Dodging Eden
A Play in Two Acts
by
Michael Thomas Tower
Approximate performance time: 1:30
© 2001-2004 Michael Thomas Tower
All Rights Reserved
Query regarding production, performance or presentation of this work
in any manner whatsoever should be directed to the author
MTTower@aol.com
DE0509a
Synopsis
Darrell and Evie were serious sweethearts from eighth grade till after high school, when Evie gave birth to a daughter and left town, leaving Angel in the care of Darrell. Evie has been back to Belcher Bluff few times over the past eleven years, and has never demonstrated any real motherly interest in Angel, who sings rather than speaks. Evie has returned now for the funeral of Darrell's mother -- so she says.
Evie has reached a point where her life is "nothin'," she declares. If only she and Darrell could be together again, she could find meaning in her life. But when Darrell insists that will never happen, Evie announces that she will at least get custody of Angel. But Darrell has been the dedicated father for eleven years and he has no intention of letting Evie take Angel. And one of the reasons Darrell is dedicated to caring for Angel is because of a secret that he's never shared with anyone.
Mama, Darrell's recently deceased mother, returns to try to talk sense to Evie. And Wiley, Darrell's best friend forever, is on hand to help guide Darrell through the treacherous course he faces -- and answer some important questions for Darrell.
Not everyone gets what he or she wants, but sometimes happiness, when it comes at all, comes in small doses at odd moments.
Characters
Darrell -- Male. In his early 30s.
Evie -- Female. One day older than Darrell.
Wiley -- Male. About the same age as Darrell and Evie.
Angel -- Female. 11 years old.
Mama -- Female. In her late 60s or early 70s.
Setting
The setting is the Chez d'Amour Tourist Court, an old run-down establishment at the edge of Belcher Bluff, a wide spot in the road in the middle of "nowhere," near the bottom of the Texas panhandle and not far from the New Mexico border.
note: The characters' pronunciation of "Chez d'Amour" has no French nuance to it at all. With a hard "ch," it is pronounced to rhyme with "says the door" -- quite literally: "chez duh more."
Act I: Room 2 at the Chez d'Amour Tourist Court
There is a door that goes outside to the covered porch which borders the dusty parking lot. Another door goes to the bathroom. One other doorway, for the closet, is covered with faded print fabric strung on a wire. Near the outside door, on the same wall, is a window with shabby curtains and a yellowed, stained pull-down shade.
The room contains a bed, a night stand beside it with lamp, a chair, a chest, a table -- at least that but not much more.
On the walls are a couple of cheap, tired old reproductions of posters by Toulouse Lautrec, or something else easily recognizable as a long-ago inept attempt to give a "French" or "Parisian" touch to a room that could never take it.
There is a pay phone on the porch, just outside the door, the only visible part of it being the handset with cord long enough to reach into the doorway of the room.
Act II: Room 5 at the Chez d'Amour Tourist Court
Room 5 is directly across the parking lot from Room 2, and is identical to Room 2 except for different curtains and window shade, different bedspread, different fabric covering the closet door, different lamp, different "French" pictures, at least one or two different pieces of furniture in a different arrangement -- the kinds of changes that will easily identify the space as being a different room in the same motel.
Time
The time is the present, a summer afternoon.
Act I - Scene 1
(In the darkness before lights come up, we hear angel in the distance.)
(singing; offstage) angel (singing; offstage)
I journey over roads of mud,
Of asphalt, tar and gravel,
Confused by all the swerves and curves
Of all the paths I travel.
But if I close my eyes and pray,
Pretending I don't care,
Perhaps I'll float through crowds of clouds --
With rainbows everywhere.
(lights up to reveal Room 2 of the Chez d'Amour Tourist Court. It's early afternoon on a hot summer day. The door to the outside is open. The window shade is pulled down. The room is a mess. Clothes are strewn about, two open suitcases have been pawed through, there are remnants of a take-out meal on the table, magazines dropped wherever, a wildly disheveled bed, etc.)
(offstage) darrell (offstage)
Y'all drive safe now, y'hear?
(darrell rushes in, carrying a plastic bowl with ice in it. he is wearing only pants. he shuts the door, sets the bowl down. he finds his shirt and puts that on. he grabs his socks and is sniffing them as evie opens the door from the bathroom and enters. evie laughs at Darrell's sniffing. evie is wearing panties and pulling on a bra.)
evie
(Laughing)
Oh, shit! I'd forgotten about that!
darrell
About what?
evie
Way you smell your dirty socks before you put'em back on.
Darrell
What-a you mean? Why would I do somethin' stupid like that --
(darrell will put his socks and shoes on.)
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
You smelled your damn socks, Darrell! Doin' that far back as eighth grade, that I remember. First time we were out in that ol' barn? I clearly recall you picked those things up an' you smelled 'em --
darrell
(Overlapping to interrupt)
So what? How else I find out they need to be washed or beat-an'-fluffed or whatever --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
Yeah right, Darrell. How the hell else you gonna find out anything, 'less you stick your nose in it.
Reckon I shouldn't complain. After all, ever' wild beast is, by instinct, controlled by ... aroma. And in this heat, smell has so much more ... draw.
(evie approaches Darrell in a playfully seductive manner, then turns her back in an unspoken request that he's familiar with, but no longer comfortable with: But he responds and fastens her bra.
(As they talk, they continue to dress. evie will pick up her clothes strewn about and pitch them into the closet, taking other clothes from a suitcase to put on.
(Occasionally, evie will pick up a towel to dab at her neck and arms, taking away the sweat, and fan herself with whatever is handy.)
darrell
Still su'prises me that you've come back for Mama's funeral.
evie
Your mother and I were always very close.
darrell
(Sarcastically agreeing)
Unh-huh. ... When's the last time you phoned her?
evie
Well ... guess maybe it's been a while since I actually ... talked to her ...
darrell
Or wrote to her?
evie
(A beat)
Well ... Christmas cards, birthdays, you know ... special occasions ...
darrell
Like when pigs fly.
evie
Besides ... it's the thought that counts.
darrell
Well, she thought you'd died.
evie
No she didn't.
darrell
(Subconsciously impersonating Mama)
"She must-a died down there in Galveston, or we would-a heard somethin' from her."
evie
Well, it was sweet of her to think of me.
darrell
She didn't say it exactly drippin' with honey.
I stood up for you plen'y-a times, Evie. Did what I could so she'd give you benefit of the doubt ... pore, disillusioned ol' woman.
evie
Don't blame me for all-a that. ... An' just for the record, I haven't lived in Galveston for quite a spell now.
darrell
Man, Mama treated you practic'ly like you were one of her own.
evie
I practic'ly was.
darrell
Not even a little bit.
evie
Well, I mean the situation bein' what it was and all ...
darrell
That's exactly the reason why not.
(A beat)
What-cha mean you're not down in Galveston anymore?
evie
Things didn't ... you know ... work out ... exactly ...
darrell
Last time I saw you -- well, now, that-uz about four years ago, wadn't it? -- you'd finally met the man-a your dreams. "Oh, this is It, Darrell!" That's what-cha tol' me. "This is the man I been a-waitin' for my entire life!"
evie
I didn't say it like that ...
darrell
Yeah y'did an' to hear you tell it, the causeway to Galveston was the highway to Heaven. You were through with all-a your runnin' around because you'd once-an'-for-all gotten yourself the Big Mac at the drive-up windah of love! That was the genuwine, honest-to-God hitchin'-up that was gonna change your life for all eternity, is what you said --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
It didn't take, okay? Just let it go!
darrell
What happen? His money run out?
evie
Not as quick as he ran out.
(darrell goes to the chest, picks up two foam cups, puts ice in them.)
