VINNIE turns loose of him and lets CARTER crash to the floor with his pants half way up. Pause. VINNIE watches him as CARTER crawls towards the blanket and reaches for it.

VINNIE: You’re not staying here, Carter. You’re not staying here with me, if that’s what you think. Where’d you ever get an idea like that?

CARTER (pulling blanket around him): We could maybe start up with the claimers again. Start brand new.

VINNIE: Those days are over, Carter. Long gone. Give it up.

CARTER: We made a couple a’ mistakes. A couple a’ bad mistakes.

VINNIE: Mistakes?

CARTER: Yeah. I admit that.

VINNIE: That’s big of you.

CARTER: But we had a—partnership going there for a while. A real parternship. We were like—a team. We had a feeling between us. Didn’t we, Vinnie? A real feeling.

Pause. VINNIE moves toward bed, unbuttoning his shirt.

VINNIE: I’m gonna lay down, Carter. I’m gonna lay down and I’m gonna fall asleep. I’m not gonna dream, I’m just gonna sleep. And when I wake up, I want you gone.

CARTER: I’ll make you a deal then.

VINNIE: Sure. A deal. Another deal.

CARTER: I’ll swap you straight across the board.

VINNIE: Swap me? Swap me for what?

CARTER: I’ll take your place and you can have mine.

VINNIE: You’re delirious. Why are you acting like this? It’s time for you to go home, Carter!

VINNIE sits on bed and starts taking off his shoes.

CARTER: You can have it all. Even Rosie.

VINNIE: I don’t want it all. I don’t want anything you’ve got. You can stop sending me all your bullshit. All your TVs and Jap cars and corny golf shirts. All your guilt money. You can keep all that. Now if you don’t get up off my floor, I’m gonna drag your ass out into the road and leave you there. I’m just gonna leave you laying out there, rolling and shaking and frothing at the mouth. You can die with your tongue hanging out. I don’t give a shit. Just get up off my floor! NOW!!

VINNIE leaps at him from the bed and rips the blanket off CARTER. Pause as VINNIE hovers menacingly over him then returns to bed. He pulls the cardboard boxes out from under bed and starts taking out all his detective gear and putting it on: his shoulder holster and pistol, his badge, handcuffs, sneakers and overcoat. CARTER watches him from the floor.

CARTER: What’re you doing?

VINNIE: I’m going out to get a bottle.

CARTER: Now? You’re not going to just leave me here, are you?

VINNIE: Yeah. That’s what I’m gonna do.

CARTER: Wait a minute, Vinnie—

VINNIE: If you’re not gone when I get back, I’m going to put you on the highway. In your underwear.