A Price Above Rubies Page #4

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- Is that what you can't remember?

- I can hardly remember my name...

- Ramon.

- This is Mr. Kapoor. I just work here.

I'm Hrundi Kapoor.

I've never seen

that piece before.

You should be ashamed

of yourself, Mr. Kapoor.

Mr. Horowitz's previous buyer

may have been too old...

or just too trusting to detect

this fake, but he can remember

where he bought it from.

As I said,

I've never seen that piece before.

We have one of two

possibilities here, Mr. Kapoor.

One, you yourself didn't know it was

a fake and unwittingly passed it on.

Two, you knew. Either way,

you're doing dishonorable business.

And as I understand it,

if Mr. Horowitz so desired...

he could tarnish your reputation

so thoroughly that within a week...

you would be out on the street corner

hawking watches out of a suitcase.

Normally, Mr. Horowitz would have come

down here and told you all this himself.

But I think he was a little concerned

with losing his temper.

So here I am. And although I happen

to have a temper myself...

I have no particular

emotional investment in

this unfortunate transaction.

So it might be possible for you and I

to start on a fresh page...

and embark on a relationship

that would better profit

both yourself and Mr. Horowitz.

The emphasis, of course,

being on Mr. Horowitz. What do you say?

- What can I say?

- How about...

"Good morning, Mrs. Horowitz.

Welcome to 47th Street.

From now on, I'll be selling

to you at 80/ below retail.

Is there anything

I can interest you in today?"

Good morning, Mrs. Horowitz.

Welcome to 47th Street.

Mr. And Mrs. Mizrachi,

Mrs. Horowitz is my new buyer.

- Hello.

- Hello.

I'm sure Heschel will be missed.

But whatever she lacks in experience,

she'll make up for with a superb taste.

Thas nice.

Any relations?

- Excuse me?

- She's my sister-in-law.

I'm keeping things in the family so she

can put my brother through yeshiva.

You like them, Mrs. Gelbart?

What I'd really like is for my husband,

God bless him...

to get off his fat ass,

surprise me with something...

instead of handing me

a wad of cash...

and telling me,

"Go make yourself happy."

I understand, Mrs. Gelbart.

But the joy of the surprise

lasts only a few moments...

and then you're at the mercy

of his taste.

At least this way you can choose

something for yourself...

that will give you naches

for the rest of your life.

You've got excellent taste,

Mr. Sugarman.

That ring was designed

by Eddie Sakamoto.

A beautiful combination of cobachon

and diamonds laid in a platinum band.

That design won first prize

in the Spectrum competition last fall.

So, uh, what range

are we talking about here?

Mr. Sugarman, I'm not going to pretend

to give you some kind of fancy bargain.

I'll sell it to you

for what is worth.

Is so nice to see

a new face here.

Is very inspirational.

It just makes me want to...

buy something.

Well, since is your wife's birthday,

Mr. Fishbein...

I recommend this bracelet.

Is silver inlaid with ruby.

Is her birthstone, and mine.

Could you model it for me?

Ahh.

That looks fabulous.

But such a lovely wrist,

I imagine anything would.

The question is, Mr. Fishbein...

whether you think your wife,

Mrs. Fishbein, will like it.

The question is, Mrs. Horowitz...

why a woman as lovely as you...

is not wearing any jewelry of her own.

Well?

Mmm, is good.

But what?

- But nothing. Is good.

I didn't say "but."

- But you thought it.

I could see it there over your head

like a little gray cloud.

A little "but" something.

But what?

I understand most of the nutrients that

can be found in freshly-cooked foods...

are absent in microwaveable products.

Sounds like you've

been reading articles...

on a rather wide variety

of subjects.

Or else you've been getting an earful

from your sister Rachel.

In which case, I'd thank her

to keep her nose out of my affairs.

Do you know what

today is, Mendel?

No, I don't.

Is my birthday.

Sonia.

Sonia...

I know that you're working now.

And I know that you like it,

so I'm glad for you.

But you run out of the house at the

crack of dawn. I hardly ever see you.

And when I do is to get

a microwave dinner tossed at me

like I'm some charity case.

I know I spend my day

with my nose stuck in a book...

but I'm not a complete idiot

when it comes to these things.

Is clear that something's missing.

What is it?

What is what?

- What is it that you want?

- I don't know.

Mendel, if I knew...

Mendel, I just want

something beautiful.

Sonia, you have it right here.

You have a home, a child...

and a husband who loves you

more than anything in the whole world.

Yes, in this world, maybe.

But what about

the other world?

The world of the spirit

and the Torah and the Talmud?

What about that world?

Do you love me more than that, Mendel?

What about God?

Do you love me more than

you love God, Mendel?

Sonia, thas a terrible thing to ask.

I'm sorry, Mendel.

You're a good man.

And this life is good,

but is not beautiful.

But... goodness is beauty.

No!

Beauty has goodness in it,

but it can also be terrible.

Is that what you want?

That, that things

should be terrible?

Is that what

would make you happy?

Whoa, whoa. Is too early.

You come back in a half hour. Sorry.

Just for a moment.

"A woman of fortitude, who can find?

For her price is far above rubies.

When her husband relies on her,

he shall lack no fortune.

She rises in the morning

to feed her household.

Strength and majesty are her raiment...

and joyfully she can anticipate

the day of judgment.

False is grandeur

and vain is beauty.

Only a God-fearing woman

deserves praise.

Give her the fruits of her handiwork...

and let her be praised at the gates

of heaven for her countless deeds."

Sometimes I look at men

and wonder...

how could God have created...

so ugly a creature

for woman to cling to.

Men are ugly!

But you...

Sender Horowitz...

you are the ugliest man of all.

Thas a flawless

brilliant cut stone from

South Africa. Top of the line.

Hmm. How's business, Mr. Kapoor?

Business? The rich are buying

at Tiffany's and Saks. The poor

are carjacking the rich ones...

and everybody else is sitting

on their couches watching

the Home Shopping Network.

Not surprising if this is the kind

of merchandise you showcase.

Listen here, Mrs. Horowitz,

I triple check everything I show you.

Thas a perfectly sound diamond

in a perfectly sound ring.

Mm-hmm. Is perfectly sound.

And perfectly boring.

Hey, back me up here.

Boring or not?

Boring.

Ramon, isn't today your...

Half day? Yeah.

Today I'm outta here at... Right now.

I'm outta here now.

Thank you, Mr. Kapoor.

Is a classic, Mrs. Horowitz.

And the point of a classic

is its steadfastness.

There are some things

nobody wants to change.

I was holding this one just for you,

but I'll be more than happy...

No, no, no, no.

I'll take it.

The sad fact is, is probably

the best piece I've seen all week.

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