"Clem?" "Turn down that thing, will ya?" "You're gonna wake Scotty." " What's that?" " The RCA." " Scotty's got school tomorrow." " All right." "Say, you haven't seen my glasses, have you?" "On the table next to the clock." "Yes, you're such a pretty girl, aren't you?" " No, they're not here." " Try the washroom." "What's gotten into Jack?" "Anderson's bitch must be in heat again." "I'll go run her up the road." "What is it, Jack?" "That old bitch doggin' you again?" "Lulu, is that you out there?" "You go on home, now, you hear?" "Go on." "Get." "What the devil?" "Still dead?" "I don't understand it." "County ran a new wire just last month." "You can drive him into town in the mornin'." "He looks like he could use a good night's rest anyway." "You get anything more out of him?" "No." "He just keeps saying he's lost." "Scotty, what are you doing down here?" "You don't know this here boy, do you, son?" " Hush." " I'll put him in the barn." "Come on." "Come on." "You get out." "Why don't we go upstairs and run you a bath?" "Didn't your mama think to give you a haircut?" "Now, what is this?" "My God." "Who'd do such a thing to a boy?" "They're supposed to be asleep." "You always know they're supposed to be asleep." "Somebody else in this house beside that baby?" "Somebody else in this house?" "Boy, I am your father... and you answer your father." "Is there somebody else in this house?" "Is this one as smart as the other one?" "Afraid so." "How come they're all named Betty?" "Well, now, that is a good Question." "Maybe they're not as smart as we think." "Here." "Stick with the jukebox." "My bird's frying' her ass out there in the hot sun, Theodore." "Yeah, well, County Health's gonna fry my ass if I put her back inside." " I serve food here, Arlis." " So to speak." "And by the way, some 14-year-old kid... bought a pack of cigarettes out of your machine there... and his parents are threatening to sue me." " You want me to take it out?" " Hell, no." "I'm just tellin' you what I'm up against." "Your mangy chicken's the least of my problems." "You should have heard the stink over the rubbers last week." "Do we have to have a prophylactic machine in the ladies' toilet?" "We are doing 2-to-1 compared to the men's room." "I know, Arlis, but this ain't Abilene." "We're a small town." "We got small-town values." " Am I right, Cindy?" " Amen." "Like I said, you just missed him." "We were preparing to close the casket." "Well, it's probably best." "I was sort of the black sheep of the family." "Well, as they say, "In death, all is forgiven."" "That's a nice sentiment." "I'll have to remember that." "Exactly what relation are you?" "It's complicated." "Would you mind giving us a moment alone?" "Of course." "The book is here if you care to sign." "Thank you." "God bless, whoever you are." "You know, my face breaks out about two days after you leave town." "Every time, like some goddamn teenaged girl." " It's the chocolate." " I know." "I just can't help myself." "How come you don't have those cheese and peanut butter crackers anymore?" "They pick up pinworms in the heat." "Pinworms?" "Jesus." "Too bad." "My kids love those things." "You want a carton of Kools for Nathan?" "No." "He's Quit." "Again." "Jesus." "I never get used to these chickens." " About twenty-five." " Twenty..." "Twenty-five late?" "Lay it down." "You heard about Lou Jamison?" "I heard his widow was lookin' to unload his machines." "Was." "Pudge Riley got to her Friday last." "He get the Remingtons?" "Two dozen electro-slots." "Says he's got a buyer for 'em in Oklahoma." "All I know is Lou Jamison's widow is sittin'... on all the Texaco stations in Benson County... and most of the Dairy Queens, with no machines." "I don't want Benson County." "But Arlis, I had to drive through Benson to get here." " Why not expand a little?" " I'm big enough." " I don't need Benson." " But Arlis..." "Just make a note about the machines, Elliot." "Say, Arlis, I almost forgot." "There was a fella askin' about you over in Woodlake." " Denny Harris?" " No." "Just some fella." "Said he knew you from way back." "I figured he must've worked for you sometime." " Why is that?" " He had one of our dimes." "You know, the blue juke dimes?" " You get a name?" " He didn't offer." "I didn't ask." "Said he wanted to look you up." "Anyway, I stayed vague." "You did right." "I'll see you on the 7th." "Looks like I'm gonna be stretching' felt in the mornin'." "You're gonna be stretching' your luck if you're thinkin' about take-out... anytime soon." "It is a slight feverish tonight." "Just wait till that damn cake pops its lid." "Unless that little pastry inside comes with a bicycle pump... and two sisters, there ain't gonna be a farm animal safe tonight." "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Three, two, one!" "Christ Almighty." "Just put her in my pickup." " Lookin' good." " Here's to ya, honey!" "Feel like knocking' a few sins off your ledger, Arlis?" "You want me to find out if she's got a home." "And take her there." "What's the damage?" "Well, put it this way." "Feed this girl a cucumber, it'd come out pickles." "Jesus." "I figure the bed's one of those vibrating' numbers... so that explains the Quarters." "Nobody could possibly fancy pretzel twists that much... so I figured you won some kind of weird contest." "As for the condoms, well, either you got a yen... for cheerleading squads, or we had the night of all nights." "Whatever." "There's an explanation." "As for the blue chicken, I need a little help with that one." " You passed out." " Who wouldn't?" "The coins just need to be papered for the bank." "The condoms and the twists are inventory." "The chicken's Brainy Betty." "I take it Betty's one of the exotics?" "She plays tic-tac-toe." "What makes her so brainy?" "She wins nine times out of ten." "You want some coffee?" "You got a machine for that too?" "Half a dozen in the next three counties." "But given the circumstances of your immediate past..." "I would suggest the real bean." "You wouldn't happen to have a pair of chinos and a belt, would ya?" ""Boo-boo"?" "Story of my life." "Wait." "Don't forget Lorraine." "Peek's Beauty Academy, right outside Red Grove... near Green Gene's Pickle Factory." "Buy a burger around here, chances are it's Green Gene's under the bun." "Anyway... seein' as the beauty academy was next door to the pickle factory... we always had plenty of people to practice on." "So one day I'm doin' this tint job on this lady... and my instructor comes over and is giving me..." "The collar picked up a little perfume... so if you got a suspicious wife, I'd run some soap through it." "I don't need to worry about that." "Headin' home?" "I don't think so." "I got a girlfriend up in Bayview." "That oughta be enough for now." " You got a coat?" " Yeah." " Money?" " Sure." "Well, thanks for the eggs." "Everything." "Thanks for the company." "It must get lonely on the road sometimes." "Like anything else, you're born to it." "Well, you're a born listener, that's for sure." "Depends on who's talkin'." " What's your name?" " Kay." "All right, Kay." "You girls watch yourselves." " You're sure this is no trouble?" " No use you waitin' seven hours... on a bus to Bayview when I can get you there in two." "I just hate to take ya too far off the beaten path." "There's a man I can see on the way, if you don't mind a detour or two." " It's greased." " Huh?" "The wristband." "By the way, I get those novelties straight from Korea." "I can do you ten on the dollar, as many as you want." "Bayview's a little south for you, ain't it, Arlis?" "Who said anything about Bayview?" "'55, '56, somewhere in there." "Eisenhower days." " '57." " Whatever." " How'd you know about Bayview?" " Reese Davies." " Who's Reese Davies?" " A moron." "Used to own a movie theater down that way." "At least, his father did, till he died." "Reese ran it into the ground in about 18 months." "I had a couple of cigarette machines in the lobby from his old man's day." "Then when the theater went south, Reese tried to claim 'em as assets." "It's his wife." "Reese's." "Ugly as sin, ain't it?" "Maybe some music'll take the bite out of it." "Keep going." "Sometimes you can pick up K-MOO drivin' south." "Or here." "Big Lake's got a station plays George Jones most afternoons." "You like George Jones?" "You spend much time out this way?" "Who?" "Me?" "No." "Like I said, my girlfriend..." "There's no girlfriend." "It's just me." "See, if I hadn't have gotten my money stolen..." "I wouldn't have been jumpin' out of the cake, and we never would've met." "And you wouldn't be wastin' time drivin' me back to Bayview." "I'm sorry I lied." "That's all right." "It's just..." "I'm really not myself right now." "That's all right." "And I'm married." "That's all right too." "America's number-one shop-at-home television service... bringing you 24 hours of savings, fun and excitement every day." "Jesus." "Will you look at this." "Two days." "Think if I'd been gone a week." "If you're just joining us, you're not too late." "Don't worry." "We're alone." "It's always on." "Reese goes through a picture tube every six months." "I make it a rule not to trespass... especially in a man's house I don't know." "Well, believe me, it's more my house than it is his." "Drop that anywhere." "I'll be right back." "You're welcome to a beer if you can find one." " I oughta be pushin' off." " What's that?" "I said, "I left my smokes in the truck."" "What the hell?" "Afternoon, Mr. Davies." "I'm Earl Logan, Ned Foster's man." "Is that your truck?" "Yeah." "I mean..." "Well, I was wondering if we could get you to move it." "See, it sure would make our job a whole lot easier." "And I need you to sign here 'fore we can start." "Watch your finger." "Son of a bitch." "Son of a bitch!" "They're..." "Hello?" "Hubie?" "This is Kay Davies." "Does my husband happen to be there?" "Don't lie to me, Hubie!" "Shit!" "What the hell is that in the driveway?" "I think that they're lookin' for your husband." "Well, they're not the only ones." "Can I help you?" "Ma'am, I need the gentleman's signature so we can begin." "You're not takin' my furniture." "Ma'am, I'm not emotionally involved." "Well, I am!" "Christ!" ""Boo-boo"?" "Since it looks like I'm not needed here anymore..." "Hey, Darlene." "You haven't by any chance seen Reese, have you?" "You have." "Really?" "Who are you?" "Never mind, Darlene." "Here he is." "Sorry to bother you." "This don't look like a good time for introductions, so I'm gonna..." "Where'd you put that duffel?" "There." "I understand all about schedules." "Just give me a minute to get my ducks in line." "Quack, Quack." "Jesus, Kay, where in the hell have you been?" "Just what in the hell are you wearin'?" "And just who in the hell is this?" "You're askin' me Questions?" "Exactly what the hell is that truck doin' outside?" "Well, if you'd been here, Kay, maybe I wouldn't have to explain it to ya." "I'm gone two days, and you sell the furniture?" "Well, if it makes you feel better, I sold it two weeks ago." "Well, shit, Reese, that makes me feel a whole lot better." "Look, I don't wanna talk about no goddamn chest of drawers, anyway." "I wanna know who in the hell this man is." "None of your fuckin' business." "Hell, no." "He's in my house with my woman." " Are you cheatin' with my wife?" " Actually, I just..." "That's right, Reese." "Not two hours ago... we were sweating' over each other in the back room of the Shady 8 Motel." "He don't mind it in the mornin'." "And guess what, Reese." "I haven't showered... or brushed my teeth." "Actually, I just gave her a ride... in the truck." "Now, you listen to me, darlin'." "There are two men on our front lawn, and they got a job to do." "Now, I'm gonna open that door, and you're gonna let 'em do it." "Ain't that right?" "Fuck you." "Go for it, Slick." "You got yourself a real lionheart, Kay." "Fuck my pretty wife now." "Fuck this." " That's my gun." " Very good, Reese." "It's your gun, in my hand, pointed at you." "Get the picture?" "Christ, Kay, you don't even know how to use that thing." "I got a pretty good idea." "Now, Reese, darlin', I suggest you take your sorry ass outside... and tell the gentlemen on the lawn that the deal is off." "I can't do that." " Christ, Kay!" " Trust me, Reese." "That clock ain't the only thing runnin' out of time." "I took money." "I shook hands, Kay." "The deal is done." "How much?" "Seven hundred dollars." " Where is it?" " You know them bills we had to pay!" "Shit, Reese, you haven't paid a bill in three years." "Where is it?" "Kay, I just told you." "For God's sake, Kay." "All right." "It's gone." "I lost it." "Poker?" "Mostly." "You sell that too?" "The piano?" "Hell, no." "I bought you that for your birthday, Kay." " All right then." "We'll take it." " Take it?" "You got room in the truck there, Arlan?" " Wait just a second here." " It's Arlis." "You don't even know his name?" "For Christ's sake, Kay, what in the hell has happened to you?" "Excuse me." "Who's holding the gun here?" "You are." "So I guess I can call anybody any damn thing I damn well please." "Am I right?" "That's right." "Sorry." "Back there." "Your name." "Mixing it up." "That's a horrible thing to do to a person." "You were close enough." "It's just I have a habit of doin' it when I get nervous." "I got so mad at a boss of mine one time, I was screamin' at him... a full three minutes 'fore I realized I was callin' him Leroy... and his name was Ed." "Not even close." "It sort of took the sting out of it." "Scary sometimes." "What's that?" "Moments." "Little split-seconds of time where you find yourself capable... of things you would never even think of doing normally." "Like back there, holdin' that gun." "There was a moment when my finger twitched." "Not so you could see." "More like inside, under the skin." "Some crazy little muscle." "And I could've done it." "I could've shot him right in the face." "My whole life would've changed in one tiny little second." "It's not in your blood." "Ain't that a kick?" "Yeah, it's a real tickler." "You mind tellin' me what you got in here?" "Seven years of bad luck, at least what's left." "Well, thank God the furniture's spoken for." "Believe me, sooner or later, he'd have slapped a price tag on my ass." "To hell with him." "He's just taillights to me now." "Not that he didn't leave a few dents behind." "Let me see." "You take a hell of a punch." "Practice makes perfect." "We'll get you some ice." "Arlis, you're tellin'me this now?" "I've been settin'here all afternoon." "I've been settin'here for three hours waitin'for you to call." "Rosie, I told ya, something's come up." "Something's come up, huh?" "Well, I know what's come up." "You got another woman over there with you, don't you?" " Don't you, Arlis?" " Rosie, listen to me." "You know what I'm gonna do?" "I'm gonna go to town, go into a bar... and pick up the first man I see." "I'm gonna pick up the first two men I see." "I don't think that's such a good idea, do you, Rosie?" "You know what, Arlis?" "I don't care." "Are you still there, or did you hang up on me?" "No, I'm still here." "You're sort of an odd fellow, you know that?" "You don't ask many Questions..." "personal, I mean." "I figure people share what they want to." "No sense crowding' 'em." "Women must love you." "Put that on your face once you're out." "You mind grabbing' me another one of these?" " Ever been married?" " Nope." "Ever been in love?" " Am I crowding' you?" " No." " I've never been in love." " Me either." "What about your husband?" "Hell, no." "I mean, you saw his hair, right?" "Besides, he's no different than any of the others." "I was 13 when the first one pulled my blue jeans off... and ever since, they seem to pass me off, one to another... my whole life." "Like they're all members of the same club or something." "You know, you look good without that hat." "But you're gonna bald." "See how high your peaks are?" "That's from wearing' the hat all day." "You have to let your scalp breathe." "Besides, you shouldn't hide your head." "You got a nice shape." "I'll keep that in mind." "It's not 'cause of that, is it?" "The tattoo?" "I bet that was one crazy night." "No more than any other." "Well, whatever." "Nothin' to feel shy about." "You hardly notice it's there." "Come on." "Let's go for a little walk, okay?" "Why can't you sleep?" "The night air usually calms her." "This stuff is awful." "You sure you asked for Cover Girl?" "Yes, I asked." "They were out." "Well, my skin does not take to this." "How I could forget my beauty bag, I do not know." "Probably wouldn't fit in the suitcase." "How do you abide this seat?" "Ten more miles, my ass'll be flat as a pancake." "Seats take breaking' in." "All right." "I get the message." "I'm not usually like this." "If we'd met under normal circumstances... you'd probably like me." "Most people do, or I guess they do." "I didn't say I didn't like you." "Hell, I like you." "It's just that there's been a whole lot of... activity in the past couple of days." "I go from one town to the next, you understand?" "I see the same faces." "I hear the same talk." "I sleep in the same beds." "I eat the same food." "Then I start all over again." "I like it that way." "I don't like walkin' into people's houses I don't know." "I don't like guns comin' out of nowhere." "I don't like lookin' over my shoulder for angry husbands." "I don't like surprises, period." "You really like me?" "What's not to like?" "Arlis, that stew of yours... has got to where it's nothin' but potatoes and carrots." "I don't make it, Kyle;" "I just stock it." "Hell, Homer and I are about the only ones who buy the damn stuff." "We get up to our elbows in John Deere, we got no choice." "I can go back to the chili if you want." "Shit, no." "We work close enough Quarters in that pit as it is." "All I need is Homer's ass in my face after two cans of that." "Now, I could stand a little of that in my face." "She'd steal you blind." "So old Sam found you, did she?" " Came right up." " Yeah, she knows the truck." "Here." "Introduce yourself." "You like that, don't you?" "Better than that scratch old Charley feeds you." " She'll follow you all day now." " What happened to her throat?" "She ran herself through a fence couple of years back... tore herself up pretty good." " Hey, girl." " But you're still here, ain't ya?" "You ride?" "Once or twice." "County fairs, stuff like that." "You?" "Once or twice." "I bet you can't swim neither." "That?" "Beginner's luck." "Well, there was a cowboy a while back who showed me a thing or two." "Comin' in?" "I'm fine." "Suit yourself." "So who showed you about horses?" "When I was about 12, 13, I worked at a little horse farm like this." "I shoveled stalls during the day, got a roof over my head at night." "Well, where was your mother?" "She died." "How 'bout your father?" "Long story." "He still alive?" "You ask all your cowboys this many Questions?" "Why don't you come on in here and cool off?" "We gotta go." "I don't wanna go." "Storm's comin'." "There's no storm." "I can feel it." "How come some of them are blue?" " Those dimes?" " They're juke dimes." "Juke dimes?" "What's that?" "I give the boss man a roll of these, he'll start up a jukebox." "You play your own jukebox?" "That don't make sense." "People don't make sense." "Man walks into a place with a jukebox, right?" "Nine times out of ten, if that box isn't already playing'... he'll be shy about startin' it up or won't even know it's there." "But you get it goin' for him... nine times out of ten, he'll keep it goin'... with his own money." "Trick of the trade." "How come you paint 'em blue?" "This keeps 'em separate from the boss man's money, that's all." "You go east..." "Billy Breckins paints his green." "Drop down two counties..." "Buddy Clarke, his are red." "Me, I'm just partial to blue." "You could use a trim." "I got a man in Blackwell does me every third Wednesday of the month." "I could do ya." "A couple of snips here." "Couple there." "I think your hands are a couple of beers past steady." "Yeah, I'd do you better blind than you been gettin'." "Your man in Blackwell doesn't understand your head." "Besides, I'm not drunk." "I know exactly what I'm doin'." "Looks like you were right... about that storm." "What?" "Nothing." "What?" "Did you say something?" "Is there somebody out there?" "Shit!" "Maybe it's Reese come." "Jesus." "Oh, thank God." "I'm sorry to bother you, but the night man's gone to bed... and I'm having some trouble with my car." "You try the bell?" " The bell?" " For the night man." "Sure, but no one came." "And no one along here would open their door to me." " You're the only one." " What's wrong with your car?" "Hell if I know." "I am lost when it comes to anything mechanical." "But you look like you might know something about motors." "Am I right?" " You got the keys?" " Inside." " You got it in gear." " What?" "You got it in gear." "Well, damn." "You'd follow a mouse into the mouth of a snake... wouldn't you, Junior?" "He's hurt bad." "Hurt bad?" "Honey, I cut my lip worse than this when I'm whistling'." "See, it's just that I can't fix it myself... and my sweet pea there, she don't know how." "How long has it been, boy?" "Well, long time... no see." "Ugly little bastards, ain't they?" "How's it look?" "I've seen worse." "Yeah, I guess my whole life's back there." "A good portion of yours too, huh, son?" "Be glad it's just bird seed chasing you this time." "Not like that night in Kilgore, huh?" "Hell, come winter... it get cold enough... the pinch'll get somethin' fierce." "Sometimes you can't get it all out." "Sometimes you got to carry it with you." "Now, don't get me wrong." "You was always a good boy." "You always did what you was told." "Well, most of the time." "I managed to raise the night man, and I have a key..." "Shit!" "Shouldn't we get a doctor?" "Little darlin', I don't believe there's a pill peddler alive... got a better touch than my boy here." "And best of all, he don't ask no Questions." "Practice makes perfect." "You got an injured man here, boy." "Easy, easy." "That's nice." "That's nice, that smell." "You've got the smell of love on you, boy." "Tell me... does she taste as good?" "Come here, boy." "Get your father's boots off." "That's the