Mercy Page #7

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- Yeah, most kids my age

were watching cartoons,

and I was sitting around

watching you guys

break down Dante's Inferno.

- Right.

Absurd waste of time.

I think the real fun

was getting drunk

and beating the sh*t

out of my colleagues.

- I remember that too.

Yeah, well, well.

Well.

That was then.

This is now.

So...

- Wait.

Go ahead.

- Go ahead what?

- Ask me.

- Ask you what?

- We've been sitting here

long enough.

I'm sure you're dying

of curiosity,

so go ahead and ask.

- John boy, hold on.

I have absolutely no idea

what you're talking about.

- Ask me what happened.

Ask me where she is.

- Ask...

Allow me to be a little more

than honest here, my son.

Probably the last thing

on my mind

was to ask you that.

See, I was-

you know, I was just figuring on

a couple drinks, a few laughs.

That's all.

I'd rather it if, uh,

we just keep it easy here.

- Okay.

It's fine.

- Fine.

- That's great.

- I see.

- That's great.

Just keep it easy.

- Okay.

Okay.

Well...

Okay.

All right, then.

To the inevitable.

The truth.

You, um-

you did seem happy, John.

I didn't want to say anything,

you know,

because I knew, sooner or later,

you'd find out.

It's just not gonna work.

Now, see, funny-

funny thing is that

I almost believed you.

And I almost remembered

feeling the way you felt

about your mother.

You know the feeling,

that everything,

one way or another,

was going to be just swell

just as long

as we had each other.

But yet here we are.

Love is a myth.

Unfortunately,

it does not exist.

- Take

Take what

you think you need

Bury the clashing breed

Over the rainbow

Strike

Strike them

where they stand

Don't let them drag

you in...

To the river

You're so mixed up in it

And you just

can't find the nerve

Better force it down

And bend my will

Gonna get what I deserve

The whisper of demons

Comes from the other room

Talk

Talk to yourself

If only to be adored

- It's so good.

- And adored

- How long

has he lived up here?

- Ah, about ten years, I think.

- Oh.

Hey.

You okay?

- Yeah.

Look, I don't know much,

because you don't tell me.

And to tell you the truth,

I don't care,

because I only care about you

and what's best for you.

But we must have come up here

for a reason.

- I just want him to meet you.

- Okay.

Simple.

Let's do it.

- I don't get much company,

so I'm sorry for the mess.

The maid comes January 15th.

- Don't worry about it.

- I worry.

Prettiest woman

I've ever seen sitting there.

She probably thinks

I'm an animal.

I don't think you're an animal.

- Well, I'm not.

Would you cover her eyes

for just a moment, please?

Cover her eyes.

- Cover her eyes?

Okay.

- Just a second.

- Fine.

I'm actually a prince.

- I've just been out

of character for a few years.

Are you sure I can't get you

something to drink?

- Oh, no, I'm fine.

Thank you.

- John boy?

- Uh, I haven't had a drink

in seven years, Pop.

I quit smoking too.

- Wait.

You don't drink,

and you don't smoke.

How in God's name do you work?

Speaking of which,

how are those awful

romantic novels that you write?

I'm just kidding him.

We sort of tease each other.

- No, no, no, no.

It's fine.

How's grading

other people's work?

That going good?

- Ah.

A dastardly gash to the abdomen.

He is correct.

A waste of one of the greatest

talents of all time,

yours truly.

Tell her, John.

- That's true.

He is something else.

- No.

I am something.

This is true.

But this woman right here,

she is something else.

I say keep her, my boy,

or I will steal her

from where she sits.

I challenge you to a duel

for the heart

of the young princess.

- I'm no match for you, Pop.

- This is true.

My lady.

- I'm afraid my heart's

already taken, Mr. Ryan.

- A real gem.

Can I use your restroom?

- Yes, yes, indeed, but please,

don't touch anything.

It could be detrimental

to your very being.

So that would be

the second door on the left,

past the second pile

of something or other

on the right.

- Okay.

I'll find it.

- Very well.

Hmm.

- Mm.

- So...

- How you been?

- Shitty.

You?

- I've been good.

- It's been a long time.

- Yeah.

A few years.

- At least.

- Yeah.

- Well, this one,

she's got you good, huh?

Be careful.

- I didn't come here for that.

- Oh, sure you did.

- Nope.

Nope.

I just wanted you to meet her.

- Why?

You think you love her?

- Yeah, I know I do.

- So what?

What does that mean?

- I don't know.

I don't know.

Why don't you tell me?

- No, no, you tell me.

Me telling you would be

pointless, now, wouldn't it?

- Okay.

Well, never met anyone like her.

- Again, so what?

She is amazing.

- Well, so am I.

I love being with her.

- Check, please.

- She is the last thing

that I ever wanted,

and since meeting her,

I wouldn't be able to tell you

who I was without her.

- Well, there you go.

I felt that way

about your mother.

Ah.

- You're beautiful.

- I love it

when you tell me that.

- Then I'll tell you every day.

- What if you miss a day?

- I won't.

- What if you're far away

and the phones don't work?

- Then I'll scream.

What?

- Thick in the heat of love

The fire goes out

Collapse into silken flesh

Fingers they will caress

Entwined in the feral wilds

They scratch and claw

- Okay.

I'm late.

I love you.

- I love you too.

Call me when you're done.

I'll come back and grab you.

- Okay.

- Hey.

You're beautiful.

I love you.

- Morning, handsome.

- Look at the young man.

A glow about him.

- Ah.

See that sh*t?

- I do.

Sit.

- Ah.

- The book.

- Wow.

Straight to biz, huh?

- You know my style.

- I do, but I also have news.

- Book, then news.

- News, then book.

- Mm, no.

- Okay, go ahead.

- I didn't get it.

Is he a child,

or is he an adult?

- Well, he's, uh-

he's both.

Literally, he's an adult,

but he's a child in the sense

that he's getting another chance

at his childhood,

like a do-over.

So yes, he's an adult,

but he is still like a child.

- But he's a man.

- He's a man, yeah.

- Still don't get it.

- Don't worry.

It's all gonna come together.

- Fine.

I trust you.

- Yeah.

- News.

- News.

You're gonna look amazing

in a tuxedo.

- Oh.

Oh, no.

No.

I don't believe it.

- Hold on.

Hello?

This is he.

What did you do to me?

What did you do this to me for?

You want it?

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, all you fucks!

- Love...

is a myth.

Bedtime story.

Unfortunately,

it does not exist.

And the minute

you catch yourself

thinking that it does,

well,

it's just a question of time

before you realize

the hard fact of life.

We just don't mix.

F*** her, son.

F*** her, wherever she is,

so deeply filled

with sorrow and regret.

But, uh...

f*** your mother too.

You're wrong, Pop.

You're wrong.

- You live your life

inside a dance

Waltz across

the crowded room

All their eyes are on you

There's nothing to see

You're not taking

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