If There Be Thorns Page #4

What sin?

Why don't you ask them?

I think you need some sleep.

Leave.

Now!

Clover!

Come here, boy!

Mom? Dad?

Have you seen Clover anywhere?

I can't find him.

He'll come around when he's hungry.

He always does.

I'm gonna go outside and look for him.

I think Bart should see a professional.

You mean like a psychiatrist?

It'll be good just to get confirmation.

That he's going through a phase.

Sometimes things like an accident

or a very high fever, for instance,

can exacerbate an underlying psychological condition--

something that's there, but remains dormant.

Let me ask.

Has there any history of abuse,

inversion,

deviance,

or mental illness in the family?

No. No. Not at all.

Perhaps we can put together

your genetic history.

His biological father is dead.

Hmm.

Well, you know, then what I propose,

is that before we start him on any medication,

we continue to monitor him.

This could just be hormones.

But I do believe that, in time,

Bart's gonna be just fine.

Bart?

I want to pay you for today.

Grandma...

Please tell me about my father.

Did you really know him?

If you insist.

Your father--

Bart--Bart Scott Winslow--

He was a good man.

As you probably know,

he died tragically in a fire

before you were born.

And my mom introduced you to him

I knew him long before your mother did.

How?

I don't want to go down this twisted road.

I fear it could complicate things even more.

But look--

I got you a gift.

John Amos? Bring it here.

I think you're really gonna like it.

Whoa.

How did you know I wanted one?

Because you told me, and I listened.

Now, you should play with that in the barn,

and away from the valuables here.

Let's go.

Wow, you're a natural.

Let me tell you something, Bart.

You have the potential to be very powerful.

Malcolm wasn't born with all of this.

No one expected him to amount to anything.

He was small, but he thought big.

I don't want anyone to take advantage of you.

You're a good boy,

but you must look out for yourself.

Like Malcolm?

Exactly.

You have to blaze your own path.

The righteous path!

And there will be people

that will stand in your way.

And women will try to undermine you

at every turn,

and use the evil that they have

to get you to do their wicked bidding.

And you can't let them.

Hmm?

See? Keep up with your practice,

and one day, you can be

as graceful as Miss Melodie.

Class dismissed.

Guess what?

I have my mom's car today.

I want to-- I want to, I really do.

I just have to get home, okay?

I'm sorry.

I just have this feeling that...

Bart needs me.

Bart!

Are you up in the treehouse?

Bart!

Come on.

Clover? Clover, is that you?

Ahh!

What are you doing in here?

Entertaining myself,

since you were... busy.

Where'd you get this bow and arrow?

Grandma got it for me.

"Grandma?"

Bart, look--

I want you to stay away from this place,

and stay away from that woman.

Okay? She's not your grandmother.

You don't want to see

what's in front of your own face, sometimes, boy.

You let your feelings dictate,

and it's made you weak.

And a man who feels

is weak.

I found Clover, Bart.

He's dead.

Do you know anything about that?

You think I killed him?

I could never hurt an animal!

If you don't stay away from this place,

I'm gonna tell mom and dad what you did!

You'd lie?

You want me sent away, don't you?

Like they sent away grandma!

I'm looking out for you, okay?

You're just worrying me.

If you say anything,

I will tell them

that you are fornicating with Melodie in the attic.

You didn't think I knew?

I saw you!

Doing it.

It's a sin out of wedlock, you know.

It's why we're not friends anymore.

You disgust me.

You're not gonna say anything now...

Are you?

Why are you being like this?

Isn't it obvious, or are you blind?

Mom and dad didn't meet

the way they said they did.

They lied to you about grandma.

They lied to you about everything.

Bart, you're acting crazy.

"Crazy" is denying reality, boy.

Bart...

What are you doing here?

It's late.

I don't want to go home.

Are you okay?

It's nothing.

Are you sure?

It's just...

If you do love me, like you say you do...

You're the only one.

Ohh...

You and John Amos.

John Amos?

He can't love you, he's-- he's just a servant.

But a smart one.

Not really.

He said I could be just like Malcolm.

Malcolm? He told you that?

He told you about... Malcolm?

Oh. Darling...

As much as I would love to have you stay here,

your parents will be wondering about you,

and you should be getting home.

What have you been telling my grandson?

Nothing, Ma'am.

How does he know about Malcolm?

I don't know. I thought you--

I don't pay you to think!

I pay you to do!

What have you told him?

I've told him nothing, Ma'am.

I believe he mentioned

reading an old journal of Malcolm's.

I assumed you gave it to him

in an attempt to reveal the truth,

as you said you would.

I did no such thing.

Bart is very impressionable!

And I can't have him

falling subject to the wrong influences.

Now find me the journal

and get it back to me immediately!

As you wish.

You're so tense.

But massages are good for development.

And you're maturing nicely.

When are you going to tell me about Bart?

My father.

Who was he?

He was my husband.

I don't understand.

Your mother, was very angry at me,

irrationally so,

and so she seduced my husband,

your poor grandmother's husband.

Why?

I don't know.

I don't know why they hate me like they do,

Just because I want them to

lead decent lives

and do the right thing.

Can you blame me?

But listen to me, for all the pain,

and the trauma that this has caused me,

you're the result,

and I wouldn't wish it to be any different.

You're here, and you're alive.

You remind me so much of him.

You're the son that I was meant to have,

more or less.

Promise me that you'll never leave me,

like they did.

Promise me?

I never will, grandma.

#Twinkle, twinkle little star#

#How I wonder#

#what you are#

#Up above the world so high#

#Like a diamond#

#in the sky#

Want to watch my dolly swim?

Mommy gave it to me.

You know what?

She's not your mommy.

And I'm not your brother.

And you're not a part of this family!

[BUBBLING]

Bart! What are you doing?

Stop! Get off!

Mom!

Oh, my god! Honey!

What is wrong with you? Huh?

What is going on with you?

Why would you try to hurt Cindy?

Why do you hate her so much?

She's your sister! You should love her!

No! I shouldn't!

Brothers shouldn't love their sisters.

Isn't that right, Chris?

Alright! That is enough!

Let's go!

Come on!

-What's happening?

-Cindy had an accident.

-What's going on?

-She's okay. Just take her.

Sweetie, you're gonna be okay.

Shh, it's okay.

-Go on.

-Get off of me, Chris!

Enough of that!

You get in there.

You stay in there until you calm down.

You're not my father!

You're just pretending to be!

What are you doing?

He needs to calm down a little,

and we need some time to thing.

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