This Property Is Condemned Page #6

---

what's going on around here.

I had a long, serious, satisfying

conversation with Mr Johnson yesterday.

- We are leaving.

- Who's leaving?

You, Willie and me!

We're going to Memphis

and I don't want any worries.

I am in no mood for worries.

We're setting up in Memphis on

a little loan Mr Johnson advanced to us.

You are going and that is final!

I am not going!

Alva! Now, you listen to me!

You been living like a damn princess

while I ran this place!

Did nothing while I took care

of everything!

The boat has docked

and you're gonna show me

that you're not just the spoiled, lazy,

moody princess your papa left me with.

Mama, you can talk and talk,

but I'm not gonna go.

You don't seem to understand me.

Our one chance to survive is this loan.

If we have to stand on our heads

to get it, we'll do it smiling!

- Is that clear?

- Yes, Mama.

If there's one thing I loathe, it's that

innocent virgin look you put on your face!

I'm not going!

And just what the hell

do you think on doing?

I don't know.

I'll get out of here and get a job.

- Not that old stuff again.

- I'm getting out here!

Alva, I am sick to death

of your nonsense!

Let's face facts. For years, I've watched

you fool with every man and boy...

- Mama, please!

...who pleased you and I said nothing.

Now, when I ask you to do me

one tiny favour, you play innocent.

- Tiny! What are you saying?

- You are selfish! Selfish, selfish, selfish!

Your papa saw where you were headed.

Think you fooled him? Not for a minute!

- He knew you were selfish and vicious!

- What are you talking about?

He used to say, "She'll turn on you,

leave you and let you down!

"You just wait and see, Hazel.

That ungrateful girl will break your heart!"

- He never said that! He never said that!

- Don't break my heart! Help me, Alva!

What about Willie? If you don't care

about me, what about Willie?

- God, Mama!

- It wouldn't be forever with Mr Johnson.

I am asking you to give him a few short,

tiny weeks out of your life,

till I get the house in Memphis straight

so he can't pull out.

Nobody's gonna know.

Alva, please, look at me!

I am begging you!

Get up, please! Please! Just get up!

Oh, honey, you're not gonna regret it.

I promise you. You're not gonna...

Hey, Owen! Wait a minute!

- Hi, old Willie. What is it?

- You leaving?

Yeah, as soon as I pick up

my bag from the house.

Bye.

Goodbye.

You won't worry about me, will you?

- Some, maybe.

- Okey-doke.

- Okey-doke.

- Bye.

Bye.

Mr Legate.

One way, New Orleans.

Why get a ticket? You got your pass.

That's right.

Sure I do, Sal,

sure I feel bad about it.

You know, Sally, they can lay off

the whole of Dodson for all I care,

including the sheriff.

I swear, I'll never again set foot in a town

with less than 100,000 population.

I got the feeling that I and Memphis

are gonna get along just fine... Who?

Sure Alva's going to Memphis.

She's just wild to go, just like I told you.

Well, of course I'm happy.

And Mr Johnson's happy and JJ's happy.

I think we'll all have ourselves a ball.

Thanks, Sal. I knew you would. See you!

Morning.

- You really are a liar.

- What is it?

- No. No damn games!

- What games?

- You really like to play with it!

- What is it?

- What's happened?

- Ask mama what's happened!

- Telling dreams. It's how you make love.

- What are you talking about?

It's what makes Alva different

than the other tramps!

- Don't... don't say what can't be fixed.

- Let me ask you a question.

How much does a ticket

to New Orleans cost?

Turn it in for one to Memphis.

You wonder about other things, other

ways to live, you wonder and dream,

but you go on doing what you do.

That railroad carriage is enough for you.

That snowstorm. Fake!

But it's enough for you

because you're a fake, Alva!

You're not unique. You're not

even special. You're just... peculiar.

What in hell did I think

was so magical or fanciful...

...about a little whore

who is just a little bit peculiar?

How about a big hand for Odel Otis

and his Kansas City Steaks,

playing for your dancing enjoyment

at the Moonlake Casino.

I used to wonder if I was annoying you

by always asking you out.

Oh, God, no! I love to go out.

Alva, your mama said I'd see a lot of you

in Memphis. You gonna mind?

Why should I mind, Mr Johnson?

That's ridiculous.

Well, you know I'm married, Alva,

but I'm a lonesome man.

It makes me feel good to have someone

so young, so pretty as you around.

- Oh, I know it.

- I don't expect anything lasting.

I could get you a place of your own

in Memphis,

an allowance, so you'd only have to do

what you felt like.

Lawdy, Miss Glawdy!

You two look nice and cosy.

- Is that hard liquor you're drinking, Alva?

- Yeah, that's hard corn liquor, Mama.

- Just about as hard as your heart.

- You certainly are celebrating, honey.

Yeah. Sit down. We'll have a toast

and I'll make it.

- Alva, you are loaded.

- Yeah! I'm loaded like a pistol.

Y'all fill your glasses, hear?

Alva's gonna make a toast.

Now, the occasion of this toast

is the matter of getting out of here!

I'll drink to that!

Memphis, here we come!

- Isn't that funny, Mama?

- What?

I was just thinking maybe I wouldn't get

settled down with you in Memphis at all.

'Cause Mr Johnson here, has just

made me this very attractive proposal.

Well, it's not exactly a proposal, is it,

Mr Johnson? But it's very attractive.

'Cause he's gonna take care of me.

Set me up in my own little apartment.

- Isn't that nice, Mama?

- Behave yourself. You'll make me blush.

- Mr Johnson, shame on you!

- What's the matter, Mama?

Scared if I get away there'll be no more

men around to have a good time with?

- I don't think we wanna talk about that.

- JJ, you sticking around when I'm gone?

You gonna stick around with her

if you don't have me to look at?

She's drunk. Our little arrangement

about the house is what she wants.

She'd tell you if she wasn't drunk. Wait!

- I'll dance with you, JJ.

- You just...

Wanna dance with me?

Or with Mama? Who do you want, JJ?

Who would you rather have?

Tell her who you'd rather dance with, JJ.

- You been feeding her too much booze.

- Tell her how bad you want me, JJ!

Now, you just cut that out!

That fellow Owen's got you all upset.

He was gonna take me away with him.

Oh, Mama, I don't know

what I'm gonna do.

I'll take care of you, Alva.

Oh, shut up!

Mama knows you want me, Mr Johnson,

but she didn't know about JJ, did you?

Do you still want me, JJ? Do you?

What about that fellow Owen?

- He's gone, ain't he, Mama?

- Yeah, he's gone.

He's just gone! He went away.

What do you want?

I wanna go away.

- I'll take you.

- What?

- You mean it?

- I'll take you.

- But, Alva...

- No, that isn't enough.

You gotta marry me, JJ.

- I'll marry you.

- JJ, you crazy?

You shut up.

- I'll marry you, Alva.

- No! I mean right now!

I mean tonight, right now!

Sure, Alva, I'll marry you.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes