Original subtitles

(ELLIE SNORING SOFTLY)

(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)

(WHISPERS) Please don't

leave a message.

(VIBRATES)

(SIGHS)

Hey, where are you going?

I was just coming to see you.

Oh, I'm sorry,

I gotta go see Cole.

Wait, why,

what's up with your brother?

Nothing, I just gotta

go see him.

You gonna ask me?

Ask you what?

How I did in the poker game.

Well, you're not wearing

your shirt, so, I'm guessing

you didn't do too well.

Yeah, only 'cause the guy

who won it from me left early,

so, I didn't get a chance

to win it back.

But about an hour ago,

I turned it around. I won...

...over $200.

So, you've got my money.

I kind of had to pay

some back rent.

I gotta go.

ELLIE: Hi.

Hey, Ellie.

ELLIE: What are you doing?

Sarah wants to start

parking her car in here, so...

All this stuff's

gotta go to Goodwill.

You send your resume

in to that design firm

you were talking about?

They're never

gonna hire somebody

without a degree, so...

COLE: How do you know

without even trying?

I, um, got a call

from somebody in Texas.

Was it Dad?

I don't know, I haven't

listened to the message,

I'm too scared

to listen to it.

You want me to listen to it?

Wha... What do you think

that he wants?

Booze. Or money to buy booze.

Or money to get out of jail

so he can go buy booze.

-Yeah, but do you think

that maybe he...

-Erase it, Ellie.

As far as I'm concerned,

we have a mom and dad

and they're both

very much dead.

Except no one's gotten around

to burying Dad yet.

I think that we should hear

what he has to say.

Let me show you something.

I found this, uh,

this morning.

That trip was about

the last time I can remember

being a whole family.

Who's to blame for that

except Dad?

(CLATTERING)

WOMAN ON RECORDING:

This is a message for Ellie.

This is, uh,

your stepmother, Amanda.

I think you may wanna head on

down here to Texas.

Your daddy had a stroke,

and I don't know if he's gonna

be around much longer.

Anyway, I just thought

I should let you know.

He wants money, right?

Is there anything?

I'm sorry, but this flight

is overbooked.

Yeah, well, I know.

What does that mean?

It means that not everyone

on this flight...

No, I know

what the words mean, but I...

I really have

to get on this flight.

My father is not well.

Uh, it's... There just...

We do have another flight

that leaves at 3:30...

No. Please, um, I...

-I've got to get on this one.

-I don't...

Could you just check for,

like, a last minute

cancellation or...

Please?

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)

I'm sorry, but the 3:30

is the best that we can do.

-But there's...

There's got to be...

-(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)

I...

-Hello?

-AMANDA: Ellie? We lost him.

Who, what? Lost who?

I'm afraid we lost your daddy.

He died not two minutes ago.

Hey, there you are!

Oh, hi!

-Wait, you are Ellie,

aren't ya?

-Yeah.

It's a good thing

or I might've been

arrested for being a lesbian.

-Can you get arrested?

-I'm just kidding.

Is that all you have?

-Uh-huh.

-Okay, come on now,

we gotta scoot.

I had no idea

you'd be so late.

-I know.

There was a problem...

-Do you drive a truck?

I guess.

I might've had a few

too many cocktails

waiting for you,

I'm gonna need you to drive.

-(KEYS JANGLING)

-AMANDA: There you go.

(SIGHS) Oh, hang on,

just a sec.

Before you get in,

I wanna show you something.

How's the light out here?

Can you see okay?

ELLIE: See what?

Well, what do you think?

About...

Well, they're

your daddy's suits.

I mean, I like the brown,

but everyone else

seems to like the blue.

Mmm. Maybe we can buy him

something new.

Like some black.

God, are you...

What a waste that'd be.

Actually, can I be

100% honest with you?

-Okay.

-I really don't know that your

daddy wanted to be buried.

Well, what did he want?

I mean, he always said

we could just shove him

under the couch.

But sometimes he'd say

he wanted to be cremated.

-Oh.

-Yeah.

I know you know your daddy

joked around a lot.

I mean, did he ever tell you

or your brother

what he wanted?

Mmm-mmm,

I don't think we ever

talked about his death.

Are you kidding?

He talked about that

all the time.

Come on, hop in.

(SIGHS) What time's

your brother flying in?

-Cole's not coming.

-He's not?

Mmm-mmm.

Well, I didn't know

it was quite like that.

It is, and then some.

So, which way am I going?

-BOY: Grandma!

-(GASPS)

(SIGHS) Tommy,

go back to sleep.

We'll be home soon.

That's my grandson, Tommy.

What, he's just been

out in the car the whole time?

I couldn't exactly bring him

into the airport bar now,

could I?

TOMMY: I'm hungry, Grandma.

Okay, I'll fetch you

something. Just,

when you pull out of here,

make your first right and

head down the road a while.

(LINE RINGING)

-COLE: (OVER PHONE) Hello?

-Hi, it's me.

How was the trip?

Uh, it was a little...

Are you okay?

Did Dad say something

awful to you?

No, Dad's dead.

Really?

He died while I was still

at the airport

and this Amanda woman

called to tell me.

I don't understand,

so you... So you're still

at the airport?

No, I decided to come

to Texas anyway.

-What?

-(TOMMY SQUEALING)

Um, I gotta go,

I'll, I'll call you later.

(CONTINUES SQUEALING)

Come on, get in.

Why can't this just wait

until tomorrow?

It just can't.

Anyway, I thought

you might want

to see your daddy

before they take him

over to the funeral home.

I don't wanna be rude,

but I think that I can

wait to see him.

Okay, look,

can I be 100% honest

with you, Ellie?

Okay.

Technically, me and your daddy

ain't exactly married

on account of

I'm still married

to some no-good son of a bitch

-who lives up near Houston.

-I don't understand.

I need someone to officially

sign some forms

so they can release his body

to the undertakers.

-Someone who's family.

-I see.

I knew you were coming,

I didn't wanna make

your grandparents

have to do it.

Who?

SUSAN: Ellie?

Yeah.

I thought that might be you,

you look just like

your father.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

What's this?

SUSAN: Your father asked

me to give it to you

if you showed up here.

Amanda, where did you

get that wheelchair?

Oh, uh...

These things are not toys.

No, I know, Susan,

it's just he's so heavy.

-You just about done here?

-Uh-huh.

This is where you live?

Oh, this is it.

"Be it ever so humble..."

We had an apartment

down the road,

but your daddy loved

to monkey around

with those guitars.

This place suited him

'cause of the garage.

It's my son's place.

Really, it was too big

for just him and Tommy

by themselves.

He was still making guitars?

Oh, making 'em,

repairing old ones, sure.

Yeah, he worked on 'em

most days.

Don't think he ever finished

too many,

but he loved working on 'em.

All right, come on, love bug.

You gotta get up,

we're goin' in.

(SIGHS) Let's see.

Uh, yeah.

And that's my baby boy.

Jack, this is Ellie.

Mark's daughter.

Oh, he's a charmer.

No, don't worry,

don't worry about a thing,

I'll put your son to bed.

He works hard, so we cut him

a little slack when he acts

like a poo-poo head.

I'll be right back.

There you are.

I can't believe this.

Oh, yeah, well.

That was your daddy's. (SIGHS)

No, but he had this piece

of junk when we were kids.

We used to take

the worst road trips

in this beast.

And he never got it

to work right.

Well, Jack got it running

for me to drive

but I'm too scared

it'll break down.

Who did he make

the guitars for?

Oh, different folks,

here and there.

He'd sell a few every year,

if he'd finish 'em, anyway.

Did he ever make

anything else,

like any violins or...

Violins? No, I don't think so.

Ellie, listen, I...

I was wondering

if you could help me

with the announcement

of your daddy's death.

Uh, I wasn't really

planning on staying.

I might just even

get on the first plane

in the morning.

But you've only been here

two minutes.

And I could really

use your help, please.

At least stay

until after the funeral.

I know, I, I'm sorry...

Isn't this the least

you could do?

Okay.

Sure, I'll stay

until he's in the ground.

All right.

You know, I'd really

like to just, um,

maybe like go for a drive.

See some of the town.

Well, I don't know

if there's that much

to see, but okay.

But the thing is,

Jack needs his truck tonight.

You can try your luck

with that thing.

Is there any other way

of getting into town?

(SCOFFS)

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING

ON RADIO)

Don't do that again, Billy.

But I'm hungry.

You said you wasn't hungry.

Just...

Don't you start.

Don't. Billy, don't do that.

Stop it.

Billy, put... You...

Better put that back on.

You got kids of your own?

No.

Then why don't you

mind your own business,

we ain't some TV show

for you to gawk at.

G.D., woman!

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING IN BAR)

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING

ON SPEAKERS)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

RENO:

♪ Well, I'm a wild one

to ramble

♪ The whole world

out in front of me

♪ I got places to go

♪ I got people to see...

Is this fellow lip-syncing

to some woman?

Or is he about two balls

short of a sack?

♪ I'm headed

for the big town... ♪

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(MAN SNICKERING)

(LAUGHING)

(PATRONS MURMURING)

(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING

ON SPEAKERS)

MAN: Hey,

can I get another one?

I really liked your song.

At least what I heard of it.

You know,

it really pisses me off.

He's just wasting

all that beer.

Does this happen a lot?

Uh, you mean,

bottles getting thrown

at my head?

(CHUCKLING) No, that guy

doesn't come here that often.

-Cheers.

-(BOTTLES CLINK)

What you got there?

ELLIE: Mmm, it's a key.

Hold on...

Is this the key to my heart?

-(CHUCKLES)

-Hey, I have been looking

everywhere for this.

Yeah, I don't know

what it's for.

Um, my father left it for me.

He... He's just, uh...

He died.

Huh.

This is familiar.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

You know, I can't remember

where, but I saw this kind

of key before.

So, you wanna

hear my new song or what?

You're not gonna get

back up there again, are you?

No. Uh, no. I think once

is enough for tonight.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Come on, let's go.

(PLAYING GENTLE SONG)

(SONG ENDS)

That was great.

Thanks.

Um, who is this?

That is Brenda Thacker.

Also known as my mother.

Yeah, she's been in

a diabetic coma here

for three days now.

I'm so sorry,

is she gonna be okay?

Uh, yeah,

I mean, they think so.

But you know.

They're not really sure.

On the plus side,

we never got along so well

as we have these

past three days,

have we, Brenda?

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Do you come here every day?

Mmm-hmm.

(PLAYING GENTLE SONG)

Hi.

(GRUNTS)

Hi, um...

I, uh, I don't know

where Amanda is,

but I think

she might be in the back.

Oh, we're here to see you.

Why?

Well, because

you're our granddaughter.

Why wouldn't we wanna see you?

Yeah, we didn't mean

to step on your beauty sleep.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

I carry this picture

around with me

everywhere I go.

Um...

Yeah, I, I remember this day.

Do you have any?

Any what?

Uh, she wants to know

if you have any pictures

of our beautiful faces.

(CHUCKLES)

(CLICKS TONGUE) Uh...

Well, I know

you wouldn't carry them

around with you,

but at home, I was wondering

if you had any.

