Original subtitles

[wind howling]

[digging]

[crows cawing]

[cows mooing]

[dramatic music playing]

[liquid hits metal ]

[chicken clucking]

[sighs]

[door opens]

[distant big band music playing]

[girls giggling]

[girl] Madison. You're so pretty!

[Madison] That's a really pretty green.

[girl] Thank you.

[Madison] Just wait until Randy sees you in that.

[girl] He'd like me if I was in a garbage bag.

-[Madison] That's true! -[girls giggle]

[girl] My mother would kill me if she saw this.

-[Madison] No! -[girl] Yeah! [giggles]

-[Madison] They're just so pointy. -That's the idea. [giggles]

It's called a bullet bra. It's what boys want nowadays.

[Madison] Adeline, how do you know what boys want?

-[Adeline] I've seen it in comic books. -[Madison] Comic books?

And men's magazines. [giggles]

Yeah, you can send away for them.

[Madison] I feel like I'm going to poke somebody's eye out.

[Adeline] Oh, then try it with a fuzzy sweater.

Bullet bras look best with a fuzzy sweater.

-[both] Ooh! -[floorboard creaking]

Oh, yes.

[creaks]

Mother?

[Madison] I thought you said she was playing bridge.

She is.

Mother, is that you?

Hello?

[music distorts]

[eerie music playing]

[Madison] Adeline?

[rope creaking]

[woman] Eddie?

Eddie?

Eddie, you seen your brother?

I don't know where he's at.

You and me can't run this farm alone.

[chair creaking and banging]

[intense drumbeat playing]

[gasping]

-[groans] -[thuds]

Get those off.

Take them off.

You have brought sin into this house.

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable,

as for murderers,

the sexually immoral, sorcerers,

idolaters, and all liars,

their portion will be the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,

which is the second death."

"Amen."

Eddie…

why were you in my brassiere and nylons?

I suppose I was…

just trying to be funny.

Oh, you're joshing me?

I'm not joshing.

[Mrs. Gein] When I was a little girl,

I saw a clown riding a pogo stick at the circus.

And I went home, and I prayed on it,

and I never went back.

Because I realized that seeing wild beasts with tassels

and painted trapeze harlots for a chuckle,

it's blasphemy.

Sorry, Mother.

I won't do it again.

Get dressed.

Thank you.

Only a mother could love you.

Eddie, promise me…

you will never be involved with a Jezebel.

I don't fancy a Jezebel, Mother.

Oh, so you are seeing some…

I know who you got eyes for, that girl in town, that Pandora.

Her name's not Pandora, Mother.

-It's Adeline-- -No, her name is Pandora!

And you won't touch her!

You will never touch a woman!

You won't be marrying one!

And you won't be spilling your seed with one!

You understand me? It's sin, Eddie!

Women are sin.

Get in your room.

Thank you, Mother.

[steps moving away]

[sighs]

["Pinch Me" playing]

[girls giggle]

[bell rings]

How do you do?

Hello.

You're not from Plainfield, are you?

Eddie, leave the girls alone.

Don't mean nothing by it.

Just wanted to welcome her to town, is all.

See you around.

[door closes]

Eddie, you can't do that.

Do what? Talk to a couple of girls?

You sound like Mother.

Saw your brother the other day. He was with that girl of his.

Yeah, you already told me.

Two straws, please.

You hearing this about the Nazi camps?

[shop owner] It's the Russians saying that. The communists.

Says here they put Jews in ovens.

[shop owner] Don't believe everything you read, Eddie, all's I'm saying.

Sorry I'm late.

♪ So pinch me, I don't mind the pain ♪

I'll forgive ya.

♪ …I know I'm not livin' in vain ♪

♪ You've made another world for me ♪

♪ Just as I dreamt it'd be ♪

♪ So pinch me and I'll know it's true ♪

Come here.

♪ Pinch me, so I know that it's true ♪

♪ That I'm really makin' love to you ♪

You're never gonna believe what came. You're the only person I can show this to.

Why is that?

Mm-mm. 'Cause you're the only one in this town who's like me.

What are we like?

Mm…

Weird.

So, you know those camps everyone's talking about?

Hm.

Look.

What's this?

[Adeline] Look.

[sound distorts]

Those are piles of dead bodies. It's from one of those camps.

-This can't be real. -Yeah, it is.

And that photo,

a soldier found that in the pocket of a dead Nazi officer.

Remember my cousin I was telling you about, Alice?

She lives in New York City, she works with this girl at the steno pool

who met this guy who said he was an office clerk,

but he actually works for the OSS.

What's the OSS?

It's a spy network behind enemy lines.

So I think he got these photos to kind of impress her, I guess.

I think he really wants to go with her.

God, look at all those dead bodies.

I mean, I really thought those were piles of wood or something.

[music distorts further]

And Alice found this little bookstore in Brooklyn

with all these crazy comic books.

"The Bitch of Buchenwald."

[Adeline] She's real. So she did all of that stuff.

