Sling Blade Page #7

- Leave.

Don't you tell me what to do, Lin...

- Don't do that.

- I'm calling the police.

- Goddamn, you little prick.

- Get away from me.

Don't touch my momma.

Go home.

- Get away from my mom.

- Jesus.

Goddamn you, Frankie.

- Get away from us.

- Goddamnit.

God.

Get away from us.

All right.

OK.

I'm gonna leave now. F*** me.

F*** me.

I'm gonna go home and sober up.

Go on, then.

Everything's bothering me.

I'm hurting, Linda.

- I love you.

- Well, I hate you.

I hate you, you little prick.

No, I don't. No, I don't.

I love your momma.

I just...

I can't explain what goes on.

You bunch of freaks,

I hope you have fun.

I'll call you tomorrow.

I'm sorry, honey.

I said I'm sorry, Linda.

OK.

All right, you can kiss my ass.

If you ever hit me again,

you little bastard,

I swear to God I'll make you sorry

your daddy ever squirted your ass out.

You hear me?

- You all right, Momma?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

Let's just try and forget about tonight.

We don't need to think

about bad thoughts, do we?

No, honey, we don't.

I'll make some coffee,

start cleaning this mess.

Karl, you want some coffee, hon?

Coffee kindly makes me nervous

when I drink it.

You scared me.

- I didn't aim to.

- You wanna sit down?

Do you need something?

No, ma'am.

There's these two fellas.

They're standing on a bridge

and going to the bathroom.

One fella says that the water's cold.

Other fella said the water's deep.

I believe one fella

come from Arkansas.

Get it?

I'll be dog.

Reckon you could

make me some biscuits?

Right now?

Whenever you take a notion to.

I don't aim to put you out none.

Well, it is nearly

breakfast time anyway.

I can't go to sleep.

I have to be at work in three hours.

You know how when you

only sleep an hour or two,

you feel worse

than if you hadn't slept at all?

Yes, ma'am, I do.

Well, sit down.

I'll make you some biscuits and gravy.

Mustard's good on 'em to me.

OK.

- Thank you.

- It's all right.

You know, I was thinking.

There's this girl that works with me.

She's real heavy,

but she's cute in the face.

Well, you know, she's slow.

She's a little bit... I think...

She's not retarded, just...

It don't matter. Listen,

I thought you might like to meet her.

Vaughan wants to have supper

at his house, we could invite her.

Would you like that?

I reckon I wouldn't mind

having a little supper.

Vaughan's friend'll be there, too.

He works at the funeral home.

And Frank.

You know, Frank really likes you a lot.

He says you make him feel calm.

I like Frank. He's a good boy.

Me and him's made friends.

It ain't right for me

to keep from telling

you how come me to be

at a state hospital.

That's OK.

It's not really my business.

I have wondered, though.

Why was it? Was it, like,

a nervous breakdown? Or...?

I killed my mother

and an old boy named Jesse Dixon.

I thought they were doing wrong.

I was about your boy's age.

- They told me I'm well from it now.

- Was that you?

I remember that.

I was only three or four, but I always

heard about it growing up.

They say you're well?

Yes, ma'am.

I like your garage.

I never would hurt you or that boy.

I'd lay my hand on the Bible

and say the same thing.

I know you wouldn't, hon.

Well, I'll make you some biscuits.

- How about you, Jerry?

- How are you, Bill?

I'm doing pretty good.

Got a sick tiller here.

What's got you down this way?

I thought I'd check up on Karl.

See how things are.

He's quiet, except for them rackets

and breathing things he does.

He ain't threatened me

with a killing or nothing.

You couldn't have been more right about

him fixing things, regular Eli Whitney.

And loves French fries.

Son of a b*tch can eat four larges

and won't even belch.

- I'm proud to have him.

- Him staying here working out?

He's staying with that Wheatley boy

and his momma over at their garage.

That little boy's adopted him

damn near like a mascot.

He's got a key here

to come and go as he pleases.

He's working out real good.

- Can I see him?

- Sure. Scooter.

- Take Jerry in there to talk to Karl.

- All right.

Karl.

Sure you're gonna be OK

staying with that woman and her boy?

Yes, sir.

Do they know about you?

My history?

Yeah.

I told 'em about it.

They know I'm well.

That Ms. Wheatley

made me some biscuits.

I'll be.

That boy, he's my friend.

He likes the way I talk,

and I like the way he talks.

Well, I knew you were gonna be all

right. I just wanted to check on you.

I'd better tell Bill goodbye

and head on back.

All right, then.

Karl, figure out what's wrong with this.

It won't crank up, and everything

seems to be put together right.

- Bill, I'll see you.

- OK. Stop back by.

Don't worry about your boy now.

He's doing good.

It ain't got no gas in it.

You see there, Scooter?

Thinks of the simplest things first.

Does everybody like the food?

- Yeah.

- It's good.

Good. I haven't decided yet

if I'm a good cook.

Karl, you know what?

Melinda was voted employee of the month

at the Dollar Store last February.

Isn't that something?

Yes, ma'am, I reckon.

Well, when you like

pricing items as much as I do,

it's just bound to happen

sooner or later, I guess.

Karl,

maybe you and Melinda

might like to take a walk tonight.

It's such a nice evening.

- Vaughan, don't get pushy.

- I'm sorry.

I kindly like walking

from time to time.

I stay on my feet

all the time at work.

I just can't find

shoes that's comfortable.

Hospital shoes might be the answer.

Nurse's shoes.

Or the kind old ladies wear

who work in cafeterias.

Same difference.

I get real mean when my feet hurt.

It's the only time

I don't like checking out customers,

when my feet hurt.

You and Karl aren't talking much.

You boys must really like that food.

Well, I ain't got nothing to say,

anything about shoes.

Listen, everybody. I...

This might sound corny, but...

I've had a few glasses of wine,

that makes me emotional,

but I'm gonna say it anyway.

It came over me in a rush.

I just want all of you to know

that I care about

each and every person at this table.

Thank you, Vaughan. That's really sweet.

We care about you, too.

- Don't we, y'all?

- Yeah.

Also, Melinda,

please don't tell anyone at the store

that Albert was here tonight.

OK?

Why?

Well, you know how this town is.

People talk and they spread

these cruel rumors.

Unfortunately, there are certain

parts of my life I have to keep private.

You mean about you and Albert

being together in that way?

Yeah. Yes.

I think everybody

at the store already knows.

They're always talking about it.

Maureen Ledbetter

told the most awful story

about why you ain't allowed

at the First Baptist Church no more.

Karl, why don't you and Melinda

go take a walk? It's nice out.

All right, then.

Food sure is good.

- You walk fast, don't you?

- I reckon.

These are the worst shoes

I own for walking.

How far did you say you wanted to go?

I don't reckon

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