Rumble Fish Page #5

and you could take over

while I was still f***ed up

from the fight?

Look at me, goddammit!

Did you?

Well, I guess I did.

I kinda thought about it.

I would've never been able

to think of something like that.

I know.

Rusty James...

If there were still gangs around,

I'd be president and not you.

You'd be second lieutenant.

You might've made it a while

on the Motorcycle Boy's rep,

but you ain't got

your brother's brains.

You gotta be smart to run things.

It's nothing personal, Rusty James,

but nobody would follow you

into a gang fight.

Because you get people killed.

Nobody wants to be killed.

I guess you're right.

Nobody wants to get killed.

So you really like Patty, huh?

- Huh? You like her?

- Yeah.

Even if she wasn't your chick,

I'd still like her.

- It's all yours, man.

- Don't flatter yourself.

Hey, boys.

Hey, man, you better be careful,

you know.

That cop, Patterson, is looking

for just one excuse to get him, man.

Yeah?

I remember he beat me up once.

Got me locked up in juvenile hall

for the weekend.

He's been after both of us for years.

He's a good cop, man.

The Motorcycle Boy seems to be

his only bad point.

He'll never get the Motorcycle Boy.

- Never.

- Envy, man.

It gotta be envy.

- You seen him?

- Yeah, over at the pet store.

What was he doing there?

Looking at the fish

as far as I could tell.

Those f***ing fish!

What is it

with those f***ing fish, man?

Hey, what's up?

Hey!

Hey, what's the matter, man?

Really. You feeling all right?

How come the tank is separated?

These are rumble fish.

They'd kill each other if they could.

- Yeah?

- You boys gonna buy a fish?

No.

That's right, Rusty James.

These are Siamese fighting fish.

Watch this. If you lean a mirror...

...up against the glass...

...they try to kill themselves

fighting their own reflection.

- That's pretty cool.

- Yeah?

Try it.

Right there.

In the middle.

Over that way. See that one?

Yeah.

I wonder if they'd act that way

in the river.

I should close up now, boys.

I don't carry much cash. Really, I don't.

Hey, we're looking.

- I really dig the colours.

- The colours...

- The colours are cool.

- Mm-hmm.

Makes me sorry

I can't see the colours.

I never thought you were sorry

about anything.

What's the big interest

in the pet store all of a sudden?

They've been hanging around here.

Take a look at the fish.

You're crazy.

You're really crazy.

And you know I've known about it

all along.

But they belong in the river.

I don't think they'd fight if they were

in the river, if they had room to live.

Someone ought to get you

off the streets.

Somebody ought to put the fish

in the river.

- Why are you following me?

- I'm worried, bro.

- Of what?

- I'm worried about you.

Why have you been acting like this?

Hey...

You think the old man's in there?

Hey, Dad?

Hey. Hey!

It's great to see both of you again.

Huh? Yeah.

Hey.

I've been meaning

to ask you something.

Yes?

Our mother, is she crazy,

is she nuts?

She's OK.

I mean...

What makes you ask

a question like that?

Well, she just picked up and left, man.

Yeah, well...

- Rusty James...

- Mm-hm.

Every now and then, a person comes along

with a different view of the world

than does a usual person.

It doesn't make 'em crazy.

I mean...

An acute perception,

I mean, that doesn't make you crazy.

- Could you talk normal?

- However sometimes...

...it can drive you crazy,

an acute perception.

I wish you'd talk normal cos...

I don't understand

half the garbage you're saying.

You know? Know what I mean?

No, your mother...

...was not crazy.

And neither, contrary to popular belief,

is your brother crazy.

He's merely miscast in a play.

He was born in the wrong era,

on the wrong side of the river,

with the ability to be able to do

anything that he wants to do and, uh...

and finding nothing

that he wants to do.

- I mean nothing.

- OK.

You don't understand me anymore,

do you? That's for sure, for sure.

That's the difference.

You never lost your mother.

I lost your mother.

I think... that...

...I'm gonna be a lot like him

when I get older.

You should pray to God not.

You poor baby.

- What?

- You poor child.

Tab!

Let's do something tonight, huh?

Get some wine, chicks, party...

You down?

I feel like I'm wasting my life,

waiting for something.

Waiting for what?

I wish I had a reason to leave.

- Come on.

- What are you doin'?

Come on.

- What are you doin'?

- Gonna go for a ride. Sh!

Do you think I'm crazy?

Hey, you don't wanna stop here,

really, man.

Don't worry about

those f***ing fish, bro. Come on!

The fish are all right, really.

Where you going?

Look, man. You need money?

I'll get you some money, man.

Hey, look.

Everybody saw you hanging around here

like you were casing the place.

A million people must've seen you.

Will you listen to me?

You want the whole neighbourhood

to know?

What are you doing, man?

What are you doing,

following me around like a lost puppy?

What do you want outta me, anyway?

What do you want? You want money?

I can get you some money.

Let's just get outta here.

I don't need any money, man.

What do you want? Tell me.

I want you to see me

when you look at me.

I want you to talk to me without you

dragging on about the Greeks and sh*t.

You and the old man

think I'm dumb, right?

You think I'm a dummy

cos I don't know the big words, right?

Always leaving me out.

Well, I ain't that dumb.

We could've run this whole side

of town, if you just gave me a chance.

- Come on.

- No, no, no!

If you just gave me a f***ing chance!

Look at me!

I just want you to see me, man.

I'm right here. I just want you to see me.

I do see you, Rusty James.

- Let's get outta here! Me and you...

- Me and you, we can't!

Man, come on!

Come on! Don't do that, man!

You know...

I wish I were the big brother

you always wanted.

But I can't be what I want

any more than you can.

Listen.

I'm gonna put the fish in the river.

After I do, I want you

to do something for me, OK?

What?

- This is important, so pay attention.

- OK, I'm paying attention.

I want you to take the cycle

and I want you to leave.

I want you to go clear to the ocean.

I want you to follow

the river to the ocean.

OK?

Are you coming with me?

No.

Hey. Don't do that, man.

Huh? Don't. No!

No!

OK, squirt, spread 'em!

- OK, buddy. You're going downtown!

- Let him go!

It's the guy's younger brother.

He's a little upset.

I took care of the main problem.

Rusty James!

Get your f***ing cameras

outta here, man!

What's the matter?

Get away from him!

Don't touch him!

You didn't have to shoot him, man!

- Who's that? Who's the guy?

- It's the Motorcycle Boy.

He's been shot.

- What's going on?

- The kid got shot.

If they can get the Motorcycle Boy,

they can get anyone.

You guys treat him nice.

He's the Motorcycle Boy.

- What happened to the kid?

- They killed the Motorcycle Boy.

- Was anybody else hurt?

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