I remember being really small...
... too small to see
over the edge of a table.
There was a snow globe.
And I remember the penguin
who lived inside the globe.
He was all alone in there
and, I worried for him.
Don't worry, Kiddo...
He has a nice life.
He's trapped in a perfect world.
Look at that, Susie Q.
I remember being given a camera
for my birthday.
I loved the way a photo
could capture a moment...
before it was gone.
That's what I wanted to be
when I grew up -
- a 'wild-life photographer'
Sorry, mom.
I imagined that when I was older, I'd be tracking wild elephants and rhinos.
But, for now, I'd have to
make do with Grace Tarking.
It's strange, the memories you keep.
I remember going with dad
to the sink-hole out at the Connor's farm.
There was something about the way
the earth could swallow things whole.
And I remember the girl who lived there.
Ruth Connors.
The kids at our school said
she was weird,
and now I know she saw things other didn't.
Ready?
One, two, three!
And I remember the worst thing
that ever happened to us as a family.
Somebody help!
- Mom?
Where are you?
Mom?
Oh God!
Dad?
The day my little brother
stopped breathing.
Buckley!
What happened?
- He swallowed a twig!
Watch out!
Are you crazy?
- Sorry!
Buckley.
You're okay...
And I remember the light in my
parents eyes. The relief.
We weren't those people...
... those unlucky people, to whom
bad things happened for no reason.
You know the Buddhists say,
"If you save someone else's life..."
Grandma Lynn predicted I would live a long and happy life, because I'd saved my brother.
As usual,
Grandma Lynn was wrong.
My name is Salmon, like the fish.
First name, Susie.
I was 14 years old when I was murdered,
on December 6, 1973.
(Announcer) Over here next, we have Crystal...
This was before missing kids
started appearing on milk cartons,
or were feature stories
on the daily news.
It was back when people
believed things like that didn't happen.
That's right ladies, no matter the size,
it'll hug your girly-girl curves in all the right places...
If you got it, why not flaunt it...
- Hold on, buddy.
Buckley!
- Dad! Look look look!
There it is!
Who is he?
Does he like you as much as you like him?
Grandma, He's a senior.
He doesn't know I exist.
- He's Cute.
- Grandma, please just drop it!
You're safe now.
He's gone into the record store.
I wasn't safe. A man in my neighborhood was watching me.
If I hadn't been so distracted, I would have realized something was wrong.
Cause that sort of thing gives me the skeevies...
But I was too busy, thinking about
the length of Ray Singh's eyelashes.
I counted each one in library time
while he was reading 'Abelard and Heloise'
The most seriously tragic love story ever.
So, have you kissed him yet?
Why not? You like him, he likes you,
What's the hold up?
I'm just afraid I won't be any good at it.
My first kiss was with grown man.
You not going to tell on me, are you?
- Of course not.
- What was it like?
- The kiss? Oh it was wonderful.
Beautiful, glorious.
Took me a long time before I realized that a kiss like that, it only happen just once.
Susie...
Just have fun, kid.
It wasn't Mr. O'Dwyer, by the way.
Although, he does look kinda suspicious.
Mr. O'Dwyer never hurt anyone.
Mr. O'Dwyer's own daughter died
a year and a half after I did.
She had leukemia,
but I never saw her in my heaven.
Hey, look at me!
Mom!
Hi honey!
My murderer was a man from our neighborhood
Thank you so much.
Careful honey.
I took his photo once as he talked
to my parents about his border flowers
I was aiming for the bushes,
when he got in the way.
Thanks for the flowers!
He stepped out of nowhere,
and ruined the shot.
He ruined a lot of things.
- What have you been photographing?
Everything!
- Everything?
Hey look at me!
Mom!
smile!
Over here!
Hey look at me!
OK. Here we go.
Clarissa has got a crush on you.
Which one was Clarissa?
You know, blond hair,
mega blue eye shadow...
she's out on Surf & Turf.
- The tall one?
