The Misfits

Young man, do you have the time? I got six clocks, and none of them work.

- Twenty after nine. - After?

It's twenty after, dear. Darlin'?

- Five minutes. What about you? - I'm all set. I just ironed my sling.

- The lawyer said 9.30 sharp, darlin'. - OK.

I hope you're not the miserly kind. It's brand-new.

She ought to get a very good price for it.

Is that the right mileage? 23 miles?

We only took two rides in it. It's the darn men.

They run into her just to start a conversation.

- Will you come up, Iz? - Sure, dear.

Don't go by appearances. It's brand-new.

It was a divorce present from her husband.

- They givin' presents for divorces now? - Why not?

On the anniversary of our divorce, my husband always sends me...

.. one potted yellow rose, and it'll be 19 years in July.

Course, he never did pay me the alimony.

But I wouldn't wanna put a man out, you know, if his heart's not in it.

You break your arm in the car?

No. My last roomer, the one before Mrs Taber, we celebrated her divorce and...

.. I misbehaved.

I'm so sick and tired of myself.

- Will you go over my answers again? - Sure, dear.

But don't worry, you'll do wonderfully.

Let's see. "Did your husband, Mr Raymond Taber,...

.. act toward you with cruelty?"

Darlin'?

- Well, yes. - Just say yes.

Yes.

"In what way did this cruelty manifest itself?"

He persistently... How does that go again?

"He persistently and cruelly ignored my personal wishes and my rights,...

.. and resorted on several occasions to physical violence against me. "

He persistently...

Oh, do I have to say that?

Why can't I just say he wasn't there? He... You could touch him, but he wasn't there.

If that was grounds for divorce,...

.. there'd only be about 11 marriages left in the US. Now just repeat after me.

- "He persistently... - He persistently...

They'll call in their estimate, ma'am.

Those dents aren't my fault, you know.

I'll recommend the best price I can, ma'am.

You can drive her now. I've put in a new battery.

I'll never drive that car again. Let's take a taxi.

I... I'll give you a lift if you're leaving right away.

Swell. Two minutes.

Iz, get dressed! You gotta be my witness.

This'll be my 77th time I've witnessed for a divorce.

Two sevens - that's lucky, darlin'!

Oh, Iz, I hope.

- Easy does it, now. - Oh, you're a dear.

- Here we are. - Thanks a lot. We've gotta go now.

If you're not goin' back East right away, I'd be glad to show you the county.

Beautiful country around here, you know.

Well, I don't know where I'll be, but OK. Thanks again.

My name is Isabelle Steers.

Isabelle. Well, OK, you come along too.

That's a sweet afterthought! You Reno men!

I can't memorise this. It's not the way it was.

Just say it. It doesn't have to be true. This isn't a quiz show, it's only a court.

- I just got off the plane... - I don't wanna hear anything.

Just give me five minutes. After two years, five minutes...

You can't have me now, so you want me, that's all.

Please, I'm not blaming you. It's... I just don't believe in the whole thing any more.

Kid, I understand. I understand...

You don't understand. You're not there, Raymond.

If I'm gonna be alone, I wanna be by myself.

Go back. You're not gonna make me feel sorry for you any more.

Gay!

Wait up! I was just goin' over to see ya!

Well, good luck now, Susan. I won't forget you, you can be sure of that.

- I don't even know where to write you. - General delivery. I'll get it.

Will you think about it? It's the second-largest laundry in St Louis.

I wouldn't wanna kid you. I ain't cut out for business.

Well, will you think of me? Oh, Gay...

Oh, you know I will, honey. Goodbye.

Bye.

How're you doin', boy? Ready to cut out of this town? Cos I am.

Well, I've been thinkin' about it.

- Which one was that? - Susan. Swell sport, that woman.

I just met me a girl sweet enough to eat, Gay. Fine-lookin' woman.

But when I think of all the useless talkin' you gotta do, I get discouraged.

I tell you, I'm dyin' for some fresh air. And no people, male or female.

Why don't we take out to the mountains? We could even do a little mustangin'.

I wanted to pile up about 500 this time.

- I need a new engine. - That engine'll fly you anywhere.

Say, you've been two months on this job. You'll get the habit.

I'll see you over at Harrah's later. Let's talk about it.

Tom Dooley.

If you throw in your ring you'll never get another divorce.

Go ahead, honey. Everybody does it.

More gold in that river than there is in the Klondike.

- Did you do that? - Who, me? No.

I lost my ring on my honeymoon.

- Let's get a drink. - That's my girl.

Wait a minute, honey. This machine loves me.

Never say die.

Scotch, I guess, on i... Yeah, on ice.

- Rye and water. - Scotch on ice, rye and water.

Well, cheer up.

I will. I just hate to fight with anybody.

When you win, you lose. You know, in your heart.

Well, you're free. Maybe the trouble is you're not used to it yet.

No, the trouble is I always end up back where I started.

Never had anybody much. And here I am.

Well, you had your mother, didn't you?

How do you have somebody who disappears all the time?

They both weren't there. She'd go off with a patient for three months and...

You know how long three months is to a kid.

Listen, don't leave. Settle here.

They got a school. You could teach dancing.

One thing about this town, it's always full of interesting strangers.

Oh, I'm sorry. What did I say? I...

I suddenly miss my mother. Oh, isn't that the stupidest thing?

Iz, you're a fine woman. Practically the only woman that's ever been my friend.

Well, drink up then.

Oh, isn't that the dearest dog? Look how sweet he sits there.

Yeah. Dogs are nice.

Here. Puppy.

Hey, Dooley.

Hello. How'd you make out?

OK.

I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Gay...

Gay Langland, Mrs Taber.

- Howdy do? - And this is Mrs, uh...?

Steers. Isabelle Steers. One thing about Reno men, they do remember the name.

- Why don't you boys sit down? - Thank you. What're you girls drinkin'?

Whiskey. We're celebratin' the jail burned down.

Mary, see if you can get four doubles, will you?

Uh... you sure made a big impression on my friend here. And I can see why.

- You a mechanic too? - Him? He's a cowboy.

- How'd you know? - I can smell, can't I?

- Hey, you can't smell cows on me. - I smell the look on your face, cowboy.

But I love every miserable one of ya.

Course, you're all good for nothin', as you know.

That may be. But it's better than wages.

I suppose you'll be headin' back East soon, Mrs Taber?

I can't make up my mind. I don't know yet what to do.

You don't have a business to run, or a school to teach, or...?

Me? I never finished high school.

Well! That's real good news.

- You don't like educated women? - They're all right.

Always wantin' to know what you're thinkin', that's all.

Maybe they want to get to know you.

Did you ever get to know a man better by askin' him questions?

- You mean he'd lie? - Well, he might not.

And then again, he just might.

How about it, Pilot? We takin' off today?

You ever been outside Reno, Mrs Taber?

I walked to the edge of town. Doesn't look like much is out there.

Everything's there.

- Like what? - The country.

- Well, what do you do with yourself? - Just live.

- How do you just live? - Well, you start by goin' to sleep.

You get up when you feel like it. You scratch yourself. You fry some eggs.

You see what kind of a day it is. You throw stones at a can and whistle.

I know what you mean.

I have an empty house in the country just beyond Hawleyville.

It's all yours if you want some peace and quiet before you go back.

The last woman's gone?

No kiddin'. I never offered it before.

Well, I wouldn't stay there. But let's rent a car. We could look at the country.

- Gay has a truck. You can have my car. - Then you'll have to drive me back.

- I don't mind. - Thanks, but I like to feel I'm on my own.

- I'll rent a car. Where can I? - Right now?

- Why not? - OK. You sure don't waste time, do you?

I just gotta stop by the garage and quit.

Hey, now, that's the boy.

No, Gay. This is mine.

Mm. What is that beautiful smell? Smells like green perfume.

- That's sage, darlin'. - Oh, sure!

I never smelled it except in bottles. Gee, it's beautiful here.

Look, dear girl, I think I better tell you somethin' about cowboys.

- You really worry about me, don't you? - Well, you're too believin'.

Cowboys are the last real men left,...

.. and they're about as reliable as jack rabbits.

Is anybody any different?

Maybe you're not supposed to believe people. Maybe it's not even fair to them.

I couldn't hear what he said to her, but it looked like she left him. The husband.

She's kinda hard to figure out, you know?

One minute she looks kinda dumb and brand-new, like a kid,...

.. and the next minute...

- She sure moves, though, don't she? - Mm. She's real prime.

- It isn't finished yet. - It's weathertight. Come on in.

It's insulated.

Flush doors.

This is the living room.

And this was gonna be another bedroom.

It's even nicer this way.

Here's a picture window. Take a look at this view.

- Take a look at that. - Gee. It goes on for ever.

Fireplace.

- Brick. - This is the kitchen.

- Gas refrigerator. - It's nice.

And here's the bathroom. Ceramic tile.

Here's our... This was our bedroom.

My wife. She died here.

I'm... sorry.

She was due to have a baby. I was up setting the capstone on the chimney...

.. and she screamed...