Flesh and Bone

---

Clem?

Turn down that thing, will ya?

You're gonna wake Scotty.

- What's that?

- The RCA.

- Scotty's got school tomorrow.

- All right.

Say, you haven't

seen my glasses, have you?

On the table next to the clock.

Yes, you're such a pretty girl,

aren't you?

- No, they're not here.

- Try the washroom.

What's gotten into Jack?

Anderson's b*tch

must be in heat again.

I'll go run her up the road.

What is it, Jack?

That old b*tch doggin' you again?

Lulu, is that you out there?

You go on home, now, you hear?

Go on. Get.

What the devil?

Still dead?

I don't understand it.

County ran a new wire

just last month.

You can drive him into town

in the mornin'.

He looks like he could use

a good night's rest anyway.

You get anything more

out of him?

No. He just

keeps saying he's lost.

Scotty, what are you doing

down here?

You don't know this here boy,

do you, son?

- Hush.

- I'll put him in the barn. Come on.

Come on.

You get out.

Why don't we go upstairs

and run you a bath?

Didn't your mama think

to give you a haircut?

Now, what is this?

My God.

Who'd do such a thing to a boy?

They're supposed to be asleep.

You always know

they're supposed to be asleep.

Somebody else in this house

beside that baby?

Somebody else in this house?

Boy, I am your father...

and you answer your father.

Is there somebody else

in this house?

Is this one as smart

as the other one?

Afraid so.

How come they're all

named Betty?

Well, now,

that is a good question.

Maybe they're not as smart

as we think.

Here.

Stick with the jukebox.

My bird's fryin' her ass

out there in the hot sun, Theodore.

Yeah, well, County Health's gonna

fry my ass if I put her back inside.

- I serve food here, Arlis.

- So to speak.

And by the way,

some 14-year-old kid...

bought a pack of cigarettes

out of your machine there...

and his parents

are threatening to sue me.

- You want me to take it out?

- Hell, no.

I'm just tellin' you

what I'm up against.

Your mangy chicken's the least

of my problems.

You should have heard the stink

over the rubbers last week.

Do we have to have a prophylactic

machine in the ladies' toilet?

We are doing 2-to-1

compared to the men's room.

I know, Arlis,

but this ain't Abilene.

We're a small town.

We got small-town values.

- Am I right, Cindy?

- Amen.

Like I said,

you just missed him.

We were preparing

to close the casket.

Well, it's probably best.

I was sort of the black sheep

of the family.

Well, as they say,

"In death, all is forgiven."

That's a nice sentiment.

I'll have to remember that.

Exactly what relation are you?

It's complicated.

Would you mind

giving us a moment alone?

Of course.

The book is here

if you care to sign.

Thank you.

God bless, whoever you are.

You know, my face breaks out

about two days after you leave town.

Every time,

like some goddamn teenaged girl.

- It's the chocolate.

- I know. I just can't help myself.

How come you don't have those cheese

and peanut butter crackers anymore?

They pick up pinworms

in the heat.

Pinworms? Jesus.

Too bad.

My kids love those things.

You want a carton of Kools

for Nathan?

No. He's quit. Again.

Jesus. I never get used

to these chickens.

- About twenty-five.

- Twenty... Twenty-five late?

Lay it down.

You heard about Lou Jamison?

I heard his widow was lookin'

to unload his machines.

Was. Pudge Riley

got to her Friday last.

He get the Remingtons?

Two dozen electro-slots.

Says he's got a buyer

for 'em in Oklahoma.

All I know is

Lou Jamison's widow is sittin'...

on all the Texaco stations

in Benson County...

and most of the Dairy Queens,

with no machines.

I don't want Benson County.

But Arlis, I had to drive

through Benson to get here.

- Why not expand a little?

- I'm big enough.

- I don't need Benson.

- But Arlis...

Just make a note

about the machines, Elliot.

Say, Arlis, I almost forgot.

There was a fella askin'

about you over in Woodlake.

- Denny Harris?

- No. Just some fella.

Said he knew you from way back.

I figured he must've

worked for you sometime.

- Why is that?

- He had one of our dimes.

You know, the blue juke dimes?

- You get a name?

- He didn't offer. I didn't ask.

Said he wanted to look you up.

Anyway, I stayed vague.

You did right.

I'll see you on the 7th.

Looks like I'm gonna

be stretchin' felt in the mornin'.

You're gonna be stretchin' your luck

if you're thinkin' about take-out...

anytime soon.

It is a slight feverish tonight.

Just wait till that damn cake

pops its lid.

Unless that little pastry inside

comes with a bicycle pump...

and two sisters, there ain't gonna

be a farm animal safe tonight.

Go! Go! Go! Go!

Three, two, one!

Christ Almighty.

Just put her in my pickup.

- Lookin' good.

- Here's to ya, honey!

Feel like knockin' a few sins

off your ledger, Arlis?

You want me to find out

if she's got a home.

And take her there.

What's the damage?

Well, put it this way.

Feed this girl a cucumber,

it'd come out pickles.

Jesus.

I figure the bed's one

of those vibratin' numbers...

so that explains the quarters.

Nobody could possibly

fancy pretzel twists that much...

so I figured you won some kind

of weird contest.

As for the condoms, well,

either you got a yen...

for cheerleading squads,

or we had the night of all nights.

Whatever.

There's an explanation.

As for the blue chicken,

I need a little help with that one.

- You passed out.

- Who wouldn't?

The coins just need

to be papered for the bank.

The condoms and the twists

are inventory.

The chicken's Brainy Betty.

I take it Betty's one

of the exotics?

She plays tic-tac-toe.

What makes her so brainy?

She wins nine times out of ten.

You want some coffee?

You got a machine for that too?

Half a dozen

in the next three counties.

But given the circumstances

of your immediate past...

I would suggest the real bean.

You wouldn't happen to have a pair

of chinos and a belt, would ya?

"Boo-boo"?

Story of my life.

Wait. Don't forget Lorraine.

Peek's Beauty Academy,

right outside Red Grove...

near Green Gene's Pickle Factory.

Buy a burger around here, chances

are it's Green Gene's under the bun.

Anyway...

seein' as the beauty academy was

next door to the pickle factory...

we always had plenty of people

to practice on.

So one day I'm doin'

this tint job on this lady...

and my instructor comes over

and is giving me...

The collar picked up

a little perfume...

so if you got a suspicious wife,

I'd run some soap through it.

I don't need to worry about that.

Headin' home?

I don't think so.

I got a girlfriend up in Bayview.

That oughta be enough for now.

- You got a coat?

- Yeah.

- Money?

- Sure.

Well, thanks for the eggs.

Everything.

Thanks for the company.

It must get lonely

on the road sometimes.

Like anything else,

you're born to it.

Well, you're a born listener,

that's for sure.

Depends on who's talkin'.

- What's your name?

- Kay.

All right, Kay.

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