Days of Wine and Roses (1962) Movie Script

Jo the days jj

j of wine and roses j\j

jj laugh and run away [ij

jj like a child at play jj

jj through the meadowland [ij

jj toward a closing door jj

ji a door marked "nevermore” jj

j» that wasn't there before jj

jj the lonely night discloses jj

jj just a passing breeze ij

jj filled with memories jj

ji of the golden smile jj

j that introduced me to jj

ji the days of wine and roses jj

j& and you jj j7s

Wait a minute.

I got another idea.

Here. This one.

She's one of these

big dames, but in proportion.

Has she got class?

Oh, in every way.

I said that,

I would do it. I'll try it.

Do it.

Louie, hit me again.

Uh, hello. Is this Betty?

Um, Betty.. Is this Betty?

Oh, well, I'll tell you.

Uh, my name is-is Joe Clay.

My name is Joe Clay.

I'm a friend of Abe quine's

and we're here

in the executive suite.

Yeah, Abe quine.

It's kind of noisy here

but I tell ya he told me that

you are a lovely girl, Betty

and you, uh..

And, uh, he suggested that,

well, you know

you, uh, like to

have a good time.

And, anyway, my agency

is throwing a party

or rather we're inviting

the people for our party

on prince harun badul's yacht,

and Abe suggested that

you might be

a very welcome addition.

What, honey?

No, not Abe badul.

It's prince harun badul.

It's his party on his yacht.

Yes, he's a real prince, dear.

Yeah. Uh-huh.

I thought you would.

Fine. Well, it's berth 23

St. Francis yacht club,

6:30. Right?

Okay and we'll have

a launch there.

All right, bye-bye now.

Magic time.

Here comes number seven.

Let's cast off.

You're late.

You're dressed wrong.

You're supposed to be

a cocktail dress.

You know, something peekaboo.

You know, sparkle a little.

You call that peekaboo?

Let's go.

Hey, you, wait a minute.

Hey, you! Wait..

Come on, girls.

Come on. Come on.

Hey, you.

Listen, who..

Oh, you must be the new man

from the agency.

Yes, sir. Joe Clay. You're Mr..

Mr. trayner.

I see you've already

met my secretary.

Oh, well, not officially.

He was much too busy.

Say, these are fine.

Uh, thank you.

Just fine and dandy.

Well... hello there.

Can I buy you a drink?

Oh, no, thank you.

I don't drink.

Look, uh, I'm sorry

about mistaking you

for one of the other uh, girls.

So you're the new

public relations man.

- Yeah.

- What happened to Eddie?

Eddie quit.

We liked him. Why'd he quit?

Well, a little matter of...

Personal integrity.

Eddie didn't feel

that getting dates

for potentates was part

of public relations.

But isn't it?

Well, there's a name for it,

but it's not public relations.

Well, whatever it is,

you seem to do it very well.

Oh, boy, wait a minute!

Now, you counted twice

over here.

Wait a minute!

No, there's only four girls!

We had seven! Wait a minute!

Hey, don't move out!

We got two girls missing!

Wait a minute! There's two...

Two of my girls

are missing up there!

Two of the young ladies

aren't quite ready to leave.

Aren't quite ready.

I guess I can be congratulated

on a job well done.

Well done. Well done.

Everybody here?

Hi.

Mr. trayner isn't here.

That's a bit of luck.

You're the one I came to see.

Look, I felt

we should be friends.

So... hello there.

Excuse me. I have to meet

Mr. trayner at a board meeting.

Look, we sort of got started

on the wrong foot.

It was sort of my fau...

Anyway, I brought

a peace offering.

- Why?

Well, because it..

Now, look, we're going to be

working together sort of, huh?

I mean, from...

I'll be up to see the boss

from time to time.

Mr. Clay, that is

your name, isn't it?

Mr. trayner is the one

you have to please

and he seems very happy

with what you've done so far.

Well, supposing

I wanted to please you.

There's no reason

for you to please me.

Peanut brittle.

Look, you're forcing me to

be rude. I hate peanut brittle.

Excuse me.

Goodnight, Gladys.

Goodnight, miss arnesen.

Do you like peanut brittle?

Down?

Getting back to what

people do for a living,

can I ask you a question

that might embarrass you

just a little, hmm?

What spec... what special

qualifications do you feel

that you have for a job

that allows you

to sit around all day

and chat with the boss?

I've heard about your job.

Maybe answer a few

personal letters for him

and accompany him

to parties, hmm?

Spend half your working day

reading a book

while two typists who

get less money than you

do all the work, hmm?

That reminds me,

I forgot my book.

She always carries that book.

I'll tell you what special

qualifications you have.

You're pretty. That's what

special qualifications you have.

That old lech loves

to have you around

to look at and lean on

when he gets drunk

like he did last night,

and who knows what else?

That's what special

qualifications you have.

Oh, uh..

Uh, listen..

I am sorry, and I

shouldn't have said that.

Il, uh, I came up here

to try and be friends.

I was going to ask you

to have dinner with me.

Peanut brittle?

I think you must be

the silliest man I've ever met.

Peanut brittle?

Well, I guess you're right.

Let's forget it, huh?

Goodnight.

Mr. Clay?

I-I thought you were

going to ask me to dinner.

Well, I was. I...

Well, why don't you?

Uh, I mean, my board meeting

won't be over till 7:30.

So I-l wouldn't have time

to change or anything.

It would have to be

some place kind of casual.

Hmm. Mm-hmm.

I know just the spot.

Place pigalle.

I'll meet you there at 7:30.

You'll love it.

Okay.

7:30.

At a board meeting,

can you imagine?

With all those big old jowly men

staring at me, Mr. trayner says

"no, I couldn't

get along without her.

"She's always right there

when I need her.

"Especially when I've had

a couple too many.

Takes care of me

like a little mother."

Then he gives me one of those

special proprietary hugs of his

and I suddenly realized

I owe you an apology.

Oh, I'm just as bad as you are.

I mean, I-l guess

everybody swallows his pride

once in a while

on account of his job.

I had no business saying that

to you in the first place.

Um... hit me again. Not you.

Anything for the lady?

No, nothing.

What do you got

against booze, anyway?

Oh, I just don't much

see the point in it.

Point? Well,

it makes you feel good.

I already feel good.

Anyway, I don't like the taste.

What do you like?

- Chocolate.

- Chocolate?

Chocolate.

I'm practically nutty about it.

Oh, wait a minute.

Hold everything.

Uh...

What did you do?

You'll see.

I think we should order,

don't you?

In a few minutes.

Kirsten arnesen.

No wonder you're so tough

to get along with.

You're not even American.

Did you ever drive down the

peninsula toward San Mateo?

Arnesen nursery, that's us.

That was us.

I-I just couldn't take it.

Oh, my father's

a wonderful man, a good man.

But I kept thinking

to myself, "you're pretty.”

"You're pretty,

and here you are."

Oh, girls know

when they're pretty.

And there I was, blushing unseen

wasting my sweetness

on the desert air.

Gray's "elegy."

Did you get that

out of this book?

Oh, no, not this one.

That's volume je-la.

Gray's out of volume go-ja.

"World library

of great literature,

volume five, je to la. Je-la."

My father gave me those

for my high school graduation.

And he said if I read

all the way from a-bu to ya-zu

it would be the equivalent

of a college education.

Je-la, that puts you about the

middle of your sophomore year.

Ah.

Oh, no, thank you.

No, no, that's all right.

That's fine.

They're special for you.

It's chocolate. Go on, try it.

Oh, it's good.

It is.

Ooh, very.

Yeah, see what I mean?

Brandy Alexander,

they call that.

Say now.

All right, would you

wait a minute?

Joe, it's more beautiful

than ever tonight.

You know something?

You were absolutely right

about that Brandy thing.

Alexander.

About it making me feel good,

what are you, chicken?

And I feel wonderful.

You don't feel like asking me

up for a cup of coffee?

Some other time, Joe.

Do you mind?

Anyway, I'm not

quite ready to go up yet.

You want to walk down

to the bay?

Well, why not, huh?

Let, um...

You do very good work.

Well, there goes

another boatload

out to the prince's yacht.

Another load of anxious...

Ew. I don't see how you can

drink that stuff like that

right out of the bottle,

it must taste awful.

Well, anything

worth having is worth

suffering for, isn't it?

I guess so.

Oh, I like to watch the water.

If you look close, it's filthy

but I like to look further out

where it's clean.

You know what I think?

Hmm?

I think I watch

the water because...

I expect a sea monster to

come up out of there someday

and carry me down

to the ocean caves.

Mm-hmm. Mom and dad

are a club act.

You know, I mean songs

and dances and snappy patter.

Old-time vaudeville.

And they're in some loud joint

in Vegas right this minute.

You know, they were on "ed

Sullivan" a couple years ago.

But you didn't like

that kind of life, huh?

No. I wanted something steady,

something with a little class

like the trayner

drilling account class.

Joe, don't hate yourself.

It's something you've got to do.

It's part of your job.

No, I want to be a public

relations man, not a pimp!

My-my job is supposed

to be to advise people

how to relate

to the public, you know?

How-how to... make the good

that my client does known

and-and how to help him

find ways to do good

and-and benefit others

as well as himself.

I could be

a garbage man, you know?

A eunuch in a harem.

I'm going to tell

the agency, I tell you.

So I burden you with it.

Well, that's great.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

I don't mind.

Short story...

Man meets girl, hmm?

Beautiful...

Sweet...

Nice.

Much too nice for him,

I'll tell you, no, this..

Only kind of girl you really

should bother about, hmm?

Finally, after...

Numerous strategical blunders.

He manages to get a date

and he walks her down

to the bay under the stars

and he gets himself loaded

and he cries on her shoulder

like a baby.

Some lover, huh?

Joe, I'm enjoying

being here with you.

After all, you've helped me

avoid my apartment

for the longest possible time

and that's an accomplishment

itself, you know.

The roach kingdom, the whole

building, the whole block.

Do you know that if you don't

leave food out for those roaches

you can't get in the building?

They just pick you up,

carry you into the street

and change the lock on the door.

Roach kingdom.

You know, sometimes I come

down here at night alone

and look at the water,

just to keep from going home.

Yeah.

Well, you don't-you can't

come down here alone at night.

This place is crawling

with all kinds of oddballs.

Oh, they walk by me real slow

sometimes and stare

but they don't do anything.

I don't know why.

Oh, these-you're..

You know something?

I-I dreamt one time

they murdered me...

Over there behind those pilings

and my father came

all the way in

from the peninsula

in his pickup truck

to take my body home.

And all the way home, he talked-

talked a blue streak

all the way home.

But I was dead and I couldn't

hear him, couldn't answer him.

And the strange thing is

my father doesn't talk.

Oh, he used to talk

to my mother.

When I was a little girl,

he'd-he'd talk to her

in a low, low voice after

I'd gone to bed at night.

But in the daytime,

they hardly talked at all.

They had a very..

Private love affair.

Their favorite toast to each

other was tilsammen I himmelen.

Huh?

In Norwegian, that means

"together in heaven."

To-somonon himlen?

Tilsammen I himmelen.

To-somony himlen.

Get the lilt.

Tilsammen I himmelen.

Together in heaven.

They meant it, too.

After mama died, he was

more silent than ever...

Almost as though

he'd gone with her.

Oh, well, well..

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

Oh.

Ooh... a little coup-

coup de grace.

Would you believe

it's 2 o'clock?

Ooh... time does not exist

in the ocean.

Well, it will

in the office tomorrow.

They are not long,

the days of wine and roses.

Out of a misty dream,

our path emerges for a while

then closes within a dream.

I-I guess... we should be

getting back, huh?

- He come in?

- Yes, sir.

Brad, come in.

Trayner's been trying

to get you all morning.

Well, this is one of those

mornings I couldn't make it.

Oh, those things happen.

He's praising you

to the skies, Joe.

Oh, thanks.

That prince what's-his-name was

so pleased with the whole thing

that trayner wants to throw

another party tomorrow night.

Wai-wha-tomorrow night?

Better call him about it and

congrats on a very happy client.

Look, Brad, could I talk

to you for a minute?

Shoot.

Uh, well, I don't know

how to start it.

I know the trayner thing

has to be done, you know

arrangements like this have to

be made from time to time but..

But you'd rather not.

Well, I realize

it's part of my job.

It makes you feel dirty.

Well, I don't blame you

for a minute, Joe.

But I don't know what

I can do about it.

Unless we put

another man on there.

Could do that.

Some of the boys don't

mind that sort of thing.

Hey, look, I don't mean

I can't do it. I can do it.

That isn't what I meant.

It isn't that. I just-it-i...

You'd rather not.

Well, let's see now.

Look, not that I won't do it.

It's just the first

account of any size

that you guys have given me.

I think I've got a flash.

Nell, get me

Roger acton, will you?

That's right.

If Roger goes along with this,

we've got your problem solved

to everyone's advantage.

I don't want this to look

like I'm, uh, complaining.

I just started on the account.

Now, Roger may take

a dim view of this.

Oh, no, no. He'll admire

your integrity, if anything.

Believe me.

Yes?

Thanks, Nell.

Rog, got a little

prob here with Joe.

We put him on that

trayner drilling account.

Yeah.

Says he heard trayner

was delighted with you.

Well, here's the prob, rog.

Oh, that's it exactly.

Says same deal as Eddie, huh?

Oh, he knows

someone's got to, rog

but let me pull something

out of a hat and we'll see

if it hops for us.

Joe?

- Yeah?

- Hi.

- Come on up.

What in the world

are you carrying?

Oh, just a few things

to go with dinner.

Here. I'll help you.

I was afraid you'd forgotten.

I'm sorry I'm late,

but I was very, very busy

having a couple

with my new client.

Your new.. You didn't.

You mean, you're off

the trayner drilling account?

Yeah, I am.

Oh, you're a man of principle.

Yeah. Of course, l.. Oh.

I may wish I was back

getting girls for trayner.

This new guy ballefoy-murder.

He drinks with both hands.

You can't keep up with him.

You can't communicate.

Thank you.

Hey, this is it, huh?

This is the roach kingdom?

You're feeling pretty good

tonight, aren't you?

Oh, you'll catch up in no time.

Brandy Alexanders.

I got all the makings of the

Brandy and the créme de cacao.

We got all the

natural accoutrements

to a home-cooked meal.

You know what's in there?

No.

A chocolate cake

with chocolate icing.

And, oh, here's champagne

to go with the meal

and for me, plain,

unassuming, solid-citizen-type

man of... principle that I am..

The holy comforts of soda and..

Where is it? Ah, scotch.

Now, oh.

This is the roach kingdom, huh?

This is the place where

the roaches reign supreme?

Yes.

Uh-huh. Well, we'll

just see about that.

This is war.

You really are too much.

I just don't believe in letting

these subversive little

elements take over.

Man of principle, I salute you.

Salute me with some of that

stuff and go easy on the soda.

Come on, cockroaches.

You come out, wherever you are.

Jj you're going to go

to cockroach heaven jj

jj you little dirty la da Dee jj

you-you know something funny?

What?

I didn't really quit

the trayner account.

- But I...

- Oh, I'm off it, all right.

I just hinted that it was

a little distasteful

and they took me

right off, but..

Well?

What bothers me

is that I didn't..

Demand to be taken off

or even ask to be taken off.

I just hinted, you know.

I mean, I practically

apologized for even hinting.

What do you think of that?

Well, well, Joe,

at least you hinted.

Most people in your position

wouldn't even hint.

They'd be too insecure.

Here.

Oh, to men of principle,

wherever they may be.

Oh, hi, dottie.

What, are you spraying in there?

Spray.. Oh, yes, we are.

Well, now, you ought

not to do that.

You get them all stirred up.

What's the good?

Now you made a mess.

You got to think about

other people, you know?

Well, I mean, look,

I don't like to complain

but, I mean, this is ridiculous.

They don't bother anybody.

They don't destroy anything.

You know they're there.

You leave them alone.

They leave you alone.

You lock up what you

don't want crawled over.

And that's that.

But, all of a sudden,

you start spraying that stuff in

the walls and look at the mess.

What are you trying to do

up there? Run everybody out?

Hey, somebody spraying up there?

I'm nearly

choking to death down here.

You just come in

off the prairie or something?

People living

in apartment buildings

got to learn to leave

roaches alone.

Now, look, you should see

what they're doing to us.

What's the

matter with you people?

Who's the clown

with the spray can?

What am I supposed to do?

I mean, you've got them all mad.

They're all-

all crazy, you know.

Well, I-i..

I'm sorry. Well, I..

- Didn't I tell you?

- Hmm?

You've undermined

the whole basic metabolism

of the building.

I'm warning you, Joe.

You better..

What?

You better, you..

What?

You better grow a beard

and move out of town

because-because

those roaches saw you

and the word will..

The word, the word will spread.

And if they ever

track you down..

What?

You'll be a goner.

Oh, darling.

How do I look?

Gorgeous.

And guilty?

Kirstie.

Daddy, I've brought

somebody by to meet you.

I know it's late

and I'm sorry to wake you up.

It was just so important,

it couldn't wait.

Come in.

Uh, daddy, this is Joe Clay.

Sir.

Sorry we woke you up,

Mr. arnesen.

Let's go sit

in the kitchen, kirstie.

Kitchen is daddy's

favorite room.

I know this is kind of

a funny time of night

to be introducing people, daddy,

but Joe and I... I was

anxious for him to meet you

well, you know how I do things

on the spur of the moment.

I hope you don't mind

us waking you up.

Have a seat.

Oh, thank you.

How have you been, kirstie?

Oh, that's daddy's way

of letting me know

I haven't called him this week.

I've been very busy, daddy.

What kind of work you do?

Uh, public relations, sir.

Public relations?

Uh, you know, daddy, it's-

it's hard to explain.

Well, I suppose you might

say my job is, uh...

To sort of help my client, uh...

Create a public image.

Well, for an example, uh, let's

say my client, corporation "x"

does some good or something

of benefit to the public

or something that could

conceivably be conceived

as of, uh... benefit to the pu..

Well, my job is to see

that the public knows it.

And what if this "x" corporation

does something bad?

Well..

Well, theoretically, they don't.

Theoretically.

Uh, well, part of my job

always is... uh

to, um, help my, uh, client

to think of ways to operate

in a way that the public

would, you know, approve.

But if your "x" corporation

makes a mistake

and the thing turns out bad?

Well, uh... l guess then

I try to make it look

not quite so bad.

Well, there's more to it

than that, sir.

It's terrifically

complicated, daddy.

I don't understand

that kind of work.

You love my girl?

Yes, sir, very much.

Your mama and daddy

live in San Francisco?

- No, sir. They...

- Uh, no.

Joe's mother and father are

in show business, daddy.

They have a-a wonderful act,

I mean, I've never seen it

but from what Joe tells me

they were on "ed Sullivan.”

You might have seen them.

This girl had a fine mama.

Her mama taught her how to

be good, come home early.

I know she remembers

those things.

These days girls think

they have to live in town

but still she

remembers those things.

Well, she's the finest girl

I ever met, Mr. arnesen.

Look, Mr. arnesen...

Uh, daddy, Joe and I have to go.

We both have to work tomorrow.

Oh. Sure.

Uh, we, uh, hated

to wake you up.

I'm glad you came by, kirstie.

Daddy... hope you like him.

Don't put him on the spot.

Takes time

to find that out, kirstie.

Nice to have met you, sir.

Same here, Joe.

Daddy, maybe I could

take Joe out this way

and show him the greenhouse.

I'll put on the big light.

Gee, I never knew

there were so many flowers.

Goodnight, daddy.

- Goodnight, kirstie.

- Goodnight, sir.

Goodnight, Joe.

Oh, brother,

did I goof that one.

He made me so nervous, l..

Uh, Mr. arnesen..

Kirsten and I were married

about two hours ago.

You know what I'd like to do?

I'd like to go some nice place

and have a drink.

Where is my little gal,

huh? Where is she?

In here.

Okay.

There she is.

I got all the groceries.

Oh, thanks. You saved me a trip.

And how are you today?

I got you crazy lotion.

She says, "I'm nice

and dry, temporarily.”

With the skin you love to bite.

You're something.

You are really something.

I got to get to work.

Ballefoy is having a bash

for some of the new guys.

You wouldn't want

to go, would you?

I'd love to, honey, but I got to

get up so early with her.

I just thought maybe

you'd want to go.

Well, I would, but..

It doesn't matter. I have to be

there. I'll be late. Goodbye.

- Bye-bye. Call me, huh?

- Yep.

Hi.

Well, I see you got that dame

from Harper's bazaar to show up.

Mm-hmm. I thought maybe

I could get her to...

Hi, Joe. Hi, Mr. ballefoy.

Hi, honey, I thought

we could get them to use

Covington farms as a background

for a fashion layout.

You know, that country living

we were talking about and..

Tell them we'll furnish anything

they need. Co-operate fully.

Get in there

as solid as you can, Joe.

If we get as much as a mention

of Covington farms

in the whole layout

I know, I know.

It'll be an accident.

Still, I might as well

confess to you.

I had an ulterior motive

for making the suggestion.

Frankly...

Where was I?

Frankly.

Oh, yes, frankly.

You know how Mr. Covington

loves personal publicity.

Oh, no, come on, not again.

There's one thing that

Covington has got to face.

A man does not automatically

become a public figure

because he happens to build

an empire out of chicken fat!

Joe=-

I got this guy

into the poultry annual

with a full head close-up

and I got him

into the dairyland news.

Now, there they care, I even

finagled a feature story

on this man in

western feed and grain

but Harper's bazaar?

Now come on!

Are you through?

It's Mrs. Covington.

That old hayraker?

= our leader is rich, Joe.

His wife is a rich hayraker.

And she wants her home

and garden and her picassos...

I suppose I should get her

elected best-dressed cow

while I'm at it, huh?

= in full color. - Uh-huh.

- Joe?

- Huh?

Why aren't you dancing with me?

Honey, I am dancing with you.

Hey, uh, doll,

hit me again, huh?

Jj da doo doo doo

cha cha cha j\j

jj doo doo doo doo doo doo jj

Magic time.

Shh.

Jj bye oh baby bunting jj

jj daddy's gone a-hunting ij

jj to get a little rabbit skin jj

jj to wrap his baby bunting in I'j

shh. She's almost asleep.

You'll wake her up.

What's she doing up

at this time of night?

She was hungry.

Well, she's got to

learn sooner or later

some of mommy's

time belongs to daddy.

I think it's daddy's

time of night. Wow!

Whoa, whoa!

Honey, just try to

keep your voice down.

What's the matter?

It's two o'clock in the morning.

And I've been working

since 10.00 A.M.

I come home and I get shushed?

What is that?

You've been working

your elbow more than

anything else, haven't you?

I gotta drink with these people.

I told you that's

part of the job.

I thought your job was to advise

them. See they have confidence.

If ballefoy wants me

to drink with him,

what am I gonna do about it?

Well, if he has

confidence in you...

- Confidence?

- Shh! Please.

He has confidence that I'll do

what I'm told regardless.

"Confidence."

He even has confidence,

I think, that to keep my job

I'd ask the mayor

of San Francisco

to give a ticker tape parade

for his chicken-fat king.

What happened with..

Well, now, look..

Um..

I come home after

a couple of drinks

well, maybe you're

a little tired.

So, I know I seem loud and ob...

All right, I am.

You didn't used to think so.

I feel your disapproval.

I feel it.

Now, look, if you want to sit up

if you wanna... wait for me

well, is there any law

that says you can't have

a couple of blasts

while you're waiting?

Huh, is there?

So that maybe we can have

some laughs around here?

Is there, huh?

Joe, I'm not supposed to,

on account of my milk.

I know, your milk.

Yeah, what day is that bit?

Anyhow, it's the 20th century.

They invented milk bottles.

They got, they got milk in cans.

It's as good as that milk.

You're gonna ruin your shape.

Uh, see, it's just,

I, for crying out loud

you think you're the only

woman that ever had a baby.

There, well, I was dragged

around by the scruff of my neck

on midnight trains

and in freezing weather.

And I was, I was eating

crackers and peanut...

Don't do that,

I was eating peanut butter!

Now kids have got to

learn to be people? Don't...

Look, please, just get her

a bottle and some formula.

Because I wanna have a ball,

just you and me.

- Shh, please.

- Look, all right, don't shush me!

And if I'm too loud, then

I'll just close the damn door.

No, Joe, please,

it's too stuffy.

- At that age...

- No!

How could I do

a thing like that?

To a child?

What's the matter with me?

You're right.

It's kind of stuffy in there.

"Po-ra", huh?

You'll make it yet.

Tilsammen I himmelen.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Mr. Clay's office.

Oh, no, I'm sorry. He...

Yes, I know it's important.

I'll give him the message

as soon as he gets in.

Oh, well, I, I'm sure

he'll be here any minute.

Yes, I will.

- Coffee.

- Oh, Mr. Clay,

- coffee, Nell, coffee!

- Mr. ballefoy says please call.

- Yeah, okay, okay.

- It's...

- Coffee, coffee.

- It's heating.

I just wanna be sure

about the ballefoy thing.

- Now, he said...

- Okay, okay, okay.

You did your duty. You told me.

Just get the coffee.

It isn't hot.

Did I say hot coffee?

I just said coffee.

Look, just bring it.

You got a sec, Joe?

For you, all day, rad.

Oh, the head.

It was Debbie's first birthday

and Kirsten and I, uh,

celebrated last night.

Really hung one on?

Yeah, a capital hung.

Well, if you'd rather

not talk just now...

Oh, no, no! Business as usual.

- Hey, want some coffee?

- No, thanks.

Oh, well,

what-what's on your mind?

I'd like to, uh, chat with you

about the Covington

farms account.

Oh, shoot.

Well, it's a long story

but the point is

I think it would be best

if we took you off the account.

You took..

What?

What is, uh..

Ballefoy and I get along.

Well, the truth is

they're letting ballefoy out.

Frankly, for..

Drinking too much.

And the new man...

Well, I can adjust to a new man.

Well, actually, Joe,

we sort of had other

plans for you, anyhow.

We were talking

of putting you on

the Campbell cherokee

tool account.

- I'm sure you...

- Campbell cherokee tool..

I'd be in Houston half the time.

- Houston's a refreshing town.

- I've got a wife and a kid!

- Well, Joe, we feel...

- It's a demotion, isn't it?

- I wouldn't call it that.

- You wouldn't?

Smaller, less sensitive account

a million miles away from home.

Now, what would

you call it, rad?

- Well, uh...

- Well, never mind.

I think I understand.

I hope you do, Joe.

Don't feel bad, honey.

I wouldn't be surprised if...

If rad Leland

wanted you out of town

for fear you'd get his job.

Not his decision.

Well, somebody's

making the decisions.

It's politics down there.

You want the rest of this?

I'll get some more, honey.

Mm-hmm.

I don't know. I've... tried

to be honest with myself.

I asked myself

if it was my fault.

You know it's not.

Well, that's funny.

There's two bottles down there.

I thought I had three.

Funny.

You do your job, honey.

Yeah, I do. I know I do.

The main point

is you do your job.

Yeah, I swore I had

three bottles in there.

You do your job fine.

You know, you've gotta remember

not everybody's honest.

Things are going oh down there.

Bums.

Howdy, Landry.

Charlie, shake hands

with Joe Clay.

Joe is the new PR man

from ddja. Charlie Dean.

- Good to see you, Joe.

- Pleasure.

Charlie's one of

our vice-presidents.

Oh, I look forward

to working with you.

Say, Joe, you know

we're having a little

barbecue out at my place Sunday.

Why don't you come

on out and join us?

