Long, Hot Summer, The Page #2

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Tomorrow,|and the forecast...

is storm and thunder.

Well, you come on over|to my house for supper.

Alan's been askin'|about you.

He's sick in bed,|bein' fed milk puddin'...

all dreamy with temperature.

Thoroughly enjoying himself.

I'd give something to know what goes on|in my brother's temperature dreams.

I know what goes on|in mine.

Uh, don't swivel around.

There's someone comin'.| Someone young.

It's probably|a sewing machine salesman.

Yes, well, even if it is, don't say no|right off. Let's at least talk.

Morning, ladies.|Fine, warm day, isn't it?

Yes, indeed.|Pretty as a picture.

My, my. You all look like|two butterflies lit out on the grass.

Hello again, Miss Clara.

If it's work you're looking for,|you can see the foreman at the gin.

If it's food, they'll take care of you|'round the back door.

Well, now, you hadn't|hit on it yet, lady.

What I'd like to see now|is the man of the house.

Lucius?

What is it, Miss Clara?

Would you tell Mr. Jody there's a person|waiting to see him, please?

You could have said|"gentleman."

Same amount of wind.

Where did you find him?

Out on the road.|I gave him a lift this mornin'.

Why did you have to go|and be so unfriendly?

Agnes, the last, desperate|resort is strangers.

- We haven't come to that yet.|- Oh, haven't we just.

Clara, you want to hear|a cold, clinical fact?

Every single girl we went|to normal school with...

is married and pregnant|or about to be...

while I'm residing|with my mother and brother...

and you're still occupyin' the bedroom|you had when you was 13.

I don't know|about you, Clara.

I know what's|making me nervous.

Well, don't throw in|the towel yet, Agnes dear.

Those tranquilizers|may see us through yet.

- You Varner?|- Yeah, I'm one Varner.

Hey, turn that thing off, Eula!

What can I do for you?

My name's Quick.|I heard you had a farm to rent.

Hey, Eula. Do you hear me? I'm gonna|come up there and kick that thing in!

I'll tell you.

- How much family you got, boy?|- You're looking at it.

Well, a man usually puts six,|seven hands in the field.

Well, one's all|you'll get from me.

to talk business in.

For heaven's sakes!|It's our passenger!

- How do you do, ma'am?|- Hello yourself.

- Here now. You two know each other?|- Uh-huh.

How come?

The how come is Clara and I obliged him|with a ride when his car broke down.

Well, we're talkin' business.|Come on now. Come on now!

How much rent|you able to pay, boy?

- How much rent you aimin' to rent for?|- Oh, half your crop.

You furnish out|of my store.

No cash?

Mm-hmm.

That's food and tobacco at your prices.|That makes a dollar worth|about six bits.

Take it or leave it.

I'll take it.

"Jody.!"

Mister, you sure do leave|your calling card.

Summertime,|when the livin' is easy.

No, thank you.

When are you gonna|start workin'?

Lady, I never move|and work in the same day.

Mr. Quick, my daddy's|coming home tomorrow.

He sets quite a store by this rug.|You tracked it, you clean it.

That's a lot of fuss to be makin'|about a rug, lady.

If it's the rug|that's botherin' ya.

What else would it be?

You correct me if I'm wrong,|but I have the feeling I rile you.

I mean, me being so mean|and dirty and all.

You're being personal with me.|I'll be personal with you.

I've spent my whole life around men|who push and shove and shout...

and think they can make anything|happen just by bein' aggressive.

I'm not anxious to have|another one around the place.

Miss Clara, you slam a door in a man's|face 'fore he even knocks on it.

Would you have the rug|at the house by 6:00, please?

Thank you.

Don't swallow|the seeds.

Ernest! Sam! Orville! Marty!|You behavin' yourself?

"I'm back.!"

- Varner's home.|- He don't look very peaked.

Anybody know what they cut|out of him in that hospital?

You all can bet|it wasn't his pocketbook.

- Is that you, Will Varner?|- "Come closer if you got any doubts."

This is more|like the land of the livin'!

I'm glad you made it home,|you old piece of beef!

You're gettin' a little fatter, Minnie,|and a little blonder.

And how 'bout you? I understand|they cut and stitched you up.

Is there anything left|of you worth havin'?

Put 18 cans of beer on ice and wait|and see. I'm comin' back, Minnie.

Later.

- My white hairs kinda|had you fooled, huh?|- Yes, sir.

Drive on!

Welcome, Mr. Will.

- Yeah!|- Welcome to your home.

Here I am, back in your|capable hands again, Lucius.

- Back where I belong.|- Hi, Daddy Varner!

- Eula gal, ain't you dressed up|to beat hell!|- In honor of you.

That's good.

Three months I ain't smelled nothin'|but the starch of nurses' uniforms.

That's what I like.

There's bones there, but the bones|is covered up with plenty of real woman.

I was hopin' there'd be|a little more of you.

Isn't it about time you was fixin'|yourself maternity dresses, Eula gal?

Daddy Varner.

Hello, Papa.

greeting. There's a hallelujah chorus.

Not dancin' in the streets...

not an only son exactly pining|his heart away for his daddy...

but simple and direct.

He said hello, didn't he?

Suppose we could get through the|opening ceremonies without civil war?

- I'll be coming to you later, sister.|- I know you will, Papa.

Jody's been an absolute livin' doll|while you've been gone.

I'd call that|a fine recommendation...

'cept I already had me a look|around town before I come here.

What's happened? We gone|out of business, huh? We retired?

We livin'|off of income?

What do I see in town? Two|dead-asleep clerks watchin' the store.

And no gin goin'|at all!

Things may have slacked off|a little bit today, Papa...

because I was home|seein' to your arrival.

You can look at the books if you'd like.

Well, now...|I intend to.

I'm gonna crawl over them books|like an old fly over flypaper.

You better bring me|another, Lucius.

Yes, sir,|I'm my old self again.

Them doctors down atJefferson,|they gutted me...

and took away just about every organ|they thought I could spare.

They didn't pare my spirit|down none.

Thank you, Jody, for your|kindly inquiries as to my health.

Next!

All right, sister.

You're on.

What do you want|to know, Papa?

You still fixin'|to get yourself known...

as the best-lookin', richest old maid|in the county...

or you seen|any young people lately?

Any young people|seen you?

Been to any parties, picnics,|barbecues, church bazaars?

Have you mingled?|Have you mixed?

Or have you kept yourself up|in that room all this time|readin' them poetry books?

I hope this doesn't come as a shock|to your nervous system, Papa...

but when you're away,|I do what I please.

Well, I'm back!

Welcome home.

Lucius!

When are you gonna give me|my due respect in front of my wife?

I've got a business too,|Jody.

I've got a little respect|for that.

I know you wasn't...

You and me just don't|talk the same language.

That's what gives us|our aches and our pains.

I was in the hospital...

I didn't just lay there.|I was busy.

Yes, I wheeled and dealed.|That's what I done, boy. What about you?

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