The Driftless Area Page #2

There's someone down here.

How are you?

Oh, pretty good.

Grab hold of the rope.

I'll pull you up.

- You're okay.

- Am I?

I'm Stella.

Pierre.

Thank you.

We should get you out of these clothes.

I'm gonna get you a robe.

Do you need anything else?

I'd take a ride if you could.

I don't have a car.

How'd you find me?

The hole wasn't there yesterday.

- Right.

- So...

I figured I'd take a look.

You're a good climber.

Oh, no. Not really.

How long were you down there?

All night.

I didn't know. I would've come sooner.

How could you?

I couldn't.

I think you saved my life, Stella.

I think you're right.

And now I owe you a great favor...

that only I can do.

Is that how it works?

In the stories.

This is a story?

So do you live here?

Yes.

How do you get around

if you don't have a car?

I got a guy who brings me stuff.

A boyfriend?

No.

I guess I've just been...

waiting.

All right. Take it.

Wise decision.

Yeah? Show them.

You have the straight?

Well, I forget. They're in here somewhere.

Come on.

It's a friendly game.

We're keeping secrets now?

- You had the straight or you didn't.

- I don't know.

I say this in all friendship. I don't know

how you play where you come from.

Simple act of common courtesy.

This is how we play where you are.

I mean...

a guy doesn't show,

that's just bad manners.

Well, he's right that

it's the winner's option.

- Some guys will.

- Total lack of class.

He always cleans up.

He's that kind of guy.

- And he's a tax cheat, by the way.

- Oh, I hate that.

Got a herbicide store

down on Railroad Street.

Doesn't declare on cash transactions.

Keeps them in his safe in his office.

How'd you find that out?

My nephew worked for him one time,

but it did something to his skin.

Chemicals or what have you.

Where's Railroad Street?

Runs along the railroad.

Of course.

Shut up.

I knew you'd come.

- How?

- You left your binoculars.

Oh, right.

You should lay outwith me.

The sky's an ocean of vitamin D.

I'm not really dressed for it.

Take off whatever you want.

You're a modest guy, Pierre.

I never do this.

You should.

You're pale.

I used to work on farms.

Breaking rocks in the sun.

Then I was tan.

I'll bet you were.

Tan and dirty.

I'm glad you came by.

I've been wishing somebody

would come by and check on me.

Or just bring me a book and say:

"Have a look.

It's pretty interesting."

I just read a book.

I can give you that.

Is it interesting?

Well...

the idea is that time doesn't exist.

That everything that has ever happened

or ever will happen...

was here from the start.

And even different versions

that will happen, they're all here.

Somewhere.

That's a challenging notion.

But even as I'm reading it,

I'd turn the page and think:

- "Well, what is that?"

- Maybe the passage of time?

But also...

I can turn the page or not.

That's obvious.

It's a small decision.

Has it already been decided?

If something's in motion...

does it have to happen?

I wonder the same thing.

All right, ladies.

We got one Twister, one Blue Lagoon...

one Fallen Angel, one Stone Fence...

and one gin-and-tonic.

- There you are.

- I ordered the Stone Fence.

Okay, so who had the Fallen Angel?

- Drinks are all f***ed up.

- No one.

We didn't order a Fallen Angel.

Where's your mind?

He's in love, with the lady at the lake.

- Cheers.

- I'm jealous of him.

Hey, don't do that.

Hey.

You all right?

I'm going home.

How did you get those scars...

you don't mind me asking?

Too much speed one time.

It looks like a bear did it.

I wish it was a bear.

Here we are.

Let me tell you something.

I made a promise to myself one time...

that if I ever get a pile of cash...

I'm going to a surgeon...

and make the scars go away.

They probably can.

These days, it's a snap, I bet.

Yeah.

The cash is the tricky part.

Thanks for the ride.

You're welcome.

No, you know what?

Let me give you something.

Thanks.

It's my lucky rock.

I found it at the sand pits.

I think it was made by heat or something.

Igneous.

Igneous.

Then I quit the drugs.

Now, I'm not saying there is connection...

but there is a connection.

- You should keep it.

- I've had it long enough.

Now it can be lucky for you.

Are we looking

for something in particular?

- Do you have roses?

- Do we have roses?

We have the largest rose selection

in the upper Midwest.

This one's called...

Rosmarin.

Hi, Chet. I got a young man here

looking for a Rosmarin rose.

- How many?

- How many?

- Roses?

- Bushes.

- We don't sell cut roses.

- No.

One bush.

Please.

Be calm.

Be calm. You've been in an accident.

What time is it?

It's 7:
30.

Is there anything broken?

Well, not that you'd necessarily know.

Now I'm upset.

- I think I'd better call an ambulance.

- No.

You can't panic.

These things happen all the time.

- I'm gonna need your car.

- You're not thinking clearly.

You've been in an accident.

I'm fully aware I've been in an accident

so stop saying that...

and give me the keys to your car.

- You're not threatening me?

- Now you're not thinking clearly.

But...

how am I gonna get home?

I don't know.

Christ, you'll walk, I imagine.

Why is everyone always expecting me

to take them somewhere?

Yeah, I'm about 40 minutes north of you.

That's right.

Well, I could use a place.

A place to think.

I think we all know each other.

We know who he is.

There's a car out front

you should get rid of.

- Why don't you get rid of it?

- I'll leave it where it is.

- Well, here, here. Let's not fight.

- Get the car out of here.

Lyle, move that car, will you?

- Where?

- Take it where we took the other one.

Jean, you follow in the Jetta,

bring Lyle back.

I'm on it.

Want some speed?

Something to eat?

I'm not too hungry.

Thank you, sir.

Let the cares of the day fade away.

I lost some money.

Jackass kid I picked up on the highway...

knocked me out cold, took the money.

What do you know about him?

Not much.

His car broke down.

His car was on the highway?

Apparently.

Did you go find it?

It was broke down.

For the plates and the VIN, dumb-ass...

by which you might then locate him.

Sh*t.

No, I didn't.

That's so basic.

Where can I stay?

There's a room next door

with an exercise bike.

You can take that.

I work out there.

Luanne, you do me a favor

and shut the f*** up.

What are you gonna do with the money?

The money goes to the woman.

Because she gave you the rock?

She said, don't forget...

if she ever found a pile of money....

And then this happens.

Is that how much it costs,

the operation she needs?

Plastic surgery.

I don't know.

That sh*t can't be cheap.

The man will come for the money.

Well, let him.

That's what I say.

Takes my 20 bucks, steals my plant...

which I went and got for you.

Too bad for him.

And he kicks me.

You're all hopped up.

I won.

I keep thinking about it.

I never even won a lottery ticket.

No, you did good, Pierre.

Can you defend yourself?

Probably.

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