The Prince of Tides Page #4

Oh, Sally.

This is too difficult to talk

about over the phone.

Just think about it carefully, okay?

I hardly think about anything else.

Good night, Tom.

What?

Are you really in love?

I'm not sure.

I might even be doing this to hurt you.

I gotta go.

Dear Sally:

I wish the words,

"I love you"...

...weren't so

difficult for me.

I've missed you.

I miss touching you.

I don't know what keeps me

at such a distance.

I'm sorry I disappoint you, Sally...

...but you're right to feel that way.

How else could you react

to half a man?

How could you not be disappointed?

Hell, I seem to disappoint anyone who

tries to find the best in me.

Tom?

Ma'am?

Come on in here.

Come on, lie beside me. Come on.

You're the only Wingo

who's gonna amount to something.

Luke can't do it,

because he isn't smart.

Savannah can't,

because she's just a girl.

- But Luke's smart, Mama.

- Not like you.

Or me.

Nobody knows this yet...

...but I'm an amazing woman.

Do you believe that?

Yes, ma'am.

I'm not gonna die in a house

like this. I promise you that.

Something else, Tom.

I love you

more than I love any of them.

- But, Mama!

- I do.

I can't help it.

You're my favorite.

That's gonna be our little secret.

You keep a secret?

Yes, ma'am.

Can I go now?

Not till you tell me you love me.

I love you, Mama.

It took me 20 years to tell Luke

and Savannah about my secret.

And when I did, they just fell

on the floor, howling.

My mother took each of them

into that room...

...and told them exactly

the same thing.

Why did you tell me that story?

To prove that Lila Wingo would...

Just to show why Savannah

could never trust her.

You mean why you could

never trust her.

I'm sorry. That's the wrong

story. Let's just skip it...

...and I'll try

to think of a better one.

What's bothering you?

Global warming, acid rain,

the national debt...

And my wife's having an affair with

a heart surgeon in South Carolina.

Jesus! I feel like such an idiot.

I never even knew it was going on.

- Maybe you weren't paying attention.

- Bullshit!

Let's face it, Lowenstein.

Women are more devious than men.

You're great at hiding things. You

keep secrets. You smile when you lie.

You expect a man to be

a tower of strength.

When he's got a few weaknesses

and insecurities...

...what do you do? You turn around,

and goddamn it, you betray him!

You feel that your mother

betrayed you?

I was talking about my wife!

Oh, God, I hate this Freudian crap.

It's not your job to listen

to my problems. I'd like to go.

You're free to leave anytime.

Good!

Goddamn shrink.

Who was I kidding?

I was a champion at keeping secrets.

Better than any woman.

Until Susan Lowenstein came along.

A man who never talked...

...now is doing nothing else.

Her questions making me

as dizzy as her perfume.

Excuse me.

Would you like to dance?

Who, me?

Yes, you.

Come on.

Come on, just loosen up!

Hands to yourself! He's spoken for.

How's Savannah?

When can I see her?

I don't know, Eddie.

It's like talking to a fern.

Well, I'm glad she's improving.

Come on, let's dance.

Give me a break, Eddie.

I'm a lousy dancer.

Walk on the wild side.

You're in the big city.

Oh, hell. All right...

God, you are a lousy dancer!

Go mingle.

Get in here.

Get into the party.

Where are my chairs?

I found four of them,

and I have a lead on another two.

Roberta, have I got a settee for you!

Don't laugh.

You're laughing!

I'm sorry.

I'm surprised to see you here.

Why? I like Eddie.

You know, I-

You really pissed me off today.

But you made me think

about some things.

Don't make it a habit,

or I'll have to charge you.

Oh, we do have a sense of humor!

I was beginning to think

you had it surgically removed.

You look mighty pretty tonight.

Thank you.

Are you all right?

Oh, God, I'm great. I'm just great.

Now that I finished lying,

can I ask you to dance?

You'd be the first woman

I've danced with in New York.

I'd rather not.

Come on, Lowenstein.

Walk on the wild side.

It's a party. Come on.

Don't worry, I can't dance

and make a pass at the same time.

I lose count.

You came alone?

Yeah, it's funny. I never went

anywhere alone until I got married.

Well, that speaks well for matrimony.

No, it's just that...

...my husband travels a lot.

What does he do?

You know, it's late.

I really should go.

I'll take you home.

No, it's okay. I'm fine.

I'm a Southerner, ma'am.

We take our ladies home.

How do you do it?

How do you listen to people's sob

stories? Doesn't it depress you?

No, not if I think I can help them.

Anyway, you learn to separate your

patients' problems from your own.

Now yours, I think I could handle.

Oh, yeah? Don't be so sure.

Tell me something.

Did you ever wanna write

like Savannah?

You're changing the subject,

Lowenstein.

Am I?

It's a technique

I'm learning from you.

There he is again.

You see him?

That guy is following me.

So you're a shrink to the stars, huh?

He's not my patient. He's my husband.

No kidding? Herbert-f***ing-Woodruff

is your husband?

Herbert Woodruff is my husband, yes.

How'd you meet him?

I saw him perform at...

...Carnegie Hall. I was 22 years old.

I had never heard anything like it.

I mean, that kind of...

...passion, artistry, whatever

you call it. It's like Savannah's.

They have that gift

to make people feel.

I fell in love with him instantly.

So you married him, and then

you lived happily ever after, huh?

I married him.

Are you telling me that mine isn't

the only screwed up union?

- I'm not telling you anything more.

- Wait. No fair.

I spill my guts.

I tell you my marriage is full

of holes. But you got nothing to say?

I think it's your turn

to give a little.

Come on, Lowenstein, be human.

Talk to me.

- Tell me about yourself.

- I can't.

Why are there never any cabs?

I'll ask you a few simple questions,

and you just answer.

- Simple?

- Very simple.

- What's your father's name?

- Douglas.

What's your favorite car?

I like old Ford Woodies.

Good! Who's the first boy

you ever kissed?

Dick Berkowitz. He was very cute.

Do you have any idea how beautiful

you look in that suit?

Is this "Make Lowenstein

Feel Better Day"?

And you got a great smile.

You should smile more.

- Stop.

- You don't believe me, do you?

Come here. Let me show you something.

Come here. Let me show you.

- A painting?

- No, you. Look at you.

You. Your face,

your smile, your suit.

I'm talking great stuff here.

Beautiful.

Okay, you convinced me.

Now, would you please get me a cab?

Come up for a minute.

I'd like you to meet my son.

Sure. Okay.

Come on in.

Bernard?

I'd like you to meet a friend.

How do you do?

Mind stepping out of the way?

Oh, excuse me.

Mr. Wingo is

a football coach, Bernard.

Oh, yeah?

Dad called from Vienna today.

Said to say hi to you when I saw you.

Did you practice this afternoon?

No, I've been too busy watching TV.

You're being rude, Bernard.

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