Original subtitles

[ethereal music]

CHARLIE: The summer of 1995 was the hottest summer in years.

The single of the season was Seal's "Kiss from a Rose,"

and Jim Carrey was the biggest star in Hollywood.

Michael Jordan, back from his stint in baseball,

helped the Bulls reach the postseason, though they'd fall to the Magic in six.

♪ ♪

On top of the heat that summer, the cicadas had awoken

from their 17-year hibernation and were covering everything--

mailboxes, parked cars,

tree trunks, and trampolines.

Everyone got used to the noise.

Eventually, the cicadas retreated to the forest,

and our summer continued.

In June, Owen Cooper, a Catholic school kid

from the neighboring community... OWEN: Whoa!

CHARLIE: Got loaded with his girlfriend on whiskey and pills.

He was found the next morning...

GIRL: Owen! CHARLIE: Face down in the shallow end.

[sirens wailing] On the Fourth of July,

the 80-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright house by the library burned down.

It was built in 1908,

and FDR was said to have stayed there once while on the campaign trail.

♪ ♪

Our town was put under a dark spell in the summer of 1995.

♪ ♪

It began with a heat wave and didn't end until six months later

when the Monroe sisters were finally dead.

♪ ♪

I observed it all from my bicycle.

I was 15 years old.

[Natalie Merchant's "Carnival" playing over radio]

♪ ♪

SINGER: ♪ Well, I've walked these streets ♪

♪ A virtual stage ♪

♪ It seemed to me ♪

♪ Makeup on their faces ♪

♪ Actors took their places next to me ♪

♪ Well, I've walked these streets ♪

[phone ringing] ♪ In a carnival ♪

♪ Of sights to see ♪

- [clears throat] Hello?

CALLER: [heavy breathing]

- Hello?

CALLER: Sorry.

SINGER: ♪ Same as it was before ♪

[Madder Rose's "Car Song" playing on record]

♪ So I'll try to get some sleep ♪

♪ I'll try to get some re-- ♪

[record scratches, music stops]

- Did you take my CK One again?

You know, just because a fragrance works for me,

it doesn't mean it'll work for you.

I think your fragrance would be more like grungy, Bohemian weirdo.

- Don't ever touch my record player again.

- Don't touch my things without asking again.

- Hey, Chrissy.

- [scoffs] Fuck you, freak.

BILL CLINTON: Lives of ordinary people...

- Sweetheart, where you going?

BILL CLINTON: In the end, all that really counts...

- I'm gonna go do homework with Brad at the library.

- Curfew is 10:45, young lady.

- I'll be home at 11:00.

Love ya!

[crickets chirping]

[cicadas chirping]

- Hi. [laughs] - [laughing] Hi.

[upbeat rock music playing over radio]

[giggles] You don't have to worry.

My parents are watching television. - Oh, my God.

Your parents are watching TV? No way.

- That's what happens when you stop having sex.

- Yeah, monogamy's a bitch.

- Mm-hmm.

What's the news?

- News is not good for you.

You got a D on your "Crime and Punishment" essay.

- [laughs] - Sorry.

CHARLIE: Mr. Carpenter was the young, hip English teacher

who let kids in class talk about movies, philosophy,

and things unrelated to the text. [rock music playing over boom box]

When Kurt Cobain shot himself the previous year,

Mr. Carpenter played "Nevermind" on repeat all day

and didn't say a word in any of his classes.

He was the teacher all the guys wanted to be

and all the girls wanted to be with.

And he was indeed with Chrissy Monroe.

- I--I think I'm leaving Kate.

- [laughs] What?

Why?

- Because I love you.

This is where you would maybe get excited.

Ideally, say anything. - No, no, no, no, no.

I, um--I--I...

- [laughs] - I... [laughs]

I think it's great. - You think it's great?

- I think it's great. I think it's great.

- Okay, well--okay.

- But is this really what you want? - I don't care what people say.

I mean, we'll go somewhere else if we have to.

- Okay, okay. - Yes, yes?

Okay, yes. - I love you.

- I love you.

[tense musical sting]

[gun clicks] Oh, Jesus.

[door slams] [stammers] Don't--

- I have a handgun pointed at the back of your head.

Start the car and drive.

[foreboding music]

- What--okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. - Start the fucking car and drive.

[engine turns over]

- [quietly] It's okay.

♪ ♪

Look, man, you want money or something?

You can have--welcome to whatever I have.

- Turn left here.

In a quarter mile, there will be a gravel road.

Turn left onto it.

Stop.

Turn the car off, and leave the radio on.

SINGER: ♪ Days go by, glycerine ♪

FIGURE: Turn on the brights.

♪ ♪

SINGER: ♪ Don't let the days go by ♪

FIGURE: Now you're going to get out.

Keep your hands where I can see them, and stand in front of the car.

- Chrissy, let's just do what he says and get it over with, okay?

[tense music]

♪ ♪

[car doors slam]

FIGURE: Stop.

- [breathing heavily]

FIGURE: Take each other's clothes off.

- Chrissy, babe... [stammers] It's gonna be okay.

I swear to God, okay? It's a stupid game.

Just--let's do what he says. We'll go home.

- Mm-hmm.

- It's okay. Okay.

- [whimpers] - Ah, sorry.

Okay. [both breathing heavily]

FIGURE: Now kiss each other.

- Okay. Okay.

[unhinged music]

♪ ♪

- Now touch her.

- Come on-- [gunshot]

[Chrissy shrieks]

[gunshot]

[ominous music]

♪ ♪

[Chrissy panting]