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Mr. Freeman:
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Hey. You Doc Balis?
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Dr. Balis:
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Yes I am. You must be Mr. Freeman. Please come in.
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Mr. Freeman:
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Thanks, Doc. You mind if I call you that? Some doctors get all put out when you shorten it.
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Dr. Balis:
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Doc is fine. I gather you've been to other doctors?
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Mr. Freeman:
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You're quick, Doc. I'll have to remember that. Yeah, I've been to a few in recent years. Never seem to hang on for very long though. Usually get cold feet when we finally get to the real crux of it.
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Dr. Balis:
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Who gets cold feet? You or the doctors?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Oh hell, Doc. They do. I'm as normal as they come, but when we get to the meat of it, when the rubber hits the road, they seem to lose interest and bail on me. Oh they pretend they want me to stay and keep talking, but I can tell. I can tell a bullshitter when I hear one. So just don't BS me, Doc, and we'll get along just fine.
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay, I can live with that. I'm not big on BS myself. Now what did you mean by getting to the real crux of it?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Hey now, Doc. Hold on. Not so fast. We'll get to that soon enough. But I got to know something right away before we keep on getting on.
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Dr. Balis:
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And what's that, Mr. Freeman?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Are you one of Them?
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Dr. Balis:
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One of whom?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Whew. Okay. You're clean. You know, that's the one way you can tell they're Them. They simply can't lie worth a crap. Which works for us because, without that little flaw, we'd be like ducks on a pond. If you were one of Them, you'd have had to say you were. Now at least we can start this association with a clean slate since you're okay.
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Dr. Balis:
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Well, Mr. Freeman, I must say I can't remember ever being diagnosed so quickly by one of my patients. But since I'm not one of Them, perhaps you can tell me who they are?
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Mr. Freeman:
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All in due time, Doc. Hey, I hope I haven't busted your nuts putting you through that little test. It's just sort of a defense mechanism I've developed over the last couple of years. You just have to be so careful, know what I'm saying? By the way, Doc, think I could have a glass of water?
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Dr. Balis:
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Certainly Mr. Freeman. The glasses are just over there next to the pitcher. Feel free to walk around if you like. You seem a little edgy.
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Mr. Freeman:
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Well you'd probably be edgy too, if....uh...Doc, what are you writing down there?
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Dr. Balis:
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I usually take notes during a session. Is that a problem?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Well hell, Doc. It's not that so much as we've got to be so fucking careful...ah sorry, Doc. Didn't mean to use that word but it just slips out sometimes, you know? Anyway, like I was saying, what I'm saying to you can't go any further than this office. I don't have lots of friends anymore and if they found out I was here telling you about this, I wouldn't have any. Christ, I'm going to need all the help I can get. And I have to go slow and be careful. No one believes me, so if you don't mind, I'd like to just keep this between me and you. Oh damn, sorry about the mess, Doc.
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Dr. Balis:
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That's all right, Mr. Freeman. It's just water. These napkins will clean that right up. Do your hands often tremble...
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Mr. Freeman:
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Hey, Doc, how about calling me Jerry, okay?
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Dr. Balis:
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As you wish Jerry. Anything you tell me is held in strictest confidence. Except for certain legal obligations I have if I think you or someone else is in imminent danger of bodily harm, there's no way anyone will ever know what we've discussed in this room, Jerry. I do make notes for myself regarding our sessions, but they are under lock and key and no one has access but me. I'm really careful about it. I wanted to ask about your hands; does that happen frequently?
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Mr. Freeman:
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What? Oh you mean the shaking? Well, Doc, I've got to tell you that it's only been happening off and on for the last couple of years. It doesn't happen very much and usually only lasts for a short spell. But it can be damn embarrassing cause I can't always tell when it's going to happen. Know what I mean?
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Dr. Balis:
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Explain that to me Jerry. Why is it embarrassing?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Well, Doc. You know. When I'm at a bar and start slopping my drink all over the place. Or when I'm on the job and I start dropping equipment or pulling the cables out of their moorings, stuff like that. Or if I'm driving and have to pull over for a few minutes, especially if my girl is with me. It's only been really bad once that I remember. God was that a mess. We were at this Denny's you know? Waitress was walking by with a tray full of pancakes and I had just started the shakes--like a real spazoid--and was getting up to go to the can. I didn't see her coming and jumped up right into her. Man, that food went everywhere. Syrup, butter, sausage, bacon...looked like a damn food fight. I sure got out of there as fast as I could, you can bet on that. But most of the time, it's no big deal.
