Bad Timing Page #5

as requested.

- [Operator] Hold the line.

- Yes.

Yes.

- Uh, my name is, uh... -

- Yes?

Yes, Alex Linden.

You've heard of me?

To be sure.

Look, this is as embarrassing for me

as it must be for you.

Listen, Mr. Linden.

Please come to the point...

and tell me what I owe

this communication to.

Milena. She hasn't been seen

for almost a week.

I haven't seen her, and I'm worried,

and I thought you... -

I thought maybe you knew

where she was.

You there? Did you hear me?

Yes, I heard you, Mr. Linden,

and, no, I don't know.

Please help me.

Someplace, someone she might... -

that you know.

Believe me, Dr. Linden.

I would most certainly tell you

if I knew...

because what I want more than anything

is for Milena to get bored with you...

as soon as possible... -

and it may come as a surprise to you,

more for her sake than for mine.

So why don't you just bugger off!

This Stefan Vognic... -

He's her husband, is he not?

- I think so.

- Then there's a question in your mind?

He's her husband.

Do you know him?

We spoke on the phone.

Does Mr. Vognic... -

He is aware of the relationship that exists

between you and his wife, is he not?

- What relationship is that?

- You tell me.

I told him. I told you already.

I'm a friend.

Ah, yes. Forgive me. Of course.

A friend.

And this is why

she telephoned you when... -

But as I understand,

you didn't believe her...

because this wasn't the first time she

telephoned you, threatening to kill herself.

Is that a correct assessment

of the truth?

It is, but I went all the same.

Without, however, taking the business

very seriously. Right?

[Milena]

Say good-bye.

Right.

I see.

You went to make sure...

but you were convinced you would find

Mrs. Vognic alive and well, as usual.

Am I right?

[Upbeat]

[Chattering]

- You like Superman?

- [Fingernails Scratching On Glass]

- [Woman] Superman?

- It's Superman. Why you say "Superman"?

It's not a bad book.

Would you excuse me?

- You going to Hummels's party?

- Ciao.

Bye-bye.

[Speaks German]

[Thinking]

Lost your tan.

- You've lost your tan.

- More than a month. It fades.

Doesn't matter.

You look good, tan or no tan.

Heard you've been

trying to find me.

- Why didn't you call me?

- I did, five, 10 times.

I didn't know, did I?

[Thinking]

I guess it was... -

I guess it was as difficult for you

as it was for me.

But maybe if you would have...

left a message or something.

Maybe... -

Alex, some interesting papers

arrived from America.

- Let's have a coffee and talk, hmm?

- Sure.

Who's the guy?

Does it matter?

Why did you come here?

[Thinking]

I don't know, Alex. I... -

[Sighs] Guess I was... -

Maybe I wanted to stumble into you. I... -

Sounds reasonable,

but how can I believe you?

What are you afraid of, Alex?

Let's not argue.

You're calling me a liar.

He's not the guy in the photo, is he?

What photo?

You and someone at a lake.

You took them?

[Thinking] Stefan I know,

but that someone at the lake... -

It wasn't him...

or him.

Would it really matter

if I told you?

Who?

The lake was in California.

And the boy was my f***ing brother.

You don't believe me, do you?

You think I'm lying.

Think?

You'll never change, Milena.

Never.

If you weren't who you are,

I wouldn't have to.

Oh, God, I'm... -

I'm glad you decided to get rid

of me, Alex. You know that?

Because I did love you, and...

I couldn't... -

Oh, geez, I... -

- F*** off.

- You're drunk.

- Disappear.

- Milena, I want to explain.

[Scoffs]

Tell it to your students.

It's just that I can't stand

to think of you with anyone else.

Please. I'm tired.

I had too much.

I need sleep.

Please, just go.

Milena, I love you.

Please. I waited all night

out there in the car.

It's f***ing daylight.

You want me to tell you

I slept with someone?

Is that what you want?

We f***ed?

Would you believe that?

Is that what you want to believe?

What do you want to know?

The truth?

No, you'd only call it a lie.

What do you want to do,

go up and make love?

Go up and f***?

You want us to do that?

You want me to do that?

[Shouts]

What is it you want?

Okay. I love you.

[Chuckles]

I don't love you.

What do you want me to say?

What do you want me to do

because of that?

Kill myself?

Would you be sure then, huh?

Would you? Would you?

What do I want? What do you want?

I want you to be mine.

No, you don't.

You want to own me and dump me.

Well, I don't want to be yours

or anyone's.

Greedy bastard.

You got everything.

You had everything.

Know everything.

[Sighs]

I don't want

any f***ing thing of mine...

let alone yours.

I'm not ambitious.

I'm not a f***ing artist...

or a poet...

or a philosopher...

or a goddamn revolutionary.

I don't want to have to

pretend I am for anybody.

I just want to be allowed...

to give where I can...

how I can...

to whom I can.

For Christ's sake,

don't ever use that word "love" again...

and I promise I won't.

[Sighs]

You want me to give you

a great big present, Alex?

Yes, I did do it! I did it!

But you made me do it.

You're driving me crazy!

Why did I ever meet you anyway?

What?

Did you know that Mrs. Vognic

took drugs?

No.

Tests made before the operation

reveal considerable traces...

of amphetamine in her blood.

Amphetamine.

She may have taken stimulants.

She suffered at times from severe depressions.

Drugs aren't so unusual, are they?

You wouldn't recommend them,

would you, Doctor?

I'm not her doctor.

I'm a friend. That's it.

Of course.

Did you get her the prescription?

- I'm a friend. That's it.

- Of course. You did tell us that. Yes.

Another?

You may smoke if you like.

This, Dr. Linden...

is an extract from our archives.

The Germans have always been

very good at archives.

This is Austria.

"On the fifth of May...

"a disturbance was reported

by various neighbors...

"living in the Schonbrunner Schlossstrasse.

"Complaints were filed

against Milena Vognic...

"for drunken and disorderly conduct.

"After additional inquiries it was learned

that the party receiving the attack...

"of verbal abuse was...

"Dr. Alex Linden...

currently on the faculty."

So what does that mean?

Of course...

but what caused that?

[Alex]

That?

I told you,

she's a very erratic person.

We decided not

to see each other after that...

for a while, at least.

Why did you decide

not to see each other?

How, Dr. Linden,

would you account for a young girl...

getting into a state... -

drugs, depressions?

- [Woman Moans]

- [Phone Rings]

- [Woman] Oh, you love... - Oh!

- [Rings]

- Yes

- [Milena] Alex?

- Um... -

- Yeah.

Alex, um, I think I've done

something stupid.

- What are you up to?

- Nothing.

Is someone there?

- No. Nobody's here.

- There isn't, is there?

No, and, Milena, I really want to talk to you.

I've been thinking about things.

Oh, yeah?

- Really, we ought to talk.

- [Woman Coughs, Clears Throat]

- [Coughing]

- No one there, huh?

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