Dying Young Page #3

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- My father's a very impressive man.

- Do I get a cigarette if I drink this?

- No.

How is this one?

- Hm.

- Hm?

- And the hits keep coming.

- It's awfully late.

Oh, no, no, no. One more, one more.

This is the best one.

And I'm sure you have a story

about some beautiful dead woman.

Yes. My mother.

This was her favourite song.

She died when I was nine.

She was beautiful.

I'm sorry.

# When somebody loves you

# It's no good unless she loves you

# All the way

- Dance?

- # Happy to be near you

# When you need someone to cheer you

# All the way

# Taller than the tallest trees

# That's how it's got to feel

# Deeper than the deep blue seas

# That's how deep it goes...

Thanks for the date.

# When somebody needs you

I'm done with the chemotherapy.

- That was the last one.

- Really?

Yeah. It's a course. It's over.

- I thought you had to take a test.

- Would you like to call my doctor?

- No.

- The number's on the desk.

I said no.

I'm sorry.

That's what you get for saving my life.

Believe me, it's done.

And, to celebrate, we are going away.

- Where?

- Up north.

I haven't been outta here for years.

- What about your father?

- I'll call him in the morning.

A vacation. And I need to finish my thesis.

The door buzzes every five minutes here.

- Once in two weeks.

- It'll be an adventure.

We deserve an adventure. A safe adventure.

It's only a couple-hour drive back to

the hospital. Look, I will sign a contract, OK?

"I, Victor Geddes, promise to return

if anything happens. " Anything. You name it.

- Like, you die?

- No. I'm not going to die.

I'm going to recover,

but I can't do it without help.

I can't do it without you.

- It's a 55 zone.

- What?

If you drive any faster this heap will blow up.

This is not a heap. This is a 1974 Cadillac,

bought and paid for by yours truly.

- Nice colour too.

- It's a cool colour. It's a cool car.

- Can you say that, Victor? Cool?

- I can say 70 miles an hour. I can say that.

Well, then, why don't you drive?

No, please don't do that. I can't drive. Hilary...

- Are you kidding me?

- Thank you for your compassion.

Well, I'm sorry.

My father had a driver. I never learned how.

- I think it's time you started to learn.

- No, please don't do that!

It's cool, huh? I'm helping you.

I'm helping you stay between the lines.

There you go. You're doin' fine. There you go.

I know why you like it here. Because

all these buildings have dates on them.

Oh, look at that.

No, don't look. Watch the road.

Goin' a little fast?

What?

I'm kidding. You're driving,

like, 23 miles an hour.

Thank you.

Oh, look. Hi! We just moved in!

A kind and friendly neighbour.

Here, let me get that.

It's OK.

You OK?

It's so beautiful.

- What is this?

- Those are ampoules of morphine.

- For pain.

- Isn't a doctor supposed to do this?

Oh, I know precisely what to do.

- Years of experience.

- Do you need one?

No, I won't need one.

Put them away. I won't need one.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- No, it's OK. I'm done.

- Come on.

- They'll start by staring.

Someone will ask

"Why ain't you got any hair?"

- They'll be too busy drinking.

- At places like this they always ask.

Two beers.

Thanks. Save the glass.

- You moved into Demazian's place?

- Uh-huh.

Bring your foul weather gear?

Jeez, you're gonna

f***in' freeze to death up there.

Weather strip. That'll fix it.

I've weather-stripped around

30 houses. Works every time.

You mean you stripped in about 30 houses.

- Anyway, I'd do yours.

- Cappy.

- Hilary.

- Thank you.

- Victor.

- How you doin'?

Hilary, beer's on the house.

- What?

- You're kiddin'.

So, Vic, how come you shaved your head?

Yeah.

He's a Hare Krishna.

- At the airport, the guys in the yellow...

- Saffron.

...robes, passing out flowers.

- Daisies.

- Take off!

- No, he's, like, with his cymbals, singing.

- Sing.

- What?

- Sing, hon.

- Yeah, give us a few notes.

Uh, no. I can't. I can't. I left the order.

- Come on, come on.

- I gave back my robe and cymbals.

- Why?

- Because the order is celibate.

We're like priests. Yes. Stricter, really.

And...

- I shouldn't be telling you this, but...

- We're good for it.

It's very private.

Well, Hilary came along. I was at the airport,

which, as you know, is the best location,

and I was stopping people,

giving them a flower and saying

"God is love. Have a nice day",

then I stopped Hilary.

She turned to me and I knew.

I stopped shaving my head

the next day and we came down here.

Probably her favourite

vacation spot. Right, hon?

Nahhh!

- No, no, no, no, no.

- Nice try, kid.

That'll be $2.50 for the beer.

Are you OK?

Do you need me?

I'm sorry.

Yes, I need, uh...

I can't sleep.

I, uh...

I need to lie down...

next to you. I mean, I need to...

I wanna sleep... in your bed.

Not... Believe me, I'm no threat.

Not after the chemotherapy. I just can't...

This is not part of the deal. Tell me to leave.

No, it's OK.

OK.

What does your tattoo mean?

Strength of heart.

- Good morning.

- Morning.

If I drink this, can I have a cigarette?

I didn't think so. Wait a minute.

Show you something.

Feel. Feel it.

It's comin' in.

- No, no fever. Is there?

- No.

Wait a second.

- I have an idea.

- That's OK.

- I'd like to tell you about it, but...

- But what?

- But don't get mad.

- Why?

Well, it has something to do with...

something you're sensitive about.

My cooking? My clothing? My hair?

Your education.

I have spent my life studying. Years of lying

in a bed reading. Not what you were doing.

- Sleeping with construction workers.

- No, living.

I am trying to learn a bit about that from you

and I wanna give you something back.

To teach you. Not school, but...

I see in you - I don't care about

your little jokes or anything - I see interest.

About things.

- Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me to go to hell.

- Go to hell.

Tell me you're not interested.

What would you teach me?

Uh, well, you like Klimt, right?

We start with a book on modern art.

You take a look at it, you read it.

Then we talk. That's all.

- You talk.

- No. I won't. I promise.

Damn it. I know I do that. You can hit me

if I start. I mean it. Strike me. Pummel me.

I will.

My hair looks good. Don't touch my hair.

- Check.

- I'll bet.

- You got nothin'.

- Go fish.

Hon, hon, you have zippo.

- Two dollars. Two dollars.

- Oh, come on!

- You're bluffing.

- Put up or shut up.

Two bucks. Cards to the player.

I'm in.

I think they should just change the rules.

For instance, you get, like,

a partial credit for a four-card flush.

And especially if you have an ace.

I had an ace. It was the best ace.

That ace of spades was a big, bold card,

and deserves to beat a pair of deuces.

Wanna dance?

- You really are well, aren't you, Victor?

- Yes. Yes, thanks to you.

Uh...

What?

I don't know, um...

It feels like the deal's over.

- What do you mean?

- The chemo's done and you're better.

And, uh... I'm still taking money.

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