I guarantee, you'll get all

the barbecue you can eat.

Yeah, and all the

bourbon you can drink, too.

Thank you.

How's she doing, Landry?

Oh, she's doing great.

Mama bear...

And baby bear.

Duh! Oh, goody-goody.

Toast and honey.

Mommy?

What's wrong, honey? Huh?

Oh, it's too noisy, huh?

You just lie down here.

It's all those people

coming home from work.

You go to sleep.

I'll close the window.

Some more honey. What else?

But, Henry, I.. They're...

- Shut up!

- But, Henry...

Come on, snuggle bug, huh?

Snuggle down, huh?

Sleep. Sleep.

Are they all right, pop?

You're sure?

Well, I..

I knew she was having

a couple now and then,

but nothing like this.

Huh? Yeah.

Okay, pop.

But... you know..

Take good care of them, pop.

Uh, you tell, tell them I'll

get there as quick as I can.

Waiter?

Could you hit me again, please?

I, uh..

I've got to get the 11..

I've got go

home on the 11:30 plane.

My, uh..

Uh... my wife..

Got drunk and set

the apartment on fire.

Couldn't this... be rebuilt?

Frame's burned through.

Well, if you didn't spend

most of your time in Houston

it wouldn't have happened.

Well, don't worry.

I won't be going

to Houston anymore.

They fired me.

Uh, Debbie, uh..

You run outside

and play for a while.

I want to speak to your mother.

Come on, honey.

What's the matter, honey?

Honey, we've got

to talk about something.

- Something serious.

- Have a beer.

No! I'm sorry.

- What's the matter, you drunk?

- Oh, I haven't had a drop.

Well, then what's

the matter with you?

I walked by the union square

bar. I was gonna go in.

And I saw myself,

my reflection, in the window.

And I thought,

"1 wonder who that bum is."

And then I saw it was me.

- Now, look at me. I'm a bum.

- No...

Look at me. Look at you!

You're a bum!

Look at you and look at us.

Look at us. Come on.

Look at us. See?

- A couple of bums.

- Hurts.

Now look, listen to me.

You've got to listen to me.

It came to me all of a sudden.

I saw the whole thing.

You know why I've been fired

from five jobs in four years?

And it's not politics,

like we always say.

It's not office

politics or... jealousy

or any of that stuff.

It's booze!

- It's booze!

- Ah! A couple of drinks...

Then we stay drunk

most of the time.

Look at the...

Dump that we live in.

And the... clothes that we wear.

We send that child

off to school like she's..

Look at that, I,

uh, I, I'm a drunk

and I don't do my job

and that's it!

I'm a drunk and

I don't do my job

and I got fired and

I can't get a job now

and ll..

We should've done

this a long time ago.

Taken a look at ourselves

and realize we just turned

into a couple of bums!

- Honey, honey, I love you.

- What? I love you, too.

And I don't mean that

I didn't, but we've got to

face this, huh? Please?

All right. We, we just

won't drink so much.

No, not so much..

Look, I've got a plan and

we've got to do it, honey.

We've got to make it work.

We're gonna get sober,

but we're gonna stay sober.

We don't take a drop! Nothing!

And then, I thought

this out all the way home.

We're gonna go to your

father and we're gonna

convince him that we mean it,

and, and he'll give us

enough money to

get off the ground.

And, and then I'll go

around to the old place.

They'll see that I'm sober,

and they'll take me back.

Are you with me?

Because we've gotta do it.

If we don't do it now,

it's gonna be too late.

We're gonna make it work.

Are you with me?

- I'm always with you.

- We've gotta do it, honey.

We've got to make it work.

Hey, pop.

Are you sure that

Vic tanny started this way?

Who?

Bernarr macfadden.

- One more, Joe.

- Yeah, yeah, one more, Joe.

Anything you say, warden.

Hey, warden..

Gotta ask you one question.

Are you..

You sure that..

Out there, there is a highway

and down that highway..

There is a town,

a town with people

with people just like us?

- One more tree, Joe.

- One more tree, Joe. I know.

[Sighin oh! Gl

one more tree, Joe.

One more tree, Joe.

[Gruntin oh! 9

are you in for life?

It's beginning to look like it.

- How long have you been here?

- Almost a month.

Uh-huh. Oh, I feel like

I've been here ten years.

- Oh, yeah.

- It seems to agree with you.

Do you like boys?

- 1 love 'em.

- Yeah?

Come with me.

There's something I wanna try.

Yeah-ah!

Oh!

All my life I've

wanted to do that.

- Oh, poor little city boy.

- Yeah.

- Hey, you know something?

- Huh?

I never really understood..

The reason for haystacks before.

It's that crazy

smell that gives us

all those problems

we hear about.

- And the softness.

- Yeah.

You know, I, uh..

Can't remember us ever

feeling like this before.

Mm-mm. Except after

a couple of drinks.

Yeah.

Was the other better?

Huh?

Can't see how it would be.

Yeah, uh-huh! Uh-huh.

Caught you drinking, huh?

No harm in one beer, Joe.

Or two or three.

A matter of how much, huh, pop?

Oh!

Saunders says

he'll pay you Monday.

With Saunders

it's always Monday.

- And then Friday.

- Yeah.

Hey, do you

remember Mrs. Michelle

where you delivered those

roses about a month ago?

Oh, yeah.

Two months ago, exactly.

My second day as a trustee.

She phoned in a big

order this afternoon.

Said she remembered us

because of the nice man

who delivered the roses.

It's all part of

public relations, pop.

Uh, Kirsten upstairs?

Joe.

You want a beer?

You're starting

to trust me again.

Well, thanks... anyway, pop.

Hi, ho!

Ooh, what a tasty little neck.

I'm glad you like it.

Have some more.

No, not right now.

My, we have been good the last

couple of months, haven't we?

- It's perfect, huh?

- Yeah, we sure have.

Much too good because

you are much too beautiful

to be so good

and I was thinking..

Being good is better

than being bad, yes?

But being too good, jeez,

is worse than death, huh?

Yeah, well, there are

times when I agree with you.

Yeah, well... how would you like

to spice up your exemplary life

by just slipping..

A teeny-weeny bit?

- A teeny-weeny bit?

- Teeny-weeny, yes.

Just a modicum, just a minim..

A drop.

- Where is it?

- Da-da-da, no!

It all starts with a striptease.

Oh, well, I thought

you were talking

about something more...

Tangible.

Please, you're

interrupting a performance.

Tada!

- Joe!

- Shh!

- Tada!

- Oh, you're a genius.

Shh! Nothing at all, my dear.

Of course, getting this tape off

is gonna be a...

Major operation.

- Ow!

- Okay, now here we go.

Fast, all right?

Aah!

[Sighin oh! Gl

next time I do this,

I'm gonna shave my legs.

No, Joe, we-we-we can't.

- What do you mean?

- We'll ruin everything.

- I mean, we can't do it.

- Just a goldarn minute, lady.

I'm not... suggesting an orgy.

I think we've...

Learned better than that.

I hope and trust.

We've... been working hard, huh?

Behaving ourselves?

Just a wee, little

drop in the privacy

of our own little room.

It ain't going to hurt us.

Who's to know?

We just lie back in bed

like civilized people.

We'll sip it through a straw.

May I expect your

cooperation... huh?

Well, now, how could

I not vote for someone

who dances so divinely?

Tada!

And, oh!

Hold on.

- Oh!

- Huh? Twinsies.

And there is another...

In the greenhouse.

It is in the fourth pot..

On the fifth table.

Wait a minute.

Fourth pot, third table,

fifth row.

Yeah, that's it.

Fourth pot, third table,

fifth row.

Four, five, three.

Now, you remember

the combination,

because if I die before I wake,

that's your legacy.

- Ahh!

- Oh!

You are depraved.

Yeah, flattery

will get you everywhere.

Magic time.

Oh! Shh!

Here.

- Step on it.

- What?

Wha-at?

Oh, gee.

- Wait a minute.

- Give me that one over there.

Here.

Whoo!

Oh!

Kirstie?

Must have had a nightmare.

You all right?

I'm fine, daddy.

Just go back to bed.

Come up now.

We're fighting.

Oh, oh!

Oops!

It's all gone.

Oh, it's all gone.

4-3-5,

I'll get the other one.

- Get the other one.

- Shh, shh, shh!

You'll wake up daddy.

- He'll hear you.

- What?

What?

I'm gonna go out the window.

And down the tree

as silent as a squirrel.

- Down the tree.

- Careful, but hurry up.

I said it was four, three, five.

No, now, wait a second, Joe.

- What?

- You said...

Shh! Got to be

quiet as a squirrel.

Three, five, four.

- Nev...

- Oh, yes.

It was four, three, five.

Hold that.

Whoa!

Hurry back!

Four, five, three.

Here we go!

What was it?

Fourth? Let me see.

One..

Two...

Three. Fourth row.

Third table.

Two...

Fifth pot.

One, two, three, four, five.

And come to papa.

What happened?

Ha. I got the right,

wrong combina..

Five, four. Fifth row.

Third table, fourth pot.

One, two, three.

Wait a minute. What?

Well..

Wait a minute.

What did he say?

Start it all over.

Wait a minute.

One..

Five, four, three.

Well.

It's the fifth pot.

Wait a minute.

Third. Wait. One, two, three.

Where is it?

What? What?

Who's stolen it? Why? Why?

Why? Why?

Flowers..

Where is it?

Red flower!

It's a red flower!

Light.

Turn on the light.

Rain!

Who took it?

Who took it? Where?

Where? Where is it?

Who took it?

Somebody stole it!

[Screamin aah! Gl

they stole it!

Aah!

They took it!

Took it!

They took it!

Daddy?

I'm drunk as a skunk.

Kirsten!

I'm plastered and I'm lonely.

I want you to kiss me goodnight.

Ah! Dirty Joe brought whiskey.

Come on,

kiss me goodnight, daddy.

You get back to your room.

Granddaddy?

- It's Debbie.

- Go to bed, Debbie.

You get out of here.

Get out of here!

- Just leave my daddy alone.

- Debbie, Debbie!

You come along with me now.

A little kiss or something?

- Get in the tub.

- What? No, I don't want to.

- Get in the tub.

- Daddy.

Get in there!

What are you doing?

168 in.

Don't, don't do..

Aah! Ed, give me a hand!

How are you feeling, fella?

Rotten.

Who.. Who are you?

I'm Jim hungerford.

Nurse says you want help.

I'm from alcoholics anonymous.

- Honey, please read the book.

- No.

This fella, hungerford, says

the aa meetings are terrific.

They're just a bunch

of alcoholics

trying to keep each other sober.

And it works.

Now, please read the book.

It make sense - no!

I don't even know why you

let them give it to you.

They must... think you're

a... bum or something.

I asked for it.

I must have needed help.

I was in the hospital.

Well, you didn't belong there.

I was there.

Nobody belongs there.

I passed out in the middle

of mission street.

I didn't belong

there maybe but..

All right!

You had too much to drink.

It doesn't mean

you're an alcoholic.

Oh, look, dear, what's wrong

with just going to a meeting?

Now, what could we lose, huh?

You can go if you want to.

I don't care.

But, I'm, I'm not gonna go.

I am not an alcoholic

and I refuse to say I am.

I refuse to-to ask

for help in something

that is, is just a matter of, of

self-respect and willpower.

I refuse to get up in

front of a bunch of people

and degrade myself.

I know I can't drink because

it gets the best of me.

So, I-l..

I will just use my

willpower and not drink

and, and that's the end of it.

Uh, we got time

for a cigarette, huh?

You nervous?

No, I..

Button came off my jacket.

- Well, leave it open.

- Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Here.

I used to be

a pretty... fancy dresser.

I wouldn't have been caught

dead with a button off then.

You're scared, huh?

No, this is natural complexion..

Pale green.

Nobody will notice. Come on.

Well, wait a minute. We, uh..

Just, you know.

Hey, you know, you are

turning pale green.

Now, will you come on?

It's facing all the people.

- Are you sure?

- What do you mean?

Well, it's facing yourself,

isn't it?

Look, I don't mind

talking about my life,

even the most

embarrassing parts of it.

That's not what bothers me.

It's... the idea

of standing up there

in front of all of those people

and saying "ll am an alcoholic.”

Are you?

- Yes, I...

- So are we.

Now, you've heard us night

after night after night say it

"I am an alcoholic.”

it's a big step forward.

I know, but it's

funny, isn't it?

That four months ago

you came to see me

in the violent ward

and you told me about aa.

Now, I went to the meetings

and I started listening

and I've been sober ever since.

Kirstie has been sober too

just as sober as I am.

And she has never said,

"ll am an alcoholic.”

She even hasn't

been near a meeting.

She claims she can do

it on willpower alone.

Can you?

My name is Jim hungerford.

And I'm an alcoholic.

I'm your chairman for tonight.

Now, all I have to do

to qualify myself

is to say that

I drank too much too often

over too long a period of time.

Welcome to the

regular weekly meeting

of the Mason street group

of alcoholics anonymous.

"Alcoholics anonymous is

a fellowship of men and women

"who share their experience

"strength and hope

with each other.

"That they may solve

their common problem

"and help others to

recover from alcoholism.

"The only requirement

for membership

"is a desire to stop drinking.

"There are no dues or

fees for aa membership.

"We are self-supporting

through our own contributions.

"Aa is not allied

with any sect, denomination

"politics, organization

or institution.

"It does not wish to

engage in any controversy

"neither endorses

nor opposes any causes.

"Our primary purpose

is to stay sober

and help other alcoholics

to achieve sobriety.”

Now, we got a couple

of speakers tonight.

I know you're

gonna enjoy hearing.

To start things off,

we're going to hear from a man

who came to us

just four months ago.

Now, this will be his

first talk at an aa meeting.

Joe.

My name..

My name is Joe... Clay.

I'm an alcoholic.

Honey?

Debbie?

Come in.

Oh, hi, Jim.

I'm sorry to act like such a...

