The Iceman Cometh Page #11

by encouraging some poor guy

to go on kidding himself

with a lie.

The kind that leaves

the poor slob worse off

because he feels

guiltier than ever.

The kind that makes

his lying hopes nag at him,

and reproach him until he's

a rotten skunk in his own eyes.

No, sir.

The kind of pity I feel now

is after final results

that really help

save the poor guy.

Make him contented

with what he is,

and quit battling himself,

so he can find peace

for the rest of his life.

Oh, I know

how you resent the way

I have to show you up

to yourself,

but you'll be grateful to me

when all at once

you're able to admit,

without feeling ashamed,

that all the grandstand

foolosopher bunk

and the waiting for

the Big Sleep stuff

is a pipe dream.

You'll be able to say

to yourself,

"I'm just an old man

who is scared of life,

"but even more

scared of dying.

"So I'm keeping drunk

and hanging on to life

at any price,

and what of it?"

Be God,

if I'm not beginning

to think you've gone mad.

You're a liar!

Now, listen, that's no way

to talk to an old pal

who's trying to help you.

Hell, if you

really wanted to die,

you'd just take a hop off

the fire escape, wouldn't you?

And if you really were

in the grandstand,

you wouldn't be

pitying everyone.

As for my being bughouse,

you can't crawl out of it

that way.

I'm too damned sane.

I can size up guys

and turn 'em inside out

better than I ever could,

even where they're strangers

like that Parritt kid.

He's licked, Larry.

I think there's only

one possible way out

you can help him take.

That is, if you have

the right kind of pity for him.

What do you mean?

I'm not advising him,

except to leave me

out of his troubles...

he's nothing to me.

You'll find

he won't agree to that.

He'll keep after you

until he makes you help him.

Because he's got

to be punished,

so he can

forgive himself.

He hasn't got the guts,

he can't

manage it alone.

And you're the only one

he can turn to.

For the love of God,

mind your own business.

How'd you know about him?

He's hardly

spoken to you.

No, that's right,

but I do know a lot about him

just the same.

I've had hell inside of me,

I can spot it in others.

Maybe that's what

gives me the feeling

there's something

familiar about him,

something between us.

No, it's more than that.

Tell me about him,

for example,

I don't imagine

he's married, is he?

No.

Hasn't he been mixed up

with some woman?

Oh, I don't mean trollops.

I mean

the old real love stuff

that crucifies you.

Maybe you're right,

I wouldn't be surprised.

I see.

You think I'm on the wrong track

and you're glad I am.

Because then I won't suspect

whatever it is he did

about the Great Cause.

That's another lie you keep

telling yourself, Larry,

that the good old cause

means nothing to you any more.

What the hell...

But you're wrong

about Parritt.

That's not

what's got him stopped,

it's what's behind that.

And it's a woman,

I recognize the symptoms.

And you're the boy

who's never wrong.

His trouble is he was

brought up a devout believer

in the Movement,

and now he's lost his faith!

It's a shock...

but he's young,

and he'll soon find

another dream just as good

or as bad.

All right, I'll let it go

at that, Larry.

He's nothing to me,

except that I'm glad he's here

'cause he'll help me

make you wake up to yourself.

I don't even like the guy,

or the feeling there's

anything between us.

But you'll find out

that I'm right just the same,

when you get to the final

showdown with him.

There'll be no showdown!

I don't give a tinker's...

Sticking to

the grandstand, eh?

I always knew that you'd be

the toughest of all the gang

to convince, Larry.

And along with Harry

and Jimmy Tomorrow.

It was you

I wanted to help the most.

I've always liked you a lot,

you old bastard.

Hey, not much time

before 12:
00!

Well, come on, gang,

let's get going.

Come on, boys and girls,

let's get busy.

Let's see,

cake's all set.

And my gifts

and yours, girls.

It's a tie,

tie and a handkerchief.

Chuck and Rocky, hmm?

What's this for,

Hickey?

Harry certainly will be very

touched by your thoughts of him.

Now Margie and Pearl,

get back in the bar

and get ready

to bring the grub right in.

There'll be some

drinking first and some toasts.

My idea was to use

the wine for that,

so get that all set.

Now I'll go upstairs

and root everybody up,

Harry the last.

When you hear us coming,

somebody light the candles

and start playing

his favorite tune on the piano.

Well, come on, Cora,

everybody, let's hustle!

We want this to come off

in style, uh?

But Jees,

I gotta practice.

I ain't laid my mitts on a box

in God knows when.

Hey, Joe!

Oh, Jees, I've forgotten

this has-been tune.

Come on, Joe,

hum it so I can follow.

(humming)

Be God!

It's the second feast

of Belshazzar,

with Hickey to do

the writing on the wall!

Aw, shut up,

Old Cemetery!

Well, if it ain't

Prince Willie.

Gee, kid,

you look sick.

Get a couple

of shots in ya.

No, thanks, not now,

I'm-I'm-I'm tapering off.

It's been hell up in

that damned room, Larry.

The-the-the things

I've imagined!

(piano music, humming)

But...

I've-I've got it beat now.

By-by tomorrow morning I'll...

I'll be on the wagon.

And I'll, uh...

I'll get back my clothes

first thing.

Hickey's loaning

me the money.

And I'm goin' to do

what I always said.

I'm-I'm-I'm gonna go

to the D.A.'s office,

because he knows that I...

I-I really

was a brilliant student.

Oh, I know I can make good.

I-I owe a lot to Hickey.

He's...

made me wake up to myself

and see what a fool...

(laughs)

It wasn't nice to face but...

It's not what he says.

It's what you feel

behind what he hints!

Christ, you'd think

all I really wanted

to do with my life

was sit here

and stay drunk!

I'll show him!

You want my advice...

you'll put your mouth

on this bottle

and keep it there

until you don't

give a damn about Hickey.

(laughs)

That's fine advice.

I thought you

were my friend!

(piano music stops)

(steps approaching)

Gee, I'm glad

you're here, Larry.

That damned fool Hickey

knocked on my door.

I opened up because

I thought it must be you.

He came bustin' in and

made me come downstairs here.

(piano music resumes)

I don't know what for,

I don't belong at this

birthday celebration,

I don't know this gang,

and I don't wanna be

mixed up with them.

All I came here for

was to find you!

I've warned you that...

Can't you make Hickey

mind his own business?

Just now he pats me

on the shoulder,

like he's

sympathizing with me.

He says,

"I know how it is, son,

"but you can't hide

from yourself,

"not even here

on the bottom of the sea.

"You've gotta face the truth

and then do what must be done

"for your own peace

and for the happiness

of all concerned."

Now, what'd he mean

by that, Larry?

How the hell would I know?

Then he grins at me and says,

"Oh, never mind,

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