watch now! detail...
(static on walkie-talkie) (whispers)i'm comin' out now. mary lee: i'm tired,i want something different. i just want to havea conversation. i just want totalk about it. (faint clattering) (softly) shit. (motor running) what the shit, man?
suck it! drive. how old is she? a junior. she's got nice titties.you talk to her? no. you're gonnahave to talk to her. i know. remind mewhen we get backto my house. i think galen'sgot a book on that.
(motor starting) shit. your dad would kill usif he knew we wentout there. i'm not worriedabout my dad killin' us. we need to moveif we're gonnamake it back. set your watch,we need a good15 minutes. (watch beeping) there it is! neckbone: galen saysit's been here awhile.
he thinks the last flooddid it. oh, hold it. look. little shits. there it is. yeah. there it is. came down from up there. (creaking) motor's gone.
who else knowsabout this? just me and galen. what's he think? he don't care about it. good. because this boat's ours. this is perfect. holy shit. dude.
oh! son of a bitch! whoa. those are awesome. man. neck. dude, look at that beave,you gotta see this. ellis: neck. what?
someone's here. someone's living here. we gotta go.can't be late. (bag thuds) what are you doing? i saw that same boot printup in the tree. it's got a crossin the heel. somebody's beenin our boat.
neckbone: shit. let's go! we gotta go if youwanna make it back. takes twice as longgoin' upriver. hold on. up there, they stop. where the hell'd he go? i don't know. shit, you know that guy? i've neverseen him before.
what'd you say, boy? it's a hell of a thing,ain't it? what's that? boat in a tree. hell of a thing. you talkin'about our boat? talkin' about my boat. we found it. yeah, you found itwith me livin' in it.
possession isnine-tenths of the law. you got crossesin your heels. nails. shaped like crosses. ellis: what for? ward off evil spirits. bought 'em from a mani called an indian, but he was a mexican, said they wereseven-league boots
worn by the seventh sonof the seventh son. told me they'd turn meinto a werewolf,that's a lie. i don't knownothin' about that. they justgood luck boots. (spits) as you can see,they ain't workingtoo well so far. what's your name? i'm neckbone,he's ellis. and, mister, i knowyou're not the ownerof that boat,
not for nine-tenthsof nothin'. neckbone... that's a heck ofa good handle, son. where y'all from? what do you carewhere we're from? dewitt. arkansas boys. y'all had me worriedfor a second. we supposedto know you?
i doubt it. i grew up around here,but i've been gone awhile. where at around here? different places. spent a lot of timeback up near the white. you knowshelly's oxbow? ellis. yeah, i know it. an old man namedtom blankenshipused to live up in there.
he still does. his boat'sacross from mine. well, ain't that somethin'? hmm... now, i like you two boys.you remind me of me. seein' as how you twois from arkansas, and we know someof the same people and we grew up insome of the same places,
i reckon we can makea deal for somethin'. a deal for what? food. food for a boat. he's a bum, ellis.come on. why don't you goget your own food? well, i would if i could. see, i told somebodyi'd meet 'em here. so... well, i'm stuck for nowand what i've gotis runnin' low.
he's a bum, ellis,come on. i ain't no bum.i got money, boy. you can call me a hobo,'cause a hobo will workfor his living, and you can call mehomeless 'cause... well, that's true for now,but you call me a bum again, i'm gonna teach yousomethin' about respectyour daddy never did. when they show up,you'll leave? yup. and when you leave,that boat's ours?
that's right. i'm just ina tight spot. could use a little help. we gotta go. you get his name? (panting) sorry. where ya been? me and neckgot caught uphelpin' galen. you're supposedto be helpin' me.i had to load this myself.
i know. i'm sorry. get on in the back,can't be later than we are. (country music playing) supposed to be 10. it's 10,you do your share. i loaded this morning,makes it five. can you drop meat neck's? hadn't you seenenough of him today? said he hadsomethin' for me.
you see any more of themding dongs over there? what did mama wantto talk to you about? this morning? what did she wantto talk to you about? you spy on mein my own house? i wasn't spyin',i just heard y'all. that's yourmother's business. (upbeat musicplaying on stereo) (truck door closes)
(dog barking) i came for that book. oh, yeah.gotta give it a minute. hear that music? yeah? that means he's doin' it.that's his doin' it song. you know who it is? whoever's drivin'that pontiac. you tell galenabout this morning?
nah. you tell anybody? that guy's crazy. i don't know.i think he justneeded a little help. he can swim his ass offthat island and get some. i think i'm gonnago back out there, give him some food. (music stops) (door slams open) why?
you're neckbone, right? yeah. word of advice. don't grow up to be likeyour shit heel uncle. hey. you hear me? you treat a womanlike a princess,got it? (scoffs) yeah. galen: come on, baby!
i'm a goddamn princess! that's uncalled for. hey, a lot of peopleare comfortable with thatkind of thing in the bedroom. some people aren't.we know thatabout you now, okay? woman: what do youthink i am? pearls. galen finds 'emin the mussel shells. come on,let's get that book. galen: you weren'thavin' any fun?
woman: no! no fun at all? no! please don't go. i don't want yougoin' back out thereby yourself. that river'sscary enoughwith two people. i don't trust that guy. here it is. galen said that reallyturned things aroundfor him.
thanks. watch outfor that dog. (tires screeching) you really goin'back out there? yeah. i think it'sthe right thing to do. neckbone: all right. i'll be overin the mornin' then. galen: hey,that's a good book. be sure you dothe worksheetsin back.
let's getsome dinner, neck. hey, i'll callbefore i come. ellis: all right. (indistinct yelling) (door closes) (water running) you okay, mama? yes. are you hungry?
you want meto fix you something? i'm all right. well, then,i'm going to turn in. ellis: hey, dad. what do you knowabout tom blankenship? mr. blankenship,what do you knowabout him? i don't know.he just looks lonelyover there all by himself. some peoplemove to this riverto work on it, and some peoplemove here to beleft alone.
i want us to tryand sit down fordinner tonight, okay? ellis? be home by 7:00. yes, ma'am. where do youthink he's at? let's try the boat. ellis: looks likehe made camp. you thinkhe's up there? (whistling)
what are you doin'? i try to never sleepin the same spot twice. what you got there? ellis:brought you some food. here, take it. (unzipping bag) i owe you boys. i was gonna tryand run a trotlinethis afternoon. see where that got me.
mmm. green beansnever tasted so good. why you havethat pistol? protection. y'all needn'tbe afraid of me. i've got two waysto protect myselfout here, this shirt and this pistol. there are fierce powersat work in the world, boys. good, evil,
poor luck, best luck. as men, we've got to takeadvantage where we can. y'all comin'? ellis: so who's this guyyou're waiting on? oh, i'm notwaitin' on no guy. i'm waitin'on my girlfriend. juniper. is she hot?
she's beautiful. (coughs) bullshit! prettiest girli've ever seen,hands down. blonde hair,long legs. i tell you, she's likea dream you don't wantto wake up from. she's got these birdstattooed on her hands here. nightingales.(imitates wings flapping) good luck birds. that a good luck snake?
no, it is not. i hate snakes. that's because god put 'emhere for us to fear. (sighs) we knew tobe afraid of snakes long before we ever evengot into this world. the cherokee would wraptheir pregnant women'sbellies in snake skin. induce labor,scare the child out. put that aroundyour bed at night. snake won't crossa braided rope.
so what's thattattoo for then? a reminder. don't get bit. i was 10, swimmin'about a mile up fromhere, me and juniper. son of a bitch swam up on me,bit me right hereup under the armpit. juniper got meoff to the clinic. doctor said i should havebeen dead in 20 minutes. took us over an hourjust to get to town.
neckbone: so what'dthey do for it? gave me the anti-venom. cottonmouth. see here? thing withanti-venom is, they can onlygive it to you once. made of horse blood.body would reject ita second time. so the cure becomesmore dangerousthan the poison. what happensif you get bit again?
i die or just sweat it out. we gotta go helpneck's uncle. all right. you neversaid your name. mud. you can call me mud. here, mud. i think you need thisworse than i do.
i'll be all right. (birds squawking) (people talkingindistinctly) (laughing) you start datin',i bet her dad'llgive you a free pickup. i don't care about that. what the hellare you doing? where you goin'? may: stop it!
stop it! god! (thuds) boy: holy shit, pryor,get off your ass! you only gotwhat you deserve! that's right,go home, pryor! (teens talking indistinctly) do i know you? i'm ellis, that's neck. we went to junior highwith you beforeyou went to high school.
how old are you? fourteen. you know you justpunched a senior. so? i'm may pearl. what else do you know? nothing. son of a bitch. ellis!
neckbone: you everseen that girl before? did you see her hands? pryor: hey, girl! hey! hey, girl,where you goin'? that ain't even cool. hello? oh, sorry. we think we knowa guy that might knowthat girl over there.