(continuing) evie (continuing)
My God, you mean the Chez d'Amour has an ice machine now? Maybe another fifty years and Charlie'll install a water heater that works. That ice machine's what we needed night-a the senior prom. Hunh. You remember that? Whoa! That was some fun-filled frolic ...
darrell
Yeah. The sheriff thought so, too.
evie
How did that court hearin' go, by the way?
darrell
Charges dismissed on ever'body but you. Judge Dooley was pissed you didn't show up.
evie
Oh, well, he's dead now an' the courthouse burnt down with all the records ...
darrell
An' that's what they call justice in Yoakum County.
evie
That's not much ice.
darrell
There wadn' much. If Charlie's got at least two rooms rented, he puts some ice cubes in that picnic cooler out on the porch. Got the last of it.
evie
So there's no ice machine?
darrell
Couple years ago he found a old Kelvinator dropped off-a somebody's trailer with eight mismatched ice trays.
evie
And that's what they call progress in Yoakum County.
darrell
Maybe Charlie'll put some more out, if he dudn' notice the couple next door just pulled out ...
evie
Can just imagine what they were doin'. Hadn't been here more'n an hour.
darrell
Neither have we.
evie
Yeah, but I checked in on the day rate, at least. You brought some booze like I told you?
(darrell points out a small bag on the chest.)
(continuing) evie (continuing)
Well Lordy, I hope buyin' all-a that didn't set you back too damn much.
darrell
Well I wadn' exactly meanin' to get shit-faced.
evie
What's that got to do with what I'm meanin' to do?
(darrell hands one of the cups with ice to evie. she detects an odor to the ice and reacts to it.)
(continuing) evie (continuing)
Whew!
darrell
I know -- Charlie went fishin' other day.
evie
What'd he catch, squid shit? Quick. Kill the smell with that --
(darrell has taken a small bottle of brandy from the paper sack. evie grabs it and looks at it.)
(continuing) evie (continuing)
-- peach brandy? I hate brandy! 'Specially peach brandy!
darrell
No you don't.
evie
Tastes like the pancake syrup you'd get at I-Hop.
darrell
We use-ta always drink peach brandy.
evie
Because that's what you used to always get!
darrell
Sure's heck drank enough of it back then. Should-a tol' me you didn't like it.
evie
Hadn't learned then that it's okay if a woman does a little thinkin' for herself.
darrell
Y' liked peach brandy.
evie
Well I've moved on, all right? You'd be su'prised to know some-a the fancy stuff I've put in my mouth since then ...
darrell
I doubt it.
evie
... stuff you'd know nothin' about ... like ... Wild Turkey ... Southern Comfort ... cra-may da mint -- fancy kind-a drinks known as "lick-yours" -- 'cuz that's what-cha feel like doin' after about three of'em.
darrell
All I know's you liked peach brandy.
evie
Oh, shit, Darrell, I loved you so much back then, you big fuckin' ass-wipe!
(Suddenly evie pulls darrell into an embrace and a kiss that he isn't comfortable with, but she holds on for a couple of seconds before he is able to break away. evie looks at him curiously.)
(As the conversation continues, evie takes a large plastic bottle of cheap bourbon from her suitcase and hands it to darrell, who opens it. evie goes back to seductively hugging and fondling darrell, which he continues to try to tactfully resist.)
(continuing) evie (continuing)
You used to like our kind of ... closeness.
darrell
That was, uh ... long time ago.
evie
You didn't have any problem with closeness on that bed few minutes ago.
darrell
Well, that was just ... sex. Now you're tryin' to get ... intimate.
(darrell fills her cup with bourbon, pours very little into his.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
(Uncomfortable holding the drink)
So ...
evie
Cain't you think of any kind of a meanin'ful toast to give?
darrell
Well ...
evie
To me, goddammit! Here's to the one an' only Evangeline Massey and my return to Belcher Bluff, Texas!
darrell
Sure. To you, Evie. And your little visit to Belcher Bluff.
(they touch cups, the plastic making no noise, so evie supplies it ...)
evie
Clink.
(... and evie downs the entire contents. darrell doesn't drink.)
(continuing) evie (continuing)
Hey! Where's the Darrell I know?
darrell
I'm not really gonna drink this, Evie --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
The first one goes down full-blast, don't you remember?
darrell
I'm in AA now. Tryin' not to let this stuff do what it used to --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
Well is there a rule in there somewhere about not drinkin' with ... old lovers?
(Holding out her cup)
Forget the ice. Like drinkin' bait water.
(darrell fills her cup again. evie will continue drinking steadily, pouring more liquor as needed.)
darrell
I tried to find you when your mother died. Phoned ever' place I could think of ...
evie
I was sort-a in-between ... things. Lots-a stuff goin' on then ...
darrell
It was kind-a like you'd just dropped off the face-a the earth. But, then, you sort-a have a way-a doin' that, don'-cha?
evie
(Impatiently)
I was in-between things, I said!
darrell
Phoned the numbers I found on a list at your mama's house ... got a-hold-a some woman in Tyler wouldn' give me the time-a day once't I mentioned your name -- and, case I found you, wanted me to tell you to tell Harold to phone home if he knows what's good for him.
evie
If I know Harold, he's still-a goin' in the opposite direction from that bitchy ol' maniac ...
darrell
Man at the dry cleaners in Texarkana said he hadn' seen you for quite a spell and he sounded kind-a sad about it ...
evie
I miss ol' Burl. Amazin' dancer, to have only one leg ...
darrell
Got a-hold-a your cousin Bernice in Beaumont -- she wanted me to remind you about the two hunnerd an' four dollars you've owed her for two years come Christmas --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
You've made your point! ... Couple your messages caught up with me. I 'preciate your effort.
darrell
I went to your mama's funeral, you know. Most ever'body in these parts was there.
evie
By the time I found out, she was already buried.
darrell
She was cremated.
evie
Disposed of. However.
darrell
Leonard's got her ashes. He said you could have'em, you ever want'em.
evie
Now that's baggage I don't exactly need ...
darrell
She was awful well thought of, bein' janitor at the school all-a those years. She'll be remembered for toilets so shiny you could practic'ly see to comb your hair while peein' ...
evie
It didn't work that way in the girls' bathroom.
darrell
We gave her a good send-off.
evie
Didn't see any point comin' back when it was all over an' done with.
darrell
I told her, not more'n a hour before it happened, that she shouldn't be tendin' them bees with shorts on, no hat an' veil or gloves -- but ... anh, you know your mama ...
evie
Don't blame yourself.
darrell
Wadn'. She did have a mind of her own, twisted as it was.
evie
Now that's a tribute we should put on her tombstone.
darrell
Idn' any tombstone. We scattered her ashes in the park out by the new sewage treatment plant.
evie
What goes aroun' comes aroun', dudn' it?
darrell
It was a perty painful way to go, I reckin. Ever'body within a quarter mile heard her screamin'. Went on for quite a spell before Clint Hoody thought to turn the hose on her. But it was too late by then. Once all the buzzin' stopped, she just sort-a ... whimpered ... an' went.
evie
I'm sure y'all did what you could ...
darrell
Harry Bitterman over at the funeral home said she was so swole up they couldn't hardly find a casket big enough to wedge her into it.
evie
You said she was cremated.
darrell
Had a open-casket funeral first. You know how people 'round here like to see a dead body, even the freaky ones.
evie
'Specially those. Does have its entertainment value. Y'all need a Blockbuster.
darrell
But I doubt the problem was the bee-stings near as much as all that weight she put on last several months. She said it was granular. Most likely it was beer an' pizza. She practic'ly lived at that new Eye-talian drive-in other side-a town. Did you see that? We finally got a neon sign in Belcher Bluff.
(Makes "flashing" signs with his hands)
Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!
After her an' Leonard broke it off and he took up with Tiny Redwine's nephew, she really let herself go. But nobody blamed her. That was one old lady where life had become a endless succession of ... emotional hem'rrhoids.
evie
Downturns seem to run in our family ...
darrell
She never did rightly get over you leavin' ... way you did.
evie
She always told me it would be good riddance!
darrell
Empty words ... with a lot-a love behind 'em.
(A beat)
Even Mama went to her funeral.
evie
Your mama? Must-a been there to sing the Hallelujah Chorus.
darrell
Well, they never got to be what you'd call good friends. But least Mama quit throwin' rocks at her trailerhouse when the moon was full. And once your mama'd burned down our chicken coop, she kind-a softened up a bit.
(A pause. evie refreshes her drink.)
evie
So ... how's our belovéd daddy doin'?
(There is the sound of a soft knock at the door. evie glances at the door. darrell continues talking as he pulls the window shade back and peeks out.)
darrell
Daddy asks about you all the time. I never know what to tell him. I've made up all kinds-a stories ...
(The sound of the knock is repeated. darrell looks out again, speaking to the one outside.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
Just a minute, sugar!
evie
Who is that?
darrell
I'm forever makin' up stories about you, Evie. You should ask me about your life, sometime ... since I'm the one what creates it.
(The sound of the knock is repeated.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
That's Angel. Guess she got tired a-playin' with Charlie's rowdy grandkids.
evie
Shit!
darrell
(To Angel, outside)
Hold on, darlin'!
(To Evie)
Our belovéd and cantankerous old daddy's gettin' on up in years, you gotta realize, but his mind's still sharp as a buzzard's beak --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
What the hell did you bring Angel for?
darrell
Well, if you can believe it, I had this stupid notion that you might want to see her. Besides, what you 'spect me to do? -- with Mama gone. Loan her out as a bookend or somethin'? She's got to be looked after.
evie
So all of a sudden now you got to be a father?
darrell
The heck you mean all of a sudden? I am a father to that girl! Have been all along -- an' you darn well know that! And I want you to know somethin' else -- that I'm awful ashamed-a what happened here this afternoon.
evie
(Not grasping his reference)
What happened ... ?
darrell
You. Me.
(Points to bed)
There.
evie
Oh, so you're blamin' me 'cause you're restless, horny and out of control.
darrell
Somewhat! Not altogether, but ... somewhat!
(The gentle sound of the knock is repeated. darrell opens the door and angel is standing there, smiling and cherubic. darrell smiles at her, gently and warmly.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
C'mon in, sweetheart. Did-ja have fun with Dody Mae an' Hector?
(Without answering, angel attaches herself to Darrell, taking his hand, staying close to him.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
Hope you remembered to put that new bunch-a Barbie clothes back in the truck.
(angel looks at him and smiles, making no direct response.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
When we get home, honey, I'll help you get the house back together.
(To Evie)
Yesterd'y the dog knocked her Barbie house off the table an' we've got to put the kitchen wall back in place, an' look again for the 'frigerator -- which the dog may of ate.
(To Angel)
I know it's been a while since you seen this here woman, Angel, but you remember her, don't-cha? ... Evie? ... Your mother?
(angel's friendly glance at Evie questions recognition. evie is very uncomfortable.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
Well ... it has been a while ...
evie
(To herself; disturbed and nervous)
Jesus ...
(Suddenly angel breaks gently into song.)
(singing) angel (singing)
I found the flutter of a butterfly
On the petals of a rose.
