Dark Odyssey Page #3

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Is that what it means

to be your own man?

How can you ask me that when

by myself I've come here?

I stand just two

blocks from Pano Coupas.

He will not question

if I'm a man.

My father will

know I'm a man.

Oh, I've said

the wrong thing.

I didn't mean

to make you angry.

You're very kind.

I often come up here

and dream.

Dream?

Daydream, I guess

you'd call it.

About what I'd like to do

tomorrow or next week.

Or what I'll be like

ten years from now.

Don't you

ever wonder?

Looking too far ahead

is something I've

learned not to do.

You mean you've never,

ever dreamed about

something you want?

A long time

ago, yes.

I dreamed as boys do.

Being a soldier,

a doctor.

Many things.

Often I'd dream

just of growing up.

My father made me

want that.

When I was a little boy

I used to tend our sheep.

One day toward dusk,

I was leading them home

when a wolf jumped

out of the thicket

and grabbed one of

the sheep by the throat.

I started to yell

and scream.

My father heard me

and came running.

He struck the wolf, his strong

arms swinging a big stick.

The wolf ran off badly hurt,

leaving the lamb behind.

But it was dead.

I began to weep for I felt

I had failed in my duty.

My father put his

arm around my shoulder.

The same arm that

had held the stick.

"It's enough that

you shouted," he said.

"When you grow up, you will be

able to strike at a wolf."

That night,

we ate the lamb,

and I was happy,

for I felt that one day

I would have the courage

of my father.

Well, you must have

made other plans too.

Will you work on

ships all your life?

The sea

is not for me.

Then you'll have to

settle down someplace.

I will go back

to the mountains.

But you said you had

no family in Greece.

Why don't you

stay in America?

I don't think

that will be possible.

Maybe Pano Coupas

can help you.

He has a good business

and knows a lot of people.

If you wanted

to stay here,

maybe he could

help you get a job.

Help me--

Coupas?

You mean he wouldn't

want to help you?

(mama)

Nike, where are you?

I'm up here, mama.

It's getting late.

I hope it's all right if I stay

here a little while longer.

The view is

very beautiful.

Then I will

be going.

That's all right.

You come and say

good-bye before you go.

Where is the

young man?

He's still

on the roof.

He's disappointed because

Mr. Coupas wasn't home.

Is he going

back to his ship?

I guess so.

I suppose he'll try to

see Coupas tomorrow.

I just hope he

remembers how to get there.

He doesn't understand

about subways.

Who does?

He could follow the

smell of olive oil.

I'm serious.

Poor boy.

Maybe we ought to

ask him to stay over.

Nike, I told you to be careful

before you do anything.

(Nike)

Why not, Mama?

He could sleep

in the little room.

There are my two daughters

in the house, that's why.

Oh, come, Maria.

It would be wrong to turn

the young man away.

I can't help myself--

do what you think is best.

Good, good.

We'll have

him stay.

I'll run upstairs

and tell him.

I'll be glad to have

another man in the house.

For 20 years now

I have been outnumbered.

(Helen laughs)

Yianni?

(doorbell buzzing)

(doorbell buzzes)

Where's Pano Coupas?

He's not here.

What do you want?

I want to see him.

When is he

coming home?

Who are you?

A friend of his.

I haven't seen him

in a long time

and I'll only be in New York

for a few days.

Hmm.

That's too bad.

He's down in Baltimore,

loading a ship.

I'm using his apartment

while he's gone.

When will

he be back?

He'll be here tomorrow

afternoon around 5:00.

He's coming

to pick me up.

Who will I tell him

was here?

What's your name?

Hmm.

(woman laughs)

Yianni!

I didn't know you

were going to leave.

You didn't say

good-bye.

He isn't home yet.

There was a man there

in his apartment

who said he would be

back tomorrow afternoon.

Papa said you could

stay with us tonight.

Then you won't have to go

all the way back to your ship.

Ship? That's very thoughtful of

your father but I've already--

Oh, come on.

(music playing

inside bar)

Hey, what do you

mean, "no tie"?

Have a good time.

Fine.

Nice party.

Come on, come on,

everyone have a drink.

Everybody have

a good time.

That's what we're

here for, George.

I'm not here just

for the fun of it.

I'm here on

a mission...

a very

important mission.

Here, look at that.

You know

who that is?

No. Who is he?

I don't know.

Come on, come on.

Soon it will be time

to open the restaurant.

When you have two daughters,

you need a dozen bathrooms.

Those girls.

Sometimes they are

in there for hours.

Bubble baths, shampoos,

plucking their

eyebrows.

What are they

going to do next?

At least you have

your daughters with you.

Sometimes I wish

they would leave.

You don't mean that.

Oh, you poor boy.

You are so serious

about everything.

You didn't even realize

I was joking,

and that is very sad.

You are a young boy and

your life is ahead of you.

Don't be so serious

about everything.

I have found little

to laugh about.

I was only six years old

when the war began.

When it ended six years

later, I had lived a lifetime.

I know you have lived through

too much for a boy your age.

Maria, if you don't get

those daughters of yours

out of the bathroom, I am

going to cut the door down.

(mama)

Knock on the door.

They will come out.

What do you mean,

"knock"?

They are deaf

in there.

Good night, papa.

Night, mama.

(mama)

Good night.

You better go to sleep

right away, Yianni.

We're going on a picnic tomorrow

and you're coming with us.

Good night.

(Yianni)

Good night.

Good night.

(mama)

Good night.

(Yianni)

Good night.

Come on,

everything all right?

It may not look it,

but it's comfortable.

Sit down, sit down.

My boy, you know you are

welcome in my home.

I am happy

to have you here.

But you are

a sailor.

You never stay

long in one place.

And some sailors think a

little differently about women.

My daughters are

home girls, nice girls.

I wouldn't want--

You have nothing

to fear from me.

Your daughters are

like sisters to me.

Of course,

of course.

But I had to say something

for the girls' sake,

for the

mother's sake.

You understand.

Maria! Maria!

Come on, I want to

get in there.

Here, hang this up.

Sleep well,

my boy.

(man singing

in Greek)

(laughing)

It's time you were

going home, George.

Give me

another drink.

Hey waiter,

give us the check.

George, get out

your money.

Hey, you got a picture

of Pano here.

Picture of who?

Pano, Pano Coupas.

Don't you know him?

You got his picture.

Pano Coupas.

Pano...

Coupas...

Now I go.

Put him over

in the corner there.

You'll get him back

to the ship later.

(Yianni)

Thank you.

Don't come home late.

Let them stay

and help you.

The cousins

are coming tonight.

They've been indoors

all week.

Let them get

some fresh air.

I'm gonna

get my coat.

Maria, is there

any more coffee?

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