The Snake Pit Page #2

or how many editors

turned it down.

I'd stop smoking

and start eating.

- Why don't you fire Miss Gilmore

and read my story?

- I might at that.

After that, she used

to drop by the cafeteria every so often.

- Hello, Virginia.

- Hello.

She always had some kind of excuse

for coming. I didn't care.

I was just glad she did. It didn't take long

to find out we liked the same kind of things.

We liked music,

the same kind of music.

We liked walking together.

I knew a place where you got the best soda

in town. She loved it.

She didn't tell me much

about herself.

I knew she lived out of town,

but I didn't know where.

Somehow I thought she was grateful

that I didn't ask too many questions.

Sure, it was strange,

but maybe that's why I liked her.

She seemed to like me.

I don't know how many times we met...

but somehow I felt that she needed me,

like a child looking for protection.

- Then it was early in May, I think.

- Hello.

- Hello, darling.

- This was going to be our big day.

The Boston Philharmonic

was in Chicago playing Brahms First.

We planned to spend the whole afternoon

together and go to the concert.

I forgot to tell you.

You know the guy from overseas...

who said he'd get me

into the Alden Hotels in New York?

I got a letter from him the other day,

and it's all set if I want it.

Pay isn't much to start with, but

it's more than I'm getting here, so l...

Robert, I can't go to the concert.

Something's come up, something important.

- I'm sorry. I was trying to

tell you all afternoon.

- Virginia, what is it?

- What's it all about?

- It's no use, Robert. I'm sorry.

- I've got to leave right away.

I can't explain it.

- Virginia, wait a minute.

Let me go.

Let me go. Please!

- Let me go!

- That was the last

time I saw her in Chicago.

She didn't come back,

and I couldn't find her.

I came to New York

and took my newjob.

For six months,

I hadn't heard a word from her.

Then the Boston Philharmonic

was in New York.

Somehow, it had become a habit with me,

looking for her everywhere.

Maybe I was just hoping.

- Virginia.

- Hello.

I knew I'd see you again.

It wasn't a coincidence,

Doctor.

I'm sure it was something

we both wanted.

You mean to tell me

you've been in New York six months?

Where have you been?

What have you been hiding for?

Oh, I thought, I guess, that it'd

be all right if we just happened to meet...

on the street, on the subway,

in a restaurant.

- Tonight it wasn't an accident.

- Why didn't you call?

I told you where I was gonna work.

Why'd you run away from me in Chicago?

Why didn't you come back? Oh, I know.

You've got a deep, dark secret.

You killed somebody,

and the police are after you.

I don't care. I found you,

and I'm not gonna lose you again.

Tell me. What have

you been doing all these months?

Working 18 hours a day

and being lonely 24.

I'm selling toys at Braddock's on the

sixth floor, and I've been working on a novel.

It's almost done. Oh, you don't know

how good it is to see you again.

From then on,

we were happy, like any two people in love.

When I talked about getting married,

she wouldn't be pinned down.

I didn't wanna press her.

Battleship sailors

pose for a picture with the royal family.

The king, queen and two princesses

returning from South Africa.

Thank you.

- R.C.?

- Robert Cunningham,

and don't ever ask me for a match again.

Thank you, darling.

- You know something?

- What?

I love you very much.

- What's the matter, honey? Are you sick?

- I don't know. Probably.

It was so hot in the movie.

I'll be all right.

- Robert, do you really love me?

- You still don't know?

I do, but...

but you don't wanna marry me, do you?

I don't know

how many times I'd asked her to marry me...

but there on the subway platform,

for the first time, she brought it up.

- I could hardly believe it.

- If I want to?

- I get three days off at the end

of the month. How'd that be?

- The end of the month?

You see? I was right. You're just trying to

put it off. You don't really want to marry me.

Virginia!

First thing next morning,

we got our license.

Three days later...it was the seventh

of May... we were married.

A couple of days after that, I worked late.

Virginia?

Virginia?

Virginia?

- Darling, what are you doing out here?

- I can't sleep, Robert.

I don't think I'll ever

be able to sleep.

Well, come on inside, darling.

You're gonna catch cold.

That was the first time

she really frightened me.

Even then, I didn't suspect anything.

But two days later...

You know, darling, I'm worried

about the way you haven't been sleeping.

Last night again, I saw you...

Virginia, darling, don't you think

you'd better see a doctor?

- It's such a beautiful day.

- Yes, but...

Almost too beautiful

for November.

- What do you mean, November?

Are you kidding?

- What do you think it is?

May. May 12.

- Where do you see that?

- Well, here. You can see for yourself.

It's an old newspaper.

Can't you see? It's torn.

- Virginia, what is it? That's

this morning's newspaper.

- It isn't. It can't be.

- Virginia, why don't you

get dressed? We'll see a doctor.

- Doctor?

Yes. My head hurts. Robert,

there's something the matter with my head!

- Come on, darling. Let me help you.

- Who are you?

- Why do you torture me? Why do you lie to me?

- Virginia, what's the matter?

- Don't you know me? I'm Robert...

your husband Robert!

- Let me go! Let me go!

- Virginia, what's the matter?

- Let me go. Don't touch me.

- Virginia, don't you know I love you?

- Love me?

No, you can't make me love you! You can't

make me belong to you! You can't!

- Virginia.!

- I can't love you! I can't love anybody!

I can't!

The rest you know, Doctor.

You've no idea what that day in May

might mean to your wife?

- She never told you

anything more of her family?

- Just that her father died...

when she was about six and then her mother

married again... recently moved to Oregon.

Tell me.

When did you last see her in Chicago?

- I'd say it was about the first week in May.

- Could it have been the 12th?

It might have been. Do you

think there's a connection there?

Possibly.

Mr. Cunningham, I'd like to

use shock treatment on your wife...

but you'll have

to sign this consent.

Shock treatment. Isn't it...

I mean, do you have to?

The only reason I want to use it is because in

many cases, it helps establish contact faster.

When that happens, we'll be able

to start getting at the real

causes of your wife's illness.

- Isn't there any other way?

- Yes, if we had time, lots of time.

There are many things we're short of

in state hospitals, but time most of all.

I guess it was the word "shock" that...

Where do I sign, Doctor?

I want some water.

I'm thirsty.

Who's next?

- All right, Evelyn.

- Virginia?

- You'd better come over here. You're next.

- Go ahead, honey. It's your turn.

I'm afraid. I'm terribly afraid.

- We're ready, Evelyn.

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