Original subtitles

[ Engine rumbling ]

[ Vehicle departs ]

Once there was a fireman that ran away from a fire.

[ Heavy breathing ]

[ Bird chirping ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

That was me.

♪♪

[ Police radio chatter ]

♪♪

Why are you going to a sheriff's convention? You sell cars.

So I can find a sheriff.

Oh, yeah.

To lock up your -- Right.

That's a good place to find a sheriff.

Thanks.

Have you found a disillusioned young man

to take your place there in Half whatever?

Half Acre.

Why can't you just do the whole thing by yourself,

by the way?

Why what?

The whole plan yourself.

Why do you need a disillusioned young man --

Why can't I personally, by myself,

arrange to have both of my parents

arrested in Mexico and declared dead?

Yeah.

Because then, when they're released unhurt,

they'll come back, and then I'll have to be,

like, in the same kitchen with them,

and they'll probably say, "Hey, why'd you arrange

to have us both arrested in Mexico and declared --"

Okay, right.I can't do it myself

because I'm not really gonna hurt them, honey.

They're -- They're coming back.

Right.

So I have to make it seem like a a disillusioned guy

took my identity and -- and came up with this cool notion.

♪♪

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[ Door shuts ]

[ Rock music playing ]

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Yeah, anyway, they disowned me from their home from my room,

from my own "Star Wars" room that I made when I was 9

just because I wanted to perform stage magic

and breath-taking feats of illusion.

Your parents?

My dad's a pastor, yeah.

God hates magician, hates magic.

It says in the Bible... something.

What, you wanted to be a magician?

Yeah, but it was more than that.

My -- My dad -- My dad takes things from people.

He takes their money.

His church rips people off.

They have this center. They're supposed to help people,

but they use it to rip people off.

They get into their bank accounts

with these shared accounts,

and they didn't want me around to see it.

They cut me off. Sent me out.

I was 15.

My dad's fucked up, too, but that's hard-core.

They made up lies about me, told people I was bad.

They're the bad ones.

Someone should take their money, man, you know?

Take that money back, you know?

So, where are you headed?

I don't know.

Cruising.

What?

Just... [ Exhales deeply ]

You ever think about cruising back, blowing your horn?

About what?

About having $2 million.

It'd be easy, I'm saying.

Just a couple of old people.

They stole all that money.

It's not like we're hurting them.

We just get them out of the picture for a little while.

Couple weeks. It's so easy.

Oh, yeah, and you'd have to get hooked on methadone

over the next few weeks.

For real?

My parents can tell.

That's intense.

How many kids did the fire-trainee guy have?

The guy who burned holding your hose?

Steven Jimenez.

11.

11?

Girls.

All girls.

You look good, man.Thanks.

You look ready. Thanks.

All right.

You gain my parents' total trust,

then we totally trick them to go to Mexico.

We lock them up for two weeks total,

you totally take my identity,

and then we take the total sum of money

from their crooked church account.

$4 million.$4 million.

And then we let them go, and you go away,

and I come back, and I go, "Whoa!

Someone totally took my identity and took all your money!

Holy shit, Mom and Dad!

I'm sorry! That sucks!"

But, secretly, I have $2 million...

to use for my own secret purposes.

And so do you.

And, remember, the total, whole time -- This is gonna be easy.

They're just a couple of old people.

♪♪

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♪♪

What's with you, son?

My friend just had it with me.

Had it with you, why?

I got sick in her Caprice,

so she told me to get out.

I got out, and then I got sick out here.

Can you sit up?Probably.

Well, sit up, then. Have some respect for yourself.

[ Grunts ]

There you go.

Woman: Your hands are shaking, honey.

What do you want? I don't -- I don't know you.

Do you feel sick now, son?

Yeah.

Why are you lifting me in the air?

Unhand me.

He said "unhand me." You hear that?

[ Laughs ] He thinks he's historical.

I'm not trying to kick you. It's involuntary.

Man: You're in a withdrawal.

I'll ride with you back here

and explain what's happening science-wise.

What's your name?

James.

I'm Pa. That's Ma.

Where are we headed?Half Acre -- home.

We have a church and, uh, what would you call it?

A center. I call it a center.

We have a church and a center

where we treat men and women troubled such as you.

Hey, you didn't read the fine print.

It's not a sin.

You're gonna be okay, James.

You're gonna be okay, James.

[ Engine shuts off ]

[ Door opens, closes ]

It's a new day, boy.

♪ One day you'll, buy a ride on a comet ♪

♪ And you'll ride into the sunset ♪

♪ Of a planet that's beyond it ♪

♪ Beyond the wall

♪ Of all there is

♪♪

♪ And you will stash it in your pocket ♪

♪ And you'll take it to Manhattan ♪

♪ Where your grandma's 10, and you are 10 ♪

♪ You're not a family man, you're best friends ♪

♪ And you will hold it together ♪

♪ Under the oldest running water ♪

♪ Of the river of each other

♪ With the power of the future

♪♪

♪ One day you'll ride into the dawning ♪

♪ Of the morning of the dreaming ♪

♪ And the sundown of the nearing ♪

♪ The evening of

♪ Of the living

[ Lock clicks ]

James: I can't promise you, Pa, that I'm worth your...

you know, your efforts here with me.

I just want to say that.

Pa: Don't say that.

You don't know me. I'm not top-notch.

You're kind, you and Ma, and you don't know me.

I don't have a great deal of, you know...character.

I just wanted to tell you that in case you thought I did.

Has this been easy? Your recovery?

No.

And you're days into it. You're way into it.

Because I want to change.

Oh. That's character enough for me.

Our son, Paul. He was an odd-looking boy.

Funny looking. Mean.

He vexed me.

And Ma.

And then, as he grew older,

he just...fucking...

tormented and plagued us.

He had this shrill, awful laugh.

In fact, you'd -- you'd just stiffen around him,

even when he was cheerful.

He was a crumb.

Paul hurt people.

That's worse than watching your own boy get hurt, too.

That's the one thing that is.

He was looked after, too.

I'd often pray as he was taking shape

into his bent shape that he'd straighten out,

but he never did.

He slipped away. I don't know where.

Needing love and guidance.

And now he's off probably injuring people.

In all the ways that... you know.

He's not weak like me and you.

He's cruel.

And he never showed the character to want to change.

I'm just saying, that's my real challenge --

turning the corner.

I might be incorrigible.

You know what that word means? It means bad beyond correction.

I know what it means.

Be kinder to yourself.

Say this with me.

I am my own God.

I am my own God.

And I am worthy of my longest brief life.

And I am worthy of my longest brief life.

You feeling strong enough?

Strong enough for what?

Strong enough to get strong.

Get it? Get the rhythm. Get the rhythm.

There we go. There we fucking go.

Get it! Get the rhythm. Get the rhythm.

There we go. There we fucking go.

Get it! Get the rhythm. Get the rhythm.

There you go. There you fucking go.

Get it! Get the rhythm. Get the rhythm.

There we go. There you fucking go.

Get it! Get the rhythm. Get the rhythm.

There we go.

Ma: So, where's the old stash?

James: What old stash?

James, I've been helping people mend for 30 years.

I know all about old stash.

Mattress. At the Charleston there.

In Montague.

I knew you had the stash.

I've helped shooters, tooters, tweakers...

meth geeks, speed freaks, drippers, sippers, drippers,

hoppers and droppers -- all of God's children.

Get it, honey?

And now I'm gonna go chuck your stash

after I shop for the pantry and have my pedicure.

Fuck.

$60.

Six-- No way, man. 100 bucks.

$60.

Okay, whatever.

How old are you? 15.

And you're the proprietor of a pawn shop at 15?

I don't know what "proprietor" means.

You own it.

Oh, no, I don't. My dad does.

Well, where's he?

AA.

[ Buttons clack, register dings ]

$60.

♪♪

♪♪

When's your dad get back?

10 minutes.

♪♪

[ Dog yipping ]

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[ Humming ]

[ Humming stops ]

[ Metal clinks ]

Turn around, or I'm gonna fuck you up.

Where's the guy that owns this place?

Dad's running late.

Fuck.

Your dad makes you work weekends?

Weekends, weekdays, all the days.

Wait. You don't go to school?

I'm needed here.

You're in the marching band.

I'm in the what?

You're in the marching band.

No, I'm not.

Then why are you wearing the marching band thing?

I found it in the shop.

It keeps me warm.

Your dad doesn't buy you clothes?

Not for, like, two years.

[ Sighs ] Well, that's fucked up.

Your dad's a real asshole. That's all.

[ Sighs ]

You should be in school, you know?

Not picking up that guy's slack, dad or not.

Okay, sir.

I can't have you calling the cops.

♪♪

♪♪

[ Pipe clangs ]

♪♪

Ma: [ In distance ] Pa, I'm home!

♪♪

♪♪

You feel like a new man?

[ Chuckles lightly ] Brand-new, Ma.

[ Both chuckle ]

Well, you are, hon.

I have nothing to give you.

Wish I did.

For what you've done, I wish I had something to give you.

I could use a new lawn mower -- rideable kind.

[ Laughs ]

I can find your son.

I could find Paul.

James.I could find people.

I used to have to find people, Pa,

who slipped off for alimony and what have you.

James.

Please, we're grateful, but he's troubled.

He saps your strength. We're not young.

It takes me 10 minutes to get out of bed.

Well, I get right up. Speak for yourself.

[ Footsteps depart ]

[ Footsteps depart ]

My mask was burning.

It's not supposed to happen.

What I'm always asking is... did I see him

through the burning glass of the mask?

Did I see him and leave him?

James. Yeah.

James, do you think you can find him?

Well, thank you, James. Thank you very much.

That will mean a lot to his mom.

You want me to find him, Pa?

Yeah.

♪♪

No. No way.

You're broke.

Go on.

For your expenses in finding our son.

We do all right, our church.

Okay.

Uh, this is all of it.

Ma keeps it.

Social security, birth certificate -- Will that help?

Yeah.

We wanted to give you something else.

For your...graduation.

It's a fresh start for you.

Fill it out.

We make a little unit, see -- you, me, and Ma.

You'll be under our wing.

We have some pull around town. Don't get too excited.

It won't get you a car or anything, but with this,

you can get a checking account, new cellphone,

small line of credit.

Not much.

A start.

♪♪

Hey.

You deserve it.

Congratulations.

♪♪

[ Door opens, closes ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Metal creaks ]

[ Speaking Spanish ]

Mexico?

What's Paul doing in Mexico, James?

He's sick, Pa. It's grave.

Ma, I'm sorry. He's very sick.

Why isn't he here? Why is he there?

He's in a prison. He's in a prison hospital.

In Hermosillo.Good Lord.

Pa.

Is he...what? Sick, how?

I didn't gather. Liver failure.

They said, uh, hepatitis. Something concerning that.

They said late stages. That was clear.

Son.

Oh, James.

There's a sheriff there.

It's a little different than here.

There's a sheriff there

who oversees the prison and the county.

It's different.

We spoke privately.

He'll let him go.

You have to go there.

You have to pay him, but they'll let him go.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Keys ticking ]

[ Line ringing ]

What do you mean "wait"? They're on their way.

Man: I might not want to do it anymore.

What the fuck you talking -- What?

Yeah, I might change my mind. I'm still deciding.

They're on their way, man.

What are you still -- What do you --

What do you mean you're still deciding? Decide.

[ Sighs ] You have -- You have 10 minutes, okay?

Wow, man.

Not cool.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

♪♪

[ Dogs bark in distance ]

[ Speaking Spanish ]

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[ Sighs ]

♪♪

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[ Keyboard ticking ]

[ Cellphone swoops ]

♪♪

[ Cellphone vibrates ]

Yeah?

Yeah.

Yeah, what?

Yeah, we're doing it.

I'll keep them in the cell, man, for two weeks,

and you'll get those death certificates, man.

You be the son, man. Get that money, man.

Then you give me mine, man,

for my special plan with my special woman.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Man speaking Spanish ]

Brown -- Byron Brown.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Mr. and Mrs. Brown?

I'm Byron Brown.

Our friend James --You know James?

Our friend James told me to expect you for your son.

Please, would you come with me?

Out of the cold, out of the line?

I'll have you taken care of quickly.

Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, but, as you can see,

prison life here is different than the U.S.

Inmates greatly outnumber the guards.

I have to go to the hospital unit to get your son.

You can't go there, so I'll bring him to you.

For your safety, it's best that I place you in here

for your protection.

It's a minimum-security cell.

These inmates offer no threat.

These are my sissies.

Please step in.

Or we can go out there, back in that line.

We can do that.

Take four or five hours.

We put you in here for expedition and safety purposes.

I'll be just a few minutes.

♪♪

♪♪

[ Speaking Spanish ]

I've just moved here, yes, with my parents.

They're getting older.

I need to establish a New Mexico license.

Do you have your birth certificate?

Yeah.

I have everything I think I need.

♪♪

[ Cellphone vibrates ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

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♪♪

Woman: Paul Brown, your fax is ready.

♪♪

Paul Brown?

♪♪

♪♪

Glenn: Can I help you?

I don't -- I don't see you, man.

Over here, at the counter, ready to assist you.

I have to stay off my feet due to an event.

Hm.

Anything you'd like to buy or sell?

Just browsing, okay?

Okay. Take your time.

Let me know if you have any questions.

My name's Glenn.

You hurt your head, Glenn?

Someone else did.

Someone ruthless.

He bludgeoned me.

Bludgeoned?

Yeah.

Do you know what that word means?

No. I just heard Sheriff Dolittle say it.

It means he hit you, like, many times.

He did.

You're gonna count those first two?

'Cause maybe those weren't, like, actual blows.

And maybe that's not fair to the guy to...count them.

Yeah, I'm gonna count them.

Okay.

You want a milkshake or something?

Why not.

[ Door opens, bell jingles ]

[ Door opens, bell jingles ]

Arson's ruthless.

Murder.

Yeah. Yeah.

For sure.

Robbery, mm, even with a small assault, not really.

My vocabulary, I have to tell you --

It's not a source of pride.

That's because you work in a pawn shop.

You should be in 10th grade.

Sorry that happened to you, man.

[ Sniffs ]Yeah.

The guy probably had a good reason.

Maybe he'll come by later and bring you, like...

2,000 bucks or something.

Soon.

Like a couple weeks.

That would be pretty fuckin' cool.

Yeah.

I wonder what his reason was.

Just took five shitty necklaces.

I'm sure it was a really great reason, yeah.

And you'd probably understand if you knew.

[ Slurps ]

Hey.

Thanks for the new vocab... and the shake.

But we're clear on that,

that the guy who gave you a little tap?

He's not ruthless.

It wasn't just a little tap, man.

I'm wearing a helmet here.

You gonna be all right?

Long-term? Did they say, Glenn?

Just have to stay off my feet.

Should be all right.

Hey, I'm Paul.

Paul Allen Brown.

I'm Glenn Pirdoo. Nice to meet you, Paul.

What brings you to Half Acre?

Parents. Cool.

Yeah, they just died, though, so...

That's...not cool.

No.

S-Sorry about that.

Yeah.

All right. See you.

See you, man.

[ Slurps ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Door bangs open ]

[ Door bangs shut ]

Hey, lady.

I like your shoes.

Hey, lady.

I like your shoes.

James: I used to get bad feelings when I was a kid.

Just like everyone else -- normal bad feelings.

When I did, I would call my dad.

[ Cellphone beeping ]

10 years ago, I couldn't anymore.

But I still do.

[ Cellphone ringing ]

♪♪

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Dad. You got your helmet on, right, Dad?

'Cause I can't hear you.

Yeah, I can't hear you, Dad, through your helmet.

♪♪

Well, all right.

Bye, Dad.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

♪♪

[ Speaking Spanish ]

I'm going to kill you, motherfucker.

I'm the pale horse of Death, and Hell follows me, boy.

I am bathed in the blood of the lamb,

you spic coward cocksucker.

Prepare for the Devil.

I shall deliver you unto his fucking kingdom come.

♪♪

[ Cellphone ringing, vibrating ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Yeah?

Man: Check your e-mail.

I told you not to contact me there, man.

I don't care. Check your e-mail.

He just killed a 24-year-old kid with his shoe.

♪♪

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[ Truck door opens, shuts ]

♪♪

Hello.

Hello.

What's up?

Nothing much.

This your home?

Family home, yeah.

What can I do for you?

Paul Brown? Yeah.

I'm Texas Ranger Wesley Walker, greater Austin.

I've been looking for you, Paul, for a long time, now.

You just got a new driver's license, yeah?

Yeah.

Okay.

That's how I got here.

That's how I found you here at this address.

Yeah, I said, "How can I help you?"

Yeah, I've been looking for you for a while.

Can we talk?

What do you want to talk about?

About the little girl.

About the dead little girl at the river.

You're a person of interest.

Maybe not generally, but in regard to the murder

of Theresa Sincere Williams,

you are a person of interest, so I'm going to question you.

Let's go talk about this, Paul.

Do you want to get started with some questions?

Okay.

You're Paul Allen Brown, you said.

♪♪

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You're Paul Allen Brown, you said.

Yes.

Son of Byron and Lillian Brown.

Yes.

James: He asked me back there if I was Paul Brown, and I said yes.

Now what?

Can you imagine the hundreds of thousands of details --

middle school, your favorite color,

the name of your little-league baseball team?

Can you imagine the hundreds of thousands of things

that you wouldn't know

if you were pretending to be someone else?

I covered all this with Paul -- all of it.

But I didn't think to ask

if he was a person of interest in a murder.

I figured he would've told me that.

What else didn't he tell me?

What else?

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Don't y'all pray for my soul

♪ When I hang from that pole

♪ Ohhhhhh

♪ Ohhhhhh

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