Maria ran towards the Stackhouse Residence and stop. She put her backpack down and transform back into her human self. Gran walked outside.
"Oh crap." Maria said
Maria put her clothes on.
"I know." Gran said
"I can explain." Maria said
"Honey you don't have to. I know what you are. You're still my granddaughter." Gran said
Maria ran to her grandmother and hugged her. They go in the house and enter the living room. Sat on their couch. Maria begins to explain.
"About 3 years ago I've started the transformation. Late transformation really. Bunch of people found me. Train me on how to control it. Some of never welcomed me in their Tiger tribe. They wanted me to kill humans. But I faked it. Part of me is human. I'm not gonna have that on my conscience. A year ago they torture me and left me there to die." Maria explain
"How are you..." Gran asked as her granddaughter cuts her off
"A vampire name Eric saved my life. We hanged for a little bit. I was starting to have feelings for him." Maria said
"Why didn't you tell him?" Gran asked her granddaughter
"All the crap has been going on. Losing Dawn. I couldn't deal." Maria said
"What she did was wrong. Her death it wasn't your fault." Gran said
"It feels like it is. That person is after fangbangers. I'm like a fanglover and Sookie might be on that list." Maria said
"It won't happen to Sookie." Gran said
"Are you sure?" Maria asked her grandmother
"Yes." Gran said
"I'll tell them everything. Waiting for the right time." Maria said
"They will always love you for who you are." Gran said
"You always see the light in people." Maria said
Maria gets up, picked up Tina the cat, walked upstairs, and went straight for her room.
Wednesday.
Maria and her sister enters the kitchen. Gran looked at both of granddaughters.
"Well...I will be at the church early...(Sookie and her sister sits down at the breakfast table. In front them are orange juice and a plate with sausage patties.) If you would like to like to stop by and say hi. Mr. Compton's talk starts at eight. All right! Same to you! Bye now!" Gran said
Gran hangs up the phone.
"Phone's been ringin' early today." Maria said
"Oh. Oh! (Sookie sips some orange juice as Gran takes the pan of eggs to the table.) Everyone is excited about meetin' the town vampire tonight. (She smiles at Sookie as she serves the eggs.) I didn't hear ya come in last night." Gran said
"You went to bed early. You didn't wanna hear me come in." Sookie said
"Well...(Gran chuckles and returns to the stove.) I just thought I'd give you two a little privacy, is all." Gran said
"Am I really that much of a lost cause that you gotta pin all your hopes for me on a vampire?" Sookie asked both her grandmother and her sister
"You're not." Maria said
Gran returns to the table with the phone in her hand and sits down.
"He really seems like a very nice man." Gran said
"Well, he's not." Sookie said
"He's not nice?" Gran asked her granddaughter Sookie
"Or a man." Sookie said
"Oh, goodness! Did you two have a fight?" Gran asked her granddaughter Sookie
"No. Kinda." Sookie said
"It'll get better." Maria said
"Not really. I just don't think Bill and I have very much in common. He doesn't think like we do, he doesn't feel the way we do, if he...feels at all." Sookie said
Sookie pierces a piece of sausage and eats it.
"Well, I know that, if I had a chance to know somebody who'd experienced the world differently, I'd see it as a blessing and not somethin' to be scared of. Or hate." Gran said
Gran is holding the phone up to her chest. It rings. Sookie shaking her head.
"I don't hate him. I just don't want to be his girlfriend." Sookie said
The phone continues ringing.
"Uh...the phone's ringin'." Maria said
"Umm...machine will pick it up." Gran said
Gran smiles broadly at both of her granddaughters.
Merlotte's.
Maria serving tables. She walked over to Andy Bellefleur.
"You came back to town and this started happening. Maudette and your best friend Dawn." Andy said
"Are you accusing me that I might do something like this? I don't kill people just because they do stupid mistakes. Who the hell told you this? (Andy stayed silent. Maria figured it out.) You're a damn fool and everyone here knows it." Maria said
Fortenberry Residence.
Maria bangs on the door. Hoyt opens the door.
"Hey Maria. What's going on?" Hoyt asked Maria
"Is your mom home?" Maria asked Hoyt
Maxine Fortenberry walked to the doorway.
"Maria. What can I do for you..." Maxine asked as Maria cuts her off
"Cut it with the bullshit. I know it was you who told Andy and Dearborne that it was me." Maria said
"Mom what did you do?" Hoyt asked his mother
"She gets back into town. Everyone knows that she and Sookie beat up the Rattrays for saving a vampire. Now suddenly with Dawn and Maudette." Maxine said
"Right? Cause you accused the wrong person who just got back into town? You'll never change. You're just a bigot. (Maria looked at Hoyt.) I'm sorry for calling her that." Maria said
Maria walked away.
Stackhouse Residence.
Maria picked a sky-blue shirt with a short white skirt. Sookie comes in.
"You look great." Sookie said
"Thanks." Maria thanking her sister
"I read Andy's mind. I'm so sorry." Sookie said
"It wasn't just his fault. It was Maxine Fortenberry." Maria said
"Don't let her get to you." Sookie said
"She already did." Maria said
"Think you can take my car tonight? I'm riding with Sam." Sookie said
"He asked you out? Today? For the DGD?" Maria said
"Yep." Sookie said
"Weird but cool." Maria said
The Church
Sookie and Sam walk inside the church and Maria was behind them. They greet Gran.
"Wow! Gran, look at all the people!" Sookie said
Sookie gives Gran a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Maria also gives Gran a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
'Isn't it excitin'? (Sam joins Gran, Sookie, and Maria.) Well, Sam Merlotte, what a nice surprise." Gran said
Bill is still sitting at the table in the church kitchen and still staring off into emptiness.
"I thought Sookie would need an escort." Sam said
"How very gentlemanly of you." Gran said
Sam laughs.
"OK, we're sittin' down now." Sookie said
They were looking for a seat. Andy approaches to them.
"I need to talk to Maria." Andy said
"Not here Andy." Sam said
"If she said she didn't do it. She didn't do it." Sookie said
"I don't think you did it. Maxine shouldn't have done that to you. I'm sorry." Andy said
"Thank you." Maria thanking Andy
Sam, Sookie, and Maria make their way down the row of chairs.
"Hey, Tara." Maria said
"Hey, girl. Can we join you?" Sookie asked Tara
Sam, Sookie, and Maria approaches to Tara.
"Hi, Tara." Sam said
Tara laughing nervously.
"Sure, come on in. (Sam sits at Tara's left, and Sookie sits at Sam's left.) Could always use more white people." Tara said
Tara elbows Sam and he jumps. Jason makes his way slowly to Tara. He smiling.
Hey. (Tara looks up at Jason while Maria, Sookie, and Sam turn their heads toward him.) Mind if I sit with you?" Jason said
"Uh...sure, have a seat." Tara said
Jason takes the empty aisle seat at Tara's right, and notices Sam, Sookie, and Maria next to her.
"Hey, guys." Jason said
Gran walks to the front of the nave. Most of the crowd is sitting and some are standing.
"Welcome. It certainly is a pleasure to see so many new faces here this month. But Mayor Norris assures me that there will be enough ambrosia and tipsy cake for everyone. (The crowd gives a collective, polite laugh.) Now, our guest tonight is a gentleman who, despite what you might have heard, is one of us. His family was among the first to settle in Bon Temps and he bravely fought for Louisiana in the war for Southern independence. Let us welcome one of the original sons of Bon Temps back to the town that he helped build. I give you First Lieutenant William Thomas Compton." Gran said
Gran steps aside and Bill opens a door near the pulpit, entering to some scattered applause. The door closes behind him. He steps up to the pulpit and looks at the crowd.
"Thank you, Mrs. Stackhouse. If you'll pardon me for a moment...(Bill steps down from the pulpit, walks to the flag-covered cross, and removes the flag from it. The crowd gasps. He takes a flagpole from the altar and reattaches the flag to it. He looks up at the flag, then at the crowd.) As a patriot of this great nation, I wouldn't dream of puttin' myself before Old Glory. (He places the flag and flagpole in a pedestal stand beside the altar, returns to the pulpit, and speaks into the microphone. Smiling slightly) As you can see, I did not burst into flames. (He smiles and some laughter is heard from the crowd.) We vampires are not minions of the Devil. We can stand before a cross, or a Bible, or in a church, just as readily as any other creature of God. I am honored to stand before you tonight. Vampires have traditionally been very private, perhaps to our detriment. But I believe, if we reach out to one another, that we can coexist...(He looks at Sookie.)...and even thrive together. (Sookie looks down at the floor. He smiles anyway. Maria looked at him, looked at her sister, and then looked back at him.) I served in the 28th Louisiana infantry, formed in Monroe in 1862, under Colonel Henry Gray. It was there that we learned the value of human life, and the ease with which it can be extinguished. Uneducated as we were, we knew little of the political or ideological conflicts that had led to this point. But goin' to war was not a choice for us. We believed to a man that we had a calling to fulfill. A destiny handed down to us from above. God forbid should any of our men become wounded or injured. Often the only recourse for a serious injury was amputation. More times than I care to remember, I had to hold down one of my fellow soldiers while the medic took a saw to his arm or leg. We had no anesthesia at the time. Apart from a bit of whiskey." Bill said
Sookie turns her head over her right shoulder, and Maria did so as well and sees Wayne taking a garlic press from inside his jacket and handing to Chuck, who opens it. Sookie and Maria gives the rednecks a disapproving look on their faces. Chuck hands the garlic press to Royce. Both Sookie and Maria turn their heads back to Bill.
"Assholes." Maria whispers
"It often seemed that the man being operated upon suffered more from his surgery than he did from his original wound. Even if he survived the amputation, the chance of subsequent infection was high. (Royce holds the garlic press in view of Bill and squeezes it, garlic coming out through the tiny holes. He non-plussed, glances at Royce as the three rednecks giggle amongst themselves like children. Some people shush them.) In the winter months, the nights could grow bitter cold." Bill said
An elderly DGD member stands up from the audience and speaks to Bill.
"My great-grandfather was in the 28th. (The audience turn and look at him.) I wonder if you might have known him. His name was Tolliver Humphries." Elderly DGD Member
"Tolliver Humphries?" Bill asked Elderly DGD Member
"Um-hmm." Elderly DGD Member
"Yes. I knew him very well. We fought together. Tolliver Humphries was my friend. He was a brave man, perhaps to a fault. I dare say it contributed to his death." Bill said
"What happened? Were you there?" Elderly DGD Member asked Bill
"I was. We were about 20 miles north of where I stand now. The Federals outnumbered us five to one. And they had better firepower as well. We'd spent much of the afternoon recovering the bodies of those we'd lost. There was a boy in our troop, no more than 13 or 14, who lay wounded in the middle of a field under poor cover. He called to us all day. He begged us to help him. He knew he would die if we didn't. I admit I considered shootin' the boy myself just to shut him up. But Tolliver convinced me that would be an act of murder, not war. He told me God wanted him to rescue that boy.) I pleaded with him not to go. To think of his wife and children back home. He ran into that field like it was a cool spring day. They shot him just as he reached the boy. It was obvious to us that he was beyond help. And then, after a while, the boy started screamin' again.
"What happened to the boy?" Maxine asked Bill
"He lived. He survived the day and then under cover of darkness we retrieved him later that night, along with the body of Tolliver Humphries. But it seems that Tolliver was right. God did look after his descendants. Yes? Mayor Norris." Bill said
Mayor Norris stands up. With the aid of a cane, he slowly walks up to Bill.
"I've been digging in the archives this week...and I found this old tintype. (Mayor Norris holds up the tintype, in a folding picture frame, to Bill.) The inscription on the back says, "Mr. W.T. Compton and family." Can you tell us if this is a picture of you?" Mayor Norris asked Bill
Bill takes the tintype from Mayor Norris, opens the frame, and looks at the black-and-white image of himself standing behind a little girl. A woman is sitting down next to them, holding an infant (their son) in her arms. Bills tries not to be emotional.
"This...this is a remarkable photograph. I remember the day we gathered to have this taken." Bill said
"When was the last time you were with them?" Maxine asked Bill
"When I...I went to war in 1862. I...my human life ended before I had a chance to come back home." Bill said
"But you became a...a vampire after that, right? Couldn't ya go back to your family then?" René asked Bill
"No. No. That wouldn't have been possible. (Bill closes the picture frame, and dabs his eyes with a handkerchief.) I apologize. This is not a subject I'm very comfortable speaking about. But thank you for the photograph, Mayor. Brings back many memories for me. (The Mayor returns to his seat as Bill returns to the pulpit.) Any other questions?" Bill asked the crowd
Bill clenches his handkerchief in his right fist by his side.
The church's fellowship hall. Tiny Confederate flags decorate the tables at which people are enjoying food and conversation. Gran and Bill are standing, talking with a blond woman dressed in blue.
"Thanks for coming, dear." Gran said
Gran and Bill smile, and the blond woman leaves. Maria approaches to them.
"That was amazing. Storytelling of the war." Maria said
"Why thank you Maria." Bill thanking Maria
"See ya at home Gran." Maria said
Merlotte's
"Thought you be at your house. After..." Arlene said as Maria cuts her off
"Arlene I'll be fine. I miss some work hours." Maria said
"Like your sister." Arlene said
Royce and his buddies sit at a booth.
"Oh I really don't want to deal with them." Maria said
"You got to make the customers happy." Both Arlene and Maria said
"Yeah I know. (Maria put on a fake smile and walked to their booth.) What can I get for y'all?" Maria asked them
"Pitcher of beer, burger and fries." Wayne said
"Chicken sandwich." Chuck said
"Burger Deluxe with fries." Royce said
"Sure. (Maria walked towards the order counter.) One burger with fries, Burger Deluxe with fries, and a chicken sandwich." Maria said
"What's wrong?" Lafayette asked Maria
"Assholes over there." Maria said
"Royce? Piece of shit. Don't worry about him." Lafayette said
"Who said I was worried? They should be worried." Maria said
Lafayette nods as he was impressed.
1 hour now.
Lafayette walks to Royce, Chuck, and Wayne's' booth with the burger. Maria looked at them thinking this is not good.
"'Excuse me...Who ordered the hamburger... (Lafayette places the burger on the table in front of the three.)...with AIDS?" Lafayette asked them
Wayne and Chuck laugh.
"I ordered the hamburger deluxe." Royce said
"In this restaurant, a hamburger deluxe come with french fries, lettuce, tomato and mayo...(Lafayette yelling.) and AIDS! (He looked around. He shouts.) Do anybody got a problem with that?" Lafayette asked everyone else
"Yeah! I'm an American. And I got a say in who makes my food." Royce said
"Well baby, it's too late for that. Faggots been breeding your cows, raising your chickens, even brewing your beer long before I walked my sexy ass up in this table. Everything on your goddamn table got AIDS." Lafayette said
Royce was getting angry.
"You still ain't makin' me eat no AIDS burger." Royce said
Lafayette leaning over closer to Royce.
"Well, all you gotta do is say "hold the AIDS." Here...(Lafayette takes the top bun off the burger, licks the mayonnaise off it, and crams it into Royce's face.)...eat it! (He shoves the bun onto Royce's face. Wayne and Chuck get up to hit Lafayette, but he decks each of them. Royce tries to hit him, but Lafayette gut-punches him and fells him with a right uppercut to the jaw. He picks up the plate and looks at the three. He shouts.) Bitch, you come in my house, you gonna eat my food the way I fucking make it! Do you understand me? (He drops the plate onto Royce's lap. Royce looks hard at him, and knocks the plate off Royce's lap.) Tip your waitress!" Lafayette said
Lafayette turns around and walks past Jason. Jason holds out his left hand and slaps Lafayette's left palm with it. Jason, Hoyt, and René look at Royce, Wayne and Chuck, and laugh at them. Maria was amazed. She walked towards the order counter.
"Impressive. Kick their asses. Let me handle a situation like that next time." Maria said