Hotel Noir Page #7

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No, no...

Wife?

I had... at one time.

Rosemary?

Yeah.

Did she pass away?

No, she left me.

She was very young.

Did she ever read your poetry?

My what?

Your poetry.

Did she know that you were a poet?

I'm not a poet.

Will you read it to me?

No. Come on.

No, Sevilla.

Darkling, I listen.

For many a time I have been in love

with easeful death.

Called him soft names in many a mused rhyme.

To take into the air my quiet breath.

Now more than ever it seems rich to die.

To cease upon the midnight with no pain.

While thou art pouring forth

thy soul abroad

in such ecstasy.

That's the most beautiful poem I ever heard.

I didn't write it.

No?

No.

A guy named Keats wrote it.

I think it's from Ode to a Nightingale.

Why the nightingale?

My wife is a singer.

Rosemary?

She goes by the name Hannah Click now.

The singer from downstairs?

Yeah.

That's your wife?

Hm-hmm.

The first time I laid eyes on her

she was 16 years old.

I mean, not a breath of spring air...

but spring itself.

This picture is not a good representation of her.

I am no good with people.

I paint pets.

I'm really good at dogs.

She had on a summer dress

and she was eating an ice cream cone.

I kid you not.

The luckiest ice cream cone in the world.

The very next day I asked her to marry me.

Does she know?

What?

That you're still in love with her.

I'm not.

Hm-hmm...

I just came here to say goodbye in person.

And did you?

I got cold feet.

I...

was leaving her the poem...

I was about to go through with it

when you knocked on the door.

I'd have been the first one to find you.

Well, maybe I did it...

and you're just an angel

sent to get me through to the other side.

So I look like an angel.

I've never seen a housekeeper look like this before.

I mean, the superhero outfit...

Yeah, I could take it off.

I beg your pardon?

I mean, I could take it off, you know...

and put on my maid's uniform if you like.

No.

What did you think I meant?

Oh!

Hmm...

I'm not against that either.

You're not?

But I need a bath, and I need some sleep,

and I need you to promise me

that you're gonna make it through the night.

And we can discuss arrangements in the morning.

And you're not worried about

somebody coming in seeing you here and firing you?

Oh, God, I am so tired of trying not to get fired.

Do you have savings?

Oh, yeah. I own my own company.

Good. Cause I'm putting my sister through college.

Help?

How do you feel?

Terrible.

I'm not stuck on a bed sober.

How did you find me?

A loan shark by the name of Freddie Manouche

was paid a friendly visit

by a degenerate gambler a little while ago.

Kid owed him fifteen G's.

Paid it in full.

A story that warms the heart.

Brady has it on good authority

this kid hasn't got a pot to piss in.

They shouldn't go around lending money

to people like that.

Freddie called me.

I interviewed this goofball.

He sent me here.

He said you gave it to him.

It's not someone who can keep his mouth shut.

No, he likes to talk.

And I can't imagine

I'm the only one Freddie called.

Or the first. Which means...

you're running out of time.

Ever the optimist, Jim.

I've already run out of time.

Why'd you do it?

You know why.

See now, right there you lose me.

I have no idea why.

If you tell me it was for love...

Check.

I'd say I don't buy it.

You tell me it's for money.

Double check,

I'd say not my partner. I know him too well.

He knows this could never work.

He knows it better than anyone.

You're just mad because you didn't see it coming.

I didn't see it coming

because it's completely out of character.

That's why you gotta work.

Where's the money?

I don't know.

Where is it?

I don't know.

It doesn't matter.

Humor me. And it does. Where's the money?

I don't know.

If you keep saying that,

I might have to start believing you.

Do you know where Mary is?

Precinct.

What for?

There was a new show tonight at the Vixenville.

Our favorite sociopath was there

watching his favorite girl.

But there was something off

about her performance tonight.

Something undetectable to most,

but very apparent to Otto.

The girl seemed nervous, aloof.

Sure enough, five minutes into her routine,

she twisted an ankle

and had to leave the stage.

Well, Otto, sick with worry,

he rushes back to the dressing room

and somehow they get into a fight

and she stabs him in the right eye

with the heel of her shoe.

She what?

You know how they say, it's all fun and games

until somebody pokes an eye out?

Well, that's just what happened.

And on the way to the hospital,

Otto gets news that a few of his associates

had been gunned down.

And some money happens to be missing.

Normally,

there's only one person whose expertise I trust

in putting all these disparate elements

into a cohesive whole.

Normally I enjoy hearing you...

piece these strands together.

I'm not enjoying myself tonight, Felix.

Let her go, Jim.

I did this.

She poked the man's eye out.

He's got another one.

Somehow when I woke up this morning

I never imagined my day would turn out like this.

Welcome to the club.

I can't protect you from Otto.

And I don't deserve it.

Who is it?

Hannah.

I made a new friend.

Don't try anything stupid.

You're talking to the wrong guy.

This belongs to you.

My partner, Jim Logan.

Hannah Click.

Vance got confused. Thought it was his.

That's what I gathered.

Couldn't let my mistakes ruin your chances.

I call this an extremely unselfish act, Hannah.

I don't think anyone would believe me.

Just this once, fate is a liar.

Maybe you can still find her and get away.

Won't you always wonder...

what if?

In a few rotten nights, but that'll pass.

It was nice talking to you, Felix.

Bus to catch.

Rosemary Lynn!

Eugene?

Yeah.

A little older.

Forehead's a little farther back.

But it's still me.

You look great.

What are you doing here?

I came to see you.

I saw your name on the marquee

and said, I'm gonna catch the show.

And you were great.

You really were great.

You saw me sing?

The night before last.

It was a great show.

Have you been good?

Yeah.

You?

Yes.

Are you married?

Just to you, still.

Ha!

I brought you a present.

What are you talking about?

This is from a part of my life

that you probably don't know.

But you do remember that I like to paint.

Sure.

Hello, Luke.

Yeah.

How did you...?

I didn't get your nose right.

Noses are tough.

I'm used to painting pets, so...

The nose is good, Eugene.

You like it?

Yes.

Good, I...

How's your health?

I'm glad you asked. I feel good.

Strong.

You look it.

I'm sorry.

I know it seems stupid to say after all this time.

No, it's nice.

People need forgiveness.

And approval. And you have both.

You're not still sore with me?

No.

No, I...

You were always out of my league,

Rosemary Lynn.

You simply didn't know it.

I'm just happy for the time we had together.

Are you trying to make me cry?

Definitely not.

Alright, go on.

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