The Kentuckian Page #3

---

I bet you can't play

"Possum Up A Gum Tree".

Yahoo!

Come on, Sophie.

Chase that rabbit, chase that squirrel,

chase that pretty girl round the world.

- The letter.

- Not now. Later.

Up the river and round the bend. Be good

to your girl or she'll go to your friend.

Circle that partner, corner her dress.

All join hands and away to the West.

That's smart music. Calls for more.

Tickle them ivories.

Play "Hold That Varmint Down".

No, Zack. Play "My Darling".

- Little Eli.

- Hannah!

- Come in.

- Tell them Mr. Bodine sent this.

But, Hannah...

Please don't mention it was me.

Why, son,

it's way past your time to bed down.

Looks like you got your powder wet.

You and that schoolteacher!

Is that what's tormenting you?

Hannah's better than her. Me and you

and Hannah. That's what we figured.

- We spent all our money for her.

- Whoa, son.

I said nothing against Hannah.

We're beholden to her.

You gonna write the letter

so as we can all get to Texas?

You ain't even going to write!

Of course I'm going to write.

Mussel.

M-U-S-C...

M-U-S-S-E-L!

Seems like you paid some mind

to that schoolteacher after all.

You reckon

we'll get enough for the three of us?

That's hard telling.

We'll leave it to the president.

He wouldn't cheat a man.

That's right, Pa.

I swear, that letter-writing came hard.

A man ought to have an education.

You're too old to go to school, Pa.

I wasn't thinking of myself.

Harry Milton!

Haggard! Lester Haggard!

Mr. Bodine. Another one for you, Stan.

That's all. What's going out?

Six cents. Eleven cents.

Here's your change.

Faro!

Hannah!

We just about got our Texas money back.

Eleven cents.

That'll be...

Mr. President James Monroe

of these United States of America!

What are you sending?

A wooden nutmeg?

- How much?

- Four bits, and cheap at that.

It ain't every day

I get a letter to the president!

- I guess Little Eli couldn't wait.

- Tell her, Pa.

The egg ain't hatched,

but we got a hen sitting.

Don't you know

freshwater pearls ain't worth a dime?

Sure one on me.

You caught me like a catfish.

I gotta hand it to you.

- Didn't you say you'd been to Prideville?

- Yes, sir, but not too recently.

It's off the beaten track, as you well know.

- Ever hear the name Wakefield there?

- Wakefield?

Wakefield...

Yes, it's coming to me. That bit of verse

about the feuding families.

Ah. "Weep you widows in lone homes

when a Wakefield meets a Fromes."

I'm a Wakefield.

And I'll show you

what Wakefields pay for pearls.

- Eli, don't!

- Hitting me won't cure your ignorance.

Get wise! Get educated, Wakefield!

Elias! Whoa there!

Haven't you made fool enough of yourself

for one day?

President Pearl, President Pearl,

your pa is President Pearl!

Children! Children, stop it! Let me past!

I'm ashamed of all of you. A newcomer,

a stranger. His first day in school.

We'll cut the playtime short.

Get inside. March!

You all right, Little Eli?

Ten of lug.

Now, the best part of the leaf

is called wrapper.

Used for the finest chewing plug.

The lug here

is good only for cheap pipe tobacco.

You'll catch on to the difference in grades.

It takes a little time.

It comes hard, Zack, but I've been

trying to say all morning...

- I'm obliged to you.

- Obliged? For what?

For keeping me from being a double fool.

That snake doctor hit it on the head.

Forget it! Takes a spell

for a man to come to himself.

Sure they mortified you. Keep your

powder dry. Our time to shoot will come.

You really suppose

a man like me could fit in?

Fit in?

Why, brother!

As for the boy, don't you worry.

He's just where he ought to be.

Children! I wouldn't like to tell your

parents how you've behaved today.

Luke.

Luke Lester!

All right, that's better.

Eli?

Eli Wakefield?

Eli!

You'll never get anywhere

looking out the window.

Eli, come back! Children, stop that!

Children, come back!

The Texas steamboat!

Look at 'em run.

Some people never grow up, Eli.

Eli? Eli!

Come back, Elias!

- Little Eli!

- Hannah!

It came!

- I can't stay long. I'm stealing time off.

- So am I.

Did you have to fight your way out?

They were making little of Pa.

He's learning how to buy tobacco.

Don't fault your pa. It's for Texas.

He promised! You heard him promise.

You'll go. You and your pa will.

- Will we, Hannah?

- Sure.

Can you come too?

Not yet a while, I reckon.

But you two gotta go. Somehow.

I gotta go.

- I'm talking about Texas.

- He's telling no lie.

- I'm talking about Texas.

- I know it's no lie.

Whoa!

Friends,

my name is Pleasant Tuesday Babson

and I'm going to Texas!

And I'm not going alone!

People with brave hearts, ambitious

hands and a feel of distance in their bones

are going with me.

We're going to that rich Spanish land

where Moses Austin won a grant

for mettlesome Americans.

We'll steam to New Orleans,

harness up and saddle up for Texas.

Many have already signed.

There's room for more.

That's why I am here.

What's wrong with old Kentuck?

It's a fine land. If it suits you, stay.

But pot liquor for the goose

sometimes gags the gander.

You don't measure land in Texas by

rod and chain. You measure with the eye.

When the eye can see no further,

that's where you drive your stakes.

The rifle ball has not been made

that can carry to a neighbor's line.

And game, I tell you by the Book,

my own eyes have seen a sea of buffalo

that took from sunup to sundown to pass.

Is your question answered, friend?

But there is no great hurry. The ship

will wait the sale of your tobacco.

We will cruise the river

so that you may judge our vessel.

I will circulate far and wide among you.

And now, my friends, if any would care

to examine our ship, come aboard.

Welcome!

Hey! You're supposed to be in school!

I thought you was buying tobacco.

- Where did you get that shiner?

- It don't matter. The boat's here.

Out of here! Get out of here! Come on! Git!

Always messing things up!

Miss Susie's right upset,

I hear, about school.

You can't blame her.

You got to excuse Little Eli.

He ain't a man yet.

No. He ain't a man yet.

I hate Uncle Zack and I hate Aunt Sophie

and I hate Humility and everything!

Hold on, son. Zack and Sophie

are different from us but they mean good.

They got their side.

You gonna earn enough money

for Texas?

That black eye makes you cantankerous.

You don't ever take me hunting any more.

You don't hardly see me at all,

with me in school and you working.

All right, son, I tell you what.

Miss Susie's got an apology coming

for you breaking up school.

When she's peacified,

we'll go hunting one night, real soon.

It's a go.

Good morning. Good morning.

Thank you, Tommie. Good morning.

Could we have a word with you, miss?

Surely. Would you excuse me, Stan?

- I'll see you tonight.

- Yes, Stan.

Good morning, Miss Susie.

Did you have something to say

to Miss Susie?

I thought you was gonna say it.

That ain't the way I understood the deal.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes