Road House Page #4

Okay. Here, let me look

after that for you.

No, that's okay.

Fix us something, will you?

- Straight?

- Straight.

All right.

- Is everybody all right?

- Fine.

Not me.

I feel as though I'd fought

the good fight myself.

- Can I join you?

- Sure. Here we are.

- Thank you.

- Susie, Cash.

I think you're being paged, honey.

My hero.

Susie? Susie, Cash.

"Susie, Cash. " It's the story of my life.

Well.

- Hey, how did it start?

- Oh, simple.

Just came over,

lifted me and the piano.

Nothing to it.

Competition.

I guess my old man wanted

me to sound like that.

He used to say to me,

"Lil, someday you're gonna sing at the Met-

Heavy opera. "

He called it heavy instead of grand.

He played the foot organ.

Won it in a poker game.

But he'd say to me,

"Lil, you gotta practice.

Study hard, day and night. "

So in the daytime

I worked in a factory.

At night I'd study-

Practice while he played

the foot organ.

Well, by the time I got good enough

to sing Madame Butterfly-

What do you know?

I lost my voice.

We're not kidding ourselves

anymore, are we?

What brought this on?

It was worth it.

- Hiya, Skipper.

- Hi.

How do you feel?

I feel good.

- What are you thinkin' about?

- Oh, nothing much.

I was just thinking that all my life

I've been on the go-

Living with the smell of stale smoke...

lot of drunks breathing down my back.

Always on my own.

- What about your old man?

- Oh, him? He was great.

Only trouble was, when he was sober

he hardly recognized me.

But I loved him.

Yeah, one day he blew.

My mother died. I was alone.

And a friend took care of me.

I love you, Lil.

How long have you known Jefty?

Oh, way back before the war.

Jefty and I were pinboys together.

Only Jefty's father owned the place.

Well, why did you

come back here after the war?

No ties.

Jefty, the roadhouse-

It was home, that's all.

Are you gonna let him

run your life always?

Oh, you don't understand.

Jefty needs to have

somebody around. He-

He needs a friend.

Nobody's all good.

Nobody's all bad.

I'll never forget

the look on his face...

when you said

you wouldn't teach me to bowl.

It was just as if

he could have killed you.

Nah.

He's just a spoiled guy.

Is he?

So am I, Pete.

Oh-

I want you to need me.

Have you ever really

wanted anything?

- I mean- I mean besides Jefty

and the roadhouse? - Yeah.

I've always wanted

to own a fishing boat...

somewhere off the Portland coast.

You know, it's cold up there.

The wind bites your face.

Fishing boat.

Bowling alley sounds a long way off.

Aw, I'll bet you think I'm crazy.

No. No, I don't.

I'd like to be in on

that fishing deal with you.

Ten to one I'll make a rotten sailor though.

I'll take that bet.

Sorry, Mr. Robbins.

She doesn't answer.

She doesn't?

Well, when she comes in, have her call me

at my house right away, will you?

Yes, sir.

When did she go out?

I don't think she came in at all

this evening, not while I was here.

Okay, thanks.

Hi, Jefty.

- Hi, honey.

- Just get back?

- Mm-hmm. Where's Lily?

- I don't know.

- The place is closed tonight. Monday, remember?

- Aw, yeah, that's right.

- And you haven't seen her, huh?

- No.

- Pete and I were at the movies.

- Oh, yeah?

- Did you get a moose?

- Mm-hmm.

Three. One for each of us.

Another year, another moose head

in the bar, another Lily.

- When are you gonna grow up, Jefty?

- Oh, I'm a big boy now.

- You driving back to the place?

- Mm-hmm.

- I wanna talk to Pete.

- Can I go with you?

- Sure. Come on.

- I wanna check up on something.

Okay. Slide in.

Hey, baby, Jefty's here.

You took me to the movies tonight.

We saw a Western.

Thanks, kid.

I don't know what

you're talking about.

- Hi, Jefty.

- Hi, kid. Good to see you.

Hey, who told Sam to lock up?

I've been drinking sherry.

Aaah! Take me upstairs

and give me a drink, will ya?

- Why didn't you go up? My place is always open.

- I don't know.

- I must be too wacky to remember.

- Wacky about what?

I'll tell you. How's Lily?

- Fine.

- You two still fighting?

- How's her bowling?

- No, we're not fighting.

- Any luck at the cabin?

- Yeah.

But my mind wasn't on it.

I, uh-

I've got something

to show you, Pete.

You're gonna think I'm crazy, but I did it.

Did what?

The last thing I ever thought I'd do.

Well, it happens

to everybody once, they say.

I went away to make up my mind...

and I did.

What made you do it, Jefty?

I don't know.

Do you love her?

All I know is she makes me

think about things...

I used to laugh at.

You didn't know

I could feel that way, did you?

Well, neither did I.

But I'm tired of fooling around, Pete.

Tired of living alone.

I want-

I want Lily.

Anything wrong in that?

- That depends.

- Yeah, I know.

It depends on the way I want her.

Okay. I want to-

I wanna make things good for her.

I want to take her out of dives.

I want her for my wife.

You seem awful sure

she'll accept, Jefty.

Don't forget, she's a funny girl.

- Independent.

- Yeah, she's independent.

But all gals want

the same thing, Pete-

a guy to take care of them.

I can take care of Lily.

I want to.

Where is she?

- Did she go out?

- With whom?

That's right, with whom.

Well, I gotta hurry. I told her

to call me when she came in.

You better find yourself a gal, kid.

You're next.

Susie.

Lily? Why didn't you call me?

I've got news for you.

I told you I'd prove

how I felt about you.

We're getting married.

I've got the license

right here in my pocket.

Jefty, you're kidding.

You must be out of your mind. L-

- I never told you that-

- I knew you wouldn't believe it.

Just a second, Jefty.

Hello, honey.

Pete, it's Jefty.

He's got a marriage license.

- Yeah, I know.

- What right has he to-

Hello? Hello?

Yeah. Yeah, go on.

So, uh, I thought we'd take the boat

and go up to the lake tomorrow.

You know, a little celebration.

We could have lunch at the Swede's.

Sure. Sure, okay.

Hello?

Hello? Lily?

Operator? Operator?

Miss Stevens hung up.

Do you want me to call her back?

No. One thrill at a time.

Yes, but how can we tell him?

It isn't that simple. I know Jefty.

He won't just smile

and slap us on the back.

But I've got to tell him, honey.

It's a rotten job to tell your best friend

you've cut him out.

But you haven't, Pete.

He has no right, no right at all.

All I ever did was put him off

from the beginning.

Oh, baby.

All my life, I've been fighting for this.

I don't want it to be spoiled.

Let's pack and leave right now, huh?

Oh, I can't do that, Lil. Don't worry.

I'll go and tell him,

and I'll be right back.

- Let me go with you.

- No, it's better alone.

Pete.

Be careful.

I'll be back.

- Hi, Pete. Come on in.

- Thanks.

What's the matter?

Uh, I've got to talk to you.

Sure. I'm glad you woke me up.

Every time I sleep on that thing,

I get a bad back for a week.

- Cigarette?

- No, thanks.

What's the trouble, kid?

Well, this isn't easy, Jefty. L-

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