Hellfighters Page #2

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That's funnier yet.

Just a minute.

You said he didn't ask for me.

This was your idea.

What difference does that make?

He's your father, and he might die.

Would you get aboard,

please?

You, uh...

you okay?

I don't know.

Frankly, I don't know

how I'm supposed to feel.

I'm sorry he's hurt.

I want him to get better.

But l...

I hardly remember my father.

Your mother never took the time

to fill you in on him?

All she ever told me was that

he was in the oil business,

and that he was

a wonderful man...

and that she was

the wrong woman for him.

When I was old enough to realize

how unhappy it made her,

I stopped asking questions.

Well, she couldn't exactly

rap him for all the dough

he must've been sending her.

She never took a penny

from him, that I know.

Her name was Randolph, of Randolph

Department Stores in San Francisco.

Oh, yeah, Randolph.

Well, that, uh...

That made it easy for her

to walk out on him, didn't it?

You're struggling to be

some sort of boor.

- No, I just know

it wasn't Chance's fault.

- Were you there?

No, no, but I got

a clear picture now.

He had the bad luck

to marry a complete b*tch.

Shorty, it's getting

hard to breathe in here.

- Why don't you go forward?

- L...

I, uh...

I will.

Look, I'm sorry.

It's just that your dad,

he means...

I-I'm sorry.

Hiya, Joe.

How is he?

It wasn't near as bad as we were told.

He's gonna be all right.

- Knock wood.

- Tish!

- Uncle Jack!

- So good to see you.

They just brought him down.

The doctor'll be out in a minute.

- It seems you know each other.

- I've known him all my life.

- This is Joe Horn, dear. George Harris.

- Hi.

The last time I saw you,

you were in rompers.

Hello again.

I didn't know

you knew my father.

Your father

wanted it that way.

And your mother

went along with it.

I've just been keeping track

of both of you... for him.

I'm completely...

Not nearly as surprised,

if that's what you mean, as I am.

Here's the doctor.

Well, as usual, he's not what you'd

call the most cooperative patient.

Halfway out of the anesthetic

he says, "Where's my pants?

I want to get out

of this hospital."

Figures.

- May we see him?

- No, I had to put him out but good.

It looks like we're gonna have to keep

him unconscious to hold him a spell.

- Could I see him?

- It'll be at least the end of the week.

Bill, this is

his daughter.

Oh? Oh, well, then come along,

Miss Buckman, come along.

Uh...

what-what's all

the mystery about?

There's no mystery.

There just seems to be.

Boy, there's nothing like a nice

clean-cut, straightforward answer.

- Thank you, Jack.

- [Laughs]

This is my place,

and this is your father's.

We both have guest rooms.

I think you'd prefer

your father's.

Mr. Lomax!

How is he, Mr. Lomax?

- Ah, he's gonna be fine, Hernando.

- Gracias a Dios.

This is Mr. Buckman's daughter.

She'll be staying with us.

Put her bags in

the guest room, will you?

Anything I can

get you, senorita?

- Uh, no, thank you.

- You can turn in now, Hernando.

- Bueno. Buenas noches.

- Good night.

Well, as long as I've got

a lot of talking to do,

- I think I can do it better

with a drink.

- All right.

Comin' right up.

Tish?

Uh, Scotch rocks, now that you don't

look like you want to slip me a mickey.

Seems we started off

with sort of a ruckus.

Divided loyalties

over my mother and father.

Here you are.

You're on, Uncle Jack.

Honey, a long time ago,

I fought oil fires for a living too.

Your dad and I were, well,

just like he and Greg are now.

We were coming back

from a job in Indonesia,

and we stopped off

in San Francisco.

Chance had promised

some gal a fur coat,

and he went to Randolph's

to buy it.

I never did know

what happened to that fur coat.

But two weeks later he showed up

here in Houston...

married to your mother.

I knew from the start

our work terrified her.

But she wouldn't let on to Chance,

and she wouldn't let me tell him.

Then you came along.

And two weeks later,

I broke my back in a fire.

The next few months,

every job Chance went on

was a nightmare for her.

She couldn't hide it anymore

and he couldn't quit,

so she packed up and took

you back to San Francisco.

Then how is it

I remember him?

I must've been

five or six.

That's right, honey.

Then went back together

a half dozen times,

but your mother could never

get over her fear.

And your father knew

if she was to be happy,

he'd have to stay

out of her life.

So, that's the decision

he made for them.

I understand a lot of things

about my mother now.

I don't think she's ever been

out of love with him.

Oh, well, I know he's never

been out of love with her.

But still, he couldn't

give up his work.

Honey, since my accident,

I've been extremely lucky

in everything I've touched.

But I'm just another Texas oil man

with his own building.

Your father is

one of a kind.

The best there is

in what he does.

No man can walk away

from that.

Thank you for

bringing me here.

You're welcome.

How do you think he'll feel

about seeing me?

Am I going to remind him of something

he'd rather leave forgotten?

Forgotten? Honey, he's followed

you two like a hungry man.

Through me, the San Francisco papers,

any way he could.

I remember once

when you had the chicken pox,

I had to stop him from flying

in half the Mayo Clinic.

I'll be damned.

I've known this man

for ten years,

and he's kept all this

under wraps.

The investments

you made for me.

The money came from

my father, didn't it?

Yes, but you're not

to tell him I told you.

Tish, it's been a day for you.

Why don't we all turn in? Greg?

I'll check with the hospital

and keep you both posted.

Your room is the first door on the left

at the top of the stairs.

Just buzz Hernando

if you need anything.

And if you'll knock

on my door in the morning,

I'll buy you a cup

of coffee.

- Thanks for everything.

- Good night, dear.

- You too, Greg.

- Good night, Tish.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

I'm Letitia Buckman.

Oh, well, I'm Irene Foster.

The boys told me you were in town.

They're back here.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- Hello, there.

- What a surprise.

A business office.

Fine thing.

Won't they let you

play with them?

No, I'm into them for too much.

This is my game.

- It's an exhausting business.

- Mmm.

I'll bring some coffee.

I just missed you

at the hospital.

You were pulling out

as I was pulling in.

- How good is Dr. Forrest?

- The best.

I wonder. He tells me

Dad is fine,

then he tells me it's no use

coming back for another week.

He told you he was

gonna keep him sedated.

It's the only way the doc can keep

from tangling with your old man.

That reminds me.

I have a message from Uncle Jack.

He's gonna take the blame

for my being here.

- Lomax doesn't have to...

- Buy it, will ya?

These are incredible!

Is this what they're

really like?

Kind of, yeah,

but no two are ever the same.

Come here.

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