"What are you trying to do, Walter?" "Nothing tricky, dear." "You make me feel so used." "Do what considerate husbands do?" "What do they do?" "They jog." "I'm 41 ." "Who knows when the magic will leave my body?" "Then will be the time to startjogging." "You have no right to force me, Walter." "The Bible says, "Woe unto the wife who turneth her back on a horny spouse."" "The Bible doesn't say that." "It did, long ago." "It was edited out by a lesbian." "vivian, I want you!" "Walter, you're scaring me." "Nothing to be afraid of, sweet baby." "It's just an old friend coming for a visit." "Open the door." "I said open the door!" "Would you get off?" "!" "Buenos dias, Bianca." "Buenos dias, Secora Whitney." "Ponga la bandeja en la mesa" "Gracias" "Who was that?" "Bianca, the new housekeeper." "Where's Estelle?" "Walter, I had to fire her." "But I liked her." "She forgot her place." "Bianca is from Guatemala." "Everyone imports them from Central America." "They don't resent being treated like servants." "lmport a husband you can treat like a servant!" "I feel like I don't really belong." "You know how I hate it when you just barge into the bathroom." "What is there to see that I haven't already seen?" "You won't admit it, but I've seen you naked." "l've even laid you, vivian." "Must you use that language in here?" "This is not some cheap bar!" "l could get more action in a bar!" "Good morning, Mother." "Good morning." "Morning, Walter." "Mary Ann." "Mother, can I go shopping?" "As long as you're home by 6:00." "You don't need new clothes." "Walter says I don't need new clothes." "Of course you do, darling." "I'll talk with him later." "You committed a moral crime this morning!" "That's the country's problem." "We're a nation of sex-starved men." "So we jog and vote for the death penalty." "I was shocked, Walter." "Shocked." "I did not try to rape my wife in front of the housekeeper." "I don't lack a sense of the theatrical. I majored in theatre." "Raping the housekeeper - that's drama." "My daughter was crying when she called." "She had no right to call you." "vivian's concern is your career." "Her upbringing has stressed the importance of that career." "Beware the wife who places the bed ahead of the office." "I've seen careers ruined because of sexually aggressive wives." "A wise man can make arrangements." "l'm not the kind of man who cheats." "Not cheating, Walter." "Not cheating." "Think of it as easing the pressures on someone you love." "You're a lucky man, Walter." "Then why don't I feel lucky?" "vivian, Mary Ann..." "There's something wrong, Nelson." "I feel like I've blown up a beautiful balloon, but I'm inside. I'm lonely." "Learn to trust unhappiness, Walter." "You and I have shared many secrets." "I'll share this one by forgetting it." "Go throw yourself into your work." "I've never seen a happily married executive that was worth a damn." "Hold on please, I'll see if he's in." "Mr. Whitney, there's a young man here who wants to see you." "A Roger Porter." "l don't know a Roger Porter." "He says he's Lorraine Porter's son." "Have him sent up." "Lorraine Porter's son." "Lorraine." "Lorraine Porter." "Mr." "Whitney, he's here." "Have him come in." "Lorraine Porter's son?" "Yeah." "Yeah, this is cool." "Nothing ratty-tatty about this place." "And that's the way it should be up here where the hog is fat." "No meat scraps." "We're talking T-bone steak here, huh?" "And man, you're it, huh?" "The big ace in the card deck." "I'm sure glad our zodiac signs crossed." "Like my horoscope said:" "Capricorn, consolidate your financial future." "Here I was, thinking I was just a poor black orphan in the cold white world." "Lorraine is..." "Your mother's dead?" "Gone." "I can't tell you how sorry..." "I'm truly and deeply sorry." "She was a very special person." "A dear friend." "What about your father?" "Oh, Mom never got married." "You know it is with us colored folks." "What kind of thing is that to say about your mother?" "Not marrying didn't make her less of a woman. ltjust made him less of a man." "I don't like you, Mr. Porter." "I've tolerated your bad manners because your mother and I were friends." "Dear friends." "Someone I knew very well." "No, you lived with her." "You didn't know her." "Let's lay it on each other straight." "I don't believe it." "Lorraine was a lovely person." "Intelligent, cultured... lt's just too shocking to accept you as her son." "Well, if that's too much of a shock, this will send you into a coma." "Hi, Daddy." "Your son?" "There's things about me I never told you." "And you're my dearest friend." "I guess that's how we keep our dearest friends." "By only telling them the things that make us dear to them." "You didn't know about Lorraine, or about me changing my name." "Changing your name?" "From Weisenthal to Whitney." "Weisenthal." "What sort of name is that?" "It's Jewish." "Have a drag." "You'll feel better." "lt's too late." "Too late!" "You're not really in trouble." "I'm Jewish, my son is black, my lawyer smokes pot, and I'm not in trouble?" "It makes me feel better and doesn't hurt my judgment." "I delivered the valedictorian speech at Harvard stoned!" "Get me out of this spot and I'll keep you in grass the rest of your life." "You provide the facts, I'll provide the solution." "Who knows you changed your name?" "Just vivian and her father." "It was his idea." "Who knows about Lorraine?" "Just vivian's father." "After I got out of the Army, I went to college. I met her in my second year" "We lived