Wonder Wheel Page #8

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You'll like them. They're dark.

And he really knew the score.

You know? Human nature

and existence.

I once acted in a play of his.

Which? I know them all.

It was just summer stock, they

did uh, The Iceman Cometh.

I-I played one of the whores.

What power!

To write a play about

the human condition.

The tragic human condition and

how we have to lie to

ourselves in order to live.

Anyhow, happy 40th.

Carolina says you were

flirting with her.

Flirting?

I gave her a lift in the rain.

You don't have to lie.

She said you parked

and had a long talk.

A flirtatious talk.

Did she get the impression

that I was flirting?

Jesus. I mean, I was

fascinated by her story.

This girl's lived a lifetime

in her 26 years.

Did you make a pass at her?

A pass? God, no.

I gave her a lift.

Did you tell her she had a

beautiful face in the rain light?

I don't remember.

I-I-I may have, but

what's wrong with a compliment?

You know she's a marked woman.

I-I do, she told me her story.

It's chilling.

Would you like to spend

more time with her?

Why do you say that?

Well, that's the

impression she got.

Look, this is supposed to be

your birthday celebration

and it's turning into

the third degree.

Can't you see I'm jealous?

Nothing's happened

to be jealous of.

I was hoping...

we might have a future together.

Yes, I know, I...

I told you we'd talk about

it when the time comes.

If you told her she

had a beautiful face,

what the hell is-is she

supposed to think?

What the hell am I

supposed to think?

Hey, we were sitting in

the car on a rainy day--

that light would've

looked soft on any woman.

You know what, this conversation

is-is starting to take a crazy turn.

I've become consumed

with jealousy!

Can we start the day over?

I really hope you like

your birthday present.

O'Neill was a great one.

Great and terrifying.

Of course I felt terrible.

I needed to talk

the situation over

with someone a lot

sharper than me.

I called my friend Jake Jacoby

who's a graduate

student at city college

in the philosophy department.

It doesn't make sense because

you're not dealing with sense,

you're dealing with feelings.

Feelings, my friend.

It's a whole different ballgame.

The whole thing

is so irrational.

I've been seeing this

married woman all summer.

And she has these fantasies of

leaving her husband

and going away with me.

Her fondest wish would be

to divorce him and marry me.

And at times I see it

and at times I don't.

She's older than me

and I like that.

Somehow it fits into

the romantic narrative of

the writer's life.

But she's more than that.

So-So-So why am I hesitant?

One minute I'm not sure,

the next I'm ready to

take charge of her life--

to rescue her.

Can-Can this Carolina

be relied on?

After all, she-she did

run away with gangsters

because she was a thrillseeker.

Uh... you know...

did-did-did she learn her lesson?

She may give you

a period of bliss

but will it sustain?

Will this other one be

a more solid fit for you?

When I hear you say it,

I think,

yes, she would.

And-And Ginny's counting

on me, she's drowning.

Yeah, she'd be eternally

grateful for a lifeline.

Af-After all, you know, a love

so intense as hers is for you

is a rare gift to have

bestowed on a man.

It's amazing how

lucid things become

when you get an

outside perspective.

At that moment, a fog lifted

and my choice was obvious.

Carolina was a lovely daydream

but reality, with all its pros

and cons, belonged to Ginny.

All my silly schemes to

pursue Carolina seemed crazy

and I made the decision to never

entertain that pipe dream again.

But as Jake said, the heart

has its own hieroglyphics.

Maybe he was right.

Hi!

I came to tell you something.

Oh, yeah?

I thought of you yesterday.

I know you mentioned

that you love pizza.

And somebody said he knew the

greatest pizza place in Brooklyn.

And he took me there

and he was right.

And I thought you'd

wanna know about it.

Your boyfriend took you?

It's called Capri, it's a few

blocks from the boardwalk

not far from here.

Will you let me take you there?

I'm kinda busy

with school all week.

Is Friday night good?

Friday, I can do.

And he's not my boyfriend.

I touch your lips and all

at once the sparks go flying

Those devil lips that know

so well the art of lying

And though I see the danger,

still the flame grows higher

I know I must surrender

to your kiss of fire

Just like a torch, you set

the soul within me burning

-Good morning, ma'am.

-Morning.

-Do you still have it?

-Yes, I do.

I've got the money.

-Here.

-Great.

Wonderful.

Can you take it in the back

and engrave it?

Of course, what do

you want it to say?

You're all that I desire

Since first I kissed you

my heart was yours completely

If I'm a slave

-Hi.

Then it's a slave I want to be

Don't pity me

Don't pity me

Give me your lips,

the lips you only let me borrow

Love me tonight and let

the devil take tomorrow

I know that I must have your

kiss although it dooms me

Though it consumes me

Your kiss of fire

Since first I kissed you

my heart was yours completely

I'm glad we could steal

these few minutes.

No one will see us this end

of the boardwalk, it's

it's so private.

I wanted to talk to you.

But first, I want to talk to you.

Okay.

Don't look so worried.

Mine is a nice thing.

What?

Did you miss me?

Well, you've been so

busy with your son--

That's not what I asked you.

-Did you miss me?

-Jesus, Ginny.

-Why are you always so evasive?

-Take it easy.

You never wanna talk

about anything.

Okay, look, I don't want

to get off to a bad start.

Remember last week

it was my birthday?

-Yes.

-Well, today is yours.

How'd you know?

You mentioned it.

Remember we're both Leos?

I mentioned it ages ago.

What a memory.

What is that?

I got you a present.

-No.

-Here.

Oh, God.

You-You...

You can't do that.

-Why not?

-I-It's not right.

You got me a gift.

I know, but...

what the hell, I got you a book.

This is... i-i-it's-

it's much too expensive.

I can't accept this.

How would you know

it's so expensive?

I've inquired about this watch.

-I was with you.

-Ginny.

Okay. This is a $500 watch.

But you always

wanted this watch.

Yes, but it's much

too extravagant.

-You can't afford this.

-That's my business.

And even if you could, it's

much too extravagant, given...

Given what?

Given-Given what?

It's too much to spend on me.

You shouldn't be

getting me jewelry.

Why not?

Is it too meaningful?

Oh, Christ. You inscribed it.

Yeah, read it.

Look...

We have to have a talk.

I thought you'd be excited.

It's too much and I can't

accept this watch.

Stop saying that!

You can't be buying

me a $500 watch.

Look, why?

Y-You're always saying

what a beautiful, perfect

summer it's been, and-and...

It's not right given

the circumstances.

What circumstances?

What are the goddamn

circumstances?

That you're ready

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