Storyville Page #4

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Mr. Choate. | Did I pronounce your name correct?

Pronounce this, f***er. Take a f***ing hike.

- I'm sorry, your door was open. | - Close it on your way out.

Get the f*** out of my studio.

Her name's Brandy.

I don't know this one, | I've never seen her before.

Walk around with it. There's $50 | for anyone who helps you find her.

What do I say if they ask | why I'm looking for her?

Make something up, tell them you're in love.

Do you mind me asking you something. | Why are you looking for trash like this?

That's a good question. I'll see you later.

- How about some quarters for the dryer? | - I just gave you $50.

Brother!

I tried.

Is anybody there?

Let myself in downstairs.

What do you want?

I just...

want a drink.

Jesus, that's spooky.

She even looks like me.

She doesn't look a thing like you.

Join me?

Thought you were gonna replace that sofa.

No, you were gonna replace that sofa.

What's it all about?

It's not a campaign gimmick.

You're not that cynical. Not yet.

It's not a campaign gimmick.

Tell me you're not doing it to impress me.

Think I know what it takes to impress you?

So what does that leave?

A good deed?

Either that, or you're sleeping with her.

Anything you say can and will be used | against you in a court of law.

This isn't about us.

- I didn't think we were an us. | - We're not.

Thanks for clearing that up.

This must be some kind | of serious ethical violation.

I thought this kind of tactic | was beneath you.

Beneath you.

No, I'll be a lady.

Darling...

I hope you're prepared to get | your butt kicked up one side of court...

and down the other.

Tell you what. I lose, you buy me dinner.

You already had your chance | to bargain, pal.

- Leave the key. | - It's on the bar.

Friends of the Democratic Party, | before we sit down to this fine meal...

which our celebrity chef assured me cost...

just short of the $1,500...

you all ponied up | to pay the parking lot attendants...

Cray's mother...

would like to lead us in giving thanks.

We ask your blessing...

for what we are about to receive.

May we be truly thankful...

for your bounty and your glory.

May we humbly seek your guidance...

your wisdom to guide us on a path | both straight and true...

and your strength to quicken our step | when our gait falters.

Use us well, Lord.

- Let us be the instruments... | - Amen!

Amen!

If I had a nickel for every one of these | damn dinners I've had to endure...

Come to think of it, | I do have a nickel for every one.

Sometimes the worst part of politics | is convincing them...

that you're a part of the people.

Serving is one thing, socializing is another.

Looks like you've got more on your mind...

than the crushing weight | of social obligation.

You're worried about Hollister?

We should all worry about Hollister.

This is not patty-cake.

You're in the ring with a real bottom feeder.

What else do you know about him?

I know he's on the board of directors | at Oxytech.

And how is that of use to you?

The oil-lease case.

Are you suggesting he's involved with it?

I'm suggesting you should ask yourself | how is that of use to you.

I'll tell you something else.

Hollister had a command...

in Vietnam, Green Beret.

He came back, | there was a lot of loose talk around.

Atrocities and the like.

Is it true?

- That's not the point. | - You're suggesting we use it?

I'm suggesting you ask yourself...

how badly do you want this.

This is a decisive moment.

You are standing...

before a door to an ancient fraternity.

If you pass through...

and accept what this life has to offer...

you will not regret | the price you have to pay.

Let me tell you what I see.

I see...

two terms in Congress. Maybe three.

And then you will walk into the office | of the Governor of this state...

and take your place.

Your father's son.

A Fowler.

From a back bayou shanty...

to the seats of power in two generations.

And that may only be the beginning.

Cray, sit down.

Give Pudge a big hug.

My kids are such a mess.

I wish you were my boy | ever since you was a tadpole.

All my life I wondered | what the hell it is you do exactly.

- I am your uncle's LAT specialist. | - LAT specialist?

Yeah. You know, a bit of this, | a little bit of that.

What I do is, by the sheer power | of my personality...

I just make people feel smarter and | more important than they actually are.

That you'll find is your basic bottom line | in political service.

Watch it.

I was just thinking about you and Raymond.

And how he built the house | for that hummingbird just before he died.

Isn't this the most lovely party?

Folks think I'm an old gossip.

I'm not a gossip.

I am just an old historian.

You told me that somebody gave us | a copy of that tape. Hollister's commercial.

You said we had a friend in their camp.

Sensitive things.

You know I'd never say or do anything | that would compromise the situation.

You know the security guy, the cop...

Trevallian?

Please don't tell him.

Our little secret.

I was just thinking about you and Raymond.

And how he built the house | for that hummingbird just before he died.

St. Albans Baptist Church.

Reverend, I spoke to you on the phone.

- I'm Cray Fowler. | - Yes, I know that.

- Maybe you'll be our next congressman. | - That would be my hope, sir.

This is a fine-looking place.

We have a small congregation.

Not much money, | but what there is built this here.

Not too often we get to see folks like you | down this way.

Do you happen to recall...

My father's name was Raymond.

- And this would've been a few years back. | - Yes.

Raymond Fowler. Yes.

He came to see me.

Wanted to know | about some of my parishioners.

Wanted to know if he could see them.

Were any of them the names listed here?

Yes, that's them.

Sharecroppers.

Sons and daughters of slaves.

They were given small parcels of land | when they were made free.

These folks are second generation.

They worked all their lives to pay it off.

What about this one? Sumpter. C. Sumpter?

Catch you around here again, | you motherf***er, I'm gonna kill you.

F***in' punk.

I slept with her once. She came to tell me | her father had made a tape of us.

He'd beaten her up, | she wanted to leave town.

I went to look for the tape.

The father jumped me, knocked me out. | When I came to, he was dead, she was gone.

A few days ago, whoever hired Xang | sent me this copy of the tape.

Setting aside your shameless violation | of every known ethical standard...

you've also managed to drag me | out over the abyss.

Don't say you're not getting what you want | from this. It's disingenuous.

- And what would that be? | - A congressman.

You're a practical man, Nathan.

We need to find out whose fingerprints | are on this knife.

I think it's connected to the oil leases.

I don't know how yet.

But I think somebody | is trying to scare me off.

- Maybe Hollister. | - Hollister?

He's on the Oxytech's board of directors.

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