This Boy's Life

It was 1957 and we're driving from Florida to Utah.

After my mother was beaten by her boyfriend...

we hightailed it for the uranium fields.

We were gonna change our luck...

which hadn't been so hot since our family broke up five years ago.

I spy with my little eye something that begins with C.

- Cactus. Cactus. - Nope.

- No? - It's upwards.

- Up. Up in the... - Clouds. Clouds.

Okay, your turn.

I was caught up in my mother's freedom, her delight in her freedom.

She was going to get rich on uranium and I was going to help her.

- How does this thing work, anyway? - Well, I think it causes like a...

It makes a black light that causes uranium traces to glow.

We can walk along the street and find uranium?

Well, it was everywhere in Moab, they say.

We were too late in Moab.

That guy said nobody had found uranium in Salt Lake City.

That means we'll have the place to ourselves, huh?

- Yeah. - This could be a big break for us.

If this works out, just think about it.

We could get a real house and we could get rid of this damn Nash.

We'd have no more money worries.

It'd be just like heaven on a June day.

Heaven on a June day.

Damn it.

If I had one wish right now, only one wish, you know what it would be?

I'd like to burn this goddamn Nash to a crisp.

I'm serious. I hate it.

I hate the man who invented it. I hate the factory who produced it.

Almost makes me want to see Roy.

He was the only one who could make it stop overheating.

My God, he was boring. Boring and mean.

You sure got crappy taste in boyfriends.

Come on, let's go get rich in Salt Lake.

Wait a minute. You're pulling my leg, right?

No. We came here to look for uranium.

If you're looking for uranium, why didn't you go to Moab?

We went there, but everybody beat us.

So you came here just on the chance you'd find uranium?

Yeah.

Do you mind me saying something that might sound rude?

Lady, you got more courage than you got common sense.

- So, what'd the man say? - Don't ask.

My mom had her own way of solving problems. She left them behind.

That's what she did with the Nash, just left it.

Things are going to start looking up. I can feel it.

The good times are coming.

My mom had high hopes, especially for me.

I'd been giving her no end of grief since she left Dad.

I decided I was gonna do better. I'd have straight-arrow friends.

I was gonna get all A's in school and keep my nose clean.

I promised it and meant it.

We give new boys the benefit of the doubt.

This is the second time you've been in front of me.

I think you'd better give your mother a call, tell her to come down here.

She works.

She's working.

- It wasn't me who broke their window. - Please.

- Believe them instead of me. - If you care for me, be quiet.

If you'd cared anything about me, you would've stayed married to Dad.

I didn't really mean that.

I knew it wasn't true.

My father went his own way before they called it quits...

and took my older brother, Gregory, with him.

Sometimes I had to blame somebody, and she was the only one there.

- What time is it? - 7, almost.

Why didn't you wake me?

I started dinner. The potatoes are frying and I'm heating up hot dogs.

- I'm sorry. - I know you are.

I know your father doesn't call and your brother doesn't write...

- but you know it's not my fault. - I know.

Okay.

Hello?

Hello, Roy.

A Winchester! Thanks.

I found me a room. But it's clear the hell and gone across town.

And I think I got a job lined up doing tune-ups at a Texaco station.

So how you like it at Winstead's?

- How do you know where I work, Roy? - I've been here almost a week.

And you've been following me around for a week?

How did you find me?

You like that rifle, Toby?

It's the best present ever. I love it. I'll go pretend I'm shooting.

Don't point it at anybody or I won't teach you to shoot.

- It's not loaded. - You heard me. Anything or anybody.

- It's got no bullets. - Don't make me say it again.

Fine. I'll just go point it at the sky then.

Don't.

Roy, don't!

Don't, Roy. Toby's still awake.

You are one sweet thing, baby.

It's just the sight of you makes my dick hard.

Don't, Roy.

Don't, now.

He's not going to hear anything!

Look, I'm...

Sorry, baby. I'm sorry.

Come on, you know I didn't mean that.

I'm just so glad to see you.

Most afternoons, I'd wander around in a trance.

