Late Tuesday afternoon, Marie is alone in her hotel room, preparing to meet Cliff for dinner. When the phone rings she has just stepped from the shower. On the fourth ring she picks up the phone: “Hello, this better be important because I’m dripping water on the carpet. I assume this is Cliff.”
“No, Marie. It’s Cliff’s wife.”
Startled, Marie hesitates. “Oh,” she says finally.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Marie. Shall I call back later?”
“No, Jane. What’s up?”
“I wanted to know if…if you’re really serious about Cliff.”
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Does Cliff know?”
“I think so.”
“Didn’t you two discuss it last night?”
“We talked--but that’s a matter between Cliff and me.”
“Jane, I don’t care what you two talked about, as long as it wasn’t me. But more to the point of this call, why do you want to know how I feel about Cliff? The question you should ask is how does Cliff feel about me?”
“All right. How does Cliff feel about you?”
“Ask him.”
“Marie, I did. He says he won’t give you up.”
“So, why this phone call?”
“Because I want you to give him up. It would mean a lot to Sally.”
“Don’t try to kid me, Jane. It’s not Sally you’re concerned about--it’s you.”
“I’m concerned about both of us. I want my family back.”
“So why didn’t you do something about it when Cliff needed you? Why did you
ignore him for thirteen years?”
“Marie, that’s none of your damn business.”
“You’re right. My interest is Cliff. He loves me. I love him. We’re going to be
married. End of conversation.”
“Wait! Don’t hang up. Can you trust Cliff? How do you know he won’t have another breakdown? How do you know he won’t cheat on you as he did on me?”
“You know, Jane, you’re really desperate.”
“Yes. If I lose Cliff, I’ll probably lose Sally too. I’ll be all alone.”
“I suggest you work it out with Cliff. And, Jane, do yourself a favor: Don’t tell him about this call.”
Jane’s only response is to hang up the phone.
Marie reviews the call in her mind: What a bitch, she says. I wonder what messed up Cliff the most, the war, his father, or his wife? She did seem disturbed though. Maybe I should call Cliff. No, if he wants my help, he'll ask for it. Of course, he could have asked at breakfast. Maybe he'll bring it up at dinner.
At sunset Cliff and Marie return to the Cliff House restaurant. For several minutes they sit quietly, lost in the stunning panoramic view of the California coast. The scene has a mesmerizing effect on Cliff until at last he takes Marie's hand in his, smiles, and looks deep into her eyes.
“Marie, instead of returning to Cincinnati tomorrow, let’s hop a steamer and sail out there beyond the sunset. Let’s find our own private isle. Just you and me…and perhaps a good take-out service.”
Marie laughs. “You had me worried until you mentioned the take out service. If it
will make you happy, I’ll go anywhere you say, whenever you say.”
“Sweetheart, have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Not since we left home. I guess you‘ve been too busy.”
“That, my Sweet, is unforgivable. Nothing should come between you and me.”
“Does that include your wife?”
“You mean, my soon-to-be-ex-wife.”
“Are you sure?”
“You did say you would marry me, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but that was before…last night.”
“Marie, the only thing that happened last night was that I got a little tight, made
a clumsy pass at Jane, and told her I would never give you up.”
“Do you think she believed you?”
“I hope so. It’s finally over between Jane and me. She and Sally will have to get used
to it. Now that I’ve fixed my life--with your help--I don’t intend to screw it up again.”
“Thanks, Cliff. Your life is my life. We’re joined at the hip.”
“Are you sure it’s the hip?”
“Whatever makes you happy.”
“Want to skip dinner and mess around?”
“I suggest dinner first. Oysters would be nice. Then--
“We mess around.”
“Sounds like a plan, Tiger.”
Soon after Cliff and Marie arrive in his hotel room, Sally calls. When Cliff asks her about the trip to Lexington, she says, “Dad, I’ll tell you all about it later. Right now
I want to know about your meeting with Mom.”
“Fine,” says Cliff. “She enjoyed the cocktail party, and later we talked.”
“That much I know. Mom called me this morning and seemed unhappy. In fact, Dad, she was awfully depressed, and confused, almost incoherent. She mumbled a lot.”
“She was fine when she left me last night.”
“She said you asked her to stay the night.”
"That was a mistake, but it was late, and she’d had a few drinks. When she decided to go home, I made sure she got into a cab. Like I said, your mother was fine.”
“I tried to call her tonight, but got no answer.”
“Maybe she has a date.”
“I don’t think so, Dad. You were the only man on her mind this morning. She kept
repeating your name over and over. Mom is afraid of losing you.”
“Why did she wait thirteen years to say so? Suddenly, she doesn’t want to see me
with another woman. If I were playing the hermit back in Cincy, she’d be content.”
“Don’t you care for Mom any more?”
“Of course I do, Sal. I told her so last night. I also told her that it would be unhealthy for us to live together. I don’t want to mess up her life again, and I sure as hell don’t want to mess up mine. We’ll be a lot happier living separate lives.”
“I wonder. I’ve never seen her so down in the dumps. I’m concerned.”
“You want me to call her?”
“No, I want you to go see her. Please, Dad.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, Sal. It’s late, but I’ll do it.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow morning before Marie and I go to the airport.”
“Thanks.”
Cliff hangs up the phone and says to Marie, “I guess you got the gist of that call.”
“You don’t want me to go with you, do you?”
“Yes, but I think I’d better go alone. If Jane is as erratic as Sally says she is, I don’t want to get you involved.”
“Thank you, Tiger, but I’m already involved. Jane called me earlier to ask if I would give you up.”
“Damn. I’m sorry about that,” he says, as he wraps Marie in his arms.
“I’d better call Jane,” he says, “and tell her I’m coming out to see her.” He picks up the phone and dials her number in Sausalito. He lets the phone ring about ten times before he hangs up. “I don’t like this,” he says to Marie. “Something’s wrong.” He calls the Sausalito police department, identifies himself, and explains that his wife is supposed to be home but fails to answer the phone. He relates his concern, gives the police officer Jane’s address, and asks him to send somebody to the house to check on her. “I’ll wait by this phone until I hear from you. I’m a guest at the Griffin Hotel in San Francisco.”
Marie takes Cliff‘s hand. “Do you want me to stay with you?”
“No, Marie. It’s after midnight. You should get some sleep if you plan to fly back to Cincinnati in the morning. I’ll remain here until I find out that Jane’s ok.” Cliff and Marie embrace.
“You sure you want me to go?”
“Yes.”
“Cliff, I feel that whatever is wrong is my fault.“
“Marie, if there is something wrong, the fault is mine.”
“I’ll worry about you, so please call me as soon as you find out about Jane.”
“I will, Sweetheart. Now go to bed.” Cliff walks her to the door and kisses her.
When he is alone, the phone rings. The voice on the other end tells him that Jane is unconscious from an overdose of Valium.
“My God! Will she be all right?”
“I don’t know,” says the voice.
“Emergency is taking her to Marin General Hospital.”
“As soon as you give me directions, I’ll be on my way.”
Cliff hangs up, calls Marie, then calls for a cab.
Finally, he calls Sally.
