The Nesting Page #3

---

doctor's death on her conscience.

It wasn't your fault.

It was an accident.

That girl was insane, a crackpot.

Crackpots don't

disappear into thin air.

And it wasn't an accident.

Daniel.

Do you think this house could be haunted?

- By painted ladies?

- I am serious.

Let me put it this way.

It may come as a surprise to you...

...that a physicist could even contemplate

the existence of paranormal phenomena.

But you admit

to the possibility.

I admit the possibility of the unknown.

I admit that science is only beginning

to understand its own discoveries.

But I do not believe

in evil spirits...

...or painted phantoms in windows.

If you are really a scientist,

you will help me find out.

Frank?

- Frank?

- Yes, ma'am?

How long have you been here?

Not long, ma'am.

Daniel sent me over.

Said there'd been an accident.

- I knocked, but there was no answer.

- How'd you get in?

Got keys to all the colonel's houses.

That's just great.

Frank?

Frank, when you were in the house,

did you come in my bedroom?

No.

Are you sure?

My memory ain't that bad, ma'am.

I ought to know if I did or if I didn't.

I knocked all right,

but you didn't answer.

I think you're lying.

You can think whatever

you like, ma'am.

Now, what would I wanna come

into your bedroom for?

To type on my typewriter,

that's what for.

Ma'am, I don't even know how to type.

Even if I did, why would I wanna?

Just to annoy me, that's why.

I know you don't like me.

Think I don't know how you burnt

my manuscript the other day?

- You know, your childish pranks...

- Now, hold on, lady.

I ain't sayin' I like your kind,

and I ain't sayin' I don't,

...but I got better things to do

than type on your writer.

And I'll tell you

something else, ma'am.

I think you're just plain nuts.

You know, touched in the head.

Uh, Frank?

Frank, I...

I'm sorry. I really am.

I, uh... I guess I've been

under a lot of strain lately.

- I'm sorry I accused you.

- That's all right, ma'am.

Really, Frank, it was wrong of me.

Why don't you come in

and have some coffee with me?

I'd really like to talk to you.

All right, ma'am.

I guess I could use some coffee.

I have some ham and cheese.

Would you like some lunch?

Nope.

This gasoline keeps me running.

Frank, you've worked for the colonel

for a long time, haven't you?

Long enough.

Then you would know

about this house.

- I ain't made no study on it.

- I know, but, uh...

Have you seen anybody around

here lately, uh, on the grounds?

- Oh, no, thanks.

- Like who?

Like a girl with red hair.

Nope. Why do you ask?

Oh, I don't know. I thought I saw her.

Seems like you see a lot of things.

You know something?

Seems mighty strange

for a woman like you...

...to bury yourself up here all alone.

A woman like me?

Don't play dumb with me, lady.

- You know what I mean.

- I'm not sure that I do.

Holier than thou, huh?

Invite me in for some coffee, huh?

- Since when has your kind ever wanted my

company for coffee, huh? - Cut it out!

- I know what you want and you're

gonna get it. - You're drunk!

You little b*tch.

Now you're really gonna get it.

I didn't do it. I didn't do it.

It wasn't me that did it.

It was Abby. Abby done it.

I didn't do it.

It wasn't me that did it.

Abby done it.

Abby done it. I didn't do it.

Abby was the one.

Abby done it.

It was Abby did it. Abby done it.

I didn't do it. No.

Oh, hi, Daniel.

What can I do for you?

There's a busted boiler over at the McCluen house,

and I haven't been able to locate Frank.

Gee, last time I saw him was yesterday

on his way over to Miss Cochran's.

Yeah. I sent him there,

but he should have been finished.

Well, you might try over

at Abner Welles's place.

Two of them might be

sleeping off another drunk.

Now that's an idea.

What a shame.

The accident?

Oh, I hope it wasn't that nice

young man I met with Miss Cochran.

No, it wasn't.

I suppose she'll be

leaving Dover Falls now.

She never should have rented that house.

Mrs. Beasley?

Do you happen to remember

who used to live in that house?

Oh, I don't recall any rentals

in that house since the '50s.

Then nobody stayed very long.

Not so I remember anyway.

But what about before that?

Well, during the war,

it was common knowledge...

...it was, shall we say,

a house of ill repute.

Do you mean to tell me

my grandfather ran a brothel?

Oh, no, certainly not.

It was run by a woman named...

Florence? No.

Florinda.

Florinda Costello.

Rumor had it

that Florinda Costello's was quite a place.

It drew most of its clientele

from an army base that was nearby...

...but some of the locals

would sneak up there too.

I remember my mama

breaking dishes over Papa's head...

...when he'd come home drunk

and smelling of cheap perfume.

Right around the time the war

ended, the house closed down.

My mama said the girls

had probably moved someplace else...

...where the pickings were better

since the army base had emptied out.

Good riddance too, she said.

Maybe Papa wouldn't be under

such evil temptation now.

I remember Frank staying drunk

for a week at that time.

He was a pretty wild boy.

But Mama blamed it

on patriotic enthusiasm...

...and the influence

of his best friend, Abner Welles.

Abner!

Don't bust my door down, boy!

What the hell you makin' such a racket?

Gettin' my chickens in an uproar.

I'm sorry, Abner.

I thought you might be asleep.

What the colonel send you here for?

He didn't.

I'm looking for Frank.

Well, he ain't here.

He owes me some money,

so naturally he ain't been around lately.

Okay, if he should stop by, would you tell him

I went to the octagon house to look for him?

Why would you be lookin'

for him over there?

The house was rented recently,

and he was doing some repairs.

Rented? You-You mean you went

and rented that house to somebody?

- The colonel know about that?

- What's it to you?

Didn't the colonel tell you nothin'?

Abner, if you mean that the house was

a whorehouse, I already knew that.

Yeah, he told you

what happened to Leland.

What does that got to do

with anything, Abner?

I've always known my father

was killed in the war.

If it ain't one hell a tall tale,

Danny boy.

- Meaning what?

- Meaning Leland wasn't killed in no war.

He was only wounded.

As a matter of fact, he wasn't even here

when your ma got pregnant. He was overseas.

What the hell are you driving at, Abner?

Danny boy, you see these here chickens?

They knows who their mamas is,

...just like you know who your mama is.

But I can't prove

who their papas is.

- You son...

- Hey, hold it, boy. I'm real sorry I upset you.

I thought you wanted to know the truth.

I guess I was real mistaken. Huh?

Danny boy.

You see Frank, you tell him to get his ass

over here with what he owes me, you hear?

Hello. Uh, is Daniel in?

- I'm afraid he's out doing errands, miss.

- Oh.

Do you think I could use the phone?

It's really important.

- Certainly, miss. I'm sure that would be all right.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes