A dust covered light fixture hangs on the ceiling. Cracks in dry wall. Staples coming up in the carpet. Windows broken. A cold breeze blows through torn blinds. The plants are dead.

He sits watching television on a small black and white screen. The Andy Griffith Show is on. Opie comes home with a black eye. Barney gives boxing lessons.

The old man turns down the sound, and the radio plays next door. Jazz is playing. Ornette Coleman blows into his saxophone. The Shape Of Jazz To Come is played in its entirety. Some say the album sounds like a high school band, while others think the recording is genius. The old man removes his pork pie hat and hums along. He pats his foot and watches the screen. Opie has avenged his earlier loss.

Rough fingers rummage through a filled ashtray. He looks for a butt long enough to smoke. An old KOOL is found. Stale, tasting of ash, he lights it and searches for another. All stubs. He lines them up on the table. Takes one drag off each and crushes them in the glass bowl.

Another episode of The Andy Griffith Show comes on. This one has Jack Nicholson in it. He watches. Adjusts the rabbit ears. And sips on a half filled warm beer. Ornette Coleman continues to play.