01x13 - Bottom of the Bottle – Part 2

[bunniefuu]

ANNOUNCER: Here are some scenes

from the first part
of tonight's story.

Gary Ewing, veep.

[CHEERING]

Thought you might
as well have the title.

You're doing the work anyway.

KAREN: Hear, hear!

SID: To Gary!

KAREN: Veep
Ewing, they call him.

RICHARD: Right, here.

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]

I'm the man of this house,

and I can handle a
couple of lousy drinks!

I won't be talked down
to in my own house!

Gary! Gary!

KAREN: Is everything all right?

Yeah, are you all right? Yeah.

Gary's an alcoholic.

Come on. Come on!

Will you take the afternoon off?

I'll take off all right. And you
can take your job and stuff it.

Gary...

He still drinks
because he's scared.

But if he's scared
when he can't make it,

a-and he's scared when he can,

well, then, either
way, he's scared.

And when he's
scared, he... He drinks.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

Mm-hm. Yeah, I seen him.

Didn't look as good
as that, but I seen him.

When?

Couple days ago, I think.

Wanted a bottle of bourbon.

You his brother or something?

A friend of his. Did you
notice which way he went?

Couldn't have gone far,
he didn't have any money.

Thanks.

You'd better find him fast.

Your friend, he ain't
your ordinary rummy,

you know what I mean?

No, no. What do you mean?

Well, most of these guys,

they'd lift your shoes
for a half-pint of $2 wine.

But they hardly ever get
tough. But not this guy.

Did he thr*aten you?

I threatened him.

With this.

And for a second, I thought
I was gonna have to use it.

I was watching his eyes.

If he could have drunk from
that bottle before I sh*t him,

he would have
figured it was worth it.

Thanks.

Hey! Ha!

Anybody need a bad lawyer?

Drinks on the counselor! Ha, ha!

Just the man I'm looking for.

Yeah, why? Is there
a price on my head?

No, but, uh, Val
organized a posse.

Oh, well, sit down,
sheriff. I'll buy you a drink.

No. I'm not drinking with you,
Gary. I'm taking you home.

Not without a posse you ain't.

See, I don't need a posse,

I just need a
dime, I'll call Val.

You're not calling
anybody, counselor.

[CRASH]

as*ault is a felony, Gary.

I press charges, you wind
up in a holding pen somewhere

screaming with the DTs.

It's up to you.

Okay.

You win.

[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

I'll go.

[CHUCKLES]

But first, you've got to
buy us one for the road.

Come on, Gary. You
know what time it is?

No, no, just one drink. Come on.

Gary, you can hardly stand.

Then we'll drink sitting down.

Bartender, bourbon. Two.

[WILD DISCO PLAYING]

Hey, Ginge! What's shakin'?

Have you seen Kenny?

Kenny!

Come on, Kenny. Loosen up.

Give me a break, will you, hon?

My wife's here tonight.

Well, why didn't you tell me?

Look, Sylvie,

you and I have got to
cool it for a while, all right?

Oh, hi, babe. How are you?

I've been looking for
you. You want to dance?

No, I'd like to go home.

Well, hon, we just got here.

Kenny, we've been
here three hours.

I have a splitting headache
and school in the morning.

Oh, right. You're a school
teacher. That's sweet.

Listen, hon, this is
business. I can't leave.

Well, I can. Are you coming?

Every partner in the firm's got
something added to his name

in addition to his name.

Warren William Simpson I.

Charles M. Pincus Jr.

Philip Xavier Lyle III.

Xavier with an X.

How about that?

Think I could change
my name to... Xavier?

Xavier Avery?

Richard... Xavier Avery.

Hey, shorty. How
about your friend here?

Can't leave him
here, I'm closing.

Hey! Hey, you can't
leave him here, I'm clo...

What do you...?

[DOOR CLOSES]

[ENGINE STARTS]

Wait. Wait a minute.

Wait. Wait a minute.

[TIRES SCREECH]

Get in!

[HONKS HORN]

Hey, counselor!

Hey, Avery, wake up.

Find a light. Oh. Oh!

[CRASH]

Damn it, Avery!

What are you doing?

Special delivery for
Mrs. Xavier Avery III!

Yeah, yeah. Where
do you want him?

How about the couch? Right.

What have you done to him?

Nothing! Not a mark on him.

Gary, what have you done to him?

Just... Just not much
of a drinker, that's all.

He's drunk? Yeah!

Oh, Richard.

Three drinks, and he was out.

Well, I don't know,

it could've been
four, maybe five.

Hell, I don't know.

Uh, I'm going to
make some coffee.

It's not going to wake him up,

unless you plan on
pouring it on his legs.

Wouldn't you like
some coffee, huh?

Coffee? You crazy?

You know what coffee
does to your body?

[LAUGHS]

Ah-ha!

Does...? Does Val
know you're home?

What is this? A bar
or a safe? It's locked.

Huh, does she?

How should I know?!

Want to get some
booze here, huh.

Well, what would you like?

Oh, um, well,
bourbon, if you got it.

But, hell, I'd
settle for scotch.

Yeah?

Well, maybe, uh...

Maybe we've got
some in the kitchen.

Good, then get it.

Val, Laura.

Look, Gary's here.

Hey, don't... Don't do that.

He just brought Richard home.

They both...

That was stupid!

Don't you want Val
to know you're home?

She's been looking for you...

I'm not home! I just
brought him home!

As soon as I get
my drink, I'm leavin'!

It's locked.

No kidding. Give
me the key, come on!

You've got the key.

Don't be cute, Laura.

This isn't Save a Drunk Week.

Come on, give me the key!

It's on Richard's key ring.

He keeps it locked.

Well, what did you do with
the keys after you came in?

Uh, I don't know. Uh, you're
not stalling me, are you?

No, no!

It's a... It's a
small brass key.

Well, I... I'm not lying!

Come on. Come
on, I'll help you find it.

Gary?

Oh!

Ha!

What happened?

He brought Richard home and...

This key is too big.

No. Gary, please. Val,
don't try to stop him.

Is this the key?
Well, it doesn't fit!

Yes, it does. No, it doesn't!

Give it to me. Damn it!

Please, Gary! Leave me alone!

Oh, God, Val! Hey!

Val, are you all right?

Let me see.

No, I'm fine.

[PANTS AND GRUNTS]

Oh.

Oh, my God, he's bleeding!

Oh, Gary! What have you done?

Look, he's, uh...

He's quiet now.

Why don't you stay with him,

and I'll go get
some towels, okay?

All right, hurry. Okay.

Oh, Gary.

Oh, don't... No,
don't... Don't...

Just stay real still.

You sure know
how to throw a party.

Hm, yeah. Even
limousine service.

Thanks for the ride.

Hmm.

Hey, I'll see you at
the session, okay?

Oh, not before?

We'll see.

All right.

You can drop your shoes.

I'm not asleep.

Hey, party was great.
I wish you'd stayed.

Who brought you home?

Um, Alfred. He's
a real sweet guy.

It was, uh, out of
his way. It's 6:30.

The party was over
at 2. I called the studio.

And Alfred didn't bring
you home, Sylvie did.

Well, we moved the
party over to Alfred's place.

Kenny, stop lying!
You're bad at it.

You think I'm so dumb I'll
believe anything you say?

I don't think you're dumb.

Well, then, what
is it? Is this a test?

See how much Ginger loves
me, how much can Ginger take?

I can't take any more.

Either you want to be
married to me or you don't.

I want to be married.

To me?

Yeah, to you, of
course. I love you.

Then prove it.

[SIREN WAILING]

What's going on?

Hey, there's an
ambulance out there.

VAL: Careful when
you get down this alley.

MAN: I've got it now, miss.

I know he's bleeding so much.

LAURA: Don't worry.
They'll take care of him.

They know what they're doing.

They're okay. Got him.

Gary, everything's
going to be all right.

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

Mrs. Ewing, this is a
consent order for transport.

I need you to sign this

so the ambulance drivers
know where to send the bill.

Now, you want to
follow us to the hospital

or wait till we call
you to pick him up?

Pick him up? That man is sick.

He's been drinking for three
days. He needs treatment.

Well, they'll stitch
him up at the hospital.

I'm not talking about
stitches, he's an alcoholic.

He needs to be committed.

I'm sorry. He has
to commit himself.

That's the law.

That man is not going
to commit himself.

Now, look, if he had
attempted su1c1de or something,

then we could hold
him for 72 hours,

put him through detoxification.

He did. Of course he
did. Look at his arm.

How do you think he cut himself?

Now hold on, you just...

He cut himself on purpose,
after he got the bottle.

Mrs. Ewing,

is that what happened?

Yeah.

Okay.

Could I please go with
him, is that all right?

Be careful.

Gary?

VAL [ECHOING]:
Gary, can you hear me?

You cut your arm.

Val?

Valene?

Hey!

Let me out of here!

[GARY RAPPING ON DOOR]

Valene!

Valene!

DOCTOR: Mrs. Ewing!

Oh, uh, Dr. Kramer, he's up now.

He's awake.

Are you sure you want
to go in there, Mrs. Ewing?

He's calling for me!

What will you tell him

when he asks why he's locked in?

You signed him in. You're
going to tell him that?

Well, what do you want me to do?

Let me see him first.

All right?

All right.

GARY: Open the door!

Come on!

Please, somebody open this door!

DOCTOR: Good
morning. Who are you?

Charlotte Kramer. I'm the
doctor assigned to your case.

My case? What case?
What are you talking about?

I'm a psychiatrist.

You're being treated
for acute alcoholism.

[SCOFFS] Come on.

Where's my wife?
Out in the hall?

She'll get me out of here.

I doubt that, Mr. Ewing.

She signed you
in for detoxification.

Apparently you attempted
su1c1de last night.

You've been drinking
for three days straight.

su1c1de? That's a lie!

Now, I want to
see her right now!

She wants to see you too.

You've been sleeping
for seven hours,

and she hasn't
left the hospital.

But I'm warning you,

keep it calm.

[MUTTERS] A lady shrink.

Val?

Oh. Valene.

Oh.

Val, what happened to your eye?

Oh, Val, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

No more, Val. Never
again. I promise, I promise.

I'm ready to quit
now, and I will.

You frightened me so.

Yeah, I frightened
myself a little.

Gary, Dr. Kramer
said that if you...

No, honey. Honey, I
don't need any doctors.

I just need you. And
I've got you, right?

Yeah. Okay, okay,
let's go home, huh?

Uh, what do you think they did
with my clothes, b*rned them?

Now, Gary, you can't
go home. I mean, not yet.

Didn't Dr. Kramer
explain...? Yeah.

Dr. Kramer said I
tried to k*ll myself!

Did you tell her that?
No. I didn't tell her that.

I just cut myself. I
didn't try to k*ll myself.

But what's the difference
whether you k*ll yourself

by cutting your wrists or
drinking yourself to death?

You tell them the truth.

Mr. Ewing!

You tell them the
truth right now,

and you get me out of here.

Gary, these people are
just gonna try to help you.

I don't need any help! Now
get me out of here, Valene.

Valene, I mean it,
get me out of here!

Valene, you...!

Hold him!

Valene, please!

Please, let... Let me go home!

Valene!

[ORDERLY YELLS INDISTINCTLY]

GARY: Valene!

GINGER: Kenny,
I did too tell you.

How long?

No, now, why should
I come down there?

No, Kenny, I won't.

Ha, he's incredible.

Do you know what he asked me?

What?

He asked me to come
down to the studio.

Do you believe it?

