Battlecreek Page #3

CARL:

What do you say, Henry?

A little money in your pocket, you

can move out of your mama's house.

Hey, he's ignoring you, man.

That freak ain't

listening to you, man.

Hold my beer.

CARL:
Hey, I'm talking to you.

Think you can ignore me?

You turned your back

on me, freak?

[SCREAMING] What the

hell is wrong with you?

Oh!

Dracula got himself

a little bodyguard.

Let's go.

That's right. Move along.

You shouldn't let him

get away with that.

I'm used to fighting

my own battles.

They're a**holes.

You shouldn't let them...

Like I said, I can fight my own battles.

I don't need your help.

I don't call that fighting.

These damn drinks are gonna

drive your mama crazy.

[SIGHING]

I feel like I have the whole

town's worries inside my head.

I heard you and that girl

were at the fair.

Your spies

working overtime, Tallulah?

I'm just looking out

for you, Henry.

Are you gonna tell me

who she is?

No one you know.

Oh, I know everyone

in this town.

Henry, what happened

to your face?

It was nothing.

It doesn't look like nothing.

Look at you.

I said I'm fine.

- Henry, who did this?

- It doesn't matter.

I will be goddamned if I let

anyone lay a hand on my baby.

I will find out

who did this.

I am this town's

eyes and ears, Henry.

So the hell what, Tallulah?

That's never stopped

anyone before, now has it?

Gentlemen.

Well, I'll be damned. The man

finally did something right.

JACK:
I heard that.

Arnie found a job, too.

Looks like our luck

maybe changing, kiddo.

Coffee.

How's everyone doing tonight?

Can I help you, Henry?

Like I told you,

I don't need any help.

I could use some more coffee.

Fine.

You know where it is.

Stupid boys.

What would you like?

[LAUGHING]

Do you ever miss it?

Sunlight.

I don't know.

I got used to the night,

I guess.

Quiet, the rhythm of it.

Sometimes it feels like

it's only mine.

I guess I could sit

near my window,

or go outside

if I stayed undercover.

But, I always just

felt like hiding.

And this isn't?

I don't know. I guess we're

all hiding from something.

- [FROGS CROAKING]

- [CRICKETS CHIRPING]

People used to

call me a vampire.

Said I slept in a coffin.

I'm sure some still do.

People are cruel.

Well, just scared I think.

My mom thought home schooling

would be easier on me.

The Korean war is a bit shady, but the

underlying meaning of amphibians in dreams,

I could write you

a dissertation.

Trust me,

you didn't miss much.

Pop quizzes, school dances,

Halloween.

You missed Halloween?

All these years,

I've had such a good costume.

Come on.

What?

Come on.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Good God.

What on Earth?

I'm sorry to wake you,

Mrs. Koehler.

Henry, are you all right?

You nearly gave me

a heart attack, sugar.

What are you doing

dressed like that?

And at this hour.

We're Trick-or-treating.

Halloween's not for

another month.

He's making up

for lost time.

Well, I'm not sure what we

got in the way of candy.

Hold on.

[WHISPERING] You're supposed to say

"Trick-or-treat" when they open the door.

- That's just stupid.

- [LAUGHING]

Will pop tarts do?

You can have them

for breakfast.

- Perfect. Thank you.

- Thank you.

- All right.

- Sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Koehler.

Oh, any time, sugar.

- Good night.

- Good night.

[PLEASANT MUSIC PLAYING]

This is all I got.

Ooh.

Go on, take that.

- Get out of here.

- Thank you, Arthur.

[LAUGHING]

- You'll have a great time.

- Good night.

All right, then.

Mm.

I think I ate too much.

Janice's plan isn't

settling very well.

Where's that?

I don't know. Somewhere.

Anywhere.

How did this happen?

I don't remember much. I was

pretty young when it happened.

I must have been

out there for a while.

I can remember the burning.

The actual feel of my skin

melting under the heat.

The smell of it...

It's a smell you never forget.

Where were your parents?

I don't know.

Tallulah had left me

with my dad.

He was drunk most of the time. I guess

he didn't hear me until it was too late.

He took off,

not too long after.

I'm sorry, Henry.

The weirdest thing is

for a few moments,

it actually felt good.

The way the heat

felt on my skin.

The kind that reaches

deep inside you

and warms you

from the inside out.

It felt good.

Like I was alive.

So?

You're sticking around

for a while?

Considering you're f***ing

my son under my roof,

I think it's about time we were

properly introduced, don't you?

I'm Tallulah.

And you are?

Alison.

Come sit down, Alison.

Alison...

I am a dreamer.

I'm sure Henry's told you

something about that.

And sometimes, these dreams

are pretty damn vivid.

Sometimes, I see colors,

animals, visions.

And then, other times...

it's just an overwhelming feeling

that something just ain't right.

You know what I mean when

"something just ain't right"?

Looks like someone could

use a little soul soother...

as my daddy used to call it.

[CLEARS THROAT]

May I see your palm?

Come on.

You have what we call

an "earth hand."

Practical, hardworking.

You have no illusions about

how this world works.

You have long

a pile of anger.

Some might say that's

a sure sign of someone who

just can't get enough

of a good thing.

Do you know what I mean?

I should get going.

Wait a minute.

This, here,

is your life line.

Looks like you've had

a hell of a time, honey.

Something sure left its mark.

Or should I say someone?

I'm sorry,

I didn't mean to upset you.

It's just what you see.

It's nice to meet you,

Tallulah.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Henry's here.

Fire up the usual.

Actually, I think I feel like

something different today.

Are you feeling okay,

Henry Pearl?

Sure. Fine.

I want a waffle, please.

My mama always said that silence

was the loudest thing there is.

And you two are quiet

as a couple of church mice.

I ain't no Monet...

but it sure does look better

than his serial killer scroll.

Monet, my ass, Melinda.

Come get this food.

[SARCASTICALLY] Ah!

The voice of an angel.

Are you okay?

Fine.

You met Tallulah.

Yeah.

What'd she have to say?

Nothing, really.

Just saying hi.

Alison, come over here. All

right, turn that, right there.

- This one?

- Mm-hmm.

Turn that real good.

Tighten it up real good.

Well, you strong, girl.

- Yeah.

- There you go. Thats gonna be done.

- That's it?

- That's it.

Henry...

this little lady is a better

mechanic than you are, man.

She can have my job.

She's stronger

and she's faster, too.

There you go. Take that.

There you go. Go on,

have a seat right there.

You're doing all the work.

That's all right.

Hold that.

There's some coffee for you.

- Thank you.

- All right.

You know what?

I'm gonna check

this tire for you.

You know what

I don't understand?

Young girl like you traveling

these roads by herself.

I'm just traveling.

Anybody missing you

at home?

They have their lives,

and I have mine.

Yeah.

Hey, where your keys at?

I'm gonna fire this up for you.

- They're in there.

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