To Kill a Wolf (2024) Movie Script
1
[Heavy breathing]
[Running footsteps]
[Silence]
[Birds chirping]
["My Place in the Sun"
by Bud Sloan playing]
Sloan: Someday I'll
find [Sporadic beeping]
My place in the sun
Someday I'll know
That my life's begun
Those things that I've prayed for
Both night and day
for [Sporadic beeping]
Will come true
Working and giving
Loving and living
All for you
Someday I'll find
[Metal detector beeping]
My place in the sun
[Louder beeping]
Someday I'll know
[Song continues faintly]
That you are the one
[Sniffs]
Sloan: Yes, I have to find...
[Spits, sniffs]
[Song fades off]
[Footsteps retreat]
[Engine humming]
Motherfucker.
[Clock ticking faintly]
["Bad Times" by Slyder playing]
[Tones grow richer and deeper]
Slyder: Keep away!
Bad times
Stay away!
-Tsk.
-From my door...
[Sniffs]
[Engine humming]
[Bird cawing]
[Car radio static] Man: Today it'll be
mostly sunny, highs in
the upper 40s into the 50s.
[Shopping cart clatters]
[Distant music playing faintly]
[Distant, indistinct chatter]
[Scanner beeping]
Woodsman: Those are on sale.
Woman: Yeah, if you buy 4. You have 6.
Discount applies if you have 4.
["Bad Times" by Slyder playing]
I don't want to hear it, Dave.
Slyder: Keep away!
Bad times
Stay away!
From my door
Keep away!
[Music slowing down] Bad times
[Slowing voices distorting]
Don't bother me!
[Lyrics garble]
[Yanks out audio cable, music stops]
[Beeping]
["My Place in the Sun" playing
faintly through headphones]
[Beeping quickens]
[Loud beep]
[Duller beep]
[Loud beep]
[Thud]
[Sniffs]
[Sighs, sniffs]
OK, you're OK.
[Teakettle whistling]
[Whistling stops]
[Distant thunder rumbles]
[Boots clomping down stairs]
[Floorboards creak]
[Footsteps descending stairs]
[Sets down ladle]
[Clears throat]
You feeling better?
Uh-huh.
So how'd you end up
half-dead in the woods?
I don't know.
You don't know.
Well, I'll take you into town.
You can call someone. [Spoon clanking]
You don't like the weenies?
I don't eat meat.
Hmm.
Well, excuse me. You don't eat meat.
[Sniffs]
[Sets bowl on counter, walks away]
[Light rainfall pattering]
[Creak]
[Door closes]
[Footsteps approach]
[Vehicle departing]
[Loud buzz]
[Flips switch, buzz stops]
[Vehicle approaching]
[Knocks on door]
Hello?
Man: Oh.
Hello.
[Distant bark]
[Zips up zipper]
[Distant whining]
[Distant, long howl]
Shit.
[Sighs]
[Door closes]
It's Monday, right?
Yes, it is.
Woodsman: Heh heh heh!
How come you're here?
Man: I would have
called to reschedule, but
you don't have a phone, so here I am.
I was just, uh, chattin'
with your niece here.
Hope the weather clears up for ya.
Man: All right.
200. All right. Well, thanks
for dropping it off now.
Man: You been seein'
any wolf activity out here?
-No, sir.
-Huh.
Any other kinda activity?
Anything, uh, suspicious?
Vehicles, new, uh...
people snoopin' around?
-Not at all.
-Hmm.
Traps keep comin' up empty.
Not even a coyote.
Heh! [Woodsman sighs]
Half of 'em tripped, though.
You know...
I never had any problems
when Dave owned the place.
Woodsman: Well, if there's
anything I can do to help,
sir, you just let me know.
Man: Lovely meetin' you, young lady.
Woodsman: Thanks for stoppin' by.
[Door opens] You drive safe now.
Man: Yeah.
[Door closes]
[Sighs]
[Engine turns over]
[Truck departing]
Grab your coat.
[Door opens]
[Grunts]
You gonna help?
Set it down. [Sniffs]
All right, let's go. Let's pick it up now.
[Woodsman sighs, chain jangles]
Woodsman: Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
[Chain jangles, animal whines]
[Woodsman sighs]
I'm gonna brace the board.
You're gonna release the trap.
[Sniffs] It's a two-person job.
Both sides, press down.
You gotta be quick. [Wolf whines]
[Wolf growling quietly]
Woodsman: Swing your side around.
[Twig snaps]
Easy, easy.
[Wolf continues growling]
[Whispers] Put it down, put it down.
[Trap chain clanks]
Take my light.
[Whispers] Here we go.
[Wolf growls]
[Yelps]
[Wolf whining]
[High-pitched yelping]
Woodsman: Now. [Wolf snarls]
Push harder.
[Clang]
[Both breathing heavily]
[Sniffs, sighs]
[Chuckling]
Ah... [Engine humming]
Is that the kind of trap
that man was talking about?
That man who came by?
[Woodsman sniffs]
He's a cattle rancher.
Pays me for access to the property
so he can set traps.
But you set them off.
I found a trap about a year ago.
Ground was all torn up, like you saw,
blood and scat everywhere,
and there was a paw
still stuck in the goddamn trap.
Wolf chewed right through it,
and I thought, "Uh-uh."
[Flicks lighter]
No.
But I need the money.
[Door closes]
[Distant thunder rumbling]
[Ax splits wood]
[Ax splits wood]
[Ax splits wood]
[Ax splits wood]
Tsk. Jesus Christ.
[Door creaks open]
[Door closes]
Hey, you don't have to do that.
I got plenty of wood in the shed.
I wanted to help.
Woodsman: Just... let the ax fall.
It's gravity. You don't
have to work so hard.
OK. Heh!
How come you told that
guy you were my niece?
Girl: Didn't want you to get in trouble.
Woodsman: You in some kind of trouble?
[Girl sighs]
How far is Klamath Falls from here?
That's a long ways. That's far.
There's a bus.
Leaves early in the morning.
You're gonna be on that bus
tomorrow. You understand me?
Don't chop off your foot or nothin'.
[Footsteps retreat]
[Pan sizzling]
Butter, salt... and a little paprika.
Woodsman: What do you want to hear, Dave?
Girl: That's Dave?
Heh! That's a stuffed raccoon.
Dave... kinda took pity on
me when my ex-wife left.
Told me I could stay
here as long as I wanted.
[Sniffs] Never really left after that.
["Today Is Tomorrow's Yesterday" playing]
Woodsman: When Dave
first started coming up here,
place was infested with raccoons.
Couldn't get rid of 'em, so Dave
starts blasting music all day, every day,
and it worked, except for this fuck.
This defiant, stubborn...
He didn't give a shit.
Music didn't bother him at all.
I mean, who knows?
Maybe he was deaf, but...
anyway.
Eventually, Dave got him with a BB gun,
but, you know, he respected the guy,
so he had him stuffed.
[Scoffs]
Yeah, I call him Dave 'cause Dave...
You just couldn't shake
that guy once he latched on.
You couldn't get rid of him.
Jay Fortunato: Today
Woodsman: Damn.
Do you hear that?
Jay Fortunato: Today will be yesterday
The bass sounds kinda tinny.
Girl: Oh.
You can't hear that?
Fortunato: When my baby says good-bye
You will never see me cry
Today
Woodsman: Did you touch this?
Fortunato: Is tomorrow's yesterday
[Music stops]
Your bus leaves early in the morning.
Be sure you're up. [Footsteps retreat]
[Stairs creak]
[Sighs]
Let's go.
Girl: Can we go tomorrow?
No, that's probably not a good idea.
Please.
[Woodsman sighs]
We gotta go now, like I said yesterday.
That's the plan.
Come on. Let's go.
[Footsteps descending]
[Engine humming]
[Radio static] Man: Tomorrow night,
partly cloudy, lows in the low to mid-40s.
Monday, mostly cloudy
with a chance of showers.
Woodsman: Hold up.
Just in case.
Girl: Thanks.
[Unzips jacket]
Just keep it. [Sniffs]
[Sighs]
[Brakes squeak]
What's in Klamath?
My grandma.
All right, all right,
all right, all right,
all right.
Will you get in?
Woodsman: So how come you don't eat meat?
Girl: My grandma didn't.
And I lived with her, so...
How old are you, anyway?
Girl: 17.
Where are we?
Woodsman: We're coming up on Klamath.
[Parking brake cranks]
[Engine idling]
Thanks.
