Children Of The Corn: Runaway (2018) Movie Script
1
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
BOY: When their time came,
he called them.
One by one,
the oldest among them walked
into the corn and were gone.
Ruth feared He Who Walks
Behind the Rows.
Now, she began
to hate him, too.
He had taken her friends.
He had taken
the boy she loved.
She had nothing left
but the new life
growing inside her.
And he would not take that.
So, she did the only thing
she could think of.
Burn the corn.
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(CHILDREN SCREAMING)
BOY: Burn He
Who Walks Behind the Rows.
Burn her past.
(CAR ENGINE REVVING)
And run.
(GROANS, GRUNTS)
RUTH: Not yet.
(SCREAMS)
(GRUNTS)
(RUTH SIGHING)
(CAR RUMBLING)
(CAR DOOR OPENING)
(WHIMPERS)
(GRUNTS)
(SCREAMS)
You can have him.
You can have him.
You can have him.
(SCREAMS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Check this out.
(LOUD THUD)
- How long you been up?
- I don't know. Half hour?
Come on, Ruth,
we got work to do.
Did you just call me Ruth?
Yeah. So what?
Whatever happened to "Mom"?
Sounds like baby talk.
BOY: I thought Ruth
was kinda crazy.
We mostly lived in our truck.
I was thinking I could get
maybe 50 bucks for this?
(MAN CHUCKLING)
Yeah, right.
- BOY: It got old.
- Take it to the office.
(CAR BEEPING)
(URINE TRICKLING)
I'm so glad
that we're in a hotel.
- (TOILET FLUSHING)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV)
Do you know snakes
can breathe from their tongue?
- RUTH: Mm-hm.
- (WATER RUNNING)
- You're wasting water, you know.
- (SPITS) I know.
Isn't it wonderful?
(CHUCKLES)
(WOMAN MOANING)
WOMAN: No. Don't.
No, don't.
You should finish.
Hurry up.
Get off of me! Stop!
Ugh! I just faked it.
(DOOR CLOSING)
(THUDS)
Fuck. Goddamn it. Fucker.
MAN ON RADIO:
For the flesh desires
what is contrary
to the spirit,
and the spirit,
what is contrary to the flesh.
But are there any
who still doubt
that the wages of sin
is death?
RUTH: I hate
all that religious crap.
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO)
BOY: Don't you miss anybody?
Don't you ever wanna stop?
- Meet people?
- No.
BOY: I wanna go to a school.
A real school.
MAN ON RADIO:
Where you go, I will go.
And where you stay...
(STATIC)
MAN ON RADIO:
...where you die,
where you live...
Ruth.
Did you turn that back on?
Huh?
Nothing.
(SIREN WAILING)
RUTH: Shit.
Ma'am, can I ask you
to turn off the engine, please?
(ENGINE STOPS)
Where y'all headed?
Nowhere in particular.
I don't suppose you packed
your license and registration.
You were weaving
like a cut cat back there.
Can I ask you
to step outside, please?
- (CAR DOOR OPENS)
- Stay here.
MAN: Follow me back here.
You just stay there, son.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
- Will we get our truck back?
- (SIGHS) I don't know.
Maybe it's a good excuse
to stay put.
Really? You mean it?
I don't know. Maybe.
BOY: Like, permanent?
No. Like, a couple few weeks
till we get this truck thing
sorted out.
RUTH: Okay.
I got this.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
BOY: Hey, Mom. Over here.
Hello?
MAN: Back here.
Help you?
I'm here
about the mechanic job.
You got experience?
- Some.
- Such as?
Um...
- Salvage, mostly.
- Yeah.
We fix cars here.
We don't strip 'em for parts.
I got a truck. It's got,
like, a million miles on it.
Never once been in a shop.
- That's all well and good.
- Not once.
I need the money.
Listen,
I run a business here.
Not a charity.
Hope things work out
for you.
(RAIN PATTERING)
I'm sorry.
It's just the way it is.
We can't help that.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
- Ruth, look out! Get back!
- (RUTH GASPS)
Careful there, son.
You don't wanna crack her head
and skull on your back swing.
Get your stuff and come on.
It's...
It's nothing fancy,
but it's dry.
- It's all good.
- Thank you.
What's with
all the old bikes outside?
My kid, she, uh...
she used to collect 'em.
I put 'em together.
That was our deal.
She and her mom
got run down by a drunk.
Don't forget,
you're out of here at sunrise.
I got it.
And if I see anything missing...
(GARAGE DOOR RATTLING, BANGING)
(RUTH MUTTERING)
Cut 'em down, plant the seed,
spread their blood...
Mom?
RUTH: Cut 'em down, plant
the seed, spread their blood,
watch and feed, bleed and die,
then cut 'em down.
(CONTINUES MUTTERING)
Cut 'em down
and plant the seed
- and spread their blood.
- Mom.
CHILDREN: Cut them down, plant
the seed, spread their blood.
- (MUTTERING)
- BOY: Mom.
CHILDREN: Watch and feed,
bleed and die.
Bleed and die, bleed and die.
BOY: Mom.
Oh, my God. Aaron.
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.
Aaron, why did you sneak up
on me like that?
I didn't.
I was talking the whole time.
I'm sorry.
I didn't hear you.
What were you doing?
I just... I couldn't sleep,
so I... (MUTTERS)
It doesn't matter.
Let's get you to bed.
I can't sleep either.
Fair enough.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(GARAGE DOOR RATTLING)
(CAR ENGINE REVVING)
MAN: Get on over here!
(CAR ENGINE REVVING)
(GRUNTS)
(RUTH GRUNTS)
(WRENCH CLANGING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
RUTH: Hi there.
What's your name?
That was weird.
What?
You can go ahead
and take your lunch now.
Oh, no, it's... we're good.
Hey, hey, um...
Josephine's,
across the street,
does a pretty mean burger.
Hmm.
Thanks.
You coming?
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
Order whatever you want.
Your mom has a job.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MAN SCREAMING)
(PLATES SMASHING, CLATTERING)
You'd think we're on the deck
of the Titanic or something.
The specials,
they're up on the white board,
except for
the chicken fried chicken,
- and we are out of that.
- How about that fried chicken?
- WAITRESS: That we got.
- How can you have fried chicken
but not have chicken
fried chicken?
Is he gonna be trouble
or what?
(CHUCKLES)
Your toast is burning.
I don't cook.
Hey, doll, how about
my five over easy?
Here you go, sweetheart.
Over easy with a side
of toast, well done.
What about my bacon?
I always have bacon.
Well?
Think I'll get
the onion burger and fries
with the chocolate shake.
WAITRESS:
That's a good call.
(DOOR OPENING, BELL JINGLING)
Here you go. (CHUCKLES)
This will clear the cobwebs.
