Where the Heart Is Page #5

LEXIE:
Living in Poteau,

we'll never see you.

NOVALEE:
That's where they built it.

I gotta go. I gotta make a living.

LEXIE:

Where's this guy we're meeting?

NOVALEE:

Come on, honey.

Where is he?

We're still early.

Mommy, can I play?

You can play for a couple minutes,

but then we have to go.

- Trailer.

- Hm?

The place I rented in Poteau,

it's got wheels under it.

- Forney called me last night.

- Forney?

I figured Mary fell out a window.

He asked me to get you a job

at the hospital. I said:

"As what?

Brain surgeon on weekends?"

That boy does not want you to move.

It's just, he's so crazy

about Americus.

- Oh, give me a break.

- He is.

Forney is in love with you.

Tell me you don't know that.

It's just not like that with us.

I have seen him. He loves you.

He loves the way you walk.

He loves your hair.

He loves everything about you.

Forney and me, we're not that way.

Forney's different from us.

He went to college.

His family had money.

What are you trying to say?

That you're not good enough for him?

(HORN HONKS)

I wonder what he wants?

I don't know, he called last

night and asked to meet.

I said I was going out of town,

but he still wanted to.

Miss Nation?

Uh-uh. Her.

- Hi, I'm Ray.

- Hi.

Sister spoke of you often

at the meetings.

- Oh, both of you were...

- Alcoholics. Yes, ma'am.

- Ray, you used to...

- Call in the middle of the night...

...and Sister would come

and pick my sorry ass up... Excuse me.

In whatever sleazy beer joint

I was passed out in.

She never gave up on me.

Even after I got disbarred.

You know, I once went into court and

started defending the wrong person.

Anyway, she's the one who helped me

turn it all around.

Get my license back.

- Well, everything's in here.

- What is?

Sister's estate.

- Estate?

- Yeah. She left it all to you.

The land, insurance on the trailer

and contents, life insurance...

...even some oil stock her grandfather

bought from the Comanches in 1909.

Almost about $41,000.

(GASPS)

Sorry.

(HAMMERS POUNDING)

LEXIE:
Brownie! Brownie, do not

lasso your sister!

Mr. Sprock, I still don't

feel right about this.

Some of this should be yours.

The only thing I wanted I got.

That old kitchen table.

A lot of fine memories.

All right.

I think Ruth Meyers went

as far as she can with me.

My head's butting against the ceiling.

I want to break through.

And you're the guy. You're Johnny

Desoto. You've got the clout.

Well, I will say I'd have thought

you'd pick up more momentum...

...off of "Beat of the Heart."

Exactly. That was eight months ago...

...and here I am in Santa-freaking-Fe

still playing the damn clubs.

Oh, sh*t. I gotta go get ready.

I got a show.

You and Ruth Meyers got

some kind of a contract?

I just want to warn you, Ruth Meyers

can be a powerful ally.

She makes a hell of an enemy. Mess

with her and nobody will touch you.

Johnny, Ruth Meyers ain't got

that kind of clout. Come on.

(ELEVATOR DINGS)

(CLAPPING)

And the winner of this year's

Kodak first prize...

...for the greater Southwest area...

...she's from Sequoyah, Oklahoma...

...how about a real big hand for

Miss Novalee Nation. Congratulations.

Way to go.

I shot this picture

with a Rollei twin lens reflex...

...at F4, using ASA 125.

I took it to remember

a very dear friend.

She gave me that tree...

...and then she took me in when me

and my baby had no place else to go.

I'd rather be living again

with her in that trailer...

...than in the finest house

in Oklahoma.

Thank you.

(WOMAN GIGGLES)

All right, hold on.

We're almost there.

- Who's that?

- Who's what?

Ruth Meyers.

You, out.

Are you married?

- To her?

- Out.

I will leave when I am good and ready.

(GRUNTS)

So how's it going?

I got a call from an attorney

down in Albuquerque.

Hell, if this is about that girl...

It's about a guy named Tommy Reynolds.

- Who?

- Don't lie to me!

Oh! All right, Tommy Reynolds. What?

Says he was your cellmate in prison.

So?

He says he wrote "Beat of the Heart."

That is such bullshit.

I wrote that song.

He sold me his guitar, that's it.

I got the crap kicked out of me

for writing that song!

Sh*t!

What are we gonna do?

What are we gonna do?

We ain't gonna do nothing.

Maybe Johnny Desoto will help you out.

Ruth. Ruth Meyers!

Come on, I need your help with this.

Hey, Ruthie.

I bet if we went back to my room,

we could work it out.

You sexy sweet thing.

Oh, God!

NOVALEE:

Hi.

Hi, honey. Sorry, but I made it.

Was it a big inconvenience?

Novalee, I have five children.

Everything is an inconvenience.

Mind if I drive slow on the way home?

I'd like to pretend it's a vacation.

- You all right?

- I'm great.

Good.

Anything new here?

Oh, nothing. Unless you think

me meeting a guy is new.

Who? How?

Well, his name is Roger, Roger Brisco.

He's a CPA.

He has his own business in Fort Worth.

How'd you meet him?

We pumped gas together at Texaco,

and he drives a new Buick.

When his dipstick got jammed,

I helped him yank it out.

Yeah.

He told me my kids were beautiful,

so I know he likes me.

You never know. Soon maybe you'll

be taking pictures at my wedding.

Thank you.

You're welcome, honey. Bye.

Bye.

- Oh.

- What?

I didn't get Forney a gift

for watching Americus.

- I know what you can give him.

- What?

No, I'll give him...

...hotel slippers.

That's just what every man wants.

A nice pair of house slippers.

- Bye!

- Bye.

Forney.

(CAMERA CLICKS)

Hi.

What time is it?

It's late. Sorry.

It's all right.

How was your trip?

Great.

I better get her to bed.

No, that's okay. I'll do it.

Okay. There.

- Forney?

- Mm-hm?

I brought these for you.

Oh, thanks.

- Night.

- Night.

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello?

Hello, is somebody there?

Who?

Brownie?

Why, where is Lexie?

Brownie, is your mama there?

Brownie.

Brownie, let me talk to Lexie.

Put your mama on the phone.

Why, what's wrong?

I'm coming.

Lexie?

Are you both okay?

Stay here, honey. I'll be right back.

Oh, God.

(HORN HONKS)

Moses, can Lexie keep her things

in your barn for a while?

Sure. How come?

She doesn't have sick leave,

and she can't pay for her apartment.

Where they going to stay?

PRALINE:

We had this for lunch.

Finish it or you're gonna have

it for breakfast.

No more.

Sorry, honey.

Eat your food, Brownie.

Want to eat?

NOVALEE:

Lex.

You all right?

I was supposed to work

until 4 that day...

...but I decided to skip my lunch hour

and get off at 3...

...because Roger was coming in

from Fort Worth.

I wanted to take a shower

and shampoo my hair.

I picked up the baby and the twins

from the daycare.

When I got home, I was surprised

that Roger's car was in the driveway.

He'd said he wouldn't be there

until after 4.

Brownie and Praline were home,

and I knew they'd let him in.

When I went inside...

...I heard a noise coming from

the back of the apartment...

...from my bedroom.

I set down the baby, and I ran to see.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes