The Leisure Seeker

It's time to show the whole world...

That America is back again.

Bigger, better and stronger...

Than ever before.

Mom, it's me. Are you ready?

Jane will be here any minute.

I made a cake for dad.

Tell me this is a joke.

Will. - Hey, Lillian.

I'm glad I got you alone.

I wanted to tell you that if you get busy with your mom at the hospital...

I'm more than happy to look in on your dad.. - But they are not here, the house is empty.

I tried to call but I think mom has turned off the cellphone we bought her.

Come to think of it, I heard someone turning on an engine this morning.

Very early. - What engine? Dad's car is right here.

My god.

Jane, mom and dad are gone.

And you won't believe it: So is the Leisure Seeker.

Take a right here.

That's it, good.

You couldn't have worn something more comfortable to travel in?

And I think you're exaggerating a bit with the Cologne.

But you smell nice.

Darling?

Did you fart? - Excuse me?

You did. - I did not.

Can't be talking like that, what are you saying?

Hon, do we need gas?

We need gas.

Let's stop at Stuckey's, we can get one of those pecan bars.

Where? - Alice Stuckey's, hon.

Try to remember. - OK boss.

Just as you say. Like always.

Yeah, right.

Hey, are you crazy?

Is the store closed? We really wanna to have one of those delicious pecan bars.

Opening soon. Just gas now. - No, did you hear that, hon?

Every summer we'd head south but we always stopped at Stuckey's.

Our kids Jane and will, they just had to have their pecan loads.

We always went to south Carolina. - That's where I'm from.

But my husband John, on the other hand, is 100 percent northerly yankee. Born and bred.

They were wonderful trips. Weren't they, John?

I guess I'm just a natural born tourist. I love to travel.

Smoky mountains, six flags, williamsburg... do you ever been to those places?

We are from Syria. - You are? How interesting.

Well, you should go. They are amazing.

91 dollars, sir. - Yes, of course.

My husband, John, on the other hand, he's a much more sophisticated traveler then I am.

He thinks travel should broaden an electoral horizon.

Whatever that's supposed to be.

I just love chatting with different people.

Here, here you are. - Have a nice trip.

Let's roll, hon. Nice visiting with you.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

What a nice woman. She found one in the store room.

The expiration date is...

My goodness, last April.

I think it still be alright. Would you like a little taste hon?

I want a burger. - It's not lunchtime yet.

I want a burger.

Hi my name is Chantal and I will be your server.

Hi Chantal, I'm Ella and this is John. Guess you are stuck with us.-

can I recommend a Chalichat, only $9.99. It comes with a

burger, large fries, a slice of apple pie and a happy swirl.

A happy swirl?

I have no idea what that could be, but it sure sounds promising.

- I want a burger. - Well, we'll have a Chalichat for mister grumpy here.

OK, and you madam? - Just water.

Nothing to eat? - I'll just have a sip of his happy swirl. - OK.

And would you like anything else to drink? Coke, beer? - No, that'll be fine, thank you.

I want a burger. Burger, please?

That'll be all Chantal, thank you.

You're welcome.

I'm just going to stretch my legs. You stay put.

Do not move, right?

I know, doctor Machovsky, I'm fully aware.

I'm not sure what else to say. Just hoping they haven't gone too far away.

I understand.

OK, my brother just pulled on. See if he knows anything.

So? - I checked all the supermarkets: Nothing.

I seem to remember it was your brilliant idea to keep that monstrosity.

Nice work Chudo. - There has to be some sort of explanation.

Yeah, they ran away. - From who?

Mom, where the fuck are you? Will, honey, please don't use that language with me.

Never mind the language. You need to calm down, if you raise your voice I'll hang up.

Mom what is this craziness? You knew I was coming to get you, why are you not here?

We are just taking a little trip, Jane. We won't be gone for long.

A little trip? Where?

It's just something I really need to do with your father.

I can't believe this. We decided everything, will was gonna

stay with dad, I was gonna come to stay the night...

Not 'us'. You and will know the cracked doctors did that for us.

That is the basis of Hemingway's narrative James Joyce saw the beauty of it.

Joyce claimed him a giant. But not here, not in America.

Here we praise the hell out of our brilliant darlings when we kill one.

You tell dad to turn that jalopy around and get right back home.

Try to understand. Just let me have this vacation with your father.

Vacation, now it's a vacation? - You know full well dad can't drive in this condition.

Your father is perfectly capable of driving, he's doing very well.

Mom please, just at least keep your cellphone on.

Kids, we'll manage. Love you.

Where are they? - I have no idea, no idea, Lillian.

And when we die, what we are ends.

This is it. That's all there is.

It's so beautifully crafted, the work of poetry.

And prose at the same time. Prose that is poetry.

You know, I can see that, definitely.

Chantal, ignore him, you know.

No, it is super interesting. He's being very nice.

Prose that is poetry is Hemingway's secret. Do you have any idea how difficult that is?

For sure. - John, leave the poor girl alone.

People have confused his simplicity and his economy of words with simplicity.

You want any special sauces for your burger? - No we'll be fine. Thank you, Chantal.

Enjoy.

I just wanted to ask her if she read "the end of something". - John, eat.

You want me to cut it off for you? - No, not necessary.

Don't forget your pills.

How is it?

And here are yours.

I'm gonna chase mine with this famous happy swirl.

I don't see how you can just sit there eating?

We should call the police, and get them out their credit card spending.

Hopefully, mom hasn't lost her marbles as well.

Maybe they're just out for a short spin.

The camper needs a service change, Jane. What if

there is an accident? What if someone sues dad?

We need to figure out where they are going and intercept them.

And she keeps eating as if there's nothing.

Everybody came to my cousin's wedding. They sat

us at a great big table with a picture window.

And who was there, do you remember?

Me? - John.

Yes, John, you were there, I was there, the kids were there. Do you remember?

God. We're fine.

John that was amazing.

I can still do it, can't I? - Yes you can.

Here, here, you take that road.

Old route 1 we must have driven that a thousand times.

Are we heading south? - That's the plan.

To your people.

What people John? My parents are dead.

They are all dead? - I wonder what's it like up there?

Is it a joyful place. All people are singing and

dancing and drinking happy swirls all day long?

What do you think John? What's it like, you know, after?

Freedom is just another word for it nothing left to lose and Johnny sings the blues..

Hi. Hi welcome. We have booked through the Internet. The name is Spencer.

Come along my darling. Good.

Are you ready?

Yep, that's good.

Watch your head.

Hi, hi, hello there.

Wow, check it out. '75 winnebago Indian.

It's a gift from my parents. I named it the Leisure Seeker.

My husband hated it at first. He thought it was kind of low class.

But when he kind got used to it we've had a lot

of wonderful trips with this old rust bucket.

Look at this old beauty baby. - Yeah, it's great.

Have you folks been on the road long?

No we just started. We are headed south, kind of

where I grew up between Charleston and Savannah

it's so beautiful down there. - Yeah, it's beautiful.

We always go there on vacation but this time we're going

further south, all the way to the Florida keys. - Wow.

I'm finally taking John to see Hemingway's house, in key west. You've ever been there?

No. - Maybe when he was a confederate general right?

No silly, he was a writer.

Didn't he commit suicide?

He did. And I never understood why.

John knows all about him. He's always wanted to see that house.

Every year I promise him we go but you know how it is

traveling with little kids. We've seen melville's place.

That's near the way we live but you know he wrote Moby dick. Very, very interesting.

Actually it was a pain in the rib for my son Will and me.

But my daughter Jane she loved it. I think that's why she became a professor.

My husband John is so proud of her. But my son Will ...On the other hand

he's still struggling to find he's way, he just don't know what to do...

Where are we?

We're not home? - No hon. We live in Massachusetts.

This is Pennsylvania.

What the dick are we doing in Pennsylvania?

We're on vacation and we're having a whale of a time.

No not me. I want a cup of tea. - My husband John. John these are our neighbors.

Hate to say it but we are late...

We've got to put the kids to sleep.

Reading bedtime stories. - Maybe another time. Good night.

Say goodbye John. - I want a cup of tea.

I make you tea when I'm good and ready. I'm quite comfortable sitting here.

I want it now. - You only being peeing all night.

I want a cup of tea.

We're not the only ones here. You want a cup of tea you

are gonna make it yourself, you are not an invalid.

That is exactly what I will do.

Hey darling...

Would you like a cup of tea? - I give up.

Drink that.

In the bed.

You coming? - In a minute.

Good morning, Johnny my love. - How are you honey?

Goodness me...