Gentleman's Agreement Page #3

Bring those things

in with you, will you?

Isn't it always tough

at the start, Phil?

Never like this.

Never.

I've tried everything...

...anti-Semitism in business,

labor, professions.

It's all there,

but I can't make it give.

I've tried everything,

separately and together.

When I think I'm getting

onto something good...

...I go a little deeper, and it

turns into the same old drool...

of statistics and protest.

It's like beating your head

against a concrete wall.

Gee, I wish Dave were here.

Dave Goldman?

He'd be the guy to talk it

over with, wouldn't he?

Yes, he would. Still overseas?

Yeah. Looks like

he's stuck there, too.

He'd be just the one, though.

Hey, maybe that's a new tack.

So far, I've been digging

into facts and evidence.

I've sort of ignored feelings.

How must a fellow like Dave feel

about this thing?

That's good, Phil.

Over and above

what we feel about it...

...what must a Jew feel

about this thing?

Dave. Can I think my way

into Dave's mind?

He's the fellow I'd be

if I were a Jew.

We grew up together.

We were the gang.

We did everything together.

Whatever Dave feels now...

...indifference,

outrage, contempt...

...would be the feelings of Dave

not only as a Jew...

...but the way I feel as a man,

as an American, as a citizen.

Is that right, Ma?

Write him a letter.

Maybe I've broken this logjam.

Put it down like you said to me.

Now, what do I say?

What do I say?

''Dear Dave, give me

the lowdown on your guts...

...''when you hear about Rankin

calling people kikes.

''How do you feel

when Jewish kids...

...''get their teeth kicked out

byJew-haters?''

Could you write

that kind of a letter, Ma?

That's no good, all of it.

It wouldn't be any good

if I could write it.

There's no way to tear open

the secret heart of another.

Yes, I guess you're right,

but there must be some way.

There must!

Hey, don't you get started.

I don't want to depress

the whole family.

You look tired. Go to bed.

One good thing

came out of this, anyway...

...reminded me I owe Dave a letter.

I'll write him anyway.

And I'd like more sympathy...

...now that you see

how tough it is.

Sympathy? No.

I think it's worth it,

if that's any consolation.

Oh, it's mighty small, Ma...

...but I'm in no position

to dicker.

Good night, baby.

Ohh.

Uhh.

Tommy?

Ohh!

-Aah!

-Ma!

Is it your heart?

Does it seem like your heart?

Wait.

You all right?

Seem any easier?

Passing.

Well, I'll get a doctor.

-I'll phone Kathy.

-No.

-She'll know the right one.

-Wait.

I never realized

pain could be so...sharp.

You let me phone Kathy.

She'll know a heart man.

What time is it?

Oh, it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

Come on.

Come back and hold my hand.

Sure, sure.

Will she die, Pop?

Will she?

Well, she'll die someday, Tom...

...just like you or me or anybody.

The doctor said she might be

fine for years if she's careful.

Your grandma's not young, Tom.

All that packing and unpacking

tired her out too much.

I'll bet we can run this place

between us.

Sure.

Say, what are we going...

It's scary, Tom, I know.

I was scared last night

myself, plenty.

But we'll take good care of her.

She might be fine

till you're grown up.

-That's the doctor.

Will you make your breakfast

and go to school?

-Sure.

-We'll do fine. Get going.

I told your mother the truth.

People with hearts outlive

everyone else if they take care.

This may be

what we call false angina...

...instead of the true angina.

You keep her in bed

for a few days...

...and then we'll get her

to the office and really see.

No use getting too technical

until we really know.

Doctor, are you sure?

I never minimize

at a time like this.

I don't frighten,

but I don't minimize.

Right now,

it's nothing to worry about.

Phil.

Go ahead.

I know the way out.

I'll keep dropping in

for the next few days.

Thank you.

Everything OK?

No need to look like Hamlet.

I feel wonderful.

Well, don't crowd things.

You feel like talking?

Ever know me when I didn't,

except last night?

Now I really believe

the doctor for the first time.

Good. So do I.

-Tommy get off all right?

-Sure.

Fixed his own breakfast.

Did a good job, too.

I'll be up tomorrow.

-No, you won't.

-Yes, I will.

No, you won't.

-Get any sleep?

-Sure.

Eyes like poached eggs.

Get some sleep today.

Don't try to work, please.

Well, you don't need

to worry about that.

I've decided.

I'm going to phone Minify.

There's a certain virtue

in knowing when you're licked.

Well, I'm licked.

I might as well accept it.

I decided last night.

When?

When I was sitting here

waiting for the doctor.

Why?

Well, I was scared, Ma...

...just like I used to be...

...when I'd get to wondering

what I'd do...

...if anything

ever happened to you.

I was a kid again,

and my ma was sick.

Now, Phil.

I wanted to ask you,

is it awful? Are you afraid?

But there are some questions

nobody can ask...

...and they can't be answered.

I'll know the answer

to those two...

...only when I feel it myself...

when I'm lying there.

And that's the way it is

with the series.

I can't really write it.

You did get the answers before.

Every article you wrote,

the right answers got in.

Yeah, but I didn't ask for them.

When I wanted to find out about

a scared guy in a jalopy...

...I didn't stand out

on Route Sixty-six...

...and ask a lot of questions.

I bought some old clothes

and a broken-down car...

...and took Route Sixty-six myself.

I lived in their camps,

ate what they ate.

I found the answers

in my own guts...

...not somebody else's.

I didn't say, ''What does it

feel like to be an Okie?''

I was an Okie.

That's the difference, Ma.

On the coal mine series...

...I didn't sit in my bedroom

and do research.

I didn't tap some poor guy on

the shoulder and make him talk.

I got myself a job.

I went in the dark.

I slept in a shack.

I didn't try

to dig into a miner's heart.

I was a miner.

Ma...maybe.

Hey, maybe.

I got it!

The lead, the idea, the angle.

This is the way.

I'll...I'll be Jewish.

I'll...Well, all I got to do

is say it.

Nobody knows me around here.

I can just say it.

I can live it myself for six

weeks, eight weeks, nine months.

Ma, it's right this time.

It must be. It always is

when you're this sure.

Listen, I even got the title...

''I Was Jewish For Six Months.''

It's right, Phil.

Ma...this is it.

That click just happened

inside of me.

Well, it won't be the same,

sure, but it ought to be close.

I can just tell them I am

and see what happens.

It'll work.

It'll work fine, Phil.

Dark hair, dark eyes.

Sure, so has Dave.

So have a lot of guys

who aren'tJewish.

No accent, no mannerisms.

Neither has Dave.

Name... Phil Green.

Skip the Schuyler.

Might be anything...Phil Green.

Ma, it's a cinch.

Oh, Phil, this is the best

medicine I could have had.

Will you keep my secret?

It has to be without exceptions

if it works at all.

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