ELLIE: The thing is um,

when Amanda mentioned you,

yesterday, that was

the first time I knew

that you were even alive.

I, um...

TOMMY: Daddy!

Uh, I'll...

I'll be right back.

TOMMY: Daddy!

Hey, little man.

-How are you?

-Good.

-Where are you going, Daddy?

-I gotta go to work.

-TOMMY: May I please go?

-AMANDA: No, no,

Daddy's gotta work.

We just picked up some food

before Jack takes the truck.

JACK: Yeah, somebody's

gotta work around here.

-What is that supposed

to mean?

-He's cranky in the morning.

Well, he wasn't much nicer

last night.

Well, we keep, uh,

sneaking up on you, don't we?

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Oh.

Oh, it is so good

to finally meet you.

ELLIE: You too.

I've thought about hugging you

and your brother

for so many years.

Hopefully, this is "hello"

instead of "goodbye."

And don't worry, we don't have

that many years left

to bother you.

Oh, Bruce, will you be quiet?

(CHUCKLES)

-Bye.

-AMANDA: Come on, hon.

I let you sleep in, but now,

we gotta shake a leg.

See you got

your parking skills

from your daddy.

AMANDA: Can you talk

to the undertaker

when we get there?

ELLIE: Why?

Oh, I just don't like

those kind of folks.

And I don't know

what kind of coffin

to get and...

Yeah, I can talk to 'em.

(SIGHS) Oh, I just don't know

what to do.

I said I'd talk to him,

it's really not a problem.

It's just that I think

your daddy really did

want to be cremated.

But everyone says

a body's got to be buried

to be at peace.

And I don't know

if that's true,

but it sure

did make me feel bad.

Well, you shouldn't.

Mmm.

I tell ya, it's like

my head is splittin' in two.

I just don't know

how I can face today.

(SIGHS) I used to

rely on Mark to make

these kind of decisions.

And when he couldn't,

'cause he was too drunk,

Jack would.

He's been

in such a mood lately.

Ever since Mark

and I moved in with him

he's been... Mmm!

(SIGHS) It's all just

too much.

Why don't we just

finish up eating

and you can go home,

get a little more sleep

and I can take care

of all of this?

You will? You'd do that?

Oh, I tell ya,

that's a huge load

off my mind.

And anyway, he is your daddy.

-That's right.

-Mmm.

I'm gonna go ahead,

have him cremated and then

I'm gonna go back home.

Good, 'cause I think

that's what he really wanted.

I mean that, or for us

to bury him in the backyard.

And I think that's illegal.

We just rent that house.

Did he have a...

A favorite place?

You know, I always saw him

crossing the train tracks

in his car.

He'd just stop.

Right on the tracks.

Like he was trying

to speed up the process.

(CHUCKLES) Almost like that

was his favorite place.

Mmm. I guess his body

took care of that in the end.

Hmm.

Mmm. Okay.

Why don't you go ahead

and pay for all this

and I'll just run

to the little girl's room.

-(DOOR BELL JINGLES)

-And it's always one of them.

-Yeah.

-It is, it is.

Excuse me, hi.

I was wondering if

you could help me?

Sure can.

What can I do for you?

I'm looking

for the funeral home.

Whoa, what's wrong?

Are you suicidal?

Glen, get in there

and stop that woman

from hurting herself.

GLEN: I'm sorry, miss.

What are you sorry about?

She's looking

for the funeral parlor.

-Maybe somebody

she knows has died.

-Hmm.

You ought to show

a little more respect.

Somebody die on you, honey?

-Yeah, my father.

-BOTH: Oh.

Mark Edwards.

(GLEN EXHALES DEEPLY)

-(DOOR BELL JINGLES)

-What's his problem?

Um, I guess not

everyone around here

liked your daddy so much.

Thanks.

RENO: Hey!

-Hi!

-Hi.

-My number-one fan.

-(BOTH CHUCKLE)

-You get home okay last night?

-Yeah, yeah, I did.

-How's your mom?

-Uh, she is, I guess,

the same,

or someone

would have called me. Yeah.

Hey, do you know where

the funeral home is?

I think I'm lost.

Oh, you've come

to the right person, honey.

I was lost for years. Come on.

RENO: What do you think?

I mean, I like how thin

I look in black,

-but I don't really think

that's a concern here.

-Mmm-hmm.

ELLIE: Do you have it

in a different color?

Hmm, no, ma'am,

it just comes in black.

Okay, well... (CLICKS TONGUE)

Let's just go with the black.

(CLAPS) Well, I like

the black. Makes me think

of Johnny Cash.

You know, we can do

a nice inscription on the urn.

Perhaps, your father's name?

What would she need

the name for?

You think she has

like 20 different urns

around the house...

-(CHUCKLES)

-...she might get

all mixed up?

Or perhaps, his favorite poem?

I don't think he had one.

Well, it would look real nice

with a Texas flag,

-or, maybe, a fishing theme?

-(CHUCKLES) What?

Or golf?

Just a simple urn, Mr. Harris.

MR. HARRIS: (CLICKS TONGUE)

As you wish.

Now, normally,

the casket is displayed

at the front of the chapel.

But for a cremation,

what we do

is place a nice framed photo

of your father on the table,

or you can use several photos.

Now, we've recently

redone the sound system there,

we have

a real good selection

of soothing tape music

that you can choose from...

You okay?

I think so.

What next?

I need boxes.

You're not planning on taking

all those boxes?

I was gonna pay for 'em.

Those are all

my big boxes, though.

Well, are these boxes for sale

or not?

-Yeah, but...

-Well, there's no

"Yeah, but..."

They're either for sale,

or they're not.

(WHISPERS) Look,

I don't want this kind

of person in my store.

His name is Reno,

he can be here if he wants.

Ellie, let's just go.

Oh, God. See, what is that?

ELLIE: What?

What are you talking about?

MAN: She's tracking mud

all inside the store.

What are you talking about?

I can't see anything.

MAN: Yeah, there's filth,

and dirt, and...

-Okay, crazy.

-Can't we just go?

No, my father is dead,

I gotta pack up his shit.

MAN: Yeah, we all know

who your father was, don't we?

Always scheming to get money

out of people.

No wonder he couldn't

stand up straight.

He's lucky he didn't run over

any innocent kids

driving drunk like he did.

You know what?

I don't want any of your...

-Fucking boxes!

-Okay. Ellie, let's just go.

-You guys need

to get out of here.

-ELLIE: Fine by us.

You can stay here. You can be

King of the Box World.

And you can stay here

until the day that you die.

-And, oh, shit! Look...

-(DOOR BELL JINGLES)

My shoes

are fucking dirty too!

Idiot! I wanna burn

his store down.

RENO: That seems

a little extreme.

Well, he's just a jerk.

He doesn't like you,

he doesn't like my father.

RENO: Yeah, well,

he probably doesn't like you

too much right now, either.

Come on, I know

where we can get some,

uh, used boxes.

(TOMMY GIGGLING)

(SIGHS)

Tommy, stop that jumping.

-(GIGGLES)

-(SIGHS)

What are we gonna do

with all this stuff?

Well, whatever Reno

doesn't want

I'm gonna take along

to Goodwill.

-Where is your friend?

-Trying something on.

Oh. I just don't think I could

wear a dead man's clothes.

Why not?

Well, they're dead.

-Doesn't seem right.

-(CLOSET DOOR OPENS)

-Check it out!

-(BOTH CHUCKLE)

These are some

fly threads, man.

-Are you sure

I can keep these?

-Yeah.

Don't really seem

to fit you too good.

Oh, I can take care of that.

Well.

RENO: And then,

you can clamp it down

and it makes different sounds

on the strings.

Are you going to play?

(CHUCKLES)

Hey, you ever play

an instrument?

No. Not really.

But when I was eight,

my dad made me a violin.

And...

I mean, I was too young

to actually play it,

but I loved it.

I carried it

with me everywhere.

Uh...

He sold it when we were broke.

I can't believe

that he kept all this.

Like, all of our

report cards, and...

RENO: And, what?

These letters I wrote him

when I left.

I was so harsh.

(DOOR OPENS)

Tommy, go on in,

get ready for soccer.

Your daddy can't get out

of work in time,

so I'm gonna have

to run you over there.

Come on, git! Let's go.

ELLIE: Amanda.

What is it, hon?

Why don't I take Tommy

to soccer?

You'd wanna do that?

Yeah, yeah,

I, I think it'll be fun.

Great. Yeah, give me a chance

to make some calls.

I think we're gonna have

a full house at this memorial.

-MAN: Run, run.

-(ALL CLAPPING)

(KIDS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

-MAN: Other way, other way.

-(ALL CLAPPING)

(KIDS TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Let's go, Tommy!

-(KIDS TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

-(PEOPLE CHEERING)

Hey, how's it going out there?

He's doing great, you know,

he's kicking that ball.

Has anybody scored yet?

Hard to say.

KID 1: You touched it.

-(CHUCKLES) You don't know

anything about soccer, do you?

-Nope.

KID 2: Out of the game!

Where's my mom?

Oh, she'd had

a few too many drinks.

You brought him?

Yeah.

Thanks.

I really appreciate it.

She's a handful. She's always

just relying on other people.

(KIDS CHATTERING)

-JACK: Some tea?

-Yeah, thanks.

Are you gonna come

to the memorial?

Tommy wants to go.

You didn't like

my father much, did you?

Well, he kept my mom busy.

That was something.

That's funny, I don't...

You say that he kept

her busy, rather than...

"He made her happy."

Look, it's tough living

with drunks.

I put up with her

'cause she's my mom, but...

You know, your dad... (SCOFFS)

He's happy one day,

and mean as hell the next.

He'd throw me some money

if he sold one of those

guitars, but...

It was just hard to get him

to focus long enough

to finish anything.

Yeah. I mean, I know that

he was tough to live with.

I grew up with him.

Yeah.

But you ain't really been

around much lately.

Hmm, I thought...

I don't know what I thought.

I never thought he'd die.

Just thought we'd have

some more time.

Was he that bad

when you were younger?

(CHUCKLES)

When I was 11,

my parents took us

to this party.

It was, like, a barbecue

at a friend's place

outside of town.

And, um,

he got really...

You know, drunk, and...

When it was time to leave,

he wouldn't give my mom

the car keys.

He drove, and, uh...

You know, we were swerving

and he went to

change the music

on the stereo and we wrecked.

And it seemed like...

...forever till

the ambulance got there.

He was friends

with the sheriff 'cause...

...he walked.

And we were all fine

except for my mom.

She died the next day.

So...

Yeah.

He was pretty bad back then.

Not much changes with time,

I guess.

I'm really sorry.

Did you, uh, did you live

with him after that?

For a while,

yeah, um...

He got a lot worse,

and then when my brother

went off to college,

that's when I moved in

with my aunt.

What about Tommy's mom?

She just out the picture?

She's alive,

if you wanna call it that.

She's a junkie.

I never even suspected it.

I knew about alcohol,

obviously, but...

I didn't know anything

about the drugs.

I just...

Seems like I blinked,

and I was married.

I blinked again,

and I was divorced,

with a little boy.

I blinked again,

that little boy

is almost five years old.

I just wonder

how you get things

to slow down a little bit.

I don't wanna blink

and be in the grave.

Yeah.

It seems like that happens

to a lot of people.

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)

♪ If you lose

♪ Your horses

♪ 'Cause they ran off

♪ When lightning struck

♪ I will come home

♪ From wherever

♪ I am

♪ Till the last one

♪ Is rounded up

♪ If you've got the blues

♪ I'll stand by you

♪ If you've got the blues

♪ I'll stand by you

♪ I'll stand by you ♪

-(TOMMY GIGGLING)

-(CHUCKLES)

What are you laughing at, huh?

You want something

to laugh about? You do?

-(CONTINUES GIGGLING)

-You do?

-Uh-huh.

-(CHUCKLES)

ELLIE: Are you ticklish?

You better watch it,

he's gonna wet himself.

Oh, I am willing

to take that chance.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

BRUCE: So, what does this do?

It's for seniors

who have trouble rising

from their chairs.

What you do

is you hit a button,

and then,

the armrests would rise

and it would be like people

on either side of you

helping you up

out of the chair.

-Dang, I'd buy one of those.

-Yeah?

Yeah. Heck, I'd buy

two of 'em.

-(CHUCKLES)

-Where do I order?

Oh, it's just an idea

that I'm working on.

I have no way of getting

these things made.

Well, you sure won't unless

you show 'em to someone.

-JUDY: Here it is!

-BRUCE: Uh-oh.

I knew I brought it.

I left it in the car.

And here's

something I found.

Your father always loved

to ride.

-Did he?

-JUDY: Yeah.

He wasn't any kind

of a cowboy.

He couldn't rope a steer

to save his life,

but he loved to ride.

Oh, and this was some dance

or other.

Your father loved

to cut a rug.

BRUCE: Yeah, he was

a pretty good dancer.

-There's this, uh, old gal

that he took to the prom...

-Mmm-hmm.

And she still talks

about how your daddy

was the best dance partner

she ever had.

Oh, uh,

that was the last picture

-where he was still our boy.

-(SIGHS)

-It was, uh...

-(JUDY SOBBING)

It was while he was

in the Navy,

that all the drinking

started up.

(JUDY CONTINUES SOBBING)

Normally, you can't squeeze

a tear out of me.

Tell her, Bruce.

Why, she's a tough old bird,

but we're having a tough week.

And I expect it's, uh,

not been too much

fun for you, either.

WAITRESS: All right,

here we go.

Chocolate shake...

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING

ON CAR STEREO)

ELLIE: Hey, Reno.

Hey.

What's up?

Uh...

I got a call

from the hospital.

Is your mom okay?

Well, I guess yes and no.

Well, it's not like

she's a little bitty thing

that you can really misplace

too easily.

Hey, there, Reno,

thanks for coming in.

Oh, hey! Should I have brought

a picture of my mom,

so we can start up

a search party?

We didn't misplace her.

She must have woke up,

got dressed,

and decided

to check herself out.

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

ELLIE: Should we go in?

RENO: In a minute.

You think I look like her?

ELLIE: Not so much.

You know, she's eating herself

to death.

Are you okay?

Ever had a nightmare...

That was so bad, you had

to get up out of the bed

just to try and

walk away from it?

Yeah.

I have this nightmare

where I'm sitting

at a table with my mom,

just feeding her,

and feeding her...

And I wanna get up,

I wanna leave, but...

I can't.

Well, I think there's no use

in just crying our eyes out.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

-RENO: Hey, Mom.

-Hi, there.

I think they're, um,

looking for you

back at the hospital.

Yeah, I woke up there

this morning.

What was all that about?

Uh...

I found you passed out

in the kitchen

the other night,

and then they said

that you were

in a diabetic coma.

Oh, I'm sorry.

This is my friend, Ellie.

Hi. It's nice to meet you.

Are you feeling better?

I never felt bad.

I can tell you

I sure was hungry, though,

when I woke up this morning.

(CHUCKLES)

Hey, you know, we should just

swing you by the hospital.

Oh, no,

I'm not going back there.

Uh, well, they might have

a list of foods

for you to avoid,

and medication

for you to take.

You pop on by there tomorrow

and pick that stuff up for me,

would you, Margaret?

Mom.

I mean, Reno.

-So, who's your friend?

-Uh...

She's in town 'cause her,

her father died.

Uh, Mark Edwards?

Did you know him?

I knew him just to wave at.

-I know his momma

pretty well, though.

-Mmm-hmm.

-You feel like doing

some sewing?

-Oh, sure.

Let me just grab

a Blizzard to go.

RENO: Okay, but make the pants

nice and tight, Mom.

You know how I like 'em.

I reckon I ought to by now.

Hey, so, Ellie thinks

I should record

some of my songs.

And move out of town

and become a fancy musician?

(CHUCKLES)

Well, I think those songs

are too good

to keep to yourself.

(CHUCKLES)

No, I'm not gonna leave

this place.

Yeah, well, I gotta go.

Do you need a ride

to the funeral home tomorrow?

I can just meet you there.

Bye.

Close your eyes,

and just go to sleep.

Does Ellie live here now?

No, she's just here

'cause her daddy passed away.

Would you let her live here

if she wanted to?

I think she's got

a life back where she lives.

Go on, close your eyes,

go to bed.

(HUFFS PLAYFULLY)

Go to sleep, okay?

JACK: This used

to be my field.

You owned a baseball field?

(CHUCKLES) No,

I used to go to school here.

I was one of the best players

we had.

I had scholarships

to play baseball

at three different colleges.

What position did you play?

I was a pitcher, but...

I played third base too.

What college did you go to?

I didn't. I never left.

Why not?

I hurt my arm pretty bad

and I couldn't

pitch anymore and then...

-I got Tommy's mom pregnant

a couple of years later.

-Yeah.

I thought I got her pregnant.

-What do you mean?

-You've seen him.

He doesn't look

anything like me.

I told you his mom

was an addict.

She used to do all kind

of shit behind my back

to get drugs.

Thought about getting

one of those paternity tests.

Does it really matter?

What do you mean by that?

Well, Tommy

is such a great kid.

I see your eyes

just light up whenever

he walks into the room.

So, does it really matter

if he's not

your biological son?

I don't know.

You are 100% the father

that he needs.

And you're much more

of a father than mine

ever was.

-AMANDA: Good morning.

-Hi.

You know, I think I might

wanna wear my hair up.

Mmm-hmm.

I haven't worn my hair up

in 10 years.

But this is a memorial

and I think it might be

the right thing to do.

Yeah, sure.

You think you could help me?

Well, I met your daddy

right down the road

at Charlie's Bar.

But I guess that's not

such a big shock, is it?

No, not really.

Yeah, he bought me a drink

and he told me that

he had just moved back here

to his hometown to die.

And that's exactly

what he did.

Of course, it took him

a little over five years

to do it,

but he was true to his word.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I don't know.

I mean, you seem like

a nice enough girl.

Nice enough for what?

Well... (SIGHS)

I just don't know

that I'll ever understand

what you and your brother

have done.

-What we've done?

-To your daddy.

I mean, it seems like you all

just left his well-being

in the hands

of complete strangers.

I mean, it so happens

that I care for him

and I found him

this place to live,

but it does seem like

y'all didn't care if he was

living on the street,

dumpster-diving for his meals.

You, you have no idea

what you're talking about.

Look, I know

Mark had his problems...

His problems?

Do you know how many different

schools I had to go to

because my father got fired

and we had to move

to a different town

where nobody knew about him

or his problems?

And I'm sure that was hard.

And walking home from school

with the few friends

that I was able to make

and I see

all of our belongings,

all of my toys

and clothes being sold

in a yard sale

so that he would have enough

gas money to leave town.

Look, Ellie, I didn't mean...

Or seeing my mother

being carried away

in an ambulance

'cause he wouldn't give her

the car keys.

-What?

-He killed her,

and I still loved him.

(VOICE BREAKING)

So how does that

make any fucking sense?

No. No, that can't be right,

that can't be true.

"Can't be"...

Just forget about it.

Hey. Hey! What about my hair?

Wear a hat!

You're just so selfish.

You and your father, both.

Don't think I haven't noticed.

What about you?

You rely on your son

to put a roof over your head,

and you can't even

look after his kid.

Why don't you

have another drink?

Why don't you forget

about it just like my father?

What do you know

about anything, huh?

I had a baby boy

and I was married

a week out of high school,

and I have been trying

to catch up ever since,

just trying to...

So what do you know?

You come on back here

when you're my age

and you tell me

if you did everything right.

You come on back

and tell me how it went.

(DOOR OPENS)

Shit...

(EXHALES)

(ENGINE STARTS)

JAMES: (ON PHONE)

Hey, Ellie, what's up?

Hi, James.

Hey, I came by your place

last night.

Did you hear me knocking?

I'm still in Texas.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah,

that's right.

I came here

'cause of my father.

Yeah.

So, this is typically

the moment

when a boyfriend

would ask a girlfriend

if her father's

doing okay or not.

(SIGHS) You know

I don't like to deal

with sick people.

You know that.

James, I think

we should break up.

What? But I love you.

What are you...

No, you're not the kind of guy

who should really date anyone,

you know, you're more like

a fun one-night stand

and somehow I've let this

continue for a year.

You think I'm fun?

Uh... James, I don't think

we should date anymore.

Starting when?

When I hang up the phone.

Well, in that case

I won't let you

hang up the phone...

(JUDY GRUNTS)

Are we early?

I don't think so.

(GUITAR PLAYING GENTLE SONG)

(SONG ENDS)

(EXHALES)

Hello, everyone,

and thanks for coming.

I'd like to say a few words

about Mark Edwards,

who may not have been

my legal husband

here in Texas,

but who will be, I know,

waiting for me

at the altar of heaven.

ROGER: Where's the body?

Excuse me?

ROGER: I said,

"Where's the body?"

I heard what you said, Roger,

and I'm saying

I was still talking.

(SLURRING) Well,

I'm talking now, ain't I?

And this is

a memorial service, isn't it?

So I hope you're not planning

on rolling out the casket

like a birthday cake.

Roger, if I could

just finish, please?

Would you like

to take a step outside?

Get some fresh air?

Oh, something stinks in here,

all right,

but I ain't fixing to move.

Well, maybe

you'd just like to...

Who the hell are you?

I'm Ellie.

I'm Mark's daughter.

So now, the ungrateful

kids show up.

You looking

for a little money, are you?

Roger, you need to button it,

and button it fast.

Drunk as a skunk and the sun

isn't even down yet.

Drunk as skunk!

AMANDA: Okay.

You know, I spent a lot

of time thinking about

what I was gonna say up here

and y'all need

to sit on down

and get ready to cry!

ROGER: I'm fixing to cry,

all right.

This whole freak show

is gonna make me cry!

And I'm gonna ask you

one more time,

where is my friend's body?

It was my father's wish

to be cremated

-and that is what we...

-Cremated?

ELLIE: Mmm-hmm. Yeah.

