Experiment Perilous Page #3

with a ridiculous crisis

In our boy's life.

He suffers

from nighttime terrors.

Bad dreams of tigers

under his crib.

Monstrous fears, simply

because he's prevented

From all normal expressions

of a healthy, small boy.

Allida cannot understand that.

And there's a very good reason.

It is Allida

of course, not the boy.

You have seen that you, you're

keen enough to have seen that.

Well, I still think peril

is too strong a word.

Oh, remember the lines?

"Life is short

and the art long. "

"Decision difficult,

experiment perilous. "

No, Bailey, the word

is very well chosen.

And I need help.

I cannot go on without it.

Wouldn't it be best to consult

a children's specialist?

Oh, but it's not the boy,

you know that.

And you're the man

who can help me.

I was sure of it the moment

I looked at you.

I'll get you

at your office and...

We can make arrangements

for you to observe her.

There, I knew

we'd be interrupted.

I must be off.

You coming or staying?

- I'll go with you.

- Tomorrow?

- Will you telephone the office?

- I will.

- Goodnight, Nick.

- Goodnight.

- Excuse me.

- Certainly.

Thanks for letting me come.

I'm sorry you have

to leave soon.

Won't you

come again to dinner?

Thank you.

Well, you've seen

the portrait and the model.

- Is it a speaking likeness?

- No, I don't think it is.

If I were painting her,

I'd do it quite differently.

How would you paint her?

Well, it wouldn't

be a sullen face

Or a woman dressed up

behind a tea tray.

I'd paint her full length

for one thing.

'In a country field

with a sky behind. '

'Long grasses till her knees. '

'The wind blowing across

the field and the daisies too. '

'Well, well, daisies

too. Quite an effect. '

'I take back what I said

about you never really looking'

'Into a woman's eyes. '

We may make

an artist of you yet.

Come on, Hunt.

Thanks, Allida.

Why didn't you

tell me you knew?

Knew what?

The place you described,

grassy fields and all.

That's where she came from.

Although Nick prefers people

to think he met her in Paris.

He might've met her

in a music hall for all I care.

I don't like that house.

Something strange

about all of them.

Wish you hadn't insisted

on bringing me there.

It was an interesting

experiment.

Ah, experiment perilous.

- What?

- Oh, nothing.

- Going downtown?

- No, I'll leave you here.

- Night.

- I hope your experiment worked.

Yes, my friend

I'm afraid it did.

I suppose you think I'm one of

your group, in love with her.

Of course not.

Pleasant dreams.

' "Some men",

says Nicholas Bederaux'

'"raise horses

and race them. '

"I prefer to gamble

on human animals.

"I find my material

in unlikely places

"And get my pleasure from

doing the impossible.

'"Mrs. Bederaux's hobby

is simpler. '

'She raises country daisies

in her city yard... "'

- Grows country daisies.

- 'Yes. '

'"In her city yard that does

not go in for flower shows. "'

The article is signed,

A. Gregory.

'Shall I put the pertinent date

on her history card?'

No, it's a personal matter.

When you've

shown them in, you may go.

- Tell Dennis not to wait.

- Yes, doctor.

'Mr. Bederaux, doctor. '

- Am I too early?

- That's alright.

Thanks for finding time for me

today. The sooner the better.

Oh, no. I want this

off the record.

Entirely off the record.

Very well.

Well...

You might as well

have it frankly.

I'm afraid, I'm almost

convinced that Allida

That my wife,

is out of her mind.

What makes you think so?

Of course, this is very

embarrassing for me.

But... I must know the truth.

I will tell you about

her strangeness, and then

I want you to see her

on a friendly basis.

She took a fancy to you,

you know.

She will suspect nothing.

She thinks you were quite taken

with her as a matter of fact.

And then, after a time if, if

you think, if it appears to you

'That it is merely

a case of nerves. '

'Or she's not imagining

these things. '

Well, suppose you tell me

just exactly what it is

That she or you imagine?

I imagine?

Oh, I see, of course

that would occur to you.

And she's convincing enough.

She almost convinced me

once or twice.

Yes, there is the matter

of daisies for instance.

Daisies?

She sends them to herself.

At odd times, on her

birthday's particularly.

Here, I got this

from the florist.

It's in her handwriting.

"Four dozen common daisies

to be sent to Mrs. Bederaux.

No card. Five dollar

bill enclosed. "

Other times, messenger boys

would deliver them.

And never any cards, they would

bring them into her personally.

- Even in a room full of people.

- Why daisies do you suppose?

'I don't know. '

And then, there

are other things.

She believes doctors

have questioned her.

She believes she's followed

when she's out shopping.

And that's not new.

It began in Paris.

The first year.

I believed her then.

Why wouldn't I?

I loved her.

You know,

I've just lost my sister.

Yes, I heard.

And it was really

in relation to Cissie

That this illness

first showed itself.

Cissie was so deeply

devoted to her.

And Allida took the most

unreasoning dislike to her.

I know, I understood it.

You understood what?

Oh, I think Clag told me

they were inseparable.

Clag didn't know.

And as I said,

she's very convincing

When she wishes to be.

And then, there's this

business with the child.

This, this, nighttime terrors,

this sense of fright.

I don't know what

she's doing with him.

I, I can't tell you anymore.

It's, it's too distressing.

You'll have to see for yourself.

You will come, won't you?

Yes, I'll come.

I'll have Allida

drop you a note.

She believes you were taken

with her as she was with you.

It makes things

easier for us.

Seems so.

There are cures for this sort

of things, aren't there?

Well, I'll have to know

more about it.

I'm going through with it

no matter where it leads me.

Then, everything

happened at once.

Allida jumped up

and the flowers, the daisies

Fell off her lap.

She grows country

daisies in her city yard.

There is the

matter of the daisies.

She sends them to herself.

At odd times.

On her birthday's particularly.

- Hello.

- 'Doctor Bailey?'

- Yes.

- 'Oh, Hunt. '

'I know it's perfectly awful of

me to telephone you like this. '

Oh, certainly not, Elaine.

'I thought you'd like

the opportunity'

'Of meeting

the beautiest Allida. '

- What?

- 'Allida Bederaux. '

- 'You were so interested in. '

- Where is she?

'Just a few aisles

over from me. '

Yes, but where?

'At Simpson-Crawford's, silly. '

I'll be right there.

- This is a lucky chance.

- Yes, isn't it?

Or were you told I

might be found here?

Now, who could have told me.

Nick. He knows

I often shop here.

No, I can assure you that

Nick did not tell me.

Dr. Bailey, you must think

me a strange person.

To have become so

distressed yesterday

And now to have questioned you.

'No, and I'd rather you didn't

think of me as a doctor. '

Whatever reason you have

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