Long Day's Journey Into Night Page #15

What a bastard to have for a father!

God if you put him in a book no one would believe it.

Papa's all right if you try to understand him and keep your sense of humor.

He's been putting on the old sob act for you?

He could always fool you but not me.

Never again.

Though I do feel sorry for him in a way about one thing.

He even had that coming to him. He's to blame.

To hell with that.

The last drink is really getting to me, this one ought to put the lights out.

Hey did you tell old gasbard that I got it out of

doc. Hardy that the sanatorium was a charity dump?

Yes. I told him I wouldn't go there.

It's all settled noe, he said I can go anywhere I want...

within reason of course.

Yes, "of course my boy, a-ny-thing... within reason".

That means another cheap dump!

Old gasbard, the miser in "The Bells".

That's a part he can play without make-up.

I've heard that gasbard stuff a million times.

All right, if you're satisfied, let him get away with it.

It's your funeral.

I mean...

I hope it won't be.

- What did you do uptown tonight? Go to Mamie Burns?

- Sure thing. Where else could I find suitable feminine companionship?

And love?

Don't forget love.

What is man without a good woman to love?

- A God damn hollow hole.

- You're a nut.

Hey... guess which one of Mamie's charmers

I picked to bless me with her woman's love.

It'll hand you a laugh kid.

I picked...

Fat Violet.

- No, honest?

- Yeah.

Some pick!

God! Oh God she weighs a ton.

- What the hell for, a joke?

- Oh no, no joke.

Very serious. By the time I hit Mamie's dump I was feeling very

sorry for myself and all the other poor bums in the world.

Ready for a weep on any old womanly bosom.

You know how you get when the old John barley

corn turns on the soft music inside of you.

And the as soon as I hit the door, Mamie began telling me her troubles.

She beefed how rotten business was. She was going to give Fat Violet the gate.

The custumers didn't fall for Vi, the only reason

she kept her was she could play the piano.

Well lately Violet has been going on drunks and been getting

to boiled to play and was eating her out of house and home.

How old Vi was a good hearted dumbell and she felt sorry for

her 'couse didn't know how in the hell she'd make a living.

Still... business was business.

She couldn't afford to run a home for fat tarts.

Well it made me... feel very sorry for Fat Violet.

So I squandered two bucks

of your dough

to escort her upstairs. Now, with no dishonorable intentions whatever.

I like them fat but not that fat.

All I wanted was a little heart to heart

talk concerning the infinite sorrow of life.

Poor Vi!

She stood it for a while, then she got good and sore.

Got the idead I'd taken her upstairs as a joke.

Gave me a grand bawling out.

Then she began to cry.

So I had to say I loved her, because she was fat.

And she wanted to believe that.

Then I stayed with her to prove it.

And that cheered her up.

She kissed me when I left.

Said she'd fallen hard for me.

And we both cried a little more in the hallway

and everything was fine.

Except Mamie Burns thought I'd gone bughouse.

Harlots and hunted have pleasures of their own to give,

the vulgar herd can never understand.

Exactly!

And a hell of a good time at that.

This night has opened mine eyes to a great career in store for me my boy.

I shall give the art of acting back to the performing seals,

which are it's most perfect expression,

by applying my natural God given talents in their proper sphere.

I shall attain the pinnacle of success!

Ill be the lover of the fat woman in Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Imagine me sunk to the fat girl in a hick town hooker shop.

Me! I've had some of the best lookers on broadway sit up and beg.

"Speakin' in general, I'ave tried 'em all

The 'appy roads that take you o'er the world."

It's not so apt.

Happy roads is bunk.

Weary roads is right.

They get you nowhere fast.

And that's where I got...

nowhere.

Where everyone lands in the end, even if most of the suckers won't admit it.

Can it, you'll be crying in a minute.

Hey!

Don't get too damn fresh.

But you're right, the hell with repining. Fat Violet is a good kid.

I'm glad I stayed with her. It was a christian act.

Cured her blues, a hell of a good time.

You should have stuck around with me kid.

Taken your mind off your troubles.

What's the use of coming home?

You get the blues over what can't be helped.

It's all over.

Finished, now.

Not a hope.

"If I were hanged on the highest hill, Mother o mine,

O mother o mine! I know whose love would follow me still..."

Shut up!

Where's the hop head?

Gone to sleep?

You dirty bastard!

Thanks kid.

I certainly had that coming.

I don't know what made me.

- Booze talking, you know me kid.

- God! Jamie.

No matter how drunk you are, there's no excuse.

I'm sorry I...

- You and I never scrapped that bad.

- Sorry kid. Glad you did.

My dirty tongue, I'd like to cut it out.

It was because I feel so damn sunk.

Because this time Mama had me fooled.

I suppose I can't forgive her yet.

It meant so much...

I'd began to hope that if she'd beaten the game...

maybe I could too.

God don't I know how you feel.

Oh God!

I've known about Mama so much longer than you.

I'll never forget the first time I got wise.

I caught her in the act with a hypo. (hypodermic syringe)

God!

I'd never believe before that anyone but whores took dope.

Stop it Jamie.

And then this stuff of your getting consumption.

It's...it's got me licked.

We've been more than brothers.

You're the only pal I ever had.

I love your guts kid, I'd do anything for you.

I know that Jamie.

Yeah.

I bet you heard Mama and old gasbard spilling so much bunk about my

hoping for the worst you suspect right now I'm thinking to myself that

Papa is old, can't last much longer

and if you were to die, Mama and I would get all he's got.

- So I'm probably hoping...

- Shut up you damn fool!

What the hell put that in your nut?

- That's what I'd like to know. What put that in your mind?

- Don't be a dumbell! What I said.

I'm always suspected of hoping for the worst. I got so I can't help it.

Hey!

What are you trying to do? Accuse me?

Now don't you play the wise guy with me!

I've learned more about life than you'll ever know.

Just because you read a lot of high brow junk don't think you can fool me.

You're only an overgrown kid. Mama's baby,

Papa's pet, the family white hope. The...

You've been getting a swelled head lately about nothing!

About a few poems in a hick town newspaper.

Hell, I used to write better stuff for the lit. magazine in college.

You better wake up!

You're setting no rivers on fire.

You let hick town b*obs flatter you with bunk about your future...

Hell kid... forget that.

That goes for Sweeney. You know I didn't mean it.

No one is prouder that you started to make good.

Why shouldn't I be proud?

You reflect credit on me.

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