01x09 - The Constant Companion

[bunniefuu]

GINGER: I'm getting really
curious about these flowers.

There's been a fresh batch here
every morning for about a week.

I thought it was you. No, ma'am.

Gone. Missing. Well,
how'd that happen?

MECHANIC: Either somebody
wanted a distributor cap,

or they didn't want
Mrs. Ward here

to get home this afternoon.

Who is this?

Say something, damn it!

[GASPS]

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

[WINDOW BLINDS SLIDE]

[CHILDREN SHOUTING
PLAYFULLY OUTSIDE]

[BANGING]

Gordon?

Yeah?

Could you come in for a minute?

I'm getting really curious
about these flowers.

Yeah, I noticed.

There's been a fresh bunch here
every morning for about a week.

One of the kids, maybe.

No. The kids are gone when
I leave at the end of the day.

And I get here an hour
before they do in the morning.

Besides, I asked.

You know, when
kindergartners give gifts,

they are not coy about it.

Well, if you're thinkin' I've
been puttin' them there,

forget it.

If you haven't figured it
out by lunch, call the FBI.

I will.

You know, something like, uh...

"Don't look for Sid
Fairgate in a paneled office.

Look for him under
a car, your car."

You know, something like that.

[WHISPERS] Manifest Destiny.

Honey, could I have
some more coffee?

Mm-hm.

Uh, Val?

Hmm?

Uh... nothing.

I've gotta go, anyway.

Honey? Hmm?

You okay?

Sure. Why?

I don't know. You just seem
someplace else this morning.

Well, I guess I'm just
a little slow waking up.

Mmm.

You have a good day,
and I'll see you later. Okay?

Okay.

[CAR ENGINE STARTS OUTSIDE]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Manifest Destiny was the idea

that the United States
was entitled, by divine right,

to expand anywhere
in North America.

Oh, right. Darn.

Now, Polk, the president,
used the idea of Manifest Destiny

to justify the w*r
with Mexico in 18...

Uh...



Oh, 1848.1848.

Dumbbell.

Okay, kids,

I want everybody to put their
empty milk cartons in the trash.

One at a time.

Good work.

[CHILDREN TALKING INDISTINCTLY]

Good.

Uh, kids, you've all noticed
the fresh flowers on my desk.

CHILDREN: Yeah.

They're daisies.

They're chrysanthemums.

[MISPRONOUNCES] Chrysanthenum.

Chrysanthemums.

Chrysanthemums.

Right. And they really
brighten up the room, don't they?

CHILDREN: Yeah.

You know, the only thing is, I
don't know who puts them there.

Me.

You?

Yeah.

You put them there
every morning?

Maybe.

No, he doesn't.

He's in my car pool, and
he doesn't bring flowers.

He only said maybe.

I only said maybe.

You only said maybe.

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

[IGNITION FALTERS]

[IGNITION FALTERS]

[IGNITION FALTERING]

MAN: Trouble?

Oh, Arthur. My car won't start.

I noticed.

Um, did you open the hood?

No. But I will.

What are we looking for?

I don't know.

Then why are we looking?

Well, that's what you do
when your car won't start.

You, uh, open the hood
and look at the engine.

[LAUGHS]

It's not helping. I'll
call the auto club.

Gary, what are you doing home?

Ah, I forgot these ad layouts.

What's all this?

The United States from the
Constitution to the Civil w*r.

What's going on?

Well, I'm studying.

Yeah, I can see that.

What for?

Well, I'm taking a high
school equivalency test

to try and get my diploma.

Honey, that's terrific.
Why didn't you tell me?

Well, I... I thought
I'd surprise you.

Val.

All right. I don't know.

It... It... It's just kind
of hard to explain.

It's just that sometimes I feel
like such a dunce around here.

I mean, Karen's got a college
education and... And so's Ginger.

I mean, even Laura's
had some college.

I got no education
at all to speak of.

Honey, I can understand
why you're doing it.

What I don't understand
is why you're doing it alone.

You afraid you
might not make it?

No.

Hmm. Maybe.

Honey, that's silly.

You're intelligent.
You're smart.

The test isn't that hard.

I could help you. Uh,
Karen or Laura could.

Yeah, but if I took
the test and failed,

then they'd know about it.

Val, they're your friends.

But that won't
make any difference.

I'd still have failed.

Look, I... I... I don't wanna
talk about it anymore.

I'm gonna do it my
way, and that's that.

I'm even sorry that
you know about it.

The distributor cap's gone.

Broken?

No. Gone. Missing.

Well, how'd that happen?

It happened because
somebody took it.

Why would anybody take it?

