The Leisure Seeker

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1

It's time to show the whole world...

That America is back again.

Bigger, better and stronger...

Than ever before.

Mom, it's me. Are you ready?

Jane will be here any minute.

I made a cake for dad.

Tell me this is a joke.

Will.

- Hey, Lillian.

I'm glad I got you alone.

I wanted to tell you that if you get busy

with your mom at the hospital...

I'm more than happy to look in on your dad..

- But they are not here, the house is empty.

I tried to call but I think mom has turned off the

cellphone we bought her.

Come to think of it, I heard someone

turning on an engine this morning.

Very early.

- What engine? Dad's car is right here.

My god.

Jane, mom and dad are gone.

And you won't believe it:

So is the Leisure Seeker.

Take a right here.

That's it, good.

You couldn't have worn something more comfortable

to travel in?

And I think you're exaggerating a bit

with the Cologne.

But you smell nice.

Darling?

Did you fart?

- Excuse me?

You did.

- I did not.

Can't be talking like that, what are you saying?

Hon, do we need gas?

We need gas.

Let's stop at Stuckey's, we can get one of those

pecan bars.

Where?

- Alice Stuckey's, hon.

Try to remember.

- OK boss.

Just as you say. Like always.

Yeah, right.

Hey, are you crazy?

Is the store closed? We really wanna

to have one of those delicious pecan bars.

Opening soon. Just gas now.

- No, did you hear that, hon?

Every summer we'd head south

but we always stopped at Stuckey's.

Our kids Jane and will, they just had to have their

pecan loads.

We always went to south Carolina.

- That's where I'm from.

But my husband John, on the other hand, is

100 percent northerly yankee. Born and bred.

They were wonderful trips. Weren't they, John?

I guess I'm just a natural born tourist.

I love to travel.

Smoky mountains, six flags,

williamsburg... do you ever been to those places?

We are from Syria.

- You are? How interesting.

Well, you should go. They are amazing.

91 dollars, sir.

- Yes, of course.

My husband, John, on the other hand, he's a

much more sophisticated traveler then I am.

He thinks travel should broaden

an electoral horizon.

Whatever that's supposed to be.

I just love chatting with different people.

Here, here you are.

- Have a nice trip.

Let's roll, hon. Nice visiting with you.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

What a nice woman.

She found one in the store room.

The expiration date is...

My goodness, last April.

I think it still be alright.

Would you like a little taste hon?

I want a burger.

- It's not lunchtime yet.

I want a burger.

Hi my name is Chantal and I will be your server.

Hi Chantal, I'm Ella and this

is John. Guess you are stuck with us.-

can I recommend a Chalichat, only $9.99.

It comes with a

burger, large fries, a slice of

apple pie and a happy swirl.

A happy swirl?

I have no idea what that could be,

but it sure sounds promising.

- I want a burger. - Well, we'll have

a Chalichat for mister grumpy here.

OK, and you madam?

- Just water.

Nothing to eat?

- I'll just have a sip of his happy swirl. - OK.

And would you like anything else to drink?

Coke, beer? - No, that'll be fine, thank you.

I want a burger. Burger, please?

That'll be all Chantal, thank you.

You're welcome.

I'm just going to stretch my legs.

You stay put.

Do not move, right?

I know, doctor Machovsky, I'm fully aware.

I'm not sure what else to say.

Just hoping they haven't gone too far away.

I understand.

OK, my brother just pulled on.

See if he knows anything.

So?

- I checked all the supermarkets: Nothing.

I seem to remember it was your brilliant idea to

keep that monstrosity.

Nice work Chudo.

- There has to be some sort of explanation.

Yeah, they ran away.

- From who?

Mom, where the f*** are you?

Will, honey, please don't use that language with me.

Never mind the language. You need to calm

down, if you raise your voice I'll hang up.

Mom what is this craziness? You knew I was

coming to get you, why are you not here?

We are just taking a little trip, Jane.

We won't be gone for long.

A little trip? Where?

It's just something I really

need to do with your father.

I can't believe this. We decided

everything, will was gonna

stay with dad, I was gonna

come to stay the night...

Not 'us'. You and will know the

cracked doctors did that for us.

That is the basis of Hemingway's narrative

James Joyce saw the beauty of it.

Joyce claimed him a giant.

But not here, not in America.

Here we praise the hell out of our

brilliant darlings when we kill one.

You tell dad to turn that jalopy around

and get right back home.

Try to understand. Just let me have this vacation

with your father.

Vacation, now it's a vacation? - You know

full well dad can't drive in this condition.

Your father is perfectly capable of driving,

he's doing very well.

Mom please, just at least keep your cellphone on.

Kids, we'll manage. Love you.

Where are they?

- I have no idea, no idea, Lillian.

And when we die, what we are ends.

This is it.

That's all there is.

It's so beautifully crafted, the work of poetry.

And prose at the same time.

Prose that is poetry.

You know, I can see that, definitely.

Chantal, ignore him, you know.

No, it is super interesting.

He's being very nice.

Prose that is poetry is Hemingway's secret.

Do you have any idea how difficult that is?

For sure.

- John, leave the poor girl alone.

People have confused his simplicity and

his economy of words with simplicity.

You want any special sauces for your burger?

- No we'll be fine. Thank you, Chantal.

Enjoy.

I just wanted to ask her if she read

"the end of something". - John, eat.

You want me to cut it off for you?

- No, not necessary.

Don't forget your pills.

How is it?

And here are yours.

I'm gonna chase mine

with this famous happy swirl.

I don't see how you can just sit there eating?

We should call the police, and get them out their

credit card spending.

Hopefully, mom hasn't lost her marbles as well.

Maybe they're just out for a short spin.

The camper needs a service

change, Jane. What if

there is an accident?

What if someone sues dad?

We need to figure out where they are going

and intercept them.

And she keeps eating as if there's nothing.

Everybody came to my cousin's wedding.

They sat

us at a great big table

with a picture window.

And who was there, do you remember?

Me?

- John.

Yes, John, you were there, I was there, the

kids were there. Do you remember?

God.

We're fine.

John that was amazing.

I can still do it, can't I?

- Yes you can.

Here, here, you take that road.

Old route 1

we must have driven that a thousand times.

Are we heading south?

- That's the plan.

To your people.

What people John? My parents are dead.

They are all dead?

- I wonder what's it like up there?

Is it a joyful place. All

people are singing and

dancing and drinking happy

swirls all day long?

What do you think John?

What's it like, you know, after?

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