Watercolors Page #5

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We go through all the trouble

of not being seen together...

...and for what?

Do you want to order a pizza

or something?

You want pepperoni or sausage?

Sausage.

What I wouldn't do

for a shot of whiskey.

That's why we're here, right?

I am in over my head, Miriam.

I can't take care of a kid

by myself.

I mean, Megan,

she wasn't that much help...

...but at least I wasn't alone,

you know?

From what you told me,

it was worse than being alone.

Yeah, but Carter needs a mother,

you know?

He just can't keep surviving

off of frozen dinners.

...and macaroni and cheese.

I can't take care of him.

I can't even take care of myself.

And all he cares about

is that damn swimming.

To tell you the truth,

I could give a sh*t.

How's that, huh?

All I want to do is get drunk

and get laid.

Is that so bad?

At least now you're being honest.

It's nothing so terrible.

It's just that it's a slippery slope,

Stephen. You know?

Nobody said 60 days

was a magic number.

It just... it doesn't stop being hard.

You feeling any better?

Yeah.

Oh, hey. You're up late.

Oh, my God!

What happened?

I got into a fight at school.

Oh, sweetheart.

- We should get you cleaned up.

- No, no, I'm fine.

It just looks worse

than it is, that's all.

This guy that did this...

I hope you gave

as good as you got.

I got in a few hits.

You know I have to go

to the school, right?

Mom, you don't have

to make things worse.

Now, don't tell me my job.

You're not helping.

So, are you hungry?

Did you get something to eat?

Yeah, Carter came over.

We ordered pizza.

Okay.

Why don't you go on to bed.

It's late.

We'll talk about it in the morning.

Okay. Love you.

Kiss.

- Good night.

- Good night.

I ought to report this guy.

I'm telling you...

I told you. We did not need

to make such a big deal out of it.

- What?

- They jumped me.

Kids get jumped every day.

Well, then its wrong

every day, Danny.

Come on, let's go.

I'm not going to the emergency room

for four hours.

...just so they can tell me

I have a black eye.

No, we have to file

a police report, Danny.

No, Mom, we don't.

Not everything

is a human rights battle.

Relax. I'll deal with it.

Mom.

These are Carter's friends, right?

Did Carter have something

to do with this?

Is that why you don't want

to call the police?

Of course not.

I have to get back to class.

I'll see you when I get home.

- Hey, not today.

- What?

Come on.

We have to talk.

- You can miss class for a day.

- Are you kidding?

So there's something

you're not telling me.

What is it?

They beat me up...

They beat me up

because I'm gay, Mom.

Really?

Why now? Why Henry?

You've never had any trouble

with him before.

He thinks Carter and I

are going together.

Does Carter feel the same way?

He doesn't want to admit it...

...but I know that he does.

We had sex.

Safe?

- Yeah, safe.

- Are you sure?

Yeah.

And I liked it.

Okay.

- A lot.

- Okay!

Listen. The next time,

I'm going to file charges.

- Do you understand me?

- No...

I don't want to hear

any arguments about it.

I'm not having you end up

on the evening news.

I love you, Danny.

You're my little angel boy.

You've never given me any reason

to feel ashamed.

Hey, Coach! Coach!

What is it, Carter?

I'm late.

Hey, uh, you gave me

the 100-meter freestyle.

And?

Well, you gave Henry

the 200-meter breast.

That's my decision, Carter.

But, Coach, come on,

that's my best stroke.

Henry's swimming the 200 breast.

He's got the endurance.

End of story.

Anything else?

How's your sleeping?

Any better?

- Yeah.

- Are you taking anything for it?

No.

'Cause if you're taking anything

for it, I need to know.

No. No, Coach, I'm not.

We have three days, gentlemen.

That's it.

We're not there yet.

I don't want any of you thinking

that we're home free.

So in these next three days,

I want you to remember...

...never let up.

These two are begging

to be large scale.

Don't you think?

I was hoping you'd say that.

I'm thinking about painting

a series in acrylic.

These are really wonderful, Danny.

Tremendous improvement.

Very well done indeed.

Beautiful sense of space.

There's an openness

suggested by the poses.

A certain vulnerability.

Maybe all the inspiration you really

needed was a different model.

I'm that obvious?

We're all inspired

by different things, Danny.

You know, every once in a while...

I have the great fortune

to meet a student like you.

You're young and full of promise.

There's nothing you can't do

if you set your mind to it.

I don't get it man,

we're supposed to be teammates.

Why are you always giving me

such a hard time?

Who's the queer

you're hanging out with, huh?

The one that draws?

He's my English tutor!

Not that that's any

of your business.

So leave him alone, okay?

Do you hear

what I'm telling you, Henry?

What do you care?

Just leave him

the f*** alone, all right?

I hope you're not going funny

on me, man.

Dude, are you really a homo?

Aw, what's the matter?

Did I hurt your feelings, huh?

Here's an idea.

Why don't you go tell your boyfriend?

Maybe he can buy you some flowers.

Make you feel better.

I'd like your essays now, please.

Well thank your for joking us,

Mr. Melman.

Please pass them forward.

Yes?

I don't have it.

If you don't have your essay today,

I don't want it.

You've been warned.

You've had plenty of time.

Margaret, would you please collect

them from the front of each row.

Hm.

One, two, three, four, five, six...

...seven of your classmates

are out today with the essay flu.

Please give them

my best get well wishes.

Thank you, Margaret.

Oh!

Okay. Please take out

a fresh sheet of paper.

Hey.

What's that, Dad?

Fan Mail.

Yep. Although I wish

I wasn't so popular.

Big day tomorrow, huh?

Better get some rest.

I am going to have

the best race of my life tomorrow.

Yeah, well, maybe you should adjust

your expectations just a little.

Thanks for the vote of confidence

there, Dad.

Yeah, well, just trying

to keep it real, Romeo.

Can't you say anything encouraging

every once in a while?

Sure. Give me a reason

every once in a while.

I should be hearing back

from UT any day now.

Carter.

Carter,

I got to tell you something.

What's wrong?

What?

Are you trying to talk me out of it?

You can't go back now.

- You said that if I got...

- No, no. No.

No, I just need

to tell you something.

...and I'm not sure how

you're going to take it.

That's all.

What? Is it about me

going to school in Texas?

No, it's not about that. It's got

nothing to do with swimming.

Jesus, you're like

a f***ing broken record.

Is it about those blackouts?

Because that was just...

No, it's about your mother.

She's in jail.

She called a while ago

asking for bail money.

Is she okay?

She's fine.

She's always fine.

Carter, listen. Carter!

- Hey, Carter's up next.

- Yeah.

It's the 100-meter

something or other.

Freestyle.

Now, where is he?

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