The Swimmer Page #3

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into me across this room.

Suddenly, there'd be a hush.

And everyone would look at me.

And then I'd just stand up

and float towards you.

-And then what?

-That's all.

-Julie, I don't know what to say.

-I told you. I was a real spooky kid.

The Bunkers must be having a party.

How bonny are the banks

of the Lucinda River.

I knew we'd find f riends

all along the way.

Neddy!

Enid. This is Julie Ann Hooper,

our babysitter.

I lost her f or a while.

But I f ound her again.

How f ortunate f or you, darling.

What a lovely dress.

You look ravishing.

Ned, what a treat to have you here.

I see Roger's the life of the party

as usual.

He started all by himself at brunch.

I guess it caught up with him.

Neddy, tell me everything.

I want to know all about you.

Enid.

Look who's there!

Get yourself a drink.

We'll have one quick one

to appease the natives.

-Neddy!

-Hi, honeybunch.

-To think I nearly didn't get here.

-Ned, you old f ossil. How are you?

Great. Just great.

-Ned! My God, it's been a dog's age.

-Rusty.

-Let's have a game of golf. Soon.

-Darling!

-Is it undiplomatic to ask of Lucinda?

-She's great. And bring your money.

-Neddy! Neddy, darling.

-I'm John.

We want to see you.

Lucinda will call. How you doing?

Great, great.

-My God, Neddy Merrill.

-Freddy Preston.

Marvellous to see you. We missed

you. I expected you'd be on Xanadu.

-I'll have to call Willie.

-Good show.

-Mr. Merrill.

-Hi, Stanley. How's Inez?

-She'll be glad to see you.

-She's my girl.

-Yes, sir. What may I get you?

-Dom Perignon. That's f or us.

Yes, sir.

-Ever drink champagne?

-Once at a birthday party.

A boy drank it out of my slipper.

Here's to sugar on our strawberries.

-Ned, my God.

-Brian. How are you, Brian?

I feel rotten I didn't call.

I've been so damn busy.

I don't know where the time goes.

-Let's have lunch this week.

-Okay.

I wanted to tell you.

That was a stinking thing to do.

-What they pulled at your place.

-What's that?

Well, now I don't care how big

a firecracker this new guy was.

Well, brother,

that story really jolted me.

I thought, what if a young smart-ass

comes to our shop and does that?

Let's hear f rom you, huh?

Ring me at the office.

Beautiful Cynthia.

-Neddy. Darling!

-Hi, where's Carter?

Well, haven't you heard?

We've separated.

This is Julie Ann Hooper,

our babysitter.

-Run along to your babies, dear.

-She's with me.

-We're swimming across the county.

-How healthy and young of you.

Now, who else could wear

a dress like this?

Why don't you come over

tonight f or dinner?

I'd love to.

If Lucinda hasn't made a date.

Lucinda! Well, congratulations.

-Ned.

-Denny boy!

Why not leave some phone numbers?

I've tried to reach you.

I've heard of an opening.

Perfect f or you. Your experience.

Small place,

but these two guys are creative.

-Say hello to Julie Ann.

-Hello.

They have a reputation f or originality.

Approach them right, take a cut.

Take a cut?

Now, look here, Ned.

You don't have to pretend with me.

Set! Go!

Did you hurt yourself?

It's nothing. Bad takeoff.

Let's go and sit down somewhere.

-Does it hurt?

-No, it's all right.

What sort of a job do you have?

Secretary. We're the largest office

supply company in New York.

-I've never run into you on the train.

-I take the 7:
22.

-I'm first in, so I make the coffee.

-A f riendly office?

Two girls want to get an apartment

after our raises.

-Watch out, it's a big wicked city.

-I know. I've had some experiences.

-Like what?

-Well...

...one morning I was making coffee

and looked out the window.

There's an apartment building

across the court.

This man was standing in his window,

looking at me. He was stark naked.

-That's terrible.

-I just stood there looking at him.

You ought to report that

to somebody.

He's never been there again.

I check every morning.

There's a lot of nuts around.

Another time, my boss sent me

to deliver some record books.

I got into an elevator and pressed 26.

Then a man got in and he pressed 27.

The door closed and

the elevator started up.

This man came right over

and kissed me on the mouth.

-What'd you do?

-I dropped the books.

Then what happened?

He picked them up,

gave them to me.

The door opened

on the 26th floor, and I got out.

Can you imagine?

A building on Park A venue?

That belly is like a heap of wheat.

Fenced about with lilies.

That's f rom the Bible, isn't it?

Song of Solomon.

As a little girl in Sunday school,

they never mentioned that part.

You still are a little girl

in Sunday school.

You know, Julie,

I've been thinking.

I could...

I could meet you in the morning

and take you to your office.

If you had to go out on an errand,

call me and I'd go with you.

I'd pick you up every day

at noon and we'd have lunch.

That's what I'll do, Julie.

I'll take care of you.

Well, gee, Mr. Merrill, I...

I don't think that would

work out too well.

I have a boyf riend.

He's a very jealous type.

If I just look at anybody else,

he has a fit.

He's a very high-strung person.

He has so many problems!

What sort of problems?

His mother. He says

she's a very sensuous woman.

He says she has lovers.

He's not even 100-percent sure

he's legitimate.

He's taking it out

on the whole United States.

-Where did you meet this boy?

-Through a computer.

-A computer?

-Yeah, it's a joke.

All the kids are doing it. You fill out

this questionnaire, send in $3...

...and they send you the phone

numbers of three ideal mates.

He was the first one I called.

How'd you meet Mrs. Merrill?

I...

On a boat,

going to Europe one summer.

I was with a bunch of students

down in steerage.

I sneaked up to the first-class

salon, and there she was.

How romantic and old-f ashioned.

Now, wait a minute.

It wasn't that long ago.

Well, it sounds so much more

passionate than a computer.

That shirt of mine, Julie.

Do you still have it?

No.

Well, after a while, I...

I decided it was just a shirt.

You had so many shirts, I didn't

think you'd miss it or anything.

Do you mind?

No, but I wish...

I wish you'd told me how you felt.

I couldn't.

I would have died.

There's so little love

in the world.

When it's kept a secret,

it's wasted, see?

You're very precious to me.

I won't let you

ever get scared or hurt.

If there's anything you want,

come to me.

-I'll be your guardian angel.

-Mr. Merrill, I...

Julie.

Julie! Julie!

Hi, Steve.

-Well, you're not Steve.

-No.

How are you, Mr. Merrill?

-I'm a f riend of the Hallorans.

-I know.

-Mind if I ride up with you?

-Not at all.

Don't bother.

Thank you.

How long you been driving

f or the Hallorans?

Going on a couple of years now.

-What happened to Steve?

-I'm af raid I don't know.

Man, what a character.

Did he mangle the English language!

We told him he should be

on television.

Big bass voice,

you should've heard that guy sing.

-And a natural sense of rhythm?

-Yeah, that's right.

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