1 Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Able 2015 1 1 (STATIC CRACKLES ON WALKIE-TALKIE) (WHISPERS) I'm coming out now. (WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) WOMAN: I just wanna have a conversation. I just wanna talk about it. Shit. (MOTOR IDLES) What the shit, man? Suck it. Drive! (MOTOR REVS) How old is she? A junior. She got nice titties. You talk to her? No. You're gonna have to talk to her. I know. Remind me when we get back to my house. I think Galen's got a book on that. (STARTS MOTOR) (SPARSE AND TENSE COUNTRY ROCK MUSIC) (CUTS ENGINE) Shit. Your dad would kill us if he knew we went out there. I'm not worried about my dad killing us. We need to move if we're gonna make it back. Set your watch. We need a good 15 minutes. -(WATCH BEEPS) -(STARTS MOTOR) There it is! (BIRDS AND INSECTS CHIRP) BOY: Galen said it's been here a while. He thinks the last flood did it. Oh, hold it! Look. Little shits. -There it is. -Yeah. There it is. Came down from up there. Motor's gone. -Who else knows about this? -(TRAPDOOR THUDS) -Just me and Galen. -What's he think? -He don't care about it. -Good. 'Cause this boat's ours. This is perfect. Holy shit. Dude! Oh! Sonofabitch! Whoa. Those are awesome. -Man. -Neck. Dude, look at that beave! You gotta see this. -Neck! -What? -Someone's here. -What? Someone's living here. -(WATCH BEEPS) -Shit. We gotta go. I can't be late. What are you doing? I saw that same bootprint up in the tree. It's got a cross in the heel. Somebody's been in our boat. NECK: Shit. Let's go. We gotta go if you wanna make it back. NECK: Takes twice as long going upriver. Hold on. Up there, they stop. Where the hell'd he go? I don't know. Shit. You know that guy? I've never seen him before. Shit. What you say, boys? It's a hell of a thing, ain't it? What's that? Boat in a tree. Hell of a thing. -Talking about our boat? -Talking about my boat. We found it. Yeah, you found it with me living in it. Possession's nine-tenths of the law. You've got crosses in your heels. Nails...shaped like crosses. BOY: What for? Ward off evil spirits. Bought 'em from a man I called an Indian, but he was a Mexican. Said they were seven-league boots worn by the seventh son of the seventh son. Told me, turn me into a werewolf. That's a lie. I don't know nothing about that. They just good-luck boots. (SPITS) As you can see, they ain't working too well so far. What's your name? I'm Neckbone. He's Ellis. And, mister, I know you're not the owner of that boat, not for nine-tenths of nothing. Neckbone? That's a heck of a good handle, son. Where y'all from? What do you care where we're from? DeWitt. Arkansas boys. Y'all had me worried for a second. -Supposed to know you? -Oh, I doubt it. I grew up round here, but I've been gone a while. Where at around here? Different places. Spent a lot of time back up near the White. -You know Shelly's Oxbow? -Ellis! Yeah, I know it. Know a man named Tom Blankenship used to live up in there. He still does. His boat's across from mine. Well, ain't that something? Hm. You know, I like you two boys. You remind me of...me. Seeing as how you two is from Arkansas and we know some of the same people and we grew up in the same places, I reckon we could make a deal for something. A deal for what? Food. Food for a boat. He's a bum, Ellis. Come on. Why don't you go get your own food? Well, I would if I could. See, I told somebody I'd meet 'em here, so... Well, I'm stuck for now, and what I got's running low. He's a bum, Ellis. Come on. I ain't no bum. I got money, boy. You can call me a hobo 'cause a hobo will work for his living. You can call me homeless 'cause that's true for now, but you call me a bum again, I'm gonna teach you something about respect your daddy never did. When they show up, you'll leave? Yep. And when you leave, that boat's ours? That's right. I'm just in a tight spot, could use a little help. We gotta go. Did you get his name? No. (THUDDING) (PANTS HEAVILY) Sorry. Where have you been? Me and Neck got caught up helping Galen. Supposed to be helping me. I had to load this myself. I know. I'm sorry. Get on in the back. Can't be later than we are. # Sitting and waiting makes a man feel so low. # Holed up and praying, # reckoning which way to go. # Try to be patient. # Each second cuts through the bone. # River keeps rising. # Oh, dear, save my soul. # I wish I # could get to the other side. # Lord, it might be the last time # to take you away, # to take you away. # Take you away. # Supposed to be 10. It's 10, you do your share. I loaded this morning, makes it five. Can you drop me at Neck's? Haven't you seen enough of him today? He said he had something for me. See any more of them Ding Dongs over there? What'd Mama wanna talk to you about? What? This morning. What'd she wanna talk to you about? You spy on me in my own house? I wasn't spying. I...I just heard y'all. That's your mother's business. ('HELP ME, RHONDA' BY THE BEACH BOYS PLAYS) (VEHICLE DOOR CLOSES) Came for that book. Oh, yeah. Gotta give it a minute. Hear that music? -('HELP ME, RHONDA' CONTINUES) -Yeah. That means he's doing it. It's his doing-it song. You know who it is? Whoever's driving that Pontiac. Did you tell Galen about this morning? Nah. You tell anybody? That guy's crazy. I don't know. I think he just needed a little help. He can swim his ass off that island and get some. -Think I'm gonna go back out. -(MUSIC STOPS) -Give him some food. -Why? -You're Neckbone, right? -Yeah. Word of advice - don't grow up to be like your shitheel uncle. Hey! You hear me? You treat a woman like a princess. Got it? -Yeah. -(DOOR OPENS) Come on, baby. -I'm a goddamn princess! -That's uncalled for. Hey, a lot of people are comfortable with that kind of thing in the bedroom. Some people aren't. We know that about you now, OK? (WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) Pearls. Galen finds 'em in the mussel shells. Come on. Let's get that book. (GALEN AND WOMAN CONTINUE ARGUING) WOMAN: No! (GALEN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) I don't want you going back out there by yourself. That river's scary enough with two people. I don't trust that guy. Here it is. Galen said that really turned things around for him. Thanks. (ENGINE STARTS) Watch out for that dog! (ENGINE SCREECHES) You really going back out there? Yeah. I think it's the right thing to do. Alright. I'll be over in the morning, then. Hey, that's a good book. Make sure you do the work sheets in back. Let's get some dinner, Neck. -Hey. I'll call before I come. -Alright. (PEOPLE ARGUE INDISTINCTLY) (MAN YELLS INDISTINCTLY) -(TAP RUNS) -You OK, Mama? Yes. Are you hungry? You want me to fix you something? I'm alright. Well, then, I'm gonna turn in. 1 (WATER SLOSHES) (CLATTERING) Hey, Dad. What do you know about Tom Blankenship? What? Mr Blankenship. What do you know about him? -Why? -I don't know. He just looks lonely over there all by himself. Some people move to this river to work on it and some people move here to be left alone. I want us to try and sit down for dinner tonight, OK? Ellis. Be home by 7:00. Yes, ma'am. -Where do you think he's at? -Let's try the boat. ELLIS: Looks like he made camp. You think he's up there? (WHISTLING) What are you doing? Try to never sleep in the same spot twice. -What you got there? -ELLIS: Brought you some food. Here. Take it. Oh, I owe you boys. I was gonna try and run a trotline this afternoon, see where that got me. Mmm...mmm. Green beans never tasted so good. Mmm. Why you have that pistol? Protection. Y'all don't need to be afraid of me. I've got two ways to protect myself out here - this shirt and this pistol. There are fierce powers at work in the world, boys - good, evil, poor luck, best luck. As men, we've gotta take advantage where we can. Y'all coming? ELLIS: So who's this guy you're waiting on? I'm not waiting on no guy. I'm waiting on my girlfriend. -Juniper. -She hot? She's beautiful. (COUGHS) Bullshit. MAN: Prettiest girl I ever seen, hands down. Blonde hair, long legs... Tell you, she's like a dream you don't wanna wake up from. She's got these birds tattooed on her hands here. Nightingales. Good-luck birds. That a good-luck snake? No, it is not. I hate snakes. That's 'cause God put 'em here for us to fear. We knew to be afraid of snakes long before we ever even got into this world. The Cherokee would wrap their pregnant women's bellies in snakeskin, induce labour, scare the child out. Put that round your bed at night. Snake won't cross a braided rope. Thanks. So, what's that tattoo for, then? It's a reminder - don't get bit. I was 10, swimming about a mile up from here, me and Juniper. Sonofabitch... ..swam up on me, bit me right here up under the armpit. Juniper got me off to the clinic. Doctor said I should've been dead in 20 minutes. Took us over an hour just to get to town. NECK: So, what'd they do for it? Gave me the antivenom for cottonmouth. See here? The thing with antivenom is, they can only give it to you once. Made of horse blood. Body would reject it a second time. The cure becomes more dangerous than the poison. What happens if you get bit again? I'd die or just sweat it out. We gotta go help Neck's uncle. Alright. You never said your name. Mud. You can call me Mud. Here, Mud. Think you need this worse than I do. I'll be alright. (PEOPLE CHATTER) You start dating, I bet her dad will give you a free pick-up. I don't care about that. What the hell are you... Where are you going? GIRL: Stop it! Stop it! God. Hey. BOY: Oh, dude! BOY 2: Holy shit, Pryor. Get off your ass. Yeah, you got what you deserve. That's right. Go home, Pryor. BOY 3: Yeah. Don't walk away, man. Don't walk away. Do I know you? I'm Ellis. That's Neck. We went to junior high with you before you went to high school. -How old are you? -14. You know you just punched a senior? So? I'm May Pearl. I know. What else do you know? Nothing. Sonofabitch. Ellis. Ellis! Look. NECK: You ever seen that girl before? No. Did you see her hands? Hey, girl. Hey! Hey, girl. Where you going? That ain't even cool. -Hello? -Oh, sorry. I think we know a guy that might know that girl over there. -GIRL: May Pearl, let's go! -Oh. OK! OK. Uh... I guess I'll see ya. If you can find my number, you should give me a call. I can find it. (GIRLS LAUGH AND CHATTER) -Where'd she go? -In the Piggly Wiggly. She came from the motel. 1 MAN: Home for dinner? ELLIS: What you hiding for? I ain't hiding. Come over here. You know I love you? Yes, sir. I know. I work you hard 'cause life is work. You know that? Yes, sir. Your mama's talking about moving in town. What's that mean? She seems set on it. Wants to separate. May even ask for a divorce. What's that mean for me? It means enjoy this river, son. Enjoy it while you live on it. 'Cause this way of life isn't long for this world. River Authority's about made certain of that. But you and me... We can still live out here, right? RA can't take your boat, not while you're still living in it. This houseboat's in your mother's name. Her daddy gave it to her, not to me. She wants to leave it, River Authority's got every right to come in here and tear this place apart board by board. But that ain't right. You work out here. We got the ice machine, the traps. What are we supposed to do? Like I said, that's your mother's business. I ain't no townie. I ain't living like that. I've let you down, son. Man's supposed to be in charge of his own affairs, but... ..I haven't worked it like that. But y'all are married. Y'all are supposed to love each other. I don't know about that anymore. Hey, Ellis? (SLAMS DOOR) You're late. (THUDDING) MUD: Ellis? Damn, boy. What you doing out here? I got you some Beanee Weenee. Oh, I appreciate that. I didn't expect you out here at night. Look at that. Boy, you really know how to do somebody right. I wasn't gonna say nothing, but...pretty tough to make a meal out of pumpkin pie filling. That's all my mom had. Oh, I ain't complaining. Can I get one of those? They're yours to begin with. That's good, right? You've been out here too long. (CHUCKLES) Mm-hm. The girl you're waiting on. She's your girlfriend? Juniper. Yeah. How'd you meet her? We grew up together. Do you love her? I do. First time I saw her was on this river, just up from here. She saved my life. -From the snakebite? -Mmm. I was younger than you are right now. When I came to in the hospital and she was there... ..it was like the whole world just split wide open and... ..come back together new. I knew from then on, I'd do anything for her. Why aren't y'all married, then? I've asked, several times. (SIGHS) Marriage... ..just don't work for some people. My dad says my parents might be getting a divorce. I'm sorry to hear that. They say if it happens and my mom moves us off the river, the government could come take our boat. Who says that? Everybody. They passed a law. (KICKS) I saw Juniper today. What? She had the birds tattooed on her hands, just like you said. You're right. She's pretty. Where'd you see her? At the Piggly Wiggly. I think she's staying at a motel nearby there. That's good news. It's real good news. Does she know you're out here? No, no. We, uh... We said we'd meet somewhere else a couple of days from now. You wanna go tonight? I can take you upriver. Tomorrow. I'll go tomorrow. You want me to come get you? No, I can manage. Hell, I made it out here, didn't I? It's a hell of a thing, ain't it? It's a hell of a thing. -(DOOR OPENS) -Time to get up. It's too early. I'm going to Walmart. I need you to come with me. -Mom! -Come on! Ellis, I know what your father told you last night. That's...it's not what I wanted. I wanted to sit you down and talk about it. What do you wanna talk about? You wanna leave, and that means they can tear up our house. I spent my whole life on that boat. I don't think it's too much to ask... WOMAN: Oh, no. Oh, I hope no-one's hurt. I'm just saying, there are two sides to this, you know, and I haven't made up my mind yet because I wanted you to be involved with my decision. But I need a change, Ellis. I deserve one. WOMAN: I think they're searching people. OFFICER: How you doing today, ma'am? -I'm alright. How are you? -I'm doing just fine. Have you seen or picked up any hitchhikers today? -No, sir. -OK. Could you open the back for me, please? -It's open. -OK. Ma'am, have you seen this man? WOMAN: No, sir. Son, have you? No. OK, well, there's been reports that he's in the area, so if you see him, just call 911 for us, OK? -OK. -What'd he do? What'd he do? Move along, please. Neck, Neck, pick up! I knew it! I told you that creepy sonofabitch was trouble. -Did you tell him where he is? -No. That's why I called you. He needs to know people are looking for him. You think he doesn't know that already? Jesus, Ellis! Why do you even think he's on that island? Ellis, I'm serious! We don't know who this guy is. He loves her, Neck. He told me. I don't give a shit who he loves. He's not dangerous. (MOTOR SPUTTERS) Sounds like a shitload of state troopers thinks different. No telling where the hell he's been sleeping. He might be gone already. (WHISTLING) Oh, shit. Sorry, boys, but I have to go back on our deal for the boat. I don't feel good about it, but I don't see any other way out of what I'm into. So you know about the state troopers? What state troopers? The ones spreading your picture all over the place, stopping cars on 165 searching for your ass. No, I don't know about that, but it don't surprise me. I got a lot of folks looking for me. Why? I shot a man, killed him. I'm sorry I didn't tell you boys sooner. I was hoping to be long gone before anything came of it. Didn't want y'all involved. Look, y'all have been real good to me. You're the only friends I got out here. If troopers got 165 blocked, that means they got other roads blocked too, so I ain't gonna get nowhere in a car. I wanna try getting this boat down, see if we can get it in the water. See, with a boat like this, I can make it to the Gulf in two days. Heck, from there, I could get anywhere, but I'd need a boat at least this big to make it on the open water. It's got no title, no owner and nobody looking for it. It's my best shot. Who'd you kill? Oh, just a bad piece of business. Y'all don't need to hear about it. I need to hear about it. Juniper, she... ..she