Battlecreek Page #3

came to this country in chains.

And that same music

can set a man's soul free.

Every man has got to learn to break free of

whatever shackles are binding him, Henry.

It don't matter if you scared to

death to do what you got to do it.

That's the truth.

That's the sure enough truth.

Drink up, man.

Damn.

Henry...

why don't you

come around here

and paint these walls. All that

stuff you got in your head, man.

Just give the place

a little life, you know?

What are you thinking?

Some tropical...

tropical island with a...

with some palm trees, and a

real nice beach and me...

laying out on that beach, being

served an ice cold beer...

by a real pretty lady.

Well, I thought you said

you were retired.

I said for a while.

I ain't said my whole life.

- Oh, for a while?

- For a while.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

All right,

I'll see what I can do.

You all right with me, Henry.

You all right with me.

Morning, Janice.

Afternoon, Henry.

Does Ms. Nelson still have

that room to rent?

Why? You going somewhere?

- It's for a friend.

- A friend?

What friend?

Never mind.

Uh, Henry, as far as I know,

it's still for rent.

Thanks.

That boy of yours

is so sweet.

Always thinking of others.

He sure is.

He's as sweet as pie.

I'm sure your car will be fine for the Fall,

but come Winter, and you'll freeze to death.

I don't plan on

being here that long.

Maybe not...

Oh, and Ms. Nelson doesn't hear that

well, so you'll have to speak up.

Thanks.

So you're a friend of Henry's?

Um, not really.

That's nice, dear.

It's just up these stairs.

Now, there's no smoking in the house

and I don't want any loud commotion.

I go to bed early,

and I'm up with the sun.

There won't be any noise.

No boys.

I won't have any funny business,

do you hear me?

I run a clean house.

I understand.

It's right through here.

You're a pretty little thing.

This is it.

[SNIFFLES]

[SIGHS]

So, um, do you have family

back in Florida?

Who said I was from Florida?

Your license plate

on your car.

It's Alison, right?

I'm Henry.

Listen, I appreciate you

finding me a room

but I'm really not looking

for friends right now.

It's nothing personal.

Nothing personal.

I told you I'd use a horn.

You don't say.

Mm-hmm.

My granddaddy and me used to sit on the

back porch listening to Dizzy Gillespie

like it was our

last dying wish.

Old guy used to make me

use scales, you know,

till my lungs burned out,

my lips burnt up.

He didn't know the meaning

of the word "suffering."

He used to say to me, "Boy, you

damn well better walk through life

"dealing with what God serves

up with a smile on your face,

"and dignity in your step."

That's what I did.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes