Thanks.
Is it okay if I smoke?
Sure.
My matches are all wet.
- You got a lighter? - Yeah, it's here somewhere.
It's my wife's car.
There we are.
I remember once...
...going on a school trip to the top of the Empire State Building.
When I looked down at the people on the street...
...they looked like ants.
I pulled out a penny and some of us talked about what would happen...
...if I dropped it from up there and it landed on somebody's head.
Of course, I never crossed that line and actually dropped the penny.
I don't think Early Grayce even knew there was a line to cross.
It's about the mind of a serial killer and culpability.
Whoever can't distinguish right from wrong is like a child.
By law, he should be treated like a child. Not imprisoned or executed.
There you go again.
Next you'll lay it all at the altar of misfiring synapses...
...amok biochemicals and horrendous childhoods.
It's true. Most of these poor people suffer from chemical brain imbalances.
- Is that enough tequila? - No.
The answer is research and treatment under hospital conditions.
Not the electric chair.
Great, Brian. Unless it's your mother they find in the refrigerator.
But executing the killer wouldn't bring my mother back.
- Thank God. - Oh, everybody's a joker.
It would sure make you feel better.
No, actually, it wouldn't.
The bottom line is, these people are evil, plain and simple.
How about a bowl of chili? A hot one.
Be right there!
"Antichrist will be a woman...
...in a man's body...
...with seven heads and seven tails."
Make that to go.
"The Antichrist...
...will be a woman...
...in a man's body.
Seven heads and seven tails."
"Antichrist will be a woman...
...in a man's body.
Seven heads and seven tails."
I always knew I'd be a writer.
But there's a difference between an article and a book.
I know. I wrote an article.
Everything I wanted to know about serial killers fit on four pages.
Brian, what are we doing here?
Research.
Come on, look at this. You'll get some great photos in here.
This is where her nightmares began.
Her father worked the night shift here.
Most nights he'd take her with him.
She was 1 1 years old.
Of course, the bastard knew...
...nobody could hear her screams over the noise of the machines.
The article got me a book deal, a little cash up front.
But between the rent and the convertible, the advance was gone.
I owed a book, and I was stuck.
All I knew about serial killers I learned at a university library.
And the only thing I knew for certain...
...was that people didn't kill each other in libraries.
She murdered her first victim here.
They found him stuffed in the corner.
They found her second victim...
...over there.
Can you imagine the rage and pain she felt returning here?
The victim returns to the scene of the crime.
And becomes the criminal.
Where did everybody go?
I didn't take that long.
Size seven.
That's right, ain't it? Super size seven.
Oh, Early, you're a specialist.
Happy birthday, Adele.
Oh, thank you, honey. These are beautiful.
This reminds me of Cinderella when the prince gave her his glass slipper.
Except these ones are red and they ain't see-through.
And there's two of them. That my chili?
Oh, honey.
Happy birthday to me. Thank you.
Tonight turned out to be interesting.
Oh, those fascinating friends of yours and their stimulating conversation.
No, the warehouse. I'm not that stoned.
Oh, the warehouse. Actually, yeah, it was interesting.
It was definitely the highlight of the evening.
Just being there where it all happened...
...I could almost...
Take your shirt off.
Yes, ma'am.
Come here.
Early!
What?
I'll be waiting for you when you get back.
Put your titty back up.
Wait, I forgot! Mr. Diebold stopped by yesterday.
If we don't give him his money by the end of the month...
...he'll kick us the F-U-C-K out of here.
He cussed at you?
- You gonna talk to him? - Well...
Shut up!
He comes back here, don't you open that door.
Well, suppose he hears me inside?
I picked up some Chinese.
Did you hear from the gallery?
You got your slides back?
What did they say?
You know, same story, different day.
They're idiots.
"Too graphic."
"Too overt."
"Not suitable for mass consumption." I forget which.
You don't want to be suitable for mass consumption.
I know.
It's just...
Who cares anyway, right?
Not me.
Christ, I'm dying here.
Why can't we just get the hell out of here?
Why can't we just go to California? Why not?
Just like that?
Yeah, just like that.
Yeah.
What the hell did I know about California?
For some people, it was still a place of hopes and dreams.
A chance to start over.
The idea was if you could just get there, everything would be okay.
And if it wasn't okay there...
...then it probably wasn't gonna be okay anywhere.
Adele, whose car is that out front?
She's not here.
Shit.
Well, look who stopped by.
I ain't supposed to be at the parole office till tomorrow, 2:00.
You're supposed to notify me when you lose your job.
Yeah.
I stopped by the mirror factory today.
You left quite a mess behind.
Well, that wasn't my fault.
It's a dangerous area and they treat me like shit.
Nobody ever has treated you right, have they?
Your daddy was picking on you when he threw you out of the house...
...for stealing the tires off his truck.
The police. Way out of line...
...when they kept you from beating that bartender half to death.
You know...
...I bet the Lord will be picking on you come Judgment Day.
Now hold on there! I ain't got nothing against God, see?
It's just people he let... Get out of there!
What are you looking for?
That girlfriend of yours...
...not much for housekeeping, is she?
Well, I was thinking about moving anyhows.
Maybe down to Texas.
- Get a job on one of them rigs. - What are you talking about?
Well...
You know you can't leave the state.
Just a thought.
What you can do is get a job.
You be at this address...
...3:00 sharp.
What is it?
Janitor's job.
Well, don't want to be no janitor.
I don't give two shits what you want and what you don't want.
I'm telling you to be there.
Or you'll be having dinner with the sheriff.
You understand me, boy?
You ought to try putting a bag over your head for that cough.
Works every time.
You peg-armed piece of shit.
She came back to the warehouse that her father molested her in.
Why?
Because this place is the catalyst.
She needed to relive her nightmares before she could kill those men.
The victim...
Oh, hey, sleeping beauty.
- I didn't have the heart to wake you. - Thanks.
Oh, my head.
What are you doing?
I sat down with your photos... which are wonderful.
Thank you.
...and my tapes and I started writing.
How's it going?
It's the best stuff I've ever done. And I think I know why.
Why?
Because for the first time I understood her as a human being.
I was walking where she walked, where she killed.
I was in her skin. Looking through her eyes.
I think we got a book here.
With your pictures and my writing, it's a book.
On the warehouse murders?
No, on the most infamous murders in American history.
We'll go where they lived and where they killed.
You take the pictures, I'll write the text.
- What are you talking about? - About this!
We can go through Tennessee.
We can drop through Arkansas...
...wherever the hell Arkansas is. There it is.
Then we can drop down into Texas...
...and from there, it's a straight shot into...
- California! - California.
And we don't stop till we hit the fucking ocean.
Thank you.
We don't have the money but we'll figure it out.
We'll figure it out.
Hold it a minute, boy!
Shit!
You'll settle that rent here and now!
I'm tired of your bullshit! I want my money!
Dipshit.
Son of a bitch! Come back!
You tell him I want you both out of here by Sunday...
...or I'll call the police.
Elvis, get the fuck off of him!
The rideshare was my idea.
I thought if a student wanted to go to California...
...they'd help pay for the gas.
Carrie wasn't crazy about the idea...
...but the Lincoln only got eight miles a gallon.
- They say the whole thing... - Will slide into the ocean. I heard.
"Looking for somebody to take turns driving and share expenses...
...on a week-long, cross-country tour of historic murder sites"?
You've got to be kidding.
Brian, who in their right mind would want to do that?
- I would. - Like I said...
Hey, good luck on that thesis.
Don't know where the personal office is at, do you?
The personnel office is first door on the left.
What, down there?
Stinking bitch.
Shit.
Early?
How you doing, mama?
Fine.
Boy, I'm tired.
- Dinner ready yet? - Almost.
Well, let me know.
Early?
Yeah?
Will you tell me more about California?
Yeah, I guess so.
Let's see.
For one thing...
...people think faster out there on account of all that warm weather.
Cold weather makes people stupid. That's a fact.
I guess that explains why there are so many stupid people around here.
It sure does.
- You know what else? - What?
You never have to buy no fruit. It's on the trees everywhere you turn.
And they ain't got speed limits.
I hear your first month's rent is free. State law.
I'm thinking till we get settled, we'll move from month to month.
How would that be with you, mama?
What will we do out there?
By God, the first thing we'll do is get a six-pack of Lucky Lager...
...and we'll climb up to that famous Hollywood sign...
...and we'll howl at the moon.
Yeah. Just like that.
I heard there ain't nothing on that moon...
...except some little golf balls that the astronauts left behind.
No, that ain't right.
That's bullshit.
The government's sending people there. Just don't want us to know.
Now, get!
Well, let me know when you're finished.
Shit.
- What was he like over the phone? - He was real polite.
He kept calling me "sir."
- I like that. - I bet you do.
You should try it once in a while.
I don't know. This is really weird.
We should have met them first.
Beggars can't be choosers. They were the only ones to answer the note.
Oh, God. Please don't let them be as boring as Brian's friends.
Anything but that.
Early, we shouldn't be doing this.
Now, you know you ain't even allowed to be leaving the state.
And these people are strangers...
...and what kind of people stop at places...
...where other people got murdered?
What if these people are dangerous?
They ain't. They're writers.
Honey.
Early Grayce.
- You settle things with Mr. Diebold? - Yeah, I did.
Left him with the car.
We're all straight now.
- What is that? - That's Lucy.
That's mine!
What kind of cuckoo brain carries a cactus in her purse?
I don't know.
Straighten up.
You've got to be kidding. They look like Okies.
Jesus, they look kind of weird.
They don't have five bucks.
You let me do the talking.
- Let's keep going. - Lighten up.
- How many times you gonna say that? - As many as it takes.
Lighten up.
- Early? - Mr. Kessler?
Hi, I'm Brian Kessler.
Nice to meet you.
You must be Adele.
Uh-huh, that's Adele.
- Nice to meet you. - Hi.
- Can I help you with your luggage? - Oh, yeah.
I'll get these.
Hi, I'm Adele.
Hi, I'm Carrie.
I like your hair.
Oh, thanks.
Because it's short.
Oh, yeah. Well...
...thanks.
Carrie was right.
If you looked up "poor white trash" in the dictionary...
...a picture of Early and Adele would be there.
But if I was gonna be a good writer, I'd have to ignore the clichés...
...and look at life through my own eyes.
So, Early.
What do you do?
Well, I do some work at the...
Well, I did some work at the mirror factory.
Know what, Brian? One night when we was staying up late...
...we was talking about how much bad luck he must have...
...from all those mirrors he broke.
And I swear we came to 449 years...
...that it would take for him to work it all off.
And he'd have to, after he died...
...he'll have to keep coming back to Earth...
...over and over and over again.
- Karma. - Yeah, karma.
- What? - Karma.
You know...
...when you do something bad to someone and fate pays you back by...
...something bad happening to you.
Is that French?
We can stop if you and Adele haven't had breakfast.
Well, it's like this.
I don't eat breakfast.
It's because of what he read in this book once.
That folks needing breakfast is a myth or something.
And it was put out by the cereal people.
Jesus Christ!
- Who are you? - I'm his parole officer.
Right. Talked to you on the phone.
What the hell happened?
They say it's a torch job.
- That sound like your boy? - Could be.
- Where do I find him? - I don't know.
Crazy son of a bitch was talking about moving to Texas.
Without his car?
What about the owner of the house...
...Mr. John Diebold? Know where he is?
I don't know.
I tell you, he won't be happy when he sees this.
Jesus Christ!
Early seemed harmless.
Primitive but harmless.
Of course, the fact was...
...he'd killed his landlord less than an hour before we met him.
He was even wearing the guy's ring.
Who knows what he did with the finger.
Here you go, mama.
Oh, thank you, honey.
Look what I got. I got a camera.
Who gets...
...the water?
- Here you go, Bri. - Thanks.
I got bags of chips and some jerky if you want.
Just in case.
From the moment I began working on the book...
...I found myself asking one question over and over. :
What's the difference between a killer and one of us?
What is it they had or didn't have that separated them from us?
The Novaks are long gone...
...but the fence they hired Michael Zeruba to put up...
...is still here.
- The Novaks... - Hey, you two.
Come on, show your love.
The Novaks embraced the young drifter as one of their own.
The neighbors said...
...he was a quiet young man, often seen pushing the children on the swing set.
Everything was fine until the Novaks ran out of work for Michael to do...
...and had to ask him to leave.
How does a man get to the point...
...where he can kill another human being in cold blood?
Early, could you move out of the way, please?
The first to die...
...was the 9-year-old daughter.
Hi, I'm Brian Kessler.
What's your name?
Pa?
Pa, where are you?
Pa, there's somebody at the door who wants to see you.
- What? Who is it? - I don't know.
Good afternoon, sir.
I'm sorry to wake you.
My name is Brian Kessler.
I'm a writer.
I'm working on a book on the most famous murders in American history.
I'm sure you're aware that this is the Novak farm.
I was wondering if my girlfriend, Carrie...
...could come in and take a few pictures...
...and I'll just tape some notes...
...and we'll be out in five minutes.
Just a few minutes. I could walk around, get a feel for it.
Goddamn ghouls.
We drove all day to get here.
I'd be out in five minutes.
Five minutes!
Brian, come on.
Just forget about it. Come on.
At the time I was angry Mr. Baxter slammed the door in my face.
But it was just his way of forgetting...
...of pretending that nothing terrible had ever happened there.
I guess it's only natural to try and forget the bad things that happen.
You never really do, though.
Well, we've come 480 miles so far.
Not bad for a day's haul, huh?
Pretty good, bud.
You got any family or friends in California, Early?
No.
- You do? - No, I don't.
Do you have any friends or family in California, Carrie?
What?
No.
Well, that's okay. At least we all got each other, right?
I mean...
...that's something.
Mama used to say that when you have people around you...
...it's better that you're not alone. - Check.
Because when you're alone, it's hard to develop your personality.
And with more people around you, it helps...
...because friends are really important and...
Thank you.
- Thanks, bud. - That's...
We'll get the next one.
We gotta hit the sack. Let's go, mama.
- Have sweet dreams. - Good night, Adele.
Good night, Early.
That's funny. I didn't know you were so prejudiced.
Because I object to having somebody take off their shoe...
...and scratch their foot while I'm eating...
...l'm prejudiced? - He can't help the way he was raised.
I feel sorry for him.
You feel sorry for him.
That's so sweet.
Obviously, you didn't get a whiff of that sock.
Bitch, bitch, bitch.
Thirty bucks for a motel.
For what?
Lumpy mattress, crummy TV and a crapper?
Don't think so!
- Honey, sing me a song. - Not now. I'm busy, mama.
- Just stay put. - Please.
Okay. If you don't sing it, I'm gonna sing it myself.
Honey?
When we get to California, will you take me to that Chinese restaurant...
...where all them footprints are out in front?
Only if they let me put mine down too.
Pretty smooth, how they stiffed us on dinner.
He didn't stiff us.
He paid for the gas. Remember?
Brian, I am telling you, I am telling you.
They're almost broke and we are gonna end up paying for the two of them.
And don't change the subject.
It's my favorite subject, though.
Oh, my God.
Good morning.
Morning, Early.
Breakfast?
- No, I don't eat breakfast. Never do. - Sir.
We don't have a liquor license, so I'm afraid you'll have to...
That's okay. I got plenty more where this one come from.
- Morning. - Morning, Adele.
You cut your hair.
Early cut it.
He said it makes me look more pretty.
And I think he's right because...
...he's right.
Nice job, Early.
You like to order some breakfast?
No, I won't be having breakfast this morning, thank you.
Want some of this?
- Finish. - Thanks.
What you reading?
Sex Art in the American Culture.
No, I never read that one.
I can't wait to get on the road. I love that convertible.
Yeah, it's great.
Because...
...I like wind, Brian.
So do I.
You want me to get your stuff?
No, thanks, Early. I can manage.
I meant to say luggage, ma'am.
I got them.
Hi, honey.
Mama.
When you dream...
...there are no rules.
People can fly.
Anything can happen.
Sometimes, there's a moment as you're waking...
...when you become aware of the real world around you...
...but you're still dreaming.
You may think you can fly, but you better not try it.
Serial killers live their whole lives in that place.
Somewhere between dreams and reality.
Guess it's your turn to pay, Early.
Hey, move it!
Stupid son of a bitch.
You know, I used to smoke before I met Early.
But he broke me of that.
Broke you?
Yeah, because Early, he don't think...
...that women should smoke or drink or cuss.
So you know what I do?
I spell all my cuss words.
"S." Ouch.
"S-H." Ouch!
S-H-l-T!
But you don't do any of those other things.
No. I mean, I better not.
He whips you?
No! No, no. Only when I deserve it.
You were in there a long time.
Yeah. I took a dump.
You don't want to go in. It's wall-to-wall stink.
Just gonna go wash my hands.
Ain't got no sink.
- No sink? - Nope.
Damnedest thing I ever seen.
Let's go.
How about I drive, bud?
No, mama, get in the back.
$28.35, sir.
- How much? - $28.35.
Hope I got that.
Make it an even 30.
- Thank you, sir. - Yeah.
When you first meet people, all you see are the differences between you.
But as time passes, you start noticing the similarities.
I guess that's how all friendships begin.
Okay, so you first. You put down a card, and then I put down a card.
And then when they match up...
...and it's the same card...
...then you go "snap" and I take it.
And I take the cards that's there and...
Like that.
Snap.
I thought you said you never played this before.
I haven't.
I really haven't. I'm a fast learner, I guess.
I was reading in your deal how they never caught that Black Doler killer.
- Black Dahlia. - Yeah.
They didn't.
Well, I was wondering how come. See what I'm getting at?
It's like...
Well, some people think he just stopped killing...
...disappeared back into society.
That's dandy, but I want to know what a smart fellow like yourself thinks.
I always thought it was a serial killer.
Anybody who took that much time and care bisecting a human being...
- Bisecting? - You know, he cut them in two.
- He hacked them up? - Two pieces, yeah. In half.
Anybody who did that must've enjoyed it...
...and he would've done it again until somebody stopped him.
That's good. That's a good theory, Bri.
You want to hear mine?
Sure.
Okay.
Ain't you gonna record it?
Early Grayce's Black Dahlia theory.
June 23rd.
Okay. Now, I'm betting he's still alive.
Real old, living in a trailer park or something somewhere.
But he's alive, see?
Now, he's thinking about what he done.
Going over it, over and over it, in his head every night...
...figuring he's smart for getting away with it.
- That's possible. - Hey, you shoot pool?
Come on, bud.
Designated driver.
Minnesota Fats.
Don't forget your key.
Why did I open my big mouth?
Please come home soon.
Let's go!
Jesus, bud, you damn near swallowed her!
Why didn't you go with them, Adele?
Because...
...you know how Early feels about women drinking.
So how did you and Early meet, anyways?
I was hitchhiking this one day...
...and Early stopped.
And I walked up to look in the window...
...and I looked in.
And Early's face, he was down like that...
...because he was serious.
And then he... He said:
"You getting in? " And...
And then he looked up.
And that's when I saw his eyes.
And, I swear, Carrie, he has the eyes of an angel.
And then, I just... I ended up moving in his trailer with him...
...because I thought it'd be kind of neat.
But...
You know what? I was thinking that...
What if me, you, and Brian and Early...
...all moved into a house together in California?
Wouldn't that be fun?
Well, I mean...
Well, we'll see what happens.
You never know.
Okay.
Do you want me to fix your hair for you?
Yes.
Because...
...I don't really like it...
...that much.
Come on, then.
- Okay. - It doesn't look that bad...
...but I think we should fix it.
I'm betting we're gonna find us some doors around here.
Yeah, the doors out front, on the street.
Not "doors."
- Huh? - Doors, bud.
Openings to other dimensions.
You see, I read, bud.
And I'm telling you, if a man knows what he's doing...
...he can transport himself to anywhere in this goddamn universe.
- Didn't know that, did you? - No, I didn't.
I should tell you I'm not much of a pool player.
Oh, it ain't hard.
I can teach you.
- Really? - Yeah.
Spot you a few balls first game too.
- You're not gonna hustle me, are you? - How much money you got?
What's that?
That's a portfolio of my work.
That's what that is.
Your pictures? Can I look at them?
Yep. Go right ahead.
Oh, my Lord!
Did you take this one?
I took all of those.
Yeah, that one's me.
No, it isn't!
Hold still, you.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh, my God, Carrie.
If Early ever saw me in a picture like that...
...l'd be black-and-blue for a week.
You shouldn't let him do that to you.
You think Early's mean to me?
Well, he's not.
He may punch me once in a while...
...but he's not mean.
When I was 1 3...
...there were these three boys.
And they raped me...
...in the back of this truck and...
And...
...they hurt me so bad...
...that I was in the hospital for, like, four months.
And I feel safe with Early because...
...most of the time, he treats me really nice.
And...
...I know that he'd never...
He would never let anything like that ever happen to me again.
I like my hair.
You did a really good job, Carrie.
It's really professional.
Hey, Marlene! Come here, baby.
Why don't you and me get together tonight and sweat it up some?
Fuck off, T.J.
Hey!
There you go. That'll be five bucks.
Wait. Wait a minute. These aren't Lucky Lager.
- We ordered Lucky Lager. - Take a look around you.
If you see something lucky around here, you let me know.
Why don't you tell me what you think is so funny?
- What? - You think I'm funny?
No.
What would a jizz-gargling cum-drunk fairy like you do...
...with a pretty girl like that?
What are you talking about, man? Just relax.
Hit him. Because it's coming.
What's that? This your boyfriend?
No, he's not my boyfriend. Why don't you cool it, man?
- Hey, asshole! - This ain't Lucky Lager.
Break it up!
Wasn't that guy's fault. T.J. Started it.
Dipshit!
Rack 'em up!
Because your pink replaces your red
My ma was a beautician.
- Really? - Yeah, she likes pink a lot.
You should've seen her face.
She was mad when she first found out I was with Early...
...on account of him just getting out of jail and all.
She hasn't talked to me in over a year now.
I wish she'd call me, Carrie.
Early's been in jail?
Uh-huh.
What for?
For carrying a gun.
And resisting arrest.
It's a really interesting story, actually.
He put up a fight with the policeman...
...and they struggled...
...because he didn't want to be arrested.
I'd have done the same thing.
Why aren't you laughing now?
I don't know. I just don't think...
...that carrying guns and resisting arrest is very funny.
Well...
...l'm gonna go back to my hotel room now, Carrie.
I had a really great time with you.
I just think I had too many beers.
And I wasn't even supposed to be drinking in the first place.
Adele, you don't have to go. I didn't mean...
Great.
Look at this dipshit.
- Hey, watch it, asshole! - Fuck you!
Get him, Bri. Tear him up!
Oh, I gotta see a man about a mule.
What?
Take a piss.
Hey, see if there's any "reebs" in the back seat.
- What? - "Reebs." Beers.
That's what we used to call them when we were kids.
That's "beer" spelled backwards.
Shit.
- Think I chipped the concrete, Bri. - The last one.
I want you to have it for saving my ass back there.
It ain't nothing. I picked out that big Yankee mother a year ago.
By God, I'm uglier than you are.
Come on!
Thank you.
How long you had your woman, bud?
Oh, three years.
She's a good one. She's a breeder, you dog.
I'll tell her you said that she's a breeder.
She'll like that. I'll tell her.
Can I get a hork off that, bud?
Do you remember them doors?
Them doors I was talking about, Bri?
I got me a couple of them, found me a couple of them in Kentucky.
Hell, I wasn't even looking for the first one.
I was on the side of the road, swinging my sickle.
I turned around, and there's this door...
...this big old door.
And light's coming out, blinding me, real gold.
And I'm thinking, "This can't be."
So I close my eyes...
...and I count one, I count two...
...I count three, I count four, five...
...and I open my eyes...
It wasn't there.
Come on.