I guess I believe it.

Two mediums and a rare? Right.

What do you want him to
do? Change professions?

No.

I'd like him to...

Well, I'd like him to go to work

and do well at his
job and come home

and have dinner with me.

Think about having babies.

Ginger, I don't know.

Well, what don't you know?

Nothing, it's none
of my business.

Well, come on, Laura.

I'm making it your
business. Now tell me.

BOTH: Soup's on!

Ha!

Okay, we'll be right there.

[LAURA CHUCKLES]

Come on, tell me.

Well...

I just don't think that you're
meeting Kenny halfway.

What?

Moving out here
was the first step.

I mean, that shows that
Kenny's aware of your needs.

Yeah.

Well, he bought you a house

when he was happy
enough living at the marina.

So now you've got to
be supportive of him.

Take an interest in his work.

Just... Just be
there now and then.

And share it with him.

You bend a little,

and he'll bend
a little... maybe.

That's a big maybe.

Well, it can't
hurt to try, can it?

No, I guess it can't.

SYLVIE: ♪ Love ♪

♪ That makes a woman ♪

♪ And it's love ♪

♪ That makes a woman ♪

♪ Something told me
That this wouldn't last ♪

♪ My body is in the past... ♪

[BAND STOPS PLAYING]

All right, guys, let's,
uh... Let's take it again.

Uh, this time with the
short intro, all right?

"Moonshine Man," take 14.

[BAND PLAYS GENTLE BALLAD MUSIC]

♪ When the fire ♪

♪ It was burning... ♪

[BAND STOPS PLAYING]

What is it with her, man?

[SIGHS]

Uh, guys, go ahead
and take 10, all right?

Hon, can I see you up
here for a minute, please?

Let me talk to the lady.

Good luck, champ. Mm.

Hang in there. Ha, ha, ha.

Yeah.

Hey, Sylvie. Come
on, what's going on?

That's your strongest
number. I know.

I don't know what's
the matter with me.

I guess I'm just
upset or something.

Upset about what?

About you.

Oh, come on, Sylvie.
Don't get into that.

This is business.
There's no time for that.

Do you know how much
time I've put into this album?

I've had to start
from scratch with you

with songs, arrangements, music.

Those are the best
musicians money can buy.

Now what more do
you want from me?

What I was thinking is maybe
you and I could get together

and practice it alone
with the backup on tape.

And what purpose
is that gonna serve?

Well, it would make me
feel a lot more confident

for when we did it for real.

Right now I just feel like
I'm wasting everybody's time.

So do I.

Kenny, I want this
album more than you do,

believe it or not.

And I'm not playing games.

Will you just work
on it with me?

Without the band?

Please?

Uh, guys, let's go
ahead and wrap it up.

We'll be back here at


And thanks very much.

Thank you.

[SIGHS]

Yeah, uh...

How long will that take?

Well, I don't understand wh...

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

Come on in, the door's open!

I'm sorry, doctor. There
was somebody at the door.

Yeah, co... AA?

Well, um, no, I don't think so.

At least, he's
never mentioned it.

Uh-huh, well, maybe.

I mean, um...

once the poison's
out of his system,

maybe the hospital
isn't the best place.

No, no, no. I haven't
changed my mind.

It's just that I want...

Yeah.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah, I'll be there.

Okay, thank you,
doctor. Bye-bye.

How's Gary?

Oh, he's sedated.

It just takes real long,
you know, the treatment.

Yeah.

They got to dry him out first
before they can even start.

And then... they gotta find out

what kind of treatment's
best for him, you know.

Private therapy or AA.

Or both.

Val...

what you did, putting
him in the hospital,

that was right...
and very brave.

Well, uh, I-I don't know.

Maybe he'd be
better off at home.

Well, why don't you let the
doctors decide that, huh?

Sid made some phone
calls. Kramer, she's the best.

Yeah?

Uh-huh. He's in good hands.

I'm going over to the Averys'.
Why don't you come with me?

No, I'm not really in the mood.

Oh, come on. It'll do
you some good. Huh?

Bet you haven't eaten all day.

Karen, look, I Just don't feel
like going to any silly party.

Sorry.

No, I'm sorry.

Don't be.

You're something. Yeah.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Hey, get some sleep, huh?

Okay.

GINGER [OVER SPEAKERS]:
♪ Swallow all my pride ♪

♪ And admit to myself ♪

♪ Deep down inside ♪

♪ Diamonds and pearls... ♪

Ginger?

♪ 'Cause I feel so... ♪

Ginger, wait!

♪ Dressed in love ♪

♪ And it's love ♪

♪ That makes a woman ♪

[SINGS WITH MUSIC]
♪ And it's love ♪

♪ That makes a woman ♪

[TURNS VOLUME UP]

♪ What she is, yeah ♪

♪ What she is, yeah ♪

[TIRES SCREECHING]

[CAR APPROACHING]

KENNY: Ginger!

Ginger, open up, I can explain.

Open up, I can explain.

Ginger!

Here's your DBX 3000!

Out! Get out! Get out!

Get out!

Get out!

Get... out.

[♪♪♪]

[PLAYS SILLY MELODY]

[BOX CLATTERS]

WOMAN [ON PA]:
Will the head surgical...

GARY: Why couldn't
we talk in my room?

Thought you'd like a change.

This was the only
space available.

Does it bother you
being here? Yeah!

That bothers me!

When it's operating,
the red light goes on.

Oh, great. Do the
kids know that?

I hate this.

Makes me feel like
a... A peeping Tom.

Well, rehabilitation's
a two-way street.

Dr. Kramer wants you to
know what you're up against.

You can call when
the session's over.

I want to call her now!

Why?

'Cause you're
afraid to talk to me?

It just... It makes me
nervous when you don't talk.

You seem nervous.

Well, it's the drug! When it
wears off, I start feeling edgy.

You're detoxified.
No more medication.

We're not going to take you off
dependency on one drug, alcohol,

to put you on another.

What the hell's the difference?

None.

A sedative is a
sedative is a sedative.

Why can't you ever give
me a straight answer?!

Alright. Answer:
You are an alcoholic.

Some alcoholics are habitual
drinkers who can go on for years

maintaining a level of alcohol
which enables them to function.

Eventually, they drink
themselves to death

or die of side effects.

But in your case,

drinking triggers
violent episodes so acute

that unless you're stopped,
you will k*ll for a drink.

You'd have k*lled
your wife yesterday

if we hadn't stopped you.

Yeah, right. Now could
we just call my wife?

Here's another answer.

Alcoholism is a
disease. There is no cure.

We can only... arrest it.

If you continue to drink,
your chances are dismally low.

If you stop drinking,
prognosis is excellent.

I can stop anytime.

I recognize that I have...
Had a drinking problem.

I have solved that problem.

You just don't believe
me. Now, can I call my wife!

Okay, I'll give you a choice.

What's she going to do? Is
she going to give him a drink?

It's okay.

A drink of whiskey or
a dime to call your wife.

You know, if we split that,

there's not going
to be much left of it.

There's not much left
of your marriage either.

Come on, Mr. Ewing,
what's it going to be?

A drink or your wife?

A drink or a call to your wife?

The whiskey or your wife?

This is stupid.

Make up your mind.

Val or the whiskey?

Make up you mind,
Mr. Ewing, now!

[♪♪♪]

It's tea!

[CRYING]

[QUIETLY] Gary.

No.

[GRUNTING]

Okay, everybody, show
me what a gorilla does.

Brian, show me
what a gorilla does.

Come on..

One, two, three...

[ALL MIMIC GORILLA NOISES]

Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo... Oh, God.

[CHILDREN LAUGHING]

Hello, I'm Kenny Ward.

I'm Mrs. Ward's
husband. How you doing?

My name's Kenny
Ward. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet all of
you. How you doing?

Hey, what is all this
pickle stuff you got there?

How you doing?

Oh, it's a warm mask.

Who wants to wear this mask?

ALL: Me!

Okay, you got it. How you doing?

You all having a good time?

CHILDREN: Yeah.

Uh, Ginger and I had
kind of a big fight last night,

and she's sort of mad at me.

Who won? Did you spank her?

Who won? KENNY: Nobody won.

But I came here to the
zoo to kiss and make up.

Isn't that what your folks
do when they've had a fight?

ALL: Yeah.

Inside this box

is a pretty dress I
bought for Ginger,

so she'll look beautiful tonight

when I take her to dinner.

Kenny...

Now I want to
take a vote on this.

Know what a vote
is? CHILD: Yeah.

Okay, now, everybody who
thinks we ought to kiss and make up

raise your hands.

ALL: Kiss her.
Kiss her. Kiss her.

All right! All right!

Can I? Really? You
think so? Wait, no, no.

Kim, I want you guys to
go look at the giraffes, okay.

Go see Mrs. Kubber
by the giraffes.

Stay together now.

No, you go ahead and take it.

That was cruel.

Look, Ginger, um...

you were right to
be furious with me.

Sorry that you had to take it
out on my stereo equipment,

but, uh... hey...

it showed me how
much I hurt you.

Kind of shook me up.

I want to start
over. Clean slate.

There's no such
thing as a clean slate.

We always think

everything's gonna be
all right in the morning,

and it isn't.

I don't know. Maybe
we shouldn't be married.

I just know I'm too
tired and I'm too angry

to think straight
with you around.

I need to be alone.

Alone?

You mean you
really want to split up?

For a while.

For how long a while?

I packed your things,

I wish you'd pick them
up before I get home.

For how long?

Ginger, I don't
want to move out.

I... I want us to
work on this together.

I love you.

I know you do.

That's what makes me so sad.

I was like you, you know.

Never went near it for months.

Not even a taste.

Then all of a sudden...

never-never land,
you know what I mean?

Sent me to five
different shrinks.

I'd be laying there,

my legs hanging off
the couch and thinking,

"Man, this shrink ain't
been where I been.

I mean, how could he know?"

That's what's great about
the people at AA, man.

People at AA, they know.

Can't fool them.
They don't let you hide.

They all walked
in and they said,

"Come in, brother,
and identify yourself."

And I said, "My name's
Kahil, and I'm an alcoholic."

That's the day I
knew I'd get back.

Looks like he's got
the reach on you..

GARY: Sid.

Ha... What are you doing here?

I just thought I'd
check up on you.

Uh. Sid, this is my buddy,
Mohammed Akka Kahil.

Kahil... How you doing, sir?

Sid Fairgate:
neighbor, boss, friend.

Kahil's a basketball player.

I never would have guessed that.

Guess I'll go over
and watch the tele.

Lakers are in Chicago tonight.

Take over. Thanks.

See you, Kahil.

Hey, you look great.
How you feeling?

Uh, steady as a rock.

Sid, uh... listen...
Hey, forget it, man.

Your sh*t, Gary.

What are we playing for?
A hundred bucks a ball?

What's the matter?
The stakes too low?

Sid, how'd you get in here?

I thought I wasn't allowed
to have visitors yet.

And where's Val?
Why ain't Val here?

She sent me in her place.

Dr. Kramer says you're
not responding to treatment.

What's up? Not
responding to treatment?

Sid, I haven't had a drink in
days, I'm off the tranquilizers.

Look at me. Do I
look like an alcoholic?

I don't know what an
alcoholic looks like.

Look, I just want out of here.

Gary, let's not kid ourselves.

You got a drinking problem.

Now, you can't ignore it

and expect it to go
away because it won't.

I don't care what Kramer
says, I'm not an alcoholic.

Would you forget about Kramer,
forget about all the labels?

I'm talking about what I
see with my own eyes.

And you are frightening
when you're drunk.

Now, don't think that
you can control it either

because it controls you.

Thanks for delivering
the message.

Let me give you a
message of my own.

I don't have a vice
president right now,

but it's not going to be you
unless you lick this problem,

unless you go to
therapy and you go to AA,

or I can't take the risk.

Sid?

Uh, guess where
I'm going tonight.

My first AA meeting.

You know, they hold them
right here in the hospital.

For crying out... Why
didn't you tell me?!

Well, you don't talk much,
but once you get started...

Ha, ha. That's terrific!
Does Val know?

Uh, no. You tell
her. It starts at 9.

Wives are encouraged to
attend. That's great, tiger.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

Just a minute!

Ah...

Just a minute.

Uh, got a bed for the night?

MAN: What's the first
thing you're gonna do

when you get out of here, Kahil?

Gonna go straight to Fatburgers

and order me a double king
cheese with everything on it.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Cake, anybody want cake?
MAN: Back here, Kahil.

Cake, for everybody. Here we go.

Don't want to cut
into the basketball,

but looks like I'm
gonna have to.

Another piece coming up.

WOMAN [ON PA]: Dr. Riley,
please come to Emergency.

Dr. Riley, please
come to Emergency.

Had enough of the
party, Mr. Ewing?

Oh, yeah.

Hey, you going to
the meeting tonight?

Oh, yeah, you bet.

[♪♪♪]

WOMAN: Looks like
the party's going strong.

Yeah. I've got to check it out.

Oh, come on. Want
a piece of cake?

I got to lose a couple
pounds. Ha, ha.

[PEOPLE SINGING IN THE DISTANCE]

WOMAN [ON PA]:
Dr. Compton, report to OR 2.

Dr. Compton, report to OR 2.

Dr. Benamin, please
come to therapy.

Dr. Benamin, please
come to therapy.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[WHISTLING TUNEFULLY]

I was just by the
hospital, I talked to Gary.

He's going to start
with AA tonight.

What? Yeah.

Are you sure you heard right?

It wasn't just talking
or something?

When I called
Dr. Kramer this morning,

she said he wasn't anywhere
near going to the meeting.

Well, doctors are fallible,
Val, especially psychiatrists.

They'd be the first
ones to admit that.

Well, what changed his mind?
Was it something you said?

I did thr*aten to fire him.

Are you serious? That did it?

God, when I... I
saw him yesterday,

I-I didn't think he
cared about anything.

Val, I think Gary's
going to be okay.

He's not the same man
he was 10 years ago.

He realizes now he's
got something to live for.

Mainly you.

Lay you five to one
he'll be back in a week.

Okay, well, thank
you for stopping by.

[♪♪♪]

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

All right. Okay.

What in the world?

Val, Val, Val. Oh! Gary.

Oh, God! It's so
good to be home.

Everything's going to be all
right from now on, I promise.

Oh, I love you so much.

Gee, honey, this place
looks like a cyclone hit it.

Hey, I guess that's what happens

when you don't have somebody
around to clean up after.

It's all right, it's all right.

I'll help you clean up later.

Gary, where'd you
get those clothes?

I'll tell you where I got them
after I get them off, all right?

Yeah, well, what
about the AA meeting?

Sid stopped by before dinner

and said that you wanted
me to meet you at the hospital.

Honey, they hold those
meetings every day.

We can start next
week, no problem.

[PHONE RINGING]

Val! Let it ring. What?

I don't want to talk to
anybody but you, all right?

They didn't let you
out, did they, Gary?

You... You got out.

Well, I wanted you to see
me first to see that I was okay.

Look, we can call
them in a little bit

and tell them
everything's fine, okay?

You're not going
to that meeting?

Well, no. Not tonight. Stop!

Just tell me that you're not
going to go to that meeting.

Val!

Gary, can't you see that
we cannot do this alone?!

I mean, we need
help! You need help!

