Battlecreek Page #2

got his start playing piano in a brothel.

Fourteen years old.

Yeah.

And then we all sang

every last word of it.

Ain't nothing in those books

you can teach me.

Henry, ain't I be doing your head all

these years the things you got to know.

- Yes, you have.

- Yes, I have.

But, I mean, you wouldn't know a drive

socket from a flare nut, now would you?

[ARTHUR LAUGHING]

I believe old Jelly Roll

had him some sweet times.

There's some sweet inspiration

between those walls.

Their men need a little sweet

inspiration, you know what I mean?

Are you suggesting

I go to a brothel, Arthur?

No, I ain't saying nothing.

I ain't saying all that.

But I'll tell you what,

it sure beats the hell out of you spending

all your nights hanging around here with me.

Yeah, what about you?

Oh, come on, now.

When Martha passed,

I went into retirement, man.

I thought I'll...

just close up shop for a while.

But you...

you got no excuse.

I could think of a few.

Yeah? Like what?

Let me tell you something.

That music that

you're reading about,

was created by people who

came to this country in chains.

And that same music

can set a man's soul free.

Every man has got to learn to break free of

whatever shackles are binding him, Henry.

It don't matter if you scared to

death to do what you got to do it.

That's the truth.

That's the sure enough truth.

Drink up, man.

Damn.

Henry...

why don't you

come around here

and paint these walls. All that

stuff you got in your head, man.

Just give the place

a little life, you know?

What are you thinking?

Some tropical...

tropical island with a...

with some palm trees, and a

real nice beach and me...

laying out on that beach, being

served an ice cold beer...

by a real pretty lady.

Well, I thought you said

you were retired.

I said for a while.

I ain't said my whole life.

- Oh, for a while?

- For a while.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

All right,

I'll see what I can do.

You all right with me, Henry.

You all right with me.

Morning, Janice.

Afternoon, Henry.

Does Ms. Nelson still have

that room to rent?

Why? You going somewhere?

- It's for a friend.

- A friend?

What friend?

Never mind.

Uh, Henry, as far as I know,

it's still for rent.

Thanks.

That boy of yours

is so sweet.

Always thinking of others.

He sure is.

He's as sweet as pie.

I'm sure your car will be fine for the Fall,

but come Winter, and you'll freeze to death.

I don't plan on

being here that long.

Maybe not...

Oh, and Ms. Nelson doesn't hear that

well, so you'll have to speak up.

Thanks.

So you're a friend of Henry's?

Um, not really.

That's nice, dear.

It's just up these stairs.

Now, there's no smoking in the house

and I don't want any loud commotion.

I go to bed early,

and I'm up with the sun.

There won't be any noise.

No boys.

I won't have any funny business,

do you hear me?

I run a clean house.

I understand.

It's right through here.

You're a pretty little thing.

This is it.

[SNIFFLES]

[SIGHS]

So, um, do you have family

back in Florida?

Who said I was from Florida?

Your license plate

on your car.

It's Alison, right?

I'm Henry.

Listen, I appreciate you

finding me a room

but I'm really not looking

for friends right now.

It's nothing personal.

Nothing personal.

I told you I'd use a horn.

You don't say.

Mm-hmm.

My granddaddy and me used to sit on the

back porch listening to Dizzy Gillespie

like it was our

last dying wish.

Old guy used to make me

use scales, you know,

till my lungs burned out,

my lips burnt up.

He didn't know the meaning

of the word "suffering."

He used to say to me, "Boy, you

damn well better walk through life

"dealing with what God serves

up with a smile on your face,

"and dignity in your step."

That's what I did.

Sure.

I thought I was gonna teach

Miles Davis a thing or two.

[ARTHUR LAUGHING]

Yeah, I did.

Life happened.

Yeah, you damn straight.

Lots of things happened,

and my daddy told me,

he said,

"Boy, don't you know a Black man

don't have the luxury of dreaming?"

Henry, how long you gonna hang around

here playing with engine bars?

- Huh?

- I don't know.

I don't know. I never

really thought about it.

Well...

you better start

thinking about it.

Right now.

You living like a young man

that ain't got no choices.

They're kinda limited.

Says who?

I don't see nobody

holding you back.

Henry...

you got your whole life

ahead of you.

All you got to do is, you step out there

and you take what's yours, you hear me?

It's like your man said, you got

to grab life by the throat.

[GRAVE INSTRUMENTAL

MUSIC PLAYING]

Hey.

What are you doing here?

Hey.

It's not really safe at this time

of night for you to be down here.

You're here.

People tend to leave me alone.

Listen,

at the diner, when I said I didn't need

any friends, I didn't mean to, um...

I'm not used to...

It's fine.

Why are you being

so nice to me?

Don't you sleep?

Don't you?

It is too hot to sleep.

Mrs. Nelson doesn't like fans

cause she says they're too noisy.

Uh, come on,

I'll walk you.

Come on.

That's Mr. Hayworth.

He lost his wife

eight years ago.

Every night, he sits on that

porch till he falls asleep.

Like he's waiting

for something.

[WHISTLING]

Hi, hi, hi...

This is Benny.

- Hi.

- You want a treat, buddy?

There you go.

I always bring him treats.

He knows all

the town secrets.

He's beautiful.

[LAUGHING]

Well, this is me.

Can I walk you home?

No, I'm fine.

It's close enough.

Guess I'll see you around, then.

I guess you will.

You like fairs?

Every year the whole town puts on

a fair behind the old cider mill.

It ain't much. Trust me.

But Melinda will be defending

her apple bobbing title.

Four years running.

She trains and everything.

Jack shuts down the diner for the

night, too, so everyone can go.

Yeah.

Maybe.

Did you have a good night?

The usual.

Come sit with your mama.

"The fool"...

representing the beginning

of a new life cycle.

And the "High Priestess"...

she speaks of

hidden influences.

Usually that of a woman.

Stop taking, Tallulah.

I'm just telling you

what I see, baby.

Nothing more.

It's never "nothing"

with you.

Tell your mommy

you love her.

Oh, you know I do.

Say it.

It's late, Tallulah.

Good night.

I'll make sure to

stay on your good side.

My brother taught me

how to shoot.

BOY:
Take your pick.

The bear.

So, um, where does

your brother live?

Oh, really? I hear that's

nice this time of year.

[ALL CHEERING]

Do you want anything?

- Uh, no.

- You sure?

Yeah.

- You want to try this?

- CARL:
Five bucks to see the freaks.

We got two headed cat,

three legged dog,

and some really ugly women.

Hey, Henry, why don't you come on here.

You'll feel right at home.

He might just be

the most normal f***er in there.

That'd be a first.

Did I tell you

I was nailing his mama?

Yeah, man.

Must be one tired piece of ass.

Come on, Henry, you'd make more

money than at the gas station.

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