She's not tall, she wears platforms.
She doesn't know you are an accountant.
- I take it, that's a negative
Or that you are a closet scale modeller
Did mom know before she married you?
About your obsession?
Susie, hobbies are healthy,
they teach you things.
Like what?
Like if you start something,
you finish it -
you don't stop until
you get it right.
If you don't get it right, you start over again...
and you keep on going as long as you have to.
That's the way it is, that's what you do.
It's perfectly normal.
You know Granpy taught me to do this,
and now I'm teaching you.
We're creating something here, for us.
Something special.
- I know
You're my first mate, Susie Q.
One day, all of this all will be yours.
- Jack, Susie, dinner!
Hey hey hey, Wait.
Ready?
Yeah
- Now pull it steady
- Give me.
Okay, shipman take it away!
Now that is a thing of beauty.
Come on.
I don't believe it.
Would you look at the state of this room?
You're gonna clean this mess up tonight.
- Yeah, I will.
Hey mom, we need to get these developed.
Susie, You used up all the film?
Do you have any idea what this is gonna cost?
No, no. Absolutely not.
Out of the question.
Thanks a lot.
That's my career down the toilet!
Oh, do not be so melodramatic.
- Oh honey, what? What's down the toilet?
She's used up all the film we gave her for her birthday.
All of it!?
- All of it, every single one.
Susie...
- It's a crime to be creative in this family.
All alright, all right, what...
(What say we pay for one roll a month?)
One roll a month?
You realize by the time I see my photos,
I'm gonna be middle aged.
Look, we got her 24 rolls of film, right?
At 2.99 a piece to develop,
that's $71 and 76 cents.
I don't think we're being unfair...
- Oh Honey.
Are we?
- That's why I love you.
Please! Could you just,
not do that at breakfast?
Yes. OK. Whatever you say.
Eat your food, c'mon.
It doesn't have a siren, you moron -
it's a cement mixer.
Please don't call your brother a moron!
Buddy! The cement stays in the bowl, please.
It's not cement, it's my Oaties!
Ok...
- Off to school - come on, let's go!
Bye, Dad.
-Bye, Susie!
Susie!
What's that?
- That's your new hat, sweetie.
Wow mom, I thought you'd given up knitting.
Oh no, I'm still knitting.
You want me to make you one too?
Do you have your gloves with you?
Put them on please, young lady.
Susie! Susie - put your hat on!
It's cold!
Holiday! Inside!
Holiday! Come here boy!
Ya look a little ruly, Suse!
- Shut up.
No really -
it looks good on you!
This is an exercise in humiliation.
Hey c'mon, we're late.
Othello. What is that?
Sounds like a myth.
That guy looked pretty stupid with the black make-up on.
Who?
- The one with two first names.
Lawrence Oliver.
- What a loser!
I know! - Clarissa!
- C'mon, let's go.
I'm talking to Susie.
Yeah, and I've been waiting for hours for your jerk-off film club to finish, and I wanna get out of this dump.
It's nice to see you too, Bryan.
Are you coming or not?
- Yeah, yeah...
See ya Susie.
Hey Susie
Hi, Ray.
- What did you think of the Moor?
Who?
Othello.
Well, well I just...
It was amazing.
Yeah, I mean - it was...
Really incredible!
I love that play
That's another thing we have in common.
What else do we have in common?
Don't you know?
Crap.
It's ok.
- Fine, I've got it.
Stupid books.
I don't even read them.
Susie, what are you doing Saturday?
Are you really from England?
Yes.
You are beautiful, Susie Salmon.
Forget it!
- This is obscene!
Are you listening to me!? There are no breasts on this anatomy model!
There are no eyes or mouth either.
But we were told to draw in the face.
Your unnecessary anatomical additions got the Ellis boy thoroughly boy over-excited.
He stole my drawing!
Yes! And now there are pictures of
naked women all over this school.
Move along people!
Sir, can I can have my drawing back?
- Certainly not.
Did you hear me Singh?
Go.
Meet me at the mall,
Now!
Where in the mall?
- The Gazebo.
Hello.
- Dad!
No no no!
God, you're choking me!
I need some air!
How was your day?
- Good - Buckley, go wash your hands!
Go buddy, we'll play after dinner.
- Is Susie to you?
No.
- She's late.
Lindsey Lou, where's your sister?
- What?
Your sister.
- Oh, she had film club.
What's for dinner, hon?
Oh, Shoot.
I hope that was your homework.
Oh hey, you're the Salmon girl, right?
Yeah.
- Remember me? You remember me...
I live right down the street,
Down in the, uh - green house. Mr. Harvey.
Hi.
- Hi, how are ya?
How are your folks doing?
- They're fine.
Good, tell 'em I said hi. You know, you're the perfect person for me to run into...
Because I've just built this thing over here, and I want to get second opinion. Do you mind taking a look?
Oh... actually, Mr. Harvey, I have to get home.
Oh, ok.
I just worked so hard on it, and I guess I got excited for someone to see it, but...
But that's ok. I'll show the other kids in the neighborhood - they're gonna be very excited about it.
Really?
- Oh, Yeah.
It's great, I mean it's really neat.
Come on, it'll take two minutes.
You're probably late already.
I don't see anything.
- You don't?
You're gonna have to be more observant, Susie.
What is it?
I've washed my hands.
- Hey! You gotta dry 'em.
Thanks mom.
Ah, and the salt...
Oh! Not beans...
- What?
Only one.
- One bean?
Pretty neat, huh?
You wanna pork chop, Honey?
- Yes, thank you.
See? Look at your sister. Great eating habits.
But she's older.
I build it for the kids in the neighborhood...
I thought they could use it as a - kind of clubhouse, or I don't know...
You want to be the first one to try it out?
Really?
- Yeah, sure yeah! Go ahead. It'd be fun.
Go ahead.
- Corn and beans.
If you eat them both you can stay up
and watching TV with me.
Ah, neahh...
I'll make her a plate.
That's it - that's it...
Wow! This is neat-o.
She doesn't like beans, so I'm not going to give her any.
Put more - put more on her plate.
I'm gonna make her eat them all.
Why doesn't she get to eat beans?.
- Ok, ok - I'm gonna give her beans.
They're really good.
- Ok, watch this!
That's better.
- Pile them on.
You think Popeye only eats spinach?
There's beans in that can too.
Make yourself at home.
This is really cool Mr. Harvey
- Yeah it's cool, huh?
Yeah, I thought you kids would like a place of your own to, you know - hang out.
Here, have a seat.
Do you like it?
- Yeah.
You think she's still at the mall?
Yeah, probably, should be with Clarissa.
- She could've at least called.
I mean a 14 year old girl knows how to use a telephone.
I understand, I understand. I will deal with her when she gets home.
Check out all these little things, like this little, you know - fluffy animals...
And some games, because I know you
kids like play games.
And candles, and little figurines.
These angels are so pretty...
Very sweet, and uh, you know - some of these little things...
There you go!
It's nice with the candles and everything, right?
And there is one rule.
No adults allowed!
Ok?
That's a cute hat - I like that hat very much.
Would you like a refreshment Susie?
Actually I have to go.
- No, be polite.
You have to be polite.
Be polite.
That's another rule.
It's warm in here.
I'm warm - are you warm?
You can take your coat off, if you want.
You're very pretty, Susie.
Thanks...
Do you have a boyfriend?
No? I knew it, see... I knew you
weren't like those other girls. I knew that.
Mr. Harvey?
It's nice down here, isn't it?
Special - special down here, right?
Yes - it is, it's very special.
... But I have to go.
I don't want you to leave.
I'm not going to hurt you, Susie.
If you see her, would you please just call? Thank you.
She's not with the Steads.
- Where are my keys?
Where are they?
- I don't know honey. In the bowl by the door?
Where you going?
Jack, could you just wait?
Jack, would you please wait for the police?
Look, stay by the phone.
Man, she's gonna be in so much trouble...
Go back to bed, sweetie.
Ok...
Guys, this is my little girl Susie. She hasn't
come home from school - have you seen her?
- No, I ain't seen nobody.
- No?
Ma'am, could you take a look at this?
Have you seen this little girl?
Sorry, buddy.
Can you take a look at this please? This is my little girl - she hasn't come home.
- I'm sorry... Could you look at that?
Ma'am, have you seen this girl?
Please, could you just take a look?
Susan has been missing for... what is it, four hours?
Susie, we call her Susie.
Yeah - a little more than four hours.
This is the first time she's run away?
She didn't run away - she's... she's missing.
Any problems at home?
Family difficulties?
Um, no - there really are no problems.
This is a happy... she's a happy... child.
She's never done this detective, she...
- I understand that. I just have to get a sense of...
She's not home, and she always comes home.
- of what's going on here.
There's nothing going on.
She's missing!
If you see her, please call me, ok? - Sure thing, Jack. I'll come back and see you guys in a little while. - Take care!
Dad?
Excuse me - Sorry to interrupt you. My name's Jack Salmon, I live right around the corner...
Dad!
Dad!
Can you put together a list of all her friends, and...
their names and contact information?
Uhh - a description of what she was wearing?
- Yes, of course - well actually, I could tell you that right now,
if you want to write it down.
She was wearing a hand-knitted wool hat...
Mom, Dad!
... but she did wear pink gloves, and she has a beige canvas school-bag.
Mom?
No!
No!
Secure that corner!
Jesus Christ - and tape up the rest of the area before the whole neighborhood shows up.
Set up the ICP at the school.
What is that?
We found some evidence in the corn field, behind the school.
There was a cavity in the earth,
a lot of debris...
Mostly loose woods and broken crates.
We think it's the remains of some kind of structure.
And Susie?
We didn't find her, Mrs. Salmon.
That's good, isn't it?
I mean, you found Susie's hat, but you didn't find her - which means we really don't even know if she was there at all, right?
I mean that - it's, it's preferable, right?
We also found blood.
A significant amount of blood.
I'm very sorry.
We'll get through this.
- How?
I'm gonna take care of you. I'm gonna take care of all of us.
You can't.
- I'm gonna make it right.
You can't make this right, Jack. You can't!
We have to find her.
I promise we will bring her home.
You have my number, or you just
come by the police station.
- Ok.
Thank you for your time.
- You're welcome.
Have a good day.
- You too.
Mr. Harvey?
- Yes.
Detective Len Fenerman.
- How are you doing?
Do you have some time for few question ?
- Certainly.
Come in.
- Thanks.
I know why you're here. of course
I think when something like this happens...
you always blame yourself.
All I can think about it now is,
why I didn't see something, or why I didn't hear something because,
...because surely, that young girl must have screamed.
Did you want one?
- No, no thanks.
But if you could just think back, I mean she was wearing a blue jacket, yellow corduroys...
Similar clothes to these.
This blue jacket here?
- The darker blue jacket.
And on the second photograph you can see
the pants she wore.
No, it does not ring a bell.
But you were home that day?
What day?
- Last Wednesday.
Last Wednesday...
Last Wednesday... Um, no - I was home all day.
I mean, I - I probably went out and ran a few errands or something like that, but I mean, um...
I should have been here all day,
for most part.
Ok, good.
Thanks.
You married?
- I was.
But You have kids?
- No I wish, I wish.
You mind if I take a look?
- No.
I make everything myself.
- Really? Oh yeah, all this - I turn all the banisters myself, make all the shingles and the furniture...
I used to do cabinet making, but there's not much call for that these days.
Maybe I spend too much time on these things,
but that's the perfectionist in me. I guess.
All it shows.
- Thank you.
- That's amazing craftsmanship.
- Oh, well...
I took a risk and tried something new, and discovered a talent that I didn't know I had.
What's that underneath the stairs?
- That would be the basement.
Dad?
She's dead, isn't she?
I was slipping away.
That's what it felt like.
Life was leaving me.
But I wasn't afraid.
Then I remembered, there was something
I was meant to do.
Somewhere I was meant to be.
Ray?
Ray!
Ray!
Ray! Wait!
Ray!
If I had but an hour of love...
If that be all is given me...
an hour of love upon this earth...
I would give my love to thee. - The Moor
Are you the Moor?
- Why?
I think this belongs to you.
Where did you get this?
I Found it.
I write poetry.
You're quite good.
Don't you have somewhere to go?
You miss her, don't you?
I never knew what that meant.
I used to think it meant lost. Frozen.
It means gone.
She's gone.
What if she isn't?
What if she's still here?
Help!
You not supposed to do that.
- What?
Who are you?
- She saw you, that girl.
I think my hand touched hers.
- Yes, that's all it takes.
She carry you now for the rest
of her life.
You are not supposed to look back.
You are supposed to keep going.
Come back. Wait!
Who are you?
I'm Holly.
Holly go lightly.
That does not sound like a real name.
- It isn't. I borrowed it.
You can do that up here.
- Up here?
You mean in heaven?
- (laughs) You're funny.
What's funny about it?
- This isn't heaven, not there yet.
What is this place?
- this place is not really one place...
and, also is not the other place
it's a bit of both.
What is that?
- That's where we're going.
Holly said there was a wide, wide heaven
beyond everything we knew...
where there was no corn field,
no memory.
No grave.
But I wasn't looking beyond yet.
I still looking back.
You can't go back.
Who are you?
It's over.
Come with me.
I do not know you.
Why are you here?
You need to let go of Earth.
You're dead, Susie.
You have to leave.
I have to go home.
Dad!
My murderer began to feel safe.
He knew people wanted to move on.
They needed to forget.
He took comfort in the thought
no one was looking at him.
But there was one thing my murderer didn't understand.
He didn't understand how much a father
could love his child.
Dad!
It's ok.
It's gonna be ok.
He knows I'm here.
My dad knows I'm here.
I was still with him.
I wasn't lost, or frozen, or gone.
I was alive. I was alive in my own perfect world.
Dad?
I saw Susie.
She came into my room.
She kissed me on the cheek.
Come here buddy.
I saw her too.
Dad? I think she listens.
She's used up all the film we gave her for her birthday.
- All of it?
It is a crime to be creative in this family.
- Shall we pay for one roll a month?
One roll a month?
I got 'em.
Look at these - some of these are good.
Honey, why don't you get them all developed?
This 'one roll a month' thing is...
is really crazy, honey - it's crazy.
- Why?
I mean why do we want to keep this thing dragging out like this?
We are not dragging it out.
We made a deal.
There is no deal, Jack.
Fenerman
Len, I had to call you.
Look, Susie is smart kid.
She would never go off with a stranger.
It had to be someone she knew.
Somebody local.
look! I've got a name for you.
I've got several names actually.
Ronald Driver.
- Do you have an address?
Len I've got another name for you.
He's a janitor, Michael Gitchell.
There's something wrong with this one, I'm telling you. Gary Davis.
- Who's that?
Davis. He works at the sanitation department.
- Ok, I'll look into it.
But I have his address right here. Is it a bad thing If I just drive by there and take a look myself?
Have you checked out Brent Peretti yet?
- Who?
Peretti: P-E-R-E-T-T-I. I have his credit report, Len.
It does not look good.
I'm on top of it, you understand?
- Len, I found another one.
Yeah, listen - you got to trust me ok?
We gonna get this guy.
Len, glad you're here. I was going to call you.
- Yeah, I got your messages.
I've been up to the public records office.
A lot of stuff to go over here...
I know you're looking at the obvious suspects -
Convicted felons, child molesters,
and I understand why, but Len...
I think you're coming at it
from the wrong angle.
Honey.
- Herman Stolefis, just across the street...
Now he appears to be perfectly normal, but Len...
The man wears adults diapers.
Herman is 80 years old.
- I followed him to the supermarket.
His shopping cart was filled with them.
- He has a prostate problem.
My point is - we need to stop looking backward.
We need to start looking at family histories.
Criminal records, mental health issues...
- Jack, this doesn't change anything!
Did I mention taxes? Len, you can tell a lot about a person from taxes.
Please will you just stop it now? Will you just stop!
Can't you just leave it alone?
Jack, I know it's been 11 months. I know you've been trying to deal with this in your own way but...
She's not coping very well.
She needs help, Jack.
She needs someone to help her
get through this.
Grandma is here! Grandma! Grandma is here!
What's my mother here?
- Look, you're not coping, ok?
Len's worried, I'm worried, your mother offered to help.
You invited her here?
- Darling.
Hello, mother.
- Look at you! Are you eating?
Is this all of it?
- Don't be ridiculous! That's just my make-up.
Oh, you're as handsome as Hell, Jack.
- Lindsey, honey, are you going to say hello?
The child hates me.
So, What will it be, Jack?
Actually, I'm not drinking these days.
- Ah, that's your problem in a nutshell.
Are we still a family?
- Of course we're a family!
Your mother's in crisis,
your father's a wreck.
What does that make you?
I'm in charge.
He walked through the woods, looking
for rabbits.
Then he sees three. He grabs his gun,
looks and aims.
And then, a giant puff of smoke -
he doesn't see them any more...
Then he realizes that his gun,
it was out of bullets. Then he runs.
You're the Salmon girl, right?
Ok.... O-k!
Holiday!
Grandma, I know where Susie is.
Yeah, Susie is gone to heaven, sweetheart.
- Lindsey said there is no heaven.
alright then, she's dead.
You might be dead soon.
- Why do you say that?
Because you're old.
too much of that polish.
And anyway, nothing's going to happen to me.
You know why?
Because I take my medicine, everyday.
Grandma, she's here.
What?
- Susie.
Susie's in the in-between.
iI was in the blue horizon, between
heaven and earth.
The days were unchanging.
And every night, I dreamed
the same dream.
The smell of damp earth. The scream that no one heard.
The sound of my heart beating, like a hammer against cloth.
And I would hear them calling.
The voices of the dead.
I wanted to follow them.
To find a way out.
But I would always come back
to the same door.
And I was afraid.
I knew if I went in there...
I would never come out.
My murderer could live in
one moment for a long time.
He could feed off the memory
over, and over again.
He was animal.
Faceless.
Infinite.
But then he would feel it.
The emptiness returning.
And the need would rise in him again.
Go.
- Here in?
When summer came, he noticed young
lovers would sneak into the cornfield.
He began to follow them, and watch.
Will you come to bed?
Yeah, soon.
Ohh, Buckley did this, right?
- Correct, he said that this is our house...
This is the police station, and that's you.
- That's me?
Mmm hmm!
Yeah, he made you chief of police, so...
- I've gained 20 pounds.
That must be, uh - the uniform.
- The dangers of a desk job.
Why don't you have a seat..?
I'm living with this every day!
- What about your marriage?
What marriage!?
Jack is sleeping in the study!
You have to find a way to keep going. - Mother!
You don't have a choice!
- I am coping with this! If you can't give up. you have to...
Ah, bingo! That is cooking Sherry! Please - Please!
- You have to find a way to live with this.
Live with it!? I am living with this!
- No, no - You're not! I am dealing! I'm coping!
I'm dealing with it. So what?
You have a tomb in the middle of your house!
Oh sweetheart, do you really think if you
seal it up, that the pain's gonna go away?
My mother went as far away as she could.
She found a job at a small orchard
outside of Santa Rosa.
The work was hard, but
she didn't mind.
If anyone asked, she said
she had two children.
Dearest Lindsey...
And Lindsey, who always said
she didn't believe in love...
found it anyway.
And there it was. The moment
I would never have.
My little sister had run ahead of me.
She was growing up.
What's the matter?
I thought you'd be happy.
I am happy.
I'm very happy.
Why are you crying?
No - you think she did not want to kiss him?
- No, she did.
She wanted to kiss him very much.
Always, I would watch Ray.
I was in the air around him.
I was in the cold winter mornings he spent with Ruth Conners.
That strange, other-worldly girl...
who so easily accepted the presence
of the dead among the living.
And sometimes, Ray would think of me.
But he began to wonder, maybe it was
time to put that memory away.
Maybe it was time to let me go.
Lindsey, throw it!
Missing girl, Susie Salmon and
sister Lindsey Salmon (right)
My Murderer had finely tuned instincts.
He knew my sister had begun to wonder about the solitary man who lived in the green house.
She seemed intent on crowding him.
And he resented it.
He began to feel a familiar itch.
Mom, look!
- Just a second.
Careful, honey.
- Mom!
Really, that is a beautiful smell...
Mom, look!
Hey Dad! Look at me!
Oh - Mr. Salmon, hi.
What is that?
- Oh, it's just a project I'm working on.
You're a hunter?
- Ducks.
That's a blind right?
Yeah.
- So those things really work?
Oh yeah.
It's all about concealment,
the art of concealment.
And patience. Takes a lot of patience.
Sit for hours on end in the dark.
I'm an outdoors man.
Always have been.
Mr. Salmon?
I just, um... I never got a chance to
tell how sorry I am about your loss.
Dad...
Here, let me help you.
- Oh no, that's alright. Really, I can manage.
No, it's no trouble.
Alright, I appreciate it.
Dad, look!
- This is for you.
Mr. Harvey, you really shouldn't... You are welcome.
That's a beautiful smell.
Hey, look at me!
- Careful, honey.
Oh, that really does smell...
Delicious.
- Beautiful, yeah.
Dad! (Isn't that something...)
Hey Dad, look at me!
I think it's time for you to
go home now, Mr. Salmon.
Go on home.
I'm sorry. I can't help you.
What did you do to her!? What did you do to MY DAUGHTER!?
It's gotta stop, Jack! You came this close to getting arrested tonight!
You're lucky George Harvey declined to press charges!
Lucky?
Your father put a hole in the man's back door.
Yeah, he should have put a hole in his head!
- Lindsey, please!
Did you hear that, Jack?
This is the example you're setting for your kids!
Persecuting the neighbors!
- He is not crazy!
I didn't say that.
- Well then why won't you listen to him?
Because you need evidence, Lindsey.
You can't go around, making accusations against George Harvey when you have no evidence!
You need proof!
- You are pathetic.
Why can't you just admit it?
You stopped looking for her, a long time ago.
Len's right. He's right.
It's time to put this behind us.
It's gone on too long.
This has to stop.
- Dad...
Things will take their natural course, Lindsey.
Len, I appreciate everything you've done. You've been a great friend to me.
That goes for Abigail, too.
You've been a great friend to both of us.
Murder changes everything.
When I was alive, I never hated anyone.
But now hate, was all that I had.
I want him dead.
I want him cold and dead,
with no blood in his veins!
Look at me!
Look at what he did to me!
What am I now? The dead girl?
The lost girl? The missing girl?
I'm nothing!
I was stupid.
I was so stupid!
- You don't control this, Susie.
He does not own you.
You can be free of him. But not this way.
What do you know? You don't know anything!
That man took my life!
You will see, Susie.
In the end, you will understand.
Everyone dies.
Brian!
- Don't worry. Go, go..
Ok, ok. Ha ha!
Dad?
Dad!
Dad!.. I realized what I had done.
I willed him to stop.
I willed him to turn back.
I know it's you!
Come out!
Come out and face me!
Did you hear me, you son of a bitch!?
Go off me!
- Sick fuck!
Brian, stop it!
Brian, stop!
Brian, stop it!
- You wanna touch my girl!?
Dad!
Dad!
No!
- Brian, stop!
Brian - stop! Stop!
Don't you get it - you killed him!
He's dead! He's dead...
- Go, go!
Go!
I knew then, he would never give me up.
He would never count me as one of the dead.
I was his daughter.
And he was my dad.
And he had loved me, as much as he could.
I had to let him go.
Sophie Cichetti, Pennsylvania.
She had been his landlady.
Jacky Meyer, Delaware.
She had just turned 13. Her body was found in a drainage ditch...
by the side of the road.
Lea Fox.
Delaware 1969.
She was already dead when he dumped her body in the river.
Lana Johnson. 1960.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
She was lured into a shack, he had built of old doors.
She was the youngest.
She was six.
Flora Hernandez.
Delaware, 1963.
He'd only wanted to touch her,
but she screamed.
Denise Li-Ang,
Connecticut, 1971.
13. She was waiting for her father to close up their shop, when she vanished.
Denise Li-Ang, who sometimes liked to be called Holly.
Susie Salmon, 14.
Norristown, Pennsylvania, 1973.
Murdered in a room he
had built under the earth.
Come on, guys. Keep up!
Are you OK. Lindsey?
- Go on.
You sure?
-I'm fine, Go.
Catch up?
Dad!
Where's Dad?
Mom.
What are you doing here?
- What does it matter. She is home.
Home for Good?
- Of course she's home for good.
Where's Buckley?
- He's at Soccer practice, and I have to pick him up in an hour.
My girl.
- Jack.
Look at you!
What happened?
No, no, no. No - you're too late!
We're closed.
- Oh, you're closed, huh?
Yeah.
Oh.. Too bad - I was really hoping
to get rid of this thing.
Sorry, pal. We're fillin' her in.
- Oh, you're filling her in, huh?
- Yep. Oh, yeah, well.. I really hate to inconvenience you, but...
Would you like some help?
- Yeah, sure. That would be great.
I come here almost every day.
I like to listen to the sounds.
Have you seen Holly?
- Did she tell you about this place?
Yes.
Then you must be ready.
I'm Flora Hernandez.
The others will be here soon.
Who is that?
- I don't know.
But he gives me the skeevies.
- The skeevies? why? Are you 12?
It's beautiful.
Of course it's beautiful.
It's heaven!
Yeah, c'mon - let's go.
What are you waiting for?
You're free!
Almost.
Not quite.
Ray!
Ray!
Ruth!
What happened?
What's wrong?
Ruth?
Susie!?
You wrote me a poem once.
You called yourself 'The Moor'.
That's good, I got it from here.
Kiss me.
You are beautiful, Susie Salmon.
These were the lovely bones, that had grown around my absence.
The connections sometimes tenuous.
Sometimes made at great cost.
But often, magnificent.
That happened, after I was gone.
And I began to see things in a way...
that let me hold the world, without me in it.
Brrr - it's a cold night!
You looking for a ride?
No.
No?
Are you sure? It's pretty cold out here.
I'll take you wherever you want to go.
What do you think?
- Look, mister...
I'm not interested, ok?
- I'm not trying do nothing. Just trying to be polite.
That's all.
A young lady, alone at night.
Not safe -
Didn't you hear me?
Piss off!
When my mother came to my room,
I realized that...
all this time, I had been waiting for her.
I had been waiting so long...
I was afraid she wouldn't come.
I love you, Susie.
Nobody notices when me leave.
I mean, the moment when we really chose to go.
At best you might feel a whisper -
or, the wave of a whisper...
undulating down.
My name is Salmon. Like the fish.
First name, Susie.
I was 14 years old when I was murdered,
on December 6, 1973.
I was here for a moment.
And then I was gone.
I wish you all a long, and happy life.