The United States of Leland Page #5

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to a different rhythm.

Lives lived without meaning

or even directed hope.

The passage of time

measured only by loss.

Loss of a job,

loss of a minivan...

...a son.

Hi, Beth.

Are you OK?

What?

Sorry, what did you say?

I asked if you were OK.

Yeah. Am I...

Am I OK about that guy, right?

Kinda seemed like he

was bothering you.

That's OK. Er...

it happens all the time.

I think it's the uniform.

I have to wear it

at this school that I go to.

And it's supposed

to be really plain.

The whole point of wearing

it is so you don't stand out.

I think all it really does

is turn on horny old guys.

Is it a Catholic school?

No, it's pretty much the opposite.

For people who messed up.

Messed up in what way?

All kinds of ways, different ways.

Well, what way

did you mess up?

Did you really come over here to

ask me about my screwed-up life?

No, I came over here cos...

I thought that guy

was bothering you.

And because I think

you're really pretty.

People don't really

say pretty any more.

They say stuff...

You know, girls or whatever,

they say...

...stuff is beautiful or cute but...

...I like pretty,

I like the way it sounds.

It's...

It's a cool word.

Thanks for calling me pretty.

I'm Leland.

Leland P. Fitzgerald.

Becky.

Becky Pollard.

I don't blame Becky.

I guess I'm supposed to be upset

about what happened with her.

I'm supposed to

cry and all that junk.

But I'm pretty sure I've cried all

the tears I had out of me by now.

The last time I cried

was Grandma's funeral.

Here's another one of

those things that sticks.

I remember this other kid.

Some cousin of

mine or something.

Seem there real polite with

his hands folded up in his lap.

I figured that was the

way you were supposed to be.

I didn't want that

kid to see me crying.

But the tears came, anyway.

That's when I figured

out that tears couldn't

make someone who

was dead alive again.

# We were given some time...

There's another thing

to learn about tears.

They can't make somebody who doesn't

love you any more love you again.

Uh-huh?

- It's me, it's Beck.

It's the same

thing with prayers.

I wonder how much of their lives people

waste, crying and praying to God.

If you ask me, the devil makes

more sense than God does.

I can at least see why

people would want him around.

It's good to have somebody to

blame for the bad stuff they do.

Wha...

- What's wrong?

- Nothing. I sh...

It's just that this is

going kinda fast.

I'm not saying that's bad...

or anything.

- This just isn't normally

how I operate. - Oh.

Particularly not with

somebody from work.

Well, how long does it normally take you

to seduce one of your co-workers?

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