The Butcher's Wife Page #2

- It's a perpetual motion clock.

- There's no such thing.

Well, sure.

Grandma d'Arbo says those ticks

are the heartbeat of a marriage...

two hearts beating as one.

That's nice, honey.

Don't you go anywhere.

You can't beat Bessie.

Who's that?

Oh, Bessie Smith...

the empress of the blues.

- How come it sounds so scratchy?

- It's an original pressing.

Very rare.

No one's ever wanted me

to dance with them before.

- I can't believe that.

- Well, it's the truth.

This town is just

crackling with current.

I'm never going to get to sleep.

I was thinking...

maybe you could take me out

to meet some of the neighbors.

We got to get up early tomorrow.

We got a big delivery coming.

I think it's going

to be late arriving.

Something... Cracked axle.

- I'm getting good at this.

- You sure are.

So what do you say?

I say I'm one lucky butcher.

I'm sure glad I found you.

I found you.

I'm sorry. It's just,

you took me by surprise.

I thought our next decision

is living together, not marriage.

Where did this come from

all of a sudden?

The butcher's wife.

What?

Leo's wife.

I've been to a lot

of clairvoyants in my time...

and this one is the real thing.

She's a very wise woman.

I could tell.

Leo's married to a clairvoyant?

And she told me...

"Love is waiting for you

behind a friendly face.

Don't be scared of it.

You can stand up to it."

Where the hell did Leo meet a gypsy?

Alex, do you want to

get married or not?

- Before we answer that question...

- Oh, God.

Sit down.

If she's going to have

such a profound effect on us...

I'd like to know more about her.

- Could we get off her and on to us?

- I'm concerned.

No, curious. Yes.

If you're going to talk

about getting married...

why would you approach some

strange woman in a butcher shop?

Why wouldn't you just come to me?

Forget it! Just forget it!

I should've told you I dreamed it.

We'd be at the altar by now.

- Can we talk about this rationally?

- No.

Can you fight like a man

instead of a shrink?

All I am trying to say is that

marriage is an inspired decision.

And I told you I'm uncomfortable

with the term "shrink."

Shrink!

"We are all in the gutter...

but some of us are

looking at the stars."

Who'd have done that?

- It's beautiful.

- It's vandalism.

I could wash it off

for a couple of bucks.

Don't you want to

let it stay put?

What?

Well, what would it hurt?

We got some chores around the shop,

if you're handy with a broom.

- We do?

- Sure.

We've got that big delivery

arriving late this afternoon.

This morning.

Can I talk to you for a minute?

Excuse me.

I know this kid. He's trouble.

No, I don't see that.

Maybe a little misunderstood.

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