oh. may pearl, let's go! okay. okay, i guessi'll see you. if you can find my number,you should give me a call. i can find it. where'd she go? into the piggly wiggly.she came from the motel. senior:home for dinner?
ellis:what you hidin' for? i ain't hidin'. come over here. you know i love you? yes, sir. i work you hard,'cause life is work. you know that? (sighs) your mom is talkin'about movin' into town.
what's that mean? she seems set on it, wants to separate. may even askfor a divorce. what's that mean for me? it means enjoythis river, son. enjoy it whileyou live on it. 'cause this way of lifeisn't long for this world. river authority'sabout made certain of that.
but you and me, we can still liveout here, right? r.a. can't take your boat. not while you'restill livin' in it. this houseboat'sin your mother's name. her daddy gave itto her, not to me. she wants to leave it. river authority's gotevery right to come in here and tear this place apartboard by board.
(exhales)that ain't right. you work outta here. we got the ice machine. the traps. what are wesupposed to do? like i said, that'syour mother's business. i ain't no townie. i ain't livin' like that. i've let you down, son.
man is supposedto be in chargeof his own affairs, but i haven'tworked it like that. but y'all are married. y'all are supposedto love each other. i don't knowabout that anymore. hey, ellis. you're late. (thudding) (panting)
(breathing deeply) (breathing shakily) (exhales) mud: ellis? damn, boy,what you doin' out here? i got yousome beanie weenie. i appreciate that. but i didn't expect youout here at night. oh, look at that.
boy, you really knowhow to do somebody right. i wasn't gonna say nothin', but it's pretty toughto make a meal out ofpumpkin pie fillin'. that's all my mom had. oh, i ain't complainin'. can i get one of those? they're yoursto begin with. (slurping) (can lid clatters)
that's good, right? you beenout here too long. (chuckles) mmm-hmm. the girlyou're waitin' on, she's your girlfriend? how'd you meet her? we grew up together. you love her?
i do. first time i saw herwas on this river,just up from here. she saved my life. from the snake bite. i was younger thanyou are right now. when i came toin the hospitaland she was there, it was like the whole worldjust split wide open and come back together new. i knew from then oni'd do anything for her.
why aren't y'allmarried then? i've asked.several times. marriage just don't workfor some people. my dad says my parents might begetting a divorce. i'm sorry to hear that. they say if it happens,and my mom moves usoff the river, the government cancome take our boat.
who says that? everybody. they passed a law. i saw juniper today. she had the birdstattooed on her hands. just like you said. you're right. she's pretty. where'd you see her?
at the piggly wiggly. i think she's stayingat a motel nearby there. that's good news. that's real good news. she knowyou're out here? no. no, we, uh... we said we'dmeet somewhere else,a couple days from now. you wanna go tonight?i can take you up river. tomorrow.
i'll go tomorrow. you want me to comeand get you? no, i can manage. hell, i made it out here,didn't i? it's a hell of a thing. time to get up. it's too early. i'm going to wal-martand i need youto come with me. mom.
come on. ellis, i know whatyour father told youlast night. that's...that's not what i wanted. i wanted to sit you downand talk about it. what do youwant to talk about? you want to leaveand that means theycan tear up our house. well, i spentmy whole lifeon that boat. i don't thinkit's too much to ask... oh, no.
(clicks tongue) oh, i hopeno one's hurt. i'm just sayin' thereare two sides to this. you know, i haven'tmade up my mind yet, because i wanted you to beinvolved with my decision. but i need a change, ellis. i deserve one. i thinkthey're searching people. trooper: how youdoin' today, ma'am?
mary lee: i'm all right,how are you? i'm doin' just fine.have you seen or picked upany hitchhikers today? no, sir. okay, could you openthe back for me, please? it's open. ma'am, have youseen this man? son, have you? okay, well,there's been reportsthat he's in the area. so if you see him,just call 9-1-1for us, okay?
what'd he do? move along, please. neck, neck, pick up! i knew it! i told you thatcrazy son of a bitchwas trouble. did you tell himwhere he is? no, that's whyi called you. he needs to knowpeople are looking for him. you think he doesn'tknow that already?
jesus, ellis.why do you even thinkhe's on that island? ellis, i'm serious. we don't knowwho this guy is. he loves her, neck.he told me. i don't give a shitwho he loves. he's not dangerous. it sounds like a shitloadof state troopersthinks different. no tellin'where the hellhe's been sleepin'. he might begone already.
(mud whistles) sorry, boys, but i'm goingto have to go back onour deal for the boat. i don't feel goodabout it, but i don'tsee any other way out of what i'm into. so you know aboutthe state troopers? what state troopers? the ones spreadin'your pictureall over the place. stoppin' cars on the 165,searching for your ass. no, i don't knowabout that.
but it don't surprise me,i got a lot of folkslookin' for me. i shot a man. killed him. i'm sorry i didn'ttell you boys sooner, but i was hopin'to be long gone beforeanything came of it. didn't want y'all involved. look, y'all beenreal good to me. you're the only friendsi got out here. if troopers got 165 blocked,that means they gotother roads blocked, too.
so i ain't goin' toget nowhere in a car. i'm want to trygetting this boat down. see if we can get itin the water. see, with a boat like this,i can make it to the gulfin two days. heck, from there,i can get anywhere. but i need a boat at leastthis big to make iton the open water. it's got no title,no owner, nobody lookin' for it. it's my best shot.
who'd you kill? just a badpiece of business. y'all don't needto hear about it. i need to hear about it. juniper, she... she made a mistake. hooked up with this guy.he was no good.his name was... hutchins.his family owns a chain ofrestaurants down in texas. where were you?
i was around, but me and juniperwas on the outs. she met him, he sold heron a pack of lies,he got her pregnant. that's whenhe started showin'who he really was. he dropped her downa flight of stairs afterwhoopin' her half to death. she lost the baby,he made it so... doctors say shecan't even havechildren no more. there are thingsyou can get away within this world and there are thingsyou can't.
i tracked him down, found him in a little moteloutside of san antonio,he was there with another woman.that's... that's where it happened. so i understandif you boys don'twant to help me no more. but i need this boat. and i need to get itinto the water, fast. i made a list of thingswe're going to need.what you think? you did it for her?
to protect her? what you think? i think you want usto run around,stickin' our necks out, getting everythingyou need just so you cantake our boat. that's about it. what do weget out of it? what you want? what aboutthat pistol?
only two thingsi got out hereworth anything. this shirt. and this pistol. and i can't give youthis shirt, 'cause i need itfor protection. but if you help me getthis boat in the water,the pistol, it's yours. what kind is it? a .45.
got to get this boatfloatin' first. (both spitting) all right, y'all scroungewhat you can off this list, but if we'regonna do this right, we're gonna need more help.can you fetch tom for me? tom blankenship? yeah, i was hopin' tolet that old assassinsit this one out. we're gonna need himto get things thaty'all can't. can you find him?
i know where he lives,but i've never talkedto him. just tell him my name,he'll know. mud: hey, boys. don't lose my pistol. you coming? nah, i'll watch the boat. why are youhuntin' me? are you deaf, boy?i said why are youhuntin' me? i ain't huntin' you.
what's yourbusiness here? i come to find you. i got a message for you. you senior's boy? what you got to sayto me that he can'ttell me himself? it ain't from him. mud sent me. mud? what you knowabout him?
he told meto come find you. your daddyknow about this? mud needs your help. where is he? there he is. you thinkthat's his daddy? sir. where is she? in town.
got here yesterday. what are you doingout here like this, mud? i killed that last manshe was with, tom. he had it comin', too. you have beendoggin' this girlyour whole life. she's run you halfwayacross the country and back. and for what?for this! be stuck out hereon this islandlike this! beggin'!
a murderer now! a thief! i ain't no thief, tom... no? what would youcall it then? not to mentiondraggin' theseboys into this... man, he's reallygiving it to him. you got any ideawhat you're doin'? i'm rightashamed of you, mud. don't expect any helpfrom me, 'causethere's none to be given. all right, i'm ready.
god damn it. you all right? looks like we'reon our own, ellis. i didn't want to haveto ask you to be the oneto do this, but i need to get this letterto juniper. can youtake it to her for me? all right, now listen up. you got to be careful,all right?you can't just walk up andknock on her door.you hear me? you gottawatch yourself.
i can handle it. (softly)get that to her. watch yourself, ellis. you mud's daddy? mud don't have no daddy. no mama either,as far as i could tell. he was livin' in the woodswhen i first met him. younger than you are now. you boys need towatch yourselves now.
what mud's intois somethin' you don'twant to be involved in. you best forgetabout him, you hear? which one? let's startat the top. work our way down. we're sellin' fish.would you like tobuy some? fish? i don't wantto buy no damn fish. (woman screaming) keep lyin' and i'llcrack your nose open!
keep lyin'! you hear me, trash?where is that guy? (juniper continues screaming) who are you? who the hell are you? he send you? you know this man? look at it!do you know this man? fish! fish!we're just sellin' fish!
