Voila! Finally, the Flesh And Bone
script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Dennis Quaid and Meg
Ryan movie. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly
transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Flesh And Bone. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and I'll be eternally
tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to
drop me a line. You won't
hurt my feelings. Honest.
Clem, turn down that thing, will you?
You'll wake Scotty.
- What's that?
- The RCA.
- Scotty's got school tomorrow.
- Right.
- You haven't seen my glasses?
- On the table, next to the clock.
You're such a pretty girl, aren't you?
They're not here.
Try the washroom.
What's gotten into Jack?
Anderson's bitch must be in heat again.
I'll run her up the road.
What is it, Jack?
That old bitch dogging you again?
Lulu, is that you out there?
Go on home, now!
Go on, git!
What the devil...?
Still dead?
I don't understand it.
County ran a new wire last month.
You can drive him into town
in the morning.
He could use a good night's rest.
- Get anything more out of him?
- No. Just keeps saying he's lost.
Scotty, what are you doing
down here?
You don't know this here boy,
do you, son?
- Jack!
- I'll put him in the barn. Come on!
Come on! No, come on!
Let's 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?
Clem!
They're supposed to be asleep.
You always know
they're supposed to be asleep.
Is there somebody else in this house?
I mean, beside that baby,
somebody else in this house?
Boy...
...l'm your father
and you answer your father.
Is there somebody else
in this house, hm?
- Is this one as smart as the other ones?
- 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, Theodore.
County Health's gonna fry my ass
if I put her inside.
- I serve food here.
- So to speak.
And a -year-old bought
some cigarettes out of your machine,
and his parents are threatening to sue.
- Want me to take it out?
- No, it's just what I'm up against.
Your mangy chicken's
the least of my problems.
There was a stink
over the rubbers.
Arlis, do we have to have
a prophylactic machine in the ladies'?
- It's two to one compared to the men's.
- But this ain't Abilene.
We're a small town
with small town values.
- Am I right, Cindy?
- Amen.
Like I said, you just missed them.
We were preparing
to close the casket.
It's probably best. I'm 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.
My face breaks out two days after
you leave town, like some teenager!
- It's the chocolate.
- I know.
Just can't help myself.
Why don't you have those
cheese crackers any more?
They pick up pinworms in the heat.
Pinworms? Jesus!
Too bad. My kids love those things.
- Want a carton of Kools for Nathan?
- No, he's quit.
Again.
Jesus, I never get
used to these chickens.
Heard about Lou Jamison?
His widow is looking
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 them
in Oklahoma.
Lou Jamison's widow is sitting on all
the Texaco stations in Benson County.
And most of the Dairy Queens
with no machines.
- I don't want Benson County.
- I drove through Benson to get here.
- Why not expand a little?
- I'm big enough.
- But Arlis...
- Make a note about the machines.
OK.
Arlis, I almost forgot...
...there was a fella
asking about you in Woodlake.
- Denny Harris?
- No. Just some fella.
Said he knew you from way back.
I figure he worked for you some time.
- Why's that?
- He had one of our blue juke dimes.
- Get a name?
- He didn't offer, I didn't ask.
Said he wanted to look you up.
Anyway, I stayed vague.
OK, Elliot, you did right.
I'll see you on the seventh.
Looks like
I'll be stretching felt tomorrow.
You're stretching your luck
if you want take-out.
It's a slight feverish tonight.
Wait till that cake pops its lid.
Unless that pastry inside
comes with two sisters,
there ain't gonna be a farm animal
safe for three counties tonight!
Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Three, two, one!
Christ Almighty!
Just put her in my pickup!
Here's to you, 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?
Put it this way,
feed this girl a cucumber,
it'd come out pickles.
Jesus.
I figure the bed vibrates,
so that explains the quarters.
Nobody could fancy
pretzel twists that much
so I figured you won
some kind of weird contest.
As for the condoms, well...
...either you're into cheerleaders
or we had the night of all nights!
As for the blue chicken,
I need a little help with that one.
You passed out.
Who wouldn't?
The coins need to be papered
for the bank.
The condoms are inventory,
the chicken's Brainy Betty.
I take it Betty's one of the exotics?
She plays tick-tack-toe.
What makes her so brainy?
She wins nine times out of ten.
You want some coffee?
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 have
a pair of chinos and a belt?
"Boo-Boo"?
The story of my life.
Wait. Don't forget Lorraine.
Peek's Beauty Academy,
near Green Gene's Pickle Factory.
Buy a burger here, chances are
it's Green Gene's under the bun.
Anyway...
...as the academy was next door,
we always had people
to practise on...
So one day I'm doing this tint job
and my instructor comes over...
The collar got perfume on it,
so if you've a suspicious wife, I'd wash it.
No need to worry about that.
Heading home?
No. I got a girlfriend in Bayview.
That ought to be enough for now.
- You got a coat?
- Yeah.
- Money?
- Sure.
Well, thanks for the eggs. Everything.
Thanks for the company.
Must get lonely
on the road sometimes.
No, it's like anything else,
you're born to it.
Well, you're a born listener,
that's for sure.
Depends on who's talking.
Hey!
What's your name?
Kay.
All right, Kay.
You girls watch yourselves.
You're sure this is no trouble?
The bus takes seven hours,
I'll get you there in two.
- I'd hate to take you off the beaten path.
- There's a man I can see on the way.
- If you don't mind a detour or two.
- No.
- It's greased.
- Huh?
The wristband.
By the way, I get those
straight from Korea.
I'll do you ten on the dollar,
as many as you want.
Bayview's a little south for you,
ain't it?
Who said anything about Bayview?
' ' somewhere in there.
Eisenhower days.
' .
Whatever.
- How'd you know about Bayview?
- Reese Davies.
- Who's Reese Davies?
- A moron.
His father used to own
a movie theatre there till he died.
Reese ran it into the ground
in months.
I had a couple of cigarette machines
in the lobby,
then, when the theatre went south,
Reese tried to claim them as assets.
It's his wife.
Reese's.
Ugly as sin, ain't it?
Maybe some music
will take the bite out of it.
Keep going, you can pick up
K-MOO driving south.
Or here.
Big Lake's got a station that 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 gotten my money stolen,
I wouldn't have jumped out of that cake
and we wouldn't have met.
I'm sorry I lied.
That's all right.
It's just...
...l'm really not myself right now.
That's all right.
And I'm married.
That's all right, too.
...number one shop-at-home
television service,
hours of savings, fun
and excitement every day...
Jesus! Would you look at this?
Two days.
Think if I'd been gone a week!
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 a man's house I don't know.
Believe me,
it's more my house than his.
Drop that anywhere, I'll be right back.
You're welcome to a beer,
if you can find one!
- I ought to be pushing off.
- What's that?
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...
Could you move it?
That would make our job a lot easier.
And you need to sign here for me.
Watch your finger.
Son of a bitch.
Son of a bitch!
There...
Hello, Hubie? This is Kay Davies.
Does my husband
happen to be there?
Don't lie to me, Hubie!
Hubie? Shit!
- The...
- What the hell is that in the driveway?
I think they're looking for your husband.
They're not the only ones!
Can I help you?
I need the man's signature
so we can begin.
- You're not taking my furniture.
- Ma'am, I'm not emotionally involved.
Well, I am!
Christ!
"Boo-Boo"?
Looks like I'm not needed
here any more.
Hey, Darlene. Have you seen Reese?
You have.
Really?
Who are you?
Never mind, Darlene. Here he is.
Sorry to bother you.
This ain't a good time
for introductions, so I'll...
Where'd you put that duffle?
There.
I understand about schedules.
I'll just get my ducks in line. Kay?
Quack, quack.
Jesus, Kay,
where in the hell have you been?
What in the hell are you wearing
and who in the hell is this?
You're asking me questions?
What is that truck doing outside?
If you'd been here,
I'd not have to explain.
I'm gone two days,
and you sell the furniture?
If it makes you feel better,
I sold it two weeks ago.
Shit, Reese! That makes me
feel a whole lot better!
I don't want to talk about
goddamn drawers. Who is this?
None of your fucking business.
Hell, no.
He's in my house with my woman.
You cheating with my wife?
That's right. Not two hours ago,
we were sweating over each other.
He don't mind it in the morning.
And guess what? I haven't showered.
Or brushed my teeth.
Actually, I just gave her a ride.
In the truck.
Listen to me, darling.
There are two men
on our front lawn with a job to do.
I'm going to open that door and
you'll let them do it. Ain't that right?
Fuck you.
Go for it.
You got yourself a real lion-heart, 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.
Christ, Kay, you don't even know
how to use that thing.
I got a pretty good idea.
Now, Reese, darling,
you take your sorry ass outside
and tell them the deal is off.
I can't do that.
Christ, Kay!
That clock ain't the only thing
running out of time!
I took money. I shook hands, Kay.
The deal is done.
How much?
- $ .
- Where is it?
- All the bills here...
- You haven't paid a bill for 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, we'll take it.
- Take it?
- You got room in the truck, Arlan?
- Just a second!
It's Arlis.
You don't even know his name?
What's happened to you?
Excuse me,
who's holding the gun here?
You are.
So I can call anybody any damn thing
I damn well please, 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.
I have a habit of doing it
when I get nervous.
I got so mad at a boss
I screamed at him for minutes
before I realised I was calling him
Leroy and his name was Ed.
Not even close.
Sort of took the sting out of it.
It's scary, sometimes.
What's that?
Moments.
Little split-seconds of time when
you're capable of unusual things.
Like back there, holding that gun.
For a moment, my finger twitched.
Not so you could see.
More like inside, under the skin.
Some crazy little muscle.
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.
What have you got in here?
Seven years of bad luck.
At least what's left.
Thank God,
the furniture's spoken for.
Sooner or later, he'd have slapped
a price tag on my ass.
Oh, to hell with him.
He's just tail-lights 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.
You're telling me this now?
I've been sitting here all afternoon.
Rosey, something's come up.
Something's come up, eh?
You got another woman with you!
- Rosey, listen...
- Know what I'll do?
I'll go to a bar and
pick up the first two men I see.
I don't think that's such a good idea,
do you, Rosey?
I don't care...!
Are you still there?
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 in crowding them.
Women must love you!
Put that on your face.
Hey! Grab me another one of these.
- Ever been married?
- No.
Ever been in love?
Oh! 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 ain't no different
than any of the others.
I was thirteen when the first one
pulled my blue jeans off.
Ever since, they seem to pass me off,
one to another, my whole life.
They're all members of the same club!
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!
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?
Bet that was one crazy night!
No more than any other.
Well, whatever.
Nothing to feel shy about.
You hardly notice it's there.
Come on, let's go for a little walk.
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 could I forget my beauty bag?
Probably wouldn't fit in the suitcase.
How do you abide this seat?
Ten more miles and my ass'll be flat.
Seats take breaking in.
OK, all right. I get the message.
If we'd met under normal circumstances,
you'd 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 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, hear the
same talk, sleep in the same beds.
Then I start all over again.
I like it that way.
I don't like walking into houses
I don't know. I don't like guns.
I don't like angry husbands.
I don't like surprises, period!
You really like me?
What's not to like?
Arlis, your stew is nothing
but potatoes and carrots.
I don't make it, I just stock it.
We're the only ones
buying the damn stuff.
Up to our elbows in a John Deere,
we got no choice.
- I can go back to the chilli.
- Shit, no!
We work close enough in the pit as it is.
All I need is Homer's ass in my face
after two cans of that!
I could stand a little of that in my face.
She'd steal you blind.
- Old Sam found you, did she?
- Came right up.
She knows the truck.
Here, introduce yourself.
You like that, don't you?
Better than that scratch
Charley feeds you.
- She'll follow you all day, now.
- What happened to her throat?
She ran through a fence, a couple
of years back. Tore herself up.
But you're still here, ain't you, darling?
Do you ride?
Once or twice, at county fairs,
stuff like that.
You?
Once or twice.
I'll bet you can't swim, neither!
Beginner's luck.
Well, there was a cowboy
who showed me a thing or two.
