Just Add Water Page #4

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Ray, how come you never got

out of here when you had the chance?

Me? I don't know.

I know you got that offer

a few years back, going to L.A.,

work for that friend of your dad's.

Didn't suit me, I guess.

This is my home.

I used to love it here.

Summers felt endless.

Swimming, fishing,

just being able to breath

all that cool, fresh air.

I hold on to those memories,

a lot of other ones, too.

Like that one in second grade

when Mrs. Kinney took us

on that field trip to this very spot

and I got a baked bean

stuck in my nose?

You remember that?

I wouldn't stop crying.

You came right over,

just like a little prince.

You picked me up

and you carried me

all the way back to the bus.

I thought it was so romantic...

except maybe that part

about you insisting

on trying to fish the thing out

with one of your dad's

pipe cleaners.

Doctor said you nearly

gave me a lobotomy.

Yeah, I managed to block

that out, actually.

Oh, you did?

I thought it was sweet.

How concerned you were about me,

how much you cared.

Yeah, well...

What about you?

Didn't you ever think

about leaving?

From time to time.

How come you never did, then?

That cheerleading scholarship to UOP

sure was a big deal

for you to turn down.

A girl has her reasons.

I had a wonderful afternoon, Ray.

Me, too, Nora.

Now, I want you to keep

those leftovers.

I made extra

for you to take to work all week.

You sure?

You can't eat packaged food

the rest of your life.

That stuff'll kill you.

Getting a real home-cooked meal

like that sure was something else.

Listen, I know how you must be

feeling about Eddie and all.

You always had

the most beautiful heart, Ray.

Well, I've got to get back to my shift,

so I'll talk on you?

Okay.

Where's my mom and dad?

Yeah?

Dirk here?

Saw him around awhile ago.

Dirk?

Dirk!

Oh, I forgot.

He's up at the plant up the street,

but you ain't supposed

to go up there.

Adjust that... adjust that choke.

Hand me that wrench.

Boy, all these leaky drums sure look

like an accident waiting to happen.

What are you doing here?

You ain't allowed.

Well, I wanna talk

to you about my son.

I'd like it if you didn't drag him

into your line of work.

He ain't even yours, old man.

I'm just saying you

don't need him working for you,

all the guys you got.

Do me this favor, Dirk.

- Favor?

- Yeah, this one time.

I ought to kick your ass right now.

I don't want trouble, Dirk.

I'm just saying it'd be

a nice thing for you to do,

letting him have

a proper shot at a future.

He's a real good kid.

I know. That's why

he's gonna be working for me.

No, but see...

Only thing I see is

a pathetic jerk who's trespassing.

You tell your neighbors

to pay their rent.

Get the f*** off my property.

B*tch.

You pay the rent yet, Den?

Oh, not real... really.

We've been through this.

You're letting everybody down

when you don't.

Ray, I know that.

Denny, you better do something

about the heat, goddamn it.

I'm bustin' a gasket in here.

I don't want him getting into drugs.

I don't care if I'm not...

Then you tell his real father

to take responsibility for once

and give the boy some guidance.

Charlene?

Here's your rent.

It's too hot to stand on ceremony.

So you walk that over to Dirk's

and you tell him to turn

the power back on, okay?

Roger that, Ray.

I'll make good.

I swear.

Soon, Den.

I can't swing two rents.

Get Selma to quit smoking the ice

and pay your bills.

We clear?

Oh, we're clear as day.

Well, I'm gonna have to

put a shirt on.

Then I'll get on it.

Twirling action, like this here.

That's right.

You like that?

See? Yeah? Help yourself.

Take everything.

Next time bring your cars.

You got 'em all?

I got as many Huggies

as I can carry.

I'm gonna sell this sh*t on eBay.

The free washer fluid

sure was a nice touch.

Look, Nora, you just

swipe your credit card and go.

Kind of feels

like we're in the big city.

Hey, you guys.

- Hey, Stryker.

- Hi, Nora.

This place is just gorgeous.

Thank you.

I'm very, very proud of it.

All I ask is every once in a while

you come on in and fill up a tank.

- Sure.

- Yeah, okay.

And Ray, how's

all that dreaming going, buddy?

A little at a time.

A little at a time,

that's all we can ask for.

- Have fun.

- That man is something else.

You might like to know Eddie's

been doing a real good job for me.

You oughta be proud.

So, are you all of a sudden

the big sugar daddy

for anybody

who needs their rent paid?

It's getting awful hot, Dirk.

Some folks are having

a hard time making ends meet.

Maybe you ought

to mind your own business.

It is my business.

Shut off the power,

it hurts all of us.

Acting like a tough guy

in front of your new girlfriend here.

Since you're such a rich man,

maybe I oughta raise your rent.

Maybe I should buy a genny

so I don't need your power.

You ain't allowed to do that.

Is that a fact?

I'm gonna lay this out for you

once and for all, old man.

The way things work around here

is everybody does what I tell them to,

and that goes for you double.

Now, you don't like it,

and you're gonna get your ass kicked.

Hey, it's mine!

Better hear what I say, Ray.

Hey, knock it off, all of you,

before I lock you in the dog run again.

Give me that!

Sorry, Dirk.

Fighting over a bottle of antifreeze?

What the f*** is that?

It smells great.

Hope I didn't overcook it.

Okay.

The moment of truth.

Can I make a toast?

Sure.

To the only dinner party

this house has ever known,

and to you, Nora,

for being a part of it.

That was beautiful, Ray.

Thank you.

You sit in the chair there,

and I'll sit on the floor.

Sorry all the proper furniture's gone.

Yeah, it'd be nice

if there was a place

we could be comfortable.

Yeah.

Whoa, nearly 8:
45.

Both got to work tomorrow

and everything.

Actually, tomorrow's my day off.

Is that a fact?

Seem warm in here?

I think it's fine, Ray.

It's fine.

What's that light?

There, out front.

Oh, Ray.

Things are gonna have

to change around here, Nora.

And he wasn't kidding.

Everyone was gettin' fed up

with the whole deal in this town,

including me.

Where am I dropping you, Ray?

Got to get in to work.

Insurance guy said he'd drop

the check by end of the day.

What kind of car you think

More than my Gremlin.

Elmo, pull over a sec.

- Merl?

- Damn.

Son of a b*tch.

Elmo, give me a hand here.

Be right there.

I'll get you.

Today would be nice.

That punk Dirk.

I got him good, though.

I think I might've broken his nose.

His... jerks...

they just held me down,

beat the sh*t out of me.

We gotta get you

to a hospital, Merl.

No, just take me home.

My missus will clean me up.

Quite a place you got here, Merl.

Thank you, Ray.

- Oh, honey.

- Oh, my word.

There she is, my darling.

What happened to you?

I have been worried sick.

Bunch of thugs beat up

on your pop at the gas station.

Her pop?

This is my old lady, son.

I told you about

having big dreams, Ray.

- Come on.

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