

It was such a moment, Joe.

Opened a whole new world

of harmonics for me.

- Really?

- Really.

I'll leave you with that, Joe.

I'll see you tomorrow at the zoo.

The penguin house. That's what I said.

- In the zoo?

- Yes.

- You suggested this?

- Yes. I couldn't believe I said it.

- I thought somebody else was talking.

- That's great.

The words were just coming out.

I had no idea what I was saying.

I had no idea what anything even

meant. I was talking about reeds.

- Coltrane. Who's Coltrane?

- What is that?

- That's what I wanna know.

- You probably read it.

I was so forward, too.

I can't believe it.

Completely obnoxious.

Yes, but he was responsive.

Yes, but I'm telling you,

it was like I was possessed.

Really. I'm saying "A whole new

world of harmonics opened up for me. "

- Harmonics?

- Harmonics.

What do I know about harmonics?

Well, is he nice? What

did you find out about him?

- Well, he's not married.

- Good.

He's in rehearsal at

someplace called Park East.

- Uh-huh. -

Sound East.

And he's rehearsing something,

kind of a Duke Ellington tribute.

What have I done? I can't

meet a strange man at the zoo.

- Why not?

- I'm not like Jane.

- I'm not looking for a roll in the hay.

- What are you looking for?

Listen, not a word of this.

You mustn't breathe a word.

- Of course not. I promise.

- God, I have nothing to wear.

- I've gotten so fat. This is not for me.

- Oh, Mitzie.

- Hi, darling. We did the best we could.

- Thanks.

Oh, hello, sweetie. Look at her.

Come on, honey. Let's go home.

I love how you made one

purple ear and one green ear.

- What colour are you gonna do the tail?

- I don't know. I guess red.

- That would be a good idea.

- I could make it orange.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Nancy Brill has been made

a big deal on a TV show.

She buys scripts now.

I sent her flowers.

I'm happy for her cos she's a friend,

but I must admit I'm a little envious.

Oh. Alice, we discussed

this. I thought we agreed.

I know. How about if I took some kind

of a course or a class or something?

- You mean in school?

- Yeah.

- Like what?

- I don't know.

Now I regret I never went to college.

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