Back Roads (2018) Movie Script
1
[breathing heavily]
[Mansour]
So my question to you is,
why didn't you shoot her
from a distance?
You got a nice scope
on that rifle.
You could have climbed up
those hills behind her house
and shot her
in the front yard
and said it was
a hunting accident,
and no one would have
suspected anything,
because no one knew
there was anything going on
between you two, right?
Why did you kill her?
[turns ignition off]
[truck door slams]
Did you get my egg roll?
Yeah.
- Where's Amber?
- She's got a date.
She said you'd be mad,
but I can watch Jody.
I'm old enough.
[sets bottle down]
[rock music blaring faintly]
[pounds on door]
[rock music blaring continuous]
You're supposed to be watching
the kids tonight.
[turns music off]
Misty's 12.
She can babysit
a six-year-old.
They shouldn't be left alone
in the house at night.
What is your problem?
Admit it,
you just hate the idea
that I have a life
and you don't.
You're just mad
because you have to work.
Well, you'd have to work
anyways, Harley.
I fucking promise you,
you're not going to college
or doing anything meaningful
with your life.
Meaningful.
Like fucking guys
in the back of pick-up trucks?
You'd give anything
to fuck someone.
Why aren't you eating?
I'm making my list
of things to do.
I don't like
hot dogs anyway.
You always eat hot dogs.
Not like that.
I like them long now.
Esme says cut-up hot dogs
are the number one cause
of choking deaths among children
in the United States.
She told me
on the bus today.
Live dangerously.
- I won't eat it.
- You have to.
I do not.
Harley, tell her
she has to eat it.
I don't care
if she eats it.
I'll eat it if you fix it.
And how am I going
to fix it?
With glue.
[Misty]
Eating glue would kill you.
[Jody]
Then make me another one.
- I don't want to.
- Make me another one.
You can have my last one.
There's mustard on it.
Wipe it off.
Fine.
Do you want to hear
my fortune?
I have to go to work.
Can you tell me tomorrow?
No, you got to hear it now.
"You are the master
of every situation."
It's for you.
Thank you.
[turns ignition off]
Hey, Harley.
Hey.
How are you?
I'm okay.
The girls?
They're fine.
Jody told Esme
that you won't let Amber
get her driver's permit.
She can get it
when she gets a job
and she can pay
for her own insurance.
Oh.
It's, like,
a thousand bucks.
You've really become
the full-fledged
head of the household.
Esme's been bugging me to have
Jody over for dinner again.
I was thinking Monday.
Monday's Jody's night to cook,
but I guess we can all pour
our own bowls of cereal.
[both laugh]
This is nice.
What do you mean?
No kids.
I left them at home with Brad.
This is nice,
shopping by myself.
It's the most relaxing thing
I've done in weeks.
[laughs]
It's kind of pathetic,
coming to a grocery store
for fun.
It's not as pathetic
as working in one.
It's a lot more pathetic.
I should finish up.
Okay.
Well, remember to send Jody
with a note on the bus
so that she can get off
with Esme on Monday, okay?
Okay.
[sighs]
[Amber panting and moaning]
[moaning and breathing heavily]
[panting]
[gunshot]
[man]
What the fuck?
[gunshot]
[Amber]
Harley, you fucking shit!
[gunshot]
[Amber] I fucking hate you!
Please, don't go.
Go back to bed.
- [car engine starting]
- [Amber] Wait.
Harley, listen to me!
I fucking hate you,
Harley!
I hate you.
[Harley]
Get off me!
Go over there!
[Jody]
What's a lethal injection?
Where'd you hear that?
Tyler at school.
He says Mom's going to get one.
Mom's not going to get one.
Esme says it's what the vet
gives old dogs
when they're having trouble
dying.
She said people don't get them,
because they don't need them.
They die on their own.
She's right.
Mom's not going to die, is she?
No.
I don't want her to die,
even if she killed Daddy.
I can't talk about this shit
while I'm driving, okay?
Do you want
to hear a joke?
Sure.
What does a vampire say
when you do him a favor?
I don't know.
"Fangs a lot."
[laughs]
- [gasps and laughs]
- [chains rattle]
Mommy, I missed you.
Harley, I thought...
I thought I wouldn't
see you again.
Oh, my baby.
Hi.
You look...
different.
Where do we keep
the extra light bulbs?
I think they're in
the bathroom,
under the sink,
to the right.
Do we have any?
Well, I don't know.
It's...
it's been a long time.
Mommy, look at the picture
I brought you.
Is that your father's coat?
[Jody]
He wears it all the time.
Look at my picture.
Yay. Yippee.
That's so pretty.
Where's Misty?
[Harley]
She didn't want to come.
Harley wouldn't
let her come.
Why not?
They fight in the truck
and it drives me crazy.
Do you want to know
where Amber is?
Amber's a big girl,
so she probably has plans.
She's started dating.
Define dating.
Harley, what's wrong with you?
[sighs]
[Harley]
You want to be here.
That's ridiculous.
No.
You want to be here.
[breathing heavily]
Harley. Harley!
[wailing]
[screaming]
[ticking]
If you don't trust Amber
to watch your sisters at night,
what about someone else?
How about a relative?
I told you before,
Mom doesn't have any family.
And Dad's family won't have
anything to do with us.
- Oh, why do you think that is?
- Because we're related to Mom.
You're related
to your father too.
Not as closely.
What about Uncle Mike?
I thought you said
he was helping out lately.
He's been bringing me
cases of Pabst.
I guess that's helpful.
Cash would be more helpful,
in my opinion.
Alcohol is not a solution
to your problems.
I didn't say anything
about alcohol.
I was talking about beer.
[sighs]
Let's get back
to your mother.
This was a big step for you.
When do you think
you'll see her again?
I don't know.
You are planning
on seeing her again, aren't you?
You made an interesting comment
about your mother
being more concerned
about the girls
than she is about you.
Why do you think
that's true?
Because they're girls.
Why should that matter?
Girls can get pregnant.
A guy can walk away
from it.
Hmm.
What about you?
What if you got
a girl pregnant?
Would you just
walk away from it?
I'd marry her.
Interesting.
Why?
Because you answered
so quickly.
What if you didn't
love the girl?
I had sex with her, right?
Yes.
So you're saying you wouldn't
have sex with a girl
unless you love her.
If she would have sex with me,
then I would love her.
What if a wife and child
would interfere
with your future plans?
If I got her pregnant,
it would mean
I was being stupid.
So, you'd marry her
out of responsibility?
I guess so.
You'd commit yourself
to another human being
for the rest of your life
as a form of punishment.
Did you like your father,
Harley?
Did you respect him?
He did everything
he was supposed to.
Including beating his children?
Was he supposed to do that?
He thought he was.
Good.
Why do you think that?
I don't want to talk about him
anymore.
I have to go.
We haven't finished
your session yet.
My apologies
to the taxpayers.
[Callie]
Slow down, little man.
- How are you?
- [Harley] Okay.
I was just on the phone
with Misty.
I told her I'd drive Jody home
for you.
That's okay.
Well, have you had dinner?
Yeah, I ate in town.
Well, I have something
for you anyway.
You want to come in
for a minute?
In?
In the house.
Sure.
Do me a favor, Harley.
Have the last pork chop.
Oh, that's okay.
Big guy like you can't finish
off that little pork chop?
What about your husband?
He won't want it.
He's eating out tonight.
Do you want a beer?
Sure.
You are old enough to drink,
right?
[bottles clank]
- This is great.
- Thanks.
Jody liked them too.
Can we have
something to eat?
[Callie]
Baby, you just had dinner. No.
That's it, no more.
Did you eat
these pork chops?
I loved them.
But you hate pork chops.
I hate your pork chops.
They taste like napkins.
It's probably just the marinade.
I'll give you the recipe.
Esme Jane,
where are your shoes?
- Outside.
- It's not summer yet.
Go put them back on.
Right now. Go, go, go.
[girls laughs]
Esme's kind of a weird name.
Where'd you get it?
It was the name of a model
and a mistress
of one of my favorite artists,
a French Impressionist.
He paints like
Pierre Bonnard.
You know who
Pierre Bonnard is?
Yeah.
My mom had these note cards
she got from
the Art Institute of Chicago.
Had one of his paintings
on the front.
Table Set in a Garden.
So you're familiar
with his work.
I'm familiar
with his note cards.
I like Impressionists.
They don't care about what
something really looks like.
They only care about
how looking at something
makes a person feel.
It's the definition
of Impressionism.
You're wearing my shirt.
I told you to stop doing that.
Take it off.
- What are you doing?
- You said take it off.
Put it back on right now.
Put it back on right now.
There you go.
A purple one.
I needed another purple one.
You're late tonight.
[Amber] I was hoping
you finally decided to split,
and then I could
get my license.
[Harley]
You're so stupid, Amber.
You just don't get it,
do you?
- What don't I get?
- I can't afford it.
Which word don't you
understand?
I understand all of them.
I don't make enough money
to come up with an extra
thousand bucks so you can drive.
How did Daddy do it?
Dad made good money.
- [Amber] Driving a cement mixer?
- Yeah.
So why you can't you drive
a cement mixer?
