Gods and Monsters Page #7

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It'll give us something

to do while we wait.

Tell me something, Clayton.

Do you believe

in mercy killing?

I never really gave

it much thought.

You must've come across

such situations in Korea.

A wounded comrade,

or perhaps even an enemy.

You know, someone for whom

death would be a blessing.

I never went to Korea.

I never even made it

through boot camp.

- But you said...

- That I was a marine, which is true.

You filled in the rest.

Oh, I see.

My old man was a marine.

Lied about his age,

and he enlisted.

- Is this the Great War?

- Yeah. Yeah.

By the time he was ready to ship out,

all the fighting was over,

so he felt like

he'd missed out.

- Well, it was a very lucky thing he did.

- That's not the way he saw it.

To him it was like his life

never really got started.

Nothing else

seemed to matter.

Certainly not his family.

Is that why you became a marine,

for your father's sake?

I figured it'd be

the next best thing.

I mean, but I loved it too.

I really... I did.

It was a chance to be a part

of something important,

something that's bigger

than yourself.

So, what happened?

Didn't have the guts for it.

- Hmm?

- Literally.

My appendix burst.

They gave me

a medical discharge.

The only thing I can think is,

how the hell am I gonna tell my father?

And you know what happened

when I finally did tell him?

He laughed at me.

Well, them's the breaks, huh?

So...

No war stories for this pup.

That's where

you're wrong, Clayton.

You just told me one.

A very good story indeed.

Whew.

This storm is

getting worse.

"A perfect night for

mystery and horror.

The air itself is filled

with monsters. "

- That's from one of your movies, right?

- Very good.

"The only monsters

are here. "

Don't remember that one.

James Whale.

This afternoon at the party when

you said, "The only monsters are here,"

I was wondering which

"here" that was.

No, I, I don't recall.

Memories of the war, perhaps.

Barnett.

Barnett on the wire.

Your friend.

Yes.

He caught his one night coming

back from reconnaissance.

I wouldn't take him,

but McGill did,

"just to give the

laddie a taste. "

They were nearly home when

a Maxim gun opened fire.

Barnet's body landed on this

wire that was as thick as briers.

It was hanging there

the next morning.

It was only a hundred

yards from the line,

but too far...

for anyone to fetch it.

So we saw him every morning stand-to

and every evening stand-to.

"Good morning, Barnett,"

we used to say to him.

"How's Barnett looking today?" "He seemed

a little peaked. Looks a little plumper. "

And he hung there...

well, at least until

we were relieved.

We introduced him to the new

unit before marching out,

speaking highly

of his companionship.

God, we were a witty lot.

Laughing at our dead,

feeling that it was

our death too.

But I tell you, for each

man who died I thought,

"Better you than me,

poor sod. "

You know, a whole generation

was wiped out by that war.

You survived it.

Can't hurt you now.

- No good to dig it up.

- Oh.

Friend, it's digging itself up.

There is nothing in the here

and now to take my mind off it.

The parties...

Well, you were there.

Reading... I can't...

I, I can't concentrate.

There's no work, of course,

and, uh, love and, uh,

painting and, uh...

Drawing, I mean.

Look.

Your portrait, Clayton.

It's all gone for me now.

All gone.

They're nothing but the

scribblings of an infant.

There's nothing.

Nothing.

You said you wanted to

draw me like a statue.

Okay.

It's going to

happen after all.

What did you say?

No, it won't do.

- What won't do?

- You're much too human.

Well, what do

you expect, bronze?

Don't move.

- I want you to wear this.

- Why?

So I can see

the artistic effect.

Your very human body

against the inhuman mask.

- Oh! Very striking. Mmm.

- I don't know.

Oh, come on, Clayton. Just for a minute,

so I can see the effects.

- From the first World War, isn't it?

- Mmm, yes.

Fasten this around the back.

Let me help you.

There.

Hmm?

Uh...

now what?

All right,

let's take it off.

Uh, it's too tight.

I can't breathe.

Oh, no, I, I, leave it.

I'll help.

Leave it to me.

Wha...

Can you...

I'm still here.

All right.

Mr. Whale.

Oh, what steely muscles

you've got there.

Just take the f***in'

mask off me now, okay?

- What a solid brute you are.

- Hey... Oh...

Hey... Hey, just get your

f***in' hands off me!

It's no use, Clayton. I can't

hear you. I can't hear a word.

Oh, well, then, maybe this.

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

- Ohh!

- Yes!

- Now I've got you! How will you ever

get yourself back? - Get off me!

I told you, I'm not that way! Get it

through your f***in' head, all right?

You feel so good,

Clayton.

Didn't even sting!

Wait till I tell my friends about this.

Won't they be surprised.

I haven't done

anything with you...

You undressed for me. I've been

kissing you. I even touched your prick!

- How will you ever be able to live with

yourself? - What do you want from me?

I want you to kill me.

What?

Break my neck.

Come on, strangle me. It'll be so

easy to choke the life out of me.

Oh, God.

We've come this far.

I'm losing my mind.

Every day a new piece of it goes,

and soon there'll be none of it left.

But if you kill me,

death will be bearable.

You could be my

second monster.

Come on.

Please, do it now.

Make me invisible.

I am not...

your monster!

You're a bloody pussycat.

My deepest apologies.

Can you ever forgive me?

No, I suppose not.

I've got to go to bed.

Are you okay?

Oh, Clayton.

Do you need some help?

Pray you undo this button.

I don't seem to be able to

manage it when I'm tired.

Do you believe people come

into our lives for a purpose?

Okay, I can manage now.

Oh.

When you die, make sure that your

brain is the last organ to fizzle.

You'll feel better tomorrow.

Good night.

Good night.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Mr. David.

No, he did not tell me, but that's

no problem. I make the breakfast.

10:
00. Yes, very good.

Good-bye.

Hanna, this is not

what you think it is.

Aah!

I brought you your clothes. Get dressed

and go. We have guest for breakfast.

I need to talk to you

about Mr. Whale.

Nothing you could say

would surprise me.

Maybe, but I still need to talk to you

about him. Let me have a cup of coffee.

I blame my daughter for

keeping me out so late.

I only hope you did

not get him excited.

You could give

him new stroke.

- Why do you do it, Hanna?

- What I do?

Why do you take care of him like

he was your own flesh and blood?

It's my job. I did it when

he was happy; it was easy.

It's only fair I do

it now he is ill.

Oh, enough of this talk.

I must go wake the master.

Mr. Jimmy,

good morning.

Mr. Jimmy?

What have you

done with him?

- You look for him.

- I put him to bed last night.

Mr. Jimmy?

Mr. Jimmy!

Mr. Jimmy!

Oh!

Mr. Jimmy!

Mr. Jimmy!

You son of a b*tch!

Oh!

No! No! No!

Mr. Jimmy! Jimmy!

Jimmy!

He wanted me to kill him,

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