least a son can do... till he's ready to wear them himself." "Get yourself out of those clothes before you catch a chill." "Don't worry yourself." "I never caught anything in my life." "Everybody catches something." "Not me." "Well, I broke a finger once... but I don't figure that counts." "Shit." "This is too fucking weird." "Wish I could say the same." "I'm always catching a cold." "Had one just last month." "I'm sorry to hear it." "You can't sleep in those." "Find yourself something of mine." "I'll hang yours up to dry." "Come on." "What's your name?" "Ginnie." "With a J or a G?" "You planning' on writin' me a letter?" "All right, keep it a mystery." "It's a nice name either way." "Yeah, well..." "I'm not a nice girl." "But I'll bet that you are, aren't you?" "I'd like to think so." "And the guy who did that to your face... did he think you were nice?" "Not at the time." "But you stay with him anyway, don't you?" "Who, Arlis?" "He didn't do this to me." "He's not like that at all." "Don't kid yourself." "Eventually, they are all like that... evil." "But once you know that... you can turn it back against 'em." "Use it." "Arlis doesn't have an evil bone in his body." "But..." "What?" "I don't know." "I get the feeling... he's been close to it, felt the heat of it." "I think that you're the one that's felt the heat of it." "And not too long ago at that." "There's a pretty cotton nightshirt in there with tulips on it." "I know you'll love that." "You don't exactly travel light, do you?" "Long story." "Take anything you want." "Well, how about this?" "That was my mother's." "I'm sorry." "This her?" "She's pretty." "Yeah, I guess she was." "Fuck." "You lookin' for something?" "Three guesses." "I had some serious shit in that car." " Your shit's still in it." " You mind telling me where?" "Across the tracks over there in Mesquite." "You mind telling me why?" "Anybody see you last night?" "Last night?" "No." " You sure?" " Yeah." "You sure?" "Are you deaf?" "Yeah, I'm sure." "Then whose pepper was I pickin' out of my father's shoulder?" "That?" "Some half-wit pump owner... stumbled onto us in the rain, took a wild shot and hit something." "It was fluke luck." "Nobody saw the car." "I guess I just wasted my time." "I guess you did." "I'm his kin, you understand?" "I got no choice." "So don't think this is some game that you're playin'." "Last night, it could have just as easily been you out there... bleedin' in the rain." "Only difference is, he'd have left you behind... or finished the job himself." "Well, shit." "No wonder old black eyes loves you." "You wouldn't have the balls to shoo a fly off a steak." "Warm you boys up?" "Is that one at a time or both together?" "You're a little devil, aren't you?" "I'd damn sure put the curl in your hair if you'd give me half a chance." "I don't need a man for that." " There you go." " Thank you, ma'am." "Oh, my God." "Where you from?" "Why do you wanna know that?" "Who gave her that mask?" "Does it matter?" "I suppose you're right." "People get what they deserve." "What do you want?" " If it's money, I..." " Money?" "Money?" "Hey, boy..." "I don't need your money." "Well, why are you here?" "I got shot." "You fixed me up." "I'm havin' some eggs." "Does that seem strange?" "Just like old times, huh?" "Just coincidence." "I had a loose end to take care of up north Oklahoma way... around Ardmore, them parts." "An associate of mine... got a little greedy." "Started threatening'." "Started to weigh on me... stole my sleep, and you know how I feel about loose ends." "Being one myself." "That's true, isn't it, Junior?" "He bought me lunch, and... he bought me a pack of cigarettes." "After Oklahoma, I was working north, drifted on down... and run into this little girl over here." "And I saw her... switching tickets at this diner in Cherry Spring." "She had a full rancher's breakfast, and she pulled a switch... with this little old lady had coffee and a piece of pie." "Little low-rent for you, ain't it?" "Well, it was the way she did it." "Smooth as glass." "Real nerve." "Well, at least you won't go hungry." "Well... she's a little bigger than that." "The last couple months, she's been runnin' this slick little game." "Thing of beauty." "She steals from the dead." "She's been sloppy about it, of course." "Would've got caught if I hadn't come along." "But she's got grit in spades." "I'll have to watch my back with this one." "Heart beats about twice a minute." "At least it beats." "Don't you kid yourself, Junior." "You see, you and me... we're flesh and bone." "The same blood that runs my veins... runs yours." " You seen my duffle?" " Maybe in the truck." "What happened last night... with your father?" "He just has a habit of puttin' himself... at the wrong place at the wrong time." "What's all that?" "She hardly has a thing to wear from what I gather." "Lord knows I got enough." "Besides, most of these are full of bad memories." "Not too many spring picnics here." "This may not be none of my business, but..." "I run into that little scarecrow you got... runnin' that north territory up there." " Did he mention that?" " He mentioned it." "Yeah." " His name Eddie?" " Elliot." "Elliot, right." "He's a nervous little son of a bitch, ain't he?" "Got a real strange way of walkin'." "Them ankles so close together." "You ever notice things like that?" "What's your point?" "Well... it might not be my place." "It looked to me like he's stealin' from you, son." "Elliot's an honest man." "You sure know him better than I do." "But it's just that, you see..." "I watched him at this fillin' station outside of Paint Rock." "This one afternoon, he had him two sacks... and he was runnin' Quarters in the both of them." "I guess it don't take no great genius... to count Clark Bars and figure out that you're short." "He has been short, hasn't he?" "Short don't mean he's stealin'." "No, I guess not." "But then again, what else would it mean?" "Bye, y'all." "You sure you're fit to travel?" "Hell, this ain't nothin', darlin'." "I'm what you call a Quick healer." "You ask Arlis there." "I'd wreck my shoulder on a Sunday... and still give him a smack on a Monday." "Ain't that right, son?" "There's a Texaco station about ten miles east." "That'll be your last chance for a while." "I appreciate that." "Truly, I..." "Except I think we're gonna head up north there... around Benson County." "You remember Benson County, don't you, Junior?" "I'm just needling' him." "Boy always hated it up there." "Them locusts liked to drive him crazy." "You take care, now." "Get yourself packed." "We're leavin'." "It's funny." "I'd have never put it together... him and you." "If I'd met you separate, I'd never see the tie." "I guess we don't get much choice in it, do we?" "What was all that talk about Benson County?" "Just talk." "I don't remember the locusts at all." "Pass me that bottle again, will ya?" "We finished the last we had." "We or you?" "What's the difference?" "It's gone." "Next place you see, you stop." "You're the boss." "That's strange." "What?" "Look at that house up there." "Looks familiar." "Sure, that's the one in the photograph." "Photograph?" "The one that lady had." "I saw it in her suitcase when I went looking for a nightshirt." " You're wrong." " No." "That roof was just the same." "And the trees." "And the windmill..." "There's dozens of houses look just like that up here." "I'm positive." "No one has lived in that house for years." "Well, looks like it was a nice place once." "I think whoever lived there would have kept it up." "Not that house." "What do you mean?" "Years ago, they say some Mexican... shot the man he was working for... and then shot the whole family right after." "Jesus." "I mean, that's the story I heard." "It changes over the years." "Who knows what the truth is anymore?" "No matter what the story is, it all comes back to one thing." "What's that?" "Well, the house." "They say it's haunted." "But then, I don't believe in ghosts." "All right, Darlene." "Thanks." "No, I'm glad you told me." "Yeah, you too." "Bye." "I can't believe it." "He filed for divorce, Reese did." "I'm sorry." "Sorry?" "I'm just amazed he could do the paperwork by himself." "I wanna celebrate." "Celebrate?" "Yeah, I feel free... for the first time in my life, I think, and I wanna celebrate." "I wanna put on a pretty dress, get you out of that damn hat... and go have a nice big fat steak." "What do you say?" "Any suggestions?" "Try C-17." "C-17." "How come this place is closed in the middle of the week?" "Pete's boy plays baseball for the local school." "Anytime Tommy's set to pitch, Pete throws a lock on the place... and he rides the bus with the team." "That's how come I got the key." "He must trust you." "I guess he does." "You play this for all the girls, old C-17?" "First time." "You an honest man, Arlis Sweeney?" "Yes, ma'am." "You like the dress?" "I like the dress." "You like the girl?" "I'd say she's the prettiest one in the room." "Pretty enough to dance with?" "Well..." "Now, don't tell me you don't." "Well, don't you think it's about time you learned?" "Dancin'... frees the soul." "Howdy, partner." "That's all I get after last night?" "Mornin'." "Good mornin', darlin'." "Why don't you shake on into the kitchen... and crack me a beer?" "Need some help?" "Get me two cases of Milky Ways by 9:00 a." "M... 'cause that's what my hired man's gonna be lookin' to take with him... back to Crockett County." "I haven't even got me one case." "Hell, I ain't got a Milky Way, period." "Well, I'm sure the good people of Crockett County... can do without a Milky Way for a day or two." "It's my job, all right?" "We're a little surly in the morning, aren't we?" "That's okay." "It runs in my family too." "What's that?" "The morning bear." "I said it runs in my family too." "What else runs in your family?" "Your family." "You never talk about 'em." "Believe me, there's a lot more interesting things to talk about... than my family." "I already told you everything that's worth tellin' anyway." "Besides, I haven't seen them in years." "Not since I got married." "But when you were a kid growin' up, what were they like?" "What'd your mother do?" "What'd your father do?" "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were crowding' me." "Maybe you don't know me." "What'd my father do?" "Drink mostly." "Gamble." "Lost everything we had eventually." "That's how I met Reese." "Went to go collect my father one night at this place in the woods... where there was always an all-night game... and there they were, sittin' shoulder-to-shoulder... two drunks..." "Losing money faster than one sober fool ever could." "Of course, I was a real fool." "Ended up takin' Reese home." "Stayed to make his breakfast." "Never left." "Why the sudden interest?" "Nothin'." "I'm just..." "I happened to see that photograph... in your suitcase." "Well, that's not me." "It is me, but it isn't." "See, my parents..." "The only parents I've ever known... are really my aunt and uncle by blood." "I mean... the people in the photograph I never knew." "They were lost when I was a baby." "Killed." "Car accident." "Car accident?" "When I was old enough to know, I was given the picture and told about it." "I don't know why I hang onto it." "It's just..." "You grow up in an ugly house the way I did... sometimes you wonder how it might have been... if things hadn't happened the way they did." "It's funny." "Your father the other day... mentioned Benson County." "That's where they lived, I'm pretty sure." "The people in the picture." "My family." "I'm about ready." "Listen." "I think maybe it'd be better you stay here." "Stay here?" "While I run up the road to tend to Elliot." "There's some money over there." "Get yourself something to eat while I... while I'm gone." "Well, they must make one hell of a Spanish omelette." "All right, I'll wait for ya." "You don't want to be going anywhere without this." "Earl's Truck Stop over in Coke County... run out of Cheez-Its again." "Cheez-Its and truckers." "They sure go together." "And Phil Pritchard wants you to ring him up... about puttin' another Coke machine in his ice rink." "I can't figure why he waited so long." " Two years I've been tellin' him." " You're a little light here." "Yeah, well, I had trouble with the Mexicans again." "They hurt the machines?" "Nothin' I couldn't put right with a crowbar." "I had to replace the brace on one." "Slung it with... a three-Quarter inch York." " That should solve your problem." " Should." "But those boys are strong." "Hell knows I couldn't pop her." " Without the key?" " Yeah." "Well, that's what I meant..." "without the key." "You look like you had one too many cups of coffee, Elliot." "It's the chill, I guess." "Are you stealin' from me?" "You know I did time in Big Spring." "I told you that right off day we met." "But I did the time." "I'm out now... and I want to stay that way." "I'm not sure that answers my Question." "You don't know... 'cause you've never been in trouble." "But once you been in trouble... and people know it... you feel guilty for things you never done." "Just because you know... they think you got it in you." "That potential." "Is that why your hands are shaking?" "That's why my hands are shaking." "I like my job, Arlis." "I like you." "I like you too, Elliot." "I'll see you next week." "And Elliot, that business about the machines..." "It ain't the Mexicans." "Up there they blame everything on the Mexicans." "We asked 100 women this question." "Give me the most popular answer... from the 100 women who answered." "Tell me a reason why women leave their husbands." "Infidelity." "Did our women say infidelity?" "It's number one!" "Who needs him anyway?" "Stardust Motel." "Emma, it's Arlis." "Ring 12 for me, will you?" "Not unless you wanna talk to Theresa." "She's pulling the sheets." "Speaking of which, what do you want me to do with the suitcase?" "Suitcase?" "I'll have Jimmy put it in Maintenance." "Just give me the word." "I don't follow you." "Where's the lady?" "Gone." "Been gone about an hour now." "They just got in the car and left." "They?" "Who's they?" "She and her friend." "A young lady in sunglasses." "A real stinger, that one." "Asked me for directions three times... then liked to take half the guest mints from the bowl." "I swear, some people just have no manners." "They say where they were goin'?" "Up north, I guess." "The young one had gotten turned around." "Wanted to know how to get back on the farm route." "That doesn't help much." "They could be anywhere in the county." "It suits you... the dress." "Well, you can have it back if that's what you mean." "I'm just sayin' it suits you, that's all." "You might think about doin' something with your hair." "You got a nice face." "You should let the boys see it." "It ain't my face the boys wanna see." "Maybe you haven't met the right boy." " And you have?" " I thought so." "Last night, at least, but now I..." "I don't know what to think." "Look, you can't figure men." "So don't run yourself ragged tryin'." "I guess." "I don't know why he just didn't call me himself." "I told you, it's a surprise." "I don't even know what's goin' on myself." "I'm just doin' what I was told." "Well, here we are." "This is where we're goin'?" "I don't..." "Oh, my God." "Surprise." "Howdy." "She's some old dame, ain't she?" "Look at that face, sweet pea." "Does that break your heart?" "To pieces." "First time you've seen it?" " How did he know?" " What's that now?" "The house." "How did he know where it was?" "Oh, Arlis." "He knows a lot more than he lets on." "Anyway, sweet pea saw it and... said something about a photograph." " That about right?" " Right." "Where is he?" "He'll be along." "Say, you wanna take a little look inside there, look around?" "Well, go on." "But you be careful, now." "Watch yourself, especially on them stairs there." "There's more termites than there is timber by now." "How was the movie?" "I got here as fast as I could." "You talk to that clerk there at the motel?" "Dropped enough crumbs for a flock of geese." "That's ten minutes." "Where the hell you been?" "She had to pee twice... and I had to make a little stop of my own." "I know how grim you get, you don't get your breakfast." "You're smarter than I thought." "I'm not smart enough to figure out what we're doin'... wastin' our time out here in cracker land." "I'm gonna tell you all about loose ends some day." "And you'll want to listen careful." "You look like you've seen a ghost there, Junior." "I hope you brought some food." "You all right?" "Hell, he's fine." "Just fine." "Cat's got his tongue is all." "Come on up." "There's something I wanna show you." "Watch your step, son." "It's like