God's Country (2022) Movie Script
1
[thunder rumbling,
rain falling]
[fluorescent lights buzzing]
[projector whirring]
[somber instrumental]
[thunder booming]
[clock ticking]
[footsteps approaching]
[faint heartbeat thumping]
[door squeaking]
[fire roaring]
[door squeaking]
[fire roaring]
[car rattling]
[wind howling]
[Sandra grunting]
[sighing]
[wind howling]
SANDRA: Hey.
[Sandra murmuring indistinctly]
[kissing]
[deep, ominous rumbling]
[footsteps crunching on snow]
[Sandra panting]
[wind gusting]
[metallic creaking]
[Sandra sniffing]
[truck creaking]
Here you go.
[food rattling in scooper]
Here ya go.
[footsteps crunching on snow]
Sometimes it feels
like things never change.
But I promise you.
They do. They have to.
And I'm not saying it's easy.
Change comes
with feelings of loss.
And...
We might feel resistance.
Like there's so much in
the world that needs changing.
Where am I supposed to start?
Right?
When you feel that way,
that is the moment
to begin work.
On whatever fires you up,
you just start chipping away.
And if you look around
this room,
you'll see
that you're not alone.
Don't ever feel like
there's nothing you can do.
Please.
That's my wish for you.
And now you've taken this class
I know you won't be afraid
to use your words.
-[students laugh]
-All right.
That's all I've got.
You have 90 minutes.
Make me proud.
Well done.
Uh, Professor Guidry,
I just wanted to say
thank you for dealing
with my crazy schedule.
Gretchen,
that is so sweet of you,
but you're the one
who made it work.
I wish you had another
class I could take.
I like teaching the basics.
ARTHUR:
As the popular aphorism goes,
"Those who can't do teach,"
and those-- those who can't
teach become deans,
'nother conversation.
[faculty laughing]
George has
played a critical role
in building the culture
of this department
over the years and we have
all benefited from his wisdom
and we have had our spirits
lifted by his good humor.
And man,
on a-- on a more personal note,
I am just
humbled and grateful
to call you a colleague,
a mentor and a fishing buddy.
Seriously, folks,
this guy can cast a fly.
I have seen him get a rise
out of a brown trout in one
foot of stillwater,
I am not kidding you.
[Arthur sighs]
Anyway, I've
embarrassed the man enough.
To George.
[clapping
and congratulatory chatter]
Thanks, man.
It's gonna be hard
to fill your shoes, George.
Tell ya that much.
SANDRA: Hey, Arthur.
Sandra,
how ya holdin' up?
You doin' okay?
-SANDRA: I'm good, I'm good.
-ARTHUR: Yeah.
I didn't want to put you
on the spot in the meeting,
but my sincere condolences.
SANDRA: I'm just glad that
she's not suffering anymore.
Yeah. Yeah.
She's in a better place now.
I-- I-- I did
have a quick question.
ARTHUR: Yeah.
Okay, well, walk with me,
'cause I got to get home.
Hey, Gretchen,
can you find a tote bag
for some of this stuff?
SANDRA: Did you see
a red truck this morning?
ARTHUR: I see a red truck
every time I open my eyes,
it's practically the state car.
-Hey, Todd.
-[Todd] Nice holiday.
ARTHUR:
See ya, merry Christmas.
SANDRA: I mean, in the canyon.
It was parked in my driveway.
ARTHUR:
Probably hunters, right?
SANDRA: I don't know.
Um...
You know, Susan lost
her mom a few years back.
It-- it brings up
all of the unresolved shit.
Takes time.
Just go easy on yourself. Okay?
Yeah, you're probably right.
And I expect to see
you at the Christmas party!
There's gonna be eggnog!
[deep, ominous rumbling]
[motor humming]
[engine shutting off]
[wind gusting]
[birds chirping distantly]
[ax chopping]
[raven cawing]
[fire crackling]
[animals howling distantly]
[howling continues]
[Sandra panting]
[kissing]
[chuckling]
[footsteps approaching]
[Sandra grunting]
[sighing]
[distant music
playing on car radio]
Come on!
C'mon, baby.
[music stops, engine shuts off]
[car door slams, Nathan sighs]
-NATHAN: Morning, ma'am.
-SANDRA: Good morning to you.
NATHAN: It's a prime
spot you got here.
Hey, we just figured
we'd walk up into the woods.
We won't be any trouble for ya.
We'll stay out of your hair.
You must have
got my note, though.
I put it on
your truck yesterday.
That's the first
I heard of any note.
What-- What did it say?
It said I'd prefer you
not park here.
Uh-huh.
It's just there's
not a lot of good jumping
off points around here.
SANDRA: You could always
come in from the other side.
The other side?
How far is that?
SANDRA:
About 15 miles.
Fifteen miles.
[Nathan clearing throat]
Ma'am, we're not gonna
put a bullet
in anyone's house
or shoot anybody's cow.
SANDRA:
I didn't think you were.
Yeah, but you're telling me
you want us to walk
15 miles in the snow.
That's not what I said
and I'm not
telling you to do anything.
All I'm saying
is before you park
on someone's property,
you have to ask.
-[hunter spits]
-HUNTER: I heard about you.
Just didn't
know it was this canyon.
NATHAN: All right.
[indistinct] Forget about her.
Get in the truck.
Too much.
[motor roaring,
music playing on radio]
FACULTY MEMBER: Look,
obviously, nobody objects
to the basic concept.
I just think,
first and foremost,
we need to look at cold,
hard qualifications.
ARTHUR: So, like we said,
in the beginning,
our job is to present the three
best candidates to the dean.
Period.
FACULTY MEMBER: Well,
I guess I'm just confused
about what we mean by best.
I don't think we should
be trying to fill
some kind of quota.
ARTHUR: Oh, course not.
No one is forcing our hand.
These are just factors
we should consider
among many others.
Um, did anyone else
want to chime in?
Yes.
Faith, you have a comment?
To me, learning is about
asking questions
and challenging yourself.
Over the years,
some of my very best students
have been Indians
from the reservation
because they bring this whole
other experience into class.
I think we could all
stand to listen more and learn
more from people who don't have
the same perspective as us.
You can call it diversity.
I don't know.
It just seems like
the right thing to do
to bring in different
sorts of people when we can,
rather than doing the same
old thing we've been doing.
I think your point's
very well taken, Faith.
Let's make it a priority.
Um... all right.
[Sandra humming]
[faucet running,
dishes clattering]
[faucet shuts off]
[plastic rustling]
[sighing]
[grunts]
[papers rustling]
[scissors snipping]
[fire crackling]
[thunder rumbling distantly]
[thunder fades
into deep, heavy rumbling]
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
[rumbling and pattering
intensify]
[kettle rattling]
[door opening]
[Sandra grunting]
[rattling]
[straining]
[engine starts]
[wind gusting]
[Sandra exhaling]
[loud thump]
[dog barking]
[distant barking]
[door squeaking]
GUS: Ma'am, would you mind
spelling your last name for me?
G-U-I-D-R-Y.
Cassandra Guidry.
That's a name.
[chuckles softly]
Where you from originally?
New Orleans.
New Orleans.
What do they call that, uh...
-Uh--
-The Big Easy.
The Big Easy. That's right.
I was getting there.
There's a lot of history
down there, you know?
You work in town?
I teach at the university.