(LIQUID POURING)
- (BELL JINGLING)
- (LOCUST BUZZING)
(GROUND RUMBLING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(SCREAMING)
(PEOPLE SCREAMING)
RUTH: No!
- BOY: Hey, hey.
- Ow! You hurt me.
GIRL: What'd that lady do?
I'm so sorry. I'm...
I thought... I'm so sorry.
- MAN: You okay?
- (BOY WHIMPERING)
MAN: Come on, Rally,
you just go and sit down.
Thanks for distracting everybody
from the crappy job I'm doing.
Come on, get that crazy bitch
the hell out of here.
Excuse me, Rally,
but in this confusion,
did I miss the part
where you bought this shithole
and became my boss?
You seen what she did.
Now, sit your fat ass
back down on that stool.
MAN: Hey, Rally,
don't take that shit.
Are you all right there,
hit girl?
(DOOR OPENS)
Yeah, I'm all right.
You didn't have to stick up
for me back there.
Oh. (CHUCKLES)
I sure as hell did.
You know, you are not
from around this town,
which automatically makes you
my favorite customer.
(CHUCKLES)
Did you hear
the locust again?
Whenever you hear that sound,
whatever happens next,
- it's not real.
- No, I know.
But this time
was different. I...
(SIGHS)
I don't know why.
Different like...
different how?
Different like the difference
between a painting
and a photograph.
You go back in there
and finish your burger.
What about you?
I gotta go to work.
I'm fine.
- Ruth.
- Go.
(GRUNTS)
(MACHINE WHIRRING)
(CHILD LAUGHING)
(CHILD LAUGHING)
(CHILD LAUGHING)
Who's in there?
I'm gonna find you.
(RALLY GRUNTING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
You little shit.
(RALLY GRUNTING)
(RALLY GRUNTS, GROANS)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(PIANO PLAYING)
(CAR ENGINE RUNNING)
MAN: Been over a year
since the old man kicked.
And his kids are still bickering
over what to do with the place.
I love it just the way it is.
RUTH: You have no idea
what this means to us.
Oh, I... I imagine I do.
I get the bedroom
at the top of the stairs!
I gotta get
back to the shop. (SIGHS)
(CLICKING)
I'll see you tomorrow.
MAN: I'm counting on it.
You know what? I'm thinking
about putting you in school.
Here, in Luther?
Looks like we may be here
a while. What do you think?
Yeah, cool.
Good night, dream boy.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
WOMAN:
What are you doing here?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MAN SCREAMING)
- (MAN MOANING)
- (METAL THUMPING)
(MAN MOANING)
(GASPS)
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(GASPS)
No!
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
RUTH: Time to get up.
- (AARON GROANS)
- (CHUCKLES)
Get dressed.
You got a big day ahead.
(GROANS)
You're the one that wanted
to go to a real school.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)
We will need proof
of residency.
Like what?
Current utility bill,
a lease, mortgage agreement...
Something that verifies
that you live
in the school district.
I don't have that.
We just got here
a couple days ago, so...
Sorry.
We'll be happy
to process your application
when you have
the proper documentation.
(SCOFFS) Are you telling me that
if I don't have a real home,
I can't put my kid
in your school?
I don't make the rules,
Ms. Clawson.
And by the way,
we haven't even gotten
to the hard part yet.
What's the hard part?
Proof of parental status.
Excuse me?
Aaron, can you step outside
for just a second?
Thank you.
If you wanna shack up
with that colored boy,
- that's your business.
- What are you saying?
I'm saying that maybe
you should think twice
about setting down roots
here in Luther.
Maybe you should just...
take your little circus
of crazy
and hit the road.
And what if I don't?
We don't like trouble.
We are a peaceful,
God-fearing town,
Ms. Clawson.
Mm, yeah, I can tell.
Well, then...
It was really nice
meeting you.
It's a fine boy
you have here.
You should be proud.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(BOY LAUGHING)
- (CHILDREN LAUGHING)
- (BELL JINGLING)
Look at them, their
holier-than-thou attitudes.
It's like they've never seen
an unwed mother
sucker punch
a defenseless kid before.
Look, I just...
I wanted to say how sorry I am.
No, are you kidding?
You did me a favor.
Those little bastards
come in here every weekend
just to hang out,
never spend a dime.
Oh, I'm Sarah, by the way.
Ruth. This is Aaron.
How about another onion
burger there, "A-ron"?
AARON: Yeah.
Call me anytime.
She would
if she ever got a phone.
MAN: Hey, hey, hey, hey.
You two love birds
down there,
can you finish
with your lesbian love act?
I could sure as hell
use some goddamn warm in here.
Please.
Excuse me, duty calls.
MAN: Hey, Sarah,
you reckon Mr. Hatcherson minds
you comping all
of those people up there?
- Who said I was comping 'em?
- I know what you're doing.
You're stealing
his fucking money.
Those freebies,
they add up, girl.
Well, thank you, Crusty,
for looking out
for my job security.
- You're a real sweetheart.
- Ahh!
- You crazy bitch! You burned me!
- SARAH: I'll get that.
You burned the hell
out of me! Goddamn!
You know, I'd be happy
to comp that for you.
(BOTH LAUGH)
CRUSTY: Damn.
Yeah, you comp everybody else.
SARAH: Oh, I gotta get you
that onion burger.
This man looks
like he's starving.
Um, I gotta get to work.
But I can be back in an hour
or so and pick him up.
Yeah, yeah,
don't worry about it.
No, he can hang here
as long as he wants.
You sure?
Yeah. We'll be just fine.
Look, best buds already.
I just... I don't wanna
put you out any more
than I've already...
We're fine, Mom. Go.
Yeah, Mom. Hasta la vista.
Okay.
(CHUCKLES)
Okay. Um, great. I'll...
I'll be back... later.
(DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES)
- (TRAIN HORN BLARING)
- (DOG BARKING)
Here you go.
You know, I get the feeling
that there's some stuff going on
between the two of you that...
I don't know, it just doesn't
come out in words.
Living life on the road
just the two of y'all,
it must be tough, right?
I mean, just not having
your own personal space,
time for yourself.
Friends.
(LIQUID POURING)
Shoot, I bet you'd kill
to have a normal life.
Yeah, kinda.
(HOOD BANGING)
You smell good.
Like oil soap.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Where are you from?
What do you mean?
I don't know.
Like, where'd you grow up?
- Where's your family from?
- Nebraska.
- Ah, you're a corn husker.
- A what?
You're empty.
Hmm?
Oh, yeah, um... (SCOFFS)
How'd that happen?
(CHUCKLES)
You don't much like
talking about yourself, do you?
Uh-uh.
Mystery girl.
(SIGHS)
I don't know.
Haven't done that for a while.
We don't have to do this.
(GRUNTS) Oh, watch my leg,
watch my leg.
- Are you okay?
- No, no, come on, I'm real good.
(PANTS UNZIPPING)
(BOTH MOANING)
MAN: No, no, no.
- You good?
- Yeah.
(MAN GRUNTS, MOANS)
- RUTH: Okay.
- MAN: Ow!
- Sorry.
- You all right?
Yeah, I'm fine, yeah.
Yeah, it's great.
Oh, my God.
No, get out of here.
(GRUNTING)
What the hell's wrong with you?
Son, why don't you just...
just go on back to your room?
Everything's fine down here.
You need to leave, Carl.
You know what? You got
a problem, and it ain't me.
Get out.
I've been nothing but decent
to you. Both of you.
(SIGHS)
(DOOR OPENING, SLAMMING)
Aaron?
Aaron!
Aaron!
(CAR DOOR CREAKS)
(RUTH SIGHS)
(RUTH CLEARS HER THROAT)
I don't know what happened.
Um... I just...
We were talking and...
and he just started to get
all sweet on me, and I...
(SIGHS)
It was nothing.
Did you love my father?
I think so.
I don't know.
It was so long ago.
Do you miss having
a man around?
Not when I have you around.
You're the only thing
that matters.
You always will be.
Hey.
Um...
- About last night, I...
- It was nothing.
I can't have somebody
working for me
that doesn't look me in my eye
when I'm talking!
Better?
Yeah, better.
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO)
SARAH: Hey!
Come on, Crusty. Really?
Here. Why don't you
take him outside?
SARAH: Hey, that thing,
the sound you were hearing,
it's them?
RUTH: How did you know
about that?
Um, Aaron told me.
- (RUTH SIGHS)
- SARAH: Hey, look, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to pry. I just...
He worries about you sometimes.
I'm fine.
SARAH: Don't be angry with him.
He's a good kid.
I get to decide
when to be angry with him.
(DOOR OPENING, BELL JINGLING)
I gotta get back to work.
You coming?
Haven't finished
my burger yet.
- SARAH: Here, I can take it...
- No, it's fine.
Stay. Finish.
(METAL CLANKING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTING)
(SOBS)
(SIGHS)
What's that?
Nothing.
Let me see.
That girl teach you
how to do this?
What? It's okay.
I just wanna know.
Look. Hey. It doesn't matter.
I just wanna know
who taught you how to do that.
You did.
(SIGHS)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(DOOR SLAMMING)
(DOOR CLOSING)
(DOORKNOB RATTLING)
Aaron, are you in there?
Aaron. Aaron, you need
to open the door. Aaron.
(PANTING)
- Don't!
- Aaron, I wanna close it.
Just...
don't.
- I said... (SIGHS)
- I'm your mother.
(PAPER RUSTLING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(GASPS, WHIMPERS)
(SNIFFLES)
- (MAGAZINE THUDS)
- God.
Yeah. No, no, no, we... Yeah.
We'll send a truck out to you.
Yeah. Again.
All right. I apologize.
All right.
That was Ms. Carruthers.
Ring a bell?
- Gray Stratus.
- Yeah.
Well, you changed the oil,
but forgot to put
the cap back on.
She got halfway to El Reno
before the engine seized.
That's...
That's not possible.
Doesn't much matter.
Wait. (SCOFFS)
You're not firing me over this.
There's no way.
I'm the best mechanic
you've ever had.
I'm sorry, Ruth.
This just ain't working out.
Which part?
Screwing up the job
or not screwing the boss?
I really wouldn't go there.
I'll pay you through the week,
and that's me being generous.
(SIGHS)
You can't do this.
Well, now,
I guess it's your turn
to get the hell out.
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(INAUDIBLE)
(INAUDIBLE)
AARON: What are you doing?
(STOVE KNOB CLICKING)
(STOVE KNOB CLICKING)
Pernell thinks
his soup's cold.
(GROANS) Goddamn it!
That was good.
All right, well,
two hours, please.
WOMAN: What the...?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
What is she doing here?
It's the woman
I told you about.
You can't be here! Hey!
You can't be here.
Who's there?
Hel...
(CARL SIGHS)
What do you want?
Hey.
What?
You mind telling me
what you're looking for?
Get on out of here. Get!
What?
(SCREAMING, MOANING)
Oh, son of a bitch!
I swear...
(GROANING, COUGHING)
God! (PANTING)
(GROANS, GRUNTS)
(GASPING)
(GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(SCREAMS)
(GROANS)
(PANTING)
- (GLASS SHATTERING)
- (SCREAMING, WHIMPERING)
(GLASS SHATTERING)
(WHIMPERS)
(CAR HORN BEEPING)
Somebody help me!
(SCREAMING)
(SCREAMING)
(WRENCH CLANKING)
(CARL GRUNTING)
(CARL PANTING)
(GRUNTING)
(GIRL LAUGHING)
(PIPE CLANKING)
Why?
Why? Why?
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(SHRIEKING IN DISTANCE)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(CHILDREN LAUGHING)
CHILDREN: Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Bleed and die,
bleed and die.
Bleed and die,
bleed and die.
Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Ah!
(CHILDREN LAUGHING)
Aaron?
Aaron!
(GRUNTS, SHRIEKS)
(GRUNTS)
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
(GASPS) Aaron! Oh, my God.
What are you doing here?
I saw you run into the woods
so I followed you.
I saw what you were doing
with those kids.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
Aaron!
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
Mommy's gonna get some medicine,
okay, Aaron?
(AARON COUGHS)
You stay here.
Mommy's gonna
be right back, okay?
It's okay, baby.
It's all right.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(ALARM RINGING)
(AARON CRYING)
RUTH: I'm sorry, Aaron.
I would do anything
to save you, my beautiful boy.
(BELL JINGLES)
Hey, Joe.
(BELL JINGLING)
Hey, you're up early.
- I need your help.
- Uh, sure. Are you okay?
I know I have no right
to burden you with this.
Uh, do you wanna go somewhere
where we could be alone?
No, no, it's okay.
He can hear this.
I want him to hear this.
Have you ever heard
of Gatlin, Nebraska?
Yeah, where they had that mass
killing a decade or so ago.
One of the children
heard a voice.
And they thought that voice
came from God, but it didn't.
It was something else.
And so, all these children
began to follow this...
this...
Yeah, I remember.
(RUTH SIGHS)
I was one of those kids.
Didn't they all set fire
to themselves?
Not all of 'em.
(CHAIR SLIDING)
When I got pregnant with Aaron,
things changed.
And I realized
they wanted him.
After Gatlin,
we just kept moving around.
We never stayed in one place
more than a day or two
at a time, and...
I don't know, I just felt
like we were being...
followed.
Not by any one person
but by different people
in different places.
How could you tell?
You just... you kinda get
a sense of things.
I don't... I don't really know
how to explain it,
but they, um...
I need you to do something
for me. One thing.
Just one thing,
and I can handle the rest.
Get my son as far away from here
as you possibly can.
I need you to do this
for me, Sarah, please.
I... I don't know.
- I don't know what to say.
- Just get him away from here.
I know that I have no right
to put this on you,
but he cannot be here,
not now.
You could both
leave together.
No, I have to do something,
and it can't involve Aaron.
SARAH: What?
There's someone
in this town.
She's gonna do
something terrible.
SARAH: How do you know?
I know how she thinks.
You know how crazy
that sounds.
Then if I'm crazy,
that is even more reason for you
to get my son to a safer place.
Please.
I don't know.
Look, I've done something awful,
Sarah, 13 years ago.
And I can't take it back.
All I can do is make sure
it never happens again, ever.
This is the last thing
that I have
that I can give
to this world,
to my son.
Now, I'm asking,
I'm begging you, please,
help me make this right.
Okay.
I got this stick-for-brains ex
up in Tulsa.
He's a total loser,
but he's great with kids.
I can take him there.
(SIGHS)
Thank you so much.
You are a total godsend.
No problem.
- (RUTH SIGHS)
- Okay, one tiny problem.
- What?
- I don't have a car.
(KEYS JINGLING)
Oh, hey, I have an appointment
for a root canal in 22 minutes.
Uh, it's the pea green Hyundai.
That one right there.
I have to be
in the city by 8:00,
and with rush hour
the way it is...
Shirke, Candy Shirke.
I have the estimate
right here. Oh... (SIGHS)
I'm in for a broken fan belt,
a new radiator hose,
and you were gonna check
the bushings, too.
I get this grindy noise
when I accelerate,
- especially on cold...
- RUTH: Carl?
I really can't afford
to be late.
He promised that the car
would be ready at 7:30...
Shut up!
(SCREAMING)
RUTH: Carl?
(SCREAMING)
(CAR ALARM BLARING)
(RUTH WHIMPERING)
(GIRL LAUGHING)
(GIRL LAUGHING)
They'll think I did this.
That's the plan, right?
(GIRL LAUGHING)
(KEYS CLINKING)
Come out.
(GIRL LAUGHING)
Come out!
This what we got?
Yeah.
Let's go.
I'll come for you.
I promise, okay?
SARAH:
Be careful there, hit girl.
(SOBBING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
SARAH: Whenever I'm up here,
I'm just struck
by the perfection of it all.
Little farmers down there sowing
their fields every spring.
You know, if you're quiet,
you can actually hear
the corn growing.
And then comes the harvest,
and it starts all over again.
It's...
It's a beautiful thing.
We're not going to Tulsa,
are we?
Nope.
Didn't think so.
(SARAH CHUCKLES)
RUTH: Oh, God. (PANTING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(GASPS)
What are you doing here?
You little whore! Bitch!
(GASPS)
(DOOR SLAMMING)
(WOOD CREAKING)
You're not real.
You're not real.
Oh, you're not real.
You're not real.
(RUTH GASPING)
You're not real.
You're not real.
You're not real.
You're not real.
(RUTH WHIMPERS)
- (SCREAMS)
- Why did you do this to me?
RUTH: Let go! Let go!
Let me go!
No!
(GRUNTS, SOBS)
(DOOR SLAMMING)
(GRUNTS)
GIRL: Ruth.
(WOOD CREAKING)
(WRENCH CLINKING)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Sooner or later, you have
to deal with it, sweetie.
You're still part of us.
- And we're still part of you.
- No. No.
No? Then why keep using
your biblical name, Ruth,
and not the name
that your parents gave you?
What was it again?
Sandra, I think it was.
Sandy.
Where's my son?
He's doing just fine.
We're already getting along
like soulmates.
Did you know he's never read
the Bible? Not a page.
I want him back.
You don't really want that.
Not in your condition.
I mean, look at yourself.
Is that the face
of a responsible mother?
(WRENCH THUDS)
(GASPS)
Sweetie, come here.
Remember how it felt
when you sliced open
your mother's throat?
You watched her bleed out.
And that look
of utter surprise.
You kept that lock of hair
as a keepsake, remember?
Of all
your childhood mementos,
this was the one
that you couldn't part with.
Death was such a mystery
back then.
It still is. It just comes a lot
easier now, doesn't it?
Those poor kids.
Your brothers
and your sisters
trapped in a cornfield,
burning alive.
I want my son.
Well, we're gonna have
to get over that.
I want my son!
I know you want
what's best for Aaron.
Where is he?
SARAH: He's here.
He's downstairs.
What?
What? No. No.
He can't...
He can't see this.
RUTH: Aaron.
Please, baby.
- I'm sorry.
- Be careful what you wish for.
What did you do?
Come here.
Please. Baby, please.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm so, so sorry.
(RUTH SIGHS)
Mommy... Mommy is sick.
You were right.
I know that now.
Everything is much,
much clearer now.
No, don't!
Don't, don't, don't! Why...?
You're afraid of me.
I... I get that.
But I'm your mother.
And I need you
to listen, okay?
I have something
I gotta tell you.
Sarah...
...is not who you think
she is, okay?
You gotta stay away from her,
you understand?
You understand what I'm saying?
Just keep away from her.
She's not your friend.
She's your enemy.
She's who we've been
running from
for your entire life.
You understand me?
She's the darkness.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SNIFFLES) Promise me,
promise me,
the second that I let go,
that you are gonna run, okay?
That you're gonna run, you're
gonna run and run and run,
and you're never
gonna look back, okay?
You promise, okay?
(SNIFFLES)
I love you.
I love you. (CHUCKLES)
I love you too.
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
RUTH: Cut them down,
plant the seed.
Spread their blood,
watch and feed.
And bleed and die.
And bleed and die.
AARON: In the end,
Ruth finally understood.
She wasn't running away
from her destiny.
- She was running to it.
- (AARON SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
- And I am too.
- AARON: ...must be cut down
so that what is pure
and unspoiled
may take its place.
Lord, give me thy strength
to seek out which is impure,
that which is unholy,
that which dishonors thy name
in treachery and betrayal.
Let me by thy sword,
by thy sickle,
and by thy fire!
Lord, let thy righteous fury
guide my hand
until the land
is once again cleansed of sin,
until the fields
are ready to be sown again,
nourished by the blood
of the corrupted souls
that walk among us
even now.
To your will,
I commit myself,
body and soul...
for time eternal.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
BOY: When their time came,
he called them.
One by one,
the oldest among them walked
into the corn and were gone.
Ruth feared He Who Walks
Behind the Rows.
Now, she began
to hate him, too.
He had taken her friends.
He had taken
the boy she loved.
She had nothing left
but the new life
growing inside her.
And he would not take that.
So, she did the only thing
she could think of.
Burn the corn.
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(CHILDREN SCREAMING)
BOY: Burn He
Who Walks Behind the Rows.
Burn her past.
(CAR ENGINE REVVING)
And run.
(GROANS, GRUNTS)
RUTH: Not yet.
(SCREAMS)
(GRUNTS)
(RUTH SIGHING)
(CAR RUMBLING)
(CAR DOOR OPENING)
(WHIMPERS)
(GRUNTS)
(SCREAMS)
You can have him.
You can have him.
You can have him.
(SCREAMS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Check this out.
(LOUD THUD)
- How long you been up?
- I don't know. Half hour?
Come on, Ruth,
we got work to do.
Did you just call me Ruth?
Yeah. So what?
Whatever happened to "Mom"?
Sounds like baby talk.
BOY: I thought Ruth
was kinda crazy.
We mostly lived in our truck.
I was thinking I could get
maybe 50 bucks for this?
(MAN CHUCKLING)
Yeah, right.
- BOY: It got old.
- Take it to the office.
(CAR BEEPING)
(URINE TRICKLING)
I'm so glad
that we're in a hotel.
- (TOILET FLUSHING)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV)
Do you know snakes
can breathe from their tongue?
- RUTH: Mm-hm.
- (WATER RUNNING)
- You're wasting water, you know.
- (SPITS) I know.
Isn't it wonderful?
(CHUCKLES)
(WOMAN MOANING)
WOMAN: No. Don't.
No, don't.
You should finish.
Hurry up.
Get off of me! Stop!
Ugh! I just faked it.
(DOOR CLOSING)
(THUDS)
Fuck. Goddamn it. Fucker.
MAN ON RADIO:
For the flesh desires
what is contrary
to the spirit,
and the spirit,
what is contrary to the flesh.
But are there any
who still doubt
that the wages of sin
is death?
RUTH: I hate
all that religious crap.
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO)
BOY: Don't you miss anybody?
Don't you ever wanna stop?
- Meet people?
- No.
BOY: I wanna go to a school.
A real school.
MAN ON RADIO:
Where you go, I will go.
And where you stay...
(STATIC)
MAN ON RADIO:
...where you die,
where you live...
Ruth.
Did you turn that back on?
Huh?
Nothing.
(SIREN WAILING)
RUTH: Shit.
Ma'am, can I ask you
to turn off the engine, please?
(ENGINE STOPS)
Where y'all headed?
Nowhere in particular.
I don't suppose you packed
your license and registration.
You were weaving
like a cut cat back there.
Can I ask you
to step outside, please?
- (CAR DOOR OPENS)
- Stay here.
MAN: Follow me back here.
You just stay there, son.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
- Will we get our truck back?
- (SIGHS) I don't know.
Maybe it's a good excuse
to stay put.
Really? You mean it?
I don't know. Maybe.
BOY: Like, permanent?
No. Like, a couple few weeks
till we get this truck thing
sorted out.
RUTH: Okay.
I got this.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
BOY: Hey, Mom. Over here.
Hello?
MAN: Back here.
Help you?
I'm here
about the mechanic job.
You got experience?
- Some.
- Such as?
Um...
- Salvage, mostly.
- Yeah.
We fix cars here.
We don't strip 'em for parts.
I got a truck. It's got,
like, a million miles on it.
Never once been in a shop.
- That's all well and good.
- Not once.
I need the money.
Listen,
I run a business here.
Not a charity.
Hope things work out
for you.
(RAIN PATTERING)
I'm sorry.
It's just the way it is.
We can't help that.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
- Ruth, look out! Get back!
- (RUTH GASPS)
Careful there, son.
You don't wanna crack her head
and skull on your back swing.
Get your stuff and come on.
It's...
It's nothing fancy,
but it's dry.
- It's all good.
- Thank you.
What's with
all the old bikes outside?
My kid, she, uh...
she used to collect 'em.
I put 'em together.
That was our deal.
She and her mom
got run down by a drunk.
Don't forget,
you're out of here at sunrise.
I got it.
And if I see anything missing...
(GARAGE DOOR RATTLING, BANGING)
(RUTH MUTTERING)
Cut 'em down, plant the seed,
spread their blood...
Mom?
RUTH: Cut 'em down, plant
the seed, spread their blood,
watch and feed, bleed and die,
then cut 'em down.
(CONTINUES MUTTERING)
Cut 'em down
and plant the seed
- and spread their blood.
- Mom.
CHILDREN: Cut them down, plant
the seed, spread their blood.
- (MUTTERING)
- BOY: Mom.
CHILDREN: Watch and feed,
bleed and die.
Bleed and die, bleed and die.
BOY: Mom.
Oh, my God. Aaron.
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.
Aaron, why did you sneak up
on me like that?
I didn't.
I was talking the whole time.
I'm sorry.
I didn't hear you.
What were you doing?
I just... I couldn't sleep,
so I... (MUTTERS)
It doesn't matter.
Let's get you to bed.
I can't sleep either.
Fair enough.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(GARAGE DOOR RATTLING)
(CAR ENGINE REVVING)
MAN: Get on over here!
(CAR ENGINE REVVING)
(GRUNTS)
(RUTH GRUNTS)
(WRENCH CLANGING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
RUTH: Hi there.
What's your name?
That was weird.
What?
You can go ahead
and take your lunch now.
Oh, no, it's... we're good.
Hey, hey, um...
Josephine's,
across the street,
does a pretty mean burger.
Hmm.
Thanks.
You coming?
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
Order whatever you want.
Your mom has a job.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MAN SCREAMING)
(PLATES SMASHING, CLATTERING)
You'd think we're on the deck
of the Titanic or something.
The specials,
they're up on the white board,
except for
the chicken fried chicken,
- and we are out of that.
- How about that fried chicken?
- WAITRESS: That we got.
- How can you have fried chicken
but not have chicken
fried chicken?
Is he gonna be trouble
or what?
(CHUCKLES)
Your toast is burning.
I don't cook.
Hey, doll, how about
my five over easy?
Here you go, sweetheart.
Over easy with a side
of toast, well done.
What about my bacon?
I always have bacon.
Well?
Think I'll get
the onion burger and fries
with the chocolate shake.
WAITRESS:
That's a good call.
(DOOR OPENING, BELL JINGLING)
Here you go. (CHUCKLES)
This will clear the cobwebs.
(LIQUID POURING)
- (BELL JINGLING)
- (LOCUST BUZZING)
(GROUND RUMBLING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(SCREAMING)
(PEOPLE SCREAMING)
RUTH: No!
- BOY: Hey, hey.
- Ow! You hurt me.
GIRL: What'd that lady do?
I'm so sorry. I'm...
I thought... I'm so sorry.
- MAN: You okay?
- (BOY WHIMPERING)
MAN: Come on, Rally,
you just go and sit down.
Thanks for distracting everybody
from the crappy job I'm doing.
Come on, get that crazy bitch
the hell out of here.
Excuse me, Rally,
but in this confusion,
did I miss the part
where you bought this shithole
and became my boss?
You seen what she did.
Now, sit your fat ass
back down on that stool.
MAN: Hey, Rally,
don't take that shit.
Are you all right there,
hit girl?
(DOOR OPENS)
Yeah, I'm all right.
You didn't have to stick up
for me back there.
Oh. (CHUCKLES)
I sure as hell did.
You know, you are not
from around this town,
which automatically makes you
my favorite customer.
(CHUCKLES)
Did you hear
the locust again?
Whenever you hear that sound,
whatever happens next,
- it's not real.
- No, I know.
But this time
was different. I...
(SIGHS)
I don't know why.
Different like...
different how?
Different like the difference
between a painting
and a photograph.
You go back in there
and finish your burger.
What about you?
I gotta go to work.
I'm fine.
- Ruth.
- Go.
(GRUNTS)
(MACHINE WHIRRING)
(CHILD LAUGHING)
(CHILD LAUGHING)
(CHILD LAUGHING)
Who's in there?
I'm gonna find you.
(RALLY GRUNTING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
You little shit.
(RALLY GRUNTING)
(RALLY GRUNTS, GROANS)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(PIANO PLAYING)
(CAR ENGINE RUNNING)
MAN: Been over a year
since the old man kicked.
And his kids are still bickering
over what to do with the place.
I love it just the way it is.
RUTH: You have no idea
what this means to us.
Oh, I... I imagine I do.
I get the bedroom
at the top of the stairs!
I gotta get
back to the shop. (SIGHS)
(CLICKING)
I'll see you tomorrow.
MAN: I'm counting on it.
You know what? I'm thinking
about putting you in school.
Here, in Luther?
Looks like we may be here
a while. What do you think?
Yeah, cool.
Good night, dream boy.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
WOMAN:
What are you doing here?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MAN SCREAMING)
- (MAN MOANING)
- (METAL THUMPING)
(MAN MOANING)
(GASPS)
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(GASPS)
No!
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
RUTH: Time to get up.
- (AARON GROANS)
- (CHUCKLES)
Get dressed.
You got a big day ahead.
(GROANS)
You're the one that wanted
to go to a real school.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)
We will need proof
of residency.
Like what?
Current utility bill,
a lease, mortgage agreement...
Something that verifies
that you live
in the school district.
I don't have that.
We just got here
a couple days ago, so...
Sorry.
We'll be happy
to process your application
when you have
the proper documentation.
(SCOFFS) Are you telling me that
if I don't have a real home,
I can't put my kid
in your school?
I don't make the rules,
Ms. Clawson.
And by the way,
we haven't even gotten
to the hard part yet.
What's the hard part?
Proof of parental status.
Excuse me?
Aaron, can you step outside
for just a second?
Thank you.
If you wanna shack up
with that colored boy,
- that's your business.
- What are you saying?
I'm saying that maybe
you should think twice
about setting down roots
here in Luther.
Maybe you should just...
take your little circus
of crazy
and hit the road.
And what if I don't?
We don't like trouble.
We are a peaceful,
God-fearing town,
Ms. Clawson.
Mm, yeah, I can tell.
Well, then...
It was really nice
meeting you.
It's a fine boy
you have here.
You should be proud.
(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(BOY LAUGHING)
- (CHILDREN LAUGHING)
- (BELL JINGLING)
Look at them, their
holier-than-thou attitudes.
It's like they've never seen
an unwed mother
sucker punch
a defenseless kid before.
Look, I just...
I wanted to say how sorry I am.
No, are you kidding?
You did me a favor.
Those little bastards
come in here every weekend
just to hang out,
never spend a dime.
Oh, I'm Sarah, by the way.
Ruth. This is Aaron.
How about another onion
burger there, "A-ron"?
AARON: Yeah.
Call me anytime.
She would
if she ever got a phone.
MAN: Hey, hey, hey, hey.
You two love birds
down there,
can you finish
with your lesbian love act?
I could sure as hell
use some goddamn warm in here.
Please.
Excuse me, duty calls.
MAN: Hey, Sarah,
you reckon Mr. Hatcherson minds
you comping all
of those people up there?
- Who said I was comping 'em?
- I know what you're doing.
You're stealing
his fucking money.
Those freebies,
they add up, girl.
Well, thank you, Crusty,
for looking out
for my job security.
- You're a real sweetheart.
- Ahh!
- You crazy bitch! You burned me!
- SARAH: I'll get that.
You burned the hell
out of me! Goddamn!
You know, I'd be happy
to comp that for you.
(BOTH LAUGH)
CRUSTY: Damn.
Yeah, you comp everybody else.
SARAH: Oh, I gotta get you
that onion burger.
This man looks
like he's starving.
Um, I gotta get to work.
But I can be back in an hour
or so and pick him up.
Yeah, yeah,
don't worry about it.
No, he can hang here
as long as he wants.
You sure?
Yeah. We'll be just fine.
Look, best buds already.
I just... I don't wanna
put you out any more
than I've already...
We're fine, Mom. Go.
Yeah, Mom. Hasta la vista.
Okay.
(CHUCKLES)
Okay. Um, great. I'll...
I'll be back... later.
(DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES)
- (TRAIN HORN BLARING)
- (DOG BARKING)
Here you go.
You know, I get the feeling
that there's some stuff going on
between the two of you that...
I don't know, it just doesn't
come out in words.
Living life on the road
just the two of y'all,
it must be tough, right?
I mean, just not having
your own personal space,
time for yourself.
Friends.
(LIQUID POURING)
Shoot, I bet you'd kill
to have a normal life.
Yeah, kinda.
(HOOD BANGING)
You smell good.
Like oil soap.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Where are you from?
What do you mean?
I don't know.
Like, where'd you grow up?
- Where's your family from?
- Nebraska.
- Ah, you're a corn husker.
- A what?
You're empty.
Hmm?
Oh, yeah, um... (SCOFFS)
How'd that happen?
(CHUCKLES)
You don't much like
talking about yourself, do you?
Uh-uh.
Mystery girl.
(SIGHS)
I don't know.
Haven't done that for a while.
We don't have to do this.
(GRUNTS) Oh, watch my leg,
watch my leg.
- Are you okay?
- No, no, come on, I'm real good.
(PANTS UNZIPPING)
(BOTH MOANING)
MAN: No, no, no.
- You good?
- Yeah.
(MAN GRUNTS, MOANS)
- RUTH: Okay.
- MAN: Ow!
- Sorry.
- You all right?
Yeah, I'm fine, yeah.
Yeah, it's great.
Oh, my God.
No, get out of here.
(GRUNTING)
What the hell's wrong with you?
Son, why don't you just...
just go on back to your room?
Everything's fine down here.
You need to leave, Carl.
You know what? You got
a problem, and it ain't me.
Get out.
I've been nothing but decent
to you. Both of you.
(SIGHS)
(DOOR OPENING, SLAMMING)
Aaron?
Aaron!
Aaron!
(CAR DOOR CREAKS)
(RUTH SIGHS)
(RUTH CLEARS HER THROAT)
I don't know what happened.
Um... I just...
We were talking and...
and he just started to get
all sweet on me, and I...
(SIGHS)
It was nothing.
Did you love my father?
I think so.
I don't know.
It was so long ago.
Do you miss having
a man around?
Not when I have you around.
You're the only thing
that matters.
You always will be.
Hey.
Um...
- About last night, I...
- It was nothing.
I can't have somebody
working for me
that doesn't look me in my eye
when I'm talking!
Better?
Yeah, better.
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO)
SARAH: Hey!
Come on, Crusty. Really?
Here. Why don't you
take him outside?
SARAH: Hey, that thing,
the sound you were hearing,
it's them?
RUTH: How did you know
about that?
Um, Aaron told me.
- (RUTH SIGHS)
- SARAH: Hey, look, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to pry. I just...
He worries about you sometimes.
I'm fine.
SARAH: Don't be angry with him.
He's a good kid.
I get to decide
when to be angry with him.
(DOOR OPENING, BELL JINGLING)
I gotta get back to work.
You coming?
Haven't finished
my burger yet.
- SARAH: Here, I can take it...
- No, it's fine.
Stay. Finish.
(METAL CLANKING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTING)
(SOBS)
(SIGHS)
What's that?
Nothing.
Let me see.
That girl teach you
how to do this?
What? It's okay.
I just wanna know.
Look. Hey. It doesn't matter.
I just wanna know
who taught you how to do that.
You did.
(SIGHS)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(DOOR SLAMMING)
(DOOR CLOSING)
(DOORKNOB RATTLING)
Aaron, are you in there?
Aaron. Aaron, you need
to open the door. Aaron.
(PANTING)
- Don't!
- Aaron, I wanna close it.
Just...
don't.
- I said... (SIGHS)
- I'm your mother.
(PAPER RUSTLING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(GASPS, WHIMPERS)
(SNIFFLES)
- (MAGAZINE THUDS)
- God.
Yeah. No, no, no, we... Yeah.
We'll send a truck out to you.
Yeah. Again.
All right. I apologize.
All right.
That was Ms. Carruthers.
Ring a bell?
- Gray Stratus.
- Yeah.
Well, you changed the oil,
but forgot to put
the cap back on.
She got halfway to El Reno
before the engine seized.
That's...
That's not possible.
Doesn't much matter.
Wait. (SCOFFS)
You're not firing me over this.
There's no way.
I'm the best mechanic
you've ever had.
I'm sorry, Ruth.
This just ain't working out.
Which part?
Screwing up the job
or not screwing the boss?
I really wouldn't go there.
I'll pay you through the week,
and that's me being generous.
(SIGHS)
You can't do this.
Well, now,
I guess it's your turn
to get the hell out.
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(INAUDIBLE)
(INAUDIBLE)
AARON: What are you doing?
(STOVE KNOB CLICKING)
(STOVE KNOB CLICKING)
Pernell thinks
his soup's cold.
(GROANS) Goddamn it!
That was good.
All right, well,
two hours, please.
WOMAN: What the...?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
What is she doing here?
It's the woman
I told you about.
You can't be here! Hey!
You can't be here.
Who's there?
Hel...
(CARL SIGHS)
What do you want?
Hey.
What?
You mind telling me
what you're looking for?
Get on out of here. Get!
What?
(SCREAMING, MOANING)
Oh, son of a bitch!
I swear...
(GROANING, COUGHING)
God! (PANTING)
(GROANS, GRUNTS)
(GASPING)
(GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(SCREAMS)
(GROANS)
(PANTING)
- (GLASS SHATTERING)
- (SCREAMING, WHIMPERING)
(GLASS SHATTERING)
(WHIMPERS)
(CAR HORN BEEPING)
Somebody help me!
(SCREAMING)
(SCREAMING)
(WRENCH CLANKING)
(CARL GRUNTING)
(CARL PANTING)
(GRUNTING)
(GIRL LAUGHING)
(PIPE CLANKING)
Why?
Why? Why?
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(SHRIEKING IN DISTANCE)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(CHILDREN LAUGHING)
CHILDREN: Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Bleed and die,
bleed and die.
Bleed and die,
bleed and die.
Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Cut them down,
plant the seed,
spread their blood,
watch and feed.
Ah!
(CHILDREN LAUGHING)
Aaron?
Aaron!
(GRUNTS, SHRIEKS)
(GRUNTS)
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
(GASPS) Aaron! Oh, my God.
What are you doing here?
I saw you run into the woods
so I followed you.
I saw what you were doing
with those kids.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
Aaron!
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
Mommy's gonna get some medicine,
okay, Aaron?
(AARON COUGHS)
You stay here.
Mommy's gonna
be right back, okay?
It's okay, baby.
It's all right.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(ALARM RINGING)
(AARON CRYING)
RUTH: I'm sorry, Aaron.
I would do anything
to save you, my beautiful boy.
(BELL JINGLES)
Hey, Joe.
(BELL JINGLING)
Hey, you're up early.
- I need your help.
- Uh, sure. Are you okay?
I know I have no right
to burden you with this.
Uh, do you wanna go somewhere
where we could be alone?
No, no, it's okay.
He can hear this.
I want him to hear this.
Have you ever heard
of Gatlin, Nebraska?
Yeah, where they had that mass
killing a decade or so ago.
One of the children
heard a voice.
And they thought that voice
came from God, but it didn't.
It was something else.
And so, all these children
began to follow this...
this...
Yeah, I remember.
(RUTH SIGHS)
I was one of those kids.
Didn't they all set fire
to themselves?
Not all of 'em.
(CHAIR SLIDING)
When I got pregnant with Aaron,
things changed.
And I realized
they wanted him.
After Gatlin,
we just kept moving around.
We never stayed in one place
more than a day or two
at a time, and...
I don't know, I just felt
like we were being...
followed.
Not by any one person
but by different people
in different places.
How could you tell?
You just... you kinda get
a sense of things.
I don't... I don't really know
how to explain it,
but they, um...
I need you to do something
for me. One thing.
Just one thing,
and I can handle the rest.
Get my son as far away from here
as you possibly can.
I need you to do this
for me, Sarah, please.
I... I don't know.
- I don't know what to say.
- Just get him away from here.
I know that I have no right
to put this on you,
but he cannot be here,
not now.
You could both
leave together.
No, I have to do something,
and it can't involve Aaron.
SARAH: What?
There's someone
in this town.
She's gonna do
something terrible.
SARAH: How do you know?
I know how she thinks.
You know how crazy
that sounds.
Then if I'm crazy,
that is even more reason for you
to get my son to a safer place.
Please.
I don't know.
Look, I've done something awful,
Sarah, 13 years ago.
And I can't take it back.
All I can do is make sure
it never happens again, ever.
This is the last thing
that I have
that I can give
to this world,
to my son.
Now, I'm asking,
I'm begging you, please,
help me make this right.
Okay.
I got this stick-for-brains ex
up in Tulsa.
He's a total loser,
but he's great with kids.
I can take him there.
(SIGHS)
Thank you so much.
You are a total godsend.
No problem.
- (RUTH SIGHS)
- Okay, one tiny problem.
- What?
- I don't have a car.
(KEYS JINGLING)
Oh, hey, I have an appointment
for a root canal in 22 minutes.
Uh, it's the pea green Hyundai.
That one right there.
I have to be
in the city by 8:00,
and with rush hour
the way it is...
Shirke, Candy Shirke.
I have the estimate
right here. Oh... (SIGHS)
I'm in for a broken fan belt,
a new radiator hose,
and you were gonna check
the bushings, too.
I get this grindy noise
when I accelerate,
- especially on cold...
- RUTH: Carl?
I really can't afford
to be late.
He promised that the car
would be ready at 7:30...
Shut up!
(SCREAMING)
RUTH: Carl?
(SCREAMING)
(CAR ALARM BLARING)
(RUTH WHIMPERING)
(GIRL LAUGHING)
(GIRL LAUGHING)
They'll think I did this.
That's the plan, right?
(GIRL LAUGHING)
(KEYS CLINKING)
Come out.
(GIRL LAUGHING)
Come out!
This what we got?
Yeah.
Let's go.
I'll come for you.
I promise, okay?
SARAH:
Be careful there, hit girl.
(SOBBING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
SARAH: Whenever I'm up here,
I'm just struck
by the perfection of it all.
Little farmers down there sowing
their fields every spring.
You know, if you're quiet,
you can actually hear
the corn growing.
And then comes the harvest,
and it starts all over again.
It's...
It's a beautiful thing.
We're not going to Tulsa,
are we?
Nope.
Didn't think so.
(SARAH CHUCKLES)
RUTH: Oh, God. (PANTING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(GASPS)
What are you doing here?
You little whore! Bitch!
(GASPS)
(DOOR SLAMMING)
(WOOD CREAKING)
You're not real.
You're not real.
Oh, you're not real.
You're not real.
(RUTH GASPING)
You're not real.
You're not real.
You're not real.
You're not real.
(RUTH WHIMPERS)
- (SCREAMS)
- Why did you do this to me?
RUTH: Let go! Let go!
Let me go!
No!
(GRUNTS, SOBS)
(DOOR SLAMMING)
(GRUNTS)
GIRL: Ruth.
(WOOD CREAKING)
(WRENCH CLINKING)
(WOOD CREAKING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Sooner or later, you have
to deal with it, sweetie.
You're still part of us.
- And we're still part of you.
- No. No.
No? Then why keep using
your biblical name, Ruth,
and not the name
that your parents gave you?
What was it again?
Sandra, I think it was.
Sandy.
Where's my son?
He's doing just fine.
We're already getting along
like soulmates.
Did you know he's never read
the Bible? Not a page.
I want him back.
You don't really want that.
Not in your condition.
I mean, look at yourself.
Is that the face
of a responsible mother?
(WRENCH THUDS)
(GASPS)
Sweetie, come here.
Remember how it felt
when you sliced open
your mother's throat?
You watched her bleed out.
And that look
of utter surprise.
You kept that lock of hair
as a keepsake, remember?
Of all
your childhood mementos,
this was the one
that you couldn't part with.
Death was such a mystery
back then.
It still is. It just comes a lot
easier now, doesn't it?
Those poor kids.
Your brothers
and your sisters
trapped in a cornfield,
burning alive.
I want my son.
Well, we're gonna have
to get over that.
I want my son!
I know you want
what's best for Aaron.
Where is he?
SARAH: He's here.
He's downstairs.
What?
What? No. No.
He can't...
He can't see this.
RUTH: Aaron.
Please, baby.
- I'm sorry.
- Be careful what you wish for.
What did you do?
Come here.
Please. Baby, please.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm so, so sorry.
(RUTH SIGHS)
Mommy... Mommy is sick.
You were right.
I know that now.
Everything is much,
much clearer now.
No, don't!
Don't, don't, don't! Why...?
You're afraid of me.
I... I get that.
But I'm your mother.
And I need you
to listen, okay?
I have something
I gotta tell you.
Sarah...
...is not who you think
she is, okay?
You gotta stay away from her,
you understand?
You understand what I'm saying?
Just keep away from her.
She's not your friend.
She's your enemy.
She's who we've been
running from
for your entire life.
You understand me?
She's the darkness.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SNIFFLES) Promise me,
promise me,
the second that I let go,
that you are gonna run, okay?
That you're gonna run, you're
gonna run and run and run,
and you're never
gonna look back, okay?
You promise, okay?
(SNIFFLES)
I love you.
I love you. (CHUCKLES)
I love you too.
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
RUTH: Cut them down,
plant the seed.
Spread their blood,
watch and feed.
And bleed and die.
And bleed and die.
AARON: In the end,
Ruth finally understood.
She wasn't running away
from her destiny.
- She was running to it.
- (AARON SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
- And I am too.
- AARON: ...must be cut down
so that what is pure
and unspoiled
may take its place.
Lord, give me thy strength
to seek out which is impure,
that which is unholy,
that which dishonors thy name
in treachery and betrayal.
Let me by thy sword,
by thy sickle,
and by thy fire!
Lord, let thy righteous fury
guide my hand
until the land
is once again cleansed of sin,
until the fields
are ready to be sown again,
nourished by the blood
of the corrupted souls
that walk among us
even now.
To your will,
I commit myself,
body and soul...
for time eternal.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)
(LOCUST BUZZING)
(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)