Ulee's Gold Page #2

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or Ferris Dooley.

Mr. Jackson.

When do you want to get together?

The sooner, the better.

Meet us at the Orange Blossom

on the trail in an hour.

We'll be shooting pool in back.

Nice to see you again, Mr. Jackson.

It's been a while.

Not long enough, Eddie.

I guess some things can't be helped.

Ferris has been sleeping

on the floor in here, Mr. Jackson.

It's not the most comfortable

situation, right?

She was walking in her sleep.

We had to tie her up sometimes.

Yes, sir, it's booming down here,

with that mouse and all.

This is where all those

smart guys are setting up.

Yeah?

You wouldn't believe the opportunities.

Ferris and me? Man, we got it made.

- Too bad Jimmy can't be here with us.

- What's she on?

- What?

- What's she on?

Oh.

Well, down here they call them rufies.

When you mix them

with a beer or two, God knows...

you can go wild and crazy and

not remember a thing in the morning.

That ain't for me. No way.

Where's she been staying?

We ran into her, she was working

at a Waffle House a couple weeks ago.

Something bad had happened.

I think she split up with some guy.

She asked us to look out for her.

Thought you met her

just a couple of days ago.

No.

I told Jimmy she surprised us then.

You know, when she showed up like that,

all messed up at the bar, I mean.

Cream?

I suppose you had to keep her drugged.

Well, we didn't know how to stop her.

Most folks would've

just called the police.

- Jimmy's lucky to have good friends.

- Yeah, that's right.

But she's too much for us, Mr. Jackson.

- That's why we had to call Jimmy.

- Yeah.

That and something else.

What does that mean?

There are some things you don't

want to discuss on the phone.

You know, especially to somebody in jail.

Why don't you go there then

and talk to Jimmy personal?

Well, me and Ferris, you know,

we seem pretty blessed with luck...

as far as the law is concerned, but...

we're not gonna do something

as dumb as actually go inside...

where folks could check us out and such.

So?

So, telling someone

that his wife is sick...

Well, that's safe enough on the phone.

You know, that brings a messenger...

someone who can deliver

more special, private information.

Don't get me and Ferris

wrong here, Mr. Jackson.

We're real glad

to have found Helen here...

and to be a part of getting her

to her home and her kin.

Yeah, she's a sweet piece of ass...

even if she is a mother.

Shut up, Ferris.

This goes back to that last job

the three of us did together.

Now, the laws claim that there

was an extra shipment, 100 grand.

You might remember that Jimmy said

he knew nothing about it.

Well, we believed him.

We figured the laws were just setting up

some sort of insurance scam.

Ancient history, Eddie.

You should get on with your life.

You tell Jimmy...

that a little bird told us otherwise.

Since he's gonna be in there

for a while yet...

we figure we could make

good use of that money.

Invest it and such till he gets out.

I won't have anything to do

with Jimmy's crap, Eddie.

You want to give me Helen, fine.

Eddie, what do we...

Shut up, Ferris.

- I don't think you quite understand.

- Save it, Eddie.

I think I better get going.

Call him off, Eddie.

This isn't helping anything.

Are we listening now, Mr. Jackson?

You want a message delivered.

We want the money.

Helen's gonna take some time.

I've got a lot of work to do

before I get back to Jimmy.

I don't care what you say.

Take a week.

You have that money back here in one week.

You tell Jimmy we don't fancy

going back to "Wewa"...

but we will.

And we'll come after all y'all.

Do you understand?

You bet.

Where are her things?

I got a long drive ahead, and I'd just

as soon do it while she's out of it.

Ferris, grab her other arm.

Tell Jimmy hi for us.

Right.

And the two little girls...

I bet they've grown.

Shoes.

I gotta go.

Where did you put my shoes?

- Helen! Calm down.

- No! What are you looking at?

No! What are you looking at?

- Don't you look at me!

- This is not the place.

Now, Helen.

Damn it, Helen.

Let's get in the house.

- Casey, open the door.

- What for?

I'm not going in there.

- Casey doesn't mean it.

- I'm not going in this f***ing house!

Why'd you bring her back?

You're looking great, Mom.

So where you been anyway?

Taking care of things?

Fixing things up like you said you would?

- Get her out of here. She stinks.

- Shut up, Casey, or I'll slap you.

You and who else?

Just hit her, knock her out. It's

the only way you'll get her attention.

You bastard.

- Penny, look...

- Please.

Excuse me.

Penny asked me to come over.

- I should call for help.

- No.

No, we just need some time.

- We should call the paramedics.

- No, please.

Is there anything you can do?

It's okay.

Can you get her...

Hold her while I get... Never mind.

Casey, go to my house...

get the bag in the chair

by my front door, and hurry.

Casey! Go!

Find some sheets,

I need three or four of them.

I'm going to have to restrain her.

Nobody is going to hurt you.

Oh, please.

We have to hold you down

so you won't hurt yourself.

- You don't even know me.

- I'm so sorry.

Put the sheets down. Can you hold her?

Yeah.

Thanks, Casey.

Is this just a bad day,

or is she coming down off something?

Rufies. I don't know what it is.

It's Rohypnol.

Probably some other stuff along the way.

Could be worse.

What is that stuff?

What are you gonna give her?

Something to calm her down.

Hold her still.

It'll just take a few minutes.

Everyone's life you ever touched

is f***ed.

You know that, Ulee?

Pop.

What's her name?

Helen.

Helen. She's my daughter-in-law.

- Helen should be in a hospital.

- No.

Then we should try to clean her up.

You got a bowl and a washcloth?

Some plastic sheeting?

I have some bee screening.

That'll do.

Here, I'll...

How was Dad?

Okay.

Worried. I have to go back

and see him in a few days.

Can I come?

It'd be in the middle of the week.

I have to start moving bees

and extracting too.

- Can I come?

- No, Casey, you can't.

Your daddy and I have

some serious talking to do.

Sure you do.

Finish your soup, Penny.

Is Mom gonna be all right?

I hope so.

Would you like some tea or something?

Thanks, no. I'm just gonna head on.

She should rest tonight.

Tomorrow I'll check by

in the morning before work.

Thanks, Miss Hope.

We couldn't have done...

Mr. Jackson, this is something

I know how to do.

Well, I'm sorry you had to hear all that.

Please, you don't need to explain.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Bye, Penny.

"Ice, the terror of captains and crews

of the late fall runs...

had made her a shapeless mass.

The ship wallowed and rolled

and seemed to be out of control.

Then in the darkness ahead,

a star flickered and flashed.

A light..."

Why don't we save the story?

All right, Ulee.

- Good night.

- Good night, Penny.

Good morning, Helen. How are you feeling?

I'm gonna untie your hand...

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