A Patch of Blue Page #4

She used to come to the room

and play with me.

We had a lot of fun together.

We was great buddies.

- Not anymore?

- No. Rose-Ann, she put a stop to that.

What for?

She came home early one day

and raised hell.

- What were you up to?

- Nothing much.

She got mad because Pearl was colored.

You know, black.

She said I couldn't ever

have a black friend.

Did you ask her why?

When she gets going, you don't bother

about why. You just keep out of the way.

Pity Pearl was colored.

Anyhow, she never came no more.

When was this?

Long time ago.

I was only 9,

but I miss Pearl a lot.

She was my only friend until now.

She used to teach me things too.

Everybody ought to have a friend.

Go on, tell me about your grandmother.

Where'd she get the music box?

It was a present.

- From a man?

- That's right.

- Did he marry her?

- No, he didn't.

Why not?

I don't know why not.

I don't know all the details.

You see, my grandmother was...

Yes, go on!

The man was from a different world.

He was very rich and important.

- And she?

- She was just a beautiful woman.

- Tell me more.

- I don't know anymore.

You must know some more.

The man?

He was her lover?

- Yes?

- Yes, they were lovers.

- What are you laughing at?

- You sound so experienced.

- You're a baby.

- I'm no baby, Gordon. I got experience.

You have, have you?

I've been done over, a year back.

I don't know who he was.

Some fellow Rose-Ann brought back.

They'd been drinking.

- Don't pay no attention to her.

- I ain't no circus performer.

- But she can't see nothing.

- But you better get rid of her.

All right. I'll go find the old man.

He can take her for a while.

Quite a fire in you!

- Come on!

- No! Rose-Ann! Ole Pa!

knock it off!

I'll teach you to bite,

you little b*tch!

Rose-Ann! Ole Pa!

keep away! No!

Ole Pa blew his top

when he heard about that.

Rose-Ann had to take another room

down the hall.

I don't think she ever

forgave me for that.

I used to think Rose-Ann was having

a good time for herself on her bed.

I know better now.

I feel a bit sorry for her sometimes.

- Are you still there, Gordon?

- I'm here.

What do you think of the book?

I never knew you could feel words. I can't

read it any more than an ordinary book.

You will.

That was written by a blind woman.

- She was deaf and dumb.

- It don't seem possible.

It certainly is.

Come. We have to go.

Would you like to take it with you?

You mean it?

It's yours.

Get a load of lover-girl

in her sunglasses.

What'd you say, Rose-Ann?

I said, I got me

a brand-new pair of sunglasses.

You're safe now.

Don't cry.

Don't cry anymore.

Here, take my coat.

Put it around you.

You poor baby.

Don't cry.

- I can't stop gulping.

- You will. You will.

- What made you come?

- I don't know.

- Is it dark?

- Yep.

- I'm glad.

- Why?

It makes you more like me.

It stopped.

Yeah. Seems to be all over now.

Is your grandfather coming for you?

I have to get back to work.

- Is there a step?

- Yeah, two.

- Don't let go.

- I won't.

- You okay?

- Yeah.

- I love you so much.

- Don't be silly, Selina.

- I do love you...

- Stop it!

You hardly know me.

Here's your tree.

- You sure your grandfather's coming?

- Ole Pa? Sure, he's bound to come soon.

Thank you for coming back.

I was crazy to get scared.

It's time I grew up and stopped

acting like a kid. I'll be fine now.

Ole Pa, he's bound to come soon.

Selina!

Selina, you still here?

- That's him. He's plastered for sure.

- Selina!

Selina! You blind broad.

Don't let him see us.

Selina!

Where the heck are you?

You poor darling.

Here. I'm here, Ole Pa.

Oh, my darling.

Oh, my darling.

- Where's your lunch box, Ole Pa?

- I don't know.

Maybe I left it in the saloon.

I don't know.

Ole Pa, you want I should punch

the time clock for you this morning?

You speaking to me?

You're gonna be late, ain't you?

I'll punch the clock for you.

Thanks, Rose-Ann.

That's good of you.

Oh, I feel terrible.

Oh, that's tough. A poor old fellow

like you ought not to have to rush.

- You all right, Rose-Ann?

- I'm fine.

I feel rested. Sadie treated me to

supper last night. We took it easy.

Beats me how anybody could

take it easy with that broad.

Well, she don't make it exactly

hard to get, now, huh?

Don't kill yourself. It wasn't

that funny. Oh, I gotta get going.

You're gonna be late this morning. What

with taking Selina to the park and all.

- What you say?

- You'll be in a bind if you take her.

Like hell.

Like hell you are,

or like hell you ain't, huh?

Like hell I ain't. I'm finished with

that. Going into the park at night...

...in the pouring rain.

Wonder I ain't dead. Nuts to that.

Goodbye, Selina.

Goodbye, Rose-Ann.

You didn't mean that, Ole Pa, did you?

You are taking me, aren't you?

- What's this?

- That's your lunch.

- You are taking me, aren't you?

- No!

I'm all through with that hula-hula.

Watch it! Leave me alone.

Oh, help me!

- Somebody, please help me.

- You sick, honey?

No, I'm blind.

Can you get me across the street?

Sure. Come on.

Watch your step.

Take it easy. Okay?

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Where am I?

Which side am I on?

- What?

- I'm blind. I can't see where I am.

You've no right to be out alone.

Where do you live?

Seventy-three. 73 Pine Street.

Well, that's around the corner.

Come on. Let me help you.

And now, in a moment,

5:
00 Forum.

This program is brought to you each

day by Swish, the detergent that...

- It's 5:
00. I gotta go to work.

- Do you have to?

I do, if you expect to live a life of

luxury, swilling down pineapple juice.

- I'm blind. I can't see where I am.

- You've no right to be out alone.

No right.

No rights at all.

Do I have to take this?!

Do I have to?!

I hate you, Ole Pa! I hate you...

...you dirty, drunken, selfish

old bastard. I hate you!

I hate you too, Rose-Ann.

You filthy, cheap, stinking whore!

You mean, ugly, slobbering cow!

I hate you both. I hate everybody!

Everybody in this

lousy, stinking world!

I hate them. I hate them all!

I hate them. No-good men!

No-good men!

Oh, my darling.

Oh, my darling.

- Who is it?

- I've got a message.

- There's nobody home.

- I've got a message for D'Arcey.

- Mrs. D'Arcey ain't here.

- Your name's Selina?

- My name is... Yeah, that's my name.

- I got a message for you from my father.

- Your father? For me?

- Yeah, Mr. Faber.

He said he had a phone call from

your friend, from Mr. Ralfe.

He wanted to know if you were sick.

Are you sick?

No. No, I'm not sick.

He said he'd meet you tomorrow.

He said you'd understand.

I understand. Oh, yes. Yes.

- Okay?

- Okay. Thank you.

Papa said he had to go through

the park tomorrow. Wanna go?

- Yes! Tell your father, yes, please!

- Okay. Goodbye, now.

Goodbye. Bye.

Those eggs were great. I think I'm

going to hire you as a full-time cook.

- You couldn't afford me.

- I'll make my brother pay half.

I won't have you share me with Mark.

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