Ulee's Gold

I'll see you.

Okay.

Good job, you guys. See you all back at the house.

So he says to me, "I'd just soon they cut the state off just north of Orlando...

and let the bottom half float right out into the gulf."

It didn't sound like such a bad idea.

Fair enough on the bakery grade.

I want 92 for the tupelo.

- Ulee. - I could sell it myself.

Fact is, I've been thinking of doing just that.

Can you extract by next Thursday?

I can give you 30 barrels. I'll keep the rest.

You're not working as many bees these days.

- Can you deliver? - I said 30. I meant it.

Well, it's gonna be a good year.

At least as long as they can keep the Chinese from dumping their honey.

Chinese don't have anything like our tupelo.

Ulee, most folks don't seem to care anymore.

Cheap honey floods the market.

The bees and I have an understanding.

I take care of them, they take care of me.

We'll both just have to work a little harder, that's all.

Time to go.

If all my suppliers were like you...

Well, then I would worry about the competition.

- What do you hear from Jimmy? - We don't keep in touch.

It's almost two years, ain't it?

Hey, Ulee. Wait up.

I can't do that, Sheriff.

Why, Ulee, it has been a long time.

- Can we go back to the way things were? - No, Bill, I don't think we can.

Mary's always wanting you over for supper.

Look, you can't stay cut off forever.

It's a busy time, Bill. Tell Mary thanks for asking though.

Hey, Ulee. How you been?

Fine, Penny. How are you doing?

Just fine.

What you got there?

It's a bunny for Easter.

Don't look like much.

Of course it ain't, Gramps. It's just pretend.

- Off to work again, Connie? - Afraid so, Penny.

- How was your math test? - I got an 85.

That's good. Did you get the rent check, Mr. Jackson?

Yes, I certainly did, Miss Hope. Is everything okay with the house?

Everything's fine.

- Take care. - Bye.

I'm glad Connie's our new renter. Aren't you, Ulee?

I like her lots better than old Mrs. Pritchard.

Well, we hardly know her, Penny.

It takes more than a couple of months to know someone.

But she's a nurse, Ulee. All nurses are nice.

- Is that right? - Come on, Buckshot. Come on.

Casey.

In here.

- Y'all have a good day? - Not bad.

Aren't you starting all this a little early?

It's Friday. I already asked you about tonight. You said it was okay.

I know what I said.

- Is it that Mitchell kid? - That's right.

- Where are you going? - A movie. Where else?

That's all, you hear.

To tell you the truth...

we were kind of thinking of going to Mexico and robbing a couple of banks.

After all, it runs in the blood.

Shouldn't be any trouble at all going wild.

Don't even kid about it.

Buckshot?

I gotta pay the guys.

- Thank you, Charley. - Thanks, Mr. Jackson.

- You boys did good. - Thank you.

A couple of us were wondering if we can stay on through extracting and the move.

Thanks, but I don't think so.

But it's mighty hard work, sir. I mean, especially a man your age.

- Couldn't you use some help? - I've gotten used to going it alone.

Thanks anyway. Maybe next year.

Yes, sir. I just thought I'd ask.

You be home by 11:30.

- We'll try. - No tryin' to it.

Be here.

Yeah?

And you just try to figure out a way to make me.

You'll pay the rest of your life for being a jackass.

Yeah? Anything'd be better than dying of boredom.

Let's get the fuck out of here, Markie.

You're supposed to be getting ready for bed.

It's Friday night, Ulee. I can stay up a little bit.

And they're all dead? Every last one?

Except for you. All dead?

That's right.

Had they been bad?

- Did they deserve to die? - No.

No, Penny, they did not.

Why then?

Those were good guys.

Your grandpa was tricky.

Lucky. That's why I made it out.

Maybe only the tricky made it out.

And I shouldn't be talking to a little kid...

about terrible stuff that happened a long time before she was born.

But it's so sad, Ulee.

You like sad?

But sometimes, inside...

it makes you quiet.

Hello, Dad?

Jimmy.

I need to see you.

Next week, maybe. We just brought in the tupelo.

That could be too late. It's Helen.

Helen's in trouble.

I could care less, and you know it.

Please, Dad, this is different.

- Hours still 10:00 to 1:00? - That's right.

I'll be there at noon.

- How are the kids? - Fine. Great.

What the hell do you think?

- I'll see you tomorrow. - Yeah.

Who was that?

Man wants to sell me some hives.

I guess I'll go give them a look-see.

You go and brush your teeth.

I'll be in and read you good night.

Good night.

Your daddy called tonight. Something's come up.

Is he getting out?

I have to go see him tomorrow. You'll need to take care of Penny.

- I'll be home before supper. - Get somebody else.

Like Connie Hope next door. I got things to do.

We don't ask outsiders for help, Casey. You know that.

Yeah, well, just tell my dad...

he might answer some of my letters sometime.

Casey would like to hear from you.

She claims you've been giving her a hard time.

Just trying to keep a lid on her hormones.

At this rate, she'll be starting a baby even before you and Helen did.

One round of fools is enough, don't you think?

Helen is in Orlando.

She's been working as a waitress or something.

Next time you talk to her, ask her to send something home to her kids.

She hasn't been in touch.

Remember Eddie Flowers and Ferris Dooley?

- They still robbing mini-marts? - Eddie called yesterday.

They were in a bar down in the trail two nights ago.

She stumbles in, strung out on something.

She's acting so crazy, someone's gonna call the cops.

So somehow Eddie and Ferris managed to get her out and took her home.

I wouldn't trust those two bastards any further than I could spit.

Neither would I.

That's why you gotta go get her right now, while we know where she is...

- before Eddie or Ferris do something. - Get her?

And then what?

She left her kids, your kids. Remember?

This is my busiest time.

I'm supposed to risk everything to go bring back a god...

As far as I'm concerned, she can just stay gone.

She's sick, Dad.

I don't know nothing about dealing with scum like Eddie and Ferris.

Besides...

you think she's gonna let me go in there...

take her off just like that?

You're all we got, Pop.

- How you doing? - Where are you?

Casey, you're gonna have to take care of things for a while longer.

There's food there. Get Penny to help.

I've been taking care of her all day. I'm about ready to kill the creep.

Tell her everything's okay.

And, Casey...

I may be bringing your mom home.

- Why bother? - That was my feeling exactly.

But your dad...

Your dad's real worried about her.

How is he?

Okay, I guess.

Where are you now?

Outside Orlando.

I've only got a phone number.

So far I haven't been able to get through.

It's typical.

Yeah.

You all take care of yourself, okay?

Yeah, no sweat.

See you tomorrow.

Speak to me.

I'm trying to reach Eddie Flowers or Ferris Dooley.

Mr. Jackson.

When do you want to get together?

The sooner, the better.

Meet us at the Orange Blossom on the trail in an hour.

We'll be shooting pool in back.

Nice to see you again, Mr. Jackson. It's been a while.

Not long enough, Eddie.

I guess some things can't be helped.

Ferris has been sleeping on the floor in here, Mr. Jackson.

It's not the most comfortable situation, right?

She was walking in her sleep.

We had to tie her up sometimes.

Yes, sir, it's booming down here, with that mouse and all.

This is where all those smart guys are setting up.

Yeah?

You wouldn't believe the opportunities.