The Damned Don't Cry Page #2

to hold me here anymore.

I would have left a long time ago

if it hadn't been for Tommy.

Why don't you think it over, Ethel?

Things will look better in the morning.

How many mornings

have you lived, Mom?

And how many of those mornings

have things looked better?

But you got to keep hoping, keep trying.

That's what I've been doing.

That's all I been living on.

Don't you see, Mom?

I'm not a kid any longer.

I've gotta do something about it now,

while I've still got a chance.

But there's still a chance here.

It can work out. We can start over.

Don't you understand anything about me?

How can we start over?

We can. We can plan it different.

Have another kid.

- What have we got to give another kid?

- Whatever you want.

I'll show you. I promise you.

That's what you said

when we were married.

It's what you said when Tommy was born.

It's what you said every year since.

But it's still the same.

- With you, it'll always be the same.

- I've done the best I could.

Well, it ain't good enough.

Let her go. She'll be back.

She'll find out what it's like.

Whatever it's like, it'll be better than this.

I want something more

than what I've had out of life.

And I'm gonna get it.

My dear young woman, you can't type,

you don't know shorthand...

you've never operated a Comptometer...

and I suspect you've never even seen

a billing machine.

Just what kind of work

have you been doing?

Housework, mostly.

Why didn't you say so?

If you girls would only speak up...

instead of making me

go through all this shadow boxing.

Now, I have a very good job open

as a personal maid.

No, I don't want that.

Isn't there something else?

Something better?

Well, there's the Republican

presidential nomination.

Would that suit you?

Now see here, my dear,

there's quite a gap...

between what you want

and what you're going to get.

You have no equipment, no training.

If you want something better,

go to school, learn a trade.

- I can't wait that long.

- You can't?

Well, go sit in the park,

take a shower, anything.

But make up your mind, then come back.

A brace of La Reina's, please.

Right up there behind you,

on the top shelf.

- You're new here, aren't you?

- Yes, the other girl's on her vacation.

That's too bad.

This is quite an improvement.

- Thanks.

- Why? For telling the truth?

That's my specialty.

I'm upstairs, sixth floor,

with Fit-Rite Frocks.

You know, dresses, gowns.

If I can get you a discount on anything,

let me know.

Wally Talbot's the name.

Thanks, Mr. Talbot.

I could sure use a couple of new dresses.

Okay.

How late do they keep you

penned up here?

I may run out of these.

If you run out, I'll be here.

I'll run out.

Now, here's a nice piece

of merchandise, boys.

Comes in beige, chartreuse,

magenta, and black. Number 9127.

What's the exchange?

We don't give out the phone numbers

till after the customer signs the order.

- Since when?

- It's a new policy in the house.

Come on, what do you say?

I say Sandra's putting on a little weight.

In the wrong places.

Honestly, Mr. Riley, the things you say.

Try 426. And lay off of them pastries.

Sensitive.

Well, gentlemen,

what do you think of our new fall line?

Well, it's not bad, Barney, but...

Ever see a peplum like that, Mr. Maggio?

Not in Topeka.

It'll be great in Topeka.

But in St. Paul, it would start

a wave of double pneumonia.

Miss Whitehead, move out a little.

Let them see the hemline.

Who cares about the hemline

when you got a neckline like that?

Come on back, honey.

Come on. Is the customer always right,

or isn't he?

You don't write on those order pads,

she's gonna forget you're a customer.

What do you want,

an annuity for life on these orders?

Why not? I got three kids. Okay, honey.

It's number 836. Better put it down

before you forget it.

- Don't worry. This number I won't forget.

- I'll be right back.

- Sandra?

- Yes, Mr. Riley.

You're doing great. We wrap up this order

and tonight we celebrate.

- Could I help you?

- No, thanks. I can manage.

First, we'll surround a juicy steak.

I know a place where they come thick.

The place you came from, they're all thick.

Don't pay attention to her. Our blood

types are antagonistic. See you at 7:00.

7:
00, you'll be seeing your three kids.

- Who asked you?

- Mr. Riley of St. Paul.

Then give your advice to him.

And Mr. Maggio of Topeka asked Ethel.

- Asked me what?

- He asked you to have dinner with him.

- But he didn't.

- It's all the same. He asked the boss.

And the boss answered for you.

- Why?

- Tell her, flap-jaw.

The customer's always right, honey.

- Do I have to go with him?

- You missed the point.

They're out-of-town buyers.

They wanna keep on buying.

As long as it's from us,

we want to help them.

They wrestle with you a little.

It's no worse than the subway.

In fact, it's a lot better.

- How's your dice game?

- My dice game?

We're going to Grady's for dinner...

and after that, we'll have

a friendly little game in the backroom.

Sandra, I don't think I'd better go.

Listen, hon,

you gotta stop being antisocial.

All this living by yourself,

that's for channel swimmers.

Now just hang on to me tonight...

and you'll have a great time,

and at retail prices.

- Good night.

- Enjoy yourself, honey?

I feel like something that's been on sale

in a bargain basement.

- I'm one big bruise from here to here.

- Ain't it rugged?

But you'll get used to it.

- Well, good night.

- Good night.

Hey, wait a minute!

I almost forgot.

$20? What's this for?

Your cut.

Whenever we steer a couple of guys

into Grady's back room...

he gives us a bonus.

We split. 50-50.

It helps, don't it?

Say, how about us working as a team?

I think I'd better learn one job at a time.

Honey, it's all the same job.

It's still modeling.

Only it pays better at night.

What else have we got to sell

but a face and a figure?

And anybody who can make a peplum

move like you don't need anything else.

Okay, handsome, take me home.

Madam, do you think you know

what home looks like?

Looks a lot better than this dump.

There you are.

- Hey, wait a minute. What is this?

- Your cut of last night.

Those two suckers from Nebraska.

What did you do, shave it off with a razor?

No, I did what you do.

Split it down the middle.

Don't give me that.

I saw Grady slip you $100.

Since when is $20 right down the middle?

Since I began using your arithmetic book.

The night we started you gave me $20.

I learned from Grady it should've been $50.

This just straightens out the bookkeeping.

It does more than that.

It closes the books.

I'm getting myself a new partner.

You may as well get yourself

a couple of other new items...

if you'll excuse the expression.

I'll excuse it. I'll show you

how far you can get without me.

And wait till you see

what I got lined up for tonight!

But I'd take my mother

before I'd take you!

Oh, shut up.

May I have the next waltz?

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