Long, Hot Summer, The Page #6

---

Well, you can go and tell his mama...|to let go.

You tell her you're taking over|'cause your daddy said so.

If you should get "no" for an answer,|let me tell you, sister...

it's gonna be that other.

Which other?

That prize|blue-ribbon bull...

that hand-grown, handpicked,|hand-selected-by-me fellow|name of Quick.

- You can't mean "him."|- Can't I?

Listen, I'm gonna get me|some men in the Varner family.

Some good, strong,|strapping men.

Varners!|That's what I want. Varners.

And more Varners.|And more Varners still.

Enough Varners|to infest the countryside.

I'm gonna see that happen,|sister, before I die.

I'm gonna accomplish that.|Yes, ma'am.

By means of that Quick,|that big stud horse.

You mean you'd sell me away|like that?

- I'm not sellin' you.|- Yes, sell me!

Without caring what I feel|or what I think or what I am!

- I'm trying to save you.|- Is that what you call it?

Sister...

you're gonna|give me grandsons...

by way of Alan...

or Quick.

But you're gonna do it,|Clara Ann Varner. Hear me now.

You'll get that ring|on your finger.

Here comes Jody.

What's goin' on?|Huh?

They ain't come|to do much buyin'.

Penny worth of candy,|two cents worth of nails, maybe.

Oh, they just come|to look.

What at?

We ain't runnin'|no sideshow.

They come to look|at the new man.

Three days ago,|never even knew his name.

But from now on, they're gonna|have to be dealing with him...

for all the necessaries|of livin'.

Oh, no. They're gonna|deal with me...

like always.

Good morning, Jody.

Mr. Jody?

Mr. Jody.

My little chaps at home|never even had shoes last winter.

We ain't got corn|to feed the stock.

for that horse yesterday...

which he ain't even seen|since then...

I earned myself...

sewing at night|and baking cakes.

If that ain't the limit.|You get greased and fleeced,|and then you lay it at my door?

The trouble is|we got an outsider here!

He don't know nothin', and he don't care|nothin' about you and your worries.

No, sir.

He don't care about anything|except advancin' himself.

Lot of harsh things|being said about me.

And if I was to answer|each and every one of'em...

why, that'd take up|too much of your time.

All I can say, missus, is you took|your complaint to the wrong department.

Now, we're under new management.|You got a $30 problem?

It's solved.

Goodwill. Ain't nothin'|in the world like it.

a cozy nest here, don't ya?

Well, you ain't gonna|take over from me, boy!

on with the new.

same stand.

- "All we got is a new broom. Mornin'."|- "Hi, Will."

You can't teach an old dog|new tricks. Mornin'.

But you sure can teach a young|willin' puppy just about anything.

Ben Quick,|fetch me a Coke!

Give him time. A penny on the waters|pays interest when the flood turns.

Thank you for your encouragement|and kind support.

Jody, aren't you ever|goin' to work again?

You always gonna be|hangin' round?

I can't do my nails or fix my hair|without havin' you hangin' round.

Now, you take|that Ben Quick.

He's down at that store|workin', sweatin'.

- |- He's where you ought to be.

Who are you|to tell me to work?

You ain't never|outta a chair.

Only time I seen you break cover...

is when they're sweepin', cleanin' the|house, callin' you to the dinner table.

Now, you got no call|to be insultin'.

As your wife, I just don't wanna see you|get passed by that boy.

- Now, Jody.|- Come on.

- No, Jody.|- Come on.

I'm gonna... I'm gonna busy myself|elsewheres, that's what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna remove myself.|I know what I'll do.

- I'll get me an education.|- Come on.

Clara's been after me|for months and months,|sayin' it's never too late to learn.

No, Jody. No!

I sure do wish you'd find yourself|some other form of recreation.

Well, it's a little late|to be keepin' store, isn't it?

No, I'm just, uh, movin' these|cotton dresses down in front...

when they first come in.

You seem to know|a lot about women.

spend their money.

You come in to buy somethin',|Miss Clara, or you just shoppin' around?

I was just passin'.

Well, it's a warm night. I've been|drinkin' some beer. You want some?

- No, thank you.|- You got a sweet tooth?

I can offer you, uh, rock candy|and licorice whips.

Jawbreakers.|Do a big business in jawbreakers.

Outgrew 'em, huh?

Well...|sunbonnets?

Or hand lotion?|Lilac water? Freckle remover?

Spotted dimity?

Just can't sell you,|can I?

Well, do you have an aspirin?|I have a headache.

Oh, sure.

We got all kinds|of nostrums and remedies.

'Course, I don't|have headaches myself.

- 'Cause I don't have any problems.|- Or scruples.

Nope, not those either.

Well, I have both.

You got a thin skin|is what you got.

But the world belongs|to the meat eaters, Miss Clara...

and if you have to take it raw,|take it raw.

I couldn't live|that way.

Well, let's just examine|the way you do live, Miss Clara.

You drive around in that old Lincoln|car of yours like it had wings...

and you teach school,|and, uh...

you sit on your front porch with your|skinny little friend drinkin' lemonade.

Now, what is all that,|when you see the rest of the world...

passing you by|paired up?

You're, what, 23?

Yeah, thems are|golden years...

and you're bein' asked|to play a waitin' game.

Why wait?

Aw, school is out,|Miss Clara.

Them blinds are drawn,|night's fallen.

Nobody here to see|if you make a mistake.

You put them things down,|Miss Clara, 'cause I'm gonna kiss you.

I'm gonna show you|how simple it is.

You please me,|and I'll please you.

Oh, I know|what's troublin' you.

It's all those boys|hollerin' for Eula every night.

And Eula with her hair|hangin' down...

and Jody with his shirt off,|chasin' her.

And your old man|at 60...

and he's callin' on|his lady love.

All right. You proved it.|I'm human.

Yes, ma'am,|you're human all right.

Barn burner!

Well, you hit on it.

I can see my white shirt|and black tie and Sunday manners...

didn't fool you|for a minute.

Well, that's right, ma'am.|I'm a menace to the countryside.

All a man's gotta do is just look at me|sideways, and his house goes up in fire.

And here I am, livin' right here in the|middle of your peaceable little town.

Right in your backyard,|you might say.

keep you awake at night.

Anything you break,|you gotta pay for. Heh.

- What are you doin' here?|- Takin' the air.

You hired me to tend your store.|Now, I'm tendin' it.|That don't need no supervision.

You and my daughter|had some words, huh?

- Yeah, a few.|- She don't cotton to you much,|does she?

- Ain't no love lost.|- That don't need to slow you down none.

I put you forth|as a candidate.

Oh, yeah? And just what office|you got me runnin' for?

I opened a lot of doors for you,|Ben Quick. Ever ask yourself why?

a senile old man?

Am I a sentimental old fool?

- I am not.|- So?

with a purpose.

Well, we all got|some mission in life.

Care to hear yours?

Just what do you think|you'd like me to do...

if you was able|to make me do it?

Get married.

Have sons.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes