Northfork (2003) - full transcript

That was Lefty Frizzell's
Always Late With Your Kisses.

Before that,
we heard Buck Owens.

Get your waders out.

It's seven days before
the state officially drowns
Northfork.

It's sunny skies
with the highs being 51...

"To the loving O'Brien family.

"It has been brought
to our attention

"that the remains
of a Mrs. Patricia O'Brien...

..."have yet to be excavated.

"Please make
arrangements immediately."

The hardworking
citizens of Northfork



will be able to have
their much-needed power.

As well as

the pleasure of the recreation

that this body of water
will provide.

Let me add this.

The good people of Northfork

will be able to have
their cake and eat it too.

Two, three...

Where are we going
to start? Right in here?

Where should we start?
Let's start
right in here.

Then the water
shall become a flood

and destroy all flesh.

And the bow
shall be in the cloud,

and I will look upon it,
and I will remember



the everlasting covenant

between God
and every living creature.

Of all flesh
that is upon the earth.

And that's what we have here.

Our town is dying.

I have seen
the concrete
monument.

The headstone
for the town for Northfork.

This dam gate will close.

The water will rise
over the plains,

and cover our businesses,

our homes,

and our well-being.

We have lost Northfork.

We'll be losing our dear son.

But we will gain the hope,

the courage,

to move to a higher ground.

We're all angels.

It is what we do

with our wings

that separates us.

What are we waiting for?

Well, Mr. and Mrs. Hadfield.

Father, his health
isn't getting any better.

Rose has had to stay by his bed.

All the doctors
have left Northfork.

You're returning him then?

He's a very ill child.

We cannot make the journey
with him in this condition.

We apologize, Father.

We appreciate your honesty,

and will ask for forgiveness.

Forgiveness?

Let us be honest, Father.

You gave us a sick child.

I gave you an angel.

You're misunderstanding us.

We love Irwin.

Halo home is deeply regretful

about the grief

Irwin has brought
to your family.

God bless.

Have a nice journey.

This is wrong.

This is just downright wrong.

When did you get this letter?

I received the final
notice yesterday.

I don't like this damned cake.

This is wrong on every level.

Yeah.

Where did my parents go?

We don't wanna go
where they're going.

You rest now.

Father, everybody's leaving.

Oh, I know.

I know.

Oh, let's stay here.

Hmm?

Huh?

You're the caretaker?

Yes?

Cookie takes care of the yard.

Maybe you can help me?

Who are you looking for?

A relative.

Hold still.

Marvin, Matt, Eddie, Arnold.

Walter, Willis,

Eddie, Arnold.

Walter, Willis, Eddie, Arnold.

Walter, Willis, Marvin, Matt.

Marvin, Matt, Walter,

Willis.

Marvin, Matt,

Eddie, Arnold.

Bye-bye. See you.

Anybody voted for him

voted themselves
right out of Northfork.

Have a good journey.

Nice concrete cork.

I have done countless evacs.

And as long as
I've been doing this job,

it has never come down
to 48 hours before.

That's two days.

And by the time I'm through
with you, it's gonna be 47.

So you'd better listen up.

And remember
one very important thing.

Despite the tertiary
inconveniences

we're putting
these people through,

we're giving them new power.

All right?

Matt.

Marvin.

Please go pay a visit
to the Youngs.

Eddie, Arnold.

Arnold.

I want you to get down
to Hungry Horse Road,

and I want you to nail Jigger,
do you understand?

You betcha.

Now, you can't go into this
treating it like

you're throwing out
homesteaders,

poor old homesteaders.

Look at it like you're saving

some poor dumb son of
a bitch from drowning...

Mr. Rudolph.

It says here that, uh,

there has been some previous
attempts at evacuation.

Walter,

Willis.

Stallings. Highway 93.

Remember, the one single
most important thing.

It is not our business

to tell anybody else theirs.

You just come in like
you're their guardian angel.

You give them wings
and then move them up
on to higher ground.

Good luck now, gentlemen.

In the early 1800's,

European settlers
named Northfork

after the river
that embraced their town.

Word traveled
throughout the world

that angels roamed these plains

like bison.

I find the humor quite parched.

