The Woman on the Beach Page #2

...must find duty in this place rather unromantic.

Yes.

I'm afraid you'll continue to find it unromantic. Won't he, Peggy?

Join us in a drink, Lieutenant?...Peggy?

I'm sorry, but I'm late already, I...

I'm due back at the station.

That's too bad! Come back and see us soon.

It's nice to see people once in a while.

I'll try, Mr. Butler...

...but you see I haven't much free time.

Not much free time...

Besides, it's rather boring to spend it with a blind man, eh?

Oh no, no. It's not that...

I'll come and see you as soon as I can.

When?

- Well, I don't know.

Tomorrow.

- Well, that's more like it! I'll be expecting you.

I might be late.

That all right, you're welcome anytime.

Remember, we always have a drink around here.

Goodbye.

Nice young fellow.

Don't you think so?

Yes he is.

I like him.

A little dull, though.

Strong outdoor type.

You like that, don't you Peg?

You always admired virility.

Somehow I can't picture you living outdoors...

Have to come in sometime.

Have to talk...

I can't paint anymore, but I can still talk.

Can't I?

Tod, why don't you sell the paintings?

What good are they in that cobwebby old closet?

You know they'd bring a lot of money.

And then we could get out of here.

Go anywhere.

Have some fun again.

Where would we go?

One place is pretty much like another to me...

They all have a dark, velvety hue.

And you my love don't care where you are, as long as you're with me.

Do you?

Well, do you?

No Tod, it doesn't matter.

My Peg!

I have to defend myself.

Sir, do you know who's outside?

Tod Butler, the painter. And he's here to see you.

Have him come in.

Mr. Butler!

Watch your step.

- Thank you.

Sorry to break in on you like this, Lieutenant.

It's all right. What can I do for you?

I need some help.

- Yes?

You see Lieutenant, I lose my sense of direction in the rain.

Usually I compensate for my eyes with many things:

The feel of the wind, the sun on my face...

...the earth under my feet...

And your cane I suppose is a big help?

Not really.

You always expect a blind man to carry a cane

and I disappoint them.

One of those racetrack things.

I really carry it to sit on.

The rain does bother me and I need your help getting home.

Well that's quite a distance for you to walk...

...in this kind of weather.

It wasn't raining when I started.

But you came prepared...in that raincoat.

In this climate at this time of year, one can expect anything!

But you got here.

- Yes.

Frankly Lieutenant, this was my destination.

I'd like you to drive me home...

...and have a drink and maybe stay for dinner.

Well, I'm afraid I couldn't do that, I...

...I have an appointment in town.

- I'm sorry.

Mrs. Butler will be disappointed.

You made a great impression on her.

Yes, a very great impression.

So naturally I'm interested in you too.

Look here, Mr. Butler...

...what exactly are you up to?

I have very few friends here, Lieutenant.

I'd like to know you better.

Well, that's very flattering, but...

...you think Mrs. Butler expects me?

Of course.

And I really do need your help to get home.

All right, let's go.

But I'm not sure about dinner.

Do you play chess, Lieutenant?

Chess?

- Yes.

Well, I played some in the hospital. But I'd be glad to take you on.

Good, we'll have a lot of fun.

Kirk!

Tell the Chief I'm going with Mr. Butler and I'll be back soon.

- Yes, sir.

- Tell Wernecke hello for me.

Yes, sir.

The only other blind man I ever knew was a shipmate of mine.

We were in the hospital together.

At first, if I hadn't given him my hand...

...he wouldn't have been able to find his own bed.

That was at first. Little by little things change.

One gets used to it.

Brandy, Lieutenant?

- No, thanks.

You don't drink?

Once in a while. But I can take it or leave it.

You're fortunate. Did you enjoy your dinner?

Of course. It was delicious.

My compliments, Mrs. Butler.

Peggy would have been terribly disappointed if you hadn't have stayed.

She seldom cooks a real dinner these days.

You must have made an impression.

The Lieutenant's just being polite.

And I'm sure he would have had a much better time in town.

Have you a cigarette, Tod?

- Right here, Mrs. Butler.

Have one of mine.

This shipmate of mine was blind but...

...he could see the difference between light and dark.

Tod can't.

The nerve's cut.

- That's right.

But I still get plenty out of life.

You must miss your painting though.

Painting? No, I miss nothing!

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to be so violent, I...

I must revise that statement.

There's something I do miss...very much.

Deep-sea fishing.

Fishing?

- Yes Lieutenant, it's terrific.

I love to feel that first nibble...

...and the strike!

You've got him hooked.

He tries to get away, and you hold him...

...fast, hard, relentless.

Peggy?

Remember that big tarpon I caught off the Key?

But what am I drooling about?

Nobody ever asks me anymore.

I can't go by myself.

Funny...I used to have so many fishing pals.

Well, put yourself in their place.

A man who can't see the difference between light and dark...

Suppose there were an accident. You wouldn't even know which way to swim to shore.

Sorry you caught on, Lieutenant.

I was hoping I might talk you into a fishing trip.

I don't like to put you out, Lieutenant, but didn't you say you

had to go on duty at nine o'clock?

That's right. What time is it?

Why do you wear a watch?

Oh...force of habit.

I like the sound of it, it's company.

Besides, so many people ask me what time it is.

Well, I...I really must go.

It's too bad you have to go just as we're beginning to be friends.

I'm still on the Coast Guard.

- I'll see you out.

Goodbye, Mr. Butler. Thanks for a fine evening.

Don't you think we might dispose of the "Mister" sort of thing?

Why not call me Tod?

What do you say, Scott?

All right, Tod.

Goodbye.

You're wrong, Scott. But so wrong!

Oh no I'm not.

You saw what happened with the lighter.

Yes, of course I did.

Tod's eyes seem perfectly normal,

but he can't see because the optic nerve was cut.

How do you know it was cut?

Because I did it.

You?

We used to...drink a lot.

We lived in a sort of strange state of excitement.

Always off-balance, high-pitched, tense.

Always just at the breaking point.

When Tod's drunk there's no telling how he'll react.

He can be unbelievably fierce and brutal or...

tender.

Too tender.

It was one of those nights I hit him.

It was broken glass.

Well, there it is.

And here we are. You and I.

He's blind and I...

And now you know why I don't want to see you here.

Tod's lying when he says he likes fishing or anything else.

There's only one thing in the world that interests him and that's me.

Of course it was an accident, I...

...I didn't mean to.

Perhaps it wasn't really my fault.

When you do something like that you have to pay for it.

Do you love him?

Love him? I...

...hate him.

Oh, let's not talk about that.

You're wrong Scott, and tomorrow you'll have forgotten all about me.

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