The Scent of Rain & Lightning (2017) Movie Script
[mysterious, low
string music]
[buzzer sounds]
[chains clinking]
[music building]
[slow, pulsing percussion]
- Pretty girl.
- Sweaty girl.
[gravel crunching distantly]
Shit.
Where'd you park?
Walked up from the co-op.
Something wrong?
Senior's here.
Chase and Meryl too.
[car doors slamming]
You think I'm
scared of Senior?
- [knocking on door]
- Jody?
She's, uh, coming.
Maybe it's time we tell him
about us and get it over with.
Us?
There is no us
to tell him about.
Red, that's not what I meant.
I just... you know,
he wouldn't...
he wouldn't understand this.
Yeah, well, that makes
two of us now.
[sighs] Let's really not
make this a thing.
Apparently it ain't
a thing at all.
[knocking at door]
Red, we've talked about this.
Yeah, we have.
[pounding on door]
Jody?
I'm coming.
[footsteps approaching]
Come in.
What's going on?
We need to talk to you.
Why are you back?
Did something happen to Mimi?
No, no, Annabelle's fine.
Uh...
we, uh, had a meeting
with the governor today...
and, uh... Billy Croyle's
getting released.
[soft, stirring music]
- So the governor pardoned him?
- No, not quite, not pardoned.
His sentence has been commuted.
It's, like, reduced.
Yeah, he was pardoned
on account of his kid, Collin.
It's not pardoned.
It's commuted.
The governor's not saying
he's innocent,
just the trial's smelly.
Look, the county attorney
said the more Collin pushed,
the more he got
to feeling guilty...
said he felt like Don and him
hadn't done due diligence.
[quietly] I don't know.
[louder] Really, the problem
here is Billy's hat.
I mean, an eyewitness says
that she saw
Laurie take it out of Baileys'
that night...
It doesn't matter
whether she did
or didn't pick up the damn hat.
- It does matter.
- I'm not about to debate this.
There's no point.
Now, listen, I know
what I'm about to say
is gonna sting a little bit,
but we need you to pack a bag
and come on back out
to the ranch
till we can figure out
how to deal with this.
No, I most
certainly will not.
Billy Croyle hates
this entire family.
He hates us with a vengeance,
and the only way
I can protect you
is by having you on the ranch.
I know you think
you're all grown up
and ready for the world,
but you're still
a child, sweetheart.
I, against my better judgment,
let you move down here
in the first place.
It's not a good place
for you to be, this house.
- Hey, Pop... Pop!
- Listen, I know Belle and you
- had some kind of idea...
- Pop, Pop!
I think you made your point.
Hey, just look at it like this.
We can spend some time
catching up.
Kay?
[quietly] Okay.
Okay, fine.
Yeah, I'll come back.
[sniffs]
I'll be back before dinner.
Okay.
[somber music]
[door clicks shut]
Jody?
- You've got to be kidding me.
- Hey, hey, hey... wait, wait,
no, no, just...
just let me speak.
- No, I don't want to hear it.
- Okay... no, no,
I-I had to do it, okay?
I...
- No, you didn't.
- No, please, will you just...
will you just
try to listen to me?
What?
What do you want to say to me?
I didn't exactly want
to get him out either.
You and your dad
are exactly the same.
You don't take responsibility
for what you did.
- [stammering] I didn't...
- Don't fucking touch me.
Hey! Look, just...
just listen to me, okay?
Okay, so-so... the night...
that everything happened,
the police asked me
if he left the house.
And I said that I didn't know.
But I did.
I lied.
I mean, he didn't move
a muscle that night.
I watched him until dawn.
I-I could have told
the sheriff what happened
that night,
and I didn't...
because I wanted to see him go.
Are you done?
So is that how
this is gonna go?
I come out here
as a courtesy call to tell you
that now that the case
is back on my books,
I'm gonna have to look
at all possible suspects,
and this is what I get?
You should have ran an
honest investigation, Don.
Well, that's a hell
of a thing to say.
Mind explaining exactly
what you mean by that?
You sat on evidence
from the defense.
I "sat on evidence"?
And why would
you have wanted that?
You got something
you want to say?
Okay, easy, fellas.
Come on.
He would have wanted that
so we wouldn't have this,
here and now...
a guilty man
walking out of prison.
Senior, you should
know something.
I talked to Billy
a few hours ago,
and I told him... I told him...
if any harm came
to a Linder, hell,
if one of you got so much
as a paper cut,
I'd be on his ass
like flies on shit.
And you know what he told me?
If any harm came to a Linder,
that's something he'd gladly
go back to jail for.
Let you get back
to your dinner.
[door squeaks open]
[sniffs,
speaks indistinctly]
[door slams shut]
Gonna smoke a cigarette.
[tense music]
[funeral officiant murmuring
indistinctly]
[stirring music]
Tell me about my mom.
Well...
Still might be the prettiest
women I ever seen.
Definitely the world's
worst cook. [clears throat]
And your dad...
he'd just eat every damn bite
of whatever disgusting thing it
was she slid in front of him.
That was your dad.
Always doing the right thing.
Ain't gonna lie, it was
annoying as hell sometimes,
especially when I wanted
to get into some trouble.
It was like
I had Senior with me.
They a lot alike?
Yeah, it was scary sometimes.
But my dad was
definitely friendlier.
Yeah, but I mean, come on.
How hard is that?
[chuckles, sniffs]
Promise me you're gonna be
smart about all this, kay?
Yeah.
[dogs barking distantly]
[slowly building string music]
You disgusting pig.
This town ain't full of
chickenshits after all.
How refreshing.
Most folks happy just to put
a sign in the yard,
make an anonymous phone call.
I'm not scared of you.
[sniffs]
Mm.
Well, you should be.
Well, I'm not.
Yeah, I'll try
to remember that.
I'll write it down in my diary.
You have no idea who I am.
No.
You'll have to forgive me.
I've been gone a minute.
Jody Linder.
Little Jody Linder?
Jody Linder.
That's Hugh Jay's little girl.
[chuckling] Goddamn.
Why'd you do it?
- Hm.
- I want to know the truth.
[sniffs] You want the truth?
You're in the wrong
goddamn place for that.
[bottle shatters]
Wrong goddamn family too.
Billy.
I need to know
why you did it.
Why did I fucking do it?
- Billy.
- Fucking murderer.
[mutters indistinctly]
Get the fuck out of my...
Billy, just... Billy.
Talking to me?
Goddamn it.
Scared now, ain't you?
- Why'd you do it?
- Fucking...
[gasping hoarsely]
Granddaddy made me
a murderer.
How's that feel, huh?
How's that fucking feel?
Have a murderer all with
his hands all up on you, huh?
Huh?
Like that?
[dogs barking continuously]
[laughing]
[imitating barking dogs]
Run on home, now.
Run on home 'fore you get
yourself into some trouble...
in some real goddamn trouble.
Run on home.
[laughs, whoops]
You run home!
You run home
and tell granddaddy
all about what I did.
You tell him...
I meant what I said!
[unsettling
banjo and string music]
How many people don't think
Billy killed my folks?
Not many.
So some people
don't think he did?
[sighs shortly]
I don't know.
No, that's not fair.
That's not fair.
If I ask you how many
and you say "not many,"
then that means some don't.
Maybe a... handful.
You don't think he did it.
Jail's where
Billy Croyle belongs.
[thunder rumbles]
You know something.
You know something
and you're not telling me.
You're a Linder.
You tell me.
[thunder rumbling softly]
Senior wanted Billy in jail,
and that's what he got.
...sweet cheeks.
- Huh? What's your name, huh?
- All right, that's enough.
- You want another drink?
- You know what?
[thunder rumbling]
But don't...
don't miss my point here.
I'm...
Senior did it out of
honest-to-God grief and sorrow,
and... and he thought
he knew the truth.
I'm gonna kill every one
of you last fucking losers!
Billy, go home, goddamn it!
Did my mom...
leave with Billy's hat on?
I don't know.
Billy, um...
Did my mom leave
with Billy's hat on?
Look, Billy deserved
to be in jail.
You tell me what you think
happened that night!
I-I don't know, I...
I don't know.
I don't know.
And that's
the God's honest truth.
I don't, okay?
[sniffs]
Maybe you should
go ask Senior
about what Doc saw that day.
[car door clicks open]
[thunder rumbling softly]
[thunder slowly building]
Hold on!
Would have been
in trouble without this.
Isn't she getting
just a little old for that?
Aw, she gets to decide when
she doesn't need it anymore.
- Give me a kiss.
- Bye.
- Laurie? Laurie.
- Yeah?
You two know you have
a sitter in me.
Oh, sure do
appreciate the help.
- You girls have fun.
- Bye, love you.
- Love you.
- Bye.
[shower running,
thunder rumbling]
[knob squeaks, water stops]
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Yeah.
Yeah, that's good for me.
[chuckles]
Yeah, I'll bet.
Okay, bye.
[water lapping]
Did Billy have a fair trial?
I'm looking for the...
- Here you go.
- Thank you, hon.
He got a fair trial.
Ah... you ask me,
he's lucky folks didn't
string him up in the square.
[sighs]
Some people think
he's innocent.
The last way
I'd describe him.
Bailey didn't think
he did it.
Well, he's been listening to
too much damn bar gossip.
He told me to ask you about
what Doc saw...
the night my folks were killed.
Right, well,
of course he did.
Downright "Matlock" of him.
If he spent as much time
trying to make a dollar
as he did sticking his nose
where it don't belong,
he'd be a rich man.
There's not much
to tell about that.
He...
Doc said he saw Hugh Jay
get into it
with a couple toughs
from out of town.
Said that they...
it looked like...
could be trouble.
Doc and I talked about it,
decided whether
we should tell Don or not,
and decided
it wasn't important.
Wasn't important?
They weren't from
around here.
They... they never could
have found his place.
They wouldn't have.
It would have just muddied
the whole situation
if we brought that up.
So you didn't
tell anyone about it?
I didn't,
but it's a small town.
[mysterious music]
[suspenseful string chords]
Jody, um, you play out here
for a while, okay?
- I'll see if your mom is up.
- But I'm hungry.
Yeah, I know, sweetie.
We're gonna go get some.
Just... play out here
for Mimi, okay?
Laurie?
Laurie?
[ominous music]
Laurie, are you home?
Laurie?
[eerie string music]
Dad.
- Sweetie, no.
- [sobbing] Dad.
[weakly] Oh, my God.
[footsteps, floor creaking]
Oh, my God.
Oh, Jesus. [sobs]
[cows mooing]
Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh.
Get.
Get.
Hup, hup, hup, hup.
[cows mooing continuously]
- Get on down there.
- Hup, hup, hup, hup, hup.
Get on down.
Get.
Come on now.
Come on.
Get on down there.
Get.
- Get.
- Hey, hey, hey.
Get in there.
Get.
- Come on, girl.
- Get your ass in there.
- [cows mooing]
- Come on.
[all whistling
and calling indistinctly]
[cow yelps,
herd moos frantically]
[grunts]
Get!
Take it easy, Billy!
- Get!
- You're scaring 'em, Billy.
- Come on now.
- Get on!
- [cows mooing loudly]
- Billy!
[grunting angrily]
[coughing]
[panting]
Think long and hard
before you start talking.
I wasn't doing nothing.
I seen it done out here
a thousand times before
- by everybody else.
- You haven't seen it
done around me.
You're done here.
Come on, Senior.
I need the work.
You're done here, Billy.
It's just a damn cow!
I wasn't hurting it.
I was just
getting it out of the way.
It was clogging up the pen.
He didn't have to do me like
that in front of everybody.
[dogs barking]
[door slams]
[door rattles open]
- Hey.
- Hey.
Those boots do not
come in my house.
Wouldn't think of it.
- Hi.
- Hey.
You all are back early.
[video game beeping]
Staying for dinner?
The cheese comes all
individually wrapped like that?
- I was just checking my game...
- Hand it over.
But...
I'll check it.
- [chuckling]
- That was a good touch
with this brown sugar
on these carrots.
[laughs]
I like it.
Mm-hmm.
Makes it kind of like dessert.
Don't get any ideas
and start putting sugar
- on everything.
- [laughs]
[fly buzzing]
[horns clang,
bulls growl]
[flies buzzing]
Goddamn son of a bitch.
Red just radioed,
said the fence lines
in the south got cut.
I know.
I was just down there.
I need you to call the sheriff.
You sure you don't want me
to go over and see
- if Billy was even...
- Let Don handle it.
Come on, Pop.
We don't even know if...
We know.
We goddamn well know.
Tell him you want to be there
when he brings him in.
We deserve that much.
I just don't think
it's the right thing to do.
At what point did you think
this was a conversation?
[ominous string music]
This is bullshit, Don.
How come every time
something happens,
- you come looking for me?
- That what you think, Billy?
Hugh Jay!
Hey, look at me, man.
I didn't kill no cow.
One day, somebody's gonna knock
Senior off his high horse.
- Get your hands off me.
- Billy, take it easy.
I'm getting in the car.
[buzzer sounds,
door squeaks open]
So, uh...
what can I do for you?
Who else would you have
looked at...
if Billy didn't do it?
Well, see, here's the thing.
That's like asking me what I'd
do if Helen woke up one morning
and stopped griping at me.
Something happened
that night out on 41,
the night my folks were killed.
What?
You know I'm not as dumb
as your grandpa
thinks I am, right?
Senior should have told me
everything he knew,
but that don't mean
I can't do my job.
That whole hullabaloo on 41,
that had nothing to do
with this case.
What makes you so sure?
'Cause the math's off.
What math?
All right, look.
Why do these city punks...
kill your father
at your house...
and take your mom over to
Frog Creek to drown her,
steal her wedding ring...
while they leave $200
in your dad's wallet
back at the house?
It don't make any sense.
Pretend Billy didn't do it
or those punks, right?
Who else would you look at?
I know it's hard to hear,
but in a case like this,
I've always got
to look at family.
Thank you for this food.
We ask you to bless it
for our body's use.
What, don't I get a hello?
Provided you saved me
some bacon.
[laughs]
[family chattering
indistinctly]
- Oh, my goodness.
- There you go.
- Thank you, ma'am.
- Thank you.
Bacon, table.
Bacon, table.
Hi.
No?
Can I steal your orange juice?
[family talking
indistinctly]
Suppose it doesn't fit you.
Fits you.
Hi, sweetie.
How are you?
[murmurs indistinctly]
[quietly] I can't
stay that long, all right?
[overlapping,
indistinct conversations]
- I don't know.
- Easy, now.
- Good eggs.
- Tell you a fact right now,
- and I'm only gonna say it once.
- All right.
If you want this nice little
honeymooning thing
that you got planned, you know,
I'm not gonna be able to pay
for the circus that you...
- Yeah.
- Are planning for a wedding.
Well, now, I mean, you know,
Senior... Senior's got a point.
I mean, Belle and I... I mean,
we can... we can discuss it.
- We don't...
- It's not a circus.
- Don't pay him attention.
- Hey, Meryl.
You going to the
Grand Ole Opry tonight?
You just have one daughter,
one daughter.
Jealousy's unbecoming.
In fact, I believe you have
- this in a powder blue yourself.
- Oh, I do, yeah.
I need to see you
in my office.
I need to see you
in the office.
Whoa, whoa.
Morning, sunshine.
Hey.
Hey.
Take a look at this.
I need you to go to Colorado
right away.
I...
Now, I put you
in charge up there.
I stand behind it,
but if you can't do it,
- I'll ask Chase to do it.
- Dad, I don't need a lecture.
This shows me different.
If it's what I think it is,
fire Timmons.
I'll leave it to you whether
you involve
the authorities or not.
You'll find it.
- What...
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Jody's right there.
What's gotten into you?
[chuckles]
- [whispering] She's right there.
- All right.
- You all right?
- Yeah. I got to pack my bags.
I'm heading to Flat Rock.
[clears throat]
[scoffs]
All right.
Hugh Jay, I wish you'd learn
to stand up for yourself.
Laurie, can we not, okay?
Not now.
I've had
a couple fucked-up days.
Shh, she's right over there.
[lighter flicking]
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
You think you're old enough
to be messing with this?
- I was just playing around.
- Where'd you get this?
Well, Chase left it here
after he had
all mom's coffee this morning.
[tense music]
What'd he want?
What do you mean?
He came by for coffee
after the co-op.
I got to pack.
Don't mind him.
He's not happy about
having to go to Flat Rock.
Do we need to talk
about something?
What do we need
to talk about?
I don't know.
You tell me.
Come home like that, you
haven't touched me in a month.
You tell me you're
going to Flat Rock for...
- Okay.
- I don't know what.
I'm going up there
to take care of business.
I just told you what...
you got a problem?
I-I just don't know
when you're coming or going.
- I don't know...
- I don't know when
you're ever happy,
'cause you know what?
The truth of the matter is
I was fine as a ranch hand.
You didn't have to get
all riled up about me
taking over my dad's ranch.
So what is it?
You want me to stay here,
or do you want me to do this?
- Are you... are you insane?
- You ever look in the mirror
and maybe realize
that you're the one
- who's got the fucking problem?
- Are you insane?
Am I insane?
Am I insane?
Don't try to pin this on me.
- Don't try to pin... [stammers]
- Me?
- Me, pin this on you?
- You'd live in any kind
of life your daddy wants,
and you try to pin it on me?
What about the shit that
I've been hearing around town?
Having my brother
over in the morning
- and not telling me about this?
- Oh, my God, are you...
- keep your voice down.
- Huh?
What about the shit that
I've been hearing around town?
- She's down...
- Huh?
- I don't...
- You want to talk about that?
You've been spending too
much time in the bar.
Flirting with the boys,
being down at the diner?
Huh?
Yeah, I've been hearing things.
You want to talk about that?
You want to talk?
You want to talk right now?
Maybe I should hang out
in some bars in Flat Rock,
- see what I hear up there.
- You know what?
It's a different story every
week, and if it was last week,
it seemed like you'd be
pretty happy,
me being gone most of the time.
That's truth.
[footsteps receding,
door slamming]
[scoffs quietly]
[quietly] Fuck it.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Thought you'd be halfway
to Flat Rock by now.
Yeah, I'm on my way over.
I ran into Doc Taylor,
said we could bring
by the mare tonight.
- All right.
- Hey, Hugh Jay.
What happened to Billy?
- Oh, you didn't miss much.
- He put up a fight?
