Turn The River Page #3

I worked in

a town bar,

and I, uh...

had a card game in back.

One side of town

was a little college

with a bunch of rich kids

who couldn't play for sh*t,

but they could drink.

And the other side

was a... seminary

with a few young men

who could do both,

usually pretty well.

Gulley's dad was from

the seminary side.

You were dating a priest?

He got kicked out.

I got pregnant,

and he proposed and...

For a couple weeks

it was fantastic.

I had this...

funny, handsome

and I was going to be a mother.

Then a shitstorm named

Abigail rolled in.

Next thing I know,

David disappears,

I get brought up

on a whole load of charges,

and I'm now three months

pregnant.

And Abby made me a deal.

Give up the baby,

get a divorce,

she'd do whatever she could

to make things easier.

I couldn't say no.

I mean, I was 25 years old.

I was going to lose the kid

either way.

So while I appreciate the cash,

it isn't going to be enough.

You can't tell me

anymore about this.

I know.

I own the pool hall,

the rent here is cheap.

I'm just too old to start

f***ing things up now.

Can you help me

set up some games?

How much you need?

I-I don't know yet.

I, uh...

thinking around $60,000.

Jesus!

You going to offer me

a drink, or what?

You can't raise that

by just grabbing games.

Okay.

Did you think

you could?

I hadn't really

thought that far.

Ah, crap.

What about that guy I you off?

Duncan.

Yeah.

Maybe him.

Okay.

- Yeah.

Maybe.

Listen, I don't want to know

anymore about it.

Okay.

Gulley, come set the table.

Okay.

Use the nice napkins.

Your grandma's

coming over.

I know.

I'm coming.

Abby hasn't seen you for awhile

so maybe put on a nice shirt.

Okay.

Remember how I had

to work last weekend?

I don't know.

Well, I did

and we couldn't get to mass.

Yeah.

Well, Abby may ask,

and let's just...

avoid it, okay?

Sure.

Okay.

Go help Ellen.

Okay.

Ellen, this is good.

What is this?

It's called escarole.

How's the world

of real estate?

Busy. People always want

to buy new apartments.

I wouldn't want people coming

and going through my house.

It feels like snooping.

I don't go through

their drawers.

You look in their

closets, I bet.

That's not snooping, Mom.

I'm just doing my job.

And school for you, Gulley?

It's good.

Good.

He won an English thing the

other day, didn't you, Gulls?

Yeah.

Well, I like that school.

It's good, yeah.

How are your catechism classes?

They're fine.

You work hard there, too.

Remember what your grandfather

used to say?

"You got to take the bitter

with the lousy."

Jesus!

What a thing to remember.

No.

"Eternity is a hell

of a long time."

Right.

Seriously, Gulley,

apply yourself.

I do.

He could work harder.

How was, uh, late

mass last week?

It was fine.

Who did the early?

Cavanaugh.

Really?

We got Smoltz.

Were there guitars?

No.

God, I hate those guitars.

And then they start

singing the Lord's Prayer.

I mean, what in hell do these

people think they're doing?

I don't know.

Gulley, remember,

just because a thing is new

it doesn't

make it good.

Okay.

It makes my skin crawl to hear

that stupid, damn singing.

I know.

So let's all go together

to Cavanaugh on Sunday.

Okay.

When the three of you

go on your own,

Gulley, do you go by yourself

to get Communion?

Of course.

I'm asking Gulley.

Sure. It's not that hard.

But it's important.

I know.

She's just never

going to let it go.

Snooping? Jesus.

She has, it's just her way.

Well, it ridiculous.

You left the seminary

Give it a f***ing rest.

It's not that, Ellen.

If there's one thing that

woman adores, it's Gulley,

and he wouldn't even

exist if you...

That's not what it is.

Then what, the divorce?

Yes.

It's not a big deal.

It is to her

and to everybody in there.

It's a big deal.

Every time she takes Gulley

for Communion,

and I just stay there

in the pew...

it is a big deal, Ellen.

I'm standing there with you.

No, it's different.

And don't say

he's the only thing she adores.

Really, who's next on the list,

her housecleaner?

Who are you writing letters to?

What?

I saw a letter

on your desk before.

Who are you writing letters to?

It's not a letter.

Don't lie to me.

So who the hell are you writing

our business to?

"Grandma's coming

for dinner tonight."

Uh, "I'm trying to keep

the soap clean."

I mean, what the hell is that?

I said it's not a letter.

Gulley...

- It's not.

Then what is it?

A diary.

A diary?

Yeah.

Jesus.

What are you,

a nine-year-old girl?

Hello, Gulley.

How's school?

It's good.

Here you go.

- Great. Thanks.

Well, holy sh*t,

where have you been?

I got stuck

in the city for a bit.

How was it?

It was good.

How have things been here?

Same ol'.

Game tonight?

Sure.

Probably go easier

on Randolph though.

He still pissed?

Just doesn't like

getting rivered is all.

No one does.

You want a beer?

Uh, yeah.

Yeah, and maybe a whiskey.

You sure you want to

be double-fisting?

You've looked

better, you know.

Yeah, I hear that.

Hi, Abby. It's Ellen.

Um, you probably aren't

back from mass yet,

but we couldn't make it.

Um, Gulley had

a fever this morning,

so I just put him

back in bed.

But, uh, we'll try and swing by

later this afternoon.

Okay? See you soon.

Are you feeling

better?

I am, yeah.

What was it

you think?

Just a kid thing.

So, not the escarole.

No, I don't think so.

Well,

you missed Father Cavanaugh.

He was good,

but it was Sunday

so he was playing

to the Sunday only.

Lots of Galilee

and "fisher of men."

Do you know why Christ

is a fisher of men, Gulley?

'Cause he likes

catching people.

Are you being wise?

No.

I might be wrong

about that school.

David!

You have a nosebleed.

He's been getting

these sometimes.

Here, hon.

Thanks.

Have you been to a doctor

for God's sake?

It's just a bloody nose, Mom.

I'm fine.

That was even less than a week.

- I know.

That's better right?

Come on.

Got to get

our picture take.

Why?

- 'Cause the only one I have of you

you're like two day old

or something.

Okay.

Oh, uh, I wrote down

what I do everyday.

It's pretty

boring.

Thanks, Gulls.

- Sure.

See your grandma

yesterday?

Yeah.

How was that?

Okay. It gave me a headache.

- Yeah?

Yeah and dad got

a bloody nose.

How?

- I don't know, it just happened.

You sure your grandma

didn't punch him?

Do I look like that?

Still look

like a lawyer.

Hey, how's

the Paul Revere guy?

It's done.

- You finished it?

No, but we had the test

already.

How'd it go?

- I don't know yet.

I got Eric Mufti

to tell me how it ended,

so that helped.

Well, I can tell this

Mufti guy ain't much of a genius.

Yeah, but he's okay.

Yeah?

- Yeah.

I have to ask you

a question.

Okay.

It's not really

a fair question.

What do you mean?

Uh, I think you're too

young to ask it to.

That's okay.

How would you like

to come live with me for a bit?

Uh, it'd be very

different, you know.

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