Is that right?
What subject you teach?
I'm sorry.
Is this relevant?
Yeah. Sorry.
Um, you said your first direct
contact-- your only direct
contact with them
was in the driveway
when they're trying to park?
Two days ago.
That's correct.
Okay. And, uh, did they
threaten you at all that time?
Not overtly,
but I have definitely
been made to feel threatened.
Okay. Um...
Ms. Guidry.
City environment, you catch
somebody on your property,
that's a bad thing, so you
contact law enforcement, right?
Out here,
things are a little different.
And people,
generally, they tend to handle
this sort of thing
amongst themselves.
You know,
you let the small things
go to avoid a bigger
problem down the road--
Officer, they shot
an arrow into my door.
I understand that,
but you did tow their truck.
Perhaps I should not
have done that,
but I was well
within my rights.
Oh, of course you were.
Of course.
But you can see how that sort
of thing, you know,
might upset a person.
And I've got to warn you,
that these two gentlemen,
they are likely to see
you're involving the local
sheriff's department
as yet another escalation.
Why do you keep
calling them gentlemen?
[sighing]
Did you happen
to catch their license plate?
2-3-8-3-9-5.
And why did you collect
all of this, exactly?
I mean, most folks,
they wouldn't think to keep
all of this stuff.
I guess I'm not most folks.
Yeah. So...
Well,
thank you for your time.
So, what happens now?
Well, I've got a pretty good
idea who these boys are,
so I work with them,
see if I can't
straighten this out.
Great.
I'll get my coat.
Ma'am, there's really no
need for you to come along.
[plastic rustling]
[crow cawing]
[pleasant music
playing over speakers]
Hello.
How's it going in here, today?
What is she doing here, Gus?
-Lady, what is your problem--
-Hey, hey, hey
Let's just relax here, okay?
There's no need
for you to talk to her.
You just talk to me.
Keep it civil.
We're gonna
do this right now, Gus?
This is honest
work I'm doing here.
You're gonna get me fired.
GUS: I'm not gonna
get you fired. I promise. Okay?
It seems you boys put an arrow
in her door last night.
Is that right?
NATHAN: No, I don't know
anything about that.
Did she tell you that she damn
near broke my fucking axle?
GUS: Hey,
let's just relax. Okay?
She's pretty
up front with you.
She doesn't
want you on her property.
You got to respect that,
all right?
That's pretty funny.
You talking
about respect, Sheriff.
I'm not the sheriff
and you know that.
I'm the acting sheriff.
All right, shit, man.
-Can we wrap this up?
-Yeah, we can wrap it up.
You stay
off her goddamn property.
You find someplace
else to hunt.
Is that clear?
No, you gotta say it.
-Yep.
-Yeah, what?
[sighing]
-Yeah, we're clear.
-Great.
Cool.
Now, where can I find
your brother?
["Jingle Bells" playing]
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
[vehicles approaching]
What fun
it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way
SANDRA:
Not what I was expecting.
GUS: Look, I can't
stop you from tagging along,
but I'm not here
to chit chat, okay?
SANDRA:
Should we call for backup?
What backup? We've got two
officers to cover 300 square
miles and one
of them's currently
on administrative leave.
So that leaves me.
What happened to the other one?
What'd I say about chit chat?
GUS: What?
[faint creaking]
How we doin'?
Do me a favor.
Take your mask down, I like
to see who I'm talking to.
Do you hear me, son?
Behind you.
Afternoon, gentlemen.
Now, I'm not
here to arrest anybody.
Just need to have a word
with one of you boys.
What's the deal, guys?
I know you can hear me.
Okay. Everybody step forward!
You put your saws down,
you take your masks off!
Or what? You're gonna
shoot us, Wolf?
Nobody's shooting anybody.
Yeah. Why don't you tell
that to my cousin.
I didn't shoot your cousin--
DOUGIE:
Your piece of shit boss did.
Now he's collecting hazard
pay with his feet kicked up.
My cousin got a hole
in his back--
GUS: All right,
I'm done talking!
Take your masks off right now!
MASKED MAN 1:
Why the fuck would we do that?
Because I told you to,
that's why--
-DOUGIE: Fuck you, Wolf.
-Fuck you.
Everybody better calm down!
Yo, why you open your holster?
GUS:
I'm not gonna ask you again.
Why did you open
your fucking holster?
Dougie, goddamn it,
I know you. I know your family.
-I don't wanna hurt--
-You wanna kill us too, pig?
-Fuck you--
-Back the fuck up and put--
Hey, hey!
Who the fuck are you?
You're angry about your cousin.
I'd be angry, too.
And whoever did it should
be brought to justice.
How is that gonna
happen if it was the fuckin'
sheriff who pulled the trigger?
SANDRA: Especially if it was
the fuckin' sheriff... right?
We all gotta play by the same
rules if this is gonna work.
Where is the sheriff,
right now?
Probably Florida or something,
tanning his pasty ass.
Right.
But he's not here.
No one here was involved
with your cousin's shooting.
Correct?
Okay.
Now, we'll get out of your way.
There's no harm done.
And I'm sorry for your family.
[train horn
honking in distance]
GUS: Well,
that was a big success.
Really glad
you came along today.
I told you that around here,
contacting authorities
only makes things worse.
SANDRA:
Then what is the point of you?
What exactly do you do?
Yeah, why don't you tell me how
to do my job? That'd be great.
I don't feel
safe in my own house.
I should be able to
call the police and have
the confidence that my
concerns will be addressed.
Ma'am, there isn't enough law
in this whole state
to make you feel safe.
Now, you want to live
out in the middle of a canyon,
you're on your own.
And if you can't handle that,
I hear they're putting
up some nice condos
over by the college.
Or you could go back
to The Big Easy.
[panting]
[footsteps crunching on snow]
[fire crackling]
[thunder rumbling]
[rainfall beginning]
[storm rumbling]
[thunder crashing]
[phone ringing]
[phone continues ringing]
ARTHUR [groggily]:
Hello?
SANDRA: Arthur. It's Sandra.
ARTHUR: Sandra,
it's 6:00 in the morning.
SANDRA: You've
got two guys in your yard
trying to get on my property.
ARTHUR: Oh. What?
What-- What guys,
what are you talking about?
SANDRA: The hunters.
I wouldn't
let them into the canyon,
so they climbed your fence.
[Arthur laughs lightly]
ARTHUR: So, what do
you want me to do about
it?
There's guys with guns
walking by your back door
without permission.
ARTHUR: Oh, good.
Okay, look, I'll talk to
them
when I see them.
I-- Im sure they're
harmless.
We get hunters
up here all the time.
I've never had an issue.
It's not about the hunting.
These guys keep coming back.
Why do you think that is?
[chuckling] I don't--
I don't know, Sandra.
Why do you care so much?
-[Arthur sighing]
-Go back to sleep.
[hangs up phone]
HUNTER: Smells like a deer,
shit's like a deer,
-it's a fucking deer.
-NATHAN: Shut up.
HUNTER: [indistinct] up there
for a couple hours,
she'll walk
right past us [indistinct].
[motor humming]
[engine idling]
[crow cawing]
[traffic din]
[engine rumbling on]
[wind whistling]
["Beautiful Savior"
playing on organ]
[quietly]
The fuck are you doing here?
Are you following me around?
You trying to make
some kind of point?
Is that your mother?
Yes.
Yeah, what of it?
My mother was an organist.
In our church
back in New Orleans.
She used to play this.
She did?
"Beautiful Savior."
[song concludes]
PRIEST: Please, be seated.
God is good.
[congregation]All the time.
God is good.
Brothers and sisters,
let us open to Matthew,
Chapter six, verse 25.
"Therefore, I tell you,
do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink
or about your body.
What you will wear.
Is not life more than food
and the body
more than clothes?"
You believe in this stuff?
I did, once.
Yeah.
Come here for her.
Make her happy.
Yeah.
I know all about that.
[priest continues speaking
in background]
She put up
with a lot of shit in her life.
She got used to being unhappy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
My mother had that.
She never forgave me
for bringing her up here.
She hated the cold.
Everyone hates the cold.
I wish she could hear you
say that.
My mother was never content.
She'd hold onto stuff
that happened 20 years ago,
like it happened yesterday.
Everything was a battle.
[priest continues speaking
in background]
I wonder sometimes.
Why do you choose
to be the person you are?
Like, you're just
Whatever happened before you.
Maybe it takes some kind of
sacrifice to break the cycle.
-[priest] Amen.
-[congregation] Amen.
[priest]
Let us rise and--
I don't know why you came here
but you need to leave now.
[organ plays hymnal music]
[congregation sings]
There is a place
of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God
A place
where sin cannot molest
Near to the heart of God
O Jesus,
blest Redeemer
Sent from the heart of God
Hold us,
who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God
[music stops]
[car door slams]
[knocking]
[foliage rustles]
[clanging]
[Sandra]
Why are you doing this?
This doesn't help you.
Doesn't get you anything.
What do you want?
Are you hearing me?
Why don't you come inside?
[Sandra] What?
[man 2] Just come inside.
We can work it out.
I know what you want.
[sniffs]
Come on.
[footsteps]
What's the matter?
Come on.
[panting]
Huh?
What's the matter?
Come on.
Eh, where ya going!
[train horn blasts]
[rattling]
[thud]
[clattering]
[metallic clattering]
[breaths noisily]
[bright Christmas music]
Oh, I'll be home
for Christmas
[excited chattering]
You can plan on me
Surprise.
[laughter]
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Please have snow
and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve
will find me
Where the love light
gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only
In my dreams
[Gretchen] You look like
you could use one of these.
-[Sandra] Good to see you.
-I love your dress.
Sandra, tell me, honestly,
is it-- is it too much?
No. Hell no.
You look amazing.
-Cheers.
-[clink]
Home for Christmas
Are you enjoying the party?
Honestly, it's so nice of
him to let me join for a bit.
His house is so nice, right?
He told me
he designed it himself.
Yeah, I'll bet he did.
[Gretchen] Oh...
What? What? What?
That guy over there was
checking you out pretty hard.
[chattering]
Santa baby
Oh, my God. No.
It--
I know him.
It doesn't matter.
It's nothing.
Oh, okay.
Well, I have a mountain
of exam papers to grade
-so you have a good night.
-No, it's not like that.
[Gus]Merry Christmas.
Santa baby
Clean up nice.
So, what are you--
What are you doing here?
Oh. Me and Susan
go back a ways.
High school.
You can imagine.
[chuckles]
Think of all
Look,
I'm glad I ran into you.
Um, I blew my top
the other day.
I owe you an apology.
I shouldn't talk to you
like that.
Well, we
didn't get chainsaw-ed.
-That's a good day.
-[clink]
Yeah.
What kind of work did you do
back in New Orleans?
You looked me up.
Huh.
Well, I had a hunch.
The way you handled yourself
back at that farm,
and cigarette butts and Ziploc.
Excellent work, detective.
Oh, no.
I'm just a humble
sheriff's deputy.
What was it like
being a big city cop?
Same as being a cop here,
except with backup
and basic technology.
Very funny.
No,
it is what you think it is.
Big cities
have big city problems.
I really do
I couldn't do it.
Believe in you
It's not a walk in the park
here, either
but at least you know
the sheep from the wolves.
Santa baby,
forgot to tell you
Is that why you became a cop?
One little thing,
a ring
Well...
I don't mean
on the phone
I guess it was my high school
football coach, actually.
Uh, he'd been a cop
and looked up to him.
So I guess I just figured
I'd do what he did.
Well?
What about you?
I wanted to serve my community.
Oh.
Pretty good reason.
[mellow jazz version of
"Where or When"]
[Sandra] I remember
when we first came here.
And I felt like
we'd gone back in time.
You look at those mountains
and you can see all the way
back to the beginning,
before there were any people
at all.
Just bears.
[both chuckle softly]
I remember
standing in that field.
Crying.
Because it was so... unspoiled.
I'd never felt anything
like that.
And I know
when the snow melts,
I'll get to feel that way
again.
No, yeah, it's, uh,
it's pretty majestic.
It seems we stood and
talked
like this before
You got quite a way with words.
I teach public speaking.
[Gus] Ah.
But I can't remember
So what brought you
up here anyway?
Where or when
Tenure track.
[Gus] No, I mean.
The clothes you're wearing
I don't know
a lot of beat cops
that teach college classes.
The smile
that you are smiling
You're asking why
I quit the force?
I'm curious.
I can't remember
where or when
Well, asking and wanting
to know are not the same thing.
Try me.
Clothes you're wearing
are the clothes you wore
I was born and raised
in New Orleans.
New Orleans was my home.
Now I live out here.
But I can't remember
where
All my life, I wanted
to be a police officer.
Or when
And now there is
no way I would ever
put on that
motherfucking badge again.
Things that happened
Why do you think that is?
For the first time
Seem to be
happening again
You had to draw
your weapon.
Again
You had to shoot somebody.
That's the worst thing
you can think of?
It seems we stood
and talked like this
They let us drown.
They let my people drown.
And they didn't
give a goddamn about it.
And you know what?
It should have been
no surprise.
That's just the way it goes.
My mother
thought God would save us.
Tried to get her out before.
She wouldn't hear it.
She thought that God would
save us from the hurricane.
And I couldn't change her mind.
So I left her
because I had a job to do.
And then I had to go dig her
out of the fucking Superdome.
And she never
came back from that.
That's not something
you come back from.
For the first time
We failed.
Seem to be happening
I couldn't protect her.
Again
That's why I quit.
[Gus swallows loudly]
And so it seems
that we've met
I'm sorry,
I didn't know.
And laughed before
And loved before
[heels clack]
But who knows
Where
Or when
[glass thuds]
[locks click]
[heavy footsteps]
[thud]
[sighs]
[hyperventilating]
[thunder rumbles]
[rain pattering]
[lightning cracks]
[wind gusts]
[shallow breathing]
[knocking]
[knocking]
Mmph.
[latch clicks]
[door squeaks]
Oh hey, Gretchen.
You okay? Come in, come in.
[Gretchen] So, um...
-I wanted to ask you something.
-[Sandra] Mm-hm.
You know how
you mentioned the T.A. thing?
Well, um... I'd like to take
you up on that.
I mean,
if it's still available.
Yeah, of course.
As long
as it's alright with Arthur.
Oh, I'm sure he has plenty
of other people.
Did something change?
If I tell you, you have to
promise you won't say anything.
Tell me what?
Last night
after the party, he--
...uh...
He came into the study.
I was grading papers.
He said he'd pulled
a muscle carrying firewood.
He was sore
and he couldn't sleep.
He had some lotion and he
wanted me to put it on for him,
so-- so I did.
Did he touch you?
I put the lotion
on the shoulders for him
and that was it.
Gretchen,
you do not have to accept this.
I mean, I agreed to do it.
It wasn't a big deal.
We don't have to talk about
this anymore, I just, uh...
I'd just rather T.A.
for you now.
Yeah.
[Arthur] Uh,
all those in favor?
Okay. Opposed?
Professor Guidry, again.
Well, folks.
Looks like
we have our top three.
Congratulations.
Well done.
[clapping]
I don't mean to be difficult
but we all agreed it was
important for the future
of our department
to try to be more inclusive.
Uh,
I think we did try.
And now that
we have our list,
it's important that
we all rally behind it.
I've seen the Dean use the
budget to stall appointments
if he senses discord.
And we have three
fine candidates here
who could really grow
with our department.
So, let's...
let's not blow
this opportunity.
And on that note,
Merry Christmas, everyone.
God bless.
And, um,
hey, see you all next year.
[light laughter]
[loud footsteps]
Yeah.
Well, once we--
Once--
I think it's up to the...
Excuse me for one second.
I thought we said that
we would try to recommend
at least one person
of color to the dean.
On the contrary,
we explicitly said
that this was not
about filling a quota.
That's not what I'm saying.
You literally
just said that--
No, no,
you're not listening to me.
No, I'm pretty sure you
understand the concept of--
I said that
we should try to recommend.
Not hire, recommend.
That's all.
One name on a list of three,
and we can't do that?
So, a quota.
[Sandra]
We had options, Arthur.
And we agreed
it was important.
-You said that. Right?
-Yes.
I don't know where you're
going with this, Sandra.
[Sandra]
I'm trying to remind you--
I'm 100% confident
that we considered everyone--
I'm trying to express
what we agreed--
Sandra,
this is not about you.
Oh, I know
this is not about me.
This is about hiring the best
person for the job. Period.
But if everyone
on the list is white,
-then how are we supposed to--
-Sandra. It's over.
The process was fair!
Now it's over
and we are moving on.
I will not allow the dean to
cut this department to ribbons
because we got distracted
by identity politics.
-Identity politics?
-Yeah. Not on my watch.
And quite frankly, I take great
offense that you're reading
-some kind of bias into this.
-This is how it happens.
Right here is
how it all breaks down--
You know what,
spare me--
It's this whole big song
and dance about the process--
And now you're mad that you
didn't get what you wanted.
We say we care
about right and wrong--
-How dare you?
-But in the end, it's really
just about winning,
isn't it?
You're here.
We hired you, didn't we?
Huh?
How's your back, Arthur?
I hear you pulled a muscle.
[Arthur]
Think you need to take
some time to yourself,
maybe take the next term off!
Go see a shrink!
[sighs]
She's having
a hard time, you know?
She just-- she lost
her mom recently, so...
[Sandra] Gretchen.
Come on.
We're going to the Dean.
We have to go right now.
[Gretchen] What?
What are you talking...
We cannot let them get away
with this. Not anymore.
We have to fight back
every time.
All the time or this
is going to go on forever.
[Gretchen]
Did you say something?
[heart thumping]
What did you say?
[heart thumping]
I didn't say your name.
I thought you understood
how hard I worked to get here.
[Sandra] Gretchen. I--
Believe me, I do.
But you have a right
to be angry.
And you shouldn't punish
yourself
for something
that's not your fault.
Is that
what you think I'm doing?
[feet stomping]
[Arthur clears his throat]
Ladies,
everything all right?
[quietly]
I'm so... Sorry.
I need to apologize
for my behavior.
What I said was completely
out of line.
And you're right.
I should probably
take some time off.
[stomping]
[wind howls]
[heavy panting]
[panting]
[gunshot blasts]
[Arthur] Hey, fellas!
How'd you do?
[man 2] Look at this man,
you fuckin' tell me!
[talking over each other]
[motor hums]
[man 2]
Jesus fucking Christ.
[snow crunching]
[Arthur] What do you think
you're doing?
Sandra?
Unbelievable.
This is my property.
Sandra, come on.
Sandra.
Jesus.
[sighs]
Hey! Sandra!
[blubbering]
Yeah,you feel big now?
You massacre at tiny baby deer
and you're such a big man.
Just mind
your own goddamn business.
Yeah, I'd kinda like to do
the mama, too.
'Kay, you know what, Sandra?
I really need you
-to walk away right now--
-Oh, shut the fuck up!
[man laughs]
Yeah,
shut the fuck up, huh?
I'm tired.
I'm so tired of you.
[man 2] You know, she came
to my house the other day, too.
Did I tell you that?
Come back anytime, baby.
[pained gasp]
You come back here again,
I'll fucking kill you.
I swear to God,
I'll fucking kill you.
[nervous laughs]
[Arthur]
Holy shit, are you okay, man?
[man 2 sighs] Ah. Fuck.
[water dripping]
[slow dripping]
[sighs]
[clattering]
[grunting]
[gun shot blasts]
[axe thuds gently]
I'm sorry.
[motor hums]
["Drinkin' and Dreaming"
by Waylon Jennings plays]
I've been wasting
my time, standing in line
If this is what
it's all about
All I've got is a job
that I don't like
And a woman
that don't understand
So tonight in the bar,
I'll get in my car
And take off
for the Promised Land
Drinkin' and dreamin',
knowing damn well I can't go
I'll never
see Texas, L.A.
Or ol' Mexico
[laughter]
[Arthur]
[indistinct]
But here at this table
I'm able
to leave it behind
[laughter]
Drink till I'm dreaming
A thousand miles
out of my mind
[laughter]
Are you fucking kidding me?
Yeah.
[panting]
This suit and this tie
is just a disguise
This ain't really me
Some people were born
to be tied down
Some people
were born to be free
[gasping]
When I look down the road
she don't know
[clicking]
[footsteps]
[grunts]
I'm able
to leave it behind
Drink till I'm dreaming
1,000 miles out of my mind
Drinkin' and dreamin',
knowing damn well
I can't go
[slam]
[motor hums]
Drink till I'm dreaming
1,000 miles out of my mind
Drinkin' and dreaming
knowing damn well I can't go
[motor whirring]
[sighs]
[engines roaring]
[thudding]
We're here.
[sniffs]
We're here!
[grunting then thudding]
[screams]
We're here!
[playful howling]
[pounding on door]
[yelling]
[thudding]
[grunting and thudding]
[fire crackling]
[fire crackling]
[spoken audio is muted]
[fire roars]
[somber organ plays]
[fire crackles]
["I'll Fly Away" by
Jim Reeves plays distantly]
When this life is over,
I'll fly away
I'll fly away
I'll fly away
I'll fly away
When I die,
Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away
When the shadows
of this life have gone
I'll
[clank]
[thud]
Hey,
I'm gonna have a smoke.
[motor hums]
[car door slams]
[birds singing]
[man] No, what are you doing?
What are you doing?
[gunshot]
-[man 2] Oh-- No, no, no, no!
-[gunshot]
Ah!