Oh, don't be silly.

You should have called sooner.

Any word?

Two days and two nights

and I... l had to call you.

I was afraid that I might...

Yeah, I know.

Did you tell the police?

Yeah.

I-I just..

I can't see how this

could be happening to us.

Me too. Too many drinks?

Well, a hell of lot of

people drink as much as kirstie

and I ever did and

they're not alcoholics.

Yet.

A lot of 'em never are.

It's a lottery, Joe.

- And you lost.

- Yeah, well, how?

No way to find out

before it's too late, huh?

- Joe.

- Hmm?

You remember how you told

us about Kirsten's obsession

with chocolate candy

when you first met?

Yeah.

Well, a very

perceptive psychologist

might've told you

then that she was

a potential alcoholic,

but neither of you

would have believed

him and besides

he might have been wrong.

Joe, how many

strawberries does it

take to start an allergy

and which is the one

that gives you the hives?

Alcoholism is an illness.

It's pretty hard to

diagnose an illness

until you've got it.

Come on, Joe.

She'll turn up, honest.

Why did she do it?

Why did she leave?

- That's...

- She wanted to drink.

Oh, if she had to drink,

she could drink right here.

And she ought to know it.

You're sober.

It's no fun to drink around you.

Don't you under... it's worse!

Your sobriety would be

an accusation to her.

She'd be miserable.

She's lost her playmate.

And, Joe..

Listen, uh..

Don't be too surprised

if she finds another one.

Look, she loves me

and you just don't understand.

There's no trouble between us.

There wasn't any trouble.

Joe, don't forget.

For a long time, long, long time

booze has been an integral

part of your relationship.

Now, if she keeps on

drinking and you don't,

well, you've got to find

a new meeting ground,

a different basis

for a relationship.

That takes a whale

of an adjustment.

Well, I find it

hard to believe this.

There was one thing

about us, we always knew

that we were in love.

Now, we knew that.

And there was no doubt about it.

We just knew it.

Now, do you understand

what I'm trying to tell you

that we, that we had something?

Well, things like that

don't just evaporate.

Joe, the night you tore up

your father-in-law's flowers.

- You're looking for the bottle?

- Yes.

What did you do

when you found it?

What? I drank it.

Oh, you didn't take it back

and drink it with Kirsten?

No.

There comes a time in the life

of every alcoholic

when the bottle is god.

Nobody matters, nothing matters

but the next drink.

You know that!

I know I know it.

I just, I can't believe

that this is happening to me.

That's all!

Two people, seven years.

Booze, no booze, drunk, sober.

Isn't love..

Love?

I don't know.

I was drunk for 12 years.

I've been sober the last 14.

All 1 know is the drunk

world is one world

and the sober world

is another world.

Such a lonely person.

Oh, god, keep her safe.

Is your little girl all right?

Yeah, she's..

On the peninsula

with her grandfather.

Hello?

Yes, this is Mr. Clay.

Yes, Kirsten Clay.

That's right. Yes.

- Where?

- Police?

Where is, shore motel?

Where is that?

I see. Who, who..

Mr. turning, is she all right?

Is she alone?

I'll be there

as fast as possible.

Thank you for calling.

She's in a motel.

Mr. turning owns the motel.

He said that she..

Came in a cab

and checked in drunk.

- She's been drunk ever since.

- Do you want me to go with you?

- No, I'd better go alone, Jim.

- Oh, well, here, take my car.

- Oh, thanks.

- Oh, Joe, listen, listen.

At the risk of

sounding preachy...

No, look, I know now, easy

does it. First thing first...

No, no, it's something else.

Now, she may resent you

intruding on her drinking

and she may resent

your being sober.

- It separates you...

- I know that.

But, Joe... on the other hand,

if you're not sober

you're not worth a damn to her

or anybody else, are you?

No.

- Yes, sir.

- Hello, I'm Mr. Clay.

Oh, she's in the last bungalow

over there, Mr. Clay.

Thank you.

One sliced turnip,

some stalks of celery,

add pepper and salt

and a dash

of worcestershire sauce.

My, my.

What nobility has to put up with

just to have dinner.

I'm glad I'm a rabbit.

Now, place rabbit into oven

and heat oven to 350 degrees.

350 degrees? Too hot for me.

I just remembered

I have another commitment.

Please extend my regrets

to his majesty.

I bid you farewell, arrivederci,

sayonara, and

all that sort of jazz.

Oh, no, you're not.

You're stayin'. I insist.

Okay, okay,

if it's that important.

Cook! Cook!

Where's my hasenpfeffer?

Comin' right up, royal highness.

Bon appetit, o gracious majesty.

You bonehead. That..

- Have a drink, honey.

- Not just now.

- Oh, come on. Have a drink.

- No, I don't want one.

Oh, I do.

You think..

Honey, do you think

you're about ready to come home?

Hmm?

Oh, it's you.

What do you want?

I want my wife.

Sober Joe..

Milkman's friend.

Now you got me.

What do you want to..

Do?

I was hoping to take you home.

I like it here.

My friends are here.

You have your friends,

I have mine.

Have a drink.

Oh.

Excuse me, I forgot.

Shame we're out of, uh..

Milk..

Coffee and tea, orange juice..

Non-alcoholic beverages.

Honey, if you'd just come home..

No!

You laid in a good supply.

- We could take it home.

- No!

You have your friends.

You don't need me.

Oh, honey..

Joe..

Kiss me, Joe.

I taste like gin.

You never did like gin

so I didn't drink it, but..

Now I'm alone, so I drank it

'cause I like gin.

Tilsammen I himmelen.

Together in heaven,

like the story.

Now he doesn't even like..

The taste of me anymore.

Honey..

Let me get you some food.

- No.

- Or you're going to get sick.

- You know it.

- I don't care.

I don't care. Just... go away

and leave me alone.

I don't care about anything.

I'll be back.

Don't bother.

Joe.

I'm lonely, Joe.

Have a drink with me, please.

- I can't.

- I'm lonely.

I'll stay with you,

but 1-1 can't.

Don't do me any favors.

Can't have a drink.

Too good to have

a drink with me.

What did they do to you

down at that aa place, anyway?

Aren't you a man anymore?

Can't you hear a woman

calling you?

I'm a woman. Can't you hear me!

- I hear you.

- What're you gonna do about it?

I heard you, but we've got

our own little apartment...

No, we haven't.

I'm not going back there.

Never, never.

I want to be where people live.

I don't want any of your..

Mealy-mouthed...

Holier-than-thou, do-gooder

boy scouts with their..

With their hot coffee and..

And their cold feet.

I don't want anybody who doesn't

have the guts to take a drink.

Now go away. Go away.

I want a cigarette.

Keep the pack.

You're not giving me anything.

Community property.

So's the gin. 50-50.

Here.

I'm not coming back there.

You're too good.

And there's no bore in the world

like a goody-good.

Have some of mine, honey.

Hello!

We're closed, buddy.

- I said we're closed.

- No, come on, please.

We close at 11:00. Go on home.

Oh, please.

Now look, you, get out of here

before I call the cops.

