Mr. Church Page #6

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Getting that degree seemed

to slip farther and farther away.

And after a while,

Mr. Church stopped

asking me about it.

I was a mother.

And Mr. Church...

My Izzy...

he was everything else.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Izzy...

Yes.

Mr. Church,

dance with me.

Okay, I will in a second.

Just hold still.

I'm almost finished.

Oh, come on.

Come on now...

Hey, come on.

We're going to be late.

Mama, dance with me.

No, not now.

We got to go, baby.

Come on, come on.

Mama, dance with me.

Let's go, let's go.

Oh! Okay.

One dance, I guess.

Mr. Church...

Come on, Mr. Church.

One dance.

Charlie?

It's crazy, right?

It's wonderful.

Congratulations.

Thank you so much

for coming out.

Larson fell in love with a gal he

met at one of his AA meetings.

You know, she wouldn't be here

if it weren't for you.

No, she's beautiful.

I like that dress.

Did you make that?

You know, there's something

I never told you about that day.

I'd scraped up enough cash

to buy a bottle of Jack

and some pills, and...

I was just going to go home

and check out for good.

You know?

And then you fell.

You know, you always say

that I saved Izzy's life,

but the truth is

that both of you saved mine.

Don't you think my mom's pretty?

I think she's beautiful.

Well, I guess I'd better go

dance with my wife.

Yeah!

The loneliest mile

We smiled without any style

We kiss altogether wrong

Hey, there you go.

Oh, thank you.

Do you ever want to get married, Mr.

Church?

I'm sorry.

That's none of my business.

I was married before.

Yes, I was married before.

A long time ago.

I was very young.

I got married because my father

wanted me to get married,

but it didn't last very long.

I wasn't very good at it.

She was a very

lovely lady, though.

I guess I just wasn't

what she was looking for.

Any man and woman

can get married, Charlotte.

Mr. Church,

do you want to dance?

You mention the time

we were together

So long ago

Well, I don't remember

All I know is it makes me

feel good now

It's like I told you

Last time I danced like this

was prom night.

Me too.

Thanks.

Mm-hmm.

Be with you in a second, sir.

Hey.

Hi, Mama.

Hi, baby.

What are you two doing here?

Found something for you.

What...

You found her.

I found her.

Mama, look.

Thank you.

Oh, my God!

Charlie!

Poppy!

You look so glamorous.

So gorgeous.

Mwah!

This is Izzy.

Hello.

Mr. Church.

Hey, POPPY-

You're the spitting image

of your grandma.

You knew my grandmother?

She was only the most

beautiful woman

I've seen in my whole life.

That's what Mom always says.

Aren't you pretty?

Is that a real diamond?

Oh, honey, you ain't seen

nothing yet.

Come on, get in. Let's get

out of this neighborhood.

Bye, Mr. Church.

Have fun, my dear.

Bye, Mr. Church!

Didn't I tell you I'd

get out of this stinking town?

New York City's so exciting.

This one was Fifth Avenue.

Super-smart Charlie,

it's a place for someone

like you who reads.

Well, you certainly

married well.

I married well both times.

Oh.

Here, let me show you

the good stuff.

Look at this.

Look at the beading.

I... I heard your parents

were out.

Living up north somewhere?

I wouldn't know.

Oh, I...

I just figured

you stayed in touch

with your sister.

My family's gone, Charlie.

Let's not talk of them again.

Look at this one.

It's a birthday gift.

Parisian.

Yeah.

Feel it.

Mm.

Isn't that fabric wonderful?

Amazing.

Aunt Poppy plans

to spoil you rotten.

These stores are expensive.

Let me. I'll never have

a child of my own.

You don't know that.

No, I do.

I could have at one time.

I've got all the scars

to prove it.

You should see where

I shop in Manhattan.

Are you happy?

I have everything I want.

So, you know, no boyfriend,

no romance in your life?

Single moms

aren't exactly popular.

I've known that my whole life.

Come to New York with me.

I could fix you up with a

bunch of fine men. What? No.

Yeah. You would love it.

Izzy would love it.

I can get her into

any private school you want.

That's not going to happen.

I know a few bachelors

who would...

I mean, they're no Owen

Baxter, but they have money.

I don't need money.

Baby, don't go too far.

I have a job.

I make a paycheck.

Waiting tables.

I'm not ashamed.

No, come on, Charlie.

Don't be so stubborn.

You don't have anything here.

You can't go living

with your cook forever.

MY Cook?

Oh, you know what I mean.

What happened to you, Poppy?

You used to be a lot of things,

but you were never a snob.

Charlie... You want to know

something about my cook?

Richard set aside enough money

for Mama to live six months.

Six months.

And do you know who paid all

of our bills, food, and rent

all those years after that?

Mr. Church

didn't work for us.

He saved us.

Now, I may not have

some fancy life,

but I work hard

and I'm raising my baby.

She's my diamond,

POPPY-

I'm sorry if it doesn't

sparkle enough for you.

Come on, baby.

We're going to go home.

And let's put the

rocking chair up there.

And...

Well, she

shouldn't have bought it

I'll return it tomorrow.

I don't think you

should punish the child

because you and Poppy fought.

And you still ain't opened

the gift she left for you.

Well,

whatever you two argued about,

forgive her.

You should go into the attic.

This little girl

should go inside...

This is your room

and that's your room.

I see you don't approve, huh?

Well, I'm living my own life!

Goddamn...

You go ahead and kick me

out of the house, old man.

Go ahead.

I don't give a sh*t.

Your rules? Fine!

Oh... just said that...

I don't know, sh*t.

Mr. Church.

Hey, get your goddamn hands

off me.

I'm not drunk.

I'm not drunk.

You can't disown nobody,

old man.

I disown you.

Shh, Shh, Shh.

Sh*t.

Shh.

We ain't in church no more.

The wise son seeketh

the father's instruction,

but the scorner

heareth not rebuke.

I don't give a sh*t.

Shh.

How was your night,

Mr. Church?

It was pleasant enough.

Hey, put some spice in here.

And watch out.

The pan is hot.

Now watch out for that pan.

Very good.

It was the first

time the matches were left on the table.

Now Mr. Church realized

that I knew about Jelly's.

Probably that I'd always known.

The matchbook stayed

on the table all that day

and into the next.

But it would be the last.

Mr. Church never came home

drunk again.

You still got that cough,

Mr. Church.

It's only a cough, my dear.

Okay, well, that's it.

No more fighting me.

We're getting you looked at.

I don't need a doctor.

It's the flu.

Mr. Church.

Izzy, give me your book, please.

Thank you.

All right.

Hello, Mr. Church.

Owen.

Charlie.

Maybe I will stay.

Oh, my God.

Owen, this is my daughter, Izzy.

Hello.

Can you fix

Mr. Church's cough?

I will certainly give it my all.

You know, maybe I shouldn't go.

You're still sick.

I'm fine.

And I know where to find

a doctor if I need one.

Well?

You're so beautiful, Mama.

Mr. Church, tell her.

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