Out of the Past Page #4

- JEFF:
A very difficult girl.

- MAN:
Heh. Is there one not so, seor?

- Perhaps a lottery ticket?

- No.

I have here, wrought by

skilled hands, a ring...

and earrings of jade

and pure silver.

These.

(MAN SPEAKING IN SPANISH)

- I never wear them.

- JEFF:
Nor I. Please.

No, thank you.

My name is Jeff Markham, and I

haven't talked to anybody...

who hasn't tried to sell

me something for 10 days.

If I don't talk, I think. It's too late

in life for me to start thinking.

I could go down to the cliff and

look at the sea like a good tourist.

But it's no good if there isn't somebody

you can turn to and say, "Nice view, huh?"

It's the same with the churches, the

relics, the moonlight or a Cuba Libre.

Nothing in the world is any

good unless you can share it.

Maybe you ought to go home.

- Maybe that's why I'm here.

- Is it?

Well, there's always

Jos Rodriguez.

If it gets too lonely, there's a cantina

down the street called Pablo's.

It's nice and quiet. The man there

plays American music for a dollar.

Sip bourbon and shut your eyes.

It's like a little place on 56th Street.

I'll wear my earrings.

I sometimes go there.

JEFF:
I went to send a wire

to Whit that I'd found her...

but the telegraph office

was closed for the siesta.

I was glad it was, and

I suddenly knew why.

I went to Pablo's that night.

I knew I'd go every night

until she showed up...

and I knew she knew it.

(MAN PLAYING ROMANTIC

MUSIC ON VIOLIN)

I sat there and drank bourbon,

and I shut my eyes...

but I didn't think of a

joint on 56th Street.

I knew where I was and what I was doing.

I just thought what a sucker I was.

I even knew she wouldn't

come the first night...

but I sat there, grinding it out.

But the next night

I knew she'd show.

She waited until it was late...

and then she walked in out

of the moonlight, smiling.

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING

ON VIOLIN AND PIANO)

- Well, this is a coincidence.

- Yes, it is.

- American music.

- You know, I've been here for two nights.

- Thinking?

- No, just waiting.

I haven't been lonely.

- Bourbon?

- As you suggested.

Thank you, sir.

I've been sitting

here for three hours.

I thought the guy was gonna break

out with "Melancholy Baby."

You know, you're a curious man.

You're gonna make every guy you

meet a little bit curious.

That's not what I mean.

You don't ask questions.

You don't even ask

me what my name is.

All right, what's your name?

Kathie.

- I like it.

- Or where I come from.

I'm thinking about

where we're going.

- Don't you like it in here?

- I'm just not ready to settle down.

Shall I take you somewhere else?

You're gonna find it very

easy to take me anywhere.

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