made a mistake... ..hooked up with this guy. He was no good. His name was...Hutchins. His family owns a chain of restaurants down in Texas. Where were you? I was around, but... ..me and Juniper was on the outs. So she...met him. He sold her on a pack of lies, he got her pregnant. That's when he started showing who he really was. He dropped her down a flight of stairs after whooping her half to death. She lost the baby, he made it so... Doctors say she can't even have children no more. There are things you can get away with in this world and there are things you can't. I tracked him down. Found him in a little motel outside of San Antonio. He was there. With another woman. That's...that's where it happened. So I understand if you boys don't want to help me no more, but I need this boat, and I need to get it in the water fast. I made a list of things we're gonna need. What you think? You did it for her? To protect her? Yeah. What you think? I think you want us to run around sticking our necks out, getting everything you need, just so you can take our boat. That's about it. -What do we get out of it? -What you want? What about that pistol? Only two things I got out here worth anything - this shirt... ..and this pistol. I can't give you this shirt 'cause I need it for protection, but you help me get this boat in the water, the pistol...it's yours. -What kind is it? -.45. Gotta get this boat floating first. Alright. Alright - y'all scrounge what you can off this list. If we're gonna do this right, we're gonna need more help. -Can you fetch Tom for me? -Tom Blankenship? Yeah, I was hoping to let that old assassin sit this one out. We're gonna need him to get things that y'all can't. -Can you find him? -Well, I know where he lives. But I ain't never talked to him. Just tell him my name. He'll know. Hey, boys! Thanks. Don't lose my pistol. 1 (STOPS ENGINE) You coming? No. I'll watch the boat. MAN: Why are you huntin' me? Are you deaf, boy? I said, "Why are you huntin' me?" I ain't hunting you. What's your business here? I've come to find you. I got a message for you. Are you Senior's boy? Yes, sir. Well, what you got to say to me that he can't tell me himself? It ain't from him. Mud sent me. Mud? Yes, sir. What you know about it? He told me to come find you. Your daddy know about this? No, sir. Mud needs your help. Where is he? There he is. You think that's his daddy? I don't know. Sir. Where is she? In town. Got here yesterday. What are you doing out here like this, Mud? I killed that last man she was with, Tom. He had it coming too. You have been dogging this girl your whole life. She's run you halfway across the country and back! And for what? For this? To be stuck out here on this island like this, begging, a murderer now, a thief? -I ain't no thief, Tom. -What would you call it, then? (CONTINUES YELLING INDISTINCTLY) Man. He's really giving it to him. You got any idea what you're doing? I'm right ashamed of you, Mud. (SIGHS) Don't expect any help from me, 'cause there's none to be given. Alright, I'm ready. Where you going? Hey! Goddamnit. You alright? Looks like we on our own, Ellis. I didn't wanna have to ask you to be the one to do this, but I need... ..to get this letter to Juniper. -Can you take it to her for me? -Yeah. Alright, now, listen up. You gotta be careful, alright? You can't just walk up and knock on her door. You hear me? You gotta watch yourself. I can handle it. (WHISPERS) Get that to her. Alright. Alright. Watch yourself, Ellis. You Mud's daddy? Mud don't have no daddy. No mama either, far as I can tell. He was living in the woods when I first met him, younger than you are now. You boys need to watch yourselves, now. What Mud's into is something you don't wanna be involved in. You best forget about him. You hear? (STARTS MOTOR) Which one? Let's start at the top, work our way down. Alright. What you want? We're selling fish. Would you like to buy some? Fish?! I don't wanna buy no damn fish. (WOMAN SCREAMS) Stop it! Stop! MAN: Keep lying and I'll crack your nose open! -No! -Keep lying! You hear me, trash? Where is he?! (WOMAN GASPS) Oh! Who are you? Who the hell are you?! He send you? You know this man? Look at it! -I don't... -Do you know this man? Fish! Fish! We're just selling fish. Fish. I know you know where he is. And I swear to God, I'll cut a hole through every one of you to find him. We know you came here for him, and we know he's too stupid to leave here without you. So whenever he sticks his head up out of whatever shithole he's hiding in, I'm gonna be there. You tell him that. You need to mind your business, boy. -You OK? -Yeah. Man, he popped your eye. Let me see your face. Oh, God. I'm so sorry. Here. Hold this on there. Thank you. I'll buy your fish, OK? How much do you want for the whole cooler? Mud sent us to give you this. -You know Mud? -Yeah, we know him. It says, "Hold tight." We know. We read it. Well, do you know how long "Hold tight" is? I think it's just a couple days. He wants to get a boat for y'all. God. Tell him I'll wait. But I don't want y'all getting involved. So you tell him what I said and let that be it. I don't want you getting in any trouble. We'll be alright. Just keep your door locked. We'll be in touch. Wait. What's your name? I'm Ellis. He's Neckbone. Thank you, Ellis. NECK: We gotta go. (DOOR OPENS) Let's go, hard-on! (UPBEAT MUSIC) (CHEERING AND LAUGHTER) SONG: # Oh, oh, hey! # Oh, oh, hey! (RATTLING) # Oh, oh, hey! # Oh, oh, hey! # VOICEOVER: Tic Tac. Refresh every little moment. 1 1 (RINGING TONE) Hello. Is May Pearl there? Hey, it's Ellis. In the phone book. Tomorrow? Yeah. I can meet you. OK. 'Bye. # Queen of Hearts, she's all mine, waiting on a Jack of Diamonds. # Come on, girl. Take my hand. Always been in love with this nightingale. # We're gon' make it out alive. # One more hand and the game is up. # Oh. # But you're running out of time. # Oh. # Oh-oh-oh. # Many others play that hand. # Got bad dues that mean no more. # Come on, kid. Toe the line. # Pull up short. This love's kind. # Whoa. # But we're running out of time. # We got more, but no motor. Oh, this'll work for now. Ellis, you get her my note? Yeah. Where'd you get that shiner from? When we came up on Juniper's room, there was this guy in there - he was beating up on her. Ellis rushed him, got smacked for it. What'd he look like? Oh, I dunno. He was tall. Looked like a cowboy. -Light hair slicked back? -Yeah. (YELLS) (GRUNTS AND YELLS) Thank you for looking after her. His name's Carver. He's the brother of the man I killed. If he's here, there's plenty more coming. -More what? -Bounty hunters. Carver's rotten, but his old man, that's the one to be scared of. He'll spend every dime he's got to make sure I'm dead. If it was up to me, I'd lay the whole family down same as the other. Ain't a decent man between 'em. Now, look here. Listen to me. If you see that old man, don't you go near him. He's the triple-six real-deal scratch. What's a scratch? It's the devil himself. Let's unload the rest of this, get it up top. (ROCK MUSIC PLAYS QUIETLY ON RADIO) What are you waiting for? Shut up. (STARTS MOTOR) Alright, Ellis, can you climb that trunk, choke this off that limb? -Yeah. -Tie it in a bowline knot. -You know it? -I'm not stupid. Neck, I need you to start cutting line. 15 two-foot pieces. Count two-foot long as your arm. MUD: Be careful. What's so special about that shirt, you'd lose your pistol for it? Got a wolf's eye sewn into the sleeve - more protection than a bullet ever gave. Tom swears by it. Tom said he wasn't your daddy. He's the closest thing to a father I ever had. I never met my parents. It's hard, not knowing those you came from. My Uncle Galen tells me things about 'em. He's the one who takes care of me. Yeah. Tom did that for me. What'd you mean when you called Tom an assassin? Tom's had lives you'd never even know about. Grew up...up north, went to Yale. For a long time, he was a paid assassin for the CIA. Lived in Cuba in '63. Shoot, he's killed more people than y'all probably ever met. Neck, how's that line coming? If you're gonna do it, do it! (CHAINSAW MOTOR IDLES) (KISSES) (MOTOR REVS) Ohh! Whoo! Ohh! Whoo! This shit's crazy. (LAUGHS) One down. (PEOPLE CHATTER) (MUSIC POUNDS) Come on. Wanna sit down? Hey. You must really like to fight. Not really. You got a lot of friends. They're alright. I don't know all of 'em. I bet you're pretty popular. Why do you say that? 'Cause you're nice to people. How do you know that? You're nice to me. But I like you. I got you something. That a bracelet? Yeah. Neckbone's uncle, he finds 'em in the river and collects the pearls. And I thought, with your name and everything... Thank you. You wanna be my girlfriend? 1 (WHISTLING) (WHISTLES) You been seeing Mud? No. You don't have to lie to me, boy. I've seen you running around taking things. He alright? He's OK. He called you an assassin. (LAUGHS) How long you known Mud? A few days. That's long enough to know he's full of shit. So it's not true? I was a sharpshooter for a while in the marines. In Mud's world, that's an assassin. It's not exactly true, right? Yeah, I guess. Assassin... You think he's a bad-ass, don't you? I don't know. You know why he's stuck off on that island? Yeah. He shot somebody. You know why he shot that man? 'Cause he hurt Juniper? Right. The real reason Mud's in all the trouble he's got is 'cause of her. He's been in love with that girl since he was your age. Trouble is, she don't care about nobody but herself. I told him as much. She'd bed down with the meanest snake she could find, and then when things got bad, she'd go running back to Mud. He'd take her back. Then he'd go find whatever unlucky sonofabitch laid a hand on her and beat 'em so bad, they knew never to touch her again. Only this time, I guess, he figured a beating wasn't good enough, he had to go shoot that fella. I'm not for sure, but I'd put money on it that she knew he'd do it. She might even put him up to it. Either way, those two are set for failure. The only chance he's got is to cut her loose. That'll never happen. But I'll tell you what. Mud's no bad-ass. -He's running scared right now. -I gotta go. You're wrong about Juniper. They love each other, and they're gonna make it. If you weren't such a worn-out old man, you'd know it was true. What do you say, Ellis? -I got more stuff. -Yeah? Did you find a motor? -Not yet. -Oh. What's that? Bonfire's an all-purpose cure-all for bad luck. I don't know where this boat's been or what kind of person the owner was before me. For all I know, there could be some serious bad business left on it. We got too much riding on this thing to leave it to chance. Tom called me over to his place this morning. -What did he say? -He was running down Juniper. I told him he was a worn-out old man and he couldn't know how much you loved her. MUD: Well, you don't know his story. I don't care. You should. Tom loved a woman more than most men can in two lifetimes. They had a good life started together. She was pregnant with a little boy. Birth got the best of 'em. Tom's been alone ever since, lone wolf. Thanks for the tin. (BELL DINGS) Ohh. (TURNS OFF MOTOR) (GRUNTS) This shit never gets easy. That's a good haul. I've had worse. You doing alright? Yeah. You need to tell me anything? Tell you what? I know I'm just your uncle, not a parent, but, uh... You can tell me things if you need to. I can tell you this helmet smells like my duck butter. (CHUCKLES) Mmm. Where'd you get that black eye? Kid in town. He got his too. What was y'all fighting for? About this girl. -What girl? -My girlfriend. You got a girlfriend? Yes, sir. When'd that happen? Other day. -What's her name? -May Pearl. May Pearl. Two first names, just like your mother. You seen your mother today? No. You not talking to me now? I'm talking. I'm talking to both of you. All y'all wanna do is talk. That's your mother, now. She'd rather tongue-lash a problem than step up and handle it. You'll see one day. Women are tough, boy. They set you up for things. Can't trust love, Ellis. If you're not careful, it'll up and run out on you. Daddy, this is Miller. He's one of ours. Appreciate your help. Yes, sir. We'll be in in a minute. Catch me up. They work in shifts. Got two outside her motel, the others either out searching or sleeping here. I met the county sheriff, but he wasn't much help. Said they handle their own business. But I got two of his people on payroll and a person inside at the state police. (BOTH CONTINUE CHATTING INAUDIBLY) SENIOR: Ellis! Let's go, boy! Come on. OK. -Let's meet the men. -Yes, sir. Shit. Get up. Y'all pay attention. This is my father, King. He runs the show. Men. Alright, everybody up. Gather round. Now, form a circle. Everybody take a knee. I want you to join hands. We're gonna pray for the death of the man who killed my son. Everybody bow your heads. -Did you touch her titty? -A little. -That's great, man. -Thanks. (SIGHS) We could take it apart, bring it out piece by piece. It's welded. We'd just tear it up. What if we float it out? -With what? -Come on. (ROCK MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY) -Oh, Jesus! -GALEN: What do you think? That's great, Galen. GALEN: Come here, Ellis. You see that ceiling fan up there? I found it in the river. Works great. Best ceiling fan I ever owned. This river brings a lot of trash down it. Some of that trash is worth a lot of money. Some of it's not. You gotta know what's worth keeping and what's worth letting go. You know the difference? -I think so. -Yeah. Neck looks up to you. Don't get my nephew into anything you can't get him out of, OK? (PLAYS ROCK TUNE) 'Help Me, Rhonda's just about a guy needing to get a piece to get over a girl that put one over on him. So you get your heart broke, don't walk around with a shit look on your face. You get back in there, get your tip wet. You hear me? You know what I'm saying. Let's go. You wanna hang out? Allen's coming over. -We're gonna pump it up. -NECK: No, we got stuff to do. Whatever. What were y'all talking about? ELLIS: I don't know. MUD: King. That's what they call him. Y'all didn't go near him, did you? -No. -Good. How we looking on that motor? There's one in the scrapyard that might work. -Gonna need one that runs. -I can get it running. -Tell him, Ellis. -Help me pull this. It's true. He built his own dirt bike. MUD: A little more. Well, Neck, take a shot at it. I don't know. That... that motor's worth something. It's not like all the rest of that junk. It's been there for months. Nobody'll even know it's gone. Ellis. We need a motor. * (CHUCKLES) Hello. Hello. Hey. They say language is the gateway to culture. And I have the key. Can I interest you in the big Kiwi breakfast? (PHONE TRANSLATES INTO SWEDISH) (SPEAKS SWEDISH) PHONE TRANSLATOR: Kiwis are endangered, no? (SPEAKS SWEDISH) PHONE TRANSLATOR: I could try a little one. 1 1 (MAN CHATTERS INDISTINCTLY ON TV) (PHONE RINGS) -Hello? -ELLIS: Juniper? Ellis. -Hey, it's me. -Thank God. I'm going crazy in this room. Is Mud OK? Yeah. It's time to take you out to him. Now? Tomorrow. Tomorrow, we'll come get you. He's got a plan for y'all to get away. Be ready tomorrow at 5:00. Neckbone'll be waiting beside the motel with a dirt bike. Wait. Just... Just wait a minute. I don't know about all that. Where does he think we're gonna go? What are we even gonna do? This is Mud. This is exactly what he does. It's OK. It's a good plan. Just be ready. Why are you doing this? What do you mean? Why are you helping us? Because y'all love each other. (CAR DOOR CLOSES IN DISTANCE) -I'll see you tomorrow. -Wait. (HANGS UP) -How'd it go? -We're good. -Give me a quarter. -May Pearl! May Pearl! (CHATTERS INAUDIBLY) It's alright, man. She's with her family. Come on. I wanna get that motor before dark. MAN: Hey! Y'all remember me, don't you? Sorry about that. Y'all caught me at a real bad time. Hold on a second. Just a second. Don't want you to get the wrong idea. Y'all was just doing a job and I got in the way. What do you say I buy that whole batch of fish y'all were selling? -40 cover it? -It'd about do it. We don't want your money. -(MOTOR WHIRRS) -Hold on. Hold on. Bet y'all get around, don't you? I bet you know every hole and ditch in this town. You haven't come across that man whose picture I showed you, have you? Sure about that? Take a look with your good eye. I'm sure. What about that girl from the motel, the pretty one? Talked to her some more? There's a number on there. Let me know if you do. (STARTS MOTOR) Alright. NECK: This is it, this is it! ELLIS: Alright, it's loose. NECK: This shit's heavy. (SIREN BLARES IN DISTANCE) Shit! Was she there? -No. Come on. -Alright. -Excuse me, sir. -What? We're looking for the girl in room 210. You seen her? -Yeah, I seen her. -You see her today? Yeah, she came down here looking for a bar nearby. I sent her up to that place off 61. (DIRT BIKE MOTOR REVS IN DISTANCE) (COUNTRY MUSIC POUNDS) (AUDIO FADES) (SPEAKS INAUDIBLY) (SPEAKS INAUDIBLY) (PENSIVE MUSIC) Just leave it there. Mud's gonna have to help us with it. What are you gonna tell him? I'll just tell him the truth. Hey, hey. What you say there, Ellis? Tom left this for you. Where's Juniper? Ellis, what happened? Is she OK? Was it Carver? It wasn't Carver. What's going on, Ellis? She was supposed to meet us on the side of the motel. She never showed up. We went around looking for her. The motel clerk said she went out to a bar on 61. We tracked her down. She was there with another guy. They were together. She must have thought Carver... ..was onto her. She knew the plan, Mud. She...she just didn't show up. What was she doing with that guy? What was she doing with that guy, Ellis? They were playing pool... ..and they were drinking... and laughing. He was close up on her. He kissed her neck. (SNIFFS) So that's how it is, huh? We got that motor. What do you want us to do? Just go home, Ellis. Hello? Is May Pearl there? This is Ellis. I called yesterday. You didn't give her my messages? I said it's Ellis. I'm her boyfriend. -(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) -SENIOR: Mary Lee?! -She's asleep? -Mary Lee! What the hell have you been doing? -What have you been doing? -Senior! Tell her what you've been doing. I don't know what you're saying. Take your hands off him, Senior. JJ Crawford said a boat motor went missing from his stockyard! He said his daughter saw this one and his friend hauling it off. Now, you tell me right now, did you steal that motor? -We didn't steal it. -You lie to me again. We thought it was junk. We didn't think it was worth anything. Ellis. You telling me I raised a thief? I'm not a thief. You take property that's not yours, property that belongs to another man. That junk was his livelihood! -I'm ashamed of you. -Senior. Shut your mouth. You think you can take things and not have him see it? Neither one of you's got any respect for a man's livelihood, a life that puts clothes on your back and food in your stomach. Don't you blame this on me. One doesn't have a thing to do with the other. You know it. You don't tell me what I know. If you can steal a man's life out from under him and think he won't take a lesson from that, then you're dumber than you look. Stop it, Dad! And she's raising you a snake just like herself, and you can curl up beside her before I give a goddamn. But you just remember this, boy. You just remember when they come in here and they tear this place apart board by board. You hear me?! You are a man who's never had the strength to support his own life. Ellis. You'll return that motor from where you found it and you'll apologise in person to the man you took it from. I won't hear about anything like this again. (EXHALES) I can't take that motor back, but I can pay him for it. I'll give him what he wants. I don't care what you do, Ellis. (UPBEAT MUSIC) (CHEERING AND LAUGHTER) SONG: # Oh, oh, hey! # Oh, oh, hey! (RATTLING) # Oh, oh, hey! # Oh, oh, hey! # VOICEOVER: Tic Tac. Refresh every little moment. 1 NECK: What the hell's all this? It's a bonfire. Guess he didn't care about being seen. He had something else on his mind. MUD: What y'all hiding for? Found your shirt. You can keep it. I don't need it no more. Saw what was left of your bonfire. Somebody could've seen you. I guess. You do some drinking last night? I did a lot of drinking last night. Neck, I'm gonna need you to stay here, get this motor running. Ellis, I need you to do something else for me. I need you to get that to Juniper. OK, Mud. Neck, let's go. -You still taking Juniper? -(SIGHS) Neck, fetch me that socket wrench. You be alright? Yeah. How about you? He'll be OK. -Can I borrow your bike? -Yeah. Don't tump it. I was wondering when I'd see you. Sorry about last night. I'm supposed to give this to you. What? OK. Did you read it? No. -I gotta go. -Ellis. I said I was sorry. All you had to do was be there. I couldn't. Then why did you even come here? I came here to leave with him. I did. You know you don't know him, right? I know he'd do anything for you. Is that what you think? Mud's a born liar. That's why people like him. He makes 'em feel good about themselves. I do love him. I just... ..can't spend the rest of my life running away with him. Tell him I understand. What's it say? Says it's over. 'Bye, Ellis. (JUNIPER SOBS) (KIDS CHATTER AND LAUGH) -Did you get my phone calls? -What? I've been trying to call you. Who's this guy? -Get outta my car, kid. -Ellis! I called you twice! MAY PEARL: Stop it, Kyle! Stop it! Kyle! Stop it, Kyle! God! What the hell are you doing here, Ellis? What? Can't run up and punch people I'm with. I'm sorry. I just wanted to know why you hadn't called me back. Why would I call you back, Ellis? 'Cause you're my girlfriend. I'm not your girlfriend. We went on one date. One. -Yeah, but... -But what? What did you expect, Ellis? I love you. (SCOFFS) You're 14. MAY PEARL: I don't know. He's just a kid. (CONTINUES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY) 1 NECK: Try it now. MUD: Nothing. Sonofabitch! What she say? You're a liar! Making two kids run around doing all the work because you're too scared to do it yourself?! (CRIES) Making me tell her it's over because you're too scared! You said you loved her, and you lied! You gave up on her and she gave up on you, just like everybody else. I trusted you. Bonfires and crosses and wolf's eye... -Bullshit! -Now, come on, Ellis. Every single thing you told me was a lie! You never cared about her, and you never cared about us. Not enough to matter. You used us. You made me a thief! Let me talk to him. Ellis! Ellis, come on! Ellis! Wait a minute! -Arggh! -Ellis! Shit. NECK: Mud! Ellis - he fell in the creek! He fell in the snakes! Mud, please! Ohh... Get that motor started, Neck. Is he OK? Is he bit? Shit. What time is it? -What time is it?! -4:18. Yell it out every 10 minutes. OK. Is he gonna be OK? Gotta get him to the clinic. Are you bit? No. My bike's up there. (DIRT BIKE MOTOR REVS) (TRUCK HORN BLARES) I need some help here! Snakebite! -Snakebite. -Stay calm. Cottonmouth. Just under an hour. OK. We'll take care of him. Let's go. Let's go, people. MAN: Sir. We're gonna need some information from you. Sir. Sir! (PHONE RINGS) Hello. (TYRES SQUEAL) (GASPS) It's OK. Just sit back. Where am I? You're home. We got you home. Come on. Sit up. Come on. Had us scared, son. I'm so glad you're OK. MARY LEE: The doctors gave you some medicine. You had a snakebite. How'd I get to the doctor? A man brought you in. No-one knew him. MARY LEE: Oh, no, no. It's alright. You just rest now. We'll talk about it later. Do you need anything? Are you hungry? No. Come on. Let him get some rest. I will be back in to check on you. Mom, Dad. I love y'all. We love you too, Ellis. MUD: Whoo! MUD: The sun does shine on a dog's ass some days, huh? It ain't sunk yet. Wish Ellis could see it. MUD: I know. MUD: Mmm. Well... Looks like you get your end of the deal. Where's the bullets? Deal's for the gun, not the bullets. Shit. Yeah. Neck, I got one more favour I wanna ask of you. 1 (MOTOR WHIRRS IN DISTANCE) (MOTOR STOPS) (WHISTLING) Mud? (WHISPERS) Don't get up. How'd you get here? Neck brought me. (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) We got the boat in the water. -You did? -Yeah. Smooth sailing from here on out. Wouldn't have felt right leaving town without coming to say goodbye. I'm sorry about what I said. No, you were right to be mad. You were right about a lot of things. I don't traffic in the truth too often, but... ..I did love her. I do... ..love her. She loves you too. She said it. Yeah, I just made mistakes. Heck, we both did, you know? It's...it's a hard life to keep up with. You can't...blame her for getting tired of trying. My dad says you can't count on women loving you. He says you can't trust it. That's not true. You're a good man, Ellis. You meet a girl half as good as you, you gonna be alright. You're a good man too, Mud. No. No, I ain't, Ellis. Maybe from here on out, I can... (GUNSHOT) Get under the bed. Stay put. Ellis! -Ellis! -Shh. Don't move. (GUNSHOT) (SPLASH) (NECK YELLS) -Let him go. -(GUN CLICKS) You still down there, buddy? -Yeah. -Alright, stay put. (GUN CLICKS) (GUNSHOT) Ohh! (CLICK) Flush him out this way. Mud! -Mud! -Arggh! Mud! Mud! -Mud! -SENIOR: Ellis! Ellis! Ellis, Ellis... -It's OK. -(CRIES) -(SIRENS WAIL) -(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIOS) (PHONE RINGS) Hello. You're speaking to him. He's dead? (SNORING) (BELL DINGS) Hey. You got your bike back? Yeah. Mud dinged the shit out of it. (MEN YELL) They're really doing it. It's the law. It's bullshit. They ever find Tom? No. He's gone. I heard on the news... ..they still hadn't found Mud's body. You think he's dead? I don't know. I hope not. I gotta go. Come by the apartments later. -Help me fix up my room. -Alright. I'll see you next week? You betcha. Ellis. You mind your mother, OK? It's a big change for her too. She's gonna need your support. Yes, sir. Alright. I love you. I love you too. (STARTS ENGINE) (SPEAKS INAUDIBLY) Come on, son. You gotta see this. (THE BEACH BOYS SING) # Well, since she put me down # I've been out doing in my head # I come in late at night # And in the morning, I just lay in bed # Well, Rhonda, you look so fine # And I know it wouldn't take much time # For you to help me, Rhonda # Help me get her out of my heart # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda -# Help me, Rhonda, yeah -# Get her out of my heart # She was gonna be my wife # And I was gonna be her man # Come on, Rhonda # But she let another guy come between us # And it shattered our plan # Come on, Rhonda # Well, Rhonda, you caught my eye # And I can give you lots of reasons why # You gotta help me, Rhonda # Help me get her out of my heart # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Help me, Rhonda, yeah # Get her out of my heart # Ba-bow, bow-bow-bow # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda Help, help me, Rhonda # Oh, help me, Rhonda # Help, help me, Rhonda # Help me, Rhonda, yeah # Get her out of my heart. # www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air.