[gunshot]
[guttural rasping]
[gun cocks then gunshot]
[bird calling]
[whooshing]
[chugging]
[sighs]
[sniffs]
[thunder rumbling,
rain falling]
[fluorescent lights buzzing]
[projector whirring]
[somber instrumental]
[thunder booming]
[clock ticking]
[footsteps approaching]
[faint heartbeat thumping]
[door squeaking]
[fire roaring]
[door squeaking]
[fire roaring]
[car rattling]
[wind howling]
[Sandra grunting]
[sighing]
[wind howling]
SANDRA: Hey.
[Sandra murmuring indistinctly]
[kissing]
[deep, ominous rumbling]
[footsteps crunching on snow]
[Sandra panting]
[wind gusting]
[metallic creaking]
[Sandra sniffing]
[truck creaking]
Here you go.
[food rattling in scooper]
Here ya go.
[footsteps crunching on snow]
Sometimes it feels
like things never change.
But I promise you.
They do. They have to.
And I'm not saying it's easy.
Change comes
with feelings of loss.
And...
We might feel resistance.
Like there's so much in
the world that needs changing.
Where am I supposed to start?
Right?
When you feel that way,
that is the moment
to begin work.
On whatever fires you up,
you just start chipping away.
And if you look around
this room,
you'll see
that you're not alone.
Don't ever feel like
there's nothing you can do.
Please.
That's my wish for you.
And now you've taken this class
I know you won't be afraid
to use your words.
-[students laugh]
-All right.
That's all I've got.
You have 90 minutes.
Make me proud.
Well done.
Uh, Professor Guidry,
I just wanted to say
thank you for dealing
with my crazy schedule.
Gretchen,
that is so sweet of you,
but you're the one
who made it work.
I wish you had another
class I could take.
I like teaching the basics.
ARTHUR:
As the popular aphorism goes,
"Those who can't do teach,"
and those-- those who can't
teach become deans,
'nother conversation.
[faculty laughing]
George has
played a critical role
in building the culture
of this department
over the years and we have
all benefited from his wisdom
and we have had our spirits
lifted by his good humor.
And man,
on a-- on a more personal note,
I am just
humbled and grateful
to call you a colleague,
a mentor and a fishing buddy.
Seriously, folks,
this guy can cast a fly.
I have seen him get a rise
out of a brown trout in one
foot of stillwater,
I am not kidding you.
[Arthur sighs]
Anyway, I've
embarrassed the man enough.
To George.
[clapping
and congratulatory chatter]
Thanks, man.
It's gonna be hard
to fill your shoes, George.
Tell ya that much.
SANDRA: Hey, Arthur.
Sandra,
how ya holdin' up?
You doin' okay?
-SANDRA: I'm good, I'm good.
-ARTHUR: Yeah.
I didn't want to put you
on the spot in the meeting,
but my sincere condolences.
SANDRA: I'm just glad that
she's not suffering anymore.
Yeah. Yeah.
She's in a better place now.
I-- I-- I did
have a quick question.
ARTHUR: Yeah.
Okay, well, walk with me,
'cause I got to get home.
Hey, Gretchen,
can you find a tote bag
for some of this stuff?
SANDRA: Did you see
a red truck this morning?
ARTHUR: I see a red truck
every time I open my eyes,
it's practically the state car.
-Hey, Todd.
-[Todd] Nice holiday.
ARTHUR:
See ya, merry Christmas.
SANDRA: I mean, in the canyon.
It was parked in my driveway.
ARTHUR:
Probably hunters, right?
SANDRA: I don't know.
Um...
You know, Susan lost
her mom a few years back.
It-- it brings up
all of the unresolved shit.
Takes time.
Just go easy on yourself. Okay?
Yeah, you're probably right.
And I expect to see
you at the Christmas party!
There's gonna be eggnog!
[deep, ominous rumbling]
[motor humming]
[engine shutting off]
[wind gusting]
[birds chirping distantly]
[ax chopping]
[raven cawing]
[fire crackling]
[animals howling distantly]
[howling continues]
[Sandra panting]
[kissing]
[chuckling]
[footsteps approaching]
[Sandra grunting]
[sighing]
[distant music
playing on car radio]
Come on!
C'mon, baby.
[music stops, engine shuts off]
[car door slams, Nathan sighs]
-NATHAN: Morning, ma'am.
-SANDRA: Good morning to you.
NATHAN: It's a prime
spot you got here.
Hey, we just figured
we'd walk up into the woods.
We won't be any trouble for ya.
We'll stay out of your hair.
You must have
got my note, though.
I put it on
your truck yesterday.
That's the first
I heard of any note.
What-- What did it say?
It said I'd prefer you
not park here.
Uh-huh.
It's just there's
not a lot of good jumping
off points around here.
SANDRA: You could always
come in from the other side.
The other side?
How far is that?
SANDRA:
About 15 miles.
Fifteen miles.
[Nathan clearing throat]
Ma'am, we're not gonna
put a bullet
in anyone's house
or shoot anybody's cow.
SANDRA:
I didn't think you were.
Yeah, but you're telling me
you want us to walk
15 miles in the snow.
That's not what I said
and I'm not
telling you to do anything.
All I'm saying
is before you park
on someone's property,
you have to ask.
-[hunter spits]
-HUNTER: I heard about you.
Just didn't
know it was this canyon.
NATHAN: All right.
[indistinct] Forget about her.
Get in the truck.
Too much.
[motor roaring,
music playing on radio]
FACULTY MEMBER: Look,
obviously, nobody objects
to the basic concept.
I just think,
first and foremost,
we need to look at cold,
hard qualifications.
ARTHUR: So, like we said,
in the beginning,
our job is to present the three
best candidates to the dean.
Period.
FACULTY MEMBER: Well,
I guess I'm just confused
about what we mean by best.
I don't think we should
be trying to fill
some kind of quota.
ARTHUR: Oh, course not.
No one is forcing our hand.
These are just factors
we should consider
among many others.
Um, did anyone else
want to chime in?
Yes.
Faith, you have a comment?
To me, learning is about
asking questions
and challenging yourself.
Over the years,
some of my very best students
have been Indians
from the reservation
because they bring this whole
other experience into class.
I think we could all
stand to listen more and learn
more from people who don't have
the same perspective as us.
You can call it diversity.
I don't know.
It just seems like
the right thing to do
to bring in different
sorts of people when we can,
rather than doing the same
old thing we've been doing.
I think your point's
very well taken, Faith.
Let's make it a priority.
Um... all right.
[Sandra humming]
[faucet running,
dishes clattering]
[faucet shuts off]
[plastic rustling]
[sighing]
[grunts]
[papers rustling]
[scissors snipping]
[fire crackling]
[thunder rumbling distantly]
[thunder fades
into deep, heavy rumbling]
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
[rumbling and pattering
intensify]
[kettle rattling]
[door opening]
[Sandra grunting]
[rattling]
[straining]
[engine starts]
[wind gusting]
[Sandra exhaling]
[loud thump]
[dog barking]
[distant barking]
[door squeaking]
GUS: Ma'am, would you mind
spelling your last name for me?
G-U-I-D-R-Y.
Cassandra Guidry.
That's a name.
[chuckles softly]
Where you from originally?
New Orleans.
New Orleans.
What do they call that, uh...
-Uh--
-The Big Easy.
The Big Easy. That's right.
I was getting there.
There's a lot of history
down there, you know?
You work in town?
I teach at the university.
Is that right?
What subject you teach?
I'm sorry.
Is this relevant?
Yeah. Sorry.
Um, you said your first direct
contact-- your only direct
contact with them
was in the driveway
when they're trying to park?
Two days ago.
That's correct.
Okay. And, uh, did they
threaten you at all that time?
Not overtly,
but I have definitely
been made to feel threatened.
Okay. Um...
Ms. Guidry.
City environment, you catch
somebody on your property,
that's a bad thing, so you
contact law enforcement, right?
Out here,
things are a little different.
And people,
generally, they tend to handle
this sort of thing
amongst themselves.
You know,
you let the small things
go to avoid a bigger
problem down the road--
Officer, they shot
an arrow into my door.
I understand that,
but you did tow their truck.
Perhaps I should not
have done that,
but I was well
within my rights.
Oh, of course you were.
Of course.
But you can see how that sort
of thing, you know,
might upset a person.
And I've got to warn you,
that these two gentlemen,
they are likely to see
you're involving the local
sheriff's department
as yet another escalation.
Why do you keep
calling them gentlemen?
[sighing]
Did you happen
to catch their license plate?
2-3-8-3-9-5.
And why did you collect
all of this, exactly?
I mean, most folks,
they wouldn't think to keep
all of this stuff.
I guess I'm not most folks.
Yeah. So...
Well,
thank you for your time.
So, what happens now?
Well, I've got a pretty good
idea who these boys are,
so I work with them,
see if I can't
straighten this out.
Great.
I'll get my coat.
Ma'am, there's really no
need for you to come along.
[plastic rustling]
[crow cawing]
[pleasant music
playing over speakers]
Hello.
How's it going in here, today?
What is she doing here, Gus?
-Lady, what is your problem--
-Hey, hey, hey
Let's just relax here, okay?
There's no need
for you to talk to her.
You just talk to me.
Keep it civil.
We're gonna
do this right now, Gus?
This is honest
work I'm doing here.
You're gonna get me fired.
GUS: I'm not gonna
get you fired. I promise. Okay?
It seems you boys put an arrow
in her door last night.
Is that right?
NATHAN: No, I don't know
anything about that.
Did she tell you that she damn
near broke my fucking axle?
GUS: Hey,
let's just relax. Okay?
She's pretty
up front with you.
She doesn't
want you on her property.
You got to respect that,
all right?
That's pretty funny.
You talking
about respect, Sheriff.
I'm not the sheriff
and you know that.
I'm the acting sheriff.
All right, shit, man.
-Can we wrap this up?
-Yeah, we can wrap it up.
You stay
off her goddamn property.
You find someplace
else to hunt.
Is that clear?
No, you gotta say it.
-Yep.
-Yeah, what?
[sighing]
-Yeah, we're clear.
-Great.
Cool.
Now, where can I find
your brother?
["Jingle Bells" playing]
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
[vehicles approaching]
What fun
it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way
SANDRA:
Not what I was expecting.
GUS: Look, I can't
stop you from tagging along,
but I'm not here
to chit chat, okay?
SANDRA:
Should we call for backup?
What backup? We've got two
officers to cover 300 square
miles and one
of them's currently
on administrative leave.
So that leaves me.
What happened to the other one?
What'd I say about chit chat?
GUS: What?
[faint creaking]
How we doin'?
Do me a favor.
Take your mask down, I like
to see who I'm talking to.
Do you hear me, son?
Behind you.
Afternoon, gentlemen.
Now, I'm not
here to arrest anybody.
Just need to have a word
with one of you boys.
What's the deal, guys?
I know you can hear me.
Okay. Everybody step forward!
You put your saws down,
you take your masks off!
Or what? You're gonna
shoot us, Wolf?
Nobody's shooting anybody.
Yeah. Why don't you tell
that to my cousin.
I didn't shoot your cousin--
DOUGIE:
Your piece of shit boss did.
Now he's collecting hazard
pay with his feet kicked up.
My cousin got a hole
in his back--
GUS: All right,
I'm done talking!
Take your masks off right now!
MASKED MAN 1:
Why the fuck would we do that?
Because I told you to,
that's why--
-DOUGIE: Fuck you, Wolf.
-Fuck you.
Everybody better calm down!
Yo, why you open your holster?
GUS:
I'm not gonna ask you again.
Why did you open
your fucking holster?
Dougie, goddamn it,
I know you. I know your family.
-I don't wanna hurt--
-You wanna kill us too, pig?
-Fuck you--
-Back the fuck up and put--
Hey, hey!
Who the fuck are you?
You're angry about your cousin.
I'd be angry, too.
And whoever did it should
be brought to justice.
How is that gonna
happen if it was the fuckin'
sheriff who pulled the trigger?
SANDRA: Especially if it was
the fuckin' sheriff... right?
We all gotta play by the same
rules if this is gonna work.
Where is the sheriff,
right now?
Probably Florida or something,
tanning his pasty ass.
Right.
But he's not here.
No one here was involved
with your cousin's shooting.
Correct?
Okay.
Now, we'll get out of your way.
There's no harm done.
And I'm sorry for your family.
[train horn
honking in distance]
GUS: Well,
that was a big success.
Really glad
you came along today.
I told you that around here,
contacting authorities
only makes things worse.
SANDRA:
Then what is the point of you?
What exactly do you do?
Yeah, why don't you tell me how
to do my job? That'd be great.
I don't feel
safe in my own house.
I should be able to
call the police and have
the confidence that my
concerns will be addressed.
Ma'am, there isn't enough law
in this whole state
to make you feel safe.
Now, you want to live
out in the middle of a canyon,
you're on your own.
And if you can't handle that,
I hear they're putting
up some nice condos
over by the college.
Or you could go back
to The Big Easy.
[panting]
[footsteps crunching on snow]
[fire crackling]
[thunder rumbling]
[rainfall beginning]
[storm rumbling]
[thunder crashing]
[phone ringing]
[phone continues ringing]
ARTHUR [groggily]:
Hello?
SANDRA: Arthur. It's Sandra.
ARTHUR: Sandra,
it's 6:00 in the morning.
SANDRA: You've
got two guys in your yard
trying to get on my property.
ARTHUR: Oh. What?
What-- What guys,
what are you talking about?
SANDRA: The hunters.
I wouldn't
let them into the canyon,
so they climbed your fence.
[Arthur laughs lightly]
ARTHUR: So, what do
you want me to do about
it?
There's guys with guns
walking by your back door
without permission.
ARTHUR: Oh, good.
Okay, look, I'll talk to
them
when I see them.
I-- Im sure they're
harmless.
We get hunters
up here all the time.
I've never had an issue.
It's not about the hunting.
These guys keep coming back.
Why do you think that is?
[chuckling] I don't--
I don't know, Sandra.
Why do you care so much?
-[Arthur sighing]
-Go back to sleep.
[hangs up phone]
HUNTER: Smells like a deer,
shit's like a deer,
-it's a fucking deer.
-NATHAN: Shut up.
HUNTER: [indistinct] up there
for a couple hours,
she'll walk
right past us [indistinct].
[motor humming]
[engine idling]
[crow cawing]
[traffic din]
[engine rumbling on]
[wind whistling]
["Beautiful Savior"
playing on organ]
[quietly]
The fuck are you doing here?
Are you following me around?
You trying to make
some kind of point?
Is that your mother?
Yes.
