Butterflies Are Free Page #6

I opened it last night.

- What on earth is that?

- Now what are you looking at?

- That's what I'd like to know.

- It's your bed.

- It's my bed.

- Isn't it terrific?

You actually sleep up there?

- Like a baby.

- What happens if you fall out?

- I go to the ladder and climb up again.

- Where are your clothes?

In the bathroom.

- Where is the bathroom, under the bed?

- That's right.

- Wow! Were you ever right?

- About what?

She never had syphilis.

I'm surprised she had you.

How come you introduced me

as Mrs. Benson?

It made you sound more important.

- What's she doing?

- Testing the plumbing.

She's a nut about plumbing.

How'd you know it was her?

When she came in she didn't make a sound.

Smell. It's called Numero Dix.

She uses half a bottle at a time.

And I always know when she's around.

It's like having a bell on a cat.

Now what's she doing?

Checking to see

if I've got enough socks and underwear.

She is gathering evidence to hit me with

and try to make me come home.

She's changed her tactics, though.

She should have walked in and said:

"I could absolutely cry."

- She'll say it.

- No. I know all her routines.

She'll say it. I'll make you a bet.

How about dinner tonight?

Now, if she doesn't say it, then I lose

and we eat in my place and I pay.

But if she says it, we eat here and you pay.

- Okay.

- Here she comes.

Well, that's some bathroom.

- No wonder you hide it under the bed.

- I thought you'd say something else.

I haven't finished. I haven't even started.

- Say it and get it over with.

- There's only one thing to say.

Perhaps it's a blessing

that you can't see what you're living in.

Mother, I count that blessing

every time I walk in the door.

Donnie, can I be honest?

- Can you?

- This is it.

I am shocked and appalled.

Oh, I lose.

- 7:
30, okay?

- Perfect.

There's no tub in your bathroom.

It's under the dining table.

I could absolutely cry.

You win! Are hamburgers all right?

Yeah. But at least two each.

I'm not talking about this rat hole, Donnie.

I'm talking about you, too.

Look at you. What's that on your head?

- French Foreign Legion cap.

- Have you enlisted?

No, I was drafted.

I'm not just talking about that.

You have lost weight.

I haven't.

I'm the perfect weight for my height.

- "6'1" and my age, 11.

- I'd just like to see what you're eating.

Why, there's nothing in here

but lettuce and an apple.

Where?

Behind the lettuce.

- See, I knew there was another one.

- Tell me, where is Mr. Benson?

- See, I knew there was another one.

- Tell me, where is Mr. Benson?

- Who's Mr. Benson?

- I assumed he was your husband.

Oh, you mean Jack. I don't know.

The last I saw him, he was outside

of the Hamburger Hamlet on the Strip.

- Why?

- I was curious about your marital status.

- I haven't any.

- Jill's divorced, Mother.

Well, how old are you, Mrs. Benson?

Nineteen.

Nineteen?

And you've already been married

and divorced?

Yeah.

How long were you married?

Six days.

And on the seventh day, you rested?

No, I split.

I got to change now. I have an audition.

- Audition for what?

- A play. At the Cosmic Workshop.

I was speaking to Mrs. Benson.

A play. At the Cosmic Workshop.

Then, you're an actress.

Well, yeah.

Might I have seen you in anything

besides your underwear?

Not unless you went

to Beverly Hills High School.

I was in The Mikado.

I played Yum-Yum.

I'm sure you did.

Does your mother know where you are?

Sure.

And does she approve

of the way you're living?

What way am I living?

Mother, are you conducting

some kind of survey?

You're asking for it, Donnie.

I'm sure Mrs. Benson doesn't mind

answering a few questions.

- Do you, Mrs. Benson?

- I have this audition.

What does your father do?

- Which one?

- How many fathers have you?

Four. One real and three steps.

Your mother has been married four times?

So far. We live in Los Angeles.

Then you come from a broken home.

Several.

Why does your mother marry so often?

I don't know. I guess she likes it.

I mean, she likes getting married.

Obviously, she doesn't like being married.

Now, I think I'd better get started, okay?

Ciao!

- Don't forget:
7:30, here.

- What happens at 7:30 here?

Jill and I are having dinner together.

- Just the two of us, alone.

- Mrs. Benson?

- I think you've forgotten something.

- What is it?

Susan Potter's hair.

- I'm closing the door.

- I don't blame you.

- Did you have to be so goddamn rude?

- Was I rude?

All those questions.

Are you the attorney general

of Hillsborough?

I think I have a right to know something

about my son's friends.

Rights? Let's talk about my rights.

You're not supposed to be here

for another month.

Why'd you come today?

Since when do you speak to me like this?

Since when do you sneak into my room?

- I didn't. The door was unlocked.

- You could have knocked.

- I thought it was a raid.

- It should've been.

- Why don't you lock your door?

- Because until I knew my way around...

it was easier to let people come in.

But I assure you,

it will be locked from now on.

Well, I thought my coming here today

was going to be a nice surprise for you.

- If I knew I'd be treated like this...

- You'd have come anyway.

I'm glad I did.

My worst fears have been realized.

Thank heaven for that.

My worst fear was that

your worst fears wouldn't be realized.

Imagine if you came in here and liked it?

We'd have nothing to talk about.

Did you have to choose

such a sordid neighborhood?

To me, it looks just like Hillsborough.

I'd be terrified to live

with the type of people around here.

- They've been nice to me.

- I'll bet they have.

Yesterday you told me

you didn't even know Mrs. Benson's name.

That was yesterday.

Well, you certainly became friends

in a hurry, didn't you?

- She's a very friendly girl.

- Yes, I can see she is.

- May I ask you a personal question?

- No.

- Have you slept with this girl?

- I thought you'd never ask.

Yes, I have.

- As if I didn't know.

- If you know, why do you ask?

Now I know why you were so anxious

to have your own place.

I know you, Donnie.

You've got that Linda Fletcher look again.

- You'll fall in love with this girl, too.

- And if I do?

Does it bother you I'm heterosexual?

Mrs. Benson is not exactly the girl

a mother dreams of for her son.

I'm not interested

in the girl of your dreams.

She's got beady little eyes like a bird

and a figure like a flagpole.

You've described the girl of my dreams.

You can't see the difference

between good and bad. I can.

I can look into people's faces and eyes.

You can't.

I can see past their eyes, into their souls.

Leave us not forget Little Donnie Dark

and all that vision.

- I wish you did have some of that vision.

- I'm sure you do, Mother.

Deep down haven't you always been

ashamed you produced a blind child?

- There's nothing to be ashamed of.

- Embarrassed, then?

You have never given me reason

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