All language subtitles for Affliction.1997

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[ man narrating ]
this is the story
of my older brother's...

Strange criminal behavior
and disappearance.

We who loved him
no longer speak of wade.

It's as if
he never existed.

By telling his story like this,
by breaking the silence
about him,

I tell my own story as well.

Everything of importance,

That is everything
that gives rise
to the telling of this story,

Occurred during a single
deer-hunting season...

In a small town
in upstate new hampshire
where wade was raised,

And so was I.

One night something changed,
and my relation
to wade's story was different...

From what it had been
since childhood.

I mark this change
by wade's tone of voice...

During a phone call
a night after Halloween.

Something
I had not heard before.

Let us imagine that around 8:00
on Halloween eve...

Comes a pale blue,
eight-year-old plymouth
with a police bubble on top.

A square-faced man
wearing a police jacket
is driving the vehicle.

Beside him sits a child,

A little girl
with a plastic tiger mask
covering her face.

[ man ]
sorry for the screwup.
I couldn't help it.

It's too late
to go trick or treating.

I had to stop at penney's
to get your costume,
then you were hungry.

Whose fault is it then
if it's not yours ?

You're the one in charge,
dad.

Yeah.

Look, those kids
are still trick-or-treating.
They're still out.

Those are the hoyts.
I don't care.
They're out !

Can't you see ?
Look out there.
It's just too late.

Those hoyt kids,
they're just out
to get in trouble.

See, look.
They put shaving cream
all over that mailbox.

Why did they do that ?
Do what ?

You know.
Break stuff ?

Yeah. It's stupid.

Well... I guess
they're stupid.

Did you do that stuff
when you were a kid ?

No !

Well, sort of.

Nothing really mean.
Me and my pals.
Me and my brothers.

It was kind of funny then.

But it's not funny now.
No, no.
It's not funny now.

I'm a cop.
I gotta listen to
the complaints people make.

I'm not a kid anymore.
You change.

I bet you did
a lot of bad stuff
when you were a kid.

What are you
talking about ?

I don't know. I just think
you used to be bad.
No.

[ chuckling ]
no.

I didn't use to be bad.

No, sir !

Where do you get
this stuff from ?
Your mother ?

No. She doesn't talk
about you anymore.

Hey, wade.

[ laughing ]

Ladies and gentlemen,
lariviere company...

Is proud to sponsor
another annual
lawford costume parade.

We are looking for
the funniest costume,
the scariest--

Oh, the scariest !
Is he the scariest ?
Is that one scary ?

What about this ?
Is he scary ?

No, no. Here's
the scary one right there.
[ laughing ]

The most imaginative
and the best costume of all.

Help me line the kids up.

Pretty awesome, huh ?
Hi, marge.
Hi, wade.

Go ahead, jump in line.
Maybe you'll win a prize.

Go on. Some of those kids
you still know !

I don't want to.
Oh, why ? Why not ?

You know these kids
from when you went
to school here.

It hasn't been that long.

It's not that.
What then ?

I don't like it here.

Oh, jesus, jill, come on.
Don't mess this up any more
than it's been messed up.

Join the kids.
You do that, before you know
you'll be happy as a clam.

Wade !

Is that jill ?
Come on and join us.
Come on !

Go, go, go.
Go on.
Go, go, go.

That's it, come on.
Come on.

Here, make a place for her
on the stage.

Look out !
Here comes a tiger !
She's coming through.

What are you boys
up to ?
Same old shit.

You seen the damage
these little sons of bitches
been raising tonight ?

Gonna have to move
your pickup.
I know.

Take a bite.
Could use it.
Don't mind of I do.

Lariviere's having
a hell of a time
in there tonight.

Master of fucking
ceremonies.

Where's that gun
you were bragging on today ?

Let's look at it.

Oh, ho-ho-ho.
Oh, ho-ho.

Mmm ! Got you
for $650, $700 ?

Nice.
See you got jill tonight.

How'd you manage that ?

Don't forget to move
your truck.

[ lariviere ]
ladies and gentlemen,
remember, there are no losers.

Everybody gets a nice ribbon.

Now, here is
our first award.
For the most imaginative--

[ continues indistinct ]

Alma, have you seen jill ?

She's around somewhere.
Do you come in to see me
next week ?

Yeah.

Some party, huh ?

I'm sorry.
I had to step outside
for a smoke.

Find anybody you know ?
There must be some kids
you know from school.

Say, you want
to go tomorrow ?
See your old teachers ?

No.
No what ?

No, I didn't see anybody I knew.
No, I don't want to go to school
here tomorrow !

I want to go home.
Come on, jill,
you are home !

There's lots of kids
you still know here.

Don't worry, dad.
I love you. I do !

But I want to go home.

All right,
I tell you what.

Tomorrow morning if you still
want to go home, I'll drive you
when I get off work.

Okay ?

I called mom.
What ?
You called mommy ?

Just now ?
Yeah.

Jesus, why ?
Why didn't you
talk to me first ?

I knew you'd be mad.
Well, yeah, honey,
I am mad.

You know.
What did you tell her
for chrissake ?

I told her
I wanted to come home.

Dad, don't be mad at me.

Well, I guess I am.

I mean, you know.

I planned this.
I planned all this.

[ sighs ]
sort of pathetic.
But I planned it.

You shouldn't have called
your mother.

Come on, we're gonna call her
before she leaves.

[ woman on answering machine ]
hi, this is the horners.

Please leave a message
at the beep.
She's gone already.

Gone already !
She couldn't wait.

Yeah.
Yeah ?

That's all you've got to say,
is "yeah" ?

Yeah.

[ clears throat ]

You know, she won't be here
for a half hour.

Think you can stand it
that long ?
Yeah.

Where do you expect
to wait for her ?

Obviously downstairs
with the other kids
isn't good enough.

Sit there by yourself
if you want.

Wait for her by yourself !
That's fine with me.
Just dandy !

I'm goin' downstairs.
It's fine with me too.

When mom comes,
tell her I'm up here.

I thought I told you
to move that goddamn truck !

Relax, chief.
We're leavin' now.

You want a toke ?

No, jesus christ,
jack !

Why don't you get the fuck
outta here ?

If gordon or one of those guys
see you smoke
that wacky tabacky around me,

They'll expect me
to bust you, and I'll
be out of a goddamn job.

Some job !

Here, have a hit.
Don't be such a hardass.

I know you got problems.
We all got problems,
so relax.

Not here.

Well, come on, get in.
We'll take a little ride,
my man.

[ engine revs ]

[ jack ] got a job.
First thing in the morning.
First day of season.

Twombley something.
Erwin--

[ wade ] evan ?
He's a union official
from massachusetts.

You're lucky.

Gotta guarantee a kill,
of course.

Which I can do.
There are some monster bucks
hidin' out up there.

How'd you get
the job ?
Gordon.

He's always got
some angle workin'.

He wants
to keep twombley happy,
I'm his boy.

What's wrong
with you ?
A toothache.

You should get close to him,
jack.

Make yourself irreplaceable.
The guy is loaded.

Like you and gordon ?

[ chuckling ]
right. The son of a bitch
couldn't get along without me.

Yeah, he'd go broke tomorrow
if you quit him.

[ laughing ]
right.

[ jack ] bastard's got
his high beams on.
[ wade ] shit !

That's my ex-wife lillian
and her husband in the audi.
Audi's a good car.

What's she here for ?
She's here to get jill.
Me and jill had an argument.

Jack, I gotta get back to town.
Move this thing, will ya ?