Nineteenth century.

A remarkable piece.

Artist used the finest oils.

Organic pigments.

Magnificent.

The artist has
a religious vocabulary.

He used the luxuriantly
white wings of the swan.

Fascinating representation
of the angelic messenger.

Lovely bird.

If I do recall correctly,

the Celts employed
the majestic swan

as their sacred symbol,

and messenger
to the other world.

Their link that existed
between the realm of
their gods,

and the realm of humans.

Very relatable.

I can only speculate...

That the man with swan wings,
or in this painting,

the wild bird man, is a creation

of the overtaking
by Christianity.

Bless the imagination.

It's just downright wrong.

"702."

"Departed."

It's wrong,
and I'm not gonna do it.

And neither should you.

It's death till we part.

She's your mother.

Have you ever smelled death?

I don't recall smelling it.

Death smells like nothing
you've ever smelled
in your life.

What does it smell like?

You know when
you've smelled death.

'Cause when you smell it,

you say to yourself, "Damn,

"did something die?"

Anything?

Does it say anything
about a child?

No. Not specifically.

There was a small child

roaming the garden.

No, Flower,

it said nothing about children.

Wait.

Narrator fluctuates between
the first and third person...

Quite interesting.

I would have to say that
he's above the age of a child.

Flower,

every town,
you go scurrying off
looking for offspring.

Wait.

Would you like a cup of tea?

One lump or two?

My name is Cup of Tea.

To my right,

as you may already know,
is Flower Hercules.

To my left, Cod.

And behind us all,

but in front of you, Happy.

And you are?

Irwin.

Hello, Irwin.

And your surname?

Sir Irwin.

Well, Sir Irwin of Northfork,

my family and I
have traveled a long way.

And we are having trouble
finding a loved one.

Are you familiar
with the unknown angel?

Yes.

Now.

This is where we can be
of help to each other.

What could we offer you?

When you leave,
just take me with you.

No.

Never.

We do not take children.

Then I can't help you.

Now, Sir Irwin.

You're being unreasonable.

Where we're going,
we can't take you with us.

Then take me 1,000 miles.

One thousand miles in
anybody's book is a long way.

How about 100 miles?

One thousand. Two hundred.

One thousand.
One thousand.
Three hundred.

Four hundred, and that's it.

One thousand, and that's it.

Do you know how far that is?

One thousand miles
is a far, far, faraway place.

Five hundred miles.

One thousand. All right.

We'll take you 1,000 miles

if you bring us
the unknown angel.

In the morning?

Deal?

Oh, I tell you,
these sons of bitches are

harder to yank than
a tick on the touch-hole
of a chicken.

I hear ya.

Ursula!

Good morning.

You have six customers.
Now seated.

Well, if it ain't
the bottom feeders.

Go ahead, Willis.

Eggs?

Bacon?

Mmm-mmm.

Sausage?

Mmm-mmm.

No meat?

Mmm-mmm.

Potatoes?

Mmm-mmm.

Soup.

Hmm.

Mmm-hmm.

Chicken?

Mmm-hmm.

Broth?

Cup or bowl?

Yeah! Good work, boss.

Nice work, Walter.

Nice work, Walter.

Thank you, boys.

I'll have a bowl.

Same.

Same.

Same.

Same.

Okay.

Damn it.

It's only dirt.

Afternoon, boys.

Good afternoon, Father.

Walter.

Your wife, Patricia.

Henry.

Irwin's still sick.

I'm sorry, Father.

...would like me to relay

a message to all...

Well, you got anything
that'll keep his spirits up
and his fever down?

If I was those parents,
I'd be ashamed.

Well, most parents
can't see their child ill.

So they throw him in a lake.

It all depends, Henry,
on how you look at it.

Either you're halfway to
heaven or halfway to hell.

Here we go, Father.

It's an antibiotic.

Inject five cc's
of this into his arm.

All right?

Bless you. Have a safe journey.

Thank you, Father.

We thank you in advance,

and hope you have
a pleasant journey.

Pop?

Yeah, son?

You suppose he's got two
of everything in there?

I suppose we'll find out.

Damn it.

I know.

Not one, but two Chevys.

I know.

This is gonna be difficult.

Yep.

Ever since we started
moving folks out,

we've never done well with
people that owned Chevrolets.

Matt.

This country is being divided
into two types of people.

Chevy people.

And Ford people, Matt.

Yep.

Looks like he's got
some kind of a hammer.

No, it looks more like a...

I think
he was holding a shotgun.

I think you're right.

Every town we come to,

you want a child.

Once again, selfish.

How observant.

The noble Englishman.

How I longed to be Earl Gray.

The wit that got us here.

It's a splendid acquisition.

Unknown architect.

Probably owner-builder.

A true visionary, I might add.

Jesus.

No, no, he was a carpenter.

We, we're searching
for the unknown.

The unknown doesn't just
come knocking on your door.

If it is unknown,
how would you know if
it did come knocking?

Well, it won't be
in the shape of a child.

- I would have to agree.
- Happy?

Do you ever disagree?

I disagree with the
Englishman's use of starch.

What do the scriptures say?

"Temperature, 105 degrees. High.

"Please look after him
when I leave."

What do you suppose we do?

We're gonna wing it.

It appears they've...

Worn out their welcome.

Good afternoon, Mr. Stalling.

My name is Walter O'Brien.
This here's my son, Willis.

We're with
the evacuation committee.

It's been brought
to the state's attention

that you are seeking
some assistance.

I'm not going anywhere, son.

We're aware of that, sir,
that's why the state has
asked us to come to your aid.

The state understands your
difficulty with moving on.

"The state
will not hurt, destroy,

"nor harm you physically
in any way.

"It is our civil duty to
assist you in
making this transition

"as easy and pleasant
as possible."

Your agreement is this,

you will each be assigned
65 households to depart.

Having fulfilled
said obligation,

you will then
each receive 1.5 acres

of prime, lakefront property.

Your lot size will be increased

by one-fifth of an acre
for every additional household

that you assist in evacuating
beyond the initial 65.

Have I made myself clear?

I will take
your vacant stares as a yes.

I could live
with an acre and a half.

Okay by me.

May we, sir?

So.

The prodigal son returns.

Already packed.

A little ahead of yourself.

I've brought
what you're looking for.

You have?

Outside.

I don't see anything.

- We still have a deal?
- Yes, yes, yes.

We have a deal.

Yeah, we still have a deal.

Where is it?

Oh, my.

Hello.

We'd appreciate it

if you both would

stop screwing around.

Well, what do you want to do?

The Youngs are going
to have a moving sale.

Perfect.

Now,
all I need is a pair
of sinners like yourselves

to mount up there now.

We appreciate very much
your giving us this time

to discuss this matter.

A pair of wives?

At least they're not mounted.

You know, it appears to me
that you folks

are preparing for a flood
in biblical proportions.

You got that right, son.

A flood is gonna wipe
through this place,

cleansing the soil of all sin.

Understandable.

When God tells us
to get a move on,

we're gone at the first holler
of a rooster.

We ain't needing the state
to come in here,

and tell us when
to pick up and get going.

That's God's doing.

This is God's land, and by God,

we ain't moving until we get
that sign from above.

Yes, sir. Uh...

We aren't telling you
to pick up and get going.

No, sir.

Look at us
as your life preservers.

You can use us if you want,

or not at all.

We give you that choice.

We're all in the same boat.

So, sir, if you don't mind, sir,

I'd like to bend you
and your wives' ear a bit,

and tell you about
the signs of God

that we are familiar with.

This could be that sign.

A what?

He said he was a relative.

To us?

Yes.

You're the unknown angel?

Yes.

- The one you're looking for.
- Optimistic.

He is unknown.

The angel part's questionable.

Very.

How romantic.

There's a novel about you, too.

I started to collect these.

This is the first one I grew.

Now I'm not saying
that this boat

you have built isn't worthy.

From the looks of it,

you've done a mighty fine job.

But for the sake of my job,
let's just say

it doesn't.

Doesn't what?

Your boat doesn't float.

Imagine this, if you will.
One day,

a town on the plains,
let's say Northfork,

was hit by a catastrophic flood,

similar to the days of Noah,

and your husband and yourselves

are standing out there
on the roof waiting
to be rescued.

A friendly neighbor
comes paddling by
in his little wooden boat,

and he yells, "Hey, there,
Mr. and Mrs. Stalling,

"and... Uh, Mrs. Stalling,
jump on in,

"and I'll take you to dry land."

What do you say?

I don't know.

The water's rising.
You shout back,

"No, thank you,
thy friendly neighbor.

"I'm waiting
for a sign from God."

No, thank you.

I'm waiting for a sign from God.

Yes, exactly.
And your friendly neighbor
paddles away.

A few days later,

a state rescue team
comes by in a larger boat.

And let's just say...

...me and Willis are on board.

And we offer you the same deal.

"Jump on in,

"and you, Mrs. Stalling
and... Mrs. Stalling,

"will be saved."

And you say,

"No, thank you.

"We're waiting
for a sign from God."

A few more days pass,

and the water level has risen.

It has risen above the roof.

And unfortunately,

you and Mr. Stalling
have drowned,

and now are in heaven
in front of God.

Dear, we died.

What about our belongings?

We died?

Oh, yes, you three have died,

because you waited
for a sign from God,

and it never came,
and you three died.

But why?

That's the exact question
you would ask God.

You would say, "We waited for
the sign and it never came."

And you and she,

and Mr. Stalling

died.

Now what do you suppose

God

is gonna say to you both?

I don't know.

Mr. Stalling?

I'm dead, remember?

May I? Yes.

I'll tell you what God will say.

"I sent you two boats."

"Two boats."

"To save your lives."

"What more of a sign
did you three want?"

May I?

Fascinating.

You have a lovely

collection of feathers.

Thank you.

And your halo.

Where's that?

They took it off
when I was little.

I didn't need it anymore.

And these must be your wings.

Oh, mighty.

Look at this.

And where did we get this?

These are quite stunning.

The grace of God.

Yes, they are.

We're offering you
a pair of something that
only the man upstairs

is willing to give you.

Where'd you get these boys?

Born and raised
right here in Northfork.

Dear, what are you thinking?

I'm thinking,
what bird suffered this?

Oh, there's nothing
fowl about these wings.

I understand your initial doubt,

but how many times
have you seen wings

of this size and beauty?

This is what

most of us were shot with.

Tranquility at its finest.

This could make an elephant fly.

It stuck in me

right here.

May I look?

Appears to be lengthy
needle of some sort.

Five years,
maybe six years of age.

Used numerous times
for injection.

You were shot with this rifle?

Yes.

I was running with my flock
and they shot me.

You were running
with your flock?

Yes.

Flock of what?

Doves? Geese? Seagulls?

Angels.

Angel wings, huh?

I'm here to tell you
these wings is worthless.

And to remove all doubt,

we included this certificate
of authenticity.

Signed, sealed and blessed
by your own Father Harlan.

"Found near the glaciers,

"these wings, blah, blah, blah."

"From what they could tell,
this particular pair were
detached from a juvenile

"who probably strayed
from the flock.

"Perhaps no wiser
than four years of age.

"The abbreviated
wingspan reveals to us

"that he weighed no more
than 25 to 30 pounds

"before they were removed."

A bit too disturbing for me.

Happy.

Are you looking at this?

Would you say amputated?

Yes. Amputated.

Fascinating.

Angel.

Aren't we all?

I'd say quite the opposite.

Probably a little devil,

and daddy gave him
a good strapping.

There's a backstory for you.

Does this cause any pain?

No.

This would be recognized

as a highly dangerous
procedure without anesthesia.

Some people would just

bite a bullet.

A highly

skilled surgeon
was overly concerned

with muscle stabilization.

There's no evidence of
curvature of the spine.

You're discovering
feathers in this area?

Yes.

What time of day?

Morning.

Can you run your fingers
through his hair?

What can you tell us
about your relatives?

My mother and father were
12th generation angels.

My great grandpa and grandma
had wings the size

of bombers and would
glide the plains

of Northfork.

Come on, you ladies,

can't you just smell
the bird shit?

I mean, I'd like to believe
these wings is authentic,

but the feathers,

they ain't attached to anything.

You take those moose antlers
back there.

Oh, dear.

Yeah, it's a fine

set of antlers,

but it's more
than just a rack of horns

attached to a piece of board.

That wouldn't be enough.

It's an okay place
to hang your hat,

but there ain't no pride in it.

What you need is the whole
head hanging up there.

And these marble eyes just
staring on down at you.

Then you know you've got
something really worth having.

We're still not leaving.

I've got a $1,000
check from the state,

or would you rather use that
for your funeral services?

No.

Then you best get the hell
out of here right now.

Use these to fly
the hell out of here.

Wow.

Eddie. Hey, Eddie.

I think Jigger's asleep.

Let's go.

Jesus Christ.

The scars on his forehead

tell me he did have a halo.

Most likely metal.

To stabilize his...

Oh.

Everything all right?

Dankish, beetle-headed
foot-licker.

What is wrong with you?

Happy?

You should be asking yourself
that question.

Fired from a long barrel rifle.

Ten feet away.

Needle meant to penetrate
two to three inches of skin.

Perhaps the hide of a herbivore.

Beast to the hallucinogenic.

Would you like a cup of tea?

This isn't tea time.

Given my weight,

calculated dosage,

this could be a lengthy trip.

Moist.

Mother.

May I?

No.

Yes.

Plenty more
where that came from.

Here.

Shoot me, shoot Cod.

And then shoot yourself
in the foot.

No.

You saucy, sheep-biting
flat-mouthed dewberry.
This could be a family...

Oh.

Santa's everywhere.

I'm Happy.

This should back off
some evil spirits.

Hmm?

Oh.

Hmm.

Two out of three ain't that bad.

Damn it.
I say we hook that thing up

to our bumper
and drag it out ourselves.

What are you talking
about, Willis?

You know why? I'll tell you why.

That there was number 65.

I know that, Willis.

I'm marking them
down as departed.
We can't.

The state makes
their final pass-through,

and they find that
Mr. Stalling locked up in that

boat with his

moose head.

It's our butt.

It's our job
to move them out of Northfork.

It's not our job
to know where they go.

Willis, it's our job

to move people,

not change their beliefs.

What more

could we have said?

Without the proper words,

this is just a man,

nailed to two pieces of wood.

Oh, he's cute.

Father?

Yes, son.

I don't think they want me.

Oh, no, they do.

They do, son.

They came a long way for you.

Then, can I go with them?

I will still have to speak
with them.

Then, can you tell them
I'm an angel?

I will. I will.

Because I want them
to see my wings.

Do you have wings?

Yeah? Me too.

But mine got old and fell off.

You get some sleep now.

All right.

Mr. And Mrs. Hope?

Yes.

I'm Father Harlan.

Father.

Thank you for coming
on short notice.

Irwin is a good boy.

I could go on,

but that would seem
like I'm selling him to you.

And I'm not.

What? You're not...

Well, given the chance,
I'm sure Irwin

would do a better job
at selling himself...

Oh. Than me.

Can we meet him?

Unfortunately,

you will have to make a decision

before you can meet him.

But, Father, it says right here

that we can spend
the afternoon with him.

Yes, I know. I...

I'm sorry. I apologize.

But Irwin is a fragile boy.

I can't let him
get his hopes up too high,

only to have them diminished.

His health can't afford
that kind of a disappointment.

Oh, Father,
we can't make a decision

based upon viewing
him from a window.

I'm sorry.

Why don't you go
wait in the car?

Father, we come here
attempting to adopt a child,

and you turn it
into window shopping.

He's not a puppy.

Oh.

Well, maybe that's what
you and your wife
should be considering.

I'm sorry

if I have wasted your time.

Have a pleasant journey.

Many townspeople have speculated

that the body of Jimmy Miller,

son of Doris and James Miller,

still lays in the Northfork dam.

One worker has said,

"There is a slight lump
in the interior wall

"that will hold back
19 million acres of water."

Another worker said,
"Yes, Jimmy is in there.

"They never could retrieve him
from the dam.

"He is resting in peace."

Tom Johnson, a fisherman,
put it this way,

"Heck, you can't exactly
troll 100 feet

"of just-poured concrete
fishing for a body."

