01x06 - Slippage

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

NARRATOR:
Man lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes
to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

MAN [clearing throat]:
Good morning, Hall.

Working hard, I see.

You know how we
artists are, Mr. Blake.

It takes a while to
get focused in the morning.

Yeah, so maybe this will
help you get focused.

I can't seem to find
your paycheck in here.

Well, I'll have to check it out
with personnel, I'm afraid.

Not now,
lunch hour will do.

Overlays for Thin Air Vacuum


Keep your eye on the ball, Hall.

Wouldn't want anyone around here

to think you were slipping,
now would we?

Good morning,
Chris.

Thank you,
Mr. Blake.

Sometimes I think that guy got
his diploma from Bulldog High.

Can't wait to see his face
when he hears

we'll be getting practically
twice that check

at Commercial Graphics.

It'd be nice to hear
from them today.

Hey, Rick...

Hmm?

I guess I forgot to tell you.

I got a call late yesterday,
you must have gone home.

$25,000.

An office, a window,
the whole deal--

just like we pictured it.

Hey, all right.

Just like we pictured it.

Congratulations, Chris.

Hey!

We need to
celebrate this.

I'll call Elaine.

Hold on, hold on.

We're going to celebrate,

we're going to do it right--
together.

As soon as you get
the good word, okay?

[phone rings]

Maybe that's them.

Yes?

No, this is extension 25,
Richard Hall.

Chris Wood is 26.

For you.

Yeah, hello.

[phone ringing]
[pop music playing]

Yes, my love?

Now aren't you lucky it
really is your husband?

What if I were some other man?

Oh, but, you see, for me
there is no other man.

Besides, with a voice like that

you could make most any girl
do just about anything.

Mmm...

Well how about telling
me what's in the mail?

Sorry, no mail today.

No mail?

I was expecting at least...

And I'm expecting news
about your new job

at Commercial Graphics.

Sorry,

no news yet.

There's no news?

Well, you'd better call
them, my love.

Well, I was going
to tell you...

And how many times do I
have to tell you sweetheart?

Keep calling.

Now, you don't want them
to forget you, do you?

Please, darling,
do it for my sake

and I'll be right here waiting.

Bye.

[blows kisses, purrs]

Bye.

[clears throat]

[dialing phone]

[line ringing]

WOMAN:
Commercial Graphics.

Uh, Mary Andres please.

This is Mary Andres.

Oh, uh, this is Richard Hall.

Yes, can I help you?

Well, I was just
wondering, uh...

Are you the fellow whose records
they keep telling me to find?

Well, I-I mentioned
that my birth certificate

had been destroyed,

but a duplicate should
arrive at any moment.

I assume you were born.

But, uh, other items,
college transcripts,

Social Security,
I'm still waiting.

But I wrote for those things
over two months ago.

Well, to tell you the truth,
there's another problem.

I'm sorry, can you hold?

Your portfolio--
somehow it's been misplaced.

Misplaced?

How could anyone miss
a large item like that?

I really can't say. I'm sorry.

Please sit tight
a few more days.

I'm sure it'll turn up.

I'm sure it will.

Uh, thank you.

[sighs]

Nothing but thin air.

[humming tune]

Well, Mr. Hall...

Well, what, Mrs. Hall?

How does it look?

Well, I'd say it doesn't
look all that bad.

No cracks,
no blemishes.

Flesh tones are
warm and natural.

But to be sure if
it's art or reality,

I suppose I'd
have to test it

with a kiss.

You know, somebody ought
to give me a spanking.
Yeah.

Here I am, feeling so
sorry for myself,

because someone
misplaces a paycheck.

Somebody else a portfolio,

and all I could ever desire
is taking off my jacket.

They lost your paycheck?

And Commercial lost
my portfolio.

It seems like some
gremlin is out to rob me

of all documentation.

So, you had a lousy day,
it's time to forget it.

I will just hang this up,
fix you a drink, and, uh...

relax.

Elaine?

What?

I thought you said
there was no mail today?

Oh, there wasn't
when you called.

♪ The movies, time
for the movies ♪

♪ Da-dum. ♪

You should read this.