(breathing heavily) fish... (whimpers) i know you knowwhere he is. and i swear to god, i'll cut a holethrough every oneof you to find him. we knowyou came here for him, and we know he's too stupidto leave here without you. so wheneverhe sticks his head up
out of whatever shitholehe's hidin' in, i'm gonna be there. you tell him that. you need to mindyour business, boy. you okay? man, he popped your eye. let me see your face. oh, god, i'm so sorry. here, hold this on there.
thank you. i'll buy your fish, okay? how much do you wantfor the whole cooler? mud sent usto give you this. you know mud? yeah, we know him. (sniffles) says, "hold tight." we know, we read it.
well, do you knowhow long hold tight is? ellis: i thinkit's just a couple days. he wants to geta boat for y'all. god... tell him i'll wait. but i don't want y'allgettin' involved. so you tell himwhat i saidand let that be it. i don't want yougettin' in any trouble. we'll be all right.just keep your door locked.
we'll be in touch. juniper: wait. i'm ellis,he's neckbone. thank you, ellis. neckbone: we gotta go. let's go, hard on. hello?is may pearl there? hey, it's ellis. in the phone book.
tomorrow? yeah, i can meet you. okay. bye. we got moor,but no motor. this will work for now. ellis, you get hermy note? ellis: yeah. where'd you getthat shiner from? when we came upon juniper's room,
there was this guy in there,he was beatin' up on her. ellis rushed him. got smacked for it. what'd he look like? i don't know, he was tall. looked like a cowboy. light hair slicked back? (yelling)
(grunting) thank you forlooking after her. his name's carver, he's the brotherof the man i killed. if he's here,there's plenty more comin'. more what? bounty hunters.carver's rotten, but his old man, that's the oneto be scared of.
he'll spend every dimehe's got to make surei'm dead. if it was up to me, i'd lay the wholefamily down,same as the other. ain't a decent manbetween them. now, look here. listen to me, if you see that old man,don't you go near him. he's the triple sixreal deal scratch. what's a scratch?
it's the devil himself. let's unload the restof this, get it up top. (rock music playing faintlyon radio) now, what are youwaitin' for? shut up. all right, ellis. can you climb that trunk, choke thisoff that limb? tie it in a bowline knot,you know it?
i'm not stupid. neck, i need youto start cuttin' line in 15 two-foot pieces.count two foot as longas your arm. be careful. what's so specialabout that shirt you'dlose your pistol for it? it's got a wolf's eyesewn into the sleeve. more protectionthan a bullet ever gave. tom swears by it. tom saidhe wasn't your daddy.
he's the closest thing toa father i've ever had. i never met my parents. it's hard, not knowin' thoseyou came from. my uncle galen tells methings about 'em. he's the one thattakes care of me. yeah. tomdid that for me. what'd you meanwhen you calledtom an assassin? tom's had lives you'dnever even know about.
grew up, up north.went to yale. for a long time,he was a paid assassinfor the cia. lived in cuba in '63. shoot, he's killedmore people than youall probably ever met. neck, how'sthat line comin'? if you're gonna do it,do it! (chainsaw buzzing) (grunts) (mud whooping)
(whoops) this shit's crazy. (mud laughing) one down. (music playing) wanna sit down? hey, you mustreally like to fight. not really. you got a lot of friends.
they're all right. i don't knowall of them. i bet you'repretty popular. why do you say that? because you'renice to people. how do you know that? you're nice to me. but i like you. i got you something.
a bracelet? neckbone's unclefinds them in the river and collects the pearls,and i thought with yourname and everything... you wanna bemy girlfriend? tom: you'vebeen seeing mud? you don't haveto lie to me, boy. i've seen yourunning around,taking things. he all right? he's okay.
he called youan assassin. how long haveyou known mud? a few days. that's long enough toknow he's full of shit. so, it's not true? i was a sharpshooterfor a while in the marines.in mud's world,that's an assassin. but it's notexactly true, right? yeah, i guess.
assassin. you think he's a badass,don't you? you know whyhe's stuck offon that island? he shot somebody. you know whyhe shot that man? 'cause he hurt juniper? right. the real reason mud'sin all the trouble he's gotis because of her. he's beenin love with that girlsince he was your age.
trouble is she don'tcare about nobodybut herself. i've told him as much. she'd bed downwith the meanest snakeshe could find, and then when things got bad,she'd go runnin' back to mud. he'd take her back. then he'd go find whateverunlucky son of a bitchlaid a hand on her and beat him so badhe'd know neverto touch her again. only this time, i guess he figured beatin' wasn'tgood enough, he had to goshoot that feller.
i'm not for sure,but i'd put money on itthat she knew he'd do it. she might evenput him up to it. either way, those twoare set for failure. the only chancehe's got is tocut her loose. that'll never happen. but i tell you what,mud's no badass. he's runnin' scaredright now... i've got to go. you're wrongabout juniper.
they love each otherand they're going tomake it. if you weren't sucha worn out old man,you'd know it was true. mud: what doyou say, ellis? i got more stuff. yeah?did you find a motor? not yet. bonfire's myall-purpose cure all for bad luck. i don't knowwhere this boat's been
or what kind of personthe owner was before me. for all i know, there couldbe some serious bad businessleft on it. we got too muchridin' on this thingto leave to chance. tom called me overto his place this morning. what did he say? he wasrunnin' down juniper. told him he wasa worn out old man. and he couldn't knowhow much you love her. you don't knowhis story.
i don't care. you should. tom loved a womanmore than most mencan in two lifetimes. they had a good lifestarted together. she was pregnantwith a little boy, birth gotthe best of them. tom's been aloneever since. lone wolf. thanks for the tin.
(bell ringing) (grunts)this shit never gets easy. that's a good haul. i've had worse. you doin' all right? do you need totell me anything? tell you what? i know i'mjust your uncle,not a parent. but you can tell methings if you need to.
i can tell you this helmetsmells like my duck butter. (laughs) where'd you getthat black eye? a kid in town.he got his, too. what was y'allfightin' for? about this girl. what girl? my girlfriend. you got a girlfriend?
when did that happen? other day. what's her name? may pearl. two first names,just like your mother. have you seenyour mother today? you're nottalkin' to me now? i'm talkin'.i'm talkin' to both of you. all y'all wantto do is talk.
that's your mother now. she'd rather tongue lasha problem than step upand handle it. you'll see one day. women are tough, boy. they set you up for things. you can't trust love, ellis. if you're not careful,it'll up and run out on you. daddy, this is miller.he's one of ours. appreciate your help.
we'll be in,in a minute. catch me up. we're working in shifts. got twooutside her motel. the others areeither out searchin'or sleepin' here. i met the county sheriff,but he wasn't much help. said they handletheir own business. but i got two ofhis people on payroll and a person insideat the state police.
ellis, let's go, boy.come on. let's meet the men. (music playing on tv) get up. y'all pay attention. this is my father, king. he runs the show. men. (fly buzzing)
all right, everybody up. gather around. now form a circle. everybody, take a knee. want you to join hands. we're gonna pray forthe death of the manwho killed my son. everybody, bow your heads. neckbone:you touch her titty? a little.
that's great, man. (ellis sighs) we could take itapart, bring it outpiece by piece. it's welded,we'd just tear it up. what if wefloat it out? with what? (rock music playing) oh, jesus! what do you think?
that's great, galen. galen: come here, ellis. see that ceiling fanup there? i found it in the river. works great. best ceiling fani've ever owned. this river bringsa lot of trash down it. some of that trashis worth a lot of money. some of it's not.
you got to knowwhat's worth keepin'and what's worth lettin' go. you know the difference? i think so. neck looks up to you. don't get my nephewinto anything you can'tget him out of. okay? (playing guitar) help me, rhonda'sjust about a guy needin' to get a piece to getover a girl that putone over on him. so, you getyour heart broke?
don't walk around witha shit look on your face. get back in there,get your tip wet. you know whati'm sayin'. let's go. want to hang out?allen's comin' over,we're going to pump it up. neckbone: no.we got stuff to do. whatever. what were y'alltalking about? mud: king! that's what they call him.
y'all didn't gonear him, did ya? how we lookin'on that motor? there's onein the scrap yardthat might work. we're gonnaneed one that runs. i can get it runnin'.tell him, ellis. let's pull this. it's true,he built hisown dirt bike. little more. neck, take a shot at it.
i don't know,that motor'sworth somethin'. it's not like allthe rest of that junk. it's been there formonths. nobody willeven know it's gone. we need a motor. man on tv: winds out of the west at 22 miles per hour... (ringing) ellis: juniper? hey, it's me. thank god.i'm goin' crazyin this room.
is mud okay? yeah, it's time totake you out to him. now? tomorrow,we'll come get you. he's got a plan for y'all to get away. be ready tomorrow at 5:00. neckbone'll be waitin'at the side of the motelwith a dirt bike. wait, just... just wait a minute.i don't know aboutall that.
where does he think we're gonna go? what are weeven gonna do? this is mud,this is exactlywhat he does. it's okay. it's a good plan. just be ready. why are you doing this? what do you mean? why are youhelping us?
because y'alllove each other. i'll see you tomorrow. wait. (hangs up) how'd it go? we're good. give me a quarter. may pearl! it's all right, man,she's with her family.
come on, i want to getthat motor before dark. carver: hey. y'all remember me,don't ya? sorry about that. you caught meat a real bad time. hold on a second. just a sec. i don't want youto get the wrong idea. y'all were just doin' a joband i got in the way.
what do you sayi buy a whole batch offish y'all were sellin'? forty cover it? that'll about do it. we don't wantyour money. hold on. hold on. y'all get around,don't you? bet ya know every hole and ditchin this town. you haven't come acrossthat man whose picturei showed you?
have you? sure about that? take a lookwith your good eye. i'm sure. what about that girlfrom the motel? the pretty one. talk to hersome more? there's a number on there. let me know if you do.
(bike motor starting) neckbone:this is it.this is it. all right,it's loose. shit's heavy. shit! was she there? excuse me, sir. we're lookin' forthe girl in room 210.you seen her? yeah, i've seen her.
you seen her today? yeah, she came down herelookin' for a bar nearby. sent her up tothat place off 61. (people talking indistinctly) (inaudible) just leave it there,mud's going to have tohelp us with it. what are yougoing to tell him? i'll just tell himthe truth. hey, what yousay there, ellis?
tom left this for you. where's juniper? ellis, what happened? is she okay? was it carver? it wasn't carver. what's goin' on, ellis? she was supposed to meet uson the side of the motel. she never showed up.
we went aroundlooking for her. motel clerk said shewent out to a bar on 61. we tracked her down. she was therewith another guy. they were together. she must'vethought carver was onto her. she knew the plan, mud. she just didn't show up.
what was she doin'with that guy? what was she doin'with that guy, ellis? they were playing pool. and they were drinkin'. and laughin'. he was close up on her. he kissed her neck. so that's how it is, huh? we got that motor.
what do youwant us to do? just go home, ellis. is may pearl there? this is ellis. i called yesterday,you didn't give hermy messages? i said it's ellis. i'm her boyfriend. oh, she's asleep... senior: mary lee!
mary lee! what the hellhave you been doin'? what have youbeen doin'? senior, damn it!damn it! stop it! you tell her whatyou've been doin'. i don't knowwhat you're sayin'. take your handsoff him, senior! j.j. crawford saida boat motor went missin'from his stockyard! he said his daughtersaw this one and hisfriend haulin' it off!
now, you tell me, right now,did you steal that motor? we didn't steal it. you lie to me again. we thought it was junk. we didn't thinkit was worth anything. you tellin' mei raised a thief? i'm not a thief. you take propertythat's not yours, property that belongsto another man.
that junk washis livelihood. i'm ashamed of you! senior... shut your mouth. you think you cantake things and nothave him see it? neither one of you'sgot any respect fora man's livelihood! a life that putsclothes on your backand food in your stomach! don't youblame this on me. one doesn't have a thingto do with the otherand you know it.
you don't tell mewhat i know. if you can steala man's life outfrom under him and think he won't takea lesson from that, then you're dumberthan you look. stop it, dad! and she's raisin' you a snake,just like herself. and you can curl upbeside her beforei give a goddamn! but you justremember this, boy.
you just remember,when they come in here and they tearthis place apart board by board!you hear me? you are a man who'snever had the strengthto support his own life. you'll return that motorfrom where you found it, and you'll apologizein person to the manyou took it from. i won't hear aboutanything like this again. i can't takethat motor back. but i canpay him for it.
i'll give himwhat he wants. i don't carewhat you do, ellis. neckbone: whatthe hell's all this? it's a bonfire. i guess he didn't careabout bein' seen. ellis: he hadsomething elseon his mind. what you all hidin' for? found your shirt. you can keep it.
i don't need it no more. saw what's leftof your bonfire. somebody could haveseen you. i guess. do some drinkin'last night? i did a lot of drinkin'last night. neck, i'm gonna need youto stay here and getthis motor runnin'. ellis, i need you to dosomethin' else for me. i need you to getthat to juniper.
okay, mud. neck, let's go. you still takin' juniper? neck, fetch methat socket wrench. you be all right? yeah. how about you? he'll be okay. can i borrow your bike? don't tump it.
i was wonderin'when i'd see you. sorry about last night. i'm supposed togive this to you. did you read it? i gotta go. i said i was sorry. all you had to dowas be there. i couldn't. then why'd youeven come here?
i came hereto leave with him. i did. you knowyou don't know him, right? i know he'd doanything for you. is that what you think? mud's a born liar. that's why people like him,he makes them feel goodabout themselves. i do love him. i just
can't spendthe rest of my liferunnin' away with him. tell him i understand. what's it say? says, "it's over." bye, ellis. (juniper sobbing) did you getmy phone calls? i've been tryin'to call you. who's this guy?
get your headout of my car, kid. i called you twice! may: stop it, kyle! stop it! kyle! (crowd clamoring) stop it, kyle! god! what the hell youdoin' here, ellis?
you can't just run upand punch people i'm with. i'm sorry, i just wantedto know why you hadn'tcalled me back. why would i callyou back, ellis? because you'remy girlfriend. i'm not your girlfriend. we've beenon one date. one. yeah, but... but what?what'd you expect, ellis?
i love you. (scoffs) you're 14. i don't know.he's just this kid. come on, let's... neckbone: try it now. mud: nothin'. what she say? you're a liar!
makin' two kids run around,doin' all the work because you're too scaredto do it yourself! (ellis sobbing) makin' me tell herit's over becauseyou're too scared! you said you loved herand you lied! you gave up on her,and she gave up on you! just like everybody else! i trusted you! bonfires and crossesand wolf's eye...bullshit!
now, come on, ellis. every single thingyou told me was a lie! you never cared about her,and you never cared about us! not enough to matter! you used us. (inhales deeply) you made me a thief! let me talk to him. ellis, come on!
ellis, wait a minute. (screams) (splashes) mud! ellis! he fellin the creek! he fell into the snakes! mud, please! get the motor started, neck! neckbone: is he okay?is he bit?
what time is it? neckbone: 4:18! yell it outevery 10 minutes. is he goingto be okay? got to get himto the clinic. are you bit? my bike's up there! need some help here! snake bite!
it's a snake bite! stay calm. just under an hour. female nurse: okay,we'll take care of him.let's go! let's go, people. male nurse: sir. we're going to needsome information from you. sir! (gasps) mary lee: it's okay.
just sit back. where am i? you're home. we brought you home. come on, sit up. you had us scared, son. i'm so gladyou're okay. mary lee: the doctorsgave you some medicine. you had a snake bite.
how did i getto the doctor? a man brought you in. no one knew him. oh, no, no,it's all right. you just rest now.we'll talk about it later. do you need anything?are you hungry? come on,let him get some rest. i'll be back into check on you. mom? dad?
we love you,too, ellis. mud: the sun doesshine on a dog's asssome days, huh? it ain't sunk yet. wish elliscould see it. mud: i know. well... looks like you getyour end of the deal. where's the bullets? deal was for the gun,not the bullets.
neck, i've gotone more favori want to ask of you. (boat approaching) (whispering)don't get up. how'd you get here? neck brought me. we got the boatin the water. you did? smooth sailingfrom here on out. wouldn't have felt rightleavin' town withoutcomin' to say goodbye.
i'm sorryabout what i said. no, you wereright to be mad. you were rightabout a lot of things. i don't trafficin the truthtoo often, but i did love her. i do love her. she loves you, too. she said it.
yeah, i just made mistakes.heck, we both did, you know. it's a hard lifeto keep up with, can't blame her forgettin' tired of tryin'. my dad saysyou can't counton women loving you. he saidyou can't trust them. that's not true. you're a good man, ellis. you meet a girlhalf as good as you,you're going to be all right. you're a good man, too, mud.
no, i ain't, ellis. maybe from hereon out, i can... (gunfire) stay put. (shushing) don't move. (gun loading) (gun cocking) (rifle fires)
neckbone: mud! let him go. (whispers) you stilldown there, buddy? all right, stay put. (cocks gun) (groans) flush him out this way. (gun firing) aah!
senior: ellis! ellis. ellis. it's okay. (sobbing) (sirens wailing) (chatter on police radio) you're speaking to him. he's dead? (snoring)
you got your bike back? mud dingedthe shit out of it. they're really doing it. it's the law. it's bullshit. they ever find tom? no. he's gone. i heard on the news, they still hadn'tfound mud's body.
you think he's dead? i hope not. come bythe apartments later,help me fix up my room. i'll see you next week? you betcha. you mindyour mother, okay? this is a big changefor her, too. she's gonnaneed your support. i love you, too.
come on, son. you gotta see this.