[woman gasping]

[gun shoots]

[voices mumbling in distress]

[rope creaking]

[whip cracking]

-[whip snaps] -[siren blaring]

[ominous tone plays]

[soft piano music playing]

Got you.

[cow mooing]

[wood snaps]

Got you again.

[cows moo]

-[chickens clucking] -[wood snaps]

Where you been?

Oh, Mother's going to whip you when she sees you.

Oh, no, no, no.

Edward. The only one lets Ma whip him is you.

-Yeah, okay. Don't! -Yeah, okay?

[Ed laughs] No!

Stop it. Hm.

God, I can't tolerate it no more, Ed.

What?

-I'm in love with Ginny. -[Ed giggles]

-I want to marry her. -[Ed] You can't.

Mother says you can't do that.

Ginny's twice divorced.

I don't give a flying fuck about that, Ed.

I can't do the religion no more, Ed.

The cage she's built for herself and she's trapped in it.

Look at me.

Right in the eye.

You're going to get trapped in it too.

All right?

Listen to me.

I'm getting out of here. All right? I'm… I'm…

I'm leaving you. Do you understand?

Oh, I don't think you are, Henry. I don't think Mother will let you.

You're not hearing me, Ed.

You need to get out of here too.

Mother's sick. She's a sick woman.

-You shut your mouth. -No, I won't.

-I don't want to hear about that. -Ed.

Don't talk like that about her.

[Henry] Goddamn it, Eddie.

[breathing heavily]

Eddie. Look…

Look, you've always been the…

peculiar type. You know?

It's just…

Mother's making you very strange, you know, and it's just…

I hate to see you like that, you know?

[disturbing music playing]

Ed, just…

You need to get away from her. All right?

You promise me that?

-Huh? -Okay.

There she is, right there.

[music rises, stops]

[dull thud]

Ha! Got you!

Henry?

Henry, you all right?

I got you real good, but you're all right.

[dramatic music playing]

Henry…

[laughs]

Look at that.

You got me good! [laughs]

You son of a gun.

Hey, we'll clear that brush tomorrow, huh?

Set some fires before the weather gets worse.

And you're right about Mother.

Yeah, she's a good woman.

I'll make it right with her.

[music continues]

[Ed] "And after my skin has been destroyed,

yet in my flesh I will see God."

"I myself will see him with my own eyes."

"I and not another."

-Amen. -Amen.

[Mrs. Gein clears throat]

[Mother clears throat]

Did you talk to Henry?

He said he was going to come talk to you.

No, I ain't seen Henry for a week.

Let him run off with that whore. He's not my son.

[clears throat] Eat your beans before they get cold.

All I wanted was a girl.

Mm. I prayed and prayed to the good Lord for it,

but it was not his will, so I must abide by that.

No matter how much it…

[bones cracking]

…pained me to lay with your father.

Ugh! And I only let him defile me twice.

You know that. I told you that.

[cracking]

He stank like a farm animal.

And what did that…

shiftless drunkard ever give me?

First an evil son,

who humiliates his mother and is determined to drag us all to hell,

and then I got you, a son so prone to all manner of weakness,

who seems set on breaking his mother's heart.

Mom…

Don't break my heart, Eddie.

I won't, Mother.

Only a mother could love you.

[wind whistling]

[metal echoing]

[cow bellowing]

Henry?

Hey, what you doing?

[whispering] Oh no.

Henry? Henry?

Hey. Hey. Wake up.

Hey. [sobs]

[sniffs] Hey. Mother's asking where you've been.

[sobs]

I didn't mean to do this.

[sniffles] I think I thought I might have been dreaming.

Henry!

[dramatic music playing]

Mother!

Mother!

Mother! Help!

What's all the shouting for?

Fire got out of control. I can't find Henry.

He was here.

You try to find him. I'll go into town for help.

No, I'll fetch the police.

You go find him, Eddie.

[music intensifies]

[sirens wailing]

[Mrs. Gein] Eddie went to look.

No, I know they should have been back here by now.

It's been too long. I've been waiting.

I mean, I didn't know what else to do.

I told Eddie that he should go,

and now I'm thinking that maybe I should have gone.

[Ed] It's him. Henry!

-[man 1] Henry! -[man 2] Henry!

-[cop] You all right? -[man] Eddie, I think…

-Henry? -Why don't you sit down?

[emotional music playing]

[cop] He's cold.

There's no pulse.

Oh! Is he dead?

Lord have mercy. Is he dead?

[sobbing] Please, Lord, have mercy!

[sobbing] Henry! Henry! Oh my son!

[cop] I'm very sorry, Mrs. Gein.

I can't! Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

No! [sobbing]

No! Henry!

[cop] How long was he out there?

I'm not sure what time we started the fires.

After dawn, I suppose.

Uh, Eddie, his body, it was stiff.

Hm. It's getting cold out.

-[sighs] -The bruises are peculiar.

