Too Late Blues Page #8

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Countess call me tomorrow.

I need another job, Benny.

I'm tired of playing the Gigolo bit.

I'll take a cut. I don't have to play here in Swingtown

man, I'll work a downtown club, it don't matter.

Don't be ridiculous.

Benny, I need another gig.

You don't seem to get my point.

Are you kidding man,

they love me out there.

I never played better

in my life, they...

Twenty people came up to me, Benny, tonight, after I

got through playing and they wanted my autograph man.

They wanna talk to me. They just wanted

to invite me to party, are you kidding?

Once maybe, not now.

What do you mean, not now?

I mean a hundred guys can play what you

are playing out there, and ninety-nine...

...of them can play it better.

Who the hell do you

think you're talking to?

It's a matter of opinion, man.

That's just one little man's opinion.

I did some weird things man...

But I never sold my soul.

I sold me, man. But never my soul.

I played what I like

with no compromises.

Name me one guy in this business

who knows anything about music.

Go ahead, one guy.

There's nobody, I don't care who it is,

who knows anything good, from anything bad.

It's all a matter of opinion, Benny. And

nobody, nobody, ever walked out on me.

Well, you had it once when you

used to play with your group.

You guys tried to say

something when you played.

Don't talk to me about music.

Can't talk to about my music, man.

Alright then, let's not talk about

music, let's talk about people.

Cause you're a failure there too, man.

You haven't got a friend left in the world.

You wanna know why?

Cause you're a bum.

When an idealist sells himself out, everybody passes

judgement. The bigger the idealist, the bigger the bum.

You're known all over

town as 'her boy. '

And nobody wants her boy

playing in their band.

Go on, take a look in the mirror. Go

on, take a good look in the mirror, kid.

That's all you got left to

sell. Go on. Take a good look!

As far as I can see, she's the only buyer. Now,

maybe you can get yourself a job someplace else...

I don't know. But if you're looking

for a little respect, forget it!

Now remember, you came and you said 'Benny

make me a success,' well I said to myself...

Here's a guy I can't stand personally, a

guy who talks big and loud about art and...

Freedom of expression and I

think he's a phony. A real phony!

And he wants me to make him a

success. Well alright, phony...

You're a success...

you got what you wanted.

And I found out what I wanted.

Countess, you wanna call

me in the morning? Fine.

If not... well I'll see

you around, sweetie babies.

What do you say, Greek old pal?

You drinking any wine lately?

A long Ghost, what do you know, boy?

I'm living.

You don't come around no

more since you work steady.

All the money goes into

rich people's pocket.

You know what they say:

'money goes to money. '

Yeah.

Mind if I buy myself a beer?

I'll buy the beer.

- Thank you, Ghost.

- Pleasure.

See that?

No, thanks.

Well, good all days is dead.

- The boys do come around, don't they?

- No.

They don't?

Got a deal down in Los Angeles. Small dump,

play for a lotta dumbells. Dancing and girls...

Place stinks... sawdust on the floor.

Where would that be?

They don't wanna see you no more, Ghost.

- Is that right?

- Yeah.

What's the name of the place?

Uh...

The witch's tale.

Thanks.

Oh uh... what do I

owe you for the bruise?

Old time shake.

Yeah.

You need a sax over swangtown?

What say music man?

How's... how's business man?

- Hello, Charlie.

- Great to see you man.

You uh... working with the boys, huh?

Yeah well, I'm... just

taking a hiatus for a while.

What's that they say on the uptown

side of the street... slumping.

Seriously, I'm thinking

of forming my own group.

I heard you got married.

Married! No.

Is that good or is that bad?

That's great.

You're living with her?

Listen man, she was a real stiff man.

I mean, you threw her over... she comes running

to me, comes all like a storm for a month.

Marry me she said.

Me, marry Jess Polanski? I say.

I say what for, I say. I'm a

musician, I don't go steady.

So she said she'd kill herself.

So I said, you up dead.

What happened to her?

Hey Ghost...

A dame like that...

Was nothing for a guy like you.

Where do I find her?

Oh, she used to hang

around... Reno's salon.

Thanks.

Yes or no?

Are you kidding?

Well, what do you want?

I want a rose-covered cottage.

Let's have another drink.

Baby... this is my busy time.

Have another drink.

We got a deal. We gotta make a deal.

Just, what you're asking

has to be thought about.

I mean, okay. It's a deal.

If you want it.

- Right, Sal?

- Why not?

It's late.

Anytime I can drink enough wine.

I give everything I've got.

Hey Ghost, come on! Now come on now, Ghost. Cut

it out. You heard what I said, now cut it out.

Get out.

Hi.

Hello, Jess.

No more Princess?

No. No more Princess.

Then what you got back for?

I mean...

I don't need you to

come back in here and...

And ruin everything.

It's just too late.

I'm not even high fashion.

I just do what I can do best.

That's all. And now, for

tomorrow not to be there.

I'm just me, Ghost.

But I'm nothing.

Oh, honey...

Are you something.

Go ahead.

How do you know it's here?

I'd take you home.

Hurry up.

You're real crazy Ghost.

You ought to see me in a...

sheet, I'm a panic then.

Hey uh, Reno, how much do I owe you?

Give me a few bucks, we'll call it even.

Jess honey! Let it go!

Let it go!

Cut it out!

Face in the water.

Look I'm telling you I've had it,

Ghost, I want no more troubles!

- There's no trouble.

- Shut up.

Look, you too get out of here!

Come on, come on. Get out of here!

I'm alright.

I probably couldn't

have done that anyway.

- I know.

- I had lots of time.

And I still love you.

Easy.

Nobody believes anybody

anymore, do they?

I'm good for nothing.

Nothing is the only thing I've

ever given in my whole life.

Nothing ever got better

because I was there.

Nobody ever once said, 'thank

god Jess Polanski was here. '

So... buy me a drink, huh?

Or leave me alone.

Let's get out of here.

Wait, why are you

pushing me in here for.

- Take me home!

- What do you want here pal?

I don't wanna come in here.

Let me go!

You scum!

What, the Countess let her

protege have a night out?

Alright, that's enough Red.

Enough nothing, how's your punch champ?

I'm sorry Pete.

Alright big boy, why don't you just

turn around and get out of here.

Go on Ghost, beat it.

Lose yourself, you heard him.

Red, it doesn't matter

what you say I'm sorry.

There ain't nothing here... nothing.

Not for you.

Now you get yourself lost.

Then you die.

Charlie...

Shelley I, I, uh...

I'm sorry.

Well it's just a little too late to

be crying the blues now, isn't it?

I'll tell you what you do.

You take your little pink cotton candy

dreams and you get them out of here.

And I mean outta here!

And on your way out my friend, you take a look

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