It's none of your damn
business, Red.
Well, what the hell's
gotten into you?
You don't need to talk
to Red like that.
I mean, we're all fired up.
Kid's just asking questions.
Yeah, kid.
"Kid" is the key word there.
Now, you and Senior will get
the mare over to Doc's?
- You're a dick.
- I'm a dick?
You been looking for something?
- Yeah, where'd you find it?
- My kitchen.
[sarcastically] Oh, yeah.
Looks like you caught us.
We need to talk
when I get back.
Yeah, well, hopefully you're
in a better fucking mood.
[sirens blaring distantly]
[mysterious twanging music]
I hate you, Collin Croyle.
You're the dumbest,
most stupid, mean idiot!
I hate you!
I hope your dad dies
in prison!
I hate your whole family!
[knocking]
[door creaks]
Do you have the files
from the case?
Uh... yeah.
Uh...
Sorry, it's... [chuckles]
kind of messy.
Do you want a...
do you want a drink, or...
Uh, yeah, that...
that would be nice.
Here.
[coughs]
Do you want another?
Yeah, sure.
Thanks.
[exhales]
When your dad got out...
I was so wrapped up in...
my own pain and hatred.
I wasn't thinking
about anyone else.
I don't know.
It just wasn't fair, and...
and what I'm trying to say
is I'm sorry, I guess.
I'm sorry.
I knew you were just hurting.
I've-I've always known that.
The, um... the case files
are in my car.
Here, look at this.
It's George Timmons.
He was arrested in Flat Rock
for embezzling from
your grandfather's ranch
just a couple weeks
after your folks were killed.
Then the charges were dropped
almost immediately.
I'm-I'm not saying that
the two were connected,
but... it wouldn't hurt to look.
I mean, Don didn't do so much
as to make a call up there.
- What do you think happened?
- [chuckles]
I... I-I wish I knew.
I had a lot of questions
but not a lot of answers.
And the people that
put Billy away
weren't exactly
falling over themselves
to help me build a case
on reasonable doubt.
I thought you told them that
you stayed up the whole night.
I did.
Look, I mean,
I want to make things right,
but... I'm not here
to find all the answers.
So you don't care about
what really happened.
[sighs]
I mean, honestly, I think
I'm the only one left
that actually does.
[sorrowful string chords]
[sighs]
[suspenseful music]
[The Flaming Lips'
"Do You Realize??"]
[upbeat alternative
rock music]
Do you realize
That you have the most
Beautiful face
Do you realize
We're floating in space
Do you realize
That happiness
Makes you cry
Do you realize
That everyone
you know
Someday
Will die
And instead of saying
all of your goodbyes
Let them know you realize
that life goes fast
It's hard to make
the good things last
You realize the sun
doesn't go down
It's just an illusion
caused by the world
Spinning 'round
Do you realize?
[choir vocalizing]
Been looking for you.
Well, here I am.
I don't think Billy Croyle
killed my folks.
[inhales deeply]
All right.
That's all you're gonna say?
I-I...
I mean, what...
what am I supposed to say?
I thought you'd tell me
I was wrong.
That ain't gonna
bring them back.
I wish I could have met
the Chase Linder
everyone talks about...
New woman
on his arm every week.
Been hearing some stories,
haven't you?
If I asked you
about my mom...
would you tell me the truth?
Not about how pretty she was
or... that she couldn't cook.
I can't help the memories
that I can keep.
Was she fucking someone?
What?
Was she fucking you?
Are you mourning her or my dad?
[thunder rumbling]
What is that on your shirt?
Is that a bumblebee?
What?
Uh...
I think it's a little
more abstract.
- It's, like, artistic.
- Where the hell
did you find... artistic?
Those are little, tiny
bumblebees on a grown-ass man.
[laughs]
Bumblebees.
- I think it's just a design.
- Looks like a baby's bib.
Hey, you're on me tonight.
Hey.
Y'all got room
for a thirsty cowboy?
- Always.
- All right.
Don't you have
any other friends?
Yeah, but I ain't drunk
enough to stand them yet.
You're just gonna have
to bear my company for a bit.
You all pouring these
on the floor?
Got to stay in your family.
- Hey.
- Let's do another round.
- Another round?
- Whiskey.
- Whiskey?
- Whiskey?
Yeah.
[all speaking at once]
You're certain
you want whiskey?
Yeah, one more.
- Belle wants a whiskey.
- It's spring break over here.
I say... I...
[laughs]
I'll make sure
you feel included.
All right.
That's very kind of you.
Well, you're
such a small thing,
make sure you're not
doing yourself in too quick.
- I'm fine.
- All right, you guys.
I'm fine.
I'm just asking.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
All r...
[patrons cheer]
Oh, really?
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
no, they just
came back on here too.
Yeah. All right,
I-I'll t... I'll tell them.
I promise.
I'll talk to you later.
Hey, your dad called.
Highway's washed out at 41
up there at the Frog Creek.
So he's got a room over here
at the Pollard Inn,
and he got you a room,
and he said you're
staying at Laurie's.
- I'll stay where I want.
- [laughing]
That's what he figured.
He told me to tell you
specifically that she is
not staying at your place.
- All right.
- Ooh.
Well, then we'll both
just stay at the shop.
Yeah, that's right.
You go ahead
and show dad who's boss.
No, I'm serious.
It's good you find
your spine and everything.
I'm gonna take
a couple six packs.
Drink your beer, Chase.
I think we're just born
into the wrong family.
- Mm-hmm.
- Seemed like the right family
when you was cutting that grand
opening ribbon to your shop.
- Oh, shh, shh.
- Whoa.
It's not funny.
- If you'll excuse me.
- [chuckles]
Now you got me in trouble.
[murmurs indistinctly]
I'm sorry.
I don't know what
your problem with her is.
Oh, come on.
You can't tell me
your whole act
don't run you, slick.
I think you ought
to consider what it's like
not to be one
of the Linder boys.
There's a cold wind
blowing
[screaming, laughing]
[soulful piano ballad]
Been helpless
'Cause I'm selfish
Yeah, I know
I know, I know
Where do we go
You gotta stop him
in his tracks.
He was just trying to get
a rise out of you, and...
I'm gonna get back out there,
and I'm gonna get on his ass.
I'm just gonna kick his ass.
[laughing] How are you gonna
kick his ass?
- I'm so tired of...
- You got to try this.
- I just got it.
- I'm stronger than I look.
- Oh, no.
- This is power lipstick.
- That's really not...
- No, you gotta...
- It's really not me.
- You're gonna kick his ass
- in this lipstick.
- No.
You know, Meryl doesn't
really go for all that.
Meryl?
No.
See, makeup is not about men.
Makeup is-is for you.
Like, the only thing
that matters
is that you feel pretty.
- [murmurs indistinctly]
- What?
There's a cold wind
Blowing
This feeling
It's healing
I've been helpless
'Cause I'm selfish
I know when
I'm not right with it
Where do we begin?
[slamming, glasses clattering]
Well, well, goddamn well.
Here we all are, together.
Where's my chair?
Fuck!
Here we go.
Hey, family.
How we doing?
Huh?
We got the homely
Holly Hobbie over here,
the fucking fake-ass
faggot cowboy.
You ain't never gonna be...
you're just the same as me.
- You from the same goddamn...
- You're right.
- Side of the tracks as me.
- You're right.
You're absolutely right,
but this is not
- the time or the place.
- But no, he went
- to law school, and this one...
- Something going on over here?
- Yeah, yeah, he's just drunk.
- What about this one?
Hey, set me up.
Four more of these on his tab.
- He's rich.
- That's a great idea.
- You think that's a great idea?
- Sorry, man.
- We're all right.
- Oh, we just funning.
We were just getting ready
to leave.
- We just funning!
- We're getting ready
- to leave, right?
- We are just funning!
[all shouting at once]
[unsettling ambient music]
Finish that last mile
With a drink
and a permanent smile
I know it must
have been hard
Why don't you all keep on
drinking,
- and we'll keep pouring?
- Yeah!
[patrons cheering]
- All right.
- [laughing]
All right!
Damn... [mumbling]
[all talking indistinctly]
- All right?
- Yeah.
Look at us, the sober ones.
Mm, you are terrible.
Mm-hmm.
Jesus, did you not get
the heat fixed in here?
We got enough heat
right here.
- Come on, now.
- Meryl.
- Baby.
- Oh, you want to go
- to the couch?
- Mm-hmm.
All right,
let's go to the couch.
I'm gonna put this heat
back there.
- Hey, gimme that...
- ...any wood back there?
Sit.
You need to sit.
- You just need to relax.
- Mm-hmm.
- Just sit.
- Let me put a blanket down.
- Meryl!
- Just let me put
- a blanket down.
- You are so uptight.
- I'm not uptight, baby.
- Baby.
- Just give me a second.
- Come here.
Baby, come on.
Come on, Meryl.
Are you gonna lay down with me?
Wood back there, maybe?
Do you got
any wood down there?
Here... oh, yeah,
you know where it is.
- Come on.
- Did you get that?
- This is just hysterical.
- I know.
Well, maybe to you,
but I'm not gonna cross Senior.
Come here, come here,
come here.
I'm feeling very cuddly.
I know the evidence,
and I know the holes:
the guys at the gas station...
money missing at Flat Rock.
I know my mom
was sleeping around.
People thought
it was Chase too.
I'm not saying he did it.
Anyone could have.
But you, with your...
infinite wisdom...
had to sweep
it all away, didn't you?
That's what you discovered
in your detective work?
You got to be careful, Jody.
Chase didn't kill his brother.
He couldn't do it.
He didn't do it.
[ominous string music]
Oh, I run a blue streak
when I'm cold.
- [door slams shut]
- Whew!
- Oh.
- [laughs]
[both laughing]
Oh. [laughs]
The sky is falling.
- [laughs]
- We made it.
We made it.
Hey.
Hey, uh, are you sure
you're gonna be all right
tonight on your own?
Mm-mm.
No.
Afraid of thunderstorms.
Oh.
I don't know what
I'm gonna do on my own.
Is Laurie drunk?
I think Laurie's
a little bit drunk.
[laughs]
[whispering] I might be drunk.
Yeah.
[whispering] Oh, that-that...
that ain't...
- that ain't a good idea.
- What's not a good idea?
- That is not a good idea.
- [whispers inaudibly]
Well, you know
it's not fair to...
[stammers]
I should get going.
- I should get going.
- Yeah, you should go.
How about a kiss?
Think I could get one of those
without anyone seeing?
Hate for anyone to think
we're a thing or nothing...
or something.
I have a question for you.
Shoot.
You were with Billy
that night.
Was he too drunk
to leave the house?
[quickening music]
Shit, I don't know.
All I remember
is being so tired,
I fell on that couch,
and I was out cold.
Is that it?
That's it.
I mean...
I remember Val
telling me
I couldn't drive home,
and that boy of theirs
was sitting on the floor
and... just watching me
like a hawk.
Police!
Everyone on the ground!
- On the ground!
- Other than that, I was out.
[all shouting at once]
- Collin... where's my boy?
- We're bringing him to you.
- Keep your hands up.
- [shouts indistinctly]
I didn't kill no cow!
It ain't about
no fucking cows.
Get him out of here.
What the hell?
Hey!
- Hands behind your back.
- What the hell?
[inhales deeply, whimpers]
[sobbing]
Huh.
[chuckling]
Huh.
Chase Linder... drinking
in the middle of the day.
What would your dear
brother say?
[laughing]
[bellowing]
What would he say?
[chair squeaking]
[laughing]
Ooh, ooh.
Can't nobody take a joke
in this bar.
Take my business elsewhere.
[fists slam table]
Hey, hand it over.
But I was just checking...
I'll check it.
Okay?
Little lady.
Oh, she gets to decide when
she doesn't need it anymore.
- Give me a kiss.
- Bye.
Laurie? Laurie.
[thunder rumbling]
Think we'll have to go
to the storm cellar?
I hope not.
[banjo and string music]
That's Chase's room.
I want you to go down there
and wake him up.
[pounding on door]
Wake up.
- [bell jingling]
- Hey.
- [all chatting indistinctly]
- How you doing?
We're going to breakfast.
What, are you crazy?
- Where's Belle?
- All right, she's down there.
[speaking indistinctly]
[door clicks open]
Well, there's the best
little alarm clock
I ever seen.
You think your mama's
still sleeping?
[laughs] Yeah.
You know your mama.
- Dad?
- Oh, my God.
Oh, my God!
[thunder claps]
[low, suspenseful music]
[gunshot]
[dogs barking]
What happened?
Val?
[shouting, grunting]
Son of a bitch!
[panting]
What happened? [panting]
Baby? Baby?
Oh, Jesus Christ!
Oh, shit!
Oh, shit!
[sirens wailing]
[grunting]
[siren blaring]
[indistinct shouting]
I got it.
Officer, I got it.
I got it.
I got it.
Collin, I need you stand back.
- Collin, stand back.
- What... what did he do?
What did he do?
What the...
- What the hell's going on?
- Collin, Where's your dad?
What did he do?
What did he do?
- Tell me.
- Where's he going?
What did he do?
Red?
Red?
Oh, my God.
Red?
Red, no.
No, come on.
Wake up.
No, come on.
You're gonna be fine.
Come on.
Come on.
Red, come on.
Yoo-hoo.
Peek-a-boo.
- [grunts]
- [screams, gasps]
You fucking killed him!
You fucking killed him!
What?
What the fuck you saying, huh?
Red is not dead.
Red is sleeping
'cause I needed Red's gun.
- [growling]
- [panting, shouting]
- Get the fuck off me.
- What?
Get the fuck off me!
You got
a smart fucking mouth.
You know, I'm getting tired
of your goddamn...
If you're gonna fucking
kill me, do it.
Fucking kill me.
Do it!
Oh, not yet, huh?
Huh?
And I ain't going back
to Leavenworth
without a little payback.
Oh, no, granddaddy.
- [grunting]
- All right, stand.
Stand.
All right.
Ow! Walk.
Goddamn it.
- [muffled] Fuck you.
- Come on, bitch.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Don't you fucking
look at me like that.
Put this in your...
Come here, huh?
Put it in your goddamn mouth.
Huh, huh, huh?
That's what you get
if you don't play nice.
[muffled shouting]
[straining]
I'll picture you
when I burn this house.
[building string music]
[muffled shouting]
It's Billy!
It's Billy!
[grunts]
- [door squeaks open]
- Jody?
Jody?
Jody?
Hey, old man.
[gunshots]
[grunts, groans]
[groaning]
- Get off him, you little cunt.
- Leave her alone!
- It's between you and me!
- Look at me!
You did this to me,
you piece of shit!
[both coughing]
Billy!
Watch your head explode
right before your very eyes
like a goddamn magic trick,
like putting somebody away
for 12 years for something
they didn't fucking do!
Get out of here, Jody!
[groaning]
[gunshot]
You okay?
Shh.
Hey, hey, shh.
[sirens wailing]
[labored breathing]
It's gonna be okay,
all right?
It's fine.
Just keep breathing.
Don't you leave me!
Don't you dare leave me!
- Don't you dare!
- Ma'am...
[eerie resonant music]
Hey.
I'm staying.
[talking indistinctly]
Okay... okay.
All right.
Let's get you looked at
too, all right?
[labored breathing]
[phone vibrating]
[thunder rumbling]
- I'm gonna go.
- Okay.
Yeah.
I'm gonna get going.
Oh...
I'm s... I'm sorry.
I don't want to get...
You should go.
Yeah, I'm...
I'm gonna get going.
[footsteps receding]
[door squeaks open]
[softly] Hey.
Hey.
- I'm so sorry.
- Hey.
- I'm sorry.
- You don't need to apologize
for nothing.
Don't do that, okay?
You're family.
Hey, Mom.
How you holding up?
Huh?
When was the last time
someone was out here?
I don't know.
- What time is it?
- It's been a while.
All right, I'm gonna go
find somebody, okay?
Yeah.
[ominous music]
[thunder claps]
[glass shatters]
[machines beeping rapidly]
- I drank too much gin.
- Mm-hmm.
- That'll pass too.
- All right.
- You're gonna sleep right here?
- Mm-hmm.
You promise?
Promise me, right?
Okay.
[both panting]
[panting]
[bedsprings squeaking]
[both panting]
[faint moaning]
[murmurs]
We have... we have to go.
[talking indistinctly]
[sobbing]
What are you do...
- It's all right.
- [whimpers]
It's all right.
Just get dressed.
[retching, coughing]
- [pants]
- All right.
We... we got to... we...
[coughing]
[mumbling] No.
No, we-we got...
- No, no!
- Come on.
No! No!
I can tell them
it was an accident.
He just come home, and I was
scared, and I was drunk,
and I was scared
because someone was...
[sobbing]
and we just... we just...
we just tell...
[sobbing]
We just tell them...
that... I didn't see him.
I didn't see him.
[sobbing]
We just... we just... we...
I didn't know...
[sobbing]
But we have to go get Jody.
[sobbing, gasping]
We can just go, drive and...
[inaudible]
we can be a...
[chilling, low ringing]
[quickening string music]
Morning.
Morning.
[laughs]
We're going to breakfast.
What are you, crazy?
[both talking inaudibly]
Yup.
- Get going.
- I'm going.
I'm gonna go get
Laurie now.
I'll see you later.
[steady, low pulsing]
Hold your breath
The wolves are in disguise
Don't need
your dirty hands
Don't need
to take a chance
Oh, standing
behind the fence
To feel them bleeding out
Can you feel that, man?
Close the door
Take a walk around
Hold your breath
In these rivers
you might drown
All alone,
you live in silence
Alone,
you came and went
In the shadows
around your eyes
A love that makes no sense
It makes no sense
Like a beat-up cat
in the rain
Losing all
that you've gained
Working hard but you know
all things will change
The world, it'll spin
and stand trial
Spit and draw blood
from your smile
We'll all make it back
to the stars
But it's ours
for a little while
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Brace your heart
In this rich-colored land
Hold your breath
There's a key
A little bit of rain.
That's all it is.
Okay?
Bells and whistles
Don't want the fancy trees
Then you did learn
To soon discern
Nothing's ever
what it seems
Never what it seems
Like a beat-up cat
in the rain
You're losing
all that you've gained
Working hard
but you know
All things will change
And the world,
it'll spin and stand trial
Spit and draw blood
from your smile
We'll all make it back
to the stars
But it's ours
for a little while
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
string music]
[buzzer sounds]
[chains clinking]
[music building]
[slow, pulsing percussion]
- Pretty girl.
- Sweaty girl.
[gravel crunching distantly]
Shit.
Where'd you park?
Walked up from the co-op.
Something wrong?
Senior's here.
Chase and Meryl too.
[car doors slamming]
You think I'm
scared of Senior?
- [knocking on door]
- Jody?
She's, uh, coming.
Maybe it's time we tell him
about us and get it over with.
Us?
There is no us
to tell him about.
Red, that's not what I meant.
I just... you know,
he wouldn't...
he wouldn't understand this.
Yeah, well, that makes
two of us now.
[sighs] Let's really not
make this a thing.
Apparently it ain't
a thing at all.
[knocking at door]
Red, we've talked about this.
Yeah, we have.
[pounding on door]
Jody?
I'm coming.
[footsteps approaching]
Come in.
What's going on?
We need to talk to you.
Why are you back?
Did something happen to Mimi?
No, no, Annabelle's fine.
Uh...
we, uh, had a meeting
with the governor today...
and, uh... Billy Croyle's
getting released.
[soft, stirring music]
- So the governor pardoned him?
- No, not quite, not pardoned.
His sentence has been commuted.
It's, like, reduced.
Yeah, he was pardoned
on account of his kid, Collin.
It's not pardoned.
It's commuted.
The governor's not saying
he's innocent,
just the trial's smelly.
Look, the county attorney
said the more Collin pushed,
the more he got
to feeling guilty...
said he felt like Don and him
hadn't done due diligence.
[quietly] I don't know.
[louder] Really, the problem
here is Billy's hat.
I mean, an eyewitness says
that she saw
Laurie take it out of Baileys'
that night...
It doesn't matter
whether she did
or didn't pick up the damn hat.
- It does matter.
- I'm not about to debate this.
There's no point.
Now, listen, I know
what I'm about to say
is gonna sting a little bit,
but we need you to pack a bag
and come on back out
to the ranch
till we can figure out
how to deal with this.
No, I most
certainly will not.
Billy Croyle hates
this entire family.
He hates us with a vengeance,
and the only way
I can protect you
is by having you on the ranch.
I know you think
you're all grown up
and ready for the world,
but you're still
a child, sweetheart.
I, against my better judgment,
let you move down here
in the first place.
It's not a good place
for you to be, this house.
- Hey, Pop... Pop!
- Listen, I know Belle and you
- had some kind of idea...
- Pop, Pop!
I think you made your point.
Hey, just look at it like this.
We can spend some time
catching up.
Kay?
[quietly] Okay.
Okay, fine.
Yeah, I'll come back.
[sniffs]
I'll be back before dinner.
Okay.
[somber music]
[door clicks shut]
Jody?
- You've got to be kidding me.
- Hey, hey, hey... wait, wait,
no, no, just...
just let me speak.
- No, I don't want to hear it.
- Okay... no, no,
I-I had to do it, okay?
I...
- No, you didn't.
- No, please, will you just...
will you just
try to listen to me?
What?
What do you want to say to me?
I didn't exactly want
to get him out either.
You and your dad
are exactly the same.
You don't take responsibility
for what you did.
- [stammering] I didn't...
- Don't fucking touch me.
Hey! Look, just...
just listen to me, okay?
Okay, so-so... the night...
that everything happened,
the police asked me
if he left the house.
And I said that I didn't know.
But I did.
I lied.
I mean, he didn't move
a muscle that night.
I watched him until dawn.
I-I could have told
the sheriff what happened
that night,
and I didn't...
because I wanted to see him go.
Are you done?
So is that how
this is gonna go?
I come out here
as a courtesy call to tell you
that now that the case
is back on my books,
I'm gonna have to look
at all possible suspects,
and this is what I get?
You should have ran an
honest investigation, Don.
Well, that's a hell
of a thing to say.
Mind explaining exactly
what you mean by that?
You sat on evidence
from the defense.
I "sat on evidence"?
And why would
you have wanted that?
You got something
you want to say?
Okay, easy, fellas.
Come on.
He would have wanted that
so we wouldn't have this,
here and now...
a guilty man
walking out of prison.
Senior, you should
know something.
I talked to Billy
a few hours ago,
and I told him... I told him...
if any harm came
to a Linder, hell,
if one of you got so much
as a paper cut,
I'd be on his ass
like flies on shit.
And you know what he told me?
If any harm came to a Linder,
that's something he'd gladly
go back to jail for.
Let you get back
to your dinner.
[door squeaks open]
[sniffs,
speaks indistinctly]
[door slams shut]
Gonna smoke a cigarette.
[tense music]
[funeral officiant murmuring
indistinctly]
[stirring music]
Tell me about my mom.
Well...
Still might be the prettiest
women I ever seen.
Definitely the world's
worst cook. [clears throat]
And your dad...
he'd just eat every damn bite
of whatever disgusting thing it
was she slid in front of him.
That was your dad.
Always doing the right thing.
Ain't gonna lie, it was
annoying as hell sometimes,
especially when I wanted
to get into some trouble.
It was like
I had Senior with me.
They a lot alike?
Yeah, it was scary sometimes.
But my dad was
definitely friendlier.
Yeah, but I mean, come on.
How hard is that?
[chuckles, sniffs]
Promise me you're gonna be
smart about all this, kay?
Yeah.
[dogs barking distantly]
[slowly building string music]
You disgusting pig.
This town ain't full of
chickenshits after all.
How refreshing.
Most folks happy just to put
a sign in the yard,
make an anonymous phone call.
I'm not scared of you.
[sniffs]
Mm.
Well, you should be.
Well, I'm not.
Yeah, I'll try
to remember that.
I'll write it down in my diary.
You have no idea who I am.
No.
You'll have to forgive me.
I've been gone a minute.
Jody Linder.
Little Jody Linder?
Jody Linder.
That's Hugh Jay's little girl.
[chuckling] Goddamn.
Why'd you do it?
- Hm.
- I want to know the truth.
[sniffs] You want the truth?
You're in the wrong
goddamn place for that.
[bottle shatters]
Wrong goddamn family too.
Billy.
I need to know
why you did it.
Why did I fucking do it?
- Billy.
- Fucking murderer.
[mutters indistinctly]
Get the fuck out of my...
Billy, just... Billy.
Talking to me?
Goddamn it.
Scared now, ain't you?
- Why'd you do it?
- Fucking...
[gasping hoarsely]
Granddaddy made me
a murderer.
How's that feel, huh?
How's that fucking feel?
Have a murderer all with
his hands all up on you, huh?
Huh?
Like that?
[dogs barking continuously]
[laughing]
[imitating barking dogs]
Run on home, now.
Run on home 'fore you get
yourself into some trouble...
in some real goddamn trouble.
Run on home.
[laughs, whoops]
You run home!
You run home
and tell granddaddy
all about what I did.
You tell him...
I meant what I said!
[unsettling
banjo and string music]
How many people don't think
Billy killed my folks?
Not many.
So some people
don't think he did?
[sighs shortly]
I don't know.
No, that's not fair.
That's not fair.
If I ask you how many
and you say "not many,"
then that means some don't.
Maybe a... handful.
You don't think he did it.
Jail's where
Billy Croyle belongs.
[thunder rumbles]
You know something.
You know something
and you're not telling me.
You're a Linder.
You tell me.
[thunder rumbling softly]
Senior wanted Billy in jail,
and that's what he got.
...sweet cheeks.
- Huh? What's your name, huh?
- All right, that's enough.
- You want another drink?
- You know what?
[thunder rumbling]
But don't...
don't miss my point here.
I'm...
Senior did it out of
honest-to-God grief and sorrow,
and... and he thought
he knew the truth.
I'm gonna kill every one
of you last fucking losers!
Billy, go home, goddamn it!
Did my mom...
leave with Billy's hat on?
I don't know.
Billy, um...
Did my mom leave
with Billy's hat on?
Look, Billy deserved
to be in jail.
You tell me what you think
happened that night!
I-I don't know, I...
I don't know.
I don't know.
And that's
the God's honest truth.
I don't, okay?
[sniffs]
Maybe you should
go ask Senior
about what Doc saw that day.
[car door clicks open]
[thunder rumbling softly]
[thunder slowly building]
Hold on!
Would have been
in trouble without this.
Isn't she getting
just a little old for that?
Aw, she gets to decide when
she doesn't need it anymore.
- Give me a kiss.
- Bye.
- Laurie? Laurie.
- Yeah?
You two know you have
a sitter in me.
Oh, sure do
appreciate the help.
- You girls have fun.
- Bye, love you.
- Love you.
- Bye.
[shower running,
thunder rumbling]
[knob squeaks, water stops]
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Yeah.
Yeah, that's good for me.
[chuckles]
Yeah, I'll bet.
Okay, bye.
[water lapping]
Did Billy have a fair trial?
I'm looking for the...
- Here you go.
- Thank you, hon.
He got a fair trial.
Ah... you ask me,
he's lucky folks didn't
string him up in the square.
[sighs]
Some people think
he's innocent.
The last way
I'd describe him.
Bailey didn't think
he did it.
Well, he's been listening to
too much damn bar gossip.
He told me to ask you about
what Doc saw...
the night my folks were killed.
Right, well,
of course he did.
Downright "Matlock" of him.
If he spent as much time
trying to make a dollar
as he did sticking his nose
where it don't belong,
he'd be a rich man.
There's not much
to tell about that.
He...
Doc said he saw Hugh Jay
get into it
with a couple toughs
from out of town.
Said that they...
it looked like...
could be trouble.
Doc and I talked about it,
decided whether
we should tell Don or not,
and decided
it wasn't important.
Wasn't important?
They weren't from
around here.
They... they never could
have found his place.
They wouldn't have.
It would have just muddied
the whole situation
if we brought that up.
So you didn't
tell anyone about it?
I didn't,
but it's a small town.
[mysterious music]
[suspenseful string chords]
Jody, um, you play out here
for a while, okay?
- I'll see if your mom is up.
- But I'm hungry.
Yeah, I know, sweetie.
We're gonna go get some.
Just... play out here
for Mimi, okay?
Laurie?
Laurie?
[ominous music]
Laurie, are you home?
Laurie?
[eerie string music]
Dad.
- Sweetie, no.
- [sobbing] Dad.
[weakly] Oh, my God.
[footsteps, floor creaking]
Oh, my God.
Oh, Jesus. [sobs]
[cows mooing]
Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh.
Get.
Get.
Hup, hup, hup, hup.
[cows mooing continuously]
- Get on down there.
- Hup, hup, hup, hup, hup.
Get on down.
Get.
Come on now.
Come on.
Get on down there.
Get.
- Get.
- Hey, hey, hey.
Get in there.
Get.
- Come on, girl.
- Get your ass in there.
- [cows mooing]
- Come on.
[all whistling
and calling indistinctly]
[cow yelps,
herd moos frantically]
[grunts]
Get!
Take it easy, Billy!
- Get!
- You're scaring 'em, Billy.
- Come on now.
- Get on!
- [cows mooing loudly]
- Billy!
[grunting angrily]
[coughing]
[panting]
Think long and hard
before you start talking.
I wasn't doing nothing.
I seen it done out here
a thousand times before
- by everybody else.
- You haven't seen it
done around me.
You're done here.
Come on, Senior.
I need the work.
You're done here, Billy.
It's just a damn cow!
I wasn't hurting it.
I was just
getting it out of the way.
It was clogging up the pen.
He didn't have to do me like
that in front of everybody.
[dogs barking]
[door slams]
[door rattles open]
- Hey.
- Hey.
Those boots do not
come in my house.
Wouldn't think of it.
- Hi.
- Hey.
You all are back early.
[video game beeping]
Staying for dinner?
The cheese comes all
individually wrapped like that?
- I was just checking my game...
- Hand it over.
But...
I'll check it.
- [chuckling]
- That was a good touch
with this brown sugar
on these carrots.
[laughs]
I like it.
Mm-hmm.
Makes it kind of like dessert.
Don't get any ideas
and start putting sugar
- on everything.
- [laughs]
[fly buzzing]
[horns clang,
bulls growl]
[flies buzzing]
Goddamn son of a bitch.
Red just radioed,
said the fence lines
in the south got cut.
I know.
I was just down there.
I need you to call the sheriff.
You sure you don't want me
to go over and see
- if Billy was even...
- Let Don handle it.
Come on, Pop.
We don't even know if...
We know.
We goddamn well know.
Tell him you want to be there
when he brings him in.
We deserve that much.
I just don't think
it's the right thing to do.
At what point did you think
this was a conversation?
[ominous string music]
This is bullshit, Don.
How come every time
something happens,
- you come looking for me?
- That what you think, Billy?
Hugh Jay!
Hey, look at me, man.
I didn't kill no cow.
One day, somebody's gonna knock
Senior off his high horse.
- Get your hands off me.
- Billy, take it easy.
I'm getting in the car.
[buzzer sounds,
door squeaks open]
So, uh...
what can I do for you?
Who else would you have
looked at...
if Billy didn't do it?
Well, see, here's the thing.
That's like asking me what I'd
do if Helen woke up one morning
and stopped griping at me.
Something happened
that night out on 41,
the night my folks were killed.
What?
You know I'm not as dumb
as your grandpa
thinks I am, right?
Senior should have told me
everything he knew,
but that don't mean
I can't do my job.
That whole hullabaloo on 41,
that had nothing to do
with this case.
What makes you so sure?
'Cause the math's off.
What math?
All right, look.
Why do these city punks...
kill your father
at your house...
and take your mom over to
Frog Creek to drown her,
steal her wedding ring...
while they leave $200
in your dad's wallet
back at the house?
It don't make any sense.
Pretend Billy didn't do it
or those punks, right?
Who else would you look at?
I know it's hard to hear,
but in a case like this,
I've always got
to look at family.
Thank you for this food.
We ask you to bless it
for our body's use.
What, don't I get a hello?
Provided you saved me
some bacon.
[laughs]
[family chattering
indistinctly]
- Oh, my goodness.
- There you go.
- Thank you, ma'am.
- Thank you.
Bacon, table.
Bacon, table.
Hi.
No?
Can I steal your orange juice?
[family talking
indistinctly]
Suppose it doesn't fit you.
Fits you.
Hi, sweetie.
How are you?
[murmurs indistinctly]
[quietly] I can't
stay that long, all right?
[overlapping,
indistinct conversations]
- I don't know.
- Easy, now.
- Good eggs.
- Tell you a fact right now,
- and I'm only gonna say it once.
- All right.
If you want this nice little
honeymooning thing
that you got planned, you know,
I'm not gonna be able to pay
for the circus that you...
- Yeah.
- Are planning for a wedding.
Well, now, I mean, you know,
Senior... Senior's got a point.
I mean, Belle and I... I mean,
we can... we can discuss it.
- We don't...
- It's not a circus.
- Don't pay him attention.
- Hey, Meryl.
You going to the
Grand Ole Opry tonight?
You just have one daughter,
one daughter.
Jealousy's unbecoming.
In fact, I believe you have
- this in a powder blue yourself.
- Oh, I do, yeah.
I need to see you
in my office.
I need to see you
in the office.
Whoa, whoa.
Morning, sunshine.
Hey.
Hey.
Take a look at this.
I need you to go to Colorado
right away.
I...
Now, I put you
in charge up there.
I stand behind it,
but if you can't do it,
- I'll ask Chase to do it.
- Dad, I don't need a lecture.
This shows me different.
If it's what I think it is,
fire Timmons.
I'll leave it to you whether
you involve
the authorities or not.
You'll find it.
- What...
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Jody's right there.
What's gotten into you?
[chuckles]
- [whispering] She's right there.
- All right.
- You all right?
- Yeah. I got to pack my bags.
I'm heading to Flat Rock.
[clears throat]
[scoffs]
All right.
Hugh Jay, I wish you'd learn
to stand up for yourself.
Laurie, can we not, okay?
Not now.
I've had
a couple fucked-up days.
Shh, she's right over there.
[lighter flicking]
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
You think you're old enough
to be messing with this?
- I was just playing around.
- Where'd you get this?
Well, Chase left it here
after he had
all mom's coffee this morning.
[tense music]
What'd he want?
What do you mean?
He came by for coffee
after the co-op.
I got to pack.
Don't mind him.
He's not happy about
having to go to Flat Rock.
Do we need to talk
about something?
What do we need
to talk about?
I don't know.
You tell me.
Come home like that, you
haven't touched me in a month.
You tell me you're
going to Flat Rock for...
- Okay.
- I don't know what.
I'm going up there
to take care of business.
I just told you what...
you got a problem?
I-I just don't know
when you're coming or going.
- I don't know...
- I don't know when
you're ever happy,
'cause you know what?
The truth of the matter is
I was fine as a ranch hand.
You didn't have to get
all riled up about me
taking over my dad's ranch.
So what is it?
You want me to stay here,
or do you want me to do this?
- Are you... are you insane?
- You ever look in the mirror
and maybe realize
that you're the one
- who's got the fucking problem?
- Are you insane?
Am I insane?
Am I insane?
Don't try to pin this on me.
- Don't try to pin... [stammers]
- Me?
- Me, pin this on you?
- You'd live in any kind
of life your daddy wants,
and you try to pin it on me?
What about the shit that
I've been hearing around town?
Having my brother
over in the morning
- and not telling me about this?
- Oh, my God, are you...
- keep your voice down.
- Huh?
What about the shit that
I've been hearing around town?
- She's down...
- Huh?
- I don't...
- You want to talk about that?
You've been spending too
much time in the bar.
Flirting with the boys,
being down at the diner?
Huh?
Yeah, I've been hearing things.
You want to talk about that?
You want to talk?
You want to talk right now?
Maybe I should hang out
in some bars in Flat Rock,
- see what I hear up there.
- You know what?
It's a different story every
week, and if it was last week,
it seemed like you'd be
pretty happy,
me being gone most of the time.
That's truth.
[footsteps receding,
door slamming]
[scoffs quietly]
[quietly] Fuck it.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Thought you'd be halfway
to Flat Rock by now.
Yeah, I'm on my way over.
I ran into Doc Taylor,
said we could bring
by the mare tonight.
- All right.
- Hey, Hugh Jay.
What happened to Billy?
- Oh, you didn't miss much.
- He put up a fight?
It's none of your damn
business, Red.
Well, what the hell's
gotten into you?
You don't need to talk
to Red like that.
I mean, we're all fired up.
Kid's just asking questions.
Yeah, kid.
"Kid" is the key word there.
Now, you and Senior will get
the mare over to Doc's?
- You're a dick.
- I'm a dick?
You been looking for something?
- Yeah, where'd you find it?
- My kitchen.
[sarcastically] Oh, yeah.
Looks like you caught us.
We need to talk
when I get back.
Yeah, well, hopefully you're
in a better fucking mood.
[sirens blaring distantly]
[mysterious twanging music]
I hate you, Collin Croyle.
You're the dumbest,
most stupid, mean idiot!
I hate you!
I hope your dad dies
in prison!
I hate your whole family!
[knocking]
[door creaks]
Do you have the files
from the case?
Uh... yeah.
Uh...
Sorry, it's... [chuckles]
kind of messy.
Do you want a...
do you want a drink, or...
Uh, yeah, that...
that would be nice.
Here.
[coughs]
Do you want another?
Yeah, sure.
Thanks.
[exhales]
When your dad got out...
I was so wrapped up in...
my own pain and hatred.
I wasn't thinking
about anyone else.
I don't know.
It just wasn't fair, and...
and what I'm trying to say
is I'm sorry, I guess.
I'm sorry.
I knew you were just hurting.
I've-I've always known that.
The, um... the case files
are in my car.
Here, look at this.
It's George Timmons.
He was arrested in Flat Rock
for embezzling from
your grandfather's ranch
just a couple weeks
after your folks were killed.
Then the charges were dropped
almost immediately.
I'm-I'm not saying that
the two were connected,
but... it wouldn't hurt to look.
I mean, Don didn't do so much
as to make a call up there.
- What do you think happened?
- [chuckles]
I... I-I wish I knew.
I had a lot of questions
but not a lot of answers.
And the people that
put Billy away
weren't exactly
falling over themselves
to help me build a case
on reasonable doubt.
I thought you told them that
you stayed up the whole night.
I did.
Look, I mean,
I want to make things right,
but... I'm not here
to find all the answers.
So you don't care about
what really happened.
[sighs]
I mean, honestly, I think
I'm the only one left
that actually does.
[sorrowful string chords]
[sighs]
[suspenseful music]
[The Flaming Lips'
"Do You Realize??"]
[upbeat alternative
rock music]
Do you realize
That you have the most
Beautiful face
Do you realize
We're floating in space
Do you realize
That happiness
Makes you cry
Do you realize
That everyone
you know
Someday
Will die
And instead of saying
all of your goodbyes
Let them know you realize
that life goes fast
It's hard to make
the good things last
You realize the sun
doesn't go down
It's just an illusion
caused by the world
Spinning 'round
Do you realize?
[choir vocalizing]
Been looking for you.
Well, here I am.
I don't think Billy Croyle
killed my folks.
[inhales deeply]
All right.
That's all you're gonna say?
I-I...
I mean, what...
what am I supposed to say?
I thought you'd tell me
I was wrong.
That ain't gonna
bring them back.
I wish I could have met
the Chase Linder
everyone talks about...
New woman
on his arm every week.
Been hearing some stories,
haven't you?
If I asked you
about my mom...
would you tell me the truth?
Not about how pretty she was
or... that she couldn't cook.
I can't help the memories
that I can keep.
Was she fucking someone?
What?
Was she fucking you?
Are you mourning her or my dad?
[thunder rumbling]
What is that on your shirt?
Is that a bumblebee?
What?
Uh...
I think it's a little
more abstract.
- It's, like, artistic.
- Where the hell
did you find... artistic?
Those are little, tiny
bumblebees on a grown-ass man.
[laughs]
Bumblebees.
- I think it's just a design.
- Looks like a baby's bib.
Hey, you're on me tonight.
Hey.
Y'all got room
for a thirsty cowboy?
- Always.
- All right.
Don't you have
any other friends?
Yeah, but I ain't drunk
enough to stand them yet.
You're just gonna have
to bear my company for a bit.
You all pouring these
on the floor?
Got to stay in your family.
- Hey.
- Let's do another round.
- Another round?
- Whiskey.
- Whiskey?
- Whiskey?
Yeah.
[all speaking at once]
You're certain
you want whiskey?
Yeah, one more.
- Belle wants a whiskey.
- It's spring break over here.
I say... I...
[laughs]
I'll make sure
you feel included.
All right.
That's very kind of you.
Well, you're
such a small thing,
make sure you're not
doing yourself in too quick.
- I'm fine.
- All right, you guys.
I'm fine.
I'm just asking.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
All r...
[patrons cheer]
Oh, really?
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
no, they just
came back on here too.
Yeah. All right,
I-I'll t... I'll tell them.
I promise.
I'll talk to you later.
Hey, your dad called.
Highway's washed out at 41
up there at the Frog Creek.
So he's got a room over here
at the Pollard Inn,
and he got you a room,
and he said you're
staying at Laurie's.
- I'll stay where I want.
- [laughing]
That's what he figured.
He told me to tell you
specifically that she is
not staying at your place.
- All right.
- Ooh.
Well, then we'll both
just stay at the shop.
Yeah, that's right.
You go ahead
and show dad who's boss.
No, I'm serious.
It's good you find
your spine and everything.
I'm gonna take
a couple six packs.
Drink your beer, Chase.
I think we're just born
into the wrong family.
- Mm-hmm.
- Seemed like the right family
when you was cutting that grand
opening ribbon to your shop.
- Oh, shh, shh.
- Whoa.
It's not funny.
- If you'll excuse me.
- [chuckles]
Now you got me in trouble.
[murmurs indistinctly]
I'm sorry.
I don't know what
your problem with her is.
Oh, come on.
You can't tell me
your whole act
don't run you, slick.
I think you ought
to consider what it's like
not to be one
of the Linder boys.
There's a cold wind
blowing
[screaming, laughing]
[soulful piano ballad]
Been helpless
'Cause I'm selfish
Yeah, I know
I know, I know
Where do we go
You gotta stop him
in his tracks.
He was just trying to get
a rise out of you, and...
I'm gonna get back out there,
and I'm gonna get on his ass.
I'm just gonna kick his ass.
[laughing] How are you gonna
kick his ass?
- I'm so tired of...
- You got to try this.
- I just got it.
- I'm stronger than I look.
- Oh, no.
- This is power lipstick.
- That's really not...
- No, you gotta...
- It's really not me.
- You're gonna kick his ass
- in this lipstick.
- No.
You know, Meryl doesn't
really go for all that.
Meryl?
No.
See, makeup is not about men.
Makeup is-is for you.
Like, the only thing
that matters
is that you feel pretty.
- [murmurs indistinctly]
- What?
There's a cold wind
Blowing
This feeling
It's healing
I've been helpless
'Cause I'm selfish
I know when
I'm not right with it
Where do we begin?
[slamming, glasses clattering]
Well, well, goddamn well.
Here we all are, together.
Where's my chair?
Fuck!
Here we go.
Hey, family.
How we doing?
Huh?
We got the homely
Holly Hobbie over here,
the fucking fake-ass
faggot cowboy.
You ain't never gonna be...
you're just the same as me.
- You from the same goddamn...
- You're right.
- Side of the tracks as me.
- You're right.
You're absolutely right,
but this is not
- the time or the place.
- But no, he went
- to law school, and this one...
- Something going on over here?
- Yeah, yeah, he's just drunk.
- What about this one?
Hey, set me up.
Four more of these on his tab.
- He's rich.
- That's a great idea.
- You think that's a great idea?
- Sorry, man.
- We're all right.
- Oh, we just funning.
We were just getting ready
to leave.
- We just funning!
- We're getting ready
- to leave, right?
- We are just funning!
[all shouting at once]
[unsettling ambient music]
Finish that last mile
With a drink
and a permanent smile
I know it must
have been hard
Why don't you all keep on
drinking,
- and we'll keep pouring?
- Yeah!
[patrons cheering]
- All right.
- [laughing]
All right!
Damn... [mumbling]
[all talking indistinctly]
- All right?
- Yeah.
Look at us, the sober ones.
Mm, you are terrible.
Mm-hmm.
Jesus, did you not get
the heat fixed in here?
We got enough heat
right here.
- Come on, now.
- Meryl.
- Baby.
- Oh, you want to go
- to the couch?
- Mm-hmm.
All right,
let's go to the couch.
I'm gonna put this heat
back there.
- Hey, gimme that...
- ...any wood back there?
Sit.
You need to sit.
- You just need to relax.
- Mm-hmm.
- Just sit.
- Let me put a blanket down.
- Meryl!
- Just let me put
- a blanket down.
- You are so uptight.
- I'm not uptight, baby.
- Baby.
- Just give me a second.
- Come here.
Baby, come on.
Come on, Meryl.
Are you gonna lay down with me?
Wood back there, maybe?
Do you got
any wood down there?
Here... oh, yeah,
you know where it is.
- Come on.
- Did you get that?
- This is just hysterical.
- I know.
Well, maybe to you,
but I'm not gonna cross Senior.
Come here, come here,
come here.
I'm feeling very cuddly.
I know the evidence,
and I know the holes:
the guys at the gas station...
money missing at Flat Rock.
I know my mom
was sleeping around.
People thought
it was Chase too.
I'm not saying he did it.
Anyone could have.
But you, with your...
infinite wisdom...
had to sweep
it all away, didn't you?
That's what you discovered
in your detective work?
You got to be careful, Jody.
Chase didn't kill his brother.
He couldn't do it.
He didn't do it.
[ominous string music]
Oh, I run a blue streak
when I'm cold.
- [door slams shut]
- Whew!
- Oh.
- [laughs]
[both laughing]
Oh. [laughs]
The sky is falling.
- [laughs]
- We made it.
We made it.
Hey.
Hey, uh, are you sure
you're gonna be all right
tonight on your own?
Mm-mm.
No.
Afraid of thunderstorms.
Oh.
I don't know what
I'm gonna do on my own.
Is Laurie drunk?
I think Laurie's
a little bit drunk.
[laughs]
[whispering] I might be drunk.
Yeah.
[whispering] Oh, that-that...
that ain't...
- that ain't a good idea.
- What's not a good idea?
- That is not a good idea.
- [whispers inaudibly]
Well, you know
it's not fair to...
[stammers]
I should get going.
- I should get going.
- Yeah, you should go.
How about a kiss?
Think I could get one of those
without anyone seeing?
Hate for anyone to think
we're a thing or nothing...
or something.
I have a question for you.
Shoot.
You were with Billy
that night.
Was he too drunk
to leave the house?
[quickening music]
Shit, I don't know.
All I remember
is being so tired,
I fell on that couch,
and I was out cold.
Is that it?
That's it.
I mean...
I remember Val
telling me
I couldn't drive home,
and that boy of theirs
was sitting on the floor
and... just watching me
like a hawk.
Police!
Everyone on the ground!
- On the ground!
- Other than that, I was out.
[all shouting at once]
- Collin... where's my boy?
- We're bringing him to you.
- Keep your hands up.
- [shouts indistinctly]
I didn't kill no cow!
It ain't about
no fucking cows.
Get him out of here.
What the hell?
Hey!
- Hands behind your back.
- What the hell?
[inhales deeply, whimpers]
[sobbing]
Huh.
[chuckling]
Huh.
Chase Linder... drinking
in the middle of the day.
What would your dear
brother say?
[laughing]
[bellowing]
What would he say?
[chair squeaking]
[laughing]
Ooh, ooh.
Can't nobody take a joke
in this bar.
Take my business elsewhere.
[fists slam table]
Hey, hand it over.
But I was just checking...
I'll check it.
Okay?
Little lady.
Oh, she gets to decide when
she doesn't need it anymore.
- Give me a kiss.
- Bye.
Laurie? Laurie.
[thunder rumbling]
Think we'll have to go
to the storm cellar?
I hope not.
[banjo and string music]
That's Chase's room.
I want you to go down there
and wake him up.
[pounding on door]
Wake up.
- [bell jingling]
- Hey.
- [all chatting indistinctly]
- How you doing?
We're going to breakfast.
What, are you crazy?
- Where's Belle?
- All right, she's down there.
[speaking indistinctly]
[door clicks open]
Well, there's the best
little alarm clock
I ever seen.
You think your mama's
still sleeping?
[laughs] Yeah.
You know your mama.
- Dad?
- Oh, my God.
Oh, my God!
[thunder claps]
[low, suspenseful music]
[gunshot]
[dogs barking]
What happened?
Val?
[shouting, grunting]
Son of a bitch!
[panting]
What happened? [panting]
Baby? Baby?
Oh, Jesus Christ!
Oh, shit!
Oh, shit!
[sirens wailing]
[grunting]
[siren blaring]
[indistinct shouting]
I got it.
Officer, I got it.
I got it.
I got it.
Collin, I need you stand back.
- Collin, stand back.
- What... what did he do?
What did he do?
What the...
- What the hell's going on?
- Collin, Where's your dad?
What did he do?
What did he do?
- Tell me.
- Where's he going?
What did he do?
Red?
Red?
Oh, my God.
Red?
Red, no.
No, come on.
Wake up.
No, come on.
You're gonna be fine.
Come on.
Come on.
Red, come on.
Yoo-hoo.
Peek-a-boo.
- [grunts]
- [screams, gasps]
You fucking killed him!
You fucking killed him!
What?
What the fuck you saying, huh?
Red is not dead.
Red is sleeping
'cause I needed Red's gun.
- [growling]
- [panting, shouting]
- Get the fuck off me.
- What?
Get the fuck off me!
You got
a smart fucking mouth.
You know, I'm getting tired
of your goddamn...
If you're gonna fucking
kill me, do it.
Fucking kill me.
Do it!
Oh, not yet, huh?
Huh?
And I ain't going back
to Leavenworth
without a little payback.
Oh, no, granddaddy.
- [grunting]
- All right, stand.
Stand.
All right.
Ow! Walk.
Goddamn it.
- [muffled] Fuck you.
- Come on, bitch.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Don't you fucking
look at me like that.
Put this in your...
Come here, huh?
Put it in your goddamn mouth.
Huh, huh, huh?
That's what you get
if you don't play nice.
[muffled shouting]
[straining]
I'll picture you
when I burn this house.
[building string music]
[muffled shouting]
It's Billy!
It's Billy!
[grunts]
- [door squeaks open]
- Jody?
Jody?
Jody?
Hey, old man.
[gunshots]
[grunts, groans]
[groaning]
- Get off him, you little cunt.
- Leave her alone!
- It's between you and me!
- Look at me!
You did this to me,
you piece of shit!
[both coughing]
Billy!
Watch your head explode
right before your very eyes
like a goddamn magic trick,
like putting somebody away
for 12 years for something
they didn't fucking do!
Get out of here, Jody!
[groaning]
[gunshot]
You okay?
Shh.
Hey, hey, shh.
[sirens wailing]
[labored breathing]
It's gonna be okay,
all right?
It's fine.
Just keep breathing.
Don't you leave me!
Don't you dare leave me!
- Don't you dare!
- Ma'am...
[eerie resonant music]
Hey.
I'm staying.
[talking indistinctly]
Okay... okay.
All right.
Let's get you looked at
too, all right?
[labored breathing]
[phone vibrating]
[thunder rumbling]
- I'm gonna go.
- Okay.
Yeah.
I'm gonna get going.
Oh...
I'm s... I'm sorry.
I don't want to get...
You should go.
Yeah, I'm...
I'm gonna get going.
[footsteps receding]
[door squeaks open]
[softly] Hey.
Hey.
- I'm so sorry.
- Hey.
- I'm sorry.
- You don't need to apologize
for nothing.
Don't do that, okay?
You're family.
Hey, Mom.
How you holding up?
Huh?
When was the last time
someone was out here?
I don't know.
- What time is it?
- It's been a while.
All right, I'm gonna go
find somebody, okay?
Yeah.
[ominous music]
[thunder claps]
[glass shatters]
[machines beeping rapidly]
- I drank too much gin.
- Mm-hmm.
- That'll pass too.
- All right.
- You're gonna sleep right here?
- Mm-hmm.
You promise?
Promise me, right?
Okay.
[both panting]
[panting]
[bedsprings squeaking]
[both panting]
[faint moaning]
[murmurs]
We have... we have to go.
[talking indistinctly]
[sobbing]
What are you do...
- It's all right.
- [whimpers]
It's all right.
Just get dressed.
[retching, coughing]
- [pants]
- All right.
We... we got to... we...
[coughing]
[mumbling] No.
No, we-we got...
- No, no!
- Come on.
No! No!
I can tell them
it was an accident.
He just come home, and I was
scared, and I was drunk,
and I was scared
because someone was...
[sobbing]
and we just... we just...
we just tell...
[sobbing]
We just tell them...
that... I didn't see him.
I didn't see him.
[sobbing]
We just... we just... we...
I didn't know...
[sobbing]
But we have to go get Jody.
[sobbing, gasping]
We can just go, drive and...
[inaudible]
we can be a...
[chilling, low ringing]
[quickening string music]
Morning.
Morning.
[laughs]
We're going to breakfast.
What are you, crazy?
[both talking inaudibly]
Yup.
- Get going.
- I'm going.
I'm gonna go get
Laurie now.
I'll see you later.
[steady, low pulsing]
Hold your breath
The wolves are in disguise
Don't need
your dirty hands
Don't need
to take a chance
Oh, standing
behind the fence
To feel them bleeding out
Can you feel that, man?
Close the door
Take a walk around
Hold your breath
In these rivers
you might drown
All alone,
you live in silence
Alone,
you came and went
In the shadows
around your eyes
A love that makes no sense
It makes no sense
Like a beat-up cat
in the rain
Losing all
that you've gained
Working hard but you know
all things will change
The world, it'll spin
and stand trial
Spit and draw blood
from your smile
We'll all make it back
to the stars
But it's ours
for a little while
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Brace your heart
In this rich-colored land
Hold your breath
There's a key
A little bit of rain.
That's all it is.
Okay?
Bells and whistles
Don't want the fancy trees
Then you did learn
To soon discern
Nothing's ever
what it seems
Never what it seems
Like a beat-up cat
in the rain
You're losing
all that you've gained
Working hard
but you know
All things will change
And the world,
it'll spin and stand trial
Spit and draw blood
from your smile
We'll all make it back
to the stars
But it's ours
for a little while
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh