Fourteen Hours Page #7

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- Whenever I tried to help him.

Oh, he'd get in an argument and lose his job

and get sick- really sick.

- I tried to get him to see a doctor, but-

- And he'd get mad about that?

- Yes, even-

- Do you think you know what's wrong with him?

We want you to talk to him, but first

we've got to be sure that you understand.

- Oh, I couldn't. I can't.

- Don't you want to help him?

- Oh, yes, I-

- We've failed.

The least you can do for him is to try

to make him see that he's important to you.

But what can I say?

We've pieced together

a little bit about him today.

Not everything. And it's complicated.

Partly, we're guessing.

But it's an old pattern. It's been going on

as long as there have been families.

His mother didn't want him, really.

But she couldn't admit,

even to herself...

that he'd spoiled her beautiful dream

of fame and fortune, a great career.

So she babied him...

and she couldn't admit,

again even to herself...

that she blamed her husband

for trapping her.

So she blamed him for everything else...

and she got back at him

by teaching Robert to hate him.

All children-boys-

are in love with their mothers

romantically.

They get over it,

tend a little more toward their fathers.

Robert didn't. He couldn't.

He hated his father.

That bothered him.

He knew it was wrong.

So he began to hate himself.

Everything proved that he was right-

every time he lost a job.

The army said he was no good-

that made it official.

Do you love him?

- Yes.

- Then tell him so.

Make him believe it.

Help us to get him in.

Then- It won't be easy...

but then we'll do everything possible

to try to straighten him out.

He wants to love you...

but he feels unworthy.

He's afraid to.

Come on.

Virginia!

It's all right, Mrs. Cosick.

Take it easy.

Robert.

Robert?

I told you, I-This doesn't have

anything to do with her.

- I want to keep her out of it.

- Robert-

I don't want her to see me.

Robert...

I love you.

I need you and I want you.

That's all. I won't ask you to do

anything you don't want to do.

Chief.

They got the net down there.

Where do you want it?

How big is it?

Keep it out of his sight-

close to the building on the way in.

Bring it up the elevator. We'll work it

with rope from the 13th floor.

Yes, sir.

Hug the building. Up the elevator-

13th floor. Stand by for Moksar.

- W-What are they doing?

- Nothing, Robert.

All right, here you go.

Watch it.

Robert, don't you love me?

I thought you loved me.

I kept the poem you wrote me

in your last letter...

when you went away.

I didn't quite understand it, but-

but it was beautiful.

I know it by heart.

I do.

"You are gone, Virginia...

"and I remember the empty doorway...

"the soft, dark shadows

that said good night...

"the anguish heavy on my shoulders.

"I look at the awkward hands

that cannot touch your beauty.

"I hear the silent footsteps of ending...

"in the silent street.

"Forgive me, Virginia.

I am empty. "

Go on. Finish it.

Oh, no, Robert.

No, I- I didn't mean- Don't.

"I have tasted the wind.

I have tasted the earth.

"There's nothing in between...

"nothing but...

"empty anger below...

"no goal but the...

restless lanterns of the dead. "

Kneel and pray! Kneel and pray!

Be washed in the blood of the lamb!

The sins are on your soul!

Kneel and pray!

Kneel and pray!

The sins are on your soul!

Kneel and pray!

The following halfhour has been

relinquished by the sponsors of Mystery Street...

the R. and J. Mancrieff Company...

manufacturers

of Miss America bobby pins...

Stimulo, the brush of beauty...

and Fashionette,

the crowning glory for your hair.

All commercial announcements

will be omitted.

It is now 8:
00 p. m.

- Here.

- What's the idea?

It was your idea. You won it.

You got closest to the time.

What time? Okay, I got 8:00.

Now it's 8:
00.

But the idea was the guy who got

closest to the time he jumped...

takes the dough.

He ain't jumped. So no dough, huh?

Go on, take it. It's yours, dope.

Hi! Gee, I've been looking

all over for you.

And... I-I wanted to tell you...

my name's Daniel Klempner.

Uh, nobody but my mother

calls me that though.

In the stockroom where I work

they call me Danny.

Well-

Well, gee, what's the matter?

I- I guess I'm just hungry.

I went away for a while,

but I didn't eat anything.

I forgot to.

Aw, we'll get you something to eat.

Sergeant.

We need about 10 minutes to get

the net up and, bingo, we got him.

- Can you keep him busy that long? Are you okay?

- I'm okay.

- Maybe the doc better give you something.

- I'm okay!

Look, kid, what is it? What's the trouble?

Why can't you tell me?

What is it?

I don't know.

I can't breathe.

I can't breathe.

I- I couldn't breathe if I came in.

We're ready here, Chief.

Okay. Here we go.

Can't say I blame you.

I don't go too much for doctors myself,

usually. But these guys are okay.

They know

it's been pretty rough on you...

your family busting up the way it did.

That can be pretty rough on a guy.

It mixes him up.

They figure you just added it all up wrong

and got the wrong answer.

It's not as bad as you think it is.

For instance, you're mixed up

about Virginia, I guess.

Okay, maybe you want to marry her,

only you don't want to.

You can't, only you think you should.

Or somethin'.

Well, that's a tough one.

That could happen to anybody.

But it's like they say about streetcars-

there'll be another one along any minute.

You know how many girls called up the hotel

here today and said they'd marry you?

H- How many?

A lot.

About 10, I think they told me.

They're crazy.

Ten-

Ten good reasons.

You should have 10 good reasons

for anything.

That's a rule.

I'd really like to come in...

but I can't.

Why not?

I- I just...

can't now.

You know, a-after this.

I might, though,

if you could give me 10 good reasons.

But you can't.

Life stinks, and you know it.

It's a rat race.

It's a rat race. It- It's a rat race.

Sure, but there's a lot in it-

there's a lot in it that's okay.

What?

Well, maybe I should get a preacher

or somebody like that to explain it to you.

No.

Y- You explain it to me yourself.

Well, I'm not so sure I can, kid. I-

I just never counted it all up, I guess.

- What are they doing down there?

- Oh, I don't know.

W- What are they doing?

What's happening?

They're just bullin' around.

You know how cops are.

Don't worry about them.

They're waiting for me to jump.

Everybody's waiting for me to jump.

Could be.

I'll make you a bet.

You come on in, and you'll hear cheering

like DiMaggio belted one into the stands.

If they weren't waiting for me to jump,

they'd go home.

Yeah, sure.

A lot of jerks'll look at anything.

Don't look at me.

I agree with you. It's a rat race.

A man washing a window,

making cigars-

everybody wants to see

what's gonna happen.

Hey, tie that line off on the radiator.

- What's holding us up?

- Our line got fouled up, Chief. We're all clear now.

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