I'm a mechanic.
Buddy, not a psychic.

Either somebody
wanted a distributor cap

or they got a weird
sense of humor,

or they didn't want
Mrs. Ward here

to get home this afternoon.

[♪♪♪]

So now what do I do?

Well, I can tow it in
and replace the cap.

That's gonna be tomorrow.

If it's not too far out of the
way. I can give you a lift.

ARTHUR: Oh, I've got my car.

I'll drive you home.

Okay.

Thanks for the...

Oh, what a lovely house.

Must be spacious in there.
You mind if I have a look?

Very nice.

Spacious.

Mother and I have two bedrooms,

but we're really
cramped, you know?

Ooh, look at this.

Somebody must be a music buff.

My husband, he's...
Ooh, I love your art.

It's... It's got
so much vitality.

Do you have any coffee?

I'll... I'll heat some up.

I love jazz.

People say it's the only art
form to originate in America.

Mother loves music. She
says it's the pulse of the soul.

Oh! Ow!

This crummy potholder!

You've b*rned
yourself. Wait right here.

Oh. Arthur, don't bother.
I'll only be a minute.

Hey, babe.

Kenny, you're home.

Mm-hm. Mmm!

Missed the old man,
huh? You know I did.

Hi. Arthur Sedley here.

Uh, Kenny Ward.
Uh, what's going on?

Oh, we're colleagues,
your wife and I, at school.

The car broke down.
Arthur gave me a ride home.

Uh-huh. And...

Oh, she b*rned her finger.

Ice is the best thing for burns.

Uh-huh. Well, looks like
you've got it under control.

Uh, Kenny, I haven't had a
chance to make dinner yet.

So, um, we'll have
to have leftovers.

That's fine with me.
Arthur, are you gonna stay?

Oh, no. I couldn't.

Oh, not for leftovers.

[MUSIC PLAYS ON STEREO]

Oh, come on. You do
great things with leftovers.

I'm gonna change.

Excuse me for a minute.

[KENNY WHISTLING]

Hey, honey.

Kenny, not tonight.
Not Arthur. He is weird.

Ah, come on.
Relax. He likes you.

It's cute.

Actually, my first
love is entomology.

I mean, I'm always working
on my collection at home.

Did you know the
female praying mantis

devours her spouse
right after mating?

Doesn't leave much chance
for matrimonial infidelity there.

Or for alimony, either.

On the other hand, the
South American centipede...

Kenny, it's
getting awfully late.

Oh, yeah. Time does fly.

And I've got to be
up early tomorrow.

It's been found that a
human being could get by

on four hours' sleep.

Not this human being.

You'll have to
excuse us, Arthur.

Thanks again for the ride.

Oh, your poor car.

Will you be needing a
ride to school tomorrow?

No. Kenny can take me.
I've got to be off early.

Really, I don't mind.

It might not be a
bad idea. That's okay.

I've gotta be at school
early. Thanks again, Arthur.

Art. And it was my pleasure.

Nice to meet you.

Yeah.

Bye.

Bye.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Oh, Ken, we should get together
and swap records sometime.

I've got some fascinating
African rhythms.

Uh, great, yeah.

Good night. Good night.

Goodnight, Arthur. Bye. Bye.

He is so weird.

Hey.

That's not like you.

What's going on, huh?

I don't know. Your
guess is as good as mine.

Kenny, someone left
these for me today.

And they've left flowers
every day of the week.

I thought it was you.

No, ma'am.

Maybe it was Arthur.

I don't know. Maybe.

He's just weird enough.

Those are kids'
books, aren't they?

You figure it out. I
thought sure it was you.

Honey?

[SIGHS]

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?

CHILD [ON PHONE]: Mommy.
Daddy. Mommy. Daddy.

Arthur. Arthur!

[SIGHS]

[READS INDISTINCTLY]

Oh, God.

Four, two, eight, nine,
one, three, oh, seven, one...

[SIGHS]

Yeah. Nine, three,
five, one. Okay.

GINGER: Okay,
everybody. Come on, let's go.

Come on. Come on. In here.

Come on, everybody. Right now.

Go ahead.

Now, Denny, the boys have
their room and the girls have theirs.

Why? Why?

Because we're at school,
that's why. It's different here.

Because why?

Well, just because
that's the way it is.

We'll talk about it later.

Got another package, Mrs. Ward.

Aren't you the one?

Gordon's delivery
service. That's me.

Another present?

Uh, and 704.

Yeah?

And... Oh, that doesn't...

All right. Now, um, D
dimes and 2N nickels.

Number of cents altogether...

But if I add...

