Duel Page #2

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- What do you want?

- Fill it with Ethyl.

If Ethel don't mind.

- Want me to check under the hood

for you? - Please. Yes.

Looks like you could use

a new radiator hose.

Where have I heard that before?

I'll get one later.

- You're the boss.

- Not in my house, I'm not.

- Attendant?

- Yes, sir?

- You got change for the telephone?

- Yes, sir.

I'll get you the rest later?

Be with you in a minute.

Operator, I'd like to call

659-0716, collect.

Dave Mann.

The number here is 238-2098.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Honey? It's me.

- What's the matter? Did you have

an accident? - No, nothing like that.

- Well, what happened?

- Well, nothing happened. I just...

I just wanted to apologize.

- You don't have to apologize, Dave.

- I know. I wanted to.

When I left the house this morning,

you were asleep...

so I just wanted to call you up

and tell you that...

I'm sorry about last night.

I don't really

want to talk about it.

Well...

Don't you think

maybe we ought to?

No, because if we

talk about it...

we'll fight, and you wouldn't

want that, would you?

Of course not.

What is that

supposed to mean?

- Oh, never mind.

- Just a minute.

I know what it's

supposed to mean.

It means you think I should go

out and call Steve Henderson up...

- and challenge him to a fistfight

or something. - No, of course not.

But you could have at least

said something to the man.

I mean, after all, he...

practically tried to rape me

in front of the whole party.

- Oh, come on, honey.

- Just forget it.

- You gonna be home by 6:30?

- If Forbes lets me go in time.

Is it that important

that you see him?

He's leaving for Hawaii

in the morning.

The way he's been griping to the front

office, if I don't reach him today...

- I could lose the account. - You said

there'd be no problem getting home on time.

There probably won't be.

It's your mother. God knows

she's not coming to see me.

Honey, I said there probably

won't be a problem.

Well, just be on time, okay?

All right.

Okay, I'll be there.

Here's your card, sir.

Be with you in a second.

- Save them stamps?

- No, thanks.

Good enough.

Come back, now.

Will do.

I gave you the road.

Why don't you take it?

Why don't you go?

Oh, boy, you're beautiful.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe it.

I'm in no mood to play games.

Let's go.

Well, it's about time, Charlie!

My God.

Jesus.

Come on, you miserable fathead.

Get that fat-ass truck out of my way.

Well, I'm never going to

make that appointment now.

You miserable...

Okay. Okay.

You want to play games.

You all right, mister?

Yeah. Yeah, except...

- Oh, my neck.

- You got a whiplash, probably.

Yeah. It's all right.

He's all right.

What happened?

- That truck driver tried to kill me.

- Kill you? Go on!

He chased me

down the mountain at...

at nearly 90 miles an hour,

and I don't...

- don't know what else you'd call it.

- Tried to kill you.

It sure looks like you got

whiplash, all right.

- You got the whiplash, all right.

- Oh, that's okay.

Thank... It's okay.

- Anything I can do for you?

- No, nothing. Thank you.

- That's okay.

- Okay.

Just a little whiplash is all.

What happened

out there, mister?

- Can I use your men's room, please?

- Yeah. Through the door...

on the right,

down the hall...

turn left, second door.

Well, you never know.

You just never know.

You just go along figuring

some things don't change, ever.

Like being able to drive

on a public highway...

without somebody trying

to murder you.

And then one stupid thing

happens.

Twenty, twenty-five minutes

out of your whole life...

and all the ropes that kept you

hangin'in there get cut loose.

And it's like, there you are,

right back in the jungle again.

All right, boy, it was a nightmare,

but it's over now.

It's all over.

- Are you all right?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

- What happened out there?

- Just a slight complication.

Oh? Looked like a big

complication to me.

Well, you ready to order now?

Yes.

Yes, thank you.

Oh, I think I'll...

Just give me...

Why don't you just give me

a Swiss cheese sandwich...

- on rye. R-Y-E.

- Swiss cheese on rye.

- And could I have another

glass of water, please?

- Sure. Another glass of water.

- Oh, miss?

- Do you have an aspirin?

- Aw, your head aches.

Sure, I'll get you some aspirin.

All I did was pass this

stupid rig a couple of times...

and he goes flyin'

off the deep end.

He has to be crazy.

Okay, so he's crazy.

What can I do about it?

Find him a psychiatrist?

Oh, boy.

Now wait a minute.

Now wait just a minute.

All right, now, think.

Okay, he's in here.

Well, that doesn't mean

he intends to continue his... attack.

It is lunchtime...

and Chuck's Cafe may be

the only place to eat for miles around.

Yeah. He probably

eats here all the time.

He was just...

just moving too fast before...

and he had to... slow down,

turn around, that's all.

That's all.

Why didn't I leave right away

when I saw his truck outside?

Then I'd know what

he intends to do.

What if he followed me out,

started after me again?

I'd be right back

where I started.

Even if I got a lead,

he'd overtake me soon enough.

He's got some... some...

some souped-up diesel.

My car's just not

that powerful. I just...

can't drive 80 and 90

miles an hour.

As soon as I stopped concentrating, I'd

go back to 60 or 70 like I always do.

It's a habit.

I can't help it.

I ca.. Take it easy.

Just... take it easy.

Maybe I...

Maybe I should try

some kind of contact.

I'd better do something.

Look, mister, I'm sorry

if I irritated you.

Why don't I buy you a beer

and get this straightened out?

No.

Look, mister, I'm sorry

if I irritated you, but...

let me...

- There you are. Anything else?

- No, thank you.

I'd like some ketchup.

What if I called

the local police?

But then I'd have to

stay here, lose more time.

What if he stayed too? Actually

talked to the police himself?

Naturally,

he'd deny everything.

I've got to prove it. None of

these people would back me up.

The cops'd probably...

Okay... so now what?

Look...

- I want you to cut it out.

- What?

Just cut it out, okay?

- Cut what out?

- Now, come on. I mean...

please, I...

Let's not play games.

- What the hell are you talking about?

- I can call the police.

- The police? - You think that I

won't? You're wrong, mister.

If you think you can

take that truck of yours...

and use it as a murder weapon, killing

people on the highway, well, you're wrong.

- You've got another thing comin'.

- Man, you need help.

Don't you tell me

I need help.

Hey! Hey, come on!

Who the hell

do you think you are...

- knockin' my sandwich outta my

hand? - You wanna fight, get outside.

- I don't wanna fight, I wanna knock

his head off. - You already hit him twice.

What more do you want?

Come on now.

He's sick. Can't you see?

He ain't gonna fight no one.

That creep goes around,

knocks my sandwich outta my hand.

I'll buy you

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