See if you can get back
to the town hall
before they get there, okay ?

Piece of cake.
Take this joint.
[ coughing ]

Lillian ?

Lillian.

Where's jill ?

Me and jill,
we had a little spat.

She kind of felt left out
from not knowing the new kids.

Where is she ?
Is she in the truck
with your friends ?

No. She told me she wanted
to wait for you inside.

While you went for a
few beers with your friends.

That hettie rogers in there
with what's his name ?

Yeah.

[ laughing ]
boy, she's grown up
a little, hasn't she ?

Jesus, lay off,
will ya ?

You've won this round,
so just lay off for chrissake.

You amaze me.
Year after year
in the same old ways.

[ wade ]
horner, leave her be.

It's got nothing to do with you,
so just act like a chauffeur.

You got it ?
Wade, nobody wants
any trouble.

Listen to me.
I don't want her to go.

Please don't make a scene.
Nobody is trying to win
any round.

Don't make this any worse.

I'm not making it any worse.
You are !
Me ?

Me and jill,
we could've worked this out.

It's normal.
It's a father-daughter thing.
She called me.

I know she called you.
How do you think
this makes me look ?

Coming up here and treating her
like some tragic victim.
I'm not gonna do this.

Just wait
till we're through,
goddamn it !

Don't say a word.

I didn't hit him.

I'm not
gonna hit anybody.

New hat !
[ chuckles ]

Jill's up, I see.
Yeah, for a while.

How's she doing ?
She's okay.
She's fine.

You two want to do anything,
need a third party,
give me a call. I'm off.

Like hell you are.
Tomorrow's the first day
of deer-huntin' season.

I'll need you at least
in the mornin'.
Take care, wade.

Well, I guess
that's that.

You be careful of that
little bastard.

He's dyin' to get
in your pants.
Come on.
Give me a break.

I'll see you tomorrow.
Okay.

Tomorrow, gordon.
Hmm.

Watch the snow.
It's coming down tonight.

[ twombley ]
this weather any advantage
in tracking the bastards ?

Don't worry, mr. Twombley,
I know where
those suckers are.

Right about now,
the does are holding up
in the brush piles.

The bucks are
right behind the does.

We're right behind
the bucks.

That gun gets fired
before 10:00.

Whether it kills a deer
or not,
more or less up to you.

I'll put you inside 30,
35 yards of a buck first
four hours of the season.

That's what you're paying
me for, ain't it ?
Damn straight.

Done much shootin'
with that rifle yet ?

I'll tell you what, kid.
You get me close to a big buck
by 10:00 in the mornin',

There's an extra $100 in it.

If you get it ?
Yeah.

You might not kill it.
You think so ?

You might gut-shoot it.
Cripple it for somebody
else to find and tag.

Can't guarantee
that won't happen,
especially with a new gun.

I may have to shoot it.

You take care of your end,
I'll take care of mine.
Mm-hmm.

You understand
what I'm sayin' ?

I want a deer, a dead one.
Not a cripple.
I get it.

[ jack ] no sweat.
You'll get yourself a deer,
dead, by coffee time.

And you'll get
your extra $100.
Wonderful.

[ woman ]
good morning, jason.
Good morning, miss brooks.

[ miss brooks ]
morning.

Hi, melanie.

Wade ? Where's jill ?

I thought she was coming
to school today.

[ jill's voice ]
don't worry, dad.
I love you. I do !

But I don't want to go
to school here tomorrow.

For pete's sake,
whitehouse,
we ain't got all day !

[ horns honking ]

[ miss brooks ]
are you okay, wade ?
What was wrong ?

Why were you holding
everyone up ?

Did you see that son of a bitch
in that b.M.W. ?
He could've killed somebody.

Did you get his number ?
Yeah, I know who it is.

Good.
Mel gordon.

He's from boston.
He's evan twombley's son-in-law.
They're headed to lake agaway.

The old man's
out hunting with jack.
I'm gonna spoil his weekend.

No, wade--

Safety on ?
Mm-hmm.

I'm all right.

Stay with me.
We'll cross
into the next meadow.

I've seen you before.

I used to play ball.
Yeah ?

Drafted by the red sox.
You played
for the sox ?

Double-a.
New britain.
Oh.

Pitcher. Best ballplayer
to come out of new hampshire
since carlton fisk.

Really ?
They said.

Only difference between me
and that clemens on tv
is shit luck.

Safety on ?
Yeah.

Just ahead.
Sun's gettin' high.

Deers have ears too,
you know.

[ chuckles ]
oh, yeah.

[ lariviere ] it's simple.
Either they clean up the trailer
or it gets hauled out.

It looks like
a piece of shit.

That's right.
It's called mountain view.

Looks like shit view
right now.

Tell them if they don't move it,
I'll come out and have it moved.

I gotta go.
I'll call you later.

Told you the snow
was coming down.

[ together ]
take the grader.

Where's the plow ?
[ together ]
jimmy took it.

Jack's out hunting
with evan twombley.

His son-in-law damn near
killed me this morning.
Huh ?

At the school crossing.
Could've hurt some kids.
I'm gonna bust his ass !

Don't go playing
policeman.

What the hell am I ?
A security guard ?

I mean, you hired me.
You and your selectmen friends.

You don't want
the extra police pay ?

I'm not sayin' that !

Take the grader.
Go out 29 past toby's.

Don't let lillian get to you.
She didn't belong here.

That's why she left.
Fuck you.

That's what I love
about a small town.

You know everybody.
[ laughing ]

Stay close.

Fresh tracks.

[ sniffing ]

Deer shit. Big one.

Here's your buck,
mr. Twombley.

I'll go down
and circle around.

You only got a little while
if you wanna collect
that extra $100.

[ woman's voice ]
♪ open the door

♪ to your heart
and let me come in ♪

♪ [ singing continues
indistinct ]

Hey.
How's it goin' ?

Cold.
How do you think ?

Yeah, sorry about that.
Tell me something.

Why is it every year
come first snow you always
get stuck with that grader ?

School.
Traffic crossing.

So what are we doing after ?
Digging wells ?
Yeah.

Don't work too fast,
all right ?

Business being the way it is,

Gordon's looking for any reason
to lay me off
earlier than usual.

That border jumper's got
too much money as it is.
[ continues indistinct ]

[ man ] I'll tell you
who's a pisser.
Glen whitehouse.

He was mean normal.

But when he drank,
it was like
he burst on fire.

Brown's canadian.
Always drank b.C.

One christmas, there was
this cord of wood out back
he'd forgotten about.

He decides he's gonna have
his boys stack it.

Except it's been out back
for two months.
The wood's all iced in.

He grabs the boys,
throws them outside.
And he's drunk.

Oh ! Come on, move it.

Daylight is a swamp.

Pop, the kids
are waiting for us.
Rolfe.

A lesson in work
and its rewards.

You'll thank me
for this one day, boys.
Now, come on.

Here we are, boys.
Dig in.

Come on, let's do it
right over here.
See that ?

Goddamn it !
Let's do it !

Show a little muscle there.
Come on.

[ laughing ]

There !
There we go.

Attaboy. Come on !

Please, pop,
let's go back.

What the hell are you,
a quitter ?

Huh ?
Get in there !

Quitter ?
Huh ? Huh ?

So what happened ?
Oh, beats me.

That's all I heard.
Wade would know more
about it. Wade ?

We were just talkin' about
your old man.
"what are you, a quitter ?"

[ men laughing ]

Jesus, lacoy, you got
nothing better to do
than tell stories ?

The pity is, someday
some college student will come
in here and believe this shit...

'cause you're the only one
dumb enough to talk to him.

[ pop grunts, door opens ]
that was some job.

We'll work at it,
we promise.

I think I made a point.
You just need a drink.

What was that, wade ?

You say something ?

You got something to say,
say it. Say it !

You no good pup !

Mom !

Well ?
Mom !

Mom !

[ mockingly ]
mom ! Mom !

[ woman's voice ]
♪ I've forgotten more

♪ than you'll ever know

♪ about him

[ wade ]
don't look right.

The sign.

Looks like
it's spelled wrong
or somethin'.

Ahh. Wade, wade.
It's people like you who
keep this town from prospering.

I'm not finding fault.
It's good for you.
It's good for the town.

It's a good idea.
Yeah.

What did you do ?
Hire one of those hippie
craftsman from concord ?

Think you're gettin'
something you can use,

Only it turns out to be
a work of art ?

Whatever somebody does
to improve things around here,
you gotta find fault.

Is that it ?
Come on.

I'm only sayin'
there's something wrong
with "homemade cooking."

The sign's fine.
What it says is wrong.

Who needs it ?
Everybody that comes here,
been coming here for years.

What do we need
a sign for ?

But I guess it's better
than what was there before.

What was there before ?
[ laughing ]
nothin'.

There was nothin' here
before.

Hmm.

You okay ?
Yeah, yeah.

I'm sorry
about what I said.

What'd you say ?
About you and jill
and needing a third person.

She went back
with lillian ?
Yeah.

Yeah. Forget it.
I'm sorry.

I'm gonna start me
one of those custody suits.

I don't give
a fucking shit anymore !
You don't mean that.

Yeah, I do.
No, you don't.
You're just pissed.

You just oughta cool off
for a few days, then have
a long talk with lillian.

Work it out with her.
Tell her how you feel.

Lillian's not out
to get you.
The hell she isn't !

Lillian's been trying
to nail me to a cross
since the day I met her.

I'm gonna get me
a lawyer from concord, and get
this divorce thing rearranged.

Marge ?
That goddamn woman.

She thinks she
can cart jill off and
leave me alone like this.

I'm a whole lot more
than pissed.

I've been there
plenty in my life,
and I know the difference.

And this is different.

Marge, you got orders.

Call me.

Tonight.
Let's get together tonight.
Okay.

Talked to jack ?
Nah. Not since last night.
He took a guy hunting.

The fucker shot himself.
Ker-bang !
That's what it sounded like.

Not on purpose.
I assume accidental.

Who ? Jack ?
The other guy.

How'd you hear this ?
C.B., a little while ago.

One of the boys comin' in.
Jack on the c.B. Callin'
for state troopers.

I figured you'd know
what really happened.

I was on the grader.
Twombley, summer people
from massachusetts.

Friend of gordon's.
It was gordon's idea for
jack to take him hunting.

Oh, boy.
I gotta go.

I want you to work
on a new logo for that.
I don't like that.

All righty.
Put an idea of
a mountain down there.

Something like that
with a stream below.

What's the hurry ?
Hunting accident.
Jack and twombley.

I figured you
would've heard.
Twombley ! Jesus ! Get moving.

I gotta get up there.
How would I have heard ?
Have somebody move the grader.

Go on. Go on !
You drive.
We'll take my truck.

[ c.B. Indistinct ]

[ lariviere ]
turn it off.

All you heard was there was
some kind of accident ?

Twombley's shot.
I heard that.

Jack's okay, I assume.

You don't know how bad
or anything ?
You mean twombley ?

Yes, wade.
I mean twombley.

Put out that cigarette !

Fuck, fuck, fuck !

[ wade ]
probably shot himself
in the foot or somethin'.

That's what
usually happens.

I should've sent you
instead of jack.
I wish you had.

I'd rather be deer huntin'
than freezin' my ass off
on that fuckin' grader.

Well, you ain't the hunter
jack is, and he can't drive
the grader worth shit.

Like hell !
[ siren wailing ]

That must've been twombley.
Want me to follow them
to littleton ?

No, no, let's go to the top.
Talk to jack first.

He'll know what happened.
He best fucking better know !

There's jack.

[ policeman ]
I clocked 105.

[ jack ] 105 ?
That was pretty fast.

[ policeman ] turns out
to be one of these kids
up for the weekend.

She says, "officer, can we
make this disappear ?"
shows me $100 bill.

Heard the news ?

I heard twombley
got shot.
Yeah.

Watch the dog, wade.

Takes a mind to,
he'll take your head off.
He likes me.

Is it bad ?
30-30 at close range.

Jesus !

Will he make it ?
D.O.A. Blew the
bastard wide open.

Had a hole in his back
you could put
your fist into.

Nice hole in front too.

Did you see it ?
No. Heard it.

We weren't far apart.
I'd spotted this buck.

I looked at the bottom
of the cliff
where he was standin',

And there the fucker was,
deader than shit !

I called it right in.

This is gonna be one mess
to clean up.

Twombley's son-in-law
and daughter are up
for the weekend.

Didn't you say
you'd seen him, wade ?
Yeah. Damn near ran me over.

You want to tell them ?
You knew the old man.

What the fuck !
My day's already ruined.

Gimme the keys.
You can go back with jack.

You still got plowing to do.
It ain't finished,
if that's what you mean.

Something bugging you ?
Yeah, a few things.

Right now we're not interested
in a few things.

Why don't you do a few things
for me, and then you get bugged
on your own time ?

You might as well take
the rest of the day off.
You look fucked up.

You've been paid
for the day anyhow, right ?

Not exactly.
I mean, he never paid me.

Don't worry.
You'll get your money.

Don't talk to any newspaper
about this.

[ lariviere ]
twombley's a big deal
down in massachusetts.

Just tell them that your lawyer
says you shouldn't comment.

[ jack ]
lawyer ? I don't need
a lawyer, do I ?

No, of course not.
Just say it. That's all.

[ speaking french ]

Where'd twombley
get shot ?
In the chest.

No. I mean whereabouts.
About a half mile in,
along the old lumber road.

The old lumber road, huh ?
That's a steep climb.
You bring him up yourself ?

Ambulance guys
lugged him up.

You stayed away ?
Yeah.

Where'd you get
that blood ?
What blood ?

On your sleeve.

Must've-- ahh.
How do I know ?

What are you doing,
playing cop ?
[ laughing ]

I gotta make a report
to fish and game.
I'm just wondering, that's all.

What'd he do ?
Who the fuck knows ?

Must've slipped
or something.

I just heard the gun go off.

I've never seen a man
get shot before.

Not even in the service.
Must be somethin'.

I didn't actually see it.
Like I said.
Sure you did.

What ?
Saw him get shot.

What the fuck are you
telling me ? I never
seen the guy get shot.

You must've seen him get shot !
I know you did !

Let's get the fuck
outta here.
You're not making any sense.

There's your old 20-gauge,
and that's that new browning
you were showing me.

Oh, look at this.

That must be twombley's gun.

It's brand new.
Very fancy tooling, huh ?

Probably only been fired
one time.

But what the hell, jack ?
I guess you deserve it.
Right's right, huh ?

Twombley sure as hell
won't be shooting it again.

I gotta turn it in
to fish and game.
Yeah, I was goin' to.

Sure, you were.

[ wade ] rolfe ?
[ rolfe over phone ]
yeah, wade ?

Brother, look.
I was calling 'cause--

Has there been anything
on tv in boston
about a hunting accident...

Involving a guy
named twombley,
evan twombley ?

[ rolfe ]
there was something.
It happened up your way.

Yeah. Yeah, I know him.
I mean, the kid
that was with him.

Maybe you did too.
Jack hewitt.

He works for lariviere
with me.
He's my best friend.

Wade, it's late.
I know you're probably
at toby's.

But I'm in bed reading.
We have different habits.

No, no. Not tonight.
I'm in bed too.

I was calling 'cause
I need you to listen.
I got this theory.

[ wade ]
jack says he didn't see
twombley shot.

[ gunshot ]

It'll come out
that jack lied, and
the kid'll hang for it.

He was scheduled to testify
for a committee...

Investigating organized crime
in new England,
the construction business.

Who ?
Twombley.

No shit !
Why ? Do you think
jack shot him ?

Well, it was an accident.
They were out deer hunting,
right ?

[ gunshot ]

[ wade ]
maybe there was
a third person.

[ rolfe ]
hmm.

Lillian was here.
In lawford.

Night before the shooting.
How was she ?

She came to pick up jill.

She was supposed to spend
the weekend for Halloween,
but she wanted to go home.

Who ?
Jill.

I was thinking of getting
a lawyer.
Maybe you can help me.

What happened ?
A divorce lawyer.

No, a custody lawyer.
You know, 'cause of jill.

Don't think about it.
You're exhausted.

Yeah, I guess so.

Get some sleep.

I get to feeling like
a whipped dog some days.

Some night I'm gonna
bite back. I swear it.

Haven't you already done
a bit of that ?

No, no, I haven't.
Not really.

I've growled a little,

But I haven't bit.

[ knocking on door ]

It's okay, sweetie.

Who are you ?

I'm wade whitehouse.
Is your husband here ?

He's asleep.

We were up very late
last night.

I just wanted to say
I'm really sorry about
your father, mrs. Twombley.

Mrs. Gordon.
Thank you.

Yeah.
Yeah, sure.

I just had a little business
to do with mr. Gordon.

I'm the local
police officer.
Something about my father ?

No, no, no.
It's just a traffic thing.
It's no big deal.

Can it wait then ?

Whitehouse, next time,
phone ahead.

[ laughing ]
jesus christ, mr. Gordon.

When I come all the way out here
to serve somebody a summons,
I don't call ahead.

What the hell
are you talking about ?

I'm issuing you a ticket.
A moving violation.

Moving violation ?

I just get out of bed,
and you're talking about
a goddamn speeding ticket ?

Yesterday you passed a stopped
school bus which had
a flashing--
hold on.

Don't ever put your hands on me,
mr. Gordon.

You're talkin' about
a goddamned ticket from
the time I passed you...

While you were dreaming
of becoming a traffic cop
or something.

[ paper rustling ]

There's your ticket.

You get the hell outta
my house now, asshole.

You'll be a lucky asshole
if I haven't got you fired
by the end of the day.

I could do that.
Just one phone call.
I'm pissed enough to do it.

[ margie ]
jack's kind of sensitive,
I guess.

Heard he was drunk at toby's
last night and got
in a fight with hettie.

He drove off
without her.

I'm sure.
I'm positive it didn't happen
the way jack says it did.

Jack's turned
into one of those men
who are permanently angry.

He used to be a sweet kid.

When he found out
he couldn't play ball
anymore, he changed.

Now he's like
everyone else.

I've been wondering
if maybe jack shot twombley,

Instead of twombley
shooting himself.

[ wade ]
I wonder if maybe jack
shot him on purpose.

[ gunshot ]

Wade ! How can you even
think such a thing ?

Why would jack hewitt
do that ?
Shoot twombley on purpose ?

Money.

Jack doesn't need money.
Everybody needs money.

Except twombley and that
son of a bitch son-in-law
of his. People like that.

Jack wouldn't kill for it.
Besides, who'd pay him ?
Lots of people.

A guy like twombley
probably got lots of people
who want to see him dead.

The government's investigating
his links to the mafia.

[ laughing ]
oh, the mafia hired
jack hewitt ?

[ laughing ]
no, no.

I just know jack's lying
about how it happened.

He seemed... Tight,
you know ?

I know that kid.
I know what he's like inside.
He's like me when I was his age.

You wouldn't have done
anything like that,
shoot somebody for money.

[ chuckles ]
not for money.

But if somebody'd give me
half a damned excuse--
I was pretty fucked up.

But you're not anymore.

When are you gonna get
that tooth fixed ?

Oh, yeah, I can see what
you looked like as a kid.
You knew me when I was a kid.

No, not really.
Not what you looked like.
I never studied your face.

Hmm.
I never really...

Could see you as a kid
when you were a kid
until now, this way.

In what way ?

After making love.

I like it.
It's nice to see that
in a grown-up person.

It's kind of scary.

But it's nice.
Yeah.

I'll get us a beer.
Okay.

Don't you think--

Do you really think
it's a good idea to press...

This custody thing
right now ?

Sure. Why not ?

I don't know.
It's just-- seems like--

I'm her father.
Supposed to be,
but I'm not able to.

Yeah.
Yes, I do.

You know, maybe the only thing
in my life...

That I've been
so sure about wanting.

Even if it takes
a big fight.

Well, then I guess
you have to.

There's another thing
I've been thinking about.

I don't know how you feel
about the idea, 'cause
we've never talked about it.

But I've been thinking--

I've been thinking
we should get married sometime.
You and me.

Oh, wade.
It's just-- it's just
a thought, that's all.

You've been married twice.
Yeah, but it was
to the same woman.

I was just a kid.

It's not like
a marriage proposal
or anything.

It's just a thought,
an idea.

Something for you and me
to think about, you know.

All right.
I'll think about it.
Good.

[ pop ]
I've got sons, goddamn it !

My god, have I got sons !

Wade ? Rolfe ?

Elbourne ?

You love me, boys ?

You love your pop ?

[ chuckling ]

Of course you do.

Glen, come on, please.

Oh, christ, sally !

You are such a good person.

Capital "g."

By god, you are--
you are so much better
than I am.

I who am no goddamn good
at all.

And you,

You are a truly good person...

Like a fucking saint !

Fucking beyond compare !

Glen, don't.
Come on.
Get away !

Whoa ! My, my,
look at my big boy here,

Bursting out of the seams
of his jeans.

- You little prick !
- Glen, don't !

[ mom, wade crying ]

Yeah, well--
[ chuckles ]

[ margie ]
did you tell them
that we were coming ?

Don't you think it's proper
for a fella to introduce
his girl to his parents ?

I know your parents.

I just gotta pick up
my divorce papers for the
lawyer. It won't take long.

You're really gonna do that ?
That custody thing ?

Yeah !
Oh, god.

I think you'll be sorry.
I think you'll wish you'd
never opened this up again.

Maybe. But I'd be a hell
of a lot sorrier
if I just let it go.

Kids grow up fast
and then it's over.

You get old,
your kids are strangers.
Look at me and my old man.

Your father's not like you.
That's why you and he
are strangers.

That's my whole point.

I don't want
to get into that.

And lillian's not like
your mother.
She won't roll over.

She'll fight you
like a she-bear.

If lillian had been like
my mother, I wouldn't have
to be doing any of this.

Are you sure
they're home ?

Well, the truck's
still here.

Looks like
they stayed inside
since the snowfall.

That's strange.

You think
they're all right ?

Yeah, of course.
I would've heard.

How ?
I don't know,
for chrissake !

Pop ?

[ wade ]
hey, pop, you okay ?

Huh ?

Oh.

Jesus, pop,
how can you stand the cold,
dressed like that ?

Huh ? Oh.

Where's ma ?

Ah, she's sleeping.

Oh.

You remember margie fogg ?

Oh. From wickham's ?

Hello, mr. Whitehouse.

Ah. You, ah, like
some coffee or something ?

No, thanks.

How are you and ma doing ?
I haven't seen you in town.

We're all right.
Yeah, we're all right.

Uh, she's sleeping.
You want me to go up
and get her ?

Yeah.
Oh.

Jesus. Nothing's
changed around here.

It's freezing in here.
Yeah, yeah.
I'll put some wood on.

Close the door
would help.

Don't.
It's bad for you.

Maybe they're too old
to be staying here.
Maybe so.

[ footsteps,
pop coughing ]

Where's mom ?

Ah, she's comin'.

[ margie ] have you
been heating the house ?
Not just with the stove.

Well, there's
a furnace here.

You're not
using it today ?
Well, I--

It's broken or something.

There's an electric
up in the bedroom.

Maybe wade oughta take
a look at it.
Your pipes will freeze.

Would you do that, wade ?
Yeah, yeah.

Ah--

Ma ?

Ma ?

[ whispering ]
hey, ma.

Ma, come on,
wake up.

[ whispering ]
oh, jesus.

Oh, lord.

Oh, jesus.

Wade ?

Is, uh--

[ sighs ]
she's dead then ?

Yep.

When did she die ?

I checked on her.

I brought the electric up.

The cold bothers her
more than it does me.

That's why I brought
the electric up and--

Don't you have
a telephone ?
It's in the living room.

Why didn't you call
and have the furnace fixed ?

Oh, wade.
I thought she was all right.

Till this morning,
she was.

It makes me sad !

Is there anything
I can do ?

Makes me sad it was her
instead of me.

God !

Oh.

I should've froze.

[ rolfe narrating ]
wade called me, as usual,
late at night.

I knew it was wade.
No one else calls me
at that hour.

And I was ready to listen
to another chapter in one
of his ongoing sagas.

There was the detective story
concerning the shooting
of evan twombley,

And the family melodrama
about wade's custody fight
with lillian.

But not this time.

Wade was telling
a different story,
or so it seemed then,

One in which I myself
was a character.

He had called to tell me
that some time
the previous night...

He had discovered
our mother had died,

And he'd discovered the body
when he went over to visit her
and our father with margie fogg.

It was left to me
to tell our sister lena
and her husband clyde...

Who'd gone overweight
and made jesus christ
their personal savior.

Pop was okay,
but out of it.

Worse than usual, maybe,
though no drunker than usual.

[ woman ]
how 'bout you, rolfe ?
Are you sad ?

No, I'm not.

But then you'll be
in hell.

I guess I will.

Me and mom
and wade and pop.

We'll all be there
together.

[ wade ]
shouldn't we get this show
on the road ?

Well, pointless to stand around
in church, I guess,
with nothing to do.

What about jill ?
Is lillian bringing her ?

They'll be at the church
and the cemetery.

Anyone else want
another beer ?
Rolfe ?

No, thanks.
I don't drink.

Yeah, I forgot.
Sorry.

How are you
holding up, wade ?

Oh, I'm fine.

Are you rolfe ?
Yes.

Gordon. Gordon lariviere.
I remember you
from high school.

You're a teacher now ?
Hmm ?

Harvard ?
B.U.

Oh.
I don't see you around.

I don't suppose
there's much reason
for you to come this way.

Come on, pop.
[ pop ]
hmm ?

Join us.
Huh ?

Reverend ?

Let's kneel
for a moment of prayer
before the service.

Wade ? Rolfe ?

[ whispering ]
this is nuts.
Wade.

Jesus in heaven,
oh !

We come to thee on our knees.
Begging for thy forgiveness.

And thanking thee
for the undeserved gift
of thy salvation.

We thank thee,
whose blood was shed
that we may live.

[ lena ]
praise the lord !
[ everyone ] praise the lord.

Oh, god, not one of you
is worth a single hair
on that woman's head ! God !

Please look down upon
this woman,
our mother and friend,

And make her example
known to us.

Not one of you is worth
a goddamned hair
on that good woman's head !

Pop !
Jesus !
What is this shit ?

I'll head on to the church.
[ reverend ]
this is a difficult time.

Pop, it's no big deal.
Oh, smart guy. Tell me
it's no big deal ?

I just--
tell me...

There's a single one of you
that's worth one single hair
on that woman's gray head !

Pop ?
What ?

Jesus is more powerful
than any demon.

Oh, go fuck yourself !
Wade, just leave it.

Yeah, just listen to
your little brother here.

"wade, just leave it."

Candy-asses.

All of you.

That's what I've got
for children.

Jesus freaks
and candy-asses !

Oh. "just leave it, wade.

Praise the lord !
Just leave it, wade."

Stop, glen whitehouse !
Goddamn it !
Come on, girl !

If you ever touch her again,
I'll kill you !
I swear it !

[ pop ]
you're still standing up
for your little brother, huh ?

[ reverend ] for as much as
it hath pleased almighty god
of his great mercy--

[ rolfe narrating ]
it snowed the day
of the funeral.

The snow line had descended
from canada weeks before...

And was now well south
of lawford,

Creeping across new hampshire
towards massachusetts.

[ reverend ] in sure and
certain hope of the resurrection
to enteral life,

Through our lord jesus christ.

Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes,

Dust to dust.

Amen.

Pop, let's go back
to the house.

Hey, dad.
Hey.

[ coughs ]

I'm glad you came.

Can you stay
for a while ?

No.

You ever go to
your father's grave anymore ?

No, not anymore.

It's too far.

We should talk.

We've done all our talking,
wade.
It's just that--

No, please don't.

I'm sorry
about your mother.

I really liked her.

You never know how much
women like that suffer.

Like they live their whole lives
with the sound turned off.

Then they're gone.

Mom ?
Huh ?

She's got an ice skating lesson
at 4:00.
I'm taking ice skating, dad.

[ chuckles ]
that's great.

Figure skating,
I suppose.
And ice ballet.

That's great.

Well--

Good-bye, dad.

[ car engine revving ]

What about margie ?
What about her ?

You still plan on
getting married ?

Oh, yeah.
She'll probably quit her job
and move out here with pop.

We can't leave him alone
anymore.

He'll probably set
the damn place on fire.

And with jill here a lot,
it'll be good
to have margie around.

[ grunts ]

Things are gonna change
in that department, by the way.

I got a custody lawyer
down in concord.
I'm gonna see him tomorrow.

All hell's gonna break loose,
but it'll be worth it.
Here, put the shovels away.

[ engine revving ]
I wanna let it
run out of gas.

I don't want the bastard
drivin' drunk.

He's drunk
all the time now.

After, we'll hide
the keys.

Anything new
about the shooting ?
Twombley ?

No. I guess
it was an accident
like everybody thinks.

Want to know what
I think happened ?

You find them everywhere.

I think your first response
to the shooting
was the correct one.

Which is ?
That it wasn't an accident.

Well, then
who shot him ?

Your friend, I think.
Jack hewitt.

[ chuckling ]
jack.

Come on, rolfe.
Give me a motive.

Money.
Money ? Who'd pay 'im
that kind of money ?

Not the mob.
They got their own guys.
Specialists.

Who else benefits
if twombley is suddenly dead ?

I don't know.
You tell me.
Okay.

It's likely there are people
in the union who don't want
twombley to testify.

That probably includes
his son-in-law,
who's vice president,

And will probably be
the next president.

I read that in the papers.
Uh, what's his name ?
Mel gordon.

Mel gordon, right.
The guy in
the b.M.W., right ?

Okay, here's my theory.

Twombley, he doesn't know
about illegal loans or whatever,

And he starts to nose around
because of the investigation,
and he finds out.

Finds out his son-in-law
is involved.

So mel gordon wouldn't want
a professional hit.

That makes the feds dig deeper.
He wants it to look
like an accident.

A hunting accident's perfect.

[ chuckling ]
around here, you shoot
somebody in the woods,

You say it was an accident,
they fine you 50 bucks and
they lift your hunting license.

And jack, he--

Jack's probably sayin'
the guy shot himself 'cause
he ain't got his deer,

And he don't want
his license lifted.

Nah. That's too neat.
Things ain't that neat.

Some things are.
Only in books.

It's what happened.

That makes me mad.

That somebody
can shoot somebody,
his own father-in-law,

And not be punished
for it.

Don't that piss you off ?
No, not particularly.

Right's right, goddamn it !
Jesus, rolfe ! Don't you care
about what's right ?

I care about
what happened.

The truth.

Remember, I'm a student
of history. Books.

I've been thinkin' about
that story you told me...

About pop...

And chopping the firewood
out of the ice and after.

I don't want to disappoint you,
but I don't think it happened.

You don't think I'd remember
a thing like that ?
It wasn't me.

I wasn't there.
When I heard about it,
it was elbourne.

Elbourne, jesus.
We'd have to go digging
in vietnam to ask him.

And elbourne and mom
brought you to the doctor...

And told him
you fell from the hayloft.

[ laughing ]
I never heard that one.

No, I remember clearly
because...

After I heard, I became
real careful around pop.

I was a careful child...

And I became
a careful adult.

But at least
I was never afflicted
by that man's violence.

[ laughing ]

That's what you think.
[ laughing ]

Ahh !

I better head back.
It's a long drive.

All right.

Okay.

[ jack ]
ready, jimmy ?

Put out that cigarette !

[ lariviere ]
not there, asshole.
Strip it.

Morning, gordon.
Morning, wade.

Hey, jack.

I'm fuckin' out of here.
What, lawford ?

Out of this fucking job.
This job sucks.

Workin' outside
in the winter sucks.

Open the door, will you ?
Why don't you quit now,
you want out so bad ?

Open the door.
We're late.
No, I mean it, jack.

You got enough money now.
Head out to california.
Surf's up, jack.

And you digging wells
in the snow.
What do you mean I got money ?

I'm as broke as you.
Looney tunes, jack.
Fucking looney tunes.

[ wade ]
you think you're getting
away with it ?

[ elaine ]
mr. Gordon !

Is the boss in ?
Yes, indeedy.

[ wade ]
I screwed up the divorce.

I agreed to everything
that she said.

I just wanted her
to like me.

I wanted to be
a good father.

I have the documents.

You know,
[ clears throat ]

It would help if you were
married, if there was someone
at home while you're at work.

I plan to soon.

How soon ?

Next spring.
It would help...

If there was some change
in circumstance
since this was drawn,

If there was some drug
or alcohol abuse
on the part of your ex-wife.

Sexual problems
upsetting the child.
I'm sorry !

But these are the things we're
gonna have to explore if we want
to contest this document.

Does it have to get
that messy ?
Absolutely.

This is just the tip
of the iceberg, mr. Whitehouse.

I hope you understand
what I'm saying.

Looks kind of hopeless,
don't it ?

No, not really.
I'll have another look
at the divorce decree,

See if we can get it
redrawn.

But at some point,
I'm going to have
to interview your daughter.

It's jill, right ?
Yes.

You got an ashtray ?

I'll need
a $500 retainer.

You can just mail it
to me.

[ exhales ]

How much is the whole thing
gonna cost ?
It's hard to say.

But if we go for custody,
there's depositions,
psychiatric evaluations.

But if we just want to get
the visitation rights redrawn,

Assuming they're
unduly restrictive,
it wouldn't be more than $3,500.

Oh.

It might be in your
best interest legally as well
as financially to just go for--

I know.
The custody thing wasn't just
my trying to get back at her.

I'm not as dumb as I look.

I didn't say you
looked dumb, mr. Whitehouse.

I love my daughter.
I'll send you the $500.

[ wade ]
I'm sorry about the long lunch.

My transmission's
going out again.

Did you ever think about
getting a new car ?

On what you pay me ?

Elaine, call chub merritt, have
him pick up wade's shitbox,
fix the transmission.

[ elaine ]
what ?

Call chub merritt,
have him pick up wade's car,
fix the transmission.

I'll bill the repair
to the town.

You can use
my four-by-four.

You're the town
police officer.

The town police officer
should have a decent car.

Well, you want a new car
or not ?

What do I have to do
for it ?
Nothing.

You know, wade,
I've been thinking.

You don't get enough
appreciation around here.

Uh-uh. I saw mel gordon
in here this morning.
So ?

He say anything about a summons
I tried to give him ? Son
of a bitch wouldn't accept it.

Wade, "dat" wasn't smart.
"that ?"

Going out right after
the man's father-in-law
shot himself.

It's pronounced "that,"
not "dat." that.

That.
Yeah.

Let it go.
Call it a favor to me.

You ? Why ?

Well, mel's doing
some business with me.

It's nice to do a favor
for people
you do business with.

He was in a hurry.
It's no big deal.

That was before twombley
was shot, before he knew.
What's the difference ?

Take my truck, take a rest.
Stop worrying
about mel gordon.

Have you decided
what to do with
your old man's place yet ?

You oughta sell it,
move into town.

You wanna buy ?
Don't light that here.
I'm allergic.

I won't.
You interested ?
Maybe.

You and mel gordon ?
Could be.

- Always count on wade
for a good screwing, huh ?
- What are you talking about ?

Why should you guys
make all the money ?
You, mel and jack.

Right's right.
I asked you not to light
that fucking thing in here.

Get out of here
with that smoke !

[ coughs ]

[ truck door closes ]

[ rolfe's voice ]
a hunting accident's perfect.

Anything new
about the shooting ?

I think your first response
to the shooting
was the correct one.

Your friend, I think.
Jack hewitt. He's my favorite.

Money. Hunting accident.
I bet it wasn't an accident.

[ jack's voice ]
it wasn't me. I wasn't there.
[ wade's voice ] the truth.

[ wade ] remember,
it may have happened,
but not the way you said.

It's what happened
not because it's neat.

[ rolfe ]
twombley's sudden death.
Killing was the correct one.

[ wade ]
the truth, remember.

You crazy son of a bitch !
You almost killed us both !

Get off the fuckin' ice !

Get off !

What're you runnin' from,
jack ?

We're gonna talk.

Stay back.
I'll shoot you.

I'll fuckin' shoot you dead
if you don't get back
in that truck.

You ain't shootin' shit.
Now put the gun away.

Tell me what happened.

Don't move !
I'll shoot you dead if you move.

[ chuckles ]

[ gun cocks, rifle shots ]

[ groaning ]

[ groaning ]

Thanks a lot.

Stop that !

Who ? Me ?
I didn't do nothin'.

[ sighs ]

Just look what a good job
I done here.

