Clash by Night Page #5

I'll go put something on.

Hi, Earl.

Excuse me while I rest my weary dogs.

Sit down, Jeremiah. Relax.

Mae'll be out in a minute.

She's dressing.

She don't have to doll up

for Earl Pfeiffer.

- And how's the wonderful baby?

- Fourteen pounds, 6 ounces.

I weigh her every Tuesday and Friday.

She's a lulu.

Hey, are you sick?

No.

Dead and in my grave.

Ghosts.

Don't get up, it's too hot to move.

My pleasure, Mrs. D.

You're drunk.

On two tiny quarts?

Brought you a present.

I almost forgot.

What is it?

- Vitamins.

- Vitamins?

Said to myself, I gotta get Mrs. D

a present. What does she need? Vitamins.

Run down? Your clock losing time?

Feel morbid? Wanna throw yourself

in the oven with the rest of the cakes?

Take a vitamin.

I'll make a pot of coffee. You need it.

My ex...

...I wish she was run down.

All the way down.

Divorce is like the other person died.

I keep saying she's dead.

She's dead.

Jeremiah, guard your castle...

...your beautiful wife...

...your wonderful baby.

I'm tired.

Hey, Mae. He's passed out.

What are you going to do, stand there and

admire him? Pick him up and put him to bed.

The kingfish of Buckman County.

A little girl drowned yesterday.

Here's a picture.

Not this morning, Jerry.

This heat. I sprinkled Gloria

all over with talcum powder.

I wish somebody would sprinkle me

all over with talcum powder.

- He still asleep?

- Who, Earl? Yeah.

Got you.

He sure had a skinful

last night, didn't he?

I better be getting down to the boat.

Aren't you going to kiss me

before you go?

You don't like me to kiss you

in the morning.

I'd like it this morning.

- How did I get here?

- You passed out. Jerry put you to bed.

Why didn't you let me sleep it off

in the gutter?

Yeah, that's right, why didn't I?

- You got some black coffee?

- On the table. Get a cup.

- What time is it?

- Eight o'clock.

Eight o'clock?

- I thought it was deep in the afternoon.

- Jerry just left.

Aren't they ever going to finish

hammering up that post office?

You'll be in great shape

for work tonight.

Work? What's that?

Morning, pop.

- What are you doing up so bright and early?

- Ride to Seaview.

- Maybe I find work.

- Carfare, Papa? Would you like coffee?

What do you wanna work for, pop?

Plant some rosebushes.

These are the years of rest.

You no like work, huh?

That's right, I no like work.

I like work.

He'll walk to save the carfare.

How people can get.

The old man's all played out.

He's living in a dream.

- How about you?

- What about me?

- Are you happy?

- I'm happy.

No, you're not. You're just like me.

You're born and you'd like

to get unborn.

That's why I drink

that shellac, to get unborn.

- You need some sleep.

- Sleep? I can't sleep.

Somebody has to need me, love me.

How do people go on this way? Tell me.

- The heat's got you.

- And Jerry.

What about Jerry?

You wanted a man you could lean on.

Confidence. Well?

I don't blame Jerry for what he is.

That's my cross.

Are your shoulders strong enough?

- Mine are.

- Mine aren't.

Help me, Mae.

Help me.

How can I help you?

You wait all your life for the woman

you think is right.

You give up. You think you'll never find her,

that it's a dream up inside your head.

And then one night...

...out of nowhere...

...she walks into your life,

and everything flaps over inside.

- No, Earl.

- Don't you know I love you?

Can't you tell it? Tell me what you

want me to be, I'll be it.

- Mae, I'm dying of loneliness.

- Earl, you'll wake the baby.

Oh, yes, the baby.

Is anybody home?

The mice.

Got any cheese?

Where's Mae?

Inside with the kid.

I got slightly tanked last night.

My friend Jerry stowed me away

to sleep it off.

Any more questions, Little Bee?

Peg? I thought I heard you.

Mae, look.

- Isn't it beautiful?

- A diamond.

We had dinner last night, Joe and me.

We had a fight and were never

gonna see each other again.

At 11:
00, Joe came to the house

and was gonna kick the door down.

I never thought I'd like a guy

who pushed me around.

It's kind of an engagement ring.

Congratulations. I'm glad

you put the guy out of his misery.

When did you start

recommending marriage?

- Since I got my divorce.

- Joe will make you happy.

He knows who he is and what he is.

Some of us don't.

Always take the man who'll kick

the door down. Advice from Mama.

When I was 14, I couldn't wait to get

married. I was in a hurry to see the world.

Don't see it too fast, Little Bee.

I gotta go.

I just had to show you the ring.

Wait a second.

I'll get Gloria dressed and come with you.

I can't, honey. Joe's waiting.

Diamonds make me punctual.

Peg...

- Well.

- Well.

The end of our brief

but violent friendship.

Yes, it's the end.

I suppose apologies are in order.

Which kind do you prefer?

You're so proud. A moment ago

you needed me more than life.

Now you're cruel and sarcastic because you

think I've seen you naked for a second.

And you, you're not proud?

What, you wanna put your teeth

into me to hurt me?

- Get me right.

- Don't touch me.

- I'll do anything you want.

- Go to Madagascar...

...go anyplace, but get out of here.

Al...

- Look at her, Joe. Ain't she a beauty?

- Yeah.

Be the best-looking boat in the bay

when they bless the fleet Sunday.

I wish Mae was here

to see how the old tub looks.

Where'd Mae go?

The amusement park. Earl took her.

Earl's got a lot of time

on his hands lately, ain't he?

Day off.

Why shouldn't Mae get out

of the house now and then?

Hey, skipper!

Get to Angelo's fast.

Your old man's in a fight.

- Papa in a fight?

- Yeah, and the whole joint's in an uproar.

Can't I let you alone

without you doing something crazy?

- What's he fighting about?

- He's mad.

I'm having a quiet snifter here, all of a

sudden, the old gent starts swinging at me.

Yeah? My Uncle Vince been in?

- In and out.

- Okay, I'll take him home.

Papa, will you please go to sleep?

The old gent home?

- Why'd you let Papa get into a fight?

- Me? I know nothing...

What's the matter with you?

I don't understand.

- Mae out?

- Yes.

A man his age.

Ain't you got sense?

My word of honor,

I didn't even see him start it.

I guess I need glasses.

Couldn't spare a few dollars,

could you?

- These ain't the old days, Uncle Vince.

- No.

Old days was over when she

moved in this house...

...and threw me out.

- Don't blame Mae.

Earl Pfeiffer, he knows how

to spend a dollar on a friend, don't he?

Just spends and spends and don't ask

nothing in return, they say.

Earl Pfeiffer's a good friend...

...and we happen to appreciate it.

- True, true.

Yet a little thing like that

makes for gossip, don't it?

- Gossip? On what?

- I don't care to repeat no gossip.

I'm just an old uncle who

minds his own business and...

- But ask your father.

- Ask him what?

People talk, don't they?

They got long tongues.

Talk. What do they talk about?

Ask your father.

He got in the fight, not me.

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