A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) Movie Script
When I became of age my mother
called me to her side
She said son you're
growing up now
Pretty soon you'll
take a bride
And then she said just
because you've become
A young man now
There's still some things
that you don't understand now
Before you ask some girl
for her hand now
Keep your freedom
for as long as you can now
My mama told me
You better shop around
Shop
Oh yeah you better shop around
Shop shop around
Ah ah ah there's some things
that I want you to know now
Just as sure
as the winds gonna blow now
The women come
and the women gonna go now
Before you tell 'em
that you love 'em so now
My mama told me
You better shop around
Shop
Oh yeah you better shop around
Shop shop around
A-try to get yourself
a bargain son
Don't be sold
on the very first one
A-pretty girls
come a dime a dozen
A-try to find one who's gonna
give you true lovin'
Before you take a girl
and say I do now
A-make sure she's in
love with-a you now
My mama told me
You better shop around
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: It's funny
when you think about it.
The odd things
that bring people together
after a long time in a way
that seems all of a sudden.
That man on my left, who is
mourning the death of his car,
was a total stranger to me
less than 36 hours ago.
Even though I lived with him
since the day I was born.
The trouble started a few weeks
after high school graduation
in the No Exit Cafe.
I had just finished
one of my greatest poems,
"I was talkin' to God last night
but God wasn't talkin' to me,"
when I spotted two girls
who were
trying to read
each other's minds.
The pretty one in pigtails
flicked her ash on my shoe.
So I figured that was an
indication of something.
Two days later,
we did it on the oriental rug
in the dining room
at her grandmother's house.
It was about six weeks
after that when she telephoned
and said she needed to have
an abortion or get married.
So I, I gave her a $110
out of the money
I'd saved
for my college tuition.
Then I found out that
there were three other guys
who had paid
for the same abortion
before she skipped town.
What happened was,
I was swindled
by an 18-year-old con woman.
It was only the night
before last
when I went to visit
my best friend, Fred Roberts
in a last ditch attempt
to borrow the money
I needed for college.
Fred, I'm desperate.
You caught another
venereal disease?
No, it's somethin' else.
Can we talk inside?
You're going through
another abortion?
No, when I got home tonight,
my old man told me
he found out about it.
I told you something like this
would happen.
Now he won't give me
my tuition for college
until I come up
with my half of the money.
I see.
You came to me because I've
loaned you money before.
Like the time I lent you
$14 and 13 cents
for the music box
you gave to your beloved Lisa
on her birthday.
Like the time we went
to the movies. It cost me $5...
Jimmy: Fred was being
his usual self
in his buttoned-down shirt,
buttoned-down mind
and buttoned-down bank account.
And so I was forced to come up
with a brilliant new scheme.
It capitalized on Fred's
condition, chronic virginity.
So tonight,
I offered to find him a girl
if he'd lend me a $110.
It was like
doing us both a favor.
So we drove around
the whole town,
but because of the rain
every place was dead.
Now it was twenty minutes
till 2 o'clock
with my whole future
ebbing away minute by minute.
I say screw it, it's a bust.
Jimmy: The deal was we wait
till 2 o'clock.
I'm getting tired
of driving around.
My ass is even getting numb.
Do you wanna give up? Is that
what you're trying to tell me?
- That's right.
- Okay.
Go to Harvard a virgin.
But how are you gonna feel
when they ask you
how many times you've scored?
Those Ivy League schools
send out questionnaires
on that kind of stuff, you know?
I'll lie.
After all the hours
I spent teaching you
practically everything I know?
Shit! You make
most of that stuff up.
Helped you win back Denise,
didn't it?
- Not the same thing.
- What's the difference?
It's friendship, isn't it?
I might have loaned it to you
as a friend.
It was your idea
to ask me as a pimp.
[instrumental music]
Stop here!
I don't like this neighborhood.
Pull over! That place is loaded
with college girls.
I still got
twenty minutes, right?
Fifteen.
Love
We need...
[sighs]
Oh
Jimmy: Hi.
What are you reading there?
Kierkegaard.
Looks interesting.
The way you're reading it.
He's a gas.
Fourteen minutes.
Would you give me a chance?
Jimmy: Sure isn't very swingin'
in here tonight.
When school starts up,
it's a real zoo.
You go to Northwestern?
University of Chicago,
both me and Fred.
We're juniors.
Do you go to Northwestern?
Jimmy: What's your major?
- Political science.
Don't ask me why.
You could always
go into the foreign service.
I'd like you to meet
Fred Roberts.
- Hi.
- Hi.
But I was wrong
yeah yeah yeah
Fred: Eleven minutes.
Say, Fred just came up
with this great idea.
This place is closing
in a few minutes and Fred thinks
it might be fun
if we all go out for dessert.
Fred's got a car, so there's
no problem with transportation.
I have one too.
There's no use in takin'
two cars, right, Fred?
Yeah.
Where's there to go?
Fred thinks the No Exit
might be fun.
- The what?
- An espresso place.
You know, poetry reading,
folk singing.
You'll love it, it's great.
And I know oh oh
Just to relieve the monotony.
Why not?
Don't worry about the tab,
Fred will charge it
to one of his old man's
department stores.
Right, Fred?
I'll see you in the car.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: She decided
to sit up front.
Screwing up the plan
to get her in the back
to wait for Fred.
[indistinct chatter on radio]
Until Rock and Rob
joins you at 6:00 a.m.
We'll leave you with this
classic by The Spaniards.
That station must be
going off the air.
- Guess so.
- What'd you say?
- I said it must be.
- What?
Going off the air, the station.
Oh, yeah.
Goodnight sweetheart
well it's time to go
[sighs]
Could you, uh,
put your finger right there?
Uh, yeah.
Just, just pinch it.
Goodnight sweetheart goodnight
Thanks.
I love it when it rains,
don't you?
Me? I don't know.
Fred does... a lot.
I like... the sound of it.
[exhales]
Makes me melt kind of.
Fred must have gotten lost.
My brother's name is Fred.
He's in the army.
Fred's in the ROTC.
He's officer material.
Goodnight sweetheart goodnight
Excuse me.
Come on, Fred,
what are you getting
so pissed off about, huh?
- Fred, listen.
- Hey, let go!
- I was only priming her up...
- Like hell!
You can't control yourself,
your goddamn pecker
leads you around
like a mule chasing a carrot.
But I didn't even get it in!
We were waiting for you!
- Bull! Bullshit!
- I swear!
Listen, Fred, I'm telling you
this girl's crazy about you.
I was only
a temporary substitute.
She's crazy about me, huh?
- I think you hurt her feelings.
- Hurt her feelings?
Hurt her feelings? Look...
- Hey!
- Here's your goddamn beer!
[instrumental music]
You don't want a lift?
Alright, pick you up
in the morning.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: Now it looked like
I'd be stuck forever
in this snobbish suburb
of Evanston
while my rich-raised friends
cartwheeled off to Harvard
or Yale
or wherever they were going.
All because of one night
on an oriental rug.
It pissed me off!
It really pissed me off.
Then I heard the clattering
symbol of my doom
on its way to a 6:00 a.m.
collection of working drones
to take them
to their downtown hives.
Soon they would be
coming for me.
But I wouldn't let it get me.
Not tonight, and not yet.
Faye: Jimmy, it's your mother.
Are you decent?
Jimmy: Yes, mother.
I wanna talk to you.
- Is father here?
- He drove over to Sears.
Jimmy, listen to me.
You're going to college
whether you like it or not.
It's not exactly my choice.
Faye: I know your father
very well.
I figured out
why he's been so strange
about making you come up
with that money.
It's not how you spent it.
It's more than that.
Jimmy: Now what did I do?
I think you wounded him deeply
when you chose your college.
What do you mean?
I think he wanted you,
his oldest son,
to follow in his footsteps.
You mean, he wanted me
to go to his school? Mom!
I should think you'd be proud
of your father's alma mater.
Most sons would like to go
to the same school.
But McKinley College?
Who the hell ever heard
of McKinley college?
It happens to be a very
respected business school.
But it's a monastery!
An all-boys school!
Oh! I thought what you wanted
was an education.
Jimmy: Who the hell can get an
education right in the middle
of downtown Chicago,
in a skyscraper?
Besides, I don't wanna live
at home with Rosie and Toby
around all the time and you
and father arguing every night.
Jimmy: How would I study?
- Your father managed it.
He didn't even get his degree
till after Rosie was born.
At least you have your own room
which is more privacy
than he ever had.
I'm not going
to McKinley College.
Let's face facts, Jimmy.
That is the only way
I can get your father
to send you to school.
You know his alternatives.
A real job!
And not one of these
dollar-an-hour
potential artist things.
A full-time job
so that you can contribute
your share to this house!
It's either that or McKinley.
That's what it comes down to.
[instrumental music]
I'll speak to your father
by lunchtime.
I ironed a clean shirt for you.
It's in the closet.
Be here on time.
Comb your hair.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Suzie: And after
two dry vermouths on the rocks,
sweet Sarah was hominy,
gritting all over the judge.
Which is not to say that
after all the guests went home,
they both didn't get
very sugarly
and very southernly in the den.
Are you sure
it was Lisa's mother?
The party was at my house,
wasn't it? Who cut the canapes?
I think you make that stuff up.
Well, that's just because
you're new here.
Fred: I was born here!
Yeah,
but your grandfather wasn't.
And it takes at least
three generations
before you can follow trends.
Fred: Trends, hell!
Look, Fred, do you always have
to drive nine miles an hour?
Hey, I don't have to drive fast
to get my kicks.
- How do you get your kicks?
- He reads.
[chuckles]
How about you?
You guys find that, uh, girl
you were lookin' for last night?
What, what are you
talking about?
She's just testing, Fred.
She doesn't know a thing.
Dum-de-dum.
[instrumental music]
[birds chirping]
[engine rumbling]
Hey, watch the upholstery,
will you?
Say hello to Mathew Hollander.
Who's Mathew Hollander?
You'll see.
[birds chirping]
- Where's my radio?
- It's in the trunk.
It'll break back there, stupid.
Go get it!
Alright.
I think you two
make the neatest couple.
[trunk door slams]
[knock on door]
Lisa's out back.
Go on around back.
[instrumental music]
Thank you.
Lisa's next door, Jimmy.
Go past the garden by the pool.
Jimmy: Okay, thanks.
[music continues]
That was terrific, Mathew.
I thought I was in trouble there
for a while.
Oh, not a chance.
[sighs]
Lisa: Jimmy!
- Hi.
Hi, we just finished.
Do you know Mathew Hollander?
- No! How do you do, Mathew?
- Pleased to meet you, Jimmy.
Lisa's told me a lot about you.
- Really? Great.
- Don't worry.
- Nothing flattering.
- Yeah, right.
See you later, Mathew.
Come on, I'll get my things.
Jimmy: Are you gonna
see him later?
It's just an expression.
Are you gonna kiss me
passionately in the forest
like a highway man?
[instrumental music]
That's enough.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: Lisa thought it
was cute when I took her
to the No Exit Cafe
instead of one of those
downtown restaurants
where the rich race went.
She didn't understand,
it was neither cute
nor romantic, it was poverty.
She thought just because
I look like everybody else
and I spoke English,
that we were the same.
But... we weren't.
- Come.
- Come on, horsey. My horsey.
Lisa: Ride me to Banbury Fair.
Why don't you go play by
yourself, little girl?
Giddy-up!
Hey!
- Sorry.
- Jimmy, what's the matter?
Look, every time
we go some place,
you start running around
like your ass is on fire.
Why the hell can't you
stay with me just one time?
Are you embarrassed
to be with me or somethin'?
- You know I'm not.
- Then what?
When we're alone,
you always find some reason
to, to start things.
Ah! You're so goddamn scared.
Sometimes I think
you're frigid or something.
You just expect
every girl you see
to plop in bed with you.
I hear about you and those girls
you go out with.
What about you?
Every time I cross that
goddamn southern threshold
of yours,
I have to be reminded
of your gentlemen callers.
If I don't go out
with other boys,
I couldn't go out with you.
Mommy won't let me go out with
just one boy, you know that.
I suppose she examines you
to make sure
no one has crossed
the Mason-Dixon line.
The only one
she worries about is you.
Mommy has no illusions about you
and neither do I.
I'm no different than those
other guys she approves of.
The only difference
is they have cars
with back seats to screw on.
It's not the only difference.
Mommy's right.
You're always in trouble,
and if you're not in it
you're looking for it.
Are you gonna think that of me
for the rest of our lives?
The rest of our lives?
- Yes.
- No.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy, don't, please.
Don't.
[instrumental music]
- Jimmy.
- What?
Jimmy, can I see it?
Will anything happen?
Not if I don't want it to.
[chuckles]
It looks funny.
You wanna hurt its feelings?
I'm sorry.
Jimmy: It's okay.
Is it always hot like this?
Only when it likes someone.
Does it like me?
Don't you know?
It's funny.
It makes me feel funny.
Jimmy, don't.
[birds chirping]
Rub some oil on my legs, Fred.
All I get from the sun
is red blotches.
- I won't break, Fred.
- I know it.
My thighs, too.
Do you think Fred
leads a secret life?
No, he's just a little timid
with girls.
Timid? He's scared to death.
I think it's nice.
Sure you do.
Everybody needs a rest.
What do you mean by that?
Dum-de-dum.
Shut up, Suzie.
Oh, my! I'm on everybody's
shit list today.
- Just do it, will you, Fred?
- I am! I'm doing it.
Jimmy: After tonight,
I won't see you
till you get back home
for Christmas vacation.
Lisa: By then you'll probably
forget all about me
with all those girls
up at Western Illinois.
Maybe,
except I'm not goin' there.
Why? You said
you couldn't wait to go.
No! I found me a better deal.
It's a really good school.
McKinley College.
McKinley College?
Yeah, the family's
always gone to McKinley.
- Isn't that a business school?
- Sure, that's why.
Do you know how many English
majors they have at McKinley?
- No.
- Practically none.
So I'll be getting
individual instruction
like one of those guys
at Oxford.
Oh, it certainly sounds nice.
To tell you the truth,
it practically killed my old man
when I decided not to go
to his alma mater.
It's the least I can do
to make the old man happy.
You're doing this
for your father? Is that why?
- Yeah.
- I think that's wonderful.
[instrumental music]
You know,
it really bothers me...
It'll be months
till I see you again.
I can't believe
I'll lose you that easily.
I bet one morning
I'll open my eyes
and there you'll be,
all tan and wet from swimming.
And I won't ask what you're
doing in Hawaii or anything.
We'll just run along the beach
and climb coconut trees,
and go to a big luau every
single night except Wednesdays.
Why except Wednesdays?
'Cause on Wednesdays
we make love, silly.
Just on Wednesdays?
Well, maybe Saturdays too.
That way it'll be spaced out.
You sure have become liberal
since we've moved
to the islands.
Of course, there are practical
things to be considered
before we actually start
planting pineapple trees
in our own backyard.
- Practical?
- Yeah, like money.
- Oh, that.
- Yeah, that.
There's always mommy.
Don't move.
Now blow it off and make a wish.
[blows]
Lisa: What did you wish for?
Jimmy: Lisa, do you remember
how much your ticket cost?
I mean, your plane fare
for Hawaii.
About a $190, why?
All I need is $88.
Are you asking me for it?
Where would I get
that kind of money?
- Mommy!
- You're kidding, aren't you?
You know
how she feels about you.
But once I got there,
I can get a job.
I could work during the day
and go to school at night.
And how do you know
you could find a job?
I've worked
for a photographer before
and that's like a profession.
If I don't get a job right away,
I'll stay with you.
- With me?
- Sure.
- You're not staying on campus.
- Where would you sleep?
- In bed. Where do you think?
- Whose bed?
We'll talk about that
when I get there.
Jimmy, you can't.
You just can't. You're dreaming.
I'm dreaming, huh?
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: Hawaii was no dream.
To me, Hawaii was like
waking up.
The real dream was Fred's
mansion and Suzie's gossip.
Somehow it all seemed true
and even available
when I was with them.
But afterwards,
when it was all over,
I always went back
to the dingy back door landing
of my own house.
Well, in Hawaii,
me and Lisa would be equal.
Both strangers,
pioneers together.
All I needed was $88.
Jimmy: Rosie!
[whistles]
Rosie!
What's up?
Look, I've never asked you
for anything before, have I?
And I'm not gonna ask you
for anything now.
I'm gonna give you a chance
to earn a lot of money.
- Well, what do you think?
- About what?
- About making some money?
- You haven't said how yet.
Well, if I tell you,
you gotta promise
to keep it a secret.
You can't even tell Toby.
I never tell Toby anything.
Rosie...
tomorrow morning at 11:45
a plane's taking off
from the O'Hare Airport,
where do you think it's going?
Hawaii.
Well, don't you think
that's great?
I'm gonna be on that plane.
What's the proposition?
Well, you see, there's a lot
of new stuff goin' on there
because of the
population explosion.
Jimmy: You do know about the
population explosion, don't you?
Rosie: I think so.
- Oh.
Well, anyway, with all
the people being born there
I'll be able
to get on the first wave
and, and grow with them.
Jimmy: Raise pineapples,
coconuts, natural pearls.
So, you see, Rosie...
Sure, I see, you want me
to give you some money.
No! Not give.
Invest it with me.
Look, when I take
those kids bowling
it makes them work for me,
that's an investment.
But you... Whoever got anything
out of you?
Rosie: So if I laid bread on
you, it wouldn't be investing,
it would be giving.
So it's a long-term investment.
You can't lose.
Okay. How much do you want?
- $88.
Rosie: That much?
I'll get it back to you,
I promise.
What have you got
for collateral?
What do you want?
How about your record player?
It's not mine.
It belongs to Fred Roberts.
Jimmy: Okay!
It's yours.
I thought you said
it belonged to Fred.
Yeah, well, it's not anymore.
- Okay, then $20.
- $20?
What do you expect
for stolen property?
Oh, come on, Rosie.
I'll, I'll throw in
the records, too.
- And the cufflink case?
Jimmy: Anything.
- Okay, then $24.
- $30.
Since you're my brother, I may
be willing to go up to $28.
- But that's the best I can do.
- I'll take it.
Faye: This afternoon.
Al: What? When?
Faye: I invited her
for 04:30.
Al: Uh-uh, not while
this is still my house.
Faye: Al, lower your voice,
the neighbors already know
too much about us.
Goddammit, use your head, Faye.
You can't let
that kind of a woman
into a house with children.
Toby, go work
for your sister now.
I'll give you
the 25 cents later.
She's not that kind of a woman.
She's intelligent and successful
and I like her.
And I'm telling you,
I don't want her in this house
and that's final!
You certainly didn't mind her
the night
of the Real Estate Career Dance.
I saw the way you watched her.
Who didn't watch her?
Al: She didn't leave much
to the imagination.
We should be grateful
she invited us.
God knows when we get out
otherwise!
If Joyce Fickett is in the house
when I get back from the office,
I'm gonna be damn sore!
- Now, I'm warnin' you, Faye!
- Al, lower your voice.
Just use your
goddamn head, Faye.
That's all I'm telling you.
Where have you been?
Mom, I need to tell you
somethin'.
Faye, where the hell
are the Fig Newtons?
Not now!
Go in and see your father.
I talked to him about McKinley
and he's pleased as punch.
- Well, mom...
Al: Faye!
Just go!
[crunching loudly]
- Cream?
- No, thanks.
Like it black now, huh?
Jimmy: I could not stand
watching television
with father
because he crunched peanuts.
But what he could do
with the Fig Newton
was beyond belief.
Leavin' for work already?
[sighs] I gotta bone up for the
old cost-accounting procedure.
- Oh!
- You sure work hard.
I got something you might be
interested in.
Here, look at it.
In the corner at the bottom...
on the right.
Heard about Gene Sherwood?
Oh, yeah!
Al: Quite a success story, huh?
You know,
he went to McKinley, too.
We were buddies all through
school, me and Gene.
No kidding?
See what you can accomplish
if you put your mind to it?
Of course, a young man
has oats to sow.
I guess I overdo it, though.
I'm the first to admit it.
Yeah, but you came around
in the end,
that's what matters,
that's what counts.
Hey, look, you'll like McKinley.
I gotta go. I'll see you later.
You know, I was talkin'
to this kid yesterday
and... and he said that, uh,
he's goin' to Hawaii.
His father could easily
send him to Yale
but this guy wants to work
his up way from the bottom.
So he's takin' off
and gettin' himself a job.
Isn't that admirable?
I'm sure his father's
very proud of him.
I wouldn't be impressed
by that crap!
Hawaii's a lotta beach bums.
- But it isn't fair somehow.
Al: What's that?
The way you worked your way
through McKinley and everything.
Fifty hours a week
besides raisin' us kids.
And I get it all for free.
[laughs]
Since when are you worried
about gettin' somethin'
for nothin'?
I was thinkin' along the terms
of, uh,
character development.
What the hell
are you talkin' about?
Look, I, I know we moved to
Evanston to have a better life
but we still don't have
that much furniture.
I mean, like we did
in the old neighborhood.
And I blew all that money!
Start thinkin' about
your studies.
Let me worry about the finances.
But I'm worried about
the finances, too.
Sending me to college
is gonna cost you.
I know what it's
gonna cost me, dammit.
Do you really think
it's worth it?
You little son of a bitch,
what are you getting at?
I wanna go to Hawaii.
- Hawaii?
- Like the kid I told you about.
Hawaii?
Think of all the money
you'll save.
Oh, I'm gonna save money,
alright.
You either go
to McKinley College
or you get the hell out
Monday morning,
you find yourself a job
that starts paying,
pay your way around here!
Faye: There's some cold
meat loaf in the refrigerator
if anybody's still hungry.
You gotta pay your share
or you get the fuck out!
You! You and your goddamn
aristocratic son!
Not one cent, do you understand?
And if that goddamn woman
is in my house
when I get back from the office
there's gonna be hell to pay!
What did you do
to your father now?
[upbeat music]
Jimmy:
Father was just displaying
the characteristics of his kind.
He'd probably never taken
a chance in his entire life.
There were other ways
of getting to Hawaii.
But at least I still
have my job.
[music continues]
It wasn't gonna be easy
getting an advance
out of my boss.
A photographer,
who was so stingy
he made Fred Roberts
look like the Ford Foundation.
But even he couldn't ignore
all of the extra stuff
I was doin' today
to impress him.
I just hoped he wouldn't be
in a lousy mood
because of his mother,
the only woman in his life
who was constantly spying
on him and driving him crazy.
She even hired
private detectives.
Linus: What? Are you having me
tailed again?
[indistinct chatter]
Damn you, I will not be tailed
by any damn tan Chevrolet!
Do you understand?
I suppose you expect me,
a woman of my age,
to follow you myself?
I don't want anybody
to follow me.
Well, someone's got
to look out for you.
Mama, I'm 38 years old.
And you still can't
look out for yourself.
Those dreadful parties
and that awful Caroline Mengers!
[upbeat music]
You're always together
smooching over the phone.
An old woman could be dying and
not get past the busy signal.
And she's no
spring chicken, either.
[whirring]
Linus: You know,
I'm not that lucky, mother.
You'll know how lucky you are
when you read my will.
I'm sick and tired of hearing
about your lousy will!
[whirring]
Hello, Mr. Spaulding,
Mrs. Spaulding.
How are you today?
Jimmy: Since Mr. Spaulding
was in such a lousy mood,
I decided not to ask him
for the advance.
Now I was still $60 short.
[instrumental music]
Man 1 on TV: Hadn't we better
send out flanking guards?
Man 2 on TV: What for?
- Is that you, Jimmy?
Man 2 on TV:
Afraid of that gallows-face?
Man 1 on TV: Afraid?
Certainly not, sir.
What took you so long?
Man 1 on TV: Don't worry, we're
more than enough
to take care of him.
Jimmy?
Is anybody there?
Jimmy?
[door shuts]
Fred?
[instrumental music]
[door shuts]
[creaking]
Man 3 on TV:
Once these poor people
were all happy and contented.
[dialing]
Man 3 on TV: And now...
Tortured, eyes put out,
tongues slit, ears hacked off...
They come to me for protection.
What are you doing?
I don't feel like
Jack The Ripper today.
But that was the best one yet.
[instrumental music on TV]
[heavy breathing]
This is stupid.
I feel like an idiot.
You never felt stupid before.
Before was different.
Woman on TV:
I said I'm not hungry.
Man on TV: My, so you did,
I'd forgotten.
He's real bitchin'.
- Who?
- Errol Flynn.
Yeah.
- You're breaking my arm.
- Sorry.
[Flynn laughing]
[instrumental music on TV]
It's stuck.
- I'll get it.
- Yeah.
Watch your nails.
Man on TV:
Next to Roman friends.
Woman on TV: Would you have
taken Roman lives?
Man on TV: Yes, those that
deserved it, cruel and unjust.
You're a strange man.
Strange?
Because I can feel
for beaten and helpless people?
Woman on TV: No, you're strange
because you want to...
[breathing heavily]
- Jimmy?
- What?
Not right away, okay?
Okay.
Goodbye.
You just don't understand,
do you?
Bye, milady.
Ready?
[breathing heavily]
[moaning]
- It's over.
- What's over?
"Robin Hood."
Jimmy: Even if Denise wasn't
one of the world's
greatest wits, we'd spent some
great afternoons here.
A habit I was gonna be sorry
to break.
I realized I'd have to
tell her that I was going.
But what if she cried
or started or throwing things,
or... or, wow, even told Fred?
Denise: What's wrong with you?
What are you staring
like that for?
Nothin'.
I'm just lookin'.
Hand me my purse, will ya?
On the TV.
[indistinct chatter on TV]
What I wanted to tell you
is tomorrow morning I'm...
I mean, there's a possibility.
I'm thinking about
going to Hawaii.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
The folks' plane
gets in at three.
They should be
getting here soon.
I guess I better be goin'.
Denise, I was wondering,
you don't suppose
you could lend me
a little bread, do ya?
I mean, just till Monday.
Mr. Spaulding ran out of checks
and all I need is $60
or even part of it.
What's wrong? I'll pay you back
first thing Monday.
I can't lend you any money,
I'm sorry.
Jimmy: Why not?
- Fred won't let me.
Jimmy: Fred?
What's Fred got to do with this?
He says you're a bad risk.
I promised him if you ever ask
me for any money, I'd say no.
Jimmy: How would he find out?
I'd have to tell him.
Can't keep secrets from Fred.
Well, you certainly managed
to keep
these Saturday afternoons
a secret.
That is entirely different.
Fred wouldn't understand
about that.
Okay.
See you guys tonight
at the No Exit.
Woman on TV: Oh, no, not another
run? These nylons are hopeless.
Hey.
Could you change the channel
on the TV, please?
There's nothing but commercials
on that one.
[clicks]
Jimmy: I couldn't really stay
pissed off at Denise.
If you've ever read
a little Freud,
you would know that she was
just over-compensating
for a secret habit from Fred.
Boy, first my boss
and his mother, and now this.
And the day was almost over.
Wait a minute.
My boss' mother.
Alice? Alice, get in here.
She drinks. Ali...
Oh, there you are.
The young man and I are waiting
for our refreshments.
I've been in the kitchen
doin' the silver.
I only got two hands.
Brandy, scotch, milk, coke?
- Water's fine.
- He'll have water.
- And I'll have brandy.
- You will not.
Alright then, tea.
Step on it.
You want to tell me about Linus,
isn't that what you said
on the phone?
- Well...
- Don't stammer, dear. Speak up.
I thought you might like to know
who goes to his parties.
You don't go to his parties,
do you?
Jimmy: Me?
- Shh.
Thank you.
[cup clinking]
[whispering] Who did you say was
coming to Linus' party tonight?
- Well...
- Shh! How many?
Fifteen, sixteen.
Name them.
Well, you see, I, uh, sort of
consider it...
classified information,
if you know what I mean.
Do you mean you want money
for it?
Yeah. I thought maybe we could
think along those lines.
How do I know you're not passing
bogus information?
You don't expect me to buy
a pig in a poke?
Okay.
We'll start with... Harry Tools.
I wouldn't give you two cents
for Harry.
- Why not?
- Give me another.
Uh, Mort Wiseman.
- No good.
- Him either?
Hit me again.
Not until we settle
our financial arrangement.
You don't expect me to pay for
the people I already know about.
Alright, then, you tell me
who you know is coming,
and I'll tell you true or false.
[chuckling]
You know what? I like you.
Anyway, I don't care to know
who's coming tonight.
I don't care about anything
except...
except why I can't go.
Damn them.
It's her, isn't it?
Tell me about her.
I'll give you
all the money you want
if you tell me about her.
All I need is $60.
Her. Tell me about her.
Well, they're always together
or smooching over the phone.
An old woman could be dying,
but she couldn't
get past the busy signal.
And she's no spring chicken,
either.
That bitch.
She hates me because
he loves me, doesn't she?
And not inviting me to his party
is his only one step.
- Only one step?
- What next?
What next, Mr. Reardon?
Soon he will
stop coming on Sundays.
That's the next step.
Then, he'll forget Mother's Day
and my birthday,
and even Christmas.
I happen to know
she's working on Christmas now.
- Oh!
- Party time again?
Get out of here,
you goddamn bladder watcher.
Okay by me, but the next time
you wet the sofa,
I quit.
Thank you.
Thank you
for telling me about her.
[inhales deeply]
That's worth $60.
I'll write you a check.
Please, I need cash.
I don't have any place
to cash the check
and... and I need to buy
an airline ticket.
But I don't keep
cash in the house.
She steals too.
Well, okay...
I was glad to have helped you.
[inhales sharply]
I didn't mean to cheat you.
Sure. I, I know.
[instrumental music]
How old are you, Mr. Reardon?
Seventeen.
Oh, my. Seventeen?
Seventeen...
[inhales sharply]
Can you imagine that?
Seventeen.
Wait, I may have something
put away.
[music continues]
Wanna match me
double or nothing?
Jimmy: Hardly anything stood
between me and Lisa now.
I'd packed
all of my important stuff
including
a great Army ski parka,
though I didn't know
what I'd do with it in Hawaii.
And tonight, I was taking Lisa
out in my suit,
which wasn't so bad,
in the dark.
I thought I'd write
something down
so that they wouldn't worry.
"Dear mom and dad, there
seems to be a growing distance
between what I am and what you
determine me to be.
For this reason, I must now
sever my life from yours."
Oh! Jimmy,
I didn't hear you come in.
Why don't you come
say hello to our company?
What's that you're...
- Oh, a poem.
- Yeah, sort of.
Well, why don't you come
and visit for a while?
I'd like you to meet
my friend Joyce.
Hurry up
before your father comes home,
she came late,
I just can't tell her to leave.
- Okay.
- You look very handsome.
Thanks, mom.
Listen, uh,
Fred and Lisa are going away
for college tomorrow and I
wanted to get 'em some presents.
Not now.
Jimmy: I decided
I'd better leave a note
that they would actually
understand.
So I wrote...
"Dear mom and father...
goin' to Hawaii.
Please don't worry.
Love, Jimmy."
[Faye and Joyce laughing]
I knew mom would help out
with the 12 bucks I still needed
if I would only place nice
for her friend.
[laughing]
He's my oldest.
Jimmy, you heard me speak
of Joyce Fickett, haven't you?
Nice to meet you.
My mother talk of you often.
I've heard a lot about you, too.
You're not gonna be comfortable
on that, are you?
- Come here.
- Thanks.
Do you know that Joyce grew up
in a lighthouse?
Isn't that wonderful?
A real lighthouse, huh?
A real one.
Jimmy:
She had a nice lemony smell
that was perfume,
but not perfumy perfume.
I almost mentioned it,
but I decided to play it cool.
I could hear the smooth scrape
of nylon
as she crossed her legs.
And for some reason,
that's all I needed.
- Right, Jimmy?
- Pardon me?
Joyce was interested to know
that you write poetry.
Oh.
Why don't you recite the one...
"Heredity,
Take Your Hands Off Me."
Come on. Stand up.
[chuckles]
Don't embarrass him, Faye.
What's that? Oh!
[cup clattering]
Hello, Al.
Good seeing you again.
Huh, Joyce.
Are you enjoying this weather...
we're having?
Hot.
What are you doing
all dressed up?
I got a date.
I want you home early tonight.
[scoffs] Never enough time at
the office to get things done.
It's good to see you again,
Joyce.
You'll have to stop by
and visit me sometime.
I'd love to.
Would anyone like more coffee?
[Al yells]
Faye!
Excuse me a minute.
I... I'll be right back.
Al: Faye, why the hell
don't you listen to me?
Faye: Al, will you
lower your voice?
Al, don't...
Just don't. Don't do it.
Al: How long has she been here?
[sighs] I smoke too much.
So, how long have you lived
in Evanston?
Al: What the hell
is wrong with you?
Two years about, we moved up
from the north side.
- Do you like it better here?
- A little.
But not really, it's, uh,
it's kind of boring sometimes,
you know?
Evanston's dry, but I must say,
I am a firm believer in fate.
And, um,
everything happens for a reason.
Well...
Well... I see you two have
become friends, that's nice.
It's been wonderful, Faye,
but I'm afraid
I have guests for dinner.
Oh, what a pity. Oh, I wish
you could stay longer.
I... I'll see you to your car.
Oh, I walked.
I love to walk in this weather.
Uh, not at this hour.
Jimmy, you'll drive Joyce home.
Mom, I'll be late.
Faye: Here are the keys.
Please, he's an excellent
driver.
Jimmy: Twenty bucks.
My mom came through.
- Oh, mom.
- Just drive safely, huh?
- Go on.
- Bye.
Now go.
[sighs]
[engine whirring]
I would offer you that drink,
but I wouldn't want you
to be late for your date.
Yeah. I'd really like to,
but I should be going.
Another time, then.
I'm afraid not.
I'm leaving for Hawaii tomorrow.
Oh? Faye didn't mention that.
It's sort of a secret.
I'm good with secrets.
Anyway, it was very nice
to have met you, Mr. Reardon.
Yeah, it was nice to have met
you too, Mrs. Fickett.
[starts engine]
[instrumental music]
I think I'll take you up
on that drink.
I'll be back in a while.
Jimmy's using the car.
- I gave him the keys.
- You what?
He's driving Joyce home.
He's driving Joyce home?
[clattering]
Nice place you got here.
I'm glad you like it.
Not my taste, really.
My ex-husband's.
Oh.
He always thought of himself
as the Great Dane type,
so everything's woodand dreary.
I like brighter things,
but I haven't got around
to fixing it up yet.
Looks nice, though.
[exhales]
Joyce: I hope you outlive
your stomach.
Oh, don't worry.
It's made of rust-proof
aluminum.
[inhales sharply]
Mine's the old-fashioned kind.
Cast-iron.
But I think it's turning to tin.
That's what happens
when you get old.
You're not old.
I'm older than you.
You aren't really expecting
guests, are you?
I mean, you just made that up
to get out of my house.
I guess
I was pretty silly myself.
You were cute.
I suppose
it must have been difficult.
Breaking away from your family
and friends
to start a new life out here
in the Midwest,
setting yourself up
in real estate.
Not really.
I'm having a ball.
The independent type, huh?
So how does it feel...
being out of school?
It's a step.
Faye tells me you worked
for a photographer this summer?
Yeah.
I was Mr. Spaulding's associate.
He owns the studio.
Well, that's wonderful.
I mostly took still lives
for Marshall Fields.
Joyce: And now
you're going to Hawaii?
That's right.
- And it's a secret?
Jimmy: Yeah, it's a secret.
I hope I'm not keeping you
from your date.
Yeah. I better be going.
Here.
- Thanks.
- Sure.
Thanks very much for the lift.
Jimmy: Lisa was waiting,
I had the old man's car,
Joyce was my mother's friend.
But still I heard myself say...
You don't know what time it is,
do you?
I don't wanna be too early.
I mean, that the changes
from a pastoral society
to a primarily industrial
culture has, well,
taken people away from
their historical land roots.
Did you know that after
a fruit fly goes up into orbit,
it comes back, with its,
you know,
reproductive system
all screwed up?
Baby flies barely hatch
more females than males.
If it screws up flies that way,
what do you think
science does to people?
- I don't know.
- Well, that's what I mean.
We probably won't know
for generations,
hundreds of years even.
Oh, I don't think we have any
immediate problems, do you?
Are you kidding? With the world
the way it is, the bomb?
Somehow, man just doesn't
seem to stop himself.
I even wrote a poem about it.
Just a short one.
- Wanna hear it?
- Alright.
Let's see, it begins...
"They say that each and every
man is responsible
for his destiny.
My thoughts are willing to go
that way.
But what about the rest of me?"
[laughs]
Sort of Ogden Nashish, isn't it?
Sort of, I guess.
Let's hear some more.
I'd like to,
but it might take all night.
May I have one of your
cigarettes?
Oh, sure.
[lighter clicks]
[exhales]
I wrote one about
the only solution to it all
being personal contact
between two people
who can share a moment
with one another.
A piece of each other's
eternity, sort of.
Wanna hear it?
[instrumental music]
[clinking]
[sighs]
Aren't you gonna be late?
Yeah, uh, do you have a phone?
In the pantry,
next to the kitchen.
[exhales]
[sighs]
Hi, beautiful.
- You're drunk.
- Like hell.
Lisa over phone: Where are you?
- Nowhere.
I had to give a friend of my
mother's a ride home.
Jimmy, I've been waiting here
almost an hour
in my formal.
Mommy thinks we're going
to the dance.
You sound great.
Wait till you see what I've got.
- This isn't funny.
- Do you love me?
I don't intend to sit here
all night.
Lisa, goddamn it,
I said I'll be right there
as soon as I take
my father's car back.
I wouldn't want mommy to see you
like that.
Jesus! I said I'm sober.
- Well, hurry up.
Jimmy over phone: Okay, I will.
Do you love me?
[instrumental music]
Chances are 'cause I...
Is everything alright?
You wouldn't like to dance,
would you?
Do you have time?
I won't get another chance.
I'm leaving tomorrow.
...I'm in love with you
Hope I'm up to it.
Just because my
composure sort of slips
The moment that
your lips meet mine
Chances are you think my heart's
Your valentine
In the magic of moonlight...
Did I do something wrong?
When I sigh hold me close dear...
- Well, goodnight.
- Jimmy?
Yes?
[sighs]
Come here.
...skies are in my eyes
Guess you feel you'll always...
I wanna...
The one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well chances are your chances are
Awfully good
[music continues]
Chances are you'll believe the stars
That fill the skies
Are in my eyes
Guess you feel you'll always be
The one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well chances are your chances are
Awfully good
The chances are your chan...
Joyce: Howdy.
Are
Awfully good
[crickets chirping]
Poor baby.
Tired?
No.
- Lucky girl.
- Who?
Your girl.
I really should be going.
You're gonna write a poem
about this?
You want me to?
As long as
you don't mention names.
Just places and incidents.
[telephone ringing]
Sorry, darling,
can't not answer it.
Hello?
Oh, Faye.
Uh, well...
No, but I'm sure
he'll be right along.
Of course,
there's nothing to worry about.
Yes. I'm sure.
Goodnight, Faye.
[sighs]
Thank you.
It was a pleasure, Mr. Reardon.
Yeah. It was nice to have met
you, too, Mrs. Fickett.
[chuckles]
[knock on door]
[footsteps approaching]
Well, Mr. Reardon.
Hi. Lisa ready?
Lisa was ready, at 8 o'clock
when you were expected.
I couldn't make it, a friend of
my mother's was attacked
and I had to stay with her
until she calmed down.
- It was horrible.
- Is that so?
Well, I suggest you give your
mother a call and tell her
you're alright,
she seemed awfully worried.
- My mother?
- Yeah, she called a while ago.
Anxiously trying to locate you.
Apparently, she wasn't informed
of her friend's predicament.
Well, we didn't wanna upset her.
Mrs. Bentwright:
At any rate, Mr. Reardon,
I'm sorry, but my daughter
couldn't wait.
You mean, she's not here?
You didn't expect her
to stay all night
waiting for you, did you?
Her last night at home?
She got herself
a respectable date.
Where'd she go?
She'll write you from Hawaii,
I'm sure.
Did she go to the dance?
Goodnight, Mr. Reardon.
Jimmy: Did she go to the dance?
[upbeat music]
[people cheer]
[tires screeching]
[clamoring]
Hey, Reardon, you gotta have
a tux to go in there!
Man 1: Hey...
Good evening, sir.
May I help you?
Look, I'm the black sheep
of the super-rich family
and I've contributed
a substantial amount
to the maintenance of this dump.
So if I wanna go in there
and get my girl,
I damn well better be
allowed to.
Out of my way.
[instrumental music]
Hey!
[indistinct chatter]
Hi!
[indistinct chatter]
Woman 1: Whoo!
Man 2: Hey!
[indistinct chatter]
Jimmy!
What are you doing here?
Lisa, I told you I'd be there.
Why the hell
didn't you wait for me?
- You're drunk.
- Bullshit.
- Lisa!
- Oh, hi, Matt.
I've been lookin' for you.
You remember Jimmy, don't you?
Jimmy just dropped by
to say goodbye.
But I'm planning to rape her
on the way out.
- What?
- Huh.
He's got
a rotten sense of humor.
Could you go back to the table,
please?
I'll be right over.
Are you gonna be alright?
Don't worry.
Worry.
[music continues]
I hate you, Jimmy!
I hate you.
If you go over there, I'm gonna
scream at the top of my lungs
how unfair you are.
I'm not kidding!
[women laughing]
[indistinct chatter]
Oh, yes!
Woman 2: Ah! Oh...
Get the... Young man...
Woman 2: Get... get out of here.
- Hi, Suzie.
Hi, Suzie.
Bravo.
Woman 3: Whoo!
- Let go!
- Not until you listen to me.
- Ah!
- I despise you.
Damn it! Cut it out!
[people cheering]
Now if I let you go,
will you promise not to run?
Dammit!
Jimmy: Shit!
Where do you think
you're goin', huh?
Ow! My leg.
Jesus! It's bleeding.
Serves you right.
The blood's drippin'
down my sock.
Let me see.
Now I feel terrible.
Terrible enough to forgive me?
- Be careful.
- Of what?
Your leg.
Doesn't make any difference now.
You liar! There's nothing wrong
with your leg.
You're disgusting.
Get off of me!
Not until you listen
to the truth
about why I was late.
- I'll scream.
- No, you won't.
- Ah...
- Are you gonna quit it?
- Mm-mm...
- Quit it.
- Alright.
- Get...
Would you stop it, please?
Look, I would've explained
all this before
because it's just
so goddamn simple
if you'd only listen.
Now just give me a chance.
Okay, the truth is...
- I ran out of gas.
- You make me wanna vomit.
I'm telling you the honest
truth, my old man's
probably calling the police
right now about his car,
then your mother tells me
that you went with someone else.
How am I supposed to feel?
I wouldn't have gone
with Matthew
if you'd showed up on time.
You couldn't have waited
a decent few minutes?
I waited two whole hours.
So big deal two hours.
I thought this was gonna be a
night we'd always remember.
I had such plans.
What kind of plans?
For us.
All today I thought about us.
And I wanted...
I wanted you
to make love to me tonight,
and all you did was embarrass me
in front of everyone.
- I told you I was sorry.
- Oh, God, you're so stupid.
You just refuse to understand,
don't you?
That isn't what I meant.
What are you cryin' about?
All the time I waited for you,
I thought about
how it would be tonight.
Now you've ruined everything.
Lisa, I'll... I'll make it
up to you, I promise.
- It's not the same anymore.
- No, it is. You'll see it is.
Jimmy, I was gonna let you
make love to me.
All the way.
Lisa...
I love you.
I love you, Lisa.
[instrumental music]
- Jimmy?
- What?
Can we do it now?
Right after the dance
I'll be outside waiting.
- You can get rid of that guy...
- I want it.
I want you now.
- Right now, you mean?
- Right now.
But, Lisa, someone's liable to
come strolling along any minute.
I don't care.
But what, what happens
if you started... to...
You know, some,
some virgins bleed.
Do you have to talk about that?
Well, Jesus, I'm only
being practical.
Funny, you were never
practical like that before.
Well, it never came up before,
this particular thing, I mean.
- Will you remove yourself?
- But, Lisa, I wanted to tell...
- Please get off of me.
- I wanted to tell you...
You don't have to tell me
anything.
[inhales deeply]
I understand all about it now.
- What do you understand?
- You're sitting on my shoe.
Yeah, and I'm gonna stay that
way until you stop crying
and explain why the hell
you're so upset.
- I'll go without it.
- Alright. Alright.
Here it is. Now,
will you tell me what's wrong?
Nothing.
Everything's perfectly fine.
I just never wanna see you
again.
Why?
It's quite obvious
you can't make love to me now
because you've just been
to one of your,
your diseased tramps!
You're jumping to conclusions.
You've got your life to lead
and so have I. So have I!
Look, if you really wanna
hear the truth, I'll tell you...
I don't care about your truth!
But you might be interested
to know that my date,
Matthew Hollander,
I've never even kissed him.
But tonight, tonight I'm gonna
give him a big surprise.
- What kind of surprise?
- Figure it out.
You're the expert.
[instrumental music]
Are you trying
to tell me something?
Are you and Matthew Hollander
goin' to do it?
Goodbye, Jimmy.
Jimmy: The damn thing
just had to fizzle out
at the most important moment
of my life.
Six months of patience and top
level planning and believing,
and coaxing and wooing,
and now this.
This power failure.
This blackout and for what?
For helping out
that poor frustrated woman?
Was there no justice?
- Let's go, son.
- Hey!
What the hell is going on?
We'd rather not
have any trouble with you.
[grunting]
Shit!
Andrew: Come on!
You son of a bitch,
I was visiting my girl!
- Where'd you park?
- It's a secret.
- His car's up here.
Suzie: Andrew!
What the hell are you doing
with my fiance?
Miss Middleburg!
- Is that your girl?
- I'm not talking.
How dare you?
How dare you?
Andrew:
I'm sorry, Miss Middleburg.
We didn't know.
Did they hurt you, darling?
No offence, Miss Middleburg,
but do you suppose you could
keep your fiance
away from the ladies' room?
But I get lonely without him.
You oughta take up anarchy.
You got a flair for it.
- Shit!
- Fight with Lisa?
I feel like a scotch.
Is that an invitation?
To the best place you know.
Are you sure you can
get us there in one piece?
What do you mean?
Till death do us part.
[car engine rumbles]
I happen to know there aren't
four left out of our whole
graduation class.
Four what?
Girls who've not been...
deflowered.
Prove it.
Ask me one.
Okay. Denise Hunter.
[Suzie scoffs]
Are you sure?
I know a boy who did it.
It was last summer
at a splash party
at the Bentwrights.
- Lisa's house.
- It was before you knew her.
Anyway...
Denise walked
into one of the rooms,
and whammo!
The petals fell.
Just like, practically
every girl in the senior class.
Just since
the beginning of summer
I've counted
enough fallen flowers
to decorate the Rose Bowl.
Who did it to Denise?
Is this a personal
or a clinical inquiry?
I'm just curious.
On the record,
it was Matthew Hollander.
Are you sure?
Not only Denise.
He plowed most of last year's
crop single-handedly.
Y... you, you said
there were four virgins.
- Just about.
- Who?
Lolly Newgold, Alice Poulton
and Marianne Storres.
That's three.
You said there were four.
- And me.
- That's it?
Well, unless somebody's
been holdin' out on me.
Shit!
Bill it to the judge, Fernando.
Certainly, Miss Middleburg.
I've always wondered about Lisa.
Of course, you should know.
I know damn well she is.
- A virgin, you mean?
- Yes, dammit.
- Well then, there you are.
- Goddamn right I'm there.
There I am.
One thing I know.
Lisa doesn't go
for the star athlete type.
Suzie: You mean Matthew?
Oh! You don't have to worry
about him.
He's probably driving her nuts
right now
about how he won
that Harper's Poetry Contest.
Jimmy: Poetry Contest?
But he's not bad looking.
That's what saves him.
You mean he writes poetry?
Oh, sure.
But most women
like his short stories better.
But he doesn't
wanna be a writer.
He's gonna teach History
on the University Level
or run for political office.
I wouldn't be surprised
if he became
President of the United...
What's the matter?
[tires screeching]
[engine rumbling]
[tires screeching]
[women laughing]
[harmonica music]
[indistinct chatter]
As Ariel cruelly tasked
by the fortune's ill demand
was yet set free...
[harmonica music]
the tempest boldly met
to capture wings again
in Shelly's golden breast,
and through his song...
[harmonica music]
renew herself
as truth will live when passed
from soul to soul.
So, too, must every man
search out his cave
and therein live
as goodness lives...
[harmonica music]
in fertile wombs of principle.
[crowd applauding]
I have come back.
I have come back from the pit
of pimps and whores.
[indistinct chatter]
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm making
this up on the spot, so...
bear with me.
I have come back.
Need I wash behind the ear,
is there logic in a tear?
Who has rolled my stone away?
Must I come back another day.
I have come back to dance upon
a broken toe.
It is Ulysses, home to roost,
'though perchance,
a little juiced.
I have come back.
I have come back to look upon
this appalling pall...
And naught there is to say,
my friends
save fuck you all, you all.
[indistinct chatter]
Jimmy: In my beer
you dropped your cigarette.
Don't you have the least regret?
Lisa! [echoing]
[instrumental music]
Man 3: Whoo!
- Bravo! Bravo!
[cheering]
Leave him be!
[grunts]
[car engine rumbling]
Man 4: Hey!
Get back here!
[tires screeching]
[music continues]
[honking]
[honking]
Where do you think
you're going with my girl,
you son of a bitch?
You son of a bitch!
Jimmy: Lisa!
Pull over!
Pull over!
I'm sorry.
[tires screeching]
Jimmy: Pull over,
you son of a bitch!
Lisa!
What are you doing?
[music continues]
[tires screeching]
You asshole! Are you trying
to cause an accident?
Alright, Reardon.
[grunts]
Matthew!
Please, don't, Matt...
[grunting]
Stop it, please!
[groaning]
[grunting]
[Matthew laughs]
[grunts]
[groans]
[mumbles]
- Lisa...
- Get off me!
[grunting]
[sobbing]
Jimmy!
[car door shuts]
[car engine rumbling]
[instrumental music]
Lisa?
Aren't you even gonna
kiss me goodbye?
[music continues]
Jimmy: There are other islands.
Haiti, for instance.
Voodoo, and the natives
who speak French,
and every year, a fresh crop
of 17 year-old girls.
Defeat is not to be scorned.
By accepting it
I was probably strengthening
the very fibers of my being.
But I couldn't drive around
the loop for the rest of my life.
Napoleon at least had the Czar
or someone to surrender to,
but my old man was probably
wailing to gouge out
my eyeballs with a rusty spoon.
[train chugging]
It came rushing at me
from behind,
rumbling overhead
thundering out of its icy tunnel
in a fury of flying gum wrappers
and old cigarette butts.
It was my old enemy...
the El.
[instrumental music]
[train chugging]
[music continues]
[honking]
[tires screeching]
[train chugging]
[whizzing]
Shit!
[car door closes]
Jimmy: At the moment of impact,
I remembered that this new car
was my old man's soul.
[coins clanking]
I called the only person
I knew at that moment
who might not hang up on me.
[coin clings]
[telephone ringing]
Hello?
Hello, Joyce?
Who's this?
Who's this?
Jimmy on phone:
This is Mr. Reardon.
Mr. Reardon?
Mr. Reardon, remember?
Al? Al, sweetie,
what time is it?
No, not Al. Jimmy.
This is Jimmy Reardon.
Oh, Jimmy, baby, I'm sorry,
I thought it was your father.
Jimmy?
Jimmy?
Joyce on phone:
Are you still there, Jimmy?
Jimmy: Al?
Al Reardon?
My father.
My moral, upright,
coffee-slurping,
status-seeking,
putting-in-overtime,
hard-day-at-the-office,
early-rising, early-bedding,
make-your-own-way-in-life father
had been screwing Joyce Fickett!
That balding man
with responsibilities
was an extra-marital joy-boy.
No wonder I was having
so much trouble!
It was hereditary!
[coin clings]
Al on phone:
Jimmy, is that you?
Answer me, dammit!
Where are you?
Talk to me,
you little son of a bitch!
I'll break your goddamn...
[Al grunts]
Joyce Fickett, father.
Al on phone:
Where are you, son?
I'm at Central Street Station,
father.
Jimmy: When I considered
the implications
of my father's act,
anger gave way to confusion.
Middle-aged men didn't go around
screwing their wives' friends
without some kind of reason.
Or did they?
Maybe father was neglected
at home.
Maybe when he bellowed
about soggy hot dogs,
he was really saying,
"Look at me.
I need to be loved."
[instrumental music]
When I thought about it,
I hadn't been much of a son.
And perhaps
father turned out this way
because I neglected
some of my responsibilities.
You know, I've been thinking
maybe it's not such a bad idea
you going to Hawaii.
Even though you didn't show
much consideration
for your mother
with that note that you left.
You were planning on leaving
this morning, weren't you?
I was.
Well, maybe I can swing
a sports coat if you need one.
Thanks anyway, I'm not going.
[brakes squealing]
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: It was sort of funny
when you thought about it.
Here we were, a couple
of father-and-son attitudes
as far apart
as we were familiar.
Poking and prodding
at one another,
but never touching.
And now, all at once,
we were men together.
Of course, we would
still play at being attitudes
as far as the family
was concerned,
but as far as
father and son were concerned,
well, it seemed
that me and my old man
had finally gotten to the same
place at the same time.
Dad, I want you to know
that I appreciate
your thoughts about Hawaii...
but I, I think
that family tradition
has to start somewhere.
I'm going to McKinley College.
Jimmy: It sure made me
feel good to say it...
hell, I might even do it.
[instrumental music]
I used to smoke
I used to drink
I used to smoke drink
And dance the hoochy-coo
I used to smoke and drink
Smoke and drink and dance the hoochy-coo
Oh-oh yeah
But now I'm standin' on this corner
Praying for me and you
I-I-I
That's why I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Well I can preach
until you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
I used to cuss
I used to fuss
I used to cuss fuss
And boogie all night long
I used to cuss and fuss
Cuss and fuss and boogie all night long
Oh-oh
But now I'm standing on this corner
I know right from wrong
I-I-I
Because I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating
on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
I used to lie
Lie
I used to cheat
Cheat
I used to lie cheat
Lie cheat
And step on people's feet
I used to lie and cheat
Lie and cheat and
step on people's feet
Oh yeah
But now I'm stepping on to glory
Salvation is in my beat
Oh yeah
Because I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating
on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
That's why I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating
on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
Because I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
That's why I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Oh
Saved
Oh
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Oh yeah
Saved
Oh yeah
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Mm-hm
Saved
Mm-hm-hm
Saved
Oh-ha-hah
Saved
Oo-oo-ooh
Saved
Ah-ha-hah
Saved
Oh-ho
Saved
Oh-ho
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Saved...
called me to her side
She said son you're
growing up now
Pretty soon you'll
take a bride
And then she said just
because you've become
A young man now
There's still some things
that you don't understand now
Before you ask some girl
for her hand now
Keep your freedom
for as long as you can now
My mama told me
You better shop around
Shop
Oh yeah you better shop around
Shop shop around
Ah ah ah there's some things
that I want you to know now
Just as sure
as the winds gonna blow now
The women come
and the women gonna go now
Before you tell 'em
that you love 'em so now
My mama told me
You better shop around
Shop
Oh yeah you better shop around
Shop shop around
A-try to get yourself
a bargain son
Don't be sold
on the very first one
A-pretty girls
come a dime a dozen
A-try to find one who's gonna
give you true lovin'
Before you take a girl
and say I do now
A-make sure she's in
love with-a you now
My mama told me
You better shop around
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: It's funny
when you think about it.
