Where the Heart Is Page #2

FORNEY:

Trees?

Yeah.

You know.

Forestry, environment?

What do you want to know about trees?

NOVALEE:
A few weeks ago,

somebody gave me a buckeye tree.

Buckeye:

Horse chestnut,

belongs to the genus Aesculus...

...of the family Hippocastanaceae.

I think it's dying, my tree.

I could show it to the people who gave

it to me, but I'm embarrassed.

Here, look up buckeye in the index.

The what?

I'll start slower.

These are books. Are you with me?

- Hey.

- Here.

There. See, read.

"Leaf rot, root damage, ni...

Nitrogen def... def...

Defic...

- Defic..."

- Deficiency, keep reading.

Also a book...

(GLASS BREAKS)

Excuse me.

(CRASHING)

I don't know how I made that mistake.

You don't look like Ruth Ann.

It's good to see you again,

you come right in.

I want you to meet my gentleman,

Mr. Sprock.

- Mr. Sprock? Mr. Sprock.

- Hm?

Oh, howdy do?

Buttermilk?

Dear Lord, we pray

that you will bless...

...this food to the nourishment

of our bodies.

And we pray, Lord,

for a safe delivery...

...and a healthy child

for our new friend.

And we ask forgiveness, Lord,

for the fornication...

...that Mr. Sprock and me have

committed again this afternoon.

Amen.

- Amen.

- Amen.

I'll come by every day

to take care of it.

Oh, good.

- Lf it's a bother...

- No, darling.

I meant that it's good

you'll be by every day.

Why, we'd sure be glad to see you.

Oh.

I don't know what kind of people you're

with that won't let you plant a tree.

Well, they're...

What'll happen

when you have your baby?

I'm not sure.

Let me help you there, Mr. Sprock.

Hey Rosita, how are you doing today?

Good.

The book in the library said the

highest spot is the best place.

Oh, you must have met Forney.

Who?

(MR. SPROCK WHEEZES)

You all right, Mr. Sprock?

Oh, I'm fine. A little emphysema.

Nothing serious.

Oh, you know, he makes that noise

whenever he exerts himself.

Who's thorny?

Forney. Forney Hall.

Brilliant man, lives in the library.

- Brilliant.

- There's no telling...

...what he might have done

if he'd finished school.

Why didn't he?

The Lord gives us obstacles.

(WHIMPERS)

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

(GROANS)

Ah!

(CRIES)

(SCREAMS)

(SCREAMS)

(PHONE RINGS)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING OUTSIDE)

I hope you're not hungry,

because it's Tuesday.

Friday is the best, they have bacon.

I'm Lexie, Lexie Coop.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Where'd these flowers come from?

All over. You're a big celebrity.

There are reporters here. Lean up.

See?

TV! They've been here all night.

- What for?

- For you.

They want to talk to you.

Me?

Everybody wants to talk to

the mom of the Wal-Mart baby.

Are they gonna arrest me?

What for?

For living in the Wal-Mart.

Arrest you?

Is the hospital gonna keep my baby?

Where is she?

Why would they keep your baby?

Because I can't pay.

It's like a restaurant...

...when you can't pay,

you wash dishes.

I don't know what they'll make me do.

No. No.

I'm broke. I got nothing.

I have no family, no job...

Now I got a baby.

I know what you need.

Yes, you're okay.

Look who we're going to see.

Say, "It's about time."

Does that help?

(CRIES)

Oh. Oh, yeah.

How can you love someone

so much you just met?

Forney's okay too.

The doctor stitched him up

and sent him home.

- Forney?

- Mm-hm.

- The library guy?

- Yeah.

What happened to him?

He jumped through a plate-glass window

to deliver your baby.

That was him?

So. What are you going to name her?

Oh, that's right.

LEXIE:
How the hell did you come up

with a name like "Americus"?

NOVALEE:
I wanted her to have a strong

name that stood for something.

(AMERICUS CRIES)

I shouldn't talk, I named

my kids after snack foods.

- Brownie, Praline, Cherry, Baby Ruth.

- You got four?

- Yep.

- You aren't old enough.

I started when I was 15,

and I just couldn't stop.

I wanted to find the first one a dad,

but I got another baby.

I wanted to find them both a daddy

and so on and so on.

I think I'm going about this

the wrong way.

Hey, there she is.

That's the Wal-Mart mommy!

Now, how long were you living

in the Wal-Mart?

Uh...

Six weeks.

And what was it like?

You know.

Have you spoken to the father?

If I was you, I'd rule out

a career in broadcasting.

Why would anyone write anything

so hurtful?

What does it say?

"A baby born out of holy wedlock...

...is an abomination

in the eyes of God."

- My baby is not an abomination.

- Screw them.

"Midnight, Mississippi."

Oh, my.

This one's sad.

"I gave birth to a baby

in the back of a VW van...

...where I lived for a year.

My baby didn't make it.

I hope yours does.

I don't have much else to offer

but I know money might help...

...so I enclosed $ 10."

Do you believe that?

"Duda, Texas."

"I would send money,

but I don't have any.

What I can offer you is a good home."

Send her the $ 10.

Lexie, one of your kids is calling.

Which one?

I don't know.

Pez, Twinkie, one of them.

LEXIE:

I'll be right back.

LIL:
Novalee in there?

LEXIE:
Yes.

Well, I hope you don't think this

kid's gonna call me "Grandma."

I'm sorry, but visiting hours...

Are when?

- Right now.

- Yes.

Mama?

I thought you'd be surprised.

How'd you know I was here?

There you are.

I saw your fabulous interview

on the television...

...and I hopped right in the car,

and here I am.

I must have been in that damn

car 10 hours, I'm telling you.

From where?

New Orleans.

I been living there about...

I guess I been living there about two,

three years now.

- With Fred?

- Who?

Fred. The umpire.

(COUGHS)

That shithead? Oh, my God!

Jesus! What in God's name

made you think of him?

Because he was the reason you left.

Left what?

Me.

Aw, geez, now. Sweetie, look.

That's water under the bridge.

I didn't drive 10 hours

to reminisce with you.

- Why did you come?

- I thought you needed help.

You didn't look too good up there.

Living in the Wal-Mart is not

my idea of a big success.

How are you gonna help?

I don't know.

- You got a man?

- No.

This isn't one of them artificial

spermination things?

No.

Then where is the prick

who put you in this mess?

California.

Well, that figures. All the pricks,

they move to California.

They ought to call it

"Prick-a-fornia."

Got a place to live?

Sweetie, you are going to need

a place to take this baby.

Maybe you should think about moving

into Sears, or Kmart is really nice.

Did you come here to make fun of me?

God, no.

Jesus!

I didn't.

I wanted...

...to help my child with her child,

is all.

You want me to go?

No.

All right, then.

- When are they letting you out?

- Tomorrow.

Well, I'm not in any hurry to move on.

Maybe I could find a place.

You and me and the baby.

You mean like a home?

Home, apartment, whatever,

until you get on your feet.

I got me a little money.

Oh, I got money. The president

of Wal-Mart sent me $500.

Why?

He's not the father, is he?

- No.

- Oh, sh*t.

No, he just wanted to be nice.

They offered me a new job in any

Wal-Mart in the country.

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