Trash Fire Page #6

on account of these broken mirrors.

PEARL:
I think I maxed out

on bad luck for one lifetime.

Come back tonight when it's dark out.

We'll talk then.

Oh, come on, Pearl, don't make me wait

another night. Pearl, open the door.

Do you have any reading material

other than the Bible?

I just finished what I brought

and it doesn't feel right...

...reading the Holy book on the toilet.

It's nice to know you have some dignity.

Why do you hate me so much?

You remind me of my daughter.

The so-called whore?

Anyone who would have sex

with Owen can't be too discerning.

Sounds like he had a great

support system growing up.

Are you sure this is his baby?

Excuse me. What exactly are you implying?

Presumably, exactly

what you think I'm implying.

That you've been sleeping around.

Owen is not supposed to be...

...capable of fathering a child.

Well, whatever backwards doctor

told you that was incorrect.

Owen and his college girlfriend

had an abortion.

And I haven't had sex

with anyone else in years.

You can't hide the sexual dissatisfaction.

It's written all over my face.

I believe you.

So it's settled? I'm not a whore

and you no longer hate me?

(CHUCKLES)

It appears that you're not a liar.

But you're still a whore...

...and I don't like you.

Well, at least that's a step

in the right direction.

Excuse me.

MAN:
(ON TV) Gather round, saints and sinners

alike, are you having money trouble?

Grandma, will you please

tell Isabel I'll be right back?

Where are you going?

I was actually going to go visit

the old property.

Uh-huh.

Thanks.

God is good! God is great! Praise his name!

I'm so excited about this Holy water,

I can barely speak.

What a gift Heaven sent, I'm telling you.

Friends, for the mere price...

(CONTINUES INDISTINCT)

Woman was created for man...

...the Bible speaks plainly on the subject.

And while an excellent wife

is the crown of her husband...

...make no mistake, she who shames him,

is like rottenness in his bone.

BOY:
Hey.

My family used to own this land.

There was a house right here in the middle.

You used to live in the house

that burned down?

Sometimes we come at night

with flashlights and try to see ghosts.

I'll tell you what.

If you ever see any of those ghosts...

...do me a favor and tell them

Owen says he's sorry.

See ya, kid.

- (ALARM BEEPING)

- (SCREAMING)

Due to your loin...

...for the husband is head of the wife

just as Christ is head of the church.

(SNAKE RATTLES)

(HUMMING)

Wives! Submit yourselves

to your husbands and all things.

That is what Christ asks of you.

(SNAKE RATTLES)

(SCREAMING)

(SCREAMING CONTINUES)

ISABEL:
Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

(FLESH TEARING)

Grandmother!

(SCREAMING)

You wicked, wicked child!

Grandma! What happened?

- She...

- Isabel, what the f*** is going on?

That snake was in the toilet.

What? Are you okay?

- Yeah.

- Did it bite you?

No, Pearl... did that.

This is a very old house. It probably

got in through a hole in the pipes.

We can't have an incident like that again.

Now, Owen, you can find

the hole in the pipes.

Okay, what do I have to do?

Get into the crawl space

under the floor, it's very simple.

I'll show you.

Okay, I'm just going to talk to Isabel

for a second. Come here. Come here.

Hey, hey, hey, are you okay? Come here.

- That was so insane.

- I can imagine.

Why are your eyes like that?

- Allergies.

- Have you been crying?

Maybe.

You know it's okay to be sensitive.

I know. I'm just not particularly used to it.

- You remember the first time we met?

- Bits and pieces.

You were the biggest piece of sh*t

douche bag I've ever met in my life.

- I could not stand you.

- I tend to give off that first impression.

And second, and third, fourth.

But when I ran into you that fifth time...

- ...something clicked.

- Well, you were lonely.

Well, you were drunk.

It's crazy... now you're pregnant.

I want to have this baby with you.

Me, too.

- So, it's settled?

- Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

- Okay, I'm gonna go help Grandma.

- Okay.

Make amends with Pearl

and first thing in the f***ing morning...

- ...we're getting out of here.

- Amen.

GRANDMA:
Owen?

- Owen?

- Yeah! I'm here, Grandma.

Oh, hurry up.

- Okay.

- Here you are.

- Yeah, what is this?

- It's an oil lamp.

Yeah, I can see that.

Don't you have a flashlight?

- No.

- Great.

If it was good enough for your ancestors,

it's good enough for you.

I don't know if I subscribe

to that philosophy.

These old, arthritic hands

are not good anymore.

Give it to me.

There, see?

Good.

- I think it's like this. There you go.

- Nice job, that's right. Now...

Let's get this done. Wait. What am I doing?

Oh, just follow the piping

along the floor to the back.

And then, any holes you find,

just wrap them up with the tape.

It's just a temporary measure,

but it's better than nothing.

Ah... okay.

OWEN:
No, no holes, Grandma!

Okay, I'm coming back up.

It's disgusting down here. Thanks for the

solid reminder never to be a homeowner.

- What's that smell?

- Oh, I spilled the lamp oil. Clumsy me.

I'm gonna go freshen up and get ready.

Isabel and I are leaving in the morning.

Oh, well, I'm going to make

a really nice last dinner.

- I'll have Isabel come help.

- No. I cook alone, Owen.

Now, as I recall,

you like chicken and biscuits, hm?

I'm actually trying to be healthy,

so maybe something lighter.

Well, why bother? You're just going

to throw it up anyway, Owen.

I'm gonna go try and see Pearl.

Damn!

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Pearl, it's me.

I'm leaving and we don't have much time.

OWEN:
Please.

PEARL:
Come in.

Sit down.

I wasn't even supposed to be there.

What are you talking about?

The evening of the fire.

I was supposed to be staying at Emily's.

Grandmother caught us kissing and told

Mother and Father, and I was grounded.

I'm sorry, I don't remember Emily.

It doesn't matter.

She's married now, has two boys.

I'm sorry to hear that.

It's okay. She seems happy.

When was the last time you two spoke?

Not since the fire.

I had third-degree burns over 80% of my body.

I spent many months in the hospital.

No one came to visit me, but Grandmother.

Has she been taking care of you?

She thinks she can talk to God.

Sometimes he tells her to do terrible things.

She hasn't hurt you though, right?

No. Not me.

- Owen?

- Yes.

You're a very lucky man.

You shouldn't take things for granted.

I'm working on that.

I would have made a great mother.

I would have understood things, you know?

I would have taken care of my babies.

- I would have protected them.

- Pearl, you can still be a mother.

Why'd you leave me, Owen? Why?

I don't... I can't say. I don't know.

All I can say is it's been

eating me up ever since...

...and...

...I need to ask for your forgiveness.

Okay, I need you to forgive me, Pearl.

Okay?

I don't forgive you, Owen.

I don't forgive you, and I never will.

Pearl.

Let Isabel and I take you

away from this place.

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