heaven, isn't it?" "My mother must have stood right here... brushing' her hair... daydreaming'." "I think I figured it out." "I must've slept in here... or there." "No." "In front." "In those days, houses like these... they used to put the baby in the front of the house." "That way, if a woman was hangin' laundry and the baby cried... she could hear." "Maybe my mother hung laundry out back." "Sun's strongest in the front." "You seem to know more about me than I do, so why don't you tell me." "Were my parents good people?" "Were they nice to baby Kay?" "I'm sure they were." " What makes you so sure?" " 'Cause you're good people." "And good people come from good people." "Ain't that right, son?" " That's right." " I'm not so sure that's true." "But it's nice of you to say." "No, I'm..." "I'm not just saying it." "I know it, and that's a fact." "I'm gonna go outside." "That's a good idea." "Would you do me a favor?" "Would you take Ginnie while you're at it?" "She's probably down there biting' on her nails by now." " I'll go with you." " No." "I need to talk to you." "Father to son, you know." "Let the girls get some wind in their hair." "We could walk for days, I bet, and never see anything but this." "Wouldn't that be a thrill." "See, it was the girl, sweet pea, that first mentioned it... the house being the same and all." "I thought she had it all wrong, naturally." "See, I knew I never seen this woman of yours before... 'cause I never forget a face." "But..." "Still, there was something doggin' me." "A sound." "Halfway to Shreveport, I see a lady standing' by the side of the road." "A mother." "And that's when I knew what it was." "That sound in my head... her cryin'." "You see, I had forgotten... about the baby." "What's that sound?" "You hear it?" "Bugs." "She doesn't know." "There's no reason for her to know, no reason for me to tell her." "I realize that." "I truly, truly do." "But this woman, she's different." "See, I noticed that the first time I seen her." "The way she looked at you and the way you looked at her." "It was touching, truly." "She'll never know." "I swear it on my life." "Damn, I wish I could believe that." "But as much as we are the same... you've always been a little too emotional." "I left her this mornin'." "I only came back 'cause of you." "This little game." "This ain't no game, Junior." "You know me better than that." "I must be out of my fuckin' mind." "It's not gonna change, you know!" "They don't grow this stuff but one color." "It's a shame, really." "She's so sweet." "Almost innocent." "She is innocent." "But I'm not." "Take me... and she can't know." "I couldn't do that." "What kind of man would that make me?" "A man who'd shoot his own kin." "I couldn't sleep with that, and I do prize my sleep." "There's really only one Question here, son." "Do I do it... or you?" "I could hear 'em." "You don't mind if I smoke, do you?" "You know how I always enjoyed a good cigar." "That's what separates me from other men..." "I can tell the difference." "A good cigar's not what separates you from other men." "What separates you, Junior?" "You fuck their wives?" "I don't shoot their children." "You'd done what you were told, there would have been no blood that night." "I didn't pull the trigger." "But you opened the door, and they were supposed to be asleep." "And you know they're always supposed to be asleep." "Besides, wasn't me that shot first." "I had no choice." "And the boy?" "Did he have a choice?" "Fuck that little boy!" "He almost got your daddy killed." "We had one bad night." "It was 30 years ago." "There was more than one bad night." "But that was your night, wasn't it, Junior?" "You're right." "You didn't pull the trigger." "You did open the door." "And now, you brung her to me." "You're stupid." "You've always been stupid." "You was stupid when you were a little kid." "As a man, shit, you're being stupid now." "Who's got the gun, boy?" "Me?" "Go ahead, son." "Put it on me and pull the trigger." "Come on." "See, you can't." "You just can't." "You can't because we're kin." "Blood." "Look, you go ahead and run along and fill up them candy machines." "It's only right that I do it." "This way, we both will sleep easy." "Dad?" "Son?" "Sweet dreams." " What happened?" " Get in the truck." " But..." " Get in the truck!" "Everything he told you... it's a lie." "Thanks for the advice." "Don't be in a hurry to leave." "They know me here for years, so you just stay as long as you want." "Until you figure out your next step." "You got your key?" "Yeah." "I got my key." "What was I doin' in that house today?" "Or am I crowding' you?" "There are some things that... are better left unsaid." "It just does no good to talk about 'em." "No good at all." "It's like I said." "I'm a creature of habit." "Each town I go, there's a place to eat... place to sleep." "And in each town, there's also a woman." "I'm startin' to miss 'em." "Sure, I understand." "I just sort of fell into your life anyway." "There wasn't any reason to it." "God knows I've been a burden." "It's just..." "I really haven't been myself these last few days." "Yes, you have." "You've been fine." "Better than fine." "Looks like they're almost gone." "The bruises." "I better go." "I got a jukebox up the road that's only playin' George Jones." "That ain't so bad." "I guess not." "I stumble on any of those blue dimes of yours... maybe I'll use a couple of'em... give you a call, let you know how I'm doin'." "You know where to find me." "What's that on your pocket?" "That's nothin'." "It's just a little blood." "{{{the end}}}"