Dollar $tore Killers (2025) Movie Script
A chemical cone.
Take one dog cone and a gallon of bleach.
Put the dog cone around their neck.
Pour in the bleach. Cost a gallon.
Screw you.
You take one cork screw.
Attach the pointing hand to a ratchet.
Drive into their scull?
Crank repeatedly
You wouldn't believe it.
7 dollars.
[Music]
You may have read about this online
or seen other videos on the subject
and you know, you might have
already made up your mind,
but I'm hoping that you will
take the time to watch this.
This is not for the faint of heart.
We're gonna be looking into
some troubling subjects
and showing some disturbing images
that you may find triggering.
All I'm asking is for
you to keep an open mind.
For 20 years. I sat behind a
desk bringing you the news,
but the way people get
their news has changed.
So I decided to leave the desk behind
and find the real stories.
You want to know?
Wake up motherfuckers who's ready
for a good old fashioned reckoning.
Huh? How about a David?
How you feeling? Well,
we got lined up for Dave.
[Whimpering]
Oh, no, no, you're
gonna like this. Trust me.
Sodium hypo chloride,
sodium, chlorine, oxygen,
most commonly known as household bleach.
You see, when sodium
hydrochloride comes in contact
with human skin causes hydrolysis reaction
kill cells through protein denaturations.
It'll basically eat away at
the top layer of the skin,
but it really gets messy
and it comes in contact
with more sensitive tissues like the eyes
or the respiratory system.
20 minutes later.
That sounds painful.
It is.
It is almost like you shouldn't expose
people to shit like this.
Terribly irresponsible.
Y'all need to mess and
we're here to clean it up.
Damn that shit stinks.
So something interesting
happened to me today.
I got a DM from someone claiming
to be the Dollar store killers.
You wanna know why, Ethan?
What are you doing?
I wanted to ask you some questions.
Why do you have to videotape
everything all the time?
- Posterity. What's your name?
- You know my name Dexy?
Well, you gotta
let the audience know
Laura Dorothy Lee,
When you were a kid, would
you wanna grow up to be
Told my mama, when I
was real young, I wanted
to be a dog doctor.
I could never say veterinarian.
Best I could get out was veta-naron.
So I just settled on dog doctor.
Eventually I decided that I
wanted to be a teacher.
Why
Well, my mama and granny, they were,
they were both teachers.
They loved it. Said it was their calling.
So I figured it'd be mine too.
Then I got pregnant and I
knew what I was meant to be.
And that was a mom.
Okay, stop, stop, stop. I
don't want people seeing like
You're beautiful.
- I look like hell, Dixie.
- Mom, stop it.
This isn't how I want
you to remember me.
How do you wanna be remembered?
Before I got sick,
when I didn't look like death
and there was still some light in my eyes.
I think you look amazing.
You look like someone's still fighting.
I'm tired of fighting Dixie.
I know you don't want to hear it.
Doctors keep saying you
gotta stay positive.
But I don't know how much fight I've got
Left in me.
Laura Dorothy Lee
passed June 13th, 2024.
Harrison Memorial Gates Hospital.
- Hello?
- Hey, you sent me an email.
Holy shit. Ethan does
wanna know.
Language.
- Is this for real or
- As real as it gets.
Okay, so who am I speaking with?
Who do you think?
Well, it seems like you are inferring
that you are the dollar store killers.
[Laughing]
I'm inferring. You sure
love those big words.
- So are you?
- Yes sir, we are.
I'm guessing you got questions.
- Why are you doing this?
- Can I trust you Ethan?
Of course.
You're not gonna
hang up and call the cops.
No. Why did you reach out to me?
- Did you watch the video?
- Of course.
Then you should already know the answer.
I don't think I
understand the connection.
I know, but you gotta
do something for me first.
What's that?
[Dial Tone]
This one hit different.
I mean it's, it's, it's a
story impossible to ignore.
But there are so many red flags.
The subject matter for one.
It's not political or cultural.
People are dying.
Maybe we'll see.
I have been given an
invitation to explore the truth
behind something tragic.
Logic, reason, a common fucking sense.
None of that is greater
than my morbid curiosity.
[Banjo Music]
Polly. A forgotten whisper on the map.
I drove for hours following
a digital ghost trail
to land in this time capsule.
Here time seems to move to the
rhythm of crickets chirping,
not the relentless ping of notifications.
Generations have carved
their lives into these hills.
Their stories etched deeper than any cell
phone signal can reach.
There's a quiet resilience here too.
A sense of community that
transcends the virtual.
The kind of small town mindset
where the people look out for each other.
A safety net woven from trust,
not likes and followers.
But beneath the surface
of this quaint charm,
there's a more sinister story playing out.
This is it.
Are you sure about this, Ethan?
Yeah. Not even a little.
Hold on.
Oh man. Whatcha you even
doing? There's no one there.
That's shit. Oh fuck, dude. I'm so
Fucking fucked.
- Jesus.
-That was stupid.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry, man.
- Dude, what the hell?
I'm sorry, Ethan. I'm sorry.
You really thought we'd invite you
out here just to kill you. I
I Don't know.
Ethan.
Okay,
So what's your first question?
Well, where are we?
My family's campground.
I'm sorry. How do we
know that this is you?
Like how do I know that this is real?
You want proof?
You need to establish
a few basic truths.
You know, for me, for the audience,
credibility is kind of everything.
I mean, your videos,
these are not the actions
of someone attempting to
lay low. So if it is you,
- It is,
- Okay.
Well how do we prove that?
So who is the woman in the video?
- Not yet.
- I'm sorry.
We're not at that part of
the story yet. We'll get there.
Okay. Why are you doing this?
Which part? The killing or the videos?
Both.
Attention.
Well, there are easier
ways to get attention.
Not the kind of attention
we're looking for.
- I'm not sure that I follow.
- I know that's by design.
If we made it easy,
nobody would give a shit.
You need a hook. You know, something
that gets people interested right away,
but you can't give them too much.
You gotta keep 'em wanting more.
Then right
before they start losing interest,
you give them just a little bit more.
- So this is all a plan?
- Yes, sir.
And am I part of that plan?
You absolutely are.
You might be the most
important part of it.
- Why is that?
- Because you're gonna be the
one to tell our story.
- Come on.
- Where are we going?
Sayed you wanted proof?
- Do we keep going?
- Yes, come on.
Coming?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're
coming. We're coming. Sorry.
I'm good. I'm good. Thank
you. Thank you. Yeah.
I don't know if the YouTube
camera's really built
for dark wet caves.
Thanks man.
What exactly are we looking at?
Proof.
Who is it? He was the first.
But who is he?
Oh Hell no.
You mind giving us a minute
Something you don't want her to hear?
No. There's some things I
don't want her to hear me say.
So who is he?
My father.
Really?
You did this to him.
Why?
He was a monster?
- How so?
- He hurt people.
Like who?
My mom, my sister.
You.
How did you do it?
The thing about my dad was he was at
his worst when he was drinking.
So I started grinding up sleeping pills
and putting them in his beer
just a little bit at a time
so he wouldn't notice the taste.
And over time I started
having more and more.
He passed out quicker
and stayed asleep longer.
It felt like a win-win, you know?
The only problem was
I took away his anger,
thought I was doing him a
favor, doing all of us a favor.
But people like him, that
anger never really goes away.
It just builds and builds.
Until eventually combustion.
He was like a man possessed.
Thought he was gonna kill each
and every single one of us
That night after he'd emptied the
tank, he went on a bend.
When he finally passed
out, I took a bottle
of cough medicine and
poured down his throat
until it was gone and
put a sock in his mouth
and cotton swabs in his nostrils.
Just quiet, peaceful.
I brought him out here in this cave.
Gave him the burial he deserved.
Yeah. How long ago was that?
Been a few years.
What about the others?
Did you, did you have to?
I wouldn't say we had to,
but it felt like they,
They needed to.
You might want to ask
her about that last part.
I'm just gonna...
So you tell him he doesn't like
talking about it in front of me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. He said that
You believe us now?
I am fairly convinced.
- Fairly convinced.
- So what do I call you?
- Dixie?
- Is that your real name?
- Does it matter?
- I suppose
for the purposes of our conversation?
No. So he
- Dax
- Dax, right?
Dax explained the reason
behind the body in the cave.
What about the rest of it?
- Not yet.
- I'm sorry.
- You're not ready yet.
- I'm not.
No. There's an order in
which this has to happen.
Before I explain anything,
you need to do some investigating.
