Black Pond Page #2

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but still for some reason in

dire and desperate need of them,

of people.

We hate them

but we require them.

We love them,

but we wonder why

they do not always love us

back in equal measure.

We are mathematicians

of devotion.

Misers of love.

And we always know when

we have been shortchanged.

Always.

Ooh.

Very deep.

Yes, very deep indeed.

I always forget that Sophie was

a poet when I first met her.

Which implies I'm not now.

Oh, are you ?

No.

The truth is

I never was a poet,

it was just a distraction from

the fact that I wasn't anything.

It was just a disguise.

Actually, I tell you what.

I can go and fish them out

if you like.

Oh no, Tom, don't.

Only be a minute.

Please don't.

Tom !

You're embarrassing

me, Tom.

Where are you going ?

To put the kettle back on.

( faucet running )

( Sophie )

"I live here among the

ignorant like a lost man,

in fact like one whom the rest

seems careless of having

anything to do with,

and I find more pleasure in

walking in the fields

than in musing among

my silent neighbors,

who are insensible

to everything

but toiling and talking of it

and that to no purpose."

I'm so sorry

you feel that way.

Oh no, that was him.

That was something he said.

Ah.

( Tom )

Hm.

Don't think I've seen

that poem before.

"Someone somewhere says

hello to someone else.

Some item somewhere stirs.

Some tire hits some can

and the world changes shape,

like you,

changing shapes

and shifting things,

like us.

Shifting."

Hmm.

Shifting.

Profound.

( Blake )

And so we were by the lake, or

pond, as your husband calls it.

( Sophie )

Ah.

Black Pond, it's called.

Oh yes ?

I think because when it freezes

over, it's still really dark,

it's a sort of black ice.

Oh no, it's wife in winter.

White.

What ?

You said "wife."

No, I said "white."

Yeah.

Um, Tom ?

Where's he gone ?

Sorry, Blake.

"For we are those that make

the stronger strong.

Our misery is how

the happy know what happy is.

All modes compared,

our moods are grayer than the

summer's bleakest skies

when revelers await

the heat of light,

but all that comes is

thunder and despair."

I asked you to leave

those alone.

I was just reading,

that's all.

They're not

for you to read.

They're not for

anyone to read.

Well, don't be silly.

I'm throwing it away.

No, don't throw it away,

please.

Since when have you

given a f*** ?

I give a massive f***.

No, don't.

I'm throwing it away.

No, don't, please don't.

I like them !

Well, you may as well put

them in the recycling.

It is paper after all.

You want me to put my poems

in the recycling ?

If I acted as

a kind of whetstone

for that new surge of poetry,

that angry stuff she's writing

now, then I--

You know, without me,

she wouldn't have been able

to do that, so I guess I--

I wouldn't be surprised if she

dedicates a book to me.

It's not out of the question.

You all right ?

Oh.

Oh yes, thank you.

Nice shed.

It is good,

isn't it, yes.

( man on TV )

I'm Eric Sacks,

psychotherapist.

I'm not qualified,

but who are you ?

Hello.

Are you sad ?

Lonely ? Depressed ?

Crying ?

Are you crying right now ?

Maybe you can't cry.

Difficult, isn't it ?

Life is awful.

Isn't life awful ?

Shocking, isn't it ?

It's just f***ing awful,

isn't it ?

I can cure you.

Treatment is free.

My parents are dead.

Are you armed ?

Just say:
"Yes, I am armed,"

or, "no, I'm not armed."

No, I'm not armed.

Right, come in.

This is my house.

It's large.

My parents are dead.

This was a guy who was

claiming to be some kind of

psychotherapist,

but all he really seemed to

be doing was just sort of

making fun of me.

Tim ?

Yes, Tim.

Tim ?

It's funny--

It's a funny, um...

It's a funny--

It's a very common name--

Tim.

Tim is a very common--

Tim, Tim, Tim-Tim.

That's-- It's not even

a name, it's a sound.

Oh, did you hear

that little--

Tim ?

Did you hear that ?

You can call me something else

if it bothers you, if my name--

Graham ?

Only because if I'm at

a party and I go, "Oh, hi Tim.

Oh sorry, Graham's over there--

Graham, you beast !"

You know,

amongst other things,

I told him about what happened

that weekend

with the Thompsons and,

you know,

like with everything else,

he sort of seemed to find it

hilarious.

But there was something in him

that seemed to take

a particular

interest in that story.

So I guess we talked about it

more than other things.

I only spoke about it

because I thought--

I presumed

it was confidential.

That's the point of

a therapy session,

but it was a couple of

days after that that, you know,

the police started digging up

the land around Black Pond

and it all sort of--

It all started getting

messy, so...

I mean, it-- it must have been,

it must have been him.

( Blake )

It calms you, yes.

Yoga is supposed to calm you

as well, isn't it ?

Yes, that calms you as well.

I've never really found that.

That's citronella.

Oh.

I light it for the mosquitoes

in case they want to read.

There we go.

All it does is attract moths

to the table.

Yes, but moths don't bite.

Mosquitoes do.

That's why we use it, see ?

Hello, here I am, speaking live

from the Thompsons' garden

and I understand you're still

in a bad mood, is this correct ?

Oh dear.

Do you want a top-up,

Blake ?

No, I'm fine, thank you.

I tell you what.

You've had a rough day.

I'll make some dinner.

Oh no, you can't do that.

No, it's no bother at all.

What have you got

in your fridge ?

All right, we can all

make it together.

No, Blake, that's really

sweet of you but--

Of course, you can stay

to dinner if you like.

Can't he ?

Tom was pouring wine down his

and Blake's neck

like, being the good host.

Give me your best shot.

Give me your worst shot.

To be honest, I'd just sort of

left them to it, really,

by that point.

Come on !

Out !

Out !

Try this for size !

Salute you,

you are a worthy opponent.

Do either of you want some

coffee or tea or something ?

Come on, Sophie !

No, thank you.

Would you like a swim ?

No, thank you.

A nice swim ?

( Tom )

Well, the down side of having

a tedious life

is that you have

a tedious life.

But the upside is you get

a swimming pool in the summer.

Drown me more !

( laughing )

Drown me more.

Oh, no you don't.

Blake ?

Are you all right ?

Yes.

I was just wondering what your

daughters must be up to.

Oh, probably snorting acid

through a cocaine or something.

Yeah, cheers, cheers.

You enjoying yourself ?

Hello, all right.

Woo, yeah !

I just think pegs should be

used, even for dry clothes.

I love this jacket.

What's your name ?

Right, good.

Where are you going ?

I'm going for a walk.

( Tom )

No, no, carry on.

Do you think it would be

all right

if Blake stayed the night ?

Yes, of course.

( Blake )

I shall be quiet

and discreet.

I'll be gone as

soon as it's light, I'm just--

I'm afraid of the dark, so I

can't walk home now.

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