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3
When Debierue granted his permission for me to keep and publish the photograph； I hurried out to the car and got one of our magazine's standard release forms out of the glove partment。 The mimeographed form （large circulation magazines have them printed） is a simple agreement between subject and magazine to make publication legal； to protect one party from the other。 There is nothing underhanded about a signed photo release。 Debierue could read English； of course； but the involved legalese the form was couched in forced me to explain the damned thing at some length before he would sign it。 Debierue wasn't stupid or willful。 He believed naively that his oral okay was enough。
Because of this discussion； the dinners were ready before we knew it。 I forgot to look at my watch； and it was Berenice who heard and recognized the faint buzzing in the kitchen as the oven timer；
It was almost pleasant on the screened porch。 A light breeze came up； and although the wind was hot； it was relatively fortable in the darkening twilight as we sat at the candlelit card table to eat the miserable off…brand TV dinners。
The dinners had been purchased by the Negro maid who came every Wednesday to take care of the old man's laundry and to do his difficult cleaning。 She also brought his other weekly food supplies。 By buying these cheap TV dinners； she was probably knocking down on the food money。 I didn't suggest this to him； but I discussed brand names； the brand…name fallacy； and wrote out a short list of worthwhile frozen food buys he could depend upon。 He had a delusion that frozen foods were better； somehow； than fresh。 Berenice started halfheartedly to tell him otherwise； but when she saw me shake my head she changed the subject to domestic wines。 Debierue distrusted California wines； but I added the brands of some Napa Valley wines to the frozen food list； and he said he would try them。 Other than tap water； all he drank； because French wines were too dear； was frozen orange juice。
The Gold Coast for some twenty miles inland； from Jupiter downstate to Key Largo； is tropical…not subtropical； as so many people erroneously believe。 The tropical weather is caused by the warmth of the Gulf Stream； less than six miles off the coast。 There is little difference between the weather in Miami and that of Saigon。 Debierue's house； on a hammock； with a black swamp and the Everglades for a backyard； was depressingly humid。 After eating the dry turkey dinner； my mouth felt as if it were dehydrated； and I couldn't drink enough fluid to unparch my throat。 I poured another glass of orange juice （my fourth） and sensed； as I did so； a certain anxiety or impatience developing in the old man。 As an experienced dinner guest； I have picked up an instinct about wearing out weles。
The sky had darkened from bruise blue to gentian violet； and it was only a few minutes after six thirty。 It was much too early for him to go to bed； but even Berenice； who was not particularly observant； became aware of the old painter's restlessness。 She winked across the table； tapped her wrist significantly； and gave me a brief； ical shrug。 I nodded； and slid my chair back from the table。
〃It's been delightful； M。 Debierue； the dinner by candlelight；〃 I lied socially； 〃but I have another appointment in Palm Beach tonight； and we have to drive back。〃
〃Of course；〃 he replied； standing； 〃but please keep your seat a few moments more。 Already； you see； it is past the time for me to get ready。 I must go to the movies tonight。 I must go to the movies every night；〃 he added； by way of fuller explanation； 〃and I must now change my clothes。〃
〃The movies？〃 I asked stupidly。
His face brightened and he rubbed his hands together briskly。 〃Oh； yes； perhaps you did not see it…the Dixie Drive…in Movie Theater 。。' He pointed in the general direction of the drive…in。 〃Tonight there are three long features； two films with the Bowery Boys and the film about a werewolf。 And before these； the regular films； there are always two and sometimes three cartoons。 The first long film tonight is The Bowery Boys Meet Frankenstein； a very special treat； no？ And if you will kindly drive me…〃
〃Certainly；〃 I said eagerly； 〃I'll be happy to take you in the car。〃
〃My ignorance；〃 Debierue chuckled reminiscently； 〃it was the amusing thing。 When I was first here and taking a walk one evening； I saw the automobiles driving inside the Dixie Drive…in Theater。 I did not then know the American custom； and I thought that one must have the automobile to enter the movie。 Never before had I seen the drive…in movies； and I said to myself； Why not see if the permission to go from the manager can be arranged？〃 So I talked then to the manager； M。 Albert Price。 He arranged for me to go； and gave me the Senior Citizen Golden Years' membership card。〃 Debierue fumbled his wallet out of his hip pocket； extracted the card； which entitled him to a 15 percent discount on movie tickets； and proudly showed it to us。 It was made out to Eugene V。 Debs。
〃That's very nice；〃 Berenice said； smiling。
〃M。 Price is a very nice man；〃 Debierue said； carefully replacing the card in his thin； calfskin wallet。 〃There are very good seats in front of the snack bar。 The parents with the automobiles sometimes send their children to sit in these seats； and they are also for those patrons who do not have the automobile； as M。 Price explained to me。 Over to the right of these seats is the zinc slide and little swings； the Kiddyland for these； the children； who bee tired of watching the movie screen。 I like the children…I am a Frenchman…but the little children begin to make too much noise playing in the Kiddyland after the cartoons are finished。 This arrangement is good for the parents inside the cars with speakers； but not for me。 The noise bees too loud for me。 M。 Price and I are now good friends； and he reserves for me each night a seat and special earphones。 I hear only the movie with the earphones and no more the children。〃
I smiled。 〃Can you understand American English； the way the Bowery Boys speak it？〃
〃No； not always；〃 he replied seriously。 〃But it is no matter。 These Bowery Boys are too wonderful edians…the Surrealist actors； no？ I like M。 Huntz Hall。 He is very droll。 Last week there were the three pictures one night with the bourgeois couple and their new house； Papa and Mama Kettle。 I like them very much； and also John Wayne。〃 He shook his fingers as if he had burned them badly on a hot stove。 〃Oh ho！ He is the tough guy； no？〃
〃Yes； sir； he certainly is。 But you've surprised me again； M。 Debierue。 I had no idea you were a movie fan。〃
〃It is pleasant to see the cinema in the evenings。〃 He shrugged。 〃And I like also the grape snow cone。 Do you like these； the grape snow cones； M。 Figueras？〃
〃I haven't had one in a long time。〃
〃Very good。 Fifteen cents at the snack bar'
〃That's quite a long walk down there and back every night； M。 Debierue。 And as long as you haven't seen these old movies anyway； why don't you buy a television？ There are at least a half…dozen films on TV every night； and…〃
〃No；〃 he said loyally； 〃this is not good advice。