A Patch of Blue

Hello, Rose-Ann.

It can't be that late. You're early, aren't you?

Early?

I feel like I've been standing on my feet for a week.

Cleaning up after a bunch of slobs.

Hey, what you been up to?

Where's my supper?

- I'm just gonna get it. - "I'm just gonna get it," what?

I'm just gonna get it, Rose-Ann.

That’s better.

I can't have some proper respect in my own home.

Now, who's been guzzling my gin?

I don't know, Rose-Ann.

Oh, I know darn well

there was a slug or two in the bottom of this.

The old bum!

When he gets home, I'm really gonna pin his ugly ears back.

Why in the hell did you have to leave

that thing there?

And they're all loose!

Why ain't they all been strung together?

Answer me!

Answer me, can't you, or would you like a slug in the puss?

Quiet, bigmouth!

Button it up for once in your life.

Oh, you no-good, old drunk.

You been guzzling my gin again, ain't you?

Get lost!

For crying out loud!

Could have broken my lousy neck.

How did all that junk get on the floor?

Ask her.

Ask Lady Selina.

Come on, now, no dinner ready, no beads strung.

What's with you?

I'm sorry, Rose-Ann.

I went out today, and the time just--

You went out? Where?

- Just in the park. - The park?

How the hell did you get yourself to the park?

Mr. Faber took me.

After he come with the bead s.

Faber? He's got a nerve.

Wasn't his idea. I've been at him for ages.

Oh, you've been scheming behind my back, have you?

Well, listen, you get any more big ideas like that

and you tell me about 'em.

You understand?

I'm sorry, Rose-Ann.

I didn't think you'd mind.

Well, I do. I do mind, see?

You seen my specs anywheres?

No, Ole Pa.

Rose-Ann?

- Rose-Ann? - What?

If I promise to get all my work done on time

couldn't I go again, tomorrow?

Who do you think around here has got time

to take you walking in the park?

Yeah, old Faber don't come tomorrow.

You could take me, Ole Pa.

Drop me off on your way to work.

No, he can't, 'cause you ain't going.

Please, Rose-Ann.

What you got against it?

It sticks out a mile, stupid.

When you gonna do your beads?

I'll take them with me.

I'll work double-quick in the park.

If I don't do twice as much work the first week

I'll give up the idea, I promise.

Says you.

When're you gonna do your work around here?

I'll get up earlier

and I’ll stay up longer.

I want my supper on time, like I'm used to.

It'd do you good to skip supper

once in a while, blubber-belly.

Oh, listen to old beer-belly talking about blubber.

Only one thing messing up your idea, Selina.

- And it ain't fatso's supper. - What, then?

Nobody to bring you home.

You could. I can wait.

Many a time I'm not on my way

till good and dark.

Is that all?

Dark's nothing to me.

I'm always in the dark.

How about that?

So you are.

You hear that, Rose-Ann?

With a face like hers, I wouldn't want to go

parading around the streets.

My face? What's wrong with my face?

If you could see, y-you'd know.

It ain't true.

There's nothing wrong with my face, is there, Ole Pa?

No, it's alright.

Pay no attention to her.

Her face is a mess.

Now, come on, get moving with the supper.

I got a heavy night in front of me.

And would you clean up those beads?

Forget about the park, Selina.

You got a nice, quiet life here.

No problems.

Where's my purse gone?

Have supper on time tonight.

And as for you

try and get home sober for once, pig-face!

Oh, go jump in a lake!

Ole Pa?

Does this look better, Ole Pa?

Will you take me if I wear this?

Okay.

Get some clothes on you, then

and take that God-awful hat off.

You don't want none of Rose-Ann's trappings.

You sure, Ole Pa?

I mean, if my face is so bad..

It ain't bad.

It's just your eyes.

It's only that people are so nosy.

When you was a kid

they was always at it.

"Poor little girl," they'd say.

"What happened?"

Oh, Rose-Ann used to get so mad.

Well, come on. Get a move on.

I ain't got all day.

Thank you, Ole Pa.

Thank you for being nice to me.

Can't do this every day.

No, just sometimes.

It feels good, the grass.

Come on.

Mr. Faber said it was green.

What's green like?

Green is green, stupid. Same as the trees.

I wish I knew green.

I can remember blue.

The sky's blue, ain't it?

Yeah, sometimes.

Here you are.

Now, you sit here by this tree.

And you stay put, see?

Okay.

Thanks again, Ole Pa.

And, Ole Pa, my face..

You're sure it's not too bad?

Ole Pa?

Oh! What is it?

Ooh! Oh.

Get off! Uh.

May I help you?

Who's there?

You seem to have a problem.

Anything I can do?

There's a, a crawly thing down my back

and I can't reach it.

I got it. Alright, alright.

It's a..

It's a caterpillar.

And he seems just as frightened as you are.

Oh, thank you, sir.

It's alright.

Oh! Holy mackerel!

My beads!

Oh.

I'm sorry.

I'll never find them in all this.

Here, let me.

Sure is kind of you to help, sir.

Nonsense. It was my fault.

What do you do with them?

String 'em.

That’s clever.

Do you ever make mistakes?

Mistakes?

Even a fool couldn't make mistakes with this.

So easy even a blind girl can do them, right?

Yeah, that's right.

Never seen you here before.

I only been once before.

Do you come here much?

Mm-hmm. Nearly every day.

Are you out of a job, then?

No, I work nights

but I live around here.

There.

Every bead back in the box.

Thank you, sir.

Well, I hope we found them all.

So long.

You must be very tall.

Eh?

Your voice sounds tall.

Oh, about six feet and a bit.

Excuse me, is that very much taller than me?

Well, let's see, I'd say you're about..