The World Made Straight Page #3

---

What?

If maybe I could see

you sometime this week.

Yeah. Sure.

Okay.

I better get back to work.

Better get out of here

before you get me fired.

All right, well...

- Okay.

- Okay.

How often

is the GED given?

First Thursday and first

Saturday of the month.

When do you think

they'll be ready?

He might be

ready by December.

He's got some

catching up to do.

So do I,

by the looks of things.

Math was never my strong suit.

Yeah, I remember.

If it'd been better you would've

got a scholarship out of state

like I hoped for you, Leonard.

Maybe far enough so you

wouldn't find your way back here.

I'm glad I'm not at

the high school anymore.

Fewer disappointments here.

The...

Mr. Shuler.

Could we have a moment?

Is everything

all right?

Is it my wife?

It's over.

Nowhere's going to hire you

after something like this.

Why won't you do anything?

They'd already

made up their minds.

Nothing I could do.

But you won't even try.

Well, what did he say?

Just like I thought,

they're kid's spectacles,

mid 1800s.

They're David Shelton's.

I know it.

I'm going in.

Already?

You're gonna burn.

I'll be fine.

Give those dogs

any water today?

I can do it.

Give them tomatoes

a soak while you're at it.

What's wrong?

I'm talking to you.

So, what?

There's three of us now?

He's just

stopping here a while.

It's not a permanent thing.

You don't just get

your family back, Leonard.

- It ain't that simple.

- That's not what this is about.

You just feel real helpful,

all of a sudden.

'Cause he's such a great kid,

got so much promise, is that it?

Why don't you give me a break?

Give me something and I will.

And when you're screwing me

tonight, leave the goddamn lights on.

I'm sick of you

pretending like I'm her.

Where's...

Cicero.

Where's that?

North.

Why do we have to go?

"December 21st, 1859.

"Summoned to Shelton Farm.

"David Shelton, age eight.

"Symptoms,

"fever and chills,

"galloping pulse,

"strawberry tongue,

"rash on neck and tongue,

"agitated speech,

"imaginings.

"Diagnosis,

"scarlet fever.

"Treatment,

"sponge with

water and vinegar.

"Had patient drink cold water.

"Two spoons of Laudanum,

"prepared family for

possible dismal reckoning. "

What you looking at?

Just some of these journals.

Trying to see if I could find

out more about David Shelton.

It's really got you hooked.

I know.

I just keep thinking about him

ever since we went up to the Laurel.

I mean, that kid's five

years younger than I am

and he's already a soldier.

Already got himself a cause.

Go home.

You're old enough to know

where you come from now.

You need to know your smarts

didn't just spring up

like some daisy in

a bunch of hogweed.

There were smart folk

in our family before.

Your great-great-grandfather

was a doctor.

Joshua Candler.

He was assigned to the 64th.

It was them that done

the killing in the Laurel.

He knew every man and

boy that got killed.

He was their

doctor before the war.

And he just let it happen.

Hi.

Hi, baby.

Let's walk.

Still nothing?

You got to be patient.

It don't happen fast.

Should've done it earlier.

All stuck.

...Don't you be coming up here.

You're all wet.

Stop.

- Don't be mad.

- I'm not mad.

It's not like I don't want to.

I do.

It's just all I see at work

is girls who made mistakes.

And I'm not going

to be like them.

I'm gonna get out of here

and go to college, see things.

Doesn't mean I don't like you.

Come on, kiss me.

Big time with

your lady yesterday?

Did she get you off all right?

Where is Leonard?

Mountainboro.

I can get you some booze.

Evidently this

trailer pull ain't enough.

What?

Two of you are quite a pair.

You quit school,

he gets fired from one.

Dumb kid, same as you.

How some punk cheating

on his test reported him.

Kid got some weed, put it in

his car and called the cops.

Arrested him right

there in his classroom.

Wasn't long before

his wife left him.

She got custody, too.

Leonard's got a kid?

You didn't know that?

Yeah,

Leonard's a daddy, all right.

But he don't see them no more.

They off in Australia,

I think.

You know you're kind of pretty

under that sneer?

Don't.

Why not?

What do you mean, "Why not"?

'Cause it wouldn't be right.

- That's why.

- Wouldn't be right?

That's okay.

I don't mind.

I don't mind.

Squeeze it.

Feel good, don't it?

What's the matter?

Little sweetheart of yours

ain't got you some?

You think she knows

all the tricks?

I've been f***ing since before

she could wipe her own ass.

Ha!

All right, come on.

You had it before.

Give me...

Here he is.

The outlaw.

How's it going with Leonard?

You boys in business yet?

I don't know.

Hey, what do you got

stashed in the truck?

Get your fat ass off my truck

before you f***ing break it.

You don't even have a dime bag

for your buddy.

Leonard been practicing?

Been practicing

for what?

The county fair is tomorrow.

He got himself

a title to defend.

Dude don't

need no practicing.

I mean, hell, everyone knows

he's a stone-cold killer.

Like me.

You see that?

What? You got one of your

mama's kitchen knives?

Tell him to come

down here and watch.

I think he could

learn something.

All right, I want to see.

You know, they say you shot

some guy up in Illinois.

Well, did you?

Depends on what

incident you mean.

The one where I shot

the guy in both shoulders

or the one whose

hand I blew off.

What?

I never shot

anybody in my life.

I've never bothered to

set the record straight.

Folks I deal with, it's better if they

think I'm a little tougher than I am.

Is that why you're

doing the contest?

Partly.

Tickets are on me.

Wow, big spender.

Thank you.

Wow, I didn't figure it'd be

this crowded for the weekend.

They've come to see Leonard

whip everyone's ass, that's why.

What time is the tournament?

It's the last event, 8:30.

Yeah? All right, well, I

guess we'll see you then?

Come on.

Young love.

I want to take her back.

Little bit.

What do you want to ride?

The carousel?

No, come on,

let's do another one.

Come on.

Leonard is the sharpshooter,

not me.

Give it a try, son.

Can't win it if

you ain't in it.

I can do this.

Hey. Quit it, all right?

Sights are off.

Here we go.

Leonard says the sights

are always off.

Really?

Yeah.

- You're a doober.

- Really?

Let's see you do it?

Let's see you...

Thanks a lot.

All right, we got us a friend

we want to bring up here.

What do y'all

think about that?

Well, come on, put your hands

together, he's got a song for you.

That was awesome.

Incredible.

Where is Dena?

I guess she

never showed up.

I didn't see her,

but I'm sure she's around.

Let's go, Travis.

Let's look for her.

What you want to do?

Go.

I didn't know

that you had company.

The little bastard lives here.

Well, well.

How's that leg healing up?

I saw you at the fair.

You liked my singing,

didn't you?

You know, there's some

that said

I should've made

a living at it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes