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Dr. Balis:
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Hi, Peter. How are you doing?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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Doctor! How'd you find me here?
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh, we have our ways.
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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Eliza told you, didn't she? It really was her I saw?
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Dr. Balis:
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I really make it a rule never to discuss one of my patients with another--but yes, she did tell me she'd run into you here, and I admit I was worried about you. Do you mind my coming to visit?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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No, it's good to see you. I guess you might have been right about some of that stuff you were trying to tell me.
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Dr. Balis:
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You mean the epilepsy part? I heard you had a seizure at work--how are you feeling now?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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I'm okay, just a little groggy from whatever it is they've been giving me. But the seizure must have been over a week ago--why am I still here?
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Dr. Balis:
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I think the doctors were worried about your general condition--the seizure was just a part of it. You still look sort of emaciated, if you don't mind my saying so.
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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I was trying to clean up my body--you know, stick to a purifying diet. So they put me in here and give me nothing but airplane meals. I don't understand it. You'd think that in a place like this they'd have health in mind, but no way; they're totally into junkfood. Look at this shit. What's this? Jello with fake whipped cream on top? Give me a break!
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sure it's better than what they were feeding you through a tube when you first came in. One of the doctors filled me in on some of this. Do you remember anything about it?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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It's a little sketchy. I remember being at work. They had me working on some antique Fortran legacy program, trying to fix a millennium bug--you know all the computers in the world are going to freeze up at the turn of the century because they were trying to save a little memory space and left off the first two digits on the date code? Anyway, I remember the letters on my screen starting to glow and pulsate, like they were suddenly alive, and they were trying to tell me something really important--I wish I knew what it was...
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Dr. Balis:
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What happened then?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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The next thing I remember, they were sticking tubes into me. Then they were wheeling me around with all this gear attached, and like in a dream, I saw Eliza. But she had bandages on her beautiful wrists, and she looked like one of Dracula's daughters--totally pale and sort of shocked. What happened to her? We didn't have time to talk, they were rolling us in different directions. I wasn't even sure I actually saw her. Is she okay?
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Dr. Balis:
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She's basically okay, but you should really ask her about it--she'll tell you if she wants to. I'm not here to pass messages back and forth, I just heard that you were in the hospital and I wanted to see you. And it's nice to see you in the flesh for a change. E-mail therapy may be the wave of the future, but I found it really hard to make any kind of human connection through a machine. Do you think you can come in for regular sessions once you're out of here?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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Hey, I really liked our e-mail thing; it helped me get my thoughts together on a lot of that stuff. I guess I can ask about coming back in--it might be all right since I'm mainly trying to just get back to normal right now.
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Dr. Balis:
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I don't want to push you into anything, but I definitely think you need help. Let me know when you're ready to get some, okay? If Serena just objects to me personally, I'm sure I can refer you to somebody else.
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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She doesn't understand why I need to see anybody but her, you know? And she really does know a lot. You don't understand the really spiritual part of our relationship.
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Dr. Balis:
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Look, we don't need to get into this now. This isn't a therapy session; it's just a visit to see how you're doing. I know the neurologist on your team--he's a good guy. If you can get the epilepsy under control, and build yourself up a little, I'm sure you'll be out of here soon.
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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God, I've got neurologists, nutritionists, internists, every kind of doctor you can think of poking around--they were saying something about internal injuries, but I'm feeling a lot better, really.
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Dr. Balis:
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You mean from when you got beat up by Eliza's ex-boyfriend Luke? That was about a month ago, wasn't it? What do they think is wrong?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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I was sore for a while afterwards, but that was only to be expected, I figured. But these guys think I've got a messed-up spleen, whatever that is. It doesn't hurt much any more, anyway. God, I hate this body stuff...
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Dr. Balis:
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You have to deal with it, Peter. I'm sorry this had to happen this way, but if it got you into treatment, maybe it was for the best. You couldn't have gone on like you were much longer in any case--something had to give.
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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Well, maybe you're right, I wasn't dealing with stuff that didn't seem important at the time. Maybe this was the physical world's way of getting my attention. And I got to see you in person again...oh...hello, Serena.
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Ms. Serena:
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Who's this you're talking to? What's he doing here?
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Dr. Balis:
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So you're Serena? I'm Charles Balis; I believe we've talked briefly on the phone.
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Ms. Serena:
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Yes, I remember it well. But apparently you don't, or you wouldn't be here, would you?
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Dr. Balis:
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As I was saying to Peter, I'm just visiting here as a concerned friend. Surely you don't object to that?
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Ms. Serena:
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I know perfectly well what you're trying to do--I'm not stupid. You and that little slut, trying to drag him down from the heights into the sewer. I hope you're satisfied now, you and that bitch in heat. I know all about you both, and I have nothing but contempt for your feeble plots. You have no power, you have nothing. Now get out of here. I want to be alone with the father of my child.
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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The what? You never told me anything about that. What makes you think you're pregnant?
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Ms. Serena:
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I'm a woman; I know what these pains, this sickness means. Aren't you glad? I thought you'd be so happy--think what an amazing being our child will become. But when I come to you with this wonderful news, what do I find? You just can't wait to betray me, can you? Things are going to have to be different now, much different. I can't be using all my strength to keep you from destruction any longer. You are going to have to start taking care of me for a change. What are you staring at?
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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Sorry, this is just a little sudden, that's all. I just didn't think it was going to happen.
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Dr. Balis:
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Well, I guess I'll be on my way. Congratulations to both of you, and do keep in touch, okay?
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Ms. Serena:
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Over my dead body he will. Get out of here and leave us alone!
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Mr. Hossfeld:
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Goodbye, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye, Peter.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Hospital Visit
Transcripts of Peter Hossfeld's Communications
