Night Tide

Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?

I can't see anything but their backs from where I'm sitting.

It's all right.

Thank you.

It's really a great combo?

I'd like to listen, please.

Sorry.

- That's real fine music, isn't it? - Yes, I like it.

Do you mind if I buy you a drink?

- No, thank you. - I'd like to.

No. Thank you.

Who was that woman?

I don't know.

- Well, what did she say to you? - Nothing.

Would you pay my check for me, please? Thank you.

Hey, wait a minute.

Hi.

Why are you following me?

Well, you left so fast, I don't know how to reach you or anything, like...

I'd like to see you again, if it's okay.

- It's impossible. - Hey, wait.

Just let me talk to you for a little while.

I'll just walk along with you.

Shouldn't be out alone on a night like this, anyway.

- Would I be safe with you? - Yes.

Hey, I know that woman upset you.

I thought maybe you'd need somebody to talk to.

Come on, is this the way?

Okay?

Here's where I live.

It's a merry-go-round!

Do you live inside a wooden horse?

No.

My apartment is upstairs.

Must be pretty noisy, living over a merry-go-round.

Sometimes.

But I love the music.

- It reminds me of when... - Of when you were a kid?

Yes.

Well...

- Good night. - Wait a minute.

I don't even know your name.

My name's Johnny.

I am called Mora.

Aren't you going to invite me upstairs for...

for a while?

- I have to go in. - Just for a while.

Good night, Johnny.

Hey, Mora?

Well, can I see you tomorrow?

Please?

All right.

I'll fix breakfast for you.

Okay, what time?

Around eleven?

Okay, I'll be here at eleven.

- Good night. - Night.

- Good morning! - Good morning.

You're opening up the merry-go-round already?

Sure am. Sunday's our big day.

Those look like beautiful horses. Do you mind if I look at 'em?

- Sure. Go right ahead, son. - Thank you.

Don't cost nothing to look.

Them horses are all hand-carved.

Imported from Bavaria.

Most people don't notice how special they are.

They're the finest in the country.

- Morning, Dad. - Oh, good morning, Ellen.

Just showing this young man here what fine horses we got.

- Oh. - Oh, excuse me...

This is my granddaughter, Ellen.

- Hello. - Hello.

- What's your name, son? - Johnny. Johnny Drake. How are you?

Daddy, you got the key to the cashbox?

Oh, yeah, got 'em here somewheres.

Oh, thank you.

I'd better be getting upstairs. I'll see you around.

Hey...

- Beautiful horses. ...who you gonna visit?

Well, I'm just gonna visit a girl named Mora.

Mora?

I ain't never seen you around here before.

You...

just...

meet her or something?

- No. No, I've known her for a while. - Oh.

Well, I'll see you around.

- Well, so long, son. - Okay.

- Yes? Who is it? - It's me, Johnny.

- Good morning. - Morning.

- Come in. - Thank you.

How are you?

- I'm pretty good. - Good.

- This is quite a place you got here. - Thank you.

I collect things from the ocean.

Yeah, so I see.

- Can I take your hat? - Oh, thank you.

Are you hungry?

- Yeah, I'm starving. - Good.

Breakfast is ready.

- I have it on the balcony. - Okay.

- Come on. - Where's the balcony?

- Out here. - Oh.

- Hey, Mora? - Yes?

Sure have a great view.

Thank you. I love it.

- Let's make a toast. - All right.

To you and me...

and to the beautiful Pacific.

To us, Johnny.

I hope you like fish.

I found this wonderful fresh mackerel this morning.

Oh, I love food from the ocean.

Specially lobster, and crab, and sea urchin.

- Do you ever eat sea urchin? - No, I never have.

It's like a wonderful ocean fruit.

Scoop 'em out like a pomegranate.

I'd like to taste one some time.

Oh, they're rare around here, but I think I know where I can get some.

- Maybe next time? - Okay.

What do you do?

- I mean, do you work, or what? - Yes, I work.

In fact, I have to work today.

On Sunday?

What do you do?

Well, I told you my name. Hadn't you ever heard it before?

No, don't think so.

Well, I work on the amusement pier.

- I'm an attraction. - What are you, a dancer?

No.

They throw baseballs at ya?

- Don't they? No, really, don't they? - No!

My job isn't dangerous.

I give up. What do you do?

I'm a mermaid.

- You're a what? - A mermaid.

Half woman, half fish.

I don't get it.

Oh, it's very simple.

I wear an artificial fish tail,

and I lie in a tank that looks like it's filled with water,

and people pay twenty-five cents, and come and look at me,

and that's how I make my living.

Don't you ever get tired of 'em?

Sometimes...

But it's restful, anyway.

I told you about myself. What about you?

Me, I'm a member of the US Navy.

Do you really want to know?

- Yes. - Well...

My mother...

My father left my mother and I when I was very young,

so I became very close to my mother.

And I've always wanted to see the world,

and I never had a chance to. I couldn't.

Then my mother fell ill, and...

died.

So I figured the easiest way to get out of Denver, Colorado,

was to join the Navy. See the world.

- But I haven't seen any of it yet. - You will.

I hope so.

- Are you going to eat any more? - No.

They're attracted by the food on your plate.

Look at that one.

Watch them.

One will come too close.

They get bolder and bolder.

Hey!

I won't hurt you.

Surprised you, didn't I?

Where did you ever learn to do something like that?

I don't remember.

Probably on the island where I was born.

There, there. Don't be afraid, little bird.

I won't hurt you.

Sweet bird, don't be afraid.

- I like those. - Look!

- What? - My poster.

Oh, is that supposed to be you?

It's the way I look when I'm in my costume.

I gotta see this!

You will.

- I wonder where Sam is? - Who's Sam?

He's the owner of the show. My boss, as you say.

Hey, aren't you afraid people are gonna see you out here?

No, they don't pay any attention to the place

- until Sam begins his spiel. - Oh, yeah?

- Caught you, Captain Murdock! - I beg your pardon?

Oh, I was... I was just thinking, my dear.

Yes, I was... I was merely contemplating some important matters

in the quiet peace of the, summer afternoon.

Why are you so late?

I'm not late enough to make any difference.

Run along now and get ready, will you?

Oh, I will, but I want to introduce a friend of mine.

This is Johnny Drake. Captain Murdock.

- How do you do? - How are you?

Hurry along now. I'll be warming up the amplifier.

All right. I'm going to put my costume on.

- I'll call you when I'm ready. - Hey, you're not going to be long, are you?