Marvin. Matt.

Walter. Willis.

Tours of the Northfork dam,
and possibly Jimmy Miller,
will be starting in January.

For more information,

please contact Montana's
water and power.

Somebody is laying there.

You feel a heartbeat?

No.

You can figure...

A death of a person is
still considered progress.

Son of a bitch is getting
the biggest headstone

this side of Rushmore.

Yeah.

Congratulations.

Sixty-five residents departed.

Good job.

You sign on that bottom line,

1.5 acres will be transferred
into your name.

Hmm.

Well, your log reads
64 residents departed.
Is this correct?

Well, sir... Yes, sir, it is.

Well, you know what?

I'd like to thank you
personally for your hard work
and dedication

in the evacuation of Northfork,

and hope to see you boys
out there enjoying the lake.

Wait a minute. That's it?

We get nothing?

That's correct.

Sir, there...

There is another house
that we did not confirm
their departure.

Well, then, you best
go out there and
get it confirmed, huh?

Duck.

Duck.

Goose.

Boy was a tad pigeon-toed.

What do you think?

For most, Vincent van Gogh
was a fine artist.

To some, he lacked technique.

Paint straight
from the tube,
very heavy-handed.

How van Gogh cut off his ear

is what is most intriguing
to folks.

In each piece
I've ever appraised,

the story is always
more fascinating than
the actual piece itself.

And?

It's a fantastic yarn
the boy has spun.

Unfortunately,

the story is more valuable
than the actual piece.

What about his collection
of feathers?

Perhaps from the stork
that dropped him.

Feathers are inconsistent.

I couldn't find any
connection in the scriptures.

And that spleeny

ill-nurtured gnat.

Are you positive?

Oh, Flower, please,
be open to inconsistency.

Where did the feathers come in?

A book.

The book was in a pillowcase.

I presume that the pillow
that the boy

lays his head on
is stuffed with feathers.

He is not what we are here for.

La Fleur was touched
by an angel.

Is it snowing?

Can I go?

This is it, son.

Looks pretty vacant.

Indeed it does.

Trick or treat.

Smells like something
died in here.

That is precisely why
we're not going to get Mother.

Willis, you smell that?

Yeah, it smells
like something died.

Go upstairs and check
all the rooms.
Then we'll leave.

What?

You're kidding.

You go upstairs
and check
everything out.

Willis, go upstairs,
and see if anyone is up there.

I'm personally not ready
to face death.

This is number 65.

Go upstairs, check it out,

and let's get this over with.

I'm checking out the other side.

Willis.

Willis!

Hello?

Hello there.

Pop.

Pop!

Do you see anything?

No.

Come on. Jump.

It's about five feet, come on.

You can make it. Jump.

Come on.

Pop, come on, jump!

You can make it. Come on.

Are you okay?

Would you like a cup of tea?

I would qualify this

in the area of concussion.

A frothy, clay-brained snapper.

Let's help you get up
onto your feet.

Definitely gonna
feel that in the morning.

Willis, let's go.

Did you see anyone?

Nope.

Come on!

Come on!

Get in the car!

Get!

What's got you so spooked?

Pop...

Just do it!

Mark them down as evacs.

"Evacuated."

Do it! Okay, I will.

And I think we should
go get your mom.

Hmm...

These have the same texture

as the feathers that were
in the boy's book.

Mmm-hmm.

Mmm-hmm.

No more than four years of age.

Weighed no more than 30 pounds.

These were attached
to something very young.

I'm going to have
to evaluate the other side.

Fascinating.

Oh, lord.

Let the holy angels come

to Irwin,

and carry him
to your heavenly city.

Free his spirit

from the prison of his body.

Fascinating.

No.

Please, no.

Oh.

I'm a man of faith.

Forgiveness is my job.

But right now,

I can't forgive my faith.

Hmm.

Here.

He grew two inches this summer.

Pop.

Still stacking wood?

Yep.

Pop?

Yeah?

You're not even close
to what death smells like.

I'm sorry.

I'm coming to get you.

I'm sorry.

I didn't forget you.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Pop.

Come here.

What?

Can you see?

What?

Look closer.

No, I can't see anything.
What am I looking for?

There's a nick in my paint.

There's a nick in my paint!

Don't make it worse.

Don't make it worse.
It's only dirt.
I was rubbing it off.

What color is dirt? Brown?

If Marvin weren't blind,
he would see that

it was gray,
the color underneath my paint.

Willis, the speck is brown.

Look.

Brown after Marvin's
filthy hands rubbed it!

Well, I can't see
how you'd think you could keep
your car perfect

the way you drive anyway.

It hurts.

The first one hurts.

You just never know
when it's gonna come.

You know, that's fate for you.

A little rock.

You do not have a say
in the matter.

Now that you've gotten
the first one,

the rest comes easy.

You spend all your time

polishing your car,

making everything look perfect.

Then this rock

flies out of nowhere,

and puts all your
hard work to shame.

Nothing you can do, though.

Absolutely nothing.

Holy cow. Oh, my God.

Into the hole. Take that.

So when you get down in there,

you just thread this rope
through the top handle.

What?

You jump down there and do it.

Willis. No more. No, no, no, no.

This is downright wrong.

Once something's buried,
it should stay buried.

I can't show no more respect.

You know, when this small town

becomes the biggest lake
this side of the Mississippi,

your mother will be
the catch of the day!

Then throw some rocks on her.
That should keep her down.

Where are you gonna take her?

What about California?

What's there?

I heard in California

they're serving cheeseburgers
and a soda in less than
two minutes flat.

Wow.

That's fast food.

I know you've been praying.

Not to worry.

A family will come soon.

You may be an orphan,

but you're still a child of God.

We must go get him, Flower.

If I didn't know your voice,

I would think it
was my subconscious.

Could he be?

He is.

You don't want to
believe him, do you?

You do?

He's just a child.

I can't accept that.

Yes, I know.

We can't.

We have to.

You have to.

Don't let your motherly nature
cost you your manhood.

He prayed for us.

1.5 acres of lakefront property.

Hmm.

Northern pike?

Might be.

Pike's not a fish,

it's a dog.

Skull full of teeth.

Pick those suckers up
by their eye sockets.

Weapons of massive destruction.

They drop that Pike's milt
into this lake.

You can forget
all about the fish living in
peace and harmony.

Pike eat their children.

What they should do
is introduce a nice game fish
like the muskie.

Now, that's a fine species. Hmm.

No fish from Minnesota
should be allowed to
swim past the Missouri.

If the fine citizens
of Northfork knew

that muskie was swimming
through their houses,

we would've never been able to
get 'em to leave.

Canada ought to claim that
bug-heap they call Minnesota.

Throw in Wisconsin for free.

You have to think
that this must have been
his last day on the job.

You ready?

One thousand miles?

Farther.

You're a relative.

Hercules.

The strongest man
ever to wear a skirt.

Are you going to be my mother
or my father?

I'm both.

Considered the perfect soul,

I search for no one,
and no one looks for me.

Whatever I need I look
within myself to find.

I am complete.

I am not king nor queen,
yet I am both.

A mother and a father.

You prayed to be this way?

Isn't that
what Father Harlan says?

"Pray and you shall receive"?

Would you like a cup of tea?

Irwin?

Well?

There you go, son.

There you go.

And in that journey of dying,

you see many things.

But all issues I had passed.

Because I was to be a witness.

A helper.

And that's the thing, I think,

is important about death,

is the ability for us

to be witnesses.

Not only for our births
of coming in,

but going out.

And that's what we have here.

We've lost our town. It's gone.

But maybe there's
a birth someplace else.

Maybe there's a blessing

from that experience.

I'm no longer afraid of death,

but it's a lesson
that's taken me
60 years to learn.

As you stroll around Northfork,

take your last walk
down the dirt road

that leads to where
your house may have been,

and look at the trees
that you once climbed.

Smile, and remember
those trees for what
they will become,

future snags for fishing tackle.

As you continue your walk,
think to yourself,

"This is the only time
I will ever be able to walk

"on the bottom of a lake

"without having
to hold my breath."

Remember when you leave
to pack all
your good memories.

No one else will pack them
for you.

Good night to you all.