See,
I thought that's what I was doing
Here.
What is this?
It's a clue. Motherfucker.
Language please.
Every good mystery needs one.
- What the fuck?
- Yeah I know
They're fucking with you.
Yeah, clearly. But it's working.
That was intense.
They show us a skull in the dirt
and we're just supposed to believe them.
You're not buying any
of this, are you Ethan?
I dunno.
So the paper Dixie gave me
was actually an article from a
regional publication
that is talking about a company interval.
Apparently they are dumping
chemicals into the river
upstream, and it's gotten
into the water supply
and it's affected a number
of local communities.
Environmental agencies are
concerned about the troubling
amount of pfas in the drinking water,
and that's causing some controversy.
So it seems
that poly is concerned about
the pfas in the drinking water
and the possible health effects
that are gonna go along with that.
I reached out to several
people from interval
and none of them were willing to talk
on the record or otherwise.
So I reached out to state
Representative Warren
Edgerton, who represents the town.
Okay. Yeah, no, yeah. You're
great. We're ready, right?
Yeah, we're good. Yeah.
So thank you very much
for agreeing to sit down with us today.
Absolutely. I was doing a little bit
of a digging into the reporting involving
interval and the pfas.
Yeah. I thought that might be the
case. Lot of interest there.
Yeah. You're quoted as saying
that this is a non-story.
- Yes.
- Why do you believe that's the case?
Well, there's a number of reasons.
First off, technically speaking,
they did nothing wrong.
And they were well within the compliance
guidelines the state put out.
And when they did find out
about the higher concentrations,
they took every step to
be good corporate citizen.
They installed deeper
barriers, prevent leakage.
We were able to work with the
utility companies in the area
to provide additional
filtration to get the level down
to numbers everybody was more happy with.
Right. But what about
those that were impacted
before the changes.
Impacted?
Oh, the people that may have gotten sick
or suffered long-term illnesses.
That's just it. There are none.
There's no conclusive
research that shows the
chemicals cause any kind
of long-term health issues.
People are jumping to
conclusions without facts,
without evidence.
The media is always quick with a reaction
or a judgment.
Listen, this company employs
people of the state. Right?
And now it's important to be mindful
of the area and the environment.
But we're not just gonna
shut down a business due
to some baseless concerns.
- I mean, I'm just
Playing devil's advocate
here, but wouldn't it be better
for your constituents if these
companies weighed these risks
before potentially inflicting
harm on the community?
I Think everybody is doing
what's best for the people
of the city, myself included.
Well, that's my last question.
Did you have anything you'd like to add?
- No.
- Wonderful. Well
thank you so much for
sitting down with us.
We really appreciate it.
Sure. Have a great day.
You can grab his mic. I'm gonna
go ahead and grab a drink.
That's good.
So I had been
in Poly for a couple of days
and nothing is really adding up.
I've got two people claiming
to be the dollar store killers
and a lesson in pfas
contaminating the water supply.
So at this point I could cut bait
and go home or do a little more fishing.
What the fuck? What the, what
the, what the fuck are you?
[Choking]
Fuck.
What the fuck? Who
the fuck are you people?
Get the sock. Get the sock.
- Help, somebody help me.
Who are you people?
Shut up.
Fuck you
- Are you recording this?
- Hey, Tyler's on.
What the fuck is this
what you got for us tonight?
Blind bottle opener. Ratchet attachment.
Hammer, ratchet.
Yes. Just, just, just, just yes.
So I spoke with Warren Edgerton
- And
- Is that what all this is about?
PFAS in the water.
You say it like it's nothing.
No, no, no, no, no. It's not nothing.
That's, that's not what I mean. I just,
I'm trying to understand the motivation.
It ain't all that complicated.
Some people just deserve to die.
Right. But I think what
most people would argue is
what makes you the person
to make that decision?
Traditional western morality.
Traditional western morality.
What the fuck is that?
CAMERA MAN: Yo, Ethan. My card is full.
I'm sorry. Hold on.
Language.
People make that decision every day.
They send people off
to war knowing some of
them ain't coming back.
Those same boys go out
and make decisions based
on what they're told.
People working at companies make
that decision when they make medicine.
But set it at a price that
other people can't afford.
People tell employees to dump
chemicals into the water
that poison people.
Those people follow those orders
even though they know what's
gonna happen every day.
People make decisions that
lead to other people dying
and everybody's okay with it
because they've become
comfortable with it.
Because it's expected.
It's happened long enough
that it's just a part of everyday life.
So maybe the way we stop
people from making all those
horrible decisions is
to make consequences expected.
To make punishment
a part of everyday life.
Nothing. You got nothing
to say about that.
I'm not sure what you were expecting
More Ethan?
I expected more.
I am back. Ethan. Sorry about
That.
You know a lot has been
said about your methods,
how you determine what you're gonna use.
It's kind of hard to describe.
Just get inspired by certain things.
Awesome.
Little map said, have
you been to this one
or do you pick?
No they know it's here.
Oh, you haven't signed up
for the employee discount.
Dax
I'm not going anywhere.
Why do you have the party decorations?
I thought it'd be funny that
when they find the bodies
wearing all this shit
and we decorate the place look
like it was a surprise party.
Hell of a party.
Exactly.
You put a lot of effort into it.
I try. I mean, anybody
could buy a knife,
but where's the art in that?
DAX: Hey, Dix
Cool.
DAX: Give him more proof.
Come on.
Where are we going?
You dropped the soap
CAMERA MAN: Asshole.
Did he call me an asshole.
- You ready?
- Just gimme a minute.
Okay. The longer we hang out here,
the more attention it's gonna get us.
- I know.
- Come on baby. You got this. I
Just wish we had more time, you know.
- I know.
- Plan it out.
I know we talked about this.
Our window's closing time
is something we ain't got.
Sweetie.
I know you wanted a little
more creative control,
but this ain't about style.
It's about substance. Okay.
Okay.
CAMERA MAN: Yeah. Where you go?
It's not even locked. Beautiful.
CAMERA MAN: Oh
DAVID: You, how you feeling right now?
Thirsty
DIXIE: Guess you don't need these no more.
You did good sweetie. You did so good.
DIXIE: Let's get going.
How you boys holding up back there.
DAVID: That was fucking intense.
ETHAN: You killed him?
He did.
Pull over
DIXIE: What?
Pull over.
DIXIE: Pulling over ain't exactly optional
DIXIE: When you're
trying to make a getaway.
Oh shit.
DIXIE: Fuck
You got anything You need to get out?
CAMERA MAN: No, I'm good.
DIXIE: Ethan. Let's go.
DAX: Fuck Jesus Fucking Christ.
ETHAN: Wait,
ETHAN: I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry.
DIXIE: What the fuck was that
DIXIE: Motherfucker?
DIXIE: Get the fuck back into
the car.
DAX: Go. Go ahead.
How are you feeling? Did
that make you feel better?
DIXIE: You said you needed proof.
No. What I said was that I
didn't have enough evidence
to make an informed decision.
And now you do.
No, now I'm a accessory murder.
DAX: Language.
DIXIE: Relax.
ETHAN: Relax.
Let's get to ditching
and get something to eat.
CAMERA MAN: Is that
looking like a different
type of film? No.
Shut the fuck up. Okay.
Shut the fuck up.
We need to think. I just saw
someone get fucking killed.
I threw up and I don't have
anything to fucking throw up.
Dude, why don't you fucking
bolt? We should be outta here.
CAMERA MAN: Hey listen dude, I
was just following your lead.
That following my lead.
This is beyond that.
This is not a fucking documentary.
This is not even an interview anymore.
This is just trying to
fucking survive. Okay?
CAMERA MAN: Geez, someone's cranky.
ETHAN: Shut the fuck up.
CAMERA MAN: At least they're not covered
in blood anymore.
Yeah at least there's that. Jesus. Oh God.
They wear covered of blood.
Jesus.
ETHAN: Everything. Okay?
DAX: Does it look fucking okay, Ethan.
You know, don't talk to me
again until you have a question.
It doesn't make me wanna
cut your fucking head off.
You get all that?
CAMERA MAN: Yeah, I got it.
- She was your mother.
- She still is. Nothing changes that
Cancer. How do you know?
- I know.
- So you're doing all this for her?
No, I won't put this on
her. I'm doing this for me.
Tell me about her.
She had it hard her whole
life, raised by her grandma.
Grew up next to nothing. Worked
two jobs after she had me
And your dad.
DIXIE: What about him?
- What's his deal?
His deal is that he didn't exist.
Gone before I even showed up.
That's rough.
DIXIE: The only thing my mom loved
more than her grandma
and me was this town.
That's what ended up killing her.
You say that was such certainty
Because I know everybody
knows every time somebody
around here gets kidney cancer,
everybody knows what's responsible.
But when you ask who's
responsible, you just get a bunch
of fingers pointing and the
water people blame the company.
The company throws their hands on the air
and says everything that
they're doing is legal.
But I know
Who are they?
Employees, enablers.
The people who make it happen
and the people who let it happen.
Is that who he was?
The guy in the house. The
one that Dax killed? Yeah.
That was Derrick Weatherly.
His name's the one you
see on all the emails
whenever they deny responsibility.
This is wrong. But you
know that you have to,
All I know is what I've been taught.
And you know what that is?
Nobody ever does the right thing.
'Cause they're supposed to.
They only do the right
thing when they're afraid.
Fear is what keeps people in mind.
And they try programming
you from a young age.
Try to teach you right from wrong.
They send you to church
and they tell you everybody
there gets judged when they die.
And the bad people get punished.
The good people get
their heavenly rewards.
But you and I both know that's bullshit.
It's pretty convenient to
tell people not to judge,
to not concern yourself when people are
doing terrible things.
It'll all get solved after you're dead.
I just got tired of waiting.
Hey,
Everything okay?
Yeah. We're just having
an existential debate on the
nature of human morality.
- Have fun with that.
- Where you going?
Going to get a drink?
Join me when you're done.
Mmmhmm
Bring nose noose. Boy,
he looks uptight.
Yeah, thanks.
He, he seems to
genuinely care about you.
I know. He's a fucking rock star.
I never would've made
it this far without him.
- So is all this his idea?
- Does he strike you
as the mastermind behind this operation?
No. He's a sweetheart.
Always looking out for me.
Always making sure I'm okay.
Killing on your behalf.
It's not like that.
I might have had the idea, but
he took it and ran with it.
Okay, but why stream the
killings? Like, like why?
Draw attention to what you're doing.
Because I knew it would
make people give a shit.
What good is a righteous killing
spree if nobody knows why?
It's righteous. Do you know how hard it is
to get someone interested
in a topic these days?
Much less getting them to care.
- Yeah, a little bit.
- A big fucking bit.
A topic like this, big company
killing little people.
Happens all the time in broad daylight
and nobody gives a shit.
But this, they won't
be able to ignore this.
Now that the roller coaster's taken
off, there's no stopping it.
The kill count will get higher.
People start to realize this
is all by design thanks to you.
So I'm part of the plan.
Ethan, you're the most
important part of it.
'Cause you're gonna be
the one to tell our story
you get to decide what
to show and what not to show.
Whether we come across as heroes
or villains, you're gonna be
the one to write our obituary.
Okay. But do you really think that
this senseless violence is
going to change anything?
I'm cautiously optimistic
and I object to the
term senseless violence.
I'm not walking into a movie
theater and yelling fire
or walking through a mall with an AR 15.
You know, that's the biggest
problem with kids these days.
They get handed all these
problems, they start to shut down.
They start losing their minds
and taking it out on innocent people.
Which is such a goddamn
shame when there are
so many terrible people out there.
That'd be better off dead.
Okay. This thing
that you're trying to
do, it sounds impossible.
I mean, even if you were to
get attention on everything,
you really think anything
is going to change.
Like, haven't you ever
heard the expression,
you can't get blood from a rock.
You can if you throw it hard enough.
[Screaming]
What kind of camera is that?
You hear that, a dollar Store.
[Laughing]
Dollar... Store... Killers.
- Dollar store killers
- That's us
with the fucking, what's that called?
Dollar sign?
CAMERA MAN: Yeahhh
Yeah, buddy.
Yeah, buddy. Yeah. Why
aren't you drinking that?
More, more, more.
Hey, no no keep it on them.
We need to talk about what
we're gonna do next.
CAMERA MAN - Okay.
So what's our plan?
CAMERA MAN: To be honest, boss.
It doesn't really feel like we have one.
Right?
That's what this is. This
is us coming up with a plan.
CAMERA MAN: What are
you gonna say to them?
ETHAN: I dunno. Try and level with them.
Just tell them I'm, I'm uncomfortable
with the ethical implications of it.
Wait for them to pass out.
Just leave
CAMERA MAN: Is a call to the police
gonna show up on this list.
You don't have to follow me
if you wanna call, call.
CAMERA MAN: I'm following
your lead, Ethan.
Are you under the impression
that I am in any way leaving
this shit show?
We have to play this carefully.
What's our liability?
What happens when the footage
of the police get involved?
CAMERA MAN: How high
of a priority is that?
Well, it's something to consider.
Do you want all of this to be for nothing?
What's your boys talking about?
We were talking about your
name. Dollar store killers
Catchy, ain't it?
Yeah.
So is that a intentional
or are you, are we trying to
make a statement or something?
- A statement?
- Yeah.
You know, taking on the system,
tackling economic disparity.
So you get all your cheap stuff in the
dollar store to do your thing.
What?
I mean, we get our shit
from there. 'Cause it's cheap.
Well, we were actually
thinking about heading out So
You were leaving?
Yeah. You know, it's, it's getting late.
Like leaving or leaving? Leaving.
No, we're just gonna
head back to the hotel.
We're gonna get some
sleep and we will go over
the footage in the morning,
But we're not done.
The story ain't over.
Y'all gotta stick around
For what?
See how it all ends?
No worries. We'll come
back in the morning.
I don't think that's such a good idea.
I think y'all should
stay here for the night.
See, you're a part of this now.
And if I let you go, the chances
of y'all getting cold
feet go up exponentially.
Or they could call the cops.
DIXIE: Yeah, they could call the cops.
All it takes is one call.
Grab your phone.
Grab your phone.
I don't want to, I'm not gonna
ahhh, see.
Nah, our boys wouldn't
do that. Would you boys?
DAX: Would you boys?
No.
- Let's find y'all some space.
- Great.
DIXIE: Can't sleep?
I guess so
DIXIE: Something on your mind.
Yeah, you could say that.
DIXIE: So tell me about yourself.
When did you know you wanted
to start making movies?
I didn't want to make movies.
I wanted to tell stories.
Well, you know, I always
struggled at writing
and getting the ideas outta my head,
but my mom
got me this cheap little video camera
for my eighth birthday.
[Laugh]
I know. Something just kind of clicked.
Like I didn't have to tell
the story from scratch.
You know, I could film something
and find this story, cut
out all the boring bits and,
and you know, that,
that was my light bulb.
DIXIE: Your what?
In a cartoon, when a character has an idea
and the light bulb comes up
over their head, you know,
DIXIE: I don't,
And when I figured out editing, like,
that's when I realized, that's
how I could tell a story.
DIXIE: Profound.
Yeah.
Stupid. But it used to be easier.
No, it used to be that
you could make something.
Like you can make
something, you put it online
and you could build an audience slowly.
But now we're all at the mercy
of this fucking algorithm
and you can't even cut it the
way you want to do it anymore.
Everything has to be like a certain length
and it has to be like a
certain type of content.
Everyone's using the same basic thumbnail,
making the same stupid face.
It's a fucking factory.
And anything that was like revolutionary
or even remotely interesting
about the platform,
it's just been just like choked
out by corporate influence.
DIXIE: Never fun when
those second thoughts
start creeping in.
Yeah. Well, let's just say
I'm having second thoughts
about where my career is headed.
DIXIE: I'm guessing I got
something to do with that.
Hey, aren't you afraid
DIXIE: Of what?
Of what's coming?
DIXIE: What's coming?
You gotta know that
this can't go on. Right?
You have killed people. They're
gonna piece it together.
They're gonna find you
DIXIE: Hard to argue.
Yeah. I mean, I'm freaking out for you.
If I had to spend the
rest of my life in prison
or worse, I, I mean, I don't know
how you're not a complete train wreck.
DIXIE: Probably because I'm at
peace with my decisions.
I'm not an idiot. I knew where
this road was gonna lead us
and that it was always
gonna be a dead end.
But that doesn't mean it
wasn't worth the ride.
You don't agree?
It all just feels like such a waste.
That's what happens when
the world sees you as trash.
That's how they see us.
That's how they saw my mom
disposable somebody else.
The world can throw away.
You don't think that's wrong?
I think it's all wrong.
What they did to your mom,
what they're doing to
the people in this town,
what you did to them.
It's all fucked.
It is, isn't it?
Come on, wake up.
DAX: What's happening?
DIXIE: We got somewhere to be.
DIXIE: We'll be back in a
minute. Don't go nowhere.
What am I still doing here?
Why haven't I left yet?
You know, call the police.
Right? Like any sane
person would've hit the
eject button already.
But not me.
I'm still here.
Like, the first rule
of good journalism is don't get attached.
Don't pick a side.
You, your only commitment is to the truth.
But that's not it.
I'm afraid
It's fear.
Not, not for me, not not for
what they're gonna do next.
I'm afraid of what I
might miss if I leave.
Like, what does that say about me? Dude,
CAMERA MAN: Are you asking me, Ethan?
What are we doing here?
We shouldn't fucking be here.
Gotta put the camera down, man.
People are fucking dying
and I'm making a movie.
CAMERA MAN: Hey, they're back.
[Muffled Sounds]
DAX: Shut up.
You're a part of this now. Whoa. No,
ETHAN: No, no.
I told you. We can't do this anymore
DIXIE: Are you filming?
Good.
Guys, who is this?
DIXIE: You'll see
[Moans]
Is he tied up?
[Scared Moans]
ETHAN: Jesus.
Jesus. Don't want
nothing to do with this
Guys, what are we doing here?
DAX: What do you think?
Why you like, I mean, why
did you bring him here?
I saw the interview you did with him.
How he sat there all calm, lying to you,
lying to the people.
I wanted to give you
another shot at it.
ETHAN: You're giving me notes.
Know what the problem with
all this shit is, Ethan.
It's all lies. That's all the news is.
And here I thought you were
different.
ETHAN: I am different.
No you're not. All you do is sit there
and nod while they lie to you.
You don't challenge
them on their bullshit.
You said you wanted the truth.
How are you ever gonna get that?
If you put people on
camera that lie to you?
I have an obligation to tell
both perspectives. Okay.
They're poisoning us. We're dying.
Is that a story with two sides to it?
Are there good people
on both sides? Ethan,
WARREN: God, Damnnit.
DAX: Language!
DIXIE: Go on. Talk to him.
ETHAN: We can't do this. It isn't right?
You're still stuck in that
antiquated thought process.
Ethan, why is it okay for
them to kill in the name
of profit, but not for us to
kill the name of the people?
- None of this is right, Dixie.
- Then do something about it.
You know, they say two
wrongs, don't make it right.
Well, I think whoever came up with that,
just lack commitment.
You know, maybe if we all
tried a little bit harder,
maybe even none of us started
leaning into the wrong,
we could make the world right again.
So go on asking your questions.
Fine. I will.
You said you didn't think there
was a, how you phrase it,
inherent risk to dumping
all that shit in the water.
No. What I said was the
scientific data was inconclusive.
You killed my mother. Is
that conclusive enough?
Please, I got a family too.
Oh shit.
No, you make a good
point Warren.
What you think in?
I think maybe we've
been doing this wrong.
Maybe all this eye for
an eye shit, maybe we've
been poking the wrong eyes.
Maybe instead of killing them,
maybe we should take away their families.
- No, no.
- Maybe killing thems too easy.
Dixie that don't help anyone.
DIXIE: They should suffer in
the same way I have.
- Fair is fair.
- No, Dixie.
Dixie, listen, I understand
where you're coming from. I truly really.
No, you don't. You never
did. You're just a tourist.
- That's
- you got his wallet?
No, guys, this has to end here.
No, you can't
- Gonna stop me?
- Dax.
Out of my way nose boy, move.
Dixie, please.
WARREN: No, please don't fucking do this.
DIXIE: It's done.
You Can't fucking...
DAVID: Do something. Call the cops.
Do this to my kids.
You know what's funny?
I never would've even considered it if
you hadn't brought it up.
I get the point you are trying to make.
I get the point, but this is not the way
So what is?
We don't show this to the people.
- We
- yes.
I'm gonna end up in a cell or a grave.
- Nobody's gonna be listening.
- What do you want?
I'll give you anything.
- You can't,
You can't bring her back.
Tell her what she wants
to hear. Just do it.
- Tell her what?
- What she wants to hear.
DIXIE: No, tell me the truth.
Do it, she could call
him. She can bring him back.
Just say it. This is your kids.
Have you seen what they are capable of?
Nothing is worth what is going to happen.
Jesus, please turn it off.
CAMERA MAN: What?
Turn it off.
CAMERA MAN: Dude,
you told me to never stop.
They are gonna kill his kids.
CAMERA MAN-She's bluffing.
She's not gonna do that.
- Oh, you want take that risk?
Turn it off.
CAMERA MAN: FINE.
DIXIE: Tell me.
WARREN: Yes, we know.
DIXIE: I know. You knew
ETHAN: Jesus Warren it is now or never.
We knew there was a risk for
the chemicals seeping
into the water supply.
We knew upgrades were needed,
but the cost was more than they wanted
to spend
ETHAN: There.
There he said it. So just call
Dax, bring him back here ok.
Dixie, please.
DAX: They found us.
CAMERA MAN: Fuck.
DIXIE: Pick it up.
- Yeah, they're here.
- Tell him
to call him on your number.
Can you call me on my
cell phone? I don't know.
She told me to say it
like, no, he's alive.
- Give him your number.
- Listen,
you gotta call me on my cell phone.
Okay. My number's
three two three five five
five oh one ninety nine.
DIXIE: Put it on speaker.
Oh, hey, you're on speaker.
This is Sheriff Dunley. I
need everyone in there to come
outside with your hands in the air.
Do you understand?
If anybody takes one
step towards that door,
he die. You dig?
How do I know he is still alive?
Okay. That enough for you?
ETHAN: He's alive.
SHERIFF: Is he hurt?
No, they haven't hurt me.
SHERIFF: Does he require
medical attention?
- No, they haven't hurt me.
- Yet.
SHERIFF: Ms. Neil, the only way
you're walking away from this
is if you deliver
Mr.Edgerton safely.
DAX: Okay. Dix. Don't believe it.
No matter what. We're done.
No, no. They're
not gonna gun you down.
Not as long as we're filming, right? Yeah.
Just do what they say and
it's gonna all be over. That's
That's what you want
for this to be over.
- Yes.
- Because you're afraid.
Yes.
I thought you were different.
Okay. I'm not. Okay. I'm
just like everyone else.
I'm just a guy that's just
trying to get through it
and I don't wanna see anyone else get hurt
Even me?
Yeah. Yeah even you.
SHERIFF: I'm giving you two minutes to
open the door and walk out of it.
Thank you.
For telling our story.
WARREN: No! Noo!
[Stabbing Sounds]
I just sent Warren.
Straight to Hell.
ETHAN: Jesus, Fuck.
DAX: Language
ETHAN: Get down!
ETHAN: The truth is a funny thing.
You know, it, it hides in plain sight.
It's disguised as routine and,
and masked by the mundane.
This story, it showed
up like every other one.
Something interesting
that piqued my curiosity
and I didn't consider the risk.
All I could think about was the reward.
And you know, at the time
it felt like the right call.
It was a, a calculated
risk, a gamble worth taking
because at the end of the day,
what I was focused on, it,
it wasn't the people impacted
by the company's weaponized carelessness
or the, the victims of Dax
and Dixie's killing Spree.
All that mattered to me. All that mattered
to me was a compelling story
to tell for money, for clout,
for fake internet points.
Just like Interval and Dax and Dixie.
My biggest mistake was
dehumanizing people.
And for that reason,
there's blood on my hands.
My fingerprints are part of
this massive crime scene.
You can't get blood from a rock.
Our actions, no matter how
small, we'll have consequences.
Now, I don't know if things will change,
because now life has taught
me that they rarely do.
But here on the banks of
this river, I'm, I'm left
with a feeling of uncertainty.
Was Dixie right have, have
people become numb to the crimes
that are perpetuated
against people in the name
of convenience and profit. As a society
have we become too cynical
and, and abandoned
any hope that our institutions
will do something?
You know, that, that,
that they'll help people.
Help the people they were built to serve.
Is there a way to change
things without hurling rocks?
Thanks for watching and
keep an open mind
for the record, I don't
condone what Dax and Dixie did,
nor do I condone what Interval did.
Or the elected officials who
keep allowing these things
to happen to the people
they're supposed to be serving.
Like too many tragedies.
There are plenty of victims.
And too many people with
blood on their hands.
I know you don't want to hear it.
Doctors keep saying you
gotta stay positive.
But I don't know how much
fight I've got left in me.
I got enough for the both of us.
Take one dog cone and a gallon of bleach.
Put the dog cone around their neck.
Pour in the bleach. Cost a gallon.
Screw you.
You take one cork screw.
Attach the pointing hand to a ratchet.
Drive into their scull?
Crank repeatedly
You wouldn't believe it.
7 dollars.
[Music]
You may have read about this online
or seen other videos on the subject
and you know, you might have
already made up your mind,
but I'm hoping that you will
take the time to watch this.
This is not for the faint of heart.
We're gonna be looking into
some troubling subjects
and showing some disturbing images
that you may find triggering.
All I'm asking is for
you to keep an open mind.
For 20 years. I sat behind a
desk bringing you the news,
but the way people get
their news has changed.
So I decided to leave the desk behind
and find the real stories.
You want to know?
Wake up motherfuckers who's ready
for a good old fashioned reckoning.
Huh? How about a David?
How you feeling? Well,
we got lined up for Dave.
[Whimpering]
Oh, no, no, you're
gonna like this. Trust me.
Sodium hypo chloride,
sodium, chlorine, oxygen,
most commonly known as household bleach.
You see, when sodium
hydrochloride comes in contact
with human skin causes hydrolysis reaction
kill cells through protein denaturations.
It'll basically eat away at
the top layer of the skin,
but it really gets messy
and it comes in contact
with more sensitive tissues like the eyes
or the respiratory system.
20 minutes later.
That sounds painful.
It is.
It is almost like you shouldn't expose
people to shit like this.
Terribly irresponsible.
Y'all need to mess and
we're here to clean it up.
Damn that shit stinks.
So something interesting
happened to me today.
I got a DM from someone claiming
to be the Dollar store killers.
You wanna know why, Ethan?
What are you doing?
I wanted to ask you some questions.
Why do you have to videotape
everything all the time?
- Posterity. What's your name?
- You know my name Dexy?
Well, you gotta
let the audience know
Laura Dorothy Lee,
When you were a kid, would
you wanna grow up to be
Told my mama, when I
was real young, I wanted
to be a dog doctor.
I could never say veterinarian.
Best I could get out was veta-naron.
So I just settled on dog doctor.
Eventually I decided that I
wanted to be a teacher.
Why
Well, my mama and granny, they were,
they were both teachers.
They loved it. Said it was their calling.
So I figured it'd be mine too.
Then I got pregnant and I
knew what I was meant to be.
And that was a mom.
Okay, stop, stop, stop. I
don't want people seeing like
You're beautiful.
- I look like hell, Dixie.
- Mom, stop it.
This isn't how I want
you to remember me.
How do you wanna be remembered?
Before I got sick,
when I didn't look like death
and there was still some light in my eyes.
I think you look amazing.
You look like someone's still fighting.
I'm tired of fighting Dixie.
I know you don't want to hear it.
Doctors keep saying you
gotta stay positive.
But I don't know how much fight I've got
Left in me.
Laura Dorothy Lee
passed June 13th, 2024.
Harrison Memorial Gates Hospital.
- Hello?
- Hey, you sent me an email.
Holy shit. Ethan does
wanna know.
Language.
- Is this for real or
- As real as it gets.
Okay, so who am I speaking with?
Who do you think?
Well, it seems like you are inferring
that you are the dollar store killers.
[Laughing]
I'm inferring. You sure
love those big words.
- So are you?
- Yes sir, we are.
I'm guessing you got questions.
- Why are you doing this?
- Can I trust you Ethan?
Of course.
You're not gonna
hang up and call the cops.
No. Why did you reach out to me?
- Did you watch the video?
- Of course.
Then you should already know the answer.
I don't think I
understand the connection.
I know, but you gotta
do something for me first.
What's that?
[Dial Tone]
This one hit different.
I mean it's, it's, it's a
story impossible to ignore.
But there are so many red flags.
The subject matter for one.
It's not political or cultural.
People are dying.
Maybe we'll see.
I have been given an
invitation to explore the truth
behind something tragic.
Logic, reason, a common fucking sense.
None of that is greater
than my morbid curiosity.
[Banjo Music]
Polly. A forgotten whisper on the map.
I drove for hours following
a digital ghost trail
to land in this time capsule.
Here time seems to move to the
rhythm of crickets chirping,
not the relentless ping of notifications.
Generations have carved
their lives into these hills.
Their stories etched deeper than any cell
phone signal can reach.
There's a quiet resilience here too.
A sense of community that
transcends the virtual.
The kind of small town mindset
where the people look out for each other.
A safety net woven from trust,
not likes and followers.
But beneath the surface
of this quaint charm,
there's a more sinister story playing out.
This is it.
Are you sure about this, Ethan?
Yeah. Not even a little.
Hold on.
Oh man. Whatcha you even
doing? There's no one there.
That's shit. Oh fuck, dude. I'm so
Fucking fucked.
- Jesus.
-That was stupid.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry, man.
- Dude, what the hell?
I'm sorry, Ethan. I'm sorry.
You really thought we'd invite you
out here just to kill you. I
I Don't know.
Ethan.
Okay,
So what's your first question?
Well, where are we?
My family's campground.
I'm sorry. How do we
know that this is you?
Like how do I know that this is real?
You want proof?
You need to establish
a few basic truths.
You know, for me, for the audience,
credibility is kind of everything.
I mean, your videos,
these are not the actions
of someone attempting to
lay low. So if it is you,
- It is,
- Okay.
Well how do we prove that?
So who is the woman in the video?
- Not yet.
- I'm sorry.
We're not at that part of
the story yet. We'll get there.
Okay. Why are you doing this?
Which part? The killing or the videos?
Both.
Attention.
Well, there are easier
ways to get attention.
Not the kind of attention
we're looking for.
- I'm not sure that I follow.
- I know that's by design.
If we made it easy,
nobody would give a shit.
You need a hook. You know, something
that gets people interested right away,
but you can't give them too much.
You gotta keep 'em wanting more.
Then right
before they start losing interest,
you give them just a little bit more.
- So this is all a plan?
- Yes, sir.
And am I part of that plan?
You absolutely are.
You might be the most
important part of it.
- Why is that?
- Because you're gonna be the
one to tell our story.
- Come on.
- Where are we going?
Sayed you wanted proof?
- Do we keep going?
- Yes, come on.
Coming?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're
coming. We're coming. Sorry.
I'm good. I'm good. Thank
you. Thank you. Yeah.
I don't know if the YouTube
camera's really built
for dark wet caves.
Thanks man.
What exactly are we looking at?
Proof.
Who is it? He was the first.
But who is he?
Oh Hell no.
You mind giving us a minute
Something you don't want her to hear?
No. There's some things I
don't want her to hear me say.
So who is he?
My father.
Really?
You did this to him.
Why?
He was a monster?
- How so?
- He hurt people.
Like who?
My mom, my sister.
You.
How did you do it?
The thing about my dad was he was at
his worst when he was drinking.
So I started grinding up sleeping pills
and putting them in his beer
just a little bit at a time
so he wouldn't notice the taste.
And over time I started
having more and more.
He passed out quicker
and stayed asleep longer.
It felt like a win-win, you know?
The only problem was
I took away his anger,
thought I was doing him a
favor, doing all of us a favor.
But people like him, that
anger never really goes away.
It just builds and builds.
Until eventually combustion.
He was like a man possessed.
Thought he was gonna kill each
and every single one of us
That night after he'd emptied the
tank, he went on a bend.
When he finally passed
out, I took a bottle
of cough medicine and
poured down his throat
until it was gone and
put a sock in his mouth
and cotton swabs in his nostrils.
Just quiet, peaceful.
I brought him out here in this cave.
Gave him the burial he deserved.
Yeah. How long ago was that?
Been a few years.
What about the others?
Did you, did you have to?
I wouldn't say we had to,
but it felt like they,
They needed to.
You might want to ask
her about that last part.
I'm just gonna...
So you tell him he doesn't like
talking about it in front of me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. He said that
You believe us now?
I am fairly convinced.
- Fairly convinced.
- So what do I call you?
- Dixie?
- Is that your real name?
- Does it matter?
- I suppose
for the purposes of our conversation?
No. So he
- Dax
- Dax, right?
Dax explained the reason
behind the body in the cave.
What about the rest of it?
- Not yet.
- I'm sorry.
- You're not ready yet.
- I'm not.
No. There's an order in
which this has to happen.
Before I explain anything,
you need to do some investigating.
See,
I thought that's what I was doing
Here.
What is this?
It's a clue. Motherfucker.
Language please.
Every good mystery needs one.
- What the fuck?
- Yeah I know
They're fucking with you.
Yeah, clearly. But it's working.
That was intense.
They show us a skull in the dirt
and we're just supposed to believe them.
You're not buying any
of this, are you Ethan?
I dunno.
So the paper Dixie gave me
was actually an article from a
regional publication
that is talking about a company interval.
Apparently they are dumping
chemicals into the river
upstream, and it's gotten
into the water supply
and it's affected a number
of local communities.
Environmental agencies are
concerned about the troubling
amount of pfas in the drinking water,
and that's causing some controversy.
So it seems
that poly is concerned about
the pfas in the drinking water
and the possible health effects
that are gonna go along with that.
I reached out to several
people from interval
and none of them were willing to talk
on the record or otherwise.
So I reached out to state
Representative Warren
Edgerton, who represents the town.
Okay. Yeah, no, yeah. You're
great. We're ready, right?
Yeah, we're good. Yeah.
So thank you very much
for agreeing to sit down with us today.
Absolutely. I was doing a little bit
of a digging into the reporting involving
interval and the pfas.
Yeah. I thought that might be the
case. Lot of interest there.
Yeah. You're quoted as saying
that this is a non-story.
- Yes.
- Why do you believe that's the case?
Well, there's a number of reasons.
First off, technically speaking,
they did nothing wrong.
And they were well within the compliance
guidelines the state put out.
And when they did find out
about the higher concentrations,
they took every step to
be good corporate citizen.
They installed deeper
barriers, prevent leakage.
We were able to work with the
utility companies in the area
to provide additional
filtration to get the level down
to numbers everybody was more happy with.
Right. But what about
those that were impacted
before the changes.
Impacted?
Oh, the people that may have gotten sick
or suffered long-term illnesses.
That's just it. There are none.
There's no conclusive
research that shows the
chemicals cause any kind
of long-term health issues.
People are jumping to
conclusions without facts,
without evidence.
The media is always quick with a reaction
or a judgment.
Listen, this company employs
people of the state. Right?
And now it's important to be mindful
of the area and the environment.
But we're not just gonna
shut down a business due
to some baseless concerns.
- I mean, I'm just
Playing devil's advocate
here, but wouldn't it be better
for your constituents if these
companies weighed these risks
before potentially inflicting
harm on the community?
I Think everybody is doing
what's best for the people
of the city, myself included.
Well, that's my last question.
Did you have anything you'd like to add?
- No.
- Wonderful. Well
thank you so much for
sitting down with us.
We really appreciate it.
Sure. Have a great day.
You can grab his mic. I'm gonna
go ahead and grab a drink.
That's good.
So I had been
in Poly for a couple of days
and nothing is really adding up.
I've got two people claiming
to be the dollar store killers
and a lesson in pfas
contaminating the water supply.
So at this point I could cut bait
and go home or do a little more fishing.
What the fuck? What the, what
the, what the fuck are you?
[Choking]
Fuck.
What the fuck? Who
the fuck are you people?
Get the sock. Get the sock.
- Help, somebody help me.
Who are you people?
Shut up.
Fuck you
- Are you recording this?
- Hey, Tyler's on.
What the fuck is this
what you got for us tonight?
Blind bottle opener. Ratchet attachment.
Hammer, ratchet.
Yes. Just, just, just, just yes.
So I spoke with Warren Edgerton
- And
- Is that what all this is about?
PFAS in the water.
You say it like it's nothing.
No, no, no, no, no. It's not nothing.
That's, that's not what I mean. I just,
I'm trying to understand the motivation.
It ain't all that complicated.
Some people just deserve to die.
Right. But I think what
most people would argue is
what makes you the person
to make that decision?
Traditional western morality.
Traditional western morality.
What the fuck is that?
CAMERA MAN: Yo, Ethan. My card is full.
I'm sorry. Hold on.
Language.
People make that decision every day.
They send people off
to war knowing some of
them ain't coming back.
Those same boys go out
and make decisions based
on what they're told.
People working at companies make
that decision when they make medicine.
But set it at a price that
other people can't afford.
People tell employees to dump
chemicals into the water
that poison people.
Those people follow those orders
even though they know what's
gonna happen every day.
People make decisions that
lead to other people dying
and everybody's okay with it
because they've become
comfortable with it.
Because it's expected.
It's happened long enough
that it's just a part of everyday life.
So maybe the way we stop
people from making all those
horrible decisions is
to make consequences expected.
To make punishment
a part of everyday life.
Nothing. You got nothing
to say about that.
I'm not sure what you were expecting
More Ethan?
I expected more.
I am back. Ethan. Sorry about
That.
You know a lot has been
said about your methods,
how you determine what you're gonna use.
It's kind of hard to describe.
Just get inspired by certain things.
Awesome.
Little map said, have
you been to this one
or do you pick?
No they know it's here.
Oh, you haven't signed up
for the employee discount.
Dax
I'm not going anywhere.
Why do you have the party decorations?
I thought it'd be funny that
when they find the bodies
wearing all this shit
and we decorate the place look
like it was a surprise party.
Hell of a party.
Exactly.
You put a lot of effort into it.
I try. I mean, anybody
could buy a knife,
but where's the art in that?
DAX: Hey, Dix
Cool.
DAX: Give him more proof.
Come on.
Where are we going?
You dropped the soap
CAMERA MAN: Asshole.
Did he call me an asshole.
- You ready?
- Just gimme a minute.
Okay. The longer we hang out here,
the more attention it's gonna get us.
- I know.
- Come on baby. You got this. I
Just wish we had more time, you know.
- I know.
- Plan it out.
I know we talked about this.
Our window's closing time
is something we ain't got.
Sweetie.
I know you wanted a little
more creative control,
but this ain't about style.
It's about substance. Okay.
Okay.
CAMERA MAN: Yeah. Where you go?
It's not even locked. Beautiful.
CAMERA MAN: Oh
DAVID: You, how you feeling right now?
Thirsty
DIXIE: Guess you don't need these no more.
You did good sweetie. You did so good.
DIXIE: Let's get going.
How you boys holding up back there.
DAVID: That was fucking intense.
ETHAN: You killed him?
He did.
Pull over
DIXIE: What?
Pull over.
DIXIE: Pulling over ain't exactly optional
DIXIE: When you're
trying to make a getaway.
Oh shit.
DIXIE: Fuck
You got anything You need to get out?
CAMERA MAN: No, I'm good.
DIXIE: Ethan. Let's go.
DAX: Fuck Jesus Fucking Christ.
ETHAN: Wait,
ETHAN: I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry.
DIXIE: What the fuck was that
DIXIE: Motherfucker?
DIXIE: Get the fuck back into
the car.
DAX: Go. Go ahead.
How are you feeling? Did
that make you feel better?
DIXIE: You said you needed proof.
No. What I said was that I
didn't have enough evidence
to make an informed decision.
And now you do.
No, now I'm a accessory murder.
DAX: Language.
DIXIE: Relax.
ETHAN: Relax.
Let's get to ditching
and get something to eat.
CAMERA MAN: Is that
looking like a different
type of film? No.
Shut the fuck up. Okay.
Shut the fuck up.
We need to think. I just saw
someone get fucking killed.
I threw up and I don't have
anything to fucking throw up.
Dude, why don't you fucking
bolt? We should be outta here.
CAMERA MAN: Hey listen dude, I
was just following your lead.
That following my lead.
This is beyond that.
This is not a fucking documentary.
This is not even an interview anymore.
This is just trying to
fucking survive. Okay?
CAMERA MAN: Geez, someone's cranky.
ETHAN: Shut the fuck up.
CAMERA MAN: At least they're not covered
in blood anymore.
Yeah at least there's that. Jesus. Oh God.
They wear covered of blood.
Jesus.
ETHAN: Everything. Okay?
DAX: Does it look fucking okay, Ethan.
You know, don't talk to me
again until you have a question.
It doesn't make me wanna
cut your fucking head off.
You get all that?
CAMERA MAN: Yeah, I got it.
- She was your mother.
- She still is. Nothing changes that
Cancer. How do you know?
- I know.
- So you're doing all this for her?
No, I won't put this on
her. I'm doing this for me.
Tell me about her.
She had it hard her whole
life, raised by her grandma.
Grew up next to nothing. Worked
two jobs after she had me
And your dad.
DIXIE: What about him?
- What's his deal?
His deal is that he didn't exist.
Gone before I even showed up.
That's rough.
DIXIE: The only thing my mom loved
more than her grandma
and me was this town.
That's what ended up killing her.
You say that was such certainty
Because I know everybody
knows every time somebody
around here gets kidney cancer,
everybody knows what's responsible.
But when you ask who's
responsible, you just get a bunch
of fingers pointing and the
water people blame the company.
The company throws their hands on the air
and says everything that
they're doing is legal.
But I know
Who are they?
Employees, enablers.
The people who make it happen
and the people who let it happen.
Is that who he was?
The guy in the house. The
one that Dax killed? Yeah.
That was Derrick Weatherly.
His name's the one you
see on all the emails
whenever they deny responsibility.
This is wrong. But you
know that you have to,
All I know is what I've been taught.
And you know what that is?
Nobody ever does the right thing.
'Cause they're supposed to.
They only do the right
thing when they're afraid.
Fear is what keeps people in mind.
And they try programming
you from a young age.
Try to teach you right from wrong.
They send you to church
and they tell you everybody
there gets judged when they die.
And the bad people get punished.
The good people get
their heavenly rewards.
But you and I both know that's bullshit.
It's pretty convenient to
tell people not to judge,
to not concern yourself when people are
doing terrible things.
It'll all get solved after you're dead.
I just got tired of waiting.
Hey,
Everything okay?
Yeah. We're just having
an existential debate on the
nature of human morality.
- Have fun with that.
- Where you going?
Going to get a drink?
Join me when you're done.
Mmmhmm
Bring nose noose. Boy,
he looks uptight.
Yeah, thanks.
He, he seems to
genuinely care about you.
I know. He's a fucking rock star.
I never would've made
it this far without him.
- So is all this his idea?
- Does he strike you
as the mastermind behind this operation?
No. He's a sweetheart.
Always looking out for me.
Always making sure I'm okay.
Killing on your behalf.
It's not like that.
I might have had the idea, but
he took it and ran with it.
Okay, but why stream the
killings? Like, like why?
Draw attention to what you're doing.
Because I knew it would
make people give a shit.
What good is a righteous killing
spree if nobody knows why?
It's righteous. Do you know how hard it is
to get someone interested
in a topic these days?
Much less getting them to care.
- Yeah, a little bit.
- A big fucking bit.
A topic like this, big company
killing little people.
Happens all the time in broad daylight
and nobody gives a shit.
But this, they won't
be able to ignore this.
Now that the roller coaster's taken
off, there's no stopping it.
The kill count will get higher.
People start to realize this
is all by design thanks to you.
So I'm part of the plan.
Ethan, you're the most
important part of it.
'Cause you're gonna be
the one to tell our story
you get to decide what
to show and what not to show.
Whether we come across as heroes
or villains, you're gonna be
the one to write our obituary.
Okay. But do you really think that
this senseless violence is
going to change anything?
I'm cautiously optimistic
and I object to the
term senseless violence.
I'm not walking into a movie
theater and yelling fire
or walking through a mall with an AR 15.
You know, that's the biggest
problem with kids these days.
They get handed all these
problems, they start to shut down.
They start losing their minds
and taking it out on innocent people.
Which is such a goddamn
shame when there are
so many terrible people out there.
That'd be better off dead.
Okay. This thing
that you're trying to
do, it sounds impossible.
I mean, even if you were to
get attention on everything,
you really think anything
is going to change.
Like, haven't you ever
heard the expression,
you can't get blood from a rock.
You can if you throw it hard enough.
[Screaming]
What kind of camera is that?
You hear that, a dollar Store.
[Laughing]
Dollar... Store... Killers.
- Dollar store killers
- That's us
with the fucking, what's that called?
Dollar sign?
CAMERA MAN: Yeahhh
Yeah, buddy.
Yeah, buddy. Yeah. Why
aren't you drinking that?
More, more, more.
Hey, no no keep it on them.
We need to talk about what
we're gonna do next.
CAMERA MAN - Okay.
So what's our plan?
CAMERA MAN: To be honest, boss.
It doesn't really feel like we have one.
Right?
That's what this is. This
is us coming up with a plan.
CAMERA MAN: What are
you gonna say to them?
ETHAN: I dunno. Try and level with them.
Just tell them I'm, I'm uncomfortable
with the ethical implications of it.
Wait for them to pass out.
Just leave
CAMERA MAN: Is a call to the police
gonna show up on this list.
You don't have to follow me
if you wanna call, call.
CAMERA MAN: I'm following
your lead, Ethan.
Are you under the impression
that I am in any way leaving
this shit show?
We have to play this carefully.
What's our liability?
What happens when the footage
of the police get involved?
CAMERA MAN: How high
of a priority is that?
Well, it's something to consider.
Do you want all of this to be for nothing?
What's your boys talking about?
We were talking about your
name. Dollar store killers
Catchy, ain't it?
Yeah.
So is that a intentional
or are you, are we trying to
make a statement or something?
- A statement?
- Yeah.
You know, taking on the system,
tackling economic disparity.
So you get all your cheap stuff in the
dollar store to do your thing.
What?
I mean, we get our shit
from there. 'Cause it's cheap.
Well, we were actually
thinking about heading out So
You were leaving?
Yeah. You know, it's, it's getting late.
Like leaving or leaving? Leaving.
No, we're just gonna
head back to the hotel.
We're gonna get some
sleep and we will go over
the footage in the morning,
But we're not done.
The story ain't over.
Y'all gotta stick around
For what?
See how it all ends?
No worries. We'll come
back in the morning.
I don't think that's such a good idea.
I think y'all should
stay here for the night.
See, you're a part of this now.
And if I let you go, the chances
of y'all getting cold
feet go up exponentially.
Or they could call the cops.
DIXIE: Yeah, they could call the cops.
All it takes is one call.
Grab your phone.
Grab your phone.
I don't want to, I'm not gonna
ahhh, see.
Nah, our boys wouldn't
do that. Would you boys?
DAX: Would you boys?
No.
- Let's find y'all some space.
- Great.
DIXIE: Can't sleep?
I guess so
DIXIE: Something on your mind.
Yeah, you could say that.
DIXIE: So tell me about yourself.
When did you know you wanted
to start making movies?
I didn't want to make movies.
I wanted to tell stories.
Well, you know, I always
struggled at writing
and getting the ideas outta my head,
but my mom
got me this cheap little video camera
for my eighth birthday.
[Laugh]
I know. Something just kind of clicked.
Like I didn't have to tell
the story from scratch.
You know, I could film something
and find this story, cut
out all the boring bits and,
and you know, that,
that was my light bulb.
DIXIE: Your what?
In a cartoon, when a character has an idea
and the light bulb comes up
over their head, you know,
DIXIE: I don't,
And when I figured out editing, like,
that's when I realized, that's
how I could tell a story.
DIXIE: Profound.
Yeah.
Stupid. But it used to be easier.
No, it used to be that
you could make something.
Like you can make
something, you put it online
and you could build an audience slowly.
But now we're all at the mercy
of this fucking algorithm
and you can't even cut it the
way you want to do it anymore.
Everything has to be like a certain length
and it has to be like a
certain type of content.
Everyone's using the same basic thumbnail,
making the same stupid face.
It's a fucking factory.
And anything that was like revolutionary
or even remotely interesting
about the platform,
it's just been just like choked
out by corporate influence.
DIXIE: Never fun when
those second thoughts
start creeping in.
Yeah. Well, let's just say
I'm having second thoughts
about where my career is headed.
DIXIE: I'm guessing I got
something to do with that.
Hey, aren't you afraid
DIXIE: Of what?
Of what's coming?
DIXIE: What's coming?
You gotta know that
this can't go on. Right?
You have killed people. They're
gonna piece it together.
They're gonna find you
DIXIE: Hard to argue.
Yeah. I mean, I'm freaking out for you.
If I had to spend the
rest of my life in prison
or worse, I, I mean, I don't know
how you're not a complete train wreck.
DIXIE: Probably because I'm at
peace with my decisions.
I'm not an idiot. I knew where
this road was gonna lead us
and that it was always
gonna be a dead end.
But that doesn't mean it
wasn't worth the ride.
You don't agree?
It all just feels like such a waste.
That's what happens when
the world sees you as trash.
That's how they see us.
That's how they saw my mom
disposable somebody else.
The world can throw away.
You don't think that's wrong?
I think it's all wrong.
What they did to your mom,
what they're doing to
the people in this town,
what you did to them.
It's all fucked.
It is, isn't it?
Come on, wake up.
DAX: What's happening?
DIXIE: We got somewhere to be.
DIXIE: We'll be back in a
minute. Don't go nowhere.
What am I still doing here?
Why haven't I left yet?
You know, call the police.
Right? Like any sane
person would've hit the
eject button already.
But not me.
I'm still here.
Like, the first rule
of good journalism is don't get attached.
Don't pick a side.
You, your only commitment is to the truth.
But that's not it.
I'm afraid
It's fear.
Not, not for me, not not for
what they're gonna do next.
I'm afraid of what I
might miss if I leave.
Like, what does that say about me? Dude,
CAMERA MAN: Are you asking me, Ethan?
What are we doing here?
We shouldn't fucking be here.
Gotta put the camera down, man.
People are fucking dying
and I'm making a movie.
CAMERA MAN: Hey, they're back.
[Muffled Sounds]
DAX: Shut up.
You're a part of this now. Whoa. No,
ETHAN: No, no.
I told you. We can't do this anymore
DIXIE: Are you filming?
Good.
Guys, who is this?
DIXIE: You'll see
[Moans]
Is he tied up?
[Scared Moans]
ETHAN: Jesus.
Jesus. Don't want
nothing to do with this
Guys, what are we doing here?
DAX: What do you think?
Why you like, I mean, why
did you bring him here?
I saw the interview you did with him.
How he sat there all calm, lying to you,
lying to the people.
I wanted to give you
another shot at it.
ETHAN: You're giving me notes.
Know what the problem with
all this shit is, Ethan.
It's all lies. That's all the news is.
And here I thought you were
different.
ETHAN: I am different.
No you're not. All you do is sit there
and nod while they lie to you.
You don't challenge
them on their bullshit.
You said you wanted the truth.
How are you ever gonna get that?
If you put people on
camera that lie to you?
I have an obligation to tell
both perspectives. Okay.
They're poisoning us. We're dying.
Is that a story with two sides to it?
Are there good people
on both sides? Ethan,
WARREN: God, Damnnit.
DAX: Language!
DIXIE: Go on. Talk to him.
ETHAN: We can't do this. It isn't right?
You're still stuck in that
antiquated thought process.
Ethan, why is it okay for
them to kill in the name
of profit, but not for us to
kill the name of the people?
- None of this is right, Dixie.
- Then do something about it.
You know, they say two
wrongs, don't make it right.
Well, I think whoever came up with that,
just lack commitment.
You know, maybe if we all
tried a little bit harder,
maybe even none of us started
leaning into the wrong,
we could make the world right again.
So go on asking your questions.
Fine. I will.
You said you didn't think there
was a, how you phrase it,
inherent risk to dumping
all that shit in the water.
No. What I said was the
scientific data was inconclusive.
You killed my mother. Is
that conclusive enough?
Please, I got a family too.
Oh shit.
No, you make a good
point Warren.
What you think in?
I think maybe we've
been doing this wrong.
Maybe all this eye for
an eye shit, maybe we've
been poking the wrong eyes.
Maybe instead of killing them,
maybe we should take away their families.
- No, no.
- Maybe killing thems too easy.
Dixie that don't help anyone.
DIXIE: They should suffer in
the same way I have.
- Fair is fair.
- No, Dixie.
Dixie, listen, I understand
where you're coming from. I truly really.
No, you don't. You never
did. You're just a tourist.
- That's
- you got his wallet?
No, guys, this has to end here.
No, you can't
- Gonna stop me?
- Dax.
Out of my way nose boy, move.
Dixie, please.
WARREN: No, please don't fucking do this.
DIXIE: It's done.
You Can't fucking...
DAVID: Do something. Call the cops.
Do this to my kids.
You know what's funny?
I never would've even considered it if
you hadn't brought it up.
I get the point you are trying to make.
I get the point, but this is not the way
So what is?
We don't show this to the people.
- We
- yes.
I'm gonna end up in a cell or a grave.
- Nobody's gonna be listening.
- What do you want?
I'll give you anything.
- You can't,
You can't bring her back.
Tell her what she wants
to hear. Just do it.
- Tell her what?
- What she wants to hear.
DIXIE: No, tell me the truth.
Do it, she could call
him. She can bring him back.
Just say it. This is your kids.
Have you seen what they are capable of?
Nothing is worth what is going to happen.
Jesus, please turn it off.
CAMERA MAN: What?
Turn it off.
CAMERA MAN: Dude,
you told me to never stop.
They are gonna kill his kids.
CAMERA MAN-She's bluffing.
She's not gonna do that.
- Oh, you want take that risk?
Turn it off.
CAMERA MAN: FINE.
DIXIE: Tell me.
WARREN: Yes, we know.
DIXIE: I know. You knew
ETHAN: Jesus Warren it is now or never.
We knew there was a risk for
the chemicals seeping
into the water supply.
We knew upgrades were needed,
but the cost was more than they wanted
to spend
ETHAN: There.
There he said it. So just call
Dax, bring him back here ok.
Dixie, please.
DAX: They found us.
CAMERA MAN: Fuck.
DIXIE: Pick it up.
- Yeah, they're here.
- Tell him
to call him on your number.
Can you call me on my
cell phone? I don't know.
She told me to say it
like, no, he's alive.
- Give him your number.
- Listen,
you gotta call me on my cell phone.
Okay. My number's
three two three five five
five oh one ninety nine.
DIXIE: Put it on speaker.
Oh, hey, you're on speaker.
This is Sheriff Dunley. I
need everyone in there to come
outside with your hands in the air.
Do you understand?
If anybody takes one
step towards that door,
he die. You dig?
How do I know he is still alive?
Okay. That enough for you?
ETHAN: He's alive.
SHERIFF: Is he hurt?
No, they haven't hurt me.
SHERIFF: Does he require
medical attention?
- No, they haven't hurt me.
- Yet.
SHERIFF: Ms. Neil, the only way
you're walking away from this
is if you deliver
Mr.Edgerton safely.
DAX: Okay. Dix. Don't believe it.
No matter what. We're done.
No, no. They're
not gonna gun you down.
Not as long as we're filming, right? Yeah.
Just do what they say and
it's gonna all be over. That's
That's what you want
for this to be over.
- Yes.
- Because you're afraid.
Yes.
I thought you were different.
Okay. I'm not. Okay. I'm
just like everyone else.
I'm just a guy that's just
trying to get through it
and I don't wanna see anyone else get hurt
Even me?
Yeah. Yeah even you.
SHERIFF: I'm giving you two minutes to
open the door and walk out of it.
Thank you.
For telling our story.
WARREN: No! Noo!
[Stabbing Sounds]
I just sent Warren.
Straight to Hell.
ETHAN: Jesus, Fuck.
DAX: Language
ETHAN: Get down!
ETHAN: The truth is a funny thing.
You know, it, it hides in plain sight.
It's disguised as routine and,
and masked by the mundane.
This story, it showed
up like every other one.
Something interesting
that piqued my curiosity
and I didn't consider the risk.
All I could think about was the reward.
And you know, at the time
it felt like the right call.
It was a, a calculated
risk, a gamble worth taking
because at the end of the day,
what I was focused on, it,
it wasn't the people impacted
by the company's weaponized carelessness
or the, the victims of Dax
and Dixie's killing Spree.
All that mattered to me. All that mattered
to me was a compelling story
to tell for money, for clout,
for fake internet points.
Just like Interval and Dax and Dixie.
My biggest mistake was
dehumanizing people.
And for that reason,
there's blood on my hands.
My fingerprints are part of
this massive crime scene.
You can't get blood from a rock.
Our actions, no matter how
small, we'll have consequences.
Now, I don't know if things will change,
because now life has taught
me that they rarely do.
But here on the banks of
this river, I'm, I'm left
with a feeling of uncertainty.
Was Dixie right have, have
people become numb to the crimes
that are perpetuated
against people in the name
of convenience and profit. As a society
have we become too cynical
and, and abandoned
any hope that our institutions
will do something?
You know, that, that,
that they'll help people.
Help the people they were built to serve.
Is there a way to change
things without hurling rocks?
Thanks for watching and
keep an open mind
for the record, I don't
condone what Dax and Dixie did,
nor do I condone what Interval did.
Or the elected officials who
keep allowing these things
to happen to the people
they're supposed to be serving.
Like too many tragedies.
There are plenty of victims.
And too many people with
blood on their hands.
I know you don't want to hear it.
Doctors keep saying you
gotta stay positive.
But I don't know how much
fight I've got left in me.
I got enough for the both of us.