.
because they're so
goddamn boring themselves.
Souchak, maybe people f nd eagles
interesting for the same reason.
Everybody I know
calls me Souchak.
My name's Ernie. Start
a trend. call me Ernie.
I don't think I could
call you Ernie. Too fancy?
Ernie.
Ernie.
Ernie. Ernie.
Ernie.
I asked you not to do that.
christ, what is it with you?
I don't believe this. You, re
angry. Good God, what an ego.
Forget it. I won't come anywhere
near you. Fine. Thank you.
I need this like I need
mountains and eagles.
Souchak?
What?
This has nothing to do
with what happened tonight.
What hasn't?
What I'm about to say.
What are you
about to say?
You can't come with me
tomorrow.
Fine.
Good. i, m glad
you understand.
Why not?
Some things I do here
I have to do on my own.
esus.
Frigid.
Aah! Son of a-
Hi.
Hello there.
Nice day?
Great. You?
Okay.
What happened
to your thumb?
I cut myself shaving.
Is it all right?
It'll be f
ne.
Are you still angry
about last night?
Last night?
Oh, last night.
I've forgotten
about last night.
Oh, good.
You coming with me tomorrow? No, thanks.
Oh.
Hmm.
Ohh.
Put me down! Put me down,
put me down, put me down!
Stop it! Are you crazy?
You're acting like an animal!
He started it.
Are you all right?
Yeah, it's just my body. I am so sorry.
I had no idea he'd react this
way, not in my lowest estimation.
ust give me a break. I didn't
kill the guy or nothin'.
How did you expect me
to feel?
Who is this faggot?
Max Birnbaum, Ernie Souchak. Max Birnbaum?
Max Birnbaum?
The Brooklyn Behemoth
Birnbaum?
The three-time All-American
at Michigan Birnbaum?
The number-one draft pick of
the Washington Redskins Birnbaum?
The defensive end who told the NFL
to shove it up their defensive end?
That Max Birnbaum?
Well, let me
shake your hand.
This is an honor.
May I have your autograph?
ust like that, Max.
8:35 into the third quarter,
and you walk out.
Eight, nine minutes.
'Round about that.
Exactly 8:35, with everything to
play for. No, everything to lose.
I wanted out.
One season of pro football.
No way I was gonna face a
second, let alone a whole career.
You were rookie of the year.
3.4 sacks a game. I'm going now.
A lot of things started
coming together in my head,
like my revulsion with the whole
system. I have the staff I forgot.
Huh? You know, the staff
that saved your life?
What was it, the coaches? The
owners? Rozelle? Bye. I'm leaving now.
She's really something. She didn't
tell me she had Ernie Souchak up here.
This guy's a big-shot writer. He's
just like I was, only a writer.
You want a laugh?
Yesterday she tells me she's
got a reporter here from chicago.
I used to read
this guy's stuff.
I guess you can't blame her. She's been
out of touch for the past four years.
I'll try not to be late.
Yeah.
You start playin' ball in grade
school, you know. You're just a kid.
You're innocent. Then you start
playin' ball with the big boys.
Ah, baby!
Oh.
You dig him,
don't you?
That's ridiculous. No,
it's okay. He's a good man.
That's got nothing
to do with it.
I just want us to-
Max?
It think it's maybe coming up
to 8:35 in the third quarter.
Is it 'cause we don't talk? I
don't mind you talkin' to him.
It makes no difference
to what we do.
No, it's not that.
As long as you're okay,
Nell.
And if you ever feel like
you kinda sometimes feel-
See you.
Uh-oh.
What?
Trouble.
Oh?
Am I allowed to mention you? Oh.
All I say is that he's your friend,
and I chanced to meet him because you-
We, re not friends exactly. No?
I mean... we've spoken
a few times.
Uh-huh.
Acquaintance, really.
Well... maybe friend.
Right.
Not close friend.
No.
I've never heard you so quiet
since you came here.
This is the f rst story I've written since
I came here. Fixing doors is just a hobby.
Ah. I assume that one ex-jock rates
higher than 2,000 bald eagles...
at the hicago sun-Times.
You want me to write