The Pawnbroker Page #5

your money comes from?

You wouldn't get

your father's corpse

Into the ground if

not for the store.

Papa is dead.

That's what you wanted, isn't it?

I'm good, pawnbroker.

I'm real good.

I know things you haven't

never even dreamed about.

Just $20 more.

I make you happy.

Like you've never known.

I'll show you how pretty I am.

Don't you say nothin'

about this, you hear?

Nothin'. Like I said,

If my boss was to find out

I been messin' around in private...

So don't tell Rodriguez nothin'.

Rodriguez?

Rodriguez...

the big man...

The boss.

The biggest in Harlem.

You mean...

You work for Rodriguez?

Oh, yeah.

Oh, he's got lots of

irons in the fire.

He's a powerful man,

So it's better if you

don't tell him a thing.

But I got to get me some money.

Look.

Look.

That's it. Look.

Look.

Look.

That's it. Look!

It don't cost you nothin' to look.

That's it. Just look.

Look.

Look.

Aah!

I can't tell you, Nazerman,

How I've looked forward to this.

People I come in contact with...

They're dumbheads.

You've got background.

The real thing.

Me, I never had a

regular education,

But I've got a feel for things.

You...

Are a welcome change

of pace for me.

Say...

If all you wanted was

to come here and stare,

I could've sent you a picture.

Ok, partner...

What's your beef?

That whorehouse down

the street from me...

Do you own it?

You wouldn't be trying to get...

It's your whorehouse, isn't it?

Assume it is, then what?

I don't want your money

if it's from there.

Say that again.

I don't want your money

if it's from there.

Why?

It's money that comes

from filth and horror!

That's what it is, professor.

Then...

We can have no longer

anything to do further...

Professor...

You don't know it, but

the lecture is over.

Now, you're going to listen to me.

Where do you think the money

You've been living on

comes from, professor?

Money you pay for

an old jew's keep,

Money you give Tessie.

Money you pay for a nice,

fat house on long island

And the nice, fat family

you support there?

Oh, I know all about you.

And how. I know where

your money comes from...

From me.

And one of the places I get it most

Is from whorehouses

And bowling alleys and parking lots

And hotel linens and tenements.

Now tell me where you

thought it was coming from.

I don't know.

That makes you stupid, professor.

You're living right in it!

Right in the middle of

one big whorehouse,

Right in the bosom of the world!

How do you say it...

Filth, horror?

Right in the middle and

you don't know it.

Or maybe something else...

Because you don't want to know.

Are you that kind of man, professor,

that doesn't want to know about things,

Feel about things?

Are you that kind?

That makes you nothing!

A ton of nothing!

You give me a front,

and I give you money,

So don't hang up on me, professor.

Not again.

Look at me.

Look at me!

I said...

Those papers you haven't signed...

By tomorrow morning, signed.

What?

Yes.

Yes?

Yes.

Yes?

Yes?

Yes.

Yes?

Yes.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Oh, yes.

Happy dreams, uncle.

Come in.

Can I get you something?

Coffee?

No, I thank you. No.

I was out on the terrace

when you phoned.

I couldn't sleep.

Would you...

It's very lovely in the morning.

That's why I got this apartment...

This terrace.

The city and the river.

We had a...

We had a river in Germany.

Tell me about it.

That was long ago.

That was...

That was before Europe

became a graveyard.

What made you come here?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Just...

Things have been happening lately,

And...

I felt I needed to be with someone.

What things, Mr. Nazerman?

Well, it's just that suddenly,

In the last few days,

I feel afraid, and...

It's been a long

time since I felt...

Anything.

Fear.

Fear, fear.

That's what I felt.

And then I, uh...

I called you.

I'm sorry that you're so alone.

Oh, no, no, no.

You don't understand.

It's just that there

have been memories

That I have...

Well, I thought that I had...

Pushed them far away from me,

And they keep rushing in...

And then there are words...

Words that I thought I have

kept myself from hearing

And... now...

Now they...

Flood my mind.

Yeah.

Today is an anniversary.

What happened?

Happened?

Yes.

I didn't die.

Everything that I loved...

Was taken away from me and...

I did not die.

Mr. Nazerman...

There was...

Nothing I could do.

Ha.

Nothing.

Strange?

I could do nothing.

No, there was nothing I could do.

Why do you sit like that?

I got... chilled.

I got chilled listening to you...

And not being able to

do anything for you.

Sol!

Sol, don't let him fall!

David?

Sol, he's falling!

Oh, god, David!

Sol! Sol!

Ruthie!

I can't do anything!

Oh, my god, I can't do nothing.

David. David!

David! David!

Mr. Nazerman.

Mr. Nazerman.

Are you all right?

You-you don't look good.

Listen, I...

I- is there anything I can...

Mr. Nazerman.

Do you remember me?

The Oratory Award.

Just to carry me over until I...

Well... I have this for you.

Don't scratch them.

They're surely worth $10.

$50.

$2.00.

You're crazy.

$2.00 for a leica camera?

What the hell are you saying?

$1.00.

That's better?

You're out of your mind for sure.

Whatever you want to give.

I've got no use for them anymore.

How much do you want to borrow?

Oh, I-I don't know.

$20?

$50.

I'll let you have it for $2.00.

Why, yes, I'll just

take that watch.

Now, just wait a minute.

This says, uh...

It says 121/2 bucks, lady.

You got a mouth, boy.

Pawnbroker says...

I don't care.

You want this article,

You come up with $12.50.

That's what the sign say.

Mr. Nazerman.

Mr. Nazerman, are you ok? Huh?

Leave me alone, Ortiz.

Ok, I'll do that, Mr. Nazerman.

I'll do that. First I want to know,

Are you ok?

I'm ok.

Are you sure?

Yes, I'm sure! I'm ok.

Now just leave me alone.

That's all right. I'm just

concerned, that's all.

After all, you're my teacher.

Ha. I'm your what?

You're my teacher.

Hmm.

I'm a student to you.

You're nothing to me.

For true?

For true.

You mean, I'm like...

The rest of them out there?

That's right.

You're like the rest

of them out there.

You're nothing to me.

I'll go for lunch now.

Go to lunch.

Do what you please,

But just leave me alone.

Now, go!

See you later.

It's at closing time.

Hmm?

I said it's at closing time.

How come?

That's when it's got to be.

Now I said it,

And I'm saying it again.

No shootin'.

What's the matter,

You worried about the jew?

No.

I'm worrying about Jesus Ortiz.

Now...

I got a plan.

Then this jive cop, he said,

"Mon, I'm sympathetic

To the problems of your race."

You were supposed to deliver

the papers this morning.

They better be signed.

Sign them.

And if I don't sign the papers...

What do you do to me

then, you kill me?

Oh, yes.

So kill me.

Pardon me, uncle.

Professor...

You have to kill me.

That's what you want.

That's what you really

want, professor, isn't it?

I'll tell you what.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes