Swamp Water Page #4

---

- What you got against us?

- I run my traps alone, that's all.

- That's all you're telling.

Never mind. We'll trap that swamp alone

and keep the third share for ourselves.

It can't be so hard to find your way around,

not if you done it.

It took me two weeks to find my way out.

Even my dog didn't know which way to turn.

So you gave him your shotgun to tote

and you found your own way out.

I wish you would go into that swamp.

I just wish you would try it.

I'm thinking you would find a big surprise.

Marty, gimme a bottle of that red liquor.

I want to buy Ben Ragan a drink.

Give him a bottle of that panther water, Marty.

Two drinks of that and they'll go

into the swamp and rassle a bull gator.

- Guess.

- Couldn't be nobody but you, Ben.

- Howdy, Mabel.

- Where you been at so long?

I told you two weeks ago.

Or have you forgot already?

- Two weeks is a long time.

- I told you I'd get back for tonight.

I got us a loan of Marty McCord's horse

to take us to the dance.

I'm going with somebody else.

I told you you'd better get back.

- I told you I'd get back, and here I am.

- Ben, you ain't the only pebble on the beach.

You just expect a girl

to sit around and wait for you.

Well, I waited, waited, and yesterday

when you didn't show up I said yes.

To who?

Good friend. You might as well know who.

It's Miles Tonkin.

- Him.

- You sound mighty jealous to me.

Why should I getjealous?

I got me a somebody I can take to that dance.

All right, get mad about it.

Who else can you take?

That's all right who.

Ain't no other girls in town

that ain't got a man.

I got me a somebody all right.

You're lying, Ben Ragan.

You can't get another girl for that dance

within a day's horse ride, and you know it.

Maybe I'll let you dance with me.

Well, if my friend don't mind.

I can't make no promises.

I'll let you know tonight, Ben.

- Why, hello, Miles.

- Howdy. Howdy, Mabel.

What time do you want me to be coming

around to take you to the dance tonight?

Julie.

Hello, Ben.

Mrs McCord.

- Is this a pretty dress?

- It's a beautiful dress.

- How much?

- It's a dollar and a half.

Well, I want it.

What did we come for, Thursday,

if we ain't gonna dance?

We'll keep on coming, Miss Hannah,

till you point him out.

All right. I'll know who it was when I see him.

Howdy, Ben.

Why, Julie. I hardly knowed you.

- She looks pretty.

- Hello, Julie. Hello, Ben.

- Hello, John. Howdy.

- That's a mighty pretty outfit.

Come on back, Julie.

- You sure look pert, Julie.

- How come you're here, young 'un?

- I brung her, Marty.

- Why, Julie.

Howdy, Mabel.

It's no use, Ben. I can't.

Well, let's sit down for a minute, Julie.

- Howdy, Miss Hannah.

- Evening, Ben.

- Howdy.

- Howdy.

This here's Miss Julie... Miss Gordon.

Sure. I seen you at Mrs McCord's.

You look pretty.

I've been a-watching you with Ben.

Thank you.

Ain't you Tom Keefer's young 'un?

Yes, sir.

I ain't gonna have nobody running her down.

I don't aim to have words

with none of my kin in public.

I didn't mean no offence. You're the one that

seemed ashamed to say her name, not me.

Don't quarrel with him, Ben. He ain't hisself.

He's just mad cos I won't take his bossing.

Now, Ben. You go cool off outside

and leave us womenfolk together.

- Good evening, Ben.

- Howdy, Sheriff.

- Ain't dancing, Mr Ragan?

- You know the reason why.

Can't you leave her alone neither?

Thought you was supposed to be

a-courting me, Ben.

So did I.

Hope you don't expect me

to just sit around the house and sew

all the time you're monkeying around

in that old swamp.

I expect nothing from you

but a bossified tongue and a cussing out.

You ain't felt my tongue yet, Ben.

- That's no way to talk.

- I suppose Miles wouldn't talk like that.

No, he wouldn't. He's a gentleman.

Why don't you get back in there and do-si-do

with him so I can dance with my girl?

- You little cat.

- You leave me alone.

Leave her alone, Ragan.

Guess he won't bother you no more.

Look out!

Stop them! Stop them!

Stop.

Excuse me.

Come on, Ben. Get him.

Get away from me, will you, Mabel?

For the love of Katy, what are you boys

a-fighting about? Who started this ruckus?

Me and Ben was just arguing.

Miles didn't have no call to come butting in.

He fit for you. He can have you.

Take care, Ben.

I got a good idea what you're up to.

You get on home.

Ben?

Hardy, you go on back to the dance.

Miles Tonkin.

Wish I'd have come out sooner -

I'd have kicked him.

I reckon he ain't to blame.

Now I know why

you took me to the dance, I guess.

Why?

Cos Mabel McKenzie's your girl.

Not any more she ain't.

Maybe I did so, Julie,

but I'm right proud I took you.

It's funny, I never noticed,

you're a heap prettier than Mabel is.

- If you was a little bigger.

- I could grow more, maybe.

From now on I ain't gonna court

nobody else, Julie.

If you've got no objection.

I've got no objection.

I never in my life asked for no kiss,

I always just took 'em.

But dogged if I ain't asking you now, Julie.

Do you mind?

I don't mind.

- That come from Marty's pigpen, didn't it?

- Yes, Ben.

You wait here.

Hurry up, boys. We've been a-waiting for you.

- Howdy, neighbour.

- Howdy, boys.

- Where's Thursday?

- His horse went lame.

Turned back to get his gelding,

said to go ahead with the meeting.

Well, most of us is here.

Go ahead, Tulle. Let's get down to cases.

Well, men, I hate to say this, but it looks

to me like we got a hog thief amongst us.

It sure does, Tulle. Kiss Katy if it don't.

Howdy. I reckon the somebody you've

come to see is out in the kitchen.

I didn't come to see nobody. Heard you all

was meeting on account on them hog thieves.

Don't know nothing about no thieves. We was

aiming to catch just one of them scoundrels.

- Hope to Katy there ain't two of 'em around.

- Maybe there is.

- Hot dang, what you driving at anyway?

- What do you know about this business?

I got me a good idea them missing hogs

is within ten miles of here.

If they ain't been rafted

down the river and sold.

If you know so much about it, maybe you

had a finger in it. You been away a lot lately.

Yeah. I been away trapping, like you and Bud.

- Why...

- Hold on. You know Ben don't mean nothing.

Don't cut the fool.

This ain't no fooling matter.

I tell you it ain't.

You're getting too big for your breeches.

- Now, now, Bud.

- All of you for coffee?

- Coffee, Mr Ragan?

- No, thanks, ma'am.

How's your friend getting on in the swamp?

Well? Why don't you tell Sheriff Jeb

who's a-hiding in the swamp?

Might be the hog thief

you've been looking for.

- Coffee?

- Thank you.

- What does she mean?

- I don't know.

- We knew you had somebody in that swamp.

- That right?

That's the place a hog thief'd hole up,

in Okefenokee.

Who's a-hiding in that swamp, son?

- Couldn't be Tom Keefer, could it, Ben?

- Tom Keefer.

She's cold-out crazy.

Seems to me you're kinda crazy, Ben,

taking up with that young 'un of Keefer's.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes