The Fourth Digit

Hello. Are you sitting here? Ma’am? Hello? Are you alright?

Yes…

Are you sure?

no…

Ma’am, you look somewhat pale. Perhaps you should sit down -

NO!

Why not?

That box -

This box? Is it yours?

No. W

Who’s is it?

I’m not sure.

What’s in it?

I - I can’t say.

You didn’t look?

I looked…twice. I wish I hadn’t looked. Y

You looked twice? But wish you hadn’t looked? Why did you look the second time?

I was curious.

Your curiosity should’ve been satisfied the first time you looked.

If you must know, I was curious at to whether my mind played a trick on me.

I’m sorry, it’s none of my business why you looked, or how many times you looked, or what’s even in the box to begin with. So, what’s in the box?

I can’t say. B

But you looked inside twice. Why can’t you say what’s in there?

I don’t want to say what’s in there.

It can’t be that bad. It’s a very nice box.

It is a nice box.

It’s actually a very pretty blue box.

Yes - it’s Tiffany’s.

Oh, then you do know who’s box it is!

No. I don’t think so. I hope not. B

But you said it was from Tiffany’s.

It’s FROM Tiffany’s. The jewelry store. A

Ah! Tiffany’s! Wow, no wonder your dazed. It’s probably very valuable, isn’t it?

Yes…particularly valuable to one person.

I’ve got to look!

Don’t look!

You looked!

I was curious!

Okay, so now I’m curious.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

How bad can it be? What’s inside here sparkles doesn’t it?

A part of it does.

It will make me gasp, won’t it?

I’m sure of it.

Ahhaa! That’s a - there’s a -

Sparkles, doesn’t it?

I don’t know…I didn’t notice.

You should look again.

I - I don’t want to.

But you’re going to.

I - I can’t help it. I have to make sure.

Why?

Because I’m curious.

Your curiosity should’ve been satisfied the first time you opened the box. Seems like I’ve heard that somewhere before.

I’m wondering if my mind played a trick on me!

Welcome to my world.

Oh my, gosh! That’s gross!

At least 3 carats, I’d guess.

No - I meant the -

I know what you meant. It really sparkles, doesn’t it?

Yes…and no

It is rather grotesque, isn’t it?

Yes…I wonder who it belongs to.

What what belongs to?

You know what!

Then say it out loud.

Why?

So I know I’m not crazy.

I can’t say it.

Can’t or won’t?

Does it matter? I think I should take it to the police.

I don’t think so. After all, I found it first. I should be the one to take it to the police.

No, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.

It was your idea.

I - I changed my mind. Look - Lady - I -

Alice. My name is Alice.

Okay, Alice. I know this is going to sound a little bizzare…but…I think I recognize that ring.

Really? You recognize it?

Yes, Alice. ?

Is it the style that is familiar? Or the obvious value?

The style. I have no idea what it’s worth.

I can tell you what it’s worth - Miss -?

Cynthia. You can call me Cynthia.

Cynthia - that ring has a retail value of twenty-three thousand five-hundred dollars.

Twenty-three thousand, five-hundred dollars?

And seventy-seven cents.

That’s being rather exact. How do you know it’s not eighty-seven cents?

Because its mine…I bought it three months ago.

You bought THAT ring? Three months ago?

Yes, Cynthia, I did.

Then, Alice, why did you say and act as though you had no idea what was in the box?

Because of that other thing - in there.

At least you can’t “claim” that that belongs to you.

Obviously.

And what would you say if I told you that I recognize the other “thing.”

I don’t know what I would say. I would probably be speechless.

Well, just so you know, I recognize it.

I don’t believe you.

I thought you were going to be speechless.