Elegy Page #4

- But you were married once.

- Yes, yes! Yes! Yes!

What do you want me to say?

I was married.

It was a mistake.

Did you try?

Did you really try?

Where I come from...

I know, where you come from the

rules are different, but they're not.

You're such a cynic.

I'm such a realist.

I think you're just infantile.

I'm sure you're right.

I hung in there for over a year.

It was a real roller coaster ride.

And like all rides,

sooner or later, it has to end.

What are you doing a

week from Sunday?

I don't know. Why?

Something to drink?

- Yeah, two Bellinis, please.

- Okay.

What's a week from Sunday?

My parents are throwing

me a graduation party,

to celebrate my MFA.

I'd like you to come.

David...

Everyone knows about you.

For a whole year and half

they've been asking me about

this mystery man I'm seeing.

They're going to start thinking

I'm with some drug dealer,

if you don't stop hiding.

I'm not hiding.

- You didn't come to my birthday.

- Well you didn't ask me.

I asked you to Christmas dinner

with my parents. You had plans.

Then I invited you to Thanksgiving

dinner, you couldn't come.

Whoa, Thanksgiving I really couldn't.

David...

Huh?

I want you to meet my family.

But I'm not going to insist.

I just want you to say yes

because you want to come.

- Here we go.

- Thanks.

Enjoy.

Listen to me.

Listen to me.

When I come to your party,

you have to promise to do something.

What?

Don't take your eyes of me,

When the Cubanates come,

Stampeding towards me.

That's all?

That's all.

Okay.

So...

- That means yes?

- That means yes.

Okay.

I'm happy.

Good.

And now the food.

Her parents will be there, I hope,

grandparents will be there,

Cuban relatives, all her childhood

friends... and who knows,

Carlos Alonso and the two guys who

made her the meat of their sandwich.

And I'll be introduced as...

"The Teacher Who's on Television."

What's wrong with that?

What's wrong is I'll be

judged for my age.

They'll say all the horrible

things they say in these cases.

She's with me because she

wants something in return,

and I'm with her

because I like new girls.

Pathetic.

It's about time to face your situation.

That's what I think.

Who is Carlos Alonso?

Some guy.

- Hello?

- Hi.

- Did I wake you up?

- No, I was reading.

I just wanted to say goodnight...

and tell you how happy I am that

you're going to come tomorrow

and how important it is for me.

And for me too.

Okay.

See you then.

See you then.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Consuela...

- David, where are you?

You won't believe what

just happened, my...

I'm stuck on the

George Washington bridge.

My car's broken down.

Consuela?

I called AAA.

They say they're going to

be at least an hour.

And then they're going to have to get

me off the bridge and tow me some place.

I'll call you right after, Okay?

Consuela?

Why are you doing this to me?

Consuela?

Hello?

One new message.

First new message...

I saw you today on television,

playing the wise old man

who knows everything.

The one who always knows better.

The one who knows what's good culture,

and what people should read,

and all about music

all about art...

You know so many things.

But I'm here,

trying to celebrate

this important moment

of my life.

And I decide to have a party

and I want to have you here.

Why?

Why, Consuela, why?

Because you mean

everything to me.

You do.

But, anyway, you are not here.

I just wanted you to know something...

that I loved you.

Very much.

Very, very much.

Consuela?

It's me. Open up.

- Kenny.

- Come on, open up.

Hello.

Why are all the lights off?

I'm having an affair.

Did you hear what I just said?

You!

- Is that all that you have to say?

- Congratulations.

Congratulations...

You're a riot, you know that?

I'm sorry.

I'm not sure what to say.

This is awful.

I'm coming apart.

I thought you were happily married,

you always told me you were happily married.

- I am.

- Well...

Forgive me, but I can't see how

that can be entirely true.

Anyway, you don't look

terribly happy right now.

- But you don't understand.

- Kenny...

I'm trying to understand.

You're having an affair.

So you come here, because,

what, I'm the expert.

There's no-one else to talk to.

I'm sorry.

What you going to do?

I don't know.

Would you like something to drink?

What will you have?

Glenfiddich, bourbon, vodka,

Cointreau, Grand Marnier,

Armagnac...

No. Diet coke.

Diet coke it is.

This isn't some kind of irresponsible fling.

I love Lisa, I really do,

and the kids are my whole life.

Knowing you,

it's probably simplest if you

just break off the other...

Oh, I can't.

This woman is...

like no-one else on earth.

I've never felt so alive,

so full of energy.

And she's a great person.

She has degrees in

chemistry and art history.

She plays the oboe, for chrissakes.

And her kids are...

- fabulous

- She has children?

Three. Scott, little Shawn...

Hold on Kenny! What are we talking

about here? Her children or your adultery?

- Don't call it that.

- Well, what would you call it?

See, you sound like Lisa. You try to

over-simplify a complicated situation.

I...

I'm committed to this relationship,

unlike you, who's terrified

of committing to anyone.

Dana is a real person

so don't equate what's happening

to me with your serial tom-catting.

- What have I got to do with it?

- Plenty!

Anyway,

Dana isn't one of your little

star-struck students.

If you want my advice,

Lisa mustn't know a word of this,

- until you've made up your mind...

- Lisa already knows.

Why on earth did you tell Lisa?

- You expect me to lie to my wife?

- Now you can't retreat even if you want to.

God!

I don't know why I came here. I don't

know what help you could possibly be.

Except maybe, maybe...

I hoped that you might relate to me,

as a father...

- for just once.

- I don't know how to relate to you.

You're so morally superior

to me in every way.

Even our adulteries can't compare.

Yours plays the oboe, what have I

got to put up against that

She probably writes poetry in her

spare time, and her kids do too.

You're such a jerk.

However, if you are,

as you say, committed...

You're going to have to end your marriage.

How can I? If I walk out on

Lisa and the kids...

If I do what you did,

then I'll destroy them.

Why do you say that? You survived.

Your mother survived.

Are you trying to tell me

that you did the morally correct

thing by walking out on us?

It was honest.

God!

- I'm leaving.

- There's the door.

- Goodbye.

- Bye.

Consuela didn't call the next day.

and not even the day after.

She never called again.

You've gotta eat something.

You gotta get out of this f***ing bed.

- I ruined everything, George.

- You didn't ruin anything.

It just came to its natural end.

You were her teacher,

her big growing-up experience.

You called the whole thing from day one.

It was bound to end

sooner or later. Eat.

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