Yeah, what of it?
My mother was an organist.
In our church
back in New Orleans.
She used to play this.
She did?
"Beautiful Savior."
[song concludes]
PRIEST: Please, be seated.
God is good.
[congregation]All the time.
God is good.
Brothers and sisters,
let us open to Matthew,
Chapter six, verse 25.
"Therefore, I tell you,
do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink
or about your body.
What you will wear.
Is not life more than food
and the body
more than clothes?"
You believe in this stuff?
I did, once.
Yeah.
Come here for her.
Make her happy.
Yeah.
I know all about that.
[priest continues speaking
in background]
She put up
with a lot of shit in her life.
She got used to being unhappy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
My mother had that.
She never forgave me
for bringing her up here.
She hated the cold.
Everyone hates the cold.
I wish she could hear you
say that.
My mother was never content.
She'd hold onto stuff
that happened 20 years ago,
like it happened yesterday.
Everything was a battle.
[priest continues speaking
in background]
I wonder sometimes.
Why do you choose
to be the person you are?
Like, you're just
Whatever happened before you.
Maybe it takes some kind of
sacrifice to break the cycle.
-[priest] Amen.
-[congregation] Amen.
[priest]
Let us rise and--
I don't know why you came here
but you need to leave now.
[organ plays hymnal music]
[congregation sings]
There is a place
of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God
A place
where sin cannot molest
Near to the heart of God
O Jesus,
blest Redeemer
Sent from the heart of God
Hold us,
who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God
[music stops]
[car door slams]
[knocking]
[foliage rustles]
[clanging]
[Sandra]
Why are you doing this?
This doesn't help you.
Doesn't get you anything.
What do you want?
Are you hearing me?
Why don't you come inside?
[Sandra] What?
[man 2] Just come inside.
We can work it out.
I know what you want.
[sniffs]
Come on.
[footsteps]
What's the matter?
Come on.
[panting]
Huh?
What's the matter?
Come on.
Eh, where ya going!
[train horn blasts]
[rattling]
[thud]
[clattering]
[metallic clattering]
[breaths noisily]
[bright Christmas music]
Oh, I'll be home
for Christmas
[excited chattering]
You can plan on me
Surprise.
[laughter]
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Please have snow
and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve
will find me
Where the love light
gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only
In my dreams
[Gretchen] You look like
you could use one of these.
-[Sandra] Good to see you.
-I love your dress.
Sandra, tell me, honestly,
is it-- is it too much?
No. Hell no.
You look amazing.
-Cheers.
-[clink]
Home for Christmas
Are you enjoying the party?
Honestly, it's so nice of
him to let me join for a bit.
His house is so nice, right?
He told me
he designed it himself.
Yeah, I'll bet he did.
[Gretchen] Oh...
What? What? What?
That guy over there was
checking you out pretty hard.
[chattering]
Santa baby
Oh, my God. No.
It--
I know him.
It doesn't matter.
It's nothing.
Oh, okay.
Well, I have a mountain
of exam papers to grade
-so you have a good night.
-No, it's not like that.
[Gus]Merry Christmas.
Santa baby
Clean up nice.
So, what are you--
What are you doing here?
Oh. Me and Susan
go back a ways.
High school.
You can imagine.
[chuckles]
Think of all
Look,
I'm glad I ran into you.
Um, I blew my top
the other day.
I owe you an apology.
I shouldn't talk to you
like that.
Well, we
didn't get chainsaw-ed.
-That's a good day.
-[clink]
Yeah.
What kind of work did you do
back in New Orleans?
You looked me up.
Huh.
Well, I had a hunch.
The way you handled yourself
back at that farm,
and cigarette butts and Ziploc.
Excellent work, detective.
Oh, no.
I'm just a humble
sheriff's deputy.
What was it like
being a big city cop?
Same as being a cop here,
except with backup
and basic technology.
Very funny.
No,
it is what you think it is.
Big cities
have big city problems.
I really do
I couldn't do it.
Believe in you
It's not a walk in the park
here, either
but at least you know
the sheep from the wolves.
Santa baby,
forgot to tell you
Is that why you became a cop?
One little thing,
a ring
Well...
I don't mean
on the phone
I guess it was my high school
football coach, actually.
Uh, he'd been a cop
and looked up to him.
So I guess I just figured
I'd do what he did.
Well?
What about you?
I wanted to serve my community.
Oh.
Pretty good reason.
[mellow jazz version of
"Where or When"]
[Sandra] I remember
when we first came here.
And I felt like
we'd gone back in time.
You look at those mountains
and you can see all the way
back to the beginning,
before there were any people
at all.
Just bears.
[both chuckle softly]
I remember
standing in that field.
Crying.
Because it was so... unspoiled.
I'd never felt anything
like that.
And I know
when the snow melts,
I'll get to feel that way
again.
No, yeah, it's, uh,
it's pretty majestic.
It seems we stood and
talked
like this before
You got quite a way with words.
I teach public speaking.
[Gus] Ah.
But I can't remember
So what brought you
up here anyway?
Where or when
Tenure track.
[Gus] No, I mean.
The clothes you're wearing
I don't know
a lot of beat cops
that teach college classes.
The smile
that you are smiling
You're asking why
I quit the force?
I'm curious.
I can't remember
where or when
Well, asking and wanting
to know are not the same thing.
Try me.
Clothes you're wearing
are the clothes you wore
I was born and raised
in New Orleans.
New Orleans was my home.
Now I live out here.
But I can't remember
where
All my life, I wanted
to be a police officer.
Or when
And now there is
no way I would ever
put on that
motherfucking badge again.
Things that happened
Why do you think that is?
For the first time
Seem to be
happening again
You had to draw
your weapon.
Again
You had to shoot somebody.
That's the worst thing
you can think of?
It seems we stood
and talked like this
They let us drown.
They let my people drown.
And they didn't
give a goddamn about it.
And you know what?
It should have been
no surprise.
That's just the way it goes.
My mother
thought God would save us.
Tried to get her out before.
She wouldn't hear it.
She thought that God would
save us from the hurricane.
And I couldn't change her mind.
So I left her
because I had a job to do.
And then I had to go dig her
out of the fucking Superdome.
And she never
came back from that.
That's not something
you come back from.
For the first time
We failed.
Seem to be happening
I couldn't protect her.
Again
That's why I quit.
[Gus swallows loudly]
And so it seems
that we've met
I'm sorry,
I didn't know.
And laughed before
And loved before
[heels clack]
But who knows
Where
Or when
[glass thuds]
[locks click]
[heavy footsteps]
[thud]
[sighs]
[hyperventilating]
[thunder rumbles]
[rain pattering]
[lightning cracks]
[wind gusts]
[shallow breathing]
[knocking]
[knocking]
Mmph.
[latch clicks]
[door squeaks]
Oh hey, Gretchen.
You okay? Come in, come in.
[Gretchen] So, um...
-I wanted to ask you something.
-[Sandra] Mm-hm.
You know how
you mentioned the T.A. thing?
Well, um... I'd like to take
you up on that.
I mean,
if it's still available.
Yeah, of course.
As long
as it's alright with Arthur.
Oh, I'm sure he has plenty
of other people.
Did something change?
If I tell you, you have to
promise you won't say anything.
Tell me what?
Last night
after the party, he--
...uh...
He came into the study.
I was grading papers.
He said he'd pulled
a muscle carrying firewood.
He was sore
and he couldn't sleep.
He had some lotion and he
wanted me to put it on for him,
so-- so I did.
Did he touch you?
I put the lotion
on the shoulders for him
and that was it.
Gretchen,
you do not have to accept this.
I mean, I agreed to do it.
It wasn't a big deal.
We don't have to talk about
this anymore, I just, uh...
I'd just rather T.A.
for you now.
Yeah.
[Arthur] Uh,
all those in favor?
Okay. Opposed?
Professor Guidry, again.
Well, folks.
Looks like
we have our top three.
Congratulations.
Well done.
[clapping]
I don't mean to be difficult
but we all agreed it was
important for the future
of our department
to try to be more inclusive.
Uh,
I think we did try.
And now that
we have our list,
it's important that
we all rally behind it.
I've seen the Dean use the
budget to stall appointments
if he senses discord.
And we have three
fine candidates here
who could really grow
with our department.
So, let's...
let's not blow
this opportunity.
And on that note,
Merry Christmas, everyone.
God bless.
And, um,
hey, see you all next year.
[light laughter]
[loud footsteps]
Yeah.
Well, once we--
Once--
I think it's up to the...
Excuse me for one second.
I thought we said that
we would try to recommend
at least one person
of color to the dean.
On the contrary,
we explicitly said
that this was not
about filling a quota.
That's not what I'm saying.
You literally
just said that--
No, no,
you're not listening to me.
No, I'm pretty sure you
understand the concept of--
I said that
we should try to recommend.
Not hire, recommend.
That's all.
One name on a list of three,
and we can't do that?
So, a quota.
[Sandra]
We had options, Arthur.
And we agreed
it was important.
-You said that. Right?
-Yes.
I don't know where you're
going with this, Sandra.
[Sandra]
I'm trying to remind you--
I'm 100% confident
that we considered everyone--
I'm trying to express
what we agreed--
Sandra,
this is not about you.
Oh, I know
this is not about me.
This is about hiring the best
person for the job. Period.
But if everyone
on the list is white,
-then how are we supposed to--
-Sandra. It's over.
The process was fair!
Now it's over
and we are moving on.
I will not allow the dean to
cut this department to ribbons
because we got distracted
by identity politics.
-Identity politics?
-Yeah. Not on my watch.
And quite frankly, I take great
offense that you're reading
-some kind of bias into this.
-This is how it happens.
Right here is
how it all breaks down--
You know what,
spare me--
It's this whole big song
and dance about the process--
And now you're mad that you
didn't get what you wanted.
We say we care
about right and wrong--
-How dare you?
-But in the end, it's really
just about winning,
isn't it?
You're here.
We hired you, didn't we?
Huh?
How's your back, Arthur?
I hear you pulled a muscle.
[Arthur]
Think you need to take
some time to yourself,
maybe take the next term off!
Go see a shrink!
[sighs]
She's having
a hard time, you know?
She just-- she lost
her mom recently, so...
[Sandra] Gretchen.
Come on.
We're going to the Dean.
We have to go right now.
[Gretchen] What?
What are you talking...
We cannot let them get away
with this. Not anymore.
We have to fight back
every time.
All the time or this
is going to go on forever.
[Gretchen]
Did you say something?
[heart thumping]
What did you say?
[heart thumping]
I didn't say your name.
I thought you understood
how hard I worked to get here.
[Sandra] Gretchen. I--
Believe me, I do.
But you have a right
to be angry.
And you shouldn't punish
yourself
for something
that's not your fault.
Is that
what you think I'm doing?
[feet stomping]
[Arthur clears his throat]
Ladies,
everything all right?
[quietly]
I'm so... Sorry.
I need to apologize
for my behavior.
What I said was completely
out of line.
And you're right.
I should probably
take some time off.
[stomping]
[wind howls]
[heavy panting]
[panting]
[gunshot blasts]
[Arthur] Hey, fellas!
How'd you do?
[man 2] Look at this man,
you fuckin' tell me!
[talking over each other]
[motor hums]
[man 2]
Jesus fucking Christ.
[snow crunching]
[Arthur] What do you think
you're doing?
Sandra?
Unbelievable.
This is my property.
Sandra, come on.
Sandra.
Jesus.
[sighs]
Hey! Sandra!
[blubbering]
Yeah,you feel big now?
You massacre at tiny baby deer
and you're such a big man.
Just mind
your own goddamn business.
Yeah, I'd kinda like to do
the mama, too.
'Kay, you know what, Sandra?
I really need you
-to walk away right now--
-Oh, shut the fuck up!
[man laughs]
Yeah,
shut the fuck up, huh?
I'm tired.
I'm so tired of you.
[man 2] You know, she came
to my house the other day, too.
Did I tell you that?
Come back anytime, baby.
[pained gasp]
You come back here again,
I'll fucking kill you.
I swear to God,
I'll fucking kill you.
[nervous laughs]
[Arthur]
Holy shit, are you okay, man?
[man 2 sighs] Ah. Fuck.
[water dripping]
[slow dripping]
[sighs]
[clattering]
[grunting]
[gun shot blasts]
[axe thuds gently]
I'm sorry.
[motor hums]
["Drinkin' and Dreaming"
by Waylon Jennings plays]
I've been wasting
my time, standing in line
If this is what
it's all about
All I've got is a job
that I don't like
And a woman
that don't understand
So tonight in the bar,
I'll get in my car
And take off
for the Promised Land
Drinkin' and dreamin',
knowing damn well I can't go
I'll never
see Texas, L.A.
Or ol' Mexico
[laughter]
[Arthur]
[indistinct]
But here at this table
I'm able
to leave it behind
[laughter]
Drink till I'm dreaming
A thousand miles
out of my mind
[laughter]
Are you fucking kidding me?
Yeah.
[panting]
This suit and this tie
is just a disguise
This ain't really me
Some people were born
to be tied down
Some people
were born to be free
[gasping]
When I look down the road
she don't know
[clicking]
[footsteps]
[grunts]
I'm able
to leave it behind
Drink till I'm dreaming
1,000 miles out of my mind
Drinkin' and dreamin',
knowing damn well
I can't go
[slam]
[motor hums]
Drink till I'm dreaming
1,000 miles out of my mind
Drinkin' and dreaming
knowing damn well I can't go
[motor whirring]
[sighs]
[engines roaring]
[thudding]
We're here.
[sniffs]
We're here!
[grunting then thudding]
[screams]
We're here!
[playful howling]
[pounding on door]
[yelling]
[thudding]
[grunting and thudding]
[fire crackling]
[fire crackling]
[spoken audio is muted]
[fire roars]
[somber organ plays]
[fire crackles]
["I'll Fly Away" by
Jim Reeves plays distantly]
When this life is over,
I'll fly away
I'll fly away
I'll fly away
I'll fly away
When I die,
Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away
When the shadows
of this life have gone
I'll
[clank]
[thud]
Hey,
I'm gonna have a smoke.
[motor hums]
[car door slams]
[birds singing]
[man] No, what are you doing?
What are you doing?
[gunshot]
-[man 2] Oh-- No, no, no, no!
-[gunshot]
Ah!
[gunshot]
[guttural rasping]
[gun cocks then gunshot]
[bird calling]
[whooshing]
[chugging]
[sighs]
[sniffs]