You said I could run away, too The crickets and the rust-beetles scuttled among the nettles of the sagethicket. Vamanos, amigos, he whispered, and threw the busted leather flintscraw over the loose weave of the saddlecock. And they rode on in the friscalating dusklight. Well, everyone knows Custer died at Little Bighorn. What this book presupposes is: (tentatively) maybe he didn’t? Let me ask you something. Why would a reviewer make the point of saying someone’s not a genius? I mean, do you think I’m especially not a genius? Isn’t that -- You didn’t even have to think about it, did you? Hello, beautiful. Could we have dinner with your mother sometime? (shrugs) I don’t know. I’d just love to see her. I’m very sorry, Margot. That’s true. Right there is where I used to go get jacked off. You don’t give a shit. That’s right. How’s Richie? Yeah. Me, either. He wrote me a letter. He says he’s in love with you. (shrugs) That’s what he said. I don’t know how we’re supposed to take it. Hang on. Sugar, it’s Eli. I just got to pick something up. Don’t repeat that, by the way. About Richie. It was told in confidence. Oh, my Lord. Look at you. (hesitates) Why? Did she mention it? Yes, I did. I know. I’m sorry. Why would she have repeated that, I wonder? (pause) Rightly so. Sabrina? Look what I found on the doorstep. Charlotte? Stetson? Say hello to Uncle Richie. (sadly) I fell down the stairs with her. That’s Cinnamon. Hello, Cinnamon. What’d you say? What? When? Right now? (pause) I’m sorry. Don’t listen to me. (barely audible) I’m on mescaline. I’ve been spaced out all day. (nods) I did, indeed. Very much so. I’m worried about you, Richie. Well, actually, Margot is, for some reason. But I did find it odd when you said you were in love with her. (pause) She’s married, you know. And she’s your sister. Well, I grew up with the Tenenbaum family, you know. Wildcattin’. Hm. Well, Wildcattin’ was written in a kind of obsolete vernacular, much like the -- Holy shit. (concerned) Why is it so dense in here? I’m not in love with you any more. Let’s not make this any more difficult than it already is. OK, what? I know. You’re in love with Richie. Which is sick and gross. Please, stop ridiculing me. You never gave me the time of day until I started getting good reviews. But the sales are. Yes? Hey, Richie. (pause) Is it just you guys? I guess Margot and your mother couldn’t make it. What happened there? (pause) They went back to England. What do you mean? Of course. I can’t believe you would ask me that. I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I always wanted to be a Tenenbaum, you know? But it doesn’t mean what it used to, does it? I wish you’d’ve done this for me when I was a kid. Yeah, but it still would’ve meant a lot to me. Anyway, I really appreciate your coming over here now. I do recognize that I have a problem, and I want to get better. Let me just get my things. Here I come. Where are my shoes? Did I hit anybody? Is everybody okay? Help! Please! Did I hit the dog? (pause) Is he dead? (pause) I need help. At which point I apparently lost control of the vehicle, smashed it into the house, and killed that poor dog. (pause) I am, indeed. (touched) How sweet of you to say so. This is my sponsor, Runs with Two Horses.