Our Souls at Night Page #4

so the vet had to amputate her toes.

Oh.

- What are you going to call her?

- Bonny.

Where'd you get that name?

A girl in my class.

Okay, Bonny it is.

Can we visit her again after dinner?

Yeah. You can have a short visit

to say good night.

Okay?

Okay, get the damn dog.

Yeah, you don't want it waking up

the whole neighborhood.

I said get the darn dog.

Did you have this in mind all along?

I'm not that smart.

So...

Talk to me. Tell me something

I don't know about you yet.

Hey, you know that dog's

on the bed with him?

I know.

Well, it's going to get your bed

awfully dirty.

I'll wash it.

Talk to me.

I wanted to be an artist.

I had this crazy idea

that I could be a painter someday.

I didn't tell anyone. Diane knew.

And I had it all mapped out.

I was gonna save money.

- Mm-hmm.

- I was gonna sail to Europe and paint.

I even had a teacher draw up

a recommendation

for a student visa for me.

And what happened?

- You mean why didn't I pursue it?

- Yeah.

Um...

Well, I thought I had a...

I'd get a teaching certificate first,

and then... then I met Diane.

And, uh, then we got married,

and when Holly came along,

uh, I was already teaching.

And also spending my summers

building houses

because I thought we needed

more money.

I remember you fixing houses

with other teachers.

Yeah?

Ruth?

Or if on joyful wing

Cleaving the sky

Sun, moon, and stars forgot

Upward I fly

Still all my song shall be

Nearer my God to Thee

Nearer my God to Thee

Nearer to Thee

We're here today to remember

Mrs. Ruth Joyce.

Among her many attributes

was generosity of spirit.

Mrs. Joyce was the treasurer

of the Rotary Club...

a 30-year member

of the Holt County Fair Committee...

I was a highwayman

Along the coach roads I did ride

Sword and pistol by my side

Many a young maid lost her baubles

To my trade

Many a soldier shed his lifeblood

On my blade

The bastards hung me

In the spring of '25

But I am still alive

I was a sailor

I was born upon the tide

With the sea, I did abide

I sailed a schooner

Round the Horn to Mexico

I went aloft and furled the mainsail

In a blow

And when the yards broke off

They said that I got killed

But I am living still

I was a dam builder

Across the river deep and wide

Where steel and water did collide

A place called Boulder

On the wild Colorado

I slipped and fell

Into the wet concrete below

They buried me in that great tomb

That knows no sound

But I am still around

I'll always be around

And around and around and around

Your left foot. Yeah, there you go.

Then you... go back like this.

And then when you go to throw,

you step forward with that foot.

- There you go.

- Like this?

- Yeah, but wait until I get there, okay?

- Okay.

Let's have it.

Try it again.

You don't understand.

You could be looser, you know?

You...

- Just step forward and throw.

- Okay.

Okay?

There you go.

Ooh! Hey, strike.

Here you go.

Jamie, this is for you.

This is nice and sharp.

Okay.

- Okay? Got it?

- And here's one to eat.

Hoo-hoo! Wow.

Don't eat them all.

Save something for me.

Louis, you want a marshmallow?

- Huh?

- You want a marshmallow?

- Is that yours?

- Well, you can have it.

You're gonna love it. Don't you?

I haven't seen your phone all day.

Well, I left it at home because Louis said

it probably wouldn't get connection

in the mountains.

Okay, let's see how it tastes.

Are you ready?

All right, try it.

Mm. Gosh.

It tastes really good.

The marshmallow has actually been cooked.

You know,

we're in that tent right over here.

If you need us, just call, okay?

I love you, Nana.

Good night, sweetheart.

You're awfully quiet, Louis.

Well, I was just thinking.

You know, we used to come here

all the time, just the two of us.

- You and Diane?

- Uh-huh.

We'd come when she was able.

She fought hard, did... didn't she?

Yeah, in the beginning, she did.

But in the end,

there wasn't much fight left.

I would sit with her during the day,

and I would bring her food,

and I would try to get her to eat.

But at the same time, we weren't really

talking to each other anymore, and I...

I think she was basically just saying,

"I'm... I'm done with it."

You know, we... we always think

we can fix everything, but...

some things we can't fix.

We have to learn to forgive ourselves.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, but that's not it.

You know, I mean, Holly and I were there

when she passed.

I remember...

wanting to feel her leave...

her spirit or something.

And instead, it just seems

like she's still around.

You can tell me anything. You know that.

Look, I'm gonna put this on you.

Yes!

Now that we're back home,

I'm telling you,

you're gonna miss that mountain air.

- Yeah.

- Come on, girl.

You know, I think I've decided

I really like altitude.

- Hey, big guy.

- Yeah?

- Hi.

- Gene.

Oh, so you got him a dog, huh?

Bonny. Louis got her for him.

You know Louis Waters.

Yes. Hello, Gene.

Hi, Mr. Waters.

I've been trying to call you all day.

Where were you?

You know,

I should be getting back to my place.

- Would you call me later?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

- Bye, Jamie.

- Bye. Thank you.

- Good to see you again, Gene.

We went camping.

- It was really fun.

- It was.

- Oh, really? Yeah, you had fun?

- Yeah.

- It was good?

- Roasted marshmallows.

Jamie really liked that.

Yeah, it was neat.

Louis Waters, really?

Can we talk about this later?

Uh, can I take Bonny on a walk?

Yeah, yeah, sure you can.

I know what he did to his family.

I was here, remember?

- That was 40 years ago.

- Yeah, well, it still happened.

He destroyed a family.

He's sorry that he did it, okay?

And he can't fix it now, so...

Can I ask you something?

I heard he sleeps over.

Do you really think that's okay?

I don't see

how that is any of your business.

Well, it is my business

if my kid is involved.

It is my business.

I don't want him to get hurt.

Oh, you don't think he was already hurt

with Bev running off this summer?

Oh, God, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

How's everything with Beverly now?

And your work?

Work is fine.

Work is fine.

I'm fixing roofs.

Well, you know, I'd like to help you

if there's any way I can...

Mom, I'm not asking you for anything.

Really, please.

Hey, Bonny.

Why were you yelling?

I wasn't yelling.

Hey, come here.

What do you say? Let's go home.

- Will Mommy be there?

- No. Mom's not gonna be there.

She... She'll come soon, okay?

Just the two of us. All right? Look at me.

We're gonna have a lot of fun. All right?

I... I don't want to go home.

I want to stay here with Nana.

Honey, it's just your daddy

misses you, you know?

Come on.

I want to stay here with you.

And remember her neck.

You're gonna have to be gentle.

And you're going to be good. I can tell.

Now, you call me, okay?

I want to know how school is going.

I want to know how you are.

- I love you.

- I love you, too.

- You too, bud.

- Sorry, but we really need to go.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote