Same Time, Next Year Page #9

I really resent the fact that

he's making me feel guilty.

Why do you feel resentment?

Well, look. I didn't marry Harry

because he had a good head for business.

Okay. So it turns out that I do,

or maybe I was lucky. I don't know.

The point is, I don't love him any less

just 'cause he's a failure as a provider,

so why should he love me less

just 'cause I'm a success?

Have you told him you

still love him? Love him.

What's he think I've been

hanging around for 27 years for?

Would it be so hard to let him

know you understand how he Feels?

Right now it would,

yes.

Do you

want him back?

I don't know.

But ask me again tomorrow, and I'll

probably give you a different answer.

Why?

Because tomorrow

I won't have you.

- I'm always with you in spirit.

- Thanks a lot.

It's kind of difficult to put your

cold feet on somebody's spirit,

especially when

they're 400 miles away.

Is that a proposal,

Doris?

Are you interested?

Are you?

I've always thought

we'd make a nice couple.

You didn't

answer the question.

I was the one

who proposed.

Well, don't look

so panicky, George.

I was only

three-quarters serious.

Well, when you're completely

serious, ask me again.

I bet you say that

to all the girls.

No.

Thank you.

You hungry?

Yes.

Well, you're in luck.

Because today, your lunch is

being catered by the chicest,

most expensive French delicatessen

in all fan Francisco.

How did we swing that? The

owner's got a thing for ya.

It's out in the trunk

of my car. Can I help?

Why, you could set the table

and turn on some nice music...

and when I come back,

make me laugh, huh?

I'll try.

Don't worry.

If you can't make me

laugh, just hold my hand.

Hello?

Uh, no, she's not here

right now. Who's this?

Harry? Um-

Uh, would you

- would you just hold on for a minute, please?

Hello?

Harry, we're two mature adult human

beings, and I've decided to be honest.

No. Doris is not here right

now, but I'd like to talk to you.

Because I know that you and Doris are

having a pretty rough time right now, and-

Uh, we're

very close friends.

I've known Doris for 20 years, and

I feel that through her, I know you.

We've been meeting this

same weekend for 20 years.

The retreat?

Uh, yeah.

I'll, uh

- I'll get to that in a minute, but, um,

first I'd like to tell

you something, Harry.

She loves you.

Well, I just know. Look. Maybe if I told

you a story she told me this morning,

maybe it would help you

understand.

Uh, a few months ago, Doris was

supposed to act as den mother...

for your 10-year-old daughter

and her Indian Guide group.

And Doris was a little late.

She was hung up at the store,

and she got home

about two hours late.

When she walked into the house, she looked

in the living room, and you know what she saw?

A rather overweight, balding, middle-aged

man with a feather on his head...

sitting cross-legged on the

floor, very gravely and gently...

telling a circle of totally

absorbed girls what it was like...

to be in a World War II

Japanese prison camp.

And she turned around and went

outside and got in her car...

and thanked God for being

married to a man like you.

Are you still there, Harry?

Yeah, well, look. Sometimes married

people get into an emotional straitjacket,

and it's kind of hard for them to express

how they truly feel about each other.

Total honesty

is the key.

Yes, I've known Doris

for 20 years,

and I'm not ashamed to admit that

it's been one of the most intimate,

satisfying experiences

of my life.

My name?

My name is

Father Michael O'Herlihy.

Right. Oh.

It never changes, does it? About

the only thing that doesn't.

I find that comforting.

Even old Chalmers

hasn't changed.

He must be 75

by now.

You remember when we first met? Even

then, we called him old Chalmers.

He must've been the same

age then that we are now.

That I don't

find so comforting.

We were very young.

Yeah.

Have we changed much?

Oh, sure we have.

I grew up with you. Remember all

those dumb lies I used to tell?

Yeah. How about me?

Have I grown up too?

I had the feeling you were

already grown up when we met.

Why is it every time I look at you,

I want to put my hands all over you?

That's another thing that hasn't

changed. You always were a sex maniac.

I'll start a fire.

Okay.

You know, I figured out with

the cost of firewood today,

it's cheaper to buy furniture,

break it up and burn it.

Are things that tight?

No. I'm okay.

I've been doing some

teaching at U.C.L.A. Ah.

What? Music?

Accounting.

With the way things

are happening out there,

it seems that figures are still

the only things that don't lie.

Doris, why'd you

sell your business?

How did you know about

that? I'll tell you later.

What made you do it?

A chain bought me out.

It was just the right offer

at the right time.

But what do you do with yourself

now? Oh, I read and watch TV...

and visit my grandchildren,

play a little golf.

You know,

all the jet set stuff.

I thought

you loved working.

Well, there

was another factor.

Harry had a heart attack. It

turned out to be a mild one,

but he needed me

at the time, so-

Besides, it's not like I'm

in permanent retirement.

There's a local election in a couple of

months, and I've been approached to run.

On what ticket?

Independent.

Figures.

Harry's okay now?

Oh, yeah.

He runs four miles a day and

has a body like Mark Spitz.

Unfortunately, he still has a

face like Ernest Borgnine, but-

How's everything with

you and Harry emotionally?

Comfortable.

Comfortable?

Well, that's not such a bad state to be in.

That word's been given a

bad reputation by the young.

Where's your luggage?

Still in the car?

I didn't bring any.

I can't stay.

Why not? Look, I have a lot to say...

and a very short time to

say it, so I'd better start.

In the first place,

it turns out that...

Helen found out

about us 10 years ago.

When did you learn that?

Two months ago.

And she never confronted

you with it before?

No. What made her tell you now?

She didn't. We have

a very close friend, Connie.

- Did- Have I ever

mentioned her? - No.

Well, Connie told me.

All those years, and she never

even hinted that she knew.

I guess that's the nicest

story I've ever told about her.

- Your wife is an amazing woman.

- She passed away, Doris.

I lost her six months ago.

It was very fast.

I'm sorry to blurt it out like that. I

couldn't think of a graceful way to tell you.

It's so strange.

I never even met Helen, and I feel

like I've just lost my best friend.

Are the kids okay? The kids are

great. If it weren't for them,

I don't know if I'd have

gotten through this whole thing.

I wish you'd tried to

reach me. Well, I did.

That's how I found out

you'd sold the store.

They gave me

your home number, and I-

I let the phone ring four

times, and then I hung up.

But I felt better knowing

you were there if I needed you.

Oh, I wish you'd spoken to me.

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