Sling Blade (1996)

[bunniefuu]

Hey, sheriff.

[Loud creak]

[Scraping on floor]

[Sighs]

Mmm.

A mercury...

Is a real good car.

That was the car I was
drivin' that day, you know.

I owned a lot of cars.

Yeah. Different kinds.

A lot of different
kinds of cars.

She was standin', this girl,

On the side of the street where
there was this chicken stand.

It wasn't the colonel, but it
was a chicken stand nevertheless,

And I pulled the mercury up alongside
then rolled down the window, see,

By electric power.

And, uh, she had this
leather skirt on...

And she had a lot
of hair on her arms.

I like that a lot. It means
a big bush. I like a big bush.

Mmm. Mmm! [Chuckles]

Yeah.

So she says, uh, "are
you dating?" You know.

And I said, "sure."

So she gets in
and we pull off...

Into this, uh, you know,
remote location, you know...

It was comfortable
for both she and i...

And she says to me, "how
much do you wanna spend?"

I said, "whatever it takes to see that bush
of yours, 'cause I know it's a big one."

She says to me,
"twenty-five dollars." Mmm.

[Scoffs] "mmm"?

That's not chicken
feed, you know,

To a... Workin' man.

So I produce the $25, she
sticks it down into her shoe,

Pulls up her skirt...

And there before me lay this
thin, crooked, uncircumcised penis.

Mmm. Pfff!

[Scoffs]

You can imagine how bad I wanted
my $25 back, huh? [Laughs] mmm.

"Mmm." "Mmm."
[Continues laughing] mmm.

[Woman] I don't know why
you're so weirded out.

This is not san quentin.
It's just a nut house.

Most of these people don't even know
where they are. They're not gonna hurt you.

We're gonna be in a room with a
k*ller. That doesn't bother you?

You're the one that wanted
to major in journalism.

These are the people
from that newspaper deal.

Oh, yeah. From the
college? Yes, sir.

I'm jerry woolridge.
Nice to meet you.

I'm marsha dwiggins,
and this is theresa evans.

She's here to take the
pictures. Y'all sit down.

There was a young
man named john leggitt

Hunter who was in the
filling station business.

A good filling station business.

He was one of these
young men we run across

In life... I'm sure
you've run across 'em...

Who didn't deserve what he had,

And one of the things
he had was this, uh,

Beautiful young bride.

Sarah. Whew.

She was a georgia peach.

In fact, she was more
like the picture I had

In my mind than any
woman I had ever seen.

So I took it upon myself to take
her away from john leggitt hunter,

Who did not deserve
her, you know.

Oh, I don't know if I told you,

But he was a frenchman who
claimed to be an englishman.

Hmm?

[Scoffs] [grunts]

Yeah, took a lot of strong nylon
cord to get her away from him,

'Cause she was a fighter as
well as bein' a georgia peach.

Mmm. "Mmm."

Mmm.

I think there must've
been a-a little mix-up, uh...

I talked to your sponsor
or teacher or whoever he is...

And i-i told him there
couldn't be any pictures.

It's supposed to be an article, a story,
something like that. Isn't that right?

Well, yeah, it's for the school
newspaper, but it has pictures.

I mean, it's a regular paper.

Well, karl's real sensitive
about havin' his picture made.

He wouldn't even be on the bulletin
board for the easter collage.

Now,

A shovel just makes too
g*dd*mn much racket.

Mmm.

All I can do is talk to
him, see what he says.

You gotta make something
explode to truly understand it.

I mean, you gotta
examine all those little

Tiny particles while
they're still on fire.

[Man] karl, I gotta take you
down to the old classroom.

Mr. Woolridge has some people
for you to see down there.

Come on, let's go. Mmm.

[Karl grunts]

[Sighs]

You remember me telling you about
those people from that newspaper?

They want to ask you some
questions about your release.

They think it'll
make a good story.

Will you talk to
'em, get interviewed?

Now, they're women... [Snorts]

I think it'd be
good for you too.

You're gonna be seein' all kinds of
people when you get on the outside.

This'll help, I believe.

Mmm.

And you really
shouldn't stare at him.

How am I going to conduct an
interview if I can't ask him any questions?

It's the best it's gonna get. I'm
sorry. Can I ask you a question?

If he's so troubled, why
are you letting him out?

What if he does it again?
It happens all the time.

He's free. His time's
up. That's the rules.

He's been treated
and reevaluated.

He doesn't show any
signs anymore. Signs?

Homicidal signs.

Oh, uh, miss, um, I'm sorry, but
you're gonna have to step outside.

Why?

Please.

I gotta change the
light in here for karl.

I hope you can
still see to write.

I reckon what you is wantin' to
know is what I'm a-doin' in here.

I reckon the reason I'm in here is
'cause I've k*lled somebody, mm-hmm.

But I reckon what you is a-wantin' to
know is how come I'd a-k*lled somebody,

So I reckon I'll start at
the front and tell ye, mmm.

I lived out in back of my
mother and father's place...

Most of my life...

In a little ol' shed that my
daddy'd built fer me, mmm.

They didn't too much want me up
there in the house with the rest of 'em,

So mostly I just set around out
there in the shed a-lookin' at the ground.

I didn't have no
floor out there,

But I had me a hole
dug out to lay down in,

A quilt or two to put
down there, mm-hmm.

My father...

Was a hardworkin'
man most of his life,

Not that I can say
the same for myself.

I mostly just set around
out there in the shed,

Tinkered around with
a lawn mower or two,

Went to school off
and on from time to time.

But the children out there,
they... Were very cruel to me and...

Made quite a bit of sport of
me, made fun of me quite a bit.

So mostly I just set
around out there in the shed.

My daddy...

Worked down there at the
sawmill, down at the planer mill,

For an old man named dixon.

Old man dixon was
a very cruel feller.

Didn't treat his employees very
well, didn't pay 'em too much of a wage.

Didn't pay my daddy
too much of a wage.

Just barely enough
to get by on, I reckon.

I reckon he got by all right.

Mmm.

They used to come out,
one or the other of 'em,

Usually my mother,

Feed me pretty regular, mm-hmm.

So I know he made enough to where
I could have mustard and biscuits...

Three or four times a week, mmm.

Hmm.

But old man dixon,

He had a boy, mmm,

Name of jesse dixon.

Jesse was really more
cruel than his daddy was.

He used to make quite
a bit of sport of me...

When I was down there
at the schoolhouse.

Used to take advantage of little
girls there in the neighborhood and all.

Mmm.

They used to say...

That my mother was
a very pretty woman.

They said that quite
a bit from time to time

When I'd be down there
at the schoolhouse.

Well, I reckon you want me to get
on with it and tell you what happened,

So I reckon I'll tell ye.

I was sittin' out there in the shed one
evening not doin' too much of nothin',

Just starin at the wall...

And waitin' on my mother to come
out and give me my bible lesson.

Mm-hmm.

Well, I heared a commotion
up there in the house, mmm,

So I run up on the screened-in
porch to see what was goin' on.

I looked in the window there and I
seen my mother layin' on the floor...

Without any clothes on, mmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mmm.

I seen jesse dixon
a-layin' on top of her, mmm.

He was havin' his
way with her. Mmm.

Well, I just seen red. Mmm.

I picked up a kaiser blade that
was sittin' there by the screen door.

Some folks called it a sling
blade. I called it a kaiser blade.

It's got it a long, wood handle,

Kinda like an a* handle...

With a long blade on it shaped
kinda like a banana, mm-hmm.

Sharp on one edge and
dull on the other'n, mmm.

It's what the highway boys use
to cut down weeds and whatnot.

Yeah'm.

Well, I went in
there in the house...

And I hit jesse dixon
upside the head with it,

Knocked him off my mother, mmm.

I reckon that didn't
quite satisfy me, mmm,

So I hit him again with it in
the neck with the sharp edge...

And just plumb near cut
his head off, mmm, k*lled 'im.

Mmm.

My mother, she jumped up
from there and started hollerin',

"What'd you k*ll jesse fer?
What'd you k*ll jesse fer?"

Well, mmm, come to find out,

I don't reckon my mother minded
what jesse was a-doin' to her, mmm.

I reckon that made me madder
than what jesse'd made me,

So I takened the kaiser blade...

Some folks called it a sling
blade, I called it a kaiser blade, mmm...

And I hit my mother upside
the head with it, mm-hmm.

k*lled her.

Some folks has asked me...

If you had it to do over again,
would you do it the same way?

I reckon I would, mm-hmm.

Anyhow, they seen
fit to put me in here,

And here I been for
a great, long while.

I've learned to read some.

Took me four years
to read the bible.

I reckon I understand
a great deal of it.

Wasn't what I expected
in some places. [Grunts]

I've slept in a good bed
for a great, long while.

Now they've seen fit
to put me out of here.

They say they are
settin' me free today, mmm.

Anyhow, I reckon that's
all you was needin' to know.

You wanna hear about more
details, I reckon I can tell 'em to ye.

I don't know whether that's enough
for your newspaper or not, mm-hmm.

[Marsha] will you ever
k*ll anybody again, karl?

Mmm.

I don't reckon I got no
reason to k*ll nobody.

Mmm.

Where will he go?
Anywhere he wants to.

I think he's goin' back to millsburg
where he's from, about 20 miles from here.

Will he be supervised? As
much as anybody else is, I guess.

Y'all have a real nice
rest of the day, now.

I'll get, uh, melvin
to walk y'all out.

Melvin, would you walk
these girls out, please? Sure.

Thank you.

Thank you. Mmm.

[Door opens, closes]

I reckon I'm gonna have to get used
to lookin' at purty people, mm-hmm.

Guess you will.

Reckon I'm gonna have to get used
to them a-lookin' at me too, mmm.

Better go get your things.

Ain't got nothin'
but them books.

Better go get 'em.

All right, then.

Mmm.

Mmm.

All right, then.

Can I help you, sir?

Can I help you, sir?

I kinda want somethin'
or other to eat, mm-hmm.

Well, uh, what would you like?

You got any biscuits
for sale in there, mmm?

Well, no, this here's a frosty
cream. We don't serve biscuits.

We got a lot of
other stuff though.

What you got in there
that's good to eat?

Well, we got big chief
burgers, bongo burgers,

Foot-longs, corny dogs,
frosty shakes, creamy bars.

Uh, d-did you want me to
go through the whole list?

Reckon, what you
like to eat in there?

Well,

The french fries
are pretty good.

French fried potaters?

Yep. French fries.

How much you want fer 'em?

Well, they're 60 for the
medium and 75 for large.

Mmm.

I reckon I'll have me
some of the big 'uns.

All right, then. One
large french fries?

Mmm.

Mmm.

These darn things are heavy.

Hard to carry too.

What you got in
there? Wash? Yeah.

Ain't you got no mama
and daddy to tend to it?

I got a mama, but she's at work
over at hoochy's dollar store.

My daddy's dead.

He got hit by a train.

How fer you goin' with
them sacks full of wash?

Half a mile, I think it is.

I can help ya tote it,
if I don't give out first.

Okay, but you don't have to.

All right, then.

My name's frank wheatley.
What's your name?

Karl's my name.

What's your last name? Childers.

What are all them books?

Oh, different ones.

One of 'em's a bible, one
of 'em's a book on christmas,

One of 'em's on how
to be a carpenter.

Why do you carry
'em around with you?

Ain't got no place to set 'em
down. Don't ya live somewhere?

Did live up there in
the state hospital.

Why'd you live there? I k*lled
some folks quite a while back.

They said I wasn't right in the head,
so they put me in the nervous hospital...

Instead of puttin'
me in jail, mmm.

They let you out? Yeah.

How come?

They told me I was well.

Had to turn me loose.

Well, are you well?

I reckon I feel all right.

Mmm.

This here's my house.

You don't seem like
you k*lled nobody.

We can just set these
bags on the porch.

All right, then.

Mmm.

Mmm.

You like to play football?

I never was no account at it.

I never did get
picked out for it, mmm.

Well, me and the barnett
twins and some boys...

Play at the junior high
school field all the time.

You wanna play, you can come on
over, 'cause we ain't no good either.

Well, I'll see you later.

All right, then.

[Door closes]

Mmm.

Karl.

Hon, you can't just go in there.

Karl, what in the world
are you doin' here?

I wanna come back
and stay in here, mmm.

You can't do that.
You're a free man.

They let you out so
you can do as you please.

I reckon I don't care
nothin' about bein' a free man.

I don't know how to go about it,
mm-hmm. You're gonna have to learn.

It'll take some time.

Don't you have anybody
down there to help you out?

No, sir.

Well, your daddy was livin'
down there, the last time I heard.

Uh, I guess he wouldn't wanna
help you out any, would he?

Sorry. I wasn't thinkin'.

Don't you have anybody?

No, sir.

Never did know too much
of nobody down there.

Not to be helpin' me
out no ways, mm-hmm.

[Sighs] look,
karl, the truth is,

I don't know where they expect you
to go and what they expect you to do.

If it was up to me, you could come
back here and stay, if you wanted to.

I'm just tryin' to do my job.

You follow me? Mmm.

Listen, karl, I
know an old boy...

Who's got a fix-it
shop deal in millsburg.

He used to go to church with me.

You're good working on
small engines and things.

If I was to put my neck
out for you with him,

Do you think you could
work it if he'll hire you?

I'm purty handy, I reckon,

On lawn mowers
and whatnot, mm-hmm.

I know you are.
I've seen it myself.

Could you give
it a try? I reckon.

Now, uh, I can't promise
you that he'll hire ya.

I-i'll have to tell him
about your history.

Mmm. I never was no
good with history. Mm-hmm.

[Chuckles] no.

I mean your past.

Why you were in here.

Take you down first
thing in the mornin'.

You don't have anywhere
you could stay tonight at all?

No, sir. Well, you can't stay
here. It's against the rules.

If something was to
happen, then I'd be liable.

I reckon I can just walk
around till morning time...

And sit and read a book
somewheres, mm-hmm.

[Sighs]

Karl, would you like a muffin?

No, thank you.

I understand jerry's gonna take
you someplace else tomorrow.

I don't reckon I know
nobody named jerry, mmm.

She's talkin' about me,
karl. That's my first name.

He's carryin' me
to look for work...

Down in millsburg
where I's borned, mm-hmm.

Would you like some coffee?

Coffee makes me a mite
nervous when I drink it, mmm.

Daddy, can I be
excused to go to bed?

Sure, honey. You sleep
with your mama tonight.

I'm gonna sleep with your
brother so karl can have your room.

Why?

'Cause he's company.

[Knocking] karl, you up?

Yes, sir.

Didn't you go to sleep at all?

You been sittin' there
like that all night? Yes, sir.

Well, come on. We'd
better hit the road.

All right, then.

Mmm.

[Door swings open]

Hey, jerry. How's
it goin'? Hey, bill.

Good to see you, man. It's been
a long time. Good to see you too.

How's everybody
doin'? Oh, pretty good.

Kids are drivin' me crazy and phyliss
is gonna put me in the poor house,

But I can't complain
other than that.

Wouldn't do any good if I did. You
know scooter, jerry? Don't believe I do.

Good to meet you,
scooter. How about you?

Well, this is him, the one I was
tellin' you about on the phone.

If you get nervous about it I
understand, but I'm not gonna lie to you.

- He did get into that trouble,
but then he was young.
- I remember that real well.

He cut those folks to pieces and his mama
was one of 'em. And that ol' dixon boy.

Hell, I always wanted to k*ll him
myself. assh*le was what he was.

I remember that old boy too.

Kinda Ret*rded or
somethin' back in school.

Well, seems like he's pretty
well adjusted these days.

He, uh... Don't think
he'd ever hurt anybody.

He don't look like he would. He can fix
a small engine like nobody's business?

He's a regular whiz. It's all
he's done since he was a kid.

You scared of him, scooter?

No, I don't guess so.

Can he talk? Oh, yeah.

You say he can stay out
the back? That's fine with me.

If he steals anything, I'm gonna
take it out of your pocket anyway.

He wouldn't steal. He's a pretty
good ol' boy. Keeps to himself.

I got a room full of work for him to
do. I can't get scooter to do any of it.

Karl, come over here. I want
you to meet your new boss.

This is bill cox.

He runs the place, says that
you can work here, stay out back.

It's good to know you,
karl. Mmm. Thank you.

It's minimum wage
and there ain't nothin'

Back there but an old
army cot and a toilet.

That'll be fine. I'm gonna go out
to the car and get your books.

All right, then.

[Door swings open]

Karl, they say you're a whiz on
fixin' lawn mowers and things.

I've tinkered around on
'em a little bit, mm-hmm.

We order up from the frosty
cream at lunch, usually.

We can buy you lunch till
you get on your feet a little.

I like them french
fried potaters, mm-hmm.

Yeah. Me too.

They make a good
double meat burger.

All right then,
I'll see y'all later.

Karl, you done a good day's work
today. They was right about you.

Scooter, he's gonna knock you
out of a job if you're not careful.

I'll see y'all tomorrow. Wait
up. I'll leave with ya and lock up.

There's a blanket
under that cot...

And soap in the bathroom
for cleanin' up with.

There's one more thing: the way we lock
these doors, you can't get out at night.

You didn't wanna go
anywhere, did ya? I don't reckon.

If it works out, maybe
we'll get you a key

So you can get out
at night if you need to.

I'll see you later.
All right, then.

[Door closes]

[Keys jingle, dead bolt sets]

Scooter, I tell you the one about
the two ol' boys pissin' off a bridge?

[Chuckles] I don't remember.

Well, these two ol' boys hung
their peckers off a bridge to piss.

One ol' boy from california
and one from arkansas. [Chuckling]

Ol' boy from california
says, "boy, this water's cold."

Ol' boy from arkansas
says, "yeah, and it's deep too."

[Laughing]

Get it? [Continues laughing]

Yeah, that's a good
one. That is a good one.

I do believe you told me that one
before. I've heard that one a bunch.

A long time ago.
Yeah, that's a classic.

Karl, I got to thinkin' about it
and it's just not christian of me...

Not to let you have a key.

You been in lockup so long,
you don't need me lockin' you up.

You need to come and
go as you please. Here.

Take this key. It'll get ya
in and out of here at night.

Mmm.

All right, then.

Them french fries good?

Yeah, they's good,
all right. Mm-hmm.

You got any money?

Well, they give me some
when they turned me loose.

I spent up some of it a-ridin' on the
bus and eatin' french fried potaters.

Mm-hmm.

Well, I'm gonna pay you
today for this comin' week...

So you have some
walkin'-around money.

You need to go buy some toothpaste and
cleanin'-up supplies to have back there.

Get you some magazines
and some hard candy,

Somethin' to keep
you busy at night.

All right, then.

I'll let you off while
it's still daylight. Mmm.

Hey there. I thought I heard
somebody on the porch.

Wasn't your name karl?

Yes, sir, it is.

You're named frank.

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

What are you doin' by here?

You said for me to come
by. Wanna play ball with us?

I ain't no good at it.

I just come by
to see ye, mm-hmm.

I's goin' over to see my mama at hoochy's
dollar store. She works 2:00 'til 8:00.

All right, then.

You wanna go with me?
You can meet my mama.

I ought not worry your
mama with comp'ny, mmm.

Aw, come on. You'll
like her. She's real nice.

And she'll give us anything we
want her to... Candy or somethin'.

Well, I was kindly
needin' to do some tradin'.

Reckon they sell
toothpaste, mmm?

Yeah, they sell a
little bit of everything.

I won't tell her about you bein'
in the state hospital for killin'.

Come on, let's go.

You're just gonna have to learn
to live without all that grease.

sh**t, out here in the south
I like grease on everything.

I like fried chicken, fried
okra, biscuits and gravy.

Gonna k*ll ya... Hey,
mama. Hey, vaughan.

Hey, sweetheart. What
you up to? I bet I know.

You want candy and
a pop, right? Yeah.

That's gonna rot your teeth.
I got somethin' even better.

I just put potted meat on
special... Four cans for a dollar.

They're not movin'
very well, but I'll give

A couple of cans for
free to the right kid.

I don't like potted meat.

Daddy used to say it was made out
of lips and peckers and intestines.

Don't talk that
way... Who's that

Strange-looking man?
Did he follow you in here?

Can I help you, sir?

Oh, that's karl. I met
him at the laundry-mat.

Karl, this is mama and vaughan.

Vaughan is the manager.

He lets mama off anytime she feels
like it 'cause they're best friends.

Nice to meet you, karl.

Pleased to meet you, mmm.

Frank, why don't you come
back here with me for a minute.

I don't think I've
seen you here before.

No, sir, I don't
reckon you have.

I don't believe I ever
been in here before.

I don't believe this store
used to be here, mmm.

It's been here 17 years. You
lived here before or something?

I's born and raised here up
till I's 12 year old, mm-hmm.

What brings you back?
What's that you say?

Why are you here now?

They turned me loose from
the state hospital, mm-hmm.

Is that right? How long
you gonna be staying here?

Mr. Woolridge, he got me hired on
to work for bill cox's outfit, mm-hmm.

You have family here?

Not to speak of.
Hey, karl, guess what.

Mama said you can stay over
with us out in the garage.

Our car won't fit in there
anyway. It's real neat.

Frank told me about your
situation. Frank loves company.

Especially after his
daddy passed and all.

There ain't no sense in you
stayin' in that old greasy shop.

[Whispers] he's mentally
Ret*rded, poor thing.

He just got out of the
state hospital. I know.

Can we get some candy and
pop? Sure thing. Go ahead.

You think it's safe to let him around
that guy? Frank's crazy 'bout him.

He likes the way he talks. He helped
him carry home the clean laundry.

He's been in the hospital a long time.
There must be something wrong with him.

He's Ret*rded's all. He's
always after a father figure.

Lord knows doyle ain't a
good one with his mean ass.

What about me? I don't think
he sees you as a "guy" guy.

Oh, karl's a "guy" guy?

This is what I call
my secret place,

I used to come here
with karen cross.

She's kinda like my
girlfriend, or used to be.

We used to come out here
and hold hands and talk...

And read books to each
other with a flashlight.

She didn't want to have nothin' to
do with me in front of other people...

'Cause I don't have any money.

Well, mama and me, I mean.

Her daddy's a dentist,
so they're rich.

Was your folks well off?

No, we didn't have too much. Just
barely enough to scrape by on, I reckon.

They still around, your folks?

My mother's dead.

My daddy's s'posed to be around still, but
he don't wanna have nothin' to do with me.

How do you know?

Well, he never did
want to. I figger he

Probably ain't changed
his mind much, mm-hmm.

How'd your mama die?

Mmm.

You don't need to
hear things like 'at.

You just a boy.

You need to think about good
thoughts while you still a boy.

They's plenty of time
for all the other, mm-hmm.

I've had a lot of bad
thoughts since daddy d*ed.

Sometimes I wish I was still
real little and he was still here.

Mama's real good, but I
wish I had both of them.

We went to memphis
in the car one time.

It was rainin' so hard we couldn't
see the road, but I wasn't scared...

'Cause as long as daddy was drivin'
I thought nothin' can happen to us.

That's the way I
feel about mama now.

Mama has a boyfriend now.

His name is doyle hargraves.

He works construction, so
he makes a pretty good livin',

But he still don't help mama
out with any money though.

He ain't no good.
He's mean to her.

He don't like me at all.

Mama says he's jealous 'cause I
belong to my daddy instead of him.

He spends the night over at our house
sometimes, and he's got his own house.

Somebody told me this way
he can have more girlfriends.

I like it on the nights he ain't at
our house. I ain't so nervous then.

Hmm.

How come her to still bein' girlfriends
and all with 'im if he mean to her?

She says it's for the times
when he's good to her.

She's lonely since daddy d*ed.

Sometimes she don't know why.

He threatened to k*ll
her if she ever left 'im.

My daddy would k*ll him if he was still
here and somebody was mean to mama.

Vaughan, he's real good to mama.

Vaughan, that you met?

But he's not able to do anything
to doyle. He's funny, you know.

Not "funny," ha-ha.
"Funny," q*eer.

He likes to go with
men instead of women.

That makes him not be able to fight
too good, but he sure is nice though.

He's from st. Louis. People who are
q*eer get along better in a big town.

I wish he liked
to go with women.

I'd rather him be mama's
boyfriend than doyle.

Karl, you know
when I told you...

Daddy got hit by a train?

Yes, sir, I recollect that.

It ain't the truth.

He sh*t himself with
a shotgun on purpose.

How come him to do that, reckon?

'Cause he didn't
have enough money...

To take care of us
the way he wanted to.

That's what the letter said.

He got laid off of work
and started workin' odd jobs.

I thought he took
care of us just fine.

Karl, did you really
k*ll somebody?

Yes, sir, I did.

Who'd you k*ll?

Two people. Were
they bad people?

I thought they was.

Well, maybe they needed it.

Well, I growed up
and learned that...

Y'ain't s'posed to k*ll nobody.

It's all right if you're lookin' out
for yourself, if it's self-defense.

Was it self-defense?

Mmm.

My daddy was good.

I think too many
good people die.

That's what I think.

[Sighs]

Karl, you sure you wanna
go stay with these folks?

You're welcome to keep on stayin'
here. It's workin' out real good.

That boy wants me to.

Mmm. Well, all right, then.

I'll see you bright and early. How you
comin' along with that garden tiller?

I fixed it. It's workin'
pretty good now, mm-hmm.

You done fixed it? Mm-hmm.

Well, I'll be damned. Scooter
told me it couldn't be fixed.

'Course, scooter's about as shiftless
as one poor son of a bitch can be.

You done fixed it.
Well, I'll just be damned.

Well, I'll see you
tomorrow. All right, then.

Mmm.

Mmm.

I don't guess I
give a sh*t, then.

I ain't here that much anyway.

If you want a ret*rd livin' out in
your garage, that's your business.

I do got some tools out there
I'd rather not have stoled.

I could take those home with me.

He's real honest. He
wouldn't steal nothin'.

Now, frankie, I wasn't
talkin' to you, was i? Huh?

No, sir. "No, sir" is right.

I was talkin' to your mama.

This is her decision, not yours.

If I let it go on, it's 'cause
she asked me, not you.

Is this the kind of ret*rd that drools
and rubs sh*t in his hair and all that?

'Cause I'm gonna have a hard time
eatin' around that kind of thing, now.

Just like I am with antique
furniture and midgets.

I can't so much as
drink a glass of water...

Around a midget or a
piece of antique furniture.

Doyle, you're awful. You shouldn't
be that way. I ain't sayin' it's right.

I'm just tellin' you it's the
truth. He'll make me sick.

What was he in
the nut house for?

He's just mentally
Ret*rded, I guess.

Mm-mmm. No, no. He hadda gone
nuts and did somethin', now.

A lot of retards runnin' around
that ain't locked up in the nut house.

Think about it, linda.

You know what he done, frank?

I ain't sure. Well, you might
oughta wanna find out.

He mighta hacked his family to
pieces with a hatchet or somethin'.

That's right, frank.
You'd better ask 'im.

Don't hurt his feelings,
but it'd be good to know.

I'm sure it's nothin'.
He seems real sweet.

You're all hung up on
people bein' sweet, aren't ya?

He's sweet. Everybody's sweet.

Speakin' of sweet,
where's your girlfriend?

I thought you said he was comin'
over here. He'll be here in a while.

He's takin' me to get an ice
cream. Now, ain't that sweet.

What am I gonna do about supper while
you're running around with that f*g?

You're not crippled. Get
in there and make somethin'.

Talkin' back and
everything, aren't you?

That kinda makes
me horny, linda.

Frank, why don't you go off and play in
your room, if doyle's gonna talk nasty.

I don't wanna go play. He don't
want to, baby. Let him sit here.

Let's all just be a family...

Till your mentally
Ret*rded friend...

And your h*m*
friend get here.

[Sighs]

[Car door shuts]

[Footsteps]

[Vaughan] karl? Yes, sir?

So you're really
going to stay here.

That boy, he wants me to.

Have you knocked
on the door yet?

No, sir, I ain't.

How long have you
been standing here?

Quite a spell, I reckon.

Karl, before you get
very used to staying here,

You and I need to talk
about a few things.

Can I take you to lunch?

I done et just a
little bit ago, mm-hmm.

No, I mean tomorrow
or the next day.

I reckon I could use a little
somethin' or other to eat at noontime.

Bill cox, he generally
gets me a box lunch,

But I reckon he can lay off
a-doin' it tomorrow, mm-hmm.

Okay, well, then I'll come by mr. Cox's
and pick you up around noon, all right?

All right, then.

[Knocking] there's
your girlfriend.

Hey, y'all, come on in.

Come on. Have a
seat in here. Mmm.

Hey, vaughan. How are you, karl?

Oh, tolerable, I reckon.
This is my boyfriend doyle.

Frank, you and karl go out to
the garage and fix him up a place.

Vaughan, you ready to go? Sure.

Honey, don't rush
everybody off yet.

Maybe you and karl want to
go with us. Aw, I don't want to.

Me and karl's got things
we need to do. Hey, vaughan.

I heard you been putting it on ol'
albert sellers over at the funeral home.

I know albert. We're friends.

No, I heard you
was more'n friends.

Yeah, I heard d*ck rivers caught the
two of you goin' at it in the same room...

With poor ol' mrs. Olgetree, and her
dead as a doornail laid out on a gurney.

That's ridiculous. That is a
total lie. Let's go, vaughan.

Frank, we'll be back in a little
while. I'll bring you somethin'.

Your food's in the oven warmin'
over. See, you fixed him somethin'.

Hey, vaughan, I was
just goin' on with ya.

Just jokin' around.
You know, buddy.

Yeah, I know that.
You're a real card. [Kisses]

[Door closes]

So, karl, come over, sit
down and talk to me. Mmm.

Come on, karl, let's
go to the garage.

g*dd*mn it, I wanna talk
to 'im. You sit down, karl.

So, what's in your bag?

[Grunts]

Mmm.

This 'n' that.

Toothpaste and whatnot, mm-hmm.

What's all them books?

[Karl] different ones.

One of 'em's a bible, mm-hmm.

You believe in the
bible, do ya, karl?

Yes, sir, a good
deal of it, mmm.

I can't understand
all of it, mmm.

Well, I can't
understand none of it.

This one begat that one,
and that one begat this one,

And begat and begat
and lo and behold

Someone says some sh*t
to someone or another.

- Just how Ret*rded are you?
- Stop it, doyle.

Frankie, you be quiet. We're
talkin'. The adults are talkin'.

So, was you in lockup for cuttin'
someone up with a hatchet or somethin'?

I ain't never used no hatchet
that I remember, mm-hmm.

So you're just crazy in a
ret*rd kinda way then, huh?

It wouldn't matter to me if
you did do v*olence on somebody.

I ain't scared of sh*t.

You think I'm scared
for you to stay here?

You just a humped-over
ret*rd, it seems to me.

I'm just kiddin' ya.

Welcome to our
humble home, buddy.

See, frank here needs
all the friends he can get.

Frank's a weak little kid.

His daddy taught
him how to be a p*ssy.

Stop it, doyle. Don't
talk about my daddy.

"Don't talk about my daddy."

Get outta here. Go on out
to the garage. Leave me be.

Go on!

Come on, karl.

Frankie.

Don't say nothin' about our
little spat to your mama, now.

Don't want her
worryin' about your ass.

I'd like to k*ll that
son of a bitch. I hate him.

You ought not talk
that-a-way. You just a boy.

Well, I hate 'im.

He ought not to talk
that-a-way to you neither.

He ain't no account. He's
mean to you and your mama.

Your mama and that feller that's
carryin' me to get somethin' to eat's...

Gon' be back directly, mm-hmm.

Will you be here with
us for a long time?

I reckon, if you want me to.

I got some o' that potted meat and
sodie crackers left over if you want some.

I don't see how you can eat all that
stuff with them insides it's made out of.

Well, I reckon it tastes
pretty good to me.

I like the way you talk.

Well, I like the way you talk.

You think it's really got
peckers in there, cut up?

You know better'n that.
You ought not say that word.

Well, it smells kinda funny.

It's a little loud.
Looky right there.

I believe you right. I believe
I see one right in there.

[Laughing] mmm.

Mmm.

Mister, reckon you could hand me
some of that mustard over there?

Thank you.

Okay, karl, the reason that i...

Brought you here is...

To talk to you about
something that's on my mind.

I'm just... I'm just gonna
put it right out on the table.

Where do I start?

Um...

Linda and frank are...
Are very important to me.

They're like family.

My own family... Was never like
a family. They're horrible people.

As a matter of fact,

For years I prayed every
night that my father would die...

And finally I realized,
through a lot of therapy,

I was wasting my
energy on hating him,

So now I just don't care.

But you see, you
and I are a lot alike,

As strange as that may seem.

I don't mean physically
or even mentally, really,

But, well, emotionally.

Actually, the hand that we've
been dealt in life, you know...

We're different.

People see us as, as
being different, anyway.

You're... Well,
you-you've got...

Your affliction
or whatever, and i...

Well, mine's not as easy to see.

[Sighs]

I'm just going to say it.

I'm gay.

Does that surprise you,

That I'm gay?

You know what
"gay" is, don't you?

[Customers laughing]
I don't reckon.

[Chattering, laughing continues]

h*m*.

I like men, sexually.

Not "funny," ha-ha.
"Funny," q*eer.

Mm-hmm.

Well, that's a very
offensive way to put it.

You shouldn't say that, karl.

You were taught
that, weren't you?

I've heard it said that
way, yes, sir, mm-hmm.

Anyway, i-it's
hard to live gay...

That's the right
way to say it...

In a small town like this.

I've wanted to leave
many times, but...

Because I love...

Linda, frank and...

A certain other person, i...
They've kept me from leaving.

Look, anyway, I'm rambling.

If you're going to live
in the wheatley garage,

Y-you need to know
it's not going to be easy.

Doyle is a monster.

Not just a closed-minded redneck,
but a monster, a dangerous person.

I've told linda that one day that
man is going to hurt her and that boy,

Maybe even k*ll them.

I see it in his eyes. I-i'm very
in tune. I'm maybe even psychic.

But doyle is going
to make your life hell.

There's... There's one more
thing. [Chattering continues]

It's none of my business why
you were in the state hospital.

Everybody has
something in their past.

Maybe...

You tried su1c1de;

Maybe you did something...

Terrible;

But what I see before me...

Is a gentle,

Simple man.

All I want you to promise me...

Is that you are capable of
being around frank and linda.

You know?

You would never hurt either one of
them under any circumstances, would you?

I wouldn't never hurt them, mmm.

That's what I thought.

Look, I'm sorry if, if I've
offended you in any way.

You seem like a
thinker, you know.

You seem to always
be deep in thought.

It just... So, tell
me something.

What are you thinking right now?

Mmm.

I's thinkin' i...

Might wanna take me some o'
these potaters home with me, mmm.

Oh. How about before that?

Mmm.

Lemme think. Mmm.

Before that I was thinkin'...

I could use me another six or
eight cans of that potted meat,

If ye got any extree, mm-hmm.

[Silverware clanking] [doyle]
frankie, get some of this salad.

Hold your plate
up for me, frankie.

I'm just gon' reach.

So, how come karl
won't eat in here with us?

I don't know. He said
he'd eat out there.

I wouldn't let it get to you. Put
some of this dressing on there.

Yes. I just feel sorry
for the poor thing.

Who the hell could eat with him, making
all that g*dd*mn racket in his throat?

It's raunchy. He does
make some funny noises.

I like the way he talks.

Sounds like a race car motor
idlin'; makes me not be nervous.

Yeah, I'm glad of it, honey.

What do you got to be
nervous about? You're a damn kid.

You ain't got no bills to
pay; no business to run;

You don't even
have to have a job.

You got no old lady eatin'
on your ass all the time.

I don't know. I
just stay nervous.

Could I have some of that
ham? Oh, yeah. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

You know what, by god? What?

I know what I oughta do tonight.

Oh, please, doyle,
don't. Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I'm gonna call up morris
and have him get the band together.

We're gonna have a
party; party our asses off.

Love to show 'em that damn karl.

They'd get a kick out of him. You
know they would. Please, not tonight.

I'm just not up for it. They
always stay till mornin'.

I'll just give out, doyle. You
don't gotta do nothin', linda.

Just put some chips in a bowl and
run ice out to us when we look low.

Last time, you got mad and run morris
and them off, told them to stay away.

That ain't none
of your business.

Besides, that's the way
friends do one another.

f*ck it. I'm calling 'em up.

[Clears throat]

Linda, go out there in the
garage and get my guitar.

It's out there with
that looney toon. Now?

Yeah, now. I'm calling
them up. Hey, morris.

Whatcha doin', boy?

Where's randy and them?

Yeah, now, please.
Frankie, go help your mom.

When we gonna eat? Hang on.

You eat when you come back.
Go get my guitar. Come on, sugar.

No, I wanna get
together. We... Yeah.

Well, call 'im.

One, two. One, two, three, four.

♪♪

[Shouts] no! No!

No, doyle. Ya gotta
play through it.

You can wail on the gig,
but ya gotta play through it.

No, you play through it on a
gig... You like that, vaughan?

Sure. Sounds like a number
one hit tune, all right.

[Man chuckles] [doyle] how 'bout
you, karl? Karl, did you like that?

I reckon. [Man] I wish you'd
all lay off for tonight!

I can't hear myself think
with that racket! Hey!

Well, it's nighttime.
You let... Hey!

I'm calling the police! I
told you three times already!

The law's on my side!

I play cards with j.d.
Shelnut, chief of police!

So kiss my ass, you old bastard!

[Doyle] hey, linda, you and
frank clean this mess up for us.

And put the tarp over
these instruments.

Me and the boys are gonna go down to the
county line. We're out of liquor and beer.

Hey, karl, come on with
us. Vaughan, come on.

Oh, no, I don't think so. It's
late. I-i have to work tomorrow.

Don't be a p*ssy, vaughan. We all
gotta work tomorrow. Come on.

He don't want to, doyle. Don't
go, vaughan, if you don't want to.

You'll wreck,
doyle. You're drunk.

I ain't gonna wreck, honey. Come
on. Now, I'll be good. I promise.

I love you, sweetie.

Come on, karl. Go with us.

Just trying to make these two
feel like they're part of it, baby.

Come on, vaughan. This'll be
fun. Karl, let's go. Come on.

[Doyle] you better lay
off on that tambourine.

[Morris] hey, man, I ain't
did nothin' wrong.

Hey! Ain't anybody gonna
come get me? [Car doors close]

What exactly are you talking
about? I don't understand.

[Morris] exactly the point, my young
levelheaded friend. I don't get it.

Well, I rest my case.

Morris is real smart with
philosophies and things.

That's why him and me is the
songwritin' team of our group.

See, I come up with the good
tunes, or melodies as we call 'em,

And, um, morris is the lyrics.

Not unlike gary booker
of the procol harum.

We don't ever play
any songs y'all wrote. I

Ain't heard one of
'em. Y'all's just talk.

We don't even play any songs
with words at all that I remember.

We ain't got no
f*ckin' microphone!

We ain't got no speakers set up!

We wrote one last night
outside the mini-mart.

Um, morris called it "stuart
drives a comfortable car."

And then, like in country
songs, you know, in parentheses...

It says, "there's usually
someone in the trunk."

And, um, I came up with
a tune, just a-hummin'.

See, you don't wanna
question a genius, vaughan.

Morris here, he's a modern-day
poet, kinda like in the olden times.

Yeah, I got a new tune.

This new composition's
entitled "the thrill."

Goes somethin' like this.

I stand on the hill,

Not for a thrill,

But for a breath
of a fresh k*ll.

Never mind the man
who contemplates...

Doin' away with license plates.

He stands alone anyhow,

Bakin' the cookies
of discontent...

By the heat of the
laundromat vent.

Leaving his soul...

Then, like in poetry,
I go dot, dot, dot.

You know, kinda off-center,
then I drop down, and then I go:

Leavin' his soul...

Partin' the waters o'
the medulla oblongata...

Of... [Wails]

Mankind.

That a damn good song, wasn't
it, doyle? You like that song?

All right! [Laughs]

I don't think that's right.

I believe the "dot, dot,
dot" come between...

"Medulla" and "oblongata."

Well, it did.

The "dots" are
where I say they are.

Melody and tune, that's
your trade, terence.

You're a tunesmith.

I don't understand the
meaning of the words.

Y'all don't shut up, I'm
gonna go outta my mind.

'Sides, karl here's liable to bust
his spring. He's already off balance.

That wasn't the way you made it
up before, morris. That's all I know.

We don't need no fancy words.

I mean, we need to practice.
We need to rehearse.

I'll tell you what we need.
We need some payin' gigs.

We don't need
this messin' around.

First, one patio and then
another. That's ridiculous.

Amen, johnson.

We don't got no g*dd*mn band!

We don't need to
f*ckin' practice, randy!

We don't need a
sh*t-ass manager neither!

Ya m*therf*ckers! Y'all
just a bunch of losers!

I'm the only sane son of a bitch
here! Get the f*ck out of my house!

It's not your house,
doyle, it's linda's.

I'll whip the dog
sh*t out of you, boy.

I will f*ckin' k*ll you
if you talk to me again!

Now, all of ya, get the f*ck out
now before I get too mad to turn back!

Wh-what about our instruments?

C'mere, you little prick. Come
here, you little f*ckin' prick!

Get out! All of y'all!

Now get the f*ck out!

Come on, you m*therf*ckers!

Get the f*ck out!

Randy, you tunin'
son of a bitch!

Go f*ckin' practice, randy!

Come on, morris,
you f*ckin' genius!

Get the f*ck up, and get the
f*ck outta here! g*dd*mn it!

This ain't right, doyle.

They is somethin' wrong
with you. Get the f*ck out.

Nobody wants to
take this sh*t, man.

Dots look good on paper.

You don't sing 'em anyway. You're
just showin' your true aries color now.

Stay outta my g*dd*mn
face, you f*ckin' buzzard.

[Slams]

Hey! I said, get outta my house!

That goes for
cocksuckers and retards.

Now, get up off your asses and go!
Come on! This is not your house, doyle.

This is my house, and I'll
say who stays and who goes.

You got a house. Go get one of
your girlfriends and go home to it.

You know better than to talk to
me like that when I'm hurtin', linda.

Don't make me knock the piss
outta you. Don't you touch her.

That's funny, vaughan.

Linda, go to bed, and take
little snotnose here with ya.

You're not stayin' here tonight.

Go get sober before you come
back. I'm tired of my child seein' this.

Now, you get your ass straight, or
I'll lock your ass outta my life fer good.

If you even think about
leavin' me, linda, I told ya,

I'm gonna k*ll you deader than a
doornail. That might be better than this.

I'm a witness. I heard you thr*aten
her. You get the f*ck out now!

Leave!

Don't tell me what
to do, linda. Leave!

Don't tell me what to do. Leave!

Don't tell me what to do. Leave!

Don't you tell me what to
do, linda! Don't do that, linda!

All right, I'm calling the
police! g*dd*mn you, little prick!

Don't touch my mommy!
Don't touch her! Hey!

[Bottle shatters] go home!

Get away from here, doyle!

Hey! g*dd*mn
you, frankie! Frank!

[Frank] get away
from us! [Bottle shatters]

[Grunts, shouts]

Get away from us!

All right. Okay.

I'm gonna leave now. f*ck me.

f*ck me.

I'm gonna go home and sober up.

[Panting] go on, then.

Everything's botherin'
me. I'm hurtin', linda.

I love you. Well, I hate you!

I hate you, you little
prick! No, I don't.

No, I don't. I love your mama.

I just... I can't
explain what goes on.

You bunch of freaks.
I hope you have fun.

[Panting]

I'll call you tomorrow.
I'm sorry, honey.

I said I'm sorry, linda.

Okay. All right.
You can kiss my ass.

And if you ever hit me
again, you little bastard,

I swear to god I'll make you sorry
your daddy ever squirted your ass out.

You hear me?

[Car door closes, engine starts]

Y'all right, mama?
Yeah, I'm fine.

Let's just try and
forget about tonight.

We don't need to think about
bad thoughts, do we, mama?

[Chuckles] no, honey, we don't.

Well, I'll make some coffee
and start cleanin' up this mess.

Karl, you want some coffee, hon?

Coffee kindly makes me
nervous when I drink it, mm-hmm.

[Sighs]

Oh, you scared me.

I didn't aim to. You wanna sit
down? You need something?

No, ma'am.

Mmm.

There's these two fellers
standin' on a bridge...

A-goin' to the bathroom.

One feller says that
the water is cold,

The other feller
said the water is deep.

Mmm, I believe one feller
come from arkansas.

Get it?

I'll be dog.

Reckon you can
make me some biscuits?

What, now?

Whenever you take a notion
to. I don't aim to put you out none.

Well, it is nearly
breakfast time, anyway.

I can't go to sleep. I have
to be at work in three hours.

You know how it is when you
only sleep an hour or two?

You feel worse than if you
hadn't slept at all. Yes, ma'am, I do.

Well, sit down. I'll make
you some biscuits and gravy.

Mustard's good on 'em to me.

Okay. Thank ye.

Oh, it's all right.

[Grunts] mmm.

You know, I was thinkin', there's
this girl that works with me.

She's real heavy, but
she's cute in the face.

Well, you know, she's slow.

She's a little bit... I think...

She's not Ret*rded,
just... Well, it don't matter.

Listen to me. I thought
you might like to meet her.

Vaughan wants to have a little supper
over at his house, and we could invite her.

Would you like that?

I reckon I wouldn't mind
havin' a little supper, mm-hmm.

Vaughan's friend'll be there
too. He works at the funeral home.

Frank... You know, frank
really likes you a lot.

He says you make him feel calm.

I like frank. He's a good boy.

Me and him made friends.

It ain't right for me to keep
from tellin' you how come me...

To be in the state hospital.

Oh, that's okay. It's
not really my business.

I have wondered, though.

Why was it? Was it like a
nervous breakdown or...

I k*lled my mother and an
old boy named jesse dixon.

I thought they's a-doin' wrong.

I was about your boy's age.

They told me I'm well
from it now. Was that you?

I remember that. I was
only three or four,

But I always heard
about it growin' up.

They say you're
well? Yes, ma'am.

Mmm.

I like your garage.

I never would hurt
you or that boy.

I lay my hand on the bible
and say the same thing, mm-hmm.

I know you wouldn't, hon.

[Sighs] well, I'll make
you some biscuits.

[Taps counter]

How 'bout ya, jerry?

How are ya, bill? I'm doin' pretty
good. I got a sick tiller here.

What's got you down this way?

Just thought I'd check up on karl,
see how things are workin' out.

Well, he pretty quiet, except for them
rackets and breathin' things he does.

He ain't threatened me
with a killin' or nothin'.

I tell ya, you couldn't have
been right about him fixin' things.

That son of a bitch a real
eli whitney on a lawn mower,

And loves french fries.

Son of a bitch can eat four larges
and won't so much as even belch.

I'm proud to have him. Him
stayin' here workin' out?

Well, he's gone to stayin' over with that
wheatley boy and his mama at their garage.

Think that little boy's adopted
him damn near like a mascot.

He got a key here to come and go as
he pleases. He workin' out real good.

Can I see him? Sure.

Scooter, take jerry in there
to talk to karl. All right.

[Scooter] hey, karl!

Sure you're gonna be okay stayin'
with that woman and her boy?

Yes, sir.

They know about you?

My history? Yeah.

I told 'em about it.

They know I'm well.

That miss wheatley
made me some biscuits.

[Chuckles] I'll be.

That boy, he's my friend.

He likes the way I talk, and I
like the way he talks, mm-hmm.

Well, I knew you were gonna be all
right. I just wanted to check on you.

I better tell bill
good-bye and head on back.

All right, then. [Grunts]

Karl, see if you can figure out
what's wrong with this thing.

It won't crank up, and everything
seems to be put together right.

Bill, I'll see ya.
Okay. Stop back by.

Don't worry 'bout your
boy now. He's doin' good.

It ain't got no gas in it.

Y'see there, scooter? Thinks
of the simplest things first.

Mmm.

Does everybody like the food?

Yes. Yeah. It's good.

Good. I haven't decided
yet if I'm a good cook.

Karl, you know what?

Melinda here was voted
employee of the month...

At the dollar
store last february.

Isn't that somethin'?

Yes, ma'am, I reckon.

Well, when you like
pricin' items as much as I do,

It's just bound to happen
sooner or later, I guess.

Karl, maybe... [Clears throat]

You and melinda might
like to take a walk tonight.

It's such a nice evening.

Vaughan, don't get
pushy. [Chuckling] I'm sorry.

[Karl] I kinda like walkin'
from time to time.

I stay on my feet
all the time at work.

I just can't find shoes
that's comfortable.

Hospital shoes might be
the answer. Nurse's shoes.

Or the kind old ladies wear
who work in school cafeterias.

Same difference.

I get real mean
when my feet hurt.

It's the only time I don't
like checkin' out customers,

When my feet
hurt. [Clears throat]

You and karl
aren't talkin' much.

You boys must
really like that food.

[Frank] well, I ain't got nothin'
to say anything 'bout shoes.

Listen, everybody. I, uh...

This might sound
corny, but, um...

I've had a few glasses of wine, and
that tends to make me a little emotional,

But I'm gonna say it anyway.

It came over me in a rush.

I just want all
of you to know...

That I care about each and
every person at this table.

[Linda] thank you, vaughan.
That's really sweet of you.

We care about you,
too, don't we, y'all? Oh!

[All] yeah. Also, melinda, please
don't tell anyone at the store...

That albert was here tonight.

Okay?

Why? Well, you know
how this town is.

People talk, and they
spread these cruel rumors.

Unfortunately, there are certain
parts of my life I have to keep private.

You mean about you and albert
bein' together in... That way?

Yeah, yes. I think everybody
at the store already knows.

They're always talkin' about it.

Maureen ledbetter told
the most awful story...

About why you ain't allowed at
the first baptist church no more.

Karl, why don't you and melinda
go take a walk? It's nice out.

[Albert sighs]

Mmm.

All right, then.

That sure was quick. Mm-hmm.

[Sighs] [chuckles]

You walk fast, don't ya?

I reckon.

These the worst
shoes I own for walkin'.

How far d'you say
you wanted to go?

I don't reckon I thought
about it too much.

I don't know, karl. She
just ain't catchin' fire.

Did you check them points, mmm?

No. No, I didn't.

That's probably it, mm-hmm.

Yes, ma'am. Is karl here?

Yeah. Just a minute.

Hey, karl, somebody
out here to see ya.

Some gal holdin' a nice bouquet.

Come on, now. She wants to
talk to ya. Don't just set there.

Hmm.

Hi, karl. I'm on my lunch break.

These are on sale
'cause they're not fresh.

2.99 a bunch, plus my ten
percent employee discount.

Since I didn't bring nothin'
for ya on our... Date last night,

I thought you might
like to have 'em.

♪ Darlin' ♪

♪♪ [Humming]

♪ When you kiss me ♪
thank you.

Scooter, let's you and me
go over to the frosty cream...

And pick up somethin'
fer lunchtime.

I can go. You don't have
to. You don't never go.

g*dd*mn it, scooter.
Come on. Let's go.

♪ I could cry ♪ pardon
my language, ma'am.

♪♪ [Humming melody]

♪ And, darlin' ♪

♪ Lord above me ♪

♪ When you love me ♪ well,
I just thought I'd bring ya 'em.

I liked walkin' with ya.

I got a blister size of
a quarter on one heel.

Well, I'll see you
sometime, I guess.

♪ And whenever you go ♪

♪♪ [Continues]
blisters sure can hurt.

Mm-hmm.

♪ Darlin' ♪
yeah.

♪ I love you ♪
flowers is purty.

I've always thought
that, mm-hmm.

♪ Then you fix me a cup of tea ♪

♪ Darlin', you're
so damn sweet ♪

♪ Don't forget the milk ♪

♪ And wherever I go ♪

♪ And whatever I do ♪

♪ Darlin' ♪

♪ I love you ♪

[Stone clacks against
shed] ♪♪ [humming]

[Cat meows]

Hey, karl. How'd you
know I was in the garage?

I seen that door
a-cracked open a little bit,

And I figured you was in
there foolin' around, mm-hmm.

You off of work? Yes, sir.

Where'd you get them flowers?

That gal that made employee
of the month at the dollar store,

She give 'em to me for
a-walkin' with her, mmm.

Well, I was goin' over
to the secret place.

I borrowed one of your
books. You ain't mad, are ye?

No, sir. You can look at every
one of my books you want to.

Thank ye. Its name's
a christmas carol.

That's that'un on christmas
I's tellin' you about.

Well, you wanna go with me?

All right, then. Yeah. C'mon.

All right.

[Frank] know why I want
you to play ball with me? No.

'Cause it's fun. It don't
matter if you ain't no good.

It takes yer mind off
o' everything else,

And when you're runnin' real
fast tryin' to score a touchdown,

That's all you're
thinkin' about.

I ain't no account, but daddy
always said he was proud of me...

When I threw the
ball or ran with it.

Did you have any brothers or
sisters growin' up to play with?

I had one there
for a little bit,

But, uh,

It didn't get old enough
for me to play with it, mmm.

Why not? It die?

Yes, sir.

Why?

It got borned a
little too early.

My mother and father, they made it
come out too early some way or another.

So it d*ed when it come out?

My daddy come out to the
shed and got me and said,

"Here, take this
and throw it away,"

And handed me a towel
with somethin' or 'nother in it.

Mmm.

I started for
that barrel, and...

I opened up the towel to see what
was in there 'cause there's a noise...

And somethin' was
movin' around in it, mmm.

And that towel was all
bloody-like all around it there, and...

Mmm.

It was a little ol' baby not
no bigger than a squirrel, mmm.

It was alive?

Yes, sir. Right then it was.

A boy or a girl?

It was a little ol' boy.

You threw it in
the trash barrel?

Well, that didn't
seem right to me,

So I went in there in the shed and
got a shoe box and emptied out...

The screwdrivers and washers
and nuts and things out of it.

And I taken the little
feller and put him in the box,

Buried him back there
in a corner of the yard.

That seemed more
proper to me, I reckon.

And it was still alive
when you buried it?

I heared it a-cryin' a little
through that box, mmm.

That don't seem right. It seems
like you would've kept him...

And took care of him
if he was your brother.

I wasn't but six or eight. I
reckon I didn't know what to do.

I didn't know how
to care for no baby.

My mother and
father didn't want him.

They learned me to do
what they told me to do.

These days I figure
it probably best...

We just give him right back to the
good lord right off the bat anyhow.

That makes me feel real sad.

Couldn't you have done
something, karl? I would have.

I wished I'd had him. He'd
still be right here now, livin'.

It makes me sad too.

I wish they's somethin'
I coulda did about it.

I don't think nothin' bad
oughta happen to children.

I think all those bad things oughta be
saved up for the folks that done growed up.

That's the way I see it, mm-hmm.

I shouldn't have
told you about that.

A boy your age ought
not to hear such things.

It just kinda come out.

I didn't mean to say
nothin' bad about ye.

You're good. You
don't mean no harm.

D'you ever think about killin'
yourself on purpose, like daddy did?

I studied about it some.

Bible says you ought not to,

Says you do that,
you go off to hades.

Some folks call that
hell. I call it hades, mm-hmm.

The bible says the same
thing about killin' others too.

Mmm.

Yes, sir, I reckon it does.

Spend more time
over here, and...

Well, hell, there's the
boys. How ya doin', boys?

I'm glad y'all came back.

I was wantin' to talk to y'all
too. Come over here and sit down.

Come on, sit down.

I was just tellin'
linda we were thinkin'...

That things'd be a lot better if I
spent a lot more time over here,

And that we could, uh...

Aw, hell, I'll just start over.

See, I took off work early today, and
your mama was good enough to do the same...

So that we could talk.

Really, what I'd come over
here to do was apologize,

Which ain't easy for me,

About how I acted
the other night.

Now, I admitted I was drunk.

I got all worked up, and
one thing led to another and...

I care about y'all,
though. I do, really.

Now, I don't mean
to be so... Damned...

Well, "assh*le-ish," I
guess, would be the word.

Karl, I don't believe
I hit you, did i?

So no apology
necessary, I guess.

But, frankie, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I hit your mama.

It's just that I'm
jealous of her.

I don't like her life
or how she lives it.

I don't like h*m*.

And she goes out and buddies up
with one, so I gotta deal with that.

I don't like little wimpy-ass
kids or mental retards,

And she got one of
each livin' with her.

[Chuckles] I'm just kiddin',
really, about that. I...

I mean, we all gotta get along, I guess,
no matter what our differences are.

See, I work construction.
I build things.

You understand how important
that is to the world, frankie?

I don't know if you all realize the
pressure a man like me's got on him.

Well, the upshot is, I'm gonna
be spendin' a lot more time here.

We're all gonna get
along like a family should.

I might even surprise you,
honey, and pop the question.

Well,

I'm gonna get on back
over to the job site,

Lock up some stuff over there.

I just wanted to stop by and...

Give y'all some little
piece of happiness today.

Bye-bye, sweetie. [Kisses]

Karl. Frankie.

You be a good boy
now, ya hear me?

Well, at least he's tryin',

But who knows for
how long? [Car door closes]

He's lyin', mama. He'll
never do better. [Engine starts]

I know, honey.

Just remember what I
said. We'll bide our time.

You just steer clear
of him as much as you can.

Doyle's had a real hard life.

It's just about run
him crazy, I think.

Well, we had hard
lives, too, mama.

[Chuckles]

You're a hell of a boy, frank.

Someday you're gonna get all
the good things you deserve.

Karl here is gonna get
some more biscuits tonight.

What do you think about that?

I could sure use some.

Hey there, karl. Come
unload a generator for me.

Karl, lift this thing down and carry
it to the back for me. It's on the blink.

Say, you want us to
help you lift that thing?

That karl's strong enough to lift
a bulldozer. He can fix anything too.

He's mentally Ret*rded, but
he's a whiz with small engines.

Let me tell you, the lord
works in mysterious ways.

So anyway, what I was tellin' you
was, he didn't just make the team.

Coach says he's gonna
start him at end on defense.

Yeah, he's a chip off the old block,
ain't ya, steve? Yeah, I guess so.

And how's the rest of
the team lookin' this year?

Pretty good. We
expect to do well.

Got a quarterback
this year? Pretty good.

Jeff bailey's boy. You know
him. Good arm, a little slow.

[Bill] I watched him in junior
high. He can throw the ball well.

He's taller than he was then. You
gonna start at the defensive end?

Hup!

[Boy] come on, man.

[Shouting, laughing]

[Frank laughing]

Good job, karl. We
got a touchdown.

That was a good lateral, man.
That was just like the wishbone.

Mmm. Yes, sir.

Well, I durn near
made me a touchdown,

And then I seen them
boys bearin' down on me.

Figgered I better give it off to you
there. Seen you followin' me, mm-hmm.

Yeah. We're liable to
win, if we keep this up.

For somebody like you,
you sure can run fast. Mmm.

Come on. Let's kick off
to 'em. All right, then.

[Frank] I know you coulda scored
that touchdown by yourself...

Instead of just
throwin' it over to me.

Mmm. Them boys was tryin'
to pull me down pretty hard.

You're strong, though.
You just threw it over to me...

Where I could score that
touchdown so I'd feel good.

My daddy used to do
that kind of thing. Mmm.

It don't matter to me about
us losin'. Does it to you?

No, sir. It was fun, anyhow.

I wasn't thinkin' about nothin'
else, just like you told me I'd do, mmm.

Can we play every saturday?
If I ain't too stove up.

I ain't like you. I'm
old and give out.

Mmm.

I'm proud of ye.

Mmm. Mmm. [Laughs]

[Distorted voices]

[Man's voice echoing]

Don't do. Don't do.

You.

I'd kick yer head in... 25 Years
ago, but you're dead, I guess.

Where'd you go to?

I know, mother, that's kinda
sad. I was drunk when I did it.

[Mutters]

[Chuckles]

Mmm.

I'm yer boy.

I ain't got no boy.

I'm yer oldest
boy, name of karl.

I ain't got no boy.

They turned me a-loose from the
nervous hospital, said I was well, mm-hmm.

Mmm.

I got hired on to work for a mr. Bill cox,
a-fixin' lawn mowers and whatnot, mm-hmm.

That grass out there in the
yard, it's growed up quite a bit.

I figured I might
cut it for ye, mm-hmm.

I told you I ain't got no boy.

Now, why don't you get on
out of here and let me be?

Ye ain't no kin to me.

I learned to read some.

I read the bible
quite a bit, mmm.

I can't understand all of it,

But I reckon I understand
a good deal of it.

Them stories you and mama
told me, they ain't in there.

Mmm.

You ought not
done that to yer boy.

I've studied on killin' you.

I studied about it quite a bit.

But I don't reckon
there ain't no need fer it...

If all you gon' do is
set there in that chair.

You'll be dead soon enough,

And the world'll be shut of ya.

Mmm.

You ought not k*lled
my little brother.

He ought to've had a
chance to growed up.

He woulda had fun sometime.

Mmm.

[Departing footsteps]

[Door closes]

Little feller.

[Screams] hey!

What the g*dd*mn
hell you doin', karl?

What the f*ck you doin' up in the
middle of the night? What you want, hon?

I want to be baptized. Well, get
baptized, then. I don't give a sh*t.

Call up a f*ckin' preacher,
g*dd*mn it. We can't baptize ya.

We'll call brother epersom. We'll go
see him tomorrow and get you baptized.

It's sunday. You go
on back to bed now.

What are you doin'
with that damn hammer?

Mmm. I don't rightly know.

I just kindly woke
up a-holdin' it.

Mmm.

[Sighs]

What the f*ck do you think he's
doin' with that hammer? I don't know.

[Sighs]

♪♪

♪ [Woman vocalizing:
"shenandoah"]

♪♪

♪♪ [Continues] upon his profession
of faith in our lord jesus christ,

♪♪ In obedience
under his command...

♪♪ And by the
authority of this church,

♪♪ I indeed baptize
this brother...

♪♪ In the name of the
father and the son...

♪♪
And the holy ghost.

♪♪

♪♪
Amen.

[Preacher] marie, would
you sing 137, please?

♪ Softly and tenderly ♪

♪ Jesus is calling ♪

♪ Calling for you and for me ♪♪

Hey. Hi.

So, how'd the baptizin' go?

It went real good.

Yeah? Good.

I'm kinda hungry.

Ain't it about time to eat?

You know what I got a cravin
for? Some of that chicken champ.

Why don't you run down
there and get some? I'll buy.

Would y'all like that?

Sure. Sounds fine to me.

[Karl] I'd value me a chicken
leg or two, mm-hmm.

Get some of their
cole slaw too. Okay.

Y'all wanna go with me? No,
there's a ball game comin' on.

We'll just sit here
and do man things.

I'll be back in a little bit then.
Hey, get some extra gravy.

Okay.

Why don't y'all sit
your asses down here.

Sit down.

I just wanted to get your mama
out of the house a few minutes...

So we could talk.

See, here's the deal, frank.

If I'm gon' throw my life away doin'
what I want to come live with y'all,

We're gon' get
some sh*t straight.

See, yer mama and I don't have
no problems except for you.

The fact is, we never have
a bad word between us.

But since you do exist...

And I'm gon' be the
head of the household,

Then yer gonna learn
to live by my rules.

The first rule is, you don't
speak unless you're spoken to.

You got me?

Now, you stay the
hell out of my way.

And do what a regular kid does.

You're a weird little sh*t,
frank, and I don't get ya,

So wake up...

And face what they call reality.

See, we're gonna
be a family, frank.

My family.

I'll be payin' all the bills,

So that means you're
stuck with my ass.

But I ain't your daddy.

You just act like I am.

The other thing I say is,

Your buddy karl here is goin'.

We can't be no normal family
with him livin' in the garage...

And comin' into the bedroom at 4:00 in
the morning carryin' hammers and sh*t.

Karl can stay if he
wants to. Mama said...

What'd I tell you
about your mama?

Mister, don't you never lay another
hand on that boy. You understand me?

Let go of my g*dd*mn
hand, ya ret*rd!

Get out there and get
your sh*t and get out!

That's a wake-up call, frankie.

Remember what I said
about reality, frank.

Get out, ret*rd.

Where are you goin', karl? Didn't
you want some chicken and things?

No, ma'am. I'm goin'
off somewheres.

Well, okay. I got you some.

That frank, he went
off somewheres too,

So when you go in there
he won't be indoors.

Where'd he go? What's goin' on?

He just wanted to go
off and play, I reckon.

Just go in and eat
your dinner with that

Doyle and don't worry
yourself none, mm-hmm.

Well, all right, then.

Well, I'll see you later.

If you see frank, tell
'im to come on home.

I don't get to see 'im all day except
sundays. He can play tomorrow.

Ma'am. Yeah?

Mmm.

You a good mama to that boy.

You care fer 'im.

You work hard to care fer 'im.

You light him up in his eyes.

I've seen it.

That boy wouldn't know
what to do without ye.

Thank you, hon. That's
real good of you to say.

I wouldn't know what to do without
him either. You been real good to me too.

It ain't everybody that'd make
biscuits in the middle of the night.

You and that boy's
givin' me a good feelin'.

We sure like havin' ya.

Thank you.

I'm just now gettin' 'round to telling
ye, but I fixed that washin' machine...

So that boy ain't gotta tote
that laundry no more, mm-hmm.

Oh, thank you. Thanks.

You been real good to me.

Karl?

Hey, karl. How'd you
know I'd come out here?

I knowed you'd be out here.

What you doin' diggin'
with that stub? Just diggin'.

I ain't never gon' be happy now, not with
that son of a bitch movin' in for good.

I wish me and you and
mama'd just run away.

But she said... Wherever
we went, he would find us.

He's crazy. Sometimes I think it'd
been better off if I wasn't even born.

Well, I'm glad of
it you was borned.

I don't reckon I'm gon' be out
there in the garage no more.

You have to, karl. You
have to look out for me.

You can't let that son
of a bitch run you off.

You just a boy. You ought
not use language like 'at.

I don't mean to say
nothin' bad about you,

But why don't you stop doyle
when he's bein' that-a-way?

You're older than
him. You're strong too.

My daddy wouldn't let
him do that to me and mama.

That feller's a whole
sight meaner'n me.

He'd just whup the tar outta me.

Yeah, I guess so.

I'm real tired. You know that?

A boy my age shouldn't
be tired of things.

I'm tired too.

Just 'cause I ain't gon'
be around no more, maybe,

That don't mean I
don't care for ye.

I care for ye a good deal. I care
for ye more than anything else they is.

You and me made friends
right off the bat. Mmm.

I care for you too. But you'll
be around. Don't say that.

It don't make no
difference where I was to be.

We'll always be friends.

Can't nobody stop 'at.

[Grunts]

Mmm.

I aim for you to
have these books.

You don't wanna give
away all your books.

I aim for ye to have 'em.

Maybe you can make a little
more sense out of 'em than I can.

I made ye a little ol' book marker and
put it in that book on christmas, mm-hmm.

Man, thanks.

You know when you got a
feelin' and you don't know why?

Yes, sir.

I got a feelin' today.

Reckon, what kind of a feelin'?

Like somethin'
different. I don't know.

You're leavin', ain't ya, karl?

Mmm.

Would you do somethin'
fer me if I's ta ask you to?

You know I would.
Whatever you want.

When you leave
outta here tonight,

I don't want you goin' over
there and stayin' with that doyle.

He's got it out fer ye tonight.

I got me a feelin' too.

You ought not to be over there when
he's all liquored up and mean that-a-way.

Your mama neither.

When you get up
from here and leave,

I want you to go over at that
feller's house... Your mama's friend.

I want you to gimme
your word on it.

Okay, I give my word on it.

Is everything gon' be okay?

Are you all right?

Mmm.

Yeah, everything's
gon' be all right, boy.

I kindly wanna put my arm
around ye for a minute,

Then I'm gon' get up
and leave outta here.

Okay.

Mmm.

I love you, boy.

I love you too.

All right, then.

Karl?

[Thunder rumbling]

Mmm.

Mmm.

Karl, what are you doing
here? You wanna come in?

I ain't stayin'. I need to
ask you fer a favor. Mmm.

Okay.

This evenin' I want you to
go get that miss wheatley...

And let her and that frank stay
over here with you tonight. Mmm.

Wh-what's wrong? Is
everything all right?

That doyle,

He's in a bad way again with that
drinkin' and a-bein' mean to folks.

I want you to gimme yer
word you'll do it. Well, s-sure.

Has he... Has... He hasn't
hurt them, has he?

No, sir. Not yet. Mmm.

Here. I want you to give
that to that miss wheatley.

It ain't much,

But they might be a little
somethin' there to help out.

It's what I made a-fixin' lawn
mowers and whatnot for bill cox.

Well, how about you,
karl? You wanna stay here?

I don't reckon that you
have to go with women...

To be a good daddy to a boy.

You been real
square-dealin' with me.

Bible says two men
ought not lay together.

Mmm.

But I betcha the good lord wouldn't
send nobody like you to hades.

That boy, frank,

He lives inside
of his own heart.

That's a awful
big place to live in.

You take care of that boy.

I will.

Karl?

[Scraping]

Where's everybody else?

You seen 'em?

Didn't I tell you to
get moved outta here?

How does a feller go about
gettin' 'hold of the police, mm-hmm?

Use the f*ckin' phone, I guess.

Which numbers do ya put in? Mmm.

Can't you see I'm
tryin' to relax?

I thought I told you to get
outta here, leave me alone.

What in the hell you doin'
with that lawn mower blade?

I aim to k*ll you with it.

[Scoffs]

Well, to call the
police, you push...

9-1-1.

Just tell 'em to
bring an ambulance.

Or a "hearst," if
you're gon' k*ll me.

Karl?

[Crunch]

[Crunch] [sighs]

[Blade falls on floor]

Mmm.

Mmm.

Yes, ma'am.

I need the police sent over
here to the wheatley house.

Mm-hmm.

I've k*lled doyle hargraves
with a lawn mower blade.

Mmm.

Yes, ma'am, I'm
right sure of it.

I hit 'im two good
whacks with it.

That second 'un just plumb
near cut his head in two.

[Grunts]

It's a little ol' white house...

On the corner of vine
street and some other street.

They's a truck out front, says
"doyle hargraves construction" on it.

Mmm.

I'll be settin'
here waitin' on ye.

And doyle said besides
sendin' the police,

You might wanna
send a ambulance...

Or a "hearst."

Thank ye.

[Sighs]

So...

Now, [heavy sigh]

On the third day...

I, uh, I washed her,

'Cause she wasn't
too clean, you know.

But I got all the
right spots. [Laughs]

She was the first one I kept for any length
of time, 'cause I get bored real easy.

I got a real short
attention span, you know.

Yeah.

Now, I can't say that, uh,
she enjoyed her stay, [laughs]

But that washcloth I
put in her mouth... And I

Held it in place with a
fat piece of duct tape...

Kept all her complainin'
down to a min...

I don't really like people who talk
all the time. I like to do all the talkin'.

That's why, uh, I think
I'm so fond of you,

'Cause you just so
easygoin', you know.

Mmm.

Although I do sense a little
tension in ya from time to time.

So, you were out
in the world, huh?

D'ya have fun? You
make any acquaintances?

There was a boy.
We made friends.

Yeah, I bet you did. [Laughing]

I was never bent that way.
I was bent the other way.

So,

What was it like out there...

In the world?

It was too big.

Uh-huh.

Well, it's not too
big in here, is it?

Huh?

[Laughs]

Hey, you know somethin'?

I feel real, uh, real
generous today.

I feel like listenin'.

I'll bet you got plenty to tell.

Karl?

Who'd you k*ll?

Was it the boy?

Don't you say nothin'
about that boy.

Fact o' business, don't you
say another word to me.

I ain't a-listenin' to
you no more. Mmm.

Mmm.

Mmm.

[Sighs] yeah.

[Scraping on floor]

Mmm.

Mmm.

Mmm.

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Ohh ♪

♪ Ohh, deep water ♪

♪ Black ♪

♪ And cold ♪

♪ Like the night ♪

♪ I stand with arms wide open ♪

♪ I've run a twisted line ♪

♪ I'm a stranger ♪

♪ In the eyes ♪

♪ Of the maker ♪

♪♪

♪ I could not see ♪

♪ For the fog in my eyes ♪

♪ I could not feel ♪

♪ For the fear in my life ♪

♪ And from across
the great divide ♪

♪ In the distance I saw light ♪

♪ Jean baptiste ♪

♪ Walkin' to me ♪

♪ With the maker ♪

♪ My body ♪

♪ Is bent and broken ♪

♪ By a long ♪

♪ And dangerous sleep ♪

♪ I can't work the
fields of abraham ♪

♪ And turn my head away ♪

♪ I'm not a stranger ♪

♪ In the hands ♪

♪ Of the maker ♪

♪♪

♪ Brother john ♪

♪ Have you seen the
homeless daughters ♪

♪ Standing there ♪

♪ With broken wings ♪

♪ I have seen ♪

♪ Flaming swords ♪

♪ Tear over east of eden ♪

♪ Burnin' in the eyes ♪

♪ Of ♪

♪ The maker ♪

♪ Burnin' ♪

♪ In the eyes of ♪

♪ The maker ♪♪