But by my lights,

I'd say asphyxiation the major cause of death.

Brush fires kick up a lot of smoke.

Might have stopped his heart, even.

Damn shame.

Damn shame.

[door opens]

[Mrs. Gein sobbing]

Hello, Mother.

[sobbing continues]

I'm real sorry about Henry, Mother.

[sobbing]

I know I ain't always impressed you.

You loved Henry more.

But he wasn't a good son to you.

That's what I intend to be now, a good son to you.

It's just you and me now.

I'm the man of the house.

I'll take care of you.

[sobbing continues]

Mother.

-[groaning] -Mother, are you all right?

[sobbing]

[Mrs. Gein sobs, groans loudly]

Can you raise your arms, palms up, please?

Very good.

Can you smile, please?

Very good.

Can you repeat after me?

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

-[Mrs. Gein] B-b-b… -[nurse] It's alright.

With a stroke, the best thing you can do is keep her blood thin.

It's all right. It's all right.

And she's got to take an aspirin every day.

[engine rumbling]

-[car door closes] -[disturbing music playing]

[Ed] Ma…

[music continues]

[door creaks open]

Lord, I love you, Mother.

It's just you and me now.

Now I get to care for you, Mother.

Hospital says I need to clean you up.

[music continues]

[lively music playing in the background]

[door opens]

[boy speaking German]

[door closes]

[in German]

[children laugh]

[lively music continues]

[children laughing]

[machine whirring]

[whirring stops]

[machine whirring]

[lively orchestral music playing]

[guests cheering]

[laughing]

[whip cracks]

[whip cracking]

[Mrs. Gein in English] Eddie!

Eddie!

Eddie!

Eddie!

Eddie!

What are you doing in there?

Nothing.

Then drive me over to Smith's farm.

He owes us $10 rent for planting on our land.

[Ed] You're not supposed to be going anywhere.

-You need to rest. I'll go. -Mm-mm.

[Mrs. Gein] No! You won't get our $10 out of Smith.

You're the reason he owes us.

-Ugh. -Yes, Mother.

[eerie music playing]

[dog barks]

-[man] Shut up! -[woman] Don't do this to me!

[woman yelling]

[Mrs. Gein groans]

[woman] What are you doing?

What in the Lord's name?

-No! Daniel! -[dog barking]

He's fighting with that harlot.

Daniel! My baby!

-These things cost money. -They're adulterers.

Come back, Daniel!

-Don't you dare lay a hand on my baby! -[dog whining]

You owe the Gein farm $10, Daniel Smith.

I'll take that in cash or straw fodder. I got cows to feed.

Like hell I'm paying you.

[woman] Daniel, stop!

May the Lord forgive you for cursing.

Hush up, Sally. He's the runt. He's going to die anyway.

This is a house of filth!

Don't let him kill my baby!

She is an unwed harlot!

-Stop it! -Harlot! Harlot!

[woman ]Daniel…

Harlot!

You deserve everything you get for living in sin!

-Jezebel! The blood shall yield no fruit. -[disturbing music]

And if it does, a stranger shall dwell.

[muttering]

A stranger shall as well!

[slurring unintelligibly]

[gasps]

[music stops]

[Ed] Mother!

[whimpering] Mother?

[man] "The Lord is my shepherd."

"I shall not want."

"He maketh me lie down in green pastures."

"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness,

for His name's sake."

[wind whistling]

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."

"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."

"Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over."

"Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

[sobbing]

[emotional music playing]

-[Mrs. Gein] Get out of that chair! -[music stops]

["It's Only a Paper Moon" playing]

♪ Say it's only a paper moon ♪

♪ Sailing over a cardboard sea ♪

♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪

♪ If you believed in me ♪

[chickens clucking]

♪ Yes, it's only a canvas sky ♪

♪ Hanging over a muslin tree ♪

♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪

♪ If you believed in me ♪

♪ Without your love ♪

♪ It's a honky-tonk parade ♪

♪ Without your love ♪

♪ It's a melody played in a penny arcade ♪

♪ It's a Barnum & Bailey world ♪

♪ Just as phony as it can be ♪

♪ But it wouldn't be make-believe ♪

♪ If you believed in me ♪

[instrumental playing]

[eerie music playing]

[Ed panting]

-[Mrs. Gein whispers] Stop that! -[gasps]

Mother?

Are you there?

[Mrs. Gein] You can bring me back, you know.

Tell me how.

[car engine roaring]

[eerie music playing]

[Ed] "Your dead shall live, their bodies shall rise."

"You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy."

[groans]

[metal clangs]

Oh!

Oh, oh.

No. No.

-[metal clangs] -No!

Mother.

I can't get to you.

[Mrs. Gein] Quit your mewling, Eddie.

Well, what am I supposed to do now?

[Mrs. Gein] Just dig up this whore laying next to me.

[eerie music intensifies]

-[wood thuds] -[music fades]

[dramatic music playing]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music fades]

[dramatic music playing]

[music stops]