Alice Page #5

So... you're nothing really

like you were the other day.

You were coming on so strong.

I know. I was just...

I was so obnoxious.

I'm so embarrassed. I...

I guess it was to counteract my

shyness or something. I don't know.

So this is me. Do you

feel... Are you disappointed?

- No, no.

- No?

- Actually, you scared me a little.

- Really?

No, well... But I

sensed it wasn't you.

Yeah.

Look, can I ask you a question?

Sure.

What?

Are you happily married?

Or is that tactless?

No. Yes. Yes, I...

Gosh, I've been married

almost 16 years now.

16 years.

Oh. Well, that... that's great.

Yeah.

No, really.

- Well, a good marriage, it's a rare thing.

- Yeah.

Why did you get divorced?

Well, my wife and I, we

were both too opinionated.

She's... very brilliant.

Uh-huh. And attractive?

Yes.

- And very

sexy. - Uh-huh.

And when you're with her, do you...

...do you still have

the urge to be with her?

- No.

- No?

No? You never have the

urge to... to grab her?

Like, you know, if the two of you

are in her office or something?

Or, I don't know, you know, just...

throw her down on the couch or something?

For old times' sake?

God, you are interesting.

Here's the story. A woman who's never

done a dishonest thing in her life...

...finds herself falling into

a love affair with a musician.

- It's a little vague, Alice.

- Well... Really? You think?

Look, be honest. What do you

know about that kind of woman?

- Well, I...

- Who's the woman?

Who's the man? Who's the poor husband?

Where does it go? What

makes it interesting?

Is it lurid? Is it sexual? Perverse?

Is she a whore?

What's the matter? You look pale.

I know I can write. I'm

just blocked, you know?

You just need to relax and not press. If

there's something in you, it'll come out.

Yeah. Yeah, I know you're right.

- It's not so...

- It's like me.

- I wanted to be a classical musician.

- Yeah?

But it wasn't in me. So I make

my living doing studio work.

Shows, commercials.

But I do have a pretty

good feel for jazz.

And is that where you...

where you met your wife?

- In commercials?

- Yeah, exactly.

We were doing a spot

for some detergent.

- Detergent...

- It was love at first sight.

Christ, within half an hour we were

making love in the ladies' room.

- Oh, excuse me.

- No, that's fine.

You have a very charming

way of telling things.

Listen, do you think you can

get away tomorrow evening?

An evening?

A friend is making a record. It

might be fun for you to hear him.

- He's a terrific cellist.

- Well, an evening...

Tomorrow evening is Doug's

backgammon night, so...

- What time would this

be? - Eight, eight-thirty.

- Eight?

- Yeah. If you like...

Well, I can meet you. How

about in front of the school?

In front of the school. An evening.

Yeah, I guess I could do that.

That sounds like fun.

OK. OK. It's a deal.

Lou Gimbel's wife has been on

at him about her working too.

So, finally, he rented a

store on Lexington Avenue.

He's gonna bankroll her and

she's opening a boutique.

- Oh, really?

- Or a sweater shop, and...

And I thought to

myself, that's something.

Possibly, on a part-time

basis, you could help out.

You have a nice personality

and you know sweaters.

It's not really what I

had in mind, you know.

Well, think about it.

Gosh. Shouldn't you be getting

ready for your backgammon game?

- I should.

- Yeah.

- Well, have fun tonight. Have a good time.

- I won't be too late.

- What are you gonna do?

- I don't know. The usual. Nothing much.

Gee, it's after 7.30. Gosh.

You don't wanna be late.

- I'm not gonna be late.

- I'll probably just watch TV.

- Mr Tait, telephone.

- OK, Hilda. Thank you.

That was a good dinner.

My game was called off.

- What?

- Yeah. Ken is sick.

He's sick? Isn't there

anyone else you can play with?

Jay's stuck in Boston.

His flight was cancelled.

- Doug?

- Yeah?

I'm gonna go out for

a little while, OK?

- Where?

- I was just talking to my sister.

- She wants to see me. She's upset.

- Dorothy? She's upset? What about?

Oh, you know. You remember we had

that little problem a while ago, and...

She feels bad, so I'm

just gonna go over there.

- What does she want?

- I don't know. To talk.

- Do you have to go now?

- Yeah. Yeah.

- Can't you talk about it on the phone?

- You know Dorothy. She's a lawyer.

They love to have meetings. So I'm

just gonna go. I'll see you soon.

Yeah. Be sure the doorman

gets you a cab each way, OK?

- OK. No problem.

- Don't be too late.

- OK.

- I worry about you.

George, could you get

me a cab, please? OK.

I'm gonna leave this bag here.

I'll pick it up on my way back.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I was gonna go. I thought

you weren't coming.

- Maybe I shouldn't have.

- What's the matter?

I can't do this, OK? I just can't

do this. I can't lie like this.

Look, I... I didn't mean to put

you in such a tough position.

Well, you did put me

in a tough position.

- You know?

- Gee...

- You always turn on the charm with me.

- Alice...

I can't do this.

I...

- I didn't mean to cause trouble for you.

- I have a trusting husband.

I found myself looking him right in

the eye and making up this stupid story.

Well...

Maybe what you're upset about is the

discovery that you're capable of doing it.

Hey, look, don't try

to psychoanalyse me.

I'm upset because I did a lousy thing.

OK.

Should I take you home?

- No, that's OK. I'll get a cab.

- No. Alice, I'll take you home.

- Listen, Alice, it's raining out. I'll take...

- That's OK.

Excuse me?

Dr Yang?

Dr Yang?

It's Alice Tait, Dr Yang.

Dr Yang? It's Alice Tait.

- Mrs Tait. Come in.

- But I didn't realise...

- I can come back another time if...

- Is all right.

I heard your house and your office were

the same. I thought I might find you...

- Mrs Tait seems tense.

- Yes, I am. I am a bit tense.

What I need is a tranquilliser. I was

hoping you could give me something.

I don't believe in putting foreign

substances into my body, so...

- No, thank you. I don't smoke.

- Please. Is natural substance.

Of course, I did

smoke when I was young.

Filtered, cork-tipped,

mentholated cigarettes only.

Please. Mrs Tait among friends.

Yeah.

Please.

It's harsh.

I can't stay long. I'm supposed

to be visiting my sister.

- Aha. Intrigue?

- No, no, you know. I just...

It's a dumb lie, because my

sister and I aren't close at all.

I'd like to be. She and her husband

moved here recently from Philadelphia.

She's a very fine attorney.

Would you mind holding that

a little closer, please?

Oh, this is relaxing.

Oh, I... I was very surly with a

gentleman friend earlier, you know.

I behaved like a real

b*tch. Excuse my French.

Mrs Tait feel more calm?

As a matter of fact, I do. I do.

This is...

Everything... seems to be floating.

I think I'll just lie down for

a moment, if you don't mind.

Gee. Dorothy, what

happened to our house?

It's so run-down.

I understand you used me as an alibi

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