The Men Page #4

Oh, darling!

Don't you want us to be happy?

Sure, I want us to be happy,

honey, but I don't know.

I don't know.

A very nice wedding.

Well, I'll tell you.

With her being a nurse and all,

I think they got a chance.

It ain't as if

she didn't know the score.

She's doing all right.

Instead of taking care of a whole

ward for 280 bucks a month,

she's got one patient for 360.

The government gives him

a transportation allowance,

so she's got a car.

The government pays for half a house,

so she's got a home.

That's not bad.

She's a nice girl. She didn't

marry him for his compensation.

- It's doomed.

- What do you mean, doomed?

Leo, my boy it's not in the nature

of the normal woman to love one of us.

This is sad but true,

and we should face it.

That's what I mean by doomed.

Don't you think it

depends on the people?

It's not in the cards.

Normal is normal

and crippled is crippled,

and never the twain shall meet.

Who said that?

- I did.

The fact of the matter is we make

other people uncomfortable.

You know why?

Because we remind them that

their own bodies can be broken...

just like that.

And they don't like it.

You were married once,

weren't you, Norm?

Yes.

Well, she's a nice girl

and pretty smart.

I think they've got a chance.

What are you arguin'

with him for?

What do you know, dumbhead?

Go to sleep.

Come on, slow motion.

Hit the linoleum!

Not me.

I dreamed I was running

after streetcars all night.

I gotta stay in bed and rest up.

Don't disturb him today.

He's readjusting.

He's been readjusting

for three years.

Hey!

Where'd you think

you were going?

Down to the cigar store.

You better start

with cigarettes.

Hey, Sergeant, one cigar.

Now I know why

they call you Tarzan.

What do you work so hard for?

I got to. I gotta get outta here.

I want to get a home.

- Why? You gettin' married?

- No. I'll never get married.

See, I got six little

brothers and sisters.

My mother's getting pretty old.

That makes me the papa now.

You don't need a house.

You need a hotel.

Yeah. See, where we live

now, it's not so good.

My kid sister, she's 16.

A girl like that, she's

got to have her own room.

A nice place where she can have

company, not be on the street.

- You know.

- Yeah, sure.

Well, let's go, Papa.

It's gotta mean only one thing:

He's got a girl.

No. It's just that summer's coming.

I used to do the same thing to my dog.

I'm telling you,

he's got a girl!

All right, gentlemen-

and I use the term loosely-

I'll satisfy this

vulgar craving for gossip.

Yes, I expect a visitor, a lady.

The subject is now closed.

I was the one who said it,

but I don't believe it.

Look, Donald Duck, I got

just one thing to say to you.

When she gets here, I don't

want any whistling, sighing,

ogling or anything else

that you consider wit and humor.

In other words, behave!

Because if you don't-

Norm, old boy,

this sounds serious.

Maybe it is.

But what about-

You said-

I said what?

Skip it.

Hiya!

- Hiya.

- Hi, partner.

Where were you headed for?

Well, I wanted to catch you

before you came in.

Why?

- Come here and sit down.

- I'm not sure I will.

I don't think I like your tone.

If you're not gonna sit down,

I'm not gonna tell you.

Tell me what?

Come on, sit.

Well?

Well, don't get excited or anything.

Who's excited?

Okay. I think I'm getting return.

I'm starting to feel things.

I think my legs are coming back.

- Are you sure?

- I'm pretty sure.

That's why I came out here.

I didn't want to tell you

in front of the others.

- Have you told anyone?

- Weaver. He's gonna tell Brock.

Oh, Bud, that's wonderful!

I knew it! I always knew it.

Well, if I'm right, there won't be

any more of these darned spasms.

I've gotta be right.

# Dolores, Dolores #

Aren't you gonna talk

to me today, Dolores?

- Hey, Angel.

- Yeah?

Ask your mother

if I can marry Dolores.

She said men who love horses

don't make good husbands.

I don't love 'em. I just take

a scientific interest in 'em.

She says you're a good boy, but

then she doesn't know you like I do.

Well, tell her you're the laziest

joker in the whole ward.

- He is not! You are!

- Ah!

What do you know, chicken?

- Hiya, Pop.

- Hello, Leo. How're ya feelin'?

Okay. How's Ma?

Not so good again.

That's why she couldn't come.

- How are they treating you, boy?

- Can't complain.

Oh.

Here you are, Pop.

Thanks, boy.

I'll get a little present

for your mother.

Yeah, do that.

You're getting along all right,

aren't you?

Look, Pop, you don't

have to hang around.

Well, I got a couple

of things to do.

- I gotta see a fellow about a deal.

- Yeah.

Lay off the long shots, Pop.

You haven't got the knack.

Take care of yourself, boy.

Thanks. So long, Pop.

Did Normie tell you

about last night?

Did he tell you how he

clean fell out of his chair?

Oh, was he a scream!

And did I have a head this morning!

Please!

Anyway, that's when I got him

to promise to get rid of the muff.

What's a beard?

If I could grow dollars

as fast as I grow hair,

- I'd be an international banker.

- Oh, Normie, you kill me!

You know, some of the kids

at the drive-in thought...

I was goofy at first.

But I said, "What's the difference?

He's cute.

"He's real educated.

And what a sense of humor!

And that car of his

is really something.

" Yeah, it's nice.

My, this sure is

a big hospital, isn't it?

You know, Normie took me

on the 20-cent tour.

Honestly, I've got corns

on my feet from walking.

- You're not tired, are you, hon?

- No, I'm fine.

You gotta take care

of yourself, hon.

Yeah, I know.

She watches over me

like a probationary nurse.

Say, what time is it anyway?

Oh, my! I've got to get back

to the drive-in.

- I'd better go now, Normie.

- I'll take you to the gate.

Okeydokey. Gee, I'm glad

we got to know each other.

We got a lot in common.

Yes, we have.

Well, good-bye, you all.

Nice to have met you.

Laverne-

It's a pretty name.

Well-

Hey, what's the matter?

Hey, jughead,

what's the matter?

I'm sick.

Sick to my stomach.

See that neck?

See how rigid?

- His temperature's 103 now.

- All the classic signs.

Get him into a private room

right away.

Get ready for a spinal tap.

Call neurosurgery.

Well?

You can see for yourself.

Shall we try another transfusion?

Try-

Out of nowhere.

Out of a clear sky.

Are you sure?

Yes.

I liked that boy.

You oughta get some rest.

You have grand rounds

in exactly three hours.

Yes, I know.

He had a shell fragment

in soft tissue near his spine.

It never bothered him. There

was no point in messing with it.

It started to abscess, and

it breached his spinal canal.

Meningitis.

It's nobody's fault.

It just happened.

We did everything.

- Anything new?

- No, sir.

Good morning.

Dr. Weaver tells me you think

you're getting return.

Let it go, Doc.

Some other time.

No. Pin, please.

Now, tell me what you feel-

the point or the round end.

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