"Best glazed doughnut I ever had was down the road in Muskogee, Oklahoma." "That's the truth." "I was just passing through town, and there it was in a little hole-in-the-wall joint." "Sweetest melt-in-your-mouth glazed doughnut in all of creation." "I love glazed doughnuts." "I know." "We got similar tastes." "Funny coming on a prize doughnut in Muskogee." "Yeah, you don't expect that in Indian territory." "Not like beads." "Or drums." "Or war bonnets." "Okie ain't so Indian anymore." "Nah." "Not pure." "It's a lot like that nowadays." "Everything's mixed up." "Yeah, especially around Tardust." "I don't understand folks around here." "Land's fat with highways, got three rivers bleeding into each other, take a soul almost anywhere." "Everybody sticks here." "Hey, Vallie Sue!" "Hey, yourself, Loretta!" "Well, come on, girl!" "I see you talking to yourself again." "So?" "So?" "You're too old for that." "People think that you're loopy." "Uh, why are we driving backwards?" "Thought your dad let you have the car." "Not entirely." "He gave me 20 Miles Max, so I gotta keep the mileage down so we can go to the Two Kiss after church." "Shouldn't we be driving backwards from the church?" "Do you want the guys to see me driving down the drag like this, like I'm great or vain or something?" "Uh-uh." "Brethren, there's one man who can save your souls from the flames of eternal damnation." "What's his name?" "Jesus!" "Jesus." "Jesus." "What's his name?" "Jesus." "Jesus." "That's right." "Millie, so glad things are working out." "Thank you." "Oh, yeah." "Heh." "Vallie." "Well, how nice to see you." "Hi." "And you, too, Loretta." "So where are your folks tonight?" "Oh, well, mine's at Cheney's Tavern getting stinko, probably." "Aha." "And your mother, Vallie?" "Uh, well, Reverend," "I heard something about a two-headed dog, a fearsome thing running wild in Tardust, so of course a bunch of folks and my mom went out looking for it." "Aha." "Well, I see." "Uh, well, you girls have a nice evening." "Night." "Good night." "Bye-bye." "Why did you say the damn fool thing about that dog?" "It's not a fool thing." "I seen one." "In your dreams." "Uh-uh." "One of Mrs. Stubblefield's magazines." "Also showed a woman gave birth to a... baby with horns." "Ha!" "I've seen some boys with those." "Mrs. Stubblefield showed me a picture of..." "An Angel of God lynched from a tree is in one of them rags." "Oh, it's a bad sign, child, a bad, bad sign." "Shows the forces of evil are gaining on us." "Even around Tardust?" "Oh, especially here." "We got devils living all around Tardust." "You gotta be careful out there, child, very, very careful." "You see a saucer?" "No, just a crop duster." "But they's out there." "Why are you listening to that old scarecrow anyhow?" "It's not like the preacher could have known that Mom hasn't been home most of the weekends." "I suppose." "Mm-hmm." "But still..." "A two-headed dog?" "Two-headed dog ain't nothing." "There's all kind of strange creatures... squirrels that fly, people with pink eyes." "I saw a woman with a beard once at the carnival." "See what I mean?" "Probably had hair on her chest and back." "I don't want to ruminate on that... but it shows that nature is peculiar." "Here." "Give me your hand." "So Mom could have been chasing a two-faced dog, huh?" "Most likely has." "Thanks for the ride, honey." "Same to you, darling." "Mm." "Hey, hon." "Hi, Pleasant." "Hi, Ma." "Land sake, turn that thing down, Pleasant." "What are you, deaf and dumb?" "You're too close, too." "Look what I brought you." "Your favorite." "Thanks, Ma." "Mm-hmm." "I see you spying on your mama out that window, hon." "No, I wasn't." "Well, you should've." "Mighty pretty boy that dropped me off." "You're old enough to appreciate that." "Well, I'm gonna take a bath..." "I'm so tired..." "and go straight to bed." "Night, Ma." "Night." "Hey, bud, it's time for bed." "Look, Vallie." "Your favorite." "I told you I'd come back." "Hey, Ma?" "Mm-hmm?" "Mr. Sunday called, said he'd like you to come in early tomorrow." "Why?" "A big wreck out on 30." "Three were killed." "Great." "Was hoping for a quiet week at the bone parlor." "So am I gonna meet this one?" "Who?" "Oh, that boy?" "Doubt it." "Why?" "Ain't much future in a 99-cent musician." "You ain't gonna see him again?" "Ain't the point." "We need a man who can help us, not hobble us." "I ain't getting any younger." "You're 31." "Exactly." "Why?" "You want to meet him?" "Not especially, no." "Well, good thing I didn't ask him in, then, huh?" "I'd say your mama's got a thing for cowboys." "Looks that way." "I can't say I blame her." "Your daddy was a cowboy, wasn't he?" "That's what Mom says." "Pleasant, too." "Never met neither of 'em." "Well, she's got a cowpoke persuasion for sure." "You ought to bring her around, introduce us." "Oh, you got money?" "None to speak of." "Then forget about it." "Thank you very much." "You should sit down, Mr. Hogan." "You may still be weak from the accident." "Oh, thank you, ma'am, but I should greet the guests." "Do you expect many more?" "Not really." "We haven't lived here for long, don't know many folks." "You and your dearly departed just bought that big Seminole Valley spread, didn't you?" "Yes, we did." "Well, if there's anything I can do for you, you just let me know, Mr. Hogan, anything at all." "Well, thank you, ma'am." "Bet you don't have anybody to help you with that owie do you?" "Well..." "I knew it." "I knew it." "I'm gonna come over to that lonely old house of yours tonight and cook you a good dinner." "Oh, well, now, I can't ask that." "Well, you ain't asking." "I'm giving." "Just think of it as part of our services, Mr. Hogan." "Well, when you put it that way." "Ain't no other way to do it." "And don't you worry about the turnout, okay?" "I'm gonna make sure there are plenty of folks at the funeral procession." "Okay?" "Okay." "Okay." "Where are your friends?" "Melody had to work at the DQ, and Loretta said I couldn't force her down here with a tow truck and six hot mechanics." "Then offer her a dozen." "You promised." "Ma, I did not promise." "It's hard getting folks to go to a funeral of a body they don't know." "Just try again, please." "Go." "All right, I'm going." "I could get Pitney." "That silly red-haired kid?" "He's got nice clothes." "Go." "Call him." "What is it with Goofy?" "Pitney is taking Baton twirling lessons." "He wants to lead parades." "Well, this here is a funeral procession." "Close enough." "This is so... queer." "Hey, at least you're getting paid." "Aww." "Well, I will take you to the Two Kiss after and buy you a sodie." "Me, too?" "Sure." "We can sit in the backseat and make out like lovers." "Yuck." "Here." "Put this on." "What, that ratty old thing?" "Put it on." "The way you're dressed, it looks like we're mourning