Maudie Page #2

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It's okay.

It's okay. It's okay.

That's my chair.

That's my chair.

Want a bowl of stew?

Where'd you get the chicken?

Killed it.

You killed it?

The big one.

So...

I'm gonna stay,

where do I sleep?

Are you gonna follow

my rules?

You cleaned?

Clean upstairs?

No.

No?

There's only one bed

up there.

Oh, you're a princess,

eh?

When I was at the orphanage,

they put us six,

seven to a bunk, hm.

Elbows in my back.

Feet up my arse.

If you're too fancy

to pile in,

then you can take

your little knickknacks,

put them in the red wagon

and get out.

No, I'm--

I'm good up there.

I'm not too fancy.

Bad dogs!

Down. Get down.

Down. Yeah, good boy.

Who told you you could talk

to them dogs like that?

What--?

They gotta learn.

Them dogs been here longer

than you. More useful too.

I'm only-- I'm only trying

to feed 'em.

Let me tell you how

it is around here, all right?

There's me, them dogs,

them chickens, then you.

Everyone's talking.

He has you barred up in there

as his love slave.

It's disgusting.

Everett

with a love slave.

Would it make it more proper

if I married him?

Maybe people won't talk

so much.

Aunt Ida?

You wanna come visit me

sometime?

I wouldn't be caught dead.

I wouldn't even drive by

that house.

Suits me.

Love slave.

What are you gonna do

with all this, Ev?

Sell it.

Or just leave it.

Sell it?

Who'd buy that?

Hello.

Hello there.

Hello there.

It's a nice day.

Everett got himself a woman?

Get back in the house.

What's this now?

Ah, she works for me.

Need somebody to mind the house,

else I get robbed.

So you got yourself

a tiny, little woman

to guard your house?

Couldn't you get

a meaner dog?

Or a gun?

Wait.

Come here.

I'm Frank. I'm the fisherman

he tries to cheat every day.

He wouldn't cheat you.

He's a good man.

Oh, so-- So you don't

know him well, I see.

Yeah.

I'm Maud.

Dowley.

Well,

it's nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

So you're

working here, then.

Yeah. I'm-- I'm living--

That's enough.

So you got yourself

a live-in maid, do you?

Out all day. Work hard.

I deserve to come home

to a clean house.

Don't I?

Where do you fit?

There's more room in there

than you think.

We find it cozy

in there, don't we?

Get back in the house!

I'm in charge of this house.

If she don't know it,

she'll learn it.

Nobody in their right mind

would put up

with that for very long.

Well, she's not

in her right mind.

That's one thing I know.

Learned your lesson?

Do you want me here

or don't you?

Because I'll go.

I'll walk out right now.

Well, do you

want me here or not?

I'd like my pay, please.

You haven't paid me yet,

not once.

Two months.

Yeah, aye.

Hello?

Anybody home?

Hello?

Are you

the fish peddler's wife?

Some snazzy shoes there.

No. Sorry.

Well, is he around?

He's-- He's out

on his rounds.

I paid for fish,

and he never delivered.

Oh, well...

sometimes he forgets.

I paid him,

plus a handsome tip.

Now, I'm here from New York City

for the next few months

and I can give him

my business or not.

You-- You sure he never

dropped off the fish?

May-- Maybe a dog

ran off with it.

I don't have a dog.

Or a cat.

Cats love fish.

I don't have

a cat either.

Well...

Well, I'll tell him

you came by.

Say...

Yeah?

Did you paint that happy,

little chicken?

Actually, yeah.

There was a chicken

out in the yard.

Real fat.

I wanted to remember

his happier days, so...

painted him.

Well...

I'll tell him to square up

with you when he gets home.

I'd appreciate that.

What's your name?

Maud.

Nice to meet you, Maud.

I'm Sandra.

Nice to meet you, Sandra.

Hey, those

snazzy shoes...

They comfy?

Ah...they're not bad.

No. They're not bad.

All the way

from New York City.

Who told you you could paint

fairies on the wall, huh?

They're not fairies.

They're birds.

Well, who told you

you could do that, huh?

Well, you did.

What?

You said-- You said:

"Make the place look

all right."

I think

it looks all right.

No painting

in this corner, huh?

I don't want paint on my boots.

No paint on my gear.

The rest is fine.

Birds or fairies,

I don't mind.

I won't do that.

Good?

Long day?

Must be hard running

a business.

My brother Charles used to run

one of them jazz clubs

for a while.

People always on his back

for money he owed them.

I never owe

nobody nothing.

Charles said

the same thing.

Couldn't prove it, you see.

People are stupid.

You're not.

You keep track

of it all in your head.

Most people can't,

you see.

That's why you gotta

write it all down.

I can write it down

for you, if you like.

I'm good at writing.

So...

Who

owes

Everett

Lewis?

Donovan.

Donovan.

Donovan.

Owes me for six fish.

Six fish.

That is a bird.

What?

That, I don't know what that is,

but it's not a bird.

That is finished.

It's got

a beak on it.

That ain't got

no beak on it yet.

Are you gonna do that?

Are we ready to get married?

Costs money.

Foolish.

Only if you invite people

and stuff.

Give them supper.

You gotta pay a fee

for a license.

Yep.

Charles had

a fancy wedding.

I thought

I wouldn't do that.

I'd do it cheap.

Wouldn't invite anyone.

Wouldn't do what Charles did.

Why you talking about him?

Well, you plan on doing

what you're doing,

think

we should get married.

I don't wanna get

in that sort of trouble again.

What kind of trouble?

I had a baby.

Baby died.

She was real deformed.

They buried her when...

When I was sleeping.

Here.

You wanted

three fish.

I owed you for two.

So...

now you owe me for one.

It's a card.

Well, we-- We figured it out

on the card.

We're rendering accounts.

So, you know,

it won't be a mix-up.

And how do I know

this is right?

Because I said.

We could maybe start clean

from now on.

Keep track.

Maybe.

Give me a moment.

I am the boss.

Yeah, you. I know that.

Who's in charge?

You are.

I bring in the money.

Right?

Yeah.

Yeah, so who's

in charge?

Yeah. You are.

Yeah. Right.

Don't forget it.

Yeah.

I can't--

Can't forget it.

I'll pay you, if you make me

some more of these cards.

I don't know.

He's in charge, so...

ask him.

Throw in

an extra 5 cents?

How about 10 cents a card?

Sounds good. Suits me.

Good.

And I'll take my fish.

I look forward

to these cards very much.

Thanks. See what I can do.

Wait up. You're good, Ev.

You know?

Really know what you're doing.

Asking for that money.

Pretty house.

Pretty house.

Let's get her

in second gear now.

She liked my card.

Hey, kettle's on.

Cup of tea?

Come in.

Sure.

I got it here for you.

You got--? Got--?

Got any boards?

Take a look around.

Good morning.

Well, three more.

I don't know why people

pay money for these.

My 5-year-old

could do better.

Maybe.

Maybe he could,

but he didn't. Maud did.

Brushes, please.

Well,

you're an idiot.

You're an idiot.

Stupid.

Know-it-all.

Whoever it is,

you tell them to get.

Get out.

Get out?

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's suppertime.

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