Fat City Page #5

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- I am.

- Sure, sure.

- Screw you.

- Up yours, cowboy!

Onion choppers, over here.

Onion choppers, over here.

How the hell are you?

- What are you doing out here?

- Got a bum-paying job. Wife's pregnant.

I came down to pick up a few extra

bucks, and I run into a mob like this.

Come on.

I'll try to get you on.

- Beautiful.

- You like walnuts?

- Yeah, they're great.

- Did you go to the gym and see Ruben?

- Yeah. Fought for a while.

- Yeah? How'd you do?

- I won some, lost some.

- That's good.

Keep it up, man.

You got the stuff.

- Hey, I brought you a real hustler.

- You go out yesterday?

Yeah. I was a tree-beater.

I'll wait and see if all of

yesterday's crew comes back.

You're making a big mistake

if you pass this guy up.

- I'll give you my personal voucher.

- Get on, both of you.

You must think I'm crazy working

out here like this, wasting my time.

It's almost as good as roadwork

for getting back into shape...

and you get paid for it.

Another couple weeks

I'm gonna look for a fight.

I get the fight, I get the money,

and I send for my wife.

You know, Ernie...

there are some women

that love you for yourself...

but that doesn't last long.

- Take care of that wife of yours.

- I'm trying.

And listen, don't you let

anybody knock marriage.

No, man.

It's got its compensations.

That's a fact.

That's absolutely right.

It's got its compensations.

That's it. That's absolutely it.

It has got its compensations.

That's right.

Come here.

Let me show you something.

That's stacked.

I gotta get myself together and get

down to the gym and start working out.

Hey, maybe we could go down

to the gym together.

- Sure, I'll go down there with you.

- I was in bad shape the last time.

I can do it.

I can get back into shape.

You should've seen

the things we had...

the new car and the house

and everything.

I am gonna be bad news

this time around.

Bad...

news!

Time. Time.

You're not jabbing right.

You gotta use your jab more.

Hey, fellas.

Hey, Gil.

How you doing?

Hey, Ruben, look who's here.

Well, will you look at this?

Glad to see you.

You're looking good.

Hey, Ruben, how's it going?

- Will you look at this?

- Hey, how are you?

- Long time, no see.

- How'd you guys find your way up here?

- What have you been doing?

- Picking nuts.

You don't care what kind of company

you keep, do you?

- I heard you got married.

- Yeah.

Wow! How do you like that?

Come on. Time.

Listen, I wanna pay you back

that $20 I borrowed from you.

What?

I borrowed $20 from you.

Remember?

- Yeah, but that was a long time ago.

- I know, but I want you to take it.

Yeah? You sure you can spare it?

Oh, yeah.

You come up to work out?

I wanna start fighting again.

You really gonna get into shape?

I am really gonna get in shape.

You can do it, baby.

You can do it.

You're really looking good.

You look great.

Get into your gym clothes.

Give me that.

Mac, how are you? How's business?

I got something hot for you.

Billy Tully's back in training.

I'll tell you what I'd like for him,

a good tune-up fight.

- Who'd pay to see a tune-up fight?

- He looks terrific, Mac.

A couple of good wins,

he's ready for anybody.

I don't mean match him with some bum.

Somebody to give him a good workout.

- Tully won't draw.

- He's a good, clean athlete...

with a fine record.

Maybe I could use him

in a semi-windup.

A semi-windup.

No, I can't put him in a semi.

He's still got the old stuff.

He's got class.

- He won't draw.

- Look...

we can put a hometown boy

in every bout.

I got a fine Irish kid

that could turn pro for the opener.

How about Arcadio Lucero? I could

use Tully in a main even with him.

No, Lucero... I don't know.

Lucero's a puncher.

What I meant was a good tune-up.

Why should I put him in with Lucero?

It might be different if he had

a couple of good tune-ups first.

I think I can get you Lucero.

Not that I think

he could ever nail Tully.

Well, I tell you,

I think I can get Lucero.

It would be a good win on his record.

I could phone Mexico City

and see if he's available.

Supper's almost ready.

Can I have a robe?

What?

Can I have a robe?

How do you like your steak?

I don't care.

Is Earl out of the bucket?

- His box is gone.

- Earl's box?

- Did Earl come over here today?

- Yep.

- Why didn't you tell me so?

- I just woke up.

I didn't have a chance

to open my mouth.

- Yeah.

- He just picked up his stuff and left.

Mm-hmm. After he found out

he couldn't move back in, huh?

He didn't mention moving in.

- Then why'd he come over?

- I told you, to get his clothes.

He already knew

that you and I were together.

- How'd he know that?

- What are all these questions?

He came by the day he got out.

- Why didn't you tell me?

- I guess I forgot.

- Yeah, that's a good one.

- What?

- Nothing.

- I heard what you said.

They why'd you ask?

You don't trust me, do you?

Look, Oma, all I'm trying to do

is cook our supper.

Oh, aren't you wonderful?

If I didn't cook it,

we wouldn't eat.

Nobody asked you

to fix me any supper.

Yeah, I know.

You'd just as soon drink yours.

If you don't wanna fix me any,

than you don't have to.

I'm making it for you.

Then I won't eat it

if you feel that way about it.

I want you to eat it.

I cooked it

because I want you to eat!

I didn't say anything,

and you had to go and get mad.

Jesus Christ, Oma. Come on.

Eat your supper before it gets cold.

I don't take orders from you.

You need your protein.

I'm not gonna eat with somebody

that talks to me the way you do.

You wanna starve to death?

That'd solve everything

for you, wouldn't it?

Oma, I just asked you

a simple question. Jesus.

Come on.

Eat your dinner before it gets cold.

Maybe I don't wanna eat.

All right. Forget it.

Just forget it.

Go on.

Go hungry if you want to.

I make you a good dinner.

You don't even appreciate it.

This is good food.

Go ahead and starve to death.

See if I care. Just forget about it.

All right.

I'll have a little.

- No, I don't want you to.

- No, I want it.

- I don't want you to eat.

- I wanna eat it.

- No, I don't want you to eat it.

- I want it!

I don't want you to eat it!

I don't want you to eat it!

Now you won't even

let me eat my dinner!

All right.

Eat.

Well?

- How do you like it?

- What?

- Nothing. Forget it.

- Oh, for Christ's sake.

Don't ask something

and then not say what you mean.

- Your supper.

- All right.

It's fine.

I thought you'd know what I meant since

you're not having any trouble eating it.

Nobody can eat with you

sitting across the table!

All right, Oma.

I give up.

All I've been trying to do

is get you to eat your supper.

If you don't want my company,

just say so. I'll let you alone.

- Where you going?

- Take a walk around the block.

- Can I go with you?

- No.

Let you eat in peace.

That's what you want.

You're going out for a drink

and you're gonna leave me here?

I'm fighting in a week.

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