Flesh and Bone Page #6

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That potential.

Is that why your hands are shaking?

That's why my hands are shaking.

I like my job, Arlis.

I like you.

I like you too, Elliot.

I'll see you next week.

And Elliot,

that business about the machines...

It ain't the Mexicans.

Up there they blame everything

on the Mexicans.

We asked 100 women this question.

Give me the most popular answer...

from the 100 women who answered.

Tell me a reason why

women leave their husbands.

Infidelity.

Did our women say infidelity?

It's number one!

Who needs him anyway?

Stardust Motel.

Emma, it's Arlis.

Ring 12 for me, will you?

Not unless you wanna talk to

Theresa. She's pulling the sheets.

Speaking of which, what do you

want me to do with the suitcase?

Suitcase?

I'll have Jimmy put it in

Maintenance. Just give me the word.

I don't follow you.

Where's the lady?

Gone. Been gone

about an hour now.

They just got in the car and left.

They? Who's they?

She and her friend.

A young lady in sunglasses.

A real stinger, that one.

Asked me for directions

three times...

then liked to take half

the guest mints from the bowl.

I swear, some people

just have no manners.

They say where they were goin'?

Up north, I guess. The young one

had gotten turned around.

Wanted to know how

to get back on the farm route.

That doesn't help much. They

could be anywhere in the county.

It suits you... the dress.

Well, you can have it back

if that's what you mean.

I'm just sayin' it suits you,

that's all.

You might think about doin'

something with your hair.

You got a nice face.

You should let the boys see it.

It ain't my face

the boys wanna see.

Maybe you haven't met

the right boy.

- And you have?

- I thought so.

Last night, at least,

but now l...

I don't know what to think.

Look, you can't figure men.

So don't run yourself

ragged tryin'.

I guess. I don't know why

he just didn't call me himself.

I told you, it's a surprise.

I don't even know

what's goin' on myself.

I'm just doin' what I was told.

Well, here we are.

This is where we're goin'?

I don't...

Oh, my God.

Surprise.

Howdy.

She's some old dame, ain't she?

Look at that face, sweet pea.

Does that break your heart?

To pieces.

First time you've seen it?

- How did he know?

- What's that now?

The house.

How did he know where it was?

Oh, Arlis.

He knows a lot more

than he lets on.

Anyway, sweet pea saw it and...

said something about a photograph.

- That about right?

- Right.

Where is he?

He'll be along.

Say, you wanna take a little look

inside there, look around?

Well, go on.

But you be careful, now.

Watch yourself,

especially on them stairs there.

There's more termites

than there is timber by now.

How was the movie?

I got here as fast as I could.

You talk to that clerk there

at the motel?

Dropped enough crumbs

for a flock of geese.

That's ten minutes.

Where the hell you been?

She had to pee twice...

and I had to make

a little stop of my own.

I know how grim you get,

you don't get your breakfast.

You're smarter than I thought.

I'm not smart enough to figure out

what we're doin'...

wastin' our time out here

in cracker land.

I'm gonna tell you all about

loose ends some day.

And you'll want to listen careful.

You look like you've seen

a ghost there, Junior.

I hope you brought some food.

You all right?

Hell, he's fine. Just fine.

Cat's got his tongue is all.

Come on up.

There's something I wanna show you.

Watch your step, son.

It's like heaven, isn't it?

My mother must have stood

right here...

brushin' her hair...

daydreamin'.

I think I figured it out.

I must've slept in here...

or there.

No. In front.

In those days, houses like these...

they used to put the baby

in the front of the house.

That way, if a woman was hangin'

laundry and the baby cried...

she could hear.

Maybe my mother hung laundry

out back.

Sun's strongest in the front.

You seem to know more about me

than I do, so why don't you tell me.

Were my parents good people?

Were they nice to baby Kay?

I'm sure they were.

- What makes you so sure?

- 'Cause you're good people.

And good people

come from good people.

Ain't that right, son?

- That's right.

- I'm not so sure that's true.

But it's nice of you to say.

No, I'm...

I'm not just saying it.

I know it, and that's a fact.

I'm gonna go outside.

That's a good idea.

Would you do me a favor?

Would you take Ginnie

while you're at it?

She's probably down there

bitin' on her nails by now.

- I'll go with you.

- No.

I need to talk to you.

Father to son, you know.

Let the girls get some wind

in their hair.

We could walk for days, I bet,

and never see anything but this.

Wouldn't that be a thrill.

See, it was the girl, sweet pea,

that first mentioned it...

the house being the same and all.

I thought she had it all wrong,

naturally.

See, I knew I never seen

this woman of yours before...

'cause I never forget a face.

But...

Still, there was something

doggin' me. A sound.

Halfway to Shreveport, I see a lady

standin' by the side of the road.

A mother.

And that's when I knew what it was.

That sound in my head...

her cryin'.

You see, I had forgotten...

about the baby.

What's that sound?

You hear it?

Bugs.

She doesn't know.

There's no reason for her to know,

no reason for me to tell her.

I realize that.

I truly, truly do.

But this woman, she's different.

See, I noticed that

the first time I seen her.

The way she looked at you

and the way you looked at her.

It was touching, truly.

She'll never know.

I swear it on my life.

Damn, I wish I could believe that.

But as much as we are the same...

you've always been

a little too emotional.

I left her this mornin'.

I only came back 'cause of you.

This little game.

This ain't no game, Junior.

You know me better than that.

I must be out of my f***in' mind.

It's not gonna change, you know!

They don't grow this stuff

but one color.

It's a shame, really.

She's so sweet.

Almost innocent.

She is innocent. But I'm not.

Take me...

and she can't know.

I couldn't do that.

What kind of man

would that make me?

A man who'd shoot his own kin.

I couldn't sleep with that,

and I do prize my sleep.

There's really only

one question here, son.

Do I do it...

or you?

I could hear 'em.

You don't mind if I smoke,

do you?

You know how I always enjoyed

a good cigar.

That's what separates me from other

men... I can tell the difference.

A good cigar's not what

separates you from other men.

What separates you, Junior?

You f*** their wives?

I don't shoot their children.

You'd done what you were told, there

would have been no blood that night.

I didn't pull the trigger.

But you opened the door,

and they were supposed to be asleep.

And you know they're always

supposed to be asleep.

Besides, wasn't me that shot first.

I had no choice.

And the boy?

Did he have a choice?

F*** that little boy!

He almost got your daddy killed.

We had one bad night.

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