September Page #3

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..I thought they were wonderful.

It's funny.

I've wanted to talk to you so often,...

..but we never seem to be alone.

We were alone.

We were alone for a whole afternoon.

Running into you at the local

flea market is not exactly private.

Well, we walked around together.

You didn't say anything.

No, I didn't, did I?

Well, I felt awkward.

At least you liked the record I found you

so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

It's so funny because I used to be in love

with a boy who just idolised Art Tatum.

Well, this was years ago

on my first visit to Paris.

He was a student and he played piano

in a jazz club in the student quarter.

He didn't speak any English.

And we spent a summer trying to make

each other understand our feelings.

The funny thing was it didn't matter

that we only knew a few words.

Oh, anyway, that was years ago.

I hate thunder. I don't care how harmless

it is, I wanna get under the bed!

- The air is full of electricity.

- I'm serious!

- Where is everyone? I heard voices.

- Hi.

- How do I look? Don't say "old and fat".

- Great.

Great. What time

do the guests arrive?

Any minute. Let's get some more lights

on. Did Lane make any hors d'oeuvres?

What were you two doing

before we came down?

Excuse me? What?

I hope you weren't out on the porch.

That lightning's getting close.

- Oh, no.

- No.

- Let's have some music.

- All right. Who wants what?

- Well, you know about me. Peter?

- Vodka.

- Stephanie, what do you want?

- Vodka, please.

Have you given any more thought

about my memoirs?

They deserve better than me. They're

too good to waste on a fledgling writer.

You're patronising me.

- Lane says you think my life is trivial.

- I never said that.

- Lloyd, come on, dance with me.

- Oh, honey, I'm such a stiff.

If you can figure out the universe,

you can figure out the box step.

All right.

See, there? You're terrific.

- I try.

I had so many things

I wanted to say to you.

Oh, well, it's, you know... There are

people coming over and people here, so...

- I don't wanna be pushy.

- No, you're not pushy.

I wish you'd been here

for the whole summer.

Yeah, well, I couldn't.

I have obligations, too, so...

What is that record? lt's terrific!

It's Art Tatum and Ben Webster.

- It's funny.

- What?

I made a complete fool

out of myself when I met you.

- No! You didn't.

- I remember carrying on at great length...

..about writing and metaphor and choice.

- I left no clich unturned.

- No. Actually I just... No, I...

I just thought you were so sweet.

You reminded me of Paul,

the boy that I knew in Paris.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Well, I'm very flattered.

Which one is Art Tatum

and which is Ben Webster?

Art Tatum's the piano.

See, and I always felt foolish

all the time because...

- Why?

- ..I was very taken with you right off.

I love all the music from that era. You

don't have any Benny Goodman, do you?

Uh, not here.

Or Coon-Sanders Nighthawks?

- Now, please don't panic when I say this.

- No.

I just think that you're incredibly lovely.

Peter, don't. Don't, please.

Let's just stop this before it's too late.

You know, I can't.

I just... I just feel flushed

and... and my heart is pounding.

- - Oh, there are the Richmonds.

Get it, will you, Lloyd?

- Oh, Howard!

- Oh, it's pouring out there.

We were expecting the Richmonds.

Let me get you a drink.

Hi, Howard. Hi. Oh, the Richmonds

must be stuck. You're wet.

Yes, I know.

Look, my old Ouija board! Look!

They take too long. What you want

is a computerised Ouija board.

That way you can punch up

any dead person you wanna talk to.

- Howard, you did say Scotch?

- Ask Lane to dance with you.

- Me?

- Mm-hm. She'll be thrilled.

- She's got a big crush on you.

- I don't dance.

That's what everybody says.

Come on. She's been so blue.

- Lane?

- Yes?

Go ahead. Go ahead!

Uh, Lane, uh, Peter was just asking me...

..if I'd ask you to dance with him.

Oh! No, thank you.

Oh, yes, thank you.

That music is fabulous!

I used to go to Harlem

to hear music like that.

I was dating a disc jockey.

He used to call records "sides".

- - I have two left feet.

I'll get that. I'll get it.

You just enjoy yourselves.

- Is she bothering you?

- No, not at all.

- I like her energy.

- It's the record you got at the flea market.

- I didn't know you liked jazz.

- You like Prokofiev.

Yeah, but not to dance to.

The Richmonds aren't coming.

Their house is flooded.

Really? Then maybe

we can go to the Kurosawa film.

- In this storm?

- Well, you know, maybe.

Let's not let it kill our evening.

The Richmonds aren't coming.

We're lucky. They're so boring!

- Then why did you invite them?

- Uh-oh. Oh, God!

- This could last for hours.

- Lloyd.

- Just light some candles.

- OK. I'll get some matches.

I love walking around

in the pitch-black.

I think I put my hand in the guacamole.

Lloyd! The Richmonds are

flooded, the electricity's gone off.

God is testing us and l, for one,

am gonna be ready. Where's the vodka?

T.

O.

M.

I don't know any Toms.

Oh, wait a minute.

Are you that dentist in Hackensack

that tried to rape me when I was 15?

No? OK.

OK.

One more try.

N.

Ooh, I.

C.

Oh, God. Nick.

Wait a minute. Are you in this room?

Is your ghost in this room,

bullet hole an' all?

You were so bad.

But so gorgeous.

Do you still comb your hair

like you were in Sicily?

Well, we had some good times.

It was hectic.

It was dangerous.

And then it ended.

I think it's clearing up.

Yeah?

Please don't move away from here.

I have to.

You know, I should never drink.

My head really spins.

How are you gonna drive home?

Same way I always do:

..thinking about you.

You know, in all the time I've known you

I don't think I've ever seen you drink.

No.

Although the year after my wife died

I was never sober.

Of course, on the faculty of the school

where I work, it's... hard to tell.

I'm gonna miss you so much.

I'm gonna miss you, too,...

..but we'll always stay in touch.

You know what I'm saying.

Howard, please.

I have to...

When you got that offer today

to sell the house, I...

..I realised suddenly...

..we wouldn't be sharing

those winter evenings again.

Yeah, but you knew I was only up here

to get well, and not permanently.

Is the difference in our ages

awkward for you?

I'm in love with Peter.

Isn't that the most ridiculous thing?

Considering I don't think

I even have a chance with him.

I did for a while.

I keep telling myself that maybe

it'll still work out all right somehow.

And why Peter and not you?

No reason worthy of you.

How often I've wanted to touch you.

Please. Please, don't.

Now that I've embarrassed us both...

Let me make you some coffee. You're

gonna have a terrible hangover tomorrow.

I don't play this game that well

in the light, let alone the dark.

Look how much it's cleared up.

You can see a billion stars.

It should be nice tomorrow.

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