85. INT. FRANKIE’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
SAM heads to the front door to answer an insistent pounding. He opens the door to find HYMIE drunk and disheveled.
HYMIE
(to Sam)
Where’s my lord and master?
SAM
In having dinner.
FRANKIE is seated at the dining room table with KAY, finishing dinner. Hymie walks over to him in a rage.
FRANKIE
(picking up a newspaper)
Hey, seen the newspaper polls? They’re pickin’ me to win.
Hymie hits the paper out of Frankie’s hand.
HYMIE
You’re no man. You’re some kind of poison.
FRANKIE
You’re lushed. Hymie, let Sam take you inside to lie down for a few minutes.
HYMIE
Tell me, old buddy, what happened? No, wait a minute, let me guess. Let me see, you got two side boys from Kansas City to dump old Barney Yale in a cement mixer and he’s currently a mile and a half of new freeway in Pasadena.
FRANKIE
What the hell’s your story, Hymie? What’s wrong with you?
HYMIE
What’s wrong with me? You’re wrong with me! And for one split second I almost went for it. I almost went for it all the way, ready to cream Barney Yale!
FRANKIE
I never said anything about creamin’ Barney Yale.
HYMIE
Birdseed! That is exactly what you said! You wanted him dead, you wanted him killed, you wanted him murdered. And for one tiny moment I almost went for it.
KAY
(confused, to Frankie)
What is he talking about, Frankie?
FRANKIE
He’s smashed! He’s out of his mind.
HYMIE
Yeah, I been out of my mind all the years I been followin’ behind you, walkin’ the same mud holes you do.
FRANKIE
I think I better throw you out and let you dry out on the front lawn!
HYMIE
You’re not gonna have to throw me out. I’m gonna walk. But first you’re gonna listen because I got somethin’ to square away. Everything you did for me in exchange for Laurel.
FRANKIE
What the hell’s Laurel got to do with it?
HYMIE
I married her, remember? She was what you call a wife. She was also what you call a mother . . . almost a mother.
FRANKIE
Stop talkin’ around it! If you got something on your weak mind, spit it out.
HYMIE
She died on the table, ya bastard! She died under the knife, she miscarried.
FRANKIE
What’s that got to do with me?
HYMIE
It was your baby!
FRANKIE
(stunned, softly)
Oh . . . I’m sorry.
HYMIE
Yeah, you’re sorry. You’re so sorry you pull her out of the grave and made her a whore in every newspaper in the world. So don’t say you’re sorry, or so help me I swear I’ll tear your heart out! You know what I did when I ran out this morning, Frankie? I ran and I ran and I didn’t even know where I was going. And after a while my face grew cold and I started ballin’. You know what I was cryin’ for, Frankie? For all the years I haven’t been me. For all the years I been sittin’ like an extra nose on your face. What happened to me? When did I die? When did I get buried inside you? I’m so much a part of you, Frankie, that when I shave in the morning I see your face in the mirror. I ran, Frankie, I ran into an alley. Down at the end of it I fell behind some crates. I don’t know for how long, but I was just twitchin’ just like a spastic. I couldn’t stop. Frankie, I’m nothing but a parasite. I’ve never had the guts to tear myself away from you. I’ve let you castrate me inch by inch. I’m weak! I’m a leech!
(to Kay)
He’s the one who hired Barney Yale!
Frankie grabs Hymie and throws him to the ground.
FRANKIE
You shut up, Hymie! I don’t want to have to bust you up!
(to Kay)
Don’t listen to that drunk. He’s talkin’ out of a bottle. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.
Hymie gets up, picks up a trash can and hits Frankie in the back with it, knocking him to the floor.
HYMIE
If there’s one thing that somebody can learn from a guy like you, Frankie, it’s what I’ve learned: Don’t be afraid to fight dirty.
Hymie begins to kick Frankie while he is still on the ground. Kay gets up and stands above Frankie.
KAY
Look at you, Frankie. Look at what’s left of you. There isn’t even enough left to feel sorry for. And now I know there isn’t enough to love. How could I think there was hope for us, or anything between us? Maybe it takes a terrible thing like this tonight, this senseless evil. Do you at least know that’s what it is, Frankie, do you? Maybe it takes something this strong to cure a woman like me. Whatever there was between us, Frankie--you could never call it love, because to love means to commit yourself and to belong. And you never belonged to anybody but yourself, Frankie! And when you don’t belong, nothing belongs to you. So you may have your Oscar, and you may have everything, and you’ll have nothing.
(to Hymie)
Hymie, please, I, please take me out of here. Just anywhere, please?
(to Frankie)
Bye, Frankie. And I do hope the Oscar keeps you warm on cold nights.
Kay and Hymie leave.
FRANKIE
(as they walk away)
Go on and run. Who the hell needs you!
He runs to the door after them. He stands at the door calling after them.
FRANKIE (CONT’D)
Too stupid to understand. This damn town wasn’t tryin’ to pull your guts out. Nobody was trying to shove you into a sewer. Look around, go ahead, look around! How does anybody win?
Frankie snaps his fingers after them.
FRANKIE (CONT’D)
Oh, you’re too stupid to know that. I’m going to win, and that’s what counts. I’m gonna win! Go on and run, you freeloaders. Go on, run. Who needs ya! Who needs ya! Freeloaders. Freeloaders!
Frankie slams the door and returns to the living room. Sam is standing there.
FRANKIE (CONT’D)
(to Sam)
And you! You too, ya creep! What are you lookin’ at? I suppose you want out. Well go on, get the hell outta here. Pack your stuff and split!
Frankie throws and ashtray at Sam. Sam steps aside and the ashtray hits the chandelier.
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