How Do You Know Page #8

Oh, my God.

I'm gonna do something...

...so you just record it.

It's the red button.

I gotta say something to you.

To the two of you.

Okay.

I don't want you to think that

the reason we're not married...

...is because I think anything

of anyone else.

It's because I'm 40 years old

and I'm a failure.

I will kill you, you talk like that.

I'll get work again, I know. I won't have

seniority because of what happened.

I don't wanna get sidetracked.

The reason that I never

talked marriage to you...

...is because I couldn't stand

to see you, the princess of worry...

...weighted down by me

and my limited prospects.

Because I get your worry, Annie.

I know a lot of people think that's

a bad thing about you. But I know...

...that it's because you have a great

big heart, and I love you for it!

You know? And then...

...I started to worry, all right?

About what would happen to you...

...and this little hulk...

...if you guys wound up

with someone who....

Who thought that your worry was...

- ...you know....

- Neurotic?

Right, yeah.

Somebody who didn't get you.

Who wanted you to feel bad

about yourself.

Wanted to make you be more normal

or wanted you to change...

...or like yourself more.

Who didn't love all of it, Annie.

Who didn't wanna

leave great enough alone.

And I thought that I....

I could do that for you.

That could be a legitimate...

...function for me in your life.

So that allows me...

- Oh, my God.

- ...to propose to you...

...that we get married.

I wanna marry you.

Oh, Al!

Wait.

- Be careful.

- I'm crushing him.

Did you get it?

- Oh, my God. I got so caught--

- You didn't get it?

No--

- He didn't get it.

- He didn't--?

You didn't get it?!

Oh, my God!

You didn't get it?!

I'm so sorry! Oh, my God!

I can't tell you how--

- Oh, no!

- I don't know what to say.

- Okay, come on, we'll do it again.

- I can't do it again!

- What's your name?

- Al.

Al. Okay. You'll record it.

I don't know what I said!

Who knows?

We just have to think and we'll piece

this thing together. Right away.

You were sitting. So sit down.

Okay. You told her that

you didn't want her to think that....

I don't want you to think

the reason we're not married...

...is because I feel anything

for anybody else.

Exactly! Yes, yes!

You said you had no prospects.

You used the word "failure."

I won't saddle you with

a 40-year-old failure.

Annie, you said, "I'll kill you--"

I'll kill--

I'll kill you if you talk like that!

I remember that.

You said you didn't want her

to end up with--

Someone who wanted her

to change what she couldn't.

- Yes.

- Someone who didn't get me.

- There was that whole list.

- He was worried about you.

Worried you'd be with somebody

who made you feel bad about yourself.

Who wanted you to like yourself

in a different way.

Who didn't love you the right way.

Protecting her from that...

...appreciating her the way you do

was a legitimate function for you.

Wow, I said that?

I feel like you're all proposing to me.

Then I asked you to marry me.

No! No. What you said was:

"I propose to you

that we get married."

- I propose to you that we get married.

- That's it.

- And then you called him "little hulk."

- Yes.

Which, for some reason,

is my favorite thing.

Look at this guy.

I love you so much, Al.

I'm just gonna wait here

for my bus.

I'll wait with you.

Okay, good. Thanks.

Don't you miss them already?

I'm okay.

Don't you think that what he said

applies to so many--?

Well, take care.

Yeah. You too.

You too.

Can't catch a break!

George!

George!

What is wrong with you?

What?

What? I saw you.

You were shouting and all crazy.

No, I--

I just-- It was weird

that you were off so fast.

Well, I can wait for the next bus.

You just charged off.

Okay. Well, good.

Well, you know, that's--

We should have plenty of time now.

We'll--

What is this?

I think this is the opposite

of a bus strike.

So won't Matty be worried?

I didn't tell you we're

not living together right now?

No, I would have remembered.

Can you give us two seconds?

It's important.

- No problem, pal.

- Okay.

What?

We're still working on things,

but from a different slant.

He's back tomorrow. He's throwing me

a belated birthday party tomorrow night.

He's going all out.

Not my choice.

But when you're in something,

you....

You gotta give it everything you have.

Else, what are you doing?

Right.

Oh, man.

Can I come to your party?

Can I come to your party?

Sure.

Of course.

When was your birthday?

It was tonight.

Of course it is.

Happy birthday.

Thank you.

Father.

George.

I think I figured it out.

I don't wanna talk now.

Well, could you give me

some indication?

Tomorrow.

I....

I love you too. Tomorrow.

- Going to the party, George?

- Not yet.

Just a minute, son. The lawyers are

taking a break. Leave your stuff.

Try the coffee shop on the corner.

Get me that list

of non-extradition countries.

The fruit salad's very good there.

- Please sit.

- No, I can't. I have to get someplace.

You look....

Great? I'm shooting for great tonight.

You look great.

I know you want the bottom line, but

are you interested in my reasoning?

Yes. Of course.

First thing, and it was

an all-nighter getting there...

...but same as in anything, the answer

starts with the right question.

And the question here wasn't

whether I go to jail or you do.

That was not the question.

- It wasn't?

- No.

No. The question was,

will I go to jail for three years...

...or will I live for 25 years feeling

awful because of your being in jail?

Very good.

So I went over different scenarios

to get varying perspectives.

If I had children,

I wouldn't consider going to jail.

- But you don't.

- Right.

Right.

Or if I had someone crucial

to the life I want for myself...

...it would be perverse...

...some denunciation of the experience

of life itself if I gave that up.

Well, that is an extreme

point of view.

Do you have such a person?

I don't know. But I'm going upstairs

to somehow find out.

There's a party. She's up there.

There's another guy.

You mean she may be unavailable.

I can't think that way right now.

I'm going up there

and I'm taking my shot.

If I don't have a chance with her...

...I will go to jail for you, Dad.

But if I have any chance at all,

I can't.

Wish me luck.

Good luck.

No unattached women

allowed tonight.

One guy's bringing his sister.

A couple guys are bringing their moms.

- How are you?

- I'm great.

Okay, here we go. I want you to....

Okay, we'll start right here.

- Here, have a seat. Go on.

- Okay.

- Here you go.

- Okay.

It's not a ring!

- You don't have to look so relieved.

- No, no, I just--

Okay.

Now, maybe I don't

get on a knee for this, but....

What are you doing?

Go.

The wrapping is lovely.

- Hurry. No, you just--

- It's so nice.

No, but you can just rip it open.

It's gorgeous.

But.... I mean, it's gorgeous.

But what?

I was thinking, when would I

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