Fire Down Below Page #3

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doing any dumping up here?

I've seen weird lights over there

at night.

Helicopters, stuff like that.

My steps need fixing too.

I can do that.

That Carter boy was talking to me about

seeing some lights up there.

I think it's helicopters

dumping something up there.

You know how to get up there?

No, but I can show you something.

Watch out for these rocks.

They're slick.

There you go.

Dead fish everywhere.

It happens after a big rain.

Young'uns are dying.

It's been like this for months,

and it's got worse lately.

I didn't think you knew about fish.

My uncle told me never to tip

your hand too early in a card game.

You're guaranteed to lose.

That's good advice.

You sent me that letter?

Yes, sir, I sent it.

Now that you know who I am

and I know who you are...

...I'm heading into town.

Want a ride?

Of course.

Make it some charity event.

Celebrities love that sh*t.

They draw the people...

...like flies.

For chrissake, now what?

What do you think?

Tell me what's going on in one

small town in the middle of nowhere...

...and why you can't handle it.

I am handling it.

Sh*t, boy.

Cover up and get out of here.

I've got a meeting.

Sure, honey.

He's a fed.

EPA.

Name's Jack Taggert.

I had to call in a favor...

...to find out what's going on in my own

town because my son couldn't handle it.

Want me to take him out?

You couldn't take out a cheeseburger

from a drive-through window.

He wants a fight,

don't give him one.

Use Lloyd.

Tell him to get something on him,

and get some witnesses this time.

I can do that with one call.

You're two days away from a new porch.

- How much do I owe you for the ride?

- I'd say 50 bucks.

- You just funning me.

- Yes, sir, I am.

Sure got to thank you.

By the way...

...I forgot my driveway's

going to need paving too.

Really?

That's a joke.

I ain't got no driveway.

That's a good joke.

- I'll see you later.

- I'll see you around.

You know what's funny?

We thought we'd just stop by.

Here you are romancing somebody else.

He drops you off just like

you've been out on your first date.

Personally, he's not my type.

Tell me something.

He get to first base, or did you

take him all the way to home plate?

Good evening, Mr. Taggert.

How are you, ma'am?

I'm very well, thank you.

Hungry?

This looks awfully nice.

Thank you.

I'll get the food.

You're a good cook.

I'm not, but thank you.

What makes you hang around a town...

...where folks don't seem

to quite understand you?

Well, I did leave once.

I just decided in the middle

of the night, out of the blue...

...that I had to live in Louisville.

The first day I had

an apartment, I was robbed.

They got all the money I'd saved,

jewelry, everything.

But, you know,

I'm not much of a city gal.

Anyway, this is home.

Yeah, I can understand that.

I had heard that

there's a street dance.

You might like to come with me.

You mean...

...together on a date?

Yes, I'd love to.

I'd love to.

Look at this!

Hey, Sare.

How you doing, little sister?

I'm a whole two days early.

You are.

Jack Taggert, this is my brother, Earl.

How are you, Jack?

Any friend of my little sister

is a friend of mine.

Damn, it is good to be home!

I'll tell you, my little sister

is the best cook in eastern Kentucky.

I know the best hunting in this state.

I know these mountains.

Maybe we'll do some hunting.

That'd be great.

Hey, little sister.

- Anyone like dessert?

- It's getting late.

Thank you so much for the dinner.

That was great.

My pleasure.

Come back soon, all right?

He's a nice guy.

So how well do you know him?

How well you ever know anyone?

I'm glad for you to meet somebody.

It's just that...

I don't know. I don't get

a good feeling about this guy.

You get a bad feeling

about anyone who looks at me.

Let me put it this way.

I don't want this guy

around here fixing anything.

Oh, really?

It's kind of funny.

I'm gone for a few weeks...

...and little Miss Caterpillar

turns into a social butterfly.

It's a hard world out there.

It's dangerous.

You don't have much experience.

Maybe I can take care of myself.

I'm just trying to talk to you.

Don't get unhinged on me.

I'd hate to call those doctors

to talk to you again.

I just don't want you

rushing into anything.

It'd kill me if anybody hurt you.

That's all.

What'd they do to you?

Let me see if I can

get you out of here.

Get the door, please?

Take him all the way in

to exam room one.

Another few hours,

he wouldn't have made it.

He got a concussion.

Another fine day in paradise.

I'll be back, buddy.

You all know what's going on here.

Good morning. How are you?

Would you come with me, please?

You wanna go have some coffee?

I'm not here to socialize.

I saw you beat up five men.

Cotton is beat almost to death.

People get hurt,

you're always around.

Assault and battery.

That's good for a 10-day lockup.

Listen, why don't we cut the sh*t?

You know who I am. I can arrest you

as easy as you can arrest me.

And you know it.

So why don't you get back in Orin's car

with Orin's little department...

...and take off?

I don't believe in your authority.

You'll believe a gun.

Cuff him.

Now, how you want to do this?

Wanna play this game all the way?

I'll have 300 agents come up here

into this hick town...

...and crawl up every orifice you got.

Then you can go to your

proctologist and get...

...an ointment to rub

on the hole that hurts most.

How do you want it?

How do you want it?

Let's go.

Who are you, Mr. Taggert?

I'm a federal agent for the EPA.

We received several reports...

...that someone has been dumping

extremely large quantities...

...of toxic waste in these hills.

It concerns me because

if it gets into the aquifer...

...it could destroy drinking water

for thousands of miles...

...and kill a bunch of people here.

Why did you feel like

you had to lie to me?

Did you really want to come and

fix my porch and get to know me?

Or was that a lie too?

Where I come from we call it betrayal,

and it is no way to make friends.

I loved fixing your porch,

and I'm very interested in you.

You know what I love about this show?

Who cares if they move

the same way or not?

Still makes you feel great.

Sir, it's your son.

This better be good news.

He said if we arrest him, he'd have

federal agents all over this town.

I got 50,000 barrels of cyanide

rolling down there right now.

Where do you want me to put it?

You mean where

you want me to put it?

What the hell are you,

a goddamn parrot?

I made 16 million on this deal.

You think I'm giving it back?

I own this state,

so what the hell is the problem?

Doesn't he know the rules?

I'm the rules.

It's me.

I got another job for you.

That guy Taggert, in Jackson.

My children...

...are all I got.

I didn't know you were trying

to help my boy when you came.

I thank you for that.

I'm sorry about before.

I know you had your reasons.

I have mine.

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