Unexpectedly, Milo - Matthew Dicks [94]
“Damn,” Eugene said, leaning in toward Milo. “That little son of a bitch. Don’t tell me how it’s gonna end, but are those boys gonna die?”
“Just watch,” Milo suggested, unable to suppress a grin at Eugene’s contradictory request.
“This was stupid,” Lily said, her voice sounding even softer than before. “Why did I do this to myself? I was right when I said that this is lousy way to start off the day.”
“Do you want me to stop the movie?” Milo asked, knowing she would decline. To stop now would leave the demand unsatisfied and even more potent.
“Hell, no!” Eugene said, and Milo noticed for the first time that the large man was sitting on the edge of his seat.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lily added. “It’s sad, but it’s the right ending too. I mean, how else could it end?”
“They could ride off into the sunset,” Milo suggested, envisioning the ending that he hoped for each time he watched the film, including today. “Or maybe they could go legit. Start a little business together. Sundance could marry Etta, and Butch could find a girl of his own.”
“Good Lord, Milo. Thank goodness you weren’t in charge of the script. That would’ve just about killed the movie.”
“But I thought you said that you wished the ending were different too.”
“Of course I do,” Lily said. “I don’t want Butch and Sundance to die.”
“They’re gonna die?” Eugene nearly shouted. “Damn. Why did you tell me?”
“You just asked Milo to tell you.”
“I know, but he was smart enough not to tell me. Damn, Lily. You just ruined it for me.”
“They have to die,” Lily said. “That’s what makes the movie so great. Just look.” She was pointing at the screen, where Butch and Sundance were reloading their guns. “Even in the end, as they are getting ready to charge out into the town square and face all those soldiers, they’re chatting away like it’s just another ordinary afternoon together. They’re both shot, probably bleeding to death already, and they talk about going to Australia like it might actually happen. Have you ever seen two braver men?”
Milo wanted to assure Lily that it might happen someday, regardless of how hopeless their situation appeared. Butch and Sundance might make it to Australia, if Milo watched often enough. Instead he asked, “But why do they have to die? Why can’t they slip out the back and end their lives as cattle ranchers in Australia?”
“Yeah,” Eugene said, sounding genuinely emotional. “Why can’t they?”
“Because sometimes bravery requires death. Butch and Sundance have to die so that we can love them.”
“That’s bullshit,” Eugene said. “Bullshit.”
“It’s all right, Eugene,” Lily said, reaching across Milo’s lap in order to squeeze his hand.
As Lily said these final words, almost in a whisper, Butch and Sundance launched themselves into the open square, guns drawn. A second later the image of the two men froze, turned sepia, and the sound of a thousand gunshots filled the break room.
Lily, Milo and Eugene sat silent for almost a minute as the credits began to roll. As expected, the ending had satisfied the demand placed on Milo, but the relief that he typically felt was muted. He didn’t mind. He had enjoyed watching the film with Lily and Eugene. But before he even had time to stand up, placebo had returned to the foreground of his mind, as persistent as ever.
“Well, thanks for letting me watch that with you, Milo,” Lily said, rising from the bench and switching on the lights. “Eugene, are you crying?”
“Fuck you, Lily. I ain’t crying. I might be crying ’cause I just wasted two hours of my life, but I ain’t crying.” He rose from the bench and exited the room, head down.
“He cried when the Giants won the Super Bowl too. He’ll be fine.”
“He’s a nice guy, huh?”
“Yup. Most big lugs are. I’ve worked with him for five years now. You know, a couple months ago, he walked me to my classes after a girl was attacked on campus. Not hitting on me or anything. Just being