together almost three years." "After I graduated, I came here to Unilectron as a copywriter lt was gonna be temporary until I made enough so we could get married." "Oh, yeah." "The only problem was, I made an instant smashing success." "I was kidding around, and I came up with the biggest lie I could think of." ""Unilectron" " The Company That Puts People Ahead Of Profit."" "Was that yours?" "That's a biggie." "ln two weeks, I was a junior exec." "Then, like everything else, vivian's father found out about Lorraine." "Oh no." "What did he do?" "He had a father-to-son talk with me." "No, it was more like the Pope talking to a parish priest." "Someday you will sit in this chair" "He promised the priest the vatican." "I'm only showing the concern your parents would show if they were alive." "He slipped on their ghosts like an overcoat." "As your mistress, yes." "But not marriage." "He moralized" "She would never be accepted." "The fear of the unknown." "As the wife of a plumber a mechanic, an elevator operator - fine." "A veiled threat to my future employment." "We wouldn't want to lose you." "A direct threat." "l am not a bigot." "He believed I am a realist." "From that day I've never known the difference" "l am your friend." "He insisted" "There might be a child." "The image we leave of ourselves on this earth after death." "Consider that." "I said nothing" "You're in love, but not for the last time." "That's what makes man superior" "He can love, forget, and love again." "Write to her Say that getting married at the moment would not be practical." "She'll understand." "They're very understanding." "I wrote the letter She never answered" "After she died Roger found all my letters" "How could a dude write all these pretty words?" "Just dripping with honey!" "Man, they could make a nun pack a suitcase and blow the convent." "You showed little respect for her by reading these." "Not as little as you showed by writing them..." "Dad." "Stop calling me Dad." "Who told you that I'm...?" "That we're related?" "After I found the letters I asked Aunt Clara." "You remember her Mom's sister" "Well, Mom went to stay with Aunt Clara when she got...that way." "You know aunt Clara wouldn't lie, not with her husband being a preacher.." "I won't argue the fact that you're my son." "You're a good sport, Dad." "This is a moment for total honesty." "Nothing but the truth." "We both agree that this is a delicate situation." "I think we would both agree to keep this delicate new s to ourselves." "Oh, you mean now we found each other we're not going to tell anyone?" "Who would we tell?" "Well, I guess first your wife." "Stop following me." "Shouldn't I follow in your footsteps?" "Why are we walking by the ocean?" "ln case I decide to throw myself in." "When do we go home and tell the family?" "Do you really expect to live with us?" "Are you ashamed of me, Dad?" "Stop calling me Dad!" "What should I call you?" "Well, I don't know." "Whitey." "Honky." "Mr. Charley." "Anything, but not Dad!" "Not right now. lt's something I'm gonna have to get used to." "Slowly. lf ever" "Good morning, Whitey!" "Hi there, Honky." "No, that's no way for a boy to talk to his father" "And whatever else I may feel I respect you." "Mr. Charley..." "Yeah, that has a certain dignity." "Like I'm your son, flesh of your flesh, blood of your blood." "Mistake of my mistakes." "You'll change, when you adopt me." "Adopt you?" "l'm 1 7. it's time I became legal" "No way." "No how." "l know I'm not all you want in a son." "That's a keen observation." "We'll become buddies." "We'll go to games." "We'll go fishing and hiking." "We'll wrestle on the floor together" "We'll become pals." "Teach me to build a model airplane." "I'll show you how to pick a lock." "Take me to a business meeting. I'll take you to a revolutionary meeting." "Why are you doing this to me, God?" "So this boy claims to be your son" "He is my son." "I think a judge is better qualified to make that decision." "I can't deny it." "Not because of him, but because Lorraine was his mother I loved her but I really can't remember what she looked like." "We used to laugh a lot, but I can't remember what about." "There were so many moments." "It was so long ago." "Oh, God." "To be young again with a lover that says yes." "Unfortunately, you're in San Marino with a wife who says no." "Now, you may not love vivian, but a husband owes his wife some loyalty." "What does a father owe his son?" "You know what I mean." "vivian, my wife, all of them." "They're social animals whose jungle ends at the city limits." "Now, you want to toss those tigers this kind of raw meat?" "That's the answer They're animals." "Appeal to their instinct." "Their instinct is to kill." "That's their basic instinct." "What about their baser instincts?" "Envy, ego, false pride?" "What are you saying?" "Let vivian adopt without ever knowing." "Let it be her victory, not my defeat." "Take in a colored orphan for the summer lt's a program to show underprivileged kids a better way of life." "If they see a better way of life, they'll want it permanently." "Why give them false hope?" "It seems so cruel" "No more cruel than busing." "You accepted that." "Only because it didn't affect Mary Ann." "Oh, Walter why us?" "Why must you get us involved in this?" "We owe it to them, vivian." "When will we stop owing?" "They already have welfare, low rent housing, special job programs, and four of their own Tv series." "When will we stop owing and be even?" "vivian, it's just for the summer vacation." "We'll be the only family to have one." "That's what disturbs me." "Disturbs you?" "Cynthia Robbins will be so green with envy" "she'll probably go and adopt one." "That's true, isn't it?" "Do you think Gloria and Elizabeth will let you and Cynthia get ahead of them?" "Even if they all adopt colored orphans, it won't diminish the fact that you did it first." "Like heart transplants." "No matter how many doctors do it, Christian Barnard will get the credit." "You'll be the Christian Barnard of compassion." "You can start an organization." "Call it "Human Transplant."" "To take people with no hope and give them new life." ""Human Transplant."" "I'll bring him over and you can see for yourself what a fine boy he is." "He could sleep in your garage workshop until we decide." "Just in case it doesn't work out." "Good idea." "It's easier to ask someone to leave your garage." "I don't dig it, Mr. Charley." "The whole adoption bit." "Sleeping in the garage." "I told you, it's just temporary." "Seems wrong, pretending I'm an orphan." "You are one." "No, I ain't. I got a daddy." "Don't I, Mr. Charley?" "Put your feet down." "This is a Rolls-Royce, not a bus." "Will I get it when you die?" "It's a company car lt will go to Mary Ann." "You like Mary Ann more than me." "Far more and I'm not very fond of her" "Will you stop playing with that telephone?" "Are you going to high school, Roger" "Uh -uh." "When did you leave?" "About a year ago." "Have you ever thought of going back?" "Don't need to." "You won't get far with that attitude." "l'll make out." "Without a diploma, you'll make out on the unemployment line." "I mean, outside of waiting for me to die, you have no future." "Stop playing with the glove compartment." "You belong to a golf club, don't you?" "What about it?" "Well, I can join it, can't I" "Only as a caddy." "Oh, they don't have no black members." "None." "Makes you proud, doesn't it?" "What makes me proud?" "That the first black to join the club will be your son?" "Must I wear these square clothes?" "Yes." "The brothers will think I sold out." "Relax." "There are no brothers here." "So this is going to be my new home." "All right." "Just the garage." "I said, just the garage." "So this is Roger" "Mr. Whitney has told me so much about you." "Welcome to our home, Roger" "Thank you, ma'am. lt's an honor" "My, what a fine looking boy." "You were right, I was worried over nothing." "You're just in time for dinner Walter will you tell Mary Ann?" "Roger.." "We're having chicken." "l love chicken." "I know you do. I had Bianca prepare it especially for you." "We want you to enjoy your stay here." "Thank you, ma'am." "You don't have to call me ma'am." "Just Mrs. Whitney." "Mrs." "Whitney?" "Thank you." "It's an exciting experiment." "When Mr. Whitney first broached it, I had my doubts." "But then I realized that I'd be giving a boy a chance to improve himself." "You will try to improve yourself?" "Oh, yes, ma'am." "Mrs." "Whitney." "Mrs." "Whitney." "We want to be proud of you, Roger" "We'll ask our church to accept you as a member You'll be a Presbyterian." "Well, I was raised to be a Baptist..." "You'll be a Presbyterian." "How far along are you in high school -l don't go to high school" "We'll give him remedial schooling and then a job training program." "Excellent." "This is going to be an exciting summer Roger" "Well, what do you think, Mary Ann?" "Shall we adopt Roger for the summer?" "Have you ever been arrested?" "That's an offensive question." "Yes, I've been busted by the pigs." "Roger in our community, the pigs are known as "police officers."" "Where I come from, they're known as..." "Police officers." "Police officers." "Why were you arrested, Roger" "Well, I was walking along in a protest march against the Klan, singing the second verse of "We Shall Overcome,"" ""Black and white together Black and white together" "Black and..."" "We know the song, Roger ...when this man hit me over the head with a lead pipe." "Well, I fell down, and he started kicking me, and then the...police officers arrested me." "Roger you must promise to never go on one of those protest marches again," "or sing that "Overcome" song again." "Never" "Well, if you feel the urge, you may sing it in the privacy of your room." "Well, Mary Ann, do you approve of Roger" "l think we should ask Dennis first." "Yes." "Who's Dennis?" "Dennis Erkle." "He's captain of the lacrosse team." "Why do we need Dennis Erkle's approval" "His father is Judge Erkle." "He's running for Superior Court." "His chances might be jeopardized if his son's fiance has him living here." "Fiance?" "They're sort of unofficially engaged." "Don't you think you should inform your father about something this important?" "I did. I called Daddy in Westport, and he gave me his blessing." "No, your legal father Walter Whitney, who's clothed, fed and housed you, while that drunk hasn't even visited you in two years." "Mother I will not sit here and have Walter slander my father I just knew he'd cause trouble!" "We're all upset." "Let's wait until morning before taking a vote." "vote?" "What vote?" "On whether to take Roger into our home." "We discussed all that." "I never agreed to a vote. lt's our decision, yours and mine." "Please, Walter I don't want to argue the point." "I didn't vote when I adopted Mary Ann." "She is my natural child. lt was the only decent thing to do." "So if he were my natural son, I'd have the right to expect you to accept him." "Don't make ludicrous parallels, Walter" "lf he were my son, you'd accept him?" "Yes, if he were your son, of course." "All right, vivian, I will let you be as good as your word." "Roger is my son." "l don't find that very amusing." "Neither do I, but it's a fact." "That can't be." "He's..." "And so was his mother" "This is really your son?" "Yes." "Your natural son?" "Yes." "Oh, my God!" "And to think I was going to let him live here!" "You promised to accept him!" "You tricked me!" "Don't touch me!" "You're getting hysterical" "God won't forgive you for having a black child!" "How do you know?" "Maybe he'll be pleased." "Maybe God is black." "You will burn in hell for saying that, Walter" ""Deep in my heart, I do believe..."" "Will you stop singing that song?" ""We shall overcome someday."" "Mr. Charley?" "I got a feeling you better start learning the words." "Where's the boy?" "ln the garage." "And vivian?" "Upstairs, with Dr. Bristol and Reverend Hayworth." "How is she?" "She's under sedation." "Reverend Hayworth is praying with her" "I even had to give Mary Ann tranquilizers." "I've been their family doctor for 40 years." "I delivered vivian." "And to see her in this state of shock..." "You must be a sadist to flaunt a black son in front of her I didn't flaunt him." "And he's not black." "He's "hickory bronze." The same color as your new car l would just as soon you did not compare that boy to my new car" "I am no longer your personal physician." "And I would advise you not to get sick in San Marino, Mr. Whitney." "Your father-in -law wants the family to spend the night at his house." "l don't see God's book around, Walter -l'm sorry." "Sorry is for those seeking forgiveness." "Do you seek forgiveness?" "Forgiveness for what, Reverend?" "vivian said you told her God is black." "l simply posed it as a possibility." "We don't speculate on God's color lf you want her to speak to you again, go and tell her God is white." "We're not sure!" "Hindus don't believe it." "Moslems, Buddhists..." "God is white. lt's simple logic." "His Son is white." "That's not proof." "I'm white." "My son is black." "I'll pray for you, Walter" "Acompaca la Secora Whitney a mi carro" "Walter this is the most critical night of your life." "I was beginning to get that feeling." "But one which you can easily survive, provided we proceed with good taste." "And Roger is not good taste." "Someday, pelhaps." "Not at the moment." "When will he be tasteful Who decides?" "People." "Me, you." "Me?" "Have I been wrong in interpreting your silence as approval lt's human." "People lean any way the wind blows." "The wind blows white, not black." "It blows Whitney, not Weisenthal" "You mustn't legally recognize him." "As long as he is illegitimate, society is not threatened." "Someday the torch of leadership, of power will be passed to you." "We must feel confident that when your turn comes to pass on the torch, you won't put it in the hands of one who'd burn down the country." "Pass on the torch to him?" "I don't think of Roger as my future." "I even resent his being here." "But I have a serious problem, Nelson, a flaw in my character I don't have the sense of commitment, or strength, or courage" "to say to him :" ""Go away, you never happened."" "Walter you were like a son to me." "But as you well know, a son can turn out to be a bitter disappointment." "Mr." "Charley, where you going?" "To work." "Unless you're hungry, stay in your room." "Can I go swimming in the pool" "Maybe tomorrow." "Read, in your room." "If you can't read, just..." "sit and draw pictures." "Mr. Charley... I want you to know that no matter what happens, I'm behind you 100 percent." "Rub my head for luck." "l don't believe superstitious myths." "It's no myth." "You only met me yesterday and your luck has changed." "I never thought of it like that." "Get your hand off the car" "Sorry, we can't let you in." "Can't let me in?" "Orders from the man upstairs." "l'm the man upstairs." "Mr." "Longhurst gave the order" "Yes, sir" "We also got orders to confiscate your car lt's company property." "This is outrageous!" "Hello." "l'd like to call my secretary." "You don't have one, sir" "Security." "Give me your credit cards." "My credit cards?" "Article 7 of your contract." ""Unilectron may revoke all issued credit cards at any time."" "May I have your credit cards, please?" "Thank you, sir Have a nice day." "put mee in halfwith his scissors." "I saw meyself lying there on the gro" "Roger Mr. Charley." "Has anyone been around this morning?" "I've been trying to reach you." "They said you don't work there anymore." "As soon as you left, the family came back." "Cops, movers and everything." "It's a wild scene, Mr. Charley." "All your suitcases are on the lawn." "They put my suitcases on the lawn?" "They didn't put them." "They threw them." "What about my golf clubs?" "My fishing gear My dobro?" "What's a dobro?" "lt's like a guitar" "They just threw that on the lawn, too." "I've got feeling you ain't welcome here." "All right." "Call a cab, put everything in it, and come down to my lawyer 242 Comstock." "Got that?" "242 Comstock." "She's throwing my things out." "Yes, I know. I advised her to do so." "Your dossier Walter Tax returns, bank statements, investments, insurance." "Everything." "You advised her You, my dearest friend?" "My lawyer I'm still your friend, but I agreed to represent vivian in the divorce." "You agreed to represent vivian?" "Do you think I like doing this?" "You sold out." "l recommend an attorney, Bob Garvey." "because of the uniqueness of the case, I think he's eminently qualif I don't object to him recommending you. I object to the reason he did." "They won't get away with this. I'll fight." "Fight, Mr. Whitney?" "Fight with what?" "Money. I've got money." "You have other funds not listed here?" "No." "Everything I have is in there." "Where is the boy now?" "Downstairs, waiting in the cab." "is the meter running?" "I mean, with a financial statement like this, I'd watch every nickel" "There must be some mistake." "Your salary has gone into a stock option plan, in vivian's name." "A trust fund is in Mary Ann's name." "Your bank account is in vivian's name." "You don't even have a checking account." "I didn't need checks." "I had credit cards." "All right." "Cutting through all the talk, Mr. Garvey." "What am I worth?" "How much have you got in your wallet?" "68 dollars." "You mean that's it?" "That's it, baby." "I'm worth 68 dollars?" "I know it's a very old clich, Mr. Whitney, but..." "You've still got your health." "For 68 dollars, who wants it?" "Until we get them into court, you can collect unemployment." "I can't." "Not unemployment." "That's what they want to do." "Break me." "I won't give them the satisfaction." "They're never going to make me crawl" "And stop smiling." "Even you're irritating me." "Sorry. I didn't mean that." "You don't have to apologize." "Social menopause is a difficult time." "Social menopause?" "You're changing color You don't want to play the game as a white man, so they're gonna let you watch it as a black man." "This is it?" "It's got no swimming pool" "Maybe they got a tennis court." "Stop complaining." "They got Tv and free ice." "That'll be 22 dollars." "Checkout is noon." "No dope, no parties, no fighting." "Only people in the room is them that paid." "Sounds fair enough." "Here you are." "OK." "Room 13." "If I give three short rings on the telephone, the vice squad is here." "The vice squad?" "He happens to be my son." "I've heard them all, mister but that's cute." "Hey Daisy, fella out here says..." "Wait till I tell you..." "You have to put a quarter in it." "They only promised free ice cubes." "l don't like ice cubes." "Stop whining and eat them." "Stop that!" "l gotta watch Starsky and Hutch." "We can't afford them." "Maybe some quarters will come out." "We do not steal" "lt ain't stealing. I'll put them back." "We do not steal, Roger ltjust seemed like the natural thing to do." "Then control your natural instincts." "Who told you to take that bed?" "l can't sleep on a narrow bed." "Neither can I." "lf l don't sleep, I get a headache." "You?" "I'm the one we got to keep alive." "Well, I got it first." "All right." "We'll let reason prevail" "We'll split the room in half." "The line will be between the beds." "Each man can do as he pleases, and no crossing the line without permission." "Call it." "Heads." "Tails." "Take that bed and I'll take this." "I hope you get a job so we can find a decent place to live." "Don't worry about me." "I'll get a job. I've got friends." "Walter come in, come in." "Sit down, sit down." "Where is he?" "Where's who, Freddie?" "Your son." "Who told you?" "vivian called Helen this morning." "is he really as black as she says?" "How does it feel, Walter" "Uncomfortable. I got to talk to you." "vivian told Helen that she threw you out of the house." "l've got a favor to ask you." "Where are you and your son staying?" "In a motel I'm not with Unilectron anymore." "vivian told Helen they took your Rolls-Royce away." "Freddie, I need a job." "Nelson called the old man this morning, Walter" "No chance, huh?" "Your name is shit around here." "I appreciate that." "There's nothing worse than being left up in the air I can loan you some money. vivian told Helen they took everything you had." "Thanks, old buddy, but I'm fine." "I'm just fine." "Well...see you around." "See me around where, Walter" "That's true." "Where?" "You want a loan without collateral -l'll pay it back." "Soon as I get a job." "2,036 dollars." "That's a lot of money." "l said I'd pay it back." "No house, no car, no jewelry, no stocks" "You must have something you can put up for security." "Our 15 years of friendship guarantees I'll pay you back." "I'm giving you the ultimate collateral Walter Whitney's word." "But your name isn't Walter Whitney." "Seven sixty-five for food." "The paper bus fares, phone calls, lunch. 22 dollars for the room." "We're down to 30 bucks." "22 dollars again for the room tomorrow." "Phone calls, buses and it's kaput." "Eat, enjoy!" "This may become known as the "Second Last Supper "" "What's this?" "Cream cheese, bagel and lox." "Oh." "What's lox?" "Smoked fish." "l don't dig smoked fish." "Shut up and eat it. lt's soul food." "This is soul food?" "You're not the only people with soul" "That sandwich is the result of 6,036 years of suffering." "l don't understand." "Don't understand what?" "If you're that loyal to a sandwich, why change your last name?" "None of your business." "I'm just wondering..." "After you make me legal, will I still be Roger Porter" "Whatever makes you happy." "Roger Whitney." "Yeah, that's style." "Sounds like I belong." "Roger Weisenthal" "No, I can just see everybody saying, "You don't look like no Weisenthal."" "Where you going?" "Out." "You coming back?" "Unless I'm hit by a car or lightning." "But knowing my luck, I'll be back." "Here we go." "Get set." "Good shot." "Throw me the ball." "You cut under the basket and I'll pass to you." "OK, Dad." "Try one more..." "...I'll get it." "Throw it here." "Cut under the basket." "Now?" "OK." "Here we go." "There you go." "Go in your corner and cut out here." "You want me to throw it to you?" "l'll get it, Dad." "lt's all right. I'll get it." "ls that your boy?" "Yeah." "He's about 1 7, right?" "Yeah." "He's a good ballplayer" "Not bad." "I've got a son about that age, too." "Want to play?" "You two against us two." "Three baskets win." "For five dollars." "OK, you're on." "Be back in five minutes." "OK." "Where are we going?" "To pick up an easy five bucks." "Just hope those two turkeys haven't left yet." "OK, first team scores three baskets wins five dollars!" "Wait a minute." "Wait a minute." "You said my son against your son." "He is my son." "You take it out first." "Come on, son." "OK, Dad." "You didn't mention basketball." "Don't slam dunk it, it'll scare them." "Listen, Mr. Charley..." "Rogerjust do what comes naturally." "Here we go." "Here we go." "Come on, Roger stop kidding around." "That's one!" "Will you stop clowning around?" "But I didn't even get a chance..." "Shoot!" "Shoot!" "What the hell kind of shot was that?" "lt was the best I could do." "That's the best you could do?" "Five bucks." "We blew five big ones." "I'm the father of the only black kid who can't play basketball." "No luck finding a job, huh?" "Look, jobs at my executive level are notjust floating around." "Don't worry, I'll get work somewhere." "I heard about a place where there's jobs for hard -core unemployables." "I am not a hard -core unemployable." "You go there in the morning, and guys come by who need help with odd jobs." "Mowing lawns, cleaning stables..." "Where did you even hear about that?" "This afternoon, when I gave this guy a lift." "How could you give someone a lift?" "ln the car l was driving." "Car?" "Whose car?" "My car" "You have a car -l got it used, to come out here." "You let me blow my money on cabs?" "l didn't have a chance to tell you." "We went to your car then the ocean..." "OK, forget it." "Where is it?" "lt's over there." "It's the red one." "Should have guessed." "l paid 1 4 dollars and a record player" "You were overcharged." "You drove this 2,036 miles?" "You could have been arrested for littering the highway." "Do you hear that engine?" "lt needs a tune-up." "lt's a menace!" "Beats walking." "No, it doesn't." "Hey, there's gas fumes in here." "That means the engine's still running." "Open the window." "lt's stuck. lt won't open." "Well, bang on it a few times." "What are you doing to my car?" "Your insurance will cover it, won't it?" "What was that?" "l don't know." "We may be on fire." "On fire?" "That dude on the bike." "Y ell for him to get out of the way. I can't slow down." "Blow your horn." "Don't have one." "Don't have one?" "That's it." "Out of the way!" "Out of the way!" "We've got no brakes!" "Out of the way!" "We've got no brakes!" "Good morning, officer Get the hell out of here." "85 cents." "That's what we're down to. 85 cents." "You can sign up for unemployment." "Never That's what they want me to do." "Welfare?" "Lots of black families are on welfare." "We are not a black family." "What's going to become of us?" "l don't know." "I never thought it would end up like this." "Sandwiches in a cheap motel I expected a mansion." "Look where you dragged me." "I thought you'd take care of me." "I'm doing the best I can!" "I've been rejected by every corporation in town." "So we're talking wall here." "We're doing what?" "They really got you up against a wall." "Oh." "Yeah." "That's it!" "What's it?" "The wall." "What wall?" "The money's in the wall safe behind the picture of vivian's mother" "Right." "Who is it?" "Don't hurt me." "Take what you want." "I know what you're going to do. I know I can't talk you out of it." "I can't stop you. I'm alone." "My husband isn't here. I'm defenseless." "All right." "Go ahead." "Do what you're going to do and leave." "Go ahead and get it over with." "Well, what are you waiting for Go ahead!" "Do it!" "Seventeen years of marriage, and the only memorable night with my wife was when I was a burglar" "She was a wild woman. lf she knew it was me, she'd have had a headache." "Roger remember that place you mentioned?" "The place for the hard -core unemployables." "On the corner of Lincoln and Seco." "But there's lots of competition." "Stop worrying. I can hold my own with any misfit." "Come on, you guys." "Let's go." "Move it." "After Roger registers, have him pawn my clubs and find a cheap apartment." "I'll meet him at your office." "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" "They're not going to beat me, Mr. Garvey." "Who knows how to load scrap iron?" "All right, you in the blue cap across to the white cap." "Get in the truck." "You want a drink, buddy?" "Five cents." "I only drink after work." "Hey, any of you turkeys ever worked in a rock quarry?" "All right, get on." "You, yeah, you, come on, get on." "Sit down and hang on!" "Everybody in?" "It's just you and me, buddy." "You know how to clean stables?" "Yes, sir i can." "l'm available." "OK." "You, dummy." "I think he means you." "Yeah, you dummy." "Get your butt in the back!" "On the double!" "You shovel each and every one of these real clean." "Then come over here to this other barn..." "You start all the way at the other end, clean all these up to here..." "Then go back and clean all those on that side." "You load it all in this wheelbarrow here, clear up to the top." "Got that?" "Come on, then." "Come on." "Then unload it here." "Got it, dummy?" "Yes, sir" "Then you go over there to that barn over there, and start over again." "Now go!" "Go back to number one, and don't stop till I tell you." "Go ahead, go!" "Move it, move it!" "Move it, dummy!" "32 stalls." "You're OK, dummy." "Mr. Charley!" "Mr. Charley?" "I waited for you at Mr. Garvey's." "When you didn't show up, I came here." "I hocked the golf clubs and found us a furnished apartment." "Wasn't easy, but I found one." "Had a rough day, huh?" "Once I lived the life of a millionaire" "Spending my money, I didn't care" "Carried my friends out for a good time" "Bought bootleg liquor Champagne and wine" "When I began to fall so low" "Nobody wants me 'round their door lf l ever get my hands on A dollar again I'm gonna hold on to it Till them old eagles scream" "Nobody knows you" "When you're down and out ln my pocket, not one penny" "And my friends, I haven't any lf ever I get on my feet again" "Then I'll find my long lost friends lt's mighty strange, without a doubt" "No man can use you When you're down and out I mean when you're down and out" "Where are we, Roger" "Watts, Mr. Charley." "Watts?" "What are we doing in Watts?" "Well, it's not the fanciest apartment, but at least it's home." "This is home?" "This is home." "Get down to that store, boy!" "Your momma will be home from work soon" "Hope we don't have to pay for that." "I don't mind living in Watts, but do we have to live in the poor section?" "The lock sometimes gets stuck." "Which in a way is good, 'cause you can hear anyone trying to break in." "Who'd want to break in?" "This is a furnished apartment?" "This is terrible." "Terrible!" "The better places wanted first and last month's rent." "I only got 35 dollars for the golf clubs." "35 dollars?" "That was a complete set of MacGregor clubs!" "Where's the bedroom?" "It pulls out." "One of us can sleep on the couch." "l thought that was the bathroom." "Yeah, I did too, at first." "Where is the bathroom, Roger -lt's down the other end of the porch." "No. I'm not sharing a communal bathroom. lt's unhygienic." "That's exactly how the other tenants feel That's why every apartment has its own toilet seat." "It wasn't easy to get you in here." "They weren't too happy about a white person in the building." "You're here on a trial basis." "l don't want to lower their standards." "I registered at a job training center today." "All they had was a class for short -order cooks." "Short-order cook." "That's a good trade." "You can always get a job." "You can save money with me doing the cooking." "Now, just sit and relax." "What?" "l can feel the springs." "Hey who's talking?" "Turn off the goddamn radio!" "What's the carton?" "Something I brought from home." "What's in it?" "A lot of stuff that belongs to you." "To me?" "Yeah, I found it after Mom died." "It's yours, ain't it?" "It's mine." "It'd be embarrassing if it was someone else's." "Mom was great for saving things." "If a bird left some crumbs on a Window sill, she'd leave them there." "It never entered her mind that the bird had forgotten where she lived." "Hey, it's..." "It's like Cinderella." "You know, like the slipper fit and you were once the prince." "But it's midnight, too late, and the prince has turned back into a pumpkin." "Aside from mangling a beautiful fairy tale, the slipper doesn't fit because the prince's feet are swollen from shoveling manure all day, so he can support the pretender to the throne." "I cleaned 32 stables." "I've been following the horses all day, picking up the pieces of my life." "In a couple of weeks, you're going to have a trade." "You'll get a job." "Then each of us goes his own way." "Until that time, I'll shovel it. I'll live in it." "But I won't take it." "Think I'll go take a walk." "Where is that welfare check?" "What check?" "You know what check I mean!" "Woman you better get off my back!" "l'm gonna get right on your ass!" "Woman have you got a death wish?" "We had difficulty finding you." "Forgive me for not getting up." "Hard day at the stables." "I got the job without a character reference." "Walter many strong words were said in the heat of crisis." "But what you said was true." "The wind does blow white, not black." "It does blow Whitney, not Weisenthal" "When you shovel manure, you really find out which way the wind's blowing." "I admire you, Walter I mean that." "You've shown a determination and an ingenuity which I admire." "I thought you would break, but you only bent." "I respect that ability to survive." "The company misses you, Walter vivian misses you." "Come back." "Come home to the people you belong with." "What about Roger" "Provisions will be made." "A good military academy to strengthen character A tour of duty overseas." "And if by chance he survives?" "In that case, he will be sent adequate funds so that he can live comfortably." "It will preserve your integrity, your sense of obligation, and most important, the quality of life you've worked hard to create." "I think vivian would like to say something in private." "Peace with honor Walter" "Why peace at all, Nelson?" "I'm a deserter You execute deserters." "Only as a last resort." "You're one of us, Walter And there are so few of us." "We are the true minority." "Those tiny wheels that keep the one big wheel turning." "If we vanish, that wheel stops, and it rusts into chaos, anarchy, nihilism." ""All Power to the People "?" "They had it once." "It was called the Stone Age." "I had a long talk with Mary