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VIII
Rip, Tom, and Tony Torn Meet Their Match at Chico Hot Springs
One summer afternoon (August 20--I should know that date very well) in
'82, Richard said to come over, bring Dickel, etc. I did and he told me
that we were going to meet Rip Torn out at Chico Hot Springs for drinks
later in the evening. That sounded good to me. But what would we do for
four hours until then (foolish me). As we stumbled to the car after
emptying the Dickel, I was wondering how we could do anything more. When
we arrived at Chico, the Torns were waiting: that is, Rip and his sons Tom
and Tony. The boys were young, smart, cynical and reminded me a little of
Heckle and Jeckle. Rip had apparently insulted Richard or vise versa years
ago, so someone had a debt to settle. They chose cognac for weapons and
took turns buying two or three fifths. The amazing thing was that as they
drank and the old hackles settled, the boys (mid teens) drank too. We all
agreed that Rip was too smart for Hollywood and that he should show them
what for. I really liked him in "Heartland" and let him know it. He was
amazingly modest and thankful for praise and told me an involved story
about the teeth he wore to portray Richard Nixon in a TV drama. Richard,
in the meantime was poking fun at Tom and Tony. After a while one of them
dropped to the floor and started heaving. The poor soul crawled out to
their station wagon and went to sleep in the back. The other one stuck
with it. After the last bottle we were all slobbering happy-sad and making
all sorts of promises. As we drove toward Richard's at about 2:30 a.m., I
realized that it was Judy's and my wedding anniversary. I drove over Trail
Creek road screaming that night. That's about the last time I drove home
drunk from Richard's. I got home and made a feeble apology. I would have
done better to keep it to myself. I and the crawling, barfing Torn boy
could have done without that night. But, as usual, Richard called all
cheerful the next morning, ice cubes jingling in the background, ready to
pay back all the money he had borrowed the night before and wondering if I
was coming over in the next day or so.
Gorgo's Brautigan Stories Index
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