Wait Until Dark Page #2

lt was 2000 each. Now it's 4.

Get behind the door, and, you, back there.

Stay dead still.

She's alone. Don't breathe.

Sam?

Sam, are you here?

No, Susy, l'm not here.

Gloria?

-Hendrix here.

-Hendrix here too.

l called to tell you l was the best

in blind school today.

-That's my girl.

-l really truly was, cross my heart.

And I believe you.

So can l tap my way over to your studio?

Not now.

Some female with the unlikely name

of Lejiana is due any minute for a sitting.

Well, l'll wait for you here, then.

Look, I'll tell you what. Since

this Lejiana character is already late...

...I'll just stick around

a few more minutes.

So can l come over and wait for you

in the coffee shop downstairs?

Sure.

Won't be hard to find me.

l'll be the one reading Peter Rabbit in Braille.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Damn it. You're supposed to be there.

Gloria, l know you're there.

Mr. Hendrix won't wait forever.

Shall we go to work, children?

Two plus two, 4000.

Two plus two, Mr. Talman.

Highly recommended.

Disposable, you buy them in enormous rolls...

...from Hammacher Schlemmer.

Spread out the rug.

Trouble.

Trouble.

-Hi, Susy. Hey.

-Hi, Shatner.

Let me help you with that mess.

Oh, you're a lovely cavalier,

only don't tell Sam you helped me.

l'm supposed to be learning

total self-sufficiency.

Why don't you come down

for a drink tonight?

l can't. l'm off to Vermont for

a couple of days of chasing stretch pants.

By the way, l haven't been able

to get in touch with our slumlord all day.

And my skylight's still broken.

-lf you see him--

-We never see him.

He's owed us a new refrigerator since we

moved in, so he doesn't come around.

Don't let it get you down.

Have a good weekend.

On Monday, we'll form a tenants committee

or something jazzy like that.

Some committee. Me, you, Sam,

Gloria and her mother.

Oh, well.

-Ciao.

-Ciao.

-Susy?

-No, Batman.

-Safe to open the door?

-All right.

-You want to give me a hand, darling?

-Sure.

Who are you doing?

Gloria.

She's been after me for weeks

to take some pictures.

l promised l'd have these done.

l've got to go to Asbury Park--

-Asbury Park? l thought you--

-Sorry, l only found out this second.

That's all right. l was just

planning something silly.

-Will it hold till tomorrow?

-Sure.

Someone called from the chemical company.

They saw my Sunday Times spread.

They want me to make their new factory

look like the U.N.

Another night shot.

They're paying handsomely.

That's the last one.

-Can l go with you?

-Sure, but l'll--

Be home much quicker if you don't.

You know there was a murder

around here last night?

They found the body this morning.

A lady from Scarsdale.

l heard it on the radio.

So?

What if l get chopped up in little pieces

and dumped in the river?

Little tiny pieces that nobody

could ever recognize...

...as having been a poor,

defenseless, blind lady...

...whose husband was off in Asbury Park.

-You're not listening, Sammy.

-Sure l am.

Why don't we have some light

around here?

They're always finding bodies in New York.

Not in the parking lot

practically next door, they don't.

-You're making it up, Susy.

-No, l'm not. l promise.

l told you l heard it on the radio.

Really, l did.

Come on, Susy.

The police don't have

the first notion who did it.

Pretty spooky, don't you think, Sammy?

Tell you what l think.

l think it's a ploy to make me stay home.

Well, there was a murdered woman

found from Scarsdale...

...and that's a true fact.

And you're afraid for your life,

that's a true fact?

No, but it was worth a try.

Fourteen.

-You sure he'll go?

-Yeah.

-He'd better hurry or he'll miss the bus.

-He's got time.

This is some day for a schlep

out to Asbury Park.

-When does your bus leave?

-Five.

Time for another cup of coffee?

Maybe half a cup.

lf that doll woman calls,

tell her l haven't found it yet.

Let Gloria look around for it while she's

down here. lt must be somewhere.

l don't want Gloria today.

l don't need her.

-Yes, you do, for your shopping.

-No Gloria!

-Give me a hint?

-You can find it by yourself.

lf you couldn't, l'd tell you.

-What have you got against Gloria?

-A lot.

The problem is, she's in love with you,

which makes me the villain.

Susy, she's a kid.

More to your left, in front of you.

l'd rather have a dog.

Dogs can't shop at the supermarket.

They can't rearrange the furniture either

so l trip over it.

That's her latest hobby.

l nearly broke my leg last night.

She's been sneaking cigarettes too.

l smelled smoke when l came in yesterday.

Susy, give her a chance.

Her father's run off again. Her mother's

flitted out for a weekend uptown.

Poor old Gloria gets slammed around

like a Ping-Pong ball.

On top of that, she's wearing glasses.

Kids are giving her the treatment...

...calling her the "monster from outer space."

lcebox needs defrosting, darling,

only my way this time.

lt's more practical.

Use plenty of boiling water.

-What if l burn both my hands off your way?

-Don't.

The Unguentine's in the emergency drawer.

lf the weather's okay, try walking

to the studio and back.

No cheating.

Do l have to be the world's

champion blind lady?

Yes!

Then, l will be.

l'll be whatever

you want me to be.

Tell me what you want,

and that's what l'll be.

-Susy--

-l mean it.

l don't want you ever

to be anything but Susy...

...because that's the way l love you.

Do you? Do you?

What do you think?

-Do you want me to stay home?

-Yes.

But you can go to work anyway.

l'll clean up here...

...then when you get back,

l'll be all scrubbed and polished.

You sure it's okay?

Then, l got to rush.

Where does the icebox plug in?

You'll find it.

No fair asking Gloria either.

Sam.

Are you looking at me?

-Bye, dope.

-Bye, dope.

Thanks for everything.

Okay, Mr. Talman,

it's time for your soft-shoe.

And remember, there's a nice, little, pink kid

running around the house.

And she wears glasses.

Sam.

Gloria!

Somebody!

Operator.

-Please....

-Fire department.

There's something burning.

l'm blind, and l can't locate it.

-lt's getting worse!

-Can I have your address?

Wait, l think somebody's here.

Come in!

The door's open.

-You all right?

-There's a fire. Can you see it?

-l'm blind, and l don't know where it is.

-Oh, yes, l've got it.

-Careful.

-l'm all right. Please find the fire.

lt's in the ashtray.

lt's only a cigarette butt.

A filter and a bit of paper

making all the smoke.

Where was it?

lt was on the--

What is this, a safe?

Against the wall? Yes.

l couldn't tell where it was coming from.

Smoke--

Smoke isn't my favorite thing.

-l don't know you, do l?

-No, Mrs. Hendrix.

My name's Mike Talman.

l used to know Sam.

l can't thank you enough

for being here.

And l'm sorry that Sam isn't here.

He won't be back until later tonight.

That was stupid of me.

l should've phoned...

...but l thought l'd take a chance

and maybe grab Sam for a quick beer.

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