Coming in?
No, I'm fine.
Suit yourself.
So, who showed you about horses?
When I was about
I worked at a horse farm like this.
Shovelled stalls during the day,
got a roof over my head at night.
Well, where was your mother?
She died.
How about your father?
Long story.
He still alive?
You ask all your cowboys
this many questions?
Why not come in and cool off?
We gotta go.
I don't want to go.
Storm's coming.
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.
A man walks into a place
with a jukebox,
if that box ain't already playing,
he'll be shy about starting it up,
or won't even know it's there,
but if you get it going for him,
he'll keep it going
with his own money.
Trick of the trade.
- How come you paint them blue?
- Separates them from the boss' money.
You go east,
Billy Brickens paints his green.
Drop down two counties,
Buddy Clark... his are red.
Me, I'm just partial to blue.
You could use a trim.
A man in Blackwell does me
every third Wednesday of the month.
I could do you.
Couple of snips here.
Couple there.
Your hands are a couple of beers
past steady.
I can do you better blind
than you been getting.
Your man in Blackwell
doesn't understand your head.
Besides, I'm not drunk.
I know exactly what I'm doing.
Looks like you were right.
About that storm.
What?
Nothing.
What? Did you say something?
Is somebody out there?
Shit!
Maybe it's Reese come.
Jesus.
Thank God.
Sorry, but the night man's
gone to bed,
and I'm having some trouble
with my car.
You tried the bell?
- The bell?
- For the night man.
Sure, but no one came.
No one 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, right?
- 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, eh, Junior?
He's hurt bad.
Hurt bad?
I cut my lip worse than this
and went on whistling.
It's just that I can't fix it myself,
and my Sweet Pea, there,
she don't know how.
How long's it been, boy?
Well, long time...
...no see.
Ugly little bastards, ain't they?
- How does it look?
- I seen worse.
I guess my whole life's back there.
Good portion of yours, too, son.
Be glad it's just bird seed
chasing you this time.
Not like that night in Kilgore, eh?
Come winter, it get cold enough,
the pinch can get something fierce.
Sometimes you can't get it all out.
Sometimes you got to carry it
with you.
Don't get me wrong,
you was always a good boy.
Always did what you was told.
Well, most of the time.
I managed to raise the night man
and I have a key... Shit!
Shall we get a doctor?
Well, darling, I don't believe
there's a pill-peddler alive
got a better touch than my boy here,
and best of all, he asks no questions.
Practice makes perfect.
Hey, you got an injured man here, boy.
Easy.
That's nice.
That's nice, that smell.
You got the smell of love on you, boy.
Tell me, tell me...
...does she taste as good?
Hey, come here, boy.
Get your father's boots off.
It's the least a son can do.
Until he's ready to wear 'em himself.
Get yourself out of those clothes.
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.
I wish I could say the same.
I'm always catching a cold.
Had one just last month.
I'm sorry to hear it.
Find yourself something of mine,
I'll hang yours up to dry.
Come on.
What's your name?
- Ginnie.
- With a J or G?
You planning on writing me a letter?
All right, keep it a mystery.
It's a nice name, either way.
Yeah.
Well... l'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?
It wasn't him, he's not like that.
Don't kid yourself.
Eventually, they're all like that.
Evil.
But, once you know that,
you can turn it back against them.
Use it.
Arlis doesn't have an evil bone
in his body.
- But...
- What?
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.
Not too long ago, at that.
There's a pretty nightshirt
with tulips on it, I know you'll love that.
You don't exactly travel light, do you?
Long story. Take anything you want.
How about this?
That was my mother's.
Sorry.
This her?
Pretty.
Yeah, I guess she was.
Fuck.
You looking 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 the mesquite.
You mind telling me why?
- Anybody see you last night?
- Last night? Oh, no.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
- Are you sure?
- Are you deaf? Yeah, I'm sure.
Then whose pepper was I picking out
of my father's shoulder?
Some half-wit pump owner stumbled
onto us and took a wild shot.
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.
Last night, it could've been you
out there bleeding 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'll put the curl in your hair,
given half the chance.
I don't need a man for that.
There you go.
Thank you, ma'am.
- Where you from?
- Why do you wanna know?
Who gave her that mask?
Doesn't matter.
I suppose you're right.
People get what they deserve.
What do you want?
- If it's money...
- Money? Money! Here, boy.
I don't need your money.
Well, why are you here?
I got shot. And you fixed me up.
I'm having eggs. That seem strange?
- Just like old times, eh?
- Just coincidence.
I had a loose end to take care of,
Oklahoma way. Around Ardmore.
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 a packet of cigarettes.
After Oklahoma, I drifted on down
and ran into this little girl here.
And I saw her switching tickets
at this diner in Cherry Spring.
She had a full rancher's breakfast,
pulled a switch
with an old lady with a coffee.
A little low-rent for you, ain't it?
It was the way she did it, see?
Smooth as glass. Real nerve.
Well, at least she won't go hungry.
She's a little bigger than that.
The last couple of months,
she's been running this slick game.
A 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.
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 has a habit of being
in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What's all that?
She hardly has a thing to wear.
Lord knows, I got enough.
Besides, most of these
are full of bad memories.
Not too many spring picnics here.
This ain't my business,
but I ran into that scarecrow
you got running
that north territory up there.
- He mention that?
- He mentioned it.
- The name... Eddie?
- Elliot.
Elliot, right. Elliot.
He's a nervous little son of a bitch.
Got a strange way of walking.
Ankles so close together.
You notice things like that?
What's your point?
Well...
...it might not be my place,
but it looked like
he's stealing from you.
- Elliot's an honest man.
- You know him better than I do.
It's just that, you see, I watched him.
At this filling station outside Paint Rock,
he had two sacks.
And he was running quarters
into both of them.
It don't take a genius to count Clark Bars
and figure out you're short.
He has been short, hasn't he?
- Short don't mean he's stealing.
- No, no, I guess not.
But then again,
what else would it mean?
Bye, y'all.
- You sure you're fit to travel?
- This ain't nothing, darling.
I'm what you call a quick healer.
Ask Arlis there.
I'd wreck my shoulder on Sunday
and still give him a smack on Monday.
There's a Texaco station
ten miles east.
- That'll be your last chance for a while.
- I appreciate that.
Except I think we'll head north
round Benson County.
You remember
Benson County, don't you?
I'm just needling him.
He always hated the locusts up there,
drove him crazy. You take care, now.
Get yourself packed. We're leaving.
I'd never have put you two together.
If I'd met you separate,
I'd never see the tie.
I guess we don't get
much choice in it, do we?
No.
What was all that talk
about Benson County?
Just talk.
I don't remember the locusts at all.
Pass me that bottle again.
We finished the last we have.
We or you?
What's the difference? It's gone.
Next place you see, you stop.
You're the boss.
- That's strange.
- What?
That house up there. Looks familiar.
That's the one in the photograph.
Photograph?
The one that lady had.
I saw it in her suitcase
when I was looking for a nightshirt.
- You're wrong.
- No.
That roof was just the same.
And the trees and windmill...
There are dozens of houses
look like that here.
No, I'm positive.
No one has lived in that house
for years.
Well, it looks like it
was a nice place once.
I think whoever lived there
would've kept it up.
- Not that house.
- What do you mean?
Years ago, they say some Mexican
shot the man he was working for.
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 any more?
No matter the story,
it all comes back to one thing.
What's that?
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 amazed he could do
the paperwork by himself!
I want to celebrate.
- Celebrate?
- Yeah. I feel free.
For the first time in my life.
I want to put on a dress, get you out
of that damn hat and have a steak!
Any suggestions?
Try C- .
C... .
How come this place is closed midweek?
Pete's boy plays baseball
for the local school.
Any time Tommy's set to pitch,
Pete closes up and rides the team bus.
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- ?
First time.
You're 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?
Dancing frees the soul.
Howdy, pardner.
Hey.
"Hey"?
That's all I get after last night, "Hey"?
Mornin'.
"Mornin', darlin'.
"Why don't you shake on into
the kitchen and crack me a beer?"
Need some help?
