A Matter of Conviction

(Batman looks. He sees the Puerto Rican boys, but he is not angered by the sight of them. He looks for some hidden meaning in Tower’s words but can find none. Are the spics peeing in the water or something? Is that it?)

BATMAN: Yeah, I see them. What’re they doing, Tower?

TOWER: You like swimming with them?

BATMAN (shrugging): Gee, I don’t know. I didn’t even notice them until you told me. Gee, what’re they doing, Tower?

TOWER: Get Danny.

BATMAN: Danny? Yeah, he was over there with a girl. I’ll get him, Tower. I’ll get him.

(He leaves Reardon. Reardon stands at the edge of the pool, his hands on his hips. He counts the Puerto Ricans. Six of them. He wishes there were more Thunderbirds around. But he knows that if there is trouble, they will materialize from nowhere. This is one of the advantages of gang membership. He knows now that there will be trouble. But in his mind he is not the person who is going to cause the trouble. The trouble, he feels, began the moment the Puerto Ricans came into the pool. They are the troublemakers; he is innocent; he is vindicated.

Danny approaches. He has been swimming at the pool all summer long. He is burned to a deep brown, and his red hair is lighter than it is in the wintertime.)

DANNY: What’s up, dad?

TOWER: Take a look. San Juan’s polluting the water.

DANNY: Huh? (He glances at the pool.) Aw, what the hell, let them swim. It’s hot enough to melt concrete.

TOWER: We let them in, they’ll be bringing over the whole West Side.

DANNY: They been here before. Relax, Artie.

TOWER (correcting him): Tower.

DANNY: Yeah. So relax, Tower.

TOWER: I don’t like the idea.

DANNY: So who are you? Head of the Immigration Department or something?

TOWER: I’m me, and I don’t like it, and I say we kick them out.

DANNY: So go ahead and kick them out. What the hell do you want from me? I was talking with a girl there.

TOWER: I didn’t know you were turkey.

DANNY: What?

TOWER: You heard me.

DANNY: What’s this got to do with being turkey? They want to swim here, who gives a damn?

TOWER: This pool is in our turf.

DANNY: But they always swim here! They’re always coming over. Look, I got a girl over there and—

TOWER: Sure, go ahead, turkey.

DANNY: Now wait a minute—

TOWER: I never knew you to punk put of something before. I thought you was a down cat.

DANNY: I am! I just can’t see any sense—

TOWER: Okay, forget it. You want me to go over and sound them all by myself, that’s what I’ll do. Me and Batman’ll take care of it.

DANNY: Look, there’s six of them. You go over there...

TOWER: Never mind. I shoulda known better than to ask somebody ain’t even on the club.

DANNY: What’s that got to do with it? I just can’t see—

TOWER: Forget it. Come on, Batman.

DANNY: Wait a minute.

TOWER: What?

DANNY: You go sound them, there’ll be a rumble. Right here. I can guarantee it. That’s it. I’m telling you.

TOWER: I ain’t afraid of a rumble.

DANNY: Neither am I.

TOWER: So? You coming or staying?

DANNY: I ain’t afraid. You know that, damnit!

TOWER (sarcastically): Sure, I can see you’re not afraid.

DANNY: All right, all right. Damnit, I was talking to a girl. All right, come on, let’s get it over with.