The odd things
that bring people together
after a long time in a way
that seems all of a sudden.
That man on my left, who is
mourning the death of his car,
was a total stranger to me
less than 36 hours ago.
Even though I lived with him
since the day I was born.
The trouble started a few weeks
after high school graduation
in the No Exit Cafe.
I had just finished
one of my greatest poems,
"I was talkin' to God last night
but God wasn't talkin' to me,"
when I spotted two girls
who were
trying to read
each other's minds.
The pretty one in pigtails
flicked her ash on my shoe.
So I figured that was an
indication of something.
Two days later,
we did it on the oriental rug
in the dining room
at her grandmother's house.
It was about six weeks
after that when she telephoned
and said she needed to have
an abortion or get married.
So I, I gave her a $110
out of the money
I'd saved
for my college tuition.
Then I found out that
there were three other guys
who had paid
for the same abortion
before she skipped town.
What happened was,
I was swindled
by an 18-year-old con woman.
It was only the night
before last
when I went to visit
my best friend, Fred Roberts
in a last ditch attempt
to borrow the money
I needed for college.
Fred, I'm desperate.
You caught another
venereal disease?
No, it's somethin' else.
Can we talk inside?
You're going through
another abortion?
No, when I got home tonight,
my old man told me
he found out about it.
I told you something like this
would happen.
Now he won't give me
my tuition for college
until I come up
with my half of the money.
I see.
You came to me because I've
loaned you money before.
Like the time I lent you
$14 and 13 cents
for the music box
you gave to your beloved Lisa
on her birthday.
Like the time we went
to the movies. It cost me $5...
Jimmy: Fred was being
his usual self
in his buttoned-down shirt,
buttoned-down mind
and buttoned-down bank account.
And so I was forced to come up
with a brilliant new scheme.
It capitalized on Fred's
condition, chronic virginity.
So tonight,
I offered to find him a girl
if he'd lend me a $110.
It was like
doing us both a favor.
So we drove around
the whole town,
but because of the rain
every place was dead.
Now it was twenty minutes
till 2 o'clock
with my whole future
ebbing away minute by minute.
I say screw it, it's a bust.
Jimmy: The deal was we wait
till 2 o'clock.
I'm getting tired
of driving around.
My ass is even getting numb.
Do you wanna give up? Is that
what you're trying to tell me?
- That's right.
- Okay.
Go to Harvard a virgin.
But how are you gonna feel
when they ask you
how many times you've scored?
Those Ivy League schools
send out questionnaires
on that kind of stuff, you know?
I'll lie.
After all the hours
I spent teaching you
practically everything I know?
Shit! You make
most of that stuff up.
Helped you win back Denise,
didn't it?
- Not the same thing.
- What's the difference?
It's friendship, isn't it?
I might have loaned it to you
as a friend.
It was your idea
to ask me as a pimp.
[instrumental music]
Stop here!
I don't like this neighborhood.
Pull over! That place is loaded
with college girls.
I still got
twenty minutes, right?
Fifteen.
Love
We need...
[sighs]
Oh
Jimmy: Hi.
What are you reading there?
Kierkegaard.
Looks interesting.
The way you're reading it.
He's a gas.
Fourteen minutes.
Would you give me a chance?
Jimmy: Sure isn't very swingin'
in here tonight.
When school starts up,
it's a real zoo.
You go to Northwestern?
University of Chicago,
both me and Fred.
We're juniors.
Do you go to Northwestern?
Jimmy: What's your major?
- Political science.
Don't ask me why.
You could always
go into the foreign service.
I'd like you to meet
Fred Roberts.
- Hi.
- Hi.
But I was wrong
yeah yeah yeah
Fred: Eleven minutes.
Say, Fred just came up
with this great idea.
This place is closing
in a few minutes and Fred thinks
it might be fun
if we all go out for dessert.
Fred's got a car, so there's
no problem with transportation.
I have one too.
There's no use in takin'
two cars, right, Fred?
Yeah.
Where's there to go?
Fred thinks the No Exit
might be fun.
- The what?
- An espresso place.
You know, poetry reading,
folk singing.
You'll love it, it's great.
And I know oh oh
Just to relieve the monotony.
Why not?
Don't worry about the tab,
Fred will charge it
to one of his old man's
department stores.
Right, Fred?
I'll see you in the car.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: She decided
to sit up front.
Screwing up the plan
to get her in the back
to wait for Fred.
[indistinct chatter on radio]
Until Rock and Rob
joins you at 6:00 a.m.
We'll leave you with this
classic by The Spaniards.
That station must be
going off the air.
- Guess so.
- What'd you say?
- I said it must be.
- What?
Going off the air, the station.
Oh, yeah.
Goodnight sweetheart
well it's time to go
[sighs]
Could you, uh,
put your finger right there?
Uh, yeah.
Just, just pinch it.
Goodnight sweetheart goodnight
Thanks.
I love it when it rains,
don't you?
Me? I don't know.
Fred does... a lot.
I like... the sound of it.
[exhales]
Makes me melt kind of.
Fred must have gotten lost.
My brother's name is Fred.
He's in the army.
Fred's in the ROTC.
He's officer material.
Goodnight sweetheart goodnight
Excuse me.
Come on, Fred,
what are you getting
so pissed off about, huh?
- Fred, listen.
- Hey, let go!
- I was only priming her up...
- Like hell!
You can't control yourself,
your goddamn pecker
leads you around
like a mule chasing a carrot.
But I didn't even get it in!
We were waiting for you!
- Bull! Bullshit!
- I swear!
Listen, Fred, I'm telling you
this girl's crazy about you.
I was only
a temporary substitute.
She's crazy about me, huh?
- I think you hurt her feelings.
- Hurt her feelings?
Hurt her feelings? Look...
- Hey!
- Here's your goddamn beer!
[instrumental music]
You don't want a lift?
Alright, pick you up
in the morning.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: Now it looked like
I'd be stuck forever
in this snobbish suburb
of Evanston
while my rich-raised friends
cartwheeled off to Harvard
or Yale
or wherever they were going.
All because of one night
on an oriental rug.
It pissed me off!
It really pissed me off.
Then I heard the clattering
symbol of my doom
on its way to a 6:00 a.m.
collection of working drones
to take them
to their downtown hives.
Soon they would be
coming for me.
But I wouldn't let it get me.
Not tonight, and not yet.
Faye: Jimmy, it's your mother.
Are you decent?
Jimmy: Yes, mother.
I wanna talk to you.
- Is father here?
- He drove over to Sears.
Jimmy, listen to me.
You're going to college
whether you like it or not.
It's not exactly my choice.
Faye: I know your father
very well.
I figured out
why he's been so strange
about making you come up
with that money.
It's not how you spent it.
It's more than that.
Jimmy: Now what did I do?
I think you wounded him deeply
when you chose your college.
What do you mean?
I think he wanted you,
his oldest son,
to follow in his footsteps.
You mean, he wanted me
to go to his school? Mom!
I should think you'd be proud
of your father's alma mater.
Most sons would like to go
to the same school.
But McKinley College?
Who the hell ever heard
of McKinley college?
It happens to be a very
respected business school.
But it's a monastery!
An all-boys school!
Oh! I thought what you wanted
was an education.
Jimmy: Who the hell can get an
education right in the middle
of downtown Chicago,
in a skyscraper?
Besides, I don't wanna live
at home with Rosie and Toby
around all the time and you
and father arguing every night.
Jimmy: How would I study?
- Your father managed it.
He didn't even get his degree
till after Rosie was born.
At least you have your own room
which is more privacy
than he ever had.
I'm not going
to McKinley College.
Let's face facts, Jimmy.
That is the only way
I can get your father
to send you to school.
You know his alternatives.
A real job!
And not one of these
dollar-an-hour
potential artist things.
A full-time job
so that you can contribute
your share to this house!
It's either that or McKinley.
That's what it comes down to.
[instrumental music]
I'll speak to your father
by lunchtime.
I ironed a clean shirt for you.
It's in the closet.
Be here on time.
Comb your hair.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Suzie: And after
two dry vermouths on the rocks,
sweet Sarah was hominy,
gritting all over the judge.
Which is not to say that
after all the guests went home,
they both didn't get
very sugarly
and very southernly in the den.
Are you sure
it was Lisa's mother?
The party was at my house,
wasn't it? Who cut the canapes?
I think you make that stuff up.
Well, that's just because
you're new here.
Fred: I was born here!
Yeah,
but your grandfather wasn't.
And it takes at least
three generations
before you can follow trends.
Fred: Trends, hell!
Look, Fred, do you always have
to drive nine miles an hour?
Hey, I don't have to drive fast
to get my kicks.
- How do you get your kicks?
- He reads.
[chuckles]
How about you?
You guys find that, uh, girl
you were lookin' for last night?
What, what are you
talking about?
She's just testing, Fred.
She doesn't know a thing.
Dum-de-dum.
[instrumental music]
[birds chirping]
[engine rumbling]
Hey, watch the upholstery,
will you?
Say hello to Mathew Hollander.
Who's Mathew Hollander?
You'll see.
[birds chirping]
- Where's my radio?
- It's in the trunk.
It'll break back there, stupid.
Go get it!
Alright.
I think you two
make the neatest couple.
[trunk door slams]
[knock on door]
Lisa's out back.
Go on around back.
[instrumental music]
Thank you.
Lisa's next door, Jimmy.
Go past the garden by the pool.
Jimmy: Okay, thanks.
[music continues]
That was terrific, Mathew.
I thought I was in trouble there
for a while.
Oh, not a chance.
[sighs]
Lisa: Jimmy!
- Hi.
Hi, we just finished.
Do you know Mathew Hollander?
- No! How do you do, Mathew?
- Pleased to meet you, Jimmy.
Lisa's told me a lot about you.
- Really? Great.
- Don't worry.
- Nothing flattering.
- Yeah, right.
See you later, Mathew.
Come on, I'll get my things.
Jimmy: Are you gonna
see him later?
It's just an expression.
Are you gonna kiss me
passionately in the forest
like a highway man?
[instrumental music]
That's enough.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: Lisa thought it
was cute when I took her
to the No Exit Cafe
instead of one of those
downtown restaurants
where the rich race went.
She didn't understand,
it was neither cute
nor romantic, it was poverty.
She thought just because
I look like everybody else
and I spoke English,
that we were the same.
But... we weren't.
- Come.
- Come on, horsey. My horsey.
Lisa: Ride me to Banbury Fair.
Why don't you go play by
yourself, little girl?
Giddy-up!
Hey!
- Sorry.
- Jimmy, what's the matter?
Look, every time
we go some place,
you start running around
like your ass is on fire.
Why the hell can't you
stay with me just one time?
Are you embarrassed
to be with me or somethin'?
- You know I'm not.
- Then what?
When we're alone,
you always find some reason
to, to start things.
Ah! You're so goddamn scared.
Sometimes I think
you're frigid or something.
You just expect
every girl you see
to plop in bed with you.
I hear about you and those girls
you go out with.
What about you?
Every time I cross that
goddamn southern threshold
of yours,
I have to be reminded
of your gentlemen callers.
If I don't go out
with other boys,
I couldn't go out with you.
Mommy won't let me go out with
just one boy, you know that.
I suppose she examines you
to make sure
no one has crossed
the Mason-Dixon line.
The only one
she worries about is you.
Mommy has no illusions about you
and neither do I.
I'm no different than those
other guys she approves of.
The only difference
is they have cars
with back seats to screw on.
It's not the only difference.
Mommy's right.
You're always in trouble,
and if you're not in it
you're looking for it.
Are you gonna think that of me
for the rest of our lives?
The rest of our lives?
- Yes.
- No.
[instrumental music]
Jimmy, don't, please.
Don't.
[instrumental music]
- Jimmy.
- What?
Jimmy, can I see it?
Will anything happen?
Not if I don't want it to.
[chuckles]
It looks funny.
You wanna hurt its feelings?
I'm sorry.
Jimmy: It's okay.
Is it always hot like this?
Only when it likes someone.
Does it like me?
Don't you know?
It's funny.
It makes me feel funny.
Jimmy, don't.
[birds chirping]
Rub some oil on my legs, Fred.
All I get from the sun
is red blotches.
- I won't break, Fred.
- I know it.
My thighs, too.
Do you think Fred
leads a secret life?
No, he's just a little timid
with girls.
Timid? He's scared to death.
I think it's nice.
Sure you do.
Everybody needs a rest.
What do you mean by that?
Dum-de-dum.
Shut up, Suzie.
Oh, my! I'm on everybody's
shit list today.
- Just do it, will you, Fred?
- I am! I'm doing it.
Jimmy: After tonight,
I won't see you
till you get back home
for Christmas vacation.
Lisa: By then you'll probably
forget all about me
with all those girls
up at Western Illinois.
Maybe,
except I'm not goin' there.
Why? You said
you couldn't wait to go.
No! I found me a better deal.
It's a really good school.
McKinley College.
McKinley College?
Yeah, the family's
always gone to McKinley.
- Isn't that a business school?
- Sure, that's why.
Do you know how many English
majors they have at McKinley?
- No.
- Practically none.
So I'll be getting
individual instruction
like one of those guys
at Oxford.
Oh, it certainly sounds nice.
To tell you the truth,
it practically killed my old man
when I decided not to go
to his alma mater.
It's the least I can do
to make the old man happy.
You're doing this
for your father? Is that why?
- Yeah.
- I think that's wonderful.
[instrumental music]
You know,
it really bothers me...
It'll be months
till I see you again.
I can't believe
I'll lose you that easily.
I bet one morning
I'll open my eyes
and there you'll be,
all tan and wet from swimming.
And I won't ask what you're
doing in Hawaii or anything.
We'll just run along the beach
and climb coconut trees,
and go to a big luau every
single night except Wednesdays.
Why except Wednesdays?
'Cause on Wednesdays
we make love, silly.
Just on Wednesdays?
Well, maybe Saturdays too.
That way it'll be spaced out.
You sure have become liberal
since we've moved
to the islands.
Of course, there are practical
things to be considered
before we actually start
planting pineapple trees
in our own backyard.
- Practical?
- Yeah, like money.
- Oh, that.
- Yeah, that.
There's always mommy.
Don't move.
Now blow it off and make a wish.
[blows]
Lisa: What did you wish for?
Jimmy: Lisa, do you remember
how much your ticket cost?
I mean, your plane fare
for Hawaii.
About a $190, why?
All I need is $88.
Are you asking me for it?
Where would I get
that kind of money?
- Mommy!
- You're kidding, aren't you?
You know
how she feels about you.
But once I got there,
I can get a job.
I could work during the day
and go to school at night.
And how do you know
you could find a job?
I've worked
for a photographer before
and that's like a profession.
If I don't get a job right away,
I'll stay with you.
- With me?
- Sure.
- You're not staying on campus.
- Where would you sleep?
- In bed. Where do you think?
- Whose bed?
We'll talk about that
when I get there.
Jimmy, you can't.
You just can't. You're dreaming.
I'm dreaming, huh?
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: Hawaii was no dream.
To me, Hawaii was like
waking up.
The real dream was Fred's
mansion and Suzie's gossip.
Somehow it all seemed true
and even available
when I was with them.
But afterwards,
when it was all over,
I always went back
to the dingy back door landing
of my own house.
Well, in Hawaii,
me and Lisa would be equal.
Both strangers,
pioneers together.
All I needed was $88.
Jimmy: Rosie!
[whistles]
Rosie!
What's up?
Look, I've never asked you
for anything before, have I?
And I'm not gonna ask you
for anything now.
I'm gonna give you a chance
to earn a lot of money.
- Well, what do you think?
- About what?
- About making some money?
- You haven't said how yet.
Well, if I tell you,
you gotta promise
to keep it a secret.
You can't even tell Toby.
I never tell Toby anything.
Rosie...
tomorrow morning at 11:45
a plane's taking off
from the O'Hare Airport,
where do you think it's going?
Hawaii.
Well, don't you think
that's great?
I'm gonna be on that plane.
What's the proposition?
Well, you see, there's a lot
of new stuff goin' on there
because of the
population explosion.
Jimmy: You do know about the
population explosion, don't you?
Rosie: I think so.
- Oh.
Well, anyway, with all
the people being born there
I'll be able
to get on the first wave
and, and grow with them.
Jimmy: Raise pineapples,
coconuts, natural pearls.
So, you see, Rosie...
Sure, I see, you want me
to give you some money.
No! Not give.
Invest it with me.
Look, when I take
those kids bowling
it makes them work for me,
that's an investment.
But you... Whoever got anything
out of you?
Rosie: So if I laid bread on
you, it wouldn't be investing,
it would be giving.
So it's a long-term investment.
You can't lose.
Okay. How much do you want?
- $88.
Rosie: That much?
I'll get it back to you,
I promise.
What have you got
for collateral?
What do you want?
How about your record player?
It's not mine.
It belongs to Fred Roberts.
Jimmy: Okay!
It's yours.
I thought you said
it belonged to Fred.
Yeah, well, it's not anymore.
- Okay, then $20.
- $20?
What do you expect
for stolen property?
Oh, come on, Rosie.
I'll, I'll throw in
the records, too.
- And the cufflink case?
Jimmy: Anything.
- Okay, then $24.
- $30.
Since you're my brother, I may
be willing to go up to $28.
- But that's the best I can do.
- I'll take it.
Faye: This afternoon.
Al: What? When?
Faye: I invited her
for 04:30.
Al: Uh-uh, not while
this is still my house.
Faye: Al, lower your voice,
the neighbors already know
too much about us.
Goddammit, use your head, Faye.
You can't let
that kind of a woman
into a house with children.
Toby, go work
for your sister now.
I'll give you
the 25 cents later.
She's not that kind of a woman.
She's intelligent and successful
and I like her.
And I'm telling you,
I don't want her in this house
and that's final!
You certainly didn't mind her
the night
of the Real Estate Career Dance.
I saw the way you watched her.
Who didn't watch her?
Al: She didn't leave much
to the imagination.
We should be grateful
she invited us.
God knows when we get out
otherwise!
If Joyce Fickett is in the house
when I get back from the office,
I'm gonna be damn sore!
- Now, I'm warnin' you, Faye!
- Al, lower your voice.
Just use your
goddamn head, Faye.
That's all I'm telling you.
Where have you been?
Mom, I need to tell you
somethin'.
Faye, where the hell
are the Fig Newtons?
Not now!
Go in and see your father.
I talked to him about McKinley
and he's pleased as punch.
- Well, mom...
Al: Faye!
Just go!
[crunching loudly]
- Cream?
- No, thanks.
Like it black now, huh?
Jimmy: I could not stand
watching television
with father
because he crunched peanuts.
But what he could do
with the Fig Newton
was beyond belief.
Leavin' for work already?
[sighs] I gotta bone up for the
old cost-accounting procedure.
- Oh!
- You sure work hard.
I got something you might be
interested in.
Here, look at it.
In the corner at the bottom...
on the right.
Heard about Gene Sherwood?
Oh, yeah!
Al: Quite a success story, huh?
You know,
he went to McKinley, too.
We were buddies all through
school, me and Gene.
No kidding?
See what you can accomplish
if you put your mind to it?
Of course, a young man
has oats to sow.
I guess I overdo it, though.
I'm the first to admit it.
Yeah, but you came around
in the end,
that's what matters,
that's what counts.
Hey, look, you'll like McKinley.
I gotta go. I'll see you later.
You know, I was talkin'
to this kid yesterday
and... and he said that, uh,
he's goin' to Hawaii.
His father could easily
send him to Yale
but this guy wants to work
his up way from the bottom.
So he's takin' off
and gettin' himself a job.
Isn't that admirable?
I'm sure his father's
very proud of him.
I wouldn't be impressed
by that crap!
Hawaii's a lotta beach bums.
- But it isn't fair somehow.
Al: What's that?
The way you worked your way
through McKinley and everything.
Fifty hours a week
besides raisin' us kids.
And I get it all for free.
[laughs]
Since when are you worried
about gettin' somethin'
for nothin'?
I was thinkin' along the terms
of, uh,
character development.
What the hell
are you talkin' about?
Look, I, I know we moved to
Evanston to have a better life
but we still don't have
that much furniture.
I mean, like we did
in the old neighborhood.
And I blew all that money!
Start thinkin' about
your studies.
Let me worry about the finances.
But I'm worried about
the finances, too.
Sending me to college
is gonna cost you.
I know what it's
gonna cost me, dammit.
Do you really think
it's worth it?
You little son of a bitch,
what are you getting at?
I wanna go to Hawaii.
- Hawaii?
- Like the kid I told you about.
Hawaii?
Think of all the money
you'll save.
Oh, I'm gonna save money,
alright.
You either go
to McKinley College
or you get the hell out
Monday morning,
you find yourself a job
that starts paying,
pay your way around here!
Faye: There's some cold
meat loaf in the refrigerator
if anybody's still hungry.
You gotta pay your share
or you get the fuck out!
You! You and your goddamn
aristocratic son!
Not one cent, do you understand?
And if that goddamn woman
is in my house
when I get back from the office
there's gonna be hell to pay!
What did you do
to your father now?
[upbeat music]
Jimmy:
Father was just displaying
the characteristics of his kind.
He'd probably never taken
a chance in his entire life.
There were other ways
of getting to Hawaii.
But at least I still
have my job.
[music continues]
It wasn't gonna be easy
getting an advance
out of my boss.
A photographer,
who was so stingy
he made Fred Roberts
look like the Ford Foundation.
But even he couldn't ignore
all of the extra stuff
I was doin' today
to impress him.
I just hoped he wouldn't be
in a lousy mood
because of his mother,
the only woman in his life
who was constantly spying
on him and driving him crazy.
She even hired
private detectives.
Linus: What? Are you having me
tailed again?
[indistinct chatter]
Damn you, I will not be tailed
by any damn tan Chevrolet!
Do you understand?
I suppose you expect me,
a woman of my age,
to follow you myself?
I don't want anybody
to follow me.
Well, someone's got
to look out for you.
Mama, I'm 38 years old.
And you still can't
look out for yourself.
Those dreadful parties
and that awful Caroline Mengers!
[upbeat music]
You're always together
smooching over the phone.
An old woman could be dying and
not get past the busy signal.
And she's no
spring chicken, either.
[whirring]
Linus: You know,
I'm not that lucky, mother.
You'll know how lucky you are
when you read my will.
I'm sick and tired of hearing
about your lousy will!
[whirring]
Hello, Mr. Spaulding,
Mrs. Spaulding.
How are you today?
Jimmy: Since Mr. Spaulding
was in such a lousy mood,
I decided not to ask him
for the advance.
Now I was still $60 short.
[instrumental music]
Man 1 on TV: Hadn't we better
send out flanking guards?
Man 2 on TV: What for?
- Is that you, Jimmy?
Man 2 on TV:
Afraid of that gallows-face?
Man 1 on TV: Afraid?
Certainly not, sir.
What took you so long?
Man 1 on TV: Don't worry, we're
more than enough
to take care of him.
Jimmy?
Is anybody there?
Jimmy?
[door shuts]
Fred?
[instrumental music]
[door shuts]
[creaking]
Man 3 on TV:
Once these poor people
were all happy and contented.
[dialing]
Man 3 on TV: And now...
Tortured, eyes put out,
tongues slit, ears hacked off...
They come to me for protection.
What are you doing?
I don't feel like
Jack The Ripper today.
But that was the best one yet.
[instrumental music on TV]
[heavy breathing]
This is stupid.
I feel like an idiot.
You never felt stupid before.
Before was different.
Woman on TV:
I said I'm not hungry.
Man on TV: My, so you did,
I'd forgotten.
He's real bitchin'.
- Who?
- Errol Flynn.
Yeah.
- You're breaking my arm.
- Sorry.
[Flynn laughing]
[instrumental music on TV]
It's stuck.
- I'll get it.
- Yeah.
Watch your nails.
Man on TV:
Next to Roman friends.
Woman on TV: Would you have
taken Roman lives?
Man on TV: Yes, those that
deserved it, cruel and unjust.
You're a strange man.
Strange?
Because I can feel
for beaten and helpless people?
Woman on TV: No, you're strange
because you want to...
[breathing heavily]
- Jimmy?
- What?
Not right away, okay?
Okay.
Goodbye.
You just don't understand,
do you?
Bye, milady.
Ready?
[breathing heavily]
[moaning]
- It's over.
- What's over?
"Robin Hood."
Jimmy: Even if Denise wasn't
one of the world's
greatest wits, we'd spent some
great afternoons here.
A habit I was gonna be sorry
to break.
I realized I'd have to
tell her that I was going.
But what if she cried
or started or throwing things,
or... or, wow, even told Fred?
Denise: What's wrong with you?
What are you staring
like that for?
Nothin'.
I'm just lookin'.
Hand me my purse, will ya?
On the TV.
[indistinct chatter on TV]
What I wanted to tell you
is tomorrow morning I'm...
I mean, there's a possibility.
I'm thinking about
going to Hawaii.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
The folks' plane
gets in at three.
They should be
getting here soon.
I guess I better be goin'.
Denise, I was wondering,
you don't suppose
you could lend me
a little bread, do ya?
I mean, just till Monday.
Mr. Spaulding ran out of checks
and all I need is $60
or even part of it.
What's wrong? I'll pay you back
first thing Monday.
I can't lend you any money,
I'm sorry.
Jimmy: Why not?
- Fred won't let me.
Jimmy: Fred?
What's Fred got to do with this?
He says you're a bad risk.
I promised him if you ever ask
me for any money, I'd say no.
Jimmy: How would he find out?
I'd have to tell him.
Can't keep secrets from Fred.
Well, you certainly managed
to keep
these Saturday afternoons
a secret.
That is entirely different.
Fred wouldn't understand
about that.
Okay.
See you guys tonight
at the No Exit.
Woman on TV: Oh, no, not another
run? These nylons are hopeless.
Hey.
Could you change the channel
on the TV, please?
There's nothing but commercials
on that one.
[clicks]
Jimmy: I couldn't really stay
pissed off at Denise.
If you've ever read
a little Freud,
you would know that she was
just over-compensating
for a secret habit from Fred.
Boy, first my boss
and his mother, and now this.
And the day was almost over.
Wait a minute.
My boss' mother.
Alice? Alice, get in here.
She drinks. Ali...
Oh, there you are.
The young man and I are waiting
for our refreshments.
I've been in the kitchen
doin' the silver.
I only got two hands.
Brandy, scotch, milk, coke?
- Water's fine.
- He'll have water.
- And I'll have brandy.
- You will not.
Alright then, tea.
Step on it.
You want to tell me about Linus,
isn't that what you said
on the phone?
- Well...
- Don't stammer, dear. Speak up.
I thought you might like to know
who goes to his parties.
You don't go to his parties,
do you?
Jimmy: Me?
- Shh.
Thank you.
[cup clinking]
[whispering] Who did you say was
coming to Linus' party tonight?
- Well...
- Shh! How many?
Fifteen, sixteen.
