All language subtitles for Three.Billboards.Outside.Eb

( DRUMROLL )

( FANFARE PLAYING )

( MUSIC ENDS )

♫ "The Last Rose Of Summer" playing ♫

♪ 'Tis the last rose ♪

♪ Of summer ♪

♪ Left blooming ♪

♪ Alone ♪

♪ All her lovely ♪

♪ Companions ♪

♪ Are faded ♪

♪ And gone ♪

♪ No flower ♪

♪ Of her kindred ♪

♪ No rosebud ♪

♪ Is nigh ♪

♪ To reflect back ♪

♪ Her blushes ♪

♪ And give ♪

♪ Sigh for sigh ♪

– ( BIRDS CHIRPING )
– ( BRAKES SQUEAL )

( DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING )

( FOOTSTEPS APPROACH )

You Red Welby?

Yes, ma'am. How may I help you?

I hear those three billboards
out on Drinkwater Road,

...you're in charge of
renting 'em out, that right?

I didn't know we had any billboards
out on Drinkwater Roa...

– ...where is Drinkwater Road?
– It's the road out past Sizemore turn-off.

Nobody uses it since
the freeway got put in.

( DRAWER OPENS )

( RED CLICKING TONGUE )

You're right.

We got three billboards out there.

Nobody's put nothing
up out there since 1986.

That was Huggies.

How much to rent all three
of them out for the year?

A Year?

You wanna pay for three billboards
on a road that no one goes down...

...unless they got lost or they're retards...

– (CHUCKLES) for a year?
– Quick, ain't you, Welby?

Well...

...since what I say goes these days...

...down at the Ebbing Advertising Desk,

...I'm gonna strike you a real
good deal on those billboards.

Now, what was it your name was, Missus...

What's the law on what you can
and cannot say on a billboard?

I assume you can't say nothing defamatory,

...and you can't say,
"fuck," "piss," or "cunt." That right?

Uh...

Or...

"...anus."

Well, I think I'll be all right then.

Here's 5,000 for the first month.

I assume that'll cover it.

And here's what the billboards are to say.

Why don't you write up a contract
betwixt us while you're at it,

...make sure nobody rents them
billboards out from under me.

I guess you're Angela Hayes's mother.

That's right.
I'm Angela Hayes's mother.

Name's Mildred.

How long before you get 'em put up?

( SIGHS )

Shall we say by...

...Easter Sunday?

That'd be perfect.

♪ As I was walking down ♪
♪ the streets of Laredo ♪

( EXCLAIMS )

♪ As I walked down ♪
♪ to Laredo one day ♪

( EXCLAIMS )

♪ I spied a young cowboy ♪
♪ all wrapped in white linen ♪

♪ All wrapped in white linen ♪
♪ and cold as the Clay ♪

( EXCLAIMS )

– Hey, what the hell is this?
– Que?

"How come, Chief Willoughby" what?

– What?
– Yeah.

– Huh?
– "How come" what?

– What, what?
– What?

Listen, you fucking beaner,
I'd better start getting...

...some straight answers outta you.

Put that down.

What the hell is this?

Hey, you. What the fuck is this?

What the fuck is what?

This! This.

– Advertising, I guess.
– Advertising what?

Something obscure?

I'll say. Yeah.

Don't I know your face from some place?

– I don't know, do you?
– Yeah. Yeah, I do.

( SPITS )

I could arrest you right now if I wanted to.

– For what?
– For emptying your bucket there.

That's... that's against the...

...being bad, against the environment laws.

Well, before you do that, Officer Dixon...

...how about you go have yourself a
look at that first billboard over there?

And then we can have ourself a conversation...

...about the motherfucking environment.

How about that?

( ENGINE REVVING )

( TIRES SQUEAL )

Fuck me.

( CELL PHONE RINGING )

Don't, William.

Dixon, you goddamn asshole.

I'm in the middle of my
goddamn Easter dinner.

Sorry, kids.

I know, Chief,

...and I'm sorry for calling
you at home and all, but...

...I think we got kind
of a problem. (SIGHS)

♫ "Buckskin Stallion Blues" playing ♫

♪ I heard her sing in tongues of silver ♪

♪ I heard her cry on a summer storm ♪

♪ I loved her, but she did not know it ♪

♪ So I don't think about her anymore ♪

♪ Now she's gone, and I can't believe it ♪

♪ So I don't think about her anymore ♪

♪ If three and four was seven only ♪

♪ Where would that leave one and two? ♪

♪ If love can be and still be lonely ♪

– POLICEMAN: No, no. No, no. Go back.
– ♪ Where does that leave me and you? ♪

Hey.

♪ Time there was, and time there will be ♪

♪ Where does that leave me and you? ♪

Sorry I'm late, Denise.

Did you put up those billboards
to fuck with the cops yet?

They're up.

You go, girl. You go fuck those cops up.

CEDRIC: What the fuck do you
think you're doing, Welby,

...a bunch of billboards like that?

You didn't think there'd be some
kind of ramifications, legally?

What's the legal ramifications, Cedric?

You want me to explain legal ramifications,

...little punk like you?
And don't call me Cedric!

Ain't contravening no laws on propriety.

Ain't contravening no
laws on any fucking thing.

I checked all this out.

And where'd you check all this out?

In a...

– ...a book.
– Which book, genius?

Book called Suck My Ass,
It's None Of Your Business.

– (THUDS)
– (SIGHS) Fuck.

How long has this person, or persons,

...rented these billboards out for?

Oh... the year.

How long has she actually paid for?

The year.

So it's a "she," is it?

( SNAPS FINGERS )

I ain't at liberty to divulge
that kind of information, Chief.

Mildred Hayes, perhaps?

Ain't at liberty to divulge
that kind of information, Chief.

Do you really wanna fuck...

...with the Ebbing Police Department, Red?

Do you?

I guess.

He said what? To your face?

No crime has been committed here.

Oh, come on. Defamation
of character ain't a crime?

It isn't defamation if she's
simply asking a question.

What are you, an idiot?

Don't call me an idiot, Dixon!

I didn't call you an idiot.

I asked if you was an idiot.
That was a question.

– (CHUCKLES) He got you there, Cedric.
– DIXON: That's it? Come on, man!

BILL: Hey! Don't go flying off the handle.

Why in the hell you keep that man on?

He's a good man at heart.

He tortured a guy in custody, Bill.

There was no...
real evidence to support that.

Take 'em down.

– RED: Huh?
– Take that shit down.

Take what shit down?

Hey, boy. You think I wouldn't take
you out right here on Main Street, Red?

I thought you only took
out black dudes, Dixon.

(GRUNTS) No! No! Stop it.

You ever fucking touch me, motherfucker...

RED: You drunk?

– Are you drunk right now?
– BILL: Get up.

Nobody ever goes down that road anyways.

Unless they got lost.
Or they're retards.

Well, don't be nervous, is the main thing.

It'll go just fine.

Don't look in the camera, obviously.

Let's hold for this car.

– (BLOWS AIR)
– In three, two, one.

So, Mildred Hayes, why did
you put up these billboards?

MILDRED: (ON TV) My daughter, Angela,

...was abducted, raped and
murdered seven months ago...

– ...along this selfsame stretch of road.
– (GRUNTS)

What you watching, Momma?
Stupid news?

It seems to me the
local police department...

...is too busy going around
torturing black folks...

...to be bothered doing anything
about solving actual crime.

I thought these billboards might
concentrate their minds some.

Fuck.

MILDRED: (ON TV) I don't know what the
police are doing, to be honest with you.

I do know that my, daughter's burnt
body is, lying six feet underground.

All they're doing is eating Krispy Kremes...

...and busting eight-year-olds
for skating around parking lots.

GABRIELLA: (ON TV) And Chief Willoughby,

...why single him out?

MILDRED: He's the head of them, ain't he?

The buck's gotta stop somewhere.

GABRIELLA: And the
buck stops at Willoughby?

MILDRED: Yeah, the
buck stops at Willoughby.

– Dead right it does.
– (TV TURNS OFF)

( REMOTE CLATTERS )

ANNE: You all right there, fella?

Looks like we got a war on our hands.

( SIGHS )

( CLEARS THROAT )

Can we talk?

I'd do anything to catch the
guy who did it, Mrs. Hayes.

But when the DNA, don't match
no one who's ever been arrested,

...and when the DNA, don't match
any other crime nationwide,

...and when, there wasn't
a single eyewitness...

...from the time she'd left your house,
to the time we found her, well...

...right now there ain't too
much more we can do.

Could pull blood from every
man and boy in this town...

...over the age of eight.

There's civil rights laws
prevents that, Mrs. Hayes.

And what if he was just
passing through town?

Pull blood from every man
in the country, then.

Then what if he was just
passing through the country?

If it was me, I'd start up a database.

Every male baby what's
born, stick them on it,

...and as soon as he done something wrong,

...cross-reference it,

...make 100% certain it was a correct match,

...then kill him.

Yeah, well, there's...

...definitely civil rights laws prevents that.

MILDRED: Ah.

I'm doing everything I can to track him down.

I don't think those,
billboards is very fair.

The time it took you to get out here
whining like a bitch, Willoughby,

...some other poor girl's probably
out there being butchered right now.

But I'm glad you got your priorities
straight, I'll say that for you.

There's something else, Mildred.

I got cancer.

– I'm dying.
– I know it.

Huh?

I know it. Most everybody in town knows it.

And you still put up, those billboards?

Well, they wouldn't be as
effective after you croak. Right?

( SIGHS )

( SONG PLAYING )

Well, looky looky.

If it ain't the instigator of this whole
goddamn affair in the first place.

I didn't instigate shit, Dixon.

Playing pool against the town midget.

He's right, Red,

...you are playing pool
against the town midget.

You know, he's a cop.
You know, he's observant.

I always disliked you, Red,

...ever since you was a snotty little child.

You still look like a snotty little child.

That's unfortunate. I always
thought you was great.

Even your name, Red Welby.

– Even your name I disliked.
– Well...

...okay.

DIXON: Like you was some kind of
goddamn communist or something...

– ...and proud of it.
– No, it's 'cause I got red hair.

You know what they do to
faggots down in Cuba, Welby?

Wow, that's left field.

No, what do they do to
faggots down in Cuba, Dixon?

They kill 'em.

Which, it might surprise
you to learn, I'm against.

I'm not sure if they do kill
faggots down in Cuba, Dixon.

I know Cuba's human rights
record's pretty deplorable...

...when it comes to homosexuality,

...but killing 'em?

Are you sure you ain't thinking of Wyoming?

Always with the smart-ass. Jesus.

He's quite good, isn't he?

Hey, Willoughby's a good man.
Hey, look at me. Hey, look at me.

I'm talking nice to you now, aren't I?

I'm talking nice to you.

Willoughby's a good man, Red.

Shouldn't have this be the
only thing he thinks about,

...last months left to him.

Last months what?

Oh, you...

...you didn't know?

– Yeah, pancre... pancreatic.
– (COINS CLINK)

I'm up next. You old ladies quit yakking.

– Rude.
– Hey, Mildred.

I saw you on TV the other day.

– Oh, yeah?
– JAMES: Yeah, you looked good.

I mean, you know, you
came across really good...

...in the things that you were saying.

I didn't think you came across real good.

I think you sounded...
you came across as a stupid-ass.

Ain't it about time you got home
to your momma, Dixon?

No, it ain't time I go home
to my mama... momma.

I told her I was gonna be out,
till 12:00, actually.

Jesus.

That's me versus you, Mildred. (CHUCKLES)

(LAUGHS) Hey, Robbie. I think
that midget wants to get in my pants.

(GASPS) Father Montgomery.

Mildred. I'm... I'm sorry to be
calling on you so late, but, uh...

...I must say, Robbie has
been the, consummate host.

Despite his having had,
as he was just telling me,

...somewhat of a tricky day at school.

Oh, no. Just some of the guys
on the team was giving me crap.

Crap about what?

About the billboards, Mildred.

Which is what I've come to
have a word with you about.

Oh. Proceed.

I know how hard,
it's been for you, Mildred,

...this past year. We all do.

And if there is ever anything,
that you need,

...we will be there for you. Always.

But the town also knows...

...what kind of a man,
William Willoughby is.

And the town is dead set
against these billboards of yours.

Took a poll, did you, Father?

You know, Mildred, if you hadn't
stopped coming to church,

...you'd have a little bit
more understanding...

...of the depth of people's feelings.

I had more than a dozen people
come up to me on Sunday.

So, yes, I took a poll.

Everybody is with you,
about Angela.

Nobody is with you about this.

You know what I was thinking about today?

I was thinking about those street gangs...

...they have down in Los Angeles,

...those Crips and those Bloods.

And I was thinking about
that bunch of new laws...

...they came up with in
the 1980s, I think it was,

...to combat those street gangs,
those Crips and those Bloods.

And, if I remember rightly, the gist of
what those new laws were saying was,

...if you join one of these gangs,
and you're running with them,

...and down the block one
night, unbeknownst to you,

...one of your fellow Crips,
or your fellow Bloods,

...shoot up a place, or stab a guy...

...well then, even though you
may not know nothing about it...

...and even though you may have
just been standing on a street corner,

...minding your own business...

What these new laws said was,
you're still culpable.

You're still culpable by the
very act of having joined...

...those Crips and those
Bloods in the first place.

Which got me thinking, Father...

...that whole type of situation...

...is kinda like you church boys, ain't it?

You got your colors,
you got your clubhouse.

You're, for want of a better word, a gang.

And if you were upstairs smoking
a pipe and reading your Bible...

...while one of your fellow gang members...

...is downstairs fucking
an altar boy, well...

Father, just like those Crips,
and just like those Bloods,

...you're culpable...

...'cause you joined the gang, man.

I don't care if you never did shit,

...you never saw shit, you never heard shit.

You join the gang, you're culpable.

And when a person is culpable,
to altar-boy-fucking,

...or any kinda boy-fucking,

...'cause I know you guys didn't
really narrow that down...

...then you kinda forfeit the
right to come into my house...

...and say anything about me, or my life,

...or my daughter, or my billboards.

So why don't you just finish
up your tea there, Father,

...and get the fuck outta my kitchen.

But thanks for coming up anyway, Father.

– How you been feeling, Bill?
– (SIGHS)

Ah, like I got cancer in a major organ.

Well, I just want you to know
we're all on your side...

...about this Mildred Hayes thing.

If I have to hear that
one more fucking time...

I'm done with this shit.
I can't waste my life waiting.

( DOOR OPENS, CLOSES )

Stop reading fucking comic books...

...and get me the file on the Hayes case.

Angela Hayes case or the Mildred Hayes case?

There is no Mildred Hayes case.

We've had two official complaints...

...about those billboards, so, actually...

From who?

There's a lady with a funny eye...

...and a fat dentist.

Get me the file on the Angela Hayes case.

"A lady with a funny fucking eye"?

Jesus Christ.

( COUGHING )

Late night?

No.

Lay off that Welby guy, will you?

Or you'll do what?

Kick your momma's fucking teeth in.

No, you won't.

Who told you I was laying on
him anyway? The midget?

What the fuck are you talking about?

And I'm trying to fucking concentrate.

Fucking midgets!

DIXON: What you looking for anyway?

There's nothing to look for.

I don't know what it is.

It feels like it's kinda waggling.

Well, if it's waggling,
it's gonna have to come out.

Ain't you gonna take a look at it first?

It's gonna have to come out.

( WHIRS )

Can I get a little Novocaine there, Doc?

( MILDRED GRUNTS )

Give it a couple of minutes.

I just wanted to say there's
a lot of good friends...

...of Bill Willoughby in
this town, Miss Hayes.

No! Ow! Stop! No!

( MAN SCREAMING )

God damn it!

( GROANING AND WHIMPERING )

Then why don't you tell those
good friends of Bill Willoughby...

...to tell him to go do
his fucking job, fat boy.

( SIREN WAILING )

– ( SIREN STOPS )
– ( CAR DOORS CLOSE )

Hey there, Mildred.

You didn't happen to pay a, visit...

...to the dentist today, did you?

– (MUFFLED) No.
– BILL: Huh?

(MUFFLED) I said, "No."

Oh, so it wasn't you
who drilled a little hole...

...in one of big fat Geoffrey's
big fat thumbnails, no?

– (SOFTLY) Of course not.
– BILL: Huh?

I said, "Of course not."

(CHUCKLES) You drilled a hole in the dentist?

Denise, no, I didn't.

(CHUCKLING) I thought it
was kinda funny myself, but...

...he wants to press charges,

...so we're gonna have
to bring you in, I'm afraid.

( CHUCKLES SOFTLY )

( MILDRED EXHALES )

So how's it all going in the
nigger-torturing business, Dixon?

It's persons-of-color-torturing
business, these days.

If you wanna know...

...I didn't torture nobody.

What's the matter with you,
saying that goddamn, stuff on TV?

My momma watches that station.

Your momma doesn't
know about the torturing?

No, she doesn't know anything about it.
She's against that kinda thing.

BILL: Who's against what?

My mama... momma is against
persons-of-color-torturing.

She said, "Nigger-torturing."

I said, "You can't say
nigger-torturing' no more."

"You gotta say persons-of-color-torturing."

Isn't that right, Chief?

Ain't that right?

I think I'll be able to,
take care of Mrs. Hayes...

...on my own from here on, Jason.

Sure, Chief. I'll be right outside.

( DOOR SLAMS )

Don't give me that look.

If you got rid of every cop
with vaguely racist leanings,

...you'd have...
three cops left,

...and all of them are gonna
hate the fags. (LAUGHS)

So what are you gonna do, you know?

( SIGHS )

I wanna know something, Mildred.

Why'd you drill a hole...

...through poor fat Geoffrey's thumbnail?

That did not happen.

His hand slipped.

He drilled a hole through his own self.

Did he say I did it?

(MOCK GASPS) I guess it's his
word against mine, then, huh?

Kinda like in all those rape
cases you hear about.

Except, this time, the chick ain't losing.

It ain't really about winning
or losing, though, is it, Mildred?

You think I, care about who wins
or loses between the two of youse?

You think I care about dentists?

I don't care about dentists.

Nobody cares about dentists.

What I do care about, or what I'm...

...interested in...

...is tying you up in court so long...

...that your hours at the
gift shop be so shot to shit...

...that you ain't gonna have a penny...

...to pay for another month's billboards.

– I got some dough put...
– That's what I'm interested in.

I got some dough put away.

But what I heard, was you had to sell
off your ex-husband's tractor-trailer...

...to even pay for this month's
billboards, that right?

How is old Charlie, by the way?

He still shacked up with that pretty
little intern works down at the zoo?

He's still shacked up with
some chick smells of shit.

I don't know if the zoo's
got anything to do with it.

– Although I'd hope so.
– (LAUGHS)

How old is she?
Nineteen?

– That must smart.
– (MOCK GASPS)

(CHUCKLES) Keep trying. Keep trying.

What's Charlie think about
these here billboards of yours,

...an ex-cop like, Charlie?

Ex-cop, ex-wife-beater.
Same difference, I guess, right?

His word against yours, though, right?

Charlie don't know about 'em, does he?

It's none of his business.

Well, he's kinda paying
for 'em, though, ain't he?

– I'm paying for 'em!
– This month you are.

How about when... (COUGHS)

– I...I didn't mean to...
– I know.

– It was an accident.
– I know, baby.

It's blood.

I'm gonna go get somebody.

– (COUGHING)
– MILDRED: Hey!

– Just let her go.
– Come on, Chief.

Just let her go!

( MEN GRUNTING )

Easy, easy, easy.

Hey.

– ( ENGINE STARTS )
– ( DOOR SHUTS )

( SIREN WAILING )

– Do birds get cancer?
– MILDRED: Huh?

– Birds. Do they get cancer?
– I don't know. Dogs do.

Yeah, well, I wasn't talking
about dogs, was I?

Great, the good old
"Raped While Dying" route home.

Cause if there was two seconds in a day...

...when I wasn't thinking about her
and I wasn't thinking about how she died,

"There you go! Think about it
some more, why don't you?"

It's good too, that as much
as a person might have tried...

...to avoid the details of what happened...

...'cause he didn't think
it would do any good,

...and he didn't think he could bear it...

...it's also good to be informed...

...in 20-foot-high font
and in real nice lettering...

...the precise details, of her last moments.

That it wasn't enough that she was raped...

...and it wasn't enough that she died, no.

"Raped While Dying."

Thank you, Mom.

I gave you the police reports.

I didn't read 'em.

I'm depressed enough as it fucking is.

ANGELA: (SHOUTS) Mom?

MILDRED: Yeah?

ANGELA: You ain't going
out again tonight, are ya?

Denise and I are gonna grab
a couple of beers, yeah.

Denise gonna be driving you?

Angela, Why don't you just ask
me if you can borrow the car?

– Can I borrow the car?
– No.

– Bitch!
– I will give you money for a taxi...

...if you ask me nice and
don't call me a bitch.

Why'd you make me ask you if you
was never gonna let me borrow it?

'Cause it was funny! And because
you've been smoking pot all day.

– You are such a hypocrite.
– Hypocrite?

– Yeah.
– How?

You drove drunk with us in
the car when we were kids.

– What are you talking about?
– Daddy told me.

– When'd you see him?
– Don't change the subject.

Did you or did you not drive drunk
with us in the car when we were kids?

– Once, maybe.
– Okay, once?

When he was in the middle
of beating the shit out of me.

– Which we've only got your word about!
– Angela, for Christ sakes.

Why are you never on my side, Robbie?

I'm always on your side
when you're not being a cunt!

– WOMEN: Hey!
– There will be no more "cunts..."

– ...in this house. You got that, mister?
– What, are you moving out?

It was a ga... it's a ga... it was a gag.

Are you gonna let me
borrow the car or what?

Why don't you just walk, Angela?
Why don't you just walk?

You know what? I will walk.

I will walk! And you know what else?

– I hope I get raped on the way!
– (SHOUTS) Yeah, well, I hope...

– ...you get raped on the way too!
– (DOOR SLAMS)

We're gonna need to keep
you in a few days, Bill.

You shouldn't be coughing up blood.

Yeah. Kinda guessed that, Doc.

I'll swing by in the morning.

Anne.

I guess I'll go get your coat, huh?

Well, you know I ain't staying.

– You know I ain't arguing.
– (BOTH CHUCKLE)

( EXHALES )

( CEREAL CLATTERING )

( WHISTLING TUNE )

Oops.

You old cunt.

– I'm not old, Robbie.
– (VEHICLE APPROACHING)

– (BOTH CHUCKLE)
– That's Dad.

Hey, Dad. How's it going?

Where's the crazy lady?

Kid's got Rice fucking
Krispies in his fucking hair.

What's going on around here?

And What the fuck is going on with
these fucking billboards, Mildred?

Kinda self-explanatory.

Well, why don't you just explain it to me?

Guess it ain't self-explanatory, then.

Well, you know, I guess
I wanted certain people's minds...

...kept on certain people's jobs, is all.

I hadn't heard from them
in seven goddamn months.

I tell you this, I've heard
an awful lot from them...

...since I put them billboards up.

You think this has focused
their minds? Mmm?

I'll tell you what it's
focused their minds on.

It's focused their minds on how
exactly are they gonna fuck you up.

The more you keep a case in the public eye,

...the better your chances
are of getting it solved.

It's in all the guidebooks, Charlie.

How much these billboards cost?

About the same as a tractor-trailer.

( SNICKERS )

– What the fuck are you laughing at?
– Nothing.

Laughed at by a guy with
fucking cereal in his hair.

– How's Penelope?
– CHARLIE: Huh? She's all right.

Why don't you invite her in?

Save leaving her sitting out there.

– She here?
– She's out in the car.

Oh, that explains it.

– That explains what?
– I know I smelt something.

– (MILDRED GASPS)
– Let her go!

Oh! Um, I kinda need to use the bathroom,

...but if it's inconvenient...
actually, it is inconvenient, isn't it?

I can see it's inconvenient.
I can hold it. It's all right.

It's the first door down the hall.

Are you sure?
I feel like I'm... intruding.

– Just go pee.
– Oh.

MILDRED: Look, you said
what you came to say,

...so why don't you go get zoo girl...

...and get the hell out
of my house, all right?

Um, actually, zoo-wise, they were
letting people go at the zoo,

...unfortunately, and it was
a case of "last in, first out,"

...so yeah, unfortunately,
the zoo had to let me go.

But they were looking for people down
at the horse rides for the disableds...

...to look after the horses down there.

So I'm working down there now,
looking after the disableds' horses.

– Don't say a word.
– I wasn't gonna say a word.

You don't think I don't wish
it had never happened?

You don't think I don't
wish she was still here?

I know you do.

(CRIES) I know you do.

Billboards ain't gonna
bring her back, Mildred.

(SIGHS) Neither is fucking
19-year-olds, Charlie.

Yeah?

But I know that.

Just go.

Yeah, all right.

I'm such a shitty dad, and you're
such a great mom. All right.

So how come, a week before she died...

...she comes around asking if she
can move in with me at my place?

'Cause she couldn't stand the two of
you bitching at each other no more,

– ...fighting with each other no more.
– I don't believe you.

And I said, "No. Stay at home.
Your mom loves you."

Now I wish I hadn't.

'Cause if I hadn't, she'd
still fucking be here.

(HOARSELY) I don't believe you!

Don't believe me.

Ask Froot Loop boy.

Is that true?

– (CAR DOOR CLOSES)
– I don't know, Mom.

( CAR ENGINE STARTS )

Yeah, you do.

WOMAN: (ON TV) What's the matter?

MAN: Nothing.

DIXON: Oh, come on not,
Donald Sutherland again.

What is this, frickin'
Donald Sutherland season?

I like him. I like his hair.

Hair?

( CHUCKLES )

This is the one where his little girl dies.

(LAUGHS) Always a plus in a movie.

Talking of dead kids,

...what's happening with the billboard lady?

(SIGHS) Oh, that kooz
won't listen to reason.

She's tough as an old boot.

Oh.

Why don't you just fuck her
over through her friends then?

Huh?

You know, why don't you
fuck her friends over?

Bring her around that way.

She got any friends you can fuck over?

Rat bastards.

– Hey, fuckhead!
– What?

Don't say, "What," Dixon, when she
comes in calling you a fuckhead!

– And don't you come in here...
– Shut up!

You, get over here.

No! You, get over here.

– All right.
– CEDRIC: What? Don't! Dixon!

– DIXON: What?
– You do not allow a member of the public...

...to call you a fuckhead
in the station house!

DIXON: That's what I'm doing!
I'm taking care of it...

...in my own way, actually.
Now get out of my ass.

Mrs. Hayes, have a seat.
What is it I can do for you today?

– Where's Denise Watson?
– Denise Watson's in the clanger.

– On what charge?
– DIXON: Possession.

– Of what?
– Two marijuana cigarettes.

Big ones.

– When's the bail hearing?
– I asked the judge not to give her bail...

...on account of her previous
marijuana violations,

...and the judge said, "Sure."

You fucking prick!

You do not call an officer
of the law a fucking prick...

...in his own station house, Mrs. Hayes.

Or anywhere, actually.

What's with the new attitude, Dixon?

Your momma been coaching ya?

No.

My momma...

...doesn't do that.

Take them down, you hear me?

– You did good, Dixon.
– (DOOR SLAMS)

Yeah, I know I did.

( CLATTERS )

Almost got that.

BILL: The rules here are twofold.

No kid can leave this goddamn blanket...

...at any goddamn time.

And, every single one...

...of these dolls, and these teddy bears...

...has got to be hooked up.

Now, your momma and I,

...although it won't look like it,

...we'll be watching every
goddamn move you make.

So the most important thing
while we are watching you...

...is that you do not, leave, this, blanket.

Next most important thing,
you do not at any stage...

...allow the fishing rods...

...to stick into you or
your sister's eyeballs,

...as this would be counter-productive...

...to the entire operation.

What would it be?

BOTH: Counter-productive
to the entire operation.

Then, troops...

...start fishing.

We are not.

We are.

JANE: Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Hey, baby.

(CHUCKLING) Yup, still no arrests.

How come, I wonder?

Because there ain't no God,
the whole world's empty,

...and it doesn't matter
what we do to each other?

I hope not.

How come you came up here
outta nowhere looking so pretty?

You ain't trying to make me believe
in reincarnation or something, are ya?

'Cause you're pretty, but you ain't her.

She got killed...

...and now she's dead forever.

I do thank you for coming though.

If I had some food I'd give it to you.

All I got is some Doritos,

...and they might kill you.
They're kind of pointy.

Then where would we be?

( SOBBING )

Yeah, so I, uh, just
happened to be looking...

...over our contract that
we drew up back that time.

What I realized was I...

I realized that although
payment is to be made...

...on the first day of each month,

...the first payment you
paid was actually a deposit.

Wasn't it? It's like we said.

So, actually, in point of fact,

...you're actually,
behind in your payments now,

...by, yeah, a month.

Yeah, that's, uh...

It's what the contract says,
looking over it and all.

Lawyer says so too.

When you need this next payment by, Red?

Well, now, really.

Or by... uh...

– Friday?
– Wow.

When you can't trust the lawyers
and the advertising men,

...what the hell's America coming to, huh?

Who got to you, Red?

Willoughby?

– Nobody got to me.
– My fat fucking ass.

– (WHISPERS) He's dying, Mildred.
– We're all fucking dying!

– Red!
– Hi, Pamela. We're a little bit busy...

– ...at the moment, if that's okay.
– Red. Oh, Red, I know...

...I know you were real anxious about
talking to Mrs. Hayes this morning.

Anxious? No.

No, but that's the thing. There's no need
to be, because you won't believe it!

Little Mexican delivery boy
just dropped in with this.

– What the hell is this?
– I know!

It's $5,000! And guess what the note says?

It says to pay for the rental
on Mrs. Hayes's billboards.

Can you believe it?
That's why I butted in.

– Well, who's it from?
– Well, doesn't say.

Well, where's the delivery boy?

Well, he went.

Well, did you see what company he was from?

– Well, no.
– What kind of uniform did he have on?

Well, he just looked like one
of those fat little Mexican boys.

On a bicycle.

RED: Oh.

– Did I do something wrong?
– No, no, Pam, you did good.

Yeah, Pamela, you did real good.

Did I? Oh, great.

(EXHALES) Ain't life crazy?

What's the note say, Red?

Says here, "This here money is
to go towards the fund..."

"...for Mildred Hayes's billboards,"

"'...cause she ain't the
only one 'round here..."

"...who hates the pigs. Signed, a friend."

I guess you can't be too picky about
who your friends are these days, huh?

Uh-huh, um...

...I guess I'll be needing a
receipt off you there, Red,

...you know, saying the
price of next month...

...is paid in full and all.

Oh, sure, Mildred, sure.

– Like now.
– Oh, sure.

( PAPERS SHUFFLE )

Is Mommy drunk, Daddy?

No, no. She's just got
a little migraine, is all.

Little...
Chardonnay migraine.

Now, no more chit-chat outta you two, okay?

Can we stay home from school
again tomorrow, Daddy?

We'll see what your mommy
says in the morning, darling.

GIRLS: Aw!

Eyes closed...

...and go to sleep, okay?

You don't smell like puke, which is good.

Aquafresh. Trick I learned.

– Women, huh?
– (CHUCKLES)

But it's still your turn
to clean the horseshit...

...outta the stable, you know.

(BLOWS AIR) Those fucking horses.

They're your fucking horses.

I'm gonna have those fucking horses shot!

I'll do it...
you lazy bitch.

– Thank you, Poppa.
– (CHUCKLES)

That was a real nice day.

That was a real nice fuck.

You got a real nice cock, Mr. Willoughby.

( CHUCKLING )

Is that from a, play?

"You got a real nice cock, Mr. Willoughby."

I think I, heard that in a
Shakespeare one time.

You dummy.

It's Oscar Wilde.

– Ah.
– (LAUGHS MOCKINGLY)

( HORSES BREATHING )

( COUGHING )

Oscar Wilde.

( CHUCKLES )

( GUN COCKS )

BILL: My darling Anne,

...there's a longer letter
in the dresser drawer...

I've been writing for
the last week or so.

That one covers us,
and my memories of us...

...and how much I've always loved you.

This one just covers tonight,
and more importantly, today.

Tonight I've gone out
to the horses to end it.

I cannot say sorry for the act itself,

...although I know that for a short time...

...you will be angry at me,
or even hate me for it.

– (INAUDIBLE)
– BILL: Please don't.

This is not a case of,
"I came in this world alone..."

"...and I'm going out of it alone,"

...or anything dumb like that.

I did not come in this world alone,

...my mom was there.

And I am not going out of it alone,

...'cause you are there,

...drunk on the couch,
making Oscar Wilde cock jokes.

No, this is a case,
in some senses, of bravery.

Not the bravery of facing a bullet down.

The next few months of pain...

...would be far harder
than that small flash.

No, it's the bravery of weighing up...

...the next few months
of still being with you...

...still waking up with you,
of playing with the kids...

...against the next few months
of seeing in your eyes...

...how much my pain is killing you,

...how my weakened body,
as it ebbs away,

...and you tend to it,

...are your final and
lasting memories of me.

I won't have that.

Your final memories of me
will be us at the riverside...

...and that dumb fishing game,
which I think they cheated at...

...and me inside of you,
and you on top of me...

...and barely a fleeting thought,
of the darkness yet to come.

That was the best, Anne.

A whole day of not thinking about it.

Dwell on this day, baby,

...'cause it was the best day of my life.

Kiss the girls for me,

...and know that I've always loved you,

...and maybe I'll see you
again if there's another place.

And if there ain't, well,
it's been heaven knowing you.

Your boy...

...Bill.

♫ "Chiquitita" playing ♫

♪ Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong ♪

( NO DISCERNIBLE DIALOG )

♪ You're enchained ♪

♪ By your own sorrow ♪

♪ In your eyes ♪

♪ There is no hope for tomorrow ♪

♪ How I hate to see you like this ♪

♪ There is no way ♪

– ( LOUD CLATTERING )
– ♪ You can deny it ♪

– ( GRUNTS )
– ( CRASHES )

What the hell's going on around here?

( PEOPLE SOBBING )

What?

( DIXON SOBBING )

( FAUCET RUNNING )

Can you stand now?

Yeah, I can stand.

( BREATHING HEAVILY )

CEDRIC: I'd better get out there...

...say something to 'em.

You ain't gonna faint again, are ya?

♪ Mohammed rolling dice ♪
♪ with Christ at twilight... ♪

CEDRIC: I know that the best thing...

...the only thing to honor that
man's memory right now...

...is to go to work...

...is to be a...

...a good cop...

...to walk in his shoes...

...and do what he did
every day of his life.

♪ Their job tonight... ♪

Help people.

( HORN BLARES )

( TIRES SCREECH )

♪ Re-write the bible ♪

♪ For a whole new generation ♪

♪ Of non-believers ♪

♪ The pastor screams out to the Crowd ♪

♪ "There's evil that must be put down!" ♪

♪ And it touches the soldier boy... ♪

RED: What the hell's going on?

♪ He heeds his master's voice ♪

– ♪ His life is calling... ♪
– ( SPITS )

( RED BREATHING SHAKILY )

♪ Sweet soldier boy ♪

♪ The speaker's bleeding... ♪

– Where are you going, boy?
– (PAMELA SCREAMING)

( THUDS )

You fucking pig!
What the fuck are you...

– (THUDS)
– Shut up.

♪ Calling ♪

♪ Like the lady siren's call ♪

♪ Sweet soldier quiet... ♪

See, Red, I got issues with white folks too.

♪ And he hears his master's voice... ♪

Fuck you looking at?

♪ He hears the call to war ♪

♪ The siren's singing ♪

( MUSIC PLAYS OVER TV )

FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR: Reports,
sadly, have come in overnight,

...that Chief William Willoughby
of Ebbing, Missouri,

...took his own life
early this morning...

...in the grounds of his home.

This report just in from
Gabriella Forrester.

GABRIELLA: Tragedy came calling today...

...upon this quiet family home
outside, Ebbing, Missouri.

A home belonging to
Chief William Willoughby,

...his wife, Anne, their two
young daughters, Polly and Jane.

What appears to be a
self-inflicted gunshot wound...

...brought life to an end
for Chief Willoughby,

...a man highly-respected in Ebbing...

...for his diligence,
and service to the community.

What led him to take his life...

...in the early hours of this morning,

...it is too early to speculate.

There were rumors of illness.

Could it simply have been
the pressures of the job?

Or could it have something
to do with a story...

...we ran here, just two weeks ago...

...of these billboards, and the woman
who put them there, Mildred Hayes?

( CLICKS )

Don't. Don't!

Hi, there.

– You know who threw that can?
– What can?

– ( KICKS )
– ( GROANS )

How about you, sweetheart?
You know who threw that can?

Uh, no, I didn't really... (GROANS)

Thank you, Mom.

– ( ENGINE REVS )
– ( TIRES SQUEAL )

– ( DOOR OPENS )
– ( CHATTERING )

( DOOR CLOSES )

CEDRIC: And what can
I do for you today, sir?

What's your name?

Name's on my tag, man.
You hard of reading?

Hard of reading? No, no.

That's good, "hard of reading."

Kinda like "hard of hearing,"

...but it's actually "hard of reading."

Like a play on words or something, huh?

What do you want?

I've been sent down to take over from...

...Chief Willoughby in light of
last night's unfortunate event.

You have got to be fucking kidding me!

CEDRIC: Do you have any
documentation to prove that, sir?

You really wanna see my
documentation, fucker?

Yeah, see his documentation!
Make him show it to you.

None of you cracker
motherfuckers got no work to do?

Ain't that racist?

What happened to your hand, Officer Dixon?

Oh, I just kinda...

...banged it up a little bit...

...while I was throwing some
guy out a fucking window.

– (LAUGHS) You know, the usual.
– Oh yeah?

They never taught me that one at the academy.

(LAUGHS) Which fucking academy you go to?

ABERCROMBIE: How are things coming
along on that Angela Hayes case?

How's things coming along on the
mind-your-own-fucking-business case?

How are things coming along...

...on the hand me your gun and your badge?

What? Huh?

Hand me your gun and your badge.

(WHISPERS) Shit.

( SHUFFLING )

In here somewhere.

( DRAWER OPENS, CLOSES )

(WHISPERS) Hey, listen,
I can't find my badge.

No, seriously. Maybe I lost it.

You know, dropped it when
I was doing that window guy.

Just get the fuck out of
my station house, man.

( DOOR OPENS )

( DOOR SHUTS )

( SIGHS )

What's going on? (CHUCKLING)

I think I...

I think I just got fired.

Fired or suspended, I'm not sure which.

Fired.

( EXHALES )

( TRUCK DOOR CLOSES )

Anything I can help you with,
just give me a holler.

Give Mildred Hayes...

...a holler.

Okay.

You know me?

Only from the TV...
and the radio.

( CLATTERING )

How much these here "Welcome
to Missouri" rabbits go for?

Seven bucks.

It's writ right on them.

Guess he ain't seven bucks now.

What you come in here for?

What I come in here for?

Well, maybe I'm a good friend
of Willoughby's. How about that?

Are you?

Or, you know...

Maybe I was a friend of
your daughter or something.

How about that?

Were you?

Or, uh...

( CHUCKLES SOFTLY )

You know, maybe I was the one...

...who fucked her while she was dying.

How about that?

Were you?

No.

I would have liked to.

– I saw her picture in the paper there.
– (DOOR OPENS)

– Saved by the bell, huh?
– (DOOR CLOSES)

You owe me seven fucking
dollars for the rabbit.

( CHUCKLES )

Guess you'll have to get it off me next
time I'm passing through, huh, Mildred?

Guess I will.

( DOOR OPENS )

(SIGHS) You don't know
how glad I am to see you.

– What?
– That guy was trying to scare me.

I wouldn't have said you scare easy.

I ain't the worst.

What can I do for you, ma'am?

My husband left this for you...

...before he shot himself
in the head last night.

( SIGHS )

– I'm sorry, Mrs. Willoughby. I...
– Are you?

– Are you really?
– Sure, I am.

Well, surely this is the perfect
ending for you, isn't it?

It's proof, that they were successful,
those billboards of yours,

...isn't it? A dead policeman?

– It's quantifiable now.
– Are you blaming this on me?

No.

(CRYING) I'm not blaming this on you.

I just came to give you the letter.

Now my little girls, are out in the car,

...so I'd better not stay and chat.

I'm not quite sure what we're
gonna do for the rest of the day.

It's hard to know, what to do...

...the day your husband kills himself.

It's hard to know what to do.

( DOOR OPENS )

( CAR ENGINE STARTS )

BILL: Dear Mildred...

...Dead Man Willoughby here.

Firstly, I wanted to
apologize for dying...

...without catching
your daughter's killer.

It's a source of great pain to me,

...and it would break
my heart to think...

...you thought I didn't care,
'cause I did care.

There are just some cases...

...where you never catch a break...

...then five years down the line...

...some guy hears some other guy...

...bragging about it in
a bar room or a jail cell...

...and the whole thing is wrapped up...

...through sheer stupidity.

I hope that might be true
for Angela. I really do.

Second, I gotta admit, Mildred,

...the billboards were a great fucking idea.

They were like a chess move.

And although they
had absolutely nothing...

...to do with my dying...

I'm sure that everyone in town...

...will assume that they did,

...which is why,
for Willoughby's counter-move,

I decided to pay the
next month's rent on 'em.

I thought it'd be funny,
you having to defend 'em...

...a whole nether month after
they've stuck me in the ground.

The joke is on you, Mildred, ha ha,

...and I hope they do not kill you.

So good luck with all that,

...and good luck with everything else too.

I hope and I pray that you get him.

( RAILROAD CROSSING
BELL DINGING )

Well, you want me to go
down and talk to 'em?

No, I don't want you to
go down and talk to 'em.

Somebody sending their goddamn mother...

...down to talk to the goddamn police?

To say what?

To say, to give you your job back.

Get rid of that black guy.

Ain't gonna listen to some guy's mother...

...asking them to get rid of some black guy.

Things have moved on in the South.

Well, it shouldn't have!

Will they give you some money
for being laid off and all?

I don't know what the
compensation scheme is...

...for when you throw a
guy out of a window, Ma.

Guess I should have
looked into that beforehand.

Let me Google that.

A couple of grand, maybe?

You been there three years.

Not counting the five years at the academy.

Six...

...if you count the year you were held back.

Where are you going?

None of your business.

Off to see your fancy woman?

– I don't got a fancy woman.
– Yeah. I know.

Hey. You wanna watch yourself.

Or...or...or you'll do what?

I'll blow your goddamn
head off, that's what.

( LAUGHS )

ROBBIE: Oh, did you hear the news?

What news?

That Dixon guy threw that Welby guy...

...out of his window this morning.

You're shitting me.

( SCOFFS )

Is he okay?

Mmm-mmm.

– You're shitting me!
– ROBBIE: Whoa!

– Holy shit! Holy shit!
– (FIRE CRACKLING)

Holy shit!

Fuck!

Go get the other one from the house.

Shouldn't I call the fire department?

Fuck the fire department.
They probably started it.

ROBBIE: Don't do anything stupid!

Scumbags!

Fucking, fucking scumbags!

Shit!

All right!

ROBBIE: Are you kidding me?

Mom! What the hell are you doing?

– Yeah. Okay. All right. Good. Come on.
– Leave it! Ma, please!

It's too late!

– Robbie.
– Leave it! Please!

Robbie!

– ( INDISTINCT CHATTER )
– ( RADIO CHATTER )

How are those hands?

Give us a minute here. Thank you.

Can I ask you a couple of questions?

Can ask me all the questions you want,

...you take me down and arrest me.

I'm not gonna arrest you, Mrs. Hayes.

I got nothing to arrest you for.

Not yet you ain't.

We ain't all the enemy, you know.

(CRYING) I'll crucify the motherfuckers.

(DEEP VOICE) What are you gonna do, Mildred?

You gonna crucify 'em?

(HIGH-PITCHED VOICE) Yeah, I'm gonna crucify 'em.

(DEEP VOICE) Who you gonna crucify?

The motherfuckers?

(HIGH-PITCHED VOICE) Yeah, I'm
gonna crucify the motherfuckers.

(DEEP VOICE) Ooh, then those motherfuckers...

...better watch out, all right?

( CHUCKLES )

(NORMAL VOICE) Fucking A.

Oh, what's this shit?

GABRIELLA: And as sad as the spectacle...

...of these burned out billboards might be,

...in light of the death of Chief Willoughby,

...this reporter for one...

...wonders if this finally puts an end...

...to the strange saga of
the three billboards outside...

This doesn't put an end
to shit, you fucking retard!

This is just the fucking start!

Why don't you put that on
your Good Morning Missouri...

...fucking Wake Up broadcast, bitch!

( ENGINE REVS )

I see on the TV there were a bunch of fires...

...lit outside of town last night.

Bunch of fires, huh?

Out at those billboards.

Yeah, well, back when I was a cop,

...I would have been interested
in who set those fires,

...because, technically, that's arson.

But, as I'm no longer
employed by those people,

...I don't really give a good
goddamn, now do I?

( TELEPHONE RINGING )

I'll get it.

( SIGHS )

Dixon residence.

CEDRIC: (ON PHONE) Hey, Dixon, it's Cedric.

Oh, hey, Sarge. Got any news?

– CEDRIC: News about what?
– I don't know.

(CHUCKLES) About my job and stuff?

No. No. What?

No. Uh...

Anne Willoughby, just dropped in a letter...

...that...
Bill wrote you before he died.

What's it say?

Oh, I haven't read it, Dixon.
It's not my letter.

Oh, well, listen,
I'll... I'll come right down.

Um, I'll be there in like 15 minutes.

Well... Uh...

Yeah, I d... I don't think
that'd be such a great idea,

...things as they stand, Jason.

You... you still got your keys...

...to the station house, though, right?

Yeah.

CEDRIC: Well, why don't
you, come and pick it up...

...after everyone's gone home?

I can leave it on your desk for you.

Oh, okay.

Actually, yeah, then...

...when you're done, you can... you can...

...just leave the keys...

...you know, save us picking 'em up later.

All right.

( PHONE CLATTERS )

♫ "The Last Rose Of Summer" playing ♫

BILL: Jason, Willoughby here.

I'm dead now. Sorry about that.

There's something
I wanted to say to you...

...that I never really
said when I was alive.

I think you've got the makings...

...of being a really good cop, Jason.

And you know why?

Because deep down,
you're a decent man.

I know you don't think I think that,

...but I do, dipshit.

( LINE RINGING )

( PHONE BUZZING )

BILL: I do think you're too angry, though.

( PHONE CLATTERS )

BILL: And I know it's
all since your dad died...

...and you had to go look
after your mom and all.

– ( BAG UNZIPS )
– ( BOTTLES CLINK )

BILL: But as long as you hold on
to so much hate, then I don't think...

– ...you're ever gonna become...
– (BOTTLE THUDDING)

...what I know you wanna become.

( BOTTLE THUDS )

A detective.

( EXHALES DEEPLY )

( SIGHS )

– (PHONE BUZZING)
– Because you know what you need...

...to become a detective?

And I know you're gonna
wince when I say this...

( PHONE CLATTERS )

But what you need,
to become a detective... is love.

Fuck 'em.

BILL: Because through love comes calm,

...and through calm, comes thought.

And you need thought to
detect stuff sometimes, Jason.

It's kinda all you need.

You don't even need a gun.

And you definitely don't need hate.

Hate never solved nothing.

– (FIRE CRACKLING)
– But calm did. And thought did.

Try it. Try it just for a change.

No one will think you're gay.

And if they do,
arrest them for homophobia.

Won't they be surprised?

Good luck to you, Jason.
You're a decent man.

And yeah, you've
had a run of bad luck...

...but things are gonna
change for you. I can feel it.

♪ Where thy mates ♪

♪ Of the garden ♪

♪ Lie scentless ♪

♪ And dead ♪

♪ So soon ♪

♪ May I follow ♪

Calm.

Calm.

Calm.

♪ And from love's ♪

♪ Shining circle ♪

♪ The gems drop away ♪

♪ When true hearts ♪

♪ Lie withered ♪

♪ And fond ones ♪

♪ Are flown ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Who would inhabit ♪

♪ This bleak world alone? ♪

( SIRENS APPROACHING )

♪ Oh, who would inhabit ♪

♪ This bleak world ♪

♪ Alone? ♪

So, what'd you see?

Well, when we turned
the corner from Spring,

...the fire was already raging,

...and about two seconds later the cop fella,

– ...he just jumps out of the window.
– Wait.

The two of you,
turned the corner from Spring?

– Where were you before this?
– Round...round my place.

You two boyfriend and girlfriend?

( CHUCKLES )

Early stages, you know.

Is that right?

We had a couple dates.

You wanna go out to dinner with me next week?

MILDRED: Yeah, I'll go out to dinner with ya.

But I ain't gonna fuck ya.

Well, I... I ain't gonna fuck you neither.

I guess.

Burn victim. He's pretty heavily sedated.

Hey, man.

You doing okay? Jeez.

You got burned up pretty bad, huh?

You'll be okay though.

You, uh... you want a
glass of orange juice?

– I got a straw somewhere.
– (DIXON CRYING)

Hey, hey.

Don't cry.

You'll be... you'll be okay.

I...I'm sorry, Welby.

– You know me?
– DIXON: I'm sorry.

You're sorry...sorry for what?

For throwing you out the window.

I'm sorry, man.

I don't care!

Stop fucking crying, God damn it!

The salt'll just fuck up your wounds.

I thought salt was supposed
to be good for your wounds.

What am I, a fucking doctor?

( PANTING )

– ( CLICKS )
– ( PLASTIC CUP CLATTERS )

( LIQUID POURING )

( KNOCKS )

MILDRED: Who is it?

Oh, you don't know me really.

Well, what do you want?

I come about the billboards.

– What about 'em?
– They got burned up.

MILDRED: I know that.

I'm one of the guys who
put 'em up in the first place.

Jerome.

What can I do for you, Jerome?

Well, when you put up a
bunch of posters like that,

...just in case any of them get
screwed up or torn, they, uh...

...give you a set of duplicates, you know?

No, I didn't know that.

( BRUSHING )

Ladder's pretty steady as it is there, James.

Oh... oh, that's okay.
I... I like holding ladders.

Takes me out of myself.

– Need a hand?
– MILDRED: Hey!

( BOTH LAUGHING )

– MILDRED: When'd you get out?
– An hour ago.

Judge threw it out.

Said the arrest report
weren't filled out right.

Mmm.

Say, you...

Say, you didn't burn down
the police station, did you?

No, she was with me the whole night.

– Why would... okay.
– It's a long story.

JEROME: Hey.

Hey.

Still wanna put up the Willoughby one,

...him being dead and all?

Why not? He paid for it.

JEROME: True.

♪ Just walk away, Renee ♪

♪ You won't see me ♪
♪ follow you back home... ♪

Look at this fucking asshole.

♪ On my block are not the same ♪

♪ You're not to blame ♪

♪ From deep inside the tears ♪

♪ I'm forced to cry ♪

♪ From deep inside the pain ♪

♪ That I chose to hide ♪

♪ Just walk away, Renee ♪

♪ You won't see me ♪
♪ follow you back home... ♪

– First round's on you?
– Yeah.

♪ Now as the rain beats down ♪

♪ Upon my weary eyes ♪

♪ For me it cries ♪

– ( PIANO MUSIC PLAYING )
– ( PEOPLE CHATTERING )

Well, here we are.

Here we are.

I like cheesy things.

I'm gonna look for cheesy things.

All right.

Who's that?

My ex-husband.

And his 19-year-old girlfriend.

– You wanna leave?
– No, no.

Deal's a deal.

MAN 1: It was fucking wild, man.

I think I was certifiably fucking
insane for a while back there.

– When was this?
– About nine, ten months ago.

MAN 2: Were you on your own or what?

MAN 1: I had a couple of buddies with me.

– Oh, yeah?
– Yeah.

(WHISPERS) They fuck her too?

MAN 1: I think they got their
kicks just watching, you know?

– MAN 2: ( CHUCKLES ): Oh, yeah?
– MAN 1: Yeah.

Was she hot?

Once the gasoline kicked in she was hot.

( MAN 2 SNICKERS )

MAN 1: I swear, I wanted to
fuck her even more right then.

– ( MAN 2 LAUGHS )
– ( MAN 1 MUMBLES )

I don't know if I could
get that out of my mind.

( MEN WHISPERING )

( SONG PLAYING )

♪ I took the train ♪
♪ to Richmond that fell ♪

♪ It was a time ♪

♪ I remember, oh, so well ♪

♪ The night they drove old Dixie down ♪

♪ And all the bells were ringin ♪

♪ The night they drove old Dixie down ♪

♪ And all the people were singin', ♪
♪ They went ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, ♪
♪ na, na, na, na” ♪

(WHISPERS) I ain't going down for that shit,

...last fucking day down there.

♪ Back with my wife in Tennessee ♪

♪ And one day she said to me... ♪

– He been there the whole time?
– Who?

Burnt face Jake.
Keeps fucking walking up and down.

I don't know. I don't think so.

♪ Now I don't mind, I'm chopping wood ♪

♪ And I don't care ♪
♪ if the money's no good... ♪

– Another round?
– Yeah.

♪ Just take what you need ♪
♪ and leave the rest... ♪

Eight bucks.

♪ But they should never ♪
♪ have taken the very best ♪

♪ The night they drove old Dixie down ♪

♪ And all the bells were ringin ♪

♪ The night they drove old Dixie down ♪

♪ And all the people ♪
♪ were singin', they went ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, ♪
♪ na, na, na, na ♪

Maestro.

Can I help you with something?

Excuse me?

You keep looking over
here all fucking night.

Now, unless you've got
something to say to me,

...why don't you take
your burnt fucking face...

...and get the fuck out of here, okay?

( CHUCKLES )

– No, I... scoot over.
– What are you doing? What are you doing?

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Just trust me, okay?

You like magic?

♪ I swear by the blood below my feet... ♪

– DIXON: Just trust me.
– Just do the fucking trick, man.

Okay.

( HISSES, GRUNTS )

( MEN GRUNTING )

♪ And all the bells were ringin'... ♪

What the fuck!

♪ The night they drove old Dixie down... ♪

Hey.

Hey!

– Hey! That's enough now!
– What's it to you, fucker?

The guy's a cop, man. He's a cop.

MAN 1: Oh, yeah?

He ain't wearing no badge.

I lost my badge.

Can't remember where I lost it.

Hey, you started this, man!
I didn't do shit to you!

I know I started it.

I scratched you up like a bitch.

That's exactly fucking right.

( GROANS )

♪ And like my brother before me ♪

♪ I took a rebel stance ♪

♪ Well, he was just 18, ♪
♪ proud and brave ♪

( TRUCK ENGINE STARTS )

( TIRES SQUEAL )

– (PIANO MUSIC PLAYS)
– I'm gonna go use the little boy's room.

( PEOPLE CHATTERING )

You got something to say to me?

If I'd known, we could have double dated.

Doesn't shit girl have a curfew weeknights?

No. No.

In fact, I was actually gonna
take her to the circus later,

...but there's no need now.
(WHISPERS) Does he juggle?

Look, I'm having one dinner with the guy,
'cause he did me a favor, okay?

You don't have to explain yourself to me...

...'cause you're having dinner
with a midget, Mildred.

I'm not explaining myself to you.

You kind of are.

Look, I didn't come over
here to break your balls.

You can date as many midgets as you want.

No.

No, I came over to say I was sorry, actually.

Sorry for what?

Sorry about what happened
to your billboards and all.

Yeah, well, it's all water
under the bridge, I guess.

Good.

I'm glad. I was pretty drunk,
but it still don't excuse it.

All this anger, man.

Penelope said to me the other day...

"It just begets greater anger."

You know?

It's true.

Penelope said, "Begets"?

Yeah.

"It begets greater anger."

Well...

You take care of this
little lady, okay, sport?

Big lady compared to you, right?

– JAMES: You all right?
– I think I wanna go home now.

Don't give me any shit, James.

We'll do it another night, all right?

Why would I want to do it another night?

You've been...

...embarrassed to be here
ever since we arrived.

Oh, for Christ sake.

I didn't force you to come
on this date, all right?

You forced me.

F... forced you?

I asked you on a date. (LAUGHS) Wow.

You know... (CHUCKLES)

(CLEARS THROAT) I know
I'm not that much of a catch.

I know I'm a dwarf who sells used cars...

...and has a drinking problem. I know that.

But who the hell are you, man?

You're that billboard
lady who never smiles,

...never has a good word
to say about anybody,

...and who, in the evening times,

(LOUDLY) sets fucking
fire to police stations!

( CHATTERING STOPS )

(NORMAL VOICE) And I'm
the one who's not a catch?

( CHATTERING RESUMES )

Hey!

You know, I didn't have to
come and hold your ladder.

Now, don't make a scene.

( CLICKS TONGUE )

Did you really tell him,
"Anger begets greater anger"?

Oh! Yes! I did.

I didn't make it up myself though.

I can't claim that.

No, I read it, on a bookmark...

...which was in a book I was reading...

...about polio.

Polo. No. Which is the one, with the horses?

Polio or polo?

– CHARLIE: Polo.
– Polo.

Be nice to her, Charlie.

You got that?

( CHUCKLES SOFTLY )

– Jason!
– (CLATTERING)

– Jason. Jason!
– Don't look at me.

– Don't look at me!
– What have they done to you?

– Leave me, Momma!
– Are you...

No. No! Oh!

(SOBBING) Oh, don't look me...

Open up this door!

Please, Jason.

Let me help you. Please.

You're my baby boy. Open this door.

Please.

Jason, please.

( BREATHING HEAVILY )

(SOBBING) Please.

Please open the door.

Open up!

Jason!

I'm all right, Momma.

It's all gonna be all right.

( KNOCK ON DOOR )

I don't wanna get your hopes up, all right,

...but there is a guy, and I think...

...he might be the guy. I got his DNA.

Got a lot of it, actually.

They're making the checks, as we speak.

He's in jail?

No, but he ain't gonna be hard to find.

Why do you think he's the guy?

I heard him talking about...

...something he did to a
girl the middle of last year.

I couldn't hear all of it, but...

It sounded a lot like what
happened to Angela.

And then he beat the crap out of me.

But because of that... (CHUCKLES)

...I got a bunch of his DNA.

So, I wanted to...

...let you know sooner rather than later.

I didn't want you to give up hope, you know?

I've been trying not to.

Well...

...all you can do is try.

As my momma says...

...not so much about hope as about...

...well, I didn't used to be very
good at English at school.

So it was more
"All you can do is try..."

"...to not be so crap at English."

Because you need English,
really, if you wanna be a cop.

If you wanna be anything, really.

Unless you live in Mexico or something.

Who wants that?

( CHUCKLES )

Hey, Dixon?

Thank you.

You did good, Jason.

You did real good.

( SIGHS )

But he wasn't the guy.

What?

There was no match to the DNA.

No matches to any other
crimes of this nature.

To any crimes at all, in fact.

And his record is clean.

Maybe he was just bragging.

– He wasn't just bragging.
– Well, that's as may be.

But at the time of Angela's death...

...he wasn't even in the country.

Where was he?

Well, I've seen his records of
entry and exit to the States,

...and I've spoken to his
commanding officer.

He wasn't in the country, Dixon.
He ain't our guy.

Uh, no, he...

He... he might not be our guy,

...but he still done something shitty.

I know he did.

Not in Missouri he didn't.

Where was he?

(SIGHS) That's classified information.

Oh, come on, man.

If the guy has a commanding officer,

...and if the guy got back to
the country nine months ago,

...and if the country
where he was is classified,

...which country do you think he was in?

Hey, you know...

I'll give you a clue.

It was sandy.

That doesn't really narrow it down.

All you need to know is that...

...he didn't do nothing to Angela Hayes,

...so... we're gonna keep looking.

All right?

I found my badge after all.

– ( MOMMA SNORING )
– ( FOOTSTEPS )

( EXHALES )

( BEEPING )

( CELL PHONE RINGING )

Hello?

(ON PHONE) It's Dixon.

Tell me.

He wasn't the guy.

( SIGHS )

( MILDRED CRYING )

Mildred?

Are you sure?

He... he wasn't even in the
country when it happened.

So, whatever he did...

...he didn't do it round here.

I'm sorry I got your hopes up.

Well, that's all right. That's all right.

( SIGHS DEEPLY )

At least I had a day of hoping,

...and that's more than I've had for a while.

I gotta go.

There was, uh...

There was one thing I was thinking.

MILDRED: What's that?

I know he ain't your rapist.

He is a rapist, though. I'm sure of that.

What are you saying to me?

Got his license plate.

I know where he lives.

Where's he live?

He lives in Idaho.

That's funny.

I'm driving to Idaho in the morning.

Want some company?

Sure.

♫ "Buckskin Stallion Blues" playing ♫

♪ I heard you sing in tongues of silver ♪

♪ I heard you cry on a summer storm ♪

♪ I loved you, but you did not know it ♪

♪ So I don't think about you anymore ♪

♪ Now you're gone, I can't believe it ♪

♪ So I don't think about you anymore ♪

♪ If three and four was seven only ♪

♪ Where would that leave one and two? ♪

♪ If love can be and still be lonely ♪

♪ Where does that leave me and you? ♪

♪ Time there was, and time there will be ♪

♪ Where does that leave me and you? ♪

♪ If I had a buckskin stallion ♪

♪ I'd tame him down and ride away. ♪

♪ If I had a flyin' schooner, ♪

♪ Sail into the light of day ♪

♪ If I had your love forever ♪

♪ Sail into the light of day ♪

♪ Pretty songs and pretty places ♪

♪ Places that I've never seen ♪

♪ Pretty songs and pretty faces ♪

♪ Tell me what their laughter means ♪

♪ Some look like they'll cry forever ♪

♪ Tell me what their laughter means... ♪

– Hey, Dixon?
– Yeah?

I need to tell you something.

It was me that burned
down the police station.

Why, who the hell else
would it have been?

( LAUGHS )

Dixon?

Yup?

– Are you sure about this?
– About killing this guy?

Not really. You?

Not really.

I guess we can decide along the way.

♪ Pretty songs and pretty places ♪

♪ Places that I've never seen ♪

♪ Pretty songs and pretty faces ♪

♪ Tell me what their laughter means ♪

♪ Some look like they'll cry forever ♪

♪ Tell me what their laughter means ♪

( CLASSICAL SCORE PLAYS )

( CLASSICAL SCORE PLAYS )