Melinda and Melinda Page #5

You're a catch for the right man.

You really are.

Falling in love

is gonna work wonders for you.

- Congratulations. l hear Lee got that part.

- We're very excited.

No one at school played the classics like Lee.

They still talk about the Strindberg series.

Yes. He's held himself back from commercial

work because he's got such high standards.

- He won't do anything just for the money.

- Yeah.

l knew that director would have his way,

and he wanted you.

My agent'll bring film people to the opening

cos there's talk of a project in California.

l'd drink to your good fortune,

but vodka's not good for Samantha.

lt's gonna be a girl.

Cassie, l never slept

with a pregnant woman before.

- No?

- No.

lt always struck me as so erotic -

doing it with your big belly.

Peter says it's just like

screwing any fat person.

l don't suppose he'd lend you out to me

so l could satisfy a lifelong lustful curiosity?

Why don't you get Laurel pregnant? Then

you wouldn't need to make arrangements.

Maybe if things work out now, we can start to

think about it. l always wanted to have kids.

Knock her up, then you can

make love to her in all the trimesters.

lf you knew how much l wanted to do it with

you, you'd do itjust out of human kindness.

Too late. Ball was in your court years ago.

You ran in another direction.

How's our matchmaking going?

They seem to be hitting it off well.

Peter, what's it like

to sleep with a pregnant woman?

Have you ever made love

with a loser at Weight Watchers?

Didn't l tell you?

The great thing about hiking is you're free.

You feel free.

You're up there in the mountains

or in the woods, and it's beautiful.

Almost religious.

And l am not religious.

Certainly not after Dorothy passed away.

That must have been really tough

on your daughter.

l've tried to explain it all to Emily,

including the whole religious aspect,

but what the hell? She's four.

l just don't want her to be angry at God

or against religion.

l want her to be happy and educate herself

and make her own decisions

about the big questions.

Look, Melinda,

l'd love to call you. Maybe we could spend

some time getting to know one another.

l know you just returned to New York,

but it's really changed.

l'd be glad to show you around.

To tell you the truth, Bud,

l don't really think l'm ready to go out yet.

l don't think it would be fair to you.

Maybe when l'm a little more settled.

Sure. At your leisure.

l understand.

Jesus.

Emily's with a new sitter tonight

and, of course, l'm a basket case.

- That's very sweet.

- Would you excuse me?

Laurel, you know this one. Play.

- l can't. He plays so beautifully.

- Hey, here. Come on.

Come on.

Take over. You're wonderful.

Sorry. l didn't mean to interrupt.

l'm just gonna get a drink.

That's OK. l was just rubbing this lamp,

hoping to change my life.

Well, l believe in magic. ln the end,

l think it's the only thing that can save us.

- You're the piano player.

- Not any more. l'm on a break.

A mysterious stranger has temporarily

taken over. l must say, she plays beautifully.

Hey.

Are your eyes misting over?

This song, it's meaningful to me.

lt was playing the night l met someone.

So are they tears of sorrow or tears ofjoy?

Well, aren't those the same tears?

Yeah.

Why do things that start off so promisingly

always have a way of ending up in the dump?

- Not for everyone.

- Well, for anybody with any imagination.

You know, life is manageable enough

if you keep your hopes modest.

The minute you allow yourself sweet dreams

you run the risk of them crashing down.

There's plenty of old songs that l cry over.

My name is Melinda.

Melinda Robicheaux. lt's French.

- That's a very beautiful name.

- Thank you. lt's my mother's.

She married a Dr Nash, so l grew up Nash,

but l've changed it to her name.

And that is a wise choice.

lt's very musical.

My name is Ellis Moonsong.

l am from Harlem, USA.

Ellis Moonsong. ls that really your name?

Yes, it is. Let's go and sit down.

lt's wonderful. You also play beautifully.

Well, one thing l could always do

was make music.

l can play all the instruments,

but my specialty is composition.

l've written two operas. One was done

at Yale, l'm proud to say successfully,

and the other one is being done

in Santa Fe next summer.

- Very impressive.

- Yeah, listen to me brag.

l'm insecure, so l sell myself.

The truth is, not everybody likes the music.

They're kind of modern,

but the critics were extremely supportive.

ls that what you wanna be -

another Verdi or Puccini?

l don't kid myself, you know, but, yeah.

lf l could rub that lamp and have my wish...

Operas, symphonies, string quartets.

There's a lot of interest in my work in Europe.

l might go to Barcelona or to Paris to live.

God, l can't stop gushing about myself.

You've opened Pandora's box.

And you?

l don't write opera,

but my life has been one.

l'm one of those heroines too high-strung

for existence on this planet,

although l brought

my worst troubles on myself.

l shouldn't have reached

so thoughtlessly for my dreams.

We grab without thinking

because we're passionate people.

l knew you were passionate

once we started talking.

- How?

- How?

Well, your eyes, your voice.

l got a great instinct about people.

You know, l do. lt's a gift.

Let me get right to the point.

Can l get to know you better?

l gotta go back and play, but

could we have lunch, you know, or dinner?

You can certainly have my number,

if that's what you're asking.

Let me... l'll just get a pen.

There you are.

- l saw Mr Bud Silverglide.

- The mystery pianist.

Mr Moonsong, Ellis Moonsong, this is Laurel.

Laurel? l dated a Laurel.

She broke my heart.

l wrote this piece of music and l dedicated it

to her hoping it would win her back.

- Let me be the first to tell you, it did not.

- He composes serious music.

You two should have a lot to discuss

cos Laurel gave concerts.

Those days vanished with the lost chord.

His opera was a big success at Yale

and they're doing the other one where?

At the Santa Fe Opera House.

lt's great when it's stretched out

in front of you.

Well, l wish l was as optimistic as you.

- Well, l'll call you tomorrow.

- l'm busy tomorrow.

- What's tomorrow?

- Well, then, l'll call you the day after.

lf you feel like it.

What happened with you

and the swell dentist?

He was very, very sweet.

Very cute.

Butjust not for me.

But Ellis Moonsong is very poetic.

Melinda.

Things are amazing.

You meet a stranger, and in a sudden rush,

you're thinking to yourself,

''Could l live in Barcelona?''

Be careful. l mean, you can't go through life

rubbing lamps and wishing.

lt doesn't work. Take it from me.

Hey.

Greg Earlinger.

Hi.

- Greg Earlinger.

- l'm Susan. We've met.

- This is Melinda.

- Yes, wow.

- Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.

- So, this is Hobie.

- You're the gynaecologist.

- Close. No, l'm the dentist.

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