Name them.
Well, you see, I, uh, sort of
consider it...
classified information,
if you know what I mean.
Do you mean you want money
for it?
Yeah. I thought maybe we could
think along those lines.
How do I know you're not passing
bogus information?
You don't expect me to buy
a pig in a poke?
Okay.
We'll start with... Harry Tools.
I wouldn't give you two cents
for Harry.
- Why not?
- Give me another.
Uh, Mort Wiseman.
- No good.
- Him either?
Hit me again.
Not until we settle
our financial arrangement.
You don't expect me to pay for
the people I already know about.
Alright, then, you tell me
who you know is coming,
and I'll tell you true or false.
[chuckling]
You know what? I like you.
Anyway, I don't care to know
who's coming tonight.
I don't care about anything
except...
except why I can't go.
Damn them.
It's her, isn't it?
Tell me about her.
I'll give you
all the money you want
if you tell me about her.
All I need is $60.
Her. Tell me about her.
Well, they're always together
or smooching over the phone.
An old woman could be dying,
but she couldn't
get past the busy signal.
And she's no spring chicken,
either.
That bitch.
She hates me because
he loves me, doesn't she?
And not inviting me to his party
is his only one step.
- Only one step?
- What next?
What next, Mr. Reardon?
Soon he will
stop coming on Sundays.
That's the next step.
Then, he'll forget Mother's Day
and my birthday,
and even Christmas.
I happen to know
she's working on Christmas now.
- Oh!
- Party time again?
Get out of here,
you goddamn bladder watcher.
Okay by me, but the next time
you wet the sofa,
I quit.
Thank you.
Thank you
for telling me about her.
[inhales deeply]
That's worth $60.
I'll write you a check.
Please, I need cash.
I don't have any place
to cash the check
and... and I need to buy
an airline ticket.
But I don't keep
cash in the house.
She steals too.
Well, okay...
I was glad to have helped you.
[inhales sharply]
I didn't mean to cheat you.
Sure. I, I know.
[instrumental music]
How old are you, Mr. Reardon?
Seventeen.
Oh, my. Seventeen?
Seventeen...
[inhales sharply]
Can you imagine that?
Seventeen.
Wait, I may have something
put away.
[music continues]
Wanna match me
double or nothing?
Jimmy: Hardly anything stood
between me and Lisa now.
I'd packed
all of my important stuff
including
a great Army ski parka,
though I didn't know
what I'd do with it in Hawaii.
And tonight, I was taking Lisa
out in my suit,
which wasn't so bad,
in the dark.
I thought I'd write
something down
so that they wouldn't worry.
"Dear mom and dad, there
seems to be a growing distance
between what I am and what you
determine me to be.
For this reason, I must now
sever my life from yours."
Oh! Jimmy,
I didn't hear you come in.
Why don't you come
say hello to our company?
What's that you're...
- Oh, a poem.
- Yeah, sort of.
Well, why don't you come
and visit for a while?
I'd like you to meet
my friend Joyce.
Hurry up
before your father comes home,
she came late,
I just can't tell her to leave.
- Okay.
- You look very handsome.
Thanks, mom.
Listen, uh,
Fred and Lisa are going away
for college tomorrow and I
wanted to get 'em some presents.
Not now.
Jimmy: I decided
I'd better leave a note
that they would actually
understand.
So I wrote...
"Dear mom and father...
goin' to Hawaii.
Please don't worry.
Love, Jimmy."
[Faye and Joyce laughing]
I knew mom would help out
with the 12 bucks I still needed
if I would only place nice
for her friend.
[laughing]
He's my oldest.
Jimmy, you heard me speak
of Joyce Fickett, haven't you?
Nice to meet you.
My mother talk of you often.
I've heard a lot about you, too.
You're not gonna be comfortable
on that, are you?
- Come here.
- Thanks.
Do you know that Joyce grew up
in a lighthouse?
Isn't that wonderful?
A real lighthouse, huh?
A real one.
Jimmy:
She had a nice lemony smell
that was perfume,
but not perfumy perfume.
I almost mentioned it,
but I decided to play it cool.
I could hear the smooth scrape
of nylon
as she crossed her legs.
And for some reason,
that's all I needed.
- Right, Jimmy?
- Pardon me?
Joyce was interested to know
that you write poetry.
Oh.
Why don't you recite the one...
"Heredity,
Take Your Hands Off Me."
Come on. Stand up.
[chuckles]
Don't embarrass him, Faye.
What's that? Oh!
[cup clattering]
Hello, Al.
Good seeing you again.
Huh, Joyce.
Are you enjoying this weather...
we're having?
Hot.
What are you doing
all dressed up?
I got a date.
I want you home early tonight.
[scoffs] Never enough time at
the office to get things done.
It's good to see you again,
Joyce.
You'll have to stop by
and visit me sometime.
I'd love to.
Would anyone like more coffee?
[Al yells]
Faye!
Excuse me a minute.
I... I'll be right back.
Al: Faye, why the hell
don't you listen to me?
Faye: Al, will you
lower your voice?
Al, don't...
Just don't. Don't do it.
Al: How long has she been here?
[sighs] I smoke too much.
So, how long have you lived
in Evanston?
Al: What the hell
is wrong with you?
Two years about, we moved up
from the north side.
- Do you like it better here?
- A little.
But not really, it's, uh,
it's kind of boring sometimes,
you know?
Evanston's dry, but I must say,
I am a firm believer in fate.
And, um,
everything happens for a reason.
Well...
Well... I see you two have
become friends, that's nice.
It's been wonderful, Faye,
but I'm afraid
I have guests for dinner.
Oh, what a pity. Oh, I wish
you could stay longer.
I... I'll see you to your car.
Oh, I walked.
I love to walk in this weather.
Uh, not at this hour.
Jimmy, you'll drive Joyce home.
Mom, I'll be late.
Faye: Here are the keys.
Please, he's an excellent
driver.
Jimmy: Twenty bucks.
My mom came through.
- Oh, mom.
- Just drive safely, huh?
- Go on.
- Bye.
Now go.
[sighs]
[engine whirring]
I would offer you that drink,
but I wouldn't want you
to be late for your date.
Yeah. I'd really like to,
but I should be going.
Another time, then.
I'm afraid not.
I'm leaving for Hawaii tomorrow.
Oh? Faye didn't mention that.
It's sort of a secret.
I'm good with secrets.
Anyway, it was very nice
to have met you, Mr. Reardon.
Yeah, it was nice to have met
you too, Mrs. Fickett.
[starts engine]
[instrumental music]
I think I'll take you up
on that drink.
I'll be back in a while.
Jimmy's using the car.
- I gave him the keys.
- You what?
He's driving Joyce home.
He's driving Joyce home?
[clattering]
Nice place you got here.
I'm glad you like it.
Not my taste, really.
My ex-husband's.
Oh.
He always thought of himself
as the Great Dane type,
so everything's woodand dreary.
I like brighter things,
but I haven't got around
to fixing it up yet.
Looks nice, though.
[exhales]
Joyce: I hope you outlive
your stomach.
Oh, don't worry.
It's made of rust-proof
aluminum.
[inhales sharply]
Mine's the old-fashioned kind.
Cast-iron.
But I think it's turning to tin.
That's what happens
when you get old.
You're not old.
I'm older than you.
You aren't really expecting
guests, are you?
I mean, you just made that up
to get out of my house.
I guess
I was pretty silly myself.
You were cute.
I suppose
it must have been difficult.
Breaking away from your family
and friends
to start a new life out here
in the Midwest,
setting yourself up
in real estate.
Not really.
I'm having a ball.
The independent type, huh?
So how does it feel...
being out of school?
It's a step.
Faye tells me you worked
for a photographer this summer?
Yeah.
I was Mr. Spaulding's associate.
He owns the studio.
Well, that's wonderful.
I mostly took still lives
for Marshall Fields.
Joyce: And now
you're going to Hawaii?
That's right.
- And it's a secret?
Jimmy: Yeah, it's a secret.
I hope I'm not keeping you
from your date.
Yeah. I better be going.
Here.
- Thanks.
- Sure.
Thanks very much for the lift.
Jimmy: Lisa was waiting,
I had the old man's car,
Joyce was my mother's friend.
But still I heard myself say...
You don't know what time it is,
do you?
I don't wanna be too early.
I mean, that the changes
from a pastoral society
to a primarily industrial
culture has, well,
taken people away from
their historical land roots.
Did you know that after
a fruit fly goes up into orbit,
it comes back, with its,
you know,
reproductive system
all screwed up?
Baby flies barely hatch
more females than males.
If it screws up flies that way,
what do you think
science does to people?
- I don't know.
- Well, that's what I mean.
We probably won't know
for generations,
hundreds of years even.
Oh, I don't think we have any
immediate problems, do you?
Are you kidding? With the world
the way it is, the bomb?
Somehow, man just doesn't
seem to stop himself.
I even wrote a poem about it.
Just a short one.
- Wanna hear it?
- Alright.
Let's see, it begins...
"They say that each and every
man is responsible
for his destiny.
My thoughts are willing to go
that way.
But what about the rest of me?"
[laughs]
Sort of Ogden Nashish, isn't it?
Sort of, I guess.
Let's hear some more.
I'd like to,
but it might take all night.
May I have one of your
cigarettes?
Oh, sure.
[lighter clicks]
[exhales]
I wrote one about
the only solution to it all
being personal contact
between two people
who can share a moment
with one another.
A piece of each other's
eternity, sort of.
Wanna hear it?
[instrumental music]
[clinking]
[sighs]
Aren't you gonna be late?
Yeah, uh, do you have a phone?
In the pantry,
next to the kitchen.
[exhales]
[sighs]
Hi, beautiful.
- You're drunk.
- Like hell.
Lisa over phone: Where are you?
- Nowhere.
I had to give a friend of my
mother's a ride home.
Jimmy, I've been waiting here
almost an hour
in my formal.
Mommy thinks we're going
to the dance.
You sound great.
Wait till you see what I've got.
- This isn't funny.
- Do you love me?
I don't intend to sit here
all night.
Lisa, goddamn it,
I said I'll be right there
as soon as I take
my father's car back.
I wouldn't want mommy to see you
like that.
Jesus! I said I'm sober.
- Well, hurry up.
Jimmy over phone: Okay, I will.
Do you love me?
[instrumental music]
Chances are 'cause I...
Is everything alright?
You wouldn't like to dance,
would you?
Do you have time?
I won't get another chance.
I'm leaving tomorrow.
...I'm in love with you
Hope I'm up to it.
Just because my
composure sort of slips
The moment that
your lips meet mine
Chances are you think my heart's
Your valentine
In the magic of moonlight...
Did I do something wrong?
When I sigh hold me close dear...
- Well, goodnight.
- Jimmy?
Yes?
[sighs]
Come here.
...skies are in my eyes
Guess you feel you'll always...
I wanna...
The one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well chances are your chances are
Awfully good
[music continues]
Chances are you'll believe the stars
That fill the skies
Are in my eyes
Guess you feel you'll always be
The one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well chances are your chances are
Awfully good
The chances are your chan...
Joyce: Howdy.
Are
Awfully good
[crickets chirping]
Poor baby.
Tired?
No.
- Lucky girl.
- Who?
Your girl.
I really should be going.
You're gonna write a poem
about this?
You want me to?
As long as
you don't mention names.
Just places and incidents.
[telephone ringing]
Sorry, darling,
can't not answer it.
Hello?
Oh, Faye.
Uh, well...
No, but I'm sure
he'll be right along.
Of course,
there's nothing to worry about.
Yes. I'm sure.
Goodnight, Faye.
[sighs]
Thank you.
It was a pleasure, Mr. Reardon.
Yeah. It was nice to have met
you, too, Mrs. Fickett.
[chuckles]
[knock on door]
[footsteps approaching]
Well, Mr. Reardon.
Hi. Lisa ready?
Lisa was ready, at 8 o'clock
when you were expected.
I couldn't make it, a friend of
my mother's was attacked
and I had to stay with her
until she calmed down.
- It was horrible.
- Is that so?
Well, I suggest you give your
mother a call and tell her
you're alright,
she seemed awfully worried.
- My mother?
- Yeah, she called a while ago.
Anxiously trying to locate you.
Apparently, she wasn't informed
of her friend's predicament.
Well, we didn't wanna upset her.
Mrs. Bentwright:
At any rate, Mr. Reardon,
I'm sorry, but my daughter
couldn't wait.
You mean, she's not here?
You didn't expect her
to stay all night
waiting for you, did you?
Her last night at home?
She got herself
a respectable date.
Where'd she go?
She'll write you from Hawaii,
I'm sure.
Did she go to the dance?
Goodnight, Mr. Reardon.
Jimmy: Did she go to the dance?
[upbeat music]
[people cheer]
[tires screeching]
[clamoring]
Hey, Reardon, you gotta have
a tux to go in there!
Man 1: Hey...
Good evening, sir.
May I help you?
Look, I'm the black sheep
of the super-rich family
and I've contributed
a substantial amount
to the maintenance of this dump.
So if I wanna go in there
and get my girl,
I damn well better be
allowed to.
Out of my way.
[instrumental music]
Hey!
[indistinct chatter]
Hi!
[indistinct chatter]
Woman 1: Whoo!
Man 2: Hey!
[indistinct chatter]
Jimmy!
What are you doing here?
Lisa, I told you I'd be there.
Why the hell
didn't you wait for me?
- You're drunk.
- Bullshit.
- Lisa!
- Oh, hi, Matt.
I've been lookin' for you.
You remember Jimmy, don't you?
Jimmy just dropped by
to say goodbye.
But I'm planning to rape her
on the way out.
- What?
- Huh.
He's got
a rotten sense of humor.
Could you go back to the table,
please?
I'll be right over.
Are you gonna be alright?
Don't worry.
Worry.
[music continues]
I hate you, Jimmy!
I hate you.
If you go over there, I'm gonna
scream at the top of my lungs
how unfair you are.
I'm not kidding!