Your daddy didn't want to be

burned to a crisp.

Well, apparently he did.

Good God almighty!

Did you hear that?

Did you hear her?

-Oh... Oh, I see.

-No.

So, now you're gonna

sic your goon squad on me,

is that it?

It's okay, Jack.

No, nobody is gonna hurt you.

ROGER: Can you imagine?

Getting beat up at the wake

of your best friend?

Oh, Christ, he was

hardly your best friend.

I knew him for about 50 years,

that's more than

the rest of you can say.

(STAMMERING) And you've

done this all wrong.

I can see that you're upset.

You burnt up his body,

you got that picture of him

from the Navy,

he hated the damn Navy,

you got this freaking...

(MUMBLING INDISTINCTLY)

Okay, that's it.

You have to get out!

-Get off of me.

-Out!

-Get off of me.

-Out, now!

-No, get out!

-Ahhh!

Oh, God.

ELLIE: Hey, just... Just...

(PEOPLE TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

(GRUNTS)

(GASPS) Oh!

(PANTING)

That's right.

(SIGHS)

All right.

Let's pick up

where we left off, shall we?

Ellie?

You spend more time

in this hospital than I do.

This is the last time,

I promise.

How can you be so sure

it's your last time here?

'Cause, basically, I'm gonna

throw my clothes into a bag

and catch the first plane

out of here tomorrow.

(DOOR OPENS)

-Hey.

-Reno, hey, are you okay?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

Y'all can leave.

I got to wait

for some stitches.

-No, we can wait.

-No, no, no.

I need to go home

and check on my mom

after anyway.

-You sure?

-Yeah.

How's the cut?

Is it gonna leave a scar?

I hope so.

Not very interesting until

you have a bunch of scars

you can tell

a bunch of lies about.

Go, get out of here. I'm fine.

-Okay.

-Bye.

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING

ON CAR STEREO)

Can we leave it on,

for a minute?

Yeah, sure.

My father

used to love this song.

My brother thinks

we lost my father years ago,

you know, after the accident.

Is that how you feel?

I think he was still

in there somewhere.

Tell me something about him.

Like what?

First good thing

that pops in your head.

You know, he was

in all kinds of bands.

And then he met my mom

and she was singing

in a band in Nashville.

-For real?

-Yeah. (CHUCKLES)

So you're like

a show business kid?

No. (GIGGLES)

I mean, they quit all that

by the time my brother

and I came along.

But...

And she used to...

Sing around the house,

and, you know...

I bet she was a great lady.

(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)

AMANDA: Hey,

what are you doing?

Hey.

(SIGHS) Nothing.

Just thought I,

uh, lost something.

What'd you lose?

I don't know.

You don't know

what you might've lost?

Guess that's gonna take you

a while to find that.

Is there anything

that you wanted?

I see you got your bag

packed and waiting

by the front door.

-Yeah. I'm, I'm leaving.

-You are.

I mean, I came

to say goodbye to my dad

and that's more or less

what I did.

Well...

They called and said that, um,

they'd have

your daddy's ashes ready

if you want to take them.

No.

Thank you, though.

What do you want me

to do with them?

You could keep 'em.

Or you could

scatter 'em someplace.

You know what,

I don't think I could do that.

Well, I'm sure

you'll think of something.

Okay.

(WOMAN ANNOUNCING INDISTINCTLY

OVER PA)

Should you be doing that?

Hmm? This bandage is

just not really my style,

you know?

How does it look?

Not great.

Do you think

anyone will believe me

if I said I got it

in a shark attack?

(LAUGHS)

Hey, what time

does your flight leave?

Leaves at 9:00.

-You don't have to stay

if you don't want.

-No, no, no.

You know, if we got

all this time

there's something

you could help me with.

Where exactly are we going?

Hold on, I think I saw one

right up here.

One what?

Here, here, here.

Pull up here.

(GRUNTS)

ELLIE: (WHISPERING) Wh...

Why do you want this thing?

RENO: I have an idea.

Can't we just

buy one of these?

Oh, I already got a bunch.

Is this like your thing?

-My thing?

-Yeah.

(LAUGHING) Yeah. Like,

you like to collect stolen

bird-feeders?

(BOTH SNICKERING)

How could that

be anyone's thing?

-(ELLIE MUTTERING)

-Quick now, you

ain't getting any lighter.

-Can you get it or not?

-Yeah, got it.

-(DOG BARKING)

-BOTH: Oh!

RENO: Run!

-What is that?

-Hold this, tools.

Tools for what?

Tools to help us

get into the store.

ELLIE: That is breaking

and entering

where I come from.

Yeah? That's what

we call it here too.

(SCREAMING)

(LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY)

Now what?

My plane leaves in 10 minutes.

I don't think

I'm gonna make it.

You're not ready to leave yet.

Hmm, I'm not?

No, you just got here.

I remember when I saw Amanda

at the airport.

I thought,

"God, would it be really rude

"if I was

to get on an airplane

-"turn right around

and go home?"

-(CHUCKLES)

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Yeah. (SIGHS)

This place sucks.

I think you should come out

to Los Angeles.

You could record some songs.

I think you need

to get out of this place.

I can't.

My mom, you know. (CHUCKLES)

Anyway, I'd sooner be dead

than set foot on an airplane.

(CHUCKLES) What?

You can get up

and you can sing

in front of a whole bar

of people who are

throwing shit at you

and you're too scared

to get on an airplane?

I'm not scared.

I'll get on one as long as

it don't take off the ground.

(LAUGHING)

-(BANGS)

-Hey!

Well, what are you two

doing here?

Oh, I'm calling the cops.

That's for damn sure.

I can't even look at all that.

It's everywhere.

(BANGS)

(PIGEONS COOING)

(GIGGLES)

Oh, wow!

(LAUGHS) Yeah, "Oh, wow!"

(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)

(TIRES SQUEALING)

(ELLIE SCREAMING AND LAUGHING)

Well, I guess this is it.

I guess.

(RENO SIGHS)

RENO: Uh...

I uh, meant to tell you.

I saw where, um,

your key came from.

My mom has one like it.

It's uh,

for a safety deposit box

at the bank.

(CLICKS TONGUE) Okay.

(TAPS CAR)

Reno!

Thank you.

-ELLIE: Hi.

-Morning.

Uh, is this key for your bank?

I believe it is. Let me see.

I'll give you some privacy.

(DINGS)

-Hi.

-Hi, uh, I'm here to pick up

my father's ashes.

Well, yes, but we've run into

a slight problem with the urn.

With the urn?

The one you selected

is not available right now

and we have

completely run out.

Well, is there a different urn

that I can put the ashes in?

The one you purchased

is the most

competitively priced urn

that we have and...

Well, if you'd want

to upgrade, we could...

No, um, I don't want

to do an upgrade.

Uh...

Is there anything else

that you could use?

(TRAIN HORN BLOWING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

MAN: They're not home.

Oh.

Are you the granddaughter?

Yeah, I'm Ellie.

But how do you know about me?

You're all they could

talk about these

past few days. (CHUCKLES)

They're at the

department store.

Didn't Judy tell you?

Tell me what?

She's modeling today.

(WOMAN ANNOUNCING INDISTINCTLY

OVER PA)

No, uh-uh.

I do not do yellow.

And it's in my contract.

What contract?

No one's getting paid.

I do not do yellow

and I don't do purple.

They're just not my colors.

They never have been, I...

Just look at my hair.

Are you crazy?

STORE EMPLOYEE:

But, but this is all

that we have left.

ELDERLY WOMAN: Well,

then you've got a problem.

Judy.

Ellie!

Bruce said that you'd gone

and without saying goodbye.

I told him he was wrong.

He said that you got that

in your blood

from your father,

and I said, "Well,

she also got some of my blood

"and my blood

is just not that rude."

How are you, dear?

What is all this?

Oh, it's not the best timing.

But, but it was planned

months ago.

And well, I was just hoping

that it would take my mind

off my troubles.

(CHUCKLES)

How often do you get asked

to be a model at my age?

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Now, you go find Bruce

and you get a good seat,

and we'll go

to the diner after.

-ELLIE: Okay!

-(BOTH LAUGH)

STORE EMPLOYEE: Here we see

the California casual.

Delightful and comfortable.

-With this,

you can run your errands...

-(CAMERA CLICKING)

...and still

look like a lady on the go.

Here we see the elegant gray,

which is not

just for winter anymore.

-Beautifully cut...

-(CAMERA CLICKING)

...totally comfortable,

she looks so lovely.

Our next model

comes to the stage

bringing a little flash

and glitter.

And here we see midnight blue,

-suitable for any

formal occasion...

-(CAMERA CLICKING)

...while allowing for comfort

at the same time.

A beautiful

two-piece ensemble,

in beautiful midnight blue,

-with sparkle and bling

to match her beauty.

-(CAMERAS CLICKING)

(ALL GASP)

(WOMAN ANNOUNCING INDISTINCTLY

OVER PA)

She's gonna be okay.

Boy, I wish I knew a prayer

right about now.

Do you know any?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

But don't Judy and you

go to church?

I just go for the singing

and she goes

to see all of her friends.

I sleep through

a lot of the praying part.

-You can go in now.

-Oh, thank you.

You go ahead.

-Hey.

-ELLIE: Hey.

My mom told me that Judy

got into an accident.

Yeah, she had

a pretty bad fall

at the department store,

but I think that

she's gonna be okay.

I'm glad you're still here.

Can't seem to stay away

from this place.

(BOTH CHUCKLE SOFTLY)

Uh...

You're leaving?

Yeah. It, um, it's not that...

I understand.

It's not that I don't want to.

-Thanks.

-(LAUGHS)

And Tommy's gonna miss you.

He's wonderful.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

Yeah, I don't know

what I would do without him.

What about you?

What's waiting for you

back in LA?

I broke up with my boyfriend.

I'm gonna throw out

the annoying roommate

that I have

and probably

apply for that job

that I've been dreaming about.

Sounds like you'll be busy.

-(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

-(DOOR OPENS)

Well, come on in, sweetheart.

From the height you fell from,

I'm gonna

count ourselves lucky.

I thought you said

we wouldn't be

seeing you again.

(ELLIE CHUCKLES)

You should leave, dear.

Do you want to sleep?

No, you should go back

to your home.

-Well...

-No, don't overstay

your visit.

If you do that, then you won't

want to come back.

And I want you to come back

with your brother

and with my great grandkids.

Why, I've never even

seen them.

But you have a broken knee.

Well, there are doctors here.

Besides, it'll give Bruce

something to do. (CHUCKLES)

You need to get home

and find someone

who'll make that furniture

that you design.

Now, give me a hug

and you get out of here.

-ELLIE: HEY.

-Hey.

Where would I stay?

What do you mean?

In Los Angeles,

if I came with you,

where would I stay?

You'd live with me.

You'd have to help me

throw out my roommate

but she scares pretty easy.

Okay.

But then, just one thing is,

I'm not gonna get on a plane.

What? You want us to walk?

(BANGS CAR HOOD)

What's wrong with this thing?

(ELLIE CHUCKLES)

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)

(SONG ENDS)

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)

(SONG ENDS)