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Mr. Mainor:
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Hello Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hello Hal. I was hoping to hear from you. I got a very cryptic message from my answering service that you couldn't make the session and then you just didn't show up for your next appointment. What's going on?
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Mr. Mainor:
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Oh god Doctor, it's been a disaster! She knows everything!
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Dr. Balis:
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Your wife? You told her about the affair?
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Mr. Mainor:
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I would never do that. But she still knows. She keeps looking at me in that funny all-knowing way. I just know that she thinks that something is up. I decided to take her out on a long weekend. Just the two of us, you know? We left the kids with her parents and took off. I wanted to do something romantic together. But she kept on asking me what got into me? And it's not like we haven't done anything like that before, it's just that it's been years. And I know that she thinks that I'm just trying to make it up to her somehow.
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Dr. Balis:
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Did she say that?
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Mr. Mainor:
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Not exactly. But you know how women are! They let you know. They way they move and what they don't say to you and how they touch you or don't touch you. She just knows. I think she is waiting for me to confess, you know? God, I haven't slept in weeks. I'm afraid of saying something in my sleep. She told me once that she watches me sleep sometimes and I talk to her in my sleep.
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Dr. Balis:
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Did you catch her watching you?
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Mr. Mainor:
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No. Not yet.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why were you whispering to my answering service last time you called?
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Mr. Mainor:
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I was with her. I didn't want you to call me at home or something when I didn't show up to see you.
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Dr. Balis:
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Your wife doesn't know that you are seeing a therapist?
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Mr. Mainor:
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What do you think I'm crazy? She would think that for sure there was something wrong. I bet she would think that I'm trying to find ways to leave her or something.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why do you think that?
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Mr. Mainor:
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Isn't that why most people see a therapist these days? It's not like you have a lot of psychos walk into your office, do you? And it doesn't matter. This is what she would think. You can never call my house, Doctor. Do you understand? Never!
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Dr. Balis:
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I wouldn't do anything you don't want me to do, Hal. Please calm down. I...
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Mr. Mainor:
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God, the insurance forms! Do they send them to my address? I have to start watching my mail. She couldn't know. I don't want a divorce, Doctor. Just one stupid mistake. I just don't deserve having my life flushed down the toilet for that!
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Dr. Balis:
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Look why don't you calm and see me this Monday? We could talk and figure out what to do. It's...
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Mr. Mainor:
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I couldn't do that, Doctor! Things need to cool down a bit. What if I'm at your office and she calls me here at work? No, no I just have to wait on that. I'll let you know when I think it's safe for me to come to see you, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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I do think that it would be best for us to talk as soon as possible, Hal. You seem very agitated.
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Mr. Mainor:
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I'll bet if you were about to lose a wife and your children you would be a bit agitated too, Doctor. Look, I'll call you in a couple of days or so and then we'll see. Just don't call me. Not here and not at home. And if there are insurance claims or bills or something please forward them to me here to my office. Stamp confidential on them. And use a plain envelope. People are always so nosy about stuff like this. I'm sure someone would just love to tell a juicy tidbit like that to my wife on the next SII picnic or something. I got to go, Doctor. Goodbye.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hal? Hal?
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Hal Mainor's Therapy Sessions