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Dr. Balis:
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You said earlier that you don't have a lot of friends, but you mentioned your girl. Is she one of them?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Goddamn it, Doc!. She's not one of Them and if you're....oh, I see what you meant. Not one of Them but one of my friends. Sorry to go off on you like that, Doc. Well, she's not my girlfriend in the usual way, know what I mean? I mean, she's like my steady hired girlfriend. We're close and all that but it's not like we're going steady or going to get married or anything like that.
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Dr. Balis:
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Have you sought medical treatment for this condition? Are you taking any medication?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Naw. As I said, Doc, it just isn't that big a thing. It doesn't bother me much really and it never lasts long. I can live with it. See--I'm already over it. No need to bother with it, Doc. If that's all I had to worry about, my life wouldn't be such a fucking...ah shit, Doc, said it again.
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Dr. Balis:
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That's okay Jerry. I've heard it before and I'm not offended by profanity. What's important is that you express what really on your mind. After all, that's why you're here.
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Mr. Freeman:
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I've got to hand it to you, Doc. You sure do make a person feel welcome here. I already can see I'm two lengths ahead of where I was with those other doctors. Anyway, I don't need no medicine because I've got to keep my head clear. These shakes don't mean a thing compared to what's ahead, you know?
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Dr. Balis:
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No I don't know. What do you mean?
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Mr. Freeman:
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Doc, let me ask you something. Have you ever wondered about what's beneath this city of ours? You ever been walking to your car at night or going to lunch during the day and felt someone watching you? Ever get that greasy feeling that comes when someone's eyeballing you and you don't really know where it's coming from?
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Dr. Balis:
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Well Jerry...
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Mr. Freeman:
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Ah that's okay, Doc. You don't have to answer. It happens to everyone sooner or later. If you haven't felt it yet, you will. Everyone will. And not just this city either, I can tell you that. We're in for big trouble. And the damn authorities aren't doing one single thing about it. Serve the whole city right when this thing rears up and bites them in the ass. You'd think with all the evidence mounting up someone would sure as hell listen. But no. They leave it to a couple of us to deal with the problem. Freaking politicians. I tell you, Doc, all of humanity--men, women and children--are in for a rude awakening. That day is coming, sure as sh...uh, sure as I'm sitting here.
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Dr. Balis:
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Well Mr. Freeman, I'm still not sure I understand what the threat is that you're talking about. But we're almost out of time for this session. It sounds like we've got a lot to discuss in future sessions.
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Mr. Freeman:
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What's the matter, Doc? Cutting me short? You think I'm crazy, don't you? Well hell. I knew I should've taken it a lot slower. It's just that I get fired up and can't talk fast enough to get everything out that I want to say. It's just like those other times. Either I talk too much about stuff I don't need to talk about or I don't talk enough about the important stuff. I tell you, Doc, sometimes I just don't know where to begin. There's so much to worry about and so little time. I'm not getting anywhere with this problem, see, and it's driving me nuts. I was hoping you'd be the one to listen. I nosed around and made inquiries, you know? No one knows I'm coming to see you but I did my homework. You seemed to be the guy with the best reputation so I made the appointment. Guess I've scared you off, right?
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Dr. Balis:
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Absolutely not Jerry. I think we've made excellent progress for a first session. You've done just fine, Jerry.
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Mr. Freeman:
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Maybe, maybe not. But I'm willing to give it another shot if you are, Doc. One last thing though. I have to sort of sneak away from work to come here. I'm on what the city calls a sliding schedule. Sometimes I work weekends, other times 6 days in a row. Stuff like that. No one at work knows I'm coming here and that's the way I want to keep it.
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Dr. Balis:
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Do you have a schedule in mind, Jerry? Normally we schedule sessions about once a week, but if that's not convenient, we'll work around it.
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Mr. Freeman:
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How about every ten days or so? Will that work? Maybe three times a month. That gives me the chance to work it out on my schedule with no one noticing anything strange. Mondays and Fridays always seem to work out because no one much worries about people taking long weekends. But you're the doctor, Doc. If I have to come once a week, I'll work it out. I need to talk to someone in authority who'll listen and...damn, there goes my beeper. Next time I'm going to turn the sucker off. Oh, and early in the morning is best for me, Doc, before I get all filthy dirty from the job. Man, you wouldn't want me in here with that smell we get sometimes.
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Dr. Balis:
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Jerry, I'm sure we can work something out. Let's see, how about Friday, March 14th at 9 am? Can you make that?
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Mr. Freeman:
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That sounds good, Doc. Gives me plenty of time to arrange it so no one suspects.
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay, the 14th it is then. And Mr. Freeman, here's my card with my number on it. My service can get ahold of me day or night. Please feel free to call me if you need to.
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Mr. Freeman:
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Hey thanks, Doc. It's good to know there's someone I can call. See you next time.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye Jerry.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Jerico Freeman's Communications
