The Fugitive Kind Page #2

- He's gone down to the depot to meet Jabe.

That's where we're going now.

Hey, Snakeskin!

Snakeskin!

Thank you, Uncle Pleasant.

Beulah, I'm sorry.

I never can remember your last name.

My name's Binnings, Beulah Binnings.

Get him out of here!

- He's gonna mark my baby.

- Shoot, Dolly.

It's just that crazy conjure man

that sells trinkets on the turnpike.

What have you got here, Uncle?

It's a bone of some kind.

- Well, it's just a bone.

- No.

- It's just a bone.

- Please get him out of here!

- It's a bone!

- Now, I'm getting mad!

Uncle Pleasant, you take this bone...

and you leave it on a bare rock

in the rain and the sun...

till every sign of corruption

is burned and washed away.

And then it will be a good charm.

You know, they say that if you...

break the heel of your slipper

in the morning...

that means you'll meet

the love of your life before dark.

Of course, it was almost dark

when I broke the heel of my slipper.

I suppose that means I'll meet

the love of my life before daybreak?

Somebody don't seem to realize

this store is closed.

She's a Cutrere

and thinks she can do as she pleases.

Why are you pretending

not to remember me?

It's hard to remember somebody

you never met.

Are you afraid I'll snitch?

Snitch? About what?

Can I see your wristwatch?

Well, that's all right. I saw it already.

It is my cousin Bertie's Rolex Chronometer.

Of course, it doesn't matter.

I won't tell anybody.

But I can prove that I know you, if I have to.

It was last New Year's Eve in New Orleans...

and you were providing the entertainment...

in the Club Rendezvous,

or was it the Music Bar?

Miss Carol, Mr. Xavier wants to

turn over a new leaf.

As a matter of fact,

you told my cousin Bertie and me about...

this lady osteopath that you met

somewhere in your travels.

And you said, anytime you were broke...

You said, anytime you were broke...

you could wire this lady osteopath collect.

And no matter how far...

How far away you were or...

how long it had been

since you had seen her...

she would send you a money order

for $25 with the same sweet message:

"I love you. When will you come back?"

Why are you so anxious to prove

that I know you?

'Cause I'd like to know you

better and better.

I think they're coming!

If Lady catches you two old maids...

snooping around upstairs,

she'll let you have it!

They got separate bedrooms,

not even connected.

Take it easy, Jabe. I'll help you.

Here, lean on my arm.

- Good morning, Jabe. Take it easy.

- Watch your step.

Attaboy.

- I'll just go open the door.

- Does he look good, Dog?

- Here, watch your step now, Jabe.

- Attaboy.

Dolly! Beulah! We're home. Jabe's here.

He's back!

You look marvelous, Jabe.

Stop it, Eva.

It's so wonderful to see him!

- Look at that color on his face.

- I don't think he's been sick.

I think he's been to Miami

and got himself a Florida suntan.

You see, Jabe, we've got

a reception committee here to meet us.

They've prepared a buffet supper.

I see there've been some changes

made here, huh?

Yes.

How come the shoe department

is back there now?

Well, Jabe, we always had a problem

with lights in the store.

So you put the shoe department

further away from the window.

That's sensible.

That's a very intelligent solution

to the problem, Lady.

Tomorrow...

I'll get me some men and help move

the shoe department back front.

Okay. It's your store.

Glad you reminded me of it.

That man'll never come down

those stairs again.

Never in this world, honey.

- He has the death sweat on him.

- Yellow as butter.

Sister!

- Lady?

- No, thank you.

I don't suppose

you feel like talking about it?

- But Dog and me are so worried.

- Pee Wee and me was worried sick about it.

About what?

About Jabe's operation in Memphis.

- Was it successful?

- Was it too late for surgical interference?

We hope and pray it ain't hopeless.

I'm sorry.

I've got to go up. Jabe's knocking for me.

I'll speak to Lady upstairs. Lady!

Speaking of knocks...

I've a knock in my engine.

It goes knock, knock and I say,

"Who's there?"

I don't know whether I'm in communication

with some dead ancestor...

or my motor's about to drop out and

leave me stranded on the Dixie Highway.

Do you have any knowledge of mechanics?

Well, I'm sure you do.

Would you like to be sweet and take a ride

with me so you can hear that knock?

Look, I'm waiting for a job in this store.

So...

- Well, I'm offering you a job.

- Yeah, but I want a job that pays.

- Well, I expect to pay you.

- Maybe sometime tomorrow.

I can't stay overnight in this county.

I'm ordered to stay out by the Sheriff

and paid to stay out by my brother.

What are they saying about me?

That I'm degraded?

Is that what you're saying about me?

That I'm corrupt? Degraded?

I'll be waiting outside in my car

if you decide to change your mind.

There is something definitely not normal

about that girl.

- She'd better stay out of this county.

- Absolutely degraded.

Absolutely.

Now, since you're a stranger here...

I think we ought to tell you

a little bit more about her.

We don't want you to think that...

Hey, Snakeskin, give me a hand.

Miss Cutrere,

you ain't allowed to drive in this county.

I'll drive you.

Move over.

Just get your legs

on the other side of the gearshift.

Both of them.

Well, here we are.

I've got to call Cousin Bertie...

and tell him I'm irresistibly detained

on the Dixie Highway.

You get us a booth and setup, Snakeskin.

Tulane-0374.

How about some spareribs?

Hey, Bertie.

Hi, doll. What happened?

Did you trip over something

when you picked up the phone?

I thought I heard a crash.

Bertie, guess what?

I got my allowance back.

Yeah. On condition I stay forever away

from Two River County.

What?

You with that gal, buster?

The one on the phone?

Yeah. We come in here together.

Well, she's been eighty-sixed out of here.

Get her out.

But you come back alone sometime.

You hear?

Bertie, guess who's with me.

No. You'll never guess.

- Well, you remember last New Year's Eve?

- Mr. Cutrere...

- No, not that one.

... your sister's here.

The good looking boy.

You remember the one...

in the snakeskin jacket with the guitar.

- Your sister's here.

- Well, he's with...

- What are you doing?

- They want us out of here.

What? Who?

You!

You take your hands off my sister.

I'm trying to get her out of here, Mr. Cutrere.

I'm going.

There are plenty of other juke joints

on the highway.

Mr. Xavier, would you like to go juking?

Come on. Let's you and me go juke.

What you mean, go juking?

Juking?

That's when you get into a car...

which is preferably open

in any kind of weather...

and then you drink a little bit...

and you drive a little bit...

and then you stop and you dance

a little bit with a juke box.

And then you drink a little bit more...

and you drive a little bit more...

and you stop and you dance

a little more to another juke box.

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