Happy Log (2014) - full transcript

[Calm string and
country guitar MUSIC]

[Cicadas BUZZING]

[Owl HOOTING]

[Dramatic MUSIC]

- [Police radio:] Biloxi unit
31 need you to respond

to a possible drowning
victim in the river.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

- Mac do you copy,

are you on your way
to the river?

- 10 four.

[Engine STOPS]



[Gator GROWLS]

[Door SHUTS]

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Gator GROWLS]

Good God.

I got an ID on this one,

a Jimmy Quavis,
Biloxi resident, over.

- [Radio:] 10 four I got an
ID on your drowning victim.

- No this wasn't no accident.

Seen a...

gun shot to the back,
shotgun.

Get somebody down here
to pick him up, over.

[Gator GROWLS]

- [Radio:] Okay Mac we've
notified detectives



and the coroner they
will be in route.

- Hurry up.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Song: Solid Ground
by Cowboy Johnson]

♪ Life on the back bay ♪

♪ Down in Mississippi ♪

♪ It sure moves slow ♪

♪ Like a midnight rain ♪

♪ Sounds in the night man ♪

♪ Make your skin crawl ♪

♪ Tugboat humming ♪

♪ and a whining train ♪

[Acoustic guitar]

[Engine STOPS]

[Car door SHUTS]

[Cicadas BUZZING]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS - Somber MUSIC]

[SIGHS]

[KNOCKING on door]

Ma'am, Mrs. Quavis, uh...

I really hate to stop by.

- Something's happened
to my husband.

- [Mac:] Son, you wanna leave
your Ma be for a minute.

- Not it's okay,

stay here Cory.

What happened?

- Well, uh...

I don't have
the whole story but

your husband's body
washed ashore this past hour.

- Oh sweet Jesus.
[SOBBING]

- I'm really sorry ma'am.

- No, no.
[SOBBING]

- Mama!

You saying my daddy's dead?

- I'm sorry son.

[Somber MUSIC]

[SIGHS]

[Birds CHIRPING]

[Upbeat MUSIC]

- I ain't had a bite
all morning.

- I don't know even
know why I do this.

- They probably smell you.

[Water SPLASHES]

Well they're not
biting for sure now!

Let's move around the bend.

Hey look at that canoe.

- [Boy in canoe:]
I'm hot let's go over here.

- I'd love to haul our
stuff around in that.

- [Ben:] You thinking
what I'm thinking?

[Upbeat MUSIC]

[Train WHISTLE]
What?

Shit.

Come on, hurry up Cory.

- Look.

- Hey come back here!

- That's my dad's canoe
you're stealing.

- We ain't stealing it, just
borrowing it for a time.

[LAUGHS]

Your dad's gonna
beat your butt.

- Daddy isn't gonna find out.
- [Boy keeps LAUGHING]

[SLAP]

[Violin MUSIC]

- Come on,

I ain't had no luck
in a good week.

- Make that three.

- You got that right, give
me another deck, a new one.

- Nope you're done playing
son it's time to pay up.

It's time to pay Pappy.

- Well,

I ain't got it tonight.

I'll...

make it up on Friday.

- Seven o'clock Friday night.

- About 1,500 I owe.

- Make that north of two bills.

You know Pappy can't
live with that.

Friday night seven
o'clock, I mean it Ned.

- Oh come on Leroy,
I'm one of your regulars.

You know I'm good for it.
- It's out of my hands now Ned.

Friday night,
put it on your calendar.

[Bell RINGING]

[Engine REVS and STOPS]

[Car door SHUTS]

- Darryl that you under there?

- Oh hey Mac,
how you been?

- Fair in the middlin'
how 'bout yourself?

- Argh...
can't complain.

Julie's looking for
part time work.

Things are tight,
trying to keep that kid

in catholic school is getting
so expensive these days.

You know I was told tuition's
going up over $20 a year?

People with big families, I
don't know how they gonna do it.

- I hear you, before you
know it woman's gonna have

to work same as a man
just so they can get by.

- I know it.

- Hey Mac, how you doing?

- Oh good Ned,
you doing alright?

- Yeah excepting this
headache's about to kill me.

- Hey Ned,
what'd you do?

You go down the highway
of sin last night?

- Nah, just out playing
a friendly hand of poker.

Y'all excuse me.

- Oh wait Ned you got a minute?

- Sure Mac what is it?

- Look I ain't one to
meddle in ones business.

But word's getting around you been
frequenting that shack quite a bit.

- Who's saying?
- Wait now now now look,

you know ain't nothing
good come from that place.

- Okay okay I hear you.

Look Mac I appreciate
what you're doing

but I don't go down
there that often.

- Well hell Ned,

then somebody's got a car
look's just like yours and you

got a twin
nobody knows about.

Look I'm just telling you,

you get in trouble over there
ain't much I can do for you.

And you don't want to be
messing with those folks.

Hey Darrel?
- [Darryl:] Yes sir.

- Y'all stay out
of trouble hear?

Keep an eye out on this guy.

- Look Mac why don't
you run along

and write some pretty young
thing a parking ticket okay.

[LAUGHS]

[Bell RINGING]

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Bell RINGING]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Looks good Mr. Nekay.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Hey Pop, you got a
dime for root beer?

- Don't you be asking me
no more this week alright.

- Ah thanks Dad.

- Oh hey Mr. Busby.
- Hey.

- Uh...
- What do you need?

- Just... just getting a soda.

- Okay fine get it and
go I'm busy here.

[Disconcerting MUSIC]

[Bell RINGING]

[Engine STARTING]

- [Gene:] Hey Darryl,
is that carburator ready?

- [Darryl:] Yes sir,
got it right back here.

- [Gene:]
Abigail, stay in the car.

- Hi there,
Benjamin Ladner.

Are you gonna swig
on that thing

all by yourself?

Or are you gonna be neighborly

and share?

A body could dehydrate itself

out here in this here humidity.

I bet a gentleman
would share his refreshments

with a lady.

- Come on Abigail
I believe

that'd be getting a little bit too
mushy you know what I mean?

I mean we ain't going
steady or nothing like that.

- I ain't asking you to
go steady Benjamin Ladner.

I want a sip of your root beer.

Better yet you know
you could buy me one.

- Well I reckon you
can have a sip

but I ain't got no money
for a whole bottle.

- This will do fine.

Thank you kind sir.

- Holy cow you pretty near
drained, I said a sip.

- Oh my stars
Benjamin Ladner.

Do you realize our lips
touched the exact same bottle?

Why for all I know,

I could be with child.

- What, you're crazy.

- Mr. Ladner,

you may come a calling
any time you feel the urge.

Daddy, are we about ready?

Oh hello Mr. Ladner,

I was just talking to Benjamin.

He insisted I have a taste
of his refreshing root beer.

- He shared his root beer?

You'd be the first.

- Come on Abby get in the car.

We got chores to tend to.

See you Darryl.
- Alright, y'all come back.

[Bell RINGING]

[Bell RINGING]

[Horn HONKS - BANGS head]
Ow!

Dang!

- Sure be nice for a body to come
out here and give me some gas.

This is a service
station ain't it?

- Yes sir it is, what
can I do you for?

- Fill it up, son.

This Ned Buzby's place?

Is he around?

- Who wants to know?

- None of your business.

Well, is he?

Ah hell, nevermind,

I'll find him.

Hurry up bud,
I need to be on my way.

- Sure thing, mister.

[Tense MUSIC]

[LAUGHING]

[Engine CRANKS]

[Horn HONKS]

[Church bell RINGING]

- [Priest:] Sacramentum qui vivis et regnas
(The mystery of who lives and reigns)

in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
(unto the ages of ages)

[Church bell RINGING]

Dominus vobiscum.
(The Lord be with you)

- [Boys:] Et cum spiritu tuo.
(And with your spirit)

[Altar BELL]

Ecce Agnus Dei
(Behold the lamb of God)

qui tollis peccata mundi
(who takes away the sins of the world)

miserere nobis.
(have mercy on us)

[Organ MUSIC]

- [Priest:] Corpus Christi.
(Body of Christ) - Amen.

- Corpus Christi.
- Amen.

- Corpus Christi.
- [Ben SLAPS dish] - Amen.

- Corpus Christi.
- Amen.

Dominus vobiscum
(The Lord be with you)

[Priest and boys:] Et cum spiritu tuo
(And with your spirit)

Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus
(May almighty God bless you)

Patris et filii et Spiritus Sancti.
(The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit)

- Amen.

[Organ MUSIC]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Don't forget I mean it man.

- [Cory:]
Okay, okay.

- Make sure he doesn't see you.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Wait up for me.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Hurry up Ben.
- Shut up Cory!

[Upbeat MUSIC]

Come on push,

push.

[Calm MUSIC]

- You sure they aren't
gonna miss these candles?

I sure hope these weren't the
blessed ones. You know what I mean?

God might have put some kind
of curse on us for stealing them.

- We ain't steeling them.
We're just borrowing them for a bit.

Man, our own canoe.

As long as we keep
it out of sight

we don't have to worry
about getting caught.

- Just know,
if we do get caught...

I'm gonna rat on you.

- Look alligators.

Gotcha.

[Calm MUSIC]

Come on I want to
show you something.

I wanted to see if
the coast is clear.

[Bell RINGING]

I know where they
keep the money

around here that ain't
in the register.

Saw Ned put it in a
box, it's in here.

Whoa, look at all
these hundreds.

- Man you better
put it back Ben.

- Man I ain't never seen a
$100 bill before, you either.

- How much you
reckon's in there?

- I don't know, I don't know.

Could be thousands.

- Man you better put it back.

Your old man must be coming
around the corner any minute.

Come on! - I wanna see
how much is in here.

[Toilet FLUSHING]

[Birds CHIRPING]

You asked your mom about
sleeping on the river right?

- Yeah, she ain't too keen on it.

But I'm pretty sure I
can talk her into it.

- Well you gotta somehow.

It's gonna be neat,
think of it Cory.

We'll be out there
all by ourselves

just like the settlers
did back in the old days.

Don't pack a lunch or nothing.

Let's force ourselves
to live off the land.

- Great...
fish for breakfast,

lunch,
and dinner.

Oh that'll be fun.

- Well we ain't got no
guns for shooting game

so fishing is how
we're gonna survive.

- Well,
if you're counting on me

we're gonna starve.

'Cause you know my
luck with fishing.

I think somebody put a sign on

my face that says
do not bite.

- Hey I was just wondering.

Do you think Father
Dominic saw you take,

I mean borrow those candles?

- Nah I don't think so.

I wish you'd stear clear
of these tree limbs.

You want a snake
falling in this thing?

Speaking of snakes,

I saw creepy Abigail
at school the other day

and she was asking

about you.

- Cut it out man.

- Ben and Abigail
sitting in a tree,

K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

[Calm MUSIC]

Almost there.

- There we go Cory.
- Reach.

- Alright pull pull, hurry up.

[Calm MUSIC]

- Come on let's go!

Race you to the happy log.

- I'll beat you there,

I'm gonna beat you there.

- Let me go.

[Upbeat MUSIC]

- Hey we got some smokes
around here don't we?

- Yeah they're around
here somewhere.

I buried them pretty good,

aw dang.

- Let me look.
- Nah man nah, I've got it.

Yep here they are.

How sweet it is.

I can't get this thing to light.

- It won't light
because they're wet.

Give me one of them.

- Well like it's a
real man's cigarette,

ain't got no filter on it.

[COUGHING]

- Dang,
this stuff'll kill you.

- Sure ain't lying,
it's pretty good.

Cory,

think a girl could get pregnant
off of a kiss?

- You did it,
you kissed Abigail?

- No no, wait wait,

I didn't kiss her,
she kissed me.

- Oh my God.

[Ben SIGHS]

Oh no,
I think that's worse.

- [Ben:] Cut it out man.
- It don't make no difference.

Her lips touching yours
is all it takes.

Man don't you know nothing
about the birds and the bees?

Didn't your pa teach
you anything?

Once the saliva's mixed
there's no turning back.

That's how a baby's made
man everybody knows that.

- No no no wait, wait wait.

It has to be uh...
a french kiss you know,

a tongue kiss with
the saliva and all.

- Oh stop, you're
grossing me out.

I'm gonna be sick.

And the germs,

didn't you stop to think

about the germs?

What's wrong with you?

You had to go make her pregnant.

Her father's gonna find out
and he's gonna kill you.

Father Dominic's gonna find out

and you're going
straight to hell.

You're alter boy days are over.

This is a mortal sin.

- Come on Cory cut it
out this isn't funny.

- Zoom, bang, wham,
straight to the moon Alice.

Yep straight to hell,
no purgatory.

I mean
everybody's gonna know.

How you gonna fix this one?

You gotta fake confession, and
there she stands behind you.

- Stop it.
- Big as a house.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Calm MUSIC]

Come on turn us Ben.

I think we're over it.

- Good hurry up.

Hey Dad.
- Hey Mr. Ladner.

- Don't tell me.

- Come on Dad,
anybody around here

got some money for a root beer?

- Not that I know of.

- Come on Dad.

- Come on Dad.

Alright,

don't you boys be asking me
no more this week okay?

Think money just
grows on trees huh?

Get out the way.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Engine CRANKS]

[Bell RINGING]

[Dramatic MUSIC]

Be right with you Mister.

- I'm looking for a Mr.
Ned Buzby,

proprietor of Buzby
Service Station.

I'm Mr. Johnson from the
Internal Revenue Service.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Mrs. Quavis CRYING]

- Mrs. Quavis,

I'm so glad to see you back
in church.

May I speak with you
for a moment? - Yeah.

- Okay.

[She SIGHS]

Have you ever heard Cory pray?

- No.

- Well I have,

and do you know
what he prays about,

you.

- Me?

Oh...

I been worried about him.

He hasn't cried since Jimmy.

Oh...
that river took my husband.

And now Cory has no daddy.

- Mrs. Quavis,

the river didn't take your husband.

Gambling did.

You are a good mother.

And a good daddy.

[Owl HOOTING]

- The boys helped me out
around the station today.

They were actually
useful for a change.

- Dad.
- No really son,

I appreciated y'all taking care of things.
[Phone RINGING]

- Never fails,

just sit down to eat and that
thing starts ringing off the hook.

[Phone RINGING]

Hello,

who?

Abigail.

- No wait Mom, I'm not here.

- Yes he's here.

But hun we just sat
down for dinner.

Do you think I could have him
call you back? - No.

- Okay.

Mhm.

Bye bye now.

Well well Benjamin,

she called you Benjamin.

I think somebody's sweet on you.

- Come on Mom, cut it out.

- You don't have
to call her back.

She just wanted to
leave a message.

She said

I haven't

gained an ounce.

Well I'm surprised about that.
The way her mama cooks,

that family could stand
to lose a pound or two.

- Now Julie come on
now, that ain't nice.

- Oh hun I'm just
"fun-ing", what's wrong?

- Ned, he never even
showed up today.

Strangest thing,

yesterday a man comes in

and I ain't never seen him
before, asking about him.

Knew his name too.

Down right rude,

kinda mean looking you know?

Could almost tell
he's bad people.

And today an IRS agent shows up.

- What do you
reckon is going on?

- I don't know.

Think I'm gonna head
over to the house

and check things out though.

- Wait I don't like
the sound of this.

Do you think you ought
to call Mac about this?

- I don't know Julie.

Ned'll just show up and I got
Mac out there looking for him.

Ned'll be mad as all get out.

- Dad,

are you worried?

- Let me put it this way son.

It just ain't like Ned not to
show up and check on his business.

- So anyway Mom

last week I asked about

if me and Cory could sleep out on
the river and you said it was okay.

So I'm just reminding you
that tomorrow's the night.

- Wait, I don't remember
you asking us about this.

Darryl,
did he ask you?

- Huh,
let the boy go.

- What did Mrs. Quavis say?

- She said it was
okay really Mom.

- Don't be lying to me boy.

I'm gonna call Mrs.
Quavis to be sure.

- Go ahead son,

I feel like fish tomorrow.

Don't let me down now.
- Yes sir.

Trust me if they're biting,
you'll be eating the fish.

[Somber MUSIC]

- Mac,
yeah it's Darryl.

Listen...
I got a problem and

I don't know if it's serious
or not but it's about Ned.

[Birds CHIRPING]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Ben SCREAMS in pain]

- Rise and shine

Huckleberry Finn.

[Upbeat MUSIC]

- [Ben:]
We're going now!

- Do you think those kids
we stole this canoe from

would recognize us
if they saw us?

- Hope not, besides we
didn't steal the canoe

we borrowed it, there is
a difference you know.

- I don't feel right about this.

If we get caught,

how are we gonna explain
to our parents that we got it?

- You know what Cory
you worry too much.

Besides we're not
gonna get caught.

- I can't believe my mom said it
was okay to sleep out tonight.

- Yeah me too,

I was kinda afraid
she wouldn't let you

on account of your dad and all.

- Yeah,
I know,

I hardly recognize my mom ever
since my daddy was murdered.

I don't want to
talk about it Ben.

- Okay Cory I'm sorry.

But just know if ever do want
to talk about it I'm here.

Hope we have enough candles
to light up all night.

You know,

keep the animals and stuff away.

- Well we'll just
have to make do.

- You know how long a
flashlight would last us?

How many did you bring?
- Four.

I just know I'm going to
hell for this borrowing.

[Calm MUSIC]

[Twangy country guitar MUSIC]

- Come on Clyde, deal me a good
hand here, make some money.

- Hey Ned.
- Hey girl how you doing?

- It's hot as Hades out
there but it's worse in here.

- Yeah it is a little bit warm in here,
especially when you're around.

I get a little hot
under the collar.

Let's see if old Ned's got
a good hot hand here

make a little money.

Aw... not again.

♪ Tug boat humming ♪

♪ and a whining train ♪

♪ Pray some storm
don't wash it away ♪

♪ Pray some storm
don't wash it away ♪

[Calm MUSIC]

- How you fixed for cash Ned?

I mean you can settle
up now can't you?

- I'll get around to it,
don't worry about it.

You know I'm good for it.

- You're gonna get a round
to it sooner than you think.

Look right now I'm gonna make
that phone call to Pappy.

- Oh you can't be serious.

Come on,

wait just a damn minute y'all!

Look, I've got money,
relax,

I'll get...,
I'll get the money.

[Phone DIALING]

- Pappy, Leroy,

says he's got it
but I ain't seen none yet.

- What the hell are
y'all looking at?!

Ain't you got nothing
better to do?!

- Yeah.

Right.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Somebody's in a
heap of trouble.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Leaves RUSTLING]

[Car door SHUTS]

- Get out.
[TAPPING on glass]

I said get out.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

- Hold it right.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Engine STOPS]

[Engine REVS and STOPS]

[UNLOCKS door]

[Door CLOSES]

[Glass BREAKING - Ominous MUSIC]

- [Ben:] Mister I don't know what
you're planning on doing to me.

I mean I've got
money, I can get it

for you right now I promise.
- [Billy:] Shut up.

- [Ben:] No no no
no, listen to me.

I've got a couple of grand
stashed back at the station.

Take me back there now
I'll give it to you.

[Tires SQUEAL to stop]

- [Cory:] How would you see
a moccasin in this dark?

- [Ben:] I don't know. Don't be
worrying about it 'til you see one.

- [Cory:]
Yeah right.

[Water SPLASHES]
- [Ben:] Hey,

oh you're asking for it.

Bet you're glad we
stole them candles.

[Crickets CHIRPING]

[Birds CALLING]

- [Cory:] How far you think
we are from happy log?

- [Ben:]
I... I think we're lost.

I mean none of this
looks familiar.

- [Cory:] Hey we gotta
be getting close.

[Birds CALLING]

- This river just ain't
the same at night.

- Yeah,

it gives me creeps.

Ain't like that in the daytime.

- Let's just pretend
it's daytime.

- I ain't scared,

I ain't scared,

no way,
no how.

[Birds CALLING]

- You brought the smokes didn't you?
Tell me you at least did that.

- Yeah I brought them,

the man kind.

Kind that'll grow
hair on your 'nads.

- You telling me
you got $2,000 stashed

at that little piss ant
gas station of yours?

- Yes sir.

- If you're lying to me.

You know they pay me
just to rough you up

a little bit, teach
you a lesson.

So help me if that money
ain't there,

I'll kill you.

[Engine CRANKS]

[Acoustic guitar]

- Ben.

I gotta level with
you on something.

- Yeah, what?

- Well,

this river kinda
scares me a bit now.

I ain't ever had
that feeling before.

Paddling down the
river at night,

I just thought of
something...

awful,
like

my dad's body

being in this river
for three days.

Do you know he even looked
like after three days?

He didn't have no eyes Ben,

fish got to him.

And also gators took a
couple chunks of him too.

Why do you think we
couldn't show his body?

- Cory.
- You know what,

I'm starting to hate this river.

- Cory, you're dad's body
is not in this water.

He's in Heaven with the good
Lord, I know that's right.

- I miss him Ben,

Mama does too.

I hear her off in her
bedroom crying every night.

I don't know what to do.

- Hate hearing that
about your mama Cory.

I know it's been
really hard on her.

No man around the house.

- What in hell are
you talking about?!

What do you think I am?
I'm the man now,

you get that?!
- [Ben:] Okay Cory I get it.

- You seen other man
around my place?

Damn it to hell Ben!

- Okay Cory calm down I get it.

You're the man around
the house now.

[SIGHS]

- [Cory:] You ain't gonna tell
nobody about this are you?

- No way no how.

Just listen Cory, a man's
got feelings too you know.

Hold up.

Come on Cory.

I gotta show you something I
been working on for a long time.

I been thinking of the
perfect time to show you this.

Ben and Cory,

there's a lot more.

- Damn.

That's a lot of carving.

- [Ben:]
Best friends.

[Car APPROACHING]

[Engine STOPS]

[Car door SHUTS]

[KNOCKING on door]

- Darryl,
sorry to bother you.

- Oh no on Mac,
come on in.

So what's the word?

- Well I drove by his house
and the shack, couple of times.

I didn't see his car nowhere.

- Not good.
- No it ain't.

Now you know I hate
going in that joint

start asking questions 'cause...

ain't too many folks like
to see the law around there.

- Maybe I aught to go down
there and ask a few questions.

- Well that's exactly why I came.
I don't want you doing that Darryl.

- Listen to him hun,

I don't want you going down
there with those no-accounts.

- You'd be surprised how many of
them no-accounts you might know.

- Just the same, I don't want
you going down there you hear?

- Listen to her Darryl.

It's best you stay put and
let the law handle this okay.

- Alright Mac, okay.

Just keep us posted
though you hear?

- Will do, Ma'am.

[Unsettling MUSIC]

[Crickets CHIRPING]

- Man I'm hungry.

- Boy how can that be?

After all the fish we
caught this afternoon.

[SLAP]
- Very funny.

- It was your idea to
live off the land.

Now we're gonna starve to death.

Wonder if anybody else is
camping out here tonight.

- Nah I don't think so,
only killers and ex-cons.

We're pretty deep in the woods.

[Leaves RUSTLING]
- What was that?

- I don't know, shhh.

Don't be getting all
scared on me now.

- I ain't,

oh Lord, I think God's
getting us for the candles.

Somebody out there
is gonna kill us.

- Would you be quiet damn
it I'm trying to listen.

[Crickets CHIRPING]

You okay?

- [Cory:]
Yeah Ben,

I think so.

[Birds CALLING]

- Come on,
get us right there.

Open that door.

- Okay I'm gonna get this for you
so you can go on our way okay.

I mean you're gonna
let me go right?

- Let's just get to it,
I ain't got all night.

Ah hell,

I knew this was gonna happen.

I ain't believing this!

You bring me all
the way down here

to play games with me,
with me!

- But it was here
I'm telling you!

- Get in the truck.

- No you're gonna have
to shoot me right here.

[PUNCH]

- Hell that wouldn't
be no fun now would it?

Get in the truck.

- [Ned:] What are you
gonna do to me?

[Ominous MUSIC]

[Engine CRANKS and REVS]

[Calm MUSIC]

- You know what Ben,
I think we're being sissies.

I mean what's gonna
get us out here anyway?

Let's put our lines in, ain't
nothing to be scared of.

- Yeah I know, just a little
spooky out here you know.

We're just letting the
river get the best of us.

- [Cory:] Ben, I gotta
ask you something.

- Yeah, what?

- What was it like

with all that saliva mixing
around and stuff?

- [SIGHS] I'm telling you
we didn't French.

Why you asking all that?

- Just wondering.

If you ever did,
would you tell me?

Just so I know what it's like.

- What makes you think I'd
do it before you anyways?

- With a baby on the way.

[PUNCH]
- What?

- You and Abigail are
practically married.

- [Ben:]
Cut it out man.

- She ain't all that bad.

- Yeah I know.

But I saw her mama in
church the other day

and I got to thinking,

she's kinda fat and all.
- Yeah?

- I think that's how
Abigail might turn out

and that would scare me.

Here we are married,
sleeping one day,

she just rolls over
and squashes me.

[Calm MUSIC]

- Oh ain't nothing
to be scared of.

Stick your head
outside of the tent

and see if anybody out
there wants to kill us.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Frogs CROAKING]

I'm gonna catch something
this time, I can feel it.

- Look at the lightning bug,

you see it?

[Alligator GROWLS]

Alligator!
[Dramatic MUSIC]

- [Cory:] Hey can you get
those matches? - Yeah.

Cory,

we're best friends right?
- Sure why?

- I don't know, something
about hearing it you know.

Just makes a body feel better.

My dad said if you
have one good friend,

you're the richest
man in the world.

- Then I'm a rich man Ben.

My daddy must have
been awful rich.

He had a lot of friends.

Not an enemy in this world.

Except maybe one.

If I tell you something,

you promise not to tell anyone?

'Cause if you do...

the sheriff might
come arrest me.

- Okay, I promise.

- Well,

having these dreams at night

about,
finding this guy

and killing him.
- You serious?

- Damn right.

My daddy got shot in the back

and I ain't standing for it.

- And you got on to me
about stealing candles.

That ain't even breaking
no commandment.

I think the worst thing is
when you go to killing folk.

The fourth commandment,
thou shalt not kill.

- You meant the
sixth commandment?

- I mean at our age, how many
commandments we gotta break

before we go straight to hell?

- Next to none.

- I think it's
better to die young.

That way you ain't got as much
time to screw up you know.

- Yeah I ain't in no
hurry to get to Heaven.

'Cause you gotta die first.

- Yeah who wants to die?

- All right.

I don't want to talk
about it anymore Ben.

- Okay.

We should just
go to sleep you know

everything will look
different in the morning.

- Yeah you're right.

well, goodnight buddy.

- Goodnight Cory.

- [Cory:]
Ben?

- [Ben:]
What, what, what?

- Don't dream about Abigail
tonight. - Don't start.

[Crickets CHIRPING]

[Birds CALLING]

[Song: I Never Told You
by Jim Pasquale]

♪ I never told you ♪

♪ That I needed you alone ♪

♪ Can you hear me? ♪

♪ Baby please ♪

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

♪ Now I know how
much I need you ♪

♪ But I got things to do ♪

♪ It's true ♪

♪ True ♪

- How do?

- A little out of your way
coming out here ain't you?

01:01:30,371 --> 01:01:33,051
♪ I never told you
that I loved you ♪

- Well I'm looking for
a fella named Ned.

I know he comes in here a lot.

[Bluesy MUSIC]

- So what?

- Well uh...

he's gone missing

and folks are worrying.

I'm aiming to find him.

- I know who Ned is,
but I ain't seen him.

♪ And now that I can see ♪

- Alright,

supposing you...

give us a call if he comes in.

Fair enough?
♪ Broken hearted salmon ♪

♪ when the new I knew you'd say ♪

♪ But I never told you ♪

♪ did I ♪

[Crickets CHIRPING]

[Engine REVS and FADES]

- Where are the matches?
- I don't know you had them.

- I thought I gave them to you.

Who has them then?
[Matches RATTLING]

- Right in front of your face.

Hurry up!

[Engine STARTS]

[Engine REVS]

- Okay, what was that?

- I don't know listen.

That was a car.

There ain't no roads
back here, I don't think.

You know of any roads back here?

- Nuh uh.

- Me either.

- You think it was the cops?

- What would the cops be doing
way out here on the river?

- Ben,

I don't like this.

- Yeah me either.

[Car APPROACHING]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

Holy cow, blow the candle out.

[Engine RUMBLING]

Listen.

Can't tell what direction
the motor's coming from.

- [Cory:] Bless me Father
for I have sinned.

Please get us for
stealing the candles.

I mean please don't send us
to Hell. We'll settle for Purgatory.

Oh and one more thing, sorry
about stealing the canoe.

Amen.

- I hope He's listening.

[Engine REVS and STOPS]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Footsteps RUNNING OFF]

- [Billy:]
Oh hell.

- [Ben:] Go, go ahead, stick your head
out there. See if you see anything.

- [Cory:] You gotta
be kidding me.

- [Ben:]
Go on don't be afraid.

- [Cory:] Well then you
stick your head out there.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

Ow!

[Gun COCKING]

[Gun FIRRING]

- [Billy:] Going for a
little midnight swim are we?

- Why don't you just
go ahead and shoot me!

Shoot me damn it!
- Move!

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Cory CRYING]

- [Cory:]
I want to go home.

- Wait, wait, Cory, Cory.

[Birds CALLING]

Okay.
[Suspenseful MUSIC]

I don't hear anything.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Cory CRYING]

[Engine REVS and STOPS]

[Bluesy MUSIC]

- Man what a night.

I tell you, I wouldn't
want to be in Ned's shoes.

- What are you doing around here?
Ain't this your day off?

- Ain't nothing else to do.

- What'd you do rob a bank?

- Something like that.

- Hey,
where's Ned at?

- Don't be asking
questions around here.

You screw up you end
up at Harpers Bank.

- Is that where they took Ned?

- This guy just doesn't get it.

- Yeah,
I reckon so.

- Yep you and me is gonna have
us a little fire side chat.

You see,

I believe
you got that cash.

But you're gonna talk,

one way or another.

[Flames CRACKLING]

- [Cory:]
Ben,

I'm scared.

Bless me Father for
I have sinned.

Hallowed by they name.
Hail Mary!

- Shut up.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

Pipe down they'll hear you.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- You say one word
and it'll be your last.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- We'll just have to
lay low 'til morning.

[Leaves RUSTLING]

- Come on out of there!

I ain't gonna say
it a second time.

- Oh God mister
please don't shoot us.

We're just fishing,
we ain't seen nothing.

- Yeah really mister we
ain't seen nothing honest.

- We're alter boys and
we ain't supposed to lie.

We haven't even seen
the guy tied up.

[PUNCH]
- No.

- I believe you boys in the
wrong place at the wrong time.

Anybody else out here with you?
- No sir. - No sir.

- Don't you be lying to me,
I'll blast your heads right off.

Move!
- Yes sir. - Yes sir.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Alright boys you don't
need to be looking at him.

Get on over there.

Get over there by that tree.

- Yes sir.

- [Billy:] I aught to
blow your damn heads off.

- Bless me Father
for I have sinned.

- [Billy:]
What'd you say?

- Oh shit mister, he
ain't said nothing really.

He's just scared, he always
talks to Jesus when he's scared.

- What a bunch of sissies.

What you scared of boy?

This could be your lucky night.

You might just get to see
Jesus sooner than you think.

[LAUGHS - Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Boat APPROACHING]

Say one word and I'll shoot
all three of you,

and them too.

- You catch anything?

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Engine CRANKS]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- Look Bud,

I know you've got some cash.

[Gun COCKING]

You got 10 seconds.

- [Ned:]
Wait,

this has gone far enough.
You can have the money.

It's in the file
cabinet in my office.

Keys are in the top drawer.

[Song: Stronger Than Time
by Ellen Britton]

♪ I feel alone ♪

♪ Alone feeling alone ♪

♪ Never unknown ♪

♪ I pull back away ♪

- [Leroy:] What can I get you?
- Uh...

give me a vodka.

[Bluesy MUSIC]

♪ Here I am at your call ♪

- Hey I seen you around.

Don't you work at
the gas station?

- Yeah my name's Darryl,
I work there.

Been there for years.

I thought I might
come around here

and see if the boss
man was around.

- Well now take a look at here.

- I'm looking for Ned,
he ain't showed up today.

So I figured he might
have come over here.

You seen him?
- No.

Can't say that I have.

Not my turn to watch him.

- Hey Leroy,
top me off would you?

- Sure thing.

- Hey I know it's not
much of my business

but I don't know
what Clyde's doing,

but Ned was here earlier.

You know me and Ned we
was real good friends,

been friends for years.

I know he owes a lot
of money to the house.

Something's going on.

- How long ago was earlier?
- Well...

probably a couple of hours ago.
But I never seen him leave

'cause I been losing and giving
all my money to the house.

- So you ain't seen him huh?

- Seen who?

- Ned.
- Oh Ned,

last time I saw him
was your place.

[Bluesy MUSIC]

- Alright.

Thank you hear.

[Bluesy MUSIC]

- I ain't believing my eyes,
where'd you boys come from?

- Us, us,

we been out here all night fishing,
minding our own business!

- And you come and scare
the hell out of us!

Sweet Jesus,
he's gonna kill us!

Yep that's what he's gonna do.

- Cory, don't get your
nerves in the dirt again.

- Boys we gotta keep a cool head
and figure a way out of this.

I can't... budge this
rope it's too tight.

- Me too,

wait,

I... think mine's loose.

I think mine is...

loose too.

I got it,

oh thank you God.
- Cory, shut up and untie us.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

Argh!

- Ben I can't untie it.

- In the tent,
I got a knife in the tent.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Car APPROACHING]

- Ned, how'd you get mixed
up with a guy like that?

- I owe somebody some
money that I can't pay

and they sent somebody to kill me.
- Kill you?

- Well I sure as hell don't want
to hang around her to find out.

I wish he'd hurry up and find
that knife and come cut me loose.

- [Ben:]
Cory, hurry up!

- [Cory:]
I can't find it!

- What do you mean
you can't find it?

It's in the tent.

- I begged him to drive to
the station and let me go.

- Y'all went to the station?
- Yeah and

when I got to the office
to get the money out

it was gone.

And I thought he was gonna
shoot me right there.

I don't understand
where that money got to.

I mean I didn't tell
anybody about my stash.

I didn't even tell your dad.

- [Ned SIGHS]

No he's a good man,
he wouldn't do that.

- [Cory:] I'm telling
you Ben it ain't here.

Ben, Ben it ain't here!

[SIGHS]

- You looking for
something mister?

You ain't got no business here.

- Oh it's you.

- Yeah well you can put your
hands out and don't move.

I'm calling the police.

- I wouldn't do that
if I were you.

- Yeah well you're not calling
the shots here are you pal?

- You want to see
your boss alive

you'll put that phone
down.

Got a couple of kids
you just might know

that'll come up missing
as well.

- What the hell are you
talking about, what kids?

- I believe you got
a couple of boys

out fishing tonight ain't you?

- You got the boys?

Where the hell are they?
If you hurt them...

- Pipe down,

I'll take you to them.

You just need to show me
where he hides his stash.

- What the hell are
you talking about?

I don't know nothing
about no stash.

He ain't got no money around.

- Well hell,

somebody's lying.
And I hate a liar!

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[PUNCH]

[BANG]

Move!

- [Cory:] I'm telling you,
it ain't here.

Damn it Ben,
it ain't here.

- Well then grab a
stick from the fire.

We'll burn it off if we have to.

[Boat APPROACHING]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

- [Boatman:]
What's going on here?

- Man are we glad to see you.

- It's okay mister.
- You got a knife?

I don't want to burn him.
- Please mister untie us please.

[Engine REVVING]

Shhh, listen,

are y'all armed?

Because if you're not
we're in trouble.

[Engine REVVING]

- Here he comes,
come on Cory let's go.

- [Cory:]
Watch it Ben!

[Body THUDDING]

- [Billy LAUGHING]
- [Darryl:] You hit my boy.

[Engine STOPS]

Ben. Ben.

Oh Jesus.

Ben, oh God.

- [Billy:] Y'all get out of that boat.
[Gun COCKING]

- [Boatman:]
Oh my God,

please.
[Gun FIRRING]

[Water SPLASHING]
- [Boatman:] No,

no don't shoot.
[Gun FIRRING]

[Water SPLASHING]

- Take another step and I'll
blow your damn head off.

Drop it.

[Tense MUSIC]

[Engine STOPS]

- [Cory:] You killed him,
you killed him!

I'm gonna kill him!

- Cory, Cory,

Cory, stop it.

Mister your beef is
with me not these kids.

- Get back over there.

Come on hot shot,
get over here.

- Don't move,
drop the gun.

Get off the boy.

What's wrong with that boy?

- [Ned:]
Bastard run him over.

We need to get to
the hospital fast.

- Give him they keys,
real slow like,

or I'll blow your head off.

- [Billy SIGHS]

- You good for nothing.

Here,

my car's on the main highway.

You better get.

- [Ned:] Cory, are their
any blankets in the tent?

- [Cory:] Yes sir.
- [Ned:] Well go fetch them quick.

- I figured you to be a low life,

but running down that kid.

Now hand it over,

I know they paid you something.

But you won't have no use
for it where you're going.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

Wow!

Pay day.

Is this what you're looking for,

a little gas money?

I ain't a scared of you,

you're gonna die.
- Wait Mister,

I want to kill him.

- No son,

this ain't none of your business.

- I think he killed my daddy
and I'm aiming to find out.

[Car engine REVS]

Watch it!
[Tires SQUEAL to stop]

- [Billy:]
I be damned.

- Get the door Cory.

Help me Ned, please.

Go Ned go!
[Door SLAMS]

Stay with me son,

you're doing great.

Daddy's right here.

[Cicadas BUZZING]

Daddy's right here.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Tires SQUEALING]

[Door SHUTS]

- [Nurse over intercom:]
Dr. Jane Hamilton.

- [Police radio:] Biloxi unit
31 are you almost there?

We've been receiving
several calls on this.

- [Mac:]
10 four.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Engine STOPS]

[Door SHUTS]

- Darryl.

- My boy's gone Mac,

my boy's gone.

[SOBBING] What am I
gonna tell his mama?

- I just sent another car
for her she's on her way.

- Cory.

- Move it scum bag.

- You ain't gonna kill nobody,
you ain't got the guts.

[PUNCH]

It takes a man to kill another
man and you ain't no man.

- I'm tired of hearing
your mouth,

turn around.
- Argh.

Now move it.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Imitates guns SHOT]

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

Turn around.
[Gun COCKING]

- [Mac:] Drop the gun!
- I can't do that.

- Drop the gun Clyde.

I said drop it!

- How's the boy?

- He's dead.

- Don't do it Mister,
I mean it.

You put the gun down.

Put it on the ground,
nice and easy and step away.

- This man just killed a kid,

he's got to die.
- I said drop it!

- Okay,

but you're making a big mistake.

- [Cory:]
Well I'm not!

- [Ned:] Cory no.
- Give him what he deserves.

- Best friend's dead.

Give me the money now.

- What?
- I said

give me the money now!

- [Ned:]
Cory, stop!

- This is blood money,

the money that killed
my best friend.

And it's gonna burn in
hell like you're gonna.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[CLUNK]

Now give me Ned's money,
I know you got that too.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

Did you kill my daddy?
- [Ned:] Cory, stop!

- I know you killed
my best friend.

Do you know how to pray?

[GRUNTS]

I said do you know how to pray?

Well it's time you learned,

'cause tonight,
you're gonna meet Jesus.

- [Ned:]
You put the gun down.

- Repeat after me,

the Lord is my shepard.

- [Ned:] Cory stop. [Gun FIRRING]
- [Billy:] Jesus!

- You got the first part right.

Walk you bastard!

Move!

- Y'all stay put.

[Suspenseful MUSIC]

[Handcuffs LOCKING]

- Say I'm sorry.
- Yeah.

[Gun FIRRING]

Say I'm sorry.

- [Mac:] Cory don't,
Cory stop!

- I'm sorry,
I'm so sorry, God please.

[Calm MUSIC]

[Gun COCKING]
- [Mac:] Cory no!

- I think it's
better to die young.

That way you ain't got as much
time to screw up you know.

- Yeah, I ain't in no
hurry to get to Heaven.

'Cause you gotta die first.

- Yeah who wants to die?

- Cory no!

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Gun CLUNKS on ground]

Get up, get up.

[Dramatic MUSIC]

[Flames CRACKLING]

- [Ben:] My dad said,
if you have one good friend

you're the richest
man in the world.

- [Cory:] Then I'm
a rich man Ben.

- [Ben:]
Same to you Cory.

[Calm MUSIC]

[Birds CHIRPING]

[SIGHS]

- Hey Ben,

it's me,

I'm back.

And you won't believe
who's with me.

[SIGHS]

Went fishing this morning.

As usual

didn't catch nothing.

Guess y'all don't fish in Heaven.

Seeing a doctor now.

Something they call
a psychiatrist.

He gives me the creeps.

We just sit there for an hour,

quiet like.

Well,

guess I'll see you
tomorrow Ben.

You know Abigail

I do know you're there.

No, no!

[Car CRANKS]

[Acoustic guitar]

[Song: Solid Ground
by Cowboy Johnson]

♪ Life on the back bay ♪

♪ Down in Mississippi ♪

♪ It sure moves slow ♪

♪ Like a midnight rain ♪

♪ Sounds in the night man ♪

♪ Make your skin crawl ♪

♪ Tug boat humming ♪

♪ and a whining train ♪

♪ Your daddy taught you ♪

♪ To use a cane pole ♪

♪ Bait your hook ♪

♪ The old fashioned way ♪

♪ Catch you a big one ♪

♪ Get him on the bank boy ♪

♪ Or old black gator ♪

♪ gonna haul it away ♪

♪ Solid ground ♪

♪ hard to come by ♪

♪ When your down
in Mississippi way ♪

♪ We live our lives ♪

♪ down by the water ♪

♪ Pray some storm
don't wash it away ♪

[Acoustic guitar]

♪ Darkness falls down ♪

♪ all along the river ♪

♪ Water gives life ♪

♪ and takes it away ♪

♪ You work like a dog man ♪

♪ trying to make a living ♪

♪ Gamble all night ♪

♪ to the break of day ♪

♪ Solid ground ♪

♪ hard to come by ♪

♪ When you're down
round Mississippi way ♪

♪ We live our lives ♪

♪ down by the water ♪

♪ Pray some storm
don't wash it away ♪

♪ Pray some storm
don't wash it away ♪

[Upbeat MUSIC]

The End

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