[ALARM CLOCK RINGS]

Oh. I...

I...

Oh, God.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[SIGHS]

I just...

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Oh.

[SIGHS]

It just...

Oh.

Arthur, what do you
think you're doing?

I'd like to explain.

Explain right now.

Well, I shouldn't have
walked away like that.

I was embarrassed.

Why are you doing this?

Well, I thought you'd like...

that you could use a potholder,

so you wouldn't burn yourself.

What about the corsage
and the perfume?

What are you talking about?

You left these things.

Oh, no. I'd never be so forward.

You're a married woman.

Besides, I'm allergic
to all kinds of flowers.

Arthur, I don't
want any more gifts.

Oh, I should've known that
potholder was a stupid idea.

Look, if I've offended you...

You don't have to buy me
things. I don't want them.

I didn't buy you anything.

I gotta go, Ginger.

[ARTHUR STARTS CAR ENGINE]

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?

CHILD: Mommy. Daddy.

Who is this?

Say something, damn it!

[SIGHS]

How's it going?

It isn't.

Uh... maybe get a little sleep?

Sleep isn't gonna help, Gary.

There's just too
much that I don't know.

Honey... maybe you
can't prepare for this

all by yourself.

Look, there's nothing
wrong with asking for help,

especially when it's something
that's so important to you.

Or maybe you've gotta
decide what is important to you.

Your pride or this test.

There's something here.
These gifts, those calls.

It's like the pieces to a big
puzzle that isn't complete.

Well, let's see, you got,
um, flowers, you got perfume,

and, uh, children's books.

It's déjà vu.

I've seen these
things somewhere.

I just don't know where.

Well, I told you I thought

Arthur Sedley was kind
of strange, and I still do.

And I told you about today.

Yeah.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Just a second.

Miss Ginger Kilman?

I'm Ginger Ward.
Kilman's my maiden name.

That'll do.

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, Miss Kilman ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

It's not my birthday, and
it won't be for five months.

The world is full of surprises.

Many happy returns.

Let's see.

Well, it weighs a ton.

Well, it's your
cake. Open her up.

Oh, what the hell is that?
Is that guy completely nuts?

Look, you and I are gonna
pay a visit to Arthur Sedley.

I wanna find out what
that jerk thinks he's doing.

Ginger?

Ginger, come on.

Um, Mother's not feeling
well. You'll have to excuse her.

Look, Arthur, this
has gone far enough.

What are you talking about?

Look, if you're turned on to my
wife, why don't you just say so.

Well, I am... I am
fond of Ginger.

Well, these little gifts
and sneaking around

are not the way to deal with it.

Kenny... Well, I...

I would never infringe on
the sanctity of your marriage.

You must believe that.

Yeah, well, you've
scared Ginger, terrified her,

and disrupted our lives.

Hey, it's gotta stop.

Arthur, I think you're
a kind person. I...

I swear to you I haven't
done anything. Nothing.

Kenny, it isn't Arthur.

Well, then, who is it?

Oh.

[PICKS UP PHONE, DIALS NUMBER]

[SIGHS]

Laura? Hi, it's Val.

Well, nothing much.

Well, um, actually, somethin'.

Uh, could you come on
over for a cup of coffee?

Oh, great. Okay. I'll
see you in a bit, then.

Okay. Bye-bye.

[SIGHS]

Karen? Oh, hi. It's Val.

Uh, listen, are you doing
anything this morning?

There's been no
crime. No threats.

Some harassment,

but even the phone calls
have been pretty innocuous.

Well, don't forget
about Arthur Sedley.

We won't, but your wife isn't
sure he's guilty of anything,

except maybe
falling in love with her.

Mrs. Ward, think.

More often than
not in these cases,

the person being harassed
knows the harasser.

Really?

Really.

I mean, these people don't
usually pick someone at random.

Make a list.

Include everyone, anyone,
who might be interested in you.

Colleagues, casual
acquaintances.

Don't leave anyone out.

I'm gonna forget about that
concert in San Francisco, hon.

This individual doesn't strike
me as particularly dangerous.

You haven't been threatened,
really. Just bothered.

Listen. I'm through at six.

Uh, I'll come back, and
we'll go over your list.

Ginger?

Oh, if I get crazy, I can... I
can go see Karen and Laura.

You sure?

I'll be okay.

You get started on your list,
and I'll come back this evening.

Thanks, lieutenant.

Hey.

Are you gonna be okay?

I feel a lot better now.

I can stay.

No. You go ahead and
go. Then hurry home.

Okay.

Define the Pythagorean theorem.

I think it has something
to do with a triangle.

