sanaazzy:

MAX: Call me crazy, but I got the feeling you’re in some kind of jam.
ALEC: Okay, you’re crazy.
MAX: What about the locket? Steal it or something? I went back to that house to get a signature. Saw the locket you’ve got in a portrait. Now I’m all curious.
ALEC: Curiosity killed the cat, Max. Stay out of my business.
MAX: Fine. (Pauses) I know we don’t always get along…
ALEC: Nicely understated. Barkeep!
MAX: …but if you’re in some kind of trouble and need my help, then you should ask now and not wait until it’s too late and everything’s all messed up, like you usually do.
ALEC: Well, I appreciate the offer, Max. I really do. But you don’t know what you’re talking about.
MAX: Then explain it to me.
ALEC: I would, see, but you wouldn’t understand. You can’t understand; you weren’t there. You ran. You and your little rugrat brothers and sisters. You think life was rough when we were ten? A little schooling, a little brainwashing, some maneuvers outside? You think that was tough?
MAX: Sucked pretty hard.
ALEC: Take it from me. Later on, it got a whole lot worse. (Sips his drink and then stares into it) But you did what you had to do. Then you tried to forget. And when you couldn’t forget, they had ways of making you not care.
MAX: I’m sorry.
ALEC: I don’t want your pity. I want your absence.

2.11 The Berrisford Agenda