7بخش

Jack.

I had the most

terrible nightmare l ever had.

It was the most horrible dream. Its okay, it’s okay now.

Really.

I dreamed that

that l killed you and Danny.

But l didn’t just kill you.

I cut you up into little pieces.

My God.

I must be losing my mind.

Everything’s going to be all right.

Come on Let’s get up off the floor.

It’s okay.

There Now sit up.

It’s okay.

It’s okay.

Danny

Everything’s okay

Just go play in your room for a while.

Your dad’s just got a headache.

Danny, mind what l say Go play in your room.

Honey, let me just go get him out of here.

I’ll be right back.

Danny Why don’t you mind me

Oh, Danny.

Oh, my God.

Danny what happened to your neck

Danny, what happened to your neck

Huh

You did this to him

didn’t you

You son of a bitch

You did this to him

Didn’t you

How could you

How could you

Oh God I’d give anything for a drink.

I’d give my goddamn soul

for just a glass of beer.

Hi, Lloyd.

A little slow tonight, isn’t it

Yes, it is, Mr Torrance.

What will it be

I’m awfully glad you asked me that, Lloyd

because l just happen to have two twenties

and two tens right here in my wallet.

l was afraid they were going to be there until next April.

So here’s what:

You slip me a bottle of bourbon

a little glass and some ice.

You can do that, can’t you, LIoyd

You’re not too busy, are you

No, sir I’m not busy at all.

Good man.

You set them up

and I’ll knock them back, one by one.

White man’s burden, Lloyd, my man.

White man’s burden.

Say, Lloyd

it seems I’m temporarily light.

How’s my credit in this joint, anyway

Your credit’s fine, Mr Torrance.

That’s swell.

I like you, Lloyd.

I always liked you.

You were always the best of them.

Best goddamned bartender

from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine.

Or Portland, Oregon, for that matter.

Thank you for saying so.

Here’s to five miserable months on the wagon

and all the irreparable harm that it’s caused me.

How are things going, Mr Torrance

Things could be better, Lloyd.

Things could be a whole lot better.

I hope it’s nothing serious.

No Nothing serious.

Just a little problem with the old sperm bank upstairs.

Nothing I can’t handle, though, Lloyd.

Thanks.

Women.

Can’t live with them

can’t live without them.

Words of wisdom, Lloyd.

Words of

wisdom.

I never laid a hand on him, goddamn it.

I didn’t.

I wouldn’t touch one hair on his goddamn little head.

I love the little son of a bitch.

I’d do anything for him.

Any fucking thing for him.

But that bitch

As long as l live

she’ll never let me forget what happened.

I did hurt him once, okay

It was an accident.

CompIetely unintentional.

It could have happened to anybody.

And it was three goddamn years ago

The little fucker had thrown all my papers all over the floor.

All l tried to do was pull him up.

A momentary loss of muscular coordination.

I mean