your lost virtue." "Just wear it." "Pitney!" "What..." "What are you doing?" "Give me that." "Thank you, Mr. Sunday." "Everything was splendid." "It's never enough, Mr. Hogan." "Bye." "See you later, Fred." "Fred?" "What are you up to?" "Nothing." "I told you before this is a business, not your personal mixer." "He's a decent man." "How else am I supposed to meet such a fella?" "How 'bout a church social?" "That pitiful lot?" "May as well raffle myself off at the VA hospital." "Am..." "Am I hurting anybody?" "Mm, mm, mm." "Hmm?" "If I am, I'd sure like to know." "What are you doing?" "Come on." "Let's go." "Uh-uh." "In a minute." "Ain't you been here before?" "Uh-uh." "Jeez, you are out of it." "This is a regular make-out zone at night." "He's got cowboy boots on." "So?" "It's weird." "Uh, not around here." "Seems kind of sacrilegious, that's all." "No, you want to see sacrilege, you just come out here on a Saturday night." "This is a regular Sodom and Gomorrah." "Really?" "Mm-hmm." "Come on." "Let's go." "This place is creepy without a car under your butt and a boy stuck to your face." "Okay." "Come on." "Come on!" "Coming." "Hey, Mrs. Dinwiddie." "Hey, Tammy." "Hey, Addie." "Does she ever talk?" "Not to me." "Did you have a good day?" "Passable." "Put a poor soul in the ground." "Oh, no, not his soul, honey, just his body." "How's about a lemonade?" "You look parched." "Thanks." "Spot any UFOs today?" "Nope, but they's out there." "I tell you, Addie, we've been busier than a June bee on chocolate lately." "Oh, I heard about the wreck." "Got two and two more from the gas explosion at Hartley's." "Oh, I heard that was terrible." "Did they look frightful?" "Picture charbroiled tater tots, and you get the idea." "Oh, dear, you have got a hard job." "I've had worse." "Come from tenant farmers." "Picked cotton and collards till I was a teenager." "Oh, I hear you, honey." "Called 'em sharecroppers back in the day." "That's where I got the lung disease put me on relief." "Heh." "My daddy worked my body to death in them fields." "Only reason sharecroppers have young'uns." "Oh, ain't that the truth?" "Take planting corpses over pulling cotton any day." "I hear you." "Ever been yonder?" "Where?" "Over by the sun." "Suppose that's where our Pas went." "Why are you thinking about that?" "It must be better there." "Why'd they go?" "Why do you want to go when you ain't ever been?" "Well, nothing really here for us, Pleasant." "Ain't you scared?" "Hmm." "Scared both ways." "Hi." "Oh, you boys are wasting your time." "Yeah, peach fuzz don't turn Francine on nohow." "Wouldn't talk if I was you, Big Bird." "Only thing that's gonna mate with you is a horny old whooping crane." "Whoo!" "Jerk." "Never cared much for that Mickey." "His buddy Old Ray's a piece of work, too, isn't he?" "I see kids going in and out of there all the time." "What do you think they're up to?" "No good, most likely." "Whoo!" "What do you suppose they're doing in there?" "They're picture taking, dope." "Well, duh." "But of what?" "Good question." "One way to find out." "What?" "Loretta!" "No, wait." "Damn it." "Careful." "I can't..." "I can't see." "Whoo!" "Okay, just see if you can see." "What?" "Somebody might catch us." "Do not be a pussy." "Come on." "Oh, my..." "Whoo-hoo!" "Hee Hee!" "Oh, my God." "What?" "What?" "I can't really..." "What the hell you think y'all doing?" "Nothing." "Uh..." "We ain't doing nothing." "Mm-mm." "Come on." "Bye." "Stay away from here, or you'll come to no good, you hear?" "Tenkill, what's going on, boy?" "Hey!" "Ahh." "I'll be right there, sugar." "Come on." "Think Tenkill's in cahoots with 'em?" "Let's see if I got this straight." "We're trying to figure out if Tenkill's doing something we haven't figured out if Mickey and Old Ray are doing yet?" "Is that right?" "Yeah." "Tough call, but you best keep your distance, anyway." "Hard to do." "Hey, there, girlie." "How you doing?" "Fine." "You know, I seen you nosing around my place last night." "Ah, it's okay." "It's okay." "Maybe you'd like to come in sometime." "Nah, it's okay." "Mm." "Well, maybe when you's a little more grown up, then." "I think maybe you and I are gonna do that dance then." "I tell you what, girl, gonna change your life." "What'd you see looking in his window?" "Not sure." "Francine probably knows what they're up to." "Francine's worldly-wise." "Mm-hmm." "Oh, come on." "Please?" "Come on." "Stop it." "Come on." "No." "Why not?" "Francine!" "I swear on my mama's grave." "We won't tell nobody." "When'd your mama die, Loretta?" "I saw her just today down at the Piggly Wiggly." "Well, she's going to die sometime." "Forget it." "You're too young." "What is that supposed to mean?" "We are the exact same age as you." "Yeah, age don't mean nothing." "'Sides, there's no telling what they'd do if I snitch, so stop." "Go." "Damn it." "Should've snitched." "Guess she was talking about experience, hmm?" "Yep." "Well, all I know about sex is what I seen in the movies." "Nothing wrong with that." "But it's not real." "Nope, but it's safe." "♪ Bad side, baby ♪" "♪ War day or night ♪" "♪ Bad side, baby ♪" "♪ War day or night ♪" "Been spying on folks a lot lately." "It was Loretta's doing." "Counting the other morning?" "That was different." "Yeah, that's right." "Come on." "Jeez, Ma." "Wife's barely cold in the grave, huh?" "I'm just helping a man through a trying time." "It's part of my job." "Till Dawn?" "If I wait for Mrs. Dearly Departed to get cold as charity, somebody else'll sidle up to him before me." "Yeah, wow." "Doesn't seem that much of a prize, anyway." "Look here, girl." "There's lots of men out there, good and bad, and it ain't easy telling the chaff from the wheat, so you got to cast your bread on the water looking for the right nibble." "But you shouldn't be worrying about me." "Gotta be thinking about yourself." "Well, here, what's that girl, you know, married the buffalo boy?" "Buffalo boy?" "Yeah, you know, um..." "Oh, Cody and Lisa?" "That's the one." "Yeah." "Well, she... she found herself a man at 14." "Now, not that you want to aim as low as her, but there ought to be a nice boy out there for you." "Just don't be coming home with your belly all blown up, or I'll kick your butt out." "Last thing I need is more kids around here." "Two of youse to love is enough." "Just 'cause you and my ma got married young, Lisa, don't mean I'm gonna." "All I know's I like it." "That's 'cause Cody knocked all the sense out of you." "Loretta!" "What?" "It's not like everybody can't see this for themselves, huh?" "He only does it when I rub him wrong." "Besides, making up's nice." "I'll bet." "You know, I'll bet that your ma just wants you married off so that she could be free of you, Val." "My ma loves me as much as yours, and you're dirt to say crosswise." "I think her