They Won't Believe Me Page #4

And then the hairdresser.

Then made the important call.

Hello.

Verna Carlson please.

It's for you, Verna.

Hello.

Verna? It's Larry Ballantine.

I'm coming into town on Thursday.

I'll be at our usual place at 2 o'clock.

Can you meet me there?

There's something I want

to talk to you about.

Verna?

Verna?

Verna!

Did you get cut off?

The operator's got a real knack

for breaking things off

just when things getting interesting.

Yeah?

All the groceries in the car?

Everything except the lump sugar.

Not much call for de-jawers like that.

That's okay.

I'll pick some up in town on Thursday.

Can't afford to disappoint the horses.

What time is it now?

Six minutes later than

the last time you asked me that.

It's 2:
25.

Thanks.

Do you want another drink?

No, I guess not.

How much do I owe you?

Maybe she's been held up.

It's been known to happen.

- The rest is yours.

- Thanks.

Do me a favor, will you?

Tell me why I'm here.

The same reason I am, Verna.

You couldn't stay away.

You've got quite a an opinion of

your drawing power, haven't you?

All right. Why did you come?

It isn't me, Verna. It's something else.

We can't help it.

Will you go away with me?

For how long?

For as long as you can put up with me.

I'll get a divorce in Reno. Then we can

go way anywhere. Make a fresh start.

Look. That was my line.

Then you decided

I couldn't support you properly.

Remember?

Yeah I know, but...

If I go anywhere now,

there will be orchids involved.

I can get orchids.

That's the best offer

I've had since lunch.

But it's not good enough.

Maybe I should've said a lot of orchids.

How?

Greta has $30,000 in a checking account.

And she's going to give it to us

with her blessing, I suppose.

You don't understand.

It's a joint checking account

I can draw it too.

How without letting her know?

You're going to do it.

Oh. I'm going to do it.

Listen, I've got it all figured out.

I write the check.

You cash it through the firm.

That way, there won't be

any questions asked.

The bank will just think

I'm buying securities for her.

Then what?

You cash the check on Monday.

So it'll be on next month's statement.

Then catch the 10 o'clock Reno bus

to Thomason's Crossroads.

It gets there at 2.30. I'll meet you.

- What do you think?

- I think you're crazy.

I'll show you how crazy.

- George, you got a pen?

- Sure.

One of them new ones.

I do my writing with it underwater.

20,000?

Make that 25,000.

Scared?

You're the one who should be scared.

Why?

How do you know I'll show up on Monday?

I'm betting you will, baby.

$25,000.

On Monday, the bus was late.

But I didn't care.

It was warm in the sunshine.

I walked up and down for a while,

watching the cars pass on the highway.

I wondered how long it would

take us to reach Reno.

I had no way of knowing then

but roads don't always go

where you expect them to.

I got to the bus.

One passenger climbed out.

A man. That was a jolt.

No Verna. And no $25,000.

Suddenly I began to wonder

if I'd been double-crossed.

I had to find out quick.

I was plenty scared.

I want to talk to Los Angeles.

Tucker 5387.

All right.

That's 85.

Larry.

- What the devil happened to you?

- Why nothing.

Why weren't you on that bus?

I was on the bus. They ran two today.

What did you expect me to do?

Be on both of them?

Let's get going.

How about a swim?

I thought we were supposed

to be going to Reno.

We are. But I'm hot.

Will never get there tonight

with half a dozen stops.

All right. We'll get there tomorrow.

Better try it.

It might improve your temper.

I should've known it'd be like this.

You're about as dependable

as a four-year-old child.

You can turn back if you like.

Maybe you'd like it better with Trenton.

He probably doesn't swim at all.

Okay. You can go back.

But first, you're going swimming,

if I have to throw you in.

You're hurting me.

I'm sorry, baby.

Why don't you just say

that you don't love me?

But I do, Verna.

You can't. You've been so strange.

So have you.

But you haven't said anything.

You didn't even seem glad to see me.

I was scared to show you

how really glad I was.

- Honest, Larry?

- Honest, honey.

Let's get going.

No. I think a swim would be nice.

What was that talk about Reno?

That was just talk.

- Bet I beat you in.

- Okay.

It's swell after the first shock.

- Happy?

- Mmmmm.

Larry! You'll drown me!

- Time to go ashore.

- Now?

Yeah, now.

- Cigarette?

- That'd be lovely.

What did Trenton have to say?

Nothing. I didn't give him a chance.

Just left word I was leaving.

I bet the old boss is

hot on your trail right now.

He's in for an awful shock if he is.

You probably notified your folks.

I haven't any.

What did you do?

The same deal.

I wrote a letter asking for a divorce.

- Think you'll get it?

- Sure.

And then will get married, baby.

I thought it might come in handy.

Where did you get it?

At the dime store.

Dime store?

And you know you could buy a ring

with real diamonds with 25 grand?

Yes, I know.

Were you afraid I'd get sore?

No. I wasn't afraid.

What's the matter?

Haven't you got the money?

Well, not exactly.

Look. Either you have it or you...

My dowry.

What happened? Did you lose your nerve?

What do you want me to do with it?

That's up to you.

I thought you might do that.

I guess that's what we both

intended to all along.

Your left hand.

There you are, dear.

It looks nice.

As if it belongs there.

It does belong there.

From now on.

From now on.

You don't? I've always dreamed of

getting married in something white.

Late in the afternoon,

shadows from the mountains

fell across the lake and it got cold.

We decided to push on to Reno.

It wasn't too far.

Well under 300 miles.

I figured we could make it

before midnight.

Larry?

Hmm?

Any regrets?

About what?

About the check.

No regrets, darling.

No regrets at all.

What do you think Greta will do?

Find another guy.

I wonder.

Why not?

Even if she weren't attractive,

there's always that lovely money.

Maybe she wouldn't want another guy.

I wouldn't.

Don't shed any tears over Greta.

She's quite capable

of looking after herself.

All right darling.

I won't shed any tears.

Over here, Gus.

It must've bust the gas tank.

Do you think there's anybody in there?

How are you feeling, mate?

I don't know.

Cigarette?

No...

I don't won't do any good.

But I'm sorry.

I lost mine too.

Yours?

My wife.

Passed away of TB.

We'd been married seven years.

I wondered what he meant.

"Mine's gone too. "

And then it hit me.

He was talking about Verna.

Verna was dead.

And somehow they'd

assumed she was my wife.

I lay there wishing they were right.

That it had been Greta.

Suddenly, a dim light went on

in the back of my head.

Vague sort of hundred-to-one shot idea.

How is he?

I would you be with your head busted?

That I'd like to see.

Mr. Ballantine?

Are you well enough to answer

a couple questions?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes