Magnificent Obsession Page #2

many things to do that can't wait.

I can't say. Perhaps in a few days.

Wanna bet?

Brightwood Hospital.

- Miss Phillips, these came this morning.

- Oh, thanks.

- Is Mrs Phillips in?

- Yes, she is.

They're still coming. Amazing,

isn't it? Oh, I'm sorry.

Yes, thank you. All right,

we'll see you. Goodbye.

That was Tom. He's in the

village and coming over.

He seemed a little more

urgent than he had to be.

I suspect that lawyer of mine just

wanted to spend the afternoon with you.

Dottore Vittorio Laradetti, Rome.

I had no idea there were so many

people who respected Dad so much.

And who felt so much in his debt.

From all over the country.

From all over the world.

Listen to this, Joyce.

"Dear Mrs Dr Phillips, you don't know me,

but I owe everything to Dr Phillips."

Yes, come in.

Sorry, but there's another lady

here to see you. A Mrs Eden.

She says she has to talk to you.

- Want me to talk to her?

- No... Have her come in, Nancy.

- Mrs Eden.

- Thank you.

- Mrs Phillips, Mrs Eden.

- How do you do, my dear?

- How do you do? Won't you sit down?

- Thank you.

We'll have to be very firm

about visitors, for her sake.

Yesterday afternoon there were eight.

This morning it's beginning again.

Apparently Dad had helped

them meet some crisis.

- Money?

- No, not always. Sometimes just advice.

But when you try to pin them down as

to how they became indebted to Dad,

they stammer and dodge, as though they

belonged with him to some secret society.

It's strange.

Dr Phillips insisted

that it be kept secret.

But now that he's dead, I suppose

I can talk about it, don't you?

Certainly.

It came to $4,000 all together,

and I want to pay you back.

Why didn't you return

it to Dr Phillips?

Oh, my dear, I tried so many

times, but he wouldn't take it.

He'd become excited and say,

"You haven't told anyone?"

I'd say, "Of course not.

You told us not to."

Then he'd say, "That's right, Mrs Eden.

Any help I give you is just between us."

- And he wouldn't let you repay it?

- He said he couldn't because...

he'd already used it all up.

And then he'd say to invest it.

"Invest in what?" I'd say.

And he'd say, "Any poor devil."

Wasn't that strange?

Mrs Eden, what did he mean

when he said "used it all up"?

I've tried to think so many times.

Don't you know, Mrs Phillips?

No. It's very odd. In four letters this

week, there's exactly the same expression.

But it is a debt, and I

want to take care of it.

You don't owe me

anything, Mrs Eden.

If Dr Phillips couldn't accept

this, then neither can I.

Well... if that's what you

want, Mrs Phillips, but...

You keep it and use it...

for any poor devil.

All right.

He was a very remarkable

man, wasn't he?

Yes, he was.

Perhaps more remarkable

than any of us knew.

- Hello, darling. How are you?

- Much better now that you're here.

- How's Helen feeling?

- Oh, you know.

- Oh, golly, Tom. I've missed you.

- I've missed you too.

Hello, Tom. Thank you for

coming all this way.

Helen. I wish I'd been able to come

up Sunday, but I've been swamped.

I wanted to talk to both

of you about the estate.

The estate? I hadn't

even thought of it.

Neither had I. I should have

been a better attorney.

I've made a complete survey

of Wayne's finances, and I...

- I doubt you'll have any money at all.

- Not even insurance?

Wayne had a $100,000 policy,

but he borrowed the maximum on it.

- The rest might pay the taxes and debts.

- But what happened, Tom?

But some of Dad's fees...

the Talleyrand operation...

When Wayne removed the neoplasm from

the Talleyrand boy, he received $25,000.

It was all withdrawn within seven weeks

in four cheques, all made out to "cash".

The account's full of cash withdrawals.

Where did all this money go, Helen?

Wayne didn't discuss money with me.

I really wouldn't know.

That leaves you and Joyce with

the house and little else.

And the hospital is liable to

be in very rocky shape too.

Can't something be worked out, Tom?

I want to go over his records and find

out what other assets he might have.

Those you'll let me

collect for you, that is.

And after that, well, we'll

see where you stand exactly.

Well, thank you very much

for all your trouble.

And you do as you feel best.

- Will you excuse me?

- Certainly.

I have to go to the house. The gardener's

confused about what bulbs to lift this fall.

I promised I'd do it.

It can't wait any longer.

I'll see you both at the house.

- Can I help?

- I suspect you could help... tremendously.

Are you all right?

Adequate as can be.

- Going to the village?

- Yes. Can I give you a lift?

You certainly can.

I'll make it. I'll make it.

- What seems to be the trouble?

- Long story. You wouldn't be interested.

You live around here?

Yes.

I should have collapsed on

one of these roads long ago.

- I meant it in the nicest way.

- I'm sure you did.

- You don't sound like it.

- I'm sorry, but I have a lot on my mind.

That's all right. So do I.

Can't we talk about it better

after I take you to lunch?

I think not.

Before you decide I'm just a character

who stumbled out of the woods, Miss P...

Monogram on your purse.

20/20. Always keep 'em open.

My name is Phillips...

Mrs Wayne Phillips.

Oh.

I'm sorry, Mrs Phillips.

You know, I just heard

about your husband.

I'm really sorry. He must have

been a really great person.

It's a rough way to go.

Maybe they'll get another

resuscitator now.

Resuscitator? Did they

try to use one on him?

We'd have had his at the house, but

there was an accident on the lake

and the police took it there.

You mean...

the accident Bob Merrick had?

Yes. Bob Merrick.

So...

Bob Merrick is alive,

and only because your husband...

Let me out up here, will you?

- Thanks.

- Are you sure you're all right?

He can't have just disappeared.

Miss O'Malley, flash Dr Dodge.

All right, thanks.

There's work to do.

Have Dr Dodge report to the

front desk immediately.

- Helen. What's the matter?

- I just gave a man a ride on the lake road.

He's in shock or exhausted.

He's in the car.

Frank, get a stretcher.

It's Bob Merrick.

Who?

Come on. I want you to rest

a little while, Helen.

It's... It just came

before I was ready for it.

I know, darling.

- I'm all right, Nancy.

- Don't talk about it.

Come in and lie down

a little while.

I don't know, Nancy.

Maybe it's just as well.

I'll never have to see him again.

Brightwood Hospital.

Mrs Phillips?

I'm sorry, I can't ring her.

Yes, Mr Merrick?

- Is my bill ready?

- Yes, sir.

Mrs Phillips is in Dr Phillips' office

and she's asked me to hold her calls.

Thank you. I will give Mrs

Phillips your message.

Your bill, Mr Merrick.

You've answered so many questions that

have been puzzling me, Mr Randolph.

Several people in the last few days

have mentioned Wayne's way of life.

And when they talk about "using it all up",

I had no idea what they meant.

I'm so happy that

you could tell me.

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