The Beach House Page #3

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and help Julia with dinner.

She is one of Charleston's

finest cooks.

I don't recall her being

that motherly to us.

You know mama.

Always a sucker

for the lost cause.

Just like she is

for her turtles.

Why don't you come on in?

I'll show you what Julia's done

with the place.

There he is.

Still staring down at us.

Can you believe he's been gone

three years now?

Everything's so different.

Yeah.

What'd mama think?

Mama?

Yeah.

I'd think she'd wanna start

dismantling the house

and sell it now that he's gone.

Did she say something to you?

Or are you speculating?

You gonna come eat, you two?

Yes, dear.

After you.

Just like his daddy,

right honey.

What about that time

you flipped that golf cart?

Oh God.

You remember that?

[laughing]

I've never seen daddy so worried

and mad at the same time.

[laughter]

Man.

Well, Julia darling,

this has just been lovely.

But we better be getting

on the road.

Oh, no.

The night's still young, mama.

Oh, Palmer, it's a long drive.

I don't ever get to see you.

Just stay a little bit longer.

Palmer, it's a long drive.

Stay a little bit longer.

I'm tired-

I don't get to see you-

Palmer, stop!

Well, if y'all don't mind I'm

gonna go rest up on the couch

a little bit.

Ok sweetheart.

That's ok?

Yes, baby.

Look, I was thinking about

what you said earlier.

About the house and um...

mama, I think you should come

stay here with Julie and I.

What?

Yeah.

Why?

Because I miss you.

Do I need another reason?

Besides, that old beach house?

A little wind could blow

that place down.

Primrose Cottage has survived

a number of hurricanes.

I am fine right where I am.

Yeah, mama, I just don't like

you out there all by yourself.

I'm not by myself.

Toy is with me.

Well, that's something else

we need to talk about.

She is a sweet girl.

I'm sure she is, but

best be counting the silver.

Palmer!

What?

What? That's what daddy

would always say.

Trouble is, Palmer, all of

mama's silver is here with you.

Along with the rest

of the house.

You don't have a horse

in this race.

You left us a long time ago.

Besides, I haven't taken

anything from anyone.

I'm simply managing

mama's affairs.

You know she doesn't have

a mind for numbers.

When did you become

just like daddy?

Mama, tell him you're perfectly

capable of handling

your own affairs.

He's right, I- I'm not

particularly good

at those sort of things.

You see?

And that's that.

Sweetheart, will you please cut

me another slice of cake?

I think we've all had

enough sugar-

I asked for another slice

of cake.

Will you please cut it for me?

I didn't realize anyone was up.

Sorry, I couldn't sleep.

I'll get out of your way.

Hang on, Toy.

I'm sorry about Palmer,

I don't know much you heard.

I didn't belong there,

anyway.

Don't say that.

He had no right to talk

like that.

It's fine.

It's not fine.

And I haven't been that nice,

either.

It's...

Maybe I can make it up

to you?

I could take you to lunch

before I leave today?

Before you leave?

I... I thought you were staying

a week?

Yeah, um... I-

I gotta get back.

Cara, honey.

Why are you leaving?

Is this about last night?

Mama, I just don't fit in here.

I never did.

Oh honey, that's not true.

Please don't mind Palmer.

He means well underneath.

He's a good boy.

Go ahead and defend him.

Just like you defended daddy.

You know I don't

like confrontation.

Why?

Because it's not ladylike?

We're supposed to just smile

and needlepoint our lives away

and everything will magically

be alright?

Honey, now you're

just being dramatic.

No, I'm not.

I grew up watching the way

daddy treated you.

The perfect docile wife

that made daddy look good

at the country club.

Don't you ever wonder why I ran

away when I was younger?

I know you had to get away

from your father,

you two were like fire

and gasoline.

No.

Not because of him.

Because of you.

You couldn't stand up to him,

not once.

And now you can't stand up

to Palmer.

Cara.

I'm not like you, mom.

I'll never be.

[knocking]

Mama.

I'm sorry.

I know.

I didn't mean those things

I said.

You're right.

I've made a million mistakes.

We all have.

I didn't come here to fight.

I know, sweetheart.

Mama, what are all those

pills for?

Oh, um... just this

and that.

Nothing.

I'm um... vitamins.

I've never known you to take

anything resembling a vitamin.

Well, you haven't been

around that much.

Oh, Toy's on a health regimen

and I thought why not?

I'm glad you're not here alone.

Oh, baby.

I could never be alone here.

There are way too many memories.

Cara, I um...

I'm sure you've got a lot of

work piling up in Chicago but...

could you stay a little longer?

You just got here.

Ok.

Ok.

Mmmhmm.

Just like that.

No argument.

Nope.

[laughing]

[knocking]

Lovie, are you ready to go?

Oh, I'm gonna take Toy

on her appointment.

Mama, I can take her.

No baby, you stay here

and let Brett in.

Brett?

He's coming over to fix

the sink.

He just fixed it two days ago.

Oh, it broke again.

Mama, are you breaking things

just so he'll come by?

Now would I do that?

Yes, you would.

Sink's fine.

Of course it is.

I'm sorry.

That's ok.

Guess what? Turns out

I have the afternoon off.

Oh, that's ok.

What're you talking about?

Come on, we wouldn't wanna

let Lovie down.

We wouldn't want

to disappoint her.

She put so much work into this.

I've disappointed her plenty.

Nah.

It's all she talks about,

how proud of you she is.

Come on.

You owe me a boat ride.

It's been forever since

I've done this.

Pretty sure you've got a

big-sized lake up there.

Yeah.

Yeah, I can see it from

my 30th story window.

Sounds tall.

Yeah.

It is.

Especially when

the elevators break.

There's something to be said

about a ground floor, huh?

Yeah.

You're so lucky you get

to do what you love

every day.

Don't you?

Well, I've spent

every waking moment

for the last five years

in an office.

That's a lot of moments.

It's very competitive.

I got fired a couple

of days ago.

You're the first person

I've told.

I'm sorry.

It's ok.

I do feel a little

blindsided though.

Yeah.

Richard, my co-worker -

he was a little more than

my co-worker -

he's the one who threw me

under the bus.

Right there.

Alright.

There we go.

Welcome home.

I wish I had different news.

I do think you should continue

the treatment.

Will it cure me?

Well, as I said,

there is no cure.

And the tumor

can't be operated on,

but radiation will give us

more time-

Tell me, Dr. Pittman,

if you had one summer left

would you spend it

getting radiation?

You know, summer has always been

my favorite season.

One more is good enough for me.

Please, mama Lovin, please just

listen to what the doctor says.

Oh, Toy, honey, come on now,

don't you go getting upset.

Your baby can feel your sadness.

And we don't have time

for one single sad minute.

No.

You know what?

I would really like a milkshake.

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