Hearts in Atlantis Page #4

Get a bite to eat.

See a movie.

Ever hear of Village of the Damned?

It's about evil little kids

taken over by alien forces.

There you go.

What's up?

Oh, no, your bike.

Stay right there, Bobby.

Thank you.

Hey, Gerber Baby!

- Still with your fairy?

- Yeah.

Come on, let's go home.

- Where you going?

- This isn't funny!

It's a riot, Gerber Baby.

Hey, lay off her!

Hey, the little guy's a hero.

Stop me, fairy.

Be a man.

I asked how your tits were.

I wanna feel for myself.

Get away from me!

Leave her alone!

She's just a Gerber Baby.

- Bastard!

- Hey, guys?

- Let's beat this queer up.

- Yeah.

- Ted, go home.

- We're all going home, Bobby.

Who's that, your fairy godfather?

Richie O'Rourke, Willie Shearman,

and Harry Doolin.

The unholy trio of St. Gabe's.

How do you know us?

Come over here.

Find out what I know.

You're going to apologize.

- I don't think so.

- Shall I tell you why?

Because I know your dark secret.

- And I will tell the world.

- I got no secret.

You like calling people queer

and fairy and such words?

Look in my eyes, Harry Doolin.

Tell me what you see.

Do you see someone in your mother's

clothes when he thinks no one is looking?

Tell the whole, wide world.

Now say, "I'm sorry, Carol."

I'm sorry, Carol.

- What did he say?

- Yeah, what?

Nothing.

Thank you, kind sir.

What did you say to him?

Just intellectual chitchat

among men of goodwill.

- Ted?

- Yes, sweet Carol?

- You're a very strange person.

- Tell no one.

All right, here we go. Come on!

Settle down.

Sully's got the ball!

- Oh, no!

- Oh, touchdown!

- Get in.

- All right.

- Get the dog!

- Come on!

- And away we go!

- Bye!

- Bye! See you.

- Have a good trip. See you.

Oh, my gosh. The low men.

Where's the little lady?

There he is. On time.

Give me a little kiss.

Get the bags, dear.

- Good afternoon.

- You look great.

- How are you?

- Fine.

- Here, I'll take that.

- Thank you.

- Need a hand with those, sport?

- Nope.

A real helpful kid there.

He's a good boy.

I'm sure he is.

- What a beautiful day.

- Yes, it is.

- Mr. Cushman, Mr. Dean.

- Liz.

- Good day for a drive.

- Yes, isn't it?

Women.

Always have to bring the farm.

Well, you know what they say.

Can't live with them, can't live

without them, can't shoot them...

...outside of Montana.

Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

But if you do, name it after me.

I trust him about as far

as I can sling a piano.

Yeah, I'm worried for my mom.

I'm worried for us all.

- So scary!

- Oh, I know!

- What now?

- Had enough to eat?

Are you kidding,

after those hot dogs?

So, what do they call

this part of town?

I've heard it referred to

as "down there."

You see, every city

has a place where...

...your last name doesn't matter.

Wine comes in a paper sack,

and you can buy anything...

...if you've got cash in your pocket.

Hey, come on.

- Stay close now.

- Don't worry about that.

You shouldn't be in a place like this,

but I can't leave you here. So...

...let's go.

Hollywood Haywood versus Eddie Albini,

tomorrow night, New York.

I've got money to burn.

What do you say?

Not one step.

Making good on that promise,

look how he piles into Freon.

Hey, kid.

What's your name?

Bobby. Bobby Garfield.

Been in before?

No, ma'am.

You look familiar.

Did I know your father?

My father's dead.

He died years ago.

Was he Bobby too?

Bobby Garfield. Yes, ma'am.

He was just like me.

Yeah, he was a good customer.

I liked him.

Yeah, he used to...

...stop in for a beer now and then.

Like on Mondays, when it's just

dead in here...

...and in no time flat

we were all laughing.

Yeah, not a mean bone in his body.

He was generous too.

Not too many like that in here.

He'd never buy a drunk a drink.

I admired that.

He also never met an inside

straight he didn't like.

Who told you that?

I remember the big losers.

Most nights he walked out of here...

...with a little more

than he came in with.

Yeah, he was a hell of a card player,

Bobby was.

Keep that, if you want.

He's handsome, don't you think?

You've got that to look forward to.

You got a girlfriend?

Yes, ma'am.

Pretty?

Yes, ma'am. Her name's Carol.

She's a real hotsie-totsie.

A what?

Let's go. Taxi's waiting.

My dad came here!

He didn't lose our money.

He was generous and funny

and people liked him!

- Good.

- Isn't that a thing?

Yeah. Lucky for us

we came in here, I'd say.

Yes, it is a wonderful thing.

- How much did you bet?

- All I've got. $200 on Albini.

- You think Albini can beat Haywood?

- I think he can knock him out.

I bet 10-to-1 odds.

- Do you know anything about boxing?

- Nothing.

149 Broad Street.

It'll be on the radio.

We'll listen tomorrow night.

I hope you're right.

- Oh, no. Here they come! Get down!

- What is it?

Take your mind away! Don't be scared.

Think of something else.

- How?

- Carol.

Think of Carol. Don't let her go.

Think of a happy memory.

Take your mind away!

Think of a happy memory.

Don't let her go.

Good night, kiddo. I'm proud of you.

I'm sorry I didn't believe you

about the low men.

I know.

Ted, my father never bought

a drunk a drink.

What does that mean, exactly?

It means he was a good man.

He was honest.

And he never added

to the troubles of the world.

Okay?

- Good night.

- Good night.

There's the bell.

Haywood coming out...

...throwing punches, running in.

Now attacking Albini at will.

Albini, arms hanging like weights,

occasionally throwing a weak punch.

The punches are flying! Hollywood...

Oh, my goodness!

Out of nowhere, a right by Albini

hits Hollywood to the head...

...and to the mat!

They're counting him out. 8... 9... 10!

Oh, my goodness!

One of the most improbable finishes

to a fight, ever!

Albini has beat Hollywood Haywood!

This one has got to be reviewed!

Wow.

You just won 2000 bucks.

Hello?

Mrs. Garfield.

Yes, fine. I'll get him.

Bobby? It's your mother.

Okay.

- Hi, Mom.

- Hi, honey.

- Have you missed me?

- Of course I have.

But I'm trying not to be too sad.

Oh, good.

- Brush your teeth.

- I did.

Good boy.

I can't chat all night. There's

a cocktail party for us delegates...

...down in the ballroom and I'm...

Are you there?

I dropped the phone.

I love you, Bobby!

Don...!

That's funny.

Got cut off.

That 2000...

- It's traveling money, isn't it?

- Yeah, it is.

I lied to you. I didn't tell you

about the lost pet sign I saw.

I know.

When will you leave?

Tomorrow, when your mother gets back.

Collect my winnings from Len Files

at the Corner Pocket...

...then go.

Will I ever see you again?

No.

And wishing can't make it so.

I don't want you to go.

It's all for the best, kiddo.

It's all for the best.

"In yet another startling

development in Washington...

...J. Edgar Hoover, the director of

the Federal Bureau of Investigation...

...today issued a statement denying

the Bureau was involved...

...in recruiting psychics

in the battle against Communism."

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