Lovers and Other Strangers Page #8

Like the great love that Ingrid Bergman had

for Bing Crosby...

in The Bells of St. Mary

when she was a nun, and he was a priest...

and they loved each other from afar.

But Frank didn't want to know.

It's very hard for a man

to understand how a woman feels inside...

although I tried to understand Frank.

Not that there's that much there

to understand.

That's why I was so hurt when he strayed.

But you know me, Joan.

I always try to look on the bright side.

I just said to myself:

"At least she's the one

who'll be nauseous now. "

Your mother and I had what you'd call...

different sexuality outlooks.

Don't get me wrong, nothing abnormal.

We had two sons, right?

But she used to lock herself

in the bathroom at night.

That's when I would think about Mary Rose.

You know, Ritchie,

the best thing about the past is...

you forget what it was

that could have made you happy.

And for the past 15, 20 years...

your mother and I have been

like I said:
content.

- You got to find things in common.

- Like what, Pop?

Like food, for instance.

Your mother and I are interested

in various types of food.

A roasted chicken,

a leg of lamb smothered with onions...

a Yankee pot roast with lots of brown gravy

and little baby baked potatoes.

- There's always something to talk about.

- What?

Like who just got married, who died...

who just had a baby,

how much we should give.

Marriage is a wonderful thing...

if you can just learn

to enjoy your wife for whatever she is.

They're giving the busta, Frank.

Better get back, Pop. It's late.

- We'll talk some more, huh?

- Yeah, we'll talk some more.

I've got something I've been saving up

for this moment. It's your wedding present.

It might interest you

to know that there's $1,850 in there.

You might recall

that when your brother got married...

I only give him $1,500,

but that was in 1964.

Since then,

you got to figure that since 1964...

there's been what you'd call an inflation.

So this way I'm giving you

the same thing as I gave Ritchie.

- You got it?

- Thanks, Pop.

- Let's split.

- Yeah.

Was it worth it?

I'll let you know later.

Mom, we're leaving.

Be good to my little boy.

I dreamed, but I never realized.

I hope you're not disappointed.

Should I tell you how I feel?

The waves have subsided,

but I am still full.

And you?

Do you believe:

"I am what I do, not what I say. "

Albert Camus.

Or "I love, therefore I do. " Bishop Pike.

- I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open.

- Then shut them. Take a nap.

- No, it's all right.

- Go on.

It's very hard for me to sleep

when there's someone in my bed.

Sleep is evidently more important to you

than the act of oneness.

I sensed the futility and doom of it all

when we first met.

We both sensed it.

- I suppose that's what drew us together.

- I'm sure of it.

Maybe I gave too much too soon. Is that it?

I should have held back more.

You wouldn't have judged me so harshly.

Brenda, I don't judge you.

- You're going to give me a call?

- Sure.

- You still have my number?

- Yes.

What is it?

I wrote it down. I have it written here.

I think it began with a six

or with an area code.

What is it?

Seven...

two...

eight...

- Phyllis, that wasn't so bad, was it?

- It was a nice wedding. Thank you.

Take care of my little girl.

Now each of you

has a faithful companion for life.

Flowers.

- Susan, here I am.

- Over here. To me.

Poor Kathy.

This is evidently a hard time for her.

Be an angel. See if you can't cheer her up.

- Why don't you do it?

- No, you go.

You have a way of comforting her.

- Now?

- Now.

I love you truly

Truly, dear

Kathy, are you in there?

I can't bear to see you unhappy.

Will you let me in?

I want to talk to you.

Goodbye, Hal.

I can't go on like this anymore.

You've got to tell Bernice

about us right now...

or I don't know what I'll do.

Sit down.

Kathy, you mean a lot to me,

but let me tell you something about myself.

I could go to Bernice and

tell her about us...

and maybe she would forgive you...

even though she'd certainly never speak

to me again.

But that's not important.

What is important...

You have every right

to want something more...

than what I've been giving you,

just as Bernice has every right...

but here it is in a nutshell.

I'm the kind of man

who, when confronted with the fact...

that I've been married

to the same woman for 30 years...

who has given me two wonderful children...

it becomes progressively

more difficult for me to know that...

I've given her any more unhappiness

than I've already given her.

- What I'm trying to say is-

- That you'll never leave Bernice.

That we'll never see each other,

or have each other...

- or hold each other in our arms again.

- Not necessarily.

What are you trying to say?

Are you going to tell Bernice about us

or not?

Kathy, it's not that simple. You see...

You, Bernice, and I are

three of us in a boat.

It's my boat and it's your lake,

but Bernice has the oars.

Phil has asked me to marry him, Hal.

Phil has asked you to marry him?

Have you been fooling around with Phil?

I could never, not when

I'm in love with you.

You must have done something

for him to ask you to marry him.

Did he kiss you?

Yes. I kissed him.

Did he touch your breast?

- Did he touch your breast?

- Yes, Hal, but I...

Why, Kathy? Why?

Didn't you tell me to go out with other men?

- Yes, but-

- He wouldn't go out with me anymore...

if I didn't at least let him do something.

Life stinks.

Nobody can ever be happy.

- You're not happy. Bernice is not happy.

- I think I can make Phil happy.

- Screw Phil.

- You don't mean that.

No, I don't mean that. It's just that...

every time I think everything's worked out,

something complicates things.

Now there's Phil's happiness

to worry about.

- All right, what did you tell him?

- I told him that I have to think about it.

There's nothing to think about.

You can't marry Phil.

- Why not?

- Because I have too much pride...

to go sneaking around corners

with a married woman.

- What have I been doing?

- That's different.

- I was married before I met you.

- But I have nothing.

I can't go on like this. There's no end.

If you don't tell Bernice about us

right after the wedding...

I'm going to marry Phil.

I see. You're going

to force me to make the decision for you.

You have to make your own decision...

just like Bernice has

to make her own decision...

and Phil has to make his own decision.

What about you, Hal?

Don't you have to make a decision?

- I have made my decision.

- What have you decided?

I've decided to try to find a new way...

to help Bernice

to find the strength to leave me...

yet giving you the option

to end it all by marrying Phil.

If Bernice isn't aware enough

to make the move that's right for her...

and if you can't call on your resources

to resist me...

then responsibility rests not with me...

not with you, Kathy, not with Bernice,

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