Phone Call from a Stranger Page #8

- No. Not at all.

We had a very pleasant

time together.

- Most people detested him.

- Oh, no. I can't believe that.

Loud, dull, vulgar.

Always horning in where he wasn't wanted.

I don't believe that's a fair

description of him at all.

- Don't you?

- No. I don't.

I do, because

that's what he was:

A tiresome, foolish, irritating man.

And even after all these years...

I still can't think what it was

that made me marry him.

Of course, I was flighty

myself in those days...

and perhaps I thought he was fun and that

marriage with him would be one long laugh.

If that was it, though, I was wrong.

So, naturally, there came a day when

I looked for happiness somewhere else.

- Not late, am I?

- No. I was just nervous anyway.

We're okay now.

- Turn off Elm.

- Okay.

Was there any trouble?

He wasn't there.

He flew to San Francisco this afternoon.

- You didn't tell him.

- Uh-uh.

What about when he gets back?

Won't he go to the police or something?

Oh, I left a note.

- Saying what?

- Just that I was going away. That's all.

Not who with?

No. Nothing else.

Well, it doesn't matter.

We know what we're doing.

I'm not worrying.

When do you figure

we'll get to Chicago?

I don't know. I don't see any reason

why we ought to break any records. Do you?

- Oh, no.

- Thought we might, uh, take it easy...

stop off here and there and see a bit of

the country while we're about it.

I'd like that.

You'll never make it.

Okay, wise guy.

Darling.

Are you all right, darling?

I don't know yet.

What'd you do, hit the raft?

Did I?

- Okay?

- Okay.

Good afternoon, madam.

- Can you park the car?

- Yes, sir. You go right ahead. I'll get the baggage.

Thank you.

- Lake 22000.

- Is it serious?

It's possible.

St. Luke's?

This is Dr. Fernwood.

I want an ambulance sent to the Chicagoan Hotel

on State Street. Thank you.

- What is it?

- Let's sit down.

How'd she get that bump on her head?

In a lake. She dived,

came up under a raft.

- Hmm. Cigarette?

- No, thanks.

- How long ago was that?

- Last Thursday morning.

Yeah. Well...

that's it, I imagine.

Without getting

technical about it...

she seems to be suffering

from a blood clot on the brain.

Subdural hematoma.

That's the way those things usually start-

from some blow on the head.

How could that be?

She was perfectly all right the next day.

- Just a little headache.

- Yes. I know.

That's the way they

develop too-very slowly.

Will you have to operate?

Yes. We're getting her ready now.

There's already

a partial paralysis...

and her breathing's been affected.

- That's why I thought we shouldn't waste any more time.

- You mean she's liable to die?

No, I didn't say that. It's a delicate

operation, but it's very rarely fatal.

What is quite possible, though, and I think

you ought to be prepared for it...

is a residual effect-

some degree of paralysis afterwards.

I'm afraid that's

fairly common in these cases.

She'd be paralyzed afterward?

It's quite possible, to some extent.

Yes?

Oh, yes, Doctor.

I see.

Well, is she conscious this morning?

I see.

Thank you, Doctor.

Thank you very much.

Hello? This is Mr. Nelson in 1267.

Yes. Will you get my bill ready right away,

please? I'm checking out.

Thank you.

It was a week before I could

bring myself to realize...

he'd gone away and left me.

But by then

it didn't seem to matter.

Nothing did.

Nothing...

in this whole, wide, empty world.

Mrs. Hoke?

Yes?

Hiya, beautiful.

Dull, foolish...

vulgar to some...

but not to me.

To me he was a man like a rock.

Nothing could shake him.

Nothing could shake his love.

It was from him I learned

what love really was.

Not a frail little fancy...

to be smashed and broken by...

pride and vanity and self-pity.

That's for children.

That's for high school kids.

But a rock as strong as life itself.

Indestructible and eternal.

May I use your phone?

Certainly.

Long distance?

I'd like to speak to

Mrs. David Trask person-to-person...

at Prairie 4267, Midland City, Iowa.

And reverse the charge.

This is Mr. Trask.

Valley 48269.

That's right.

They're ringing now.

There's no answer.

She's out.

- Well?

- Well, it's nearly midnight there.

Oh, for the love of Pete.

- I don't understand it. We've got children there.

- Hello?

- Hello, Dave?

- She's got no right to- Hello?

Hello, Dave?

Hello? Hello?

Hello.

Hello, Janey?

- Where have you been? Up on the roof?

- You know I always...

- take a shower every night.

- Phone's been ringing for-

Shower? At midnight?

Of course, darling. You know I always

take a shower every night.

- Don't you remember?

- Oh.

Oh, yeah. Sure.

Well, how are you?

We're all fine.

How are you?

I'm fine.

How are the kids?

I told you.

They're fine.

That's fine.

What is it, darling?

Well, Janey,

I've been thinking about it...

and the way

things are, if-

if it's all right

with you-

- You get on that plane.

- What?

Don't- Don't you wait for the train.

- You know I do, Janey.

- Hurry up, darling. Just get on the plane-

- I am. Right away.

- Let me know what the schedule is-

Absolutely, honey.

I'm getting the first plane out.

Now you get on that plane.

Don't you wait for the train.

- But-

- And we'll all come down and meet you.

Listen, darling. Do you have any idea

about the schedule?

But don't you even want to hear why?

The girls and I can come

down to meet you.

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