VINNIE: You’re not gonna die.

CARTER: I’m just saying—if I do.

VINNIE: You’re not gonna suddenly die! You’re not gonna get out of it that easy.

CARTER: No. I’m just saying—It happens all the time. Out of the blue. People—keel over with no prior indications. No symptoms whatsoever. It just—happens.

VINNIE: There’s usually some hint of something. Some history.

CARTER: NOT IN MY CASE!!

Pause. CARTER keeps rocking slowly, on the floor. VINNIE keeps staring at the ceiling.

VINNIE: Could you stop that rolling around please. It’s irritating. I’m trying to get some rest. I need rest now.

CARTER stops rocking but keeps shaking. Pause.

CARTER: So—What’d you and Rosie talk about?

VINNIE: The past.

CARTER: High school? The racetrack?

VINNIE: Just the past. In general.

CARTER: Did she—mention me at all?

VINNIE: No.

CARTER: Didn’t she ask about me? I mean—she knew I was coming out here to see you and then you show up out there. Didn’t she wonder about that?

VINNIE: I guess not.

Pause. CARTER starts to rock hack and forth again in the blanket. VINNIE stays on bed.

CARTER: So—You must’ve made a killing off of Simms, huh? How much did he give you?

VINNIE: Bookoos.

CARTER: Well, it couldn’t have been that much.

VINNIE: It was plenty.

CARTER: I know how much he makes a month so it couldn’t have been all that much.

VINNIE: He cut me in on some shares. “Danzig”. “Mr Prospector”. Stuff like that. Big shares.

Pause.

CARTER: Do you think he’s going to—

VINNIE: What?

CARTER: Get vindictive?

VINNIE: I wouldn’t be at all surprised.

CARTER: You don’t think he’ll—go to the press or anything? Try to take it back to court?

VINNIE: I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.

CARTER: He wouldn’t go to the press. He’d never let those pictures out. They’d never print them anyway.

VINNIE: So, what’re you worried about?

CARTER: I don’t know. I just feel like—my number’s up.

Pause. CARTER keeps rocking slowly.

VINNIE: When do you think you might feel like getting my bourbon?

CARTER: I can’t walk.

VINNIE: Have you tried?

CARTER: I can hardly stand up.

VINNIE sits up fast on bed.

VINNIE: WILL YOU STOP THAT ROCKING BACK AND FORTH! STOP IT!

CARTER stops.

VINNIE (from bed): Now, sit up. Sit up, Carter!

CARTER struggles to a sitting position. Very shaky.

VINNIE: Now stand.

CARTER struggles, but can’t stand. VINNIE lunges off the bed, grabs CARTER by the chest and yanks him up to his feet, ripping the blanket away.

VINNIE (as he grabs CARTER): STAND UP!

VINNIE slaps him hard across the face. Just once. He holds him there.