A Patch of Blue Page #5

I'll give you my phone number.

You could have called yesterday

and saved yourself grief.

It wouldn't have done no good.

We haven't got a phone.

- There must be a pay phone nearby.

- Maybe.

I'll walk you home today,

and we'll find one.

I don't know how to phone, Gordon.

We'll take care of that too

at the same time.

- Oh, Gordon, I'm sorry.

- It's all right. It happens to me too.

I never break anything.

Really, I don't.

Why do I have to break

something of yours?

Just forget it. Forget it.

Was that a kiss?

That was a kiss.

kiss me again.

Oh, Gordon.

Gordon.

Oh, I wish I'd never been done over.

- What did you say?

- Nothing.

I'm sorry.

You were much sinned against.

Are you angry with me?

No.

Do you think I'm bad?

Dirty?

No, I don't.

I said what I did

because I love you so much.

I know why you said it. I'm glad you

said it. You brought me back to earth.

I didn't want you to come back to earth.

I wanted you to make love with me.

I know.

Thank you.

Wait.

Hey, can I try a puff?

You won't like it.

Don't blow. Draw.

I told you.

You really like that?

- It helps me to think.

- Are you thinking now?

- I'm thinking about you, in fact.

- Oh? What about me?

You cannot go on living the way

you are. It's a Dark Age story.

- I don't know what else I can do.

- There must be some way.

I'm all right, Gordon, really I am.

I've never been so happy before.

We have to look ahead.

Things change.

I don't want anything to change.

I just wanna be with you.

That's just it.

You can't be with me all the time.

I don't want you to go on

living with Rose-Ann either.

I'll think of something.

Now, if I'm gonna walk you home,

it's time I got changed.

Hello.

- This is a surprise.

- Mark?

I'm always finding you abandoned.

I don't know why you put up with it.

- Don't you get mad at him?

- I could never get mad at Gordon.

- Where is he this time?

- Changing his clothes.

Excuse me.

Hi.

- You bring that girl here every day?

- No, it's the second time.

- Maybe you better make it the last.

- Wait. Since when are you my keeper?

I'm not, but I don't like to see you

wasting your time either.

I think that girl

comes from a trash heap.

Maybe, but she isn't trash.

Given half a chance,

she could be something.

- You planning on providing that chance?

- I think I can help.

How?

- Get her in a school.

- You planning on educating a white girl?

Let whitey educate his own women.

They've always given us a hard time.

Mark, let's not get into a political

argument. This is a personal matter.

Yeah, too personal for my liking.

What do you mean?

Nobody takes this kind of interest

if there isn't something in it.

- You're off your stick.

- Yeah? All right, then tell her.

Tell her she can never

really mean anything to you.

On race and politics, we don't agree.

Let's drop this.

She can't fit in here. If she

could see, she'd know that.

I said, drop it.

Let me handle this my way.

This isn't your way. Facts have

always been facts to you.

No half-truths. You've rammed that

down my throat often enough.

Now go out and tell her the score,

or I will.

Don't tell me what to do.

She doesn't have to know the score.

I want to get her settled

somewhere first. Is that clear?

Yeah.

Make sure you can see the forest.

Make sure the trees aren't

getting in the way.

Let's go.

I got it.

555-3268.

- "555-3268."

- Right.

Now pick up the receiver.

Here's a dime.

To your left.

- This one?

- That's the one.

Operator?

I'm blind, and I can't read the dial.

Would you please get me

555...

...3268?

Thank you.

They're doing it.

It's ringing.

The number doesn't answer.

- It's a shame to trouble them.

- Sorry, I wasn't in.

What's that?

Well, your money comes back

when nobody answers. Here.

Hey!

- Here.

- No, you keep it for good luck.

- Now, you got that?

- Yes.

- He ain't much trouble.

- I'm not having that old buzzard.

- I thought you'd be glad to lose him.

- You don't mind Selina.

- She can do the chores.

- When can I see it, Sadie?

I'll take you there tonight.

It's a swell place. You'll love it.

How about that!

Seventy-three. You sure you can

manage from here?

I'll be fine, Gordon.

- Bye.

- Bye-bye.

- She's getting to be a big girl now.

- See you later.

- Hello, Rose-Ann. You're early.

- You clean up this room today?

- Yes. Yes, I did, Rose-Ann.

- Don't lie to me. You been out again?

- I cleaned up before I went out.

- It doesn't look like it to me.

What's wrong?

Tell me, and I'll fix it.

I'll tell you what's wrong.

I seen you with that n*gger.

- That what?

- That black man.

You know what I always told you

about colored trash...

I don't know the details.

My grandmother was...

The man, he was

from a different world.

- And she?

- She was just a beautiful woman.

What you grinning at?

What you been up to with him?

He's teaching me things,

wonderful things.

I bet you're learning some

swell things from that black buck.

Shut up! Don't you dare say those ugly

things about Gordon. He's a lot better...

Don't you tell me to shut up,

you ungrateful little chippy!

Hit me?! Your own mother?!

That's what you're learning

from your black boyfriend?

- I hate you!

- Lf I ever... If I ever catch you...

...with him again, I'll beat...

- What the hell is going on?

- What are you trying to do to Selina?

- Stay out of this, you stupid drunk!

Who are you calling stupid?

Why, you three-buck broad, you!

Okay, you black-hearted b*tch...

...if you wanna fight...

You filthy old bum!

In all my 35 years...

...I never saw such a filthy old bum!

My own father!

Thirty-five years?

Forty-five is more like it!

And you look every bit of 45!

You're a fat, 45-year-old whore!

You'd do anything, anytime for a buck!

And what wouldn't you do for a buck?!

What wouldn't you do

for a buck, you pig?!

Cow!

Selina!

Selina!

Oh, I knew it.

Get out! Selina!

Get out of here! Get out!

Hey, Ole Pa!

- In the kitchen.

- What's going on here?

- Are you okay?

- Mind your own business!

We thought you were trying

to scream the whole building down.

We didn't, did we?

This is a private argument, you...

- Come on, get out of our house!

- Keep your hands to yourself!

Does he know what goes on across

the hall when he's out working?

Yeah, you! She wiggles her fat can

at the grocer.

I got one of them.

- Did you see the look on his face?

- We fixed them.

We fixed them good.

- Stop that. Stop it, Selina!

- Leave her be. She's sick.

Come on, get up. Get up.

I can't.

- Come on.

- Easy with her.

Oh, what a mess.

- What are you sitting for? Clean it up.

- What?

- You heard me. She'll make it worse.

- You do it. She's your kid.

I'm going to take a bath.

- I feel so sick, Ole Pa!

- Me too.

I'm an old man, Selina.

Too old.

I can't clean it up.

I'd like to, but I can't.

I'm going out to get plastered.

You understand, Selina?

Don't go out.

Not tonight, Ole Pa.

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