Now beat it.

No, please. Please.

Please.

Oh..

Oh, please.

What is it? What's happening?

Go on inside.

I'll take care of this.

Go on!

So you like booze, hey, buddy?

I didn't know

you wanted it that bad.

Why didn't you ask?

I'll give you

all the booze you want.

Why?

Joe, who am 1?

- Joe..

- What?

Who am 1?

Say it. Come on.

Jim.

What happened?

What happened? You took a drink.

You're drying out now.

Listen, your first two days here

there was a little

green man chasing you

around the violent ward

with pruning shears.

No, no, no. Don't.

Got to get up.

I've got to get my wife.

No, they went to stay

with her dad for a while.

I want her with me.

Joe..

Joe, you've got to stay sober

even if it means

keeping away from her.

Hmm? I can't hear you, Joe.

I love her!

Joe, if you really love her..

I mean, if you really love her..

Then you help her.

How?

You set an example.

Show her that-that

an alky can beat the rap.

Give her something to aim at!

Come on. Will you do that?

Huh?

Oh, boy.

I should have never

told you about that guy

with the pruning shears.

Hello, pop.

I told you before, Joe.

Don't come here.

I've got something

important, pop.

Really, this means a lot to me.

Kirs gone out someplace?

She's gone to the movies.

She okay?

You come here to talk

about kirstie?

No, I didn't.

Tell you what

I came to talk about, pop.

I've come to square

accounts with you.

First of all..

The $500 that you

lent us that time to..

Try and get started again?

We spent it, most of it,

on a couple of benders.

Really didn't make much effort

to get straightened out.

I just stayed drunk as long

as the money lasted.

We lied to you about that.

And I know you worked hard

for the money, and...

You started

my daughter drinking.

Pop, please listen.

You started

my daughter drinking!

When she lived here

with her mama and me

she never drank.

We never gave her even one beer.

You started her!

Pop, what are you..

Pop! Don't!

Are you nuts?

Now, what're you trying to do?

Pop.

Sure, we drank together.

And we did right

from the start, but..

Where is she?

She's been gone three days.

My girl.

Pop..

She went off with another bum.

Not the same one, another one.

It's always another bum.

It's always, "goodnight, dad.

I'll be home early.”

"Goodnight, kirstie.

I'll leave the light on

in the kitchen.”

I always turn it off

in the morning, Joe.

I thought she told me

she was getting better.

Two weeks ago she was

in the hospital three days

sick to death from drinking.

Can't you tell her that-that..

Tell her how well I'm doing.

Tell her all about

the new apartment.

Tell her I'll take her back

any time that she wants.

She wouldn't listen.

Well, tell her..

Debbie cries for her.

Then she'd get drunk for sure.

I don't know what to..

I don't know what

to tell Debbie.

Well, pop..

There's some things

we can be thankful for.

Now, I'm working steady

and I'm sober.

And I'm starting

to pay you back, pop.

The $500.

There's the first installment.

And I'm gonna pay

for her hospital bill, too.

- No.

- Yes, I am.

And I'm gonna pay you board

as long as she stays here

with you

and-and I'm gonna make good

for all of the potted plants

that I ruined that time.

I don't need for you

to do that, Joe.

Pop, you don't understand.

I need for me to do it.

Kirs.

Debbie asleep?

Yes. It's after 11:00.

I didn't want her to see me.

- Well, you look so...

- So bad?

Not as bad as you

imagined I would.

Thanks for trying,

but I know how I look.

This is the way I look

when I'm sober.

That's enough to make

a person drink

wouldn't you say?

Joe..

I haven't had a drink

in two days.

Well, that's wonderful.

It wasn't easy

but I wanted to talk

to you, so ll..

I thought I'd try and deserve it

at least a little.

Sort of a penance,

you might say.

You'd be surprised how much

fun you can have sober,

when you get the hang of it.

And you've got the hang of it?

I think so.

Believe me, it's the greatest.

Joe, wouldn't it

be wonderful if we could

go back to the beginning?

Just erase everything

in between.

Start all over

at getting excited

over a chocolate bar?

I want to come home.

I-I know what

you're thinking about.

A lot's happened,

lots of... detours.

There were plenty of them,

but they were nothing.

I never looked at them.

They had no identity.

I never gave anything

out of myself to them.

I thought they'd help me

from being so lonely

but I was just as lonely

because love is the only thing

that keeps you from being lonely

and I didn't have that.

Kirs..

There's a little girl

asleep in there

that would just love

to wake up and see you here

and all you've got to do

is say the right words.

I don't know if I have

the right word.

That's why it took me

so long to get here.

You see, the world looks

so dirty to me

when I'm not drinking.

Joe, remember Fisherman's wharf,

the water when

you look too close?

When I'm not drinking.

I don't think I could ever

stop drinking completely,

not like you.

- I couldn't.

- You could.

If I wanted to,

really wanted to?

Well, I don't. I know that now.

I want things to look

prettier than they are.

But I know... l know I-I could

be all right if you'd help me.

I know I could, I'd be all right

if we were together and..

And things were like

they used to be

and I wasn't so nervous.

I need to be loved. I get so

lonely from not being loved.

I can't stand it.

I love you.

I'm afraid of you.

I'm an alcoholic.

I can't take a drink.

And I'm afraid of what

we'd do to each other.

If you just say that you'd try..

I know this sounds crazy

but I can't face the idea

of never having another drink.

Honey, one day at a time.

Just one day at a time...

I can't. I can't.

Doesn't it impress you

that I have been sober

for almost a year

and I'm delighted

to be this way?

I'm working steady

and I feel great.

Debbie and I are living

in a decent place once again

and it's all because I'm sober.

Yes.

- Well, there's plenty of room.

- Joe, you're strong.

That's why I know

you can help me now.

If we only had it

back like it was.

Back like it..

Do you remember

how it really was?

You and me and booze.

A threesome. Do you remember?

Not that it wasn't

great while it lasted.

We can have it back

that way again if...

If I'll drink with you, but

I'm not gonna drink with you.

It's finished.

I wouldn't ask you

to drink with me.

I'd-I'd control myself.

You can't control yourself.

You're an alcoholic,

just the same as I am.

No. No.

You and I were

a couple of drunks

on a sea of booze,

and the boat sank.

I got a hold of something

that kept me from going under

and I'm not gonna let go of it.

And not for you, not for anyone.

If you want to grab on, grab on.

But there's just room

for you and me.

No threesome.

I can't get over

how dirty everything looks.

Try it one more day.

- Why?

- For her.

Come and look at her.

I can't. I can't.

You better give up on me.

Not yet.

Thanks.

Goodnight.

Kirs..

Take care of yourself.

Kirs!

Daddy?

I thought I heard you

call mommy.

You must have been

dreaming, honey.

Let's go back to bed.

When is mommy coming home?

Honey, mommy's sick.

She has to get well

before she can come home.

Is she going to get well?

I did, didn't 1?

Go to sleep.

Okay.

Good night, daddy.

Good night, honey.

Days of Wine and Roses (1962) - full transcript