Angel Heart Page #3

---

Well what happened to her?

Packed up her stuff

and went back home, down south.

You have any idea

where I could find Johnny Favorite?

No, maybe the cemetery.

Want to hear one of his tunes?

Thanks for the nose shield.

I'm going to need it where I'm going.

In Brooklyn?

- Louisiana. - Nice.

Where'd he go?

FOR COLORED PATRONS ON LY

Mr. Angel? Sorry to keep you waiting,

but you're a little early.

I had a bad line.

I didn't know if you said 4:00 or 4:30.

This is a wild place you got here!

- Yes, I've been very happy here.

I've never had my fortune read before.

Does it take long?

I'll take the details now. It usually

takes a couple of days to do a chart.

Tea?

Do you want some tea?

Yes, thank you.

Darjeeling, jasmine or oolong?

Not many people like oolong.

Do you play the piano?

No, not exactly.

Sing?

I can carry a tune,

but no... not really.

Who is this mean looking guy?

My father.

I'm sorry!

Don't worry, he hates it too.

He looks like one of those guys

in an old pirate movie. What's his name?

Ethan.

- Ethan Krusemark...

Well, I tell you,

I never saw any of Ethan's movies.

Do you speak French?

I'm from Brooklyn.

I would prefer it if you didn't smoke.

- That's okay.

Cream or sugar?

Straight up is fine, thank you.

I need your exact date of birth.

Sure!

I was born on February 14th...

...1918, on Valentine's day.

How curious! I used to know a boy

who was born on that exact same day.

Well, you know how it is,

all the soldiers home on leave and all.

Maybe we could pull your friend's chart

and save ourselves some time.

I don't think so. Every person

is very different. I don't think

you'd like his chart.

Place of birth?

Brooklyn, New York.

Was your friend a jerk or something?

You could say that.

I guess you didn't get along.

You and Johnny.

You and Johnny Favorite?

Who are you?

- I was an old army buddy.

I thought you two were kinda...

Look, I ain't no army buddy, I'm just

a guy who was paid to snoop around.

To tell the truth,

I wasn't born on Valentine's day.

It's Johnny's future I'm interested in.

Johnny has no future, he's dead.

He died 12 years ago.

I'd like you to leave.

I know you're thinking who is this creep

poking his snitch in everything.

I don't want to sound nosy, but...

- He's dead, Mr. Angel.

And if he isn't, he is to me.

He must've hurt you pretty bad!

We all have our scars.

I don't know too much about the guy, but

he must've been stupid to let you go.

Lies and cruelty

come very easily to some people.

Pity, I really would've liked

to have gotten my palm read.

Then I could have held

your hand just a little longer.

I don't think you'd like what I see.

Very pretty necklace!

You got any High John

the Conquerer root?

- Powdered or hanging?

I'm not really sure.

Caught in the rain, eh?

Two roots, $1.20.

I have a question.

I had an acquaintance in Harlem

who used to deal in the root.

Name was Evangeline. Heard of her?

Practically everyone around here is

called Evangeline. After the poem.

Do you know it?

Yeah, I know it.

This acquaintance had a store in Harlem

and it was the same name:

"Carter."

- Everybody uses the name, mister.

Like "Howard Johnson,"

but this is the real place.

Her name was Proudfoot.

Evangeline Proudfoot?

I knew her. She used to come back all

the time when she lived in New York.

Do you know where she is now?

- She got sick and died.

She went back to the Holy Shelter

swamp and was buried in Armandville.

She was waiting on some fellah.

- Just like in the poem? - Yep.

$1.20.

Who was the guy?

- She never told.

Okay, thanks.

A week, you say?

- At the most.

What is it?

Why are you crying?

We're going to Grandma. What's there?

Grandma.

Grandma.

Let's go.

Give me your hand.

I'm sorry!

I got these off a guy in Coney Island.

Some crazy guy.

I'm sorry.

Stop crying.

I was hoping

I could talk with your mother.

You're a little late.

Did you know her?

No, I never met her but I was hoping

she could answer some questions for me.

Are you a cop?

No, my name is Harry Angel.

I'm a private detective.

So what's...?

- Epiphany.

Your mama left you

with a very beautiful name.

And not much else.

Actually, I'm looking for

a friend of your mother's,

a guy called Johnny Favorite.

I met all her friends

but never anyone called Favorite.

Sh*t!

I got a thing about chickens.

This Favorite was friends with your

mother in New York city before the war.

Well, she never told me.

Mama had a lot of guys. She liked men.

How about a guy called Toots Sweet?

He was a friend of Favorite. Know him?

- No. - He was a good guitar player.

I was going to catch his act tonight.

I'm going to be

staying in town, in a hotel.

If you remember anything

that might help me,

give me a call.

You're a very pretty girl, Epiphany,

your name suits you.

These crazy chickens!

What are you after him for,

Johnny Favorite?

I'm not after him. I'm just being paid

to find out where he is.

He could be 6 feet under.

- Then I'll have to buy a shovel.

How are you, sugar?

Some beautiful tune

you were singing there, Mr. Sweet.

- Toots, son! Thanks. - Buy you a drink?

Mine's on the house. Special cocktail.

Whatever's in it gives a big kick.

You know, I heard you play

years ago in New York.

Before the war

at the old Dickie Wells Bar.

You were having it up pretty good

with a guy called Johnny Favorite.

Yeah, I vaguely remember.

- You and he were buddies, weren't you?

No, he recorded one of my songs.

Say, are you a dick or a book writer?

Neither. I'm a journalist

and I'm doing this piece

about Johnny

and the Spider Simpson Orchestra.

Spider played them drums

like two jackrabbits f***ing!

Haven't got much time. Got to piss,

spit and get back to work.

Try one of those cocktails. Then you can

make the whole thing up as you like.

That's what you usually do, anyway.

I can't even take a piss!

I just wanted to talk about Johnny

Favorite and Evangeline Proudfoot.

I'm too big to go hiding under beds.

I don't know nothing.

I'm only interested in cocktails. F***!

What's going on? - Nothing! Mind your

own business. I want to piss!

Get outta here,

or you'll wish your little white ass

was never born.

Please! I've got a thing about chickens.

End of bullshit time!

I've had a

good look at you and young Epiphany

doing your hot shoe number

with the chicken.

Listen!

I ain't up on this voodoo sh*t.

I'm from Brooklyn.

We ain't all Baptists here.

- What's with this Proudfoot girl?

She's a mambo priestess, like her mom.

Has been since she was 13.

When was the last time you saw

Johnny Favorite at a chicken dance?

He used to run around with Ma mambo.

- I ain't seen him since before the war.

And the chicken foot in the john?

- It means I got a big mouth.

It's not big enough.

What's this f***ing star

in your mouth? I'll tell you what.

I'll give you my hotel number.

Gimme a call if you hear anything.

You never know.

Rate this script:3.0 / 1 vote