A Love Song for Bobby Long

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What are you doing here?

Georgianna went a half hour ago.

You're gonna miss it.

Put that on my tab.

Your bill.

"Tab" sounds like

y'all might pay it someday.

Time was never a friend to Bobby Long.

It would conspire against him...

allow him to believe in a generous nature,

then rob him blind every time.

We had lost Lorraine, all of us...

but long before she died.

You can't park here.

You'll get another ticket.

I don't see no signs, Miss Daisy.

It's all right.

I can walk to the curb from here.

Get me a beer.

You find a job?

You clean the f*** up?

That Bobby guy called again today.

- Again?

- He called a couple of days ago, remember?

No, you didn't tell me. What did he want?

He wanted to tell you about Lorraine.

What about her?

She died.

She what?

She's dead, all right? He called

because he thought you'd wanna know.

Lorraine died and you didn't tell me?

To Lorraine. May she finally find peace.

So, now what?

Lorraine finally kick y'all out?

No.

She never would.

Besides, God wouldn't let that happen.

Really? And why not?

'Cause God knows me, and I know God.

Go.

Cecil's pretty torn up. Make sure he eats.

I'll see you later.

She never meant nothing to you...

and you didn't mean a damn thing to her.

I didn't think you would care.

Come on, baby, stop.

Look, I'm sorry, all right?

Why don't you just cook me some dinner

and I'll go rent us a porno?

I have to go to a funeral, Lee...

unless I missed it

because you forgot to tell me...

that my mother is dead!

F***ing a**hole. I am so out of here.

She was never your mother!

Purslane? This is Bobby Long again.

I don't know if you remember me...

but you missed your mama's funeral.

So long.

You got any smokes?

Sorry, sir.

- Y'all going down to Cecil's?

- In a minute.

- I'll see you guys.

- See you there.

You got a light?

- I thought you didn't have any.

- I don't.

Not for Junior.

He's got to cut down.

He's got fierce emphysema.

That cough sends shivers of mortality

down my spine.

"He'd make a lovely corpse,"

but I'll make no contribution.

Of course not. "Contribute only

to one's own death." That's my motto.

Did you get the girl? She know anything?

- "He'd make a lovely corpse."

- Come on, man. Charles Dickens.

Are you serious? It's Martin Chuzzlewit.

Smart-ass.

New Orleans is a siren of a city.

A place of fables and illusion.

A place Lorraine had to escape from...

and Bobby and I had to escape to.

Away from Alabama...

away from lives

that no longer belonged to us.

I thought she was getting better

that last time, I really did.

When was that?

- A few years ago, at least.

- It'll be six years, October.

Was it that long since we seen her?

Since you seen her.

We should have gone

to the hospital with you.

You should have done a lot of things.

Coming.

This Lorraine's house?

And who are you?

No one. I just live here.

Come on in.

Nice place.

Thanks. We try.

- You're not old enough to be Bobby.

- That's because I'm Lawson.

Okay.

I'm sorry about your mother.

You look a lot like her.

Sorry to wake you so early. It's barely noon.

Bobby. We got company, man. Wake up!

Honey, put your bags down. We don't bite.

- Juice?

- No.

- Bobby, get up. She's here.

- Who?

- Pursey.

- Who?

The girl is here. Get up.

So, when's the funeral?

It was yesterday. It was real nice.

You should have been there, young lady.

That's your opinion.

You must be here for some reason.

I guess you already know

the deal on the house.

What deal?

- The house. Your mother owned it...

- The deal!

Let me tell you what the deal is.

The deal is that

Lorraine left the three of us the house.

Lawson and I are two-thirds,

and you are only one-third.

She did what?

Lawson and I have been living here

for some time.

Your mother hasn't lived here for years.

And I don't believe

that she thought you'd be interested.

Lorraine was great at being wrong.

Purslane, honey, we are here to stay.

This is our home.

It's no big deal...

Lorraine thinking I'd share this shithole

with two alcoholic strangers.

You are alcoholics, aren't you?

But we are not strangers.

We were her friends.

We took care of her.

And this shithole is just fine for us.

It's not suited for a girl like you.

I'm getting up out of bed now.

You can watch if you want.

It don't matter to me.

It seems hard to believe...

that you haven't seen a man naked before.

Not an old one.

I know that you're no innocent...

because I spoke to that boyfriend of yours...

over on the Redneck Riviera.

You certainly didn't choose him

for his brains.

You don't know nothing about me.

I guess that will change

if we all became roommates, wouldn't it?

I'll see you later. I'm out of cigarettes.

My brand is on sale.

Good to see you again, Purslane.

All growed up.

He's not usually such a jackass.

He's just upset about Lorraine. We all are.

He's right, you know. I can't stay here.

It's pretty funny, actually.

My grandma was always talking about...

the pretty little house

Lorraine was fixing up for me...

and I guess

that was the Ernest & Julio talking.

It's fine.

- There's no real surprises here.

- The hospital sent her stuff.

Lorraine would want you to have these.

They went everywhere she did.

She loved those books.

I guess I could unload them

at a flea market or something.

- Here, I'll help you out.

- No, I'm fine.

I really did want to come to the funeral.

I just never got his message.

That girl looks so much like Lorraine.

I remember the first time

you took me to see her sing.

It was my first time in New Orleans.

I was so taken.

You were kind of sheltered.

Choked by that silver spoon.

I thought she was so beautiful.

She was.

What else can I get you boys?

Did anyone ever tell you that you smell

like a Parisian woman in springtime?

Every day, at least once. Y'all gonna eat?

The lawyer could get to her at any time.

So what?

The will says we can stay for a year.

Should I just come back?

Do you know how lethal the smell

of a Parisian woman in springtime is?

Not nearly as lethal as

a Louisiana woman who don't give a sh*t.

- Eggs and bacon, ma'am. Both of us.

- Cheese on our grits, darling. Please.

You are f***ing shameless.

Why didn't you use the bed, sweetheart?

- Oh, God.

- I could have come in and cuddled with you.

That would have been fine with me.

- We could have spooned together.

- Save it.

Why'd you give her this?

This is stories of misfits...

invisible people. It's beautiful.

Have you ever read it?

Have you ever read any book?

Lorraine didn't know she was a poet.

I really do enjoy...

fostering inspiration.

Lawson's a writer. A fine one, too.

Really?

He's writing a book about me.

That's fascinating.

"Chapter 1:

I got up, I got drunk, I passed out.

- "Chapter 2:
I got up, I got drunk..."

- Lovely and witty.

You're an embarrassment of riches,

little girl.

Which room is mine?

I'll need a place to stay,

and y'all said I had a right.

Just figured I'd stay here

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