Alice Page #4

for your show, I'd like to write it.

- You write?

- I wrote a little when I was young.

- You know, nothing major, obviously.

- You kept it a secret if you wrote.

Well, I'd like to

try. I'd like to try.

- I did work on some shows years ago.

- Wasn't that in the costume department?

Yeah, but, you know, at least I did

have some contact with the theatre.

Uh-huh. So what's your idea? Because

the truth is, I'm backed up today.

Oh. OK. Well, it's about two

sisters who were very close as kids.

And now that they're

adults, they've grown apart.

- Like you and your sister.

- Me?

Aren't you and Dorothy

polite but not so friendly?

Well, gee, I never

even thought of that.

Let me stop you. We want

blood-and-guts stuff, not so subtle.

Oh, well. I have another about a

young girl who wanted to be a nun.

No nuns. They want sexy, unscrupulous,

rich, melodramatic, but no nuns.

Listen, anything like that

occurs to you, we'll talk.

Give me a jingle and

we'll go to Le Cirque.

OK. All right. Well, thank you.

- Is something burning in there?

- No.

No, it's OK.

- Come to sleep!

- Yeah. Soon.

- Alice.

- Who's that?

Who's there? Who is it?

Don't you remember?

Oh!

That voice...

Alice.

Alice Jansen.

Eddie? Is it Eddie?

Hi, sweetheart.

Is it you?

God, you're even more beautiful now.

It's been almost 20 years.

Tell me I don't look so

bad, considering I'm dead.

No. Considering you're

dead, you look great.

See? Even if you had married me,

you'd have still been a widow.

Eddie, I felt terrible when

I heard about the crash.

But I wasn't surprised. I

always said you drove recklessly.

Ah!

You thought I did everything

recklessly, including making love.

Eddie... there were times

when I had real guilt feelings.

Oh, hey. I'm a big boy.

I'd been turned down before.

Not that I wasn't saddened.

But, I'll tell you, that car

crash was a total accident.

Boom! Not for a second

did I see that moving van.

I thought of you the other day.

I met an interesting man who

kind of reminded me of you.

Oh, no. Do I sense

trouble in paradise?

No, no, no. Everything's

fine here. I'm very happy.

So tell me all about this

guy who reminds you of me.

Well, he's like you. He's...

irresponsible and temperamental.

- Yeah.

- But he...

He's cute, you know?

"Thou shalt not commit adultery.

" That's not my line. I read it.

I'm not. I just met him.

A Steuben glass hippo.

I always wondered who

bought those things.

God, it's so good to see you, Alice.

- Whatever happened to your career?

- Oh, I don't know.

Now I was thinking I'd like to

write. You think I have that in me?

- Who are you talking to?

- Oh, I was...

I just saw you there

having a conversation.

- I was probably just thinking out loud.

- At this hour?

- Bottoms and no top. I could've called it.

- Quiet!

- Are you OK?

- I'm fine. I just had this idea for a story.

So I guess I was acting

out all the parts.

- Alice, that's crazy.

- It's crazy.

I'm gonna get some sleep.

I'm gonna go to bed.

Me too. I got a long day. I'm gonna

be home late. It's my backgammon night.

- Is tonight backgammon?

- Sweetheart?

- Will you try to relax?

- I will. I'll try.

- You've been awful tense lately.

- Have I?

I know how to relax you, Alice.

I know all the good spots

and there are plenty of 'em.

See, there he is, right there. I'd

love to know what you think of him.

After all these years,

now she wants my opinion?

- Hi.

- Hi.

I... I'm sorry if I bothered

you by calling you at home.

- I was concerned.

- No, I'm... It's fine.

I must've seemed a little abrupt. I was

having a conversation with my husband.

It's OK. I understand.

I was disappointed when you

didn't show up at the zoo.

They have this very beautiful

white bear I wanted to show you.

With these great ice-blue

eyes the exact colour of yours.

That is a good line. When was the last

time your husband used a line like that?

- Well, I...

- Give him some encouragement.

I... I'm... I'm sorry

I didn't make it.

I would like a rain check.

Well, the Big Apple Circus is in town.

I'm gonna take my daughter

tomorrow. Come and bring your kids.

- I'm sure they'll love it.

- Oh, I think I...

You can't go to hell for

taking your kids to the circus.

But I guess I could

shift things around.

Great. I'll look forward to it.

Come on, you guys, go to sleep.

I read you three stories already.

Katie, you stay in

bed now. Good night.

See you in the morning. Good night.

Good night, now.

Stay in bed.

Sweet dreams.

What am I doing?

You gotta see this thing through to find

out who he is, to find out who you are.

What am I getting myself into?

Alice, cheer up.

You know, I'm not gonna be around

this place for very much longer.

What do you say we go out

and have one last good time?

- I can't.

- He's playing backgammon tonight.

I was there when he said so.

Let the nanny take care of the kids and

you and I'll go to the Moonlight Casino.

The Moonlight Casino

burned down ten years ago.

- Get your coat, Alice.

- Anyway, it's way out at the beach.

Get your coat and

meet me on the terrace.

Mrs Tait?

Mrs Tait, are you gonna

need me for about an hour?

Mrs Tait?

Mrs Tait, did you go out?

Mrs Tait?

Remember that night?

Our last night together.

You told me it was all over.

I was just a kid.

The thought of life

with you seemed scary.

You do have some regrets?

I don't know.

Would you do it all the same

way if you had a second chance?

I don't know.

That's why it's important that you

find out how you feel about Joe.

I think of you often.

Sweetheart, I'm home.

I sold a picture.

That's great. Which one?

- The nude of you.

- Oh, really?

Stop looking so grim. You're

beautiful without clothes.

How many women have you made love to?

Enough. But you're the only one who

ever seriously thought of being a nun.

I can't help it!

I never cooked a duck before.

- The whole place is black with smoke.

- I'm so sorry.

You know, I really love you.

- You insulted my mother! -

She was a third-rate actress...

...and she should keep her infantile

ideas on politics to herself.

She could've been a big star.

And she's smart. And she was right

not to understand your paintings.

And she was right about

you being a communist.

Let's have a child. Even if

you don't wanna get married.

Yeah, what would we live on?

You can't pay your bills now.

- Kiss me.

- I'm getting paint all over my dress.

Sh.

What's wrong?

I feel funny.

I feel very, very strange.

My God.

It's the oddest sensation.

I feel like I'm fading.

I am fading.

It's happening. Here it goes.

It was great seeing you again.

You're still wonderful.

Did you get a prize?

- So how's the rehearsal coming?

- Oh, fine.

- Great arrangement on "The Mooche".

- The Mooche?

- "Mooche. " The Ellington number.

- Oh. "The Mooche. " Yes.

I figured you'd know it. You

seem so knowledgeable about jazz.

I'm not really, but I'd like to learn.

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