A Love Song for Bobby Long Page #5

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Where is it?

Lawson, Bobby's trying to get me

to tell him where the vodka is again.

- It is Christmas.

- Whatever. It's under the back stairs.

And I could have sworn

it was your turn to do the laundry.

Don't forget to use the cuddly bear stuff.

But you aren't a virgin, are you?

You know, some people would call you

a disgusting old man...

for your constant sexual harassment.

I believe the term is "dirty old man,"

not "disgusting."

And you are a young, blooming bud.

- Let me live vicariously. You aren't, are you?

- Are you?

Well, I have children.

Why don't you ever see them?

Well, that's a good question.

But you haven't answered mine.

You know, I'm trying to be serious for once,

Bobby. God.

The truth is, I wish I could see them.

I miss them like hell.

It seems to me

if someone wanted to see their kids...

then they damn well would,

unless they didn't give a sh*t.

How about you?

Do you remember your mother

when y'all were living together?

No, not really.

I used to try to remember her.

Anything about her.

Like her voice, the way she smelled,

you know, anything.

I used to think real hard...

wanting memories.

And I just started making them up.

That she was putting on her eye shadow

and talking to me in the mirror...

or I'd pretend that...

she'd make me these perfect grilled cheeses

with the crusts cut off.

I had all kinds of made-up memories.

My favorite one was that

she'd take me to see her shows...

and I would be sitting on the side

with this nice man...

who'd give me

all the Shirley Temples I wanted.

I made up so many memories...

I actually started to believe

I was really remembering her.

But she never came for me, so I just forgot.

You know...

stopped pretending.

Ho, ho, ho!

- Is that a real tree?

- Lord, where did you get that?

It fell off the back of a truck.

- Like hell it did.

- All right, maybe it was a Volvo.

We should put it right up front

where everybody could see.

Sure.

Lawson, where's the laundry?

Sh*t.

"I remember the day I graduated

from protg to confidant.

"He never meant to let me in on his secrets.

"He thrived on his own mystery.

"But once the first one was discovered...

"it wasn't long before

there were none left between us.

"I was on the back steps of the library...

"when I spotted his uniform,

a freshly laundered shirt...

"the color of Easter, and that damn hat.

"He strode across campus with purpose.

"Everything about Tommy said ready."

- I'm Tommy, just so you can follow.

- Sounds just like you.

"He almost skipped right passed me.

"'Nice hat,' I said...

"eliciting Tommy's notorious smile.

"It was the same smile that he granted

to each woman that caught his eye.

"The smile that served as an answer

to all undesirable questions.

"Or the smile for one of his children...

"whenever he found

a tiny hand reaching for his."

That's nice...

- but I think that might be a bad sentence.

- I think they all are.

That's why they're hanging

from the goddamn Christmas tree.

No, but it's just that, normally,

it's just not on...

"Tommy took the stairs, two at a time,

bellowing, 'Well, God damn...

"if it isn't the South's next great native son.'

"I was only one of hundreds

who came religiously twice a week...

"to be dazzled by the Professor,

each performance worthy of applause.

"Tommy, at the front of the hall,

waving his arms wildly...

"as if mastering an imaginary lasso."

- I like "lariat" better. I think you...

- I like "lasso."

Years ago, you trusted my opinion.

Years ago, you were easier to trust.

Thank y'all very much.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Nobody can do the Alabama shuffle

as good as Bobby Long...

but this sweet thing, she can move.

- Why can't you be this sweet all the time?

- Sure, and what would that get me?

Pure, unadulterated joy.

- You keep your lecherous eyes off our girl.

- What?

She don't like me.

She likes Lawson better than she likes me.

You like Lawson better than me, don't you?

You're drunk.

You know what, I am. I really am.

But it's all right,

because Lawson is gonna take us home.

Not tonight. I got him all to myself.

You told them about the news, honey?

We were just thinking

that maybe after the holidays...

he could move in with me

and get some more work done.

It's just something that we kicked around.

Lawson is not in love with you.

Bobby, I don't think

that's any of your damn business.

I've seen him with a woman

that he can't get enough of.

A woman that's crawled

into every molecule of his being...

that consumed his every thought...

and turned him into a creation

of devotion and obsession.

I have the scars of that love on my face.

Have you told her about that?

Have you told her

about the difference between true love...

and a warm bed to pass the time away?

Cool it. Don't go after her.

I never said I was going anywhere.

I only speak the truth.

The woman deserves to know the truth.

And you, you're free to do as you please.

Am I, really?

Finally free?

I want to say something on this occasion...

where we're celebrating our love

and friendships with one another.

"Friend by enemy I call you out

"You there, with a bad coin in your socket

"You there, my friend with a winning air

"Who palmed the lie on me when you looked

Brassily at my shyest secret

"With my whole heart under your hammer

"That though I loved him for his faults

"As much as for his good

"My friend were an enemy on stilts

"With his head in a cunning cloud"

Bravo, man.

Now, why don't you come out

and f***ing say what you really mean?

Does every word out of your mouth

have to be in character...

or is that the idea:

Just to be anybody but who you really are?

You want to tell me

that you're disappointed in me?

'Cause maybe I'm disappointed in you.

You know, I never asked

to write your damn book.

Your redemption and my penance, right?

Haven't I paid?

Nine f***ing years.

I am sorry, all right?

I am so f***ing sorry.

It's Dylan Thomas.

To Others Than You.

That's an easy one.

Good night, Bobby.

Sh*t.

You okay? Can I come in?

You really did a number on yourself

this time.

Lawson's gonna leave me right by myself.

I always knew it.

I deserve it.

I'm gonna die alone.

He's not gonna leave you.

- Yes, he is.

- No.

He'll always be there for you.

He cut up my story

and hung it on the Christmas tree.

Honey, I peed myself.

All right, let's get you into bed. Come on.

Oh, God.

It's so damn cold.

How is he?

- I think he peed blood.

- God damn it.

I knew he wasn't himself tonight.

He's afraid of doctors.

It's probably some bacterial thing.

It's nothing.

- Are you gonna move out?

- No.

Are you in love with her?

No.

She's really nice.

Yeah, she is.

Are you worried about him?

What happened, Lawson?

When I met Bobby,

he seemed absolutely larger than life.

Did whatever the hell he wanted...

but still he had the beautiful wife and kids.

Students loved him. Faculty hated him.

Women wanted him.

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