Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Page #3

you never had before

"What you never had you'll never miss"

ALICE:
I don't know that.

"So what's the use of getting married?"

ALICE:
I don't know that song.

So what'd you ask me for?

Go ahead and play.

Okay. Thank you.

Is that on?

How about now? Okay.

Hi, everybody.

Just go on and do whatever you're doing.

I'm going to sing.

I'm just going to sing a little.

Thank you.

Thank you. Bye.

That wasn't really very good.

I know. I was kind of nervous.

Auditions are hard, you know?

-You go for the piano for the first month.

-Sure.

That was it. I did it! I got a job as a singer!

Are we rich?

No, we're not rich yet,

but we might be someday.

I found this motel, and a woman said

we could have a room with a kitchenette.

The monthly rate is dirt-cheap,

and we can save like hell.

What am I supposed to do all the time?

Go visit a reservation

and play with the Indians.

It's too hot outside.

Goodness, Wanda Fay, take a fan with you.

You're a very weird kid.

ALICE:
You know what I'll do

when my ship comes in?

I'm going to get me

one of those fancy negligees...

and a pair of gold high-heeled slippers...

with the fur pompons on them,

or whatever you call them.

And then I'm going to shave my legs,

like all those ladies on television do.

What do you want

when my ship comes in, honey?

Tom?

You always look like such an angel

when you're sleeping.

ALICE:
I'll get you to Monterey, kid.

I swear to God I will.

I like your singing.

ALICE:
Thank you.

BEN:
Well?

Well?

I'm lonely.

Aren't you going to ask me to sit down?

ALICE:
No.

BEN:
Why not?

Because I prefer to sit alone.

Come on, nobody likes to sit alone.

You're right. The real reason why you can't

sit down is because I don't want you to.

Why?

Because I'm in a very bad mood.

-Maybe I can help you to get out of it.

-I doubt that.

BEN:
Why are you in a bad mood?

Do you really want to know?

-Yeah, I really want to know.

-All right.

I have a 12-year-old kid stashed in a motel

who's bored out of his skull.

I'm not making enough money

in this place.

And I cut my little finger on a tin can

this morning opening some peaches...

and it hurts like a son of a b*tch

every time I play a chord.

And if one more guy makes a pass at me,

I'm going to sock him in the face.

Sorry about your finger.

ALICE:
All right, sit down.

Over there, please. Don't sit so close.

My name's Ben Eberhardt.

Mine is Alice Hyatt.

Hiya, Hyatt.

Oh, please.

Yeah, I guess a lot of fellas

pull that one on you.

Yeah, but most of them are under 12.

Sometimes I've thought I'd like to

mimeograph a page that listed my age...

where I went to school,

my favorite color...

my most embarrassing moment,

what I do for a living...

all that type of stuff.

So, what do you do for a living?

-I fill bullet cases with powder.

-Do what?

I fill bullet cases with powder.

You're not kidding?

I guess there's not a whole lot to say

about that.

I really like your singing.

I really thank you.

Can I ask you something,

just a little personal thing?

Let's hear it.

-It's coming.

-Okay.

-Do you mind if I sit just a little bit closer?

-Yes.

Alice.

What are you doing? You're ruining it!

I paid a lot of money for this.

Should have put you in boiling water first.

You big baboon!

You just wait. You'll be sorry.

MAN on TV:
Shut up, lady.

Okay, Sam, take it away.

WOMAN on TV:
l won't sing.

Why?

ALICE:
Is that the only word

your mind can understand?

BEN:
Why?

Because I don't date teenagers,

that's why.

-I'm 29.

-Liar.

-I'm 27.

-Maybe.

BEN:
Maybe....

ALICE:
When?

Last month.

Look, I'm 35.

Does that mean anything to you?

Three-dash-five.

When I was in the third grade,

your mother was pregnant with you.

When I graduated from high school,

you were sucking on Popsicles.

Now, I don't date teenagers.

BEN:
Alice.

-Is it yes or no?

-No.

-No?

-Yes, no.

-Yes?

-No.

Yes. No. Now I'm all mixed up.

No.

Stop grinning at me.

That's all I need right now...

to get involved with a 27-year-old person.

I just don't need it. Period.

You sure?

What was that?

I don't know.

MAN:
You just stay out of it!

Just stay out of it!

You're a whore!

WOMAN:
I thought this was

supposed to be a vacation.

MAN:
You call this a vacation? Shut up!

WOMAN:
Stop or I'll scream,

then I'll have everybody in here.

WOMAN:
Everybody will be here!

MAN:
Keep your voice down.

WOMAN:
Don't come near me.

WOMAN:
I want out.

MAN:
Go! There's the door!

You going out late again tonight?

I don't know. Why?

Just wondering

when you'll introduce me to that guy...

you've been running around with.

ALICE:
His name is Ben,

and of course I'll introduce you to him.

Should I call him Uncle Ben?

TOMMY:
Isn't that what men like him

like to be called?

Men like what?

Don't be so sure you know

what you're talking about all the time.

You should see the bags under your eyes.

I wouldn't be surprised.

I've been working, you know.

You've been coming home late

for almost a week now.

And I figure

he's going to be around for a while.

So I have to call him something.

Coming.

Hello.

-Hi. Are you Miss Hyatt?

-Mrs. Hyatt.

Could I come in

and talk to you for a minute?

What's it about?

My name's Rita Eberhardt, and....

Sure. Come on in.

I'm sorry, it's a terrible mess in here.

Let's go in the kitchen.

-Would you go in the other room, please?

-Who's this, the Avon lady?

No lip. Just go in the other room.

So he's married. I didn't know that.

I'm sorry. I really didn't know it.

I can believe that. For all I've seen him

in the last two years...

I hardly don't know it myself.

I wouldn't have come here like this...

only Ben's been missing work

off and on the last week or so...

ever since he met you.

Lady, we just got to

have his salary check regular.

George, that's my little boy,

he's got this ear trouble.

It just drains and drains, and

it don't seem like anything will stop it...

and the medicine costs a terrible price.

-I'm sorry.

-It's okay.

How did you know my name?

I left George with my girlfriend Nancy...

and followed Ben night before last.

I saw him and you

coming out of Jacobs' place...

and then yesterday

I asked around about you.

You don't have to worry.

I won't be seeing him anymore.

BEN:
Rita?

Rita, are you in there?

Mom?

BEN:
Rita, you in there?

You b*tch, I know you're in there!

You might as well answer me now!

Alice, is she in there?

Rita, you b*tch! Open the door.

Open the goddamn door, Alice!

Alice, open that goddamn door!

I said, open this goddamn door, Alice!

What did you do?

What did you do?

Get out!

BEN:
Don't touch her, Alice.

If you don't drag your ass out that door,

I'm going to cut you.

I'm going to cut your ass. Get out!

What's the matter?

Why are you acting like this, Ben?

Why don't you just calm down now?

Just go home.

Don't tell me what to do.

God damn it, Alice,

don't tell me what to do!

Don't tell me what to do, Alice.

Damn it, don't ever tell me what to do.

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