What? The Cross Creek
News Reporter?

You've got to be kidding.

I know you have no interest
in my small town heritage.

but they're closing
down my high school.

They're having a reunion.

Hmm, you don't
say. When?

April 6.

Great...

Oh, you mean yesterday?

Right, yesterday.

Oh, Rick, how many times
do I have to tell you,

forget all those people.

Yeah, look what happens,

now they seemed
to have forgotten me.

I mean, why in the hell
didn't I get an invitation?

Rick, why don't
we watch

somebody's favorite
movie tonight,

It's a Wonderful Life.

I mean, we could call Chris.
I'm sure he'd love to see it.

It's a wonderful life.
Mm-hmm.

You know, the town in
that movie reminds me
a bit of Cross Creek.

And yet my own wife
hasn't ever even seen it.

Well, I told you I will
sometime, sweetheart.

Sometime.

Sometime maybe you'd meet
this guy, Jim Harris.

He used to be a
pretty good friend.

I can't believe this.

He was in charge
of the reunion committee--

he didn't even send me
an invitation.

Rick, where are you going?

I'm going to
call this guy.

Not Chris,

Jim Harris.

I'm sure his number is
here in my old book.

WOMAN:
Hello?

Hi, is Jim Harris there?

This is an old
friend, Rick Hall.

Oh, uh, no he's not.

I'm his wife, Mandy, though.

Oh, I didn't know
he got married.

I'm sure he's talked about me.

I taught him how
to catch the
fattest bass

out of Brady's Lake
when we were both kids.

Really? Oh, well, I'll be
happy to tell him you called.

I was just wondering
why he didn't notify me

about the reunion?

Oh, we sent invitations
out to everyone six weeks ago.

Um, what did you say
your name was?

Rick. Rick Hall.

Or Richard Hall.

Well, I can't remember,
but I'm sure we sent it.

That's odd though.

It sure is.

Jim said he could never bear
the notion of fishing,

just like hunting, you know,
we're both strict vegetarians.

Yeah, uh, perhaps you
might mention I called.

Thank you. Good-bye.

Elaine?
Mm-hmm.

Why was all this
mail thrown out?

And Elaine Anderson,
that's your maiden name.

Oh, that's junk.

Well, the only one
that's opened isn't junk.

Department of Motor Vehicles,
addressed to Elaine Anderson.

The car
registration, right?
Mm-hmm.

Didn't we agree the car
was to be registered in
both of our names?

Well, yeah,
of course we agreed.

Well, where'd you put it?

I don't know,
what does it matter?

You just don't throw away
a car registration, Elaine.

Rick, come on.

Elaine Anderson.

My name isn't even registered
on the car I bought.

Why'd you do this,
Elaine?

Do what, Richard?

Change the car
registration.

Throw away my
reunion invitation.

God knows
what else.

Please, sweetheart,
it... it did...

it struck me as
sort of weird, too,

but I'm sure there's just
a simple explanation.

I'm sure there is.

Chris is in on this, isn't he?

Chris?!

He's your friend.

No. First he was your
friend, remember?

My old friends,
even my family,

they weren't worth
the bother or the time.

Marriage and career were
all that ever mattered,
right, Elaine?

You quit college
to hitch up with me

all because I was going
to be such a big success.

Now you're seeing maybe
you bet on the wrong horse.

That fine new job-- they hired
Chris Wood, not Richard Hall.

You probably knew that
weeks ago, didn't you?

No sweetheart, I didn't.

Look, I am your wife.

I love you.

Take my advice, you and Chris--

stop messing with my head.

Mom.

Look, I'm sorry to get you up
without calling or anything.

But I need to see
you very badly.

Me?

I don't understand?

Who are you?

Who am I?

Mother, I'm your son, Richard.

Please let me in.

I'm very sorry.

There must be some mistake.

I wouldn't say you don't
look familiar somehow.

But a mother should
certainly know

whether or not she's ever
had a son.

And believe me, I never did.

Please, don't
do this to me, Mother.

I know it's been some time,

but I... I... I...

