Open Hearts

(Coins clinking) 

(Milo laughs) 

Milo: 

Just like my ex-wife, digging for every nickel before I can even get there. 

(item clinks in machine) 

You mind? 

Gemma: 

No. 

(Milo sighs) 

Milo: 

Get any sleep? 

Gemma: 

Little. 

Milo: 

Milo. 

Gemma:

Rose. Milo... like the dog. 

Milo: 

Actually, Milo was the cat. 

Otis was the dog. 

Gemma: 

Guess you must have kids. 

Milo: 

Yup, four, last time I counted. You? 

Gemma: 

No. Just me. 

Milo: 

Ah. Solo kind of gal. 

Gemma: 

Yeah, something like that. 

Where you headed? 

Milo: 

Haul produce. 

Uh, Pendleton to Alameda County. 

I'm heading up north now to pick up some tomatoes. 

Gemma: 

You take 97? 

Milo: 

Sometimes, depending on the traffic. 

Gemma: 

Think you can give me a lift? 

Milo: 

What about your car? 

Gemma: 

I just borrowed that. Needed to take a nap. 

(sighs) 

Milo: 

Look, I'm not looking for a roadside hummer, sweetheart. 

Gemma: 

Yeah, well, that's good, 'cause I ain't offering one. How'd we get from kids to cocksucking that quickly? 

Milo (laughing): 

May... Maybe I've just been on the road too long. 

Gemma: 

Yeah, me, too. Me, too, Milo. 

Milo: 

So, uh, what's up north? 

Gemma: 

My dad. 

Just south of Klamath Falls. 

Milo: 

Oh, so, you're not alone? 

Gemma: 

Advanced Alzheimer's. 

Might as well be talking to the coat rack. 

Milo: 

Sorry. 

Gemma: 

It's okay. 

I’ll know I was there. 

Milo: 

Not that I've been staring at your rack, 

but, uh, open heart? 

Gemma: 

Oh. Yeah. 

Milo: 

I had a valve replaced myself. 

Gemma: 

Hmm. Now, you see, Milo, two broken hearts on the road to tomatoes. 

(Milo laughs) 

That country song writes itself. 

(Milo chuckles) 

Milo: 

Well, as long as that country song isn't about a crazy cougar hijacking a truck at gunpoint, I'll give you that ride. 

Gemma: 

I'm a good Christian girl. 

Just need to go home, see my daddy. 

Milo: 

Yeah. Okay, Saint Rose. 

Let's go. You got any bags? 

Gemma: 

Not anymore.