Mud Page #4

isn't long for this world.

River Authority's about made certain of that.

But you and me,

we can still live out here, right?

R.A. can't take your boat.

Not while you're still livin' in it.

This houseboat's in your mother's name.

Her daddy gave it to her, not to me.

She wants to leave it.

River Authority's got every

right to come in here

and tear this place apart board by board.

(EXHALES)

That ain't right.

You work outta here.

We got the ice machine.

The traps.

What are we supposed to do?

Like I said, that's your mother's business.

I ain't no townie.

I ain't livin' like that.

I've let you down, son.

Man is supposed to be

in charge of his own affairs,

but I haven't worked it like that.

But y'all are married.

Y'all are supposed to love each other.

I don't know about that anymore.

Hey, Ellis.

You're late.

(THUDDING)

(PANTING)

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

(EXHALES)

MUD:
Ellis?

Damn, boy, what you doin' out here?

I got you some Beanie Weenie.

I appreciate that.

But I didn't expect you out here at night.

Oh, look at that.

Boy, you really know how

to do somebody right.

I wasn't gonna say nothin',

but it's pretty tough to make

a meal out of pumpkin pie fillin'.

That's all my mom had.

Oh, I ain't complainin'.

Can I get one of those?

They're yours to begin with.

(SLURPING)

(CAN LID CLATTERS)

That's good, right?

You been out here too long.

(CHUCKLES)

Mmm-hmm.

The girl you're waitin' on,

she's your girlfriend?

Juniper.

Yeah.

How'd you meet her?

(SIGHS)

We grew up together.

You love her?

I do.

First time I saw her was on this river,

just up from here.

She saved my life.

- From the snake bite.

- Mmm-hmm.

I was younger than you are right now.

When I came to in the hospital

and she was there,

it was like the whole world just split

wide open and

come back together new.

I knew from then on I'd do anything for her.

Why aren't y'all married then?

I've asked. Several times.

(EXHALES)

Marriage

just don't work for some people.

My dad says

my parents might be getting a divorce.

I'm sorry to hear that.

They say if it happens,

and my mom moves us off the river,

the government can come take our boat.

Who says that?

Everybody.

They passed a law.

(EXHALES)

I saw Juniper today.

What?

She had the birds tattooed on her hands.

Just like you said.

You're right.

She's pretty.

Where'd you see her?

At the Piggly Wiggly.

I think she's staying

at a motel nearby there.

That's good news.

That's real good news.

She know you're out here?

No. No, we, uh...

We said we'd meet somewhere else,

a couple days from now.

You wanna go tonight?

I can take you up river.

Tomorrow.

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