Cassandra's Dream Page #4

I wake up 3:
00 in the morning

last night, he's not there.

I go into the front room, and he's sitting there

talking to himself. What's that about?

Well, your father's already started

to forget names and confuse things.

In Terry's case it won't be dementia.

It will be blended whiskey.

Don't tell her that. She'll think he's alcoholic

because you passed him your genes.

- Mum, what did Uncle Howard get you?

- Flowers.

- Aren't they pretty? And 1,000.

- Oh, they're gorgeous.

He never forgets,

Howard, does he?

What's it to him? A crumb. If I had that

kind of wealth I'd send you some real money.

But you don't have it.

We'll always be dependent on Howard.

Thank the Lord the man's a prince.

Did he say where he is?

Well, he was still in China, but I think

he's going on holiday to Thailand.

- Oh.

- Yeah.

- Mum, can I speak to you a minute?

- Yeah.

- I need to borrow some money.

- How much?

Any part of that 1,000 you can lend me.

Well, all of it, if you can.

So what happened? Did your great

winning streak come to an abrupt end?

- Mum-

- What was it? Cards or dice?

- Oh, what the bloody hell's the difference?

- Don't lecture me, Mum.

- All right, I'll pay it back.

- With what? You owe everybody you know money.

If I give you my birthday present,

I can say good-bye to it.

All right then, forget it!

All right?

I knew I was asking

the wrong person.

Your dad needs it to pay to the bank.

The restaurant's sucking him dry.

So let him dump it then.

He's put his whole life into it.

It's not about the money.

Well, isn't Ian helping

to get it back on its legs?

Ian can only do so much,

and his heart's not in it.

But at least he's got some conscience.

You never had any conscience.

- And Brian's not what he was.

- Can't Uncle Howard help?

He's too proud to ask Howard again,

and he won't let me.

Well, those two

never really got along.

Yes, 'cause you rub his nose

in Howard's success.

Don't you lecture me!

Drink and gambling,

that's your answer to life's problems.

- Someone at the restaurant is stealing from me.

- What?

Oh, I suspect Lewis, the bookkeeper.

He's the only logical one.

But I've known him for years,

and I can't bring myself to accuse him.

Oh, Dad. It's, uh-

- It's not Lewis. It's me.

- You?

Yeah. But I wasn't stealing it.

I had every intention of returning it.

I hope you know I would

never steal from you.

It's just that Terry

got himself in some debt...

and I've been- I've been

trying to help him out.

And I had to use some money

I'd set aside for some business ventures.

What business ventures?

Do you want to leave the restaurant?

Yeah, of course, one day, Dad.

I can't stay there forever. It will kill me.

But not- not next week or anything.

Look, I've met this incredible girl.

You stole money.

No. I'm trying to explain to you.

You just don't want to hear.

I had hoped I would be able to get it back

there before you even noticed.

I wasn't trying to get away

with anything.

And I only took it because

Terry and I got in a bind.

- What kind of business venture?

- Investment in hotels.

What the hell do you know

about hotels?

Uncle Howard's coming!

Uncle Howard's coming.

He'll be here tomorrow.

He'll only be in town for a little while,

and then he's leaving for the United States.

But he wants to take us all out to lunch

to celebrate my birthday.

Well, I'm sure he'll put on a big show and then

you won't see him again for another two years.

He's a busy man.

He hasn't time to sit in front of the television,

watching football and swilling beer.

Get out of my way, Brian, please. Thank you.

My plan is to get everything

lined up in advance...

and with a bit of luck, we can close

this deal sooner than we expected.

I'm gonna ask my Uncle Howard if he can

introduce you to some movers and shakers.

Oh, I don't want to infringe.

No, no, no, no. He works with a lot of

movie industry people. He's very social.

He plays- He plays golf with some

top directors and some studio heads even.

Oh. God, that would be

a really big break for me.

Well, it's a good time

to ask for this favor.

Well, you're so beautiful

and talented.

All you need is a chance to meet

some of the right people.

There he is. Howard.

- Howard! Oh, my God!

- Hi.

- Hello, love. You all right?

- All right, darling, yes.

- Happy birthday, sweetheart. There you are.

- Oh, my God.

- Uncle Howard, this is Kate.

- Oh, hello, Kate.

Lovely to meet you.

I've heard a lot about you.

- Yeah, well, it's probably, uh, exaggeration.

- You look great.

Oh, doesn't he look wond-

So-So where are we eating?

- We're going, uh- I booked a table at Claridge's.

- Claridge's?

Oh, we're-we're

not dressed, really.

You can have rich food

for once in your life.

I'm sure your ulcer will survi- Did you

see the doctor that I arranged for you?

- I did, yes.

- He says it's nothing serious, so-

- Well, the pain's damn serious, but-

- Come on, Brian.

- What time we booked in?

- Uh, 1:
00, so we, uh-we better go, all right?

Come on. Don't get

left behind. Come on.

You'd-You'd be amazed what's

happening in-in-in China today.

It's a really vital

and exciting place.

Now there's a trade surplus opening up...

and our clinic's really gonna do well.

You wouldn't think that the Chinese would be

so into cosmetic surgery, would you?

They're-They're capitalists, Kate.

They're-They're-They're way

more capitalistic than we are.

Right.

Do you know, I was hoping you'd bring

your new wife. I'd love to meet her.

Ah, yes, I know. Well, Connie's busy.

She-She does a lot of work

promoting our clinic back in L.A., so-

But she really wanted to come.

And, Howard, you never

think of having a family?

- You're my family.

- Oh, Howard.

- Oh, Howard.

- Thanks, Howard.

That's sweet.

Everything's okay?

You need anything?

Well, we're all right, thank God. But, look,

Howard, I know the boys wanted to talk to you.

Boys, I was just telling Howard that

you'd want to talk to him privately.

Uh, yeah,

if-if-if you have some time.

When it's convenient

for you.

Yeah, well, uh, we'll just drop

Brian and Dorothy at home...

and then we'll-we'll-we'll have a drink,

just the three of us.

- There you go, boys.

- All right, great.

That's lovely, Howard.

Thank you, darling. You made my day.

I couldn't help myself, Uncle Howard.

I mean, I know we talked about it

and I gave you my word...

but sometimes, I-I just get

out of control, you know?

I'll get help.

I promise it won't happen again.

For Christ's sake, Terry, stop cryin'.

Uncle Howard's not berating you.

He's- He just-

He's drank a little too much.

Well, I-I-I don't

set myself up as a judge.

I-I-I counsel common sense.

I understand human needs.

All right. But I know I got myself into this bind

and I'm aware of how serious it is.

Yeah, yes, I hear you. Now, y-you just-

you just pull yourself together.

I'm not going to-

I'm not going to lecture you.

I think losing such a steep

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