Becoming Redwood Page #5

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lost the rest to anger.

There are balls in the bag,

you try that.

What are you doing?

It's an old trick.

Desperate times...

Lead to

desperate measures.

Even your buddy, Jack,

used to do that.

All right, let 'er rip.

Wow.

Yeah, my dad says

that I can be anything I want,

as long as I put my mind to it.

He says that everything

is thought-force,

that the mind

can lead you

toward enlightenment

or delusion.

He says,

you just got to train it,

like a bicep.

That's logical, I guess.

We're best friends,

you know?

Interesting.

Hold the finish!

That's very good.

Great swing, kid, very good.

Now...

I'm gonna show ya...

The secret.

Yeah?

Take the club back.

Now, hold it

at the top of the swing,

and then...

You do...

This.

That's it?

That's it.

Hogan, varden, Jones, nicklaus...

they all do that.

- Jack does that?

- Yes, sir.

Now give it a try.

Let the dog out...

Then cast on through.

"Dog?"

Come on, kid!

Let the dog out.

Now hold the finish!

Wow.

...Time's up.

Keeps me regular.

That should help you on 18.

Thank you.

Earl, can I ask you

a question?

Sure, kid.

Why don't you ever

leave the basement?

I mean,

it's so nice outside...

Time's up.

But it can't hurt to...

that's enough!

More chocolate.

Keep the coffee hot

next time.

A deal is a deal.

But if you just tried...

go on! Get out of here!

Good night, Earl.

Good night, kid.

What's up, brat?

I couldn't help but notice

some of my belongings

went missing.

You wouldn't know about that,

would you?

So, when I went through

your belongings,

I happened to find this.

Listen, that's...

that's what?

Private property?

Shall we read it?

Please, don't.

Hey.

"Tell redwood

"that I love him

and that everything

is going to be o... "

he's been extracted!

And when I win my green jacket,

he's gonna come and get me.

Shut up.

And we're gonna take my mom

and I'm gonna get my own room.

I know the secret, you know?

"Just let the dog out."

The more I know,

the better I'll do on 18...

Because I'm down

one on Jack,

and it's the last hole,

and it fits my fade perfectly.

And then things

are going to go back

to the way they used to be.

He's crazy, like gramps.

What does "extracted" mean?

Did you read the letter

from the orange grove care home?

He's not going.

It's something

we should think about.

They're reasonable,

and his pension

would cover it.

You asked me

to think about it, I did.

Honey.

He needs more care

than we can give him.

Enough, jade. 'Kay?

Well, on a positive note,

I got a call from

Ethan's lawyer today.

Looks like we can go

and see him soon.

When?

You're not taking him.

What do you mean,

I'm not taking him?

I mean, you're not taking him.

You're not going up there.

That's it, there's

no more discussion.

I can see my dad if I want.

What was that?

Arnold, don't.

No, I want to

hear that again.

I said, I can go see my father

if I want to.

Don't!

Can I ask you a question?

Of course, honey.

Did you love dad?

I was crazy about him.

Then why did you leave?

I had Josh and Todd

with Arnold

when we were young.

We got together in high school,

and he was pretty much

the only guy I ever knew.

And then he tried to enlist

in the war in Vietnam,

but he was denied

because of what they called

a mental disorder.

He hadn't gotten over

his brother's death.

It was a really hard time

for us.

I was confused...

With Arnold,

with the war.

I didn't want him to go,

I didn't believe in the war

the way that he did.

And then I met your father.

I was...

Working at this diner

and he came in one night...

And...

I don't know.

He was like

a different world to me,

and I was comfortable with him.

It all happened really fast.

One minute,

I was leaving Arnold

and my two boys,

and the next, I was...

I never wanted to leave you,

redwood.

I just thought, at the time,

that you had a better chance

with your father

than Josh and Todd had

with theirs.

It's okay, mom.

Honey, I'll go

first, okay?

Yeah.

Hi.

Hi.

Long time.

Yeah, it's been

a long time.

I'll go get him.

- Hey. Jade?

- Yeah?

Thanks for coming.

Your turn, honey.

Guess what?

What?

I was down one on Jack,

on 18,

but then Earl

showed me the secret.

He lives in

the basement, you know.

I mean, they feed him,

but they think he's crazy,

delusional,

but don't tell anyone

that I go down there, okay?

Because he showed me

how to let the dog out,

and I think ruben and I

are ready for Jack on 18.

Promise?

I promise.

It sounds like

you're doing

all right, red.

You're getting out

soon, right?

You know, red...

It's not looking...

good.

Because I want to go home.

Promise not to

tell anyone

that I go downstairs

with Earl

or sneak into the courses

in the morning, okay?

Not even mom.

Okay.

And dad?

Yeah, red?

Once I beat Jack

and get that green jacket,

things are going to

get better, I promise.

And maybe we can

bring mom and Earl with us.

I mean, Earl hasn't been

out of the basement

since Danny died

in that hunting accident and...

time's up, Hansen.

All right.

Red...

I love you, man.

I love you, too.

Do me a big favor, okay?

Okay.

You take care

of your mother.

Jade, we got to

figure this out.

Don't.

This will not happen again.

He's a good kid.

I know.

I don't want to

f*** this up.

Hold this?

Hey.

Never...

Touch my mother

again.

You put the gun down.

Promise?

Oh, sh*t.

Redwood, please,

put the gun down.

Promise?

- Put the freakin' gun down...

- Jesus, red!

- Arnold, don't!

Never hurt my mother again!

Promise?

I promise.

Say it!

Listen to me!

I promise.

I will never hurt

your mother again.

My word.

Okay?

Okay.

And one more thing?

I would prefer it

"redwood," please.

Okay.

Dad!

Something's wrong

with Hank!

Sh*t.

Hank!

You okay?

Yeah. You?

Oh, yeah.

Oh...

See?

That's what

I'm talking about.

Let the dog out,

then grab his tail

on the follow-through.

Watch out, Jack.

Earl...

Once I beat Jack on 18,

my dad's gonna get out of jail,

and come and pick me

and my mom up.

Would you like to

come with us?

Life ain't that easy, kid.

Like I said,

it ain't that easy.

What do you mean?

It just ain't,

that's all.

You like it down here,

don't you?

Love/hate, more like it.

But they think

you're crazy.

"Delusional," not crazy.

Look, kid.

I like you,

but old men get... crusty.

We frown at change.

Well, my dad says

that the Buddha says

that life

isn't permanent,

and resisting

the change

causes internal turmoil.

Never thought of it like that.

He says

the maharajah believes

we're one and all,

and it's your decision,

your will,

your life,

your consciousness.

Yeah, look where

it got your dad, eh?

Jail time,

incarcerated.

He's been extracted!

And do you want to know

what I think?

Yes, I do want to know

what you think.

I think you're just afraid.

You could be right.

You made me think.

I quit the pills.

Really?

Yeah.

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