Yeah. Get me two cases
of Milky Ways by a.m.
That's what my hired man wants
to take back to Crockett County.
I haven't even got me one case.
I ain't got a Milky Way, period.
I'm sure the people of Crockett County
can do without Milky Ways.
It's my job, all right?
We're a little surly in the morning,
aren't we?
- That's OK, it runs in my family, too.
- What's that?
The morning bear.
It runs in my family, too.
What else runs in your family?
Your family, you never talk about them.
Believe me, there's more interesting
things to talk about than my family.
I already told you
everything that's worth telling.
Besides, I haven't seen them in years.
Not since I got married.
But when you were a kid,
what were they like?
What did your mother do?
What did your father do?
If I didn't know you better, Arlis Sweeney,
I'd say you were crowding me.
Maybe you don't know me.
What did my father do?
Drink, mostly. Gamble.
Lost everything we had eventually.
That's how I met Reese.
I went to collect my father one night
at an all-night game.
There they were, sitting shoulder
to shoulder, two drunks.
Losing money faster
than one sober fool ever could.
Course, I was the real fool.
Ended up taking Reese home,
stayed to make his breakfast...
...never left.
Why the sudden interest?
Nothing, I just...
I happened to see that photograph
in your suitcase.
Well, that's not me.
It is me, but it isn't.
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.
I don't know why I hang on to 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.
OK.
I'm about ready.
Listen.
I think maybe you'd better stay here.
Stay here?
While I run up the road
to tend to Elliot.
OK.
There's some money over there.
Get yourself something to eat
while I'm gone.
They must make
one hell of a Spanish omelette!
All right, I'll wait for you.
Hey!
You don't wanna be going
anywhere without this.
Earl's truck-stop in Coke County
ran out of Cheese-lts again.
Cheese-lts and truckers,
they sure go together.
And Phil Pritchard wants another
Coke machine in his ice rink.
I can't figure why he waited so long.
- You're a little light here, Elliot.
- Trouble with the Mexicans again.
- They hurt the machines?
- Nothing I couldn't put right.
But I had to replace a brace.
Slung it with a / -inch York.
- That should solve your problem.
- Should. But these boys are strong.
Hell knows, I couldn't pop her.
- Without the key.
- Yeah. That's what I meant.
Without the key.
You look like
you've had too much coffee.
It's the chill, I guess.
Are you stealing from me?
Arlis, you know I did time
in Big Spring.
I told you that right off,
the 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.
Arlis, you don't know,
'cause you never been in trouble.
But once you've 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.
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 women this question.
What is the most popular
that women 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 for me, will you?
Theresa's pulling the sheets
right now.
- What shall I do with the suitcase?
- Suitcase?
Jimmy can put it in maintenance for you.
- I don't follow you. Where's the lady?
- Gone. About an hour, now.
- They just got in the car and left.
- They? Who's they?
She and her friend. A lady
in sunglasses. A real stinger, that one.
Asked me for directions three times
then took all the guest mints!
- Some people have no manners.
- They say where they were going?
Up north. The young one wanted
to get back on the farm route.
They could be anywhere in the county.
It suits you, that dress.
- You can have it back if you want.
- No, I'm just saying it suits you.
You might do something with your hair.
You've got a nice face,
you should let the boys see it.
- It ain't my face the boys want to see.
- Maybe you haven't met the right boy.
- And you have?
- I thought so.
Last night, at least,
but now I don't know what to think.
You can't figure men,
so don't run yourself ragged trying.
- I don't know why he didn't call me...
- I told you, it's a surprise!
I don't even know
what's going on myself.
I'm just doing what I was told.
Well, here we are.
This is where we're going?
I don't...
Oh, my God.
Surprise.
Howdy.
Hey.
She's some old dame, ain't she?
Doesn't that face break your heart?
To pieces.
First time you've seen it?
- How did he know?
- What's that?
The house.
How did he know where it was?
Arlis, he knows a lot more
than he lets on.
Sweet Pea saw it and... something
about a photograph. That right?
Right.
- Where is he?
- He'll be along.
You want to take a look inside there?
Look around?
Go on.
You be careful, now.