Yes, we can. We love each other.

We can do anything.

Look what we've done already
after 15 years of separation.

Gary, now listen. This has
got nothing to do with love.

I-I thought it did,
and I was wrong.

I sat in that room like
a spy, watching you.

And I-I... I'm telling you, Gary,
you're... You're coming apart.

Now, don't make me watch it
like I watched you in that room.

What room? What
are you talking about?

At the hospital,
with Dr. Kramer.

Me or the drink. Do
you remember that?

You remember that? You saw that?

Yes. I saw that.

I-I-I...

And I'm telling you,
I... I d*ed in that room.

You looked at that doctor,
and you looked at a bottle no...

No bigger than a... A...

And you grabbed for that...

I know, I know.

But don't you see what
it meant to admit that?

What a step that was?
All right, all right, darling.

But don't you see?
That's not enough.

If it was, then you
wouldn't be here.

You'd be at that meeting.
Well, I'll go tomorrow.

I-I promise. No, you won't.

Because tomorrow you'll
have another excuse.

And the next day another
and you go on week after week,

maybe even month after
month or year after year,

until something happens.

Something bad, or maybe
even something good,

and you're going to take
a drink, just one drink.

No, I won't! Yes, but you might.

And when will
that be, Gary, huh?

When? Your next promotion?

Or maybe when we have a baby?

When, Gary?!

If I knew, then
maybe I could stand it,

but I don't know
because you don't.

And I'm telling you,
Gary, I can't live that way.

And as much as I love you...

And I do.

I won't live that way.

[♪♪♪]

[ENGINE STARTS]

[TIRES SQUEAL]

Hey!

Was that Gary? Yeah.

I'll see if I can catch him. No!

No one's going after him.

He's on his own now.

SID: Val?

Val? What are you doing?

Come on, sweetheart.

Come on inside. Come on...

No. No, I'm going
to that meeting.

I know it sounds crazy...

but I have to go
to that meeting.

I need some answers.

I need it for me.

Yeah.

[REGISTER DINGS]

[DIALING]

[LINE RINGING]

[RINGING]

[HANGS UP PHONE]

WOMAN: It was a party
for my husband's business,

dress business, you
know, sportswear.

A lot of models were
there and buyers.

Very lively crowd. I
really enjoy those parties.

It's a lot of work, God knows,

but I don't mind.

I know how to have
a good time now

without... you know,
having a good time.

I mean, there's
whiskey, of course,

but, uh, most of my friends
know I'm an alcoholic,

so they don't say anything.

Even when I'm
toasting with ginger ale.

Sometimes a newcomer says,

"Hey, what are
you, a teetotaler?"

And I say, "Nope,
I'm an alcoholic."

They laugh and
say what a card I am.

Anyway, uh, I don't
know how it started,

the feeling, I mean.

Wasn't even near the bar.

I was in the kitchen. My
mouth started to go very dry.

And, uh, I started
getting dizzy.

I've been without for six
years, can you imagine?

But then my eyes
started to itch.

That was always a sure sign.

The doctors could
never explain that.

I guess there's a
lot they can't explain,

but, to me, it was a signal.

I knew I was that close.

I ran upstairs.

I don't know how
I made it, but I did.

That's where I keep
my phone book.

I called Florence here.

She came over and got
me, and we talked all night.

I really was so panicked.

Well, I hadn't told
Sam I was leaving.

He was furious.

Thought I'd slipped out with
one of the cloak-and-suiters.

[BOTH LAUGH]

It really was kind
of funny, I guess.

That's all.

Anybody else?

Well, it's almost 11:00,

and, well, me, I'm
going home tonight.

[ALL APPLAUDING]

Thank you, thank you.

Nobody tops my exit, so...

let's call it a night.

Wait a minute.

Now here's a newcomer.

Come in, brother,
and identify yourself.

My name is Gary.

I'm an alcoholic.

[ALL APPLAUDING]

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]