Ann." "She's agreed to call you "father "" "Oh, Walter I know that I have, on occasion, failed you as a woman." "But I assure you, I am a woman capable of great warmth and passion." "But only for burglars." "Walter I knew that was you all along!" "Come home, Walter" "I'll be waiting." "They're after me!" "What did you do?" "What did I do?" "Nothing." "I'm just walking." "These dudes break a window, grab some stuff, and take off!" "Well, the police pulled up, and I ran." "Innocent people don't run." "Maybe not in San Marino." "They wanted to ask what happened." "When a cop yells, "Freeze your ass, nigger " he's decided what happened." "Open up!" "Police!" "Help me, Mr. Charley!" "The bed!" "Quick!" "Hide in here!" "They'll find me!" "No, they won't!" "Do as I say!" "Why?" "Because I'm your father and I say so!" "Get in!" "Open up!" "Coming!" "Shove off, pigs!" "What's a white guy doing in here?" "Let's get him." "How you doing, Mr. Charley?" "Not too good, Roger" "You get points today." "Got yourself arrested for me, roughed up..." "Finally started to act like a father" "Enough so I'll get off your back." "I didn't want anything from you, Mr. Charley." "No adoption, no trust fund." "Nothing." "I just came out here because every kid wants to see what his dad is like." "I didn't want you to like me because I was your son." "I wanted you to respect me because was Mom's son." "But I looked in your eyes, and you didn't see Mom." "You saw black." "And Mom deserved better than that." "You owed her more than that." "I looked at you in that big office, and I kind of went crazy inside." "I said to myself, "This is the man who broke Mama's heart."" "The man she spent her whole life loving and waiting for nd she died loving you, Mr. Charley." "I think you oughtto knowtha" "You walked away from a great lady." "There's no woman in the world could love a man more than she loved you." "She would have made you happy." "She knew how to make people happy." "I wanted to hurt you like you hurt Mom." "I wanted to insult you so you'd take a swing at me, then I'd punch you out." "Isn't that terrible?" "A son wanting to hit his own father I was glad when things went wrong for you." "Then I realized no matter what happened, that couldn't make any good happen to Mama." "She's dead, Mr. Charley." "We'll never see her again, hear her again, touch her again..." "She deserved a better life." "You should have given her a better life." "I should have given her a better life." "Did you love my mom, Mr. Charley?" "This is very important." "Did you love my mom?" "Yeah. I loved her I loved her very much." "Wow." "Black and white together" "That's a lot to overcome." "Go back to your family. I think they'll be a lot nicer to you now." "You're not a bad guy. lf you weren't my father we might have been friends." "Walter Just in time for the board meeting." "It's as though it never happened." "Nothing's changed!" "Everything changes." "Constantly." "That's why we have to adapt." "So we can always come out on top." "Being on top means somebody's on the bottom." "Can't have winners without losers." "Why can't we all win, Nelso?" "No losers?" "That's what life is all about." "Even death has heaven and hell." "Winners and losers." "It's hard to hate you, Nelson." "You have just enough logic to give your sickness respectability." "You've sentenced whole races to be born losers, and as the father of one, I object." "Not that he was born with two strikes, but that you won't give him a third pitch to swing at." "Goodbye, Nelson." "You walk out this time, and I'll destroy you." "When I'm through, you'll think shoveling horseshit is a step up." "I just don't understand." "Why is he going back there?" "What's he gonna do?" "The college semester starts in a couple of weeks." "What's that got to do with him?" "He left high school when he was 16." "That's when he graduated, Mr. Whitney." "Graduated?" "He made me promise not to tell you." "He goes to college?" "Roger received a scholarship from Northwestern." "That's where l went." "He's in his second year of pre -med." "He was right, Mr. Garvey." "I looked at him and I saw black." "I didn't see Lorraine, what she would have brought up our son to be." "I looked at him and I didn't see a college student. I saw a dropout." "I didn't see a doctor I saw a short-order cook." "Look, there he is." "Roger" "Yeah." "Just wanted to wish you a good trip." "Thanks." "If you need money or anything, I can always be reached through Mr. Garvey." "If you need anything, if you run short or something, I mean, I'll be at Aunt Clara's." "Well, have a good trip, Roger" "So long, Mr. Charley." ""Mr. Charley" doesn't sound right." "Not when you're saying goodbye." "Well, so long, Dad." "I have this friend back in Evanston." "Bernie Levin." "He'd always try to talk me into coming back there and working for him." "I thought I mightjust go there and take him up on it." "It's not far from the university." "Might give us a chance to see one another every once in a while." "Have dinner talk, maybe take in a ball game." "Get to know one another I mean, maybe we'll never get to be friends, but then, maybe we will." "I mean, it's worth a try." "Yeah." "Well, have a good trip, son." "Hey, listen. lf l'm gonna go back there, I might as well start now." "Wouldn't hurt to have someone along." "I'm a good mechanic." "Good idea." "Send the rest to me at his Aunt Clara's." "Well, all right." "All right!" "Hey, almost forgot." "This picture of Mom." "I think she'd like you to have."