Sunshine State Page #3

-After a while, yeah.

-When you left town--

-When I was sent away.

Everybody thought it was Carter

got you pregnant.

It wasn't.

That's what he's saying nowadays.

I guess I wasn't too worried

about the rumours.

-Made your exit and didn't look back.

-Some drama, huh?

Girl, we ate that sh*t up.

I had to listen to everybody

run you down...

...being the tragic ex-girlfriend and all.

-Like that was gonna make me feel better.

-And Carter?

-Carter ran around acting the daddy.

-Really?

Better you knock your girl up than to

have people think somebody else did it.

But it all turned out fine, didn't it?

I suppose I could've done worse.

So you're the one who finally

snagged Desiree Stokes?

I'm the one.

-That girl drew men like flies.

-I can imagine.

-Elton Lloyd.

-Reginald Perry.

We're staying at her mother's

for a few days.

A wonderful woman, Eunice.

A true Christian.

Now her nephew, is it?

Her nephew's son.

Young Terrell.

I blame it on the drugs.

It's a pestilence.

Something happened with his...?

-Eunice didn't tell you?

-She and Desiree haven't been....

-If you ask, you don't deserve to know.

-Seems to be the attitude.

Terrell's father was going

through a rough stretch.

He had separated from his wife.

He came over one day

high on who knows what.

They had a screaming argument,

he had a weapon.

He shot that woman dead,

then turned the gun on himself.

Horrible thing to witness.

-Terrell must have been 6, maybe 7.

-He saw it?

He sat with the bodies for two days

before somebody came over and found him.

It's a pestilence.

Afternoon, gentlemen.

Y'all know where Buster's Place is?

Buster's Place is long gone, brother.

Nothing there now.

You sure?

I know you.

-I don't think so.

-Sure, I do.

You used to be the Florida Flash.

In my day, life was simpler.

You knew where you stood.

A man was left to make his own way

in the world.

You didn't have none of these

pressure groups, advocate groups...

...special-interest groups

handicapping the race.

It went to the smartest,

the strongest, the swiftest.

If a man could carve out

something for himself...

...he knowed he'd earned it.

No whooping crane.

Spotted owl.

The Florida gator.

The coloured man, the white man,

the Spanish.

They all started out from scratch.

If you couldn't survive the course,

it was tough titty.

Nowadays, what they got?

It ain't natural.

They got us so zoned.

Regulated.

Politically corrected and

environmentally sensitised...

...to the point where it's only

multi-internationals with 12 lawyers...

...waiting like buzzards

for something to litigate...

...that can afford to put one brick

on top of another.

The little guy, no matter how much

grit or imagination he brings to it...

...ain't got a chance. They got him

tied down so he can't hardly breathe.

You smoke a damn cigarette, they

make you feel like a baby-strangler.

Where's it all gonna end?

I don't want to know.

But if they expect my cooperation,

they're just sh*t out of luck.

The reason I hang on to this old bag of

bones is to spite the sons of b*tches.

They made me put into Social Security

for 50 years.

I ain't giving up the ghost till I spend

every damn penny of it.

-Which one are you?

-Gwendolyn.

-You think I'm full of crap, don't you?

-It's time for your insulin, Mr. Temple.

There's an opening here

that could close up quick.

-My father is the owner.

-I understand he's currently indisposed.

He's legally blind, if that's what you mean.

The black folks on Lincoln Beach have

contacted the Historical Register.

That's their business.

Draw that kind of attention,

environmentalists come in on their heels.

They're pesky little buggers.

Then you won't be able to sell

your property for what it's worth.

-What's it worth?

-Not much at the moment.

And since the resort condos have come in,

your taxes have jumped 30%.

-Small businesses are being squeezed.

-Tell me about it.

We realize this is a big decision,

one of the oldest businesses left...

-...going back generations.

-You're not from the Plantation?

-Some men were here.

-Did they make an offer?

-Sniffing around, I guess.

-They're relentless.

And you're not?

The Exley Plantation is only for the

elite. What we have in mind is more...

-...democratic. Something for everybody.

-Stores, burger chains, T-shirts?

-Retail outlets would be part of it--

-123 empty?

-Should be. Your husband called.

-I don't need to talk to him.

You want to develop here, you need

the County Commission in your pocket.

We can work something out.

Testing, one, two, three.

This is a mike check. One, two, three.

Good afternoon, and welcome

to Delrona Beach's...

...annual Buccaneer Days.

Earl. Earl!

-Steve. I'll be right with you.

-I got those signatures.

Just give me a minute.

In the afternoon,

when school was out...

...and the last one had left

with his dirty little snuffling nose...

...instead of going home, I would go

down the hill to the spring...

...where I could be quiet

and hate them.

It would be quiet there then...

...with the water bubbling up and away

and the sun slanting in the trees...

...and the quiet smelling of damp

and rotting leaves and new earth.

Especially in the early spring.

For it was worse then.

I could remember my father used to say

that the reason for living...

...was to get ready to stay dead

a good long time.

And when I would have to look at them

day after day...

...each with his and her

secret and selfish thought...

...and blood strange to each other

and strange to mine.

And to think that this

was the only way...

...I could stay dead.

I would hate my father

for planting me.

And then I go on from there.

The important thing is...

...to freeze yourself

in an interesting...

...but comfortable position.

Jaime, you're about to fall over.

We'll resume tomorrow.

You should be off book by then.

I thank you all very much

for your work today.

-It is you, isn't it?

-Hello, Miss Delia.

It's really you.

It is so wonderful to see you.

My mother told me

you were still running this.

They'll have to drag me off.

Several members of the local press

have suggested that very thing.

These are my special group.

Young people with difficulties.

-What's the play?

-As I Lay Dying.

Rather loosely adapted, but I don't

believe Mr. Faulkner would object.

-The scene of your many triumphs.

-I let you down.

-Whatever do you mean?

-When I left. I was the lead.

Well, we did have to make

a few adjustments.

But the show must go on.

You played it?

Having a queen of Egypt

considerably older than her Antony...

...was very provocative.

I got to do it once when I got

to New York. In the Park.

I played the handmaiden

who gives her the asp.

I'm sure you were wonderful.

And now?

I trust you're still sharing

your talent with the public?

I do industrials. Representing things.

I do a lot of auto shows.

A temporary engagement in the world

of commerce. You're still so young.

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