Henry Poole Is Here Page #3

Esperanza says it is,

then I guess it's gonna take a little

bit more than a bottle of bleach.

Yeah, well,

Esperanza's wrong.

So you aren't in

so much doubt.

You really think that's

the face of Christ?

Actually,

from this angle, it looks

a little bit like you.

I mean,

an abstract version.

I guess.

It's just a stain.

It's a bad stain.

Well, if you can't

get it off,

I guess it'll be something

to remember you by.

What?

Well, you're not gonna

live here that long, right?

Esperanza, she's like the local

newspaper around here.

I think she cornered

the real estate agent

and so we got

the lowdown on you.

Oh. Yeah.

So... so what are you doing? Buying it,

selling it and making a profit?

Yeah.

Yeah, something like that.

Well, don't sell it

to any weirdoes, okay?

No.

I won't.

Okay, well,

good luck with the face.

Thanks.

Or whatever it is.

(radio on low volume)

Woman:
Listen to me.

The man is clearly an atheist.

And he's not very nice.

The two go hand in hand.

Well, those without faith

sometimes need a little help.

That's it.

Psst, psst.

Now what are you doing?

- Your lawn is so sloopy.

- Sloopy?

- Yeah.

- Look, this is ridiculous.

Okay, people just don't go around

helping one another for no reason,

so just tell me

what it is you're doing.

- What do you want?

- I don't want anything.

Just tell him.

Just ask him.

Ask me what?

She wants to bring

the church in

to test the face

in your backyard,

to see if it's a miracle.

You've got to

be kidding me.

Nope. She's crafty like that.

- Aren't you?

- Yeah.

I didn't catch your name,

but anyways...

Listen to me, okay?

You can build me

a goddamn gazebo back there

and I still wouldn't let you

and your crazy church friends

into my house. All right?

So that face, whatever

you happen to think it is,

is a stain.

It's not a miracle.

Okay?

How can you say that?

Look, I really don't want

to talk about it,

so I just came out here

to give you that.

I just found it, so...

(sobbing)

Oh my God.

Why did you have to

go and do that?

Um, why are you crying?

I just... I'm sorry.

I just found that.

That's Leo.

He was her boyfriend

before he died.

He lived in your house.

He was such a good man.

Well, look, there's

a cigar box full of them under the sink,

so you can come by

and get 'em when you want 'em.

He was so handsome.

L... I never thought

I'd find someone like him.

L... I was ready to...

to just be old alone.

I never married.

Never found anyone.

Then one day,

three years ago or so,

Leo came here.

And that was it.

Years of being alone

and one minute...

manages to take it all away.

A lifetime of sadness and...

suddenly

I couldn't even remember

what it was like to be sad.

And then he died.

And I remember.

And...

I pray to God

to help me stop

feeling that pain

and let me know

that he was okay.

And now...

the face appears...

the face of God.

Look,

Esperanza...

I want you to be

very honest with me.

Okay?

You really think that

that stain out there

is the answer

to all your prayers?

Do you?

So what exactly is it that

you want the church to do?

Just come and test

the wall.

Test the blood.

And to see what it is.

And if it's nothing,

then it's nothing

and I won't

bother you again.

I promise, really.

Um...

All right.

Just one day.

That's it.

I mean it.

One day.

Thank you, Mr. Poole.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

You'll see.

You'll see.

Everything happens

for a reason.

Esperanza,

llevelo al dentro.

- Gracias.

- Who's that guy?

He has to open up the wall and look

at what's behind the stain

to be sure it's not

man-made.

We'll repair it.

It'll look as good as new. Don't worry.

No, don't repair it.

It's okay.

Don't be silly, Mr. Poole. We're not

gonna leave a hole in the wall.

Doesn't matter.

I'm not gonna be here

that long.

You know, Father Salizar,

the house was re-stuccoed

before I moved in,

so that's it.

There's really not

a lot to talk about.

Maybe not about the house.

Why did you say you were

not gonna be here that long?

I don't really want

to talk about it.

Oh, yeah, you do.

Oh, I do?

Otherwise you wouldn't

have mentioned it.

Let me ask you

a question.

What makes you think

you know me that well?

I don't think that.

I just think anybody with two eyes

could see that something is wrong,

- like you're...

- Sad and angry?

Yeah.

Something like that.

Yeah.

I'm a good listener.

Yeah? Me too.

Father Salizar's voice:

I just think anybody with two eyes

could see that something

is wrong.

- Like you're...

- Sad and angry?

Yeah.

Something like that.

I just think anybody

with two eyes

could see that something

is wrong,

- like you're...

- Sad and angry?

Yeah.

Something like that.

(recorder button clicks)

What are you doing

in there?

Wow.

You really like

this place.

You don't talk,

do you, Millie?

It's okay.

Sometimes I don't like

to talk either.

You know?

I ought to go.

Okay?

I'd love to sit here and visit

with you, but I just can't.

I got a pretty long journey

ahead of me.

I wish I could stay

and talk with you.

I just don't have

the time.

Mr. Poole? Uh...

l... I'm sorry.

I rang the bell, but...

Well, I have something

for you.

How'd you know

this was the one?

I know everything

about this neighborhood.

You should know that

by now.

This used to be my room.

Mr. Poole, are you okay?

This used to be my room.

This is the last place

I remember being happy.

Even then

I can barely remember.

This is the room where they

used to scream at each other.

Mmm.

It's a strange thing

about standing here again.

It's doing absolutely nothing

for me, you know?

Mr. Poole,

I'm sorry it wasn't

what you hoped.

Don't be.

It never is.

But thank you.

This was very generous.

- Mmm.

- Thanks.

What did you expect?

You can't go to the past

to fix the present.

You sound like

a fortune cookie.

(laughs)

Cookies don't talk.

Now...

at least now you know.

Know what?

To come back to

the place you grew up.

Yeah.

Now I know.

It's like nothing.

You find out

there's nowhere to hide.

# Shadows are falling #

# And I been here

all day #

# It's too hot to sleep #

# And time is

running away #

# I feel like my soul has #

# Turned into steel #

# I've still got the scars #

# That the sun

didn't heal #

# There's not even

room enough #

# To be anywhere #

# It's not dark yet #

# But it's gettin' there. #

Millie?

Hey.

Come out, honey.

It's too late to be playing games.

Where are you, Millie?

Where are you, Millie?

Millie?

Millie?

Millie?

What are you doing?

Honey?

Hey, Millie.

Millie.

Hey.

What is it?

Hey, what did you say?

What?

- (whispering)

- Hey.

What did you say?

Mama.

Mommy?

Can you hear me?

We're okay.

I love you so so much.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, baby.

I'm sorry.

Mommy's here.

Mommy's right here.

Come on.

Let's go.

Hey, let's go home.

Thanks.

What happened out there?

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