You haven't done anything.
I should've left you at home
to stew in your drink.

Damn right you should have.

It's about time.

Your father's here.
Marge got to baby-sit him.

She moved in with you,
huh ?

What happened ?
Don't even ask.

My, my, my.
The prodigal son.

About fuckin' time
too.

I got me a new job.
Second cook and bottle washer.

Pop, for chrissake,
let's go home.

I'm sorry.
I got waylaid.

The hell you got waylaid.

You follow your prick around
like it was your nose,
for chrissake !

Can it, whitehouse.
Get him out of here.

It was funny at first,
but I'm tired.
Let's go home.

What home is that ?
Is that your home
or my home ?

You're fuckin' sly,
wade.

Now, your mom's dead.
She can't make any excuses
for you anymore.

You've got to deal with me now.
No more sugar tit, sonny !

For chrissake, pop.
Let's go home.
Don't give me any of your lip.

Get out
of this fast.
I can't.

Are you pushing me ?

Come on. My god.
Don't push me !

You think you can take me now ?
Just come on.
Come on.

Just get in the car.
What's the matter ?

Just get in the car.

Get in.
Just get in.
Wimp !

[ pop ]
why don't you grow up ?

You never could stand up
for yourself !

Goddamn it !

You could never understand
what it's about.
I wish you'd die !

Oh, stop it !
Just stop it !
Stop it !

[ wade's voice ]
no shit, rolfe.
I glanced up and there he was,

Only it was me.

But it was like
I had never seen myself before.

It was a stranger's face.
It's hard to explain.

You fly on automatic pilot,
like I was doing all night,
and you disappear.

Then you accidentally see
your body, or your face,
or whatever,

And you don't know
who in the hell it belongs to.

Strange.

It's the business with
the old man, I know, and how
incredibly pissed I was at him,

And chasing jack hewitt
and the goddamned truck, not
to mention margie's being upset.

One thing
on top of another.

[ rolfe ] wade,
are you all right ?

You gotta hear this.
You won't believe it.

Mel gordon had come by
to visit lariviere.

So they're in the office.

Mel gordon realized
that I was onto them.

Mel thinks he can buy me off.

But lariviere,
he knew that wouldn't work.

Mel gordon may be able
to buy off lariviere.
That's one thing.

But not me.

How could a guy like jack hewitt
get into a mess like this ?

[ alma ] coffee ?
[ wade ] thank you, alma.

You want milk
and sugar ?
No, no. Black is fine.

I like it this way.

You got yourself
a new computer, huh ?

I've been putting
all my files into it.

You all right, wade ?

Yeah. I got this damn tooth.
It's killing me.

Got a few things bugging me,
just like everybody else.

I'm okay.

I don't mean to pry.

I'm sorry about your mother.
It was a nice funeral.

It's over now.

Alma,

I think there's
some dirty business
goin' on in this town.

I know that.
There always has been.

No, no. I think this
is a little worse
than you and I are used to.

I'm talkin' about murder,
among other things.

Who ?
Twombley. Evan twombley.

The union boss official
who got shot.

Somebody murdered him.
Who would--

[ clears throat ]

You know jack hewitt,
the kid I work with ?

Well, I think jack
shot him.

You know, twombley was
the father-in-law of mel gordon.

That's a friend
of lariviere's.

I don't know what
the connection is yet,

But lariviere had jack
take him out hunting,

Pretending it was
an accident.

[ rifle shot ]

If jack told the truth,
he could be free
by the time he's my age.

Sometimes things are simpler
than you think.

Let me ask you
a question.
You don't believe me ?

About jack ? No.

Have you checked out
the tax bill
on your father's farm lately ?

Um, I know he's been due
for a couple of years.

I was thinkin' of paying it
when the insurance comes in.

Has anybody offered
to buy it ?

Yeah. Matter of fact
lariviere.

These are all
the real estate transactions
in this town for the last year.

Most of it is unused land.
Most of it is for little more
than back taxes owed.

How's lillian ?

She's fine.

That's three years ago.

It's quite a difference,
hmm ?

What's the north country
development association ?

Went down to concord.
I checked it out.

Mel gordon is the president.

And the vice president
and treasurer
is gordon lariviere.

They're buying up
the whole mountain.
$364,000 last year.

I believe that's
a little outside
of lariviere's league.

Is twombley involved ?
No.

Hmm.

He must've found out.

They had to get rid
of him.

And jack--
jack will get blamed for it.

All these figures show
is that...

Gordon lariviere is gonna be
a very rich man because
of his being a selectman.

In a year or two,
you're not gonna recognize
this town.

Oh, boy. Oh, boy !

You sneaky son of a bitch !
I got your number now !

All these years I thought you
were a decent man. Ran around
feeling grateful to you.

Can you believe that ?
Grateful !

You're fired !
He's using us.

We're his slaves. We're alike.
What were you doing
with my truck ?

- Are you a quitter ? Quitter !
- You're finished.
Gimme the keys.

I give it with pleasure.
I'm free of you.

You're not on my back anymore.
You see how easy it is ?
Keep your hands off me.

I'll handle this.
Break it up.
Break it up, wade !

Break it up !
Wade !

You ain't gettin' away
with this ! You ain't
gettin' away with it !

Stay out of it, jimmy.
You're fired. I want
the shop keys. Where are they ?

Wade, get out of here !
Just go !

I gotta call my brother.

[ door closes ]

[ wade's voice ] yeah,
I know what it means. I'm just
runnin' out of ways to use it.

[ rolfe's voice ]
why ? For what ?
To help jack.

To nail those sons of bitches.
You know, the two gordons.

That's what alma calls them.
Jesus, rolfe, whose side
are you on ?

[ rolfe ]
wade, listen. Take care
of the little things first,

The things that are
distracting you from taking care
of the big things.

Call chub merritt,
get your car back.

Call a dentist
and get your tooth pulled.

Forget about
the hunting accident.

Let it go.

[ groaning ]
wade ?

Chick.
The good news is, we haven't
got to your car yet.

The bad news--
just tell me
when you have it fixed.

The bad news is there's
a problem with gordon's truck,
which somebody shot up.

Figured you'd know something
about that, wade.
Yeah, I know about that.

Lariviere says
he ain't gonna pay
for fixing your car.

It's a couple hundred
for the transmission.

I got more bad news.
Wanna hear it ?

Yeah, tell me.
Chub says you're fired.

He can't fire me.
Lariviere already did that
this morning.

Your other job
for the town.

Chub's a selectman.
Said to turn your badge in
and clean out your office.

What do you mean
you can't take me today ?
I told you it's--

Shit ! Shit ! Shit !

[ margie ]
wade ?
What ?

What in the world
is happening to you ?

Why are you acting this way ?
It's my tooth !
It's my goddamn tooth !

I can't even think anymore
because of it.

You got fired this morning,
didn't ya ?

Margie, look.
That's temporary,
believe me.

There's so much shit
that's gonna hit the fan
in the next few days,

And my getting fired
by lariviere and merritt
won't matter a bit.

I'll get another job.

People are gonna need me.
After this is over,

They're gonna make me
into a goddamn hero !

You wait, you'll see.
I'll deliver. I'll be
the best father that ever lived.

You need me. Even pop !
For chrissake, he needs me !

This town needs me !

I'll get another job.
Maybe right now...

They think they can send me
howling into the corner
like a kicked dog !

But by god,
it'll be different soon !

Always been a whiner.
God !

Now, my old man, there was--
there was a real man.

He let no woman
push him around.