ma just wants her to be happy." "Yeah." "It's a lot nicer being married, doing it with just one man, you know." "Oh." "Well, it is." "You do it a lot?" "Every morn and night." "Get out." "On weekends, he likes it midday, too." "Cody gets a stiff worked up pretty regular." "Aw, damn." "I gotta get me a man." "I need one." "Shh." "Cut that." "Here comes Cody." "Hey, Vallie." "What's doing?" "Nothing." "Hey, Loretta." "Hi, Cody." "Lisa was just telling us what a sweet man you are." "Well, that's mighty nice of you, sweet pea." "Just the truth." "Come here." "Wow." "We better be heading." "See you!" "Bye." "Bye." "Don't do nothing we wouldn't do." "Hey, what is that supposed to mean?" "We don't do nothing." "You speak for yourself." "Maybe I should cast my bread on the water more." "All things considered," "I think your dough could use some rising." "Suppose anybody'll think I'm pretty?" "Oh, yeah." "Yes, honey, they will." "More than that, you're smart and talented." "Makes you a triple threat." "There's more to the world than Tardust and birthing babies." "What's a pollywog like you know about the world?" "I watch movies and read." "My teacher tells us stuff." "Uh-huh." "Did you hear what Mrs. Bowes said about that woman scientist?" "What, about being born as poor as us?" "No, Gomer." "Dying radioactive." "How messed up is that?" "I do not want to be a scientist." "I want to be like Agatha Christie, a great writer." "Heh." "How are you ever gonna be a writer?" "Poor kid from the sticks." "Mrs. Bowes says Agatha didn't have a father, just like me." "Except her Pa died." "Yours just up and ran away, loser in Chief." "Loretta says men want one thing and women got it." "I don't know as men are that predictable." "Some of us are quite complex and sensitive." "I know somebody like that." "I know you do." "Not you." "Ah, that pretty boy at school you're always gawking at." "He is not a pretty boy." "Well, hell, he better be." "That's a lot of hanging around and waiting for ugly." "I do not gawk at him." "You stare at him like a hound dog after a hambone." "That's gawking." "Well... he's very affecting." "Hey, I saw you fighting with those boys at school." "What was that all about?" "I stepped on their dumb old baseball cards by accident." "Where'd you learn those nasty words you called him?" "I've been around." "Well, stop it." "You're using 'em wrong, anyway." "And pay attention to where you're going." "Gosh." "I pay attention plenty." "Only to that darn Indian, Tenkill." "Do not." "Do so." "I don't like it." "I don't trust him." "Hey, Pleasant," "I ever told you about the native fire legend?" "Uh-uh." "Well... well, in the beginning of time... this world was cold." "It was very cold." "But the thunders, see, they brought lightning." "Poom!" "Crack!" "And struck a hollow tree afire on a distant island." "And, see, a Raven, a screech owl, they flew out there to try to get that fire." "And, Raven used to be white, tried to pick that fire up, and he burned hisself, and that's why he's black now." "Oh." "Yeah, and Screech Owl, he rubbed his eyes so hard from all that smoke, that now that's why owls got the big old eyes." "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Anyway, they couldn't find a way to pick up that fire." "So finally a water spider... she came crawling across that water." "She spun a tutsi bowl on her back." "A what bowl?" "Tutsi bowl." "Mean like a Tootsie Roll?" "No, it's just a bowl." "It's not important." "Can I finish my story?" "I just don't get the Tootsie Roll part." "Forget that." "This is a plain old bowl, okay?" "Okay." "All right." "So that water spider, she... she put that ember in her tut... in a bowl and brought it back across the water to all the other creatures, and forever after, that's how the world had fire." "Do Indians believe that?" "Eh, not so much anymore, but that's a pretty good story, eh?" "It's okay." "Not as good as those" "Saturday-morning cartoons, I suppose?" "Not the "X-Men."" "Shoot." "You didn't tell your mother about him hanging around Tenkill?" "Nah, 'course not." "She'd be pissed." "That a mighty queer family." "Mother's hot for cowboys, and brother's chasing after an Injun." "Well, Mom thinks he's slow." "Doesn't seem like she'd know too much about that." "No... but schoolwise, he's rickety." "Pleasant's teacher and I feel that he needs tutoring, Mrs. Russell, in a special education school." "That's for retards, ain't it?" "Challenged is the term." "I think that it would be better for his self-esteem if he were with children who didn't outperform him." "You think it'll be better for Pleasant's self-esteem to be situated with a bunch of morons?" "I think that's not the best way of looking at it, Mrs. Russell." "Well, you look at it any way you want to, okay?" "I'm gonna need to think on it." "Um, but you won't be kicking my boy out, will you?" "No." "No, of course not." "Okay." "Thank you." "Come on." "Part with the father rescuing..." "There you are." "Hi, Ma." "Hello, Mrs. Russell." "Hello." "Ready?" "I was hoping I could talk with you." "Oh?" "You're not gonna tell me my girl's an idiot, are you?" "Oh, my gosh, no." "Why would I say that?" "She's quite talented." "Really?" "Yes." "Vallie is a very good writer." "In fact, she wrote a story" "I'd like to enter in a national contest." "What's that gonna cost?" "Well, um, I'm sure the school can pay any fees." "Okay, then." "Uh, you should really think about sending Vallie to the Latin School in Oklahoma City." "Latin?" "What good's that gonna do her?" "That's just the name of the school, Mrs. Russell." "Miss." "Oh, I'm sorry." "I..." "No, it's okay." "It's a common mistake." "Well, thank you, Ms. Bowes." "Mrs." "Good for you." "Night." "Come on, Pleasant." "Let's go, bud." "Thank you." "Bye." "Appreciate it." "Hey, Ma..." "Mm-hmm." "What do you think about me getting into that Latin School?" "Oh, Vallie, how are we ever going to afford that?" "And to what purpose, hon?" "Do you think you're gonna be President or something?" "She thinks I could be a writer." "Oh, hon..." "Yeah?" "You gotta be sensitive to the limitations of your birth." "Your best bet is to do like Elaine Howser did or my pitiful mama for that matter, found a nice man, take her away from a hardscrabble life." "Ain't seen hide nor hair of her since I was 10." "Don't that make you mad?" "Mad?" "No." "Who could blame her?" "Daddy worked us like dogs, worse than dogs." "Evening, ladies." "God damn it, you got some airs about you for trailer trash, chickpea." "I hate him, Ma." "Some bitches." "Being neighborly is all." "All right!" "Bikes!" "Why do you always get the good stuff?" "I'm a wish-book beast." "Yeah." "I take that one and that one, ooh, and that one." "You'd be a three-bike boy." "Yeah." "Your turn." "All right." "Come on." "Be good." "What..." "Lawn furniture?" "We don't have a lawn." "Yeah, exactly." "Wait a minute." "What's that?" "It's a Black  Decker bug zapper." "Cool." "I'll trade you one of my bikes for it." "Okay." "But I want the Razor." "Okay." "Tenkill says Thunderbird makes thunder to protect us from witches at night." "Hey, that's heathen stuff." "Vallie." "Pleasant, you're supposed to be asleep." "I can't." "Can you give me something to dream on?" "Yeah." "Ready?" "Yeah." "Imagine you're in a ferocious battle." "Your men are pinned down on Slaughterhouse Hill." "Only one person has the speed and daring to make it up the hill and save 'em..." "Sergeant Russell, fighting man of fury!" "This one's cool." "Can you take it from here?" "Yeah." "Night, Vallie." "Night, Pleasant." "We got some cool stuff for Mom's Birthday, Val." "Yeah, we sure did." "What are we looking at?" "Really perform." "I just..." "I can't even tell you how much that meant to me." "Just..." "That's so kind of you to say." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Such a pleasure." "Goodbye." "Thanks." "Goodbye." "Hello." "Hi." "Did you want me to sign a book?" "Oh, I..." "I don't have one." "Oh." "Would you like a book?" "Yes, please, ma'am, I would." "Thank you, Bobby." "What's your name?" "Vallie Sue." "That's very pretty." "Thank you." "Goodbye." "Bye." "What'd she write?" ""Turn your dreams and ambitions into tomorrow's daily bread."" "What's that mean?" "She thinks we should change our diet." "Wow, cool." "How's she know what we eat?" "Come on, bud." "I don't see her." "Is that her?" "Oh, no." "Some dumb old guy's with her." " Oh, great." " I'll be there." "Give me five minutes, darling." "Shh." "Quiet." "Quiet." "Get down." "Get down." "Surprise!" "Surprise!" "Now, what the..." "What are you two up to?" "Happy Birthday, Mom." "Look what we got you!" "Happy Birthday, Mom." "You two are so sweet." "All this for me?" "It's your presents, Ma." "Me and Val have been saving forever." "Well, I expect you have." "Now, how 'bout we do this later, though, okay?" "I got somebody waiting." "Aw, Mom." "He wants to take me out for a birthday dinner." "Ain't that nice?" "Look, I'll blow out the candles, and we'll celebrate later, okay?" "Make a wish." "Mmm." "Okay, I gotta get a move on." "Later, okay?" "!" "She don't like the stuff, Val." "She does." "She's just busy." "Want some cake?" "Nah." "I don't want any." "Check this out." "You know, Natives believe that spirits can inhabit animals." "Do you believe that?" "I think that there's guardian spirits, so, yeah, it's possible." "He won't run away, will he?" "I'll make sure he doesn't." "Wow." "We'll put a bell around this, and we'll tie it around his neck." "Then you'll always know where he's at." "I'm gonna name him Spirit, 'Kay?" "Well, that part's up to you." "He's your cat." "Yeah." "Vallie, look what I got!" "Wow, it's cute." "Where'd you get it?" "Tenkill gave it to me." "Uh-uh." "Ma..." "What are you doing?" "Take this." "Hey..." "What are you thinking?" "I was just trying to do something nice for Pleasant." "But..." "What's wrong with you?" "Just stop it." "I don't have time to watch Pleasant every minute." "You have to help me keep a better eye on him." "I know." "Ma, why do you dislike Tenkill so much?" "My God, he's like a primitive, full of heathen stories and God-awful savage myths." "Thinks he can wheedle his way into our family through Pleasant, improve his station marrying a white woman." "Our people civilized this country." "We got no business sinking back into savage ways, trashing the family tree." "Bad enough we gotta contend with a boy that's slower than a slug in May." "Where is that boy, anyways?" "I don't know." "He ran off somewheres." "Well, you better go find him before it gets dark." "I don't know how people stand smoking." "Common appetite." "Part of being human." "Looks stupid." "Thanks for sugarcoating it." "Loretta says Ma's got a powerful appetite for men." "Well, that's a whole 'nother story." "Hmm." "Francine, you filthy little slut." "Is that what I raised you to be?" "Ma, I'm sorry!" "You're hurting me, Ma!" "Go!" "Leave me alone!" "You go!" "Now!" "You move it!" "Mom!" "Go!" "Leave me alone!" "Hey, Ma." "Mm-hmm?" "Uh, I heard Francine's ma screaming at her 'cause she came out of a concession stand with a boy, and he was pulling his pants up." "Ah, Tenkill ought to tear that damn old concession stand down." "Never used for nothing but no good." "Think Old Ray sold drugs out of it once." "Mm." "Did you mess around with lots of boys when you were Francine's age?" "Not exactly a proper question for your mom, hon." "But I had my share of beaus." "How come you never marry any of 'em?" "Marrying's a serious business, gotta be worthwhile." "Hmm." "What about that widow man?" "Up to his ears in debt, hon." "Good thing I went through his desk." "We don't need no more problems, do we?" "Nah." "No, ma'am." "Going after a man is like wildcatting, hon." "You're searching for a good claim in a land of doubtful productivity." "And even though I like the prospecting," "I ain't hanging around no empty Wells." "Remember, hon, the man does the drilling, but it's us women that takes most of the risk." "See how pretty this makes your feet?" "Yeah." "Hey, is that important?" "Like honey to bees, sweetie." "Hmm." "Would you marry anyone with plentiful well?" "Not anyone." "Can't marry beneath yourself." "Like Tenkill?" "Exactamo." "I bet he was hot when he was young." "Ma says he was an all-state halfback, says he's real strong." "Used to twist nails around his girlfriends' fingers for steady rings." "Wow." "Ma says that your ma had a thing for him." "Nuh-uh!" "Mm-hmm." "Swear!" "My ma says he followed her around." "Yours says more, she's a liar." "Okay." "Don't get mad." "I'm just saying what I heard." "Ah, look at old Dinwiddie garbage picking." "Suppose Tenkill pays her for that?" "No." "She's just got no life." "What you doing?" "Nothing." "Just hanging." "Hey, you got a cigarette?" "Sure." "♪ I say can't you see ♪" "♪ I want to believe ♪" "♪ Take me away ♪" "♪ Take me away... ♪" "I love your car, Cody, man." "Yeah?" "That's cool." "♪ I try to live it... ♪" "Hey, hop in." "We'll go to the Two Kiss and hang." "We can do that." "Yeah?" "Can't we, Vallie Sue?" "I mean, I got no money." "Oh, no sweat." "I got Andy Jackson burning a hole." "Okay." "Give her some room, dude." "What?" "In the back, dope!" "Come on." "Oh." "Oh, yeah." "Yeah." "♪ So take me away ♪" "Hi, Vallie Sue." "Hey, Boyd." "Bang it." "♪ Take me away ♪" "♪ Where the milk and honey run just like... ♪" "Boyd, ain't you part Indian?" "Uh, yeah." "Yeah." "You know your tribe?" "Uh, Choctaw, but ain't like I live out on the res." "You know, nothing to be ashamed of." "Eh, nothing for pride, neither, not like winning the lottery or something." "No, I guess not." "Hey, y-you want to go out sometime?" "Hey, Loretta!" "What?" "Well, jeez." ""Well, jeez," what?" "Nothing." "I'm sorry." "What?" "Uh, go out, like to a movie?" "Oh, yeah." "I guess." "Maybe we'll go see "Pocahontas"?" "Okay." "Oh, th-that was a joke." "Yeah." "Oh." "Think you can marry an Indian?" "I don't know." "Lot of bad blood." "Hmm." "Like the Little Big Horn." "Or "Little Big Man."" "Or Wounded Knee." "You know, some folks just don't mix well." "Yeah, but half the state's got Indian blood." "Guess when people got their clothes off, all that bad blood just turns hot." "Wait." "Okay." "This is a peculiar territory, awful pretty in places, but you look close, and the grounds full of rocks in the worst damn dirt in creation." "Not good for growing at all." "I hate it when she brings 'em home." "I hate it." "Sounds dangerous." "Exactly." "And disturbing for sure." "Yeah." "You don't know the half." "Oh, my God." "Hey, Ma..." "Yeah?" "Why'd you bring him home?" "You never bring them home." "Please, Vallie." "It's too early." "He saw me in my underwear!" "He didn't touch you, did he?" "Nah, 'course not." "Well, then?" "Ain't right." "It's not." "Why didn't you go to his place, Ma?" "We couldn't." "He said he was getting his place redone or something." "Redone?" "He's married, Ma." "You're screwing married men, stupid." "Don't you talk to me like that, young lady." "I hate you!" "After all I've done for you, you snot!" "Get off me!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "You're bad." "You're bad people!" "I hate you!" "I hate you both!" "You're ugly pieces of hose-beast!" "Pleasant!" "Pleasant!" "Christ." "Gosh damn it." "What did he call us?" "I don't know." "He hears things and mixes 'em up sometimes." "Damn it." "I'm not no home-wrecker." "You're getting older now." "You need to be finding yourself a man like I did when I was your age." "I don't know how much longer we can live under the same roof." "Get me?" "Yeah, I get you." "Pleasant." "Sorry." "I'm really sorry." "I, uh..." "I love you more than anybody." "You know that." "Hey, you and me has gotta always be friends, okay?" "No matter what." "You promise?" "Promise." "Okay, let's go." "I don't like it under here." "Where we going?" "I thought we'd head over to the cemetery, see what's doing." "Y-You ever been?" "Oh, not at night." "Ah." "What's that?" "Oh, it's... it's, uh," "Buzz Biker's Easy Living." "It's cheap, but it's good." "Um, no, thanks." "You gotta loosen up, Vallie Sue." "All that's gonna loosen up is my dinner." "There she is, darling." "Wow." "It's huge." "It surely is, darling." "Come on." "Let me show you the works!" "Whoop!" "Hey, is that Cody's car?" "Uh, yeah, it is." "Aww." "He brings Lisa here?" "That probably ain't Lisa." "What are you..." "No." "Vallie, stop!" "What are you..." "Can't be bothering people when they got their heads down!" "Hey!" "Jesus." "I knew it!" "Vallie." "What are you doing here?" "I can't believe you, Loretta, or you either, Cody." "Boyd!" "Boyd, get the hell out of here!" "What's the matter with you?" "I'm trying to get her." "Vallie..." "Get your shirt on!" "Get out of here!" "Please, I told you, Vallie." "I told you..." "Hey, y'all two got no class!" "You know that?" "!" "No class!" "Where you going?" "I don't do orgies, moron." "Lonnie, get this bitch out of here." "She's spoiling the vibe." "Hey!" "Get your hands off me!" "God damn it!" "What's the matter with you, you jackass?" "You trying to kill me?" "Wait." "What?" "Wait!" "You can't leave me here, you dirty, lowdown scum!" "S-So now what?" "Home." "Yeah." "I don't want to preach, Tammy." "Then don't put yourself out." "But I think coming out in the middle of the night gives me some rights." "You're too old for this, dear." "Really?" "How old is fitting and proper to get chucked off a bus into a mud hole?" "You know what I mean." "How many of those girls with you tonight had two kids at home?" "We didn't trade family pictures." "Not many, I bet." "I thought you didn't gamble." "You're not a young mare anymore, dear." "You got Miles." "It's time for you to face up to it." "It's time for you to settle down." "It's time?" "When's it my time?" "Hey, Vallie Sue." "Mickey." "Come here a sec, darling." "Come on." "Yeah?" "So I heard that, uh, you and Boyd, y'all set the Guinness record for short dates last night." "Who told you that?" "Well, it made all the papers." "Uh, listen here, darling." "Boyd, he ain't the man for you anyhow." "Sweet young thing like you, mmm, you need an experienced old hand like Mick." "I'll take you for a ride." "Just ask Francine here." "Ask me what?" "I was just offering my services to Vallie here," "She is way too good for you, Mickey." "Now, what the hell's that supposed to mean?" "Vallie's smart." "She's gonna be a writer or Professor or something, get out of this place." "Is that so?" "Yeah, that is." "Hmm." "Well, you just a sweet young chicken to me, darling." "I ain't a chicken." "Come on, lover." "Ugh!" "Your hands are sticky." "Get off me." "Kick your ass out..." "Hey, Vallie." "Home-wrecker." "I ain't wrecking nothing, okay." "Cody don't like Lisa no more." "He's getting a divorce." "Says who?" "Says Cody." "Vallie." "He must love me." "Ahem." "Look." "What is that?" "A bee sting?" "It's a hickey, you dope." "Ah, gross." "Okay, guys don't just give anyone a hickey." "Look." "He gave me one on my chest." "Don't go showing me that, especially when I'm going to the revival." "You are?" "Yeah." "Do you want me to come with you?" "Lightning'll strike, you get anywheres near it." "Oh, Vallie, come on." "He don't like Lisa no more." "Sure." "He don't like her so much, he only screws her twice a day and three times on Sunday." "You shock me sometimes, Vallie Sue!" "You know that?" "You do." "Wait." "We have so many temptations paraded upon us day after day, billboards and bumper stickers and televisions and T-shirts, all leading us away from the true path of righteousness." "Now, I saw something earlier" "I found very disturbing." "I have seen a statue in your cemetery... of Jesus in cowboy boots." "Is this the Jesus of Matthew's gospel?" "No." "Of John's?" "No." "No, no, this is Jesus according to John Wayne." "Beware of false prophets, brethren... who come to you in sheep's clothing." "Repent, and know the one true Savior." "He's talking about you, Loretta." "You know, I feel the Spirit, Val." "You just feel guilty." "I can be saved just as good as anybody." "No, you just want to get off easy." "Eh, so's everybody." "That means that you can do anything." "Well, folks usually do." "13-35." "Hey, what's going on?" "Well, you'll never believe." "Francine's missing." "What?" "She run away?" "Some say." "I think she was murdered." "Murdered?" "Why would anybody kill Francine?" "'Cause she's a slut!" "Sluts always get it in the movies." "Hey!" "You suppose Mickey and Old Ray had anything to do with Francine disappearing?" "Could." "They're lowdown enough." "She said they'd do something if she told anyone." "Pretty strong evidence." "And what about Tenkill?" "Indians can be mighty fearsome." "I wish you could help." "You best stay clear of those boys, darling." "Don't I know." "Get your ass in there." "Vallie." "Stay away from here." "Stay away from here." "Car D-25, code 6, 105 North Avenue, 202." "It'll take some time." "To sort through your daughter's accusation." "Gotta talk to these fellas, find Mickey and look for Francine." "I can't believe Tenkill had anything to do with hurting Francine, Sheriff." "Well, if he didn't, Miss Russell, we'll find out." "Those fellas are gonna be as mad as hell." "They won't bother you." "I'll make sure of it." "Talk to you soon." "Come on." "Oh." "Hey, Ma." "What?" "Why'd you stand up for Tenkill?" "Known him half my life." "But I saw him." "Well, I don't know what you saw, but Tenkill wouldn't help Old Ray change a tire, much less kill somebody." "Thought you didn't like him." "Liking's got nothing to do with it." "You're accusing him of murder." "I can't believe you accused Tenkill." "He wouldn't hurt nobody." "If I never see him again," "I won't talk to you no more!" "But..." "See what you done?" "You gotta have sympathy for my girl, Sheriff." "She fell off a pony when she was little right on her head." "Ever since, she's been different." "Some of your neighbors," "I'm afraid, think she's touched." "Exactly, full of fancy ideas, Sheriff." "Please call me Clint." "Clint?" "Oh." "I love that name." "Reminds me of Clint Eastwood." "You do, too." "Hey." "I didn't make it up." "Francine's missing." "But there is no evidence that they hurt her." "Maybe you dreamt it, honey." "Dreamt it?" "Sure." "Sometimes you get disturbing thoughts in your head, and you wake up, and you think that it happened." "Right, Clint?" "It's happened to me." "You are so understanding, Clint." "You really wallop your head?" "Ma drags that story out every time I embarrass her." "I don't remember any such thing." "You think you dreamt it?" "I don't know." "They do." "So they let 'em go, huh?" "Yeah." "Not good." "Nah." "They's pissed." "Well, if it ain't our old buddy Vallie Sue." "I ever tell you how much I love the name Vallie Sue, Mick?" "Oh, sure." "You always tell me how much you love Vallie Sue, so much you could eat her." "That's right." "I'd eat her all up." "Why don't you smile for the Birdie, girl?" "Hey, you got no right to do that!" "Oh, rights?" "Heh." "We just begun exercising our rights, darling." "Jerks!" "Whoo!" "What'd Ms. Bowes want?" "Uh, She wanted to talk to my mom about trying to get me a scholarship to the Latin School in Oklahoma City." "Well, she'll have to call missing persons for that." "Speaking of missing, I saw Francine on a missing-person poster." "Oh, no, she ain't missing." "She just ran away." "You said she was murdered." "Daisy Shoop said someone saw her at the bus station the day she vanished." "And 'sides, you need a body or bloody clothes for murder." "Why would she run away?" "Well, her father found out that she was donating the family jewels to the local stud farm." "Huh." "You know, she probably ran off to Hollywood." "She always did want to be a movie star." "Either way, she ain't coming back." "That is so cool." "I'm so happy." "Hey, what's going on?" "You'll never guess." "Well, if I gotta guess, then I don't want to know." "Lisa's pregnant." "Pregnant?" "Uh-huh." "Two months." "Wow." "Well, congratulations." "Whoo!" "Whoo!" "Yeah, boy!" "Hey, Ma..." "Mm-hmm." "I need to talk to you." "Oh, I can't talk right now." "Well, Mickey and Old Ray are after me." "Oh, ignore them." "They're just trying to scare you." "Yeah, they're doing a good job." "They just ran me off the road." "Oh, what did you expect, that they'd love you?" "I don't have time to deal with your crazy stories right now." "The Sheriff'll keep 'em in line." "What are you doing that's so damn important?" "I told you." "I got a date with that guy I been seeing, the rancher." "So?" ""So"?" "He's an ex-rodeo star, and he's so nice." "Okay." "Uh-huh." "All right." "What's his name?" "Hooty Hargrove." "Hooty?" "That's his stage name or corral name or something, but I call him Hoyt." "That's his Christian name," "Hoyt Hargrove." "Ain't that nice?" "Great." "Yep." "Oh, that's him." "Okay." "So you need to stay away from those mangy characters, you hear?" "Mm-hmm." "Wish me luck." "Yeah." "This guy isn't like the others." "How so?" "Well..." "Heh." "Think he's the gusher she's been prospecting for." "Says he's gonna be our savior." "Tall order." "Heh." "Yeah." "Hey, look." "It's Hooty!" "Look at that." "Hey, Hooty." "Oh, yes, it is." "Hooty, how are you?" "Oh, good." "Good." "I'm your biggest fan." "Boy, I seen you ride a million times." "Yes, he has." "Ah, thank you." "Thank you very much." "Oh, uh, this is my wife, Denise." "Hi." "Oh, pleasure." "It's so nice to meet you." "I just adore your ads for Mammon Meats, Mr. Hargrove." "Oh, well, thank you, ma'am." "We do our best." "Now, are you a rodeo star, too?" "Oh, no." "I'm just here with Hoyt." "Sure looks like a movie star, Hooty." "Yes, she does." "Ah, she sure does." "Mr. Hargrove, I don't want to put you out, but do you mind signing an autograph for my son?" "Why, sure." "Why, sure." "I'd be happy to." "Oh, thank you so much." "You got it." "Denise." "Mm-hmm." "It's Denise." "There it is." "There it is!" "Would you sign it, too?" "Me?" "You don't want my autograph!" "Yes, I do!" "Yeah, she does." "She does." "Gotta keep the public happy, hon!" "Okay." "Thank you." "You are such a lovely couple." "Ah, thank you." "Do you have children?" "Nah." "No." "No." "We don't want no young'uns running around here." "Been there, done that!" "♪ When we had a rock-'n-'roll band... ♪" "Thank you." "That's really nice." "So nice to meet you." "Thank you very much." "Nice to meet you folks." "You guys have fun now." "Ooh, honey." "Look at 'em." "There they go." "Hooty!" "Hooty!" "Vallie... did Ma come home last night?" "Nah." "Come here, bud." "That's three days." "She hasn't never stayed away three whole days." "Yeah." "Well, she called, said she'd be home later." "This one gonna be our dad?" "I..." "I don't know." "If he's gonna be our dad, we ought to meet him, don't you think?" "Well, he's not marrying us." "Not too high." "Hey, lookit right there." "That's that little shit's cat." "Let's get him, man." "Whoo!" "Whoo!" "Yeah, boy!" "Pleasant!" "Wait..." "Vallie..." "Oh." "Someone killed Spirit." "Spirit." "He looks terr..." "No, no, don't touch it." "I'm sorry." "It's not an it!" "Okay." "It's a him, and I can't just leave him here!" "I know." "I know, bud." "I'm sorry, okay?" "Look, um, uh, go... go get his box." "Okay, hurry." "I'm gonna watch him." "We're gonna..." "We're gonna hide him." "We're gonna properly bury him after school." "Okay." "And Tenkill can help." "We..." "We don't need Tenkill." "We have to do it with Tenkill!" "Okay, okay." "We'll do it with Tenkill." "I promise." "Go get the box, 'Kay, bud?" "Oh, Spirit." "Well, I think that's plenty deep." "Spirit." "Do you think there's a Heaven, Tenkill?" "Well, I think there's a unity in life and we share a kinship to everything that lives and dies, no matter how big or small." "Hey... there's a Heaven... and Spirit's in it." "Hi, hon." "Hi." "You going somewhere?" "Just getting some things to take to Hoyt's." "I had to wear one of his shirts today." "Can you believe it?" "Oh." "Yeah, you been there a lot." "Honey, we are having such a wonderful time." "I can't believe it." "It's so easy." "Mm." "Pleasant misses you a lot." "Oh, the sweetheart." "Mm." "Well, you tell him that I'll be home tomorrow night." "Hoyt willing." "You okay?" "Mm-hmm." "Yeah." "I'm doing this for us, you know." "Yeah, sure." "Oh, my God." "You know, Pleasant's been spending lots of time with Tenkill." "He has?" "Well..." "Tenkill likes him." "He'll be all right." "There's money for groceries on the counter." "See you tomorrow." "Hopefully." "Might be..." "Oh, what is that?" "Pleasant, what are you doing?" "Thought I saw a rat." "Wha..." "A rat?" "What's the matter with you!" "Get out of there!" "Groceries." "Oh, yeah." "What is it?" "Poster about Francine." "Sweet." "What's it say about her?" "Read it yourself." "Writing's too small." "You can't read that?" "What?" "Hey, girlie." "Where's your ma at?" " She's around." " Yeah?" "'Cause I ain't seen her around lately." "She went off with that broke-down rodeo star, leave her little chickens for us." "Hey, I ain't no chicken." "Heh heh." "Keep that up, chickpea," "I'm gonna have to squash you like that raggedy old cat of yours." "Hey!" "You won't do nothing of the sort, you hear!" "You better leave us alone." "Come on." "Come on, Pleasant." "Come on." "It's too much talk." "Hey, buddy." "Yeah?" "I, uh..." "I think you might need glasses." "Yeah?" "Mm-hmm." "Don't know as I want them." "Why?" "Look at Thurley Breakbill." "Thurley?" "Who's he?" "Guy in school." "Kids put tacks on his chair." "That's mean." "Yeah." "He jumps a mile." "And one time, Skeet and Rooch gave him the noogies with a file cleaner." "I suppose Thurley wears glasses." "Mm-hmm." "Ahh!" "Whoo, yeah!" "All right." "All right." "You..." "Hey." "Hell of a shebang." "Vallie Sue!" "Oh, my God." "Hey, Vallie Sue, come on out, little girl." "What's going on?" "Mickey and Old Ray." "Come on out with Old Ray." "Sounds like a rhino is right..." "Shh." "No, no, no." "I know you're in there." "I smell you, girl." "Okay." "Mm." "Mm." "Slide over in here." "Where's your mom at, girl?" "Is she still riding that... that broke-down old cowboy?" "Ride us, Vallie Sue!" "Come out!" "Ride us like a cowgirl!" "Hey, you fools!" "Do you know what time it is?" "Hey, shut up, you old hag!" "Shut you up when I call the cops, you lousy stinking swine!" "Come on." "Come on." "Come on, Ray." "We don't want no more troubles with Johnny Law." "Whew." "Get off my truck, you dumb bitches." "Go on!" "Get down!" "Well, look who decided to show up." "Now, don't get frosty, Ashley." "I rushed." "Huh." "It's just Hoyt, he won't let me leave." "It's kind of sweet, you know?" "No." "And unless he's paying you for your time..." "Ashley!" "You tell him I am and you got responsibilities." "Okay!" "Okay!" "Don't get your feathers up." "Who's the new stiff?" ""Decedent," please." "Doris Dinwiddie." "What?" "I know her." "Hmm." "Jeez." "How'd she go?" "Turned on the gas." "Oh, no..." "What is that stuff?" "Ah, some of her things." "Tenkill dropped 'em off." "She was pretty." "Mm." "What are you gonna do with it?" "She got no family I know of." "Heard she had a son once." "Yeah." "Welcome back to..." "Hey, Pleasant?" "We've been discussing..." "Pleasant!" "Where are you?" "Sightings we've been having recently." "Come on." "Hey, Mrs. Stubblefield... how many UFOs and... you seen Pleasant?" "No." "Ought to be home this hour." "Yeah." "I know." "Well, I'll keep eye out for him, though." "Thanks." "See any saucers?" "No, but they's out there." "You have a good night." "Regarding an alien that he had a relation..." "Pleasant, I ain't messing around!" "Pleasant!" "Over here, Pleasant!" "Pleasant!" "Pleasant!" "Pleasant!" "Hey, Pleasant!" "Come on." "I ain't messing around." "Hello, little girl." "Here, chick, chick, chick, chick." "Where's Pleasant?" "Oh, Pleasant?" "Pleasant!" "Over here, Pleasant!" "Where is he?" "Shh." "Don't you worry about Pleasant, little girl." "'Cause I'm gonna show you pleasant plenty." "So we got us some settling up to do, eh?" "Tenkill." "Now, we ain't bothering you, Tenkill." "This ain't none of yours," "Injun." "Move on." "Hey, maybe he wants a piece of her, Ray, huh?" "Oh, is that it?" "You just want a piece of her, too, don't you?" "Come on over, big boy." "Yeah, come on, T." "You know what you two remind me of?" "That scum that collects on the creek where the current can't carry it away." "You don't want to mess with us, Tenkill." "No, you don't, Injun." "Yeah." "Well, boys, even if you two can take me... which I don't think you can... then you better be up to killing me, 'cause if you leave me alive," "I'll get a knife or a gun, whatever it takes, and kill you, everyone near and dear to you." "I'll erase every trace of you from the face of the earth." "So the question you gotta ask yourselves is do you want to mess with me?" "What the hell's the matter with you?" "The girl almost put you in jail." "Come on, now." "What is it?" "You want her all for yourself?" "Is that it?" "Then go ahead." "You take her, kemo sabe." "She's all yours." "Come on, Mickey." "Come on." "What the hell's the matter?" "Let's go." "Val, you okay?" "Yeah." "All right." "Good." "Where's Pleasant?" "He's safe." "He's at my place." "He is?" "Yeah." "All right, now come on." "Let's get out of here." "All right." "I was always scared of him." "Understandable, the way your mama badmouthed him." "And he's really, uh..." "He's really..." "Indian." "Yeah." "Yeah." "The world's damn confusing." "Hard to know what to believe anymore." "Hey, Vallie." "Hi." "I almost got you in trouble." "Why'd you help me?" "Why'd you get me in trouble?" "Thought I was doing what was right." "There you go." "Why doesn't my mother like you?" "Well, it's not so much that she doesn't like me." "It's my kind." "Yeah." "The Indians." "Yeah." "Except rich ones, maybe." "Pleasant likes you a lot." "I like him, too." "You spend lots of time with him." "Yeah, some." "Hey, did you, uh... give this to my ma?" "I expect I did." "He's your son, isn't he?" "Heh." "Why didn't you tell us?" "Huh?" "You're his father, and I accused you of being someone that..." "Well, I..." "I thought you were a bad person." "I did." "Don't make any sense." "Hi, hon." "Hi." "Been waiting for you." "We gotta talk." "Yep." "Something wrong?" "Uh-uh." "Got some good news, hon." "Oh, yeah?" "Well..." "Hoyt and me's getting married." "Married, huh?" "That's right." "Wow." "That's good, I guess, huh?" "It is. and isn't." "Why?" "Well, hon, I don't know how to say it, so I'll just do it plain." "Hoyt ain't fond of kids." "Fact, he don't want any." "Which is fine by me, 'cause I done that, but, you know, it presents a problem, 'cause..." "'Cause of Pleasant and I." "Well, yeah." "What's he want to do?" "Kill us?" "Don't be a smart-ass!" "He don't want no such thing." "Don't even know about you." "He doesn't know about us?" "I never told him." "I just said I was keeping my sister's kids for a while, you know, for a favor." "Ma, you don't have a sister." "Well, that's not the point." "The point is we don't want any trouble, so we gotta have a plan, 'Kay?" "A plan?" "Yeah, suppose you got one of those." "Well, I do." "I do." "You sit down, and I'll tell you that plan." "Sit." "Sit down." "All right." "Ready?" "Mm-hmm." "Well, you know Tinsy Johnson owns the Country Kitchen, right?" "Well, she's offered to let you stay there for a while and to work at the restaurant." "Ain't that nice?" "And, you know, Tinsy's got a son, gonna inherit the place one day." "Uh, I don't want to work at Tinsy's." "Don't you say that, okay?" "!" "You gotta help me!" "You're trying to ditch me, Ma!" "I ain't doing no such thing!" "I done right by you, and you're not gonna spoil it for me now." "This man is my deliverance, and I need something here." "I need something of my own." "Okay." "What about Pleasant?" "Oh." "Well, Pleasant..." "Pleasant likes Tenkill, and, Tenkill, well, I'm pretty sure that he's gonna look after him for a while." "Fact, I know he will." "Okay, so you're going to split us up." "I'm not doing that." "You're gonna see each other." "Ma, why can't we just stay here?" "Because if the county folks found out that you was here alone, I'd be in deep." "Come on, baby." "Come on." "You're gonna like Tinsy." "I promise." "Honest." "And Tenkill is gonna protect Pleasant." "I know he will." "He will, just like he did you." "Okay?" "Pleasant, look at you." "I got 'em, but I ain't wearing 'em all the time." "Okay, honey, but who got 'em for you?" "If I tell, you won't take 'em away, will you?" "Of course not." "Now, who bought 'em for you?" "Tenkill." "He took me to the doc." "He did?" "See?" "Mama knows." "Why can't you do something?" "Isn't that a shame?" "Real shame." "I used to watch a lot of movies on that old screen." "All my boyhood heroes..." "John Wayne," "Burt Lancaster," "Charles Bronson." "I dreamed of being just like 'em... thought if I dreamed enough, that it might come true." "Hell, I just stayed around here." "Pretty soon, I stopped dreaming." "So you gonna do that?" "Just hang around here all your life hoping for a miracle?" "I want to go to Oklahoma City." "Oklahoma City?" "Heh." "For what?" "Mrs. Bowes recommended me for a scholarship." "Oh." "Well..." "I've got an idea." "What?" "You know, I know this woman in Oklahoma City." "Heh." "She runs a boardinghouse." "It's for Indian kids." "I bet we could get you in... if you was part Indian." "That could be you." "Come on." "Hey, bud..." "Yeah?" "I love you." "Love you, too." "Come here." "You be good, you hear?" "I hear." "Bye." "Bye." "Bye, you." "You know, most folks around Tardust thought lightning did the old movie screen in." "Others said Mickey and Old Ray torched it for revenge." "Others, well, they thought Tenkill got tired of it and burned the damn thing down, maybe to break its hold on Vallie Sue." "But Vallie, she decided it was her." "She willed it to fire, 'cause it was time." "And I suppose she could've." "Anything's possible in Tardust." "Hey." "Hi." "Want a ride?" "Yeah." "Okay." "Hop on." "Where you going?" "Oklahoma City." "Whoa." "I can't take you that far." "How 'bout the bus station in Acacia?" "Yeah, I could do that." "Hold on tight, hon." "Hey." "Yeah?" "Don't call me hon, okay?" "My name is Vallie Sue Tenkiller." "Injun?" "Yeah." "Anything wrong with that?" "Not a damn thing." "♪ Oh oh, oh oh ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh, oh ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh, oh ♪" "♪ Feeling like a refugee ♪" "♪ Like it don't belong to me ♪" "♪ The colors flash across the sky ♪" "♪ This air feels strange to me ♪" "♪ Feeling like a tragedy ♪" "♪ I take a deep breath and close my eyes ♪" "♪ One last time ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh ♪ ♪ One last time ♪" "♪ Oh oh, oh oh, oh ♪" "♪ Forever ♪" "♪ I'm getting tired of diners and dusty roads ♪" "♪ There's gotta be something out there ♪" "♪ God, I hope ♪" "♪ I keep on dreaming about it ♪" "♪ Even though I've never been there before ♪" "♪ Wasting time at the drive-in's getting old ♪" "♪ Try to forget, but this feeling's taking hold ♪" "♪ That I should run, run, run ♪" "♪ To the city lights of gold ♪" "♪ To the girl ♪" "♪ Looking back ♪" "♪ At me in the rearview mirror ♪" "♪ Goodbye ♪" "♪ So long ♪" "♪ I'm going where I belong ♪" "♪ And I'll chase the sun across the sky ♪" "♪ Till it disappears beside ♪" "♪ I've been trapped in somebody else's world ♪" "♪ But I'm finally leaving tonight ♪" "♪ Exodus ♪" "♪ This is my exodus ♪" "♪ I know myself ♪" "♪ But even I don't understand ♪" "♪ Some say I'm crazy ♪" "♪ But I guess I'll take that chance ♪" "♪ But I keep hearing a far-off place ♪" "♪ Calling out my name ♪" "♪ Gathered my things ♪" "♪ And it's time to hitch a ride ♪" "♪ Thought it'd be harder ♪" "♪ But my smile is hard to hide ♪" "♪ I'm finally ready ♪" "♪ To fall in love with the world again ♪" "♪ To the girl ♪" "♪ Holding back ♪" "♪ Those tears in the rearview mirror ♪" "♪ Goodbye ♪" "♪ So long ♪" "♪ I'm going where I belong ♪" "♪ And I'll chase the sun across the sky ♪" "♪ Till it disappears beside ♪" "♪ I've been trapped in somebody else's world ♪" "♪ But I'm finally leaving tonight ♪" "♪ Exodus ♪" "♪ This is my exodus ♪" "♪ Exodus ♪" "♪ Exodus ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ My exodus ♪ ♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ My exodus ♪ ♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪" "♪ To the girl ♪" "♪ No longer ♪" "♪ Looking back in the rearview mirror ♪" "♪ Goodbye ♪" "♪ So long ♪" "♪ I've come to where I belong ♪" "♪ And I'll chase the sun across the sky ♪" "♪ Till it disappears beside ♪" "♪ I've been trapped in somebody else's world ♪" "♪ But I'm finally leaving tonight ♪" "♪ Exodus ♪" "♪ This is my exodus ♪" "♪ Exodus ♪" "♪ This is my exodus ♪"