Yeah, right. But...
Yeah. A trian... Yeah.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Schmoozing the day away?

LAURA: No. No.

We're helping Val study

for her high school
equivalency exam tomorrow.

Didn't even graduate
from high school?

No.

And she's gonna pass
with flying colors too.

Yeah. If they don't ask
me about that Pytha...

Pythagorean theorem.

Yeah.

Well, that's simple.

The square of the hypotenuse

is equal to the sum of the
squares of the other two sides.

That's easy for you to say.

I'll show ya.

RICHARD: Here.

Right-angle triangle. Right?

VAL: Right.

All right. The Kn*fe is
the hypotenuse, right?

Right.

All right, now, the
old Greek was saying

that the fork squared
plus the spoon squared

is equal to the Kn*fe squared.

That's simple.

That's what I said.

Now, can we have some dinner?

[♪♪♪]

[DOG BARKING]

[BABY CRYING]

[WOMAN HUMMING LULLABY]

[TOY SQUEAKS]

CHILD: Mommy. Daddy.

[XYLOPHONE PLAYING "TWINKLE,
TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR" ON TAPE]

[CHILDREN LAUGHING
AND SHOUTING PLAYFULLY]

[BABY CRYING]

[WOMAN HUMMING LULLABY]

[TOY SQUEAKS]

CHILD: Mommy.

Daddy.

[XYLOPHONE PLAYING "TWINKLE,
TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR" ON TAPE]

[CHILDREN LAUGHING
AND SHOUTING PLAYFULLY]

Kenny Ward, please.

Oh, no. He can't...

I mean, can I get him a message?

Midnight?

Oh, just tell him
his wife called.

[GASPS]

Mrs. Ward? Is
everything all right?

Yes, of course. You
just startled me. Come in.

You were leaving.

Just to run next door.

So your husband left after all?

Yes.

The list?

Oh.

Is something the
matter, Mrs. Ward?

This came for me today.

Have you listened to it?

And?

And it's strange, just
like everything else.

I'd like to hear it, please.

[BABY CRYING]

[WOMAN HUMMING LULLABY]

[TOY SQUEAKS]

CHILD: Mommy. Daddy.
What do you make of it?

It's just sounds.

Very carefully structured.

[XYLOPHONE PLAYING "TWINKLE,
TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR" ON TAPE]

What comes to mind
when you hear it?

[CHILDREN LAUGHING
AND SHOUTING PLAYFULLY]

Does it... trigger anything?

[SOBBING] I think so.

Well, tell me about it.

It's very personal.

I'm here, dear. It's okay.

You bastard!

Mrs. Ward, please. I
was only trying to help.

Just go.

Just get out.

All right.

But when you calm down,
you know where to reach me.

[GINGER CRYING]

[SOBBING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

Karen. Karen. Karen.

SID: What? What's the matter?

Come inside.

I was 16, and I
really didn't want to,

but my mother insisted.

She thought it was the
best thing, and maybe...

After I had the abortion,
John and I drifted apart.

Neither one of us really
wanted to break up, but...

Somewhere in the
back of my mind,

I knew what those gifts meant.

That tape made me realize.

The corsage was like the kind
he gave me for the junior prom,

and... that perfume was...

the same he used to give me.

The baby things
were the hardest.

It's so strange.

After all these years...

why is he blaming me?

Maybe he's blaming himself
and just taking it out on you.

I loved John.

I wanted that
baby. I really did.

It would've been 8
years old this month.

The birthday cake.

The books.

I don't know what to do.

I haven't seen John in years.

Do you know where he lives?

No.

[SNIFFS]

We lost touch years ago.

His mother lives in
the same place, I think.

Maybe you could
reach him through her,

if you really want to.

Ah.

Mrs. Handleman always liked me,

but... if John were there...

You gotta face up
to him sometime.

Why don't you just
take Kenny with you.

I've never told Kenny.

Oh.

I'll go with you.
I'll be Kenny, huh?

Would you?

Yeah.

[LAUGHS]

You wanna go tomorrow?

First thing in the morning.

Okay.

I'm not gonna go
to school. I can't.

No, of course not.
Just stay here tonight.

Yeah. You shouldn't be alone.

Thank you.

Oh.

Well...

Yep.

Guess I ought to go on inside.

Mm-hm.

Uh, I could walk
you in, if you like.

No, no, no, no. That's
okay. I... I gotta do this alone.

Hey. What?

Give us a kiss.

[GIGGLES]

I love you.

I love you.

WOMAN: After my
husband passed on,

there was only
Johnny and myself.

So I decided to keep the house.