Worked till the day he died.

Yeah, men like him
were real men.

And women knew their place.
There was no confusion.

Women respected men then.
It wasn't like it is today--

Be careful what you say,
glen whitehouse.

I know you.
My mother knew your wife.

Oh, what she went through.

Don't you sass me, damn it !

You think you're
pretty hot stuff, huh ?

Well, you're gettin' old too.

And there's not a goddamn thing
a woman can do about that.

Is there ?

[ laughing ]

[ groans ]
gimme the bottle.

Sure.
[ door slams shut ]

[ grunts ]

[ panting ]

[ sighing ]

[ rolfe narrating ]
you will say that
I should've known...

Terrible things
were about to happen.

You will say
that I was responsible.

But even so, what could
I have done by then ?

Wade lived on the edge
of his emotions.

He was always first to receive
the brunt of our father's anger.

He had no perspective
to retreat to,

Even in a crisis.

[ coughs ]

[ doorbell chiming ]

Wait there.
She'll be right out.

I thought we'd go
out to the farm,
see my dad.

Get your boots.
Hi, honey.

Have her home
tomorrow night by 6:00.
That's no problem.

Lillian, I'm sorry.
I had this damn tooth,
and I got it pulled.

God, you make me sick.
What ?

I can't believe
you would sink this low.

Low as what ?
What have I done ?
Your lawyer called.

Yeah. Is that bad to want
to see your own daughter ?

Don't play dumb.

For what this will do to her,
this kid you say
you love so much.

Love, wade ?

Really ?
Shame on you !

Shame on you.

[ footsteps approaching ]
bye, sweetie. Call me
tonight if you feel like it.

Are we going in this ?

Yeah, my car's in the shop.
This'll be fine.

It's pretty old.
It belongs to pop.

Pop ?
Yeah, my father.
You know who he is.

Pop. It's his.

Yeah.

[ wade ]
well, how 'bout
a big mac ?

Mom won't let me eat
fast food. You know that.
It's bad for you.

Come on. We can
always sneak a big mac
like we used to.

And a cherry turnover.
What do you say, jillie ?
No.

What do you want then ?
Nothing.

Come on,
you can't have nothing.
We gotta have lunch.

Mr. Pizzeria ?
Same thing, dad.

- Mom says all that food
is bad for you.
- I don't care what mom says.

I'm in charge today,
okay ?

Okay. We'll get what you want.
What do you want ?

What do I want ?
Well, I don't know.

I guess I can wait
till we get home.
Maybe we'll stop at wickham's.

Okay.
Fine. Fine.

[ sighs ]

Are you okay ?

Ah, jillie, come on.
Come on, honey.

Don't get sad on me.
I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.
What are you sorry for ?

What am I sorry for ?

Well, I don't know.
I guess it was
the food business.

I just thought we'd sneak
a big mac on mommy
like we used to.

I wanna go home.

[ sighs ]

You can't.
[ beer can pops open ]

That's illegal, you know.

I know.
[ slurping beer ]

You're a policeman.

No, not anymore.

I'm nothin' anymore.

Here we go.
Go on, grab that pocket.

So, what do we want ?

Come on, jillie,
what do we want ?
Jillie, jillie, jillie !

We want a cheese
grilled sandwich ?

It's called
a grilled cheese sandwich,
you dub.

[ jill gasps ]

Jill !
Jill, I'm sorry.
[ crying ]

Honey, nothin' happened.
Nothin' happened.

I wanna go home.
Oh, yeah. Sure, honey.

We'll go home right now.
I'm sorry. Nothin' happened.

Let's go.
Come on.

Wade, I got a message for ya.
Jack hewitt,
he's lookin' for you.

He wants you to clear your stuff
out of his office in town hall.

- His office ?
You mean my old office.
- That's what he said.

I'd stay away from him
if I were you.

He's real pissed.

[ woman ]
are you all right, nick ?

You goin' somewhere,
margie ?

I'm just clearing out
some of the stuff that's
piled up for the rummage sale.

And some of it's
for the cleaners
and the laundromat.

Don't lie to me, marge.
You're leaving me.
I can see that.

Don't be silly.

Hi, jill.

[ sighs ]

Marge.

[ crying ]
oh, marge.

Oh. Oh.
Help me, marge.

Leave me alone !

Leave me alone !
Leave her alone !
Leave her alone !

Leave her alone !

I wanna go home.
Will you take me home ?
Jill.

Jill ?

[ laughing ]

Oh, my.

You ! By christ !

You ! I know you !

[ laughing ]

Ah, yes.

You. Yeah,
you goddamn..

Son of a bitch.

I know you.

You're my blood.
You're a goddamn
fuckin' piece of my heart.

You don't know me.

You don't know me.

Fuck you.

Fuck you !

You done finally done it.

Done it right.
Done it like a man done it.

Just the way I taught ya.

Oh, goddamn !

I love you,
you mean son of a bitch.

I do.
Love. What do you know
about love ?

Love ? Hell,
I'm made of love.

Call it what you want.

Everything you know...

Comes from me.
Yeah.

Bang !

You and me !

Where the hell you goin' ?

Where you goin', wade ?
Best you leave my goddamn truck
where it is.

Wade, I need to--
gimme those keys.

Wade ! I need
to get to town.

Crawl.

There's hardly any booze
left in the house.
I gotta get me some brown's.

Hey !

It's my house, my money,

My goddamn truck !

Stolen !

You and me.

You and me.

I don't know you.

My own goddamn father,
and I don't know you.

[ scoffs ]
you and me.

Don't you sass me,
goddamn it.

[ laughs ]

[ yelling ]

[ gasping ]

I love you too.

[ rifle clicks ]

Ha. Joke.

Pop ?

Pop ?

Dad.

Dad.

[ sniffles ]

Ahh.

[ rolfe narrating ]
the historical facts
are known by everyone.

All of lawford,
all of new hampshire,
some of massachusetts.

Facts do not make history.

Our stories,
wade's and mine,

Describe the lives
of the boys and men
for thousands of years:

Boys who were beaten
by their fathers,

Whose capacity
for love and trust
was crippled almost at birth,

Men whose best hope
for connection
with other human beings...

Lay in detachment...

As if life were over.

It's how we keep from destroying
in turn our own children...

And terrorizing the women
who have the misfortune
to love us;

How we absent ourselves from
the tradition of male violence;

How we decline
the seduction of revenge.

Jack's truck turned up
three days later
in a shopping mall in toronto.

Wade killed jack...
[ rifle shot ]

Just as surely as jack
did not kill evan twombley,

Even accidentally.

The link between jack
and twombley,
lariviere and mel gordon...

Existed only
in wade's wild imaginings.

And briefly, I admit,
in mine as well.

Lariviere and mel gordon
were indeed in business.

The parker mountain ski resort
is now advertised
across the country.

The community of lawford,
as such, no longer exists.

It is an economic zone between
littleton and catamount.

The house is still
in wade's name,
and I keep paying taxes on it.

It remains empty.

Now and then I drive out there
and sit in my car,

And wonder why not let it go.

Why not let lariviere buy it
and build the condominiums
he wants there ?

We want to believe wade died
that same November,

Froze to death on a bench
or a sidewalk.

You cannot understand
how a man,

A normal man,
a man like you and me,
could do such a terrible thing.

Unless the police happen
to arrest a vagrant who
turns out to be wade whitehouse,

There will be
no more mention of him.

Or his friend jack hewitt.

Or our father.

The story will be over,

Except that I continue.