Ask the Dust Page #4

So stupid.

Hopeless.

But I'm really a good person.

Honestly, I am.

Here.

Thank you.

- What do you want me to do?

- Tell me I'm like other women.

- Tell me I'm beautiful, please.

- But you are beautiful.

Really, you are.

This is just a childish obsession.

You know, maybe a hangover

from the mumps. I don't know.

Plenty of men would give anything...

Let me show you something.

- You don't have to show me anything.

- You're going to see it for yourself.

Undo this, please.

Look, you've convinced me, all right?

Yeah. Yeah, I thought so.

You know all about them.

So what's the fuss? That's nothing.

Tell that to my husband.

"Deformed, disfigured,

"disgusting."

That's what he said.

I say,

you're beautiful.

Rxcuse me.

I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry. I don't know

what was in my head. I just...

Take it easy.

I'll wait outside so you can...

Take it easy.

"Dear Boy,

"of course I should have known

you'd have a girlfriend.

"Is she very beautiful?

"She's very lucky.

"Is she also kind and generous?

"Would she ever allow you to come

to Long Beach, if only for an hour?"

I woke up relieved to think

there were other possibilities in life

besides Camilla.

Maybe Vera was a little crazy,

but like she said about herself,

she was a good person.

We'd read the same books,

spoke the same language

and she was capable

of appreciating my writing.

Suddenly, I felt better about myself.

I was once again, Arturo Bandini,

lover of man and beast alike,

and afraid of nothing.

Mr. Bandini! Hey! Bandini!

It's Sammy,

the bartender at the Columbia.

- Yeah. Sammy White.

- Yeah.

- Camilla says you've been published.

- What of it?

I was thinking about getting into

that line of work.

- Publishing?

- No, writing stories like you.

Bartending and the damp nights don't

seem to agree with me much anymore.

Looking to find something I can do

pretty much anywhere.

Like writing stories.

Yeah, well, good luck to you, Sammy.

Yeah, I was hoping

you could give me a few pointers.

And that magazine

with "The Little Dog Laughing" in it,

you wouldn't happen to have

a spare copy?

I'd sure like to read your story.

I know I got one in here somewhere.

Thank you, Arturo. It's a real honor.

Like I said, I was hoping you could

give me some pointers about writing.

If there's anything I can do for you,

you let me know.

Sounds like you've got something

in mind.

Well, thought you might like

a little advice about Camilla.

That's real white of you, Sammy,

but I think I can handle the situation.

Okey-dokey.

But you know what they say,

"Never a horse that couldn't be rode,

"never a cowboy

that couldn't be throwed."

And Camilla's one tough little pony.

She's got a real hard mouth on her.

"A real hard mouth."

Interesting turn of phrase.

You're too nice to that girl, Mr. Bandini.

- Too nice?

- Way too nice.

You don't understand Mexican women.

- Oh, Mexican women are different.

- No, sir.

They're like most women,

except more so.

You let up on them,

they're all gonna take advantage.

But you ease up on that little spic,

she gonna peg you

for a lily-livered gringo

and buck you out of the saddle

before you're in it.

A horse with a hard mouth

don't feel the bit, Arturo.

So, keep them on a tight rein,

never let them forget

who's boss for a second. No trick to it.

Ride them hard and it's easy.

Well, Sammy,

sounds like you know your horseflesh.

Yeah, I hope so, Arturo.

I'm gonna write Westerns.

By the way, amigo,

Camilla's one pony

who's worth the ride.

I'm glad to see you.

Why?

Okay.

Sammy told me

you were really nice to him.

I was beginning to think

you couldn't be nice to anyone.

- Can I get you something?

- Where is Sammy tonight?

- He left.

- Went home?

To the desert for a while.

He hasn't been feeling real good.

- What's the matter with him?

- Camilla.

TB, I think.

Here. You can start with this.

- Sammy has tuberculosis.

- Yeah. Tough break, huh?

We all gotta go.

What are you talking about?

- He won't live long.

- How dare you say something like that!

So how are all your other boyfriends?

I haven't got any other boyfriends!

Sure. Forgive an incautious remark.

Could I have the check?

No charge. It's on Sammy.

Bandini.

You don't have to pay

to be a smart aleck.

Besides, if it cost more than half a buck,

you couldn't afford to be one.

You're very funny.

Sammy writing your dialogue?

Why do you have to be so mean?

Mean? Me?

I'm anything but mean.

I'm a lover, my dear girl.

Rqually fond of man and beast alike.

You can't be mean

and be a great writer.

Well, are you?

Are you a great writer?

That's something you'll never know.

- Why are you so angry?

- I'm not. Just disgusted.

With me?

Why?

Take a look in the mirror.

- I don't want to look in the mirror.

- I don't blame you.

I'm tired.

We were busy today.

Being busy's not the problem.

It's those shoes

and all that paint on your face.

You look like a cheap imitation

of an American.

If I were a Mexican,

I'd knock your block off.

I'm bored with your Mexican remarks.

We're not that different.

You're dark and your hair is dark

and your eyes are black.

- Nobody's eyes are black.

- Yours are.

Why don't you go

think about Sammy?

What are you doing here, anyway?

- Would you ever change your name?

- What for?

- Would you?

- No. what's it to you, anyway?

I don't want to go

from Camilla Lopez to Camilla Bandini.

It's not much of an improvement.

Who asked you to go anywhere?

- You'd ask me.

- No, I wouldn't.

- Yes, you would.

- I wouldn't.

- You would.

- I wouldn't.

I know you like the palm of my hand,

Arturo, and I'm telling you, you would.

Right after Sammy would.

Would he do that?

Would Sammy ask you to marry him?

Who knows what Sammy's gonna do?

Would Sammy white ask

Camilla Lopez to be his wife?

- Who knows and who cares?

- You do.

I know you like

the back of my hand, Camilla.

I care about his name.

I want a chance in life.

I want my children to have a chance.

You think you're so smart!

You're gonna write a book

and have the world on a string, huh?

- Well, what if you don't?

- I will.

- Yeah, but what if you don't?

- I will!

You're book smart, but you're not smart.

And you're not rich,

and you're not nice!

You are loud, angry

- and poor.

- Then why stick around?

Come here.

What for?

Come here and I'll show you.

I'm busy.

- You're afraid.

- Of what?

Of me.

You are.

You're afraid of lying down next to me.

I'm terrified.

Take off your pants.

- You want me to do it for you?

- Why don't you take off your pants?

They're off.

How does it look?

All right.

Okay. Fine.

"All right"?

"Okay"? "Fine"?

Come on!

A great writer ought to do

better than that, don't you think?

Or maybe you're not so great.

Maybe you can't f*** or write!

- I can't, huh?

- No! Stop it!

- Stop it!

- Think I can't, huh?

Think I can't!

- Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

- Think I can't? Think I can't?

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