Original subtitles

Thanks.

Is it okay if I smoke?

Sure.

My matches are all wet. You got a lighter?

Yeah. It's here somewhere. It's my wife's car.

Ah, there we are.

I remember once going on a school trip

to the top of the Empire State Building.

When I looked down at the crowds of people on the street,

they looked like ants.

I pulled out a penny

and some of us started talking about what would happen

if I dropped it from up there and it landed on somebody's head.

Of course, I never crossed that line and actually dropped the penny.

I don't think Early Grayce even knew there was a line to cross.

I'm talking about the mind of a serial killer

as it relates to culpability. Someone who has no ability to distinguish

between right and wrong is like a child,

and in the eyes of the law, he should be treated like a child.

He should not be imprisoned, let alone executed.

There you go again.

Well, next comes the part where you lay it all

at the altar of misfiring synapses,

amuck biochemicals and horrendous childhoods.

Although, it's a fact. Most of these poor people

suffer from severe chemical brain imbalances.

You think I put enough tequila in here? Probably not.

The answer is research and treatment

under hospital-supervised conditions,

not the electric chair. Yeah, that's great, Brian,

unless it's your mother's head they find in the refrigerator.

Yeah, but executing the killer would not bring my mother back, now would it?

Thank God. Everybody's a joker.

Yeah, but it'd sure make you feel a lot better, now wouldn't it?

No, actually, actually it wouldn't make me feel any better.

Brian, the bottom line is these people are evil,

plain and simple.

No one said

It would be easy

How about a bowl of chili? A hot one!

Be right there!

Antichrist will be a woman in a man's body

with seven heads and seven tails.

Make that to go.

The antichrist

will be a woman in a man's body,

seven heads and seven tails.

Antichrist will be a woman in a man's body

with seven heads and seven tails.

Yeah.

I always knew I'd be a writer,

but there's a big difference

between writing a magazine article and writing a book.

I know. I wrote a magazine article.

Everything I ever wanted to know about serial killers

fit nicely on those four pages.

Brian, what are we doing here?

Research. Come on, look at this place.

You'll get some great photos in here.

This is where her nightmares began.

Her father worked the night shift here.

Most nights, he'd take her with him.

She was 11 years old.

Of course the bastard knew that nobody could hear her screams

over the noise of the machines.

The article got me a book deal, a little cash up front.

But between the rent and the convertible,

the advance was gone.

I owed a book and I was stuck.

What little I knew about serial killers

I'd learned in a university library,

and the only thing I knew for certain

was that people didn't kill each other in libraries.

She murdered her first victim over here.

They found him stuffed in the corner.

They found her second victim over there.

Can you imagine the rage and pain she must have felt returning to this place?

The victim returns to the scene of the crime

and becomes the criminal.

Where did everybody go?

I didn't take that long.

No one said

It would be easy

Size seven.

That's right, ain't it? Super size seven.

Oh, Early, you're the specialest.

Happy birthday, Adele.

Oh, thank you, honey. These are beautiful.

This reminds me of Cinderella when the prince

gave her his glass slipper,

except these ones are red, and they ain't see-through.

And there's two of 'em. Is that my chili?

Oh, honey.

Happy birthday to me.

Thank you.

Tonight turned out to be pretty interesting, huh?

Oh, those fascinating friends of yours and the stimulating conversation?

No, the warehouse.

I'm not that stoned.

Oh, the warehouse.

Well, actually, yeah, it was pretty interesting.

It was definitely the highlight of the evening.

You know, just being there where it all really happened...

I could almost...

Take your shirt off.

Yes, ma'am.

Come here.

Early. Early.

What?

I'll be waiting for you when you get back.

Put your titty back up, Adele.

Oh, wait, I forgot.

Mr. Diebold stopped by yesterday

and he said if we don't give him his money by the end of the month,

he's gonna kick us the f-u-c-k out of here.

He said that to you? Cussed at you?

Mmm-hmm.

You gonna talk to him?

Well... Shut up!

If he comes back here, don't you open that door.

Suppose he hears me inside?

I picked up some Chinese.

Did you hear from the gallery?

They got your slides back?

What did they say?

Oh, well, you know, same story, different day.

They're idiots.

"Too graphic.

"Too overt.

"Not suitable for mass consumption."

I forget what else.

You don't want to be suitable for mass consumption.

I know.

It's just, uh...

Who cares, anyway, right?

Not me.

Christ, I'm dying here, Brian.

Why can't we just get out of here?

Why can't we just get the hell out of here?

Why can't we just go to California? Why not?

Just like that? Yeah, just like that.

Yeah.

What the hell did I know about California?

For some people, it was still a place of hopes and dreams,

a chance to start over.

The idea was, if you could just get there, everything would be okay,

and if it wasn't okay there,

well, then it probably wasn't going to be okay anywhere.

Adele?

Whose car is that out front?

She's not here!

Shit.

Well, look who stopped by.

And I ain't supposed to be at the parole office till tomorrow, 2:00.

You know, Early, you're supposed to notify me

when you lose your job.

Yeah.

I stopped by the mirror factory today.

You left quite a mess behind there.

Well, that wasn't my fault.

It's dangerous there and they treat me like shit.

Oh! Nobody ever has treated you right, have they, Early?

Your daddy was picking on you when he threw you out of the house

for stealing the tires off his truck.

The police, way out of line

when they kept you from beating that bartender half to death.

You know, Early,

I'll bet the Lord's gonna be picking on you come Judgment Day.

Now hold on there! I ain't got nothing against God.

You see? It's just the people he let...

Get out of there!

Goddamn, what you lookin' for?

That girlfriend of yours,

not much for housekeeping, is she?

Well...

I was thinking about moving anyhows.

Maybe down to Texas,

get me a job in one of them there offshore...

What are you talking about?

Well.

You know you can't leave the state.

Yeah, it's just a thought.

What you can do is get a job.

You be at this address,

3:00 sharp.

What is it?

Janitor's job.

Well, don't want to be no janitor.

I don't give two shits what you want and what you don't want.

I'm telling you to be there.

Or you're gonna be having dinner with the Sheriff.

You understand me, boy?

You know, you ought to try putting a bag over your head for that cough.

Works every time.

Peg-armed piece of shit.

She came back to the warehouse

that her father molested her in.

Why?

Because this place is the catalyst.

She needed to relive her own nightmares before she could kill those men.

The victims...

Oh, hey, sleeping beauty.

I didn't have the heart to wake you.

Thanks. Oh, my head.

Mmm.

What are you doing?

I sat down with your photos,

which are wonderful, by the way...

Thank you.

...and my tapes and I started writing.

How's it going?

It's the best stuff I've ever done, and I think I know why.

Why?

Because for the first time,

I understood that woman as a human being.

I was walking where she walked, where she killed.

I was in her skin. I was looking through her eyes.

I think we've got a book here,

with your pictures and my writing. It's a book.

A book on the warehouse murders?

No, no, a book on some of the most infamous murders in American history.

I want to go to where they lived and where they killed,

and I want you to take the pictures and I'm gonna write the text.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about this.

We can go through Tennessee.

We could drop through Arkansas,

wherever the hell Arkansas is.

There it is. And then we can drop down into Texas.

And from there, it's a straight shot right into...

California! California.

California. And we don't stop until we hit the fucking ocean.

Thank you. Oh, thank you.

Of course, we don't have enough money,

but we'll figure something out, right?

We'll figure something out.

Hold on a minute there, boy! Shit!

God damn it, you're gonna settle that rent here and now!

I'm tired of your bullshit, boy! I want my money!

The chair!

You son of a bitch! Come back here!

That's it! You tell him I want you both the fuck out of here by Sunday

or I'm gonna call the police!

Elvis, get the fuck off of him!

The rideshare was my idea.

I thought if we could find somebody from the college

who wanted to go to California,

they'd help pay for the gas.

Carrie wasn't crazy about the idea,

but the Lincoln only got eight miles a gallon.

You know, they say one of these days the whole thing's...

The whole thing's going to slide right in the ocean. Yeah, I heard that.

Mmm-hmm. "Looking for somebody

"to take turns at the wheel and share expenses

"on a week-long cross-country

"blue-highways tour of historic murder sites?"

You've got to be kidding.

Brian, who in their right mind is gonna want to do that?

I would.

Like I said...

Hey, good luck on that thesis.

Hey, don't know where the personnel office is at, do you?

Personnel office is first door on the left.

What, down there?

Stanky bitch. Shit.

Early!

How you doing, mama?

Fine.

Boy, I'm tired.

Dinner ready yet? Almost.

Well, let me know.

Early? Yeah?

Will you tell me more about California?

Yeah, I guess so.

Let's see.

For one thing,

people think faster out there

on account of all that warm weather.

Cold weather make people stupid.

That's a fact.

I guess that explain why there's so many stupid people around here.

It sure does.

You know what else? What?

You never have to buy no fruit

on account of it's all on the trees everywhere you turn.

And they ain't got no speed limits.

I hear your first month's rent is free. State law.

So I'm thinking, till we get settled

we'll just move around from month to month.

How'd that be with you, mama?

Um...

What are we gonna do out there, Early?

By God, first thing we're gonna do is

get us a couple six-packs of Lucky Lager

and we're gonna climb up to that famous Hollywood sign

and we're gonna howl at the moon, God damn it.

Yeah, just like that.

You know, I heard once

that there ain't nothing on that old moon except some little golf balls

that the astronauts left behind.

No, that ain't right. That's bullshit.

Government be sending people there all the time,

just don't want us to know about it.

Now git!

Well, let me know when you're finished.

Shit.

So what did he sound like over the phone?

He was real polite. He kept calling me sir.

Ha, ha! I like that.

Yeah, I'll bet you do.

You should try it once in a while.

I don't know. This is really weird.

I think we should have at least met them first.

Beggars can't be choosers.

They were the only ones to answer the rideshare note, remember?

Oh, God, please don't let them be as boring as Brian's friends.

Anything but that.

Early, we shouldn't be doing this.

Now, you know you ain't even allowed to be leaving the state.

And these people are strangers.

And what kind of people would stop at places where other people got murdered?

What if these people are dangerous, Early?

They ain't dangerous, mama. They're writers.

Honey! Early Grayce!

Oh.

Did you settle things with Mr. Diebold?

Yeah, I did. Left him with the car.

We're all straightened out.

What is that?

That's Lucy. Huh?

That's mine!

Adele, what kind of cuckoo-brain carries a cactus in her purse?

Huh? I don't know.

Straighten up.

Oh, Brian, you've got to be kidding me.

Look at them, they look like Okies.

Jesus, Early, they look kind of weird.

They look like they've got five bucks between them.

Would you just smile and let me do the talking?

Let's just keep going. Will you lighten up?

How many times you gonna tell me that?

As many times as it takes, Adele.

Lighten up.

Early?

Mr. Kessler?

Hi. I'm Brian Kessler.

Yeah. Nice to meet you.

You must be Adele. Yeah.

Uh-huh. That's Adele.

Nice to meet you. Hi.

Well, can I help you with your luggage?

Oh, yeah.

I'll get these. Okay.

Hi. I'm Adele.

Hi. I'm Carrie.

Oh, I like your hair.

Oh, thanks.

Thanks.

Because it's short.

Oh, yeah. Well... Thanks.

Carrie was right.

If you looked in the dictionary under poor white trash,

a picture of Early and Adele would have been there.

But I knew if I was gonna be a good writer,

I'd have to ignore the clichés and look at life through my own eyes.

So, Early... Yeah?

What do you do?

Well, I do some work at the, well, I did some work at the mirror factory.

Know what, Brian?

One night when we was staying up late,

we was talking about how much bad luck

he must have coming from all those mirrors he broke,

and I swear, we came to 449 years

it would take for him to work it all off.

And he'd have to, after he died,

he's going to have to keep coming back to Earth

over and over and over again.

Karma.

Yeah, karma.

What?

Karma. You know,

when you do something bad to someone

and fate pays you back by something bad happening to you.

Is that French?

We could stop somewhere if you and Adele

haven't had breakfast yet.

Well, it's like this, Brian. I don't eat breakfast.

It's because of what he read in this book once, Brian,

that folks needing breakfast is a myth or something,

and it was put out by the cereal people.

Come on, Ernie. Ernie!

Come on!

No, Ernie, come on.

Down, boy. Come on, boy.

Jesus Christ. Who are you?

I'm his parole officer.

Oh, right. I talked to you on the phone.

What the hell happened?

They say it's a torch job.

That sound like your boy?

Yeah, could be.

Where would I find him?

Hell, I don't know. Crazy son of a bitch

was talking about moving down to Texas.

Without his car?

What about the owner of the house, this Mr. John Diebold?

You know where he might be at? I don't know.

I tell you what, he's not gonna be too happy

when he sees this.

Jesus Christ!

Call in!

Early seemed harmless.

Primitive, but harmless. Homicide down here!

Of course, the fact of the matter was that he'd killed his landlord

less than an hour before we met him.

He was even wearing the guy's ring.

Who knows what he did with the finger?

Here you go, mama.

Oh, thank you, honey.

Yeah. Look what I got.

I got a camera.

Who gets... Who gets the water?

Here you go, Bri. Thanks.

I got a couple bags of chips and some jerky here.

If you want 'em, you can just holler.

Just in case.

From the moment I began working on the book,

I found myself asking one question

over and over.

What's the difference between a killer and any one of us?

What was it they had or didn't have that separated them from us?

The Novaks are long gone,

but the white picket fence they hired Michael Zaruba to put up

is still here.

The Novaks... Hey, you two.

Come on. Show your love.

The Novaks embraced the young drifter as one of their own.

The neighbors said he was a quiet young man who was often seen

pushing the children on the swing set.

Everything was fine

until the day the Novaks ran out of work for Michael to do

and had to ask him to leave.

How does a man get to the point where he can kill another human being

in cold blood?

Early, could you move out of the way, please?

First to die was the nine-year-old daughter.

Hi, I'm Brian Kessler.

What's your name?

Pa!

Pa, where are you?

Pa, there's somebody at the door who wants to see you.

What? Who is it?

I don't know.

Good afternoon, sir. I'm sorry to wake you. My name is Brian Kessler.

I'm a writer.

And I'm working on a book

on some of the most famous murders in American history.

I'm sure you're aware that this is the Novak farm.

I was just wondering if maybe my girlfriend Carrie

could come in and photograph the place, take a few pictures,

and I'll walk around and just take some little notes.

And we'll be out of your hair in five, ten minutes.

Just for a few minutes. And I could maybe just walk around the house,

get a feel for it. Goddamn ghouls.

We drove all day to get here, sir.

I'd be out of your hair in five minutes, sir.

Five minutes.

Brian, come on.

Just forget about it. Come on.

At the time, I was angry

that Mr. Baxter slammed the door in my face.

But it was just his way of forgetting,

of pretending that nothing terrible had ever happened there.

I guess it's only natural to try and forget the bad things that happen.

You never really do, though.

Well, we've come 480 miles so far.

Not bad for a day's haul, huh?

Pretty good, buddy.

You got any family or friends in California, Early?

Nope. Do you?

You do?

No, I don't.

Do you have any friends or family in California, Carrie?

What? Um, no.

No.

Well, that's okay. Least we all got each other, right?

I mean, that's something.

My mama used to say that when you have people around you,

it's better that you're not by yourself...

Check? ...because when you're alone,

it's hard to develop your personality.

And with more people around, it helps 'cause friends are really important and...

Thank you.

Thanks, bud. That's, uh...

We'll get the next one.

We gotta hit the sack. Let's go, mama.

Have sweet dreams.

Good night, Adele.

Good night, Early.

That's funny. I didn't know this about you.

I didn't know you were so prejudiced.

Oh, please. Because I object to having somebody

take off their shoe and scratch their foot

while I'm eating, I'm prejudiced?

He can't help the way he was raised.

I kind of feel sorry for him.

You feel sorry for him?

That's so sweet.

Obviously, you didn't get a whiff of that sock.

Bitch, bitch, bitch.

Thirty bucks for a motel.

For what?

A lumpy mattress, a crummy TV and a crapper.

I don't think so.

Honey, sing me a song.

Not now, I'm busy, mama. Stay put.

Please?

Okay, if you don't sing it, I'm gonna sing it myself.

Do

Do your balls hang low? Do they waddle to and fro?

Can you tie 'em in a knot? Can you tie 'em in a bow?

Can you put 'em over your shoulder

Like a continental soldier?

Do your balls hang low? Do your balls hang low?

Honey?

When we get to California, are you gonna take me

to that Chinese restaurant where all them footprints are out in front?

Only if they let me put mine down, too.

Pretty smooth how they stiffed us on dinner, though.

He didn't stiff us.

He paid for the gas, remember?

Brian, I am telling you...

I am telling you they are almost broke

and we are gonna end up paying for the two of them.

Don't change the subject.

It's my favorite subject, though.

Morning.

Morning, Early.

Breakfast?

No, I don't eat breakfast. Never do.

Um, sir, we don't have a liquor license here

so I'm afraid you're gonna have to...

That's okay. I got plenty more where this come from.

Morning. Morning, Adele.

You cut your hair.

Early cut it.

He said it makes me look more pretty,

and I think he's right 'cause...

He's right.

Nice job, Early.

You like to order some breakfast?

No. I won't be having breakfast this morning, thank you.

