The Ultimate Life Page #3

Thank you very much.

I've never seen this much

money in one place in my life.

You were the bellwether, kid.

And you came in a day early.

Didn't think it could be done.

- Thank you.

- You bet now.

If you're still around these

parts, in a month or so, stop by.

I might have a job to give you.

I don't begrudge you

making some extra money,

but that's the last time

you'll ever one up me, Slick.

Dolly, bring me a big,

juicy hamburger, medium rare.

- Pack it up to go. Coming

right up, Mr. Wescott.

Gonna catch flies with your

trap open like that, kid.

Sorry, I didn't mean to

stare, sir. It's just...

I've never seen a belt

buckle like that before.

- Had it custom made.

- Looks expensive.

Oh, you can be sure of it.

I'm headed to California

to seek my fortune.

California? What do you wanna

go all the way out there for?

More money here in Texas.

It's just cow pastures far as I can see.

You're just not looking deep enough.

Trust me, there's more of it in

Texas than God knows what to do with.

hat'll be $3.50, Mr. Wescott.

You're talking about

oil, aren't you, mister?

Keep the change, Dolly. Buy yourself

something to go with that pretty face.

Goodness. Thank you, Mr. Wescott.

Am I right? It's oil.

Oil...

- I cannot believe you broke it already.

- Sorry.

Howdy.

Did you say "gug-d?"

Nuh-uh.

He's kind of a strange

talker, but he's cute.

Invite him to the dance.

There's a teen dance over

at the Tyler High School gym.

You're a teen, right?

Mm-hm.

That's swell.

Directions are on the flyer.

Hope to see you there.

OK, bye.

Maybe he's from a foreign country.

GIRL 22 I don't think that's it.

Maybe he's mentally...

Stop it. He's just shy.

Come on, Red. You can do this.

- You made it?

- Come on, doll, it's our song!

Hey, Gus... I think this

young man was here first.

You did want to ask me to dance, right?

You?

You're like toe fungus, kid.

Just when I thought I got

rid of you, you show up again!

All right!

All right, everybody, grab your

partner because it is time to tag dance.

Oh...

- Come here, cutie.

- Thanks, but...

Listen, if you wanna

dance with her, follow me.

Switch partners!

- She...

- Hi.

- Hi.

That's good. An actual word.

Thought I'd try to lead with

something real simple to help you out.

I'm not always so tongue-tied.

I'm not sure whether I should take

that as a compliment or criticism.

Compliment. Definitely compliment.

Switch partners!

You're not from around here, are you?

Baton Rouge.

So, what do you think of Tyler, Texas?

I didn't like it at first.

But now it's starting to grow on you?

I think I wanna marry you.

Well, you're not tongue-tied anymore.

- I'm Red.

- Yes, you are.

What? Oh, no, no, no, my name...

my name is Red. Red Stevens.

Well, Red Stevens,

my name is Hanna Roberts.

September 8th, 1941.

Hanna, what a girl.

I feel paralyzed around her.

It's like my mouth

has a mind of its own.

Maybe I'll give Tyler, Texas

one more chance before I move on.

Red?

What are you doing here?

I was hoping I could walk you home.

- Come on, Hanna.

- Just a second.

Red, I'm flattered.

I had a really nice time at the dance.

But I don't think my dad would

let me get serious with a boy

- who doesn't go to school.

- I was in school, back home.

But I don't need school

to make my fortune.

About done there, hayseed? We got to go!

Hey, learn some manners, Ace! Someday,

this "hayseed's" gonna be a billionaire!

Hanna, we gotta go.

Maybe Daddy Warbucks there

can drive you home in his limousine.

Fine! Just go already!

Red, a billionaire?

So you think you can be

like Andrew "Carneegee"

and make a billion dollars

and not have to go to school?

Yeah, something like that.

OK, I'll let you walk me home,

but I want you to meet someone first.

- Is that a diary?

- Girls have diaries.

- It's a journal.

- Journal then.

Write anything in there about

me after the dance last night?

Maybe.

But he could take the freshman exam

and then be in my class, couldn't he?

Hang on a second. I didn't

say I wanted to do that.

In theory, yes, but that's

a tall order for someone

who didn't finish the ninth grade.

I could take that test

and pass, if I wanted to.

But there's been

plenty of self-made men

who didn't finish school. Abraham

Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin,

Andrew Carnegie, they

were all self-educated,

they did pretty good on their own.

You have ambition, Red.

But a proper education is

important for your future.

- Now, we have a janitor's room...

- A janitor's room?

...that's not being

used. you can stay there.

Give me a number, at least

five digits and a multiplier.

Um...

56,679 times 61.

Four million four hundred fifty-seven

thousand, four hundred nineteen.

Now, as for science, I see you have

a little eczema on your hand there.

That's a ficus, also

known as Ficus benjamina.

The leaves produce an allergen

which can cause scratchy eyes,

the sniffles, and even eczema.

You're educated. You

make, what, $1700 a year?

In this little nowhere Texas

town. I'm sorry, sir, I want more.

Red, wait!

Hanna, I've made up my mind.

There's nothing more to talk about.

I just think school's a waste of time.

Why do you have such a

chip on your shoulder?

- A chip?

- It's like you're afraid or something.

You don't know nothing about me.

You're right, I don't.

But I do know that everybody in this

world needs somebody to believe in them.

I would have believed in you, Red.

Yes, you are. You're probably

moping all the time, like this.

All right, everyone, quiet down, please.

Quiet down, please.

Ryan Hales, would you please

find your seat. Thank you.

Now, I would like to introduce

you to your newest classmate.

Red Stevens, would you stand please?

Thank you, Red.

All right, open your textbooks

to page 57 and let's get started.

"PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT"]

So just what are you

promising me, Red Stevens?

Whatever you want. A fancy

car, big house, bigger ring...

What if I say I just want you?

- I'm turning red again.

- Yes, Red. You're red.

Turn the radio on! The

Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

This means war!

...a special news bulletin.

The Japanese have attacked

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

by air, President Roosevelt

has just announced.

The attack also was made on all

naval and military activities

on the principle island of Oahu.

We take you now to Washington.

A Japanese attack upon Pearl

Harbor naturally would mean war.

I didn't even know

where Pearl Harbor was,

or that the Hawaiian

Islands belong to us.

But what I do know is when

someone hits us, we hit back.

I'm going to be a pan'

of that. I have to.

...that such a declaration

would be granted...

You gonna walk in circles

all day or come see me?

Hey.

Hanna, there's something I need to...

Not really sure how to

tell you this, but...

What? What is it?

I signed up, Hanna.

- Signed up? For

what? - Mm-hm.

- The Army.

- What?

But, I don't... you're

15! How could they let you?

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