Nine Lives Page #4

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What?

School's diddlysquat.

It's your home environment that counts.

- Sam?

- What?

What did your father say?

Nothing.

Why won't you tell me?

I heard him say something.

He said nothing.

He was just fooling around.

- He exhausts me.

- Don't say that.

Why? It's not a bad thing.

It just is what it is.

I'm sorry. I'm just tired.

Don't start.

Samantha.

What?

Need help.

What is it?

Spanish city, six letters, begins with "B".

Here.

Bilbao.

- How do you know that?

- Bilbao.

You're a bookworm.

Sit down.

How's your mom?

She's okay.

She worries me.

She's fine.

- And you worry me sometimes.

- Honey, I'm good.

You could have gone away back east

to school, you know...

instead of staying behind

to clean up your daddy's poop.

Nice, Dad.

What happened with Leland?

From poop to Leland? Nice transition, Dad.

What happened?

You leave him or the other way around?

- It doesn't matter, Dad.

- Who leaves who? Of course it matters.

I encouraged him to leave me.

Clever girl. He does not deserve you.

- What's wrong?

- Nothing. Come sit.

Come on.

Okay, now, just listen.

Hear me out, okay?

I want you to reconsider

going away to school.

We can afford it, Sammy.

No, I like it here.

- I know it's a little scary, honey.

- I'm not scared.

What's that counselor's name again?

The handsome one.

Mr. Stanton?

He said you can get in just about anywhere.

He's wrong.

Look at that face.

You make this house make sense.

- Sammy.

- I'll be right there.

Spread your wings, Sammy.

Everything passes so quickly.

Opportunities...

good looks...

that way of thinking about your life like

it's something that's gonna happen later.

Everything becomes today

not later, not tomorrow...

today. You think about that, okay?

- What up?

- What is your mom going on about?

The secret stuff of the universe.

- What are they?

- You haven't heard?

We're all cripples inside.

One day, you'll have a child your age.

I'll be long gone.

Oh, boo-hoo.

Will you think of me now and then?

- And what good is that going to do me?

- So it's all about you, huh?

You love no one like you love your own kid.

It's religion.

Why are we talking about this?

Because you are the heart of the house.

Look at this. You should go through

some of this stuff and get rid of it.

You've got clothes in here

from way back when.

- Not today, okay?

- We should go through the whole house.

So what was your father

going on and on about?

Nothing.

He's a good man.

- But what?

- But nothing.

Look at this.

You remember this day?

It's a barbeque at Rita's.

And on the way back home,

we had car trouble, and your dad...

Your dad had to change a tire

in the pouring rain.

You were in the back seat, crying your

eyes out because you were so hungry...

and I didn't have anything

to give you to eat.

And he lost the keys.

And there we sat, trapped in that car...

just screaming at each other.

You don't remember that?

No.

He was diagnosed that year.

When you were little...

we used to stumble all over each other...

running down that hallway

to get to your room just to watch you sleep.

What is the point of all this?

I'm tired, Sammy.

Take a pill. Take a nap.

We'll all be here when you wake up.

You don't have to worry about that.

It's not the same without the left hand.

Why the long face?

- I think I'll go and lie down.

- Do you need help?

- Mom in there?

- Yes.

I'm okay, then.

Sam, you're not passing

on going away to school back east...

because of me, are you?

Don't flatter yourself, schnookums.

Because that would be foolish.

Mom's here.

I mean, she's my right-hand man.

You know that.

She and I are joined together at the hip.

- Like carny freaks?

- That's right, honey.

Hey, step right up, ladies and gentlemen.

You're a golden child, Sam.

You're kind and you're generous.

And everything you touch, you turn to gold.

You will find someone that deserves you.

Someone with a set of wheels?

I'm off into your mother's arms.

Lucky you.

Sammy?

Yeah?

Are you hungry?

No.

You okay?

Yeah.

I love you, Sammy.

Jeez.

Thanks for coming to this.

Of course, honey.

Did you even meet her, Dad?

Yeah. At that benefit concert.

We talked for a while.

I don't think she knew I was your dad.

She knew.

- I liked her.

- Don't.

Don't do that.

- It's not the time or place for that.

- It's all right.

It's okay.

What did you like about her?

I don't know. She seemed

like a straightforward person, you know?

Discreet, gentle.

- Gentle?

- Yeah.

- I don't know.

- You make it sound like you know.

No. I mean, how do you sum up a person?

Each woman is a universe.

Did you talk to Andrew?

No. I just...

No.

How long has it been

since you've seen him?

A year and a half.

- Did you talk...

- Is this 20 Questions, Mom?

You know what? Why don't you guys go on,

and I'll catch up with you?

- There's no hurry.

- Let's go.

- Am I drooling?

- Stop it.

Is this hard on you? Seeing Andrew, I mean.

You're a tough cookie.

Look at this place.

- Hi.

- Hey, you.

- Hello, Rebecca.

- Hi, Roman.

- Wow, look at you.

- Yeah.

For good luck?

What's it like in there?

You know.

- They're saying she killed herself.

- What?

Yeah. She may have taken a whole vial

of her dad's heart medication.

- Jesus.

- Wow.

I know. I didn't think she was the type.

What type?

I don't know.

The type for big gestures?

A woman can't kill herself.

I'm leaving. I have a meeting in half an hour.

Life goes on.

- Bye.

- A ticking clock.

Rebecca.

How is he doing?

He hasn't said a single word to anyone

since it happened.

His brother's taking care of everything.

Do you think he wants to see me?

Thanks a lot, Becca.

- What?

- Throw me a bone here.

You shouldn't be here.

- What did that woman say to you?

- Wait for me.

Did you see Rebecca? Pregnant, wow.

I don't know why everybody waits so long

these days.

You know, I had you at 17.

Now, that was too early.

Nineteen.

But, you know, if you wait that late,

it takes its toll.

You girls are too busy mothering your men.

- Where do we go?

- I think we're over here.

You know, I think

we should give our condolences first.

- I think it's the proper thing.

- Later.

- No, honey. Now. It's the proper thing.

- Mother.

He was your husband, you know?

Your husband.

We're so sorry.

And if there's anything at all that we could

do to help you in your time of grief...

please let us know.

Thank you.

Anything.

I didn't realize Andrew was religious.

- It's for comfort.

- For strength.

Life is fleeting.

Stop it.

All right.

Stop it.

- Hey!

- Hello, Lorna, how are you?

I'm...

- Did you know her?

- Yeah.

We met at a yoga class.

- Small world.

- Yeah, we make it small when we want to.

What do you mean?

By opening doors, instead of closing them.

You trying to tell me something?

Because everyone here is looking at me

and talking to me as if I'm part of this.

Of what? Of this disaster?

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