Transcript written by and used with the courtesey of Angela Sugden
Fireman
Look out the window. And doesn’t this remind you of when you were in the boat? And then later that night, you were lying looking up at the ceiling, and the water in your head, was not dissimilar from the landscape, and you think to yourself, ‘Why is it that the landscape is moving, but the boat is still?’ And also, where is it that you’re from?
Blake
Cleveland.
Fireman
Cleveland.
Blake
Lake Erie.
Fireman
Erie. Do you have any parents back in Erie?
Blake
They passed on recently.
Fireman
And, er. . . do you have a wife. . .In Erie?
Blake
No.
Fireman
A fiancée?
Blake
Well, I, I had one of those, but. . . she changed her mind.
Fireman
She found herself somebody else.
Blake
No.
Fireman
Yes, she did. Well, that doesn’t explain why you’ve come all the way out here, all the way out here to hell.
Blake
I. . . have a job, out in the town of Machine.
Fireman
Machine? That’s the end of the line.
Blake
Is it?
Fireman
Yes.
Blake
Well, I, received a letter, from the people at Dickinson’s Metalworks, assuring me of a job there.
Fireman
Is that so?
Blake
Yes. I’m an accountant.
Fireman
I wouldn’t know, because, I don’t reads. But, er, I’ll tell you one thing for sure. I wouldn’t trust no words written down on no piece of paper, especially from no Dickinson out in the town of Machine. You’re just as likely to find your own grave. Look. They’re shooting buffalo. Government says, they killed a million of them last year alone.
Blake
Pardon me, sir. Could you please direct me towards the office? Thank you. Excuse me. Excuse me. How do you do, sir? I’m Bill Blake, your new accountant from Cleveland.
Schofield
What the heck are you doing here?
Blake
Well, I have here this letter, which confirms my position here.
Schofield
This letter is postmarked two months ago. Makes you about a month late. This, here, is Mr Olafsen. He’s our new accountant.
Blake
I’m sorry. I think there’s been some mistake.
Schofield
Look, Mr Black. . .
Blake
Blake.
Schofield
I’m a very busy man. . . and Mr Dickinson does not pay me for idle conversation.
Blake
Well, I’m sure he doesn’t, but this letter confirms my position here. Now, I’ve spent everything I had left after my parents’ funeral just to get here.
Schofield
Listen, Mr Black, I’ve got a lot of work to do here and this ain’t my business.
Blake
I’d like to speak to Mr Dickinson.
Schofield
No, I, I don’t think you want to do that.
Blake
I insist on speaking to Mr Dickinson, sir.
Schofield
You? Insist?
Blake
I insist.
Schofield
You insist?
Blake
Yes, I do.
Schofield
Well, go on then, lad. There’s the door.
Blake
All right, then.
Schofield
Go on, then!
Blake
Well, I will. Hello? Mr Dickinson?
Dickinson
Who the hell are you? And where did you get that goddamn clown suit? Cleveland?
Blake
Actually, yes, sir. I did get it in Cleveland.
Dickinson
What the hell are you doing in my office?
Blake
Well, I, I, I came to talk about my job.
Dickinson
The only job you’re gonna get in here is pushing up daisies from a pine box. Now get out.
Blake
Thank you very much, sir.
Schofield
Back to work, Mr Olafsen.
Blake
Excuse me. Excuse me. Pardon me, sir. Could I get a bottle, please?
Large Man
We liked you better when you was a whore.
Thel
Jackass. Shit. Why don’t you just paint my portrait?
Blake
I’m sorry. Let me help here.
Thel
This one’s no good.
Blake
One. Two.
Thel
It’s no good.
Blake
Come here. Watch yourself. You okay? You all right?
Thel
Yeah.
Blake
Here. Have a drink. Would you like a drink?
Thel
Thanks. I’m sorry. Would you mind walking me away from here?
Blake
Sure. Sure. I’ll just get my suitcase.
Thel
It’s that way.
Blake
All right.
Thel
Oh, shit.
Blake
I have a sneaking suspicion, that that large man back there was inebriated. I was gonna say something, but I didn’t want to cause any trouble.
Thel
No, I think it’s best you didn’t. That’s my room. Wasn’t expecting any visitor. Like it?
Blake
Yes, it’s beautiful. These flowers, gosh. They really are something.
Thel
Yeah, thank you.
Blake
You’re welcome.
Thel
I made them, from, paper. If I ever get the money, I’d like to make them out of cloth. Silk. And I’d put a drop of perfume. . . French perfume, in each one. What does it smell like?
Blake
Paper.
Thel
Well, it is paper. Hey, Bill. You got any tobacco anywhere?
Blake
No, I don’t smoke.
Thel
Damn. Oh, watch it. It’s loaded.
Blake
Why do you have this?
Thel
Because this is America. Charlie.
