A Free Soul Page #5

- Dad, please.

- Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just...

When I think of it, it's a complete eclipse.

I can't think of anything. It's just nothing.

That's how much I love you...

...and that's what I've done to you.

God help me.

No, Dad.

Listen. Look at me, dear.

You know I love you better than anything

in the world, don't you?

But another year like this last for you,

why, it'd be the end of everything.

I didn't realize it till this minute.

Well?

I love you too much to stand by and see

you make a wreck of yourself like this.

I love Ace, too,

but I'll make a bargain with you.

A bargain?

If you'll quit drinking,

I won't see him anymore.

Oh, Jan, I couldn't do it.

I couldn't...

I'm giving up what's in my blood,

just as much, every bit.

I...

Dad, you're right.

Things have caught up to us.

You're headed for the same dreadful ruin

that your father was.

- Jan, how dare you?

- He died in an insane asylum...

...from nothing but drink.

Dad.

I'm never gonna hurt you like this

ever again, dear, I promise.

We've just got the two of us, dear...

...and we've gotta take care

of each other, haven't we?

Come on, we'll go away

and rough it for six months...

...forget all about this.

What do you say?

- Well, I... Well, I...

- But it's gotta begin right now.

If you never take another drink...

...why, I'll never see Ace again.

Never.

All right.

All right, Jan.

All right, my baby.

Hi there, Eddie.

- Hi.

You certainly picked a grand spot.

Did you have any trouble?

Oh, no.

Oh, how I hate a smart mule.

Oh, Dad, isn't this glorious?

Mm-hm.

Look at that.

Sure is.

Ain't nature grand, Eddie?

Yeah, if we could only take a taxi.

- Tell me, is there a brook around?

- Yeah, right down there.

All right, fine.

And you're sure there's plenty of water

to drink?

Oh, yes, sir.

And not a headache in a tankful.

Hey, look out for that guy.

He's got a lot of ideas

and they're all bad.

Why, he's sweet.

It's only me he hates.

Oh!

Oh, all right, all right.

Have it your own way.

Whoo!

Are you hurt, Eddie?

No.

No.

Oh, Jan, by the way, I...

This was handed to me, and I forgot it.

Are you sure you forgot it?

Well, I was getting on the train, and...

Well, there it is anyway.

Don't you wanna open it?

Just as much as you want

what you want, dear.

- Do you think so?

- Mm-hm.

- No sleep, darling?

- No.

You hear those bullfrogs?

You hear what they're saying?

No speak bullfrog.

Well, they're saying, "No rum. "

"No rum. "

I call that "rubbing it in. "

Do you remember the first time

you and I went away together?

- I was 5 years old.

- Oh, yeah, where was it?

I don't know, somewhere along the coast.

Don't you remember?

Oh, yeah. I do.

- There was a merry-go-round.

- Yeah.

And you stood around all evening

and let me ride.

Sweet baby.

We stayed away five days.

- Did we?

- Mm-hm.

And the way you combed my hair...

Gosh, it took the nurse three days

to get the tangles out when we got back.

- Yeah, we had great times, though.

- Lovely times.

We've had lots of lovely times,

you and me. Such lovely times.

Yeah.

Remember those summers at Catalina?

Hey, I wonder if

it wouldn't have been better...

...if I'd sent you to some summer camp

and let somebody else take care of you.

Don't you think

it might have been better? Huh?

You think so?

Yoo-hoo!

Morning, darling.

- What, no sleep, dear?

- No.

Oh, that's too bad.

- Terrible, I know, dear.

- That's it. That's the word. "Terrible. "

But listen, dear,

we've only been a week. Now...

I know how you're suffering, dear.

- But just a little time, and then...

- Suffering. It isn't suffering.

It's madness.

All this is really driving me

to stark insanity.

Dad. If you don't stand now, dear,

you never will.

You're assuming a lot, Jan.

I don't wanna drink.

It's this bargain I resent,

that cuts me off from all normal living.

The bargain I had to make to keep

you from playing with rattlesnakes.

- Not very fair, darling.

- A crook. With the mob.

Mixed into everything

from opium to white slavery.

What kind of a bargain do you call that?

I know it isn't much of a bargain, dear...

...but we thought we ought to try,

didn't we?

Oh, I can't stand it.

If I could only get a little sleep.

I'm going mad for sleep.

I can't get a... Just a few minutes

and I'm wide awake again.

It's frightful.

Must we go back?

Goodness knows,

I want it just as much as you do.

The reason we're here, I love you better

than anything in the world.

Now, must we go back?

No, we'll go on.

But let's keep on the move.

Okay, darling. Come on, let's try again.

Just a little sleep and we'll move on.

All right, I'll try.

There, darling.

Daylight's coming.

Just don't think of anything.

Just think how much I love you.

Gee, we missed it.

We've been lost up here for three months

and I don't know north, south, east or west.

Well, you've made a man of the old man,

all right. I feel great.

Listen, a bird in a cage

twitters good enough for me.

Oh, come on,

I'm all excited to get back.

- Come on, let's get at it.

- And I'm happy.

Come on, sweetheart.

I'm going over

to see what time the next train leaves.

- I'll see about the tickets too.

- All right, dear.

Morning.

Say, I've got cramps.

- You got any Jamaica ginger?

- Yes.

Yeah? You sure? Yeah?

That'll cost you 10 bucks.

Have you got a little water, please?

A glass?

- What luck, Eddie?

- Jan, I can't find him anyplace.

- You can't?

- I've searched the whole town for him.

Oh, dear God.

Please take care of him.

Oh, hello, Aunt Helen.

Never mind, Sampson.

Well, Jan?

- I'll ring if I want you, Sampson.

- That's all right, Sampson.

- By the way, how have you been?

- Well. I thank you, miss.

Do I take it this means "not welcome"?

- Hold everything, Eddie.

"Not welcome" is putting it mildly.

Would you mind putting those back,

Eddie?

- Sure.

- You'll wait for me, will you?

- Here?

- Yeah.

Okay.

- Where's Grandma?

- Resting. She's not well. I'll talk to you.

- Well, doesn't she want to see me?

- Emphatically not.

- Why, this is absurd. I don't believe it.

- Where have you been these three months?

Now, like any other time,

it's none of your business.

That's the conclusion

the family has come to, Jan.

None of our business.

We can't control you.

- You have no loyalty to what we stand for.

- Why, what do you mean?

Your father endorses these things,

so you're better with him.

Oh, shut up, will you?

Tell Grandmother I'm sorry, will you?

Oh, never mind.

Oh, you'll be a lot better off

up at the old St. Francis.

- I can't talk. Do you mind, Eddie?

- Oh, no, no.

Oh, that's... That's great. That's great.

Right now I have just you. Nobody else.

No. Whoa, what...?

Oh, that's tough.

Although, I guess I might just as well.

Oh, sure, sure. I would.

All right, go on, get your bets down.

Girl here now. Upstairs, your place.

Jan, Miss Jan.

Jan? When did she come?

Oh, I fix up nice drink,

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