Two for the Seesaw Page #5

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With Wally, it's all dead and buried too.

But if he called now, I'd make a face,

I'd think who needs it and I'd talk to him.

It's another human being,

maybe they're sick or need something.

- You'd find out why they're calling.

- Tess doesn't need from me, never did.

Wally doesn't mean enough

not to talk to him.

That's you two. I don't have

to operate on the same wavelength.

- No.

- Let's talk about the loft.

Honey, if you're a dancer,

it's time you did something about it.

So we'll get you the loft tomorrow, OK?

I'll get the coffee.

Honey, I can afford it. Honestly.

You're getting coffee for Fort Knox

and you don't know it.

Taubman wants me full-time.

Gee, Jerry, that's great! A lawyer again

in court, like you said you loved?

I can't unless I accept favours

from my ex father-in-law,

which is a return to an old and bad habit.

Or I take the Bar exam,

which strikes me as nervous-making.

- You'd knock 'em dead.

- What makes you think so?

My impression.

I don't know the traffic laws here

and I'm too old for school.

You read about grandmas going to NYU.

Eleven grandchildren...

I look like somebody's grandma?

We begin with my lending you a hand and

end with you putting me through college.

I don't need a hand, I'll make out.

You gotta take the exam sometime.

I'm in no particular hurry.

Are you on vacation here,

that you're in no particular hurry?

Look, all I meant was...

Now, stop it. You don't even know

what you're fighting about.

Look, you see this?

That's Clevenger. Practice Manual,

state of New York.

What I don't know would fill that

and a whole library.

Jerry, you know what you've got

too much of? A lack of confidence.

If you were such a popular lawyer

in Nevada, what's the difference?

- Nebraska, dear. About 1,000 miles.

- I'm serious.

- Mm, better than Chanel.

- Why were you so popular?

- I shot in the mid-seventies.

- What?

- Birdies.

- Shooting birds made you popular?

Uh-huh.

Damn you.

(phone)

- I can't stand it.

- Don't answer.

- Hello?

- It's me.

- Put it down.

- It's Larry!

- Why didn't you call me sooner.

- I just got back.

- What did they say at the "Y"?

- $625.

- How much?

- 625! What are we gonna do?

I don't know, but I can't talk now.

We're in the middle of dinner.

- Can we use the loft?

- Not yet, but I can't go into that now.

What did that dame do to you?

- Loved me. Married me.

- Walked out on you. She's such a doll.

I gave her reason. It was the best

thing she could have done for us both.

If everything was so fine,

how come you left Nebraska?

- At least there you could work.

- I stayed around awhile.

Everything seemed OK at first.

I was busy, Tess picked up her old life.

Got a fella. A guy who's been in love

with her since kids, probably get married.

- Is that what bugged ya?

- I was for it in my head...

- But it bugged ya, huh?

- Well...

I kept bumping into them.

Gittel, when you've been married

to somebody for 12 years,

lived together for 12 years,

you don't just break up.

You can't just forget it like it was...

Well, anyway, I cut out. Ran.

Stop running,

it's the Atlantic Ocean already.

- I'm not running any more.

- Don't you see?

If you can't talk to her, you're running.

Just ask me. Don't try to help me.

Ask me to and maybe I will,

- if it's so important to you.

- To you!

I don't want to. Do you? Yes or no?

- No.

- Take the Bar exam?

- No!

- What do you want of me?

Not a damn thing!

Stop that. You know smoking's bad

for your stomach.

I'll keep track of my stomach. We've been

together almost 30 years, we get by.

But you don't get by.

You just tell lies to yourself.

Sure, you get by all right.

Day-to-day, job-to-job, man-to-man,

but nothing ever sticks.

They all take off for Tallahassee.

- Did you pay his train fare?

- He was broke.

My God, she did!

You pay the freight and every bum

crawls aboard for the free ride.

You never know why the ride's over,

do you? I'll tell you why.

When a man offers you a hand,

you put a donation in it.

You might as well spit in it.

They just use you and walk away.

It's not a joke any more, you're not

a kid any more. You're all alone.

Who cares what happens to you

except me?

Don't spit in my hand, Gittel.

Tess didn't need it but you do.

You make one claim on a man,

just one real claim. He might surprise you.

- You get my point?

- Sure.

Gee, you're a terrific lawyer, Jerry.

How come you're so bashful?

- Didn't you understand one word I said?

- Sure!

As a juror I'd give me five years.

- I'm not kidding. Need someone.

- Let go!

- Need someone.

- Or what? Let me go or I'll yell.

- No, you won't.

- (screams) Help!

- You lunatic. Somebody'll come.

- Nobody'll come, it's New York.

Let me go. I'll be black and blue, you ape.

- I gotta get outta here before you slug me.

- Slug you?

That what you expect

from your romances?

When it comes to men, I expect the worst.

- Pick up the phone if you're so strong.

- Do you want me to?

Sure I want you to.

I don't know where I stand.

I could scream my head off

and nobody comes.

- Who can I count on besides me?

- Me!

(phone)

Yeah. Lean on you and I'll fall

in that big hole, someplace in Nevada!

- Yes. Hello.

- Mr Jerry Ryan, please.

- Speaking, operator.

- Long distance call from Omaha.

- Hello, Jerry.

- Hello, Tess.

- Do you know how often I've called?

- Yes, I know.

- Only I don't know why.

- Why?

- To talk about the divorce.

- There's nothing to talk about.

The divorce comes up on the calendar

and that's that.

- What are you doing? I worry.

- Stop worrying.

I've a girl, a job, I'm just fine.

I'm glad, Jerry. Don't be angry with me,

we can still be friends.

I don't wanna be friends.

Get out of my life. I want to forget you.

- Well, I can't forget you.

- I'm sorry, Tess.

- (snivels) I try but I can't.

- (sighs)

Don't cry, Tess, please.

Tess, will you please stop crying?

- Gittel... Gittel, I'm...

- It's not what you said.

- I'm not upset about her. It's the dancing.

- No, darling.

Larry says the "Y" wants 625 bucks.

- You're running now. It is her.

- It's the "Y", for the recital.

- Why should I get a lousy loft?

- Stop it. Stop it. Honey...

- Help me.

- What?

Give me something to hang on to. Use me

for something, even if it's only a lousy loft.

But I'm scared, too.

I don't know what I'm getting myself into.

- Why should I stick my neck out?

- Because I am.

We're both staking out new claims.

It is a beginning. Meet me halfway.

- Like with the loft?

- Like with the loft.

OK. OK, put out the damn light, will ya?

- (bongo drums)

- And bounce and up and bounce. Good.

You're learning. And bounce

and bounce and bounce and up,

- and we're running a little late.

- OK.

And push and push and push,

and together and push and push.

And together. Stretch right...

Stretch left...

Good. Good. Now twist, twist, twist...

And twist and twist and twist...

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