Original subtitles

[theme music]

[music playing]

[airplane droning]

[sputtering]

[distant revving]

[bikes revving]

[car sputtering]

[gunshot]

Hey, guess what.

Hey, guess what.

What?

My best friend from Oakland dropped me a line.

He's working out of town about 200 miles south of here,

a town called Dieter.

I sure would like to see him.

Well, why don't we go see him?

You're kidding.

What about our next assignment?

Well, I haven't got one yet.

That would be great.

We were on the police force together.

Charlie Down. I mean, you'll love this guy.

Well, come on. What are we waiting for?

Let's go see him.

[car starting]

Charlie?

Charlie?

Sarah?

It's me, Mark Gordon.

Well, now, come on.

I know it's been a long time.

Where is that bum you're married to?

Oh, Mark.

Sarah, honey, what's wrong?

I thought for a minute when I heard the car--

Charlie's gone.

Missing.

It's been five days now.

Well, now, what do you mean missing?

He just disappeared.

No note, no call.

He wouldn't do that to Robbie and me.

I know something's happened to him.

Well, now, take it easy now.

What about the police?

What do they say?

Well, the Sheriff looked.

So did some of the neighbors in town.

Nothing.

He's been working a lone detail, border drug enforcement.

Oh, god.

What's happened to him?

Mom, I finished my homework.

Can I go rock hunting a while?

Um, yeah.

Yeah.

Just you be back before dark, OK?

ROBBIE: I will.

He doesn't know.

I told him Charlie had to go away for a while.

I, I don't want to say anything unitl, until I know.

I understand.

Oh.

Look at me.

Just leaving you standing around out here.

MARK: Oh, this is my friend Jonathan.

Mrs. Down.

Um, please, come on in, OK?

Please.

I'm going to be honest with you, I think he just took off.

What are you talking about?

Well, I didn't push it with his missus

about how they're getting along, I mean,

but it wouldn't be the first husband to just pull up stakes.

You know, marriage goes sour, afraid of the alimony.

Bingo, they're gone.

No, not Charlie.

OK, suit yourself.

That's my guess.

And besides, some of the people in town

said they seen him boozing it up quite a bit recently.

And not fun drinking, but serious, forget-your-troubles

kind of drinking.

Not Charlie.

SHERIFF HARM: That's right.

I got work to do.

Like I said, I wish I could help you folks,

but if I don't see you again, you boys

take care of yourselves.

[ominous music]

He's lying

About what?

About Charlie's drinking.

Well, you know, it's been a long time

since you saw Charlie.

Charlie couldn't drink if he wanted to drink.

He was like allergic, you know?

One sip and he was sick all night.

You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Come on, let's take a walk.

[sinister music]

[radio playing]

[pinball machine sounds]

Yeah, what you want?

Mm, give me some of that hot apple pie and some coffee.

Nothing for me.

Excuse me for staring, but we don't see too many hippies

in this part of the country.

What?

Hippies.

Long haired one here.

And you, what did you do, forget to shave?

Hey, boys.

Hippies are quiet.

Quiet and polite.

That's nice.

Ain't that nice, boys?

You know what?

Nice folks like you deserve to be treated nice,

and that's the truth.

Here's your pie and coffee.

Thanks a lot.

Uh, that's hot.

Let me cool it off for you.

[laughter]

All right, that's it.

BUBBA: Whoa, the hippie's mad.

You see that?

You try and do a favor for a stranger,

and he goes and gets mad.

Well, how mad are you?

Are you with me?

No, I didn't order anything.

Oh, thanks a lot.

What are you doing, Bubba?

You messing with strangers again?

Just having some fun, Jack.

Yeah, well, what's fun to you ain't fun to other folks.

Now, sit down.

My name's Jack Harm.

My daddy's the Sheriff.

I apologize for my friend.

He's just a little goofy.

He don't mean nothing by it.

Yeah, we just talked to your father, Jack.

Oh, yeah?

About what?

Oh, about a friend of mine, Charlie Down.

Oh, yeah.

Me and the boys put a lot of hours into looking for him.

Didn't come up with nothing.

Yeah, so your father told us.

If you leave your phone number,

I'll have Charlie call you as soon as he comes back.

May be a while, though.

My guess is he's down in Mexico right about now

with some young senorita.

Oh, you knew him pretty well, huh?

Well, no.

Not real well, but--

Well, I knew him really well, and I know

he's not with any senorita.

Oh, yeah?

Well, where do you think he is?

I don't know, but I'm sure you're going to find out.

What do I owe you?

Nothing. Forget it.

It's on the house.

We'll see you around.

See you around

Thanks a lot.

For what?

Backing me up in that cafe.

Oh, come on.

There were six of them.

What do you care?

You got the stuff.

He's not going to give me the stuff

just a punch out some idiot over a wet piece of pie.

Doesn't that ever bother you?

What?

Taking all that lip.

Come on, tell me the truth.

Doesn't that ever really bother you?

Yeah. Yeah.

Sometimes it bothers me.

Good, that makes me feel better.

Where do you want to start looking first?

I don't know.

I thought you could tell me.

I wish I could, but this isn't my kind of assignment.

I'm afraid you're on your own this time.

How well do you know that sheriff?

I've spoken to him a few times.

He always seemed nice enough.

Why?

I don't know.

Something he said today about Charlie's drinking.

Drinking?

Charlie couldn't drink.

You know that.

He was the only one sober at his bachelor party.

He was so embarrassed that night.

Do you remember when they brought the belly dancer in?

Danced right in front of his face.

He didn't know where to look.

[engine droning]

What's that noise?

Model planes.

You live around here long enough, you get used to it.

It's the number one hobby.

Loud, aren't they?

Yeah.

Some of them almost look big enough to get into.

Jack Harm, the Sheriff's boy, has a bomber.

First time I ever saw it, I thought we were being attacked.

They fly them at night?

Day or night.

You name it.

You want some more coffee?

Yeah, sounds great.

I'll be right back.

[engine droning]

[ominous music]

Can I help you?

Garson Rode at your service.

How are you doing?

Fine, fine.

Boy, model airplanes or something, aren't they?

Yep.

Lots of hours of work there.

But it's healthy, it's therapeutic.

Yeah, I'll bet it is.

You a builder?

No, no.

I was just thinking about it.

Some of these radio control units must be expensive.

Well, some are, some aren't.

How high they run?

You name it.

Into the thousands.

Jack Harm has quite a plane?

Oh, yeah.

It's a beauty.

Must be top of the line.

Yeah, it sure is.

I mean, where do fellows around here

get that kind of money?

I wouldn't know.

You don't need to spend a fortune.

Let me show you this little-- - Oh, no.

Never mind.

I think I'll pass.

I don't think I have the patience anyhow.

Thanks again.

Say, what does Jack Harm do for a living?

I really don't know.

Well, a town this size, you'd think everybody

would know what everybody did.

We're small town folks.

We don't poke into other people's business.

Oh.

Well, thanks again.

Jack?

He's asking about the planes.

It looks like a good spot.

We ought to find something around here.

Yeah, I hope so.

Hey, Robbie, come here.

Take a look at this.

What do you think?

Hey, nice one.

Rose quartz.

That'll look nice on a shelf once it's cleaned up.

You sure know a lot about rocks.

Yeah, my dad taught me a lot.

I can see that.

Let me ask you something.

Your dad ever talk to you about his work at all?

No, not really.

Except that he didn't want me following in his footsteps.

He said it was a lousy job, but it's all he knew.

Hey, he's going to retire in a few years

and we're going to open a rock shop.

At least, we were going to.

[motorbike revving]

Morning.

Morning.

So where's that friend of yours?

I don't know.

Well, a friend of mine just come up from down south

across the border.

Said he thought he saw Charlie down there.

I wanted to tell him.

My dad?

Yeah, your daddy.

What do you mean he thought he saw him?

Well, he was riding along his bike

when Charlie's car passed him.

But Bubba was pretty sure it was him.

I just wanted save you friend the trouble

of searching for nothing.

Well, that's very kind of you.

Hey, that's what small town folks are all about, huh?

Yeah, I suppose.

Yeah.

You take care now.

Come back and see us real soon, huh?

I will.

I'll do that.

Let me go get my stuff.

We got to go tell Mom.

[suspenseful music]

[wind rustling]

Looks like a hurricane all of a sudden.

I never seen anything like it.

Yeah, sure is.

Come on, let's go.

You go on ahead.

I'm going to look a little more.

Be sure to tell your ma they're not positive about your dad.

They just thought they saw him.

He said he was pretty sure.

Yeah.

You go on.

I'll see you at the house.

OK.

[somber music]

[softly humming]

Hey, Jonathan.

Come on, we got to go talk to Bubba.

Find out where he saw Charlie.

Can't believe that guy, scaring the wits out of me.

You know there, for a while I--

what's wrong?

Come on, what's wrong?

I found Charlie's car.

What are you talking about?

Where?

About two miles from here.

That's impossible.

This whole area has been searched.

They buried it, Mark.

Well, how do you know it's his car?

He wanted me to find it.

He wants me in on this one now.

Come on.

[dog barking]

Hey, you looking for my dad?

Yeah, you know where he is?

Sure do.

Fishing.

He takes two weeks off this time every year.

He was going to pass this year until he heard

Bubba spotted old Charlie.

No reason to stick around now.

Who's in charge when he's gone?

Nobody.

No need.

We're a small town.

We got no trouble here.

That's the nice thing about small towns, you know?

Yeah.

You take care.

You know the nice thing about a small town?

There's one place to get a backhoe.

Hey, excuse me.

Wonder if you could help us?

That all depends.

We'd like to rent this backhoe here.

What for?

Well, that's kind of a secret.

Yeah, well, it ain't running.

I mean, there's not much call for machinery around here,

and, well, I ain't gotten around to fixing her up.

Oh, really?

Maybe I'll just take a look at it.

Look, I already tried that.

It needs a whole overhaul.

Why don't you let him look?

He's got a way with machines.

[engine starts]

Hey, what do you know?

It started up right away.

How much to rent it for the day?

Uh, look, I--

look, I can't rent it to you guys.

I just can't let two strangers walk off

with an expensive piece of equipment.

How would you like to go with us?

One way or another, we're taking this backhoe.

Yeah?

Yeah, OK.

Go ahead, but have it back today, because I've got to rent

it out the rest of the month.

We'll only need it for the day.

[engine straining]

He's not in there.

Do you think there's still a chance?

I don't know.

[ominous music]

[motorbike revving]

Charlie's car.

Found a little ways from here.

Somebody buried it.

Charlie?

No sign of him.

Sarah, I want you to drive Robbie into Kohler.

You'll be safe there.

What about the Sheriff?

Sheriff's gone.

I'm not sure we can trust him anyhow.

This can't run.

It'll run, believe me.

All right, Robbie.

Come on.

All right, when you get there, I want

you to call Charlie's superior.

Tell them we found the car.

But shouldn't you call from here?

All we've got is the car so far.

Please, just do what I tell you.

I didn't know what to do, Jack.

I couldn't stop them.

- What did you say to them? - Nothing!

I swear!

Then how did they find the car?

I don't know!

I swear I didn't say nothing!

What are we going to do, Jack?

Shut up!

All right, Arnie.

You got us into this, you're going to get us out.

What I got us into?

You shot the guy!

You killed him!

Hey, I did it to save all of us!

You screwed up!

Don't worry, you said.

All the planes are in perfect shape.

Well, if that plane didn't go down,

we'd all still be in clover.

I'll do my best, Jack.

"I'll do my best, Jack."

Well, that's not good enough, Arnie.

Now, you listen.

Me and the boys are going to be down at Sid's tonight.

Just kicking back, having a few beers with the folks.

You know where you're going to be?

Getting rid of everybody in that house.

No, Jack.

I can't do that.

Oh, yes, you can, Arnie.

And you will.

Don't worry about it.

It'll just look like some lunatic on the loose.

They may even think old Charlie did it.

I told my dad Bubba saw him.

Yeah, old Charlie just finally went crazy.

Jack, you can't do that.

There's a kid in that house, and you can't--

[gun clicking]

You want to die, Arnie?

Right now?

Huh?

I mean, what a waste Arnie.

All that money we've been saving up,

and you won't be around to spend any of it.

What a waste, Arnie.

What do you say?

Hmm?

That's my boy.

Evening, Arnie.

[gunshots]

Oh my god.

Where's Charlie?

I said where's Charlie!

I don't know.

Answer me, or I swear to god I'll kill you.

That's enough.

Arnie, I want you to tell me where he is.

I don't know.

Oh, yes, you do, Arnie.

You're going to tell us, aren't you, Arnie?

It was Jack.

Jack Harm.

He rode him down on his bike and he shot him.

Why?

The plane.

They found the cocaine in the model airplane.

You show us where.

Hold it.

I'll get them, Charlie.

I swear to you, I'm going to get them all.

[sinister music]

Now we're going to go see your friends, right?

We're going to see your friends.

It's going to be just like in the Bible, right?

An eye for an eye.

Now, you don't have to go, Jon, and you don't have to be there.

Jonathan?

Jonathan!

All right, get the truck.

You're going to drive.

I said get in the truck!

[radio playing]

Say hello to Bud for me, will you?

Night, Sid.

Goodnight, Al.

Hey, Al, don't go.

We've got an hour till closing.

I've got to work tomorrow, Jack.

Some of us do, you know?

Hey, get it, Bubba!

Where Arnie?

Should've been back by now.

How the hell should I know?

We should have gone with him.

He's a wimp.

Do I have to do all the thinking around here?

GARSON: What if he blew it?

What if those two guys get him?

Yeah, what if?

He's got the gun.

So what if he talks?

They got nothing on us.

He owns the backhoe and he's got the gun.

We'll help those guys out, only this time, we'll find the body.

Good citizens, that's us.

I'll tell you how good.

I took little Arnie's share the money

and stuck it in his dresser drawer.

They're going to wonder where a gas station attendant

got a hold of $40,000 in cash.

So just relax.

Have another beer.

Hey, Sid, can we have another round here?

[thunder]

Well, lookie, the city hippie's back.

Come on in, friend. Have yourself a shooter.

It'll warm you up.

Charlie was a good man, Jack.

He was a good husband and a good father.

Yeah, so?

Don't say it to me.

I always got along with him.

Then why did you kill him?

Come on.

What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about killing a man for money.

The money you have buried under the floor of the shed

behind the general store.

You're out of your mind.

I am.

But what are you going to say to the feds

when they find out that you good old boys have $583,000 in cash?

Minus the 40,000 you put on Arnie's dresser drawer.

Who the hell are you?

Somebody that knows the truth.

Oh, yeah?

Well, it's not going to do you much good.

You see, we're all part of it.

All of us.

Even including old Sid there.

Boys.

And we're all going to take a little ride

and go find your friend.

Sid!

[gunshot]

Jack shot him. He's the one!

He shot him! - Shut up!

And you were right about the money too.

And I'll show you where the stuff is.

12 pounds of it, pure.

It was all Jack's fault. We'd be rich, he said.

It's in the tank under the gas station.

- Shut up! - No!

I'm not going to burn for you!

You're the one who killed Charlie.

I'll show you.

Where the hell is he?

Where'd you go?

Dad?

What are you doing back?

You?

You and all the rest of your friends?

My son?

I'm leaving here.

You don't try and stop me.

Why?

why?

For money!

For money, old man!

You think I want to spend the rest of my life

in this two-bit town?

Fishing for a vacation in his stream.

There's a world out there, and I'm going to see it.

You let me go.

I swear to god, I'll kill you.

God.

Dear god, I don't know you.

You're not my son.

[helicopter sounds]

HELICOPTER PILOT: Raise your hands or we will fire.

We are agents of the federal government.

Throw down any weapons in your possession.

The town is surrounded.

[police siren]

HELICOPTER PILOT: Stop and raise your hands.

POLICE OFFICER: Hold it.

Hold it right there.

All right, come on.

Let's go.

Come on!

It's over, Mark.

Thanks for not letting me--

I don't think you would have.

Yeah, I think I would have.

Bye, Mark.

Goodbye, Robbie.

Jonathan?

Mm-hmm?

Would it be bad if I broke a promise to my dad?

It all depends what the promise was.

Well, he never wanted me to be a cop or anything like that.

But I want to be.

I want to stop people from doing stuff that kills other people.

I don't want other kids to feel the way I do.

I think your dad would understand that.

I know he would.

Thank you, Jonathan.

Will there ever be a time in this country

when they put drugs away forever?

If they're not, there may not be the country to wonder about.

[credits music]