fallout-lou-begas:I know it doesn’t look too good for her,and I suppose she’s done the t

fallout-lou-begas:

I know it doesn’t look too good for her,
and I suppose she’s done the things you say.
And I guess it’s true I tried more than I should for her,
but it’s not her fault that she turned out that way.
—“Bad Girl,” Conway Twitty (1969)

It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin’
#5 - Primm I

Collaborative Issue!
Guest Colorist: @sarsaparilla-star

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Transcript:

EXT. Primm. Late morning.

INT. Primm, Mojave Express office. The bell above the door jingles as someone enters. JOHNSON NASH, behind the counter, turns around to greet them.

NASH:Hey there, youngst—

It’s AGNES.

NASH:—olyshit,Ag, what the hellhappened to you?

AGNES:I died.

NASH:Died!?

AGNES:For a few days,at least.John, do you remember anything about the last order you gave me?

NASH:You mean the one you went missing on for just shy of three weeks now?

AGNES (tapping the counter): That’s the one.

NASH:Heh.Gotta be honest with you, it’s hard to forget.

NASH’s explanation continues as Agnes notices ED-E at the far end of the counter. She glares at it uneasily.

(V.O.) NASH: That thing stunk like hell the second it showed up. Code words…liaisons…and all for a bunch of junk.

It feels like ED-E is looking back at AGNES.

(V.O). NASH:Caps were better than I’d ever seen, though, so I tried not to think too much aboutit. I meanthat, Ag, this was thousandsfor handling goddamn bric-a-brac.

AGNES’ worried expression intensifies.

(V.O.) NASH:There was that chip, of course. Some fuzzy dice, a bobblehead, a compact…just little things.Weactuallyhadsevencouriers at first, but then the liaison says order got changed, says we should only need sixcouriers all of a sudden,

(V.O.) NASH:and then the one who was supposedto take the chip at first,well,heruns off and quits(the goddamn bastard he is),

ED-E beeps to itself quietly. AGNES’ eyes widen with suspicion, fear, and…

(V.O.) NASH:and that’s why I took youoff the Novacjob, so that—

ED-E suddenly emits a sreeching “BEEP!” sound, causing AGNES to flinch and scream.

AGNES:AAAGH!!

NASH:Jesus,Ag, you look like you damn near diedagain!

AGNES:Whatisthis?

NASH:An old eyebot,I think. Some feller came by and plunked it on our desk a few days ago. Flickers on every now and then, but it’s mostly broken. Why, you wantit?

AGNES:Fuckno.

NASH:Darn, nobody does.

AGNES produces her lighter and a cigarette from her coat, and lights it.

AGNES:Anyway,John, what happened to the otherorders?

NASH:All fulfilled and paid for. What happened to yours?

AGNES:TwoKhansand some suitfrom Vegas with a gun,that’s what “happened.”

NASH:Gotjumped, huh? That careless after four years, Ag?

AGNES starts to pace around the room.

AGNES(deductively):No,and that’s the thing, John. They jumped me and shot me, I know,but all they tookwas the chip. They didn’t take anything else. Not my caps, not my gun, not even my cigarettes. I can avoid regular highwaymen, but they were after the package. They knew I had it, and knew where I’d be with it and when. That’s not a hold-up. That’s a heist.

NASH:Huh.Sounds like a bit of a mystery.

AGNES pauses, staring off at nothing in particular, head down, a serious, solemn expression having crept onto her face. She lets the pause hang before looking back at NASH.

AGNES speaks again after a few more moments still.

AGNES (deadpan):No,it sounds like I want to killthem, John.

AGNES raises her hands to her head, suddenly and increasingly furious.

AGNES:Lookat me. See the scar? The new one? See the twitchin my hand? See the goddamn eyepatch!?Theydidthis to me! I wasn’t taking a napfor three weeks, you know, I was bleedingout my skulland getting fucking enucleated!

NASH stares stone-faced back at AGNES, unphased by her outburst. AGNES has returned her cigarette to her lips, pouting with it.

NASH:Now Agnes, you knowI can’t condone murder.

Beat. AGNES turns away from NASH, and then he moves to fish something out from behind the counter.

NASH:By the way, I’ve got this orderto the Mojave Outpost—

AGNES: John, unless you have anything else aboutmy order, then I just need to pick up some things fromhome before I’m on my way.

NASH:Agnes, does that new eyepatch keep you from seeing favorswhen they’re in front of your face?

NASH holds a letter up besides his face.

NASH:S’pose you really arechasing these sons of bitches to Vegas. If so, then M.O. ain’t outof your way at all, and the extra capswould do you good. So take it.

NASH hands the letter to AGNES, who takes it. She looks it over in her hands deliberating.

NASH:It’s just a letter came for the head of Cassidy Caravans, whoever he is…or she. We’re an equal society.

AGNES:I guess so, John (…and thanks).

AGNES stashes the letter in her coat.

NASH:You be carefulout there, now, too. There’s some gang with a bunch of dynamiteup the road. Must’ve been an escapeat that prison.

AGNES: Believe me, I’m aware. They come by Primm?

NASH:Theytried, but we fought them off. All except Deputy Beagle, rest his soul.

AGNES:TheykilledBeagle?

NASH:Well…yesandno. He trippedtryin’ to run away and broke his big ol’ head open on the curb outside. Funeral’s tomorrow, if you’re not in a rush.

AGNES:Huh.

AGNES:Oh, and, uh…sorry, John. I was just leaving. After all, I’ve got a delivery.

AGNES turns away from the counter, heading towards the door.

AGNES:What’s that old saying? “Neither rain nor snow…?”

The bell jingles again as the door opens, and closes.