Original subtitles

("Over the Red Cedar" by Charlie Parr playing)

Good morning.

Don't have much today.

But I've got eggs, sausage,

potatoes and pancakes.

MANAGER: Hey, Postoak?

There's a big mess in the shitter and you're up.

# Now take a look at their big house #

# Bigger than they really needed #

# He got the duallies on his pickup #

# When the dealer gave him a choice #

# Then he lost his job on the build site #

# Now he's struggling to feed his boys #

# And the red cedar grows and the red cedar flows #

# And long after you're gone #

# It's outlasting #

# You long #

# It's outlasting you long. #

(snoring)

MRS. FIXICO: Welcome back to the land of the living, Bear.

What'd I miss, bro?

The whole class. You talk in your sleep.

- Talking about your hammer... - Shh!

No, I'm just tired from work, bro.

MRS. FIXICO: Graduation is around the corner.

You might remember a little experiment

from your freshman year.

We asked you to write yourself

a letter, talking about your goals, your dreams.

- Oh, I remember this shit. - It's a letter from you to you.

- Read them. - Fuck yeah, man.

Still a G.

- Let me read yours. - No.

(speaks in Indigenous language)

All right.

"When I grow up, I want to be a famous rapper.

Just like my daddy." Aw!

Yeah, you cannot say anything, bro, look.

"I want to be a wizard when I grow up."

Fuck you. I still want to be a wizard.

(school bell rings)

Sko, sko.

Willie Jack, one second.

Shit, what'd I do?

You in trouble.

All right, I'll see ya. Deuces, bro.

I'm sorry.

This is Daniel's.

You're his cousin, I thought you should have it.

Okay.

Thank you.

# #

(indistinct chatter)

- Hey, what's up, girl? - What's up?

You're quiet today.

It's one of them days.

What kind of day is that?

Same one.

Over and over.

Time! Line up!

- (buzzer sounds) - Good shot.

Thanks.

GRAM: Psst!

(quietly): Fuck.

(inhales deeply)

(exhales)

Thought you were gone for good.

Where'd you go?

Somebody quit working with their medicine.

You know, ignoring your responsibilities

is ignoring your ancestors.

And nobody likes to be ignored.

Also...

if you must know...

I got me a grandpa spirit.

He died at Little Bighorn.

Spirit sex is way better.

God, it lasts so much longer.

(chuckles) Gross.

Heylah, it's natural.

Well, you can go back to spirit hunchin'.

- I don't need you here. - Mm-mm.

(whispers): Today's the big day.

Same as every other day.

I don't think so.

You felt it.

Why else am I here?

You tuned in today.

I didn't mean to.

Can I tune back out?

No.

We got a lot of eyes on this place today.

(whispers): Spirits.

They like to watch.

(scoffs)

Spirits.

Freaks.

Hokti.

You got a visitor.

Name not on the list.

What's the name?

("Manhattan Island Serenade" by Vincent Neil Emerson playing)

# Sitting on a highway in a broken van #

# Thinking of you again #

(sighs)

(inhales deeply)

# Guess I have to hitchhike to the station #

# With every step #

# I see your face #

# Like a mirror looking back at me... #

Everything looks in order.

Are you a convicted felon?

No.

Are you currently incarcerated?

# I could survive #

No.

# Man, I'm so glad to be alive #

# Nowhere to run, there's not a guitar to play #

# Messed up inside and it's been raining all day #

# Since you went away #

# Manhattan Island serenade. #

Hey, hey.

I did a hero dose of mushrooms once.

Fucked me up.

Spent the night in jail, naked as a jaybird.

I think I saw God.

Cool.

It wasn't that cool. It was a jail just like this.

You know why we built jails, don't you?

Who?

Well, white people of course.

Indians didn't have jails.

Word, no shit?

No shit, the people that built this

had lost their way.

You remember that.

Okay, then.

Being separated from your family's a bitch.

It ain't natural.

I come here to see my daughter.

Word.

That's why I'm here.

To see my family.

They may not know it, they may not want it,

but you're coming here to visit them

is the most important thing you can do

to somebody that's locked up in a place like this.

(sighs) I don't know why I'm here, man.

I haven't been happy with her.

Just feels like I needed to do something.

- So I'm doing it. - Well, that's a risk.

But you're listening to your heart, that's good.

Are you a guru?

Or a philosopher or something?

Nah, I'm not a philosopher.

I'm just an old hippie dude that's done a lot of acid.

It makes you think.

When you're my age, there's a lot to think about.

I live by a few rules.

Be kind to those that you're closest to.

Wear a good hat and a good pair of boots.

A good hat helps hide what you're doing

from the Lord above, and good boots,

they help you outrun the Devil.

Slides work?

- Oh, fuck yeah. - All right.

- (intercom beeps) - GUARD: Wilhelmina Jacqueline?

WILLIE JACK: Oh...

Toes behind the yellow line.

Arms up.

(detector whining)

(whining continues)

All right.

- You know the rules? - No.

You're allowed two small moments of contact.

You can hug or a small kiss on the cheek or both.

You are only allowed to do this at the beginning of your visit

and at the end. Two moments.

- Got it? - Could you repeat that again?

Just kidding.

Why is everyone so serious?

(quiet chatter)

HUSBAND: It's in the past.

(continues indistinctly)

GUARD: Hands.

(husband and wife continue indistinctly)

So...

How you doing?

Are you shitting me?

Well, everyone's doing good at home.

Um...

Mom and Dad say hi.

Just kidding, they didn't say that.

My dad tried convincing me not to come here.

They have no clue that I'm here though.

(sighs)

Me and Bear are gonna graduate this year.

Yeah, Daniel would've been right with us.

But you knew that.

Cheese moved in with some old lady.

Can I get some paper?

- Just paper, that's it? - Yeah.

You gonna take some notes or what?

There's no smoking in here.

(chuckles softly)

So I'm just going through the motions.

Helps with stress.

So what's this about Cheese dating an old lady?

Fuck you mean, "dating an old lady"?

I didn't say that.

Well...

she thought she was his grandma,

but turned out that she wasn't.

Then...

now she became his grandma.

Not the weirdest thing I've ever heard.

Mm-hmm.

Elora's grandma Mabel died.

You know what, I'm all caught up.

If my truth smells like dick,

your truth smells like slore.

HUSBAND: What the fuck even is that?

That's a slut/whore mix.

Hey, you want me to use it in a sentence?

Your mother is a slore.

Okay, everyone, hands on the table, palms up.

Till we get this matter resolved.

- Let's go, buddy. - WIFE: Hey, try not to have any more secret kids!

HUSBAND: Well, guess what, we're still married, they're your kids, too!

- Hey, that don't make any sense! - HUSBAND: They need a mom!

WIFE: Asshole!

Hey, you're all a bunch of slores!

- She's the best. - WIFE: Fuck you!

You may resume your visitation.

Why are you here?

(sniffles)

This is a letter Daniel wrote to himself in freshman year.

Um, time capsule assignment.

All his dreams and shit.

I think you should have it.

I don't want it.

Well...

what if I read it to you?

I haven't read it yet.

It could probably help us, be like healing...

I said no.

Shit like this is why none of you are on my visitors list.

I look at you and I see him, you understand?

Yeah. I do.

But you're not the only one that's affected by this.

No one's the same.

I miss my friends.

And I miss you, too.

Like the version I remember of you when I was little.

Remember I used to always come to you

whenever I'd get hurt?

Which was rare.

(chuckles)

I always remember you made things better.

Daniel was the same way.

I used to think you were so powerful.

Like a wizard.

But now...

...you'd rather be fucking miserable, man.

All you elders don't even want to talk to me.

Avoiding shit all the fucking time.

No wonder why my mom and dad didn't want me to come here.

Fuck me. Fine.

(sniffles)

You know, when you ask someone for advice,

you should bring a gift.

Tobacco, sweetgrass,

cedar, anything works.

Food's best.

People are a lot more open when they have food.

They won't let me take food in here, fuck.

They'll just think I'm trying to hustle some shit.

How much cash you got?

I got ten bucks up my sock.

Well.

I'm real addicted to them Flaming Flamers.

Me, too.

Well... sko then.

(chuckles softly)

You gonna just keep looking over my shoulder this whole time?

Smiling all creepy.

Acting all happy.

Your vibe sucks.

I walked the Trail of Tears

and I smiled more than you.

(scoffs)

(mouths)

(gasps, chuckles)

(inhales deeply)

(moans, sighs)

Mmm.

(exhales)

(both belch)

Come on then.

Tell me what's wrong.

Brought me the offerings.

Sko.

Well...

Bear and Elora don't talk anymore.

Well...

we hang out, but...

it's like they're just trying to be polite.

Cheese is always with his new grandma all the time.

Which is good.

I don't know, man.

It's like...

I just feel like we're broken up.

And like...

we're supposed to be the dream team.

Fucking Rez Dogs.

Friends grow apart.

This ain't like that.

It's like everyone's walking around in the sunshine.

And we're just in the darkness.

(inhales deeply)

Bear and Elora especially.

(exhales)

Come on.

Put your hands up on the table.

Like we just did.

Close your eyes.

- Gonna have a little prayer. - (sighs heavily)

(whispers): I need your help.

- What? - Not you. Keep your eyes shut.

Eyes closed, no matter what happens, okay?

- Just focus on the dark. - (breathing deeply)

Take long, slow breaths.

(continues breathing deeply)

Good.

Just listen to your breathing for a second.

Remember the stories I told you when you were growing up,

about the people we come from.

Generations of medicine people.

(elder singing in Indigenous language)

HOKTI: Caretakers.

These are the ones...

who held us together as we arrived from our homelands.

- (singing continues) - (breathing deeply)

HOKTI: The healers who carried us and buried us as we marched.

Men and women whose songs led us through the dark.

They're watching you, my girl.

(singing continues)

You don't need me. You have them.

This is the power we carry.

When you really pray, they're all around you.

All the time.

Oh, shit. (breathing deeply)

(singing continues)

Takes focus, though.

Intent.

(breathing deeply)

Open your eyes.

- (sniffles, cries) - (door closes)

- (singing fades) - Holy fuck.

(cries)

Oh, shit.

Ah, fuck.

(sighs)

I spent a lot of energy trying to fix Danny.

Instead, I took on his pain.

We shared it.

Can't love someone out of hurting themselves, though.

I was so focused on Danny,

so focused on myself that...

(voice breaking): I couldn't see...

You can't help people who don't want to be helped.

- I learned that the hard way. - (sniffles)

You create the space for your friends.

You do it with intention.

Either the path will be laid for you, or won't.

I know they want to be helped,

but I don't know how to bring them together.

(scoffs) Christ, girl.

Weren't you paying attention?

The answer's right in front of you.

(sniffles, breathes deeply)

Hey.

Come here.

# #

GUARD: Okay, that's enough.

I'm ready.

You take that letter with you.

Found its way to you, not me.

- (door opens) - (indistinct chatter)

It was good to see you, granddaughter...

niece... cousin.

(door closing)

CHEESE: Did you invite Bear and Elora, too?

- (sizzling) - WILLIE JACK: Yeah. Fuck.

Can't let these wild onions go to waste.

Where'd you get these from?

Mm, my mom and dad picked them earlier this year.

- Hmm. - Froze them, bro.

It smells like a locker room.

I mean, a good locker room. Locker room I'd like to eat.

- Not-not-- I mean... - Yeah, yeah. Cook that shit, bro.

(door opens, closes)

Am I early?

Fuck no. Just in time.

What is this?

Potato salad.

(door opens)

- (door closes) - Sup, Bear?

What'd you cook? Oh, potato chips.

We've all brought potatoes of all kinds.

Sit down, bro. Almost done.

Sup, Bear?

What's up, Elora?

(sizzling)

Why are we here?

(Bear slurps)

Well, this has been fun.

I went and saw Hokti.

Whoa.

In jail?

Yep.

How is she?

She's good.

Looks all healthy and shit.

Smoking paper cigs.

I went to go talk to her because...

I needed some advice about...

all of us.

What about us?

You know what I'm talking about, bro.

This is weird.

We barely talk or see each other anymore.

Man, everything is fine.

Yeah. Everything's totally fine.

Yeah.

Wow, that was convincing.

Wait, I'm-a try something.

Give me your hands, uh, face up.

Hokti taught me this.

Fuck you doing?

You said face up.

Palms up.

I have the power invested in me...

by the freaking generational ghosts behind me.

(whispers): Like Rey in Star Wars.

- Cheese. - Sorry.

(whispers): You guys feel anything yet?

- Mm-mm. - (fly buzzing)

- Are we supposed to? - My stomach hurts.

A fly keeps landing on me.

CHEESE: I feel a light breeze.

(quietly): Fuck.

Look, I appreciate what you're doing, but...

we're all good.

Yeah, man. You ain't got to worry about us.

We're fine.

(sighs heavily)

Daniel wrote this.

What-what is it?

Freshman year,

uh, we did a time capsule assignment.

Mm-hmm.

WILLIE JACK: Teacher just gave me back Daniel's.

And this is all his dreams and goals.

I haven't read it yet,

but I wanted to read it with you guys.

# #

(Elora clears throat)

(chuckles softly)

(scoffs)

# Give me something #

# Give me something, anything #

# Give me something #

# Give me something, anything #

# 'Cause I can't see how it ends #

- (exhales sharply) - # I can't see how it ends. #

Hmm.

I think we should do it.

You serious?

For Daniel.

Because he can't.

And if you guys still want to be weird,

then the Rez Dogs can break up, cool.

I'll stop pushing it.

You guys down?

Yeah, for Daniel.

("Time After Time" playing)

(Elora chuckles)

I got to tell Grandma, though.

# Lying in my bed, I hear the... #

What are you smiling about?

You did good, my girl.

# Caught up in circles... #

Hokti, you got that updated list?

Yep. Right here.

# Flashback, warm nights #

- # Almost left behind # - All right.

# If you're lost, you can look and you will find me #

# Time after time #

# If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting #

# Time after time #

# If you're lost, you can look and you will find me #

# Time after time #

# If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting #

# Time after time #

# #

# You say, "Go slow" #

# I fall behind #

# The second hand unwinds #

# If you're lost, you can look and you will find me #

# Time after time #

# If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting #

# Time after time #

# Time after time. #

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH