After Christmas dinner at Cliff‘s house, Judd Willoughby offers to drive Jack Walker to his hotel.
“Great,” says Jack. “Is Sally coming along?”
Sally declines at first but, finally, in the spirit of the season and to keep Jack in a pleasant mood, she changes her mind: “Jack, I’ll come along if you behave.”
Judd says, “Yeah, Jack, keep your hands to yourself, or--”
“Or what?”
“Or call a cab,” says Judd.
“Go to hell.”
“Hey, guys,” says Sally. “Remember it’s Christmas, good will toward men.”
“Ok,” says Jack. “Think of me as your Christmas angel.”
Both Judd and Sally laugh, and the three crowd into the front seat of Judd’s car. As the car begins to move, Jack slides closer to Sally.
“Angel” says Sally. “Get your wings out of my side. Please move over.”
Judd stops the car. “In the back seat, Jack.”
“Are you kidding? Can’t a guy have a little fun?”
“Yes,” says Sally, “the right kind of fun, at the right time.”
“What the hell does that double talk mean?” says Jack. He slides across the seat toward the door. “Drop me at the corner. I’ll walk. I can use the fresh air.”
“Don’t be silly,” says Sally.
“Stop the damn car!”
Judd stops the car and Jack opens the door. As he gets out he hands Sally a small package. “Merry Christmas, Baby.”
“Gee, thanks.” She reaches for his hand as he slams the door and walks away.
“The guy is crazy,” say Judd.
“He’s lonely.”
“I doubt it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He told me earlier that he has been seeing a different girl every night.”
“Really? I think he was showing off.”
“Maybe, but I don’t like the way he keeps coming on to you.”
“Oh, Judd, stop being so jealous.”
“I will when you stop being so permissive.”
“Is that an order?”
“Of course not. I just hate to--”
“What?”
“I hate to see you encourage the guy. I don’t trust him.”
Sally laughs. “He’s my cousin, for gosh sake.”
“Some cousin!”
“Judd, will you pull over to the curb and stop the car?”
When Judd does as she asks, Sally throws her arms around his neck and kisses him hard on the mouth. “Now, let’s go home and neck.”
“What about Cliff?”
“Oh, Dad is rarely home until late. He’s seeing some woman.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t tell me.”
As Judd drives back to Cliff’s house on Mount Adams, Sally opens Jack’s gift. Inside is a key to his hotel room.” She laughs softly.
“What is it?” says Judd.
“Just a crazy gag.” She puts the package in her purse.
“Can’t I see it?”
“Listen, for now, see how fast you can drive home. I need some loving.”
“Hang on.”
Judd is just leaving when Cliff arrives home. Sally is practically pushing him out of the front door.
“Running a little late, aren’t you, Judd?’
“Yes sir. I fell asleep on the couch.”
“I should have gone back to the hotel with Jack,” says Sally.
“I hope you’re kidding,” says Cliff.
“Don’t worry, Dad.”
“Ok, I won’t. I hope you’re not too sleepy to drive, Judd. The streets are icy.”
“I’m wide awake now. Can we get together soon to talk about my history project?”
“Come by tomorrow afternoon if you like.”
“Thanks, Cliff. I’ll be here about two. Good night.”
Sally kisses Judd on the cheek. “It was nice tonight. I'm glad you decided to spend Christmas here instead of going to your old horse farm."
"Me too."
"Sleep well."
“No problem.” When he leaves, Sally closes the door and turns to Cliff. “Want to tell me where you’ve been, and with whom?”
“Just a friend, Sally.”
“What’s her name?”
“Marie.”
“Want to tell me about her?”
“Yes, but not tonight.”
“Ok, I’m going to bed to dream about Cousin Jack.”
“My God, Sal. Don’t even kid about it.”
Sally laughs. “Who’s kidding?”
“I think it’s time I send that young man home.”
“He says he’s going to New York.”
“He’d better call Lew first.”
“I think he wants to surprise him.”
“That won’t help his cause.”
“Maybe not, but he’s determined.”
“When is he planning to go?”
“In a few days, unless he gets a call from WCIN-TV.”
“Maybe I can change his mind.”
“Not a chance. Jack thinks that New York is, in his words, the only way to hit the big money.”
“What an ego! No experience, no training. He hasn’t got a chance.”
“He’s going anyway.”
“I’d better warn Lew.”
“Yes. Well, good night, Dad.”
The following afternoon, Cliff and Judd are seated at the dining room table, shuffling through notebooks and papers. Sally had decided to take advantage of the Day-After-Christmas Sale at the downtown department store. Cliff begins to highlight what he knows of Virginia’s early history. “Which, incidentally,” he says, “is also America’s early history.”
“I have a general knowledge of the history-book treatment of early Virginia. I think I can handle that on my own.”
“Then you don’t really need me.”
“Yes, I do, Cliff. What I need is the human side of history. You know, like those guys Claiborne, Barron, and Wythe you cover so well in your notebooks.”
“Well, take the notebooks if they can be of help to you.”
“But I don’t want to rob you of material you had planned to use later in your own book.”
“Look, Judd, that’s Sally’s plan. She still has the idea that I’m the writer my mother wanted me to be. I’m not. I’m a good marketing man, but a pedestrian writer.”
“Sally’s going to be unhappy. She’ll hate me if I try to write the book she wanted you to do.”
“She’ll get over it.”
“I tell you what. Suppose we collaborate. I’ll do the actual writing and we share the credit.”
“How?”
“Well, something like The Human Side of Virginia’s Early History, by Judd Willoughby and Cliff Walker.”
“I think Sally would like that, but, Judd, it doesn’t sound fair to you.”
“Believe me, I couldn’t do the book I want without you and all those notebooks. Is it a deal?”
“Ok, Judd, we’ll give it a try.”
“Good. I’ll get on it right away. Maybe I’ll call the first part, The Virginia Fur Trader's One-Man War with Maryland.”
“Not bad. And maybe you could call the second part, A Virginia Commodore kills an American Hero.”
“Or something like that,” says Judd.
“Good. Take the notebooks and go to work.”
“Thanks, Cliff. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“But I know what it means to me. I can stick to marketing.”
Judd laughs. “Good luck with Sally.”
“I think I’ll leave Sally in your good hands.”
“It’ll be a pleasure, Cliff.”
At the hotel, Sally doesn’t bother to knock on the door to Jack’s room. She uses the key to let herself in. Jack is lying on the bed watching television.
“What took you so long?” he says.
“Judd stopped by the house to see Dad and I was obliged to chit chat awhile.”
“Come here, Baby.”
She walks to the bed. “I asked you not to call me that.”
“Ok, Sal.” He pulls her onto the bed and starts to kiss her.”
“Slow down, Jack."
“Yeah, it can wait. Want a drink?”
“Just a glass of white wine.”
He pours the wine for Sally and fills his glass with bourbon over ice.
“Cheers, Sal. Are you hungry?”
“No. I just want to sit here and relax.”
“You can relax better on the bed.”
“I don’t think so.”
“What you want to talk about?”
“New York.”
“Didja change your mind? You coming with me?”
“Of course not. I don’t think you should go.”
“Gonna miss me, huh?”
“Dad thinks it’s a bad idea to drop in on Lew unannounced.”
“I don’t give a damn what your dad thinks. He’s failed me here. Maybe Uncle Lew can get me started in the big town.”
“That’s unfair. Dad did set up the interview for you with WCIN-TV, and there’s still a good chance you’ll get the job.”
“No, I called earlier. Walters said it don’t look promising. So, Sal, there’s nothing for me to do but go to New York. That’s where the big money is, anyway.”
“Well, at least tell Lew you’re coming. You know he’s busy with the play.”
“Screw the play. How long will it take him to pick up a phone and get me a date with one of the networks? That’s what a family guy does, take care of his own.”
“I think you should do some research into how the family treated Lew.”
“Well, Watertown folks don’t understand fags.”
“Stop it, Jack! Don’t use that word again. Not if you want any more help from me or your Uncle Lew.”
“Don’t worry, Sal.” He does a phony flourish. “I’ll be nice to my sweet uncle.”
“Oh, Jack you’re impossible. I think I’ll leave.”
Jack leaps from the bed and pulls her into his arms. “No, Sal, don’t go. You know I was only trying to be funny.”
“Being cruel to people is not being funny.”
“Right. Sit down and have another glass of wine.”
“I have to go.”
Jack kisses her. “Are you sure?”
End
