Now, Voyager Page #8

Just ignore it.

One of her tyrannies, like not eating.

Ignore that too.

If you could get her to eat,

it would help.

I'll try.

- How long have you been at Cascades?

- Ten days.

Nearly 11.

- You don't like it much, do you?

- No.

Neither did I at 10 days.

The first two weeks are the worst.

I'll never like it.

- Do you want to go home?

- No.

Where do you want to go?

I don't know.

My mother doesn't want me at home.

That's why it's helping Father

for me to be here.

Where were you going

when you ran away?

For a telephone booth to put in

a reverse call to my daddy.

- To ask him to come get you?

- No.

I promised him I'd stay here

for two weeks.

I just wanted to hear

Daddy's voice again.

I'm almost sure my father's dying.

Is he sick?

They won't let me speak to him,

so I don't know.

Listen, Christine.

There's the telephone booth.

And here's my change purse.

Do you think he

will be home tonight?

- You mean I can call him?

- That's exactly what I mean.

Help me, will you?

I'm not sure I can run it.

Of course.

- Number, please.

- Long distance, please.

Long distance.

I want to put in

a person-to-person call to...

Jeremiah Duveaux Durrance.

Mount Vernon 2940.

To Mr. Jeremiah Duveaux Durrance.

Mount Vernon 2940.

- 2940?

- Yes, thank you.

Deposit 50c, please.

All of that?

Hello? Yes?

Hello? Hello, Daddy.

Tina.

- Anything wrong?

- Oh, hello, Daddy.

Are you all right?

I just wanted to hear you

speak to me.

When are you coming to see me?

I'm so lonesome here.

Why can't you come tomorrow?

Daddy, you promised.

Yes, I remember. Goodbye.

Thank you for letting me call him.

Thank you!

I'd like to finish my ice cream now.

We'd better have some fresh...

Bring us two more vanillas?

But I'll owe you so much!

Daddy said I'm to pay you back.

He wanted to know

who was letting me call...

...and all I could say was a nice lady,

and I'd write him and tell him your name.

- What is your name, please?

- Don't you think secrets are fun?

Refer to me as the nice light lady.

It sounds so mysterious.

I wouldn't tell Miss Trask

about the phone call.

It might get me in wrong.

Not Dr. Browns nor Dr. Jaquith.

I won't tell a single living soul.

I'd soon as die than

put you in the wrong.

Tina, really?

You called me Tina.

Did I? How stupid of me.

But then it is a nickname

for Christine?

But nobody calls me that,

except my daddy.

I won't, then.

No, please.

I want you to call me Tina.

It's I, Tina. Don't be afraid.

What's the matter?

Don't leave me. Don't leave me.

I won't till you're asleep.

Tell me, what's the matter?

I'm ugly, and nobody likes me.

- Tina, you?

- I'm not pretty in the least.

You know I'm not.

Whoever wants

that kind of prettiness?

There's something you can have

if you earn it, a kind of beauty.

What kind?

Something that's nothing to do

with your face.

A light that shines from inside

because you're nice.

Someday you'll know I'm right.

- Will they like me then?

- Who are "they"?

Everybody.

All the kids, Miss Trask,

and the nurses and the doctors.

There must be something

awfully wrong with me.

Do you like them, Tina?

The kids and Miss Trask

and the nurses and the doctors?

No, I hate them.

That's something else to learn.

If you want people to like you,

you've got to like people.

That's why Miss Trask

asked you to cooperate...

...and what Dr. Jaquith means when

he says to play the game.

I bet you're only fooling me.

You try it and see.

In the meantime, if it helps...

...I like you.

I think you're very pretty, very sweet.

All right?

All right.

Why are you so good to me?

Because somebody was good to me once

when I needed somebody.

Go to sleep.

Close your eyes

and let your muscles go all limp.

That's better.

I'll tell you a story.

Once upon a time, there was

a little girl who was afraid.

A little girl, Tina...

...who was afraid, because

she thought she was alone.

This is Jerry's child in my arms.

This is Jerry's child clinging to me.

Impertinent. Upsetting rules.

Thinks she can run the works.

Oh, I'm terrible.

Of course you are. So am I.

What's the difference? We'll learn.

I want to talk to you.

- Who, me?

- Yes, you.

I thought you might.

Here you go, Tina.

I hear you're running Cascade now.

You give orders to my doctors.

- I didn't, I requested...

- You came to have a breakdown.

I've decided not to have one,

if it's all right.

Since you are a member

of my staff, doctor...

- I've been impertinent.

- Maybe I like it.

The child is so unhappy.

She's not being treated wisely.

I was proud of you.

Now I'm ashamed.

Isn't it wonderful that

you know so much better?

I have a proposition.

I haven't anything to do.

Mightn't I be the nurse?

I promise not to do anything

without asking permission.

I've already canceled the nurse.

- Tell me what you'd do.

- Stay with her.

Pay attention to her.

Make her feel important.

As soon as you'd said we could,

I'd take her camping.

- She adores camping.

- Sounds wonderful.

I couldn't do it without

her parents' permission.

What would her mother say?

She'd accept any plan

that would take the child.

She would protest

if she heard me say so.

And her father?

What will his attitude be?

Sympathetic and protective...

...possibly too protective

for her good.

Result:
Mother's resentment.

The child's absence

became desirable for all.

I was recommended to the father

by a friend...

...but he placed the child

in my care, not in yours.

I suppose I'd better ask

you something.

How much do you know

about South America?

- Well, geographically...

- No, that's not what I mean.

About my automobile accident

and the man who was with me.

You said that he led me

from one difficulty into another.

A patient of mine who

has a phobia about high places...

...told me about an accident happening

to a man and a woman in Brazil.

She knew the woman's name only.

She told me before I could stop her.

- Who told you the man's?

- Nobody. I don't know his name.

Then you didn't know that

Tina's father and I met.

No, I didn't.

If I had, I wouldn't have suggested

your coming here.

- I'd no idea you'd met Durrance.

- That alters the situation.

I know nothing

about your relationship.

I don't know how emotionally involved

you are.

I can't work with a child involved.

I'll tell you. It's over.

That's it in two words.

Tina needs me as much now

as she did a minute ago.

I've never been needed before.

I'm crazy, but if you promise

to behave yourself...

- I'll tell her.

- But you're on probation.

"The Lord giveth,

and the Lord taketh away."

How does it feel to be the Lord?

Not too wonderful since free will.

Too little power.

I'm not going to have a nurse.

I'm just going to have her.

She'll be my...

- What are you?

- Your friend.

She's going to be my friend.

I can tell you her name,

she said I could.

It's Miss Vale.

Not the kind you wear on your face.

But V-A-L-E.

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