And I wonder when I shut my eyes
Where all the color goes.
evie
(as though the music hurts her ears)
She still doin' that? Singin' stuff that she ... makes up? ...
darrell
Don't talk about her, Evie! Talk to her!
evie
An' will she answer me, Darrell? Does she talk yet? ... like a real person? Ever? Like a normal human-bein'?
darrell
She is a normal human bein' who'd rather sing than talk. Nothin' wrong with that.
evie
(To Angel, overlapping to interrupt Darrell)
Don't sing for me, okay? I'm just not feelin' very ... musical.
(angel smiles and does a little dance twirl, then stops, facing Evie, and holds her hand out to her. evie is puzzled. darrell is puzzled, then sees the meaning.)
darrell
Oh, I reckin now she remembers who you are. I thank she wants you to dance with her.
evie
Dance with her?
darrell
She dances now, too ... almost as good as she sings. She's prob'ly rememberin' her seventh birthday. You did a few twirls with her then. After that's when she started dancin' ...
evie
I was drunk! Don't hardly even remember that!
darrell
You danced with her. I reckin that's what she remembers.
evie
Why would that be anything she'd remember, for Pete's sake?
darrell
Maybe 'cause it's the only birthday you were ever at. An' the last time she saw you.
evie
Jesus!
darrell
You were just passin' through, you said. An' just happened to have a cake with you. White icin' -- cut into it, there was this pale pink cake that looked just like ... velvet -- and on top those pink candy rose buds -- an' little green candy leaves that looked so real -- you remember that, don't you, Angel? -- an' long green stems made of frostin' that wrapped around in the middle so perty, spellin' out "Happy Birthday Andrew."
evie
I told them her name was Angel! I told'em to change that!
darrell
I reckin it-uz the nicest thang y'ever did for her.
evie
It wadn' somebody else's cake they didn't pick up, that's what your thinkin' ...
darrell
Didn' matter. It showed that you'd thought of her -- that you actually remembered when her birthday was, which frankly kind-a su'prised me. And it was the pertiest cake anybody in Belcher Bluff'd ever seen.
evie
I don't hardly remember that. I was still drinkin' somewhat back then.
(she throws back the remainder of her drink and pours more.)
darrell
And you gave her the cutest little blonde-haired one-armed doll she still plays with. She's real understandin' of the physically challenged.
(Shielding Angel from his remark)
She was down for a nap by the time you started throwin' up, so she only saw the good side of you.
(To Angel)
Angel, baby, your mother dudn' feel like dancin' right now. But I'd love to dance with you, if you'd 'low me t'be your partner.
(Showing her pleasure at his suggestion, angel curtsies, darrell gives a little bow, and they start humming a tune together as they move into position to dance. Obviously this is something they are accustomed to doing. evie is scrabbling through her purse.)
Evie
All-a this singin' an' dancin', carryin' on like y'all do when all I can think about ... Jesus, I thought I had some aspirin! Ever'thing but aspirin, looks like. Got cures for coughs ... cramps ... constipation ... you'd think in here somewhere there'd be ... cripes all to Pete!
(darrell brings the dance to a halt.)
darrell
I guess we best finish this when we get home. Angel, sugar, would you go over to Thraller's and get one-a those bottles of Bayer for your mother? Better make it a big one. Tell Floyd put it on our account. Get somethin' for yourself, too -- no more'n a dollar, and not with a bunch-a sugar, okay darlin'?
(angel gives darrell a quick hug and runs out.)
(continuing) darrell (continuing)
Why did you come back, Evie?
evie
For your mama's funeral!
darrell
She's bein' buried this afternoon. You checked in here for three days.
(A pause.)
evie
Darrell ... truth is ... I'm awful sick.
darrell
(Guardedly concerned)
What's the matter, Evie?
evie
(A beat)
Life! I'm sick-a life.
darrell
(Relieved)
Oh, Evie, ever'body's sick-a life, one time the other. You mostly get over it. Enough, anyhow -- you know, to go on ...
evie
But I got this terrible feelin' way down deep inside-a me that ... like ... I don't know, but, like I'm not gonna make it ... like I don't even want to anymore, just ... just that ... you couldn' possibly know what it's like, Darrell, 'cause you always had this thing that made you think ever'thing was gonna be all right, eventually, given time, things would just somehow work out for you --
darrell
(Overlapping to interrupt)
Given a little time, it does. Troubles come, then go. That's what life is -- ups an' downs. What would a roller-coaster be if it was just ... up. Good thing about bein' down is, you got the up to look forward to!
evie
My life is not a fuckin' amusement park, Darrell.
darrell
What I mean is, you've just encountered a little trouble, is all --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
My life is shit! I left this god-forsaken place 'leven years ago so I could do somethin' with my life. An' just look where I'm at! I had looks back then, I had talent!
(Singing)
"By the dawn's early light ..."
Remember how clear an perty that used to be ever' Friday night at the football games? Remember how people said they got goose-pimples when I let loose on them big notes? And I could lift my legs higher than any other damned cheerleader, an' throw a baton so high you'd think it was gonna hit God in the balls, catch it an' throw it an' never lose a twirl. I could-a done somethin' back then! -- made somethin' of myself! My god, it's no wonder Angel's got all that talent!
You know what my plan was, Darrell? I was gonna model in Paris, act in Hollywood, sing in New York an' dance in, well, I guess that'd be New York, too. I could-a done it back then! -- was gonna make a bunch-a money, an' come back here an' take you an' Angel away from all-a this! That's what I was gonna do -- for us!
darrell
Nothin' like that ever crossed your mind and you know it.
evie
What do you know about what goes on up here in this head-a mine?
darrell
I know good-'n'-well you never had any kind-a plan like that. You never thought diddly 'bout anybody in your whole life except yourself ...
evie
Seems to me you could have just a bit more respect for your big sister.
darrell
You're one day older an' half a sister. Don't see that puts you very high in the peckin' order -- 'specially since you never took any obligation about any darn thing y'ever did --
evie
(Overlapping to interrupt)
Don't talk like that, Darrell! You know you're the one I've always depended on! You're the one has to help me get through --
darrell
(Overlapping to interrupt)
Whatever good there was for us back then, Evie, it got to be so's I was a burden to you. We all were. We was all just so much baggage you didn't wanna tote no more. The day you knew you were pregnant's the day I saw the weight of it all come down on you -- the dull of your eyes, the hunch of your shoulders, the drag of your feet. Day after Angel was born -- well, I reckon it shouldn've su'prised me none that you just up an' left, sneakin' out-a the hospital way you did ... not a word to anybody ... not even botherin' to name your baby ...
evie
I knew you wouldn' understand, couldn' know what was goin' on inside-a me. When I really needed you, what did you care --
darrell
(Overlapping to interrupt)
An' this business of you showin' up ever' three-four years, you shouldn' do that to us, Evie.'Specially Angel. It's just not good for her.
evie
You talk like she's the only one that matters.
darrell
I reckon she is.
evie
She needs a mother.
darrell
She needs a lot-a things. We make do.
evie
But, Darrell ...
darrell
Not a one of us got ever'thing we need.
evie
(A beat)
I'm thinkin' real serious about ... comin' back ...
darrell
"Comin' back"?
evie
Yeah ... to Belcher Bluff ... to, uh, you know ... live ...
darrell
(A beat)
After all-a your travels an' stuff, not sure you'd be satisfied with life here in Belcher Bluff. ... Not sure we'd be satisfied with havin' you here.
evie
That dudn' sound too welcomin' ...
darrell
But I reckon you got a right to live wherever you want to. Free country and all ...
evie
We could be a family, Darrell -- you ... me ... Angel. We could get our own little place, an' before you know it ...
(Cajoling ...)
Darrell, baby?
darrell
Woman, you're tryin' to put a pitcher on a canvas with a bunch-a ol' dried-up paint.
evie
But what about ... us?
darrell
"Us"?
evie