CHAPTER 15
INT. NEWSSTAND – SECOND FLOOR – NIGHT A poker game is in progress. Manny deals cards wearing a visor. The players are Jimmy, Sid Montonious, Johnny Suede, an ACTOR from the party and TWO BUSINESSMEN. Tony sits on a sofa, watching a football game. Manny Alright gentlemen, big blind and little blind up, please. SID Tony, you’re not going to play? TONY The house never plays. SUEDE He doesn’t have the balls to play against me! JIMMY Is that so, Unc’? TONY He’s slicker than an Arab in an oil field. Manny Bet’s to you, Jimmy. Jimmy has a pair of eights. JIMMY I call. The cards on the flop are Six, Eight, Jack – giving Jimmy three of a kind. SID I’m out. The Two Businessmen and the Actor fold. Only Jimmy and Suede stay in. SUEDE I raise. JIMMY Call. Manny flops a two of clubs. Manny Bet to you, Mr. Johnny Suede. Suede reaches for chips. SUEDE Just Suede, kid. Five hundred. JIMMY I call your five and raise another five. SUEDE Call. Manny turns over a three of hearts. Jimmy thinks he’s got him. Manny Bet to you, Suede. SUEDE Check. JIMMY It’ll cost you a thousand to see my cards, Suede. SUEDE I’ll take it easy on you, Jimbo, I’ll call. Suede turns over a four and a five for a straight! Jimmy is stunned. JIMMY You bet like that with a four and a five in your hand?! What a maniac! Everyone laughs. Tony comes over and pats Jimmy on the shoulder. TONY Some things never change! He’s the luckiest guy on the face of the earth. Born with a horseshoe up his ass! SUEDE Better to be lucky than good, Tone. Jimmy buries his face in his hands. Tony’s cell phone rings. CUT TO: EXT. PAT’S STEAKS (PHILADELPHIA) – NIGHT Billy the Cop sits at a table eating a cheese steak and talking into his cell phone. BILLY THE COP Thought you’d like to know they’re gonna charge your boy Vito with the Old Man’s murder. TONY (V.O.) Good news. When? BILLY THE COP They’re bringing him back tomorrow. TONY (V.O.) Thanks Billy, I’ll see you soon. Billy the Cop hangs up and focuses on his cheese steak. INT. STEPH’S APARTMENT – NIGHT Steph is baking a cake in the kitchen. Anthony walks in, grabs a bottle of vodka, pours a hefty drink and downs it. STEPH Thirsty? Anthony I needed that. STEPH For what? Anthony The courage to finish our conversation. STEPH Honesty is what you need. Anthony You’re a great person, Steph, the best. Me? I’m not sure any more. STEPH Why? You’ve done nothing to change who you are. Anthony It’s like no matter what happens, you’re always there for me. STEPH Of course I am. Anthony I want you to know I’ll always be there for you, too. STEPH Is there something you’re not telling me? Anthony It’s, that… STEPH What? Anthony That I love you. STEPH Was that so hard? I love you, too. Always have. They kiss passionately. FADE OUT. EXT. NEWSSTAND – DAY Anthony and Manny work the stand. Jimmy comes outside. JIMMY Hey Anthony, how are you feeling, you know, about yesterday? Anthony Honestly, still a little shocked. Mildly freaked out. But I’ll get over it. How about you? JIMMY I’m okay. Anthony Did you tell my father yet? JIMMY No, we had the game last night and this morning I had to come here to clean up. Anthony You’re scared! Just do it. It’s like ripping off a band-aid. You have to do it quick! JIMMY You’re no better than me. You’re afraid of Steph. Anthony Not anymore. We talked last night. JIMMY No way! Anthony I’m serious. JIMMY Feels good, doesn’t it? Manny ‘Bout time, hombre. You two are meant to be together, like rice and beans. Anthony If you want me to be there when you tell my father, just say the word. JIMMY It might be easier. INT. Anthony’S APARTMENT – NIGHT Jimmy paces nervously. Anthony closes his cell phone. Anthony He’s on his way. I told him Steph baked that Jewish apple cake for him. It’s his favorite. Tony comes in, beelines for the cake. TONY What’s up, guys? Jimmy is nervous. Tony grabs a knife and cuts himself a big piece. TONY (CONT’D) Steph made this for me? Anthony Yep. TONY I like that girl! (devours a bite) Mmmm. I really like that girl! Anthony Jimmy wants to tell you something. Jimmy is stunned when Anthony says this. JIMMY No, I don’t! Anthony Yes, you do! TONY What is it? JIMMY Uncle Tone, I just wanna say that… I wanna tell you… TONY Tell me what? JIMMY I was trying to say… um, that… Anthony Just say it! TONY What?! JIMMY That I’m gay! Tony doesn’t bat an eye. He takes another bite of cake. TONY Mmmm… Fresh apples. Anthony Dad, did you hear what he said? JIMMY I’m gay. Tony is unfazed. TONY Yeah, so what’s new? JIMMY New? TONY Do you think I didn’t know? (takes another bite) She should open a bakery, she’d make a fortune. JIMMY How did you know? TONY Remember that gay club uptown that Tommy Brads owned? Anthony The fireman? TONY Yeah, all the gay guys used to bet with him. He had a nice book. JIMMY I used to collect from him up there. TONY Well, he had cameras all over the place. CUT TO: FLASHBACK – INT. GAY CLUB – NIGHT Jimmy dancing to a disco song with another guy on a packed dance floor. They’re sweating and really into each other. BACK TO: INT. Anthony’S APARTMENT – NIGHT JIMMY No way! TONY Yes way. No wonder you were so eager to go collect. JIMMY You knew all this time and never said a word? TONY Didn’t have to. You kept it quiet and put on a good front, fooling around with girls from the neighborhood. JIMMY But you never said anything. TONY Why would I? It’s your life. JIMMY So this doesn’t change anything? TONY Only you being honest with yourself. I’m glad you finally had the guts to be honest. (taps Jimmy lightly on the face) That stuff will eat you up inside. Tony cuts another piece of cake and leaves it on the counter, taking the rest with him. TONY (CONT’D) (walking out) You did say she baked this for me, right? Anthony and Jimmy look at each other, dumbfounded that Tony took it so well. |