The United States of Leland Page #3

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The whole point of wearing

it is so you don't stand out.

I think all it really does

is turn on horny old guys.

Is it a Catholic school?

No, it's pretty much the opposite.

For people who messed up.

Messed up in what way?

All kinds of ways, different ways.

Well, what way

did you mess up?

Did you really come over here to

ask me about my screwed-up life?

No, I came over here cos...

I thought that guy

was bothering you.

And because I think

you're really pretty.

People don't really

say pretty any more.

They say stuff...

You know, girls or whatever,

they say...

...stuff is beautiful or cute but...

...I like pretty,

I like the way it sounds.

It's...

It's a cool word.

Thanks for calling me pretty.

I'm Leland.

Leland P. Fitzgerald.

Becky.

Becky Pollard.

I don't blame Becky.

I guess I'm supposed to be upset

about what happened with her.

I'm supposed to

cry and all that junk.

But I'm pretty sure I've cried all

the tears I had out of me by now.

The last time I cried

was Grandma's funeral.

Here's another one of

those things that sticks.

I remember this other kid.

Some cousin of

mine or something.

Seem there real polite with

his hands folded up in his lap.

I figured that was the

way you were supposed to be.

I didn't want that

kid to see me crying.

But the tears came, anyway.

That's when I figured

out that tears couldn't

make someone who

was dead alive again.

# We were given some time...

There's another thing

to learn about tears.

They can't make somebody who doesn't

love you any more love you again.

Uh-huh?

- It's me, it's Beck.

It's the same

thing with prayers.

I wonder how much of their lives people

waste, crying and praying to God.

If you ask me, the devil makes

more sense than God does.

I can at least see why

people would want him around.

It's good to have somebody to

blame for the bad stuff they do.

Wha...

- What's wrong?

- Nothing. I sh...

It's just that this is

going kinda fast.

I'm not saying that's bad...

or anything.

- This just isn't normally

how I operate. - Oh.

Particularly not with

somebody from work.

Well, how long does it normally take you

to seduce one of your co-workers?

- I didn't seduce you.

- No? - No.

Oh, come on.

You're beautiful.

You're beyond that.

You have no idea

how beautiful you are.

You're deadly.

You're deadly.

I'm powerless before you.

- So, you hanging out for a while?

- I'm staying.

Cool.

That's cool, you know.

That makes me happy.

Cos...

I kinda wanted to kiss you.

# I had no light to follow...

I wanna kiss you real bad,

to say it right.

So can I kiss you?

# I tell you how,

three days I tried

# To wake me up,

oh, but no

# My flesh had turned to snow

# And I thought I had died...

I missed you.

- I always miss you.

# I have seen the face of God

# And I was not afraid

# I have seen the face of God

- So you're a writer?

- Mmm...

You're not really a writer

unless people are reading your sh*t.

I'm an aspiring writer.

What do you write about?

Did you hear about that kid?

The one who stabbed

that retarded kid?

Yeah.

I'm gonna write about him.

I'm gonna write a book

about Leland P. Fitzgerald.

Maybe God's there because people

get scared of all the bad stuff they do.

They figure that God

and the Devil are always

playing this tug-of-war

game with them.

And they never know which

side they're gonna wind up on.

Boo!

You know, you're a

real goofball sometimes.

Hey, speaking of goofballs...

- Um, this is my little brother, Ryan.

- Sing a song.

- Bye-bye, Ryan. See you tomorrow.

- Thanks.

It's nice... nice to meet you.

Sing a song!

It's about all he says, but watch.

- # I-I-I-Itsy-bitsy spider

- No, no!

As soon as you start singing,

he gets all mad at you.

You don't really know what you want,

do you, goofy?

I guess that tug-of-war

idea explains how sometimes...

I mean, when people

try to do something good,

it still turns out bad.

Don't use that "young lives"

BS on me, Madison.

Why does this minor deserve

special consideration?

I recognise you're wanting to preserve

the whole "treat everybody equal" thing.

But this kid is different.

You can't deny that.

We've never seen a case like

this before. Nobody has.

The answer is, and will

remain in perpetuity, no.

I will not have you meeting with

any minor outside the classroom.

Am I clear?

Very clear.

So your lawyer, Charlie...

It's Charlie, right?

So he explained how

all this works?

You don't have to enter

a plea or say a word here.

- I'm not gonna enter a plea.

- Good.

I'm just gonna tell

them that I did it.

Well, if you do that, then you're gonna get

shuttled out of here in a heartbeat.

I don't wanna lose you yet, man.

I wanna get a chance to know

what the US of L is all about.

I thought you said your

girlfriend was in Los Angeles?

- She is. - Well, how do you

explain the smell?

- What smell?

- The smell of a girl.

Will you at least think

about what I said?

Yeah, I think about a lot of things.

Hey!

Hi, Mr Pollard.

I'm Leland, Becky's friend.

What happened?

- He rode his bike through some branches.

I told him to cut it out

but he just kept going.

Hey, buddy,

let me just have a look...

If we don't leave in the next ten minutes...

Oh, hi. Where's Becky?

- What did he do?

- It's nothing. It's just a torn sleeve.

- Sing a song.

- I'll get him changed.

I don't think he was trying

to screw up anything.

It just kinda seemed

like something he had to do.

Well, thanks for making

sure he got home.

Oh, well, we've been walking home

together for a while now, so...

Did you speak Becky today? Did she

mention anything about something coming up?

I guess she just didn't

wanna see me today.

But it's really no big deal for me

to take Ryan home.

Kinda get a bang out of him.

You need a ride home?

Allen's about ready to head out

for baseball practice.

Well, thanks, Mr Pollard.

Are you going to work?

No.

No, I mean...

...just for a minute, a couple of things.

Why did you do it?

I got it.

Check the door.

- Stop here.

- Is that all, counsel?

- Yes, your Honour.

The minor's lack of a criminal record

and the exemplary school performance

are irrelevant matters here

due to the severity of the charges.

And I am denying your request that the minor

be remanded into the custody of his mother.

Is there something you'd like to add,

young man?

No, Your Honour.

So, do you live at the Pollards'?

Yeah, I know what you're thinking.

- It's a little strange?

- No.

- You don't think it's strange?

- No, it's just not what I was thinking.

I think it's kinda strange sometimes.

My mom died last summer.

A car accident.

My dad's a lot closer with Tanya.

That's my older sister.

He's a lot closer

with her than me, so,

it really wasn't a big deal

for him when I moved.

I turn on Goldencrest, right?

Oh, you can just drop

me off at school.

Oh, I'm not going another way or anything.

It's really no big deal to take you home.

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