Life Page #6

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we're very pleased

to have you back,

you know that. And we're

very proud of you,

and your mother would be

very proud of you.

Yeah, well...

To Mom.

To Mom.

What I'm trying to say is,

happy 24th, for last week.

And... we all love

you very much.

Well, I love you too.

Come on in.

- Ahh...

For he's a jolly good fellow

For he's

a jolly good fellow

For he's a jolly

good fel-l-llow

And so say all of us

- Welcome home, Jimmy.

- Oh, thanks.

- You didn't tell me it was your birthday.

- Ah...

When are we going to see "East of Eden"?

Oh, well, that'll be

next month, Grandma,

at the... the

theatre in Marion.

They're doing a special sneak

preview for all of you.

- Yeah, family and friends.

- Wow.

Will you come back for that?

I'm gonna do my best.

So, Jimmy, what's next?

I'm waiting to hear about a big movie.

Not at the table

if you don't mind.

- Oh, sure.

- How long you staying with us, Jimmy?

I'm hoping a week or two.

- Jimmy.

- What's that, my little Huckleberry?

Why don't you stay

the whole month instead.

Then you can go

to the screening with us.

Now, now, Mark.

A whole month.

What do you say, Dennis?

Hey, sweetie, if I did that.

I'd miss the world

Premiere in New York City.

But I'll tell you what,

I'll come back for

the premiere in Marion.

Sounds like a lot

more fun, actually.

Now, who's having cake?

I thought we said we were going

to be here for two days.

Yeah, but I was talking about a

couple of Indiana days.

Did I not explain

myself clearly?

Oh...

Hey!

Just keep playing.

Dennis, you know...

It's none of my business, but ah...

This feels kind of silly.

I'm just having some fun is all.

Can't go back

empty-handed.

You think "Life" is going

to change their mind?

It's not like they

actually said no.

Said to find something better.

Oh, hey!

Hey, Dennis, you ever

driven one of those?

Ah, don't be stupid.

What? Hey!

Hey!

Hey! He's never

driven a tractor.

It's not hard.

You wanna try?

No, I'm fine, thank you.

Ah, come on . He taught me

everything I know.

No, I'm fine, seriously.

Hey, Marcus,

will you pull around?

Pull around!

Just keep pulling around.

That's perfect.

Alright, now let me

get your glasses.

Ugh.

Hey, Marcus, you look away.

Alright.

Put your hands in your pockets.

"Move here, stand there."

I've worked with some directors

who think that's

how you do things.

Turn three-quarters away.

Look back at me.

Alright, now look

down the lens, and uh...

you keep that scowl.

I'm disappointed in you.

Well, you're not the only one.

You ok for money in

New York, Mighty Mouse?

No, I'm ok. Thank you.

We don't need to

worry about you in LA?

No, no, I'm fine.

So, your friend...

he's a real city guy, eh?

Well, if by that you mean

he's uh... prickly and pushy

and opinionated

- and rubs people the wrong way,

then I guess so.

But then again,

he is a New Yorker.

If he was a clock and you wound

him any tighter, you'd break his springs.

I felt sorry for him

when we were in New York.

He was... he was following me

around like a lost puppy.

It was kind of hilarious.

What is it that he wants?

Well, I mean, what

he wants is one thing.

The trouble is I'm not sure

he knows what he's doing.

You know, he's, uh,

he's one of these guys

who can't seem to get

out of his own way.

OK, let's get

this firewood inside.

Morning, Dennis.

I was, uh,

I was thinking we might

go into town today.

Yeah...

Yeah, you know what, I think

I might go back today.

Back? What are you

talking about?

Hey, what do you mean by I

can't get out of my own way?

Huh?

What the hell does

that even mean?

Oh, um...

Oh, uh...

I'm sorry, Dennis. I didn't...

I didn't mean anything by it,

- what I meant was...

- Yeah, you know f*** all about me.

You're just a Goddamn actor

so full of his own bullshit

you wouldn't know

if your ass was on fire.

Alright?

I got real problems!

I was... I was working at 16,

I was married at 17,

we'd already split up by the time

she found out she was pregnant.

I got a seven-year-old son

in New York, my ex-wife...

You have... you have a son?

Of course I have a son!

I told you about him.

Uh, no you didn't.

Yeah, I did. Times Square.

Remember the vomit?

No.

Course you don't.

You're so wrapped up

in your own head,

you don't even hear.

I came here thinking,

that I'd find something beautiful.

That "Life" would say yes.

But you're just a little sh*t,

so how's any of that

going to happen?

Maybe the problem

is you came here

thinking that I'm the subject

of this little expedition.

What is that even

supposed to mean?

You've gotta stop

speaking in riddles.

I've gotta get

back to the station.

No... Dennis, just come on.

Just take a seat.

You want to find something

beautiful, then why leave?

You said all that stuff, Jimmy.

There's no going back from it.

Alright.

If that's what you want.

I'm just wasting my time here.

You do the voices.

Oh, I'm not doing the voices

if you're not doing the voices.

I can't do it!

Oh, yeah you can! Come on,

alright... we'll do them together, ok?

You choose.

How about this one?

Alright, I like this one!

I won't divulge the

secret to the fire powder,

not for all the gold

in Comanche country.

We wouldn't need

to pay such high price.

Let me introduce you

to Chief Redbear.

He makes easy meat of secrets.

You fiends! Let Lady Olyphant go!

Let her go, I tell ya!

Markie, five minutes!

Can you make him stay?

I'll tell you what, I can make

him promise he'll come back.

Is that alright?

I guess.

Markie, brush your teeth,

get your school bag!

Get out of here.

You pick the one we do

this afternoon, alright?

Alright.

How uh... how often

do you see your son?

Never.

I mean, I saw him.

I saw him the other day but...

How do you make

all of this so easy?

What is it that you think

is so easy, exactly?

I don't know...

Well, you can uh... you can run quick

and catch the school bus,

or we can have some breakfast,

and I'll drive

you to the station

in a couple hours.

Yeah, I might stay

a little longer.

Yeah, we should...

we should go into town.

You know, see the sights.

Jesus, Jimmy, how'd you

grow up here? It's tiny.

Well, you see that? That's the only

traffic light in Fairmount.

- Turn around!

- Fairmount's Mount Rushmore.

They'll be back.

Ah... ah, they're just kids.

Must have seen you on TV.

Yeah, I've become a

real local celebrity.

Excuse me, Mr. Dean?

Mr. Dean, on behalf of the

Sweethearts Ball committee,

we'd like to invite you...

and your friend...

Oh, Dennis Stock.

Mr. Stock, to our

annual senior class ball

tomorrow night.

The Sweethearts Ball.

It'd be a terrific honour, sir.

Well, I'm just trying to imagine you

at your high school ball.

- I never went. I was in the Coast Guard.

- What? Oh, Dennis!

- You've got to come to a high school hop.

- Yeah, we'll be there!

That's great! We'll see you

tomorrow night, around 7:00?

Alright. Hey, save me a dance.

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