Dark Victory Page #6

your own sake and that of your work?

Work.

How can I work when I can't cure her?

Nothing else on my mind. I just sit here.

I can't think of anything else.

Oh, Ann.

- I'd give my body if it'd do any good.

- Isn't there anything? Anything?

What's she ever done this should happen

to her? She's never harmed a soul.

She's never done anything to anyone

except kindness.

I know.

Here, look.

Here's a letter I got today from Vienna.

The last finding in the case.

There's the translation.

Not a chance in the world.

I don't know where to look next.

Here's this Heinzig in Vienna,

the greatest in the world.

Twelve of them. "Prognosis negative."

"Negative."

Negative.

Oh, I'm so sorry for you both.

You couldn't marry her.

You know what she'd expect.

A home, children, plans for the future.

You couldn't do that to her.

The great thing, Ann,

is for her never to know.

Could you stand watching her

growing happier every day...

with this thing creeping up behind her?

Could you stand that? I couldn't.

It isn't a question of what you

or I could stand.

The main thing is for her to be happy...

every hour.

Ann, all my life I've been able

to tell people what to do.

- Now I...

- Telephone, doctor.

This is Dr. Steele.

Are you operating, doctor?

Are you in your office, doctor?

Well, there's a very good friend of yours

waiting for you here.

A very grateful patient.

Well, you'd better hurry. I have

a vague feeling of relapse coming on.

All right, hurry up.

Bye.

Ann?

- Ann?

- She's out, Miss Judith.

Where did she go?

Weren't you telephoning

the doctor's office?

- Yes.

- Well, wasn't Miss Ann there?

What do you mean?

She made an appointment.

Said she was going down there.

- Today?

- Yes. Just a little while ago.

Oh, well, that's funny.

- Hello.

- Hello, Judy.

- Where have you been?

- For a drive.

- Where did you go?

- Town.

- What for?

- Shopping.

What did you buy?

Ann, where did you go?

Judy.

- Good afternoon.

- How do you do?

Oh, hello.

- You did hurry.

- Yes.

How are you, Ann?

Did I stumble into something?

Yes.

We were on the verge

of a jealous scene about you.

What?

Darling.

Poor fool...

don't you know I'm in love with you?

Would you like some tea or a drink?

Tea, I think.

- Elizabeth.

- Yes, Miss Judith.

- Bring me some tea, please.

- Yes, miss.

Sorry.

You couldn't have said anything

I wanted to hear more.

Judy, dear.

I love you so much.

These books go to the medical library,

New York City.

- Do you understand?

- Yes, Miss Wainwright.

Hey. Is anybody here?

- How do you do, Miss Traherne?

- Hello, Wainwright, how are you?

- Fine. The doctor isn't here.

- Where is he? We're to have lunch.

He wants you to meet him

at the restaurant.

I haven't had a chance

to congratulate you.

Oh, thank you.

It's a strange world, isn't it? First time

I came here, you were packing...

and it was the end of my life.

Now, you're still packing...

and my life is just beginning.

- Couldn't I help you while I'm waiting?

- No, thanks. We're all finished.

- Almost.

- All set, lady.

- Excuse me, please.

- Certainly.

- Take those boxes out and come back.

- Yes, ma'am.

You know, I darn near broke my neck

to get that doctor of yours.

I'm mad about him.

Of course, it's the screwiest setup.

Vermont and Long Island.

We live in different worlds.

I wonder if Vermont and I will understand

each other. What do you think?

I don't know much about Vermont,

except what he's told me.

He loves it, doesn't he?

Well, then I will too.

You know, Wainwright, I'm going to sell

my house, my apartment and my horses.

All except Challenger. I'll keep him.

He's a champion.

- Am I disturbing you?

- Not at all.

I'm glad he's going to give up

cutting people open.

He's one of the great scientists.

And I'll be Mrs. Pasteur.

We'll be such useful people

in the world.

"To all to whom these present

shall come, greeting be it known...

Frederick Steele as a fellow

of the something-or-other."

I'll tend his house

and mind his books...

and answer his mail and...

"Judith Traherne."

Wainwright?

What does "prognosis" mean?

It means what the future

of a case looks like.

What does "negative" mean?

That's not so good. It means hopeless.

You said the bar. We've been looking

all over this place for you.

- Take away the flowers, will you?

- Yes, ma'am.

I'm awfully sorry, darling.

Had a consultation. Gee, you look lovely.

- Have a drink.

- No, thanks.

- You should have one someday.

- I will. Perhaps on our wedding day.

Our wedding day.

What's the matter?

Could anything be?

- How many of those have you had?

- Several.

- If I'm late, I'm sorry.

- Ann, don't be sorry. About anything.

Sit down and join us.

We're playing games. Hide-and-seek.

You can play too. Puss in the Corner.

- What's she talking about?

- Nothing.

Would you like me to leave?

You two dear friends

must have so much to talk over.

My dearest friends.

Have a cocktail.

I'm going to have another.

- Waiter.

- Yes, I'll have a cocktail.

You sure you won't have one?

Two of the same.

They're fine. They deaden the brain.

You know about brains.

They loosen the inhibitions.

Make the tongue waggle.

Are you sure you're feeling

quite well, darling?

You should know how well I am.

Am I well?

It's a secret.

Or don't you two know about secrets?

- Judith, will you...?

- Judy, darling.

Oh, Carrie, dear. What a nice hat.

- You remember the eminent Dr. Steele.

- Yes, of course.

Judy says you're frightfully good.

You must look me over sometime. Sit.

My dear, if you've anything wrong

with you at all, fly to him at once.

Of course.

Will I see you at the Radcliffe Hunt?

- Of course.

- Judy, you'll be in Vermont.

Oh, yes, Vermont.

- I hear it's cold in Vermont.

- In the winter, but it's nice.

- You must come to Vermont, Carrie.

- I will. Anyway, nice to have seen you.

Goodbye, Ann. Doctor.

I meant to ask you, doctor.

Will I be a specimen case?

Will I be in the medical journal?

Shall we order? Waiter.

Would you mind telling me

what this is all about?

Why don't you tell me?

Why didn't you tell me?

Well, I...

I think I'll have a large order

of "prognosis negative."

- What do you mean?

- You know. Prognosis negative.

Do you know what

prognosis negative means?

Explain to her. Or have you?

Means a few months of pretending

you're well, then blindness, then...

Wait, Judith. We can't talk in here.

Oh, yes, we can. It was a question of

humoring the patient.

Give the poor dear everything she wants.

Time's so short. Marry her if necessary.

I know why you went to his office that

day. To beg him to marry me out of pity.

The kind Dr. Steele. You're both so kind.

So long, my friends.

Judith, you're wrong.

Let my heart be still

And listen to one song of love

Let me feel the thrill

Of quiet we know nothing of

Oh, give me time for tenderness

To hold your hand

And understand

Oh, give me time

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