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Dr. Balis:
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Hello. This is Dr. Balis.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Er...hello. I, uh...
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Dr. Balis:
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Yes? Is someone there?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Dr. Balis. You don't know me but I'm calling for a patient of yours who has an appointment this morning--Jerry?
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Dr. Balis:
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I see. You're calling on behalf of Mr. Freeman?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Yes sir, I am. Uh, Jerry wanted me to call and let you know he won't be able to make it in to see you this morning. He just can't...well, he's unable to...he won't be there.
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Dr. Balis:
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May I ask who is calling please? Hello? Are you still there?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Yes Doctor, I'm here.
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Dr. Balis:
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Are you a relative of Jerry's?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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No sir, I'm not. I'm a friend of his and, well, I'm worried about him.
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Dr. Balis:
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Please, take your time. You sound as if you've been crying. Is Jerry okay? Has anything happened to him?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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He's fine. I mean...that is no, he's not fine. He's...oh, I'm not sure what he is.
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Dr. Balis:
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You sound somewhat distraught. Why not take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong with your friend.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Thank you, Doctor. Jerry has talked about you and said you were really nice and easy to talk to and that you made him feel at ease. I can see what he meant.
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Dr. Balis:
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Well, thank you, Ms...?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Diane. My name is Diane. I'm Jerry's girlfriend.
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Dr. Balis:
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I thought perhaps you were, Diane. Jerry's mentioned you quite a few times.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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He has? Oh no, what has he told you about me?
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Dr. Balis:
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Nothing that would be upsetting to you, Diane. He has mentioned that you are his steady girlfriend, someone he seems to care a great deal about.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Oh. I guess that's okay.
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Dr. Balis:
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Diane, could you speak a little bit louder please? You're almost whispering. Is someone else there with you?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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No, Doctor. That is, I mean...well, yes, there is.
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Dr. Balis:
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Is it Jerry, Diane? Is there a reason he doesn't want to talk with me himself?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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No, I mean, yes...er...no, there's no reason. What I mean is, he can't.
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Dr. Balis:
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Please calm down, Diane. I'm here to help. If Jerry's in some sort of trouble, I can help. Is he physically incapacitated or is there some other reason he can't talk?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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God, Doctor. I'm afraid if he knew I was calling you, he'd be really upset.
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Dr. Balis:
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That's all right, Diane. If you don't want him to know you called, I won't tell him. Earlier you said he wanted you to call for him. I assume from what you've just said that that isn't entirely the case?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Yes. I'm sorry, Doctor. I didn't mean to lie to you. It's just that I'm upset and didn't really know who else to call or what to say.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why don't you take a deep breath and tell me what the problem is, Diane. And don't worry about Jerry finding out about your call. I appreciate your calling and will certainly respect your wishes of confidentiality.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Thank you, Doctor. I can't talk too loud because I don't want him to hear me. He's in the next room in bed, and I'm afraid he might wake up.
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Dr. Balis:
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Is he ill, Diane?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Not what you'd really call ill, Doctor. Oh, you might as well know. He's passed out. And that's why I'm worried. It's so unlike him.
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Dr. Balis:
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I assume when you say passed out, that means from drinking or drugs?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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It's from drinking, Doctor. He never does this and I'm scared.
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Dr. Balis:
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Do you have any idea why he's been drinking, Diane?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Well, Doctor, Jerry has been having a little problem lately. It's been bothering him a lot and I know he's been worried about it. I keep telling him it's no big deal but he gets all worked up about it. Anyway, he apparently got some advice from you the last time he saw you and, well, within a couple of days he was his old self again. Everything seemed to be working out real good.
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Dr. Balis:
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That's a good start, Diane. I'm pretty sure I know what you are referring to and if it embarrasses you to discuss it, please realize that I have Jerry's best interest and health at heart.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Well, yes. I'm sure you know what it's about. Anyway, it's never been that big a deal to me anyway and Jerry knows that. But it bugs him something awful. And when it keeps happening, he gets very upset.
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Dr. Balis:
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Are you saying this isn't a new problem with Jerry? That this sort of problem has occurred on prior occasions?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Yes, Doctor. I thought he told....
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Dr. Balis:
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Diane? Are you still there?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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I think I've said too much. Please don't tell Jerry about what we talked about, okay?
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Dr. Balis:
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You have my word, Diane. Jerry won't even know we talked unless you tell him. Can you tell me what happened to cause Jerry to start drinking like this?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Oh, that's right, I was telling you about the problem. Anyway, things seemed to go really good for about a week. Then last weekend it happened again. Several times. Then he wouldn't even try again. On Wednesday, after work, he started drinking, heavily. He never does that, you know? Anyway, he kept it up all night. He called in sick to work on Thursday and he's supposed to be off today, thank god.
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Dr. Balis:
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Diane, has Jerry mentioned any other problems or concerns he's been having lately?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Not really. In the six years we've been together, he's never really complained about much.
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Dr. Balis:
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Six years? I was under the impression that you and Jerry hadn't been seeing each other for very long.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Is that what he told you? Doctor, we've been living together for six years and went together at least four years before that. Why would he tell you something like that?
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Dr. Balis:
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Diane, that was just an impression I got. Jerry hasn't really told me much about your relationship except how you met. I just made the assumption, apparently incorrectly, that it was somewhat recently.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Doctor, I love him so much, I hate to see him this way. Ever since the first time we laid eyes on each other at the university, we've been together. We're best friends as well as...well, you know.
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Dr. Balis:
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Diane, might I ask how old you are? Please don't respond if that embarrasses or offends you.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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It doesn't bother me at all. I'm thirty-one and the last ten years with Jerry have been terrific. I've never even been interested in anyone else.
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Dr. Balis:
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Were you enrolled in the university when you and Jerry met?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Yes. I was but he wasn't. He was there on campus, working. He whistled at me, and normally I wouldn't have given him a second look. But he was so cute, I stopped, and we hit it off right away.
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Dr. Balis:
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Diane, I'm going to ask you something about Jerry and please don't feel compelled in any way to respond.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Okay, what is it?
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Dr. Balis:
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Have you ever known Jerry to be untruthful or to overly exaggerate when talking about things?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Absolutely not, Doctor. He is one of the most down-to-earth types you'd ever want to meet. He despises liars--bullshitters he calls 'em--and he wouldn't lie to me if his life depended on it. I'm no fool but I really don't think he's been with another woman since we've been together. He's true-blue all the way.
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Dr. Balis:
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In this day and age, that's certainly refreshing to hear. How about work, has he...
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Wait a minute doctor. I think I hear him in the other room. Hold on. It's okay. He was just talking in his sleep.
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Dr. Balis:
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Does he do that often?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Sometimes. Usually he mumbles and you can't understand what he says. He must be getting close to waking up so I'm going to have to go.
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Dr. Balis:
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Before you hang up, Diane, has Jerry told you anything about why he's coming to see me?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Well, I know it has something to do with work. He hates his job and the people he works for. He always seems to be arguing with them about something and they're on his case all the time.
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Dr. Balis:
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Has he been unduly upset since his friend Jake was killed?
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Who?
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Dr. Balis:
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Jake. The worker who was killed in the sewer collapse last year.
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Ms. Diane LNU:
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Are you kidding? He hated Jake. Ever since Jake tried to...sorry, Doctor, have to go. I hear him in the other room. Remember what you said about not telling him I called.
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay, Diane. I'd like to talk with you again...Diane? Hello?
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Telephone Call
Transcripts of Jerico Freeman's Communications
