Empire of the Ants Page #2

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Maybe an agency for domestic help.

But it's going to take all

the savings I've got,

so I've got to make certain

that I make the best investment possible.

I don't have any opinions about that.

Well, but you'd be honest with me.

Like, this land they're trying to sell us,

is it a good thing?

Or not?

Lady, if you want advice,

would you ask somebody else, please?

I just had a pretty rough

time of it myself.

And I guess if I weren't so

sick of the whole routine,

I'd probably be doing what

you're doing right now.

I beg your pardon?

All this self-pity,

"nobody-gives-a-damn" attitude.

What?

The booze.

Right.

You know, umm when I met you on the boat,

I didn't like you very much.

That's not exactly a surprise.

I don't know.

I guess I thought you were one

of those macho, phony types,

the kind whose brains fall out

every time he unzips his fly.

Say, what is this, group therapy?

Maybe.

I can't afford to make

a mistake, that's all.

I lied to them back there before.

I told them I had a good job,

been working for the same man for 20 years.

The truth of it is, he fired me.

All I've got is severance

pay and references.

I've got a job that pays $30,000 a year,

I own a 2-bedroom condominium,

I've got a $10,000 sports car,

I've got a wife and I got a 4-year-old kid

who thinks I'm god.

How's that?

That's terrific. That's fabulous.

Look, I was just trying to tell you that

I changed my mind about not liking you.

That's all.

Forget it.

I'm a bad investment.

And why do you say that?

Because the...

$30,000-a-year job went

in the toilet last year.

And the sports car needs an overhaul.

And my wife is an ex-wife,

who's suing me for back support.

My kid won't even talk to me on the phone.

What about your condominium?

Plastic,

like everything else.

Shall we?

Ok.

If it was my money and I was

going to buy this land,

first, I'd make sure they struck oil on it,

and then I'd still think twice.

Does that answer your question?

Ok.

Dan.

You got a button off your shirt.

If you got time, I always

carry a needle and thread.

I don't need any buttons.

This building here is gonna be torn down.

And the dreamland shores beach club

is gonna be constructed in its place.

It'll be the most beautiful

and modern club imaginable,

with every possible convenience.

If we all get into the tram,

now, where Charlie is,

we'll be off on our little tour.

Here we go.

NOW, DON'T FORGET,

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING,

JUST SHOUT THEM OUT.

WE'RE VERY INFORMAL HERE

AND THIS TOUR IS STRICTLY

FOR YOUR PLEASURE.

I THINK ALL OF YOU BOATING

ENTHUSIASTS WILL BE

INTERESTED IN THESE

PRESENTLY-AVAILABLE LOTS,

WHICH, AS YOU CAN SEE,

ARE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED

RIGHT NEXT TO THE MARINA.

ALL OF THE HOUSE LOTS YOU SEE HERE

WILL BE SOLD ON A FIRS COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

IF YOU SEE A LOT THAT APPEALS TO YOU,

JUST TELL CHARLIE OR ME

AND WE'LL GIVE YOU FIRST REFUSAL.

Larry, what do you think?

It's not what I think, it's

what daddy thinks, isn't it?

Honey, you know my father

only wants to help us...

Both of us.

He'd help us a lot more

if he'd leave us alone.

Then maybe he'd be satisfied

with what I could give you.

YOU WILL NOTICE THAT WE

HAVE CAREFULLY PRESERVED

THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF DREAMLAND SHORES.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE LONG WALKS

INTO THESE SECLUDED AREAS.

BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES

AND FRAGRANT FLOWERS.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOLF ENTHUSIASTS,

YOU'LL PROBABLY WANT TO BE SITUATED

OVERLOOKING THE 18-HOLE GOLF COURSE,

WHICH WILL SOON BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AFTER WE STOP AT OUR PICNIC

AREA FOR REFRESHMENTS,

WE'LL GO ON AND LOOK AT SOME

OF THE INLAND PROPERTIES.

HERE WE ARE.

Be careful getting out, now.

Now, if we're really lucky,

we may get some glimpses of some of

the fascinating wildlife

that's in this area.

Do you know there are 100

different kinds of birds here?

There are? Yes.

I've seen over 50 myself.

Charlie?

You want to help me with

the sandwiches, darling?

Would you like a plate?

Thank you.

It almost looks like those romantic places

you used to see in old movies.

What does your husband

think about the idea?

He's not very interested.

Oh, what a shame.

But your husband seems to be.

Then I took one of those long, slow looks.

You know the kind you

take on a rainy weekend

when he's home playing

goody-goody family man?

I got up one day, got dressed

and told the bastard to

go back to his wife.

You know something?

From then on, it was just

like a breath of fresh air.

I cashed in my fur coat and all

the other little knick-knacks

and decided to buy myself a piece

of something really legitimate...

Like a house.

I could go to bed when

I wanted to go to bed.

That's why I'm here.

Although, you know,

I really don't know what's so

great about owning a house.

Thomas, what are you doing?

Looking, just looking.

You're trying to find fault, aren't you?

You don't trust anybody.

Most people are dishonest.

Lets get back to the others.

In a minute, in a minute.

Look at this, Mary! It's a water pipe!

It isn't even connected!

It's a fraud, just like I said.

These people are dishonest.

This is a fraud!

Trust people? I tell you, you

can't trust anybody, Mary.

You can't trust anybody.

I hope you've learned your lesson.

Look!

What's that sound?

Who cares?

I found what I was looking for.

Listen, Thomas, it's all around us.

Mary, will you leave...

Oh, my god.

Run, Mary, run!

Help, Mary, help!

Help, Mary, help me!

Ahh!

Oh, my god!

OVER THERE, ABOUT 50 YARDS,

WILL BE OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER.

IT WILL HAVE A COMPLETE

WORKSHOP AND HOBBY ROOM.

THERE WILL BE A THEATER, A BOWLING ALLEY,

POOL TABLES, SAUNAS, EVERY CONVENIENCE.

The Lawsons.

Where are the Lawsons?

They ducked out back at the picnic area.

Why didn't you say something?

After listening to you on

that bullhorn for 2 hours,

I was ready to duck out myself.

Keep moving, Charlie.

There's a lot more to see, everybody.

What's that noise?

Seems to be coming from over there.

It's nothing to worry about.

It's probably some of

our pumping equipment.

Marilyn, there's no pump. We'd

better get back to that boat.

Shut up.

There's nothing to worry about, everybody.

WHEN YOU COMPARE ALL THE

BENEFITS OF DREAMLAND SHORES

TO OTHER LAND INVESTMENTS

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN,

I'M CERTAIN YOU WILL REALIZE

WHAT A WONDERFUL VALUE WE HAVE HERE.

Oh, my god! Look!

That's Pete, one of our workers.

My god! What happened?

Take it easy.

Holy Jesus.

Hey, we'd better go look for the Lawsons.

Who'll go with me? Larry?

No, I'm not going out there.

No, not me. I'm an old man.

We only came because it was free.

We take these tours all the time.

But nothing ever happened like this before.

It's ok, Harry.

Joe, I'll go with you.

All right.

We'll meet you back at the boat.

Mr. Lawson!

Mr. Lawson!

Joe.

Oh, my god.

Ahh!

Ahh!

Ahh!

Oh, my god.

What the hell are they?

That's my boat.

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