Watercolor Postcards

My mama told me once,

"Hope is the only God common to all men.

Those who have nothing still have hope."

This is Bent Arrow, a small town in West Texas,

if you still want to call it a town.

I heard it was once,

before the Mega-Mart came and left,

but not since I can remember.

Now it seems it's just people passing on the highway,

trains rolling through, taking something to somewhere else

and leaving a bunch of us hanging our hats

on the last hook of a whole lot of hope.

* These old highways

* These old back roads

* As crooked as an arrow *

* Is where I'm from

* The desert

* The... The dust.

Ahh.

What? Is it the melody?

What's not working for you?

* As crooked as an arrow

* Is where I'm from.

Big storm last night.

Did it scare you?

A little.

You dream?

A little.

Ooh.

How 'bout this one?

You sure?

Whatever you want.

See you in town?

In a while.

I want to see if there's a lunch rush.

Bye, Joe Boy.

[Radio playing country and western music]

I say Aerosmith.

Nope. Springsteen.

What about Green Day?

They're an American band.

They been around for a while.

Yeah. Don't they have that guy

that wore the, uh, G.W. Bush mask onstage?

How 'bout if we talk about something relevant?

Those punks are lucky they didn't get Dixie Chicked.

Dixie Chicks. Now, what happened to them?

That's what I'm talking about.

You don't mess with Texas.

You know how long ago that was?

Can we just move on here?

Speaking of moving on, you ever gonna pay them bills,

or are you gonna make stacks out of 'em?

You ever gonna pay your damn bar tab?

Hoo. Maybe I could send you

over to the vendors to perform sexual acts,

wipe out some of the debt that I've got here.

Ledball. Hmm?

Come on. How about it, Merlin?

Take one for the team. Wait a sec.

You might end up owing more.

That was funny.

* Jack-O-Lope.

Very funny.

* Jack-O-Lope

* Get ourself a Jack-O-Lope *

She doing any better, darling?

No, sir.

All right. Well...

you keep the faith.

Now, you keep that bottle hidden.

Run along so we don't have any problems.

Yes, sir.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you, Ledball.

All right, get on out of here. Go on.

* ...each other with the grace of a love *

* You just smile

* And it comes back your way... *

Ledball,

what'd I tell you about that?

I don't want to see her in here.

Then you close your eyes.

'Cause to me, it looks like

you're giving liquor to a minor.

And making Lois' life a little easier,

so we'll just leave it at that, all right?

* ...gets heavy in this town *

Mama?

Mama.

Mama.

Mama.

Come on.

Hi.

Ah, come on. Come on.

I got you. Ready?

1, 2, 3.

Okay.

How you feeling, Mama?

I'm making it, baby.

What would I do without you, sweetie, hmm?

Can I get something for you?

No, baby.

The Lord is gonna have to do the rest.

I just wish that I could be sure that you're gonna be okay.

Mm, my baby girl.

I know you're worried,

but please don't worry about me.

Okay. Okay?

Mm-hmm. I'm just fine.

Okay.

I just don't want you to hurt no more.

No.

Well, you learned all your lessons here,

so you can walk with God, right?

That's right, baby.

How was I so blessed with you?

After your sister...

Things work out themselves, Mama.

Oh, I know that, baby.

Mom.

It just makes me so mad.

Stop. Stop. Stop, okay?

What?

I'm right here. Look at me,

okay?

Yeah.

Everything's just fine, okay?

All right.

Don't upset yourself.

Okay.

Yeah.

Mama, I'm right here.

I'm not leaving you. I promise.

You sure? Oh, yes.

You're my mama.

You're my baby girl.

Yeah.

I love you.

Heh.

Go to sleep.

Okay. Okay.

Okay. Okay.

Where's my bottle, baby?

I got it.

Okay.

Stay with me?

I'm right here.

Okay.

Okay.

You're home early.

Yeah.

I'm glad.

Come on. Come on, boy.

Did you mail the card?

Yeah.

Cotton...

things may get worse before they get better.

It depends on how you look at those things.

Heh. I suppose that's true.

Do you think, Butch,

that if you believe in something...

And I mean like you just really believe in it...

That it'll come true?

Well...

Sure.

Mama's going to Heaven, Butch.

I saw it in my dream last night.

I know she is, too.

Cotton.

Yeah?

I'll be here.

I know.

Your mama's in a better place.

[Radio chatter outside]

Oh, God.

Hey, Butch.

How's she doing?

She hasn't even cried yet.

Kinda weird, huh?

She knew this was gonna happen.

One moment?

But you know I can't.

But, Sheriff...

Come on, Butch.

Just give me a day to figure this out.

No! There's no more talking.

What are you gonna do now?

Gotta take her to the home in Austin.