All language subtitles for Affliction.1997.720p.

[gentle music]

[ominous music]

[soft dramatic music]

[music continues]

[man] This is the story

of my older brother's
strange criminal behavior

and disappearance.

We who loved him
no longer speak of Wade.

It's as if he never existed.

By telling his story like this,

by breaking
the silence about him,

I tell my own story as well.

Everything of importance,
that is everything

that gives rise to
the telling of this story

occurred during
a single deer-hunting season

in a small town in
upstate New Hampshire

where Wade was raised,
and so was I.

One night something changed

and my relation to
Wade's story was different

from what it had
been since childhood.

I mark this change
by Wade's tone of voice

during a phone call
a night after Halloween.

Something I had
not heard before.

Let us imagine that around
eight o'clock on Halloween Eve

comes a pale blue,
eight-year-old Plymouth

with a police bubble on top.

A square-faced man
wearing a police jacket

is driving the vehicle.

Beside him sits a child,

a little girl with a plastic
tiger mask covering her face.

[Wade] Sorry for the screw up,
I couldn't help it.

It's too late to go
trick or treating now.

I had to stop at Penney's
to get your costume,

then you were hungry, remember?

Whose fault is
it then if it's not yours?

You're the one in charge, Dad.

Yeah.

Look, those kids
are still trick-or-treating.

They're still out.

Those are the Hoyts.

I don't care.

They're out!

Well, can't you see?
Look out there.

It's just too late.

You know, those Hoyt kids,

they're just out
to get in trouble.

See, look, look,

they put shaving cream
all over that mailbox there.

Why did they do that?

Do what?

-You know.
-[Wade] Break stuff?

Yeah.

It's stupid.

Well, I guess they're stupid.

[girl] Did you do
that stuff when you were a kid?

No!

Well, sort of.

You know, nothing really mean.

Me--me and my pals,
me and my brothers.

It was kind of funny then.

But it's not funny now.

[Wade]
No, no, no, it's not funny now.

I'm a cop, I gotta listen to
the complaints people make.

I'm not a kid
anymore, you change.

I bet you did a lot of
bad stuff when you were a kid.

[Wade]
What are you talking about?

I don't know.

I just think you used to be bad.

[chuckles] No.

No.

I didn't used to be bad.

No, sir!

Where do
you get this stuff from?

Your mother?

No, she doesn't
talk about you anymore.

[Wade sighs]

[soft music]

[dog barking]

[man] Hey, Wade.

[wolves howling]

[Gordon laughing]

Ladies and gentlemen,

LaRiviere Company
is proud to sponsor

another annual
Lawford costume parade.

We are looking for the funniest
costume, the scariest.

Oh, the scariest!

Is he the scariest?

Is that one scary?

What about this?
Is he scary?

No, no, here's
the scary one right there.

[chuckles] The most imaginative
and the best costume of all.

[indistinct] Help me line
the kids up, line all of you--

[Wade] Pretty awesome, huh?

Hi, Marge.

[Marge] Hi, Wade.

Go ahead, jump in line.

Maybe you'll win a prize.

[Marge] A tiger.

Go on, Jill.

Some of those kids
you still know!

-I don't want to.
-Oh, why? Why not?

You know these kids from
when you went to school here.

It hasn't been that long.

-[Jill] It's not that.
-What then?

I don't like it here.

Oh, Jesus, Jill, come on.

Don't mess this up any
more than it's been messed up.

Come on, join the other kids.

You do that, before you know

you'll be happy
as a goddamn clam.

[Gordon] Hey, Wade!

Is that Jill?

Come on.

Come on and join us, come on!

Go, go, go.

Go on, go, go, go.

[Gordon]
That's it, come on, come on.

Here, make
a place for her on the stage.

Oh, look out!

Here comes a tiger,
she's coming through.

[door thuds]

[Wade coughs]

What are you boys up to?

Same old shit.

You seen the damage
these little sons of bitches

been raising tonight?

Gonna have to move your pickup.

I know.

Take a bite.

Could use it,
don't mind of I do.

LaRiviere's having a hell
of a time in there tonight.

Master of fucking ceremonies.

Where's that gun
you were bragging on today?

Let's look at it.

Oh, ho-ho-ho.

Got you for 650, 700 bucks?

Nice.

See you got Jill tonight.

How'd you manage that?

Don't forget to move your truck.

[Gordon] Ladies and gentlemen,
remember, there are no losers.

Everybody gets a nice ribbon.

Now, here is our first award.

For the most imaginative.

[crowd chattering]

Alma, have you seen Jill?

She's around somewhere.

Are you coming
to see me next week?

Yeah.

[crowd chattering]

Some party, huh?

I'm sorry I lost sight of you,

I had to step outside
for a smoke.

Find anybody you know here?

There must be some
kids you know from school.

Say, you wanna go tomorrow?

See your old teachers?

-No.
-No what?

No, I didn't see anybody I knew.

No, I don't wanna go
to school here tomorrow.

I wanna go home.

Come on, Jill, you are home!

There's lots of
kids you still know here.

Don't worry,
Dad, I love you, I do!

But I wanna go home.

[Wade sighs]

All right, I tell you what.

Tomorrow morning if
you still wanna go home,

I'll drive you down when I get
off work or something, okay?

-I called Mom.
-What?

You called Mommy?

-Just now?
-Yeah.

Jesus, why?

Why didn't you talk to me first?

'Cause I knew you'd be mad.

Well, yeah,
yeah, honey, I am mad.

I mean, you know, what
did you tell her, for Chrissake?

I told her I wanted
to come home.

Dad, don't be mad at me.

Well, I guess I am.
I mean, you know.

[Wade sighs]

I planned this,
I planned all this.

Sort of pathetic,
but I planned it.

You shouldn't
have called your mother.

Come on, we're gonna
call her before she leaves.

[phone dialing]

[woman on recording]
Hi, this is the Horners.

Please leave
a message at the beep.

She's gone already.

Gone already!

She couldn't wait.

-Yeah.
-Yeah?

That's all you've
got to say, is "yeah"?

Yeah.

[Wade clears throat]

You know, she won't
be here for a half hour.

Think you can
stand it that long?

Yeah.

Where do
you expect to wait for her?

Obviously downstairs with the
other kids isn't good enough.

Sit there by
yourself if you want.

Wait for her by yourself!

That's fine with me, just dandy!

I'm goin' downstairs.

[Jill] It's fine with me too.

When Mom comes,
tell her I'm up here.

[crowd chattering]

I thought I told you to
move that goddamn truck!

Relax, Chief, we're leavin' now.

You want a toke?

[softly] No, Jesus Christ, Jack!

Why don't you get
the fuck outta here?

You know, if Gordon
or one of those guys

see you smoke
that wacky tabacky around me,

they'll expect me to bust you,

and I'll be out
of a goddamn job, Jack.

Some job!

Here, have a hit.

Don't be such a hard-ass, man.

I know you got problems.

We all got problems, so relax.

Not here.

Well, come on, get in.

We'll take
a little ride, my man.

[engine starts]

Got a job, first thing in the
morning, first day of season.

Twombley something, Erwin.

[Wade] Evan?

He's a Marky-Mark union
official from Massachusetts.

You're lucky.

Gotta guarantee
a kill, of course.

Which I can do.

There are some monster
bucks hidin' out up there.

How'd you get the job?

Gordon.

He's always got
some angle workin'.

He wants to keep
Twombley happy, I'm his boy.

Hey, what's wrong with you?

Ah, a toothache.

You should get
close to him, Jack.

Make yourself irreplaceable,
the guy is loaded.

Like you and Gordon?

[Wade scoffs]

Right, the son of a bitch
couldn't get along without me.

[Wade giggles]

Yeah, he'd go broke
tomorrow if you quit him.

-Right.
-[both giggling]

[Jack]
Bastard's got his high beams on.

-[Wade] Shit!
-What?

That's my ex-wife Lillian
and her husband in the Audi

that just passed us.

Audi's a good car.

What's she here for?

She's here to get Jill.
Me and Jill had an argument.

Jack, I gotta get back,
get back to town.

Move this thing, will ya?

See if you can get
back to Town Hall

before they get there, okay?

-Piece of cake.
-Here, take this joint.

[Wade coughing]

[car engine revving]

[Wade] Lillian?

Lillian.

Where's Jill?

Me and Jill,
we had a little spat.

And she kind of
felt left out, I guess, from not

-knowing so many new kids.
-[Lillian] Well, where is she?

Is she in
the truck with your friends?

No, she told me she wanted
to wait for you inside.

While you went for
a few beers with your friends.

That Hettie Rogers in
there with what's-his-name?

Yeah.

Boy, she's grown
up a little, hasn't she?

[both giggle]

Jesus, lay off, will ya?

I mean, look, you've
won this fuckin' round already,

so just lay off
a little for Chrissake.

You amaze me, year after
year in the same old ways.

[Wade] Horner, leave her be.

You know, it's got
nothing to do with you,

so just act like
a chauffeur, you got it?

[Horner]
Wade, nobody wants any trouble.

Lillian, listen to me,
I don't want her to go.

Please don't make a scene.

I am not trying--nobody
is trying to win any round

so just don't make
this any worse than it is.

Well, I'm not
making it any worse, you are!

-Me?
-Yes, me and Jill,

we could've worked
this out, I mean, it's normal.

It's a father-daughter thing.

-She called me, Wade.
-I know she called you.

But how do
you think this makes me look?

I mean, coming up
here and treating her

-like some tragic victim.
-I'm not gonna do this.

Just wait till we're
through, goddamn it!

Don't say a word.

I didn't hit him.

I'm not gonna hit anybody.

[cat engine starts]

[gentle music]

[indistinct chattering]

New hat?

[Wade chuckles]
No.

Jill's up, I see.

Yeah, for a while.

How's she doing?

Oh, she's okay, she's fine.

You two wanna
do anything tomorrow,

need a third party,
give me a call, okay, I'm off.

Like hell you are.

Tomorrow's the first
day of deer-huntin' season.

I'll need you at
least in the mornin'.

Take care, Wade.

Well, I guess that's that.

You be careful
of that little bastard.

He's dyin' to get in your pants.

[chuckles] Come on,
Wade, give me a break.

-I'll see you tomorrow.
-Okay.

Tomorrow, Gordon.

Watch the snow,
it's coming down tonight.

[man] This weather any advantage
in tracking the bastards?

[Jack] Don't worry,
Mr. Twombley,

I know where those suckers are.

Right about now, the does are
holding up in the brush piles.

The bucks are
right behind the does.

We're right behind the bucks.

That gun gets
fired before 10 o'clock.

Whether it kills a deer or not,
more or less up to you.

I'll put you inside 30,
35 yards of a buck

first four hours of the season.

That's what you're
paying me for, ain't it?

Damn straight.

Done much
shootin' with that rifle yet?

I'll tell you what, kid.

You get me close to a big buck
by 10 in the mornin',

there's an extra 100 in it.

-If you get it?
-Yeah.

-You might not kill it.
-You think so?

You might gut-shoot it.

Cripple it for
somebody else to find and tag.

Can't guarantee
that won't happen,

especially with a new gun.

I may have to shoot it.

[Mr. Twombley]
You take care of your end,

I'll take care of mine.

[Jack] Mm-hm.

You understand what I'm sayin'?

I want a deer, a dead one,
not a cripple or what the fuck.

I get it.

No sweat, you'll
get yourself a deer,

and you'll get 'im dead, and
you'll get 'im by coffee time.

[Mr. Twombley] And you'll get
your extra 100 bucks.

[Jack] Wonderful.

[Miss Brooks]
Good morning, Jason.

[Jason]
Good morning, Miss Brooks.

[students chattering]

[girl] Good morning,
Miss Brooks.

-Hi, Melanie.
-[bell ringing]

Wade?

Where's Jill? I thought she was
coming to school today.

[Jill] Don't worry,
Dad, I love you, I do!

But I don't wanna go
to school here tomorrow.

[ominous music]

For Pete's sake, Whitehouse,
we ain't got all day!

[horns honking]

[car engine revving]
[horn honking]

[tires screeching]

[Miss Brooks]
Are you okay, Wade?

What was wrong?

Why were
you holding everyone up?

Did you see that son
of a bitch in that BMW?

He could've killed somebody.

-Did you get his number?
-Yeah, I know who it is.

-Good, good.
-Mel Gordon.

He's from Boston.

He's Evan Twombley's son-in-law.

He was driving,
they're headed to Lake Agaway.

The old man's out there,
hunting with Jack Hewitt.

I'm gonna spoil his weekend.

Now, Wade.

Safety on?

[body thuds]
[groans]

I'm all right.

Stay with me.

We'll cross into
the next meadow.

I've seen you before.

I used to play ball.

Yeah?

Drafted by the Red Sox.

You played for the Sox?

Double-A, new Britain.

Oh.

Pitcher.

Best ballplayer to
come out of New Hampshire

since Carlton Fisk.

Really?

They said.

Only difference between me
and that Clemens on TV is luck,

shit luck.

Safety on?

Yeah.

Just ahead.

Sun's gettin' high.

Deers have ears too, you know.

[chuckles]

Oh, yeah.

[chuckles]

[Wade coughs]

[man] It's very simple.

Either they clean
up the trailer,

or it gets hauled out of here.

It looks like a piece of shit.

That's right.

It's called Mountain View.

Looks like Shit View right now.

Then you tell them
if they don't move it,

I'll come out and have it moved.

I gotta go, I'll call you later.

Told you the snow
was coming down.

[both]
Take the grader.

Where's the plow?

[both]
Jimmy took it.

Jack's out hunting
with Evan Twombley.

[Wade] Yeah, his son-in-law damn
near killed me this morning.

-Huh?
-At the school crossing.

His BMW, could've hurt some
kids, I'm gonna bust his ass!

Don't go playing policeman.

Well, what the hell am I?

A security guard?

I mean, you hired me.

You and your selectmen friends.

You don't want
the extra police pay?

I'm not sayin' that!

Take the grader.
Go out 29 past Toby's.

Don't let Lillian get to you,
she didn't belong here.

That's why she left.

Fuck you.

That's what I love
about a small town.

You know everybody. [chuckles]

[Jack] Stay close.

Fresh tracks.

Deer shit.

Big one.

Here's your buck, Mr. Twombley.

I'll go down and circle around.

You only got a little while

if you wanna
collect that extra $100.

[ominous music]

[gentle country music playing]

* Open the door *

* To your heart
and let me come in *

* I know it's warm *

Hey, how's it goin'?

[Wade] Cold, how do you think?

[man chuckles]

Yeah, sorry about that.

Hey, tell me something, why
is it every year come first snow

you always get
stuck with that grader?

[Wade]
School, traffic crossing.

[man] So what are we doing
after?

-Digging wells?
-Yeah.

[man] Don't work too fast,
all right?

Business being the way it is,

Gordon's looking
for any reason at all

to lay me off
earlier than usual.

That border jumper's
got too much money as it is.

-[continues indistinctly]
-[man] I'll tell you

who's a pisser.

Glen Whitehouse.

I mean, he was mean normal.

But when he drank,
it was like he burst on fire.

Brown's Canadian,
always drank B.C.

One Christmas, there
was this cord of wood out back

he'd forgotten about.

So he decides he's
gonna have his boys stack it.

Except it's been
out back for two months.

The wood's all iced in,
but he grabs the boys,

throws them outside.

And he's drunk, of course.

Come on, move it.

Daylight in the swamp.

Pop, the kids
are waiting for us.

Rolfe.

A lesson in
work and its rewards.

You'll thank me
for this one day, boys.

Now, come on. [chuckles]

[dramatic music]

Here we are, boys, dig in now.

Come on, let's
do it right over here.

See that?
Goddamn it, let's do it!

Show a little
muscle there, come on.

There, there we go. Eh!

Attaboy, come on!

Please, Pop, let's go back.

What the hell
are you, a quitter? Huh?

Get in there!

Quitter? Huh?

Huh?

So what happened?

Oh, beats me.

That's all I heard.
Wade would know more about it.

Wade, we were just
talkin' about your old man.

"What are you, a quitter?"

[men chuckling]

Jesus, LaCoy,
you got nothing better to do

than sit
around and tell stories?

The pity is,
someday some college student

will come in here
and believe this shit

'cause you're the only
one dumb enough to talk to him.

[men chuckling]

[ominous music]

[Glen groans]
[door creaks open]

[Glen] That was some job.

We'll work at it again, promise.

-I think I made a point.
-You just need a drink.

What was that, Wade?

You say something?

You got
something to say, say it.

Say it!

You no good pup!

[Wade] Mom!

Well?

[Rolfe] Mom!

Mom!

Mom!

-Mom, mom.
-[Rolfe] Mom!

* I've forgotten more *

* Than you'll
ever know about him *

[Wade] Don't look right.

The sign.

Looks like it's
spelled wrong or somethin'.

Wade, Wade,
it's people like you who

keep this town from prospering.

Well, I'm not finding fault.

It's good for you,
it's good for the town,

it's a good idea.

Yeah.

What did you do?

Hire one of those hippie
craftsman from down Concord?

Think you're gettin'
something you can use,

only it turns out
to be a work of art?

[Wade chuckling]

Whatever somebody does
to improve things around here,

you gotta find fault.

Is that it?

Come on, I'm only
sayin' there's something wrong

with "Home Made Cooking."

The sign's fine,
what it says is wrong.

Who needs it?
Everybody that comes here,

been coming here for years.
What do we need a sign for?

But I guess it's better
than what was there before.

What was there before?

[chuckles] Nothin'.

There was nothin' here before.

-You okay?
-Yeah, yeah.

I'm sorry about what I said.

What'd you say?

Oh, about you and Jill
and needing a third person.

-She went back with Lillian?
-Yeah.

Yeah, forget it.

I'm sorry.

I'm gonna start me
one of those custody suits.

You know, I don't
give a fucking shit anymore!

You don't mean that.

-Yeah, I do.
-No, you don't.

You're just pissed, that's all.

You just oughta
cool off for a few days,

then have
a long talk with Lillian.

You know, work it out
with her, tell her how you feel.

Lillian's not out to get you.

The hell she isn't!

Lillian's been
trying to nail me to a cross

since the day I met her.

You know, I'm gonna
get me a lawyer from Concord

and get this,
this divorce thing rearranged.

-You know.
-[man] Marge?

[Wade] That goddamn woman.

She thinks she can cart Jill off

and leave me alone like this.

I'm a whole lot
more than pissed.

I've been there plenty in my
life and I know the difference.

And this is different.

[man] Marge, you got orders.

Call me.

Tonight, let's
get together tonight.

Okay.

[Wade sighs]

-Talked to Jack?
-Nah, not since last night.

He took a guy hunting.

The fucker shot himself.

Ker-bang!

That's what it sounded like.

Not on purpose,
I assume accidental.

-Who, Jack?
-No, the other guy.

-Well, how'd you hear this?
-C.B., a little while ago.

One of the boys comin' in,

Jack on the C.B.
callin' for state troopers.

I figured you'd
know what really happened.

No, no, I was on the grader
all morning.

Twombley, summer
people from Massachusetts.

Friend of Gordon's,

it was Gordon's idea
for Jack to take him hunting.

Oh, boy, I gotta go.

Which by the way,
I want you to begin to work on

some sort a new logo
for that, I don't like that.

All righty.

Put an idea of
a mountain down there.

Something like
that with a stream down below.

-What's the hurry?
-Hunting accident,

-Jack and Twombley.
-Huh?

-I figured you would've heard.
-Twombley, Jesus!

Come on, we gotta get moving,
I gotta get up there.

How would I have heard?
Have somebody move the grader.

Go on, go on!

You drive.

We'll take my truck.

[static crackling on radio]

[Gordon] Turn it off.

All you heard was there
was some kind of accident?

Twombley's shot, I heard that.

Jack's okay, I assume.

You don't know
how bad or anything?

You mean Twombley?

Yes, Wade, I mean Twombley.

Put out that cigarette!

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

[Wade] He probably
shot himself in the foot

or somethin' like that.

That's what usually happens.

[Gordon] Yeah, I should've sent
you instead of Jack.

I wish you had.

I'd rather be deer
huntin' than freezin' my ass off

on that fuckin' grader.

Well, you ain't
the hunter Jack is,

and he can't drive
the grader worth shit.

-[Wade] Like hell!
-[siren wailing]

That must've been Twombley.

Want me to
follow them to Littleton?

No, no, let's go to the top.

Talk to Jack first.

He'll know what happened.

He best fucking better know!

There's Jack.

-[man] I clocked 105.
-[man 2] 105?

That was pretty fast.

[man] Turns out to be
one of these kids

up for the weekend. [indistinct]

-[man 2] Right.
-So he says, "Officer,

can we make this disappear?"

Shows me $100 bill.

Heard the news?

I heard Twombley got shot.

Yeah.

Watch the dog, Wade.

Takes a mind to,
he'll take your head off.

He likes me.

Is it bad?

30-30 at close range.

[Gordon] Jesus!

Will he make it?

D.O.A.
Blew the bastard wide open.

Had a hole in his back
you could put your fist into.

Nice hole in front too.

-Did you see it?
-No, heard it.

We weren't far apart,
I'd spotted this buck.

I looked at the bottom of
the cliff where he was standin'

and there the fucker was,
deader than shit!

I called it right in.

This is gonna be
one mess to clean up.

Twombley's son-in-law and
daughter are up for the weekend.

Didn't you say
you'd seen him, Wade?

Yeah, I seen him,
damn near ran me over.

You want to tell them?

Gordon, you knew the old man.

What the fuck,
my day's already ruined.

Gimme the keys.

You can go back with Jack.

You still got
a shitload plowing to do.

It ain't finished,
if that's what you mean.

[Gordon] Something bugging you?

Yeah, a few things.

A few things. Well, right
now we're not interested

in a few things.

Why don't you do
a few things for me,

and then you get
bugged on your own time?

You might as well
take the rest of the day off.

You look sort of fucked up.

You've been paid for
the day anyhow, right?

Not exactly.

I mean, he never paid me.

Don't worry,
you'll get your money.

Don't talk to any
newspaper about this.

Twombley's a big deal down
in Massachusetts, you know.

Just tell them that your lawyer
says you shouldn't comment.

[Jack] Lawyer, I don't
need a lawyer, do I?

No, of course not, just
say it, that's all.

[speaks Quebecois]

Where'd Twombley get shot?

-In the chest.
-No, I mean whereabouts.

About a half mile in,
along the old lumber road.

The old lumber road, huh?

That's a steep climb.

You bring him up yourself?

Ambulance guys lugged him up.

You stayed away?

Yeah.

Where'd you get that blood?

-What blood?
-On your sleeve.

Must've...how do I know?

What are you doing, playing cop?

I gotta make
a report to Fish and Game.

I'm just wondering, that's all.

What'd he do?

Who the fuck knows?

Must've slipped or something.

I just heard the gun go off.

I've never seen
a man get shot before.

Not even in the service.

Must be somethin'.

Well, I didn't actually
see it, like I said.

-Sure you did.
-What?

Saw him get shot.

What the fuck are
you telling me, Wade?

I never seen the guy
get shot, I told you that.

You must've seen him
get shot, I know you did!

Let's get the fuck outta here.

You're not making any sense,
man.

[Wade] There's your old
20-gauge,

and that's that new
Browning you were showing me.

Oh, look at this.

That must be Twombley's gun.

It's brand-new.
Very fancy tooling, huh?

Probably only
been fired one time.

Ah, but what the hell, Jack?

I guess you deserve it,
right's right, huh?

Twombley sure as hell
won't be shooting it again.

I gotta turn it in
to Fish and Game.

Yeah, I was goin' to.

Sure, you were.

-[Wade] Rolfe?
-[Rolfe] Yeah, Wade?

[Wade] Yeah, brother, look,
I was calling 'cause

has there been
anything on TV in Boston

about a hunting accident,
involving a guy named Twombley,

Evan Twombley?

[Rolfe] There was something,
it happened up your way.

[Wade]
Yeah, yeah, I know him.

I mean, the kid
that was with him.

Maybe you did too, Jack Hewitt.

He works for LaRiviere with me.

He's my best friend.

[Rolfe] Wade, it's late.

I know you're
probably at Toby's.

But I'm in bed reading.
We have different habits.

No, no, not tonight.

I'm in bed too.

I was calling
'cause I need you to listen.

I got this theory.

Jack says
he didn't see Twombley shot.

[gun fires]

It'll come out that Jack lied
and the kid'll hang for it.

[Rolfe] You know,
he was scheduled to testify

for a committee investigating
organized crime in New England,

the construction business.

-Who?
-[Rolfe] Twombley.

No shit!

[Rolfe] Why, do you think
Jack shot him?

Well, it was an accident.

[Rolfe] They were out
deer hunting, right?

[gun firing]

[Wade]
Maybe there was a third person.

[Rolfe] Hmm.

[Wade]
Lillian was here in Lawford.

Night before the shooting.

[Rolfe] How was she?

She came to pick up Jill.

She was supposed to spend
the weekend for Halloween, but

she wanted to go home.

[Rolfe] Who?

Jill.

I was thinking
of getting a lawyer.

Maybe you can help me.

[Rolfe] What happened?

A divorce lawyer.

No, a custody lawyer.

You know, 'cause of Jill.

[Rolfe] Don't think about it,
you're exhausted.

Yeah, I guess so.

[Rolfe] Get some sleep.

You know, I get to feeling like
a whipped dog some days, Rolfe.

Some night I'm
gonna bite back, I swear it.

[Rolfe] Haven't you already
done a bit of that?

No, no, I haven't, not really.

I've growled a little.

But I haven't bit.

[woman] It's okay, sweetie.

Who are you?

I'm Wade Whitehouse.

Is your husband here?

He's asleep.

We were up very late last night.

Oh, I just wanted to
say I'm really sorry

about your father,
Mrs. Twombley.

Mrs. Gordon, thank you.

Yeah, yeah, sure.

I just had a little business
to do with Mr. Gordon.

I'm the local police officer.

[Mrs. Gordon]
Something about my father?

No, no, no,
it's just a traffic thing.

It's no big deal.

Can it wait then?

Whitehouse,
next time, phone ahead.

Jesus Christ, Mr. Gordon.

You know, when I come
all the way out here

to serve somebody
a summons, I don't call ahead.

What the hell are
you talking about?

[Wade] I'm issuing you a ticket,
a moving violation.

Moving violation?

I just get out of bed,

and you're talking about
a goddamn speeding ticket?

Yesterday
you passed a stopped school bus,

-which had a flashing--
-Hold on.

Don't ever put
your hands on me, Mr. Gordon.

You're talkin'
about a goddamned ticket

from the time I passed
you while you were dreaming

of becoming
a traffic cop or something?

There's your ticket.

You get the hell outta
my house now, asshole.

You'll be a lucky asshole

if I haven't got
you fired by the end of the day.

'Cause I could do that,
just one phone call.

I'm pissed enough to do it now.

[Marge] Jack's kind of
sensitive, I guess.

Heard he was
drunk at Toby's last night

and got in a fight with Hettie.

He drove off without her.

I'm sure,
I'm positive it didn't happen

the way Jack says it did.

Jack's turned
into one of those men

who are permanently angry.

He used to be a sweet kid.

When he found out he couldn't
play ball anymore, he changed.

Now he's like everyone else.

I've been wondering if
maybe Jack shot Twombley,

instead of
Twombley shooting himself.

I wonder if maybe
Jack shot him on purpose.

[gun fires]

Wade, how can
you even think such a thing?

Why would Jack Hewitt do that?

Shoot Twombley on purpose?

Money.

Jack doesn't need money.

Everybody needs money.

Except Twombley and that son
of a bitch son-in-law of his.

People like that.

Jack wouldn't kill for it.

Besides, who'd pay him?

Lots of people.

A guy like Twombley
probably got lots of people

who want to see him dead.

The government's investigating
his links to the Mafia.

[laughing]
Oh, the Mafia hired Jack Hewitt?

No, no, I just know Jack's
lying about how it happened.

He seemed tight, you know?

I know that kid,
I know what he's like inside,

he's a lot like me
when I was his age.

You wouldn't have
done anything like that.

Shoot somebody for money?

[Wade] Not for money.

But if somebody'd give
me half a damned excuse,

I was pretty fucked up.

But you're not anymore.

When are
you gonna get that tooth fixed?

Oh, yeah.

I can see what
you looked like as a kid.

You knew me when I was a kid.

No, not really,
not what you looked like.

I never studied
your face like now.

Mm. I never really
could see you as a kid

when you were
a kid until now, this way.

In what way?

After making love.

I like it, it's nice to see
that in a grown-up person.

-It's kind of scary.
-[chuckles]

-But it's nice.
-Yeah.

-I'll get us a beer.
-Okay.

Don't you think...

Do you really
think it's a good idea

to press this
custody thing right now?

[Wade] Sure, why not?

[Marge] I don't know,
it's just seems like...

I'm her father.

Supposed to be,
but I'm not able to.

Yeah, yes, I do.

You know, maybe the only thing

in my life that I've
been so sure about wanting.

Even if it takes a big fight.

Well, then I guess you have to.

There's another thing
I've been thinking about.

I don't know how
you feel about the idea, Margie,

'cause we've
never talked about it.

But I've been thinking,

I've been thinking
we should get married sometime,

you and me.

-Oh, Wade.
-It's just a thought,

that's all.

You've been married twice.

Yeah, but it was to the same
woman, I was just a kid.

I mean, it's not like
a marriage proposal or anything.

It's just a, you know,
a thought, an idea.

Something for you and
me to think about, you know.

All right, I'll think about it.

Good.

[Glen] I've got sons,
goddamn it!

My God, have I got sons.

Wade, Rolfe,
Elbourne,

you love me, boys?

You love your Pop?

Of course you do.

Glen, come on, please.

Oh, Christ, Sally!

You are such a good person.

Capital G.

By God, you are so
much better than I am.

I who am no goddamn good at all.

And you, you are
a truly good person.

Like a fucking saint!

Fucking beyond compare!

[Sally] Glen, don't, come on.

-Get away!
-[Sally screaming]

Whoa, my, my, my,
look at my big boy here,

bursting out of
the seams of his jeans.

You little prick!

-[Sally] Glen, don't!
-[whimpers]

[Sally crying]

Yeah, well.

[Marge] Did you tell them
that we were coming?

[Wade] Don't you think
it's proper for a fella

to introduce
his girl to his parents?

[Marge] I know your parents.

I just gotta pick up my
divorce papers for the lawyer.

It won't take long.

You're really gonna
do that custody thing?

-Yeah!
-Oh, God.

I think you'll be sorry.

I think you'll wish

you'd never opened this whole
thing up again, Wade.

Maybe.

But I'd be a hell of a lot
sorrier if I just let it go.

Kids grow up
fast and then it's over.

You get old,
your kids are strangers.

Look at me and my old man.

Your father's not like you.

That's why you
and he are strangers.

That's my whole point.

I don't want to get into that.

And Lillian's not like your
mother, she won't roll over.

She'll fight
you like a she-bear.

If Lillian had
been like my mother,

I wouldn't have to
be doing any of this.

[soft music]

Are you sure they're home?

Well, the truck's still here.

Looks like they stayed
inside since the snowfall.

That's strange.

You think they're all right?

Yeah, of course,
I would've heard.

-How?
-I don't know, for Chrissake!

[door creaking]

Pop?

Hey, Pop, you okay?

Huh?

Oh.

Jesus, Pop, how can you stand
the cold, dressed like that?

Huh? Oh.

[Wade] Where's Ma?

She's sleeping.

You remember Margie Fogg?

From Wickham's?

[Marge] Hello, Mr. Whitehouse.

You like some
coffee or something?

No, thanks.

How are you and Ma doing?

I haven't seen you in town
for a while.

We're all right.

Yeah, we're all right. Uh...

She's sleeping, you want
me to go up and get her?

[Wade] Yeah.

Jesus, nothing's
changed around here.

It's freezing in here.

Yeah, yeah,
I'll put some wood on.

[Marge]
Close the door, it would help.

Don't, it's bad for you.

You know, maybe they're too
old to be staying here.

Maybe so.

[Glen coughing]

[Wade] Where's Mom?

She's comin'.

[Marge]
Have you been heating the house?

Not just with the stove.

Well, there's a furnace here.

You're not using it today?

Well, it's broken
or something, I guess.

There's an electric
up in the bedroom.

Maybe Wade
oughta take a look at it.

Your pipes will freeze.

Would you do that, Wade?

Yeah, yeah.

Ma?

Ma?

Hey, Ma.

Ma, come on, wake up.

Oh, Jesus.

Oh, Lord.

Oh, Jesus.

Wade?

Is, uh...

She's dead then?

[Wade] Yep.

When did she die?

I checked on her.

I brought the electric up.

The cold bothers
her more than it does me.

That's why
I brought the electric up and...

Don't you have a telephone?

It's in the living room.

Why didn't you call
and have the furnace fixed?

Oh, Wade.

I thought she was all right.

Till this morning, she was.

Oh, it makes me sad!

Is there anything I can do?

Makes me sad
it was her instead of me.

God!

Oh.

I should've froze.

[soft music]

[Rolfe] Wade called me,
as usual, late at night.

I knew it was Wade.

No one else
calls me at that hour.

And I was ready to
listen to another chapter

in one of his ongoing sagas.

There was the detective
story concerning the shooting

of Evan Twombley,
and the family melodrama

about Wade's
custody fight with Lillian.

But not this time.

Wade was
telling a different story,

or so it seemed then, one in
which I myself was a character.

He had called to tell me that
some time the previous night

he had discovered
our mother had died,

and he'd discovered the body
when he went over to visit her

and our father
with Margie Fogg.

It was left to me
to tell our sister, Lena,

and her husband, Clyde,
who'd gone overweight

and made Jesus Christ
their personal Savior.

Pop was okay, but out of it.

Worse than usual, maybe.

Though no drunker than usual.

[Lena] How 'bout you, Rolfe?

Are you saved?

No, I'm not.

But then you'll be in hell.

I guess I will.

Me and Mom and Wade and Pop.

We'll all be there together.

[Wade] Shouldn't we get
this show on the road?

Well, pointless to
stand around in church,

I guess, with nothing to do.

What about Jill?

Is Lillian bringing her?

They'll be at
the church and the cemetery.

Anyone else want another beer?

Rolfe?

No, thanks, I don't drink.

Yeah, I forgot, sorry.

How are you holding up, Wade?

Oh, I'm fine.

-Are you Rolfe?
-Yes.

Gordon, Gordon LaRiviere.

I remember you from high school.

You're a teacher now, hmm?

Harvard?

B.U.

Oh, I don't see you around.

I don't suppose
there's much reason

for you to come this way.

[Clyde] Come on, Pop.

-Join us.
-Huh?

Reverend?

Let's kneel for a moment
of prayer before the service.

Wade, Rolfe?

-This is nuts.
-[Marge] Wade.

Jesus in heaven, we come
to Thee on our knees today,

begging for Thy forgiveness.

And thanking Thee for
the undeserved gift

of Thy salvation.

We thank Thee, whose blood
was shed that we may live.

-[Lena] Praise the Lord!
-[all] Praise the Lord.

Oh, God, not one of
you is worth a single hair

on that woman's head!

-God!
-Please look down

upon this woman,
our mother and friend,

and make
her example known to us.

Not one of you is
worth a goddamned hair

on that good woman's head!

-Pop!
-Jesus!

What is this shit?

I think I'll head on
to the church.

This is a difficult time.
The emotions--

-[indistinct chattering]
-Pop, it's no big deal.

Oh, come on smart guy,
tell me it's no big deal?

Tell me there's
a single one of you that's worth

one single hair on
that woman's gray head!

Pop?
Tell me that.

What?

Jesus is more
powerful than any demon.

Oh, go fuck yourself!

-Go on.
-Wade, just leave it.

Yeah, just listen to
your little brother here.

"Wade, just leave it."

Candy-asses.

All of you.

That's what
I've got for children.

Jesus freaks and candy-asses!

Oh. "Just leave it, Wade."

"Praise the Lord!"

"Just leave it, Wade."

[Marge] Stop, Glen Whitehouse!

-Come on, girl!
-[Wade] Goddamn it!

If you ever touch
her again, I'll kill you!

I swear it!

[Glen] You're still standing up
for your little brother, huh?

[man] For as much as
it hath pleased Almighty God

of His great mercy...

[Rolfe] It snowed
the day of the funeral.

The snow line had descended
from Canada weeks before

and was now
well south of Lawford,

creeping across New Hampshire
towards Massachusetts.

[man] In sure and certain hope

of the Resurrection
to eternal life

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Amen.

Pop, let's go back to the house.

-Hey, Dad.
-[Wade] Hey.

[Wade coughing]

I'm glad you came.

Can you stay for a while?

No.

You ever go to
your father's grave anymore?

No, not anymore.

It's too far.

You know, we should talk.

We've done all
our talking, Wade.

-[Wade] It's just that--
-No, please don't.

I'm sorry about your mother.

I really liked her.

You never know how
much women like that suffer.

Like they live their whole
lives with the sound turned off.

Then they're gone.

-[Jill] Mom?
-Huh?

She's got an ice
skating lesson at four.

I'm taking ice skating, Dad.

That's great.

Figure skating, I suppose.

[Jill] And ice ballet.

That's great.

Well.

Good-bye, Dad.

[somber music]

[car engine starting]

What about Margie?

What about her?

You still plan
on getting married?

Oh, yeah, she'll
probably quit her job

and move out here with Pop.

We can't leave
him alone anymore.

He'll probably set
the damn place on fire.

And with Jill here a lot,

it'll be good to
have Margie around.

Things are gonna change
in that department, by the way.

I got a custody
lawyer down in Concord.

I'm gonna see him tomorrow.

All hell's gonna break
loose, but it'll be worth it.

Here, put the shovels away.

[engine starting]

I wanna let it run out of gas.

I don't want
the bastard drivin' drunk.

He's drunk all the time now.

After, we'll hide the keys.

Anything new about the shooting?

-Twombley?
-No.

I guess it was an accident
like everybody thinks.

Want to know
what I think happened?

[Wade chuckling]
You find them everywhere.

I think your first
response to the shooting

was the correct one.

Which is?

That it wasn't an accident.

Well, then who shot him?

Your friend,
I think, Jack Hewitt.

Jack.

Come on, Rolfe, you gotta give
me a motive. Give me a motive.

-[Rolfe] Money.
-Money?

Who'd pay 'im
that kind of money?

Not the mob, they got
their own guys, specialists.

Who else benefits if
Twombley is suddenly dead?

I don't know, you tell me.

[Rolfe] Okay.

It's likely there
are people in the union

who don't want
Twombley to testify.

That probably
includes his son-in-law,

who's vice president.

And will probably
be the next president.

I read that in the papers.

-What's his name?
-Mel Gordon.

-Mel Gordon, right.
-The guy in the BMW, right?

Right, okay, here's my theory.

Twombley, he doesn't know
about illegal loans or whatever

and he starts to nose around
because of the investigation,

and he finds out...finds out
his son-in-law is involved.

So Mel Gordon wouldn't
want a professional hit.

That makes the Feds dig deeper.

He wants it to
look like an accident.

A hunting accident's perfect.

Around here,
you shoot somebody in the woods,

you say it was an accident,
they fine you 50 bucks

and they lift
your hunting license.

And Jack, he...

Jack's probably
sayin' the guy shot himself

'cause he ain't got his deer

and he don't
want his license lifted.

Nah, that's too neat.

Things ain't that neat.

Some things are.

Only in books.

It's what happened.

That makes me mad.

That somebody
can shoot somebody,

his own father-in-law
and not be punished for it.

Don't that piss you off?

No, not particularly.

Right's right, goddamn it.

Jesus, Rolfe, don't
you care about what's right?

I care about what happened.

The truth.

Remember,
I'm a student of history.

Books.

I've been thinkin'
about that story you told me.

About Pop,
and chopping the firewood

out of the ice and after.

I don't want to disappoint you,

but I don't think it happened.

You don't think I'd
remember a thing like that?

It wasn't me.

I wasn't there,
I heard about it,

when I heard
about it, it was Elbourne.

Elbourne, Jesus.

We'd have to go
digging in Vietnam to ask him.

And Elbourne and Mom
brought you to the doctor

and told him
you fell from the hayloft.

[chuckles]
I never heard that one.

No, I remember clearly because,

after I heard, I became
real careful around Pop.

I was a careful child
and I became a careful adult.

But at least I was never
afflicted by

that man's violence.

[Wade laughing]

That's what you think.

I better head back.

It's a long drive.

All right.

Okay.

[man] Ready, Jimmy?

Put out that cigarette!

Not there, asshole, strip it.

-[Wade] Morning, Gordon.
-Morning, Wade.

Hey, Jack.

I'm fuckin' out of here.

What, Lawford?

Out of this
fucking job, this job sucks.

Workin' outside
in the winter sucks.

Open the door, will you?

Why don't you quit
now, you want out so bad?

Open the door, we're late.

No, I mean it, Jack.

You got enough money now.

Head out to California,
surf's up, Jack.

And you digging
wells in the snow.

What do you mean I got money?

I'm as broke as you.

Looney Tunes, Jack.
Fucking Looney Tunes.

You think you're
getting away with it?

[suspenseful music]

[woman] Mr. Gordon!

[Mel] Is the boss in?

[woman] Yes, indeedy.

[music continues]

[inaudible]

[Wade]
I screwed up the divorce.

I agreed to
everything that she said.

I just wanted her to like me.

I wanted to be a good father.

I have the documents.

You know, it would
help if you were married,

if there was someone at
home while you're at work.

I plan to soon.

[lawyer] How soon?

Next spring.

It would help if
there was some change

in circumstance
since this was drawn,

if there was some
drug or alcohol abuse

on the part of your ex-wife.

Sexual problems
upsetting the child.

I'm sorry, but
these are the kind of things

we're gonna have to explore

if we want to
contest this document.

Does it have to get that messy?

[lawyer] Absolutely.

This is just the tip of
the iceberg, Mr. Whitehouse.

I hope you understand
what I'm saying.

Looks kind of
hopeless, don't it?

Well, no, not really.

I'll have another
look at the divorce decree,

see if we can get it redrawn.

But at some point,

I'm gonna have to
interview your daughter.

It's Jill, right?

Yes.

You got an ashtray?

I'll need a $500 retainer.

You can just mail it to me.

How much is
the whole thing gonna cost?

It's hard to say.

But if we go for
custody, there's depositions,

psychiatric evaluations.

But if we just want to get
the visitation rights redrawn,

assuming
they're unduly restrictive,

it wouldn't be more than 3,500.

Oh.

You know, it might be in
your best interest legally

as well as
financially to just go for--

[Wade] I know.

The custody thing wasn't just
my trying to get back at her.

I'm not as dumb as I look.

I didn't say
you looked dumb, Mr. Whitehouse.

I love my daughter.

I'll send you the 500.

I'm sorry about the long lunch.

My transmission's
going out again.

Did you ever think
about getting a new car, Wade?

On what you pay me?

Elaine, call Chub Merritt,
have him pick up Wade's shitbox,

fix the transmission.

[Elain] What?

Call Chub Merritt,
have him pick up Wade's car,

fix the transmission.

I'll bill
the repair to the town.

You can use my four-by-four.

You're the town police officer.

The town police officer
should have a decent car.

Well, you want a new car or not?

What do I have to do for it?

[Gordon] Nothing.

You know, Wade,
I've been thinking.

You don't get enough
appreciation around here.

I saw Mel Gordon
in here this morning.

[Gordon] So?

He say anything about that
summons I tried to give him?

The son of
a bitch wouldn't accept it.

Wade, dat wasn't smart.

-[Wade] That?
-Going out right after

the man's father-in-law
shot himself.

It's pronounced
"that," not "dat," that.

-That.
-[Wade] Yeah.

Let it go.

Call it a favor to me.

[Wade] You, why?

Well, Mel's doing
some business with me.

It's nice to do a favor for
people you do business with.

He was in a hurry,
it's no big deal.

That was before Twombley
was shot, before he knew.

[Gordon] What's the difference?

Look, take my truck,
take a rest.

Stop worrying about Mel Gordon.

Say, have you decided what to do
with your old man's place yet?

You oughta sell it,
move into town.

You wanna buy?

Don't light
that in here, I'm allergic.

I won't, you interested?

-Maybe.
-You and Mel Gordon?

-Could be.
-[chuckles]

Always count on Wade
for a good screwing, huh?

What are you talking about?

Why should
you guys make all the money?

You, Mel and Jack,
right's right.

I asked you not to light
that fucking thing in here.

Get out of here with that smoke!

[Gordon coughing]

[ominous music]

[engine revving]

[dramatic music]

[Rolfe]
A hunting accident's perfect.

Anything new
about the shooting?

I think your first
response to the shooting

was the correct one.

Your friend, I think,
Jack Hewitt. Here's my theory.

Money.
Hunting accident.

I bet it wasn't an accident.

It wasn't me, I wasn't there.

The truth. The truth.

Remember. It may have happened,

but not the way you said.

It's what happened
not because it's neat.

[music continues]

[Rolfe]
Twombley's sudden death.

Killing was the correct one.

The truth, remember.

[music continues]

[tires screeching]

You crazy son of a bitch!

You almost killed us both!

Get off the fuckin' ice!

Get off!

What're you runnin' from, Jack?

We're gonna talk.

Stay back.

I'll shoot you.

I'll fuckin' shoot you dead

if you don't get
back in that truck.

You ain't shootin' shit, Jack.

Now put the gun away.

Tell me what happened.

Don't move!

I'll shoot you dead if you move.

[gun firing]

[gun fires]

[engine revving]

[Wade panting]

[Wade groans]
[wind howling]

[ominous music]

[grunting]

[indistinct chattering]

Stop that!

Who, me?

Well, I didn't do nothin'.

Look! Just look what
a good job I done here.

You haven't done anything.

I should've left you at
home to stew in your drink.

Damn right you should have.

[man] It's about time.

Your father's here, Wade.

Marge got to baby-sit him.

She moved in with you, huh?

-What happened?
-Don't even ask.

My, my, my, the prodigal son.

About fuckin' time too.

I got me a new job,
second cook and bottle washer.

Pop, for Chrissake,
let's go home.

I'm sorry, I got waylaid.

The hell you got waylaid.

You follow your prick
around like it was your nose,

-for Chrissake!
-Can it, Whitehouse.

Get him out of here.

It was funny at first,
but I'm tired.

Let's go home,
what home is that?

Is that your home or my home?

You're a fuckin' sly, Wade.

Now, your mom's dead.

She can't make any
excuses for you anymore.

You've got to deal with me now.

No more sugar tit, sonny!

For Chrissake, Pop.
Come on, let's go home.

[Glen]
Don't give me any of your lip.

-Get out of this fast.
-I can't.

[Glen] Are you pushing me?

Come on, my God.

Don't push--that!

That--
You think you can take me now?

-Come on now, Pop.
-Come on, come on.

[Glen] Come on. No, no, come on!

-[Wade] Just get in the car.
-[Glen] What's the matter?

[Wade] Just get in the car.

-Get in.
-[Glen] Wimp!

Just get in.

[Glen] Why don't you grow up?

You never could
stand up for yourself!

[Wade] Goddamn it!

[Glen muttering indistinctly]

-...what it' about.
-I wish you'd die!

[spits]
[groans]

Oh, stop it!
Just stop it, stop it!

[ominous music]

[Wade] No shit, Rolfe,
I glanced up and there he was,

only it was me.

But it was like I had
never seen myself before.

It was a stranger's face.
It's hard to explain.

You fly on automatic pilot,

like I was doing all night,
and you disappear.

Then you accidentally
see your body,

or your face, or whatever,
and you don't know

who in the hell it belongs to.

Strange.

It's the business
with the old man

and how incredibly
pissed I was at him,

and chasing Jack Hewitt
and the goddamned truck.

Not to mention
Margie's being so upset.

One thing on top of another.

[Rolfe]
Wade, are you all right?

You gotta hear this.
You won't believe it.

Mel Gordon had
come by to visit LaRiviere.

So they're in the office.

Mel Gordon
realized that I was onto them.

You see Mel, he thinks
he can buy me off.

But LaRiviere,
he knew that wouldn't work.

Mel Gordon may be
able to buy off LaRiviere.

That's one thing, but not me.

Jesus, how could
a guy like Jack Hewitt

get into a mess like this?

[engine rumbling]

-[Alma] Coffee?
-[Wade] Thank you, Alma.

You want milk and sugar?

No, no, black is fine.

I like it this way.

Oh, you got yourself
a new computer, huh?

[Alma] I've been
putting all my files into it.

You all right, Wade?

Yeah, I got this
damn tooth, it's killing me.

Got a few things bugging me,
just like everybody else.

I'm okay.

I don't mean to pry.

I'm sorry about your mother.

It was a nice funeral.

It's over now.

Alma, I think
there's some dirty business

goin' on in this town.

I know that, Wade,
there always has been.

No, no, I think
this is a little worse

than you and I are used to.

I'm talkin' about
murder, among other things.

Who?

Twombley, Evan Twombley.

The union boss
official who got shot.

Somebody murdered him.

Who would...

[Wade clears throat]

You know Jack Hewitt,
the kid I work with?

Well, I think Jack shot him.

You know, Twombley was
the father-in-law of Mel Gordon.

That's a friend of LaRiviere's.

I don't know what
the connection is yet, but

LaRiviere had
Jack take him out hunting,

pretend it was an accident.

[gun firing]

If Jack told the truth,

he could be free by
the time he's my age.

Sometimes things
are simpler than you think.

Let me ask you a question.

You don't believe me?

About Jack? No.

Have you checked
out the tax bill

on your father's farm lately?

I know he's been
due for a couple of years.

I was thinkin' of paying it

when the insurance comes in.

[Alma]
Has anybody offered to buy it?

Yeah, matter of fact, LaRiviere.

[sighs]

These are all
the real estate transactions

in this town for the last year.

Most of it is unused land.

Most of it is for little
more than back taxes owed.

How's Lillian?

She's fine.

That's three years ago.

It's quite a difference, hmm?

What's the North Country
Development Association?

Went down to Concord,
I checked it out.

Mel Gordon is the president.

And the vice president and
treasurer is Gordon LaRiviere.

They're buying up
the whole mountain, Wade.

$364,000 last year.

I believe that's a little bit
outside of LaRiviere's league.

-Is Twombley involved?
-No.

He must've found out.

They had to get rid of him.

And Jack,
Jack will get blamed for it.

All these figures show is that

Gordon LaRiviere is
gonna be a very rich man

because of
his being a selectman.

In a year or two, you're
not gonna recognize this town.

Oh, boy, oh, boy!

[dramatic music]

[tires screeching]

You sneaky son of
a bitch, I got your number now!

Gordon, all these years
I thought you were a decent man.

Ran around
feeling grateful to you.

Can you believe that?

-Grateful!
-Take it easy.

All right, you're fired, Wade!

Jack, don't you get it,
he's using us.

We're his slaves, you see?

[Gordon] All right, what were
you doing with my truck?

-You and Jack, tell me now!
-What are you, a quitter?

Quitter!

You're finished,
Wade, gimme the damn keys.

[Wade] I'll give 'em to you
with pleasure.

I'm free of you.

I ain't got you no more.

You're not on my back anymore.

-You see how easy it is, Jack?
-Keep your hands off me.

-[both grunting]
-I'll handle this.

Break that up, break it up!

-Break it up, Wade!
-[Jack] You're fucking dead!

[Gordon] Wade, get off of him.
Get off of him.

You ain't
gettin' away with this!

You ain't gettin' away with it!

Stay out of it,
Jimmy, I'll handle this.

You're fired,
I want the shop keys.

Where are they?

Wade, get out of here!

Just go!

I gotta call my brother.

[dramatic music]
[door opens, shuts]

[Wade]
Yeah, I know what it means.

I'm just runnin'
out of ways to use it.

[Rolfe] Why, for what?

[Wade] To help Jack,
to help Jack, of course.

To nail those sons of bitches.

You know, the two Gordons.
That's what Alma calls them.

Jesus, Rolfe,
whose side are you on?

[Rolfe] Wade, listen.

Take care of
the little things first,

the things
that are distracting you

from taking
care of the big things.

Call Chub Merritt,
get your car back.

Call a dentist for God's sakes
and get your tooth pulled.

Forget about
the hunting accident.

Let it go.

[Wade grunting]

-[Chick] Wade?
-[Wade] Hey, Chick.

Well, the good news is,
we haven't got to your car yet.

The bad news...

Just tell me
when you'll have it fixed.

The bad news is there's
a problem with Gordon's truck,

which somebody shot up
last night.

Figured you'd know
something about that, Wade.

Yeah, I know about that.

LaRiviere says he ain't
gonna pay for fixing your car.

It's a couple hundred
for the transmission.

I got more some bad news.
Wanna hear it?

Yeah, tell me.

Chub says you're fired.

He can't fire me.

LaRiviere already
did that this morning.

[Chick]
Your other job for the town.

Chub's a selectman.

Said to turn your badge in
and clean out your office.

What do you mean
you can't take me today?

I told you it's a-- [stammers]

Shit, shit, shit!

-[Marge] Wade?
-What?

What in the world
is happening to you?

Why are you acting this way?

It's my tooth!
It's my goddamn tooth!

I can't even think
anymore because of it.

You got fired this
morning, didn't ya?

[Wade] Margie, look.

Margie, that's temporary,
believe me.

I mean, there's so much shit
that's gonna hit the fan

in the next few days and
my getting fired by LaRiviere

and Merritt won't matter a bit.

I'll get another job.

I'll get another job.

People are gonna need me.

I men, after this is over,
they're gonna make me

into a goddamn hero!

You wait,
you'll see, I'll deliver.

I'll be the best
father that ever lived.

You need me.

Even Pop, Pop,
for Chrissake, he needs me!

This town needs me!

I'll get another job. You know,

maybe right now they think
they can send me

howling into the corner
like a kicked dog!

But by God,
it'll be different soon!

Always been a whiner, God!

Now, my old man, now there
was a...there was a real man.

He let no woman push him around.

Worked till the day he died.

Yeah, men like him
were real men.

And women knew their place.
There was no confusion.

Women respected men then.

It wasn't like it is today...

[Marge] Be careful what
you say, Glen Whitehouse.

I know you.

My mother knew your wife.

Oh, what she went through.

Don't you sass me, damn it!

You think you're
pretty hot stuff, huh?

Well, you're gettin' old too.

And there's not a goddamn
thing a woman can do about that.

Is there?

[Marge chuckling]

-Gimme the bottle.
-Sure.

[Wade spits]

[Wade grunting]

[Rolfe] You will say
that I should've known

terrible things
were about to happen.

You will say
that I was responsible.

But even so, what
could I have done by then?

Wade lived on
the edge of his emotions.

He was always first to receive

the brunt
of our father's anger.

He had no
perspective to retreat to.

Even in a crisis.

[soft uneasy music]

[doorbell ringing]

Wait there, she'll be right out.

I thought we'd go out
to the farm, see my dad.

-Go get your boots.
-[Wade] Hi, honey.

Have her home
tomorrow night by six.

That's no problem.

Lillian, I'm sorry.

I had this damn tooth,
and I got it pulled.

-God, you make me sick.
-What?

I can't believe
you would sink this low.

Low as what?
What have I done?

Your lawyer called.

Yeah. Is that bad to want to
see your own daughter?

Don't play dumb.
You know what I'm talking about.

For what this will do to her,

this kid you say
you love so much.

Love, Wade?

Really?

Shame on you!

Shame on you.

Bye, sweetie.

Call me tonight
if you feel like it.

Are we going in this?

Yeah, my car's in the shop.
This'll be fine.

It's pretty old.

It belongs to Pop.

-Pop?
-Yeah, my father,

you know who he is.

Pop, it's his.

Yeah.

Well, how 'bout a Big Mac?

[Jill]
Mom won't let me eat fast food.

You know that, it's bad for you.

Come on.

We can always sneak a Big Mac
like we used to, you know.

And a cherry turnover,
your favorite.

What do you say, Jillie, Jillie?

No.

Well, what do you want then?

-Nothing.
-Oh, come on,

you can't have nothing.

We gotta have lunch.
Mr. Pizzeria?

Same thing, Dad.

Mom says that all
that food is bad for you.

I don't care what Mom says.

That's all right.
I'm in charge today, okay?

Okay.

So we'll get what you want.

What do you want?

What do I want?

Well, I don't know.

I guess I can
wait till we get home.

Maybe we'll stop at Wickham's.

-Okay.
-Fine, fine.

[sighs]

Are you okay?

Ah, Jillie, come on,
come on, honey.

Don't get sad on me,
you know, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

What are you sorry for?

What am I sorry for?

Well, I don't know, I guess
it was the food business.

I just thought we'd
sneak a Big Mac on Mommy

like we used to.

I wanna go home.

You can't.

That's illegal, you know.

[Wade] I know.

You're a policeman.

No.

Not anymore.

I'm nothin' anymore.

[Wade] Here we go.
Go on, grab that [indistinct].

There we go. So,
what do we want, huh?

Come on, Jillie,
what do we want?

Jillie, Jillie, Jillie, we want
a cheese grilled sandwich?

It's called a grilled
cheese sandwich, you dub.

[Wade grunting]

[gasps]

Jill, Jill, I'm sorry, come
here, honey, nothin' happened.

Nothin' happened.

I wanna go home.

Oh, yeah, sure, honey.

We'll go home right now.

I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. Nothin' happened.

Let's go, come on, come on.

Wade, I got a message for ya.

Jack Hewitt,
he's lookin' for you.

He wants you to clear
your stuff out of his office

in Town Hall.

His office?
You mean my old office.

That's what he said.

I'd stay away
from him if I were you.

He's real pissed.

[woman] Are you all right, Nick?

[suspenseful music]

[Wade]
You goin' somewhere, Margie?

I'm just clearing
out some of the stuff

that's piled up
for the rummage sale.

And some of it's for
the cleaners and the laundromat.

Don't lie to me, Marge.

You're leaving me,
I can see that.

[Marge] Don't be silly.

Hi, Jill.

Marge.

-[crying]
-Oh, Marge.

-[Marge whimpers]
-Help me, Marge.

Leave me alone!

Leave me alone!

[Jill] Leave her alone,
leave her alone!

[Wade] Jill!

[Jill] Leave her alone!

[both grunting]

[Wade grunts]

[music continues]

I wanna go home.

-[Wade] Jill.
-Will you take me home?

[Wade] Jill?

[chuckles] Oh.

You!

By Christ!

You, I know you! [chuckles]

Ah, yes.

You.

Yeah, you goddamn
son of a bitch.

I know you.

You're my blood,

you're a goddamn fuckin'
piece of my heart.

You don't know me.

You don't know me.

Fuck you.

Fuck you!

You done finally done it.

Done it right.

Done it like a man done it.

Just the way I taught ya.

Oh, goddamn!

I love you,
you mean son of a bitch.

-I do.
-Love.

What do you know about love?

Love, hell, I'm made of love.

Call it what you want.

Everything you know
comes from me.

[Wade] Yeah.

Bang!

You and me!

Where the hell you goin'?

Where you goin', Wade?

Best you leave my
goddamn truck where it is, now.

Wade, I need to...

Gimme those keys.

Wade!

I need to get to town.

Crawl.

There's hardly any booze
left in the house,

I gotta get me some Brown's.

Hey!

It's my house,
my money, my goddamn truck!

Stolen!

[Wade] You and me.

You and me.

I don't know you.

My own goddamn father,
and I don't know you.

You and me.

[suspenseful music]

[bottle thuds]
[Wade groans]

Don't you sass me, goddamn it.

[chuckles]

[Wade grunts]
[Glen groaning]

I love you too.

[suspenseful music]

[music fades]

[gun clicks]

Joke.

Pop?

[somber music]

Pop?

Dad.

Dad.

[somber music]

[suspenseful music]

[fire crackling]
[ominous music]

[objects clattering]

[music continues]

[soft uneasy music]

[fire whooshing]

[Rolfe] The historical facts
are known by everyone.

All of Lawford,
all of New Hampshire,

some of Massachusetts.

Facts do not make history.

Our stories, Wade's and mine,

describe the lives
of the boys and men

for thousands of years.

Boys who were
beaten by their fathers,

whose capacity
for love and trust

was crippled almost at birth,

men whose best hope
for connection

with other human beings

lay in detachment,
as if life were over.

It's how
we keep from destroying

in turn our own children
and terrorizing the women

who have
the misfortune to love us.

How we absent ourselves from
the tradition of male violence.

How we decline
the seduction of revenge.

Jack's truck
turned up three days later

in a shopping mall in Toronto.

-Wade killed Jack.
-[gun fires]

Just as surely as Jack
did not kill Evan Twombley.

Even accidentally.

The link between Jack
and Twombley,

LaRiviere and Mel Gordon

existed only in
Wade's wild imaginings.

And briefly,
I admit, in mine as well.

LaRiviere and Mel Gordon
were indeed in business.

The Parker Mountain Ski Resort

is now advertised
across the country.

The community of Lawford,
as such, no longer exists.

It is an economic zone between
Littleton and Catamount.

The house is
still in Wade's name,

and I keep paying taxes on it.

It remains empty.

Now and then I drive
out there and sit in my car,

and wonder why not let it go.

Why not let LaRiviere buy it

and build the condominiums
he wants there?

We want to believe
Wade died that same November,

froze to death on
a bench or a sidewalk.

You cannot understand
how a man,

a normal man,
a man like you and me,

could do such a terrible thing.

Unless the police
happen to arrest a vagrant

who turns out to
be Wade Whitehouse,

there will be
no more mention of him.

Or his friend, Jack Hewitt.

Or our father.

The story will be over.

Except that I continue.

[soft uneasy music]

[dramatic music]