EXT. HARDIN’S - BACK YARD - DAY

LIPSCOMB

(to Winer) She’s got a case on one of us, and somehow I just don’t believe it’s you. He turns back to work and drops his hammer as a clumsy excuse to bend and look up Amber’s shorts.

LIPSCOMB

(standing up) Black drawers. Godadmighty damn. Black drawers. Suddenly, Hardin comes out onto the porch and sits down next to Amber. Ignoring her now, Lipscomb goes back to hammering, gearing it up a notch or two. LATER From the edge of the property, by the stream, Amber appears in a bathing suit, drying herself off with a towel. She passes Winer and Lipscomb on her way into the house. Once she’s gone, Lipscomb lays his hammer down.

LIPSCOMB

If that ain’t a invite, then I don’t know one. Here goes nothin’. He crosses to Amber’s window and peers inside, watching her change. From where he’s standing, Winer can see Hardin approach around the other side of the house.

WINER

(calling) Hey! Lipscomb ignores him as he stares through the window.

WINER

(calling) Hey, Lipscomb! Lipscomb turns from the window like a staggering drunk and wipes imaginary beads of perspiration from his brow.

LIPSCOMB

Oh, Lord. Oh Lordy Lord... 40.

HARDIN

How high a fever you run with the fits? You reckon I ought to send that boy after Doc Ratcliff for you? Lipscomb stumbles and turns toward Hardin, his face blood- swollen.

LIPSCOMB

There ain’t nothin’ wrong with me.

HARDIN

The hell there’s not... You wanna step ‘round here a minute? I need a word with you. Glancing at Winer, Lipscomb disappears with Hardin around the side of the house. Winer continues to work as they’re gone, looking up every few moments as if expecting to hear a gunshot. Finally, Lipscomb re-appears alone and, still red- faced, begins gathering his TOOLS.

LIPSCOMB

Get your shit gathered up. We’re draggin’ up.

WINER

(pausing) What?

LIPSCOMB

We’re quittin’, by God. We’re goin’.

WINER

‘We,’ hell - I didn’t know we came in a set like salt and pepper shakers. Lipscomb straightens up and glares at him.

LIPSCOMB

Why, you snotty little bastard...

WINER

(cutting him off) I’ll make up my own mind about quittin’. You never hired me. 41.

LIPSCOMB

I ought to just slap the hell out of you.

WINER

Why don’t you, just like you did Hardin?

LIPSCOMB

(taking a step toward him) By God, I believe I will... Holding his hammer, Winer does not retreat. Lipscomb finally stops and his eyes grow fierce and malignant. Grabbing his toolbox, he begins to leave.

LIPSCOMB

I’d like to stay and see the mess you’ll make out of things. You couldn’t build a fuckin’ chicken coop if you had a book to go by. He leaves. Winer goes back to hammering as before. LATER Winer’s still hammering as Hardin saunters up, pairing his finger nails with the bone-handled knife.

HARDIN

Well, I had to let ye runnin’ mate go... I couldn’t afford union scale for winder-peepin’. Winer continues to work.

HARDIN

Hold up a minute. You ain’t gettin’ paid by the nail nohow. Winer stops and looks at Hardin.

HARDIN

Ain’t you worked past quittin’ time anyhow?

WINER

I don’t know. I don’t have a watch - we used his. Besides, I wasn’t sure what you wanted. 42.

HARDIN

I told you what I wanted when I hired you. I want a honkytonk built. Can you do it?

WINER

Well, I can do most of it. There’s some thing’s that’re hard for one man to do, like puttin’ up the joists and rafters. And I can’t raise the walls and plumb them by myself.

HARDIN

That’s all I wanted to hear. You measure ‘em and nail ‘em together, and I’ll grab a handful of these highbinders I’m always waist-deep in, and we’ll raise ‘em for you. Just holler. Alright?

WINER

I’ll give it a try.

HARDIN

Shore you will. You can do it. (a beat) Ain’t you goin’ to ast me about the money?

WINER

What about it?

HARDIN

About how much I was payin’ him? I’m payin’ it to you, now. You’re the architect and the carpenter and the hired help, too. You fuck up, we’ll know who to blame it on. Winer grins.

HARDIN

Come on, and I’ll run you home. Can’t have my builder walkin’ to work, totin’ his tools. Folks’ll be talkin’ about me. Still grinning, Winer follows Hardin to the house. 43.