The Swimmer Page #2

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With dressing rooms and showers

and a little playroom and a big bar.

Make a swell layout. Cheers.

You never thought he'd make it,

did you?

Who?

When we were kids and

I first started dating Howard...

-...you weren't very nice to him.

-I wasn't, why?

Remember he kept track of every penny

he saved and spent in a notebook.

You thought that was very amusing.

I was jealous.

Of Howard?

I was crazy about you.

Well, you never said anything.

-You were having an aff air with Lucinda.

-Why'd I get smashed at your wedding?

Because Lucinda was dancing

with Roger Bunker.

What a long memory you got,

grandma.

No kidding though.

You've got a gorgeous pool.

I've got everything I ever wanted.

Funny how things turn out,

isn't it?

-Hey, Ned!

-Howard.

-How are you, Ned?

-Fine, fine.

Of all people.

-How do you like my new toy?

-Next year we're getting all the optionals.

Like a padded seat, a canopy.

She's idling a bit slow.

Idling?

It's not supposed to be

a racing engine.

-What's he doing?

-He's fixing it.

-lt's okay now.

-I'll get you a drink.

-lt's a great pool.

-Yeah.

Ned's just crazy about our pool.

I didn't skimp on it.

-I got a diatomaceous earth filter.

-Betty told me.

Filters out 99.99.99 percent...

-...of all solid matter.

-That's what Betty said.

She tell you about

the swing joints I got in there?

Spingon's pool split down the middle

three months after the guarantee.

-No swing joints.

-Ned doesn't know the Spingons.

Let me tell you about them.

-They're the kind of people who skimp.

-Just look at the colour of that sky.

I don't like the look of that cloud.

It's beautiful.

Like a dream city f rom the bow

of a ship. Lisbon, Naples, Istanbul.

Hackensack.

I'd like to see all those glistening

white domes and minarets.

First chance I get to get away,

I'll go sailing around the Golden Horn.

Why can't we travel more?

What f or? We've got everything

we want right here.

-How come you never put a pool in?

-Never got around to it.

That's too bad.

Helps the resale value.

I don't have to worry about

the resale value.

With a tennis court and the planting,

you'll get a lot more than you paid.

If I ever sell it.

-Right buyer has to come along.

-I want my girls to be married there.

Won't be long now. Our driveway

looked like a parking lot today.

Boys all over the place.

Hey, anybody home?

That must be Don and Helen with

the Forsburghs. Neddy, don't go away.

-Hi, Betty.

-So long, Ned.

Is Ned here?

-Mrs. Hammar, how are you?

-May I ask what you're doing here?

On my way home,

I thought I'd cool off.

Who gave you permission

to use the pool?

I'm Ned Merrill. Beautiful flowers.

I see Eric's put in the rock garden.

-You're not welcome here.

-You know me, don't you?

-I'm a f riend of your son.

-A f riend.

How dare you use that word!

You never came to see him.

You never even called him

at the hospital.

Well, how is he? Is he better?

Just one minute, Mr. Merrill.

This is my house now.

Don't you ever come here again.

Don't you ever set f oot

on my property again!

Hi, Mr. Merrill.

-Hi, Muffie.

-Mommy and Daddy are at the club.

-Think they'd mind if I swim?

-Of course not, help yourself.

-lt isn't Julie Ann Hooper?

-Yes, it is.

I can't believe it.

You're all grown up.

-How come we never see you?

-I guess you don't need me anymore.

We're always looking f or a babysitter.

Oh, Mr. Merrill!

-How about Sunday night? You busy?

-No.

Hired. You live in the same place?

-Yes, but...

-I'll pick you up at 7.

-You're putting me on.

-No, I'm not.

A babysitter! Ellen and Aggie

would have a fit if they heard you.

Mr. Merrill,

this is my brother, Vernon.

Your brother? But your brother was...

I sure liked that little red Jaguar

you used to have.

-Want a Coke?

-Sure.

Thanks. I can't get over you, Julie.

How old are you now?

-Twenty last month.

-You still going to school?

-I've got a job.

-I miss Ellen and Aggie.

-Where are they?

-They're home.

-Playing tennis.

-They are? But when did they...?

Why didn't they call me?

I'd just love to see them.

Let's drive over.

Well, I've got to be on my way.

-I'm swimming home.

-You're swimming home?

There's a river of pools

all the way to my house.

-That's more hiking than swimming.

-Not hiking. Portaging.

-lt's okay, if you like ex ercise.

-What a crazy idea.

-I think it's brilliant.

-From here I go to the Bunkers'.

I'll portage through the riding ring

to the Hallorans'.

-Got it all mapped out.

-What are you doing it f or?

-Why do you want to?

-I think it's original.

As if he's an explorer

or something.

I mean, I think it's an adventure.

Come with me.

-Well, gee, l...

-Come on, live a little.

I don't know if...

We'll explore the torrential

headwaters of the Lucinda River.

All right, I will.

Ready! Go!

-lt's funny.

-What?

-Marigolds. This time of the year.

-They're all over.

-Well, they usually bloom later.

-They're lovely. I love the colours.

Mr. Merrill?

What did you mean bef ore?

All that about my coming to babysit.

Coming over to babysit?

I was just joking. I was teasing you.

Gee, I wondered.

You used to be such a shy little kid.

You always brought schoolbooks.

You always dropped pencils and things.

And you never had a word to say.

-I thought plenty, though.

-About what?

-Oh, daydreamed.

-What about?

-Lots of things.

-What sort of things?

-lt's so silly, it was such kid stuff.

-Come on, tell me.

I bet you never knew

I had a big crush on you.

You did?

-I was mad about you, out of my head!

-You were?

If Mrs. Merrill called me to babysit,

even at the last minute...

...l'd cancel out whoever I promised

and come to your house instead.

You must have lost

a lot of customers.

I'd spend an hour getting myself fix ed

up. My mother thought I was nuts.

I mean, I was just a kid to you,

but you were a god to me.

-Now you're putting me on.

-Know what I'd do as the girls slept?

I'd go up to your room and open

your closet and touch your suits.

Then I'd go into your bathroom and

smell your shaving lotion. One time...

-This is a terrible thing to admit.

-Tell me.

I stole one of your shirts.

Then when I was doing my homework

up in my room, I'd put it on.

It made me feel as if

you were all around me.

Julie, I didn't know.

And when you'd drive me home

at night, I'd pretend like mad.

Pretend what?

What was it you used to pretend?

l... After all,

I was just a child in those days.

I want to know.

That you were desperately

in love with me.

You were too honourable to say so,

because you were married.

So I had to go to Paris.

You know, put an ocean between us.

And no matter how many divine

Frenchmen begged me, I'd never marry.

I'd just live there, all pale

and mysterious, huge tragic artist.

And then one night,

I'd be in some club.

A f abulous Paris gown.

I'd see you at the door.

Tall, distinguished,

a little grey at the temples.

I pretended your eyes would burn

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