The Collector Page #3

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I'm a prisoner and it frightens me.

All that you live for is the day

you'll see the last of me.

I'm a nobody still, aren't I?

But I just want to see the last

of this house, not of you.

Take me out. We can go together.

You could come with me.

I won't tell anyone.

We'll get you a fat near mine.

I'll see you every day.

I'll introduce you to all my friends.

You could start a new life.

Your friends would look

down on me like you do.

- I don't look down on you.

- What about the other night?

You didn't even try to understand

about my collection.

I'm sorry about that.

I've seen you with your friends.

I know what they're like.

You'd be ashamed of me

in front of them.

- Oh, no, that's not true.

- Then why don't you talk to me?

You never talk to me,

not really.

So why should anyone else

of your kind?

People like you...

you just have to walk

into a room.

You can talk to anyone.

You understand things.

It's different for people like me.

Now, that book you asked me to buy

for you, The Catcher in the Rye.

Is that a good book?

Do you like it?

Oh, yes, it's a beautiful book!

I've read it three times.

Could I understand it?

Could I talk to your friends about it?

Oh, of course you could!

I'll read it.

The note wouldn't have

done you any good.

My name's not really Franklin,

and we're nowhere near Reading.

I put all the clothes back.

And the pictures, well,

you can have all of them.

You... know today is the last day?

I know.

At 12:
00 tonight.

- I read your book.

- Oh?

Did you like it?

Well, I don't see much point

in it, really.

Why not?

I don't believe it,

for one thing.

That boy...

going to a posh school and...

his parents having money.

He's got no real problem

in my opinion.

Perhaps you're right.

So what right does he have...

to behave the way he does?

Well, I never looked

at it like that.

You mean, you never saw

the faults in the book before?

No, but it's an

interesting point of view.

Don't patronize me!

I'm not, really...

You've read that book three times.

You told me you loved it.

I do, but that doesn't mean...

You would never have agreed

with anybody else so fast.

You would have argued, wouldn't you?

You see, you won't really talk to me.

That's not true.

All right.

You tell me what you think

is so marvelous about that book.

Well... Well, the boy.

The way he hates everything

that's false. He's so aware.

See?

He sounds a mess to me.

But as a human being,

for all his faults...

I mean, you felt sorry

for him, didn't you?

I don't like the way he talks.

- Oh, but that's part of his charm.

- And the way he behaves.

Always talking about people squeezing

pimples. You think that's charming?

He behaves that way

because he doesn't fit anywhere.

I don't wonder,

the way he carries on.

- He didn't try to fit.

- You don't understand.

No?

Well, I mean...

you're not trying to see

how much like...

like all of us he is.

Like me. That's what you meant,

isn't it?

- I don't fit anywhere either.

- No, I didn't mean that.

- Then I'm too dumb to understand him?

- No, I didn't say that either!

No, but that's what you meant.

You're twisting my words.

Am I?

That's a good painting,

isn't it?

Yes, it's a Picasso.

People don't look like that.

Well, of course they don't.

He's not trying to draw

a face as it is.

He's trying to express a face

as he sees it and feels it.

- Him seeing it that way makes it good?

- But it's not a photograph.

- What's wrong with photographs?

- Nothing wrong with photographs.

- Photographs don't lie!

- Neither does this.

It's a face from all different angles.

It's a character behind the face.

It's just a joke, that's all it is.

It's just a bad joke.

- Because you can't grasp it right away...

- Well, how do I grasp it?

I'll tell you something

about this.

It doesn't mean anything!

Not just to me.

To anybody else.

You just say it does because some

professor somewhere told you it did!

It makes you so superior,

you and all your friends.

I don't think one-in-a-million,

decent, ordinary people...

would say this was any good.

It's rubbish!

Rubbish, that's all it is!

And the book, too,

that's just as bad.

It's filthy!

Oh, you're so blooming clever,

aren't you?

You and all your friends.

I can just see me with the lot of you.

I'd be a right laugh, wouldn't I?

Well, you're not gonna

get me in that position.

Not... Not you, not anybody, ever!

Please!

Let's not talk about it anymore.

Look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, really.

Really, I'm sorry.

You see...

I was right to bring you here.

We could never be friends outside.

But we can.

But we can!

We can! Oh, my God!

Oh, God, what have I done?

What have I done?

Oh, let me be free.

Please, please, let me be free.

I bought you something...

for tonight.

Your last night...

I made some supper upstairs.

The dress is... is lovely.

Oh, no.

That's all over.

Why, it's lovely.

I bought some champagne

and... caviar.

You thought of everything.

Well, I wanted to

do it proper tonight.

To us.

We've come through,

haven't we?

You know, you don't have to

drive me all the way home.

You could drop me off

at a station.

No, I don't think

I could do that.

If you're still worried about me

telling anyone, you needn't be.

I know.

I just thought

it would be safer for you.

No, I'll take you

all the way home.

All right.

I suppose the first thing you'll do

when you get back is see that chap.

The first thing I'm going to do

is call my mother.

Thank you.

She'll be so relieved.

You will be seeing him, though.

Oh, no, no.

I don't see him all that... often.

It'll be lonely here without you.

I do want you to come

to London, really.

It'll be so much better for you.

Can we eat now?

Oh, yes.

Yes, I'm hungry.

Thank you.

This is how I hoped

it always would be.

You and me up here,

talking, having a nice time.

You're not drinking.

You said you were hungry.

Oh, I am.

Marry me.

Please marry me.

I don't expect anything.

I don't expect you to do

anything you don't want.

You can do what you like...

study art.

I won't ask anything...

anything of you...

except you live in the same house

and be my wife in name.

You can have your own bedroom.

You can lock it every night.

But that's horrible.

Why?

I couldn't marry a man I...

don't belong to...

in every way.

I belong to you.

I just want you here.

I want to be able to see you.

Say you'll marry me.

Please?

Say yes.

I'll marry you.

I'll marry you

as soon as you like.

That's what you want,

isn't it?

We'll stay here.

We'll marry and live here.

We'll start afresh

and get to know each other...

right from the beginning again.

We don't have to see

any of my friends ever.

Don't you think I know you need

witnesses to get married?

But you said you'd let me go.

You can't go back on your word.

I can do what I like.

Help!

Help!

Help!

I brought you

some orange juice.

I'm sorry about last night.

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