Sometimes I'd go downtown, stare at the merchandise.

Maybe I'd shoplift. Maybe not.

I used to imagine I saw my father coming toward me.

I'd wait for him to recognize me.

I knew it wasn't him. He lived back East, married to a rich woman.

His nickname was Duke and that's how I thought of him...

as a duke living in a castle far away.

A few minutes later, I'd pick someone else.

- I'm home. - Hi, honey.

- We going someplace? - We sure are.

- Where? - I don't know. Any ideas?

- Phoenix. - Good. I was thinking Phoenix.

Or Seattle. Plenty of opportunities in both places.

What about your fabulous boyfriend? The fabulous, boring Roy.

- Is he coming too? - God, I hope not.

I looked out the window at work today, he was across the street watching.

- So uncool. - You didn't think so last night.

"I just love my new rifle, Roy! It's the bestest present I ever had."

Shut up.

There.

Now? We're leaving now?

- What about the food? - Leave it.

- Even the canned stuff? - Are you coming or staying?

Ask him when the next one to Phoenix is.

- When's the next bus to Phoenix? - Tomorrow morning. 11:45.

- How about Seattle? - Yeah, what about Seattle?

Leaves in, what, three... No, two minutes.

- Is this the bus to Seattle? - Yes, it is.

Hurry. Come on. Seattle, here we go!

I always had a good head for figures.

If I got a CPA license, I bet we could make a real go of it in Seattle.

I know what. I'll advertise for roommates.

- Hey, Ter. - Hey, Jack.

What did your mom say about skipping school?

Who listens?

Did you go to Wanda's last night?

You make out?

Make out good?

How good?

Fucked her till her nose bled.

Sure you did.

Hey, Jack. Terry.

Oh, look! It's Elvis, Elvis and Elvis.

Does your face hurt? Because it's killing me.

Silver.

- Anybody here? - Help! Help!

Help! I'm in here!

Oh, well. Lois, baby, come here. I got six hot inches just waiting for you.

- Yeah, you wish. - Oh, Lois. I want you so bad!

Come on, you make my dick hard, baby!

Come on, baby. I'll do better than Superman. Just give me a chance.

How did you find me?

Oh, Lois. Daddy-o's going to make you happy-o. Tie them ropes around me.

You couldn't even get it up, Silver.

We had to talk dirty for a while. It was a formality...

like crossing yourself with holy water when you went into a church.

After that, we shut up and watched the show.

We softened. We surrendered. We watched Superman have dumb adventures...

with dorky plots and we didn't laugh at them.

- It looks better with the bow in back. - He'll love it.

You say he's getting serious already?

I think so. He keeps talking to me about marriage.

- He's dying to meet Toby. - Three dates. You got him.

- I'm not sure I want him. - Don't want who?

It's the tough guy who can't be bothered to go to school.

Don't want who?

Dwight. Remember? I told you about him.

Please, use a glass.

He's that guy that comes from the boondocks? The mechanic?

Dwight. What a stupid name.

Dwight.

- Caroline. - Hello?

Hi.

- The door was open. - Behave.

Thank you.

Introduce you to everybody. I'll take your hat.

- This is Marian. - Marian.

- And Kathy. - Kathy.

And this is my son.

- So you're Toby? - No.

- You're not Toby? - No.

He wants to be called Jack. Silly, but he read those Jack London books.

I'll call him anything he wants. People can call me anything they want...

as long as they don't call me late for supper.

- A cup of coffee before we go? - I could stand a cup of java, yeah.

- Have a seat. - Over here?

- So, Jack, do you like school? - No.

- You don't like school? - No.

- That's the way it is with kids today. - He might like it if he ever went.

Have another cookie. Keep your strength up.

My son's decided to try to drive me to an early grave. Truly.

Straighten up and be polite now, honey.

- Who made this? - I did.

Well, all I can say is, you people are pretty lucky...

to live in a house with a cup of coffee like this.

Wait.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Just a little trick I learned in the Navy.

So, Jack, I hear you're invited up to Dwight's next week for Thanksgiving.