The Swimmer Page #6

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Some king built it,

hundreds of years ago.

It's an inn now

with crazy old f our-posters...

...and big soft beds with canopies.

Ned, I want you to go away now.

Will you come with me, Shirley?

Do you really think it's that easy?

Of course everything's always

been easy f or you, hasn't it?

You could always get

a cab in the rain...

...a woman into bed.

God knows I was

easy enough to get.

You wore a blue slip...

...with a safety pin holding up

your shoulder strap.

I thought we were

going to make it.

I really thought

we were going to make it.

I kissed that safety pin.

Ned, please don't.

Shirley.

I never meant to hurt you, Shirley.

Please believe me.

Please.

What's the matter with you?

I'll get you a sweater.

No.

-You must be catching something.

-How can I swim in a sweater?

-Listen, I'll drive you home.

-No.

I've got to swim home.

-For the love of God, why?

-I've just got to. I've got to.

-I'll go get the car.

-No!

I can't go in a car.

It's impossible.

How can I?

Lucinda's waiting.

The girls are home playing tennis.

I'm swimming home.

My God...

Come with me.

Come with me, Shirley.

-Ned, I can't.

-Please. Come with me.

-Please don't.

-Shirley.

-Leave me alone.

-You know you don't want me to.

Please leave me alone.

We made love together in this pool.

And you loved it, remember?

-I lied.

-You loved it, Shirley. You loved it.

-Ned, don't.

-Please.

-Baby.

-No, Ned.

-Please.

-Ned, no, don't.

No, stop it, Ned.

Don't. Ned, don't. No.

Damn you! No!

I lied! I lied all the time

about loving it anywhere with you!

You bored me to tears with all

your stories about your old deals...

...your old girls, your golf scores,

your bloody war...

...your bloody duty, wife and kids.

You bored me to tears.

-I was playing a scene with you.

-You loved me.

You met your match in me,

you suburban stud. I was acting!

You loved it.

You loved it.

We both loved it.

You loved it!

Just one lane.

I wanna swim just one lane.

-You don't understand.

-I understand you ain't got 50 cents.

Can't you make an ex ception? My

house is right over there on the hill.

-I'll come back with the money.

-Get the hell out, mister.

Listen...

...will you lend me 50 cents?

-Please. Please.

-Why the hell should I?

I'll pay you back.

Don't you realize I'll pay you back?

Beat it.

-Howie!

-Mr. Merrill.

-Lend me 50 cents.

-Don't do it.

Howie, f or chrissake.

What's 50 cents?

I mean, considering.

Thanks, Howie.

Thanks a lot.

Thanks an awful lot.

Hold it.

Can't you read, buddy?

Take a shower.

Go on back and wash those feet.

Spread your toes.

Bottoms.

Okay.

-Your f riends' pools run out of water?

-What?

How do you like our water, Mr. Merrill?

Hi, Jack.

You sure got a lot of chlorine in it.

Stings your eyes?

-Yeah, that's too bad.

-Ain't seen you in a while.

-Too bad you don't get into town.

-We sure had good times.

I used to see you f our or five times a

week. A few drinks, a hamburger.

How is the series?

-What are you waiting f or? Ask him.

-What series?

-The World Series.

-Two years ago.

-Did you use the seats I gave you?

-They were great seats.

-Are you gonna ask him?

-Shut up.

I'll ask him. When you

gonna pay your bill?

We're decent people,

trying to make a living.

We got bills too.

You're the first deadbeat

we ever got in our place.

Hold it down, Lil.

Now, wait a minute.

Listen, I'm gonna send the both

of you a check tomorrow.

Yeah, that's a laugh all right.

He's no f riend of yours.

The check isn't worth anything.

-Okay, that's enough.

-You should see the orders I sent up.

His wife wanted French strawberry

jam. American ain't good enough.

Mrs. Merrill had to have

Dijon mustard.

Hearts of palm, hearts of artichokes.

Some rich diet you have up there.

Hearts of Jack Finney

is what they get.

Let's break it up.

Let's not have a fuss.

I gotta go.

How's the f amily, Howie?

My boy won the American Legion

Scholarship Award.

-Straight A's.

-Wonderful.

Our kids behave themselves,

not run around drunk, wrecking cars.

He kept his daughters' names

out of the paper.

I bet that check didn't bounce.

-Leave my daughters alone.

-Then teach them manners.

-They never listened to him.

-Shut up.

I'm not blaming the girls. It's him.

Always trying to be "one of the gang."

My daughters worship me.

They love me and respect me...

...because I'm their f ather,

and they respect me.

-They respect me.

-Yeah?

My girls love me.

We heard those girls talking in

our place, giving you the raspberry.

You're a liar.

Come on,

don't talk to my wife that way.

She's a goddamned liar.

Wanna know what your girls thought

of you? Your girls laughed at you.

I heard them. They thought

you were a great big joke.

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