Original subtitles

Rascal. Did you?

You hear me?

Listen.

Where are you?

You son of a bitch.

Show yourself!

God damn it You

think

you can hide from me You're a disloyal

god damn

one another.

We promise to be there for one another.

I take care of you, don't I?

This is the thanks I get, huh?

This is how you repay me by leaving again.

Okay.

All right, then.

That's how you want to play it with. That's just how we're going to play it.

you ain't going to like it.

Rascal, you ain't going to like it one bit.

Because there's a penalty for leaving.

There's a penalty, all right. And the penalty for that, my friend, is death.

death by me throwing you in that fire right over there till you're black as

charcoal. And then I'm gonna eat you, pick your bones clean, and then

I'm gonna wash you down with some hooch.

And then it'll be me doing the pissing all over your ass.

On the other hand, maybe I'll just stuff you.

Stick your head right up on that wall there, yeah.

Yeah, oh, is that what you want? Because that's what you're going to get. You

keep running off and leaving me this way.

Nobody leaves me.

God damn it, nobody leaves me.

Ginger Snitch.

Want some company up there?

I'm sorry, sir.

I didn't mean to... You are a rascal.

I would.

I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you.

Who the hell are you?

What? A cat! Who the hell are you, goddammit? I'm nobody.

Nobody! I mean, you're standing there, ain't you?

You've got to be somebody.

I'm man, I'm no one that you know.

Where?

No shit.

Where is he?

Who? Rascal, goddammit. Who's Rascal? Rascal's a goddamn disloyal dog who'll

off. You seen him? I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry. A dog?

A dog!

No, sir. You sure?

No, sir.

I put a hole in you size of a buffalo's asshole, you hear me?

Why are you here? What is your name? What the hell are you rapping on my door

for? My name is Joe, sir.

I got lost in the woods.

I saw smoke coming from the chimney.

I came here for help.

You sure don't look like no hiker.

I'm not.

Uh, I got lost.

Let me ask you a question, Joe.

My wife, she didn't send you out here, did she?

Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Your wife heard me.

You son of a bitch.

My wife, did she send you out here? She sent you out here to check on me?

No. She didn't send you out here to take me away, did she?

Absolutely not. Don't you lie to me.

I'm not.

All right.

I suppose I won't leave you.

For now.

But you can bet your sweet little baby nuts I'm gonna give you some smoke. I

find you've been lying to me.

That clear?

Yeah, that's clear.

Okay, then.

Come on in.

Thank you.

Have a seat right over there.

Comfy? Yes, sir, very much so, thank you.

You don't look comfy.

You know, for a second there, I actually thought you were

going to shoot me.

I was.

This is a wonderful home you have here, sir.

I really love everything you've done with all the dead animals. Shut

up.

We ain't done yet.

We ain't? Yeah.

You still got some questions to answer.

I do?

Goddamn right you do.

This ain't no Holiday Inn, son.

This look like a holiday to you?

No, sir, not really.

This is my home.

And you're just a stranger in it.

Yeah, you're goddamn right.

You got some questions to answer.

Okay.

We don't get many visitors.

By we, I mean me.

And the rascal.

Normally it's just the two of us, except when he runs off, which he

does from time to time.

And when that happens, it's just me.

When I'm here all by my lonesome and some stranger comes knocking on my door,

well, I get a little...

Paranoid. And so I take some extra precaution just to be safe.

You can understand that now, can't you?

Yes, sir. I understand.

That's good. I'm glad you can understand it.

Here's what's going to happen. You're just going to sit there, keep your

mouth shut, and only open it if and when I ask you a question.

Okay, I'm gonna sit right here and... What did I just say?

Are you deaf?

Am I not talking clear enough?

You stayed on thin ice with me, boy, thin ice.

What's mine is mine, and I don't know you.

Don't. You just do like I say.

Or you could end up just like... her.

Start again, huh?

You got lost?

Yes, sir.

You didn't come out here with no one else?

No, sir.

Well, that wasn't very smart of you, was it?

Well, in hindsight, sir, no, I guess it wasn't.

What you doing out here all by yourself?

It's kind of a long story. I'm not sure you'd believe me.

Well, I guess I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I started throwing stones

somebody got themselves turned around.

That can happen to the best of us, especially out here in these woods.

Yeah.

I can understand that.

It's nice when you're lost and somebody can help you find your way.

Am I right?

Yes, sir.

Did I say you could get up?

I'm sorry, sir.

Don't you worry.

Keep an eye on me, boy.

Oh, look, I can appreciate your concern.

Yeah, I see that you're sitting there, hands on

your knees, thinking, well, why is this fellow so

paranoid and suspicious?

Why is this fellow so paranoid and suspicious?

All I want is to find my way back.

Is that right? Would that be fair?

Maybe.

I mean, I guess so.

This cabin was built way off the beaten path, so that whoever occupies it, which

at the moment was me and Rascal.

We wouldn't be bothered.

In fact, it's so far off the path that, well, we ain't had a visitor in a long

time.

So when we do have a visitor, rare as that is, well,

naturally we're curious.

How'd they find it in the first place? So question number one is, how did you

find it in the first place?

I don't know.

What the hell do you mean you don't know?

I mean, really, I don't know.

I went off the trail I was on and got turned around.

I honestly couldn't tell you.

Then I saw the smoke.

I mean, thank God you had your fire going. Oh, I wouldn't thank him just

I ain't too convinced that what you're saying ain't a heaping pile of shit.

I'm telling you, it's the... Question number two.

How do I know you're not some goddamn psycho killer?

What?

Psycho killer, goddammit.

How do I know you're not some maniac madman on the loose?

Well, I...

I mean, do I look like a psycho killer to you?

Hell yes, you do.

I read all about them sick bastards in the papers.

All of them's librarians.

School teachers or lawyers.

Ordinary looking people.

Just... Just like you.

Harmless. On the outside, but inside, crazy.

Cannibalistical.

Mm -hmm.

Child molester.

Evil sons of bitches.

I'm not a teacher or a librarian.

I swear.

I don't give a rat's ass what you swear you are or you own.

I just want to make damn sure that you're not going to come creeping up

me with a frying pan and bash my brains in and cook me and eat me for your

supper.

I'm not going to kill you or eat you. I promise.

You promise?

I promise.

You swear?

I swear.

How do I know you're telling the truth?

Well, because I don't eat people.

You don't?

No.

You just kill them?

Of course not.

It's against the law.

That's right.

It's against the law.

Besides, eating people is gross.

Yes, sir.

Man's only as good as his word.

You break that, you break the very thing you claim to be, a man. So, do you

remember that?

Yes, sir.

Question number three.

And this one may be more important than the other two. So, well,

don't you go getting cute with me.

Joe,

are you a salesman?

No.

Joe. I'm not. Joe. I'm not.

Don't you lie to me now.

I'm not, I swear. I'm not selling anything.

What you got in your bag?

Hey!

Nothing.

It's just some toiletries.

And a first aid kit.

Some trail mix. I'm not a salesman.

Give me the bag.

Nothing else, huh?

What's this for?

Whittling a flu?

No, sir.

What then?

It's for protection.

Protection? Yes, sir.

Guess who?

Well, hopefully no one.

Who was in your bag?

Because I knew I was coming out to these woods.

You've been out here before?

Yes, sir.

I used to come here when I was little.

Whenever I'd visit my grandfather, he'd take me out and fly through this little

river.

There ain't been no fly fish in here.

Well, I mean, he told me you can never be too careful in these woods.

That you should be ready for anything. He told me it's... Beautiful, but it can

also be dangerous.

Well, he was right about that.

There's all kind of death and beauty out here.

Oh, may I have it back, please?

Well...

It was all the same to you, Joe. I think that I hold on to it for the time

being.

You ain't out of the woods.

Yet.

Right.

Right.

I understand.

off to?

And where's the fire?

Um, you can keep the knife.

I just feel like maybe I'd be better off if I was on my way is all.

On your way? Where?

Oh.

Well, um, I was thinking.

No, you weren't.

What? Thinking.

You weren't thinking at all, were you?

Actually, no.

I guess I wasn't.

Why don't you just try to run off?

You scare me.

I scare you?

Yes, sir.

Why is that?

I mean, you seem a little crazy and all.

Crazy?

Crazy how?

Oh, I don't know. Just, uh...

In a gentle kind of a way.

Well, I learned a long

time ago, never give nobody the benefit of the doubt.

Why don't we do this?

Why don't we just nip it in the bud?

Cut right to the chase and let's just agree that we are not going to.

Hurt each other, huh?

How's that sound? Like a plan?

Will you give me a word on that, sir?

My word? Well, what about your word? I'm the one who's offering the olive branch

here, Mr.

Dipshits, huh?

Hey, why would I ever want to hurt you? I mean, that'd be cruel to look at you,

shit.

You look like you're about to piss yourself.

That's because I am, sir.

Well, not on my floor, goddamn it.

You got the piss go on, you use the piss water.

Right over there.

Go on, shoo. I won't watch, darling.

Just follow your nose.

Yeah, you found it. Good boy.

You got it.

That's the trouble with all you young people these days.

Especially you younger men.

Got no fighting, you know.

No taste for violence there.

Your blood don't boil like those who come before it.

A girl like me, my generation, we brought up like ancient Greek warriors.

I read about them in a book, Spartans.

You know, if a Spartan baby was born lame or, you know, retardo, mongoloid

or something, they'd just talk that little bastard right off a cliff, yeah?

Because they got no use for weakness.

That's how we was brought up.

You wouldn't happen to have any soap by chance, would you?

Soap?

That's just what I'm talking about, Joe.

Yeah. Huh?

The, uh... I don't mean to offend you, but let's say that you was

born a Spartan baby.

I think, like...

You'd have got a cliff.

That's actually very offensive if you think about it, sir. Do you even know

where you are?

Somewhere in the Smokies.

Well, that somewhere is about 180 ,000 plus acres of rocks

and trees and dark danger. And, son, you sure don't look like you're no Daniel

Boone.

You said your granddaddy used to.

bring out here to these woods?

Yes, sir.

So you are familiar with the woods, but you're not too familiar?

I guess so.

And you got no idea how you got here?

No,

not really.

It's all a little fuzzy.

Take a look.

Uh -huh.

Yeah, I know.

When the sun sets about, say, 20 minutes from now, storm front from the south is

going to roll right in. It's going to open up, and it's going to rain all kind

of hell on whatever is under it.

So? So, since you don't know where you are or how you got here or where you're

going, if I was you, I'd stay put.

Now, if you come here looking for help, this is the best you're going to get.

So, it's up to you.

You know these woods?

Nobody knows these words better than me.

Except maybe Rascal, in case he's gone.

You stay the night.

Stay warm.

And you head out first thing in the morning when it's safe, and then I'll

you in the right direction.

I ain't gonna hurt you.

You got my word on that.

Do I got yours?

Yes, sir.

All right, then.

Are you sure I'm not imposing?

You ain't imposing.

Hell, I'm being completely honest.

I wouldn't mind a company.

I wouldn't mind having somebody new to talk to for a change.

All right, then.

Well, I'll stay here with you as long as you're sure it's no trouble.

None at all.

Thank you.

Well, don't mention it.

Coffee!

Excuse me. I've got coffee.

I could make us a cup.

Would you like that?

Yes.

Sure. Well.

All right, then.

Yeah.

Sigil.

I call you.

So you really don't like him, do you?

Salesman? Hell no.

Forky tongue.

Slippery little shits. A lot of them. Can't trust him.

Why not?

Well, you can't trust a salesman, never.

Because if you ain't buying what he's selling, well, he ain't eating.

They don't give a damn about you or what you need. They're just trying to make

their monthly.

Trust me, I know about this.

See, I had the unfortunate experience of dabbling in sales myself when I was a

younger man.

Really? Oh, yes.

What happened?

What do you mean?

What I mean to not make you like a salesman or being a salesman.

Well, all I know is that when I was younger, I took a job.

As a salesman, just to try to make some extra money.

See, back in those days, it was tough to make ends meet, and it wasn't uncommon

for fellas to hold down a few jobs.

And we're in the beginning, you know.

It wasn't too bad, and I didn't give two cents shit about what I was selling. I

just wanted the do -re -mi, huh?

Yeah, but... After a while...

Started to grate on me a little, you know, and I quit because I just got sick

and tired of deceiving people.

Sick and tired of deceiving myself, if you know what I mean. I just got...

Sick and tired of feeling like every day was just a waking nightmare going door

to door selling people shit that they did not need and that they could not

afford just so that I could make my nut and pay the bills and keep the wife

happy so she wouldn't bust my ass about not being able to buy the new goddamn

toaster oven.

You don't want to really hear this now, do you?

You mentioned your wife.

Are you still married?

Yeah. Do I look like I'm married to you?

What happened?

Sometimes the fucking you get ain't worth the fucking you receive.

That's enough about her, huh?

I could tell you a funny story about a salesman if you want to hear it.

Sure.

Okay.

Once upon a time... Once upon a time, one time, a long time ago, a fella come

here. He's a Bible salesman. Goddamn Bible salesman. Can you believe that

What's a fella doing hawking a good book out here in the middle of the Smoky

Mountains? I mean, to who?

This fella's name was... His name was...

Can't ever remember his name for some reason.

It don't really matter.

Oh, boy, I sure do remember his stupid fat face.

I remember his shit -brown tie. I remember his leather briefcase. And I

I answered the door, and he sticks his arms out wide, kind of like this, and he

says... Greetings and salutations, brother.

What a glorious day it is.

Tell me something, sir.

Please.

I implore you to be honest with me. Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as

your personal Savior? Because if you have not, I'd like to invite you to join

today in his warm embrace.

That's what he said. That's the first words out of his mouth.

Then what?

Well, then I'll give him a warm embrace.

Something tells me you didn't buy a Bible, though, did you?

No, I did not, no.

What'd you do to him?

I invited him in, just much like you, actually.

Oh, you threw a shotgun in his face?

Oh, hell no, I didn't have to do that. No, I offered him some coffee and some

cake.

You have cake?

Joe, this is where the story gets real good.

So I invited him in.

I asked him to have a seat right there, exactly where you're sitting, as a

matter of fact.

I went into the kitchen.

I called him a cup of coffee.

Brought him out a nice honko carrot cake.

Yeah, see, that was really for Rascal, because that's his favorite.

I gave it to the fat man instead.

And then... I took a seat.

Right across from him.

Ain't it good?

Very.

Now... He was a very pious man.

This felt real self -righteous type to you know Kind

of fella who?

Who follows all them rules they got? Shall not take the

Lord's name in vain I shall not covet my neighbor's wife shall not

kill blah blah blah

Anyway, he was a strong believer and all that, yeah.

Least.

That's how he presented himself to me. I mean, he was also a salesman.

You follow?

So it was hard to tell whether or not he's being genuine now.

I couldn't tell you why then, and I cannot tell you why now, but for some

on that day, I felt like I

had to find out whether or not he was a true believer or was

he just completely full of shit.

How did you do that?

I asked him a few questions.

What did you ask him?

I started lying.

I said, sir, do you really believe that God loves you?

And he said, brother, I know God loves me.

Okay. I said, well, if God loves you so much, how come

he got you selling Bibles out here in the middle of fucking nowhere?

Instead of living in a mansion with a million dollars and fancy women. And he

says... Brother, the Lord has a plan for all of us.

I'm exactly where he wants me to be.

Spreading his good word to any and all who will listen and accept his love.

So I says to him... So...

You really believe that, don't you? That God put you right here, right now,

because that's where he wants you to be.

Yes, sir, I do.

I said, well, if that's true, that

must mean that God knows you to run into me, right?

And he nodded, yes.

And that's when...

Lean in.

Feel close.

And I said, well, what if you come to find out that I'm very,

very dangerous?

If you come to find that out, well, it must mean that God

hates you, doesn't he?

Because he put you in my path, didn't he?

Boy, I tell you.

He went white.

Are you?

Am I what?

Dangerous.

What do you think?

I think you hurt him.

Hell no, I didn't hurt him.

You didn't? No, I... I scared him a little.

Why? I had to get my answer, didn't I?

What answer?

Of whether he was a true believer or not.

Was he?

If he wasn't, I certainly put the fear of God into him.

What'd you do to him?

Oh... You don't really want to hear that, do you?

Tell me.

Well... When I was in the

kitchen getting him something to eat and drink, I, uh... Well...

I slipped a little...

Something something into his coffee.

Made him kind of sleepy.

You poisoned him. Don't get riled up, Joe. I didn't poison him. That sounds

of sinister. No.

I drugged him. You drugged him?

Yes, I did.

With what?

I don't actually remember, but it must be here somewhere.

What's the difference between poisoning and drugging? I don't know. One is

sinister and the other ain't, all right?

All right, so you drugged him. Well, just a little bit.

I mean, I had to make certain that he was not a psycho killer. You know the

drill. You know that I get suspicious. I told you that already.

Then what?

Well, I ain't too proud of what I did after that.

What did you do?

Well...

Well, you know, after he nodded off...

Well, hell, John, I tied him to the stove.

You tied him on the stove?

On the... No, that would be cruel and crazy. No, I tied him to the stove.

Was it hot?

Of course it was hot.

You tied him to the front of a burning stove?

And then I took that shit brown necktie he was wearing and I tied that around

his eyes like a blindfold.

That's the part I'm not too proud of.

That's the part you're not too proud of? Yep.

Using a tie as a blindfold?

Well, what about drugging him or tying him to a burning stove?

Oh, please. It wasn't that bad. It was just for a couple of hours.

A few hours?

Yep.

Why? I didn't trust him.

I wanted to ask him some questions and I wanted him to be honest. And when

you're scared, you're honest. So I scared him.

Well,

actually,

he got kind of entertaining.

What do you mean? Well.

He, I don't know, maybe it was being so close to that heat for

quite a while, I guess.

But anyway, when he come to, he just started hallucinating. He started

and all kind of gibberish.

Like he's talking

in tongues or something like that. Then he proceeded to start.

praying and talking to the Virgin Mary, talking to the Mother of God.

What did he say?

He just kept repeating the same thing over and over again. Holy Mary, Mother

God, pray for us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Mary, Mother of God.

Pray for us sinners.

Pray for us sinners.

Pray for us sinners. Pray for us sinners. Pray for us sinners. Pray for

sinners. Pray for us sinners. Pray for us sinners. Pray for us sinners. Pray

us sinners. Pray for us sinners.

Pray for

us sinners.

I don't mean to sound rude. And, uh...

Well, maybe I missed something.

But why exactly did you do that to him again?

I mean, minus the fact that you found it mildly entertaining.

Because anyone selling God is the ultimate pro, and anyone buying him is

ultimate sucker.

And only if...

Prideful arrogant son of a bitch would think that in a world this big and

with all the pain and suffering that people enjoy. That there's some old man

sitting up there somewhere in a cloud who gives a rat's ass about any one of

down here.

There ain't. If there was and he did, that was then, this is now, and he is

gone.

What happened to the salesman?

Oh, him?

Yeah, him.

I cut him loose.

Pointed him in the right direction, I sent him on his way.

That's all?

Well, I did tell him he'd come out here again.

He wouldn't believe it.

Yeah, I'm certain he'd believe me. I ain't never seen him since.

Wow.

More coffee? No.

I mean, no thank you.

I'm good.

Sheep dip?

Excuse me?

Shine. Stump liquor. Alcohol!

Joe, you want some alcohol?

No. No, thank you. I'm good.

I think I'll avoid all liquids if that's okay with you. Why?

You think I'm gonna drug you or something?

Well, excuse me if I'm a little skeptical after this story I just heard.

Relax, Joe. I ain't gonna drug you.

It's a long time ago that fellow was out here. Besides, I'm pretty sure I ain't

got... Any of that.

Ain't got none left.

I run out my sleepy time elixir.

Anyway, I told you I wasn't going to hurt you.

You remember how, what I said about a man keeping his word, never breaking it

for nothing? You remember that, don't you?

Yes, sir. I meant it.

I ain't going to hurt you, Joe.

Now have a drink with me.

I'm serious.

All right, then. Now you're talking.

Here.

Okay. Dig out a jar or two.

Why don't you go have a seat?

Yes, sir.

You ever tried the moonshine? I call this batch

the mule.

You know why?

Because it has a kick.

Bingo. Pick your poison.

What's the taste like?

Kathleen.

You like this? That's why I make it.

I love it, Joe. It's mother's milk to me.

What should we drink?

Oh, um, I don't know.

All that dip in beauty.

You weren't kidding.

You had a kick, Nora?

When I have a little bit of a mule, I like to have a smoke.

Hey, when I have the smoke, I like to put on my...

You care for one?

No, thank you. I don't smoke.

Oh, you don't smoke.

And you don't chew. And you don't go with gals who do, huh?

I just know I don't like smoking, but please feel free.

Oh, I see. So you're giving me permission to smoke in my own home.

Is that what's happening?

No, I didn't mean it to.

Relax, Joe. I'm just fooling with you.

Tell me something.

Where are you from?

You mean, like, originally?

Yes.

Well, originally, I'm from a small town on the Ohio River called New Albany.

It's in southern Indiana, right across from Louisville.

But we moved to Chattanooga when I was eight years old, and being in Tennessee,

everything. That's where you live now, isn't it?

No, sir. My wife and I moved to Knoxville a few years back.

What's her name?

Eugenia, but everyone calls her Jeannie.

What does she do?

She makes cakes.

She's a schoolteacher, second grade.

We moved to Knoxville a few years ago because...

I got a job working for her family's moving company, and she got a job at a

primary school out there. So the summary of your life up

to this point is that you're from New

Albany. You grew up in Chattanooga.

You met a girl. You got married.

You moved to Knoxville, and now you work for her family.

Long and short of it.

Yeah.

Wow.

What?

Oh, it's nothing. It just... It just boiled my entire life down to one sin.

Oh, don't feel bad about that joke.

The same for most people, if you think about it.

Can I ask you something?

Yep.

You ever get the feeling like sometimes life is conspiring against you?

Conspiring?

What do you mean?

Well, like it's working against you, to hurt you, to break you in some way.

Yeah.

Maybe, yeah, sometimes.

I've been feeling that way a lot lately.

Like there's something much larger than me out there trying to smother me,

trying to extinguish me in some way. And no matter what I do or how hard I try,

I just can't seem to make it go away or let up.

I think everybody feels that way from time to time.

Do you think?

Well, maybe you're right.

I just never felt that way before.

Well, tell me, how is it that you do feel?

It feels a little like I'm standing in wet cement, you know, and...

My eyes are open and I'm looking everywhere, only there's nothing else

me.

There's just this nothingness, this void.

And I can feel the cement hardening and tightening around my ankles and getting

heavier and heavier until finally it sets and I can't move.

My eyes are open and I'm looking everywhere, but there's nothing to see.

And then this slow suffocation starts at my feet and moves up my legs.

and my back of my spine until it settles at the back of my throat and cuts all

the air off.

So it's like I'm paralyzed, choking, and blind, and I can't do anything about

it. And the whole time I'm wide awake while it's happening.

That's what it feels like.

Shit, man.

It's not fucking off.

I mean, it sounds... pretty heavy.

It is heavy.

Always.

My whole life.

I mean, my whole life I've done everything right.

I went to school.

I made a mark.

I never got in trouble.

Always had a job.

I never disrespected anybody.

I never broke the rules.

Yes, sir, no, sir, all of it.

I did everything I was told to do, everything I was supposed to do.

Still, I feel this weight.

I feel like it's been crushing me like...

What was that?

We need a fire.

We'll put you to work, come on.

Not that bad ass, but you grab about half a dozen of those.

Attaboy. Yeah, if you quit.

Hey, uh... What about your wife?

My wife?

What about her?

Well, have you talked to her, tell her about how you feel?

Not really.

Why not?

She's been in a little distant place.

She's been off somewhere?

No.

Off, distant, like?

Yeah, they can.

You sure can get that way from time to time.

Yeah. My goddamn wife, she can go weak sometimes. I say a single word to me on

the count of she's mad about one thing or other. But personally, I never mind

because I like the peace and quiet.

Still, you might want to.

Tell her, you know, about what you're feeling.

Who knows? Maybe she can help. Just sit there.

I don't think so.

Well, why not?

Well, we've been having some issues lately.

What kind of issues?

You sure you don't mind me talking to you about this?

Keep going.

Well, you know, my wife, Jeannie, you know, we've known each other since we

kids. We grew up together, went to school together in Chattanooga.

But sometimes I feel like we come from different places.

Mainly because she grew up with money and I grew up with nothing. Oh, blue

snoot.

And then there's this other issue.

What other issue?

It's kind of embarrassing.

Look, I ain't gonna judge you, Joe.

Well,

we've been having a hard time trying to have a baby.

And it's caused some problems.

Shooting blanks, are you?

No.

It's not me, okay? I'm not the one with the problem. Okay, okay.

I'm just standing here listening, that's all.

It's just she thinks it's me, but it's not.

I mean, she's convinced I'm the problem.

So she's been seeing some.

Some what?

What?

It doesn't matter.

Yeah. I want to hear it.

Tell me though, your wife, what

would she like?

She has the most beautiful red hair.

And these eyes.

You could get lost in them.

Well, does she appreciate you?

I mean, she thinks I could do more with my life, that's for sure.

Yeah.

You told me, you said earlier that you're a working man, right?

Yes, sir.

And what is it that you do?

I drive a truck for my father -in -law's moving company.

and a couple of other odd jobs here and there to make ends meet. Well, all

right.

You getting paid?

Yeah. Making money?

Man, you're not one of those freeloading sons of bitches collecting checks from

the government every month, are you?

No, sir.

Nope.

It's good.

You can be proud.

Look, Joe, you got to look for the silver lining. You got to find

that silver lining in pretty much, well, in everything.

She don't appreciate a man provides.

That's on her.

I guess so. Shit, I know so.

My wife is ungrateful six ways to Sunday.

Let me tell you, but then again, they all are in their own way, you know.

Women.

They make a man do all sort of stupid through his lifetime.

Drive you to the brink of insanity.

Yeah.

If you don't mind me asking.

Well, what happened with you and your wife?

You know, I mean, why didn't it end?

It ended because she finally figured it out.

Figured what out?

Had really hurt a man.

Joe, I know I asked you this already, but you really don't remember how you

to be here.

Not really.

You tried retracing your steps.

No.

Well, going back, start at the beginning.

Beginning? Well.

Yeah, that's what I would do.

Well, I came by way of Knoxville, and I drove into Elkmont because I

wanted to take a hike along the Little River.

I told you I used to fly fishing when I was a boy.

It's always been one of my favorite places.

I mean, the truth is I haven't been in these woods in decades.

How come you come out here today?

Well, like I said, I've been dealing with some issues lately. So I guess I

thought that coming back to a place that I had fond memories of, where I'd been

happy at one point, is where I needed to be to get my mind right.

So I got off work and drove an hour south to Elkmont, and I took the trail

started walking.

Well, but then I... What?

Well, when I got to Burnt Mountain, I heard something.

What did you hear?

You're going to think I'm crazy. What did you hear?

Well, it was like a moan.

Yes, like.

Deep breaths, I could feel building inside my head, only they were coming

somewhere else. So I started walking towards them and that took me off the

I was on. And as I got deeper and deeper into the woods, the moan just got

louder and louder. So I ran.

I ran as fast and as far as I could until, I mean, everything just went.

I must have passed out or something because when I came to, it was too late.

I mean, I got all turned around. I didn't know where I was and I couldn't

my way back.

So I started walking again.

And I came across this waterfall.

And I came upon clearing.

And that's when I found your cabin.

And the smoke coming from the chimney.

Yeah.

That is... interesting, Joel. That is very,

very... very interesting.

Why?

These are faint goddamn words.

Sit there.

What are you talking about?

Well... A

long, long time ago, the Cherokee peoples, the Indians, they...

They lived in these mountains, and they had a story about the

Purple Lake.

The Purple Lake.

This lake was hidden deep in the smoking.

And they looked for it, but they could never find it.

But they wanted to find it because they said that it had special powers. And the

only one who knew how to find the lake were... The animals.

And the animals knew how to find the lake, but they weren't telling nobody

because they wanted to keep it a secret because of this.

If they got ever hurt or injured or sick,

all they had to do was drink the water and they'd be healed.

I found it.

I got hurt.

Not like so much physical, like a busted rib or a broken leg or

anything. It was more something you can't see.

I was damaged, I guess.

And I thought I would come out to these mountains like when I was a boy.

And if I could find that lake.

maybe take a drink, then I would be healed.

But I couldn't find a serpent all over this house.

Then one day, just out of the blue, I heard...

Simone.

I followed it, then I run from it. I didn't know what to do.

But it got louder and louder inside of my head.

I just blacked right out.

Then when I woke up, you know what I saw?

Her.

She was looking at me with death in her eyes.

And I didn't want to die.

And she's a sick on me.

And I thought I'd fight.

And there was a jagged, sharp rock by my feet.

And I bent down, and I picked up that stone.

I mean, I wore eyeball to eyeball.

She pounced on me.

And I brought my arms down, and I jammed that rock right in her neck.

sprawled out together, and there was blood everywhere, man.

Blood all over me.

And I watched as the light went out of those eyes.

And the moon stopped.

You been out here ever since?

Yep.

All alone?

Alone. No.

No, I got... I got the rascal.

If I'm honest, the rascal just keeps me alive.

He's a treacherous little shit.

But he's all I got.

You got me now, too.

Oh. Hold on there. Be careful.

I'd start to like you, though.

Well, we wouldn't want that now, would we?

I don't know.

Why don't you go a little more kindling into that stove and

see if I can find us something to eat.

I got some canned goods back here.

That sound all right?

Yeah. You're a good man.

You all right, Joe?

Yes, sir.

I was just thinking about my wife, that's all.

Oh.

What about her?

I wasn't being completely honest with you.

Well, how's that?

We got into a pretty bad fight before I came out here.

I don't care.

Usually does.

She'll come around.

I don't know about that.

It didn't end well.

Worry about it, Buzz, you.

There's only so much a fella can do in a fight with his

lady.

Women can't live with them.

You sure can't kill them.

Hey, Joe, I sure hope you like peas and rice.

Telling stories.

Who's Joe?

Who? Joe. Where is he?

You're losing your mind, old man.

Ain't nobody been here but you and me.

You were gone.

Didn't I?

What happened to Joe?

Words, words, words.

It's always the same goddamn words with you.

Why don't you take a seat over there?

You know, you seem a little confused.

Sit down!

No, no, no, no. Until you tell me what you did to Joe.

I know you did something.

Now, will you tell me?

Yeah.

I'll tell you nothing. Oh, I'm sorry.

Jesus fucking Christ.

Huh? You scared?

You're pathetic.

You know that?

You tell me. You tell me what you did or so help me. I swear.

You what?

Oh. Oh.

Oh. You shoot me.

Don't make me do it.

You ain't gonna do nothing and you know it. I will.

I'll shoot.

Why? I'll tell you what.

Why don't I help you?

All you gotta do is call the trailer.

Oh, please.

Let's go.

Do it.

Don't make me.

Do it, goddammit!

Same thing.

Every...

I'm sorry.

Yeah, you've been sorry your whole life, you know that.

I just want to know what happened to him.

What did he look like, this Joe fella?

A little like you?

A little like me, maybe?

We go through this every time, you and me. It's the same goddamn story.

He was...

Here he was.

He was walking in the woods and then he saw smoke coming from the chimney.

Yeah.

Yeah. I know.

It's always the same goddamn words with you.

Rascal.

I am scared.

You're pathetic.

And you're weak.

There's no wonder she left here.

Your wife.

My wife.

You failed her in every way, didn't you?

Did I?

Never had enough.

Always tried to please her. She had you for her daddy.

You even started selling Bibles with her best friend to try to make ends meet.

But it wasn't you who made her happy, was it?

It was you who got lost in the woods that day after you did what you did.

I didn't do nothing.

remind you again and again.

You tell me, you tell me what happened.

Why should I?

Because I want to know.

You sure?

Thank you.

What's in there?

Huh?

Just tell me what's there.

I don't want to do this no more.

I want it to stop.

Forgive me.

It don't work that way.

And beauty.

You're looking tired.

Rascal. Is that you?