Jellyfish Stings Man's Face Page #3

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- Don't get all upset now.

- Then don't upset me.

Okay, I'll keep quiet.

How is she?

What can I tell you?

That I wish it was you

who picked me up from the hospital?

I'm sorry, Mom,

I had a rehearsal.

Never mind.

Is she treating you well?

I don't know

where you found her.

She doesn't speak

a word of Hebrew,

walks too slow...

It's only till

you're better.

Tova had a wonderful

Philippine woman, experienced,

- maybe you can find out...

- I'm swamped, Mom. I can hardly...

Yeah, yeah. Jumping around

on stage is more important.

If I get you a new one,

will you be happy?

Instead of flying to the Caribbean,

we ended up here because of her leg.

They gave us a room

on the ground floor.

And my wife couldn't sleep

because of the sewage.

We moved to another room.

Now I can't sleep because of the traffic

I can give you my suite.

You don't have to,

but it's nice of you to offer.

It means nothing to me.

Really.

but you write...

I can write anywhere.

So could Dostoyevsky.

Dostoyevsky?

Never mind.

"A ship inside a bottle

cannot sink

or collect dust.

It's nice to look at

and floats on glass.

No one is small

enough to board it.

It doesn't know

where it's heading.

The wind outside

won't blow its sails.

It has no sails,

only a slip, a dress.

And beneath them,

jellyfish.

Her mouth is dry

though she's surrounded by water.

She drinks it through

the openings in her eyes... "

Head injury.

Concussion?

Looks like it.

What's your name?

Where's your mother?

Your father?

No, no sir, thank you.

Later, honey,

he'll be back, I promise.

Go play in the sand.

- Why didn't you buy her ice cream?

- Do it yourself.

Are you still mad?

- What do you think?

- That we came here to have fun.

Are you having fun?

The fact she opened her eyes

doesn't mean a thing.

The nurse said

it's a reflex.

I should have kept in touch

with her.

I'm a lousy father.

I have to throw up.

Go throw up.

I can't in a hospital.

It's disgusting.

Can I have a minute

alone with my daughter?

Wait...

No, I'm really sorry.

Forgive me...

Stop.

I'm sorry I yelled at you.

do you think

I don't know?

Know what?

Not in front of the child.

Want to go

into the water, sweetie?

Play nice.

Daddy's coming right back.

Don't play dumb.

How old is your new floozy?

Batya's age?

Nili!

Too bad I don't have a camera.

I'd take a picture with you.

Too bad.

Excuse me,

do you have any aspirin?

I don't work here.

Okay, I won't

bother you anymore.

Goodbye.

Go on, knock.

My wife, Keren.

This is...

I forgot...

I never told you.

Nice to meet you.

Are we too early?

No, I'm all packed.

Come in.

I'll go get the suitcase

from our room.

The towels are clean.

Why did you agree

to switch rooms with us?

I thought

it's what you wanted.

- Did Michael ask you to?

- No.

I felt it.

You're very generous.

No.

There are just certain men

I can't resist.

We got married

the day before yesterday.

Congratulations.

I heard it was

a lovely wedding.

I want you to

stay away from him.

You can see the sea

from the balcony.

I shut the blinds.

I hate light.

Thanks.

What now?

Galia?

Where?

Look at her.

Everything hanging out...

Give me my glasses.

To see.

It's tonight.

What?

She didn't invite me.

I don't go anywhere uninvited.

At 8, is okay?

Why didn't you tell me

she's so pretty?

- Who?

- The poet.

What difference does it make?

Look at the beautiful view.

Come on,

I'll carry you over.

Don't you want

to see the sea finally?

- What did you give her?

- What?

What did you give her

for the room?

What do you mean?

Did you sleep with her?

You're crazy.

I'm a woman.

Did you sleep with her?

Five flights up for nothing.

It's gonna be sh*t here too.

Remember

our first date?

We went to the movies.

You wore a white dress.

With thin straps.

We had seats

right in the center.

But someone was

blocking your view.

So I changed

seats with you.

But I couldn't

see either.

So we moved

to side seats.

But we couldn't

see from there.

Finally, we sat

in the second row.

And your neck hurt.

do you remember?

What was the movie about?

Did you sleep with her?

I don't remember either.

Let's go look at the sea

and talk.

Take me out to the balcony.

"Hamlet, Hamlet, Hamlet...

Oh, that this too solid flesh

would melt,

thaw and resolve itself

into a dew..."

I found you a boat.

A big boat?

A huge boat,

with a tall mast

and beautiful sails...

When will I get to see it?

Soon, it will arrive

on your birthday.

Mirna!

Mama bought me a boat!

Mama bought me a boat!

"...For I must hold my tongue!

Tongue, Tongue,

Tongue, Tongue."

I can't make it...

Taxi...

keep the receipt.

Did I wake you?

- Can I sleep here tonight?

- Sure.

- What happened?

- I ran away from a hospital.

Why were

you in a hospital?

I'll tell you tomorrow.

Can I sleep on the sofa?

I don't have a sofa.

They promised

he'd come back.

Who?

The ice cream man.

My mother promised

he'd come back.

Did they promise you anything

when you were a child?

My parents are Holocaust survivors.

I never asked anything from them.

You're second generation?

We're all second generation...

of something.

Don't worry,

he's always around.

Who?

The ice cream man.

I have pictures of him.

Dozens.

Can I see them?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow...

I was glad to see you.

Yes.

I really liked it.

He's talented,

that director.

And me?

You're my daughter.

I'm not objective.

- Where is the Philippine woman?

- Joy?

She's out.

She's leaving today.

But did you

like my acting?

Well,

half the time

you're lying on the floor dead.

And when you were acting, you and that

Hamlet just kept fondling each other.

We weren't fondling each other.

It's physical theater.

Physical, yes, but why do you have

to touch each other all the time?

- You don't like touching at all.

- What?

- Nothing, never mind.

- No. What did you say?

if you have something to say,

say it.

Even on stage no one understands

a word you mumble.

I'll never

come here again.

Ever.

Get me a glass of water.

Didn't you hear me?

What's with you?

"I thought it

would be simpler to die.

I hate hotels.

Maybe that's why

I chose to die in one.

What am I waiting for?

It's all ready,

the pills, my mood.

So why doesn't it happen?

Is it because I'm not happy

with the suicide note?

I can't find words

to express my emotions.

And I won't do it

until I find them.

Or maybe it's because

I met someone who'll save me.

A ship inside a bottle

cannot sink,

or collect dust.

It's nice to look at

and floats on glass.

No one is small

enough to board it.

It doesn't know

where it's heading.

The wind outside

won't blow its sails.

It has no sails,

only a slip, a dress.

And beneath them,

jellyfish.

Her mouth is dry

though she's surrounded by water.

She drinks it

through the openings in her eyes

which never close.

When she dies,

it won't be noticeable.

She won't crash on rocks.

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