The Brakes Of Wrath
It looked like a Coen Brothers knockoff at first. Fargo. AP: 3 execs, 81 cars missing from a Nebraska car dealership. Some of the cars have turned up at auction, elsewhere. Employees show up to an empty lot. The owner and a couple of execs are wanted on suspicion of theft.
Then I realized it was Steinbeck, updated. Neo-dustbowl, with the greed, heartlessness and desperation all rolled in one set of characters instead of being parcelled out, as the Joads lose their dealership.
They told me to tell you to get off. That’s what I’m tellin’ you.
You mean get off my own dealership?
Don’t go to blaming me. It ain’t my fault.
Whose fault is it?
You know who owns the cars. Toyota Financing.
Who’s Toyota Financing?
Nobody. It’s a company.
They got a president. They got somebody who knows what a shotgun’s for!
Oh, Allen, it ain’t his fault because the bank tells him what to do.
All right. Where’s the bank?
Torrance, California. What’s the use of picking on him?
He ain’t nothing but the manager. He’s half crazy trying to keep up with his orders.
Then who do we shoot?
Brother, I don’t know. If I did, I’d tell you. I just don’t know who’s to blame.
I’m right here to tell you, mister: There ain’t nobody gonna push me off my dealership!
Psst. Cool down, Allen. Just smile and nod. Ain’t nothing you can do. If it ain’t him today, it’ll be some other guy the day after tomorrow.
What in tarnation are you talking about, Rachel?
Tell the guy, fine, give us some time to pick up our things, we’ll mosey on out of here in a piece. Meanwhile, me and Rick, we’ll will get on the phone, get some car haulers in here. You just go load up Ma and the kids. Don’t forget Grandpa!
Where is Grandpa?
You know. Where he always is. Surfing porn on the Internet.
Think it’ll work?
If it does, it’ll be a miracle out of Oprah.
Kind of like that. Get used to it. We’re living in the kind of times that produce sordid tales and stirring literature.
Topics: America, cars, literary
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:34 pm Comments (0) on Friday, March 13, 2009
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