"Hello?" "I just think it's great that we're gonna be living so close to each other." "Yeah, it gives me a terrific feeling of security... knowing that only three floors away I have a good friend and a good shrink." "Um, Marilyn, I don't" "Oh, Bob, I'm sorry." "I forgot you hate to be called a shrink." "Yeah." "I guess I should have thought of that before I went into shrinking." "You know, Emily, I had no idea a divorce could be so wonderful." "Well, I guess that's why it's getting so popular." "I understand now it's" " What?" "One out of three couples." " Is it?" "Yeah." "If everyone was married to Tom, it'd be three out of three." "Anyway, I think it's great that we can be friends now... 'cause I know how much you both hated Tom." "Marilyn, we didn't hate Tom." " Well, Bob did." "I never hated Tom." "Oh, sure you did." "You thought he was a creep." "And you were right." "He was a creep." "Huh!" "Do you remember that party we had up here, Emily... and he tried to grab you in the kitchen?" "What, What party was that, Emily?" "Any party." "How come you never told me about that?" "Bob, it didn't have to be Emily." "He would've grabbed anybody in the kitchen." "Well, I'm glad I was in the living room." "Well, I'd rather not talk about Tom, if you don't mind." "No more Tom." " Yeah." "You know what Tom wanted me to do?" "Nothing." "I was just supposed to kind of sit around the house and dust... and wait for him to come home and tell me about his exciting day... in the upholstery and slipcover business." "He didn't want me to work." "He never would let me go back to college." "Well, I think it's so exciting that you're back in school." "I bet college has really changed." "Oh, it has." "A lot of new things happening- ecology, group marriage... revolution, orgies, gun control, abortion." "Doesn't leave much time for pep rallies, does it?" "You know Emily, they've got some terrific courses at night." "Have you ever thought about taking any?" "Well, Bob kind of likes me around the house at night." "Oh, yeah, I understand." "Besides, if I were in class now, who would be here to answer the door?" "Hi, Howard." " Hi, Emily." "Do you happen to have any" "Oh, I'm sorry." "I didn't know you had company." " No, no." "Come on in." "Oh, hi, Bob." "How are you?" "I'd like you to meet an old friend of ours." "Marilyn Dietz, this is Howard Borden." "He lives across the hall." "Hi, Howard." " How are you?" "Marilyn's moving in the building." " That's great." "What apartment?" "Downstairs, 325." "Oh, that's right." "I saw your name on the mailbox." "That was old man Cooper's apartment." "He lived there for years and years." "How come he moved out?" "I thought he'd never move out." "Well, he didn't exactly leave, Bob." "I mean" "I mean, he moved, but, but he didn't leave." "I mean, he wasn't moving when he left." "Sorry." "I didn't know that." "Oh, Marilyn, I'm so sorry." "When I told you about the vacancy..." "I had no idea of the reason." " Oh, heck, it doesn't bother me." "I mean, I lived with a ghost for 11 years." "Are you a widow?" " No." "No." "Marilyn's divorced." " Oh, divorced." "Yeah." "When did it happen?" "Oh, about two months ago." "Yeah." "Yeah." "Howard, It wasn't a car accident." "It was a divorce." "Bob, it's nothing to kid about." "I know." "I've been there myself." "Oh, you mean, you're divorced." " Yeah, me too." "Yeah, divorced." "Three years and one month." " Oh." "And two weeks." "How you feeling?" "A little shaky, huh?" "I feel terrific!" "Well, the shock hasn't set in." "I mean.." "you're up for a while, and then you're down again." "But it's okay." "After a while you're up again.." "but not all the way." "Howard, Marilyn feels great." "You don't have to be so sad." "Please, Emily!" "You remember how I was when I got my divorce?" "I remember you threw a big party, Howard." "Yeah, but I was trying to forget." "You're funny, Howard." " Thank you." "So are you." "Are you busy right now?" " No, I'm not busy." "I've still got some things down in the car, and I was getting up the nerve to ask Bob." "You want me to ask Bob for you?" "No, I wanted to know if you'd help me." " You want me to help you." "Oh yeah, I'd be glad to." "Don't bother, Bob." "You want to do it now?" "Great." "Thanks anyway, Bob." "I forgot what I came over for." "Do you happen to have any cocoa?" "No, no, Howard, we don't." "Oh, rats." "I had the feeling for some cocoa." "Yeah, that's how it is when you're alone." "You know, you have to give yourself little treats every now and then." "Well, I've got some cocoa, and I'll drop in a marshmallow." "Oh, is that in your apartment?" " Sure." "Well, I hate to go into an apartment where somebody just died." "Your apartment then, Howard." " Oh, my apartment." "Oh, my" "Oh, that's great." "It's not that instant cocoa, is it?" "No, no." "It takes a while." "Oh, great." "I think I'm gonna like living here." "Boy, have you ever seen two people get together so fast?" "Not without your help, Emily." "Oh, Bob, you were here." "You saw everything." "I had nothing to do with it." "Well, there it is, Marilyn" "Grand Central Nothing." "Why don't you give me a little tour?" "You want a little tour?" " Yeah." "Okay, now, here's my little typewriter... and my little phone." "Oh, there's my little stapler." " Ohh!" "Oh!" "My little boss." "I have the feeling you girls had a little wine for lunch." "Just a little." "Yeah." "You want us to blow up a balloon for you, Bob?" "I'm just wondering what the occasion was." "Well, I'm-I personally was celebrating Marilyn's divorce." "Well, personally, I don't care, but the phones have been ringing a lot... and I would like you to type up this very important letter." "Oh, Bob." "I'm sorry, Bob." "I'm sorry." "I'm sor- I know I'm a half hour late... and I'll never do it again." "I promise, I promise, I promise." "Carol, it might help if you'd put some paper in the typewriter." "Oh, paper!" "Gotcha." "Well, I have one more call to make." "I'll be out in a few minutes." "Oh, don't be long, honey." "Sofa City closes at 2:30." "Wait a minute, Carol." "Aren't the doctors ever late?" "I mean, don't they ever ask you to stay after work and do extra stuff for them?" "Sure, all the time." " Well, then why do you have to apologize?" "I mean, it should be give and take." "They're a person, but you're a person too, right?" "Oh, no." "No." "No, you see, I'm a person, but they're a boss." "Emily, don't you agree with me?" "Why should she apologize?" "Oh, yeah, I agree with you." "But it doesn't mean much." "I agree with anything after one glass of wine." "Well, welcome back." "How was the luau?" "I mean, if this job is interfering with your lunches... maybe we could take out your desk and put in a table for four." "Oh, really?" "Well, let me ask you something, Dr. Robinson." "How many times have I stayed late for you... or come in early for you, or juggled lunches for you... or missed my own lunch while I was out doing personal errands for you?" "And did I ever complain?" "Never!" "And I'll tell you something else I have never done... and that is to embarrass you in front of other people." "Guess she told me, huh?" "Oh, I'm sorry, Jer." "I never would have done it, but I'm swacked." "It's all right, Carol." "I understand completely." "When you sober up, pick up my laundry, huh?" "Jerry I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine." "Marilyn Dietz, this is Jerry Robinson the orthodontist." "Hi, Jerry Robinson the orthodontist." " That's me." "I stuff their mouths with steel." " Boy, did I hate you as a kid." "All those rubber bands and wires." " Ah, yes." "But it paid off, didn't it?" "Let me have a look up there." "That's pretty good." "I would have done a little more with the incisors, but other than that... your mouth looks as good as the rest of you." " Oh!" "Oh, Bob, listen." "I've got two tickets to the Bulls-Celtics game tonight." "Do you want to go?" " I'd love to go." "Bob, we're going to your mother's house for dinner." " But I can't." "Oh, boy." "Now what am I gonna do with that extra ticket?" "Jerry, why don't you take" " Emily!" "That's not a bad idea." "Marilyn" " I'd love to go." "Oh!" " I love basketball." "Terrific." "I'll pick you up at 6:30." " No, I'll be in class." "Why don't I meet you here?" " Okay." "It's silly to go in two cars." "I'll meet you here." "Then we can put yours in the garage." "Terrific." "Look, As long as you got the tickets, I'll take you to dinner." "I insist." " Fine, but you gotta promise me one thing:" "Get me home by midnight, otherwise my dad'll give me the dickens." "Emily, first you fix Marilyn up with Howard then you fix her up with Jerry." "Is there no stopping you?" "I'm just trying to get her over the rough spots." "What rough spots?" "She's having the greatest time of her life." "Then I guess I must be doing something right." "Well, are you ready to go, Bob?" "Yeah, as soon as Carol finishes the letter." "Carol, how are you coming with the letter?" "Huh?" "Oh!" "Oh, yeah." "Well, I just whipped right along with "Dear Mr."" "Then I think I sort of dozed off." "Bob?" " Hmm?" "Do you think Marilyn's having a good time?" "It depends on how good the basketball game is." "No, I don't mean tonight." "I mean, you know, generally." "Oh." " I mean, she seems so" "SO free, SO open... so independent." "Hmm." "Hmm." "Bob?" "Are there some times you'd rather be single?" "Hmm." "I mean, if you were single tonight, what would you be doing?" "I'd probably be at the basketball game with Jerry.." "unless you were around." "Then you would have fixed me up with Marilyn." " Oh!" "Why?" "Are there times you wish you were single?" "Well, I don't know." "I look at her, you know, and then I look at us." "Yeah." "I wouldn't trade places with her for anything in the world." "You're jealous of her, aren't you?" " Oh, absolutely not." "Well, maybe I am, just a little." "Emily, it's perfectly normal to be jealous." "I mean, you're a married woman tied down with a lot of responsibilities... and, you're married to a man who's.." "Listless?" "Yeah, you want to get that?" "I feel a little..." "listless." "Oh, hello, Howard." "Oh, hi, Emily." "Hi, Bob." "Do you know where Marilyn is?" "I was supposed to see her tonight, and she isn't home." "Well, you didn't have a date with her tonight, did you, Howard?" "Well, I told her I was coming in on a flight, and... the last thing I said was, "See you."" "Well, actually, she's at a basketball game with Jerry Robinson." "Jerry Robinson?" "Your Jerry Robinson?" "He's the one." " I didn't know she knew Jerry Robinson." "Well, um, I guess it's my fault." "I kind of suggested that he take her." "Why would you do a thing like that?" " Well" "Howard, why are you getting upset?" "They're going to a basketball game." "What can happen at a basketball game?" " Are you kidding?" "I just had a cup of cocoa with her." "Look, Howard, if you like her, you want her to have a good time, right?" "Yeah, I guess you're right." "Is it all right if I hope it's a lousy game?" " Oh, Howard." "Hello?" "Oh, Hi, Marilyn." "Marilyn?" "Marilyn?" "Is that Marilyn?" "How was the game?" "Bulls won by two points, huh?" "Three overtimes?" "The fans tore down the backboards." "They tore down the backboard." "Must be a lousy game." "Marilyn, can you speak up?" "I can't hear you with the violins going there." "Howard?" "Yeah, he's right here." "Just a minute." "It's for you." "She probably wants to apologize for breaking our date." "Hi, Marilyn." "Yeah, you want me to do you a favor?" "You want me to pick you up, right?" "Oh. yeah." "Yeah." "Some chicken parts... liver bits... a little milk and some kibble." "Right." "I got it." "Well, is everything all right, Howard?" " Everything's fine." "I'm so glad you're not upset." "Why should I be upset?" "She's out with Jerry, and she's having a wonderful time." "They didn't have dinner before the basketball game... so it's perfectly normal that they have dinner after the game." "And I don't dance, and she loves to dance, so there you are." "Well, I guess I'll just go and feed her cat." "Ohh!" "Dr. Hartley, I can't tell you how terrific I feel." "I never realized it, but it's been myjob that's been making me tense." "Well, I can understand how all those years on the police bomb squad could do that to you." "You know, it's not too late for me to find another job." "I'm only 31 years old." "You're 31 years old?" "Well, almost." "I'll be 31 on my next birthday." "Hey, Bob?" "could I talk to you for a minute?" "Sure, Jerry." " Not here, huh?" "Ah, boy talk, huh?" "Guess you'll be using a lot of cuss words." "Could we go in your office, Bob?" "Okay." "Listen, I can take it." "I got a nine-year-old nephew." "What's on your mind?" " It's Marilyn, Bob." "What about Marilyn?" " That's what I want to talk to you about." "I don't know." "I need your advice." "You know people, Bob." "That's your business." "I know... gums and teeth." "Uh-huh." " Well, you know we had a date the other night, right?" "Marilyn and I went to the basketball game." "I had a better time with her than any woman I've ever taken out." "As a matter of fact, I like going with her better than I like going with you, Bob." "You know at the halftime you always hang around the hot dog stand?" "You always miss the first couple plays of the third quarter?" "Not Marilyn." "She's right up at the top of the line." "She gets her beer, frankfurter, bag of peanuts." "We got back in the seats before the organ music stopped." "Uh-huh." " Then after the game, we went back to my place." "We sat around, talked, played some music- Got to know each other, you know?" "The amazing thing is, Bob, there was nothing physical." "Kind of like being married, I guess." "Well, how do you feel about it, Jer?" "Terrified." "Bob, I think I'm falling in love." "Jerry, you only went out with her once." "That's nothing, Bob." "Once I fell in love with a blind date before I even met her." "I just can't take a love affair right now, Bob." "It would interfere with my work." "Then stop seeing her." " Oh!" "No, that would drive me crazy." "That would interfere with my work." " See her every once in a while." "No." "Then I'd be wondering what she was doing when I wasn't with her." "That really would interfere with my work." "See her all the time." " That's the one I was waiting for!" "I don't know where we're headed, Marilyn- basketball, hockey, painting." "We're headed toward furniture moving, Jerry, and that's the the day after tomorrow." "Hey, Good." "I'll take the day off and help you." "Great." "Oh, hi, Bob." "Emily left this note on the door that says there's a party down here?" "There is, Bob." "It's a painting party." "It's the only way!" "can get people to help me paint my apartment." "Bob, if you're gonna work, you'd better change into old clothes." "Well, I'm not gonna work, Jerry." "The note said Emily's down here and the food's down here." " Oh, hi, sweetheart." "Oh, hi." "Now, where's the food?" "It's under the drop cloth, Bob." "It's Chinese." " Great." "I had Chinese for lunch." "Oh, good, then you should be hungry again." "I'm starved and I'm tired, and I had a miserable day." "Boy, you're sure a lot of fun at a paint party." "Smells like..." "semigloss almond duck." "Try the egg rolls, honey." "They're delicious." "Oh, no, they have hot mustard on them." "There's no hot mustard." " It's paint." "Take a look at this color, Bob." "What do you think?" "I think you're getting it all over my shoe." "Oh, oh!" "What happened?" " Oh, I just got a spot of paint on Bob's tie." "And a lot on my shoe." "Never mind, Bob, it'll come right out with this thinner." "Oh, Jerry, I wouldn't do that if I were you." " Huh?" "No, it's working, Emily." "It just took the paint off the egg roll." "There you go, Bob." "It's all off your tie." "Spot came right off." "Jerry, there used to be an initial there." "Oh." "Look, here it is." "Come on in." "It's open." "Well, here!" "am, all ready to paint." "Boy, you got a lot of people here already, huh?" "Bob's not helping." "He's just having dinner." "There are never too many people at a paint party." "Here, Howard." "Here's a roller and a pan with some paint in it." "I smell gardenia." "Is that you, Howard?" "Yeah." "Well, that's probably my new cologne, Manflower." "Old clothes and Manflower, huh?" "You sure you came here to paint?" "Yeah, probably just as much as you did." " Do you want something to eat?" "No, I came here to paint." "Howard why don 't you work over here?" "There's a nice empty spot." "Thanks a lot, Emily." "Be careful." "Howard!" ", You're spilling paint on the floor!" "Oh!" "I'm sorry." "Oh." "Excuse me, Bob." "Oh." " Watch it, Howard will you?" "I hope that'll come off." "Not any more than I do, Howard." "Wait a minute." "Marilyn, is this the color- is this the color of your apartment you're gonna paint it?" "Yeah." " I thought you said we were gonna paint it beige." "I mean, we talked about that." "Yeah, I know we did, Howard, but we changed our mind." "We who?" "Well, you see, Marilyn and I talked about it." "We decided that burnt gold was a much better color." "It's what I have in my apartment." "It's today, it's contemporary." "Beige is" " What?" "Yesterday." "It's really out of it." "What do you mean, out of it?" "Beige is the color of my apartment." "When we talked about that in my living room, you said you liked it." "Yeah, I know!" "did, Howard, but that was before I went over to Jerry's place." "Went over to Jer" "Yeah, well, I'll tell you what." "You got a lot of help here." "You don't need me." "I'll just go, all right?" "Hey, Howard, you upset?" " Why should I be upset?" "Now I know why you like this color." "It's the color of a rotten tooth." "You are upset." " Oh, Howard, come on." "No, I gotta go." " Come on, Howard." "Don't go." "I'd really better be going." " Don't go." "No." "I got a lot of things to do." "Howard?" " Yeah?" "Go." "Wait a minute." "What are you so hurt about anyway?" "You're acting like a big baby." "Isn't he, Bob?" " Well" "Sure. if you leave, you're gonna make everybody feel bad." "Won't he, Bob?" "Unless that's what you really want to do." "Is that what you want to do?" "You want to make everybody feel bad around here?" " Stop waving that at me." "Look what you made me do!" " I didn't do anything." "You made me put paint on Bob's sleeve." " I didn't do that." "You did that." "I did this." " ltd oesn't matter" "Hey, wait a minute!" "We're getting into a big hassle here." "I think we ought to just knock the whole thing off." "Yeah." "Everybody go home and, Marilyn and I will finish this in the morning." "Oh boy, What's going on here?" "It started out to be such a fun evening." "Then everything went beige on us." "You've blaming me, aren't you?" " No, I'm not blaming you." "if I was gonna blame anyone, it would probably be Marilyn." "Me?" "Sure." "You shouldn't have invited both of us at the same time." "Why not?" "Well, for one thing, you've humiliated this man." "I mean, look at him- standing there in his grubbies... reeking of gardenia." "Emily, do you believe this?" " No, I don't." "What did Marilyn do?" "She just invited some friends over to paint." "Well, Marilyn and I are a little more than friends." "Anyway, you can't have two guys feeding the same cat without somebody getting hurt." "All right, Howard, listen." "I dated both of you, and I like you both very much." "But I can date more than one person at the same time." "I guess it's all my fault." "I introduced you all to each other." " It's not your fault, Emily." "It's his fault." " How could it be my fault?" "It's both of your faults." "You're both acting like a couple kids." "You want to know whose fault it is?" "I know whose fault it is." "It's Bob's fault for putting a damper on this whole evening." "That's it." "I have spent the last week conducting a free clinic... listening to the sordid details of your love life." "Howard, you've been moping around all week and feeling sorry for yourself." "Emily, whenever you fix somebody up, somehow I wind up in the middle." "And, Marilyn, I think you've been taking advantage of people and not even realizing it." "Now, I've looked at this thing from afar... and if there's one person who's blameless, it's me." "Now go back to your fun paint party, and I don't care if you paint yourselves silly." "I am gonna sit... and have my Chinese dinner." "Well, now that I'm in my old clothes, I thinkI'll paint." "You know, all things considered, everything's working out great." "There's Jerry, there's Howard... there's a 23-year-old karate instructor there's a sociology professor" "Just a minute." "Let's go back to that 23-year-old karate instructor, hmm?" "Oh, he is so terrific looking." "Oh, and if you ever need any firewood" "Hi, sweetheart How'd it go?" "Well, I set a new record for the four-minute mile: 12 minutes." "That is great" "You know, Emily, I've never seen Bob in his shorts before." "He's got terrific legs." "Marilyn... lay one hand on him, and I'll turn you into firewood." "Would you like some cream?" " Yeah."