Life During Wartime Page #3

[ Lawn Mower Whirring In Distance]

[ Insect Buzzing ]

[ Door Clattering ]

[ Lock Snaps ]

[ Clock Ticking ]

[ Clock Chiming ]

?? [ Woman Singing Aria ]

[ Children Shouting. Laughing Outdoors ]

[ Birds Chirping ]

?? [ Piano..Lounge]

- ?? [ Continues ]

- [ People Chattering ]

Mind if I join you?

Please.

Forgive me. Please tell me you're straight.

- I am.

- Oh, thank God.

So what are you doing here all alone?

Work.

- You like your work?

- It pays.

Good. Then we don't have

to talk about it.

- Are you alone?

- Married.

Alone. The same thing.

No. Alone is alone.

I'm good at reading people, you know.

What do you read now?

Well, I see a man...

and he's alone, and he's straight.

That's good enough for me.

You are good.

My husband was a fag.

Must have been hard.

Only man I ever loved.

What happened to him?

Stuff.

- Any kids?

- Not anymore.

Just a pack of wolves,

and they're out for blood.

How so?

They've decided I'm the villain.

- I'm a monster.

- Why do they think that?

'Cause I am a monster.

People can't help it...

if they're monsters.

They can't be forgiven either.

Have you asked for forgiveness?

[ Scoffs ]

I'm not a fool.

If I were them,

I wouldn't forgive me either.

In my family,

there are only winners and losers.

And only losers ask for forgiveness.

Only losers expect to get it.

The world out there...

it can be harsh.

What the hell do you know

about the world out there...

that I don't already know... twice over?

The enemy's within.

Your room have a view?

No.

Same here.

Who the f*** needs one anyway?

Why do you feel that way?

What are you, a shrink?

I need more than a caress.

[ Grunting, Gasping ]

How much do you need?

- What?

- It's okay.

I understand.

It was hard work.

I'm old.

There's a stash in the Chanel -

the zippered pocket. Take it all.

What are you looking at?

Don't start pretending like you care...

like I'm not a monster...

like I still have a heart that -

Forgive me.

F*** off, prick.

[ Trish ] What do you want, honey?

Let me just make it simple for her.

She's got some food issues.

Let's just get a mesclun salad, no pepper.

Just very simple.

And I'll have the Salade Nioise

with the dressing on the side.

- [ Waiter] Perfect. It'll be right out.

- Thank you.

Joy, I am so happy to see you.

- I'm so happy to see you too.

- And you know something?

- What?

- You look good.

- Really?

- I mean it.

You put some meat on your bones.

You used to look so peaked all the time.

I thought, ''Maybe she's got

some rare blood disease.

But, Trish,'' I said, ''Leave her alone.

She's old enough.

If she wants to be vegetarian

to prove some point, then, you know'' -

But, golly. So you're back

to eating red meat?

No.

Wow, even so. God knows how,

but that tofu is workin', girl.

- Thanks.

- [ Laughing ]

You look good too.

- You know what my secret is?

- What?

[ Whispering ]

I met someone.

Really? Oh, that's great.

- And...

- And?

we're getting married.

- No!

- Yes!

Oh!

[ Squeals ]

The kids haven't met him yet,

so provided they like him -

Oh, Trish.

Billy I'm not worried about,

but Timmy and Chloe...

they're - they're still children.

Oh, I know.

It's a secret. No one knows -

not Helen, not even Mom.

I promise. I won't tell a soul.

[ Sighs ]

But don't you think you're maybe...

rushing things a bit?

I mean, men are -

I don't know. And after Bill.

- Bill was totally different.

- Still.

No. No. The past is the past.

Dead. Gone. Wipe my hands.

Forgotten.

It's got nothing to do

with me and the kids.

- We live in Florida now.

- I'm sorry.Just -Just -

Now, Harvey, on the other hand,

well, he's not very attractive.

He's older.

He's not even that well off.

He's divorced.

Poor thing had a horrible, horrible wife.

But he's Jewish. He's pro-Israel.

He did work for Bush and McCain,

but only because of Israel.

He knows these people are complete idiots

otherwise, so don't worry.

Basically, he's just a plain,

totally family-oriented kind of guy.

- He's a real mensch.

- Oh.

Joy, I need this to work.

Have-Have you -

And was it -

So normal!

- Oh, Trish, I'm so happy for you.

- Me too. Me too.

But you -What about you?

You haven't told me a thing.

Oh. I'm fine. I'm -

- How's Allen?

- Oh, fine. Fine.

[ Deep Breath ]

Just don't listen to Mom. Really.

Everything's the same - fine.

I just needed to get away for a bit.

A little me time.

What about your work with the ex-cons?

How's that going?

Oh, fine, fine. I miss them already.

But, my God.

Working with those criminals

and-and... rapists. I -

I don't know,Joy. Don't you ever

think about working with -

with the victims - good people?

Not all criminals and rapists

are bad, Trish.

I don't know what your dictionary says,

but it's pretty clear in mine.

But I'm sorry. I don't mean to criticize.

It's your profession,

and I totally respect that.

It's just - I could never do it.

You're a saint. Really.

Really, it's just a job.

All right now. Salade Nioise.

Oh, I'm sorry. I asked

for the dressing on the side.

Oh, I'm sorry.

We'll take care of that right away.

I'm sorry.

[ Sighs ] You know,Joy,

there's something I never told you.

I guess being the older sister,

sibling rivalry and all -

But now that we're

so much more bonded -

[ Sighs ]

I always believed deep down -

and so did Mom and Dad and Helen...

'cause we discussed it all

so many times, but -

When you married Allen...

w-we thought you were so...

brave.

But... why?

I may as well confess.

I know everything. We all have.

Allen's... problem, his -

And how you tried so hard

to cure him...

so he could be normal.

And how you eventually thought

he was cured - as if.

Joy, there are no secrets in the family.

You of all people, you must know that by now.

You've always been an open book.

But you seemed so desperately happy...

and we all so desperately

wanted you to be happy.

And it seemed like if it wasn't Allen, then -

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, but it's important

that we be open with each other.

Joy, you're a beautiful woman,

even if you're past your-

And I really think,

from the bottom of my heart...

that you should just drop him.

Drop your job, drop everything

and move to Florida.

Down here, it's easy to forget everything...

start over, fresh - like me -

as if you were still young.

I mean, what are you really gonna miss?

What matters more than family?

Friends come and go.

Ajob is just a job.

Shopping, food, HBO -

everything here, same as anywhere else.

Joy, don't take this the wrong way.

I just -

I love you so much.

I love you.

-?? [ Alt Rock..Ambient ]

-?? [ Man Singing. Indistinct ]

- [ Woman ] Joy!

- [ Exclaims ]

-?? [ Ends ]

-[ Lighter Flicks ]

God.

I can't tell you how happy I am to see you,

how happy I am you found me.

- Oh, me too.

- I've been feeling so guilty.

Oh, but really, Helen,

you didn't do anything wrong.

I know, but still.

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