Dangerous Crossing Page #4

---

Well, that's going a bit far, isn't it?

We know he isn't aboard this ship.

Captain, I'm sure she's not

intentionally lying.

- I'd like to get to the bottom of it.

- Dr. Manning.

You're not, by any chance,

being influenced by a pretty face?

Of course I'm not.

I just feel sorry for her.

She seems terribly frightened of someone

or something. I'd like to help her.

Well, Doctor, remember, you're the

ship's surgeon. You're not a detective.

You can send your radiogram,

practice your psychoanalysis all you want.

But keep her under observation,

see that she doesn't cause any trouble.

- Yes, sir.

- The responsibility is yours.

- Good morning, Mrs. Bowman.

- Oh.

Good morning, Mrs. Bowman.

I havejust come to see you.

I have here a little book.

It might pass the time a bit for you.

Oh. It-It was good of you

to think of me.

I have thought of you

very often with concern.

Won't you?

Thank you.

I'Il- I'll return it.

- Oh!

- Look, you've gotta start simmering down, young lady.

- Oh, I'm sorry. L- - Last night I

suggested a couple of days' normal activity.

Do you want me to spell out

the word "normal" for you?

- Can I ask you a favor?

- Within reason.

I haven't really seen

much of the ship.

Would a conducted tour

be within the realm of normal activity?

That might be just

the medicine you need.

All right, let's try

a few doses of it.

I wasn't asking a favor for myself.

It was really forJohn.

- I hoped somehow, somewhere I'd find him.

- What's in here?

If I just kept looking.

They told me they'd searched the ship,

but I wasn't satisfiied.

I wanted to make sure...

and I kept thinking

I might find a place they had forgotten.

- What do they do?

- What?

- Those things there.

- I can't hear you. The engines.

But Dr. Manning

insisted I relax and try some games.

I didn't want to, but I pretended

to enjoy myself.

And then I wasn't sure

I was pretending.

He was good company, and I needed

to relax, even for a few short hours.

Mrs. Bowman, be careful!

This is not the safest

place in the world.

Sorry.

You said you'd call at 10:00, John.

What's happened?

Where are you, darling?

I've looked everywhere for you.

I've got to find you.

John?

John?

No! No!

Be careful, children.

- Good morning, Doctor.

- Morning, Harry. Is Mrs. Bowman here?

Yes, sir. I called your office to report,

but there was no answer.

I was out looking for her.

We lost track of her for an hour.

Oh, there she is.

Here.

You've had

an uncomfortable night.

I was awake, waiting

for the phone to ring again.

And then I- I wondered

if he really called at all.

You know people are not supposed

to prowl around the luggage hold...

without a member

of the crew.

Oh, so-

so they told you.

That hold was ransacked thoroughly

when they searched the ship.

You must trust us, Ruth.

You can't go on

being suspicious of everybody.

Take that man

you saw down there.

The steward was opening

his trunk for him to get a book.

Does that sound so villainous?

Oh, I am sorry.

So we've eliminated

one suspect, at least.

It's just that I-

I feel so frustrated and helpless...

because I can't do anything

to helpJohn.

We're doing

everything we can.

We're even checking

with the Bureau of Missing Persons...

in New York in case your husband

left the ship before we sailed.

Although, for the life of me,

I can't understand why he would.

He seems so nice.

He acts as if he really

wants to help me.

But how can I be sure when

I know he still doesn't believe me?

If I could only

learn more about him.

- Dr. Manning?

- Paul.

Paul. There's something

I've been wanting to ask you.

It's probably a question everyone has.

I've been waiting for this.

Ships' doctors and dime-a-dance girls

all get it.

"How does a nice person

like you get into this business?

"You're young.

You have talent.

Why waste it as a ship's doctor?"

Oh, now,

don't make fun of me.

After all,

I've told you a lot about myself.

Well, in books, the ship's doctor is

usually a man with a shadow over him.

Turns out he murdered his wife

and is trying to forget.

And you haven't

murdered your wife?

Through no fault of my own,

I never had a wife.

Well, then, if you're not trying

to hide anything...

and there's nothing to forget-

Well, take this crossing.

1,400 passengers in my care.

No specialist to run to

if they break out in a rash...

or fracture a kneecap.

I've saved the lives

of people...

I've never seen before

and will never see again.

I don't know

which it is I like more...

the feeling of responsibility

or the feeling of power.

I don't know many men

who could play God...

so many times

in the course of a year.

And what are you thinking?

It just occurred to me. L-

I don't really know

my own husband.

Everything happened

so fast for us-

the way we met,

times we saw each other, our wedding.

We were going to get acquainted

on this trip, and now...

instead I-I seem to be

getting acquainted with you.

Hello there!

Come on. I'll race you

the length of the pool.

Oh, no, thanks.

I was just about to go and get dressed.

You know, I just remembered something

that happened the day we sailed...

that might help explain

Ruth's story.

She was waving good-bye

to somebody on shore...

but when I asked her

who it was, she said no one.

No one?

That's very odd.

Well, she explained

she was just waving...

because everything was so gay

and she felt so happy.

Hmm. Possible, but strange.

It's also possible she really was

waving good-bye to someone on shore.

- Someone she hasn't told us about.

- Or her husband, perhaps.

Thank you, Mrs. Prentiss.

That's very interesting.

There's nothing in this desk.

- Hello, Ruth.

- Mrs. Bowman.

Just a minute.

Mrs. Bowman, please

let me talk to you.

What were you

doing in B-16?

Oh, darling, don't make us sound

like international spies.

It was simply that we

were curious about the cabin...

and I asked the stewardess

to let us in.

We thought we might find something

to help make sense of your story.

But we're poor detectives.

We didn't find a shred of evidence.

You're all so

patient with me.

I- I really didn't mean to-

Will you excuse me now?

Thank you very much.

All right.

Right about there.

Even off your end, Doc.

Oh, John, why haven't you called?

Please call me, darling.

Please!

Hello.

Oh. Y-Yes, Paul.

I know.

Just a little while.

Well, you know how long

it takes a woman to dress.

Yes, I-I will.

Oh! I beg your pardon.

I didn't know you were here.

Mrs. Bowman,

is anything wrong?

Oh, no. Nothing.

You startled me, that's all.

I was just going to turn down the bed,

but it can wait.

No, go right ahead.

I'm going out now. Really.

Mrs. Bowman.

Might I speak to you

for a moment?

Why, of course.

I've been waiting

for this chance...

- to tell you about your husband.

- Yes?

I mean, about not seeing

your husband with you.

- Oh.

- We see so many new people on sailing day.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes