The Prince of Tides Page #2

know how I feel about anything anymore.

God, you're pathetic.

Don't blame it on us.

Blame it on Con Ed!

Get this truck out of here.

Come on, I'm in a hurry!

I've got a doctor's appointment.

Hey, lady! What are you

honking at me for?

It was only my sister who could force

me to come to this God-awful city.

This city that roars down on you.

She loved it all.

The muggers, the winos...

...the bag ladies,

the wall-to-wall noise.

She loved it because it had nothing

to do with our childhood.

Luke and I hated it for

exactly the same reason.

You're-

Hello.

I'm Dr. Lowenstein.

You must be Tom.

Yes, ma'am.

Why don't you come in?

You can leave your things there.

Am I supposed to lie down on the couch,

or are we gonna make polite chitchat?

How about a cup of coffee?

Oh, we're gonna make

polite chitchat first.

Was that yes or no to the coffee?

It's a yes, ma'am.

Cream and sugar?

And you don't have to call me ma'am.

That's my good home-training,

and I'm a little nervous.

Cream, no sugar.

Why do you think you're nervous?

I get nervous every time my sister

tries to kill herself. It's a quirk.

A quirk?

I'm sorry. I was being cynical.

It's a family trait.

Oh, I don't think Savannah's cynical.

No? She's suicidal.

I wish she was cynical.

How is my sister?

She's out of physical danger, but-

When can I see her?

You have to wait until tomorrow.

Why can't I go now?

She's very agitated today.

We're trying to quiet her down.

I think it would be too upsetting.

Wouldn't upset me.

No, but it might upset her.

How's your coffee?

Is it hot enough?

It'll do.

In Savannah's poems...

...are you the shrimper or the coach?

The coach.

Luke's the shrimper, or was.

Savannah's last suicide attempt

was right after his death, correct?

Yeah, she had a few bad days over it.

Were there other times?

I don't know.

There might have been another time

when we were young, but I'm not sure.

How are you getting paid?

Why change the subject?

Because I don't like it much.

Is it okay if I smoke?

I'd prefer it if you didn't.

How well do you know

your sister's poetry?

I said I was a coach, Lowenstein,

not an orangutan.

I was also an English teacher.

I know her poetry. She's my twin.

I know it a hell of a lot better

than you do.

You don't like

psychiatrists, do you?

What good do you people do?

You ask a lot of questions.

I'm sick of this whole damn routine.

I'm sick of my sister's

attraction to razorblades.

And I'm sick of shrinks who can't

do a f***ing thing to help her.

I don't know if I can

help her either.

But I do know I'm not

gonna give up trying.

Why not? Maybe she just wants

to die too damn much.

And that's okay?

You sound resigned to losing her.

Hell no, it's not okay with me.

Yeah, but I am resigned.

Then I don't think you can

help me with Savannah.

I'm sorry you had

to come all this way.

What do you want from me?

Information.

You see, I've only been Savannah's

doctor for a few months.

There's so much more

I need to know about her.

I need to hear about her childhood,

and she can't tell me...

...because she's blocked

portions of her life out.

Blotted out.

So I need you to be her memory,

in a sense...

...and fill in the missing details.

I've spent my life trying to

forget those missing details.

- I beg your pardon?

- I-

God, she's a pain in the ass.

What time tomorrow?

I'll meet you at the hospital at noon.

Do you have a headache?

A doozy. You wouldn't have any

morphine handy, would you?

Morphine?

That's a joke, Lowenstein.

Come on, get out of the way, kid.

You're gonna get hurt.

Screw you, man.

You gonna help me with the bags?

You out of your mind?

I ain't helping you with no bags.

Come on, move!

Get out of the way, huh?

Yo, taxi!

Sh*t! Sh*t!

Move your ass an inch...

...and you can kiss it goodbye.

Hi, Eddie. Go ahead and shoot,

I've had a rotten day.

Tom! You should have told me

you were coming.

The gun, Eddie, the gun.

I'm sorry. Savannah and I have

been robbed twice this year.

They're leaping from fire escapes.

One landed on my air conditioner.

I greased my windowsills.

That didn't help.

I love New York.

Tell me about it.

- How's Andrew?

- Gone.

Said he needed space, so he found

a younger man with a duplex.

It's his loss, Eddie.

Bless you.

Savannah was an angel.

I practically lived over here.

So you're alone now, huh?

Unless I can tempt you into

crossing the line while you're here.

I got enough troubles, Eddie.

Actually, you look terrible, Tom.

You're not even cute anymore.

If that's your idea of seduction,

no wonder you're alone.

Well, it isn't easy.

Did you know Savannah was seeing

a psychiatrist?

Of course. I recommended her.

She's a friend of mine.

It was a b*tch washing it out.

You found her?

We've been giving her 50 mgs

three times a day.

I'd bring it down to 25.

Don't expect too much.

Dr. Lowenstein, I need to see you.

Hey, Savannah. Hey, darling.

It's me. Tom.

I have a cancellation,

so why don't you meet me...

...here at the hospital

in 45 minutes, okay?

I'm on the third floor.

What the hell is going on here?

Why is she strapped down?

Her team felt she had to

be restrained-

Why? She has enough drugs

to anesthetize a whale!

- Her team decides-

- Quit calling them her team!

Sounds like she's trying out

for the Giants.

What should I call them?

Let's be creative.

Call them a**holes.

Let me tell you something

about those a**holes.

I'm grateful because they

saved your sister's life.

I don't like-

I don't care what you like.

She's still a threat to herself.

There's no point to this

unless we keep Savannah alive.

And I don't care if it takes drugs

or voodoo or reading tarot cards...

...I want her alive.

Do you understand me?

When I'm not picking straw out

of my teeth, I'm a very smart man.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean

to sound condescending.

You're tough, Lowenstein...

...and I'm starving.

Any interest in lunch?

Only if you let me pay.

Oh, I insist.

I wouldn't have objected to

Lutce or Le Cirque.

Their chili isn't as good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Tell me something.

Why didn't your father

answer my telegram?

Dad only likes good news.

Besides, the shrimp are running good.

And your mother? Why didn't she come?

She was the one I spoke to.

Priorities. My mother's too busy

hiring a caterer...

...for my stepfather's birthday.

Do you always make jokes

in place of conversation?

It's the Southern way, ma'am.

The "Southern way"?

My mother's immortal phrase:

"When things get too painful, we

either avoid them or we laugh. "

When do you cry,

according to the Southern way?

We don't.

Jesus, even Sally makes

better chili than this.

- I have a good recipe. Interested?

- No, thanks. I never cook.

What the hell is it with you doctors?

Does "Callanwolde"

mean anything to you?

No. Why?

Savannah kept repeating it

when she first came out of the coma.

"Callanwolde, Callanwolde. " No?

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