Giovanni stands up.
GIOVANNI: Okay, look. I’m gonna tell you something, and this has something to do with what I wanted to tell you in the first place when I got here, so we can kill a few birds ’with one stone. Also good, because I gotta go meet this drug dealer in a few minutes.
He checks his watch again.
JIMMY: You want a drink?
GIOVANNI: What drink? An adult drink? I just said I’m gonna drive.
JIMMY: A juice. It’s noon.
GIOVANNI: A juice, I’ll have.
Jimmy heads over to the kitchen. Giovanni follows.
GIOVANNI: Okay. So, this guy I know. Marty. Really exceptional guy. Real gem. You know I don’t say that, ’less it’s true.
Jimmy nods.
GIOVANNI: So, he’s been up, down, and all through the ringer, this guy. He’s got an ex with a new boyfriend living with his teenage son, and the guy’s name is Enrique, and he drives a hog. Now I got nothing against Spaniards, or motorcycles, for that matter, but the combination living with your ex, and looking after your teenage boy can be very disconcerting, to say the least. He’s had a tough go is what I’m getting at. Meanwhile, and through all this crap, he sees people.
Jimmy pours some juice.
JIMMY: People?
GIOVANNI: People. Doctors. Shrinks. What do I know who he sees? The point is this. Come to find out, this guy, Marty, he does a lot of things, or was doing a boatload of things that got him right where he was by no fault of no one else. You see?
JIMMY: You want ice?
GIOVANNI: A little.
Jimmy gets ice for the juice.
GIOVANNI: (Cont’d) What was I sayin’? My friend, Marty. His whole life he’s been doing... Stuff.
Giovanni pauses to think.
GIOVANNI: (Cont’d) Stuff. Bad decision making. Acting out or whatever, now this is the people talking, the doctors, and what have you, all this stuff that, now get this, the stuff he’s doing, or was doing, was exactly what got him where he ended up.
Jimmy’s trying to follow. He hands over the drink. Giovanni takes the beverage.
GIOVANNI: (Cont’d) Thank you. Let me put it like this. It’s like he’s saying all I ever wanted to do, my whole life, is join the circus. Meanwhile, he beats the shit out of a clown every time he gets the chance.
Jimmy is confused.
GIOVANNI: (Cont’d) I can do better. It’s like all he ever wanted was to wear a cop uniform, but he can’t stop breaking the law.
Jimmy still doesn’t get it.
JIMMY: He’s a dirty cop with a thing for clowns?
GIOVANNI: No, he’s a fuckin’ actor, and that’s got nothing to do with anything. He did it to himself. He fucked himself. His parents fucked him, so now he fucks himself. Subconsciously, I’m saying. Picked the wrong gal, got rid of the right one, made a left when he should have gone straight, but deep down he knew better. His actions got him where he is, or was. He’s doing better now.
Jimmy starts to put it together.
JIMMY: Well, that’s good to hear.
GIOVANNI: Nothing’s wrong is what I’m saying. You got a great girl. Don’t let your parents fuck it up.
JIMMY: They’re dead.
GIOVANNI: You don’t think I know that?
JIMMY: You saying I should see people?
GIOVANNI: What?
JIMMY: A doctor?
GIOVANNI: No. You don’t need it. You got me, and I got Marty. He already paid for it. Which brings me to what I was going to say before. It always swings back. I like that.
Giovanni stands back and presents himself.
GIOVANNI: (Cont’d) I’m gonna be an actor.
JIMMY: Really?
GIOVANNI: What do you think?
JIMMY: I think you could do great.
GIOVANNI: Personality plus, right?
JIMMY: Always. I think that’s great. You gonna take some classes?
GIOVANNI: No. I’m too old for that. And I’m feeling on top of the world. I heard those people can really knock you down, and I don’t need that. Not right now. I’ve got rhythm. Or momentum, or both. But that’s it. I’m on top of the world. This guy, Marty, got me thinking. I got all the answers, always have, but no direction. I’m good with the girls, but that’s what they are. Girls. I want a Woman. It’s time to stop playin’ mid-twenties and move. I want a career. I want what you got. Imagine that.
JIMMY: You don’t, trust me.
GIOVANNI: Why don’t I?
JIMMY: For several reasons, but for one, I think I’m having a midlife crisis around the very thing you are presently contemplating becoming a part of. And even if I’m not, it sucks—whatever it is. I’m pretty sure it’s a midlife crisis, though.
GIOVANNI: Hold on. Slow down. You can’t say that.
JIMMY: I just did.
GIOVANNI: You can’t. You have any idea how that sounds? To me. I’m listening, and I’m telling you that’s no good. Let us dissect. Midlife? You’re not even forty. That would mean you’re only planning to go to eighty. Not even eighty. We can’t have that. You’re going in early.
A moment.
GIOVANNI: (Cont’d) We need that dope.
Giovanni puts his drink down and starts for the door.
GIOVANNI: (Cont’d) I’ll be back.
JIMMY: Wait.
GIOVANNI: Wait, what? I gotta meet this guy.
JIMMY: Just wait.
GIOVANNI: I can’t. You’re talkin’ dots and dashes. You got me in circles over here. I gotta meet this guy. What the fuck?
JIMMY: Just...there’s an order here. I want to get to it, but it has to be in time. My time. The right time. When I’m ready, I’ll know. Just wait. I’m not talking hours. Could be seconds.
Giovanni waits.
JIMMY: (Cont’d) I have a process...I think.
Giovanni looks at his watch.
LIGHTS OUT