I can drive
a cement mixer.
I just can't get a job
driving a cement mixer.
Did you lose another tooth?
Yeah.
I suppose you can't afford
a quarter.
Harley doesn't pay for my teeth.
The tooth fairy does.
Except I don't understand
why the tooth fairy
only gives me a quarter
and gives Esme a dollar.
Esme's mom brought you
a present.
[Amber scoffs]
I wouldn't call it
a present.
What are you talking about?
Well, she stopped by
this afternoon
and she brought you
some recipes and an art book.
Are you turning into a fag
or something?
What's a fag?
I mean, I guess you
might as well be a faggot,
because you can't get a girl
to make it with you.
- What book?
- [Jody] A giant book.
It's a book from
the Art Institute of Chicago.
Miss Mercer put a Post-it
on the front of it
with all of the pages of photos
she thought you might like.
It's too weird
and gross, okay?
That woman needs
to get a life.
You should have seen what she
was wearing for someone her age.
What was she wearing?
[Amber]
Pink denim shorts
that were way too fucking tight
for her.
You are so jealous of her
because she has the exact shorts
you want.
Shut up.
Women like that
are pathetic.
They think men want to look
at them after they hit 30.
I can't wait to see you
in your 30s.
Oh, you won't know me
in my 30s.
I will be so out of here.
[Harley]
You'll be living down the road
in a trailer with five kids
and no husband.
You know what, Harley?
I was going
to do you a favor,
and now you can go
fuck yourself.
The only favor you can do me
is get a job.
What if I knew someone who
wanted to go out with you?
I'm not interested.
You don't even know
who it is.
If it's someone you know,
I'm not interested.
What if she wanted to...
Harley, look at me.
Look at me.
[whispers]
What if she wanted to fuck you?
[in normal voice]
I'm serious.
Ashlee Breckway.
She has a thing for you.
How old is she?
She's 16.
- Sixteen?
- [Amber] Mm-hmm.
Forget it.
Looking for something?
I was just
putting it back.
I came by the house
last week.
Did Amber tell you?
Yeah.
Thanks for the stuff
you brought.
Did you look at the book?
I like the Pierre Bonnard
painting,
Earthly Paradise.
It's supposed to be
Adam and Eve, right?
Yeah, right.
What'd you think?
It's pretty accurate.
Eve all relaxed,
laying in the woods.
Adam trying to figure out
where to build a house.
Why would you say
that was accurate?
I don't know.
I guess women are better
at accepting things
the way they are,
while men are always trying
to figure out ways
to change things.
You're very insightful.
Has anyone ever
told you that?
I'll let you
get back to work.
See you around.
- Uncle Mike.
- [Uncle Mike] Hey, Harley.
- Uncle Mike.
- There's my favorite girl.
Hey, sweetheart.
[grunts]
Oh, you're getting heavy.
How are you?
- Good.
- You want a candy bar?
You know where it is?
[laughs]
You're adorable.
All right,
get out of here.
You look like you're going
to kiss me, for Christ's sakes.
You... you get a new couch?
Yeah, thinking about it.
Most people wait
till they have the new one
before they burn the old one,
but...
Yeah, all right.
Yeah, you...
you're going
to have to get
to that soffit and fascia
this year, hmm?
And that window trim?
You're going to need a new coat
of paint on that,
or that wood's just going
to rot right out of there.
You need to fix
your roof.
Tomorrow.
- Hey, Uncle Mike.
- Hey there, baby girl.
How are you?
Good.
- How's Aunt Jan?
- She's doing great.
- How about Mike Junior?
- He's doing fantastic.
He's just tearing it up there
in Ardendale University.
You got a minute?
Do you want to...?
He can run
and catch a ball.
[chuckles]
What's so funny?
[Harley]
Kill...
have intercourse.
[Amber laughs]
Yeah, I'm going to leave you two
to your private joke.
Come on, Uncle Mike.
We're just kidding.
[truck door opens and closes]
You know, a lot of people
are jealous of Mike's success,
and that's how they handle it,
they make fun of him.
I don't come here for me.
[starts engine]
Who needs him?
I need him.
[sighs]
[door closes]
[beer cans clatter]
[breathing heavily]
Callie. Callie!
Please, help me.
Harley, is that you?
Are you okay?
What's going on?
What happened to your face?
[Harley]
Help me. I can't breathe.
[Callie]
Are you okay?
- Harley. Hey.
- I can't breathe.
[Callie]
Where are you going?
Harley.
[grunts]
Not too hard.
You're going to pull me so hard.
[both panting]
[Harley grunts]
[Harley sobs]
[whispers]
It's okay.
It's okay.
[birds tweeting]
[footsteps]
- [gunshot]
- Shit!
- Why'd you do that?
- What the hell are you doing?
I was trying to shoot a rabbit.
I figured you'd be happy.
You're not allowed
to use my gun.
- Why not?
- Because you're just a kid.
So what? I started hunting
with Dad when I was eight.
Besides, I'm not a kid anymore.
I started my period.
Fuck. Don't tell me that.
Tell Amber.
I did. She threw a box
of tampons at me.
[mutters]
Oh, my God.
Jody?
What is that?
What is that?
It was Misty's.
I found it in the woods.
[Callie]
Okay, let's go find the car.
[Esme]
Hey, look, it's Harley!
- Hey.
- Hey.
Come on, guys.
Can I help you
with your groceries?
Oh, that's okay.
You don't have to do that.
- Well, it's kind of my job.
- Oh, yeah. Okay, great.
Sorry. Thanks.
Come on,
let's go to the car.
Brad's out of town
on business,
and I didn't have anyone
to watch the kids,
so I had them
with me tonight.
Sorry, you don't care
about any of that.
All right, come on.
Get in the car.
Scoot through.
Right, there you go.
All right.
Here, help me with that.
Thank you, buddy.
Thank you.
There you go.
Better get them home.
I'm sorry for the way
that I left.
Sorry for everything,
really.
I'm not saying
it wasn't great,
just maybe it shouldn't
have happened.
You were so upset.
I just wanted to help.
I guess there's better ways
to help a person.
Or maybe not.
It's okay.
It's not okay.
I'm married.
I have two little kids.
I'm ten years older
than you.
When I think about you,
I don't think about you being
married or how old you are.
What do you think about?
- Honestly?
- Honestly.
Your ass, mostly.
My ass?
Yeah.
You think about
my ass a lot?
Define "a lot".
Once a day.
Yeah.
[kids shouting]
- [Zack] Hey!
- [Esme] Hey!
Guys, all right,
I hear you.
We're going to go
in just a second.
It's obviously not a great time
to talk about this.
If you want to come by
after work,
Brad's out of town,
like I said.
Okay.
Okay.
I'll see you tonight.
[kids shouting and arguing]
Okay, okay, I hear you.
Please, I beg you,
please, be nice to each other.
[engine starts]
[Rick]
You have to be firm.
If a little girl steals a grape,
don't yell at her.
Let her have it.
Altmyer.
What's the deal
with your shirttail?
You look like hell.
Is that it?
No, that's not it.
You were late today.
Am I fired?
Jesus Christ, Altmyer.
You're not fired.
Just don't do it again, okay?
Can you do that?
One other thing.
I got a complaint.
I had a customer call.
She said you put
hair-care product
in the same bag
with lettuce.
What's going on
with you, son?
Get it together.
Don't let it happen again, okay?
Now, tuck your shirt in.
Be proud.
Be Robinson proud.
[Callie]
Can I take your coat?
Want a beer?
[Harley]
Sure.
[bottles clank]
You never told me
what happened last night.
Is everything okay at home?
Yeah.
No.
Everything's not okay.
Is there anything
I can do to help?
You can fuck me again.
[bottle shatters]
Shit.
I'm sorry.
[both breathing heavily]
Harley?
You got to go.
I'm sorry.
Sorry to rush you off
like this,
but Zack's already awake.
I don't know when
I can see you again,
between the kids,
Brad and your two jobs.
I can quit one.
[turns ignition off]
[Amber]
Harley, what are you doing?
Where were you?
- [snaps fingers]
- Where were you all night?
We had a crisis.
Is Jody okay?
Yes.
Misty?
Yes, they're fine.
Where's my gun?
I don't fucking know.
It's nothing bad like that.
You called it a crisis.
Maybe it's not a crisis,
but it's a big fucking deal,
okay?
I found a thousand dollars
in Misty's room last night.
What?
She's probably still sitting
on her bed guarding the money.
It's mine.
I'm the one who found it.
Give me the money.
You can't hurt me.
You're my legal guardian.
You have to take care of me.
I had to take it.
She was saving up to take us
and leave Daddy.
[Harley]
It's not yours, it's Mom's.
And she doesn't even know
you have it.
Now give it to me.
Okay.
Let's ask her and see
what she wants us to do with it.
She can't have any visitors.
You flipped out.
She can have calls.
Now give me the money.
You know I can take
that money from you.
I might have to hurt you
to do it, but I can do it.
Now give it to me.
[slaps face]
[sobs softly]
Now I can get my license.
Are you crazy?
Hmm?
You said we need
a thousand bucks.
Yeah. I need that money
for the taxes on the house.
What are you talking about?
The taxes.
They're due in two weeks,
and we don't have any of it.
Okay, and whose fault
is that?
Give me the money.
Give me the money.
I hate you, Harley!
You're such a fucking prick!
I hate you!
[brakes squeal]
[turns ignition off]
Harley, what are you doing here?
Shouldn't you be at work?
You said you were going
to call me.
Why haven't you called me?
- I didn't get a chance.
- Bullshit.
You could have called me
anytime.
You could have said you wanted
to speak to me about Jody.
Don't you have two jobs?
Yeah, so?
So, the problem isn't
when can I call you,
it's when are you home
for me to talk to you?
- I usually come home for dinner.
- Oh, dinnertime, that's great.
That's when I'm cooking
and feeding two hungry kids
while my husband bitches
about his day and has a drink.
Should I interrupt him and say,
"Hey, babe, I need to call
the neighbor kid and see
if he wants to come over
so I can fuck his brains out"?
Is that what I should do?
Yeah, that's exactly
what you should do.
Zack is right here.
- Let's go inside.
- I can't.
I ca...
[both panting
and grunting]
[both breathing heavily]
Here you go, bud.
I found this
in Esme's backpack.
She and Jody send notes
back and forth all the time.
But this one
kind of concerned me.
I thought you should have it.
I asked Esme about it.
She said Jody was just trying
to gross her out.
But if this is true,
it's disturbing.
You might want to talk
to Misty about it.
When can I see you again?
I don't know.
Do you know the abandoned
mining office
by the railroad tracks?
I thought we could
go there.
Okay.
How about...
Wednesday?
I think that's the first time
I can get away.
Sure.
[Callie]
I want to ask you something.
And I want you to be honest.
Okay.
Was I your first?
First what?
Woman.
Was I the first woman
you've ever had sex with?
Harley, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I didn't know
at the time.
I hope it was memorable.
I remember it.
This was a good idea.
We could do it
every Wednesday night.
- Yeah.
- Would that make you happy?
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
Callie?
[Harley]I have something
I want to talk to you about.
It's a hypothetical question.
Go on.
Can a kid think it's okay
to get hit?
Did you think it was okay
for your father to hit you?
This isn't about me.
You can still answer
the question.
I didn't think it was okay,
but...
I thought it was normal.
[pen scratching]
What about sexually abused kids?
Can they think it's okay?
You talking about Misty?
What do you know
about Misty?
I don't know much about her.
We only had a few sessions
together.
But in the few we did,
I had the feeling she was in
a very unhealthy relationship
with your father.
Who was sexually abused, Harley?
No one.
What about Amber?
Amber.
She was never alone with Dad.
She hated him.
Yeah? How do you know?
I was there.
I saw.
How did you feel
toward Amber
when you saw her being hit
by your father?
What do you mean?
Did you want to help her?
I wanted to make her
feel better.
And how do you think she felt
when she saw your father
hit you?
I don't know.
I guess she didn't like it.
Did she want to make you
feel better?
It's okay, Harley.
Harley, please do not walk away.
We need to talk about this.
- Harley.
- [door opens]
[door slams]
[turns ignition off]
- Who the fuck are you?
- Who the fuck are you?
Amber's running away.
I asked you
who you were.
I'm a friend of Amber's.
You must be her brother.
The bag boy.
Don't hurt him, Harley.
- Hurt him.
- Hurt me?
[Jody]
Just make him go away.
I think you should leave.
Come on, let's go.
I'm leaving you!
Don't touch me!
You're disgusting!
I don't want to live with you
anymore.
Don't go, please.
I'm sorry, Jody.
I don't want to,
but I have to, okay?
So be mad at Harley
because it's Harley's fault!
What did I do?
You know exactly
what you did.
Now can you get
out of the fucking way?
[engine starts]
Why did you let her go?
- She'll be back.
- No, she won't.
Yes, she will.
That boy only wants one thing
from her, okay?
And when he gets it,
he's going to dump her
in a parking lot somewhere.
Does he want her pillow?
Yeah, he wants
her pillow.
Will you get her
in the parking lot?
I will, I promise you.
Promise?
I promise.
This is all Misty's fault.
Why do you say that?
She told Amber something today,
and it made her really mad.
What did she tell her?
I don't know.
They went in her room
and closed the door.
It was about you, though.
I heard your name
a bunch of times.
I asked Misty to tell me,
but she said it was a secret.
Misty keeps secrets
better than anybody.
She said I won't be able
to keep it,
but I keep lots of secrets
for her.
Like what?
I can't tell you.
They're secrets.
You know, when Misty tells you
you can't tell anyone,
she's not talking about me.
Yes, she is.
Did Misty ask you
to keep a secret
about that shirt of hers
you found?
No.
But you know something about it
and you won't tell me.
Why?
Mm...
Where did all that blood
come from?
From Daddy, I guess.
But Misty was at the mall
when Daddy got shot.
You were the only one home
that night
with Mommy and Daddy,
remember?
Misty was at the mall.
I know.
Mommy drove her there.
When did Mommy
drive her there?
After she shot Daddy.
- Who shot Daddy?
- Mommy.
Everybody knows that.
Did you see it happen?
You know I didn't.
I was in my room,
I heard a bang,
and I went out
and I saw Daddy on the floor,
and I went and hid
in the woods.
But Misty was there?
She was hugging Daddy.
And then you saw Mommy
drive away with Misty.
Yeah.
What did Mommy do
when she got back?
She got a shovel
and went in the woods.
I thought she was going
to bury Daddy.
But she buried Misty's shirt
instead.
Yeah.
Why didn't you tell the police
Misty was home that night?
They didn't ask me.
They just asked me if I saw
Mommy shoot Daddy, and I didn't.
[answering machine beeps]
[Harley, on answering machine]
Hi, Betty.
This is Harley Altmyer.
I'm sorry to call you
on a Saturday,
but I really need
to see my mom.
The problem is I'm not allowed
to see her anymore.
I thought maybe
you could get me in.
Maybe you could tell them
it would be good for me.
How is everything at home?
Nobody's shot anybody,
if that's what you're asking.
That supposed
to be funny?
It wasn't.
What's wrong?
Hmm?
You look sick, baby.
I'm fine.
You're not taking care
of yourself.
When was the last time you slept
or changed your clothes?
Did you know
Misty took your money?
The thousand dollars
you had saved up.
Did you know she took it?
Amber found it
last week.
Did you know about it?
I thought your dad
had taken that money.
He didn't.
Mom.
Mom, the money.
Well, I guess
it'll come in handy.
Fine.
Don't talk to me,
but then I'm done.
What do you mean?
I'm done. Done taking care
of your fucking kids.
I'm packing up my shit
and I'm leaving.
You would never.
You'd never leave the girls.
Why not?
You did.
What are you talking about?
I didn't leave anyone
on purpose.
Look around you.
I'm in prison!
You fucking like it here.
Hmm?
You're talking stupid, okay?
I don't love them.
I don't feel any obligation
to them.
It's not my job.
Okay.
Okay, Harley.
[shushes]
Okay.
Misty took the money.
What do you want me
to tell you?
I was...
I was saving it up
and I was going to leave
your dad, okay?
I was.
What was going on
between Dad and Misty?
I don't know
what you mean.
Please, tell me the truth.
You owe me.
I don't...
I don't.
I don't owe you anything.
Fucking tell me.
Fucking tell me.
I never saw anything.
Did you ask Dad?
- Hmm?
- I don't...
How do you ask?
How do you ask
a question like that?
You asked Misty.
What? If he what?
How do you ask anybody
a question like that?
So, you never knew anything
for sure?
I found her shirt.
- I know she was there.
- What?
I know she did it.
I know Misty killed Dad.
I don't get it.
You didn't have
to take the blame.
Nothing would have
happened to you.
- You don't understand.
- She's just a kid.
You don't understand,
Harley.
She wouldn't have
gotten in trouble.
She would have gotten help.
- She needs help.
- You don't understand.
Were you embarrassed?
You didn't want
anyone to know?
Misty didn't want
your dad dead!
Is that why you said
you fucking did it?
She...
She was aiming it at me!
She was jealous of me!
She was trying to kill me
and he got in the way!
You're fucking crazy.
You're crazy.
I'm not the crazy one!
I'm not!
You're fucking
hiding in here.
You're fucking hiding in here.
Why did you leave me?
- [guard] That's it.
- I'm not hiding!
- [guard] Come on.
- [sobbing]
I just want my mom.
I want my fucking mom!
[door slams]
[sniffles]
[Jody]
Hi, Harley.
Amber came back.
This is temporary.
I'm not going to live with you
anymore.
I'm moving in with Dylan.
Did he do that
to your face?
Hmm?
Why do you give yourself
to assholes like that?
You don't even make them
work for it.
They want me.
[thunder rumbles]
[breathing heavily]
Let's get something straight,
Harley.
You don't ever come to my house
when Brad's around.
I came to pick up Jody.
You didn't come to pick up Jody.
Brad took Jody home hours ago.
You came to make a scene.
And what do you want me
to tell Brad
when he asks
why I had to come out here,
why you had to talk to me,
why I had to sit here
in your truck?
And don't tell me
to tell him the truth.
[breathing heavily]
- Where'd you go today?
- I went shopping.
- Where'd you go Thursday?
- To the fucking library.
What is this?
Why are you asking me
where I've been?
Where I go is none
of your business!
I wanted to make sure
you weren't mad at me.
Mad at you for what?
You left.
When? Wednesday?
You knew I had to leave.
Do you think we could
do it sometime
when you didn't
have to leave?
Why did you really
come here?
Did you really think
I was going to come out here
and give you what you wanted
while my husband and kids
were sitting inside?
I'm not going
to fuck up my family.
I'm not going to do it.
Do you understand?
Do you understand?
But I love you.
Let's just...
stick to the mining office
like we planned.
Okay.
[cries]
I'll see you Wednesday.
Altmyer.
Man, do not come back here
until you take a bath.
Oh, God, Jesus.
Whoo.
I was going
to leave you a note,
but I thought it was
a big enough deal
that I should say bye to you
in person.
Who's watching Jody?
Fuck you. I'm standing here
telling you
I'm never going
to see you again,
and all you care about
is who's watching Jody.
Misty's watching her.
I don't like Misty
watching Jody.
Well, that's too fucking bad,
because that's all you got
anymore.
Where are you going?
I'm moving in
with Dylan.
I'm serious.
He's way different
from all the other guys.
Why?
Because he hits you?
Is that what you want?
Someone to hit you?
I don't get it.
You didn't like it
when Dad hit you.
Or did you?
You're sick.
Would you stay if I hit you?
Well, do you want me to stay?
If you want.
Well, are you
asking me to stay?
Till you figure things out,
sure.
Well, Dylan will be really mad
if I stay.
For Christ's sakes, Amber.
Tell him I won't let you.
Really? You want me
to tell him that?
Yeah.
Okay.
[starts engine]
[turn signal clicking]
[engine starts]
[breathing heavily]
Fuck.
- Fuck.
- [Amber] What's wrong?
Fuck. Put some fucking
clothes on.
You were liking it.
Put some clothes on.
You said you wanted me to stay.
Get off me. Get off me.
Fucking get off me!
What's wrong with you?
[sobbing]
You thought it was her.
You thought you were
fucking her.
[sniffling]
I know all about it!
I know all about you and her
in that fucking shed!
[cries]
She doesn't love you.
She doesn't love you!
She could never love you.
Amber used to touch me
when we were kids.
I remember.
She used to come into bed
with me and touch me.
Where did she touch you?
You need to say it,
Harley.
You need to say it in order
to confront it
so it can go away.
It's not ever
going to go away.
It can fade
to almost nothing.
It can, I promise.
She touched you where?
My penis.
Did you touch her?
No.
She was behind me.
She came into my bed.
Why do you think
she came into your bed?
Hmm?
[sighs]
Think about it.
She was afraid of Dad.
[sniffles]
And you let her stay?
- Why?
- I was afraid of him too.
I want you to listen to me
very carefully, Harley.
You are not a bad person.
There is nothing wrong
with you or Amber.
You were children
reacting to abuse
the only way you knew how:
by turning to each other
for comfort.
What made you remember?
Do you know?
Did something happen?
- I can't.
- Yes, you can.
- You can.
- No, I can't.
You can.
What happened?
She was in bed with me
and I was sleeping.
When?
Last night.
Did she touch you?
I don't know.
I was sleeping,
and she...
she didn't have
any clothes on.
How did you react?
What do you mean?
What kind of question is that?
I'm not...
I'm not sick.
I am not implying you are.
I'm thinking
about Amber now.
I'm concerned about
how she might be feeling.
This was all her fault.
She was the one
who wanted to do it.
No, she didn't want to do it.
- She did.
- Harley, try to understand.
Your sister
isn't the villain here.
She is suffering
just as much as you are.
Where's Amber right now?
I don't know.
It doesn't matter.
She can take care
of herself.
Right now, you're feeling
shame and guilt.
Amber is feeling all that,
but she's also
feeling rejected.
I want you to lie down
on the couch here
and get some rest.
My jobs.
Don't worry.
I'll take care
of everything.
[sighs]
[clock ticking]
I heard your fight
with Amber.
What did you hear?
I heard you
screaming at her
and telling her
to put her clothes back on.
Look, I don't care
what you and Amber do.
We're not that different,
you know.
The way we think.
We're both sort of weird.
I'm not really the way
a girl's supposed to be,
and you're not really the way
a guy's supposed to be.
What do you mean?
I mean, you hate sports
and you keep that art book
in your truck.
There's nothing wrong
with a guy liking art.
And there's nothing wrong
with a girl liking to hunt.
Nobody said there was.
Dad thought there was.
Dad loved taking you hunting.
No, he didn't.
He took me
because I wanted to go.
But he always wished
that I was you.
He loved you.
No, he didn't.
He didn't love me
like he loved Mom.
That's a different
kind of love.
He never hit her.
Did you ever
think about that?
He never touched her.
That's probably why
she didn't care that he hit us.
She cared.
Then why didn't she try
to stop him?
[Harley]
I know what you did.
I know the truth.
[sniffles]
Don't you have
anything to say?
You're the one
that should have done it.
[phone rings]
[answering machine beeps]
[Betty, on machine]
Hi, this is Dr. Parks.
It's Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
I'm at my home office.
Amber. Amber?
If you're there,
please, call me back.
[breathing heavily]
[sniffles]
[sobs]
[cries]
I didn't know
what else to do.
What about me?
Who's going to take care of me?
[horn blaring]
[Mansour]
So, this woman.
How do you know her?
She's a neighbor.
Jody plays with her kid.
Is Jody the little one
we found hiding in the woods
the night your daddy was shot?
Yeah.
She's the little one.
I want to make a call.
We're not done yet.
I get one phone call,
and I want to make it now.
All right.
Go ahead.
Make your phone call.
[phone line rings]
[Uncle Mike, on phone]
Hello?
Uncle Mike?
It's me, Harley.
I want to talk to Jody.
Jody?
Jody's in bed asleep.
What are you doing
calling here?
I get one call.
[sniffles]
This is your
one phone call?
[sighs]
Yeah.
Jesus, Harley.
They might give you
the death penalty for this.
[sobs]
Right.
I know.
You get one phone call,
and you call a six-year-old
little girl.
Uncle Mike.
Uncle Mike.
I'm sorry.
I can't wake her.
[phone line disconnects]
[Mansour] You know much
about guns, Harley?
Some.
Enough to know how powerful
that rifle of yours is,
and the damage it can cause
at close range?
So, my question to you is,
why didn't you shoot her
from a distance?
You got a nice scope
on that rifle.
You could have climbed up
those hills behind her house
and shot her
in the front yard
and said it was
a hunting accident,
and no one would have
suspected anything,
because no one knew
there was anything going on
between you two,
right?
Her husband didn't know.
Did you tell him?
No.
But I did talk with him
when we retrieved the body.
And he said you liked her,
and she was fond of you.
I want to go to jail.
Fair enough.
I just have one more question
for you.
- Okay.
- Why did you kill her?
What do you mean?
You loved her, right?
Yeah.
Well, I'm not saying
people that love each other
don't kill each other,
but they usually think
they have a pretty good reason
for doing it.
I wanted her to leave
her husband
and she said
she wouldn't.
So you killed her?
Okay, let me see if I can
get this straight here.
You...
you're going to meet with her
to have sex with her,
and you decide to kill her.
Then you throw up
next to her body,
and you fold her hands
peacefully across her chest,
you drive yourself
to the police station
and give us a nice,
neat confession.
And then you call your baby
sister to see how she's doing.
Is that about right?
The only problem
with that is,
is you're talking about
two people.
One is a cold-blooded
psychopath
and the other is a decent kid
that's just had a shitty life.
Can you explain to me
how you could be both?
I have a split personality.
And that's why
you see the shrink.
I want to go to jail now.
[door buzzes open]
Are you ready, ma'am?
[chains rattle]
[door opens]
Hi, Harley.
How are you doing?
Good.
Are you sleeping?
I'm fine.
How are the girls?
They're adjusting.
Did you get
Jody's letter?
I came to see
how you were doing.
I hope that's okay?
Is it still
part of your job?
No.
No, I guess it isn't.
Then why are you here?
Because, Harley,
truthfully,
what you are doing
is sacrificing yourself
for someone.
Am I correct?
Because I have reason
to doubt the account
that you gave
in your statement.
And because I believe
that even though you have
been through more than most,
you are not a murderer.
Is there anything
you want to tell me, Harley?
Anything at all?
I thought you came to see me
because you cared about me.
That's the truth.
I do care about you.
But I can't help you
if you won't let me.
Then I'm sorry
I've wasted your time.
I know who you are.
You don't belong here.
Yes, I do.
No!
[no audio]
[knock on door]
[door buzzes open]
Harley! Harley!
[sobbing]
[chains rattle]
[door buzzes]
[door closes]
[Jody]
Dear Harley,
how are you?
I am fine.
Amber and Misty
are fine too.
Uncle Mike let me bring
all my dinosaurs to his house.
Amber has her own room.
I still have to share
with Misty.
I hope you will
come back soon.
I miss my life.
Your sister, Jody.
[music]
[breathing heavily]
[Mansour]
So my question to you is,
why didn't you shoot her
from a distance?
You got a nice scope
on that rifle.
You could have climbed up
those hills behind her house
and shot her
in the front yard
and said it was
a hunting accident,
and no one would have
suspected anything,
because no one knew
there was anything going on
between you two, right?
Why did you kill her?
[turns ignition off]
[truck door slams]
Did you get my egg roll?
Yeah.
- Where's Amber?
- She's got a date.
She said you'd be mad,
but I can watch Jody.
I'm old enough.
[sets bottle down]
[rock music blaring faintly]
[pounds on door]
[rock music blaring continuous]
You're supposed to be watching
the kids tonight.
[turns music off]
Misty's 12.
She can babysit
a six-year-old.
They shouldn't be left alone
in the house at night.
What is your problem?
Admit it,
you just hate the idea
that I have a life
and you don't.
You're just mad
because you have to work.
Well, you'd have to work
anyways, Harley.
I fucking promise you,
you're not going to college
or doing anything meaningful
with your life.
Meaningful.
Like fucking guys
in the back of pick-up trucks?
You'd give anything
to fuck someone.
Why aren't you eating?
I'm making my list
of things to do.
I don't like
hot dogs anyway.
You always eat hot dogs.
Not like that.
I like them long now.
Esme says cut-up hot dogs
are the number one cause
of choking deaths among children
in the United States.
She told me
on the bus today.
Live dangerously.
- I won't eat it.
- You have to.
I do not.
Harley, tell her
she has to eat it.
I don't care
if she eats it.
I'll eat it if you fix it.
And how am I going
to fix it?
With glue.
[Misty]
Eating glue would kill you.
[Jody]
Then make me another one.
- I don't want to.
- Make me another one.
You can have my last one.
There's mustard on it.
Wipe it off.
Fine.
Do you want to hear
my fortune?
I have to go to work.
Can you tell me tomorrow?
No, you got to hear it now.
"You are the master
of every situation."
It's for you.
Thank you.
[turns ignition off]
Hey, Harley.
Hey.
How are you?
I'm okay.
The girls?
They're fine.
Jody told Esme
that you won't let Amber
get her driver's permit.
She can get it
when she gets a job
and she can pay
for her own insurance.
Oh.
It's, like,
a thousand bucks.
You've really become
the full-fledged
head of the household.
Esme's been bugging me to have
Jody over for dinner again.
I was thinking Monday.
Monday's Jody's night to cook,
but I guess we can all pour
our own bowls of cereal.
[both laugh]
This is nice.
What do you mean?
No kids.
I left them at home with Brad.
This is nice,
shopping by myself.
It's the most relaxing thing
I've done in weeks.
[laughs]
It's kind of pathetic,
coming to a grocery store
for fun.
It's not as pathetic
as working in one.
It's a lot more pathetic.
I should finish up.
Okay.
Well, remember to send Jody
with a note on the bus
so that she can get off
with Esme on Monday, okay?
Okay.
[sighs]
[Amber panting and moaning]
[moaning and breathing heavily]
[panting]
[gunshot]
[man]
What the fuck?
[gunshot]
[Amber]
Harley, you fucking shit!
[gunshot]
[Amber] I fucking hate you!
Please, don't go.
Go back to bed.
- [car engine starting]
- [Amber] Wait.
Harley, listen to me!
I fucking hate you,
Harley!
I hate you.
[Harley]
Get off me!
Go over there!
[Jody]
What's a lethal injection?
Where'd you hear that?
Tyler at school.
He says Mom's going to get one.
Mom's not going to get one.
Esme says it's what the vet
gives old dogs
when they're having trouble
dying.
She said people don't get them,
because they don't need them.
They die on their own.
She's right.
Mom's not going to die, is she?
No.
I don't want her to die,
even if she killed Daddy.
I can't talk about this shit
while I'm driving, okay?
Do you want
to hear a joke?
Sure.
What does a vampire say
when you do him a favor?
I don't know.
"Fangs a lot."
[laughs]
- [gasps and laughs]
- [chains rattle]
Mommy, I missed you.
Harley, I thought...
I thought I wouldn't
see you again.
Oh, my baby.
Hi.
You look...
different.
Where do we keep
the extra light bulbs?
I think they're in
the bathroom,
under the sink,
to the right.
Do we have any?
Well, I don't know.
It's...
it's been a long time.
Mommy, look at the picture
I brought you.
Is that your father's coat?
[Jody]
He wears it all the time.
Look at my picture.
Yay. Yippee.
That's so pretty.
Where's Misty?
[Harley]
She didn't want to come.
Harley wouldn't
let her come.
Why not?
They fight in the truck
and it drives me crazy.
Do you want to know
where Amber is?
Amber's a big girl,
so she probably has plans.
She's started dating.
Define dating.
Harley, what's wrong with you?
[sighs]
[Harley]
You want to be here.
That's ridiculous.
No.
You want to be here.
[breathing heavily]
Harley. Harley!
[wailing]
[screaming]
[ticking]
If you don't trust Amber
to watch your sisters at night,
what about someone else?
How about a relative?
I told you before,
Mom doesn't have any family.
And Dad's family won't have
anything to do with us.
- Oh, why do you think that is?
- Because we're related to Mom.
You're related
to your father too.
Not as closely.
What about Uncle Mike?
I thought you said
he was helping out lately.
He's been bringing me
cases of Pabst.
I guess that's helpful.
Cash would be more helpful,
in my opinion.
Alcohol is not a solution
to your problems.
I didn't say anything
about alcohol.
I was talking about beer.
[sighs]
Let's get back
to your mother.
This was a big step for you.
When do you think
you'll see her again?
I don't know.
You are planning
on seeing her again, aren't you?
You made an interesting comment
about your mother
being more concerned
about the girls
than she is about you.
Why do you think
that's true?
Because they're girls.
Why should that matter?
Girls can get pregnant.
A guy can walk away
from it.
Hmm.
What about you?
What if you got
a girl pregnant?
Would you just
walk away from it?
I'd marry her.
Interesting.
Why?
Because you answered
so quickly.
What if you didn't
love the girl?
I had sex with her, right?
Yes.
So you're saying you wouldn't
have sex with a girl
unless you love her.
If she would have sex with me,
then I would love her.
What if a wife and child
would interfere
with your future plans?
If I got her pregnant,
it would mean
I was being stupid.
So, you'd marry her
out of responsibility?
I guess so.
You'd commit yourself
to another human being
for the rest of your life
as a form of punishment.
Did you like your father,
Harley?
Did you respect him?
He did everything
he was supposed to.
Including beating his children?
Was he supposed to do that?
He thought he was.
Good.
Why do you think that?
I don't want to talk about him
anymore.
I have to go.
We haven't finished
your session yet.
My apologies
to the taxpayers.
[Callie]
Slow down, little man.
- How are you?
- [Harley] Okay.
I was just on the phone
with Misty.
I told her I'd drive Jody home
for you.
That's okay.
Well, have you had dinner?
Yeah, I ate in town.
Well, I have something
for you anyway.
You want to come in
for a minute?
In?
In the house.
Sure.
Do me a favor, Harley.
Have the last pork chop.
Oh, that's okay.
Big guy like you can't finish
off that little pork chop?
What about your husband?
He won't want it.
He's eating out tonight.
Do you want a beer?
Sure.
You are old enough to drink,
right?
[bottles clank]
- This is great.
- Thanks.
Jody liked them too.
Can we have
something to eat?
[Callie]
Baby, you just had dinner. No.
That's it, no more.
Did you eat
these pork chops?
I loved them.
But you hate pork chops.
I hate your pork chops.
They taste like napkins.
It's probably just the marinade.
I'll give you the recipe.
Esme Jane,
where are your shoes?
- Outside.
- It's not summer yet.
Go put them back on.
Right now. Go, go, go.
[girls laughs]
Esme's kind of a weird name.
Where'd you get it?
It was the name of a model
and a mistress
of one of my favorite artists,
a French Impressionist.
He paints like
Pierre Bonnard.
You know who
Pierre Bonnard is?
Yeah.
My mom had these note cards
she got from
the Art Institute of Chicago.
Had one of his paintings
on the front.
Table Set in a Garden.
So you're familiar
with his work.
I'm familiar
with his note cards.
I like Impressionists.
They don't care about what
something really looks like.
They only care about
how looking at something
makes a person feel.
It's the definition
of Impressionism.
You're wearing my shirt.
I told you to stop doing that.
Take it off.
- What are you doing?
- You said take it off.
Put it back on right now.
Put it back on right now.
There you go.
A purple one.
I needed another purple one.
You're late tonight.
[Amber] I was hoping
you finally decided to split,
and then I could
get my license.
[Harley]
You're so stupid, Amber.
You just don't get it,
do you?
- What don't I get?
- I can't afford it.
Which word don't you
understand?
I understand all of them.
I don't make enough money
to come up with an extra
thousand bucks so you can drive.
How did Daddy do it?
Dad made good money.
- [Amber] Driving a cement mixer?
- Yeah.
So why you can't you drive
a cement mixer?
I can drive
a cement mixer.
I just can't get a job
driving a cement mixer.
Did you lose another tooth?
Yeah.
I suppose you can't afford
a quarter.
Harley doesn't pay for my teeth.
The tooth fairy does.
Except I don't understand
why the tooth fairy
only gives me a quarter
and gives Esme a dollar.
Esme's mom brought you
a present.
[Amber scoffs]
I wouldn't call it
a present.
What are you talking about?
Well, she stopped by
this afternoon
and she brought you
some recipes and an art book.
Are you turning into a fag
or something?
What's a fag?
I mean, I guess you
might as well be a faggot,
because you can't get a girl
to make it with you.
- What book?
- [Jody] A giant book.
It's a book from
the Art Institute of Chicago.
Miss Mercer put a Post-it
on the front of it
with all of the pages of photos
she thought you might like.
It's too weird
and gross, okay?
That woman needs
to get a life.
You should have seen what she
was wearing for someone her age.
What was she wearing?
[Amber]
Pink denim shorts
that were way too fucking tight
for her.
You are so jealous of her
because she has the exact shorts
you want.
Shut up.
Women like that
are pathetic.
They think men want to look
at them after they hit 30.
I can't wait to see you
in your 30s.
Oh, you won't know me
in my 30s.
I will be so out of here.
[Harley]
You'll be living down the road
in a trailer with five kids
and no husband.
You know what, Harley?
I was going
to do you a favor,
and now you can go
fuck yourself.
The only favor you can do me
is get a job.
What if I knew someone who
wanted to go out with you?
I'm not interested.
You don't even know
who it is.
If it's someone you know,
I'm not interested.
What if she wanted to...
Harley, look at me.
Look at me.
[whispers]
What if she wanted to fuck you?
[in normal voice]
I'm serious.
Ashlee Breckway.
She has a thing for you.
How old is she?
She's 16.
- Sixteen?
- [Amber] Mm-hmm.
Forget it.
Looking for something?
I was just
putting it back.
I came by the house
last week.
Did Amber tell you?
Yeah.
Thanks for the stuff
you brought.
Did you look at the book?
I like the Pierre Bonnard
painting,
Earthly Paradise.
It's supposed to be
Adam and Eve, right?
Yeah, right.
What'd you think?
It's pretty accurate.
Eve all relaxed,
laying in the woods.
Adam trying to figure out
where to build a house.
Why would you say
that was accurate?
I don't know.
I guess women are better
at accepting things
the way they are,
while men are always trying
to figure out ways
to change things.
You're very insightful.
Has anyone ever
told you that?
I'll let you
get back to work.
See you around.
- Uncle Mike.
- [Uncle Mike] Hey, Harley.
- Uncle Mike.
- There's my favorite girl.
Hey, sweetheart.
[grunts]
Oh, you're getting heavy.
How are you?
- Good.
- You want a candy bar?
You know where it is?
[laughs]
You're adorable.
All right,
get out of here.
You look like you're going
to kiss me, for Christ's sakes.
You... you get a new couch?
Yeah, thinking about it.
Most people wait
till they have the new one
before they burn the old one,
but...
Yeah, all right.
Yeah, you...
you're going
to have to get
to that soffit and fascia
this year, hmm?
And that window trim?
You're going to need a new coat
of paint on that,
or that wood's just going
to rot right out of there.
You need to fix
your roof.
Tomorrow.
- Hey, Uncle Mike.
- Hey there, baby girl.
How are you?
Good.
- How's Aunt Jan?
- She's doing great.
- How about Mike Junior?
- He's doing fantastic.
He's just tearing it up there
in Ardendale University.
You got a minute?
Do you want to...?
He can run
and catch a ball.
[chuckles]
What's so funny?
[Harley]
Kill...
have intercourse.
[Amber laughs]
Yeah, I'm going to leave you two
to your private joke.
Come on, Uncle Mike.
We're just kidding.
[truck door opens and closes]
You know, a lot of people
are jealous of Mike's success,
and that's how they handle it,
they make fun of him.
I don't come here for me.
[starts engine]
Who needs him?
I need him.
[sighs]
[door closes]
[beer cans clatter]
[breathing heavily]
Callie. Callie!
Please, help me.
Harley, is that you?
Are you okay?
What's going on?
What happened to your face?
[Harley]
Help me. I can't breathe.
[Callie]
Are you okay?
- Harley. Hey.
- I can't breathe.
[Callie]
Where are you going?
Harley.
[grunts]
Not too hard.
You're going to pull me so hard.
[both panting]
[Harley grunts]
[Harley sobs]
[whispers]
It's okay.
It's okay.
[birds tweeting]
[footsteps]
- [gunshot]
- Shit!
- Why'd you do that?
- What the hell are you doing?
I was trying to shoot a rabbit.
I figured you'd be happy.
You're not allowed
to use my gun.
- Why not?
- Because you're just a kid.
So what? I started hunting
with Dad when I was eight.
Besides, I'm not a kid anymore.
I started my period.
Fuck. Don't tell me that.
Tell Amber.
I did. She threw a box
of tampons at me.
[mutters]
Oh, my God.
Jody?
What is that?
What is that?
It was Misty's.
I found it in the woods.
[Callie]
Okay, let's go find the car.
[Esme]
Hey, look, it's Harley!
- Hey.
- Hey.
Come on, guys.
Can I help you
with your groceries?
Oh, that's okay.
You don't have to do that.
- Well, it's kind of my job.
- Oh, yeah. Okay, great.
Sorry. Thanks.
Come on,
let's go to the car.
Brad's out of town
on business,
and I didn't have anyone
to watch the kids,
so I had them
with me tonight.
Sorry, you don't care
about any of that.
All right, come on.
Get in the car.
Scoot through.
Right, there you go.
All right.
Here, help me with that.
Thank you, buddy.
Thank you.
There you go.
Better get them home.
I'm sorry for the way
that I left.
Sorry for everything,
really.
I'm not saying
it wasn't great,
just maybe it shouldn't
have happened.
You were so upset.
I just wanted to help.
I guess there's better ways
to help a person.
Or maybe not.
It's okay.
It's not okay.
I'm married.
I have two little kids.
I'm ten years older
than you.
When I think about you,
I don't think about you being
married or how old you are.
What do you think about?
- Honestly?
- Honestly.
Your ass, mostly.
My ass?
Yeah.
You think about
my ass a lot?
Define "a lot".
Once a day.
Yeah.
[kids shouting]
- [Zack] Hey!
- [Esme] Hey!
Guys, all right,
I hear you.
We're going to go
in just a second.
It's obviously not a great time
to talk about this.
If you want to come by
after work,
Brad's out of town,
like I said.
Okay.
Okay.
I'll see you tonight.
[kids shouting and arguing]
Okay, okay, I hear you.
Please, I beg you,
please, be nice to each other.
[engine starts]
[Rick]
You have to be firm.
If a little girl steals a grape,
don't yell at her.
Let her have it.
Altmyer.
What's the deal
with your shirttail?
You look like hell.
Is that it?
No, that's not it.
You were late today.
Am I fired?
Jesus Christ, Altmyer.
You're not fired.
Just don't do it again, okay?
Can you do that?
One other thing.
I got a complaint.
I had a customer call.
She said you put
hair-care product
in the same bag
with lettuce.
What's going on
with you, son?
Get it together.
Don't let it happen again, okay?
Now, tuck your shirt in.
Be proud.
Be Robinson proud.
[Callie]
Can I take your coat?
Want a beer?
[Harley]
Sure.
[bottles clank]
You never told me
what happened last night.
Is everything okay at home?
Yeah.
No.
Everything's not okay.
Is there anything
I can do to help?
You can fuck me again.
[bottle shatters]
Shit.
I'm sorry.
[both breathing heavily]
Harley?
You got to go.
I'm sorry.
Sorry to rush you off
like this,
but Zack's already awake.
I don't know when
I can see you again,
between the kids,
Brad and your two jobs.
I can quit one.
[turns ignition off]
[Amber]
Harley, what are you doing?
Where were you?
- [snaps fingers]
- Where were you all night?
We had a crisis.
Is Jody okay?
Yes.
Misty?
Yes, they're fine.
Where's my gun?
I don't fucking know.
It's nothing bad like that.
You called it a crisis.
Maybe it's not a crisis,
but it's a big fucking deal,
okay?
I found a thousand dollars
in Misty's room last night.
What?
She's probably still sitting
on her bed guarding the money.
It's mine.
I'm the one who found it.
Give me the money.
You can't hurt me.
You're my legal guardian.
You have to take care of me.
I had to take it.
She was saving up to take us
and leave Daddy.
[Harley]
It's not yours, it's Mom's.
And she doesn't even know
you have it.
Now give it to me.
Okay.
Let's ask her and see
what she wants us to do with it.
She can't have any visitors.
You flipped out.
She can have calls.
Now give me the money.
You know I can take
that money from you.
I might have to hurt you
to do it, but I can do it.
Now give it to me.
[slaps face]
[sobs softly]
Now I can get my license.
Are you crazy?
Hmm?
You said we need
a thousand bucks.
Yeah. I need that money
for the taxes on the house.
What are you talking about?
The taxes.
They're due in two weeks,
and we don't have any of it.
Okay, and whose fault
is that?
Give me the money.
Give me the money.
I hate you, Harley!
You're such a fucking prick!
I hate you!
[brakes squeal]
[turns ignition off]
Harley, what are you doing here?
Shouldn't you be at work?
You said you were going
to call me.
Why haven't you called me?
- I didn't get a chance.
- Bullshit.
You could have called me
anytime.
You could have said you wanted
to speak to me about Jody.
Don't you have two jobs?
Yeah, so?
So, the problem isn't
when can I call you,
it's when are you home
for me to talk to you?
- I usually come home for dinner.
- Oh, dinnertime, that's great.
That's when I'm cooking
and feeding two hungry kids
while my husband bitches
about his day and has a drink.
Should I interrupt him and say,
"Hey, babe, I need to call
the neighbor kid and see
if he wants to come over
so I can fuck his brains out"?
Is that what I should do?
Yeah, that's exactly
what you should do.
Zack is right here.
- Let's go inside.
- I can't.
I ca...
[both panting
and grunting]
[both breathing heavily]
Here you go, bud.
I found this
in Esme's backpack.
She and Jody send notes
back and forth all the time.
But this one
kind of concerned me.
I thought you should have it.
I asked Esme about it.
She said Jody was just trying
to gross her out.
But if this is true,
it's disturbing.
You might want to talk
to Misty about it.
When can I see you again?
I don't know.
Do you know the abandoned
mining office
by the railroad tracks?
I thought we could
go there.
Okay.
How about...
Wednesday?
I think that's the first time
I can get away.
Sure.
[Callie]
I want to ask you something.
And I want you to be honest.
Okay.
Was I your first?
First what?
Woman.
Was I the first woman
you've ever had sex with?
Harley, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I didn't know
at the time.
I hope it was memorable.
I remember it.
This was a good idea.
We could do it
every Wednesday night.
- Yeah.
- Would that make you happy?
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
Callie?
[Harley]I have something
I want to talk to you about.
It's a hypothetical question.
Go on.
Can a kid think it's okay
to get hit?
Did you think it was okay
for your father to hit you?
This isn't about me.
You can still answer
the question.
I didn't think it was okay,
but...
I thought it was normal.
[pen scratching]
What about sexually abused kids?
Can they think it's okay?
You talking about Misty?
What do you know
about Misty?
I don't know much about her.
We only had a few sessions
together.
But in the few we did,
I had the feeling she was in
a very unhealthy relationship
with your father.
Who was sexually abused, Harley?
No one.
What about Amber?
Amber.
She was never alone with Dad.
She hated him.
Yeah? How do you know?
I was there.
I saw.
How did you feel
toward Amber
when you saw her being hit
by your father?
What do you mean?
Did you want to help her?
I wanted to make her
feel better.
And how do you think she felt
when she saw your father
hit you?
I don't know.
I guess she didn't like it.
Did she want to make you
feel better?
It's okay, Harley.
Harley, please do not walk away.
We need to talk about this.
- Harley.
- [door opens]
[door slams]
[turns ignition off]
- Who the fuck are you?
- Who the fuck are you?
Amber's running away.
I asked you
who you were.
I'm a friend of Amber's.
You must be her brother.
The bag boy.
Don't hurt him, Harley.
- Hurt him.
- Hurt me?
[Jody]
Just make him go away.
I think you should leave.
Come on, let's go.
I'm leaving you!
Don't touch me!
You're disgusting!
I don't want to live with you
anymore.
Don't go, please.
I'm sorry, Jody.
I don't want to,
but I have to, okay?
So be mad at Harley
because it's Harley's fault!
What did I do?
You know exactly
what you did.
Now can you get
out of the fucking way?
[engine starts]
Why did you let her go?
- She'll be back.
- No, she won't.
Yes, she will.
That boy only wants one thing
from her, okay?
And when he gets it,
he's going to dump her
in a parking lot somewhere.
Does he want her pillow?
Yeah, he wants
her pillow.
Will you get her
in the parking lot?
I will, I promise you.
Promise?
I promise.
This is all Misty's fault.
Why do you say that?
She told Amber something today,
and it made her really mad.
What did she tell her?
I don't know.
They went in her room
and closed the door.
It was about you, though.
I heard your name
a bunch of times.
I asked Misty to tell me,
but she said it was a secret.
Misty keeps secrets
better than anybody.
She said I won't be able
to keep it,
but I keep lots of secrets
for her.
Like what?
I can't tell you.
They're secrets.
You know, when Misty tells you
you can't tell anyone,
she's not talking about me.
Yes, she is.
Did Misty ask you
to keep a secret
about that shirt of hers
you found?
No.
But you know something about it
and you won't tell me.
Why?
Mm...
Where did all that blood
come from?
From Daddy, I guess.
But Misty was at the mall
when Daddy got shot.
You were the only one home
that night
with Mommy and Daddy,
remember?
Misty was at the mall.
I know.
Mommy drove her there.
When did Mommy
drive her there?
After she shot Daddy.
- Who shot Daddy?
- Mommy.
Everybody knows that.
Did you see it happen?
You know I didn't.
I was in my room,
I heard a bang,
and I went out
and I saw Daddy on the floor,
and I went and hid
in the woods.
But Misty was there?
She was hugging Daddy.
And then you saw Mommy
drive away with Misty.
Yeah.
What did Mommy do
when she got back?
She got a shovel
and went in the woods.
I thought she was going
to bury Daddy.
But she buried Misty's shirt
instead.
Yeah.
Why didn't you tell the police
Misty was home that night?
They didn't ask me.
They just asked me if I saw
Mommy shoot Daddy, and I didn't.
[answering machine beeps]
[Harley, on answering machine]
Hi, Betty.
This is Harley Altmyer.
I'm sorry to call you
on a Saturday,
but I really need
to see my mom.
The problem is I'm not allowed
to see her anymore.
I thought maybe
you could get me in.
Maybe you could tell them
it would be good for me.
How is everything at home?
Nobody's shot anybody,
if that's what you're asking.
That supposed
to be funny?
It wasn't.
What's wrong?
Hmm?
You look sick, baby.
I'm fine.
You're not taking care
of yourself.
When was the last time you slept
or changed your clothes?
Did you know
Misty took your money?
The thousand dollars
you had saved up.
Did you know she took it?
Amber found it
last week.
Did you know about it?
I thought your dad
had taken that money.
He didn't.
Mom.
Mom, the money.
Well, I guess
it'll come in handy.
Fine.
Don't talk to me,
but then I'm done.
What do you mean?
I'm done. Done taking care
of your fucking kids.
I'm packing up my shit
and I'm leaving.
You would never.
You'd never leave the girls.
Why not?
You did.
What are you talking about?
I didn't leave anyone
on purpose.
Look around you.
I'm in prison!
You fucking like it here.
Hmm?
You're talking stupid, okay?
I don't love them.
I don't feel any obligation
to them.
It's not my job.
Okay.
Okay, Harley.
[shushes]
Okay.
Misty took the money.
What do you want me
to tell you?
I was...
I was saving it up
and I was going to leave
your dad, okay?
I was.
What was going on
between Dad and Misty?
I don't know
what you mean.
Please, tell me the truth.
You owe me.
I don't...
I don't.
I don't owe you anything.
Fucking tell me.
Fucking tell me.
I never saw anything.
Did you ask Dad?
- Hmm?
- I don't...
How do you ask?
How do you ask
a question like that?
You asked Misty.
What? If he what?
How do you ask anybody
a question like that?
So, you never knew anything
for sure?
I found her shirt.
- I know she was there.
- What?
I know she did it.
I know Misty killed Dad.
I don't get it.
You didn't have
to take the blame.
Nothing would have
happened to you.
- You don't understand.
- She's just a kid.
You don't understand,
Harley.
She wouldn't have
gotten in trouble.
She would have gotten help.
- She needs help.
- You don't understand.
Were you embarrassed?
You didn't want
anyone to know?
Misty didn't want
your dad dead!
Is that why you said
you fucking did it?
She...
She was aiming it at me!
She was jealous of me!
She was trying to kill me
and he got in the way!
You're fucking crazy.
You're crazy.
I'm not the crazy one!
I'm not!
You're fucking
hiding in here.
You're fucking hiding in here.
Why did you leave me?
- [guard] That's it.
- I'm not hiding!
- [guard] Come on.
- [sobbing]
I just want my mom.
I want my fucking mom!
[door slams]
[sniffles]
[Jody]
Hi, Harley.
Amber came back.
This is temporary.
I'm not going to live with you
anymore.
I'm moving in with Dylan.
Did he do that
to your face?
Hmm?
Why do you give yourself
to assholes like that?
You don't even make them
work for it.
They want me.
[thunder rumbles]
[breathing heavily]
Let's get something straight,
Harley.
You don't ever come to my house
when Brad's around.
I came to pick up Jody.
You didn't come to pick up Jody.
Brad took Jody home hours ago.
You came to make a scene.
And what do you want me
to tell Brad
when he asks
why I had to come out here,
why you had to talk to me,
why I had to sit here
in your truck?
And don't tell me
to tell him the truth.
[breathing heavily]
- Where'd you go today?
- I went shopping.
- Where'd you go Thursday?
- To the fucking library.
What is this?
Why are you asking me
where I've been?
Where I go is none
of your business!
I wanted to make sure
you weren't mad at me.
Mad at you for what?
You left.
When? Wednesday?
You knew I had to leave.
Do you think we could
do it sometime
when you didn't
have to leave?
Why did you really
come here?
Did you really think
I was going to come out here
and give you what you wanted
while my husband and kids
were sitting inside?
I'm not going
to fuck up my family.
I'm not going to do it.
Do you understand?
Do you understand?
But I love you.
Let's just...
stick to the mining office
like we planned.
Okay.
[cries]
I'll see you Wednesday.
Altmyer.
Man, do not come back here
until you take a bath.
Oh, God, Jesus.
Whoo.
I was going
to leave you a note,
but I thought it was
a big enough deal
that I should say bye to you
in person.
Who's watching Jody?
Fuck you. I'm standing here
telling you
I'm never going
to see you again,
and all you care about
is who's watching Jody.
Misty's watching her.
I don't like Misty
watching Jody.
Well, that's too fucking bad,
because that's all you got
anymore.
Where are you going?
I'm moving in
with Dylan.
I'm serious.
He's way different
from all the other guys.
Why?
Because he hits you?
Is that what you want?
Someone to hit you?
I don't get it.
You didn't like it
when Dad hit you.
Or did you?
You're sick.
Would you stay if I hit you?
Well, do you want me to stay?
If you want.
Well, are you
asking me to stay?
Till you figure things out,
sure.
Well, Dylan will be really mad
if I stay.
For Christ's sakes, Amber.
Tell him I won't let you.
Really? You want me
to tell him that?
Yeah.
Okay.
[starts engine]
[turn signal clicking]
[engine starts]
[breathing heavily]
Fuck.
- Fuck.
- [Amber] What's wrong?
Fuck. Put some fucking
clothes on.
You were liking it.
Put some clothes on.
You said you wanted me to stay.
Get off me. Get off me.
Fucking get off me!
What's wrong with you?
[sobbing]
You thought it was her.
You thought you were
fucking her.
[sniffling]
I know all about it!
I know all about you and her
in that fucking shed!
[cries]
She doesn't love you.
She doesn't love you!
She could never love you.
Amber used to touch me
when we were kids.
I remember.
She used to come into bed
with me and touch me.
Where did she touch you?
You need to say it,
Harley.
You need to say it in order
to confront it
so it can go away.
It's not ever
going to go away.
It can fade
to almost nothing.
It can, I promise.
She touched you where?
My penis.
Did you touch her?
No.
She was behind me.
She came into my bed.
Why do you think
she came into your bed?
Hmm?
[sighs]
Think about it.
She was afraid of Dad.
[sniffles]
And you let her stay?
- Why?
- I was afraid of him too.
I want you to listen to me
very carefully, Harley.
You are not a bad person.
There is nothing wrong
with you or Amber.
You were children
reacting to abuse
the only way you knew how:
by turning to each other
for comfort.
What made you remember?
Do you know?
Did something happen?
- I can't.
- Yes, you can.
- You can.
- No, I can't.
You can.
What happened?
She was in bed with me
and I was sleeping.
When?
Last night.
Did she touch you?
I don't know.
I was sleeping,
and she...
she didn't have
any clothes on.
How did you react?
What do you mean?
What kind of question is that?
I'm not...
I'm not sick.
I am not implying you are.
I'm thinking
about Amber now.
I'm concerned about
how she might be feeling.
This was all her fault.
She was the one
who wanted to do it.
No, she didn't want to do it.
- She did.
- Harley, try to understand.
Your sister
isn't the villain here.
She is suffering
just as much as you are.
Where's Amber right now?
I don't know.
It doesn't matter.
She can take care
of herself.
Right now, you're feeling
shame and guilt.
Amber is feeling all that,
but she's also
feeling rejected.
I want you to lie down
on the couch here
and get some rest.
My jobs.
Don't worry.
I'll take care
of everything.
[sighs]
[clock ticking]
I heard your fight
with Amber.
What did you hear?
I heard you
screaming at her
and telling her
to put her clothes back on.
Look, I don't care
what you and Amber do.
We're not that different,
you know.
The way we think.
We're both sort of weird.
I'm not really the way
a girl's supposed to be,
and you're not really the way
a guy's supposed to be.
What do you mean?
I mean, you hate sports
and you keep that art book
in your truck.
There's nothing wrong
with a guy liking art.
And there's nothing wrong
with a girl liking to hunt.
Nobody said there was.
Dad thought there was.
Dad loved taking you hunting.
No, he didn't.
He took me
because I wanted to go.
But he always wished
that I was you.
He loved you.
No, he didn't.
He didn't love me
like he loved Mom.
That's a different
kind of love.
He never hit her.
Did you ever
think about that?
He never touched her.
That's probably why
she didn't care that he hit us.
She cared.
Then why didn't she try
to stop him?
[Harley]
I know what you did.
I know the truth.
[sniffles]
Don't you have
anything to say?
You're the one
that should have done it.
[phone rings]
[answering machine beeps]
[Betty, on machine]
Hi, this is Dr. Parks.
It's Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
I'm at my home office.
Amber. Amber?
If you're there,
please, call me back.
[breathing heavily]
[sniffles]
[sobs]
[cries]
I didn't know
what else to do.
What about me?
Who's going to take care of me?
[horn blaring]
[Mansour]
So, this woman.
How do you know her?
She's a neighbor.
Jody plays with her kid.
Is Jody the little one
we found hiding in the woods
the night your daddy was shot?
Yeah.
She's the little one.
I want to make a call.
We're not done yet.
I get one phone call,
and I want to make it now.
All right.
Go ahead.
Make your phone call.
[phone line rings]
[Uncle Mike, on phone]
Hello?
Uncle Mike?
It's me, Harley.
I want to talk to Jody.
Jody?
Jody's in bed asleep.
What are you doing
calling here?
I get one call.
[sniffles]
This is your
one phone call?
[sighs]
Yeah.
Jesus, Harley.
They might give you
the death penalty for this.
[sobs]
Right.
I know.
You get one phone call,
and you call a six-year-old
little girl.
Uncle Mike.
Uncle Mike.
I'm sorry.
I can't wake her.
[phone line disconnects]
[Mansour] You know much
about guns, Harley?
Some.
Enough to know how powerful
that rifle of yours is,
and the damage it can cause
at close range?
So, my question to you is,
why didn't you shoot her
from a distance?
You got a nice scope
on that rifle.
You could have climbed up
those hills behind her house
and shot her
in the front yard
and said it was
a hunting accident,
and no one would have
suspected anything,
because no one knew
there was anything going on
between you two,
right?
Her husband didn't know.
Did you tell him?
No.
But I did talk with him
when we retrieved the body.
And he said you liked her,
and she was fond of you.
I want to go to jail.
Fair enough.
I just have one more question
for you.
- Okay.
- Why did you kill her?
What do you mean?
You loved her, right?
Yeah.
Well, I'm not saying
people that love each other
don't kill each other,
but they usually think
they have a pretty good reason
for doing it.
I wanted her to leave
her husband
and she said
she wouldn't.
So you killed her?
Okay, let me see if I can
get this straight here.
You...
you're going to meet with her
to have sex with her,
and you decide to kill her.
Then you throw up
next to her body,
and you fold her hands
peacefully across her chest,
you drive yourself
to the police station
and give us a nice,
neat confession.
And then you call your baby
sister to see how she's doing.
Is that about right?
The only problem
with that is,
is you're talking about
two people.
One is a cold-blooded
psychopath
and the other is a decent kid
that's just had a shitty life.
Can you explain to me
how you could be both?
I have a split personality.
And that's why
you see the shrink.
I want to go to jail now.
[door buzzes open]
Are you ready, ma'am?
[chains rattle]
[door opens]
Hi, Harley.
How are you doing?
Good.
Are you sleeping?
I'm fine.
How are the girls?
They're adjusting.
Did you get
Jody's letter?
I came to see
how you were doing.
I hope that's okay?
Is it still
part of your job?
No.
No, I guess it isn't.
Then why are you here?
Because, Harley,
truthfully,
what you are doing
is sacrificing yourself
for someone.
Am I correct?
Because I have reason
to doubt the account
that you gave
in your statement.
And because I believe
that even though you have
been through more than most,
you are not a murderer.
Is there anything
you want to tell me, Harley?
Anything at all?
I thought you came to see me
because you cared about me.
That's the truth.
I do care about you.
But I can't help you
if you won't let me.
Then I'm sorry
I've wasted your time.
I know who you are.
You don't belong here.
Yes, I do.
No!
[no audio]
[knock on door]
[door buzzes open]
Harley! Harley!
[sobbing]
[chains rattle]
[door buzzes]
[door closes]
[Jody]
Dear Harley,
how are you?
I am fine.
Amber and Misty
are fine too.
Uncle Mike let me bring
all my dinosaurs to his house.
Amber has her own room.
I still have to share
with Misty.
I hope you will
come back soon.
I miss my life.
Your sister, Jody.
[music]