Strangers When We Meet Page #5

Is she a good dancer?

Yes, she's a good dancer.

I hate to dance.

When did you meet her?

While I was still in the service.

Home on furlough.

Did you like her right away?

Yes, I did.

Look, Maggie, you know,

people aren't born married.

They meet, date, go steady, get engaged...

...the whole natural progression

that you and Ken...

Why are we talking about this?

- You love her very much, don't you?

- Come on, Maggie.

- Is it painful for you to talk about her?

- No, but I don't see why we keep on...

- Is she very bright, Larry?

- Yes, she is.

Do you think she's pretty?

What's the next question?

"Is she better than me?"

Go ahead, ask it.

I'd never ask that.

Why not? You've asked everything else.

I guess I'm afraid of the answer.

Maggie, you never have to be afraid

of anything. Never.

Kiss me.

What are you two guys doing?

Figuring out new ways to chisel me?

- Hiya, Rog.

- Daphne, Larry Coe.

- How do you do?

- Mr. Di Labbia.

- Hello.

- Want her number?

- Honey, everybody's got my number.

- Yeah, I know.

- This sure is exciting, isn't it?

- Don't pay any attention to her.

A checker game is exciting.

Crazy legs, though.

This little group of beavers running around.

What's this costing me?

Not enough, Mr. Altar.

- It looks like a big prison.

- Excuse me, I have some work.

What difference does it make?

You're King Midas, remember?

Sure. I'm beginning to

feel like your patron.

Getting the money from the publisher

with one hand...

- And giving it to you with the other.

- How is the book coming?

- I turned it in last week.

- Good.

Rog let me read all the best parts.

It's wonderful.

It's just like poetry.

All right if I go look at your house now,

Mr. Coe?

- Certainly.

- Sure, baby, you can go look at my house.

Your house.

Listen, you know the entrance

to the dining room?

Can it wait until tomorrow?

You know, I didn't expect you today...

I'm late now. Okay?

- What is it, a blonde or brunette?

- Neither.

Bald and 50, another potential patron.

What's the matter?

Don't you like the house anymore?

Of course I do.

What kind of a crack is that?

It's just that it's hard being enthusiastic

all by myself.

I'm sorry, Rog. Can you stop by tomorrow?

We'll walk through the whole thing

step by step...

- And work over the rough spots.

- Sure.

- I got a few extras.

- No extras. No more extras.

- I'll see you tomorrow. You'll like them.

- This is expensive wood.

You see, I thought I'd put

the shutters on the outside...

...see, so they stand out from the house

like this.

Don't you hate people

who draw on tablecloths?

Yes.

- Anyhow, you'll be able to...

- How do you shave that?

How do I shave what?

- That.

- It's very simple.

You see, I have a tiny little razor

with cylindrical blades.

And I put it here like this,

and I shave it very fast.

Oh, you.

I gotta call Ken. I promised I would.

I'll be right back, okay?

- Where did you and Harry go last night?

- We went to a new place.

I don't know...

One of those coffee houses.

- Did you want anything?

- Shove off.

- Look, Margaret...

- The lady's with me. You'd better leave.

You're not her husband, mister.

Why don't you shove off?

What's the matter with you?

All right.

It's over.

All right, it's all over.

Are you all right, Maggie?

Yeah, I'm all right.

We'd better get out of here.

What did he want?

- How did he know your name?

- He didn't.

- He did. He called you Margaret. I heard...

- You must have been mistaken.

- I heard him.

- I never saw him before in my life.

How did he know your name?

- What was this "It's all over... "

- Can we stop this, please?

Maggie. What is it?

Is the truth so terrible?

You sure you want to hear it?

Yes. I want to hear it.

All right.

It was this last summer.

July.

Ken was away on a business trip,

and Patrick was staying with my mother.

I was alone.

Forget it, Maggie. I've no right to know.

But you have to know, don't you?

It was very hot that day.

I was sitting out front

when a truck went by.

The driver waved and he smiled at me.

And I smiled back.

- He was the driver?

- Yes, he was the driver.

He came back the next night.

I was ironing and he rang the doorbell

and asked for a glass of water.

He said he was thirsty.

I didn't see any harm in it,

so he came in and he stayed awhile.

I was so grateful to

have someone to talk to.

So we talked.

He said he was driving the truck

for his father.

- They had a rug-cleaning business.

- So what happened?

He kissed me.

We were standing at the door,

saying good night.

Suddenly he grabbed me.

He was trembling all over like a baby.

What are we making such a fuss about?

There's more, Larry.

I got ready for bed after he left.

I was in bed when the phone rang.

It was him.

He said he was coming over.

I told him he was crazy, that I was in bed,

that I'd call the police.

- But he said he was coming over.

- Why didn't you call the police?

I have a young son.

I locked all the doors instead.

- Then I took some sleeping pills and I...

- Sleeping pills?

When you knew he was on his way,

you took sleeping pills?

I wanted to sleep. I wanted to hide.

Go ahead.

I was almost asleep

when I heard his car pull up.

He rang the front doorbell,

but I didn't answer it.

The pills were beginning to work. I couldn't

have gotten out of bed if I wanted to.

Then I heard him trying the kitchen door.

Then I heard the door open.

You said you'd locked it.

I did, but somehow he was in the house.

He called "Margaret" from the kitchen.

I lay there half-drugged, unable to move.

Then I heard his footsteps in my room.

And I couldn't move.

I tried to fight him, Larry.

I tried. Can you understand that?

No, I can't.

Why'd you take those sleeping pills?

- I wanted to sleep. I wanted to hide.

- Why'd you leave the door open?

- I thought it was locked.

- A door is either locked or it isn't.

You wanted him inside that house.

You didn't want to hide or sleep.

You wanted him to find you.

You took those pills

to make it easy for yourself.

And you wanted what happened.

All right, Larry. I wanted him.

That's what you really

want to hear, isn't it?

I wanted him.

You...

Would you please come in and settle this?

Pete got paste all over David's model,

and now David is yelling bloody murder...

- And I can't do a thing with either.

- All right. I'll be right out.

Daddy, I'm gonna kill him.

He smeared up my whole model.

It took me three days to make it.

- Don't worry, I'll clean it off for you.

- But he's always doing things like that.

- Peter's younger than you are.

- I know, but he's got his own toys.

- He lets you use his toys, doesn't he?

- Yes.

- You should learn to share things with him.

- Okay.

- Hey, Larry, tell Eve to call.

- Sure.

Come on, kids.

- Yes?

- Hello. I'm Larry Coe.

My wife missed Mrs. Gault

at the bus stop this morning...

...and asked me if I'd... Is anything wrong?

- I'm Margaret's mother.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes