Dangerous Crossing Page #3

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You have a right to be a little shaky.

I'll have the stewardess

clean it up.

- I'm afraid my call disturbed you.

- Oh, no, it wasn't that.

I suppose you know why I called.

Captain Peters has a report

on the search of the ship.

He asked me to tell you

your husband isn't aboard.

- Captain Peters is wrong.

- I'm sorry, Mrs. Bowman.

- Either your husband left the ship

before we sailed- - You're wrong too.

My husband is aboard this ship.

Our crewmen are professionals

at this sort of thing.

People are always trying to stow away

and always getting caught.

- Are you trying to suggest that my

husband is- - I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.

It's just that there's absolutely

no chance he was missing.

- Everyone aboard is accounted for.

- That's not so!

Mrs. Bowman, please.

What are you trying to do to me?

You, the captain- everyone.

I don't understand.

My husband phoned me tonight

just before you called.

Mrs. Bowman, this has been

a trying day for all of us...

and we have done

everything we could.

But he phoned me! I'm as sure of that as-

You don't believe me.

Where did he phone you from,

Mrs. Bowman?

Why, I don't know.

He had to hang up

before he could tell me.

He just said he had to see me, and then

suddenly, I couldn't hear him anymore.

But I remember the foghorn from

somewhere near where he was calling.

- I remember that.

- You could've fallen asleep for a few minutes.

- This could've been a dream.

- But the foghorn- I distinctly heard it.

You heard the foghorn and you woke up.

It wasn't a dream.

I didn't sleep!

Then I'm going to insist

you try and do some sleeping now.

- We'll go into this again in the morning.

- But I-

- All right.

- I'll see you down to your cabin.

That won't be necessary, Doctor.

John?

John?

I thought I told you to go to bed,

young lady.

Would you mind telling me

what you're doing up here?

I could ask you the same question.

I'll answer it. I followed you.

That's what I heard when he called.

He was here.

And it wasn't a dream.

All right, let's say

it wasn't a dream.

Let's say you could

have imagined it.

- The imagination can play

strange tricks sometimes.

I wouldn't mention this

to anyone if I were you.

He's against me too. They all are.

I'll fool him.

I'll pretend to agree with him.

- Do you- Do you really think I could

have imagined it? - Such things can happen.

- I have been upset.

- Do you want to tell me about it?

- Do you think you can help me?

- I can try.

But not here.

You're freezing. Come along.

I'll get you something to warm you up.

- Oh!

- Careful.

Would you say that I imagined that step?

- Anything you'd particularly like?

- Order for me, won't you?

- Uh, brandy, milk punch, and a scotch and soda, please.

- Yes, Doctor.

Do you want to talk now, or would

you like to look around some more?

I guess I did it without thinking.

You see, this is

where everything started.

It's where I was supposed

to meetJohn.

If you're uncomfortable about it,

there are other bars.

No, I'm not, really.

It was just seeing the place again.

Mrs. Bowman, your conviction that your

husband phoned you was very strong, wasn't it?

- Yes. Yes, it was.

- You still can't believe it was your imagination, can you?

No, I can't.

It was so real.

You said you'd been

upset about something.

Would you mind

telling me what it was?

I'd rather not

talk about it, please.

Such things are hard to talk about,

but sometimes it helps.

Won't you let me help you?

Tell me.

Well, it all started

when my father died.

Oh, I'm sorry.

When was that?

About four months ago.

You were very close

to your father?

Yes. I hadn't realized

how much he meant to me...

until he was gone.

I know how it feels to lose someone

you love very much...

but you still had your mother,

brothers, sisters perhaps.

No. I was an only child, and my mother

had died when I was very young.

Then you were left

all alone?

Yes. I'm afraid I pretty much

went to pieces for a while.

I used to look around rooms expecting

to see my father walk in at any minute.

I wouldn't go out,

wouldn't see anyone except the doctor.

You were ill?

- No, not really.

- Then why did you see the doctor?

It was just that

I felt exhausted all the time.

How long were you

under his care?

A couple of months

altogether.

Was he a psychiatrist?

No, just our family doctor.

I don't wanna

talk about it anymore, please.

When you looked around the rooms for your

father, did you ever think you saw him?

Did you?

- No, of course not.

- But you couldn't help looking. Why?

Because of so many years

of seeing him around.

It's only natural,

like looking forJohn here tonight.

What did the doctor prescribe?

- He wanted me to get a change of scene.

- You went away?

I went to New York and I metJohn.

Everything changed for me.

Suddenly, I was happy

and well again.

Did John, by any chance,

remind you of your father?

Well, he was tall...

and he had a certain air of authority

about him that-

You're not trying to suggest that

John is just in my imagination?

I didn't say that. But it is possible

to create a father image...

especially in a case like yours

where you felt so badly in need of one.

He's not a father image.

He's my husband.

And he's in danger, terrible danger.

We both are.

- That's why he phoned me- to warn me.

- What did he warn you about?

You don't believe I have a husband.

You won't believe this either.

I can't believe or disbelieve

anything till you tell me.

I won't tell you.

I won't tell anyone! Let me alone!

Careful, Ruth. You can't take chances.

If you make a scene,

he'll tell the captain.

You don't want to miss

John's call. Pretend.

I'm sorry.

I know you're trying to help.

I get so confused,

I'm not sure of anything.

I feel so much better

after this talk with you.

I just hope I haven't taken up

too much of your time.

I was about to suggest

you take up some more of it.

A couple of days' normal activity,

some games, a little talk.

Yes, I think that would help.

I don't wanna monopolize you.

- Then I'll change the suggestion to an order.

- All right, Doctor.

This comes under the heading

of doctor's orders too.

Take two.

They seldom bite.

It'll calm you down.

Mmm.

- Good morning, Captain.

- Good morning. Patient showing any improvement?

Blood count's normal,

but the pain is still severe.

- I've kept him in ice packs.

- Oh, no, not Barlowe.

- That girl-What's her name? Stanton.

- Oh, Mrs. Bowman?

She was quite disturbed

last night.

I had to give her a sedative

to help her sleep.

I'm counting on you to keep an eye on her.

Don't want a crazy woman running around loose.

I don't think

she's crazy, Captain.

Too strong a word, perhaps.

Would you settle for hallucinations?

That's more like it.

Nevertheless, have I your permission...

to radio the Bureau

of Missing Persons in New York?

- What on earth for?

- I want them to check on the whereabouts ofJohn Bowman.

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