Words and Pictures Page #6

Confiscation, four syllables,

from the Latin confiscare...

to appropriate for the treasury.

We now have evidence that Dale

Swint drew the Emily picture.

You were right, I was wrong.

What a surprise.

It's from Swint's sketch book.

Jack confiscated it.

- You did?

- I did.

And, well, it's of you,

so I'm not sure if

you want to see it.

Fry the son of a b*tch.

He will be expelled immediately.

Doesn't mean the war is over.

Last week, Emily used

words against Swint.

Today Swint drew a picture.

Look what happened.

I'm still counting on your

painting for the magazine,

my thousand words,

and then we'll see who wins.

What's it really all about,

this artificial war?

You?

Yes.

Me.

They want to fire me.

I'm sure they'll interview you.

I'm being reviewed.

Can you think of one good

thing to say about me?

I'm at a loss for words.

So that's a very exc...

Um...

Your Grace.

I'm not sure this

is a very good idea

for you to be here on

the eve of your review.

You know, I thought about

that and I said to myself,

"Jack," which is

what I call myself.

"Jack," I said, "it's

time to show the colors

"and let the community

know you are now accepted

"at the sacred Huntsman and in

charge of all your faculties."

Then Jack reminded me

that it's you, Elspeth,

who are in charge of all

the faculties around here.

So you would know

what my chances are.

What are they?

There's quite a bit against you.

I can't lie.

But in your favor is the poem

and the fact that

you're writing again.

I don't want to talk

about the poem.

You know, what... what

about the student essays?

What about the school-wide

interest in our debate,

Words Versus Pictures?

That proves the value

of the magazine.

The magazine is an economic issue.

As for your place at Croyden

Prep, I don't know.

I need a promise from you.

I promise. I'll sign it in blood.

What is it?

I need to know that if the...

if the decision goes against you,

you won't punish me for it.

You're still worried that

I'll spill our old secret?

I would just like your word on it.

I do think you're a good man.

No.

I'm not.

But I am a good teacher,

and I'll fight for that

with any means I have.

And why should I promise you?

Maybe if I keep you in fear,

you'll say some good

things about me tomorrow.

Hey, Tom, give me the usual.

You got it, Jack.

Make it on the weak side.

Ready?

Three, two, one.

Oh!

I'm sorry, sorry.

That's okay.

Ladies, these are on Jack.

Thanks, Jack.

You know he's a real writer.

What do you write?

Oh, short stories, you

know, some poetry.

And he's published, too, right?

You know I've been in the, uh...

the Atlantic Monthly, and...

What he doesn't know

though is I was, uh...

I was in Playboy, too.

- Really?

- Yeah.

What?

What?

I was.

I was Miss January.

You want to see what I looked like?

Whoa! Whoa! Gently!

Sorry, sorry.

That's okay.

You have to leave.

What, you out of vodka?

I want you out of here.

Jesus. Nothing serious.

Ladies, Tom.

What'd I do? I fell off my chair.

It's not about the chair.

You're not funny,

you're not charming.

You have a drinking problem.

It's not a problem.

It's a hobby.

You know, some people

collect wooden ducks.

Call somebody.

Get a ride home.

You all right?

- Okay, good night.

- Hey, what are you doing?

Come in for Christ sakes.

You don't have to just turn

right around and go back.

You want some coffee?

You want me to make it or...

No, I got it. Sit down.

It's bullshit, you know?

The manager at the Huntsman's

just got it in for me.

You know, I'm sorry to

drag you away from Cathy.

It's Catherine.

Jesus.

What does she call you, Anthony?

By the way, what do you call Bill?

Do you call him Dad, too?

I call him Bill.

Does he drink?

Does ever get drunk,

or am I the only one in your

world that likes a drink?

Why is my poem on your board?

Because it's good.

It's your best.

When are you going to get your car?

I'll just take a cab

in the morning.

You know, uh...

they're trying to

fire me, so, uh...

desperate measures are called for.

What are you going to do?

Everything. I'm going

to use everything.

Good luck.

Everyone.

'Cause I'm a good teacher,

and that's worth saving, isn't it?

I don't really want any coffee,

and I'll call you tomorrow.

Hey. Hey!

Give me a hug.

I hope you keep your job, Dad.

Okay?

Oh, he has a large ego.

Well, we all know that.

I've never seen him

drunk personally,

but he's loud, and

he can be annoying,

obnoxious.

He reveres the language.

He knows more about it than most,

even most English teachers,

and he cares.

What more can you

ask from a teacher?

He really cares.

He's scattered, disorganized,

never has a lesson plan,

or if he does, he

never sticks to it.

Most of his assignments

are not even graded.

It's all very cocky,

seat-of-the-pants, you know,

all that "I'm a writer" bullsh...

And the magazine?

Nothing but an ego

rag for Jack Marcus.

Excuse me

for being so blunt.

Thank you.

I hardly know him.

Just your impressions.

Well, I'm impressed by the fact

that I've been studying

multi-syllable words

just to beat him at his own game.

Um...

I'm impressed at how the students

have picked up on this war of his.

You've seen the installations.

They're ideas that the

students came up with,

and they're good.

They're good.

And, um...

last night.

I painted my first workable

painting in six months.

Something I thought I

might never do again.

I did it to show him a picture

he could not do justice to

in words.

He's a pest,

always challenging.

Thank God for that.

Oh, damn it.

"Come in," she said.

What do you want?

"Come in," she said,

suddenly smiling a

broad, welcoming grin.

Those are for me?

I don't answer inane questions.

They're beautiful.

Look at this.

Wow. This is good.

Don't touch it.

It won't be dry for...

This is really good.

Well, it's um... I'm

still working on it.

It's very different

from what I've done.

There are vases in the sink.

You paint to this? It's beautiful.

Why did you bring me flowers?

Because I heard what you

said in the review,

and I thank you.

I've kept my job, Delsanto.

Congratulations.

I want to celebrate.

Are these from the poem?

Are these your drawings

from the new poem?

It's nothing, it's just...

Well, you put them up.

Oh, my God, Delsanto.

You should see something.

You should see how you

look in that light.

Oh, for God's sake.

I wish I was a painter.

Words fail.

Pictures, too.

I can't tell you how much

I want us to put our

mouths together.

Oh, really?

You're attracted to me?

Very much.

Why?

Same species, different sex.

Aren't you attracted to me?

Not in the least.

Did you think I would be?

Well, I had high hopes

for this jacket.

I mean, it's old, but

it's custom made,

and yet you feel nothing?

Admiration.

Good.

For your tailor.

God, you're fantastic.

You're such an ass.

You have such an ass.

Oh, you know nothing about my ass.

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