I mean, I'm sorry.

You must think I'm crazy.

I didn't mean to frighten you.

I'm sorry to disturb you,
Mrs. Hall.

Take care of yourself.

Sorry to disturb you...

Mrs. Hall.

Okay, let's see here.

Barbara Jane Henderson.

"Remember thyself to thyself.

To Richie, a true artist."

"Don't sell out, love, Barb."

Well, there's our beautiful
thought for the day.

Maybe we ought to try
and find this girl.

Why? So she can prove to us
that her memory is as lousy

as everybody else's in
that dumpy little town?

I mean, Chris, even his own
mother can't remember him.

Well, she's lived
alone long enough.

She could easily
have become senile.

Or perhaps she
just resents you

for having stolen her
son away so completely.

Why doesn't he just call?

Can't he sense what
this is doing to us?

I mean, three days
without a trace.

I'm beginning to think
we'd all be better off

if he'd never even
been born.

Oh, I didn't mean that,
I really didn't mean that.

It's okay.

It's just that
I'm so confused, and...

It's all right.

Come here.

Oh, Chris.

Wow.

What would I do
without you, huh?

Even before Richard.

You were always there
for me, weren't you?

Hmm?

Uh, look, we, uh,
we can't give up now.

[phone ringing]

I'll get it.

Hello.

Where the hell are you?

Talk louder,
I can't...

Mm-hmm.

Look, just tell me
exactly where you are,
I'll be right over, okay?

Uh-huh.

Okay, now stay
put, I'm coming.

Right now.

It's all right.

That was him,
he just called.

What? That was Richard?
Yes.

It's gonna be all right.

I promise.

It's gonna be all right.

Okay.

[door opening]

I must thank you, Chris, for
convincing Elaine to stay home.

It wasn't easy my friend.
No.

But eventually we all find a way
to make things easier.

Good to see you, Chris.

Elaine and I were just about
at the end of our rope.

You had us thinking the worst.

Worst.

Time to start seeing it
all for the best, Chris.

You could've at least
called, man.

I know.

I just wasn't in control.

First I was blinded with anger,

suspected she was somehow
behind all this.

Suspected you both were.

Then when I saw my mother,

I realized it was
beyond all of us.

Elaine's already fixing a dinner
you're never gonna forget.

What you working on there?

Something for Commercial?

Doesn't look like
Thin Air Vacuums to me.

Take a look.

You see here a man,

his past...

his future...

And present.

For some reason,

known only to forces
beyond all of us,

the layers of time
have steadily been lifted.

Childhood, early friendships,
family,

all passed.

Rick, Elaine is waiting.

Okay, now you can just give us
your explanations later.

Later.

Well, don't you see?

Without future or past,

you can't remain like
this much longer.

The wife, the friend,

they still see
a future and a past.

We can find you help.

For all of this.

Can you help this, Chris?

You try it.

Look closely.

Is that you, Chris?

We know ourselves
as we reflect.

We need to connect all
dimensions to live.

Richard Hall cared
less and less to connect.

So he started to slip
through the cracks of time,

till his reflection became more
and more one-dimensional.

Till it was too late
to control the forces

beyond all reflection.

[voice echoing]:
I'm a memory
that's slipping, Chris.

Fading fast now.

To zero...

Elaine.

ELAINE:
♪ Da-dum. ♪

You like it?

Yeah.

I... Elaine, I...
couldn't bring...

Richard back.

Well, uh to be perfectly
honest with you, Chris,

I always figured one
man was enough.

Listen, I know this must be
very difficult for you.

Yeah, well, men like you are
always a bit difficult at first.

But, uh, why don't you just
relax and I'll get some wine.

I hope you've still
got the tickets.

Now, this should
help a difficult day,

in the life of a rising young
star in the design industry.

So, what were you gonna
tell me about this,
uh, Richard person?

Richard?

Who's Richard?

[laughs]
I don't know.

And, um...

to be perfectly honest with
you, I really don't care.

NARRATOR:
The darkside is always there.

Waiting for us to enter.

Waiting to enter us.

Until next time, try
to enjoy the daylight.