[women laughing]
[indistinct chatter]
Oh, yes!
Woman 2: Ah! Oh...
Get the... Young man...
Woman 2: Get... get out of here.
- Hi, Suzie.
Hi, Suzie.
Bravo.
Woman 3: Whoo!
- Let go!
- Not until you listen to me.
- Ah!
- I despise you.
Damn it! Cut it out!
[people cheering]
Now if I let you go,
will you promise not to run?
Dammit!
Jimmy: Shit!
Where do you think
you're goin', huh?
Ow! My leg.
Jesus! It's bleeding.
Serves you right.
The blood's drippin'
down my sock.
Let me see.
Now I feel terrible.
Terrible enough to forgive me?
- Be careful.
- Of what?
Your leg.
Doesn't make any difference now.
You liar! There's nothing wrong
with your leg.
You're disgusting.
Get off of me!
Not until you listen
to the truth
about why I was late.
- I'll scream.
- No, you won't.
- Ah...
- Are you gonna quit it?
- Mm-mm...
- Quit it.
- Alright.
- Get...
Would you stop it, please?
Look, I would've explained
all this before
because it's just
so goddamn simple
if you'd only listen.
Now just give me a chance.
Okay, the truth is...
- I ran out of gas.
- You make me wanna vomit.
I'm telling you the honest
truth, my old man's
probably calling the police
right now about his car,
then your mother tells me
that you went with someone else.
How am I supposed to feel?
I wouldn't have gone
with Matthew
if you'd showed up on time.
You couldn't have waited
a decent few minutes?
I waited two whole hours.
So big deal two hours.
I thought this was gonna be a
night we'd always remember.
I had such plans.
What kind of plans?
For us.
All today I thought about us.
And I wanted...
I wanted you
to make love to me tonight,
and all you did was embarrass me
in front of everyone.
- I told you I was sorry.
- Oh, God, you're so stupid.
You just refuse to understand,
don't you?
That isn't what I meant.
What are you cryin' about?
All the time I waited for you,
I thought about
how it would be tonight.
Now you've ruined everything.
Lisa, I'll... I'll make it
up to you, I promise.
- It's not the same anymore.
- No, it is. You'll see it is.
Jimmy, I was gonna let you
make love to me.
All the way.
Lisa...
I love you.
I love you, Lisa.
[instrumental music]
- Jimmy?
- What?
Can we do it now?
Right after the dance
I'll be outside waiting.
- You can get rid of that guy...
- I want it.
I want you now.
- Right now, you mean?
- Right now.
But, Lisa, someone's liable to
come strolling along any minute.
I don't care.
But what, what happens
if you started... to...
You know, some,
some virgins bleed.
Do you have to talk about that?
Well, Jesus, I'm only
being practical.
Funny, you were never
practical like that before.
Well, it never came up before,
this particular thing, I mean.
- Will you remove yourself?
- But, Lisa, I wanted to tell...
- Please get off of me.
- I wanted to tell you...
You don't have to tell me
anything.
[inhales deeply]
I understand all about it now.
- What do you understand?
- You're sitting on my shoe.
Yeah, and I'm gonna stay that
way until you stop crying
and explain why the hell
you're so upset.
- I'll go without it.
- Alright. Alright.
Here it is. Now,
will you tell me what's wrong?
Nothing.
Everything's perfectly fine.
I just never wanna see you
again.
Why?
It's quite obvious
you can't make love to me now
because you've just been
to one of your,
your diseased tramps!
You're jumping to conclusions.
You've got your life to lead
and so have I. So have I!
Look, if you really wanna
hear the truth, I'll tell you...
I don't care about your truth!
But you might be interested
to know that my date,
Matthew Hollander,
I've never even kissed him.
But tonight, tonight I'm gonna
give him a big surprise.
- What kind of surprise?
- Figure it out.
You're the expert.
[instrumental music]
Are you trying
to tell me something?
Are you and Matthew Hollander
goin' to do it?
Goodbye, Jimmy.
Jimmy: The damn thing
just had to fizzle out
at the most important moment
of my life.
Six months of patience and top
level planning and believing,
and coaxing and wooing,
and now this.
This power failure.
This blackout and for what?
For helping out
that poor frustrated woman?
Was there no justice?
- Let's go, son.
- Hey!
What the hell is going on?
We'd rather not
have any trouble with you.
[grunting]
Shit!
Andrew: Come on!
You son of a bitch,
I was visiting my girl!
- Where'd you park?
- It's a secret.
- His car's up here.
Suzie: Andrew!
What the hell are you doing
with my fiance?
Miss Middleburg!
- Is that your girl?
- I'm not talking.
How dare you?
How dare you?
Andrew:
I'm sorry, Miss Middleburg.
We didn't know.
Did they hurt you, darling?
No offence, Miss Middleburg,
but do you suppose you could
keep your fiance
away from the ladies' room?
But I get lonely without him.
You oughta take up anarchy.
You got a flair for it.
- Shit!
- Fight with Lisa?
I feel like a scotch.
Is that an invitation?
To the best place you know.
Are you sure you can
get us there in one piece?
What do you mean?
Till death do us part.
[car engine rumbles]
I happen to know there aren't
four left out of our whole
graduation class.
Four what?
Girls who've not been...
deflowered.
Prove it.
Ask me one.
Okay. Denise Hunter.
[Suzie scoffs]
Are you sure?
I know a boy who did it.
It was last summer
at a splash party
at the Bentwrights.
- Lisa's house.
- It was before you knew her.
Anyway...
Denise walked
into one of the rooms,
and whammo!
The petals fell.
Just like, practically
every girl in the senior class.
Just since
the beginning of summer
I've counted
enough fallen flowers
to decorate the Rose Bowl.
Who did it to Denise?
Is this a personal
or a clinical inquiry?
I'm just curious.
On the record,
it was Matthew Hollander.
Are you sure?
Not only Denise.
He plowed most of last year's
crop single-handedly.
Y... you, you said
there were four virgins.
- Just about.
- Who?
Lolly Newgold, Alice Poulton
and Marianne Storres.
That's three.
You said there were four.
- And me.
- That's it?
Well, unless somebody's
been holdin' out on me.
Shit!
Bill it to the judge, Fernando.
Certainly, Miss Middleburg.
I've always wondered about Lisa.
Of course, you should know.
I know damn well she is.
- A virgin, you mean?
- Yes, dammit.
- Well then, there you are.
- Goddamn right I'm there.
There I am.
One thing I know.
Lisa doesn't go
for the star athlete type.
Suzie: You mean Matthew?
Oh! You don't have to worry
about him.
He's probably driving her nuts
right now
about how he won
that Harper's Poetry Contest.
Jimmy: Poetry Contest?
But he's not bad looking.
That's what saves him.
You mean he writes poetry?
Oh, sure.
But most women
like his short stories better.
But he doesn't
wanna be a writer.
He's gonna teach History
on the University Level
or run for political office.
I wouldn't be surprised
if he became
President of the United...
What's the matter?
[tires screeching]
[engine rumbling]
[tires screeching]
[women laughing]
[harmonica music]
[indistinct chatter]
As Ariel cruelly tasked
by the fortune's ill demand
was yet set free...
[harmonica music]
the tempest boldly met
to capture wings again
in Shelly's golden breast,
and through his song...
[harmonica music]
renew herself
as truth will live when passed
from soul to soul.
So, too, must every man
search out his cave
and therein live
as goodness lives...
[harmonica music]
in fertile wombs of principle.
[crowd applauding]
I have come back.
I have come back from the pit
of pimps and whores.
[indistinct chatter]
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm making
this up on the spot, so...
bear with me.
I have come back.
Need I wash behind the ear,
is there logic in a tear?
Who has rolled my stone away?
Must I come back another day.
I have come back to dance upon
a broken toe.
It is Ulysses, home to roost,
'though perchance,
a little juiced.
I have come back.
I have come back to look upon
this appalling pall...
And naught there is to say,
my friends
save fuck you all, you all.
[indistinct chatter]
Jimmy: In my beer
you dropped your cigarette.
Don't you have the least regret?
Lisa! [echoing]
[instrumental music]
Man 3: Whoo!
- Bravo! Bravo!
[cheering]
Leave him be!
[grunts]
[car engine rumbling]
Man 4: Hey!
Get back here!
[tires screeching]
[music continues]
[honking]
[honking]
Where do you think
you're going with my girl,
you son of a bitch?
You son of a bitch!
Jimmy: Lisa!
Pull over!
Pull over!
I'm sorry.
[tires screeching]
Jimmy: Pull over,
you son of a bitch!
Lisa!
What are you doing?
[music continues]
[tires screeching]
You asshole! Are you trying
to cause an accident?
Alright, Reardon.
[grunts]
Matthew!
Please, don't, Matt...
[grunting]
Stop it, please!
[groaning]
[grunting]
[Matthew laughs]
[grunts]
[groans]
[mumbles]
- Lisa...
- Get off me!
[grunting]
[sobbing]
Jimmy!
[car door shuts]
[car engine rumbling]
[instrumental music]
Lisa?
Aren't you even gonna
kiss me goodbye?
[music continues]
Jimmy: There are other islands.
Haiti, for instance.
Voodoo, and the natives
who speak French,
and every year, a fresh crop
of 17 year-old girls.
Defeat is not to be scorned.
By accepting it
I was probably strengthening
the very fibers of my being.
But I couldn't drive around
the loop for the rest of my life.
Napoleon at least had the Czar
or someone to surrender to,
but my old man was probably
wailing to gouge out
my eyeballs with a rusty spoon.
[train chugging]
It came rushing at me
from behind,
rumbling overhead
thundering out of its icy tunnel
in a fury of flying gum wrappers
and old cigarette butts.
It was my old enemy...
the El.
[instrumental music]
[train chugging]
[music continues]
[honking]
[tires screeching]
[train chugging]
[whizzing]
Shit!
[car door closes]
Jimmy: At the moment of impact,
I remembered that this new car
was my old man's soul.
[coins clanking]
I called the only person
I knew at that moment
who might not hang up on me.
[coin clings]
[telephone ringing]
Hello?
Hello, Joyce?
Who's this?
Who's this?
Jimmy on phone:
This is Mr. Reardon.
Mr. Reardon?
Mr. Reardon, remember?
Al? Al, sweetie,
what time is it?
No, not Al. Jimmy.
This is Jimmy Reardon.
Oh, Jimmy, baby, I'm sorry,
I thought it was your father.
Jimmy?
Jimmy?
Joyce on phone:
Are you still there, Jimmy?
Jimmy: Al?
Al Reardon?
My father.
My moral, upright,
coffee-slurping,
status-seeking,
putting-in-overtime,
hard-day-at-the-office,
early-rising, early-bedding,
make-your-own-way-in-life father
had been screwing Joyce Fickett!
That balding man
with responsibilities
was an extra-marital joy-boy.
No wonder I was having
so much trouble!
It was hereditary!
[coin clings]
Al on phone:
Jimmy, is that you?
Answer me, dammit!
Where are you?
Talk to me,
you little son of a bitch!
I'll break your goddamn...
[Al grunts]
Joyce Fickett, father.
Al on phone:
Where are you, son?
I'm at Central Street Station,
father.
Jimmy: When I considered
the implications
of my father's act,
anger gave way to confusion.
Middle-aged men didn't go around
screwing their wives' friends
without some kind of reason.
Or did they?
Maybe father was neglected
at home.
Maybe when he bellowed
about soggy hot dogs,
he was really saying,
"Look at me.
I need to be loved."
[instrumental music]
When I thought about it,
I hadn't been much of a son.
And perhaps
father turned out this way
because I neglected
some of my responsibilities.
You know, I've been thinking
maybe it's not such a bad idea
you going to Hawaii.
Even though you didn't show
much consideration
for your mother
with that note that you left.
You were planning on leaving
this morning, weren't you?
I was.
Well, maybe I can swing
a sports coat if you need one.
Thanks anyway, I'm not going.
[brakes squealing]
[instrumental music]
Jimmy: It was sort of funny
when you thought about it.
Here we were, a couple
of father-and-son attitudes
as far apart
as we were familiar.
Poking and prodding
at one another,
but never touching.
And now, all at once,
we were men together.
Of course, we would
still play at being attitudes
as far as the family
was concerned,
but as far as
father and son were concerned,
well, it seemed
that me and my old man
had finally gotten to the same
place at the same time.
Dad, I want you to know
that I appreciate
your thoughts about Hawaii...
but I, I think
that family tradition
has to start somewhere.
I'm going to McKinley College.
Jimmy: It sure made me
feel good to say it...
hell, I might even do it.
[instrumental music]
I used to smoke
I used to drink
I used to smoke drink
And dance the hoochy-coo
I used to smoke and drink
Smoke and drink and dance the hoochy-coo
Oh-oh yeah
But now I'm standin' on this corner
Praying for me and you
I-I-I
That's why I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Well I can preach
until you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
I used to cuss
I used to fuss
I used to cuss fuss
And boogie all night long
I used to cuss and fuss
Cuss and fuss and boogie all night long
Oh-oh
But now I'm standing on this corner
I know right from wrong
I-I-I
Because I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating
on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
I used to lie
Lie
I used to cheat
Cheat
I used to lie cheat
Lie cheat
And step on people's feet
I used to lie and cheat
Lie and cheat and
step on people's feet
Oh yeah
But now I'm stepping on to glory
Salvation is in my beat
Oh yeah
Because I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating
on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
That's why I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating
on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
Because I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
People let me tell you
'bout a kingdom come
You know I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I can preach until
you're deaf and dumb
I'm in that soul saving army
Beating on that big bass drum
Oh yeah
That's why I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Oh
Saved
Oh
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Oh yeah
Saved
Oh yeah
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Mm-hm
Saved
Mm-hm-hm
Saved
Oh-ha-hah
Saved
Oo-oo-ooh
Saved
Ah-ha-hah
Saved
Oh-ho
Saved
Oh-ho
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
I'm saved
Saved
Saved...