The Slender Thread Page #2

May I help you?

Just a moment,

please.

INGA OVER PHONE:

So I spent the morning

labeling keys.

I have excellent

handwriting, you know.

I even won

an award for penmanship

in secretarial school.

Now, look,

are you trying to tell me

That just because your boss

didn't show up this morning

You decided

to kill yourself?

You don't understand.

Well, I'm trying!

It had nothing

to do with him.

I just wanted

to keep busy

So I wouldn't

have to think.

About what, Inga?

Who told you my name?

You did, just now,

When you were telling me

about you and Jinny.

You're trying to figure out

where I am?

From the name Inga?

I shouldn't have

told you about the office.

You might try and trace me.

What do I know

about tracing?

I'm not trying

to trick you.

How do I know that?

You'll just have to

trust me.

Inga?

What?

What time did you take

the pills?

Why do you care?

Never mind why.

I care.

But why?

What kind of question

is that?

A perfectly

valid question.

Why should you?

Why shouldn't I?

See?

You don't know why.

Okay, okay,

I don't know why.

Does everything

have to have a reason?

How about

what you're doing?

I mean,

I ask you why. Eh?

What do you tell me?

Your boss

got hung up skiing.

Well, lady, that's one

hell of a good reason

to kill yourself!

Okay, okay. Stop hollering.

You're hurting my ears.

Where is that man?

(BUZZES)

An emergency trace.

Maine 2-1454.

The call's coming

through the Jackson

Switching Station

Out by the airport.

We'll have to

send a man out there

to complete the trace.

Thank you.

(RINGING)

Your busy night?

Just hold the phone,

please.

Crisis Clinic.

Newell speaking.

WOMAN:

In tracing your call,

We find it's coming

through an outlying

switching station.

We're sending a man out

to complete the trace.

Then tell him to hurry.

Look, this lady may

drop the phone

any minute now.

Come on, please.

On your call

to a Dr. Coburn,

Mutual 2-4530

is busy.

We'll keep trying.

Get a police car

out there

And tell him

I need him. Hurry!

I'm sorry.

Where were we?

Who was that?

A drunken barber.

We get a few like that.

And not all barbers.

Why were you so brief

with him?

Well, when I say drunk,

I mean, he was...

You're not brief

with me.

Why, you're not

a drunken barber.

But you do disapprove

of what I'm doing, right?

Look, I'm not going to

judge you, Inga.

I can't.

I only got three rules.

I never play cards

with a guy named Doc,

I never eat

in a place called Mom's,

And I never let them know

when they got me scared.

(LAUGHING)

I wish I'd met you under

different circumstances.

Let's make

the circumstances.

Just tell me

where you are,

And I'll jump in my car,

and I'll be right over there.

Okay.

Okay, Inga.

It bothers me.

The idea of your dying

bothers me greatly.

You're silly.

Don't let it.

Aren't you afraid?

Not at all.

I feel wonderful.

I recommend it.

What kind of pills

did you take, Inga?

Think I'm going to

tell you?

I already took them.

It's done.

There's nothing more

to talk about.

At least

give me a reason.

Help me to understand.

What went wrong,

and I don't mean

this morning!

INGA:

I don't even know you.

ALAN:
Maybe it's better.

Maybe it's easier.

(HORN HONKING)

Hi, Ma.

Hi, honey.

Want to help?

I'm going to watch

Captain Jupiter with Pete.

It'll be on

in five minutes.

Okay. I'll call you

for dinner.

Hi, Mrs. Dyson.

Hi, Pete.

Mark?

Honey!

Shall I make us

a drink?

Where are you?

Mark.

Are you all right?

Get away.

What is it?

It's a check for $263

From a lawyer

in Portland.

What does a lawyer

in Portland

have to do...

Where's Chris?

He's outside.

Why?

The check is for him.

His father

remembered him.

Do you remember

his father?

He remembered Chris

to the tune of $263.

Oh, my God.

Oh...

Mark...

It happened before

we were married.

I mean, I...

I was 18.

Mark...

I love you.

He's not my son.

Christopher is not my son.

Oh, my God.

Premature birth.

12 years you knew,

And all this time

You let me call him son.

Why?

I didn't know

what else to do.

Why?

How could you do that?

Because I saw you

together.

He thinks

I'm his father.

But you are h...

Here's his father!

$263, a name

on a will...

Who was he?

Nobody.

Who was he?

Mark, please, he's dead.

What about you?

Where are you going?

How can I

stay here?

You married me

with another man's

baby in you.

Mark, please,

don't throw away

12 years.

What are you going

to tell that boy now?

Tell me what to do.

A person owes things,

the truth.

A person doesn't

just put a thing

like this aside.

A person owes

the truth!

I'll do anything.

Please...

That's not fair.

That boy's not...

Get out of my way!

Don't leave me alone.

Hey!

Hey, lady!

DOCTOR:
No more medication.

15-minute rounds.

Yes, Doctor.

Her husband's outside.

I'll get him.

How was your walk?

I went to the church.

Did you inform

the congregation?

What are you

trying to do?

It's very obvious,

isn't it?

I came here

to talk to you.

What do you want

to talk about?

My lying? My cheating?

Or should I apologize

for not dying tonight?

Mark.

Don't go.

Please.

It's not like visiting

a sick friend, is it?

Hey, Mark.

What are we

going to do?

Doctor says

you got to stay

here a few days.

You know what I mean.

Oh...

I'm sorry

you got gypped.

How many other things

about you don't I know?

Ohh...

Wow.

What am I supposed

to do now,

forget about it?

Or bring flowers.

Yes?

Maybe?

Maybe in time,

A man could forget.

Hmm?

Nobody else

has to know

about it.

Chris doesn't know.

That counts,

doesn't it?

(COUGHS)

Maybe we could

just go home

And start

all over again.

Hmm?

What the hell

kind of rules

do you go by?

Do you think

not getting caught

in a lie

Is the same as

telling the truth?

Ohh.

Oh, Mark.

I don't know how

to help.

(SOBBING)

Oh.

Gee.

Look at this.

I've made myself cry.

(SNIFFS) Well.

(OBJECT DROPS)

Inga?

Inga?

(INGA BLOWING NOSE)

I just had to

blow my nose.

Tell me

where you are.

Why are you so kind?

It's not natural,

you know.

I'm not kind.

Then how come you sit

by that phone?

On-the-job research.

I told you,

I'm a student.

Three units in

applied psychology

and a term paper.

That's why I sit

by this phone!

Hey, you going to

write about me,

The nutty broad

who killed herself?

(LAUGHS)

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

Hello.

(MUSIC PLAYS)

Hold on.

It's for you, Art.

Yeah.

Yes, Mr. Turow,

this is Foss.

Yes, sir, but...

Well, from where I am

to the Jackson Station,

It's a good

20 minutes' drive.

Jimmy Rouse lives

just a couple blocks

from the station.

He's about as fast

on step equipment as...

He's not home.

Yes, sir.

Right away, sir.

Look, honey,

The boss wants me

to go out on

an emergency trace.

I'll be just

a little while.

Tommy will

take you home.

(SIREN WAILING)

WOMAN:
I'll tell her

to print it in her newspaper,

that's what I'll do.

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