You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger Page #2

whose life grew increasingly tantalizing

behind her windowpane.

- I'm sorry. Am I disturbing you?

- No, not at all.

I love the guitar.

- Recently moved in?

- Just for the summer.

- Should I close this window?

- No, I'm not working.

I'm just reading a friend's new book.

It reads beautiful to Boccherini.

Do you know his music?

Quite impressed.

Well, anyway, if it gets too annoying,

just let me know and I'll stop, okay?

- Anyone want a top-up?

- I would.

Hey.

- I read your new book.

- What?

- I was overwhelmed.

- No.

- No, you're kidding.

- Yes. My confidence is gone now.

- What? Don't be ridiculous.

- Yeah.

I'm speechless.

You liked it?

Damn!

Obviously, you know,

I haven't shown it to anybody before.

But I need to tweak a few things,

still, of course...

Of course it didn't hurt that I read it

to some very beautiful Boccherini,

played on the guitar by that knockout,

whose name I still don't know.

- The woman in the window?

- Yes, the woman in the window.

Well, no wonder you're having trouble

finishing your bloody book.

- I finished it.

- No.

- I handed it in yesterday.

- Well done.

No, I'm a nervous wreck.

I don't know what I'll do

if it doesn't make it.

- Come on.

- No, I don't know what I'll do.

I'll be chauffeuring

the goddamned limos again...

- Rubbish!

- All my confidence is gone.

Because of you, partially,

my confidence is gone.

Hello?

Hi, Mum. Come in.

Why does she have to

come over here so often?

I mean, it's once, twice. It's endless!

I'm trying to relax here.

My nerves are shot from waiting.

I know. She can't stand to be alone.

And, you know, I worry about her, Roy.

She's taken to talking to herself

a bit, lately.

And you encourage her

with that phony mind-reader.

Well, okay, yes!

Cristal is a fake. We know that, but...

Thank God she buys into it,

and it gives her peace of mind,

and don't you try

and spoil it for her, please.

Okay, look, I'm not gonna say anything.

I just don't think you help her

by going into that garbage...

about foretelling her future.

She needs medicine, not illusions.

No, not if the illusions

work better than the medicine.

- Here I am, darling.

- Hi, Mum!

I've just come from a session with Cristal.

That woman is uncanny.

I know you have

a cold, scientific background, Roy.

Yes, I have a tough time

with mumbo-jumbo.

Roy, please!

Look, if you feel better, then it's just...

I don't know.

We discussed you.

She was very positive about your future.

Though, to be perfectly candid,

she didn't see it in literature.

Well, that's too bad.

Let's hope she's channeling

the wrong spirits.

She's rarely wrong.

Mum, Roy just handed in

his new novel this week.

He's on tenterhooks while they read it.

Well, I'm only saying

not to build your hopes up.

- Cristal said...

- No, I don't care what Cristal said. Okay?

Mum, nobody's infallible! Please! Let it...

I know she's always right with your future,

but it doesn't mean she knows Roy's.

She's never even met him!

She was very complimentary

in her readings about Roy,

just not necessarily as a writer.

Not at this point in time.

She did say one day,

perhaps, with maturity...

Oh, by the way,

could I have another glove of yours?

I'm sorry, but she lost the first one.

What glove?

Did you give her my missing glove? Jesus!

Did he take the book home with him?

But no clue whether he could

get to it this weekend?

Okay. No, I'll call back.

Okay, now let's go back

and take a look at Alfie Shepridge.

Since his divorce,

Alfie Shepridge did not exactly find himself

leading the thirtysomething life

he envisioned in his new digs.

Friends fixed him up with one or two women

they thought might be appropriate.

Always that word...

But it was not what he had in mind.

I'm sorry about the stick,

but I've just had my hip replaced.

At first, I thought I fell down

and broke it.

But what actually happened was,

it broke, and then I fell down.

Do you see the difference?

He tried spending time

with younger colleagues from his firm,

but he felt even more out of place

and ridiculous.

And then, one day, after months

of loneliness and awkward experiences,

he took his daughter for a walk

and made a startling announcement.

I've met a woman, I'm very much in love,

I'm going to get married.

- Isn't that fabulous?

- You're kidding.

No. You seem shocked.

Is that what this walk's about?

So private and mysterious.

Well, I told your mother

and, you know, she was surprised,

but she took it well.

Apparently, this woman she's been seeing,

who gives her guidance about her future,

has given her a lot of strength emotionally.

Anyway, I would like you to

help choose some perfume with me.

Would you do that?

So, who is this woman

you're going to marry?

Her name is Charmaine.

She's an actress! Half his age!

This is all for the good.

I've got a strong feeling that this is

a positive turning point in your life.

But where is my life heading?

I need direction.

- Is my future as empty as I feel it is?

- Listen. This is a pivotal moment.

Now, you've got several paths

to choose from.

You've got to make sure

you choose the right one.

My darling! I'm seeing you triumphing.

I'm seeing you with a new love.

- What, a new love for me?

- I can see it! I can see it!

This development in your husband's life

can only be favorable to you.

You're saying I shall meet a new love?

And I'll tell you something else.

Your husband will never love

this woman he's marrying

as much as he loved you.

I've kept all his letters.

They were so adoring.

Christ, no one wants to get old!

I don't want to get old!

And you're saying I won't be alone?

I don't want to spend

the rest of my life alone.

Oh, my sweetheart.

You are entering a period

of great fulfillment.

I'm seeing a handsome stranger

coming into your life.

Powerful attraction.

You're like two magnets.

Sally, can you call Lucien Moss

and get me out of my lunch tomorrow?

- Reschedule?

- Well, yes.

- Tell him I'll call to reschedule, yeah.

- Okay.

And arrange a flight to Venice

for my wife and myself for the 25th.

Which reminds me,

I need you to come with me this afternoon.

Yes, they're lovely.

I particularly like that one.

Sally, could you please come?

Take a look at this.

- Which ones are you thinking of?

- These diamonds.

Or the pearls.

- Well, they're both beautiful.

- They are.

Now, what's the best price

you'll give me on these?

Well, these are Victorian diamonds.

Brilliant cut.

These are $50,000.

These are what we call natural pearls.

These are slightly later,

Edwardian, turn-of-the-century,

and these are $15,000.

Which would my wife prefer?

What's she like?

- Remote.

- Remote?

She loves diamonds, but, you know,

these pearls are so sexy.

And so much less expensive.

- Would you like to try them on?

- They're not for me.

I understand, but perhaps it might help,

if the gentleman could see how they looked.

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