Want some of this?

Finish it. Thanks.

What you reading?

Sex, Art, and the American Culture.

I never read that one.

I can't wait to get on the road. I love that convertible.

Yeah, it's great.

'Cause I like wind, Brian.

So do I.

Do you want me to get your stuff?

No, thanks, Early. I can manage.

I meant to say luggage, ma'am.

I got 'em.

Hi, honey.

Mama.

When you dream, there are no rules.

People can fly.

Anything can happen.

Sometimes,

there's a moment as you're waking

when you become aware of the real world around you,

but you're still dreaming.

You may think you can fly, but you better not try it.

Serial killers live their whole lives in that place,

somewhere between dreams

and reality.

Guess it's your turn to pay, Early.

Hey, move it.

Move it, you son of a bitch.

You know, I used to smoke before I met Early,

but he broke me of that.

Broke you?

Oh, yeah, 'cause Early, he don't think

that women should smoke or drink or cuss.

So you know what I do?

I spell all my cuss words.

S... Ouch.

S-h... Ouch, owie.

S-h-i-t!

But you don't do any of those other things?

Mmm, no.

I mean, I better not.

He whips you?

No. No, no. Only when I deserve it.

You were in there a long time.

Yeah, I took a dump.

Boy, you don't want to go in there.

It's wall-to-wall stink. It'll kill you.

Just going in to wash my hands. Ain't got no sink.

No sink?

Nope. Damnedest thing I ever seen.

Let's go.

How about I drive, bud?

No, mama. Get in the back.

$28.35, sir.

How much? $28.35.

Hope I got that.

Make it an even $30. Thank you, sir.

Yeah.

When you first meet people,

all you notice are the differences between you and them.

But as time passes, you start noticing the similarities.

I guess that's how all friendships begin.

- Okay, so you first. - You put down a card

and then I put down a card.

And then when they match up,

um, and it's the same card,

then you go, "Snap," and I take it,

and I take the cards that's there, and like that.

Snap.

I thought you said you never played this before.

I haven't. I really haven't.

I'm a fast learner, I guess.

I was reading in your deal there

how they never caught that Black Dolya killer.

Black Dahlia. Yeah.

They didn't.

Well, I was wondering, how come?

See what I'm getting at?

It's like, hmm.

Well, some people think that he just stopped killing

and disappeared back into society.

That's fine and dandy, but I want to know

what a smart fella like yourself thinks.

I always thought it was the work of a serial killer.

You know, anybody who took that much time and care

bisecting another human being...

Bisecting? You know, he cut 'em in two.

Oh, he hacked 'em up?

Two pieces. Yeah, in half.

That ain't right.

Anybody who did that must have been enjoying it.

And he would have done it again and again and again

until somebody stopped him. Yeah, yeah.

That's good.

That's a good theory, Brian.

You want to hear mine?

Sure.

Okay.

Well, ain't you gonna record it?

Early Grayce's Black Dahlia theory.

June 23rd.

Okay, now, I'm betting he's still alive,

real old, living in a trailer park or something, somewheres,

but he's alive, see?

Now, he's thinking about what he done,

going over it and over it and over it in his head every night,

figuring how smart he is for getting away with it.

That's possible.

Hey, you shoot pool?

Hey!

Hey!

Come on, bud.

Designated driver.

Minnesota Fats.

Don't forget your key.

Why did I open my big mouth?

I don't know. Please come home soon.

Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.

Let's go!

Jesus, bud, you damn near swallowed her.

So why didn't you go with them, Adele?

Um, 'cause...

You know how, um, Early feels about women drinking.

So how did you and Early meet, anyways?

Oh, um...

I was hitchhiking this one day.

And, um, Early stopped,

and I walked up to look in the window

and I looked in,

and Early's face... He was down like that

'cause he was serious and then he said,

"You gettin' in?"

And, um...

And, um, and then,

he looked up and that's when I saw his eyes.

And I swear, Carrie, he has the eyes of an angel.

And then I just...

I ended up moving in his trailer with him

'cause I thought it'd be kind of neat.

But, um...

Know what?

I was thinking that what if me, you and Brian and Early

all moved into a house together in California.

Wouldn't that be fun?

Oh.

Well, I mean,

well, we'll see what happens.

You never know.

Okay.

Do you want me to fix your hair for you?

Yes.

'Cause, um,

I don't really like it that much.

Come on then.

Okay.

It doesn't look that bad, but I think we should fix it.

I'm betting we gonna find us some doors around here.

Yeah, the door's out front on the street.

Not "doors."

No? Doors, bud.

Uh, opens to other dimensions.

Oh.

See, I read, bud.

Ah?

And I'm telling you, if a man knows what he's doin',

he can transport himself to anywhere in this goddamn universe.

Really? Didn't know that, did you?

No, I didn't.

I think I should tell you, I'm not much of a pool player.

Oh, it ain't hard.

I can teach you.

Really? Yeah.

Spot you a few balls for the first game, too.

You're not gonna hustle me, are you?

How much money you got?

What's that?

That's a portfolio of my work, that's what that is.

Your pictures? Can I look at 'em?

Yep, go right ahead.

Oh, my Lord.

Did you take this one?

I took all of those.

Yeah, that one's me.

No, it isn't.

Mmm-hmm. Hold still, you.

Oh, I'm sorry.

My God, Carrie.

If Early ever saw me in a picture like that,

I'd be black and blue for a week.

You shouldn't let him do that to you.

You think Early's mean to me?

Ha.

Well, he's not.

He may punish me once in a while,

but he's not mean.

Um...

When I was 13, um,

there were these three boys,

and, um, they raped me in the back of this truck, and...

And, um...

They hurt me so bad that

I was in the hospital for, like, four months.

And I feel safe with Early 'cause

most of the time, he treats me really nice.

And, um...

I know that he'd never...

He would never let anything like that ever happen to me again.

I like my hair.

You did a really good job, Carrie.

It's, um, really professional.

Hey, Marnie! Come here, baby.

Why don't you and me get together tonight and sweat it up some?

Fuck off, T.J.

Hey!

There you go. That'll be five bucks.

Wait a minute, wait. These aren't Lucky Lager.

We ordered Lucky Lager.

Take a look around you.

If you see something lucky around here, you let me know.

What don't you tell me what you think is so funny?

What?

You think I'm funny? No.

Tell me what would a jizz-gargling, cum-drunk fairy like you do

with a pretty girl like that anyway?

What are you talking about, man? Just relax.

Hit him, Bri, 'cause he's coming.

What was that? Is this your boyfriend?

No, he's not my boyfriend. Just cool it.

Your boyfriend, faggot?

Why don't you just cool it, man?

Hey, asshole!

This ain't Lucky Lager!

- Break it up! - Break it up!

Wasn't that guy's fault. T.J. started it.

Dipshit!

Rack 'em up.

'Cause your pink replaces your red

My mama's a beautician.

Really? Yeah. She likes pink a lot.

You should have seen her face.

She was mad when she first found out

I was with Early on account of him

just getting out of jail and all.

She hasn't talked to me in over a year now.

I wish she'd call me, Carrie.

Early's been in jail?

Uh-huh.

What for?

For carrying a gun.

And resisting arrest.

It's a really interesting story, actually.

He put up a fight with the policeman,

and they struggled because he didn't want to be arrested.

I'd have done the same thing.

Why aren't you laughing now?

I don't know. I just don't think that

carrying guns and resisting arrest is very funny.

Just try and love me if you can

Are you strong enough...

Well, I'm going to go back to my hotel room now, Carrie.

I had a really great time with you.

I just think I had too many beers.

And I wasn't even supposed to be drinking in the first place.

Adele, you don't have to go. I didn't mean...

Great.

Look at this dipshit.

Hey, watch it, asshole!

Fuck you!

Get him, Bri! Tear him up.

Oh, I gotta see a man about a mule.

What?

Take a piss.

Hey, see if there's any reebs in the backseat.

What?

Uh, reebs... Beers.

That's what we used to call 'em when we were kids.

That's beer spelled backwards.

Shit. I think I chipped the concrete, Bri.

Last one.

I want you to have it for saving my ass back there. Go on, take it.

Aw, it ain't nothing.

I'd take that big Yankee mother there and go,

"By God, I'm uglier than you are."

Ha!

Come on!

Thank you.

How long you had your woman, bud?

Uh, three years.

Yeah? She's a good one. She's a breeder, you dog.

I'll tell her you said she's a breeder.

She'll like that. I'll tell her you said that.

Can I get a hork off that, bud?

You remember them doors?

Them doors I was talking about, Bri?

I got me a couple of them... Found me a couple of them

in Kentucky.

Hell, I wasn't even looking for the first one.

I was on the side of the road, swinging my sickle.

I turn around

and there's this door, this big old door,

and light's coming out, blinding me,

real gold.

And I'm thinking, "This can't be. This can't be."

So, I close my eyes,

and I count one, I count two,

I count three, I count four, five.

And I open my eyes.

Wasn't there.

Ha!

Come on.

Am I late?

I'm sorry.

Early and me, we...

We got into a fight in this bar, and...

I'm fine, though.

It was me and him against, like, 30 guys.

You know, you and I, we got to talk about your good buddy Early.

Who said he's my good buddy?

You sure been actin' like you are,

out whoopin' it up and drinkin' and everything.

You've been drinking too. Come on.

Oh, yeah, right.

You should have seen how scared she was that he was going to find out.

He beats her, you know.

How do you know that?

Because she told me, that's how I know that.

Hmm.

I got to see a man about a mule.

But only when she deserves it.

Did you happen to know that he was in jail?

Yeah. Yeah, for stealing a car.

Really? Is that what he told you?

He told her it was for carrying a gun.

Brian, it could be for murder for all we know.

Will you stop being so fucking melodramatic?

Melodramatic?

If it was murder,

he'd still be in jail.

Or he'd be on parole.

In which case, he wouldn't be allowed to leave the state.

Maybe he wasn't allowed to leave the state.

Did you ever stop to think about that?

Oh, okay, we'll get the keys,

we'll get in the car and we'll sneak out of here and leave them.

Is that what you want? What is the matter with you?

Can we talk about this in the morning when the room isn't spinning?

So how are you feeling now, Brian?

Mmm.

Does your stomach feel kind of like it's, um,

in these knots and it's twisty

and you could just explode at any given moment?

Mmm.

Well, um, my daddy, he used to make this great drink

for, um, hangovers,

and he'd make a blend of sauerkraut juice and Tabasco sauce...

Goddamn! You see that woman?

She is butt ugly.

And he'd put in, um, a little bit of lemon...

Pair of titties!

...for the tartness.

And then the last ingredient, Brian... Morning.

...this was the best one, was an egg

so that he could have breakfast and get rid of his hangover all in the same time.

Hey, shave that dog! Teach it to hunt!

Huh?

Early lived in the moment.

He did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.

It was that simple.

I don't know if I was fascinated or frightened by him.

Probably both.

Okay, what shall I call you?

I can't call you Lucy. Lucy's gone.

I'll call you Shelly.

Hi, Shelly.

I know you're thirsty.

Ow... Wee!

What? What's going on?

Look. What?

Look!

The only thing my old man ever give me was this goddamn.45.

Ha, ha! Japanese, but it's pretty good.

Go on, shoot it. No, I never did this.

Go on, take it. Shoot it. I don't know how to do it.

Yeah, you can do it.

I haven't...

Go on and shoot the dang thing.

No, bud.

You're jerking it. You're all like this.

You gotta hold it soft like your pecker.

Okay?

Boys'll be boys.

You know any tricks, Carrie?

No.

Now, hold on. Hold on.

You want to learn some?

No. Aim.

Okay, loosen up. Loosen your elbow.

Breathe. You gotta breathe, bud.

Hold it.

Shoot!

Whoo! Hey... Ah! Good one.

You look good with a gun, Brian.

That's a good one, bud. That's super. Good one.

You like that gun, Bri? I'm gonna give it to you.

I want you to have it. I don't need a gun.

No, go on, take it.

I can get me another one.

You never know, in California, all them cuckoo heads.

You best hold on to it.

Now, give another shot, you mean boy.

Go on. Shoot that damn thing.

Ha, ha!

That's super! That's some super shootin'.

Look at that.

If you ever plan to motor west

Take my way

The highway that's the best

Get your kicks

On route 66

It winds from Chicago to LA

Ha, ha, ha!

I think we're gonna sit this one out, bud,

if that's to your satisfication.

Fine.

Ha, ha, ha!

Honey! Ha!

Honey...

Ha, ha! If you need some help, bud, you just holler.

I'll be there.

Ha, ha!

Shit.

What is that?

A copy of the tape they found.

He recorded everything.

Where... Where am I?

I've got to get... Mister, can... Can you help me?

His mother had him working in here...

What's going on here?

...before he was eight years old,

killing animals with a sledge hammer that was bigger than he was.

Look, can... Can you get me out of here, please?

Um...

Look, I don't know who you are.

I don't know what you want with me,

but please just let me go, okay?

When she was pissed at him...

What are you doing?

...she'd beat the shit out of him,

then lock him in here overnight.

My... My parents, they have money. I'll give you money

if that's what... If that's what you want, please. Oh God, please!

One morning...

Oh, God! Oh, no.

...the little boy wakes up,

picks up the sledge hammer...

What are you gonna do with that thing?

...and starts hurting back.

No! God! No! Oh, God, no! Oh, God!

How does he get from...

What are you doing?

I'm finished.

I know you're upset about the gun.

I am not upset about the gun!

Yeah, I am upset about the gun, but that is not it...

God! Can we please turn this off?

God damn it, what is going on here?

A week ago you would never have picked up that gun! Never!

And this afternoon, there you are,

you're out there wielding it like...

Like you're Clyde-fucking-Barrow or something.

What is going on with you? Would you please talk to me?

It was stupid.

It was a cheap thrill, I admit it. It was stupid.

It was just "bang bang," like kids.

Okay?

But I need you to take these photos.

We need them. I don't want to blow it.

Oh, the pictures... Okay?

The book.

God, that really is all that matters to you, isn't it?

That really is all you care about, isn't it?

God, I cannot believe I agreed to do this!

That is such crap.

You know you wanted to come here and take these photos

every bit as much as I wanted you to.

Wrong.

Wrong!

I was willing to do whatever it took to get you off of your ass

and us on our way to California and there's a big difference!

Early.

What?

Ah! Early.

Ow.

Ow, Early.

Wait.

Ah! Jesus Christ. Sorry.

I'm sorry.

I want him out of our car.

Why? What happened?

I want him out of our car. What happened?

Next gas station, it's either him or me. It's up to you.

...hundreds of acres and forced 70 people

to evacuate their homes was originally thought to have been arson...

Yeah, can I get a carton of Victory Kings

and $20 worth of gas in the car? Thanks.

Their names have not been released and no criminal charges...

Here's your change. Thanks.

In other news...

Looks like a bad one's coming in.

Y'all better be careful out there.

Where are you headed?

California.

California. I hear it never rains out there, huh?

Must be nice.

Oh!

Hi, Carrie.

I have to go to the bathroom.

...fatal stabbing and robbery of Joseph Davies Robbins

at this East Texas gas station.

He is armed and dangerous.

If you see this man, please don't...

...an ex...

...with a history of arrests is still at large.

Grayce is 25 years old, 5" 11', with long brown hair.

He has a tattoo on his left arm.

He was last seen in East Texas at a gas station...

I ain't ridin' no bus, bitch.

He is believed to be responsible for the murder of his landlord,

John Diebold of Nassau County. Oh!

The murder occurred last Tuesday.

We would like to repeat. There is a nationwide...

Sit down! ...manhunt for Early Grayce.

I knew that boy would have a hogleg here somewhere.

Not a word.

Hello! Get over here, skinny. Sit your ass in that corner.

Come on!

Honey, what are you doin'?

They gave us the boot, mama.

Get out there and keep Brian busy. I don't want him comin' in here.

Honey, but you're scaring... Right now, missy. Git!

Hi. Hi.

Um, I'm just getting my things and then I'm going to leave, Brian.

What's your name, boy?

Walter Livesy.

Well, I think I got to kill you, Walter.

How you feel about that?

Not so good.

You're sure you have to?

Don't know. Wish I did.

Early, please. Please... Shut up!

God damn it!

Tryin' to have a conversation with Walter!

Sorry about that, Walt.

Hey.

Don't forget your yo-yo.

Listen, Adele, I just want you to know

that you not coming with us has nothing to do with you guys.

It's something between Carrie and me.

Where are you from?

Uh, Vernon, Florida.

Don't know it. Any huntin'?

Turkey sometimes.

Huh.

Yeah, turkeys are real smart,

smarter than most people think.

Tell you what, Walter. I want you down on your belly.

Get on your belly.

I want you to stay there for a long time after we leave.

We got a deal, son?

Yeah. Yes, sir. Yeah? Okay.

Do you mind if I hold on to that Bible over there?

What you want with the Bible, Walter? Huh?

He thinks I'm gonna kill him.

Now that'd make me a liar, wouldn't it?

No, sir. No?

There you go, Walter.

Hey, look.

Wonder if Adele would like...

What was that? Oh, my God.

Nothing, Brian. It was just the thunder.

No!

Hey, Early?

Oh, my God. What the fuck are you doing?

Oh, you're gonna like this one, Bri. Get in there.

Get on in there with your big fella.

Baby, drive.

What are you doing? Come on!

Come on, buddy. Let's go.

Oh!

You all right? What happened?

Get us out of here, mama.

Oh, she'll be all right.

What happened?

He shot him in the head.

No! He shot him in the head!

No! No! No, he didn't! He shot somebody?

Hey, hey, hey, hey! Everybody just shut up.

Goddamn. Bunch of squawking hens.

Nothing's changed.

I'm going to get you there safe, to California.

If Adele don't kill us with her drivin' first. Ha, ha!

Early!

Early.

What did you get us?

I got Chinese food.

What is it?

The guy, he didn't speak too good of English, really,

so I just got what they had.

Smells like butt. You get the beer?

What is this, cheap beer?

God damn it, Adele.

Well...

Give this one to what's-her-name.

Come over here, bud, and get you some grub.

I don't know what the hell Chinamen are doing in the American desert anyhow.

Adele, where are the forks and spoons?

Is it just me, or has this whole trip gone downhill

since we ran out of Lucky Lager?

Wish I had me some chili beans.

How many people have you killed, Early?

Well, now, how many people you see me kill, Bri?

None.

Well, that's how many I killed.

If you say so.

Damn right I do!

You shut up! Eat your food.

You ain't never killed no one, have you, Bri?

No. Nope.

Ain't seen nobody killed, either, have you?

No, I haven't. No.

Well, tell me something, big time.

How the hell you gonna write a book about something you don't know nothing about?

Mama, sing us a song, somethin'.

Um... Um...

Um...

I wish

Carrie was happy

I wish

She would smile

You guys want your picture taken?

Come on, Carrie. Smile.

He was breathing when I walked out of there.

See, Carrie? It's okay. He was breathing.

Ain't we gettin' near the next murder site, Bri?

Forget about it. It doesn't matter anymore.

Hell if it don't! Give me that map.

Someday, me and Adele, we'll be walking along,

we'll see your book in some store window.

We're gonna buy it and put it on our coffee table.

Ain't that right, mama?

Okay, let's go have us a look, people.

Early, I'm just going to stay here.

You don't want to go, mama? No?

Well, all right, you watch Carrie.

I'll take the pictures, Bri.

You run and Bri gets it.

Karma.

Lead the way, bud.

So, uh...

What happened here?

Two brothers, prospectors, lived here in the '70s.

Yeah, so?

They picked up hitchhikers, young men, and brought them back here.

Hey, Bri?

This ain't gonna give me nightmares, now, is it?

Wait, get out of the way.

This one's called "walk the dog."

My favorite one is "rock the cradle."

They were asked just before they were executed why they did it,

and they said, "To be famous."

Why did you do it, Early?

Do what, Bri?

You didn't have to kill the gas station attendant.

Uh... Move a little to the left.

You wanted to.

Why?

Help me out, Early. You're right.

I don't know shit about killing.

You gotta tell me.

Does it make you feel good?

Huh?

Powerful? Huh?

Superior? Huh?

What?

Who are you angry with?

Your mother?

Your father?

You want to know about my daddy, do you?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. I'll tell you about my daddy.

Adele, you gotta help us out here.

You got to talk to Early because he's sick.

He needs... He needs some sort of help.

Carrie, you're messing up my trick!

Adele, listen to me! Please!

Adele.

The police are after him. He killed a man back there!

No, Carrie. That ain't true.

I saw him kill a man!

Nah, Carrie. That ain't true.

Adele, come on, I'm your friend.

Why would I lie about something like this?

Why the hell would I lie about something like this?

I know you know!

I don't know why you're saying this.

Why would I lie?

He said he didn't do it, and you ain't my friend!

You're on private property, ladies.

I'd like to see some kind of identification.

No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Carrie.

Please don't say anything.

We've got a match! I'm calling for backup!

Please, please. Don't say anything.

All right, ladies!

I'd like both of you to step slowly away from the car!

Oh!

- No! No! - No, Early!

Brian!

6-Adam-5, please confirm your location. Over.

No, Early!

6-Adam-5, please confirm your location. Do you request backup? Over.

God!

Brian!

Got 'em both on the dead run.

No, no, no, no, Early!

Oh, come on, mama.

Tell me that don't hurt.

Shoot him. What?

You gotta put that crippled dog out of his misery.

You wanna know about it, you gotta do it, son.

Shoot him.

Come on, lay it on in there.

Come on, mean boy.

Come on, mean boy, do it!

Oh, God! Shoot him!

Shoot the dog! Shoot the dog! Shoot him.

It's him or you, boy!

Shoot him! Come on!

Go! Go, mean boy.

I can't.

Pushy faggot.

Look at his face!

Look at his face. It's not your father. Look at him!

I know that, you idiot.

That there is a police in a world of hurt and this here is a mercy killing.

Oh, God.

Let's hit the road.

Not even a simple "thank you."

Thank you.

Thank you for what, Adele?

I don't know, Early.

Well, Adele, it is for saving your fucking life back there!

Goddamn! You were about this close, mama,

from spending a night in a county morgue.

He wasn't gonna shoot her, you murdering son of a bitch!

Stop it, Carrie.

What are you, fucking insane? Shut up!

He's a murderer! Shut up, Carrie!

Goddamn bunch of loonies.

Look, mama, there's a pretty house.

Maybe they got some beer.

Look at all the cactuses.

They're beautiful.

You know what makes cactuses so strong?

You could just leave 'em and forget about 'em forever and they'd still live.

They'd just keep on growing and growing...

Adele, we got to do something before Early kills somebody else.

...and they breathe.

Adele, will you listen to me?

You can't do nothing, Brian. Just sit still.

Adele.

You have beautiful cactuses, ma'am.

I just love them.

My mama had a garden,

and, um, I had this little baby cactus.

And I was going to take it and plant it.

You gotta talk to Adele.

She looks up to you. She'll listen to you.

I tried talking to her at the mine. It didn't work.

You try again.

Hey, Bri.

Do you ever stop and think

if you switch two letters in your name,

it'd spell, uh, brain?

Huh?

Boy, you got a problem.

God damn it, what's wrong with grandma?

Where's your husband?

I'm a widow.

Yeah?

Is that you, peaches?

Sweetheart, hey, come on over here.

It's so clear you can't believe it.

It's just amazing.

Come on over and look. Take a look, honey.

I want you to see this, peaches.

Peaches?

Early!

Early.

Um, um...

Um...

Guess what, Early?

Um, Miss Musgrave,

she has this guesthouse in the back,

and it's really beautiful and it's empty, hon.

And she said if me and you wanted to, honey...

Hank!

Hank!

Well,

you're a widow now, peaches.

Boring.

Boring.

Dogshit.

That don't leave much to the imagination, now does it?

Boring.

I know him.

That's my daddy.

Fucker.

Boring.

You're not gonna die.

That's you, ain't it?

Yeah, that's me.

Do you like it? What do you think?

Dogshit.

You can go now.

Call me.

You ought to control your woman, boy.

Stinky.

Stinky.

Well, lucky for you they take all kinds in California.

That's where we'll be tomorrow.

California.

Adele!

Mama!

Those are stupid.

Adele!

God damn it!

Peaches!

Peaches!

Peaches!

Stop! Stop it, Early!

Stop it!

What are you doing?

I'm gonna get the piano up.

Try and slide your hands under.

Mama, what are you...

What are you...

What are you crying for? I'm the one got hit.

'Cause I decided, Early.

I'm not going to climb up that Hollywood sign with you.

And why not?

You're mean, Early!

No, I'm not.

You hurt those people, Early!

I don't want to do it with you!

I loved you, Early.

You just be quiet. You are mean.

Run! Go!

No! I'm not leaving you here!

Go! Go!

Adele!

Shut up! Adele!

Shut up! Adele!

Shut up!

Looks like I need me a new woman.

No! Not him!

Shut up!

Jesus.

Oh! Oh, God, Early, I'll do anything.

I'll go with you. Please!

Please don't kill him. Oh, God, I'll do anything.

Oh, please don't kill him.

Oh, mama, we got to find us a door,

save us some time. Goddamn, that's a super dress.

Yeah, that's just super.

Shit.

Oh! I didn't think he left anyone alive.

Where's Carrie?

They took off down the road.

Watch your head.

Okay.

Grab that chair.

I'm going to lift the piano. Slide it under.

He pulled out all the phone lines.

The nearest one is 21 miles away.

They took the fire road west.

Take your car, and get to that phone.

Call the police.

Shit!

Get up there!

Well, how y'all doing?

I'm Early. This is my woman, Carrie.

We're sorry to inconvenience y'all like this,

but, well, it looks like we'll be staying the night.

Ah! Don't you move,

you Pinocchio-looking knuckleheads!

Oh!

No!

No, no, no!

Oh.

Door.

Where you been?

Got a transport. Transport.

Carrie!

Carrie!

Carrie! Carrie!

Motherfucker!

Uh! Bri came back.

Hey, Bri,

you want to ask me some questions?

Ask me some questions.

Come on.

Do I feel powerful? Do I feel superior?

Yeah.

All right.

I feel good.

Bri, you're bleedin'.

Bri, you're bleedin'.

'Cause I'm as free as a bird

Ah! Skynyrd.

Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I like that one.

Uh, Bri?

Bri?

Bri!

The keys.

They're around his neck.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Ha, ha, haa!

Ha, ha, haa!

Ha, ha...

I'll never know why Early Grayce became a killer.

I don't know why any of them do.

When I looked into his eyes,

I felt nothing.

Nothing.

That day I learned that any one of us is capable of taking another human life,

but I also learned that there is a difference between us and them.

It's in feeling remorse,

dealing with guilt,

and confronting your conscience.

Early never did.

June 22nd. The Novak farm.

Mr. Baxter slammed the door in my face today, calling me a goddamn ghoul.

I'm betting he's still alive,

real old, living in a trailer park or something, somewheres,

but he's alive, see?

Now, he's thinking about what he done,

going over it and over it and over it in his head every night,

figuring how smart he is for getting away with it.

Thank you.

Hey. How's it going?

Not bad. How was your swim?

It's freezing.

It's November.

I know.

There's, um, this gallery in Venice,

and I showed them my work, the icon series.

I think they're interested.

That's great.

Well, it's not definite, but it's encouraging.

Well, let's celebrate. I'll take you to lunch.

Okay.

So what happens next?

Well, I have a meeting at the gallery on Thursday,

and they want to see some more of my work.

I'm sure they're going to love it as much as I do.

Hi. Guess who this is.

It's me. It's Adele.

Um, I know I'm probably not supposed to be talking on the tape recorder,

but I just wanted to say thank you

for taking me and Early with you on your trip,

'cause me and Early's having a really good time,

and, um, I just hope that when we get to California,

that you guys don't forget all about us,

because friends are important,

and, well, you're the only friends we got.

Bye.

If I believed

That destiny

Would change the hands of fate

I'd believe forever

Was a lonely place to wait

I can see inside your eyes

Mirror soul cannot tell lies

I believe

Like I believe

Miracles and destiny

You make your own reality

I know

When I

Look up to the sky

There's angels

In the clouds

At night you can see their eyes

See those stars

Lookin' down on me

How I feel at the thought of you

Leaves me with

Nothin' to hide

'Cause when I'm laying

Next to you

Naked with my pride

I can see inside your eyes

Mirror soul cannot tell lies

I believe

Like I believe

Miracles and destiny

You make your own reality

I know

When I

Look up to the sky

There's angels

In the clouds

At night you can see their eyes

See the stars

Lookin' down

Lookin' down

Lookin' down, down

Lookin' down

English - US - PSDH