02x02 - Fog Closing In

[bunniefuu]

Good evening,
friends and others.

Tonight...

Madam, some of our audience
are having difficulty
in seeing.

Would you mind?

Thank you.

On the theory
that what was good enough
for Shakespeare

is good enough for us,

we plan to open tonight's play
with a maid soliloquizing
as she dusts.

Unfortunately,
tonight happens to be
the maid's night out.

I'm expecting
an important call.

It must be
Scotland Yard calling.

Yes? Thank you.

It was.

They say I am being watched.

That's very gratifying
for a television performer.

Tonight's play is entitled
"Fog Closing In. "

Fog.

I don't suppose any of you
are familiar with that word.

It's an American expression
meaning...

Well, it's really hard
to explain to anyone
who hasn't experienced it.

The word
has no English equivalent.

Oh, well,
it isn't too important.

We'd better go on
with the play.

No.

Don't worry,
it won't go off.

I know
how to handle a g*n.

I don't care.
Just put it back
in the drawer.

You said you'd feel better
while I was away
if you had a g*n.

I was wrong.

It wouldn't help.

What would, Mary?

I don't know. I...

Not being left alone in this
enormous old house, I suppose.

You're the one who wanted
to take it. We could have had
that apartment in town.

Yes, I suppose we could have.

Only it was so small.

Nobody would have been able
to stay overnight,
let alone...

Let alone move in permanently.

Isn't that
what you were going to say?

Not permanently necessarily,
but...

The answer is still no.

We had your parents
with us for five years.

Do you dislike them so much?

I don't dislike them at all.
I just don't want them
living with us.

And what's more, I'm tired
of arguing about it,
so let's drop it right now.

You think I'm being
terribly selfish, don't you?

I don't know
what you're being, Mary.

I've almost given up
trying to figure you out.

All I know is, I moved
out here from the East
to get away from your parents,

to get you away
from them.

And you're not going
to talk me into
bringing them out here

and starting the whole thing
all over again,
and that's final.

I'm going downstairs
to wait for my cab.

You called for a cab, sir?

Oh, yes,
wait just a second, please.

Arthur. Arthur, I'm...

I'm sorry.
I... I'm so sorry.

Would you wait in the cab?
I'll be right out.

Sure.

Arthur, I...

I don't want to keep
the cab waiting, Mary.

Of course not.

I just couldn't let you
leave without telling you
how sorry I am.

Okay.
Let's forget it, now.

I don't blame you
for being angry with me.

I promised myself
I wouldn't
bring the subject up again,

but then when I realized
you'd be gone
a whole week, I...

Mary, I'm a salesman.
I have to spend a certain
amount of time on the road.

Yes, I know you do.

That's what I meant before.
I wasn't really being selfish.

I was thinking
about you, too.

Oh?

I know how much it's costing
you to keep that house
for my parents and...

Don't you see,
if they could come here
and live with us,

then we'd only have
one house to run,

and you wouldn't have
the expense of paying

Mrs. Connolly to come
and stay with me
while you're away and...

And you'd be happier.

Yes, I'd be happier.

Why?

Well, I...

I love them, and I miss them,

and I'd feel safer
if they were here with me.

Safe from what?
What is it you're afraid of?

I don't know.

Well, isn't it about time
you found out?

You can't go on
being like this
for the rest of your life.

I don't want to be.

But you're away so much.

My being away hasn't
anything to do with it.

You're not any better
when I'm here.
You're still afraid.

Afraid of everything.

I don't know how
to make you feel safe, Mary.
I just don't know.

It wasn't like this before,
when Mother and Daddy
were with us.

You're years old!

You can't go on clinging
to your parents
for the rest of your life.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Honey, don't.

Look, I know
I sound tough sometimes,
but I don't mean to.

It's just that
I'm trying to help you.

But I don't know how.
Tell me how, Mary.
Tell me what I can do.

You've done everything.
I don't know
what more you can do.

I don't know
why you even put up with me.

It's because I love you.

It's because I want us
to have a life together,
a good life.

Oh, so do I, Arthur.

I don't know
why I'm this way.
Honestly, I don't.

Let's do something about it.

What can we do?

Mary, whatever is wrong,
whatever you're afraid of

or running away from,
it just isn't real.

It's something in your mind.

So, maybe a psychiatrist...

You mean, you think

I'm losing my mind?

Of course not.
I didn't say that.

Going to a psychiatrist
isn't anything today.

Lots of people go.
People who need help
because they're troubled.

I can't do it, Arthur.

Please don't ask me to.
Please.

You want to find out,
don't you?

I'm not...
I'm not sure that I do.

Maybe it's
something terrible.

But, Mary...

You better go.
He's getting impatient.

All right.

But will you do me a favor?
Will you at least think
about it while I'm gone?

Yes, I'll think about it.

Take it easy, huh?

Mrs. Connolly should be here
pretty soon, so you won't
have to be alone long.

Yes, I'll be all right.

That's better.

The office will know
where to reach me,
if you need me.

Oh, incidentally,
will you do me one more favor?

I know you'll want
to call your father,

but will you wait
until after :
when the rates go down?

Yes.

Our telephone bill last month
looked like the national debt.

Yes, I'll wait.
Goodbye, Arthur.

So long.

Long distance?

Operator, could you tell me
the difference in the rate
to New York City

before : and after : ?

Oh, as much as all that.

No, I'd better wait till : .

Thank you.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Mr. Connolly.
How are you?

Don't tell me
your wife's not coming.

Oh. Oh, thank heavens.

For a minute I was frightened.
No, she isn't here yet.

Is there anything wrong?
You're sure?

Yes, I'll have her call you
as soon as she gets here.

Goodbye.

Hello, Operator?

I'd like to place a call
to New York, please.

Yes, the number is...

Oh, you frightened me.

How'd you get in here?

Here, kitty.

Don't be afraid.
I'm not gonna hurt you.

Who are you?

Please let me stay here
for a little while,
and then I'll go away.

I promise you, I'll go away.

You're hiding from someone,
aren't you?

Yeah.

Police?

No.

Now, please don't ask me
any more questions.

'Cause I'm not going to
hurt you, really I'm not.

If you're not hiding
from the police,

then you must be
from the hospital.
The State Hospital?

I'm not going back there.
I'm not gonna go back there.

Are they trying to make you?

They're gonna be here
any minute.
They warned everybody.

They said I'm dangerous.

They said I do
terrible things to people,
but that's not true.

Because if I did,
I'd remember it.

You can't do things
and not remember them,
can you?

I don't know.

Oh, I'm so tired.

All I wanna do is rest.

I've been running for hours
and hiding and...

You can't rest standing up
in the hall.

You better come
into the living room.

No, I can't.
They'll see me
through the window.

Oh, no, they won't.
The blinds are closed.
Come on.

Look, you don't need to worry.
You can trust me.

You won't tell them I'm here
when they come, will you?

No, I won't tell them.

I know what it's like
to be afraid of a place.

Come on. Come on.

Be careful!

There's no one out there.

Look, why don't you
stretch out and rest?

There's no time.
They're right behind me.

They're gonna be here
any minute.

Even a few minutes
would help.

And I'll get you
something hot to drink.

Why are you being
so kind to me?

I suppose I understand
what it's like to be afraid.

You know,
you're luckier than I am.

You're afraid
of being shut up.

And I don't even know
what I'm afraid of,
and it's worse.

Much worse.

There's nothing worse
than being shut up. Nothing!

Oh, but you're wrong.

Don't you remember
what it like was before,

before you went
into the hospital?

You must have been afraid
then, even if you didn't know
what you were afraid of.

I was always afraid
of everything, of everybody.

And...

What's that?

It's just the telephone.
I left it off the hook.

I...

I was calling my mother
when I heard you
out there in the hall.

Oh, that wasn't me.
I didn't make any noise.

I've been out there
for a long time.

And I was hardly breathing.

And then,
that cat got in here.

And I got so scared
'cause she knocked
that vase over,

and I heard you coming.
I didn't know you were
going to be like this.

I didn't know it, either.

You know,
it's funny we can talk
this way, isn't it?

I don't even know your name.

It's Ted. Ted Lambert.

Mine's Mary Hadley.

Oh.

Now, why did I say that?
It's Summers.

It used to be Mary Hadley,
before I got married.

Where's your husband?

Oh, he's away on a trip,
a business trip.
He travels a great deal.

Then you're all alone?

Yes, I'm alone.

Ted, I wanna
ask you something.

Wasn't there ever a time
when you felt safe?

I don't think so.

Oh.

Then you are worse off
than I am.

At least I can remember
a time when I was.

Oh, it was a long time ago.
I was just a little girl.

You see, then, even if
I was frightened of something,
it didn't last long.

Like I remember
once I got lost,

and a policeman found me
and brought me home.

I was crying and my daddy
put his arms around me.

Sometimes I can still feel
his arms.

He said, "Don't cry, baby,
you're safe now.

"You'll always be safe
with Mother and me. "

And I always was.
I always was.

Well, then why are you afraid?

Because I'm alone.

And they're not here with me.

But your husband...

Oh, he doesn't understand.

He's very kind and good,

but he doesn't understand
what it's like to be afraid.

Ted?

I...

I wanna tell you
something else, something
I've never told anyone.

You mustn't tell anyone,
either.

I won't. I promise.

I never wanted to get married.

I only did it
because my mother and daddy
lost all their money.

And Arthur was so kind
and generous,

I knew he'd help me
take care of them.

And I thought
they could stay with me,

and then everything
would go on
just the way it always had.

I wish
I could take care of you.

I wish I could help you.

Oh, no, I don't think
anyone can help me now.

I don't think anyone
can stop it from happening.

I even know
where it's going to happen.

Because I've dreamt about it,
a lot of times.

And it's always
the same dream.

Why, I have bad dreams, too.

Mine's always the same dream.

I'm always in my bedroom.

That's what I meant before

about saying I understood
about being afraid of a place,

because I'm afraid
of my bedroom.

I sometimes think,
if I don't go there,
it won't have to happen.

Only that's not really true.

How can you remember
what you dream?

I can't ever remember.

I wake up, and I know
I've been dreaming
about something and

I can't ever remember
what it was.

I guess because
mine's always the same.

I'm up there all alone,

waiting for something,

and there's a sound
downstairs,
like a door closing,

and there are footsteps
on the stairs.

They come up very slowly,
one at a time,

till it reaches the door,

and the knob turns,
and the door
begins to open and...

I'd never know what it is,

because that's when I always
wake up. I wake up screaming.

Well, they say
that dreams don't come true.

Oh, yes, mine will.

Well, maybe not if...

They're here!
They're here! They're here!

It's all right.

I won't let them in.
Don't be frightened.

They're going to make you
let them in to search,

so they can find out
if you're safe.

You can hide in the back hall,
where you were before,

and I'll bring them
in here first,
and then you can get away.

Go on, hurry. Hurry.

Thank you.

Yes?

Sorry to bother you,
ma'am. We're from
the State Hospital.

State Hospital?

Yes. One of the patients
wandered away
and we're looking for him.

Would you mind
if we searched the house
to be sure he isn't here?

I don't see
how that's possible.

Well, just to be
on the safe side.

It's quite all right with me.
Come in.

Thanks.

You may as well start
in the living room.

It's right in here.

No place he could hide
in this room.

I'm sure he's not here.

I'll show you
the rest of the house now,
if you like.

If you wouldn't mind.

Oh, my cat knocked it over.

I just haven't
cleaned it up yet.

Sorry to put you
to so much trouble, ma'am,
but it was for your own good.

I appreciate it.

Funny, I was sure
when I found that broken lock

on the back door
that he was here.

It was nice of you to fix it.

Under the circumstances,
it wouldn't be very safe
to leave it broken.

But you're all right now.

Oh, yes, I'll be fine.
Thank you.

Good night.
Good night.

Long distance?

I'd like to place a call
to New York City, please.

Yes, the number is
Murray Hill .

Thank you.

Oh, but all the circuits
can't be busy.

Oh, I see.

Well, will you call me back
as soon as you can
get through, please?

Thank you.

Oh, here you are.

I was worried about you
when I heard that man from
the hospital was on the loose,

so I came back.

Mary?

Mary, don't look like that.
It's me, Arthur.

Hello, Mary?
Mary, this is Daddy.

Mary, answer me.
Are you all right, dear?

Yes, Daddy.

I'm all right now.

Now, I can come home.

This concludes our play
for tonight.

Unhappily for Mary Summers,
however, there is more
to her story,

for she subsequently
found herself

in one of those institutions
she had come to fear.

Next time, we shall be back
with another story.

Until then, good night.