The Valley of Light (2007) - full transcript

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♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(excited chatter)

Noah?

Noah Locke.

Mr. Reid.

Welcome home, son.

Thank you.

Look at you;
you're a hero.



We heard you were awarded
a Purple Heart.

Your mama and daddy would
have been real proud.

Thank you, sir.

(dog barking)

Mama.

Can I help you?

No, ma'am.

This was my home before the war.

You're one of the Locke family?

Yes, ma'am.

We're farming this land now.

I understand.

Sorry for the interruption.

Locke, you got a visitor.



I was just driving the car.

I didn't even have a gun.

You don't understand
how hard it was
with Mama sick.

I had to get out.

I couldn't breathe.

They said I could
go to Mama's funeral,

but I'd have to be in chains,

and I couldn't do that to her.

MAN:
No, sir.

No contact with the prisoner.

Time's up,
Locke.

You... disown me, Noah?

You're the only family
I got, Travis.

My brother's 17, Mr. Gates.

Shouldn't there be
some leniency?

No, sir.

Not a chance.

Travis is a good boy.

He just made a bad decision,

and I wasn't here to help him.

I'm sorry about your
kid brother.

We thank you for your service
over there.

Thank you, Mr. Gates.

If I were you, I'd focus
on what I was going to do

now that this war is over.

Yes, sir.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

It's like water
everywhere else, boy.

It's wet.

You feeling for life
in that river?

It's just an old habit.

I didn't mean to spook you.

You got that look about you.

Man that's ready to duck down.

I'd say you was in the war.

Was you?

Yeah, I was.

Fishing's best from the bend.

Help yourself
to the worms.

Thanks.

I saw you coming

a long way off.

You had company.

I saw a man and a woman
walking beside you.

That wasn't me, sir.

I'm alone here.

It was you.

Man was lame.

Woman was awfully pretty.

Petite little lady.

Sounds like you're
describing my folks.

But they died.

Aw.

That's awfully sad.

Look, look,
you got you one.

(chuckles)

(sighs)

You say you see my folks?

How's that?

It's just a gift
that come to me.

Five years ago.

Seeing the other side.

Well, I don't believe in ghosts.

Neither do I.

Only angels.

(fishing reel whirring)

Oh, would you look at that.

Thank you.

(sighs)

Mm.

You just
wandering around...

...or you going
somewhere?

I guess I'm wandering.

Just looking for a sign
that tells me to stop.

But you're just walking
willy-nilly.

You ought to go over
to those mountains there.

Just over the ridge,

there's a nice
little valley.

Born and raised there.

Awfully nice people.

Good fishing, too.

There's a little
lake over there.

The locals call it

The Lake of No Fish.

Boy, it's got the biggest bass
you ever saw.

I hooked him once.

Fought me like the devil.

You got to take
your time with him.

You got to aggravate him some.

Yeah, yeah, I've seen
fish like that.

Yeah.

Must be as big
as Jonah's whale by now.

Well, I guess I best
be getting home.

Thank you for
your hospitality, Noah Locke.

You said you seen
my folks--

my ma, my pa?

You still see 'em?

Bright as day.

And there are others, too.

Your army buddies.

You don't want to
lose them, either.

What you want to lose...

is that cloak of grief

about your shoulders.

You did your best
to save 'em.

You go on over
to that valley.

Try to catch my fish.

If you do,
you tell him Hoke Moore

has been thinking about him
a long, long time.

(birds calling)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Old Hoke Moore
told me about you.

I'll see you later.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(overlapping chatter)

(dogs baying)

(man whistles)

Pipe down, now!

Welcome.

You wouldn't be lost,
would you?

Well, I never been here before,

so I guess I am.

Looks like we got us
a wandering sheep.

Where you from?

Asheville.

I had a cousin
lived there.

Name of Wally Mayfield.
You know him?

No, sir.

You didn't miss much.

( all chuckling )

You serve in the war?

I did.

Europe or the Pacific?

Europe.

What outfit?

42nd Infantry.

(clears throat)

Whitlow Mayfield.

When I'm not walking
behind a plow,

I'm the sheriff of this county.

Marshall, here,
is my deputy.

Pleasure.
Howdy.

Howard Reynolds.

This here
is Matthew.

My name's Noah Locke.

What you doing with yourself
these days, Noah Locke?

I pick up
an odd job

here and there,
but mostly I do
me some fishing.

Fishing?

Well, if you come
for the fishing contest, friend,

I'm afraid you're a bit early.

I don't know nothing
about no fishing contest.

We have a fishing contest here
in about two weeks.

Cost two dollars to get in.

Draws a crowd,
and we wind up

with a little money
for the school.

You you could walk away
with $20.

Give Littleberry
some competition.

Yeah. That would
be Littleberry Davis.

He's won our contest the last...

ooh, five, six years in a row
by my count.
Six.

Six.

You a fisherman,
tell you what.

You go down to
that river there,

and catch me a mess
of them river cats
before sundown,

I'll give you a dime
for every fish big enough

to fry.

My boy likes

catfish.

Don't let him
bait you, friend.

You not knowing the river
this time of day,

I'd say you'd
be wasting your time.

Oh, I'll do it.

All right,
to get to our house,

take that road there
past the meadow

till you see a
little gray house.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Well, been here
five minutes,

already you got you
some business.

Yeah.

And... that is four.

Oh, you got a
smorgasbord there.

(laughs)

Ma'am.

Taylor?
Uh-huh.

We captured us here
a Noah Locke,

traveling fisherman,

if you can
believe that.

Is that so?

Marjorie, you take care.
I will.

This is my cousin,
Taylor Bowers,

and if he don't have
what you want,

he'll just go ahead and try
to sell you something else.

Some folks

are born-again Christians;
Taylor, here,

is a born-again talker.

Worse than I am.

And that's
going some.

How can I help you?

What you need, son?

Some sardines? Some canned tuna?

That would put a hole
in your fishing story.

Well, yes, it would.

I'll just have a bag of coffee,
a soap bar,

and a shirt, if you got it.

Will chambray do?

That would be fine,
thanks.

Eleanor.

Taylor. Whitlow.

Afternoon, Eleanor.

Anything I can get for you?

Oh, I know where everything is.

All right, then.

Now, don't you go raising prices
on our friend here.

He was an army man,
like my boy.

You know you're the only one
I cheat around here, cousin.

Nice to meet you, sir.
Same here.

You really
make a living fishing?

Well, now, that depends

on what you
call a living.

I eat a lot of fish.

(laughing)

You know of any jobs
around town?

I got one right here.

You see those two fools

yakking over there?

They're supposed to be
painting this store.

You witness even one foot
of pine board painted out there

when you walked up?

Coffee's right
behind you.

Eleanor, are you finding
everything all right?

Well, now, what is that?

What is that there
in your ear?

Well, now, look at that--
a nickel.

You want some candy?
Yes.

Chocolate?

I can wait my turn.

Oh, no, no, that's fine.

Please, go ahead.

This is Noah Locke.

I got it right,

didn't I?
You did.

And this is
Eleanor Chatwin.

He's taking orders

if you got a taste for catfish.

Oh, no, thank you.
We don't eat much fish.

Oh, well.

You take care
of yourself.

Thanks.

That's a fine woman.

All righty.

This is a dollar fifty.

And a, uh, nickel's worth
of penny candy

for my friend here.

Hey, there, Matthew.

Well, let's see.
What do you think?

Orange slices today,
or Boston Beans, or...?

Hmm? Jelly beans.

WOMAN:
I'm coming, Matthew.

You must be the fish seller.

Yes, ma'am.
My name's Noah Locke.

I'm Ada Reynolds.

Matthew told me
he met a new
friend today.

HOWARD:
Look at that.

(whistles)

Where did you catch 'em? River?

Yes, sir.

This time of day?

That makes these miracle fish.

Just the right size
for pan frying, too.

Give them here,
and I'll start supper.

Why don't you tell
Mr. Noah to come
to church with us

on Sunday?

Here.

How long you staying?

Don't know, sir.

Come to church on Sunday.

It's the only one in the valley.

Church
of the Resurrected Christ.

No matter how you were raised,
everybody's welcome.

Thank you, sir.

Come on, Matthew.

We gonna feast

tonight.

Bye, now.

Get down!

Get out!

(recollected shouting continues)

Target's down!
No!

What do we do?

Let's go!

Locke! Locke!

(bell ringing)

(overlapping chatter)

♪ ♪

You sleep well, Granny?

Now it's time
for your birthday powder.

MAN (on radio):
So we bear the burden
in silence.

This burden,
brothers and sisters...

Is that loud
enough, Granny?

Yeah. I hear it.

Every week, I receive
letters from listeners who say,

"I must not be a good Christian.

"For, surely, if I were
firmly rooted in faith..."

(cow lowing)

(lowing)

You got some trouble there?

You're that fisherman?

Yes, ma'am.

You mind if I have a look?

(lowing)

I know.

Shh.

(cow moos weakly)

You got a rifle?

She needs to be shot?

(cow grunts)
Yes, ma'am.

You want some meat from it,
I can butcher it for you.

All right.

(cow moos weakly)

(cow grunts)

(gunshot)

(birds chirping)

I brought you dinner.

Oh, there's no need.

If you don't,
I'll feel even worse,

waylaying you
on your way to church.

Oh, I wasn't going nowhere.

Just thinking about it.

Thank you.

(sighs)

Shouldn't have been a surprise,
her dying.

She was awfully old.

Still, it shook me.

You were in the war?

Yeah, I was.

My late husband, Boyd, was, too.

I'm sorry to hear that.

What was it like?

The war.

Well, it's not something
you can get out of your mind.

And there's no making sense
of it, either.

I guess a lot of things...
don't make sense.

Thank you for your help.

Please, just a few bites.

I want my chocolate.

(knock at door)

I thought you'd left.

I went out an hour ago,
and you were gone.

I just went to the pump

to wash up.

Who's that?
Forgive my manners.

You'd think I didn't have any.
Come in, Mr. Locke.

Meet Boyd's
grandmother,

Mrs. Beatrice Chatwin.

Ma'am.

Granny isn't feeling
all that well today.

She won't give me my chocolate.

(laughs softly)

Granny lives on chocolate bars.

Maybe I ought to write
the candy company

and give them
a testimonial.

Well, it's getting dark.

I'll drive you home.

Oh, there's no need;
my camp's not far.

Where are you?

I'm up the road at the lake.

The fishing cabin?

Uh, no, ma'am, just near it.

Well, why don't you use it?

Well, I...

I didn't know who to ask.

You ask me.

I'll be back shortly,
Granny.

Ma'am.

(sighs)

My husband shot himself here.

Not in the cabin.

If that's any
difference to you.

I thought he
died in the war.

Boyd came home
without a scratch on him.

But he was changed.

Now, why would he do that,
Mr. Locke?

Why would a man go through a war
and come home and kill himself?

(floorboards creaking)

Use it.

Boyd use to come here
and stay the night,

just to be by himself.

I think
everything's here.

Lamp, cot.

A man named Arch Wheeler
built this cabin.

He died right there
in that chair.

Boyd said he used
to come up here

and drink with Arch's ghost.

He was always trying

to scare me.

But people say
this place is haunted.

Yeah, you hear stories--

lights on the water,

hunting dogs whimpering
like they've seen a ghost.

Eh...

I'm a chatterbox, aren't I?

I don't think Granny says
a dozen words in a week.

Makes me too hungry
for talk.

Good night.

Good night, ma'am.
Thank you.

For what?

I'm trying to thank you
for taking care of my poor cow.

So don't thank me.

How old are you, Mr. Locke?

I'm 28.

Well, I'm just
four years older, so...

don't call me "ma'am."

Yes, ma'am.

All right...

I won't say it-- on a trade.

You don't call me "mister."

All right... Noah.

Well, you see any ghosts,
you holler.

(engine starts)

(birds squawking in distance)

NOAH:
Dear Travis...

since I last wrote you,

I've come to a place
called the Valley of Light.

A fisherman by the name
of Hoke Moore sent me here.

He claims that the biggest bass
he's ever seen

lives in this lake,

and I know now...

that's no fish tale.

Well, morning,
fish seller.

Morning. Just
come by wondering

if you still need
somebody to do
some painting?

You bet!
Just look at this place.

I'll pay $20
for the whole job.

I'll supply
the sandpaper and paint.

Oh, yes, sir,
that's a deal.

All right.

Lookie here.

Now, you get a fish order,
you go fish.

Paint when you can.
Yes, sir.

You're gonna be good
for business.

Howard was bragging
at church

about all those catfish
you caught him.

Howard's son, that boy...

Matthew. That's
Howard's grandson.

But he and Ada keep him.

Boy's mama passed away
quite a few years ago.

Matthew's daddy
hasn't been around since.

They say he's working

in Tennessee.

He sends that boy money,
but we never see him.

He ever talk?

'Cause, uh, his grandma
said that, uh,

he talks to her.

Ada says she hears
him with her heart.

(laughs):
She does,
that's a fact.

But that boy...

never spoke a word.

What the hay, Taylor?

You giving
our jobs away?

He's the fisherman
Howard's talking about.

That so?

Name's Noah Locke.

Peavo Teasley.

Moody Goodhouse...

the Third.

Pleasure meeting you boys.

TAYLOR:
People are gonna

come around to get a look
at this man while he's working.

Did you hear that word?
"Working"?

That'd be a... foreign
tongue to you boys?

I'm digging for bait.

Want to help?

Hey, look at this.

I saw a flock of robins here.

That's how I knew
to look for earthworms.

Now, after a storm, now,
that's a good time, too.

Find yourself
a rain-soaked field.

There you go.

(chuckles)

You found yourself
a good one.

Yeah, you see that there?

Spilled grain.

See, let me
show you here.

Yeah, see that?

That's a mealworm.

Panfish love 'em.

There's all sorts
of 'em here.

See?

They like leeches, too.

Oh, I know.

I don't care
for leeches much, neither.

All right, that's it.

Stay there.

(high-pitched blabbering)

(crickets chirping)

(chirping continues)

See, crickets,

now, they're
good for bass.

I saw a bass in that lake
up there, the biggest bass

I ever seen.

But, well,

he ain't ready
to be caught yet.

Mr. Hoke Moore told me
about this valley.

You know Mr. Moore?

He said there
are good people here.

He's right.

Come on.

The ghosts haven't
chased you off yet?

I didn't want
to make a mess inside.

Looks like you're making a mess
up top of your head.

Sit down.

I used to cut
Boyd's hair.

Well, my Mama
used to cut mine.

Getting a hair cut was one
of the few times

my husband would sit
still long enough

for me to talk to him.

I don't know why it was so hard
for him to just sit and listen.

Oh, I suppose some people
are just that way.

Don't you get tired
moving around place to place?

I don't really know
what else to do.

Well, don't you miss your home?

Family?

Oh, my folks passed on.

I got a brother, though.

Travis.

He, uh, fell in
with some bad company,

and wound up in prison.

So maybe I'm just waiting
for him to get out.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

Is that from the war?

It must have been terrible.

I hope that's all right.

Not as good

as a barber might
have done it but...

Well...

(chuckles)

It's much better
than I could of done.

Thank you.

Hey, Matthew.

What you
got there?

Came to help, huh?

I thank you, my friend.

Let's mix you up some paint.

♪ ♪

That's right.

Just drag it along.

Remember that bass
I was telling you about?

Up at the lake?

I hear it swimming out
there every night.

I saw it once.

Looked like a mule it was

so big.

Well, it didn't look

like a mule,
the way a mule looks.

It's a fish,
but it's big like a mule.

Sounds like a tall tale,

don't it?

You know, you're the only friend
I've ever had

where I did all the talking.

I bet you can say my name
though, can't you?

Noah.

You can say "Noah,"
can't you?

That's it, you got it.

♪ ♪

Like that.

Looking at him
the whole...
(laughing)

Well I see you got enough paint
on yourself.

You manage to get any
on the store?

He done real good.

(chuckling)

How's the celebrity?

You can just ignore
Moody and Peavo.

How's it going,
fisherman?

Well, just fine,
'til now.

The way Taylor's
was talking,

sounds like you don't
even need a hook

to catch a fish,
boy.

(chuckling)
Hey.

You catch us six
river cats a piece

before sundown today,

we'll give you
ten cents a fish.

But, uh, you
come up short,

we keep everything
you catch for free.

Twelve catfish
by sundown.

Good Lord, boys, what kind
of sucker bet is that?

He makes that dozen,

it'll cost you
a quarter a fish.

Quarter a fish?

Shoot, Littleberry Davis
ain't even that good.

Littleberry's the
best I ever seen.

Littleberry couldn't
bait Noah's hook.

What do you
think, Matthew?

Take that bet?

Your fisherman's
about to catch me

a free dinner.

I'll bet you three dollars
he makes it.

You got a bet.

No bream, no bass,
no trout, no crappie.

Good Lord.
Them's the rules.

MOODY:
What's he doing?

TAYLOR:
Washing the worm slime
off his hands.

Something you boys ought to do
once in a while,

wash up a little.

He don't seem to be in much
of a hurry,

does he?

(laughter)

Hmm.

That's cat.
Aah.

Fourteen inches at least.

That ain't but one.

Hmm.

Lord a'mighty

Huh.

HOWARD:
Yeah, another cat.

He found a catfish hole.

It's gonna play out
after three or four.

Why don't he hook
no sucker fish or crappie?

Hey, you got some sort of
secret catfish bait on there?

MOODY:
You sure that boy
knows how to count?

TAYLOR:
One more time now,
Noah, come on.

PEAVO:
Might as well give
up now, fisherman.

Don't listen to him.

MOODY:
You put up a good fight,

Noah Locke.

No doubt about that,
but 11 ain't 12.

You ain't gonna make it.

Maybe you fished
that hole clean.

We going home with a free mess
of catfish.

Woo!
(laughing)

Game's up, Taylor.

You owe me
three dollars.

MOODY:
Taylor, you better
get out your billfold.

MOODY:
Eh.

The sun's gone.

Hey, he ain't

got it ashore!

The sun's gone.

TAYLOR:
No, it ain't,
it ain't.

Will you look there.

Well, Moody, Peavo,

you're eating
catfish tonight.

But you owe Noah, here

three dollars.

And another three
for Taylor.

(laughter)

(Taylor cheering)

I feel good.

Hey, why don't we all drive
to Hayesville,

get something to eat?

Treat's on me,
I got money to burn.

Ada's waiting
at home for us.

Yeah, thank you, Taylor,
but maybe some other time.

Come on, I'll give
you a ride, Noah,

unless you want
to swim home.

All right.

Well, you're probably
right, I...

I got windows
to close up.

All right.

Well, I owe you
all a supper.

I won't forget it.

Uh-huh.

I feel good!

NOAH:
Right here is fine.

(brakes squealing)

Well, thanks
for the ride.

(thundering)

You know what,

I got something
for you.

I bought a hook
and bob.

Thanks for you help
today, partner.

Oh.

That's nice.

Well, you're welcome.

Good night.

HOWARD:
Bye, now.

We should have dragged
that poor boy home

for supper, too.

Everybody needs
somebody, Matthew.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(thundering)

Who are the prophets?

Are they royal born?

No.

Do they inherit
the office of prophet?

No.

The prophets are called

directly by God, and through
them God's will is revealed.

What does the greatest of
prophets, Isaiah, have to say?

He begins overwhelmed
with the wickedness

and corruption of the people.

Through him,
God cries out in anguish.

Through him, God cries out
in heartbreak...

Dear Travis,

Hoke Moore said I'd find
good people here.

He was right...

I can't explain it, but I sleep
through the night now

for the first time
since the war.

Stay hopeful,

and if you can, trust that
God has a plan for you.

Your brother, Noah.
(water sloshing)

♪ ♪

Hi.

Hi.

Hi, Matthew.

Eleanor.

Aren't you a sight
for sore eyes.

We have a
special occasion?

No, just thought I'd stop by.

Put in an order for fish.

I thought you
didn't care for fish.

Tastes change.

How many you want me
to catch for you?

Enough for the
four of us,

plus Howard,
Ada and Granny.

You catch 'em,
I'll cook, 'em.

(laughing)

Ooh, whee.

Let's go fishing.

All right, you only
got till 5:00.

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah, this is going to
be a night to remember.

I came out here right
after Boyd got home.

I forgot why.

He made me stay for supper.

(laughs)

Oh, I'll never
forget that meal.

That woman can cook.

That Boyd...
seemed okay to us.

But there must have been

something powerful
troubling him.

I'd say... he was
probably sick at heart

from the things he'd seen.

But why he'd
leave Eleanor...

It just about
killed the woman.

It's a hard thing
to be left behind.

I've fished
with Taylor.

I've never seen
a man better

at drowning worms.

Pay no attention
to this man.

It's just been too long
since Granny and I have

had people over to the house.

Something we ought
to do more often.

All right, everyone
take a seat.

TAYLOR:
Granny.

I think Matthew wanted
to sit next to you.

Well, that's fine; I
want to sit next to him.

How about this
one, buddy?

Eleanor.

There you go.
All right.

Howard, why don't you
sit at the head.

Sure.

Well, thank you,
Taylor.

Hmm.

I'll take it
from here.

TAYLOR:
All right, then...

I'd like to say a few words
of grace if I may.

We've got to
take hands.

Granny Chatwin.

We'd greatly appreciate
it if you'd give us

your blessing

and help loosen up
our tongues

so we can talk about
everybody we know

who's not here,

and forgive us beforehand

for what we say.

And sweet Lord, we thank you
for this bounty of food

and fellowship.

(chorus of "Amen")

Pass the hush puppies.

May I serve you,
Miss Chatwin?

Oh, no sir, I'm waiting
for the chocolate.

Chocolate, Lord,

right to the dessert.

Will somebody please give
Granny the chocolate?

Actually, I went
to the store.

(laughing)

I brought you one more
for good measure.

Granny, you will never
sleep tonight.

Mm-mm.

I hope you don't mind.

So, Noah, you just been
traveling since the war's end?

Fishing?

Yes, ma'am.

How any states you seen?

Traveled rivers mostly.

The Cumberland,

and the Cinch,
the Hiawassee,

the Tennessee,

A few others.

Do you have a favorite place?

Well, you got a pretty place
here, this valley.

Well, maybe you'll just
have to winter here.

Yes, ma'am.

Would you like
some hush puppies?

(laughter)

Some dinner...
Night now.

You've outdone yourself.

What is that?

What is that there
behind your ear?

Hmm?

We're going home.

If only Noah would
stop talking.

You see what I mean
about him.

He talks
all the time.

You can't hardly ever
get him to stop.

You leave him alone,
Taylor Bowers,

or next time you
won't get invited.

Next time? Oh, I like
the sound of that.

Night-night.
Good night.

Good night, Miss Chatwin.

Good night, now.

All right, let's go in.

TAYLOR:
If you just got me
a second invite

to Eleanor C's,
you're good luck indeed.

Even if I would like

to kick you in the gut.

The way she lights up
when you're around.

Good night, Taylor.

Thanks for the ride.

Noah...

You watch out
for ghosts.

It's haunted up here.

Go on, get out
of here.

(eerie voice):
Ooh...
Old codger.

♪ ♪

(dog barking in distance)

Noah?

Yes, ma'am?

Did you just call me "ma'am"?

Uh... no, ma'am.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I brought you
some breakfast.

If you don't want
to open the door,

I guess I'll just leave
it out here on the porch.

No, no, no, I'm coming.

Hi.

Hi.

Do you... do you want
some coffee?

No, thank you.

But you go ahead.
Have it with your breakfast.

And grab yourself
a fork.

Sure.

If I have coffee
in the morning,

I'm jittery all day.

You know,

my sides ached this morning
I laughed so hard last night.

Yeah, that Taylor, he's, uh...
he's one of a kind.

Yes, he is.

But it's you who made me happy.

(floor creaks)

I'll fix that for
you, before I go.

Well, thank you.

I'll see you later,
Mr. Locke.

Eleanor!

Yes?

I went by your
house last night,

but you had already
headed for bed.

I saw your
light go out.

Well, I turned my light out...

but I didn't go to sleep
for awhile.

What were you going to do
if the light had been on?

I would've asked you

if I could sit on
your porch with you.

And what would we do
on the porch?

Would we talk?

You saying two words
and me saying 20.

I-I'll see you at the store.

Good morning.

Good morning.

What I personally witnessed

is nothing short
of made-to-order fishing.

He didn't get so much
as a nibble

from a bream or an eel
or a horny head...

Nothing but catfish.

He use stinky bait?

Earthworms.

He use a fancy reel?

Nothing better than a cane pole.

I'd pay upfront

just to see it again.

He's gonna give
Littleberry Davis

such a fit at
that fishing contest.

I seen Littleberry

in Wyattville yesterday.

He says all this talk
about your mystery fisherman

is one fat fish tale.

Ooh, sounds like

Littleberry's
got the jitters.

He's shaking
in his waders.

Well, I lay down
ten dollars right now

says that Noah Locke wins
that take-home prize.

(scoffs)

Hi, everyone.

Afternoon, Ms. Chatwin.

Afternoon, Eleanor.

Don't you two ladies
look lovely.

Granny came by
for her chocolate.

Oh, come on

right in, Granny.

That last cat
Noah caught,

was so big...

they had to pull it out
with Moody's mule.

And when my mule
had a heart attack,

we got Peavo's tractor.

Burned out the engine.
Where's mine?

Mm-mm.

I better pay for the candy.

I made a little present
to Granny.

No, sir.

We settled up.
She gave me a kiss.

Thank you, Mrs. Chatwin.

Taylor.

I think Granny's claimed you.

Uh...
Matthew's missing.

Ada hasn't seen him since lunch.

I'll go look for him.

I'll get Granny home
and call Whitlow.

We'll be glad
to help.

Howard, hold on a second,
we'll help you.

(crowd murmuring)

He's never been
gone this long.

It's just not like him.

Thank you.

How far did you get?

The railroad bridge.

Then between us,

we scouted seven miles
of river--

from the trestle

to Bower Bridge.

So he didn't go
to the river, then?

John's Creek?

(dogs barking)

Whitlow's here.

Been down at
the county courthouse.

I just got the news.

I'd hate to think of you worried
sick all day long, Ada.

I appreciate that.

(dog barks)

Stay, girl.

Howard.

We're gonna find the boy.

I'm going to need
one of his shirts.

(dog whimpering)

I'll go get it.

Got it?

She got it.

All right, girls.

Find him now.
Find him!

Let's go, boys.

Stay close range now.

Don't go wandering off.

(dogs barking)

Stay together.

Work as a team.

They'll find him, Ada.

They'll find him.

Matthew!

Matthew!

(dogs howling, barking)

Matthew!

Matthew!

(dogs barking)
Matthew!

Matthew!

Matthew!

Matthew!

Matthew!

(dogs barking)

Never seen 'em
running around so much.

Like they're chasing
their own tail.

He was here.

Digging for earthworms.

I'm going up to the lake.

See if he was up there.

I told Matthew there
are ghosts up there.

He's scared to death
of the place.

It's best to check.

I'll drive you up.

We will find him.

All right, let's go
walk that creek.

Come on.

Come on, girl.

Matthew!

I've got a bad feeling
about this.

I really do.

Taylor, this is fine
right here, it's fine.

I'm gonna
drive the roads.

All right.

(dogs whimpering, barking)

You hear him, girls?

(dogs barking)

What you hear?

Easy, easy.

Good girls,
you keep listening.

Anything?

Ground's cold.

We lost his scent.

I thought I'd wait here just
in case Matthew called out,

the dogs would hear him.

What do you think?

We got a lot of people
looking for him.

People who know the places
here pretty good.

It bothers me
we ain't found nothing.

Well, I'm just heading
over to Ada's,

make some breakfast.

You come and eat.

No, that's all right.

No, no, I won't take
no for an answer.

I'll have breakfast on
the table at first light.

(dogs whimpering)

All right.

NOAH:
Matthew!

Matthew!

Matthew!

Matthew!

(crying)

Nobody goes up there anymore,

not with all them ghosts.

Lord, I feel bad
about this.

If we'd just
fanned out more.

It just happened,
that's all.

Noah...

Howard's been
asking for you.

I'm gonna miss
Matthew.

Okay.

Sorry, Mr. Reynolds.

I told him about a
fish in that lake.

He went to catch it.

It weren't your fault, Noah.

Me and my wife know that.

Matthew had a good time
knowing you.

ADA:
Howard.

He's been, uh...
missing his daddy a lot,

awful lot lately.

And you gave him something
he didn't have.

Come here.

That's my girl.

That lake is cursed.

First Arch Wheeler
dying alone up there,

and then Boyd Chatwin.
By his own hand.

Now Matthew Reynolds,
the helpless little lamb.

If it were up to me,
we'd blow up that lake.

If you blow up that lake,

you might as well
blow up the mountain.

Somebody freezes or falls off
that mountain every year.

And after you blow up
the mountain,

you'd best go ahead
and blow up the roads

and the railroads, too.

TAYLOR:
Well, I'm thinking
it might help Howard

if we tidy up the yard
a little bit.

Bound to be a lot
of people coming by

when they hear
about Matthew.

I'll do it.

Well, I'll wash and wax
his car.

He's gonna want it clean
for the funeral.

Oh, Lord, that boy

was pretty much their life.

Yes, he was.

MAN:
...his body we commit
to the ground.

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes,

dust to dust.

Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord.

(distant thunder rumbles)
Here, says the spirit,

they will rest from their labors

for their deeds follow them.

Gracious God, we thank thee
for those we love

but see no more.

Receive into thy arms
your servant, Matthew,

and grant that in increasing
knowledge and love of You,

he may go from strength
to strength

in service
to your heavenly kingdom

through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

OTHERS:
Amen.

Have you been able
to reach your son yet?

Uh, no. He don't know yet.

I left a message
for him to call us,

but who knows when
he'll get that?

Mm.

Well, we're gonna
put off the fishing.

No. Too much work
already done.

People coming in
from all over.

And, uh, we know the
school needs the money.

(overlapping chatter
in background)

MAN:
Oh, she'd appreciate it.

(footsteps approaching)

Taylor's worried about you.

You're leaving?

(sighs)

I should've come up
here as soon as they
said he ran off.

I should've known.
You're not a mind reader.

You didn't know what
that child was gonna do.

Had it not been for me...

that boy would be
at the store right now

having an orange Crush
with Howard and Ada.

All we can do
is... love people

with a whole heart
while we have the chance.

And you loved that boy well.

I don't know why this world
has to shatter to pieces.

When I first saw you,

I thought an angel
might have sent you.

I've been alone so long,

I can make up things in my head
pretty easy.

All of us we're...

we're hoping for a sign,
aren't we?

A sign that...

we have a purpose...

and that we're being guided
towards it.

Well, I've never seen
that sign myself.

Maybe you've been that sign
for others.

A sign for Matthew.

I was... hoping a sign for me.

I'm nobody to count on.

Is walking away
the answer, Noah?

Will that keep you a pace
ahead of the pain?

Maybe if you keep walking
you'll find a valley

where no one has ever suffered
a broken heart.

But I wager to say...

that would be a loveless place.

GROUP:
♪ Nearer, my God, to thee ♪

♪ Nearer to thee ♪

♪ E'en though it be a cross ♪

♪ That raiseth me ♪

♪ Still all my song shall be ♪

♪ Nearer ♪

♪ My God, to thee ♪

♪ Nearer ♪

♪ My God, to thee ♪

♪ Nearer to thee ♪

♪ Still all my song shall be ♪

♪ Nearer ♪

♪ My God, to thee ♪

♪ Nearer ♪

♪ My God, to thee ♪

♪ Nearer ♪

♪ To thee. ♪

(brakes expressing air)

(laughter)

Noah's late.
He should've got here.

Where is he?

Half the people here come
out to see Noah fish.

(dog barking)

(chuckles)
Look at Littleberry.

Trying to figure
out which one

of these people is Noah.

All right, everyone,
listen here, now.

The fishin' starts
at the shot.

Early casters get
a half-hour penalty.

Contest ends at 2:00,
by my watch.

(indistinct conversation)

Oh. Fish fry at 5:00.

Oh, right.

Fish fry starts at 5:00.

(gunshot in distance)

(people clapping, shouting)
(line casting)

(indistinct shouting, laughter)

WOMAN:
There you go!

(woman groaning)

Got one!

Littleberry.

Littleberry Davis
caught the first fish?

Noah would've
caught ten by now.

Let's weigh him up!

♪ ♪

I will catch you.

♪ ♪

You can't fool me.

♪ ♪

Get up here.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NOAH:
If I trusted,
even for a moment,

in those signs you believe in,

I would have tried
to be one for you.

Noah.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Dear Travis,

I'm moving on again.

I'm not quite sure where yet.

Are you the one
they call Noah?

I am.

I was looking for you
at the contest.

My name's Littleberry Davis.

(sighs)

You're leaving town?

Yes, sir.

I never stay
for the fish fry.

I come for the prize,

not the party.

Where you headed?

Nowhere in particular.

Well, if you have a chance,
you ought to stop by South Lake.

That's where I live.

We got some pretty good
bass in it.

I hear you're staying up
at Arch Wheeler's place.

No fish up there.

(laughs)

Old fella always talking
about this monster fish

he had seen in that lake.

Said it was big
as a barn.

So I go there with
two or three of my boys

just to see for myself.

We stay the night there.

Only bite I got
was from mosquitoes.

Made old Hoke mad,

the jawing he took
about that phantom fish.

Mr. Hoke Moore?

Yeah. That's right,
old Hoke.

Well, now he's the one who
told me about this place.

Where'd you meet him?

I met him in Topton.

Yeah, yeah, Hoke
died in Topton.

Family had him
buried there

even though he'd lived most
of his life here in the valley.

Mr. Moore died?

Yeah, about five years ago.

Sorry to be the one
to tell you.

Now, Hoke was quite
a fisherman.

He was the best
I ever seen.

When he was buried,

Peavo Teasley said they
ought to put a catfish

in the coffin with him
so he would feel at home.

(laughing)

Friend, you don't
look too good.

You look like you
just seen a ghost.

Oh, no sir.

I don't believe in ghosts.

Maybe angels.

Thank you. Excuse me.

Hey, driver!

Travis, for a year
I traveled these roads

in the hope I could stay a pace
ahead of the grief.

Here I stopped... was overtaken

and left behind
with a certainty

that we do have purpose
in this world.

To find this valley,
cross the Nantahala River.

Follow the Hiawassee west.

When you see the bridge,
you're almost home.

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