A bit roomy for the two of us,

but wonderful

for a g*ng of
kids to grow up in.

Oh.

I was the unofficial den
mother for about 15 youngsters.

This was their clubhouse.
I loved every second of it.

It kept this place
alive and young.

Kids'll do that.

Not that they weren't
a handful sometimes.

Oh.

Oh, yes, you were, Ginger.

Running all over the place.

Playing basketball and tennis.

Do you remember the
Fourth of July parties?

We had Chinese lanterns
all over the garden.

Oh, my.

We'd have a barbecue.

The kids would dance.

Then, one by one,
they started growing up.

Drifting off to
school, traveling.

[LAUGHS]

I got postcards from
the craziest places.

Tangiers, Istanbul,
South America.

How many children did
you say you had, Karen?

Three. Two boys and a girl.

Oh, how wonderful.

You'll be a grandmother soon.

Not too soon.

[BOTH LAUGH]

And this one.

When are you gonna
start a family, Ginger?

Soon, I hope. When
Kenny gets established.

Don't wait too long.

Children are a
special blessing...

most of the time.

Johnny was a little
rascal sometimes,

but I wouldn't have exchanged
him for anything in the world.

Mrs. Handleman...

Please, dear, Beatrice.

Beatrice, where is John?

I'd like to get in
touch with him.

Oh, Ginger, I'm sorry.
I thought you knew.

Knew what?

Right after high school...

Johnny went into the Marines.

He went to Vietnam.

I know. He came back.

Wounded. There
were complications.

Johnny d*ed nearly
six months ago.

Oh, come on. How was it?

It was a test.

[LAUGHS]

I did it. It's
over, and I did it.

And I even finished in time.

[LAUGHS]

I'm so happy.

KAREN: That poor woman.

Just her and her flowers.

I kept thinking,
"What would I do

"if I were suddenly
left all alone?

How would I cope?"

Ha. I'm afraid I might do
just what Beatrice is doing.

Sitting out on a patio,

surrounded by
memories and flowers.

She must spend all day
tending those flowers.

She's the one.

She's doing this to me. What?

Mrs. Handleman.

Trying to make me suffer
the way she's suffering.

Beatrice? Don't you see?

The gifts, the flowers.

Only she could have
known about them.

And about the baby
that John and I were...

Ginger?

Ginger, where are you going?

[SIGHS]

What's going on?

Uh, I gotta get dinner.

It's you who's been sending
me those things, isn't it?

Phoning.

I'm sure I don't know
what you're talking about.

Yes, you do know.
And you've got to stop it.

I know how you
must feel about John.

You know?

[LAUGHS]

How could you
possibly know how I feel?

I loved John.

Did you, Ginger?

It was a terrible thing, and
it happened to both of us.

And I live with that.

Oh, I love this garden so.

I spend hours out here.

You and Johnny
enjoyed the flowers too.

I remember.

I watched you, from
the window upstairs.

The two of you...
and the flowers.

Some mothers might
have been angry, but...

I thought you were
so beautiful together.

Johnny... was a
handsome boy, wasn't he?

Mrs. Handleman,
I wanted that baby.

You k*lled that baby.

As easily as swatting
a fly on a windowsill.

Easily? I was 16 years old.

John and I were
scared and confused.

My mother found out.

She made me do it.

She thought it was
the best thing for me.

And maybe it was.

My son's child? My grandchild.

Conceived right out
there in my garden.

Come here, Ginger.

Come here and look. See
what's left of my dreams.

You don't understand.

You k*lled my grandchild.

Then you k*lled my son.

As surely as if you'd
sh*t him yourself.

John would never
have gone to Vietnam

if that baby had been born.

Well, I have to live with
that every day of my life,

and I want you
to live with it too.

And don't you think I do?

That baby was taken
from me. From inside of me.

There's been a part of me
that has been empty ever since.

And that loss is just as
real to me as yours is.

I've tried to bury
these memories

and get on with my life.

And you're trying
to keep them alive

and you're dying
from the effort.

I'm not going to suffer
for you, Mrs. Handleman,

or with you.

I won't.

[GROANS]

Yeah.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Ginger?

Hey. Kenny.

Hey, babe.

Mmm.

Oh! How's my girl? You okay?

It's all over.

Oh, yeah? What happened?

There was this
boy, a long time ago.

When we split up, he joined
the Marines and went to Vietnam.

He d*ed.

His mother kind of flipped out.

She wanted me to hurt too.

She wanted me to suffer.

I just came from her house.

Did you get it all
straightened out?

She won't bother us anymore.

Good.

Right now, all I want is you...

close to me.

Well, you got it.

[♪♪♪]