Shall We Dance Page #4

Well, I've found a lot worse hiding

in the potpourri over the years.

Consider yourself lucky.

What's this beautiful

young woman? Who's she?

His substitute teacher.

His regular teacher's a much older woman.

Great legs, but older.

Mr. Devine, what would make a man who's

done the same thing for the last 20 years...

suddenly do something so completely

out of character just out of the blue?

That's a question for a shrink.

I'm just a detective.

I'm not asking you as a detective.

I'm asking you as a man.

Scottie? What would cause

a man after 20 years...

to do something completely

out of character out of the blue?

- Did I get that right?

- Yeah.

"The mass of men

lead lives of quiet desperation."

Maybe the desperation

can't be quiet anymore.

Bingo.

That's a wonderful use

of Thoreau, Scottie.

Thank you.

Hello again, Mrs. Clark.

Hey.

- Desperation.

- Well, that's a possibility.

Mrs. Clark, the point is

your husband's dancing,

he's not checking into

hotel rooms.

We can continue to keep an eye

on things for you,

but my guess is your husband will hang up

his dancing shoes shortly anyway.

- What makes you say that?

- Voice of experience.

You give him some time.

He'll be home soon.

"The rest is up to you", I tell my clients.

"The rest is up to you."

Every few years they come back.

So I have these snapshots in my head

of how they've changed over the years.

The ones who've changed the most finally

bought that boat. Moved to that island.

Those who haven't changed...

I suppose they take comfort in

knowing what course their lives are on.

They like to believe

they know what lies ahead.

Sh*t!

Dad!

Evan!

What are you doing here?

Trying to meet up with some friends.

What are you doing here?

Well, you know, work...

I had to come to visit a client

over here. I had to come by and...

- It's really weird.

- It is?

Yeah. Because I've been wanting you

to meet this girl that I'm crazy about,

and I'm going to meet her right now

at this bar with my other friends.

So can you...

Do you wanna go?

Of course I do.

Lead on, my son.

Come on, let's get out there.

So, does your dad

wanna dance?

I don't know. Dad, you haven't

danced in, what, 90 years?

You two go. Go.

It's been a long day for me.

Mr. Clark?

Mr. Clark?

Do you wanna dance?

Yes. Yes, I do.

OK.

Could you say goodbye

to Evan for me? Thank you.

Sure.

- Sorry I'm late.

- Don't let it happen again.

Join the warm-up, John.

Come on!

Christ, Vern!

You're soaking wet, man.

I already had a shower today.

- Sorry.

- You're disgusting!

You don't have

to put it like that.

Why not? It's the truth.

And I prefer to tell the truth,

unlike some people who make up stories

about nonexistent fiances.

What are you talking about?

He's getting married in the fall.

Oh, come on.

What, are ya dumb?

People who are engaged take the classes

together, or what the hell's the point?

Come on, tell the people the truth.

You're not engaged, are you?

Huh?

- Not exactly.

- Uh-huh.

- I haven't asked her quite yet.

- Thank you very much.

Look, I was gonna lose

some weight first,

and then I was gonna take

her dancing somewhere romantic.

And then maybe pop the question.

But I guess if I'm sweating all over the

place, that wouldn't be too romantic, huh?

She's a great dancer.

Well, hey, don't listen to me.

What, are you...

C'mon, don't be a big baby. I didn't mean

to upset you or anything. Jesus, Vern.

I said I was sorry.

Bobbie!

Somebody call a doctor.

Are you all right? She's out.

It's her electrolytes. They get crazy

because she overworks herself.

She's been in here twice before.

And it's getting so boring, Mom.

- Shut up, Tina.

- No, you shut up. God, she pisses me off.

She pulls a 12-hour shift at

Jimmy's Diner, working five till five,

and then she goes and cooks and

cleans for an old feeb in a wheelchair...

to earn extra money

for her crazy costumes.

And then she plays Cinderella

every night at dance practice.

- When you should be home, resting.

- I don't need rest.

Right. You need to hang out and flirt with

the shy guy with the nice-smelling sweat.

- She told me all about you.

- Shut up, Tina.

I never said his sweat smells nice.

I never said...

She said it was the best-smelling sweat

she'd ever smelled.

OK, kill me now.

It's all right, Bobbie. I've smelled

his sweat and I agree, it's not bad.

Well, I mean, it's no field of flowers

after a spring rain...

Yeah, I think we've talked

about this enough.

Maybe we should all go home now

and let Bobbie get some rest.

- Yeah.

- Bye, sweetheart.

Thank you. Thank you.

Bobbie needs a partner

for the competition.

Why not you, John?

Me? Competition? No, no, I can't...

She'd never go for it anyway. Forget it.

Why not? What are you talking about?

You heard her daughter - she likes you.

And dance begins

with the dancers' feelings.

I'll work with the both of you

after class. Two extra hours.

The Miss Mitzi Special.

We've got three months.

This is good.

What do you think?

I think you better

stock up on deodorant.

Anything a client says

in a lawyer's office is confidential.

So I've gotten used

to holding onto secrets.

They're usually

nothing incriminating.

But a lot of people have accounts

they haven't reconciled -

things they're just

not ready to share.

I took the liberty of ordering for you.

Bombay Sapphire, three limes.

I hired you to watch my husband.

You're not supposed to be watching me.

It's very hard not to, Mrs. Clark -

with all due respect.

- Are you a married man, Mr. Devine?

- I was.

- Oh, what happened?

- Unfaithful.

- She hired a detective?

- No, no, no.

When she found out,

I was too far gone, so...

You're smiling at me.

You are on a strange journey

to redemption, Mr. Devine.

And a very long one, Mrs. Clark.

All these promises

that we make and we break.

Why is it, do you think,

that people get married?

- Passion.

- No.

That's interesting. Because I would've

taken you for a romantic. Why, then?

Because we need

a witness to our lives.

There's a billion people on the planet.

I mean, what does any one life really mean?

But in a marriage, you're promising

to care about everything -

the good things, the bad things,

the terrible things, the mundane things...

All of it.

All the time, every day.

You're saying, "Your life will not

go unnoticed, because I will notice it.

"Your life will not go unwitnessed,

because I will be your witness."

You can quote me on that,

if you like.

I'm sure I will.

Anyway, the reason

that I called you here today,

to tell you in person that I won't

be needing your services anymore.

Oh.

I think to continue...

would be an unwarranted invasion

of my husband's privacy and...

Anyway, even though

there was a reason...

I'm sorry for what I've done

and I know enough now and...

it's time to stop.

Thank you for everything

and... goodbye.

Bye.

Mrs. Clark?

I was right.

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