The Sun Also Rises - Chapter 16

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Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Chapter sixteen of In the morning,it was raining. A fog had come
over the mountains from the sea.You could not see the tops of the
mountains. The plateau was dull andgloomy, and the shapes of the trees
and the houses were changed. Iwalked out beyond the town to look at
the weather. The bad weather wascoming over the mountains from the sea.

(00:24):
The flags in the square hung wetfrom the white poles, and the banners
were wet and hung damp against thefront of the houses and in between the
steady drizzle. The rain came downand drove everyone under the arcades and made
pools of water in the square,and the streets wet and dark and deserted.
Yet the fiesta kept up without anypause, was only driven under cover.

(00:49):
The covered seats of the bull ringhad been crowded with people sitting out
of the rain, watching the concourseof basque and and navareis dancers and singers,
and afterward the volk Karl dancers intheir costumes danced down the street in
the rain, the drums sounding hollowand damp, and the chiefs of the
bands riding ahead on their big,heavy footed horses, their costumes wet,

(01:11):
the horse's coats wet in the rain. The crowd was in the cafes,
and the dancers came in too,and sat their tight, round white legs
under the tables, shaking the waterfrom their belled caps and spreading their red
and purple jackets over the chairs todry. Was raining hard outside. I

(01:32):
left the crowd in the cafe andwent over to the hotel to get shaved
for dinner. I was shaving inmy room when there was a knock on
the door. Come in, Icalled. Montoya walked in. How are
you? He said fine? Isaid, no bulls to day. No,
I said, nothing but rain.Where are your friends over at the

(01:53):
Irunya? Montoya smiled his embarrassed smilelook. He said, do you know
the American ambassador? Yes? Isaid, everybody knows the American ambassador.
He's here in town now. Yes, I said, everybody's seen them.

(02:14):
I've seen them too. Montoya said, he didn't say anything. I went
on shaving, sit down. Isaid, let me send for a drink.
No, I have to go.I finished shaving and put my face
down into the bowl and washed itwith cold water. Montoya was standing there,
looking more embarrassed. Look, hesaid, I've just had a message

(02:36):
from them at the Grand Hotel thatthey want Pedro Romero and Marcil Laalanda to
come over for coffee to night afterdinner. Well, I said, it
can't hurt Marcial any Marcial has beenin San Sebastian all day. He drove
over in a car this morning withMarquez. I don't think they'll be back
tonight. Montoya stood embarrassed. Hewanted me to say something. Don't give

(03:02):
Romero the message. I said,you think so absolutely. Montoya was very
pleased. I wanted to ask youbecause you are an American. He said,
that's what i'd do. Look,said Montoya. People take a boy
like that. They don't know whathe's worth, they don't know what he

(03:22):
means. Any foreigner can flatter him. They start this Grand Hotel business and
in one year they're through, likeAligabamo. I said, yes, like
Aligabermo. They're a fine lot.I said. There is one American woman
down here now that collects bullfighters.I know they only want the young ones.

(03:45):
Yes, I said, the oldones get fat, we're crazy like
Gallo. Well, I said,it's easy. All you have to do.
Is not give him a message.He's such a fine boy, said
Montoya. He ought to stay withhis own people. He shouldn't Dixon that
stuff. Won't you have a drink, I asked, No, said Montoya,
I have to go. He wentout. I went downstairs and out

(04:09):
the door and took a walk aroundthrough the arcades around the square was still
raining. I looked in at theRunya for the gang, and they were
not there. So I walked onaround the square and back to the hotel.
They were eating dinner in the downstairsdining room. They were well ahead
of me, and it was nouse trying to catch them. Bill was

(04:30):
buying shoe shines for Mike. Bootblacks opened the street door and each one.
Bill called over and started to workon Mike. This is the eleventh
time my boots have been polished,Mike said, I say, Bill is
an ass. The boot Blacks hadevidently spread the report. Another came in
and them be about us, hesaid to Bill. No, said Bill,

(04:51):
for this signor The boot black kneltdown beside the one at work and
started on Mike's free shoe that hadshown already in the electric light. Bill's
a yell of laughter, Mike said, I was drinking red wine and so
far behind them that I felt alittle uncomfortable about all this shoe shining.
I looked around the room. Atthe next table was Pedro Romero. He

(05:15):
stood up when I nodded and askedme to come over and meet a friend.
His table was beside ours, almosttouching. I met the friend and
Madrid Bull Fight critic, a littleman with a drawn face. I told
Romera how much I liked his work, and he was very pleased. We
talked Spanish, and the critic knewa little French. I reached to our

(05:39):
table for my wine bottle, butthe critic took my arm. Romero laughed,
drink here, he said in English. He was very bashful about his
English, but he was really verypleased with it, and as we want
a talking he brought out words hewas not sure of and asked me about
them. Who was anxious to notethe English for corrida de toros, the

(06:00):
exact translation bullfight he was suspicious of. I explained that bullfight in Spanish was
the lithia of a toro. TheSpanish word corrida means in English the running
of bulls. The French translation iscourse de torrot. The critic put that
in there is no Spanish word forbullfight. Romero said he had learned a

(06:28):
little English at Gibraltar. He wasborn in Ronda, that is not far
above Gibraltar. He started bullfighting inMalaga in the bullfighting school there. He
had only been at it three years. The bullfight critic joked him about the
number of Malagueno expressions he used.It was nineteen years old. He said.
His older brother was with him asa bandarillo, but he did not

(06:51):
live in this hotel. He livedin a smaller hotel with the other people
who worked for Romero. He askedme how many times I had seen him
in the ring. I told himonly three. Was really only two,
but I did not want to explainafter I'd made the mistake. Where did
you see me the other time inMadrid? Yes, I lied. I'd

(07:13):
read the accounts of his two appearancesin Madrid in the bull fight papers.
So I was all right the firstor the second time. The first I
was very bad, he said,The second time I was better, you
remember, he turned to the critic. He was not at all embarrassed.
He talked of his work as somethingaltogether apart from himself. There is nothing

(07:35):
conceated or braggartly about him. Ilike it very much that you like my
work, he said, but youhaven't seen it yet. Tomorrow, if
I get a good bull, Iwill try and show it to you.
When he said this, he smiled, anxious that neither the bull fight critic
nor I would think he was boasting. I am anxious to see it.

(07:57):
The critic said, I would liketo be convinced he doesn't like my work
much. Romero turned to me.He was serious. The critic explained that
he liked it very much, butthat so far it had been incomplete.
Wait till tomorrow if a good onecomes out. Have you seen the bulls
for tomorrow? The critic asked me, yes, I saw them, unloaded

(08:20):
pedro. Romero leaned forward. Whatdid you think of them? Very nice?
I said about twenty six arrobas,very short horns. Haven't you seen
them? Oh? Yes, saidRomero. They won't wait twenty six arrobas,
said the critic. No, saidRomero. They've got bananas for horns.
The critic said, you call thembananas, asked Romero. He turned

(08:43):
to me and smiled, you wouldn'tcall them bananas. No, I said,
they're horns, all right. They'revery short, said Pedro Romero,
very very short. Still they aren'tbananas, I say. Jake Brett called
from the next table. You havedeserted us, just temporarily. I said,
we're talking bulls. You are superior. Tell him the bulls have no

(09:09):
balls. Mike shouted, he wasdrunk. Romero looked at me inquiringly.
Drunk, I said, biraccho,mui borracho. You might introduce your friends.
Brett said, she had not stoppedlooking at Pedro Romero. I asked
them if they would like to havecoffee with us. They both stood up.

(09:30):
Romero's face was very brown, yetvery nice manners. I introduced them
all around and they started to sitdown, but there was not enough room,
so we all moved over to thebig table by the wall to have
coffee. Mike ordered a bottle offund d'Or and glasses for everybody. There
was a lot of drunken talking.Tell him, I think writing is lousy,

(09:52):
Bill said, go on tell him, tell him. I'm ashamed of
being a writer. Pedro Romero wassitting beside Brett and listening to her.
Go On, tell him, Billsaid. Romero looked up, smiling.
This gentleman, I said, isa writer. Romero was impressed. This
other one too, I said,pony at Cone, he looks like Vilota,

(10:16):
Romero said, looking at Bill,Raphael, doesn't he look like Villota?
I can't see it. The criticsaid, really, Romero said in
Spanish, he looks a lot likeVilota. What does the drunken one do?
Nothing? Is that why he drinks? No, he's waiting to marry
this lady. Tell him bulls haveno balls. Mike shouted, very drunk

(10:39):
from the other end of the table. What does he say, he's drunk,
Jake, Mike coll tell him bullshave no balls. You understand,
I said yes, I was surehe didn't, so it was all right.
Tell him Brett wants to see himput on those green pants pipe down,
Mike. Tell him Brett is dyingto know how he can get into

(11:01):
those pants pipe down. During this, Romero was fingering his glass and talking
with Brett. Brett was talking French, and he was talking Spanish and a
little English and laughing. Bill wasfilling the glasses. Tell him Brett wants
to come into oh pipe down,Mike for Christ's sake. Romero looked up,

(11:24):
smiling. Pipe down, I knowthat, he said. Just then
Montoya came into the room. Hestarted to smile at me. Then he
saw Pedro Romero with a big glassof cognac in his hand, sitting laughing
between me and a woman with bareshoulders at a table full of drunks.
He did not even nod. Montoyawent out of the room. Mike was

(11:48):
on his feet proposing a toast.Let's all drink too, he began,
Peter Romero, I said, everybodystood up. Romero took it very seriously,
such glasses and drank it down.I rush it a little because Mike
was trying to make it clear thatthat was not at all what he was
going to drink to. But itwent off all right, and Pedro Romero

(12:11):
shook hands with everyone, and heand the critic went out together. My
god, he's a lovely boy,Brett said. Now, I would love
to see him get into those clothes. He must use a shoehorn, I
started to tell him. Mike beganand Jake kept interrupting me. Why do
you interrupt me? Do you thinkyou took Spanish better than I do?

(12:33):
Oh? Shut up? Mike,nobody interrupted you. No, I'd like
to get the settle. He turnedaway from me. Do you think you
amount to something? Code? Doyou think you belong here among us people
who are out to have a goodtime for God's sake? Don't be so
noisy? Cone? Who cut itout? Mike Cone said, do you
think Brett wants you here? Doyou think you add to the party?

(12:54):
Why don't you say something? Isaid all I had to say the other
night, Mike. I'm not oneof you literary chaps. Mike stood shakily
and leaned against the table. I'mnot clever, but I do know when
I'm not wanted. Why don't yousee when you're not wanted? Con,
go away, Go away, forGod's sake, Take that sad Jewish face

(13:16):
away. Don't you think I'm right? He looked at us. Sure,
I said, let's all go overto the aruna. No, don't you
think I'm right? I love thatwoman. Oh, don't start that again.
Do shove it along? Mike Brettsaid, don't you think I'm right?
Jake Con sat at the table.His face had the sallow yellow look

(13:37):
it gut when he was insulted,But somehow he seemed to be enjoying it,
the childish, drunken heroics of it. It was his affair with a
lady of title, Jake, Mikesaid. He was almost crying. You
know, I'm right listen you.He turned to Kohan, go away,
go away now, But I won'tgo. Mike said, Kohan, then

(14:00):
I'll make you. Mike started towardhim around the table. Koane stood up
and took off his glasses. Hestood waiting, his face sallow, his
hands fairly low, proudly and firmlywaiting for the assault, ready to do
battle for his lady love. Igrabbed Mike, come on to the cafe.
I said, you can't hit himhere in the hotel. Good,
said Mike. Good idea we startedoff. I looked back as Mike stumbled

(14:26):
up the stairs and saw Koane puttinghis glasses on again. Bill was sitting
at the table pouring another glass offoon the door. Brett was sitting looking
straight ahead at nothing out on thesquare. It had stopped raining and the
moon was trying to get through theclouds. There was a wind blowing.
The military band was playing, andthe crowd was masked on the far side

(14:48):
of the square. Where the fireworksspecialists and his son were trying to send
up fire balloons. A balloon wouldstart up jerkily on a great bias,
be torn by the wind or blownagainst the houses of the square. Some
fell into the crowd. The magnesiumflared, and the fireworks exploded and chased
about in the crowd. There wasno one dancing in the square. The

(15:11):
gravel was too wet. Brett cameout with Bill and joined us. We
stood in the crowd and watched DonManuel Orgito, the fireworks king, standing
on a little platform, carefully startingthe balloons with sticks, standing above the
heads of the crowd to launch theballoons off into the wind. The wind
brought them all down, and DonManuel Orgito's face was sweaty in the light

(15:35):
of his complicated fireworks that fell intothe crowd and charged and chased sputtering and
cracking between the legs of the people. The people shouted as each new luminous
paper bubbo correened, caught fire andfell. They're rising Don Manuel. Bill
said, how do you know he'sDon Manuel? Brett said, his name's

(15:56):
on the program, Don Manuel orKeith though the piro Technico of asked de
sildad globos illuminados. Mike said,a collection of globos illuminados. That's what
the paper said. The wind blewthe band music way, I say,
I wish one would go up.Brett said that Don Manuel Chap is furious.

(16:19):
He's probably worked for weeks fixing themto go off, spelling out,
hailed to San Fermin. Bill said, globos illuminados. Mike said, a
bunch of bloody globos illuminados. Comeon, said Bret. We can't stand
here. Her ladyship wants to drink. Mike said, how you know things?

(16:40):
Brett said. Inside the cafe wascrowded and very noisy. No one
noticed us come in. We couldnot find a table. There was a
great noise going on. Come on, let's get out of here. Bill
said. Outside the paseo was goingin under the arcade. Here are some
English and Americans from Burtz in sports, scattered at the tables. Some of

(17:02):
the women stared at the people goingby with lord nons. We had acquired
at some time a friend of Bill'sfrom Burtz. She was staying with another
girl at the Grand Hotel. Theother girl had a headache and had gone
to bed here's the pub. Mikesaid. It was the Bar Milano,
a small tough bar where you couldget food and where they danced in the

(17:23):
back room. We all sat downat a table and ordered a bottle of
fund d'Or. The bar was notfull, there was nothing going on.
This is a hell of a place. Bill said, it's too early.
Let's take the bottle and come backlater. Bill said, I don't want
to sit here on a night likethis. Let's go and look at the

(17:45):
English. Mike said, I loveto look at the English. They're awful.
Bill said, where did they allcome from? They come from Burritz.
Mike said, they come to seethe last day of the quaint little
Spanish fiesta al fiesta them. Billsaid, you're an extraordinarily beautiful girl.
Mike turned to Bill's friend. Whendid you come here? Come off at

(18:07):
Michael, I say, she isa lovely girl. Where have I been?
Where have I been looking all thiswhile? You're a lovely thing?
Have we met? Come along withme and Bill. We're going to fiesta
the English all fiesta. Then Billsaid, what the hell are they doing
at this fiesta? Come on,Mike said, just us three, We're

(18:29):
going to festa the bloody English.I hope you're not English. I'm Scotch.
I hate the English. I'm goingto festa them. Come on,
Bill. Through the window we sawthem all three arm in arm, going
toward the cafe. Rockets were goingup in the square. I'm going to
sit here, Brett said, I'llstay with you. Cone said, oh

(18:49):
don't. Brett said, for God'ssake, go off somewhere. Can't you
see Jake and I want to talk. I didn't. Cone said, I
thought i'd sit here because I felta little tight. What a hell of
a reason for sitting with anyone.You're tight? Go to bed, Go
on to bed. Was I rudeenough to him? Brett asked, Kane
was gone. My god, I'mso sick of him. He doesn't add

(19:12):
much to the gaiety. He depressesme. So he's behave very badly,
damned badly. He had a chanceto behave so well. He's probably waiting
just outside the door. Now,Yes, he would, you know,
I do know how he feels.He can't believe it didn't mean anything.

(19:33):
I know nobody else would behave asbadly. I'm so sick of the old
thing. And Michael Michael's been lovelytoo. It's been damned hard on Mike.
Yes, but he didn't need tobe a swine. Everybody behaves badly,
I said, give them the properchance. You wouldn't behave badly.
Brett looked at me. I'd beas big an ass as Kane, I

(19:56):
said, Darling, don't let's talka lot of rot, all right,
talk about anything you like. Don'tbe difficult. You're the only person I've
got, and I feel rather awfultonight. You've got Mike. Yes,
Mike hasn't even pretty well. Isaid. It's been damned hard on Mike

(20:18):
having Cone around and seeing him withyou. Don't I know it, Darling,
Please don't make me feel any worsethan I do. Brett was nervous,
as I had never seen her before. She kept looking away from me
and looking ahead at the wall.Want to go for a walk, Yes,
come on. I corked up theFunda door bottle and gave it to

(20:38):
the bartender. Let's have one moredrink of that, Brett said, My
nerves are rotten. We each dranka glass of the smooth Amante lavo brandy.
Come on, said Brett as wecame out the door. I saw
a cone walk out from under thearcade. He was there. Brett said,
he can't be away from you,poor devil. I'm not sorry for

(21:00):
him. I hate him myself.I hate him too, she shivered,
I hate his damned suffering. Wewalked arm in arm down the side street,
away from the crowd in the lightsof the square. The street was
dark and wet, and we walkedalong it to the fortifications at the edge
of town. We passed wine shopswith light coming out their doors on to

(21:23):
the black, wet street, andsudden bursts of music. Want to go
in? No? We walked acrossthe wet grass and onto the stone wall
of the fortifications. I spread anewspaper on the stone and Brett sat down
across the plain. It was darkand we could see the mountains. The

(21:44):
wind was high up and took theclouds across the moon. Below us were
the dark pits of the fortifications.Behind were the trees and the shadow of
the cathedral, and the town silhouettedagainst the moon. Don't feel bad,
I said, I feel like hell. Brett said, don't. Let's talk.

(22:04):
We looked out at the plain,the long lines of trees were dark
in the moonlight. There were thelights of a car on the road climbing
the mountain. Up on the topof the mountain we saw the lights of
the fort Below. To the leftwas the river. It was high from
the rain and black and smooth treeswere dark along the banks. We sat

(22:26):
and looked out. Brett stared straightahead. Suddenly she shivered, it's cold.
Want to walk back through the park. We climbed down. It was
clouding over again in the park.It was dark under the trees. Do
you still love me? Jake?Yes, I said, cause I'm a

(22:48):
Garner. Brett said, how I'ma Garner. I'm mad about the Romero
boy. I'm in love with him. I think I wouldn't be if I
were you. I can't help it. I'm a goner. It's tearing me
all up inside. Don't do it. I can't help it. I've never
been able to help anything. Youought to stop it. How can I

(23:12):
stop it? I can't stop things. Feel that her hand was trembling.
I'm like that all through. Youought to do it. I can't help
it. I'm a goner now,anyway, don't you see the difference.
No, I've got to do something. I've got to do something I really
want to do. I've lost myself respect. You don't have to do

(23:34):
that, Oh darling, don't bedifficult. What do you think it's meant
to have that damn jew about andMike the way he's acted. Sure,
I can't just stay tight all thetime. No, oh darling, Please
stay by me, Please stay byme and see me through this. Sure,
I don't say it's right, Itis right though for me. God

(23:57):
knows, I've never felt such abitch. What do you want me to
do? Come on, Brett said, Let's go and find him. Together.
We walked down the gravel path inthe park in the dark, under
the trees, and then out fromunder the trees and passed the gate into
the street that led into town.Piedoro. Romero was in the cafe.

(24:19):
It was at a table with otherbull fighters and bull fight critics. He
were smoking cigars. When we camein. They looked up Romero smiled and
bowed. We sat down at atable half way down the room. Ask
him to come over and have adrink. Not yet, who'll come over.
I can't look at him. He'snice to look at, I said,

(24:42):
I've always done just what I wanted. I know I do feel such
a bitch, well, I said, my God, said Brett, the
things a woman goes through. Yes, oh, I do feel such a
bitch. I looked across at thetable. Pedro Romero smiled. He said

(25:03):
something to the other people at histable and stood up. He came over
to our table. I stood upand we shook hands. Won't you have
a drink? You must have adrink with me, he said. He
seated himself, asking Brett's permission,without saying anything. He had very nice
manners, but he kept on smokinghis cigar. He went well with his

(25:25):
face. You like cigars, Iasked, Oh, yes, I always
smoked cigars. Was part of hissystem of authority, made him seem older.
I noticed his skin, who wasclear and smooth and very brown.
There was a triangular scar on hischeekbone. I saw you as watching Brett.
He felt there was something between them. He must have felt it when

(25:48):
Brett gave him her hand. Hisbeing very careful. I think he was
sure, but he did not wantto make any mistake. You fight tomorrow,
I said, yes, he said. Aliobeymo was hurt to day in
Madrid did you hear no, Isaid badly. He shook his head.
Nothing here. He showed his hand. Brett reached out and spread the fingers

(26:11):
apart. Oh, he said inEnglish, you tell fortunes sometimes, do
you mind? No? I likeit. He spread his hand flat on
the table. Tell me I livefor always and be a millionaire. He
was still very polite, but hewas sure of himself. Look, he
said, do you see any bullsin my hand? He laughed. His

(26:33):
hand was very fine and the wristwas small. There are thousands of bulls.
Brett said. She was not atall nervous. Now she looked lovely.
Good. Romero left at a thousanddoorters a piece. He said to
me in Spanish, tell me somemore. It's a good hand. Brett
said, I think he'll live along time. Say it to me,
not to your friend. I said, you'd live a long time. I

(26:57):
know it. Romero said, I'mnever going to die. I tapped with
my finger tips on the table.Romero saw it. He shook his head.
No, don't do that. Thebulls are my best friends. I
translated to Brett. You kill yourfriends, she asked, always, he
said in English and laughed. Sothey don't kill me. He looked at

(27:18):
her across the table. You knowEnglish, well, yes, he said,
pretty well sometimes, but I mustnot let anybody know. It would
be very bad. Torrero, whospeaks English, Why, asked Brett.
It would be bad, but peoplewould not like it. Not yet?
Why not? They would not likeit? Bull fighters are not like that?

(27:40):
What are bull fighters like? Helaughed and tipped his hat down over
his eyes and changed the angle ofa cigar in the expression of his face
like at the table, he said, I glanced over. He'd mimicked exactly
the expression of nacional. He smiledhis face natural again. No, I
must forget English. Don't forget ityet, Brett said, no, No,

(28:03):
all right, he laughed again.I would like a hat like that.
Brett said, good, I'll getyou one, right, see that
you do, I will, I'llget you one to night. I stood
up. Romero rose too, Sitdown, I said, I must go
and find our friends and bring themhere. He looked at me. It
was a final look to ask ifit were understood. Was understood? All

(28:25):
right? Sit down? Brett saidto him. You must teach me Spanish.
He sat down and looked at heracross the table. I went out.
The hard eyed people let the bullfightertable watch me go. It was
not pleasant. When I came backand looked in the cafe. Twenty minutes
later, Brett and Pedro Romero weregone. The coffee glasses and our three

(28:47):
empty cognac glasses were on the table. A waiter came with a cloth and
picked up the glasses and mopped offthe table. End of Chapter sixteen.