Watch yourself on them stairs there.
There's more termites than timber.
How was the movie?
I got here as fast as I could.
You talk to that clerk at the motel?
And dropped enough crumbs
for a flock of geese.
- That's minutes. Where've you been?
- She had to pee. Twice.
And I made a little stop of my own.
I know how grim you get,
you don't get your breakfast.
You're smarter than I thought.
Not smart enough to figure out
why we're wasting our time here.
I'll tell you about loose ends some day.
And you'll want to listen careful.
You look like you've seen a ghost.
I hope you brought some food.
Arlis?
You all right?
Hell, he's fine. Just fine.
Cat's got his tongue, that's all.
Come on up. There's something
I want to show you.
Watch your step, son.
Like heaven, isn't it?
My mother must've stood right here.
Brushing her hair.
Daydreaming.
I think I've figured it out.
I must've slept in here.
Or there.
No.
In front.
In those days, they used to put
the baby in the front of the house.
If a woman was hanging laundry
out front, she could hear the baby.
Maybe my mother
hung laundry out back.
Sun's strongest in the front.
You seem to know more about me
than I do, so 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.
- Well, I'm...
I'm not just saying it. I know it.
That's a fact.
I want to go outside.
That's a good idea. 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
and never see anything but this.
Wouldn't that be a thrill.
It was the girl, Sweet Pea,
that first mentioned it.
The house being the same and all.
I thought she had it all wrong.
I knew I'd never seen this woman
of yours, 'cause I never forget a face.
But...
...still there was something
dogging me. A sound.
Halfway to Shreveport,
I see a lady, standing by the road.
A mother.
That's when I knew what it was.
That sound in my head.
A crying.
You see, I had forgotten...
...about the baby.
What's that sound? You hear it?
Bugs.
No.
She doesn't know.
There's no reason for her to know.
No reason for me to tell her.
I realise that.
I truly do.
But this woman, she's different.
I noticed that the first time I saw her.
The way she looked at you,
the way you looked at her.
- Hell, 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 too emotional.
I left her this morning.
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 fucking mind!
It's not going to change, you know?
They don't grow this stuff
but one colour!
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 shoots his own kin.
No, I couldn't sleep with that.
And I do prize my sleep.
There's really only one question here.
Do I do it... or you?
I could hear them.
You don't mind if I smoke, do you?
You know I always
enjoy a good cigar.
That's what separates me from other
men, that I can tell the difference.
A cigar is not what separates you
from other men.
What separates you, Junior?
You fuck their wives?
I don't shoot their children.
If you'd done what I told you,
there'd have been no blood that night.
- I didn't pull the trigger.
- They were supposed to be asleep.
They're always supposed to be asleep.
Besides, I didn't shoot 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.
That was years ago.
There was more than one bad night.
That was your night, wasn't it, Junior?
You're right. You didn't pull the trigger.
But you did open the door.
And now, you brought her to me.
You're stupid.
You've always been stupid.
You were stupid
when you were a little kid.
As a man, you're being stupid now.
Who's got the gun? Me?
Go ahead.
Put it on me and pull the trigger.
Come on.
See, you can't. You can't, just can't.
You can't, 'cause we're kin.
Blood.
You go ahead and run along.
Fill up them candy machines.
It's only right that I do it.
This way we both will sleep easy, eh?
- Dad.
- Son?
Sweet dreams.
- What happened?
- Get in the truck.
Get in the truck!
Hey.
Everything he told you...
...it's a lie.
Thanks for the advice.
Don't be in a hurry to leave.
They've known me here for years,
so 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 doing 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 them.
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...
...a place to sleep...
...and in each town,
there's also a woman.
I'm starting to miss them.
Sure. I understand.
I just fell into your life anyway.
There wasn't any reason to it.
God knows, I've been a burden.
It's just...
- I haven't been myself these last 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 playing George Jones.
That ain't so bad.
I guess not.
I stumble on any of your blue dimes,
maybe I'll use a couple of them,
give you a call,
let you know how I'm doing.
You know where to find me.
What's that on your pocket?
That's nothing.
It's just a little blood.