Walker Payne Page #5

---

Roy

used to say, "I can't help myself,"

afterwards,

crying on my shoulder.

He got kicked around

at work so badly that

once or twice a week

he'd have to kick me around.

He couldn't help himself.

My mother said that a woman

shouldn't leave her husband

for a few smacks,

not a broken arm, either.

I phoned her from the hospital

to ask if a woman

could leave her husband

if he

beat her so badly,

she couldn't have babies.

I know you love your girls,

but you can't hurt someone

and pass it off as necessity.

These are just

bruises and scratches.

This is his nature.

Sarah and Beth,

they deserve a better life,

and I'd like you to

be a part of that life.

If you want to.

I'm not sure I do.

Hey, when I see a baby-faced kid

with English like that,

I see an opportunity.

This is the number at the bank.

You give me a call, all right?

Coal.

I'm out, Syrus.

You're out?

Now, come on, sit down.

Keith, can we get a couple of beers?

Here, sit down.

I'm not fighting Brute again.

Well, that's a shame, Coal,

'cause I got what you wanted.

I got you a date

with the grand champion.

I'll get the money another way.

You came to me

'cause you didn't have another way.

Now, look here.

Championship match

is gonna get your girls back.

Then you put that little

dog out at the stud,

make all kinds of money.

You know, you wouldn't understand,

but I got people

I got to look in the eye after this.

Brute's not fighting.

My experience is,

when they're looking you in the eye,

they're thinking about your pocket.

Now me, I'd rather wear these gator

boots and eat that vichyssoise.

But maybe you don't have

the stomach for it.

That's all right, but the shame of it is,

that little dog probably would have won.

You're good.

Good luck with your next yard sale.

- Please.

- I'm sorry, I got nothing.

I can do anything.

I used to run one of these things.

Couple of hours early, aren't you?

I need to empty my savings account.

Okay.

Well, I can do it better,

that's all I'm saying.

Whole damn town's out of work.

What do you want?

We need to talk.

- Tell Nick I'll be in after my smoke.

- Sure.

Better be worth the gossip.

You missed a button.

That's how I like it.

$3,400.

Sending his girlfriend

to do his dirty work?

He doesn't know.

- It ain't enough.

- It's enough to get away, Lou Ann.

I'll sign a bank note.

We'll send you the rest.

Let Walker have the girls.

My kids are none

of your damn business.

They're Walker's business.

I ain't a bad mother.

I didn't say that.

I know how much you need

to get out of here.

It's enough money.

Let him go.

If happiness is gonna cost me 5 grand,

why should it cost Walker any less?

Hmm?

What you want?

Must not be working

for tips around here, huh?

I was thinking after dinner,

maybe we could go and...

Door was open.

You don't bring this here.

You don't bring this in here.

I've been thinking

about our arrangement.

There's a problem.

I don't think you've

been struggling enough.

I need more money.

$7,500.

You are out of your f***ing mind.

I earned it.

$7,500 in three weeks,

or I'll leave the girls with my sister.

Three weeks.

You'll never leave my kids with

that f***ing drunk

worthless piece of sh*t!

Then I will dump them somewhere, and

I swear to God, you will never find them!

What happened to you?

- What happened to you, Lou?

- You, Walker, you.

Keep an eye on this one, Walker.

She's keeping secrets.

Lou Ann came because of me.

I took your money out of the lamp

and put some of my own in.

I thought she'd listen. I thought...

This doesn't concern you.

Doesn't concern me?

You moved into my house,

my bed,

told me you wanted to be with me,

and this doesn't concern me?

Do you want me in or out, Walker?

I have to know.

What do you want?

Talk to me. Talk to me.

I got no choice.

Better banks, better towns for you.

You can go.

And I'm never gonna make it to Paris

for that happily ever after.

I need 4,900.

- 4,900!

- I made you money. We made you money.

My Cadillac isn't worth 4,900.

- I mean, come on!

- What about studding fees?

You said we could stud this dog.

Fine, we'll stud it. You take it all.

Your dog's had two fights,

no championship.

What kind of stud fee

are you gonna ask, huh?

What's the dog worth? What's he worth?

You tell me.

No, you tell me.

He's not worth diddly,

unless you fight him.

He's a fighting dog.

I need to know this is the end,

this championship is the end of this.

Purse money alone's gonna

get your girls back,

- I mean, if we can get the fight.

- If?

Well, you backed out of it.

I'm gonna have to pull some strings now,

gonna take some time,

and if you back out of it again...

I don't know! Sh*t.

Set up the fight.

All right.

You get the dog fit,

and you meet me in three weeks

at the Terre Haute airfield.

If we're lucky, we'll get the fight.

But you best be there, buddy.

How goes it, Walker?

Can't complain.

Brute's looking tough.

Come here, boy.

Okay, boys, open it up.

That's the challenger.

- So you made it?

Got a tan, I see.

Yep. Had to go down

to Tallahassee, unexpectedly.

We still in on this?

Sea of green, Coal, sea of green.

Got to show the crowd the dogs

before you wash them.

You bet.

Seen the dog we're fighting?

Nothing to worry about.

He's looking good.

There's your corner, over there.

I got to go find Doc.

All right.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we're gonna give you

a peek at the dogs

fighting in our

championship later tonight.

First up, out of Illinois,

the challenger,

Walker Payne and Brute.

And, in his fourth

title defense,

straight out of hell,

the grand champion!

Hey, you got to be

f***ing kidding me.

You can't fight those dogs.

That dog must be 60

pounds. 60 pounds,

that's disqualification,

not even in weight.

Buddy, did you see that crowd out there?

Nobody's getting disqualified.

Pit or you lose your stake.

- Brute will never get another fight.

- Fine. F*** you.

You and your dog aren't going anywhere.

Too much at play here.

Only way that dog is getting out

of here is through that pit.

Need to wash the other dog.

You wash him.

Few fights before yours.

You better settle.

- Come on, get him!

- Get him! Get him! Get him!

Kill him.

Pit!

Come on.

Come on, get up, dog. Come on!

Get him!

Now, boy!

- Come on. Brute!

- Get him, get him!

Come on, Brute!

- Turn!

- Acknowledge.

Come on, kill him! Kill him!

Come on!

Give me a few more minutes.

Give me a few more minutes.

Come on.

We're going home.

We're going home.

Time!

Pit!

That's it. It's over.

I'm taking him...

Just bury him.

Never see a fight like that again, Coal.

Goddamn spectacle.

That was a once-in-a-lifetime deal.

I got it all.

Help me.

Help me.

Only thing that'll help

that dog is a bullet.

Hey!

Side bets, Coal, side bets.

Still don't get it, do you?

What is the matter with you?

Oh, I get it.

I get it.

It was a perfect bet,

Coal, a perfect bet.

No dog in the country was gonna go up

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes