Am I late?
I'm sorry.
Early and me, we got into a fight in this bar.
I'm fine, though. I was just...
It was me and him against, like, 30 guys.
You know, we gotta talk about your good buddy Early.
Who said he's my good buddy?
You sure been acting like you were.
Out whooping it up and drinking and everything.
- You've been drinking too. Come on. - Oh, yeah, right.
You should've seen how scared she was that he was gonna find out.
He beats her, you know.
How do you know that?
Because she told me, that's how I know that.
I gotta see a man about a mule.
But only when she "deserves" it.
Did you happen to know that he was in jail?
Yeah. Yeah. For stealing a car.
Really? Is that what he told you?
He told her it was for carrying a gun.
Brian, it could be for murder for all we know.
Will you stop being so fucking melodramatic?
Melodramatic!
If it was murder...
...he'd still be in jail...
...or he'd be on parole...
...in which case, he wouldn't be allowed to leave the state.
Maybe he wasn't allowed to leave the state. You ever think about that?
Oh, okay. We'll get the keys...
...and sneak out. Is that what you want?
What's wrong with you?
Can we talk about this in the morning when the room isn't spinning?
So how are you feeling now, Brian?
Does your stomach feel kind of like it's...
...in these knots and it's twisty...
...and you could just explode at any given moment?
Well, my daddy, he used to make this great drink for hangovers.
And he'd make a blend of sauerkraut juice and Tabasco sauce...
Goddamn! You see that woman? She's butt-ugly.
- He put in a little bit of lemon... - Hairy too.
...for the tartness. And then the last ingredient, Brian...
...this is the best one, was an egg so that he could have breakfast...
...and get rid of his hangover all in the same time.
Shave that dog and teach it to hunt!
Early lived in the moment.
He did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
It was that simple.
I don't know if I was fascinated or frightened by him.
Probably both.
Okay, what should I call you?
I can't call you Lucy. Lucy's gone.
I'll call you Shelly.
Hi, Shelly. I know you're thirsty.
What? What's going on?
- Look. - What?
Look!
The only thing my old man ever give me was this goddamn .45.
Japanese, but it's pretty good. Go on, shoot it.
No, take it. Shoot it.
- I don't know how to do it. - You can do it.
- I haven't... - Point it and shoot the damn thing.
No, you're jerking it. You're all like this!
You gotta hold it soft. Like your pecker. Okay?
Boys will be boys.
You know any tricks, Carrie?
No.
Now, hold on. Hold on.
- You want to learn some? - No.
Aim. Okay, loosen up.
Loosen your elbow.
You gotta breathe, bud.
Hold it.
Shoot.
- Hey, Carrie! - Good one.
You look good with a gun, Brian.
That's a good one, bud. That's super. Good one.
Like that gun? I'll give it to you. I want you to have it.
- I don't need a gun. - Go on, take it.
I'll get me another one.
You never know out in California with all them cuckoos. Best hold on to it.
Now give it another shot, you mean boy. Go on.
Shoot that damn thing.
That's super. That's some super shooting.
Look at that.
We're gonna sit this one out, bud, if that's to your "satisfication."
Fine.
Honey! Honey.
If you need some help, bud, you just holler. I'll be there.
Shit.
What is that?
A copy of the tape they found.
He recorded everything.
Where am I?
Mister, can you help me?
Speldor had him working in here...
...before he was 8 years old... - Who are you?
...killing animals with a sledgehammer that was bigger than he was.
Can you... Can you get me out of here, please?
Look, I don't know who you are.
I don't know what you want me to be...
...but, please, just let me go, okay?
When she was pissed at him...
What are you doing?
...she'd beat the shit out of him...
...then lock him in here overnight.
I have... My parents, they have money. I'll give you money...
...if that's what you want. Let me go.
One morning...
Oh, God! Oh, God!
...the little boy wakes up...
...picks up the sledgehammer...
What are you gonna do with those things?
...starts hurting back.
Oh, God, no!
How does he get from...
What are you doing?
I'm finished.
I know you're upset about the gun.
I'm not upset about the gun!
I'm upset about the gun, but that is not it. It's...
God, can we please turn this off?
Goddamn it, what is going on here?
A week ago, you would never have picked up that gun. Never!
Then this afternoon, you're out there wielding a gun...
...like you're Clyde-fucking-Barrow!
What's going on with you? Please talk to me!
It was stupid. It was a cheap thrill, I admit it.
It was stupid. It was just bang-bang, like kids.
Okay? But I need you to take these photos.
We need them. I don't want to blow it.
- Oh, the pictures. The book. - Okay?
God, that really is all that matters to you, isn't it?
That really is all you care about, isn't it?
God, I cannot believe I agreed to do this!
That is such crap!
You wanted to come take these photos every bit as much as I wanted you to.
Wrong.
Wrong!
I did whatever it took to get you off your ass...
...and us on our way to California. And there's a big difference.
- Early. - What?
Early.
Wait.
- Jesus Christ! - I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I want him out of our car.
Why? What happened?
- I want him out of our car. - What happened?
Next gas station, it's either him or me. It's up to you.
...hundreds of acres and forced 7 0 people to evacuate...
...was originally thought to have been arson.
Yeah, can I get a carton of Victory Kings...
...and $20 worth of gas in the car? Thanks.
Their names haven't been released...
Here's your change.
Looks like a bad one coming in. Y'all better be careful.
Where you headed?
California.
California. I hear it never rains out there, huh? It must be nice.
Hi, Carrie. I have to go to the bathroom.
...fatal stabbing and robbery of Joseph Davies Robbins...
...at this East Texas gas station.
He is armed and dangerous.
If you see this man, please notif...
...with a history of arrests is still at large.
Grayce is 25 years old, 5' 1 1, " with long brown hair.
He has a tattoo on his left arm.
He was last seen in East Texas at a gas station...
I ain't riding no bus, bitch.
...to be responsible for the murder of his landlord...
...John Diebold of Nassau County. The murder occurred last Tuesday.
We would like to repeat. : There is a nationwide hunt for Early Grayce.
Knew that boy'd have a hogleg here somewhere.
Not a word.
Hello! Get over here, skinny. Sit your ass in that corner.
Come on.
- Honey, what are you doing? - They gave us the boot, mama.
Keep Brian busy. I don't want him coming in.
- Honey, you're scaring... - Right now, missy. Get!
- Hi. - Hi.
I'm just getting my things, and then I'm gonna leave, Brian.
What's your name, boy?
Walter Livesy.
I think I gotta kill you, Walter. How do you feel about that?
Not so good.
- You sure you have to? - I don't know. Wish I did.
- Early, please... - Shut up!
Goddamn it!
I'm trying to have a conversation with Walter.
I'm sorry about that, Walter.
Hey, don't forget your yo-yo. Listen, Adele...
...you not coming with us has nothing to do with you guys.
It's between Carrie and me.
Where you from?
Vernon, Florida.
Don't know it. Any hunting?
Turkeys, sometimes.
Yeah, turkeys are real smart.
Smarter than most people think.
Tell you what, Walter. I want you down on your belly.
Get on your belly.
Stay there for a long time after we leave. We got a deal, son?
- Yes, sir. - Okay.
You mind if I hold on to that Bible?
What do you want with your Bible, Walter?
He thinks I'm gonna kill him.
- That'd make me a liar, wouldn't it? - No, sir.
No?
Here you go, Walter.
I wonder if Adele would like one...
- What was that? - Oh, my God.
Nothing, Brian. It was just the thunder.
Oh, my God.
Hey, Early, what the fuck are you doing?
You'll like this one. Get in.
Big fella, you're riding shotgun. Adele, you drive.
- What are you doing? - Come on, bud. Come on, let's go.
- You all right? What happened? - Get us out of here, mama.
Oh, she gonna lie.
- What happened? - He shot him in the head.
- Who shot who in the head? - No, he didn't, Carrie!
Everybody just shut up!
Goddamn, bitch, quit squawking! Nothing's changed.
I'm gonna get you there, safe, to California.
If Adele don't kill us with her driving first.
Early.
What'd you get us?
I got Chinese food.
What is it?
The guy, he didn't speak too good of English...
...so I just got what they had.
Smells like butt. You get the beer?
What is this, Chink beer?
Goddamn it, Adele.
Well...
...give this one to what's-her-name.
Come over here, bud. Get you some grub.
What the hell's a Chinaman doing in the middle of an American desert?
Adele, where are the forks and spoons?
Is it me, or has this trip gone downhill since we ran out of Lucky Lager?
Wish I had me some chili beans.
How many people have you killed, Early?
Well, now, how many people you seen me kill?
None.
That's how many I killed.
If you say so.
Damn right I do!
Just shut up! Eat your food.
You ain't never killed no one, have you, Bri?
- No. - No?
Ain't seen nobody killed either, have you?
- No, I haven't. - No.
Tell me something, big time:
How the hell you gonna write a book about something you know nothing about?
Mama, sing us a song or something.
I...
...wish...
...Carrie was happy
I...
...wish...
...she would smile
You guys want your picture taken?
Come on, Carrie, smile.
He was breathing when I walked out of there.
See, Carrie, it's okay. He was breathing.
Ain't we getting near the next murder site?
It doesn't matter anymore.
The hell if it don't. Give me that map.
Someday me and Adele, we'll be walking along...
...we'll see your book in some store window.
We'll buy it and put it on our coffee table, right, mama?
Let's go have us a look, people.
- Early, I'm gonna stay here. - You don't want to go, mama?
You watch Carrie. I'll take the pictures, Bri.
You run, Bri gets it.
Lead the way, bud.
So, uh, what happened here?
Two brothers, prospectors, lived here in the '70s.
Yeah, so?
They picked up hitchhikers, young men, and brought them here.
Hey, Bri.
It won't give me nightmares, will it? Get out of the way.
This one's called "Walk the Dog."
My favorite one is "Rock the Cradle."
They were asked just before they were executed why they did it.
And they said, "To be famous."
Why did you do it, Early?
Do what, Bri?
You didn't have to kill the guy.
Move a little to the left.
You wanted to.
Why?
Help me out, Early, I don't know shit about killing.
You gotta tell me.
- Does it make you feel good? - Huh?
- Powerful? - Huh?
- Superior? - Huh?
What?
Who are you angry with?
Your mother?
Your father?
You want to know about my daddy, do you?
Yeah.
I'll tell you about my daddy.
Adele, you gotta help us out here and talk to Early. He's sick...
...and he needs some help.
- You've gotta... - You're messing up my trick.
Adele, listen to me, please.
The police are after him. He killed a man back there.
No, that ain't true.
I saw him kill a man!
No, Carrie, that ain't true. It ain't true.
I'm your friend, why would I lie?
He said he didn't.
Why would I lie about this? I know you know.
- I don't know why you're saying this. - Why would I lie?
He said he didn't do it, and you ain't my friend.
You're on private property.
I need some kind of identification.
I'm sorry, Carrie. Please don't say anything.
We got a match. I'll call for backup.
Please, don't say anything.
All right, ladies.
I'd like both of you to step slowly away from the car...
No, Early!
Got them both on a dead run.
No, no, no, Early!
Come on, mama.
Tell me that don't hurt.
- Shoot him. - What?
Put that crippled dog out of his misery.
You want to know about it, you gotta do it, son.
Shoot him!
Lay it on in there. Come on, mean boy.
Come on, mean boy, do it!
Shoot him! Shoot the dog, shoot the dog!
It's him or you, boy!
Shoot him! Come on!
Go! Go, mean boy!
Pussy faggot!
Look at his face! It's not your father! Look at him!
I know that, you idiot!
That police is in a world of hurting, and this is a mercy kill.
Let's hit the road.
Not even a simple "Thank you."
Thank you.
Thank you for what, Adele?
I don't know, Early.
It was for saving your fucking life back there!
You were this close to spending the night in the county morgue!
- He wasn't gonna shoot, you murderer! - Stop it, Carrie.
- Are you fucking insane!? - Shut up!
- He's a murderer! - Shut up, Carrie!
Goddamn bunch of loons!
Look, mama, there's a pretty house.
Maybe they got some beer.
Look at all the cactuses.
They're beautiful.
You know what makes cactuses so strong?
You can just forget about them forever and they'd still live.
They'd just keep growing...
We got to do something before Early kills somebody else.
- And they breed. - Adele, will you listen to me?
You can't do nothing, Brian. Just sit still.
Adele.
You have beautiful cactuses, ma'am.
I just love them.
My mama had a garden...
...and I had this baby cactus.
- And I was gonna plant it... - You gotta talk to Adele.
She looks up to you. She'll listen.
I tried talking to her at the mine. It didn't work.
Then try again.
Hey, Bri, you ever stop...
...and think, if you switched two letters in your name...
...you'd spell "brain"?
Boy, you got a problem.
What's wrong with grandma?
Where's your husband?
I'm a widow.
Yeah?
That you, Peaches?
Sweetheart, come on over here.
It's so clear, you can't believe it.
It's just amazing.
Come on over. Take a look, honey.
I want you to see this.
Peaches?
Early?
Early.
Guess what, Early?
Miss Musgrave has this guest house in the back...
...and it's real beautiful. And it's empty, hon.
- She said if me and you wanted to... - Hank!
Hank!
Well, you're a widow now, Peaches.
Boring.
Dog shit.
That don't leave much to the imagination, does it?
I know him. That's my daddy.
Fucker.
Boring.
You're not gonna die.
That's you, ain't it?
Yeah, that's me.
Do you like it? What do you think?
Dog shit.
You can go now.
Call me.
You should control your woman, boy.
Stinky. Stinky.
Lucky for you they take all kinds in California.
That's where we'll be tomorrow.
California.
Adele!
Mama!
Stupid.
Adele!
Goddamn it.
Peaches!
- Peaches! - Stop it!
Stop it, Early!
Stop it!
What are you doing?
Get the piano up and try and slide your hands under.
Mama, what are you...
Why are you crying? I'm the one that got hit.
Because I decided, Early.
I'm not gonna climb up that Hollywood sign with you.
- And why not? - You're mean, Early!
- No, I'm not. - You hurt those people, Early.
I don't want to do it with you.
I loved you, Early.
You just be quiet. You are mean.
- Run! Go! - No, I'm not leaving you here!
- Brian... - Go! Go!
- Adele! - Shut up!
Shut up!
Looks like I need me a new woman.
No!
Shut up!
Oh, God, I'll do anything. I'll go with you.
Please don't kill him. Oh, God, I'll do anything.
Please don't kill him!
Oh, mama, we gotta find us a door.
Save us some time... Goddamn, that's a super dress.
Yeah, that's just super.
Oh, I didn't think he'd left anyone alive.
Where's Carrie?
They took off down the road.
Watch your head.
Grab that chair.
I'm gonna lift the piano. Slide it under.
He pulled out all the phone lines. The nearest one is 21 miles away.
He took the fire road west.
Take your car and get to that phone. Call the police.
Shit!
Get up there.
Well, how you all doing?
I'm Early.
This is my woman, Carrie.
Sorry to inconvenience you all like this, but, well...
...looks like we'll be staying the night.
Don't you move...
...you Pinocchio-looking knuckleheads.
No!
Door...
...where you been?
Gotta transport... Transport...
Carrie!
Motherfucker!
Brian came back!
Hey, Bri, you want to ask me some questions?
Ask me some questions!
Come on!
Do I feel powerful?
Do I feel superior?
No.
I feel good.
You're bleeding.
Skynyrd!
Lynyrd Skynyrd!
I like that one.
The keys.
They're around his neck.
I'll never know why Early Grayce became a killer.
I don't know why any of them do.
When I looked into his eyes...
...I felt nothing.
Nothing.
That day, I learned any one of us is capable of taking another human life.
But I also learned that there is a difference between us and them.
It's in feeling remorse.
Dealing with guilt.
And confronting your conscience.
Early never did.
June 22nd, the Novak Farm.
Mr. Baxter slammed the door in my face today, calling me a damn ghoul.
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 how smart he is for getting away with it.
Thank you.
Hey, how's it going?
Not bad.
How was your swim?
It's freezing.
It's November.
I know.
There's this gallery in Venice...
...and I showed them my work, the Icon series.
- I think they're interested. - That's great.
Well, it's not definite, but it's encouraging.
Well, let's celebrate. I'll take you to lunch.
Okay.
So, what happens next?
I have a meeting at the gallery on Thursday...
...and they want to see some more of my work, so...
I'm sure they're gonna love it as much as I do.
Hi.
Guess who this is.
It's me. It's Adele.
I know I'm probably not supposed to be talking...
...on the tape recorder, but...
I just wanted to say thank you...
...for taking me and Early with you on your trip...
...because me and Early's having a really good time.
And I just hope that when we get to California...
...that you guys don't forget all about us.
Because friends are important...
...and, well, you're the only friends we got.