The Cry of the Owl

Oh, great, thank you.

Oh, shh...

- Damn. - Robert. Perfect.

Can I grab you for one moment?

I'd like to introduce you to the guys from Milton.

I'm just giving them a little tour.

This is Robert Forrester.

Robert used to be at Joseph Keys.

Joseph Keys? Wow. Really?

- Why did you leave? - Hey...

Oh, Joseph's a great, great company,

but I really had to get out of the city.

The guns, the drugs, the prostitution...

It's a lot of fun, but after a while it gets a little boring.

OK... Um, sorry to have interrupted you.

We should, uh, let you get on with your work.

Gentlemen, if you'd follow me this way.

Shit.

"The guns, the drugs, the prostitution?"

Shit...

So it's, uh, Sally's and my anniversary tonight.

Oh, congratulations, man.

Thanks man, thanks. I am screwed, though.

- Oh, you didn't forget did you? - Yeah. Yeah.

I gotta go get some flowers and chocolates and all that stuff that...

...gets one laid, you know?

But I left my wallet at home.

You need to borrow some cash, man?

Would that be all right? I feel bad asking.

Don't feel bad. How much do you need?

- That's great. - All right.

You're a good man. I could fuck you right now.

I could, in a friendly way, though, not in a gay way.

Man, I think I'll take a pass.

- - Hey, Mr. Wyncoop.

Hey Rabbit.

Sunflowers! Are those for me?

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

- You hungry? - Always.

I thought you were gonna kill me tonight.

- Huh? - Why do you have a knife in your hand?

I keep thinking that I hear somebody out there.

- Where? Out there? - Yeah.

Greg... No, don't go outside, please...

No Greg, I didn't see anyone. Greg!

If there's anybody out here, I'm gonna cut your fucking head off!

There's nobody out there. Would you please come inside?

You gotta get a dog, Jenny.

A Doberman, something mean and nasty.

Oh, great. What? So it can attack me first?

Fuck!

Peace and quiet driving you crazy yet?

This is rush hour here, you know.

- How are you finding the place? - The house, it's great.

Yeah? Well, you know, we thought of selling it at one point,

but it's my mother's old place just before she passed away, and...

Yeah, you said, you said.

Yeah, we lived with her, you know, the wife and I,

just after we got married.

Yeah. Bet that wasn't much fun, huh?

No, no, no. We all got on great together.

That's why we bought the house across the way, so we could be closer to her.

Yeah well, uh... If you need anything, just, uh, let me know.

OK. Thank you.

Hi. I'm so sorry I'm late.

Traffic was just... insane.

- Can we proceed, counselor? - Yes.

We have filed documents with the state of New York for divorce.

I would like to state on behalf of my client...

Wait.

I'd like to have a word with my husband before we start.

No, I know. It's OK. Don't...

Do you think I could talk to you outside?

No.

OK.

Um... This is awkward.

Look, Robert, I know I'm the one...

...who wanted this divorce, but...

I've...

I've changed my mind.

Well, uh...

I'm joking.

- I'm joking. -

I'm sorry, I thought it would be funny, but it wasn't really funny.

Could we, uh... move on please?

- This is quite an expensive meeting. - Good point.

Yes, yes of course.

I got your memo, and here's the deal memo

that your office drafted.

We just disagree on a few points...

- -

Robert, Robert, hey...

Hi, Jack.

How are you doing? You got in all right, yeah?

- Good. - Good, good.

Look, I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine.

- This is Elaine. - Hi.

She's 34, she's a doctor and she's single.

Uh... This is my friend Robert.

He is 37, he's a designer, he's soon to be divorced.

So... you'll have a lot to talk about, I'm sure.

Jack, I need you for a moment.

- Uh, yeah. Just, um... Excuse me. - Asshole.

The truth is, I saw you standing alone and I thought, you know...

He's not mixing very well.

Well, I'm mixing my drinks. Does that count?

Could I introduce you? Would you like that?

Not really.

I know it's a little bit awkward meeting people, but, um...

You have to be brave.

There are some lovely people here.

Brave? Me? No way.

I'm a total coward.

I'm still afraid of the dark.

Do you sleep with the lights on?

- Hey Robert... - Hey, how are you doing?

- This is Walt. Have you met? - No, no.

Hey Walt, this is Robert over there.

Hey.

Walt, this is Robert.

Robert's nice.

He's getting kinda heavy...

Hey, uh, Jack, I'm not feeling too great.

I think I'm gonna get going.

- Are you leaving? - I got a headache coming on, I...

Oh, is it like... Is it bad?

I could like get you an aspirin or something.

It's not too bad, it's probably just a... just a tumor.

- Um, are you OK to drive? - Yeah, I'll be fine.

I could drive you home, if you want.

No, that's fine, I'm OK.

It's not too bad that I can't drive. I'm fine. Thank you.

OK. Well, thanks for coming. I'm glad you could come.

- Listen, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. - Oh, of course. No problem.

- All right. - Bye, Robert.

- I'll see you Monday. - All right. Will do. Take care.

Fuck...

Oh, God...

It's OK.

No, no, no, please don't be afraid.

I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

My name is Robert Forrester.

Just stand right there!

Please...

You gonna call the police?

You should call the police.

You probably should, I think.

Look, it's no excuse, but...

I'm leaving.

What?

What?

What were you gonna say?

I was uh... gonna say that...

Look, can I be honest with you?

I've been here a few times before, OK?

I just watch you in the kitchen, doing stuff, you know?

Listening to music, cooking, cleaning...

Nothing else.

I know that sounds really bad, but it's innocent.

I swear to you.

You look so happy.

You make me feel happy, I don't know...

Lately I've felt very lonely

and depressed.

I... I promise you, I will never come here...

...ever again... Ever.

Depression can crush you.

You know about that?

Do... Do you want to come in?

What?

If we're gonna talk, I'd rather do it inside.

I... I made some coffee. Do you want some?

Yeah.

Sit down.

It's OK.

- Thank you. - Do you live around here?

Yeah, um, over in, uh... Humbert.

- Where do you work? - Lavigne Aeronautics.

Where do you work?

Oh, in a bank near Crystal Falls.

Do you think things happen for a reason?

What? You mean like... fate?

Yeah, us meeting like this.

I don't really, but... I...