The Spitfire Grill Page #6

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Let's go back to the office.

Looks like we need to

organize a search.

Effy, will you watch Molly for a minute?

I'll go find Percy.

Shelby!

Fred and Willy are

bringing their dogs...

...and I got Tom coming

from Cumberland.

If you could send me a couple of

troopers that'd be a great help.

Great.

Thank you.

Percy.

I thought in someplace small like this

there might just be a chance, you know?

But after what I done,

it don't matter where I go.

What have you done, Percy?

Well, I killed somebody.

Mason Talbott.

He was set on having me

not a week after he married my mama.

I was nine.

I guess she was too

afraid of losing him.

She'd slap me and tell me,

"Shut up about it. "

I was 16 when I got pregnant.

And I hated what

he'd done to me...

...but I found myself loving

that life inside me.

Feeling it grow...

...move, even.

I got to calling it Johnny B...

...for that song, you know?

Johnny B. Goode.

I figured that'd work

for a boy or a girl.

And I swore to God that when that

baby came I would protect it...

...from the likes of Mason,

no matter what.

I figured since I was pregnant

he'd leave me alone.

The more I stayed away from him,

the madder he got.

One night...

...he was drunk...

...he come after me again.

I tried to fight him...

...and he took to me

with his fist so bad...

The baby...

I was in the hospital

for two weeks...

...thinking about how

I hadn't kept my promise...

...and I knew God would

never forgive me for that.

Mason must've been afraid

of the police 'cause...

...he took me from the hospital

before it was time.

I don't know where we was going...

...seemed I was in the back

of that car for days.

We were in some motel somewhere.

He had a bottle, he was into it real good.

He started talking...

...started saying how it was right

that my baby died.

It weren't never meant to be.

All he needed was another

mouth to feed.

And I don't think I said nothing.

I recall seeing the

straight razor...

...he had sitting on that

chest of drawers.

And it was still too late.

Turns out that motel

was in Maine.

Frank, you heard we

had trouble here?

Sure did.

Shelby's car.

- Wait a second, I'll be right back.

- Okay.

Oh, Percy.

I knew you didn't

take that money.

What money?

Hannah's money?

I won't let you arrest her, Gar'.

Shelby, calm down.

Nobody's getting arrested.

I just want to talk

to Percy alone.

The sooner you let it go,

the sooner I find out...

...what's really going

on around here.

Would you come with me, please?

Just go and answer their questions

and everything will be all right.

I promise.

She hasn't run off

with anything.

She was over there

in that church...

...damning herself for a past

that would've killed you or me.

You can't turn your back on

that girl for no reason.

What happened here?

We had a fight.

I slapped her.

Why?

What could she have done

to bring on that?

Stop it!

Just stop it!

- You've got no right.

- You stop it!

- You've got no right.

- That's all I'll say about it.

The money is gone.

It's out of my hands.

When Percy told what happened to her,

there was a child?

Yes.

Mr. Boggs, Meeshack.

I got a crazy message from Shelby.

What's going on?

The Talbott girl gave Hannah's

money to a partner in the woods.

We're splitting up

to go after them.

Shelby?

What is all this about,

Percy having...

...some partner in the woods?

- I don't know.

Nahum saw her leaving a sack

out for someone last night.

Wait. That's not who

they're running after?

Yeah, it is.

But no!

Have they taken

Percy somewhere?

I don't know. She was at Gary's before,

but I don't know where she is now.

Where's Percy?

- I need your help.

- I can't help you, woman.

Now just leave me alone.

It's happening again.

I'm trying to save him and I can't.

I tried everything I could...

...to find him...

...but short of taking the food I put out

for him, he'd never let me near him.

See, I thought if...

...if I sold the Grill...

...that I could use that

money to get help.

But you...

...you've seen him, haven't you?

- They think I gave him

the money? - Yes.

They're going after him?

Yes, and I'm so afraid

of what's going to happen.

I know I could find him. I could.

- But they ain't gonna let me go now.

- Yes, they will.

- Are you on the River Road?

- She's leaving right now...

...unless you shoot

me to stop her.

Now, hold on here, Hannah.

Johnny B!

Run!

They're coming after you!

Run!

You stop now.

Eli!

Lf...

...anyone's got anything to say about

Percy, now would be the time to do it.

I never knew...

...Percy Talbott.

I only thought I did.

I thought she was a stranger...

...who could bring no

good to my aunt...

...to my family...

...to this town.

And I thought...

...I knew her so well...

...that I took that money...

...out of the safe...

...to keep her from stealing it.

I thought I knew her so well...

...and more...

...than anyone...

...I am responsible...

...for her death.

I thought I knew Percy Talbott...

...but I was wrong

as wrong can be.

I never knew Percy Talbott.

You know today was...

...the official end of the contest.

Will you still go through with it?

Seems only right to let

the Spitfire go now.

Are you leaving Gilead?

I don't know about that.

This new tree business

coming to town...

...maybe I'll open a hardware store

right across the street...

...just to rankle Effy.

Are you sure you don't want me

to stay with you?

Just for a little while?

I'll be all right.

I'll see you tomorrow.

You go on home to your girls.

Glacier?

Glacier?

We're closed.

Eli!

Let's go see your

mom for a second.

Fine.

These beans look good.

- How are you?

- Fine.

"Dear Mrs. Ferguson:

"I never wrote no essay before

so I don't know if this even counts.

"I put what I could in the envelope,

but it's nowhere near $100.

"I guess I'll just be sending you

the rest as I can.

"Did I say my name

is Clare yet?

"Truth be told...

"... I didn't really take it to

mind when Mrs. Traynor...

"... my night-school teacher...

"... first told me

about your contest.

"It's really more for Charlie

than me anyway.

"Charlie's asleep now.

That's the only time...

"... I can sit quiet

long enough...

"... to do much 'cause the way

he goes when he's awake...

"... you'd think he came with

an extra motor. He's a real spitfire. "

- Welcome to Gilead.

- Thank you.

- So good to be here.

- Everybody, this is Clare.

The winner of the essay contest.

- Do you want to see

your new Grill? - Yeah.

Shelby, look, it's Clare.

Hi, Clare.

"I don't pretend I'm ever going

to amount to much myself...

"... but even before

I held him in my arms...

"... I swore no matter what it took

I was going to do right by this child.

"I just got to find someplace to give

my boy a chance, Mrs. Ferguson.

"That's all he really needs.

Just a chance.

"And from reading

what you wrote...

"... well...

"... I got to wishing maybe your

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