The Beach House Page #4

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And a real one.

Not one of those green ones.

Come on, let's go.

Thank you, Dr. Pittman.

[seagulls squawking]

You have to tell Cara.

She is just so tightly wound.

And I don't want her

telling me what to do.

But she's family.

Have you told your family

about your baby yet?

That's different.

The only reason they'd care

is to remind themselves

of why they don't

want me around.

If you don't tell her

and she leaves

she might not ever

see you again.

[sighs]

I know, sweetheart.

You're right.

It almost feels like

I never left.

Almost.

Didn't I just see you wearing

high heels at the marina?

[laughs]

Yeah.

Yeah, I guess you did.

Sure.

You're never gonna let me

live that down, are you?

Nope.

[laughs]

Fair enough.

You know, I almost left

a few years back.

Really?

Mmmhmm.

I had it all planned out.

After dad retired I fixed

the place up.

Put the whole business up

for sale.

I got some good offers, too.

I bet you did.

I just couldn't do it.

It kind of turns out

I love this place.

It's me, I guess.

It is you.

It was you once, too.

No.

I mean, I guess, but

summer's not real life.

Is it?

I don't know, I'm not sure

I'd say that.

Declaration of Independence

came about in summer.

Ok.

The moon landing.

Mmmhmm.

Most importantly

Babe Ruth's 500.

Home run.

Wow, you're just a wealth

of information, aren't you?

Yeah, I read a lot.

Yeah, but comic books

don't count.

[seagulls squawking]

I didn't catch your name.

Russell.

Bennett.

Russell Bennett.

I was just about to go look

for some new nests,

if you'd like to come with me?

I'll teach you everything

I know.

Earth to mama.

Where were you just then?

Oh, just thinking about how much

I love this place.

Mmm.

It is really beautiful.

Did you have a good time

with Brett?

I did.

You were gone a long time.

Were we?

Mama, is that Palmer?

What is he doing here?

And wearing his street shoes

in the sand.

Oh, I swear that boy didn't get

a single one of my genes.

Nope.

These two parcels here,

they were deeded to the Coastal

Conservatory,

but this one right here

in the middle.

I can't find a transfer

of title.

At one point they were all owned

by the same person.

Have you ever heard of someone

by the name of Russell Bennett?

Yes. A long time ago.

I figured you would.

He was some kind

of marine biologist.

Turtles were his thing.

Why don't we go in the house

and have some tea

and talk about something more

civilized than real estate?

Mama, that's some view

you've got.

It's the same view

she's always had.

That spot that you saw me

out on the beach.

I wanna buy that.

What?

Do you know how much

that property is worth?

Flanked by protected beach?

There isn't any more land to

develop up and down the coast.

If I could just find out

who owns it.

You sound just like your father.

Always looking for more.

Why can't you be satisfied

with what you've got?

Actually, mama, I could use

the money.

I mean, with the kids

and everything...

She gave you the house

in Charleston.

There's no mortgage on it.

There is now.

You borrowed against her house?

Mama, did you agree to that?

I don't understand, Palmer.

That's exactly it, mama.

You don't need to understand.

I have all your finances

under control.

But you said that

you don't have money.

How are you gonna buy the house

if you-

We're gonna sell this old place.

As soon as I find that

chain of title

I'm gonna buy that title,

we're gonna put up some condos-

we're gonna make a fortune.

Palmer, she loves this house.

Look, this doesn't concern you.

You walked out on us years ago.

Well, I'm here now.

Yeah?

And how long before you

run back to Chicago

for another 15 years, sis?

Another day or two?

Long enough to speak up

for my mother.

I can speak for myself.

My parents left me this house,

and your father resented it

the whole time

we were married

because it was mine.

And it's the only thing

that was.

When I couldn't take it anymore,

the country club or

the cocktail parties

for his business partners,

this is where I would come.

It is the only place I have

ever felt like myself.

It is my home.

And nobody's selling it.

So, Brett Beauchamps, huh?

[laughs]

What'd you tell her, mama?

Nothing.

Flo knows everything

about everyone on the island.

Honey, I am faster than

the internet.

Now, where were we?

Brett.

There's nothing to tell, Flo.

That blush does not say nothing.

It's not blush, it's...

it's a sunburn.

[whistling]

And there he is now,

right on time.

Good morning.

Flowers.

Lovie will be so happy.

They're beautiful.

Actually, they're for you.

And a card.

That's very sweet.

Awe.

That's so sweet.

Uh, do you wanna get outta here?

Yes.

Ooh, summer love.

I don't know if she believes

in that concept anymore.

Who doesn't believe in love?

I wasn't the best role model.

Oh, you did your best.

You're gonna have to tell her

before she leaves.

I know.

My humble abode.

Go on.

Yep, come a long way since that

apartment above the bait shop.

Plus, it doesn't smell

like bait.

[laughs]

No, it doesn't.

Come on.

My mom had one of those.

She gave it to me.

Did she?

Mmmhmm.

Nah, she's been a good friend

to me.

You know, after

the last hurricane

I thought I was gonna

go out of business.

I probably would have, too,

if it wasn't for her talking me

up to everyone on the island.

Not to mention she stopped me

from making a really

big mistake.

Oh yeah?

Go on.

She sat me down,

made me a nice dinner,

and she told me on not so

uncertain terms that my fianc

was completely wrong for me.

You broke up

because of my mother?

She was right.

I'm sorry.

I like to say I was blindsided

but actually I was relieved.

I'm sure you would have figured

it out without Lovie.

She did teach me one thing,

though.

What's that?

You gotta wait

for the right one.

Huh.

Isn't it all you boatmen who say

there's plenty of fish

in the sea?

Not me.

Mmm-mmm.

Huh.

Really?

Mmm-mmm.

'Cause I'm pretty sure

that was on your website.

You looked up my website.

I mean, I might have for, like,

professional reasons.

Of course, of course.

I didn't assume anything else.

But... but what did you think?

Professionally, of course.

Professionally speaking, I think

that you could probably use a...

I don't know, a catch phrase.

A catch phrase.

Mmmhmm.

Like what?

Like something...

memorable.

My... my smile isn't enough?

[laughs]

No, sadly, I don't think so.

Ouch.

I think something like um...

"good things come

to those who bait".

[laughs]

I like that.

Thank you.

It's on the house.

You can have that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Good grip.

There you go.

Take down and roll.

Take it down and roll.

Ok, ok, I can do it.

Maybe we could talk about us,

hmm?

Look, I'm sure I could fall

for you all over again

with that annoying southern

charm and those big blue eyes.

Keep going.

No, I like where this is going.

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