Good luck with Grandma.
[Door closes]
[Bird chirping]
[Keys jingling]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Footsteps approaching]
Nice kitchen.
You bring your swimming trunks?
There's a pool out back.
You mind telling me
why I drove you halfway
across the state to break
into an empty house?
It's my grandma's house.
Woodsman: Oh, yeah?
Where's she, upstairs in bed?
She passed away.
When?
About a month ago.
I've been staying with my aunt and uncle.
[Woodsman sighs]
Jesus Christ.
Should have been straight with me.
I'm sorry about your grandmother.
[Sighs]
Tsk.
[Country music playing]
Woodsman: How are the cheese sticks?
They're fine.
Woodsman: You eat a
lot of that stuff growing up?
Girl: No.
Grandma cook?
Girl: No.
I don't think she liked food very much.
Woodsman: Yeah, well,
I don't think anyone that's
a vegetarian enjoys food much. Heh!
I don't think she liked most things.
She didn't like people.
She didn't like the stuff on TV.
She didn't like music.
-[Chuckles]
-I don't think she liked me.
[Distant chatter]
[Billiard balls clacking]
I found her.
I got home from school and...
usually, she's watching TV.
The TV was off.
She fell.
Maybe the night before. I don't know. I...
I just let her sleep in
'cause the bus came early,
and I didn't check on her that morning.
[Barstool slides] Man: Able to pour me
more drinks? Bartender: Yeah, OK.
[Glass clinks] Last call!
[Liquor pours]
[Faint voices distorting]
Bartender: Can I get you anything else?
[Sighs] You got a phone I can use?
Bartender: Gas station across the way has
a payphone, I think.
Woodsman: Just the check,
then, thanks.
[Glasses clink, patrons laugh]
[Women laughing]
[Indistinct chatter]
[Bar door closes]
[Footsteps approach]
You gotta go home.
I can't.
Woodsman: Why not?
I had a fight with my aunt.
Woodsman: You had a fight w...
Why don't you sleep on it?
[Engine turns over]
[Parking brake cranks]
I'll stay in the car.
All right.
[Door closes]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Sighs]
[Low rumbling]
[Rumbling intensifies]
[Rumbling stops]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
Man: Don't shoot the messenger,
but Jolene wanted to, uh,
make sure you were packed.
She seemed pretty intent on leaving early.
You OK?
Yeah.
Man: OK.
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Footsteps approach]
Girl: I'm all packed.
Jolene: Oh, thanks, sweetie.
Girl: And I put the rest
of the boxes to donate
in the garage. Jolene:
Oh, gosh, there's room
in that garage for more boxes? Oh...
Girl: Heh! Not really. [Glass shatters]
Girl: I'll get it. Jolene: Damn it!
[Music playing on
phone] Man: Pizza, pizza!
[Door closes] Here comes-a the pizza.
Jolene: OK, not in the
kitchen 'cause there's glass.
Man: Oh, it'll clean itself up. Come on.
Come dance with me
Jolene: I'm sure that is how
you think cleaning
works. Can you take that?
Thank you. Male singer: Paradise
Jolene: Can you turn that down, please?
Man: Oh. [Turns down music]
Jolene: Carey.
Carey: What? Jolene: She doesn't eat meat.
Carey: Heh! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
I just, uh... Jolene: You just forgot
that she doesn't eat
meat? Carey: Yeah, I forgot.
Jolene: Wow. Girl: It's fine.
I'll eat around. Jolene: And there's
no utensils. Plates, but no utensils.
Carey: Well, I just
thought, 'cause it's piz...
Jolene: You did not check
the bag before you left?
Carey: No, I didn't
check the bag. I just...
Jolene: Then how am I
supposed to eat my salad?
Carey: Why don't I
go find you a fork and...
Jolene: No, it's all packed, Carey.
[Sighing] Oh.
[Wine pouring]
Mm.
Jolene: You know,
Grandma's not watching, Dani.
You don't have to live by
her rules if you don't want to.
This house still smells like smoke...
'cause she smoked when your mother and I
were kids. Did you know that?
When she caught your
mother smoking in high school,
she made her eat the entire pack.
Not that it stopped your mother.
She always did exactly
what she wanted. Heh!
And then our mother basically
just gave up on her.
Carey: I think maybe,
if she was tough on you,
it's because she thought
that you had potential.
She never liked you.
[Chuckles]
What's the difference between a loan
and a psychologist?
Jolene: A loan eventually
matures and earns money.
She made that joke the first time
I brought him home. Carey: It's not bad.
Hey, Dani, do you know
what a Freudian slip is?
Dani: Yeah. Carey: It's when you mean
one thing, but say your mother.
Jolene: You know, Carey,
maybe... maybe you're right.
Maybe she just saw potential.
Or maybe she was just a fucking bitch.
What? For God's sakes, you couldn't load
the woman's dishwasher
'cause it wouldn't be done right,
and you couldn't give
her a Christmas gift without
some snide comment,
or the way that she would
watch you eat and sigh.
What? Don't look at
me like I'm the asshole.
Carey: Well, I think you're
being a little inconsiderate.
Jolene: I'm inconsiderate? Oh, come on.
You can't even be
bothered to get me a fork.
Carey: I think there's a dif...
Jolene: Or remember that Dani
doesn't eat meat, and I'm inconsiderate?
Carey: I think there's
a difference between
an honest mistake...
Jolene: Please don't play
psychologist today, Carey.
Carey: Look, you've had
a hard day and you're hurting, and so are
other people at this table.
Maybe you want to take
a deep breath and think
about that before you say anything else.
[Inhales deeply]
Oh, God.
Sometimes I hear her words
coming out of my mouth,
and I hate it.
[Sobs]
She was a bitter, withholding woman.
That's the truth, really,
and there's a huge weight off my shoulders
now that she's gone. [Sobs]
Sorry.
I mean, Dani can take it.
She's not a child, and she knows better
than anyone that woman
can throw a punch, right?
[Sets down wineglass]
[Door creaks]
[Toilet flushing]
[Sports commentator speaking faintly]
[Footsteps approach]
Carey: Hey.
Dani: Hey.
Carey: Fellow night owl.
Dani: Yeah.
[Water running]
[Carey sits]
Carey: How's the book?
Dani: I finished it.
[Carey sets down glass]
Carey: You can't sleep?
You want to sit?
Dani: Yeah.
[Faint sports commentary continues]
[Sighs]
Sorry about what Jolene
said about your grandma.
Dani: Yeah.
Carey: Jolene loved her, in her own way.
You know, she was a very critical woman.
She was really hard on Jolene.
She was hard on you, too.
And I'm sorry about the pizza.
Dani: It's fine. Carey: No, no, no, I knew
it was important to you. I just spaced.
Sorry Jolene freaked out.
She's just a little tightly wound.
She just wants to get all this...
stress and stuff behind her.
You know, she'd rather take
everything to a dump than deal with it.
A month is a long time for her to be here.
I like it here.
Carey: Oh, yeah? Well,
there is not much here,
so you don't know what you're missin'.
You're gonna love the
city. There's gonna be a ton
of new, cute boys at that school.
Or cute girls, you know,
if that's your thing. I'm hip, I'm down.
You can hook up with anybody you want,
as long as you use... [Uncorks bottle]
[Whispers] protection.
[Both chuckle] Carey: See? I'm cool.
You want a splash?
Dani: Mm-mm.
Ah.
You're a bit more of a
Jolene than you are your mom.
Dani: What do you mean?
Carey: Oh... think your
mom was kind of a rebel,
you know, had all the boys wrapped around
her little finger.
Did you get a chance to read my paper?
Yes, I did.
I did. Did I not send you my notes?
-No.
-God.
Here we go.
-No, I...
-No, no, no, no, no.
The game's over. I'm
already pulling it up.
Let's see.
I like it better than the last one.
Yeah, you know, I'm
more of a Jungian myself,
so there's probably a bit of bias there,
but I thought you gave Freud
a bit too much screen time
or paper time or whatever.
That's right.
I think... you're a little naive
about the power of the id.
But, uh, you know, it's...
It's better than the
last, that's for sure.
[Sets down phone]
Not that it's bad. It's not bad.
I feel like that's what you're hearing.
Dani: Well, it doesn't sound good.
Carey: Well, I'm not here
to make you feel good.
You know, I'm here to be honest with you
about your work and
try and make it better.
Look, I... I literally wrote
a book about this stuff,
and it's what I love,
and I think it's so cool
that you're getting so deep into it.
And I think you can
handle some honesty, right?
Yeah, I can.
You better let me read the next one.
Dani: I will.
You know, I wanted to
show you something, but I...
I didn't know how you would react.
Dani: What?
Are you interested?
-Yeah.
-Yeah? Heh!
Dani: Yeah.
OK. Come on.
Carey: All right. Which one, which one?
[Sets down glass]
Oh, no.
What is even... what is all this stuff?
Dani: Think it's Easter
decorations... Aah! No?
Oh, I remember.
Yeah, that's the one.
Dani: What is this stuff?
Is this my mom's stuff?
Carey: Yeah.
Dani: Jolene was just
gonna throw this out?
Yeah.
Why?
Carey: I don't know.
Look, in her defense, she
was gonna get rid of all of it.
Listen, Jolene'll flip out
if you take the whole box,
but... [Sets down glass]
If there's something you
want, you should take it.
God, you really do just
look... look just like her.
That's the first thing Jolene
said when we got here.
She said... "She looks just like her."
She is... very pretty,
and I can see why Jolene felt, uh...
forgotten.
Jolene's pretty.
You're so funny.
-Why?
-Can't take a compliment.
[Whispers] What are you doing?
We should go to sleep.
You're not tired?
No.
Cold?
No.
[Whispers] Let me see.
[Whispers] Oh, you're a liar.
Want to go back inside?
[Birds chirping]
[Knock on door]
[Door creaks open]
[Whispers] Hi. Sorry to wake you.
-Is it time to go?
-Yeah, we're just
loading up the car, um... [gulps]...
But I just wanted to
apologize for last night.
I'm sorry.
If I said anything that was...
hurtful, I really shouldn't have.
It's just... well, losing someone...
I don't have to tell you,
but it's gonna be fine.
[Hands slap legs]
Everything is going to be fine
and I would really
like for us to be close.
[Gulps] Your mom and I were.
We were... close.
[Cellphone alarm ringing]
OK, well, I'm gonna go give Carey a hand.
Dani: OK. [Alarm stops, door closes]
[Footsteps retreat]
Carey: Mornin'. Dani: Morning.
-You good?
-Yeah.
Carey: Want to drive?
Jolene: Hey. You riding with Carey?
Carey: Yeah. Jolene: OK, I'll see you guys
when we stop for lunch,
then. [Car door opens]
[Seatbelt buckles]
[Gear shifts to drive]
[Sighs]
You want to talk about it?
Dani: If you want to.
Well, I mean... you...
you doing all right?
Dani: Yeah.
Yeah? Dani?
Yeah, I'm good.
[Inhales deeply, sighs]
You want to listen to music?
Yeah.
["I'm Leaving Today"
by Ron Higgins playing]
Higgins: I'm leaving today
I'll say good-bye
I don't want to see
You cry
I've had all I can take
Now I'm just about to break
Carey: Pull over here.
Dani: Where?
Carey: This right here.
-The motel?
-Yeah.
[Turn signal clicking]
[Music continuing]
[Gear shifts to park]
Carey: I wanted to surprise you.
You know, I thought it'd be
good for us to have some,
uh, alone time.
What about Jolene?
Don't worry about
Jolene. I'll call her up.
You know, I'll tell her
we had car trouble,
get us a couple hours.
You know, if we're feeling lucky,
maybe the transmission
died. [Unbuckles seat belt]
Don't worry about it... [Door opens]
All right? Stay right here.
Don't go anywhere.
[Door creaks]
Carey, chuckling: It's hot, right?
Uh... [Pushes buttons]
let me see.
[Beep, air conditioner whirs] OK.
I'll, uh...
let me see if I can
get us a different room.
Just... don't get too comfortable, OK?
[Gulps]
[Breath trembling]
Dani?
What the fuck?
[Heavy breathing]
[Birds chirping]
[Sniffling]
[Distant bird squawks]
[Distant thunder rumbling]
[Rainfall pattering]
[Birds chirping]
[Vehicle approaching]
[Footsteps approach, door opens]
[Door closes]
Woodsman: Rise and shine.
Here.
You know what this is? Hmm?
Set it up and call your aunt and uncle.
You're not gonna stay in
this empty house forever.
[Punching numbers]
[Line ringing]
It's ringing.
[Line continues ringing]
[Click] Jolene on phone: Hello?
Hello?
[Closes phone, sighs]
[Footsteps approach]
Dani: They're gonna pick me up.
-When?
-They're leaving now,
so this afternoon. You don't have to wait.
Woodsman: OK. [Phone vibrating]
Hello?
Hey... oh, shit. [Footsteps retreat]
[Door opens and closes] OK.
[Breathing heavily]
[Door opens]
Woodsman: Hey!
Don't make me come after you!
[Sobbing]
Woodsman: Get back in the house!
[Breathing heavily]
Woodsman: Oh, come on.
I'm trying to help you!
[Breathing heavily]
[Footsteps approach]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Woodsman sighs]
[Prosthetic leg clicks]
Your aunt and uncle are on their way.
You can wait.
I don't care anymore.
I'm an old man, I can't
be chasing you around.
[Lighter clicks] Give me a heart attack.
Dani: What happened to your leg?
[Inhales sharply]
It was a car accident. [Exhales]
I was blacked out at the wheel, woke up
in the hospital, missing my foot.
[Woodsman sighs]
There was a woman in the other car.
Name was Teresa.
She was an elementary school teacher,
coming back from a retirement,
potluck kinda thing.
I was coming back from
drinking, ran a stop sign,
ran right through her.
Been sober ever since, 7 years.
A lot of good that does her.
Heh!
My lawyer got me off.
No... no... no time,
and that pissed off a
lot of people in town.
[Sniffs] Still pissed off.
Except Dave.
He was the one.
He was the one.
Yeah. [Breath catches]
Dave was my sponsor. [Chuckles]
[Sighs]
Should have gone to prison.
[Clears throat]
Should probably still be there.
[Water running]
[Water splashes]
[Woodsman sighs] Dani: I'm sorry.
Woodsman: Don't be. I know what I did.
It's all true... heh! and worse.
I'm just trying to tell you,
you know, life goes around
the way it goes. It's...
you're gonna fuck up.
It's what happens after, you know?
And I wasted a whole lot of
goddamn time feeling sorry
for myself.
So...
[Inhales sharply]
Yeah.
Dave used to say, if
you can't help yourself,
help somebody else.
I'm just trying to help.
[Sniffling]
I know... but...
Just tell me.
-[Sobs]
-What's wrong?
[Breath trembling]
[Knock on door]
Stay right there.
Man: Klamath PD.
[Police radio, indistinct]
[Door opens]
[Sniffles]
[Distant chatter, phone ringing]
Your license. [Sighs]
Just a reminder, it
expires in a couple months.
-Yeah.
-So, listen, uh,
her family's still a couple hours out.
If you want to stay, you're welcome to.
-Well, how is she?
-She's fine.
Did she say anything about what's going on
with her family? Detective: Unfortunately,
I can't disclose anything
that we talked about.
-OK.
-We've got it under control.
Woodsman: Yeah, sure, but... [Sighs]
Detective: Listen, you're
welcome to wait if you want.
Woodsman: Thank you, but, um...
look, can... can you give
her something for me?
I just want to write down,
uh, something for her.
[Footsteps approaching]
Uh, the gentleman you came in with
left this for you. Dani: Thanks.
He left?
Detective: Twenty minutes ago.
You need anything?
No.
Detective: Want to talk?
I'm fine.
All right.
Well, if you change your
mind, I'm right outside.
[Quietly] OK.
[No audible dialogue]
[Seatbelt buckle clicks, door closes]
[Carey sighs]
Dani, what the fuck?
[Sighs] I'm sorry.
I mean, you left me in
a really shitty position
with Jolene. Dani: I know.
I thought we were
good. You said... you said
we were good.
I mean, you really
scared me, you know that?
I... I think we made a mistake.
OK.
OK.
Well, uh, what... what
do you want me to do?
And this is the problem
with girls your age.
No, I mean, you think... [Scoffs]
You think you know what
you want, you think you know
what you're doing, until
all of a sudden, you don't.
You know, I never
cheated on Jolene before.
Never.
And I... I could have,
but it was never worth it.
You just can't fuck with somebody's life
and then just take off.
[Engine turns over]
[Engine turns over]
[Keys jingle]
Carey: Hey.
Look... I thought you could handle this.
Obviously, I was wrong.
You know, that... that's me.
That's an error in my judgment.
Now, you and I know what happened,
but this isn't something
that we can talk about.
I mean, you get that?
Yeah?
Because when we talk about it, that's when
people can get hurt, and neither one of us
wants to hurt anybody, right? I know that.
You... you don't want that, right?
No.
If Jolene found out about
this, I mean, fuckin'...
It would... break her heart.
So, look, w-we'll just take a step back.
Yeah? We'll just take a step back...
[Sighs]
And be just like nothing ever happened.
-OK.
-OK?
[Sniffs]
Carey: Nothing happens
unless you want it to.
[Chuckling] You OK?
Yeah.
OK.
[Door opens, seat belt unbuckles]
[Car door closes]
[Sighs]
[Door closes]
[No audible dialogue]
[Sniffling]
[Sobs]
[Footsteps approach]
Oh.
[Sniffs]
I wasn't stalking you.
OK.
[Woodsman sighs]
I just wanted to make
sure you got home OK.
I'm all right.
Good.
Uh, well, uh...
I guess I'll head out, then.
Hey, uh... [Sniffs]
You know... if you need anything...
or you just want to talk, you know,
I... I got the phone.
You got the number, right?
I'm around.
Take care of yourself.
Dani: You, too.
[Engine turns over]
[Footsteps retreat]
[Birds chirping]
[Parking brake cranks]
Woodsman: Hey.
Don't want you on my property anymore.
[Sighs]
You know, I go a quarter
mile down the road,
I'm not on your property.
Woodsman: Well, do that, then.
You're not welcome on mine.
You gonna keep messin' with my traps?
Yeah, probably.
[Sighs] What do you care?
I don't want to have
nothin' to do with all that.
Rancher: I was just
tryin' to help you out, man.
[Sighs]
Dave liked you, and he was a good guy.
Woodsman: Yes, he was. There you go.
-Keep the money.
-There you go.
[Rancher sighs]
Woodsman: Stay off my property.
Rancher: You know, Teresa
was a friend of my daughter's.
You know, I know people
think you got off easy.
Rancher: I don't.
Rancher: You say hello to your niece.
[Truck door opens]
[Sniffs]
[Truck door closes, engine turns over]
[Truck departing]
[Jolene sighs]
[Coffee pouring] Dani: Morning.
Jolene: Oh, hey, honey.
Do you want some coffee?
Do you drink coffee? No?
Well, there's some cereal here.
The bowls are up there.
Um, silverware right there.
I feel bad leaving you today.
I'm sorry.
Dani: It's fine. I'm fine.
Jolene: You know,
panic attacks are nothing
to be ashamed of, and we can get you
on some medication. Carey: Whoa.
I mean... [Sets down coffeepot]
One day at a time, you know? Jolene: Well,
I just think it's good to get
ahead of things like this,
and depression runs in our family.
Carey: She's not depressed.
Jolene: OK, well, there are some sous vide
egg-white bite things in the fridge.
Do you eat eggs? Dani: Yeah.
Jolene: Then maybe we could
do pasta for dinner or somethin'?
Carey: Yeah. Jolene: All right.
Bye, honey. [Carey kisses fingers]
[Door closes]
Carey: I'll deal with her.
-She's fine.
-Heh! Yeah.
You say that now... [Sets down mug]
But she can move pretty fast.
Carey: What?
-Nothing.
-What's up your butt?
Nothing.
Carey: Nothing [mockingly].
What's wrong with you?
Hey, come on.
Hey, I'm just trying to be friendly.
[Spoon clinks, water runs]
[Whispers] Please don't.
Carey: Don't... don't... don't what?
Don't touch me.
[Sighs]
[Dani's breath trembling]
Carey: Or what?
[Door opens] Jolene: Hey, forgot my jacket
and my lunch. What's going on?
[Chuckles] Nothing.
Jolene: Everything OK? Carey: Yeah.
Dani: Mm-hmm.
Jolene: All right. Bye, honey.
[Door opens] Carey: See you later.
[Door closes]
Jolene, sighing: You sure you're OK?
Dani: Mm-hmm. Fine.
Jolene: Try to get some rest, OK?
I'll see you later. [Door opens]
[Door closes]
Jolene?
What? What's up, Dani?
Dani, breathing
heavily: I can't stay here.
Jolene: Why? What do you mean?
You just got here, sweetie. What?
[Cries] I can't.
[Gasps] I can't stay here.
Hey, take a breath.
take a breath, calm down.
Dani: You know where my
mom is? Can I go with my mom?
Jolene: No, honey, no...
no one knows where she is.
[Dani sobbing]
Jolene: Can you tell me what's going on?
This hasn't been easy on
us, either, but we really want
to make this work, and
this will feel like your home.
You just got to give it some time, OK?
[Gasps]
Jolene: You can tell me.
-[Sobbing]
-What is it?
I made a mistake with Carey.
[Sobbing]
It was just once,
and I... I told him to
stop, I didn't want to do it.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry, Jolene.
I'm so sorry. [Sobbing]
[Line ringing]
Jolene.
Jolene: Hi. Can you
come back home, please?
No. Dani, st-stay here.
No. Dani, Dani, s...
Carey: Oh, here she is.
What did... w-what'd you
tell her? Hey! Wait, wait, wait.
-Get off me!
-All right, all right.
Why don't you just tell
me what you said to her?
[Dani sobs]
I told her what happened.
-I don't know what that means.
-Yes, you do.
-No, I don't, I don't.
-You know.
-I'm sorry.
-Yes, you do!
Jolene: She said that
you were together, right?
That's... that's what
you... is... that's what you
were implying, right? Carey: What?
Dani: I'm sorry, Jolene, I'm so sorry.
Carey: Oh, my God. Oh, no, no, no, no.
That is absolutely not true.
That's absolutely not
true. Tell her, Dani,
Tell her! Tell her you're lying!
I'm not lying! I'm not lying.
Carey: All right, well,
let's just talk about this
like reasonable adults and go inside.
Dani: I am not going inside with you!
Carey: Like reasonable
ad... no, no, no, no.
You don't get to blow things up and then
just walk away, all right?
Now you have to fix this.
I know you're upset, right? You're upset
about your grandmother.
Dani: That's not what
this is about! Carey: OK.
Just tell Jolene. Tell her...
tell her you're making it up.
Tell Jolene that you're
lying. You're lying, Dani.
You're lying! Stop lying!
Tell Jolene that you're
fucking making it up!
[Sobbing]
It was a mistake, and I'm sorry,
and I didn't want to do
it again and I told you
that I wanted to stop! You told me
that we could go back
like it never happened,
but I can't do that!
[Sighs]
Dani: You want to talk about it?
[Sniffles] What part
you want to talk about?
[Footsteps retreating]
Carey: You're a fucking liar!
[Whispers] Sorry.
-Is it true?
-No.
I mean, she's completely outta control...
Jolene: Carey.
Just tell me if it's true.
No.
-Jolene...
-You're disgusting.
-Come on, just...
-[Sobbing]
Carey: It's OK.
[Breathing heavily]
[Sniffs]
OK.
Hi, Teresa.
My name is Jonah.
I haven't been out here before.
Sorry about that. I shoulda come sooner.
I don't know a whole lot about you.
I know you were a teacher.
And you were loved.
My mother was a teacher, too.
Elementary school, second grade.
I want to be straight with you.
I was drunk that night and I knew it.
I shouldn't have been on the road.
I'm sorry for what I did to you.
[Inhales deeply, sighs]
Look...
I brought you some music.
This was my mother's favorite song,
and it means a lot to me, too, and...
thought maybe you'd like it.
[Sighs]
[Click, "My Place in the Sun"
playing through headphones]
[Sniffs]
Bud Sloan: Someday I'll find
My place in the sun
Someday I'll know
That my life's begun [Jonah sobbing]
OK.
Sloan: Those things that I pray for
Both night and day
for [Jonah sniffles]
-Will come
-Oh. OK.
-True
-[Sighs]
Sloan: Working and giving
Loving and living
All for you
Someday I'll find
My place in the sun
Someday I'll know
That you are the one
[Cellphone vibrating]
Yes, my happiness lies
Deep in someone's blue eyes
And that someone Jonah: Hello?
Sloan: Is no one but you
Someday I'll say
I found it with you
[Song continues]
Yes, my happiness lies
Deep in someone's blue eyes
And that someone is
No one but you
Someday I'll say
I found it
With you
[Heavy breathing]
[Running footsteps]
[Silence]
[Birds chirping]
["My Place in the Sun"
by Bud Sloan playing]
Sloan: Someday I'll
find [Sporadic beeping]
My place in the sun
Someday I'll know
That my life's begun
Those things that I've prayed for
Both night and day
for [Sporadic beeping]
Will come true
Working and giving
Loving and living
All for you
Someday I'll find
[Metal detector beeping]
My place in the sun
[Louder beeping]
Someday I'll know
[Song continues faintly]
That you are the one
[Sniffs]
Sloan: Yes, I have to find...
[Spits, sniffs]
[Song fades off]
[Footsteps retreat]
[Engine humming]
Motherfucker.
[Clock ticking faintly]
["Bad Times" by Slyder playing]
[Tones grow richer and deeper]
Slyder: Keep away!
Bad times
Stay away!
-Tsk.
-From my door...
[Sniffs]
[Engine humming]
[Bird cawing]
[Car radio static] Man: Today it'll be
mostly sunny, highs in
the upper 40s into the 50s.
[Shopping cart clatters]
[Distant music playing faintly]
[Distant, indistinct chatter]
[Scanner beeping]
Woodsman: Those are on sale.
Woman: Yeah, if you buy 4. You have 6.
Discount applies if you have 4.
["Bad Times" by Slyder playing]
I don't want to hear it, Dave.
Slyder: Keep away!
Bad times
Stay away!
From my door
Keep away!
[Music slowing down] Bad times
[Slowing voices distorting]
Don't bother me!
[Lyrics garble]
[Yanks out audio cable, music stops]
[Beeping]
["My Place in the Sun" playing
faintly through headphones]
[Beeping quickens]
[Loud beep]
[Duller beep]
[Loud beep]
[Thud]
[Sniffs]
[Sighs, sniffs]
OK, you're OK.
[Teakettle whistling]
[Whistling stops]
[Distant thunder rumbles]
[Boots clomping down stairs]
[Floorboards creak]
[Footsteps descending stairs]
[Sets down ladle]
[Clears throat]
You feeling better?
Uh-huh.
So how'd you end up
half-dead in the woods?
I don't know.
You don't know.
Well, I'll take you into town.
You can call someone. [Spoon clanking]
You don't like the weenies?
I don't eat meat.
Hmm.
Well, excuse me. You don't eat meat.
[Sniffs]
[Sets bowl on counter, walks away]
[Light rainfall pattering]
[Creak]
[Door closes]
[Footsteps approach]
[Vehicle departing]
[Loud buzz]
[Flips switch, buzz stops]
[Vehicle approaching]
[Knocks on door]
Hello?
Man: Oh.
Hello.
[Distant bark]
[Zips up zipper]
[Distant whining]
[Distant, long howl]
Shit.
[Sighs]
[Door closes]
It's Monday, right?
Yes, it is.
Woodsman: Heh heh heh!
How come you're here?
Man: I would have
called to reschedule, but
you don't have a phone, so here I am.
I was just, uh, chattin'
with your niece here.
Hope the weather clears up for ya.
Man: All right.
200. All right. Well, thanks
for dropping it off now.
Man: You been seein'
any wolf activity out here?
-No, sir.
-Huh.
Any other kinda activity?
Anything, uh, suspicious?
Vehicles, new, uh...
people snoopin' around?
-Not at all.
-Hmm.
Traps keep comin' up empty.
Not even a coyote.
Heh! [Woodsman sighs]
Half of 'em tripped, though.
You know...
I never had any problems
when Dave owned the place.
Woodsman: Well, if there's
anything I can do to help,
sir, you just let me know.
Man: Lovely meetin' you, young lady.
Woodsman: Thanks for stoppin' by.
[Door opens] You drive safe now.
Man: Yeah.
[Door closes]
[Sighs]
[Engine turns over]
[Truck departing]
Grab your coat.
[Door opens]
[Grunts]
You gonna help?
Set it down. [Sniffs]
All right, let's go. Let's pick it up now.
[Woodsman sighs, chain jangles]
Woodsman: Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
[Chain jangles, animal whines]
[Woodsman sighs]
I'm gonna brace the board.
You're gonna release the trap.
[Sniffs] It's a two-person job.
Both sides, press down.
You gotta be quick. [Wolf whines]
[Wolf growling quietly]
Woodsman: Swing your side around.
[Twig snaps]
Easy, easy.
[Wolf continues growling]
[Whispers] Put it down, put it down.
[Trap chain clanks]
Take my light.
[Whispers] Here we go.
[Wolf growls]
[Yelps]
[Wolf whining]
[High-pitched yelping]
Woodsman: Now. [Wolf snarls]
Push harder.
[Clang]
[Both breathing heavily]
[Sniffs, sighs]
[Chuckling]
Ah... [Engine humming]
Is that the kind of trap
that man was talking about?
That man who came by?
[Woodsman sniffs]
He's a cattle rancher.
Pays me for access to the property
so he can set traps.
But you set them off.
I found a trap about a year ago.
Ground was all torn up, like you saw,
blood and scat everywhere,
and there was a paw
still stuck in the goddamn trap.
Wolf chewed right through it,
and I thought, "Uh-uh."
[Flicks lighter]
No.
But I need the money.
[Door closes]
[Distant thunder rumbling]
[Ax splits wood]
[Ax splits wood]
[Ax splits wood]
[Ax splits wood]
Tsk. Jesus Christ.
[Door creaks open]
[Door closes]
Hey, you don't have to do that.
I got plenty of wood in the shed.
I wanted to help.
Woodsman: Just... let the ax fall.
It's gravity. You don't
have to work so hard.
OK. Heh!
How come you told that
guy you were my niece?
Girl: Didn't want you to get in trouble.
Woodsman: You in some kind of trouble?
[Girl sighs]
How far is Klamath Falls from here?
That's a long ways. That's far.
There's a bus.
Leaves early in the morning.
You're gonna be on that bus
tomorrow. You understand me?
Don't chop off your foot or nothin'.
[Footsteps retreat]
[Pan sizzling]
Butter, salt... and a little paprika.
Woodsman: What do you want to hear, Dave?
Girl: That's Dave?
Heh! That's a stuffed raccoon.
Dave... kinda took pity on
me when my ex-wife left.
Told me I could stay
here as long as I wanted.
[Sniffs] Never really left after that.
["Today Is Tomorrow's Yesterday" playing]
Woodsman: When Dave
first started coming up here,
place was infested with raccoons.
Couldn't get rid of 'em, so Dave
starts blasting music all day, every day,
and it worked, except for this fuck.
This defiant, stubborn...
He didn't give a shit.
Music didn't bother him at all.
I mean, who knows?
Maybe he was deaf, but...
anyway.
Eventually, Dave got him with a BB gun,
but, you know, he respected the guy,
so he had him stuffed.
[Scoffs]
Yeah, I call him Dave 'cause Dave...
You just couldn't shake
that guy once he latched on.
You couldn't get rid of him.
Jay Fortunato: Today
Woodsman: Damn.
Do you hear that?
Jay Fortunato: Today will be yesterday
The bass sounds kinda tinny.
Girl: Oh.
You can't hear that?
Fortunato: When my baby says good-bye
You will never see me cry
Today
Woodsman: Did you touch this?
Fortunato: Is tomorrow's yesterday
[Music stops]
Your bus leaves early in the morning.
Be sure you're up. [Footsteps retreat]
[Stairs creak]
[Sighs]
Let's go.
Girl: Can we go tomorrow?
No, that's probably not a good idea.
Please.
[Woodsman sighs]
We gotta go now, like I said yesterday.
That's the plan.
Come on. Let's go.
[Footsteps descending]
[Engine humming]
[Radio static] Man: Tomorrow night,
partly cloudy, lows in the low to mid-40s.
Monday, mostly cloudy
with a chance of showers.
Woodsman: Hold up.
Just in case.
Girl: Thanks.
[Unzips jacket]
Just keep it. [Sniffs]
[Sighs]
[Brakes squeak]
What's in Klamath?
My grandma.
All right, all right,
all right, all right,
all right.
Will you get in?
Woodsman: So how come you don't eat meat?
Girl: My grandma didn't.
And I lived with her, so...
How old are you, anyway?
Girl: 17.
Where are we?
Woodsman: We're coming up on Klamath.
[Parking brake cranks]
[Engine idling]
Thanks.
Good luck with Grandma.
[Door closes]
[Bird chirping]
[Keys jingling]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Footsteps approaching]
Nice kitchen.
You bring your swimming trunks?
There's a pool out back.
You mind telling me
why I drove you halfway
across the state to break
into an empty house?
It's my grandma's house.
Woodsman: Oh, yeah?
Where's she, upstairs in bed?
She passed away.
When?
About a month ago.
I've been staying with my aunt and uncle.
[Woodsman sighs]
Jesus Christ.
Should have been straight with me.
I'm sorry about your grandmother.
[Sighs]
Tsk.
[Country music playing]
Woodsman: How are the cheese sticks?
They're fine.
Woodsman: You eat a
lot of that stuff growing up?
Girl: No.
Grandma cook?
Girl: No.
I don't think she liked food very much.
Woodsman: Yeah, well,
I don't think anyone that's
a vegetarian enjoys food much. Heh!
I don't think she liked most things.
She didn't like people.
She didn't like the stuff on TV.
She didn't like music.
-[Chuckles]
-I don't think she liked me.
[Distant chatter]
[Billiard balls clacking]
I found her.
I got home from school and...
usually, she's watching TV.
The TV was off.
She fell.
Maybe the night before. I don't know. I...
I just let her sleep in
'cause the bus came early,
and I didn't check on her that morning.
[Barstool slides] Man: Able to pour me
more drinks? Bartender: Yeah, OK.
[Glass clinks] Last call!
[Liquor pours]
[Faint voices distorting]
Bartender: Can I get you anything else?
[Sighs] You got a phone I can use?
Bartender: Gas station across the way has
a payphone, I think.
Woodsman: Just the check,
then, thanks.
[Glasses clink, patrons laugh]
[Women laughing]
[Indistinct chatter]
[Bar door closes]
[Footsteps approach]
You gotta go home.
I can't.
Woodsman: Why not?
I had a fight with my aunt.
Woodsman: You had a fight w...
Why don't you sleep on it?
[Engine turns over]
[Parking brake cranks]
I'll stay in the car.
All right.
[Door closes]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Sighs]
[Low rumbling]
[Rumbling intensifies]
[Rumbling stops]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
Man: Don't shoot the messenger,
but Jolene wanted to, uh,
make sure you were packed.
She seemed pretty intent on leaving early.
You OK?
Yeah.
Man: OK.
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Footsteps approach]
Girl: I'm all packed.
Jolene: Oh, thanks, sweetie.
Girl: And I put the rest
of the boxes to donate
in the garage. Jolene:
Oh, gosh, there's room
in that garage for more boxes? Oh...
Girl: Heh! Not really. [Glass shatters]
Girl: I'll get it. Jolene: Damn it!
[Music playing on
phone] Man: Pizza, pizza!
[Door closes] Here comes-a the pizza.
Jolene: OK, not in the
kitchen 'cause there's glass.
Man: Oh, it'll clean itself up. Come on.
Come dance with me
Jolene: I'm sure that is how
you think cleaning
works. Can you take that?
Thank you. Male singer: Paradise
Jolene: Can you turn that down, please?
Man: Oh. [Turns down music]
Jolene: Carey.
Carey: What? Jolene: She doesn't eat meat.
Carey: Heh! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
I just, uh... Jolene: You just forgot
that she doesn't eat
meat? Carey: Yeah, I forgot.
Jolene: Wow. Girl: It's fine.
I'll eat around. Jolene: And there's
no utensils. Plates, but no utensils.
Carey: Well, I just
thought, 'cause it's piz...
Jolene: You did not check
the bag before you left?
Carey: No, I didn't
check the bag. I just...
Jolene: Then how am I
supposed to eat my salad?
Carey: Why don't I
go find you a fork and...
Jolene: No, it's all packed, Carey.
[Sighing] Oh.
[Wine pouring]
Mm.
Jolene: You know,
Grandma's not watching, Dani.
You don't have to live by
her rules if you don't want to.
This house still smells like smoke...
'cause she smoked when your mother and I
were kids. Did you know that?
When she caught your
mother smoking in high school,
she made her eat the entire pack.
Not that it stopped your mother.
She always did exactly
what she wanted. Heh!
And then our mother basically
just gave up on her.
Carey: I think maybe,
if she was tough on you,
it's because she thought
that you had potential.
She never liked you.
[Chuckles]
What's the difference between a loan
and a psychologist?
Jolene: A loan eventually
matures and earns money.
She made that joke the first time
I brought him home. Carey: It's not bad.
Hey, Dani, do you know
what a Freudian slip is?
Dani: Yeah. Carey: It's when you mean
one thing, but say your mother.
Jolene: You know, Carey,
maybe... maybe you're right.
Maybe she just saw potential.
Or maybe she was just a fucking bitch.
What? For God's sakes, you couldn't load
the woman's dishwasher
'cause it wouldn't be done right,
and you couldn't give
her a Christmas gift without
some snide comment,
or the way that she would
watch you eat and sigh.
What? Don't look at
me like I'm the asshole.
Carey: Well, I think you're
being a little inconsiderate.
Jolene: I'm inconsiderate? Oh, come on.
You can't even be
bothered to get me a fork.
Carey: I think there's a dif...
Jolene: Or remember that Dani
doesn't eat meat, and I'm inconsiderate?
Carey: I think there's
a difference between
an honest mistake...
Jolene: Please don't play
psychologist today, Carey.
Carey: Look, you've had
a hard day and you're hurting, and so are
other people at this table.
Maybe you want to take
a deep breath and think
about that before you say anything else.
[Inhales deeply]
Oh, God.
Sometimes I hear her words
coming out of my mouth,
and I hate it.
[Sobs]
She was a bitter, withholding woman.
That's the truth, really,
and there's a huge weight off my shoulders
now that she's gone. [Sobs]
Sorry.
I mean, Dani can take it.
She's not a child, and she knows better
than anyone that woman
can throw a punch, right?
[Sets down wineglass]
[Door creaks]
[Toilet flushing]
[Sports commentator speaking faintly]
[Footsteps approach]
Carey: Hey.
Dani: Hey.
Carey: Fellow night owl.
Dani: Yeah.
[Water running]
[Carey sits]
Carey: How's the book?
Dani: I finished it.
[Carey sets down glass]
Carey: You can't sleep?
You want to sit?
Dani: Yeah.
[Faint sports commentary continues]
[Sighs]
Sorry about what Jolene
said about your grandma.
Dani: Yeah.
Carey: Jolene loved her, in her own way.
You know, she was a very critical woman.
She was really hard on Jolene.
She was hard on you, too.
And I'm sorry about the pizza.
Dani: It's fine. Carey: No, no, no, I knew
it was important to you. I just spaced.
Sorry Jolene freaked out.
She's just a little tightly wound.
She just wants to get all this...
stress and stuff behind her.
You know, she'd rather take
everything to a dump than deal with it.
A month is a long time for her to be here.
I like it here.
Carey: Oh, yeah? Well,
there is not much here,
so you don't know what you're missin'.
You're gonna love the
city. There's gonna be a ton
of new, cute boys at that school.
Or cute girls, you know,
if that's your thing. I'm hip, I'm down.
You can hook up with anybody you want,
as long as you use... [Uncorks bottle]
[Whispers] protection.
[Both chuckle] Carey: See? I'm cool.
You want a splash?
Dani: Mm-mm.
Ah.
You're a bit more of a
Jolene than you are your mom.
Dani: What do you mean?
Carey: Oh... think your
mom was kind of a rebel,
you know, had all the boys wrapped around
her little finger.
Did you get a chance to read my paper?
Yes, I did.
I did. Did I not send you my notes?
-No.
-God.
Here we go.
-No, I...
-No, no, no, no, no.
The game's over. I'm
already pulling it up.
Let's see.
I like it better than the last one.
Yeah, you know, I'm
more of a Jungian myself,
so there's probably a bit of bias there,
but I thought you gave Freud
a bit too much screen time
or paper time or whatever.
That's right.
I think... you're a little naive
about the power of the id.
But, uh, you know, it's...
It's better than the
last, that's for sure.
[Sets down phone]
Not that it's bad. It's not bad.
I feel like that's what you're hearing.
Dani: Well, it doesn't sound good.
Carey: Well, I'm not here
to make you feel good.
You know, I'm here to be honest with you
about your work and
try and make it better.
Look, I... I literally wrote
a book about this stuff,
and it's what I love,
and I think it's so cool
that you're getting so deep into it.
And I think you can
handle some honesty, right?
Yeah, I can.
You better let me read the next one.
Dani: I will.
You know, I wanted to
show you something, but I...
I didn't know how you would react.
Dani: What?
Are you interested?
-Yeah.
-Yeah? Heh!
Dani: Yeah.
OK. Come on.
Carey: All right. Which one, which one?
[Sets down glass]
Oh, no.
What is even... what is all this stuff?
Dani: Think it's Easter
decorations... Aah! No?
Oh, I remember.
Yeah, that's the one.
Dani: What is this stuff?
Is this my mom's stuff?
Carey: Yeah.
Dani: Jolene was just
gonna throw this out?
Yeah.
Why?
Carey: I don't know.
Look, in her defense, she
was gonna get rid of all of it.
Listen, Jolene'll flip out
if you take the whole box,
but... [Sets down glass]
If there's something you
want, you should take it.
God, you really do just
look... look just like her.
That's the first thing Jolene
said when we got here.
She said... "She looks just like her."
She is... very pretty,
and I can see why Jolene felt, uh...
forgotten.
Jolene's pretty.
You're so funny.
-Why?
-Can't take a compliment.
[Whispers] What are you doing?
We should go to sleep.
You're not tired?
No.
Cold?
No.
[Whispers] Let me see.
[Whispers] Oh, you're a liar.
Want to go back inside?
[Birds chirping]
[Knock on door]
[Door creaks open]
[Whispers] Hi. Sorry to wake you.
-Is it time to go?
-Yeah, we're just
loading up the car, um... [gulps]...
But I just wanted to
apologize for last night.
I'm sorry.
If I said anything that was...
hurtful, I really shouldn't have.
It's just... well, losing someone...
I don't have to tell you,
but it's gonna be fine.
[Hands slap legs]
Everything is going to be fine
and I would really
like for us to be close.
[Gulps] Your mom and I were.
We were... close.
[Cellphone alarm ringing]
OK, well, I'm gonna go give Carey a hand.
Dani: OK. [Alarm stops, door closes]
[Footsteps retreat]
Carey: Mornin'. Dani: Morning.
-You good?
-Yeah.
Carey: Want to drive?
Jolene: Hey. You riding with Carey?
Carey: Yeah. Jolene: OK, I'll see you guys
when we stop for lunch,
then. [Car door opens]
[Seatbelt buckles]
[Gear shifts to drive]
[Sighs]
You want to talk about it?
Dani: If you want to.
Well, I mean... you...
you doing all right?
Dani: Yeah.
Yeah? Dani?
Yeah, I'm good.
[Inhales deeply, sighs]
You want to listen to music?
Yeah.
["I'm Leaving Today"
by Ron Higgins playing]
Higgins: I'm leaving today
I'll say good-bye
I don't want to see
You cry
I've had all I can take
Now I'm just about to break
Carey: Pull over here.
Dani: Where?
Carey: This right here.
-The motel?
-Yeah.
[Turn signal clicking]
[Music continuing]
[Gear shifts to park]
Carey: I wanted to surprise you.
You know, I thought it'd be
good for us to have some,
uh, alone time.
What about Jolene?
Don't worry about
Jolene. I'll call her up.
You know, I'll tell her
we had car trouble,
get us a couple hours.
You know, if we're feeling lucky,
maybe the transmission
died. [Unbuckles seat belt]
Don't worry about it... [Door opens]
All right? Stay right here.
Don't go anywhere.
[Door creaks]
Carey, chuckling: It's hot, right?
Uh... [Pushes buttons]
let me see.
[Beep, air conditioner whirs] OK.
I'll, uh...
let me see if I can
get us a different room.
Just... don't get too comfortable, OK?
[Gulps]
[Breath trembling]
Dani?
What the fuck?
[Heavy breathing]
[Birds chirping]
[Sniffling]
[Distant bird squawks]
[Distant thunder rumbling]
[Rainfall pattering]
[Birds chirping]
[Vehicle approaching]
[Footsteps approach, door opens]
[Door closes]
Woodsman: Rise and shine.
Here.
You know what this is? Hmm?
Set it up and call your aunt and uncle.
You're not gonna stay in
this empty house forever.
[Punching numbers]
[Line ringing]
It's ringing.
[Line continues ringing]
[Click] Jolene on phone: Hello?
Hello?
[Closes phone, sighs]
[Footsteps approach]
Dani: They're gonna pick me up.
-When?
-They're leaving now,
so this afternoon. You don't have to wait.
Woodsman: OK. [Phone vibrating]
Hello?
Hey... oh, shit. [Footsteps retreat]
[Door opens and closes] OK.
[Breathing heavily]
[Door opens]
Woodsman: Hey!
Don't make me come after you!
[Sobbing]
Woodsman: Get back in the house!
[Breathing heavily]
Woodsman: Oh, come on.
I'm trying to help you!
[Breathing heavily]
[Footsteps approach]
[Door opens]
[Door closes]
[Woodsman sighs]
[Prosthetic leg clicks]
Your aunt and uncle are on their way.
You can wait.
I don't care anymore.
I'm an old man, I can't
be chasing you around.
[Lighter clicks] Give me a heart attack.
Dani: What happened to your leg?
[Inhales sharply]
It was a car accident. [Exhales]
I was blacked out at the wheel, woke up
in the hospital, missing my foot.
[Woodsman sighs]
There was a woman in the other car.
Name was Teresa.
She was an elementary school teacher,
coming back from a retirement,
potluck kinda thing.
I was coming back from
drinking, ran a stop sign,
ran right through her.
Been sober ever since, 7 years.
A lot of good that does her.
Heh!
My lawyer got me off.
No... no... no time,
and that pissed off a
lot of people in town.
[Sniffs] Still pissed off.
Except Dave.
He was the one.
He was the one.
Yeah. [Breath catches]
Dave was my sponsor. [Chuckles]
[Sighs]
Should have gone to prison.
[Clears throat]
Should probably still be there.
[Water running]
[Water splashes]
[Woodsman sighs] Dani: I'm sorry.
Woodsman: Don't be. I know what I did.
It's all true... heh! and worse.
I'm just trying to tell you,
you know, life goes around
the way it goes. It's...
you're gonna fuck up.
It's what happens after, you know?
And I wasted a whole lot of
goddamn time feeling sorry
for myself.
So...
[Inhales sharply]
Yeah.
Dave used to say, if
you can't help yourself,
help somebody else.
I'm just trying to help.
[Sniffling]
I know... but...
Just tell me.
-[Sobs]
-What's wrong?
[Breath trembling]
[Knock on door]
Stay right there.
Man: Klamath PD.
[Police radio, indistinct]
[Door opens]
[Sniffles]
[Distant chatter, phone ringing]
Your license. [Sighs]
Just a reminder, it
expires in a couple months.
-Yeah.
-So, listen, uh,
her family's still a couple hours out.
If you want to stay, you're welcome to.
-Well, how is she?
-She's fine.
Did she say anything about what's going on
with her family? Detective: Unfortunately,
I can't disclose anything
that we talked about.
-OK.
-We've got it under control.
Woodsman: Yeah, sure, but... [Sighs]
Detective: Listen, you're
welcome to wait if you want.
Woodsman: Thank you, but, um...
look, can... can you give
her something for me?
I just want to write down,
uh, something for her.
[Footsteps approaching]
Uh, the gentleman you came in with
left this for you. Dani: Thanks.
He left?
Detective: Twenty minutes ago.
You need anything?
No.
Detective: Want to talk?
I'm fine.
All right.
Well, if you change your
mind, I'm right outside.
[Quietly] OK.
[No audible dialogue]
[Seatbelt buckle clicks, door closes]
[Carey sighs]
Dani, what the fuck?
[Sighs] I'm sorry.
I mean, you left me in
a really shitty position
with Jolene. Dani: I know.
I thought we were
good. You said... you said
we were good.
I mean, you really
scared me, you know that?
I... I think we made a mistake.
OK.
OK.
Well, uh, what... what
do you want me to do?
And this is the problem
with girls your age.
No, I mean, you think... [Scoffs]
You think you know what
you want, you think you know
what you're doing, until
all of a sudden, you don't.
You know, I never
cheated on Jolene before.
Never.
And I... I could have,
but it was never worth it.
You just can't fuck with somebody's life
and then just take off.
[Engine turns over]
[Engine turns over]
[Keys jingle]
Carey: Hey.
Look... I thought you could handle this.
Obviously, I was wrong.
You know, that... that's me.
That's an error in my judgment.
Now, you and I know what happened,
but this isn't something
that we can talk about.
I mean, you get that?
Yeah?
Because when we talk about it, that's when
people can get hurt, and neither one of us
wants to hurt anybody, right? I know that.
You... you don't want that, right?
No.
If Jolene found out about
this, I mean, fuckin'...
It would... break her heart.
So, look, w-we'll just take a step back.
Yeah? We'll just take a step back...
[Sighs]
And be just like nothing ever happened.
-OK.
-OK?
[Sniffs]
Carey: Nothing happens
unless you want it to.
[Chuckling] You OK?
Yeah.
OK.
[Door opens, seat belt unbuckles]
[Car door closes]
[Sighs]
[Door closes]
[No audible dialogue]
[Sniffling]
[Sobs]
[Footsteps approach]
Oh.
[Sniffs]
I wasn't stalking you.
OK.
[Woodsman sighs]
I just wanted to make
sure you got home OK.
I'm all right.
Good.
Uh, well, uh...
I guess I'll head out, then.
Hey, uh... [Sniffs]
You know... if you need anything...
or you just want to talk, you know,
I... I got the phone.
You got the number, right?
I'm around.
Take care of yourself.
Dani: You, too.
[Engine turns over]
[Footsteps retreat]
[Birds chirping]
[Parking brake cranks]
Woodsman: Hey.
Don't want you on my property anymore.
[Sighs]
You know, I go a quarter
mile down the road,
I'm not on your property.
Woodsman: Well, do that, then.
You're not welcome on mine.
You gonna keep messin' with my traps?
Yeah, probably.
[Sighs] What do you care?
I don't want to have
nothin' to do with all that.
Rancher: I was just
tryin' to help you out, man.
[Sighs]
Dave liked you, and he was a good guy.
Woodsman: Yes, he was. There you go.
-Keep the money.
-There you go.
[Rancher sighs]
Woodsman: Stay off my property.
Rancher: You know, Teresa
was a friend of my daughter's.
You know, I know people
think you got off easy.
Rancher: I don't.
Rancher: You say hello to your niece.
[Truck door opens]
[Sniffs]
[Truck door closes, engine turns over]
[Truck departing]
[Jolene sighs]
[Coffee pouring] Dani: Morning.
Jolene: Oh, hey, honey.
Do you want some coffee?
Do you drink coffee? No?
Well, there's some cereal here.
The bowls are up there.
Um, silverware right there.
I feel bad leaving you today.
I'm sorry.
Dani: It's fine. I'm fine.
Jolene: You know,
panic attacks are nothing
to be ashamed of, and we can get you
on some medication. Carey: Whoa.
I mean... [Sets down coffeepot]
One day at a time, you know? Jolene: Well,
I just think it's good to get
ahead of things like this,
and depression runs in our family.
Carey: She's not depressed.
Jolene: OK, well, there are some sous vide
egg-white bite things in the fridge.
Do you eat eggs? Dani: Yeah.
Jolene: Then maybe we could
do pasta for dinner or somethin'?
Carey: Yeah. Jolene: All right.
Bye, honey. [Carey kisses fingers]
[Door closes]
Carey: I'll deal with her.
-She's fine.
-Heh! Yeah.
You say that now... [Sets down mug]
But she can move pretty fast.
Carey: What?
-Nothing.
-What's up your butt?
Nothing.
Carey: Nothing [mockingly].
What's wrong with you?
Hey, come on.
Hey, I'm just trying to be friendly.
[Spoon clinks, water runs]
[Whispers] Please don't.
Carey: Don't... don't... don't what?
Don't touch me.
[Sighs]
[Dani's breath trembling]
Carey: Or what?
[Door opens] Jolene: Hey, forgot my jacket
and my lunch. What's going on?
[Chuckles] Nothing.
Jolene: Everything OK? Carey: Yeah.
Dani: Mm-hmm.
Jolene: All right. Bye, honey.
[Door opens] Carey: See you later.
[Door closes]
Jolene, sighing: You sure you're OK?
Dani: Mm-hmm. Fine.
Jolene: Try to get some rest, OK?
I'll see you later. [Door opens]
[Door closes]
Jolene?
What? What's up, Dani?
Dani, breathing
heavily: I can't stay here.
Jolene: Why? What do you mean?
You just got here, sweetie. What?
[Cries] I can't.
[Gasps] I can't stay here.
Hey, take a breath.
take a breath, calm down.
Dani: You know where my
mom is? Can I go with my mom?
Jolene: No, honey, no...
no one knows where she is.
[Dani sobbing]
Jolene: Can you tell me what's going on?
This hasn't been easy on
us, either, but we really want
to make this work, and
this will feel like your home.
You just got to give it some time, OK?
[Gasps]
Jolene: You can tell me.
-[Sobbing]
-What is it?
I made a mistake with Carey.
[Sobbing]
It was just once,
and I... I told him to
stop, I didn't want to do it.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry, Jolene.
I'm so sorry. [Sobbing]
[Line ringing]
Jolene.
Jolene: Hi. Can you
come back home, please?
No. Dani, st-stay here.
No. Dani, Dani, s...
Carey: Oh, here she is.
What did... w-what'd you
tell her? Hey! Wait, wait, wait.
-Get off me!
-All right, all right.
Why don't you just tell
me what you said to her?
[Dani sobs]
I told her what happened.
-I don't know what that means.
-Yes, you do.
-No, I don't, I don't.
-You know.
-I'm sorry.
-Yes, you do!
Jolene: She said that
you were together, right?
That's... that's what
you... is... that's what you
were implying, right? Carey: What?
Dani: I'm sorry, Jolene, I'm so sorry.
Carey: Oh, my God. Oh, no, no, no, no.
That is absolutely not true.
That's absolutely not
true. Tell her, Dani,
Tell her! Tell her you're lying!
I'm not lying! I'm not lying.
Carey: All right, well,
let's just talk about this
like reasonable adults and go inside.
Dani: I am not going inside with you!
Carey: Like reasonable
ad... no, no, no, no.
You don't get to blow things up and then
just walk away, all right?
Now you have to fix this.
I know you're upset, right? You're upset
about your grandmother.
Dani: That's not what
this is about! Carey: OK.
Just tell Jolene. Tell her...
tell her you're making it up.
Tell Jolene that you're
lying. You're lying, Dani.
You're lying! Stop lying!
Tell Jolene that you're
fucking making it up!
[Sobbing]
It was a mistake, and I'm sorry,
and I didn't want to do
it again and I told you
that I wanted to stop! You told me
that we could go back
like it never happened,
but I can't do that!
[Sighs]
Dani: You want to talk about it?
[Sniffles] What part
you want to talk about?
[Footsteps retreating]
Carey: You're a fucking liar!
[Whispers] Sorry.
-Is it true?
-No.
I mean, she's completely outta control...
Jolene: Carey.
Just tell me if it's true.
No.
-Jolene...
-You're disgusting.
-Come on, just...
-[Sobbing]
Carey: It's OK.
[Breathing heavily]
[Sniffs]
OK.
Hi, Teresa.
My name is Jonah.
I haven't been out here before.
Sorry about that. I shoulda come sooner.
I don't know a whole lot about you.
I know you were a teacher.
And you were loved.
My mother was a teacher, too.
Elementary school, second grade.
I want to be straight with you.
I was drunk that night and I knew it.
I shouldn't have been on the road.
I'm sorry for what I did to you.
[Inhales deeply, sighs]
Look...
I brought you some music.
This was my mother's favorite song,
and it means a lot to me, too, and...
thought maybe you'd like it.
[Sighs]
[Click, "My Place in the Sun"
playing through headphones]
[Sniffs]
Bud Sloan: Someday I'll find
My place in the sun
Someday I'll know
That my life's begun [Jonah sobbing]
OK.
Sloan: Those things that I pray for
Both night and day
for [Jonah sniffles]
-Will come
-Oh. OK.
-True
-[Sighs]
Sloan: Working and giving
Loving and living
All for you
Someday I'll find
My place in the sun
Someday I'll know
That you are the one
[Cellphone vibrating]
Yes, my happiness lies
Deep in someone's blue eyes
And that someone Jonah: Hello?
Sloan: Is no one but you
Someday I'll say
I found it with you
[Song continues]
Yes, my happiness lies
Deep in someone's blue eyes
And that someone is
No one but you
Someday I'll say
I found it
With you