Without Love Page #5

Excuse me. There may be a wreck.

- If you don't mind.

- Some girls just can't resist a whistle.

That's right.

I'm just a poor working girl.

How'd you find the house?

Well, there's a little dust

on your apple pie.

Little dust on your apple pie too.

- And this, I imagine, is the kitchen.

- Paul Carrell.

- For heaven's sake...

- Pat Jamieson? Hello there.

- Hello.

- Well, well, it's a small world, isn't it?

- Too small sometimes.

- You know, Miss Trimble...

...I haven't seen Pat since...

Since...

You never married that girl, did you?

- What was her name? Lila...

- Vine.

- No, never married her. How's Madrid?

- Madrid is still Madrid.

My company decided I might be

more useful here in Washington.

Back home again, thank goodness.

Think you'll be able to stand

American women?

The question is,

will they be able to stand me?

This might be a lovely house in which

to experiment along those lines.

- Yes. Say, what are you doing here?

- I'm the caretaker.

Most curious. Mr. Jamieson

is quite insane, you know.

- Oh, of course.

- Hello. Oh, hello.

- Set another place, cook.

- Jamie, this is Mr. Paul Carrell.

- He wants to rent the house.

- How do you do?

It's the most perfect house,

Mrs. Rowan. Charming.

And now that I've met the owner...

...I can understand its perfection

and its charm.

- Yes.

- You belong only in a house like this.

And in an old-fashioned dress...

...with perhaps some flowers,

some violets.

Do you like white violets?

If they're fresh. But I'm sure

that any from you would be.

- I thought this was about a house.

- This house is not for rent.

I'm sorry if it has inconvenienced you.

But how could it be any inconvenience

to have met you, Mrs. Rowan?

- I'm well repaid.

- Let's go, Contacts.

Have a date

with a bartender named Charles.

All right.

Only three drinks a day from now on.

Jamie, let me know if you change

your mind about renting.

- Bye, all.

- I like purple violets.

Goodbye, Mrs. Rowan.

When will you have lunch

with me, Pat?

I can't lunch. I'm too busy.

But of course.

That man had the oddest effect on me.

- Don't think he didn't mean to have.

- Him and his white violets.

By gum, I'm glad to see you.

Weren't supposed to be here

for two weeks.

Well, anyway, I'm glad to see you.

I've been busy keeping things in order.

- I must say, Mr. Jamieson...

- Don't say it.

- You can think it, but don't say it.

- I got your letters. Thanks.

You didn't actually tell me much about

what you were really doing though.

- How's it going down below?

- I can't tell you.

You wouldn't trust me to take a look?

Well, it's your house.

I rather hoped that my letters

would make you trust me.

Just wait right there, please.

Okay.

Jiminy Crickets, Patrick!

Oxygen?

How long will it take you

to complete your decompression tank?

How'd you know

it was a decompression tank?

Just guesswork, I imagine.

What equivalent altitude pressure

will this withstand?

About 60,000.

- You're pretty smart, aren't you?

- Well, that's just a guess.

Fairly dangerous to try that out alone,

I would imagine.

Oh, you would?

Well, that's just a guess.

Well, what have you been doing

with yourself?

Oh, nothing much.

I've just been around by myself.

Just riding and thinking.

- Big thoughts?

- Enormous ones.

What about?

Life with a great big L.

Well, that's sometimes rewarding.

How did you come out?

Not very well.

- Really? Anything I can do?

- There might be.

To tell you the truth,

that's why I came in this afternoon.

- Really?

- Yes, really.

Well, there's nothing I could

that I wouldn't.

- Why isn't there?

- I don't know. I may be wrong.

But I think

that you're the most... woman...

...I've ever met in all my life.

- I guess that's why you're here.

- Are you sure?

No, no, it's just guesswork.

That's nice because I've been guessing

that I like you a good deal too.

And we're so utterly different

we could help each other.

- I mean, really help. That is, if we...

- If we what?

Don't rush me. Give me time.

Since I told you, I've been thinking

all sorts of things.

And in all sorts of ways.

Backwards, forwards,

every which way but chiefly forwards.

Well, I hope that means that you've

decided to stop living in the past.

Yes, that's it.

I got to thinking maybe you're right.

It is stupid of me. It is selfish.

It's a terrible world to live in alone

with just memories.

You've got such qualities to face it

with, to do something about it with.

Your eye is clear, you see

straight, you're honest, quick...

...aware of everything

and fearless and...

- Wait...

- Don't stop me.

I'm none of those things

except honest.

I've got qualities for it too.

I'm strong and have lots of energy.

And I'm brave too, in a way.

Things don't get me down.

I can take punishment.

It isn't just this house I can offer you

or myself as an assistant.

I could be your assistant. I helped

Harry. I did a lot of college work.

It isn't only that.

But I want to be... I must be part of it.

I can't just stay outside.

Nobody any good can.

But I don't wanna be

all alone through it.

I want someone to lean on a little.

- And stand by as well. I can do that.

- So?

So I thought after all we said

to each other...

...and the way we understand

each other about love...

I never could and I know how you

never could or would or would want to.

And there's all that powerful

commodity to be put to use.

- I thought...

- You thought...?

So I wondered

if maybe you'd like to marry me.

Would the idea interest you?

Because, by gum, I'd like you to.

All of a sudden, I've seen that there

can be another basis...

...for a good and happy marriage

besides love.

- And what would that be?

- Several of them.

Things shared in common.

Honesty, say, and courage and humor?

Though I haven't got much of that,

I'm afraid.

I think you have a great deal of that or

you never could have thought this up.

It is sort of funny, isn't it?

I feel as though I'd run a mile.

- Mrs. Rowan, you're nuts.

- Yes, so are you. That's just the point.

- It would never work.

- Why not?

- Because of ghosts?

- Well, for a lot of reasons.

If you're interested at all,

I demand that you think it over.

Well, I mean, two...

After all, two people getting married

without love or the hope of it?

- Without even any desire for it?

- That's just it. That's just it.

I could never even think of it

if someone loved me.

I'd feel so guilty all the time. And you.

Do you want the jealousy,

the possessiveness...

...the misery, the exacting,

the demanding?

You'd be safe forever

from the other side of love.

The side you said you knew.

You'd have companionship

and the independence you prize so.

And you could work.

We could both work

with no interruptions of any kind.

It would take a lot of working at.

There's one thing, though.

- I do...

- Madam...

You would never have to give that

a thought.

- This is for you.

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