The Ledge

- You know, I'm not really sure I even want to do this,

but this couple down at the precinct,

they been at me for this for a year now.

We've known 'em for 15 years, I mean, Don and Jan Connolly.

They're real good people, but, you know,

but they can't have kids, so he goes, you know,

"If I had a child, I would want him to be like Hollis."

Shoot, I ain't even told my wife.

- Mr. Lucetti. Mr. Lucetti.

- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just so nervous.

This ain't my normal routine, you know,

in a jar before breakfast.

Hollis.

Yes, Doc?

- This woman is not going to be having your baby.

Why?

You have a birth defect.

- You mean I'm infertile? Sterile?

- Everything else functions, but...

Have I always been infertile?

- Yes. I'm afraid so.

We got a jumper.

He's on the roof at the Tamlacker Building.

- Look, I'm not feeling so well today.

- Well, I'll get Partridge in to relieve you.

Let's go.

- Please stay behind the barricade, ma'am.

- Hey, how you doing? I'm Hollis.

You a cop?

Yes, but it's okay.

You can call me Hollis or Holly.

Some of my friends call me Holly.

- Is this your specialty, Hollis?

- Well, I'm a detective in this precinct,

and I do other work,

but I take care of this kind of thing too.

What's your success rate?

It's decent.

Tell me, what's your name?

Gavin.

Are you married, Gavin?

No.

- Then what in the hell are you doing up here?

That was a joke?

It was an attempt at a joke.

- Well, you're married, obviously.

- Listen, I'm trained to talk to you for hours on end,

and I'll go around and around in circles until you're so dizzy

that you fall off of here,

but my gut tells me that you're too smart for the standard bull,

so why don't we just cut right to it

and you tell me what's your problem?

- No, I think I'd like to go around in circles for a while.

Okay.

- So how long you been together, you and your wife?

15 years.

Is the sex still good?

- Do we have to talk about this, Gavin?

- No. I could jump.

Yeah, well, from way up here,

there's nothing we can put down that's gonna save you.

You know that, right?

So is it still good?

Better than when we first met.

- Isn't it usually the other way around?

I mean, isn't that the way it's supposed to go?

- Yeah, a lot of things that are supposed to go one way

end up going the other.

That's one of the things you learn in my job.

You been faithful?

Yes.

But on the subject of faith...

Do you have any?

Do you?

Yes.

I'm Catholic.

So no faith, huh?

You got you a girlfriend?

Not exactly.

I understand.

You one of them gay guys, huh?

No.

Although I do live with one.

He got kicked out of his job

when they found out he was HIV-positive.

I took him in, helped him get a newjob.

And now he's- - Gavin!

Hey!

What are you doing?

- Hey, hey, hey, hey! Gavin!

Gavin, stop for a second, man.

What are you doing?

Gavin.

- Fuck me. Why is this so hard?

- You don't have to do this, you know.

You really don't.

No, actually, I do.

And when I'm gone,

you're gonna have to take care of something for me, okay?

I won't do it.

If you got something that you need to handle,

I suggest you climb in here

and you take care of it yourself.

I can't.

- You're not up here by choice, are you?

No.

I have to stay up here until noon

and then jump.

If I don't, someone else is gonna die.

Why?

- Mornin'. - How's it goin'?

Good.

- Morning, sir. - Hey, guys.

Oh, please, come on in.

- You used to be a teacher, right?

Yeah.

- So I'm in this art history class,

and we're studying religious art,

and my assignment this week is to write about an object

that's sacred to me to which I have an emotional attachment,

and I need your advice.

Okay.

- I found this in one of the rooms,

and I'm thinking, tonight,

I'm gonna have a religious experience.

So your question is,

"Does having a religious experience

"with this intimidatingly large dildo

transform it into a sacred object?"

You're so smart, Gavin.

- Well, it's highly questionable.

Maybe the real question here is,

"Is your attachment to this going to be emotional?"

- Oh, my emotions get aroused pretty easily.

I'll bet they do.

- Although looking at Buzz here and then looking at you,

I can't help but think "three-way."

Jesus Christ.

I always enjoy talking to you, Harper,

but you're gonna get me fired.

- Come on, I'm just flirting with you.

It's a slippery slope.

How would you know?

Good one.

Haven't you got some work to do?

Oh.

Oh. This is Shana Harris.

She's in the art history class too.

Looking for a job, so be nice to her.

But not too nice.

- I didn't realize you worked here.

No, I don't work very hard.

- Does that make it less of a coincidence?

I'm Gavin.

Assistant manager. Please have a seat.

You live with that guy?

Yeah. We only just moved in.

How do you like it?

I like it.

My husband's not so sure.

What's your major?

Accounting.

Ah.

- I always thought I'd do something in music.

I took lessons as a kid.

But got to earn a living, you know?

- People don't earn a living with music?

- I'm just looking for a part-time job

to help with tuition.

I'm a serious person, and I'm very hardworking.

I could do anything.

What do you play?

- I play piano, but we don't have one right now,

so I'm actually learning guitar.

Cool.

Well, start when you want.

Really?

- Hey, it's not my hotel. What do I care?

Thank you.

- So I see this very pretty girl comin' out of 213.

- Yeah. Shana. Married.

Right, Shana.

How'd you know that?

- Little early for whiskey, don't you think?

- It's Saturday. - Yeah.

- I've spoken with her a couple times in the hallway.

They just moved in.

- Anyhow, I see her saying good-bye to the guy,

the husband.

Yeah?

- Next thing I know, she's on the bus.

Then she's at the hotel, wanting a job.

- I suppose you think that's all just coincidence, right?

- Well, yeah, Chris. Why else would I be telling you?

What else would it be?

- Why can't you just accept that things have meaning, Gavin?

- Meaning.

What possible meaning could that have?

- Connections. Destiny.

She's married.