Camera Store Page #8

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Put it in your pocket,

take it home.

Anybody ask you, tell

them to talk to Ray Lapine...

Because this is my store.

Excuse me, Mr. Lapine.

Pete? Talk to you for a minute?

Remember that guy I

said I knew down here?

Well, Dave, that's the guy.

I called him and I told him

that I had plans tonight and...

Everything and that we should

get together another time.

But he...

Well, it's a long story...

But he just wants to meet for

one drink for Auld lang Syne.

So I said he could meet me here.

Is that okay?

I'll see you on the bus?

Okay.

He's sick, Pete, honest.

Do you still have

Dr. Lobell's photos?

Yeah.

Can I see them?

You know... I guess.

Oh, wow.

That's your girl

with Dr. Lobell.

That make her too low class

for you?

That she's been with another

guy?

No... well, maybe. Yeah.

See, the problem with this

sort of thing, though is...

Is you gotta figure,

does she get you?

Possible that she could give you

something, like real?

A quandary.

That is a quandary, that

I will agree...

But the choice you have

to make, isn't it?

My mother would never...

Yeah, you know what?

Please forgive me,

but f*** your mother.

I'm serious...

And f*** Wharton while

you're at it, would you?

Bring two condoms to the party.

I mean, come on.

F***ing ten years from now...

You'll be crushed under some

bullshit corporate crap.

You might as well stay here

and die with pinky and me.

You're young. You're...

You should be out there

driving f***ing cars.

You know that gasoline

and perfume are the best

aphrodisiacs on the f***ing

planet.

Have a good time with a good

girl.

Take out the garbage.

I gotta call the valley.

Try to get our checks in.

Good night.

Yeah, yeah, $3,867

dollars and 86 cents.

Checks on the way?

Yes, of course, pinky's here.

Yeah, fine, we'll wait.

Right. Same to you.

You know we could have.

Next year, huh?

Hey, fuckheads.

Couldn't even make five lousy

grand, you p*ssy-assed losers.

I'll tell you what, you

palsy-old piece of sh*t.

You come in here and I'll

shove that oxygen bottle...

Right up your jackseat.

Locked in, you f***ing

greasy chimp.

Open this f***ing gate

right now!

Them the checks?

Give me the f***ing envelope.

Unlock the gate.

Get in.

What the f*** is going on, Ray?

We're closing.

Thank god for that, mate.

I'm bloody exhausted.

For good.

I'm sorry, Ray. I didn't

hear that proper.

Bibby's closing down the store.

Cashed out the retirement plan.

Your end.

Well, he can't close the store.

It's not his to close.

Ray, call the valley, will you?

There's been a

grievous error here.

Pete, how much?

227 dollars... and 69 cents.

This is some sort

of debit history.

Did you take out loans?

It's a grievous error.

Did you borrow

against your retirement?

I don't want a retirement.

You see, no, no.

I'm not retiring.

I can't retire.

I've got a shelf load

of inventory I've got to unload.

And... and who's going to

handle the returns next week?

I mean, come on. Let's... let's

cut the bullshit here.

They need us, Ray!

You, to handle the returns

and me to do the selling!

No.

Oh, f***.

We're not businessmen.

We're not salesmen.

We're not even f***ing men.

We're a race of f***ing rabbits.

It's time to close, pinky.

But Ray, you had the vision.

You had the smarts.

You could calculate any number

in your head...

And you could have taken

me with you.

I would have followed you.

And Alma would have followed

you.

And we'd all be together,

and I would have made you rich.

F***, it's immaterial.

Immaterial?

It's my life, Ray.

You know what, my old friend? I

should have fired you years ago.

I'm sorry that I didn't.

Well, if that's some sort of

apology, I don't need it, mate.

I know what I am.

I am an utter f*** up.

But why did you surrender?

You know that every

photograph has two sides, right?

The positive, and the negative.

You see that?

See that guy?

Remember him, 25 years ago?

Me? Huh?

I mean, not a bad looking guy.

Pictures don't lie about

that sort of thing, right?

This guy, me, he was real.

He was real.

He was a salesman.

He was a businessman.

A man.

And then I lost... him.

And... her.

And what is left, but

the f***ing negative?

Pinky, I don't even f***ing

know who I am, all right?

That... I don't know anything.

Any more.

No, f*** that! You know, I do

know one thing, huh?

We're f***ing closing!

So you'll be okay?

With your check?

It could probably finance a couple

of those one-hour processors...

No check.

But I saw your envelope.

Yes, but you didn't see

inside the envelope.

There was no check.

There was a court order, though.

It seems like all my

funds have been frozen.

Well, they can't freeze it,

unless they're pressing...

Criminal charges, they...

Hmm.

I'm... I'm sure you

can get that cleared.

But your check... there was no

check in the envelope for you.

Now usually, Christmas staff

is always paid...

At the end of the shift.

Unless, of course,

their work isn't done.

Ah, he sent you to shop me.

See if I was stealing

or cooking the books.

You see anything?

You see me take anything?

Um, film... a brand new camera.

You gave me everything.

Oh, right. Good business

lesson there.

And what did it cost?

What did he pay you to do this?

Nothing.

So why? Why would a person

do that sort of thing?

The practice.

Hm.

You just never know how.

Hey, junior, can we get

going before I miss Santa?

Give me a minute.

What's wrong?

What was your job in

that store with those men?

It doesn't matter.

I got her back.

Why'd you gotta go do that?

Why?

I wanted to believe you.

Penny, forget about

the camera store.

You said you weren't mean.

I wanted to listen to

all your little lies...

And try and understand them.

I was willing to do all that...

Because I am tired of being

cold... and I liked you.

And I thought you liked me.

I do.

You're a liar.

I'm a liar?

You know I saw some

pictures of you today...

That tell the whole truth

and nothing but the truth.

Grossinger's.

The man in them,

Dr. Dave Lobell.

No.

I know his kids.

His wife.

You saw?

Everything.

He was sick... dying.

Okay, okay, let's forget it.

You want to stay at my

place a couple of nights, okay.

That's what you think of me?

It's like a gift two people

give each other...

Like Christmas presents.

Okay.

Let's go.

It is freezing.

Eyes in the back of my head.

What?

Are you coming with me or not?

Stay away from me!

Eh.

Oh, sh*t.

Well, that means you won't be

giving me a lift home then.

Thought you'd be at the parrot.

No... populated by lonely,

pathetic, old drunks.

So this is Christmas.

Uh-huh.

First Christmas in god knows

how many years...

I have nothing better

to do than actually enjoy it.

Christ, it's cold, though,

isn't it?

But I do love the snow,

you know.

Makes me think I'm a kid again.

Can do anything at all.

Do you remember Daphne?

Wife number four.

Her daughter, well, my daughter,

actually the only daughter...

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