Vertigo Page #5

SCOTTIE:

How'd you get into the shipbuilding

business, Gavin?

ELSTER:

I married into it.

Scottie shoots him a small surprised smile of approval at

his frankness, then looks out the window again.

SCOTTIE:

Interesting business.

ELSTER:

No, to be honest, I find it dull.

SCOTTIE:

You don't have to do it for a living.

ELSTER:

No. But one assumes obligations. My

wife's family is all gone; someone

has to look after her interest. Her

father's partner runs the company

yard in the East -- Baltimore -- so

I decided as long as I had to work

at it, I'd come back here. I've always

liked it here.

SCOTTIE:

How long have you been back?

ELSTER:

Almost a year.

SCOTTIE:

And you like it.

ELSTER:

San Francisco's changed. The things

a that spell San Francisco to me are

disappearing fast.

Scottie smiles at the old prints on the wall.

SCOTTIE:

Like all this.

ELSTER:

(Nodding)

I'd like to have lived here then.

The color and excitement... the

power... the freedom.

Though he does not stress the word, the way be lingers softly

on the word "Freedom" makes Scottie look over at him again.

Elster looks up and smiles companionably.

ELSTER:

Shouldn't you be sitting down?

SCOTTIE:

No, I'm all right.

ELSTER:

I was sorry to read about that thing

in the papers.

(No answer)

And you've quit the force.

(Scottie nods)

A permanent physical disability?

SCOTTIE:

No, Acrophobia isn't a crippling

thing. It just means I can't climb

steep stairs or go to high places,

like the bar at the Top-of-the-Mark.

But --

(Shrugs and smiles)

-- there are plenty of street-level

bars In this town.

Elster considers the top of his desk for a moment, then looks

up.

ELSTER:

Would you like a drink now?

SCOTTIE:

No... no, thanks. A bit early in the

day for spirits.

(Pause)

Well, I guess that about covers

everything, doesn't it? I never

married; I don't see much of the

"old college gang"; I'm a retired

detective -- and you're in the

shipbuilding business.

(Pause)

What's on your mind, Gavin?

A moment, then Elster rises from the desk casually, wanders

across the room, looks out the window, gets out a handkerchief

and blows his nose prosaically, finally turns and regards

Scottie coolly and directly for a long moment.

ELSTER:

I asked you to come up here, Scottie,

knowing that you had quit detective

works, but I wondered whether you

would go back on the job -- as a

special favor to me.

Scottie looks at him questioningly.

ELSTER:

I want you to follow my wife.

Scottie does not change expression, and yet one can sense

the feeling of anti-climax within him, and the almost

imperceptible small cynical smile deep behind his eyes.

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