Revolutionary Road Page #2

Yes. I just wanted to let you know,

that Ive had to send Maureen Grube

down to Visual Aides for me.

Ill probably need her the

rest of the afternoon.

Yes.

You too.

Take care now.

I've never even heard of Visual Aides.

Thats because...

It doesnt exist.

Hi, Helen.

Come on in.

Oh, I cant stay a minute...

I just wanted to bring

this sedum plantings

for that messy patch

down by the front yard.

It's like the europian house league

Only these have the most marvelous

little yellow blossoms.

Now all it wants for the first few day

is just a tiny dollop of water

and youll find it absolutely thrives.

Oh. Thank you, Helen.

It's so kind of you.

Would you like some coffee?

Is there something

I can do for you, Helen?

Oh... I almost forgot.

There's a small favor Id like to ask...

It's about...

It's about my son, John.

Hes been in the hospital.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Is everything all right?

Well, actualy...

It's just for the time being.

He's in... Pleasent Brook.

Psychiatric.

Oh.

Oh, I see.

Oh... Nothing serious.

He's just got a little run down.

Things can just get the better of us

sometimes.

Don't you agree?

Yes.

Of course.

It's a marvellous facility.

And the treatments seem to be doing

wonders for him...

Anyway,

they said getting out for an afternoon

might do him a little bit good.

I think he finds my friends a

little conventional, quite frankly

I mean, hes travelled.

He has a PhD in mathematics.

I suppose you could say

hes an intellectual.

It would do him a world of good to

meet a young couple like you.

We'd love to meet him.

Really?

Yes.

We'd love to.

Thank you, dear.

Thank you.

Well...

I must be off.

I remember the first day

you came off the train.

You werent like my other clients.

You were different.

You just seemed...

Special...

Of course you still are.

Remember...

Just the dollop xxx xxx

Bye.

I think you got me a little drunk.

You know what today is?

...Monday?

Its my birthday.

Im thirty years old today.

Happy birthday!

Thank you.

What was the name of that, um...

department you made up again?

Visual...

Visual Aides.

...What-a-joke.

What-a-joke.

Oh my...

Do you wanna hear a real joke...?

Yes.

My old man worked at Knox.

Yeah?

He was a salesman in Yonkers.

Oh.

Once a year,

he used to take me to the city for lunch.

It was supposed to be a very special,

life-advice sort of occasion.

Nice.

No.

Not really.

I used to sit there and think.

"I hope to Christ

I dont end up like you."

Now here I am,

a thirty year old Knox man.

Can you beat that?

I think I kind of lost you...

Your father worked for Knox...?

I'm sorry.

Everythings kinda...

...going out of focus

Why don't we get some air?

You with me?

Is this you?

Yeah.

You've been to Paris?

Ive never really been anywhere.

Maybe Ill take you with me then.

Im going back first chance I get.

I tell you.

People are alive there.

I like here.

All I know April is...

I wanna feel things.

Really feel them.

You know?

Hows that for an ambition...?

Frank Wheeler?

I think youre the most

interesting person

Ive ever met.

Guess this wasnt what you had in mind

when you went to work this morning?

No. It's really wasn't.

Do you have a cigarette, Frank?

Yeah, sure.

There you go.

Can I get you a drink or anything?

No thanks, Maureen.

Actually it's...

Its getting kind of late.

I guess I...

I guess Id better be cutting out.

Oh. Gee.

That's right.

Did you miss your train?

Thats all right.

Ill catch the next one.

Listen,

you were swell.

Take care now.

Frank...

Why are you all dressed up?

First of all,

I missed you all day

and I wanna say Im sorry.

Im sorry for the way

Ive been since that stupid play.

Im sorry for everything.

And I love you.

For the rest of life. xxx

Now, you...

Just wait here till I call you. Okay?

Okay.

Alright Frank!

You can come in now!

"Happy Birthday to you."

"Happy Birthday to you."

"Happy Birthday dear Daddy."

"Happy Birthday to you."

Happy Birthday, Darling.

I love you, daddy.

I love you too.

Frank.

Frank.

I have had the most wonderful idea.

Ive been thinking about it all day.

Baby, whats all this about?

You know how much money

we have saved...?

Enough to live on for six months

without you earning another dime.

And with the money we could get from

the house and the car, longer than that.

What we get for the house...

Sweetheart, what are you talking about?

Where are we going to live?

Paris.

What?

You always said

it was the only place

youd ever been,

that you wanna to go back to.

The only place that was worth living.

So why dont we go there?

Youre serious?

Yes.

Whats stopping us?

Whats stopping us?

Well, I can think of a number

of different things.

For example, what kind of a job

could I possibly get?

You wont be getting any kind of job,

because I will.

Oh, right.

Right.

Dont laugh at me.

Listen to me.

Do you know what they pay

for secretarial positions in the

government agencies in Europe?

No. I don't.

Listen Frank, Im serious about this.

- Do you think Im kidding or something?

- Okay.

I just have a couple of questions,

is all.

For one thing,

what exactly am I supposed to be doing

while youre out earning all this money?

Dont you see,

thats the whole idea?

Youll be doing what you shouldve been

allowed to do seven years ago.

Youll have time.

For the first time in your life

youll have time to find out

what it is that you actually want to do,

and when you figure it out,

youll have the time and the freedom...

to start doing it.

Sweetheart,

its just not very realistic, is all.

No, Frank.

This is what's unrealistic.

Its unrealistic for a man with

a fine mind to go on working

year after year at a job he cant stand,

coming home to a place he cant stand,

to a wife whos equally unable

to stand the same things.

You want to know the worst part?

Our whole existence here is based

on this great premise,

that were... special...

and superior to the whole thing.

But we're not.

Were just like everyone else.

Look at us! Weve bought into

the same ridiculous delusion.

This idea that you have to

resign from life

and settle down

the moment you have children.

And weve been punishing

each other for it.

Listen,

we decided to move out here.

No one ever forced me to

take the job at Knox.

I mean who ever said I was supposed

to be a big deal, anyway?

When I first met you...

there was nothing in the world

you couldnt do or be.

When you first met me, I was a little

wise guy with a big mouth.

- That's all.

- You were not.

How can you even say that?

Okay.

Okay, so...

I'll have time.

And God knows thats appealing.

It's...

Its very appealing.

Everything you say make sense if...

If I had definite talent.

If I were a writer or an artist...

Listen.

Listen to me.

Its what you are thats being stifled.

Its what you are thats

being denied and denied,

in this kind of life.

And whats that?

Dont you know...?

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