The Subject Was Roses Page #5

Stop!

Please.

You're drunk.

You think I could ask again if I wasn't?

I'm not one of your hotel lobby whores.

If you were, I wouldn't have to ask.

A couple of drinks, a couple of jokes,

and let's jump in bed.

Maybe that's my mistake.

How do you suppose Ruskin

managed without you today?

Maybe you don't want to be asked!

You've had the drinks!

You've had the jokes!

Leave me alone!!

Stop!

Leave me...

Stop it!

What happened?

The roses.

I knocked them over.

It sounded like a bomb.

I'm sorry I woke you.

Don't.

I'll clean up.

You go back to bed.

Please.

All right.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, pop.

You moved me this afternoon.

When you brought the roses,

I felt something stir in me

I thought was dead forever.

And now this.

I don't understand.

I had nothing to do with the roses.

They were his idea.

Coffee's weak.

Add water.

I said weak.

It's a waste of time bringing

good coffee into this house.

I'm thinking of renting

the lake house this summer.

Business is off.

Well, what do you say?

About what?

Renting the lake house.

Timmy will be disappointed.

How about you?

I'm in favor of it.

Of course you are.

I wonder why.

Morning.

Good morning.

Morning.

Nice of you to join us.

My pleasure.

This isn't a hotel.

We have our meals at certain times.

You should have woke me.

It's all right.

Of course it is.

What do you want?

Coffee.

Just coffee?

My stomach's a bit shaky.

Two days, two hangovers.

Is that what they taught you in the army?

Cream, please.

Thank you.

I'm thinking of renting the lake house.

How come?

I can use the money.

That's all you're going to say?

What do you expect me to say?

I thought that house

meant something to you.

Yes, but if you need the money...

strangers sleeping in our beds

doesn't bother you at all?

If it has to be, it has to be.

Of course.

I forgot.

What's a little summer cottage

after the earth... shattering

things you've been through?

Do you have more cream?

What do you want more cream for?

The coffee's strong.

It's weak.

It's too strong for me.

A few months in the army,

they're experts on everything,

even coffee.

Who said that?

When I was your age,

I was in the coffee business nine years.

When I was 17,

they sent me to Brazil for 3 months.

I know.

I'd never been out of New York before,

but I went down and did my job.

For Emerson, wasn't it?

No uniforms, no uncle Sam to lean on,

just myself. All alone

in a strange place.

That's when you grew

the mustache to look older.

Who's telling the story?

I'm sorry.

35 years in the business.

He's going to tell me about coffee.

I wasn't telling you anything

about anything, pop.

For me, it's too strong.

It isn't strong!

What time is dinner?

Mamma expects us

at 12:
00.

I suppose you'll wear your uniform?

That's the only thing I have that fits.

Are you sure?

Maybe you haven't grown

as much as you think.

Ravioli?

And meatballs.

G.i. Bills, home loans,

discharge bonus,

unemployment insurance...

you boys did pretty well for yourselves.

They did pretty well for us, too.

Oh! Say

can you see...

What's your point, pop?

The war is over.

I'll buy that.

The world doesn't owe anybody

a living including veterans.

I'll buy that too.

Let the Jews support you.

What?

Wasn't for them,

we wouldn't have gotten in.

I thought you broke that lousy record.

Kikes!

John!

I-I've changed my mind.

I'll have some toast.

Don't tell me you've lost

your great love for the Jews?

Stop it.

No, it's all right.

Well, nice of you

to let me talk in my own house,

and me, not even a veteran.

Pop, what are you mad about?

Who's mad?

Anything on the toast?

Honey, if you've got it.

A man states a few facts,

right away he's mad.

How about strawberry jam?

No.

If I get a decent offer,

I might sell the lake house.

Peach?

All right.

Hurry up with your breakfast.

What for?

Mass starts in 20 minutes.

You're not even dressed.

Mass?

Mass.

I haven't been to mass

in over three years.

Bad habits you boys picked up

you'll have to get over.

Not going to mass

isn't a habit I picked up.

It's a decision I came to

after a lot of thought.

What way is that for a catholic to talk?

I haven't considered myself

a catholic for quite a while.

There must be something

wrong with my ears.

You knew this was coming.

Why pretend it's such a shock?

Now there's a familiar alliance.

So you've outgrown the faith?

It doesn't answer my needs.

Outgrown your old clothes

and outgrown the faith.

Pop, will you listen to me, please?

Millions have believed,

since the beginning of time

but it's not good enough for you.

It's not a question of good enough.

What do you say

when people ask what religion you are?

Nothing.

You say you're nothing.

Yes.

The clearys have been catholics since...

since the beginning of time.

Now you, a Cleary,

tell people you're a nothing?

Yes.

You're an atheist!

John.

I'm not an atheist.

What are you?

I don't know but I'd like

a chance to find out.

You don't know what you believe in?

Do you?

Yes.

Tell me.

Go on...

I believe in the father, the son,

the holy ghost.

God created man in his own image.

Pop...

if your faith works, I'm glad.

Really, I'm very glad.

I wish it worked for me, but it doesn't.

Do you believe in god?

Yes or no?

I don't believe in heaven

or hell or purgatory.

Yes or no!

I believe there's something

bigger than myself.

What you call it

or what it is, I don't know.

Well, this is a fine how-do-you-do.

Yesterday you said he was a man.

A man has a right to decide

such things for himself.

"Good morning,

father Riley."

"Good morning,

Mr. Cleary.

I understand your son

is home from the service."

"Yes, father."

"Well, where is he

this fine Sunday morning,

Mr. Cleary?"

"He's home, father."

"Is he sick,

Mr. Cleary?"

"No, father."

"Then why isn't he here

in church, Mr. Cleary?"

"He's become an atheist,

father."

I am not an atheist.

Well, whatever you are, I won't have it.

I'm the boss in this house.

If you want to live here, do as I say.

And I say you're going to

church with me this morning.

Don't pay any attention to him.

Keep out of this!

Well?

All right, pop.

I'll go to mass with you.

Be out in a minute.

Forget it.

What?

I said forget it.

The lord doesn't want

anybody in his house

who has to be dragged there.

And score another one for your side.

It has nothing to do with her.

Just wait till you're

down on all fours someday.

You'll be glad enough to see a priest.

We'll meet you at mamma's.

I won't be there.

She expects us.

We all have our disappointments.

I said I'd go with you.

Pop?

Now what was that all about?

Why didn't I just go?

Why did I have to make an issue?

It wasn't your fault.

It never is.

When he's in one of those moods,

there's nothing anyone can do.

"The alliance," he called us.

That's what we must seem like to him...

an alliance.

Always two against one,

always us against him.

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