Kiss of the Spider Woman Read Free Page B

chance to subside . . .
    —You get what’s going on, don’t you?
    —That she’s afraid she’ll turn into a panther.
    —Well, I think she’s frigid, she’s afraid of men, either that or she has some idea about sex that’s really violent, and so she invents things.
    —Wait, will you? He says okay, and they marry. And when the wedding night comes, she sleeps in the bed, and he’s on the sofa.
    —Keeping an eye on his mother’s furniture.
    —If you’re going to laugh I won’t go on, I’m telling you this in all seriousness, because I really like it. And besides there’s something else I can’t tell you, that makes me really like this film a lot.
    —Tell me what, what is it?
    —No, I was about to bring it up but now I see you’re laughing, and, to tell you the truth, it makes me angry.
    —No, I like the picture, but you have the fun of telling it and I just want to chime in once in a while too, see what I mean? I’m not the type who knows how to sit around and just listen all the time, you get what I mean? And all of a sudden I have to sit quiet listening to you for hours on end.
    —I thought it helped you pass the time, and fall asleep.
    —Yeah, that’s true, absolutely, it does both things, it passes time and puts me to sleep.
    —Well?
    —Only, if it doesn’t rub you the wrong way, I’d like us to discuss the thing a little, as you go on with it, so I get a chance now and then to rap about something. Doesn’t that seem fair to you?
    —If it’s so you can crack jokes about a picture I happen to be fond of, then the answer is no.
    —No, look, it could be just a simple discussion. Like for example: I personally would like to ask you how you picture the guy’s mother.
    —If you’re not going to laugh anymore.
    —I promise.
    —Let’s see . . . I don’t know, a really good person. A lovely lady, who gave her husband every happiness and her children too, always managing everything perfectly.
    —Do you picture her doing housework?
    —No, I see her as impeccably attired, a dress with a high collar, edged in lace to cover the wrinkles on her neck. She has that marvelous thing of certain respectable ladies, which is that little touch of coquettishness, beneath all the properness, on account of her age, but what you notice about them is the way they go on being women and wanting to please.
    —Yes, always impeccable. Perfect. She has her servants, she exploits people who can’t do anything else but serve her, for a few pennies. And clearly, she felt very happy with her husband, who in turn exploited her, forced her to do whatever he wanted, keeping her cooped up in a house like a slave, waiting for him—
    —Listen . . .
    —waiting for him every night, until he got back from his law firm, or from his doctor’s office. And she was in perfect agreement with the whole system, and she didn’t rebel, and she fed her own son the same crap and now the son runs smack into the panther woman. Good luck with that one.
    —But tell the truth, wouldn’t you like to have a mother like that? Full of affection, always carefully dressed . . . Come on now, no kidding . . .
    —No, and I’ll tell you why, if you didn’t follow me.
    —Look, I’m tired, and it makes me angry the way you brought all this up, because until you brought it up I was feeling fabulous, I’d forgotten all about this filthy cell, and all the rest, just telling you about the film.
    —I forgot all the rest, too.
    —Well? Why break the illusion for me, and for yourself too? What kind of trick is that to pull?
    —I guess I have to draw you a map, because you sure don’t get the idea.
    —Here in the dark he starts drawing things for me, well that’s just wonderful.
    —Let me explain.
    —Sure, but tomorrow, because right now I’m up to here with it, so skip it till tomorrow . . . Why couldn’t I have the luck to get the panther woman’s boyfriend to keep me company, instead of you?
    —Oh, now that’s another