Hey.
- Good morning.
- ( dog whining )
( groans )
My early morning
wake-up call, huh?
I'm up, I'm up.
( laughs )
Yeah yeah yeah yeah.
Okay okay okay.
This is for you.
Yeah?
How's that?
Hmm?
You like that?
Good.
Sorry to keep you.
You coming?
Or are you staying?
Oh good.
Come on, let's go.
Red, let's go.
Let's get out of here.
- We're going, we're going.
- ( whines )
Okay, come on.
There you go.
There you go.
Come on, old boy.
Come on.
Up you go.
There you go.
That's it.
You hunker down.
Read my mind, Emma.
Well...
Read his too.
Thanks for taking care
of things today, em.
Now get
before they stop biting.
( sniffs )
Amateurs.
( boys chatting )
- What's the look for?
- ( boy laughing )
- What are you laughing at?
- Of course you didn't.
Hey, old timer.
You getting any bites?
A couple in the cooler.
Check it out if you like.
It took some convincing
to get them there.
Yeah, not bad.
Good size.
You can pull 'em five pounds
or more out here now and again.
These'll do me
just fine though.
Yeah?
We've been walking
around all morning,
haven't seen
a single deer.
Wish we had
your luck, huh?
It's not luck.
It's your gun oil.
I smelled you
long before I heard you.
Which isn't
difficult, either.
You should swab it down
a whole lot better.
Anything you're aiming to
shoot can smell you coming
for over a mile.
This your dog?
Mmm-hmm.
Kind of old, isn't he?
Oh yeah.
We both go back aways.
Yeah, raggedy old fella.
What is he, 10?
That is an old dog.
What kind of bait
are you using?
Worm.
Really?
Like a live worm?
Plastic.
Giving it a try.
So far so good.
Yeah, I like buzzbait.
Ever use the buzzbait?
So we've been
walking around
a long time.
Kind of tired.
Real hungry.
Are you hungry, Pete?
- Man, I'm famished.
- Famished.
( coughs )
Sit around for a few.
I'm sure I'll have
enough for four.
( scoffs )
Well, thank you.
I think we'll eat
in town.
Have you got
any money, Pete?
Nope.
Flat broke.
How about you, Harold?
Yeah, man.
I got like 10 bucks.
eating shitty fast food.
I want a sit-down meal.
- Thank you, though.
- Mm-hmm.
- How about you, old man?
- Red.
You got any money?
How much money you need?
Whatever's in your wallet
will work fine.
My wallet's in my pickup
in the glove compartment.
You passed it
on the way down here.
That's bullshit.
I don't have much use
for money down here, do I?
There's $20,
$30 in it.
I won't say
you're welcome to it,
but I'm not gonna argue
with a shotgun either.
- You got any credit cards?
- Never use them.
Harold, check his rig.
Come on, man,
it's just--
Check his rig.
God, you're so
fucking stupid.
- It worth anything or what?
- No.
It's just old flies and shit.
There's nothing worth taking.
Fuck, all right.
Put your rig down, old man.
( barking )
- Easy there.
- Yeah, he better take it easy.
Put your goddamn rig down.
I set it down,
I could lose it.
I could get
a strike out there.
They're biting
pretty good today.
All right, reel it in
and then set it down.
( quietly )
What the fuck are you doing?
What do you got, huh?
You got a beat up pickup,
a wallet
with 20 bucks in it
and a rig that ain't
worth jack shit.
A couple of fish,
though,
and a goddamn dog.
You got nothing.
Here.
The smallest
opens the dash.
Red?
That's his name?
Uh-huh.
Though he's lost most of his
color now he's getting older.
- ( gunshot )
- ( Red whines )
Oh!
Holy shit!
( laughs )
He's red.
Look at that,
he's red.
He's fucking red now,
isn't he?
You should remember to keep a
little more cash around, old man.
( Red whining )
Maybe stuff like this
won't happen to you.
( spits )
Let's get out of here.
- Have a nice fucking day.
- ( Pete laughs )
Sit! Sit!
Good boy.
Shit, man.
You crazy son of a bitch.
Harold, come on.
Pete:
Holy shit, man.
Holy shit.
This fucking thing
took its head off!
Oh, Jesus.
Hold on, boy.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on, Red.
- Hold on, boy.
- ( whimpers )
Jesus.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
( panting )
( swings creaking )
( children laughing )
( dog barking )
( laughing,
barking continues )
( noises stop )
( phone ringing )
- Dean's.
- Dean, Ave Ludlow.
Got a question for you.
Hey there, Ave.
Shoot.
Do you ever carry
Browning Auto-5?
Don't stock the auto-5.
Never have.
You might want to try
Just Guns down on 95.
Just Guns.
All right, then.
How's that mangy cur
of yours holding up?
( chuckles )
He got himself
into a skunk last night.
Got any deals
on tomato juice?
I'll call Emma,
Tell her to set a case
aside for you.
Charge you wholesale
for it, okay?
Our noses
thank you both.
( shop bell rings )
( country music playing )
Can I help you?
I'd like to know if you
sold a Browning Auto-5
to a boy about 17, 18
years old maybe recently.
about yea high.
Thin, short blond hair,
Spiky.
You police?
No.
Lawyer?
P.I.?
Nuh-uh.
Then why are you asking?
Let's just say
it's a private matter.
It's a private matter?
Sorry, we can't be dealing
in private matters here, friend.
The boy I'm looking for...
he used the Browning
against my dog.
He had no reason to.
I'm sorry to hear
that, mister.
But like I said.
Your dog...
He dead?
The boy shot him
in the head.
Check the ledger, Jimmy.
- Yeah, but--
- Check it.
Suppose he goes and shoots the kid.
What then, Clarence?
He ain't gonna do that.
You a hunting man?
Sometimes.
You?
All my life
since I was 10 years old.
Uh-huh.
Couple years back I did
something damn foolish.
Forgot the safety.
First time in 30-some years.
Tripped over a bush,
finger on the trigger...
- blew it clear off.
- ( thuds )
Hurt like I never imagined.
Used my jacket
for a tourniquet,
but the blood just kept
pumping out of me.
I was losing it.
Couldn't even remember
which way the road was.
Fading fast.
And this fella
starts barking.
Runs a few paces,
keeps barking
like he's encouraging me.
I'd pass out and he'd come
bark right in my ear.
I pulled myself
almost a mile
before I blacked out.
That was his last day
on Alpo.
( laughs )
It's been top sirloin
ever since.
Here it is.
Boy came in
with his father.
Real snappy dresser,
his father.
Said he had short hair?
Danny C. McCormack.
Just turned
( dog barking )
( vacuum humming )
( knocks )
( vacuum stops )
The name's
Avery Ludlow, ma'am.
Is Mr. McCormack in?
Danny would not do that.
Avery:
I'm afraid he did, Mr. McCormack.
Daniel was the one
that did the shooting.
The other two
just stood by and watched
and then laughed
when it was over.
- They laughed?
- That's right.
They seemed to think
shooting a dog to death
was a pretty funny thing.
Does Daniel own a T-shirt
that says
"Stolen from May's
Whorehouse"?
( laughs )
What is it, Ludlow?
You want money?
You want money?
No, sir.
I'm after whatever
justice I can see
coming out of this thing.
What I want to know is that
the boy admits to what he's done
and he's made to feel damn
sorry for what he did.
That's where you come in,
Mr. McCormack.
He's your boy.
How do I know what
you're telling me here
is the truth, Ludlow?
Huh?
What proof have you got?
I've got a spent
shell casing
that the Sheriff's office could
probably match to the Browning
if it needs come to that.
But why don't we
just ask him?
Hey, Hon.
Is Danny upstairs?
Yeah?
Could you go on up there
and tell him come on
downstairs to the study?
Tell them I said
right now.
( footsteps approaching )
- ( knocking )
- ( door opens )
Danny:
Hey, Dad.
Hey.
Do you know
this man here?
No. Why?
You're absolutely sure?
Uh-huh.
- What?
- This is Mr. Ludlow, Danny.
Okay?
He's been telling me
a pretty amazing story.
Told me you tried to
rob him yesterday.
That you shot his dog.
What?
Us?
Are you kidding?
Mr. Ludlow is not
kidding, no.
Did you take the Browning
out yesterday, Danny?
No. No no.
We drove to Jenny Lind.
Ask mom.
She saw us take the car.
- With who?
- Us and Pete.
- You go anyplace else?
- No.
You go up to Miller's Bend?
Why would we want to go
to Miller's Bend, Dad?
Oh...
Do you own a T-shirt
that says "Property of"--
- Stolen from.
- Stolen from--
"Stolen from May's Whorehouse"?
You own a shirt like that?
If I did
I'd probably wear it.
But you don't
own a shirt like that?
No.
No, sir.
I got to tell you,
I thought the whole story
sounded far-fetched from
the very beginning, Ludlow.
I got a couple of
good boys right here
that would not
be involved in
something like what you
were describing to me.
I'm sorry
about your dog.
Truly am.
But, um...
You got the wrong pair
of kids and that's all.
It's Harold, right?
Danny said
your name yesterday.
I want to thank you for lying
to your brother about my rig.
Could've brought a couple hundred
dollars or so and you knew that.
Nice of you not to mention
that to your brother.
Now suppose
you tell your dad
about my dog.
I don't know anything
about your dog, mister.
The truth would swallow
a whole lot easier, son.
Yeah, well I--
Mr. McCormack:
That's just about enough, Ludlow.
They said
they didn't do it.
And if they said they
didn't do it,
they didn't do it
and that's that.
I guess you're
just mistaken.
Well, I asked you.
Excuse me?
I said I asked you.
- Asked me what, sir?
- To do the right thing here.
It could have been
the right thing maybe,
if it had been
the right boys.
Oh, I've got the right boys,
Mr. McCormack.
It's you who've got
the wrong boys.
And I think
you probably know that.
Thank you for your time.
Yeah.
What?
You can't prove
attempted robbery.
It's just your word
against theirs.
So what you've got is a case
of cruelty to animals.
Maybe reckless conduct
with a firearm.
- Misdemeanors.
- Misdemeanors? Jesus.
Under the law an animal
is just property.
They have a mandatory
$100 fine.
He didn't just give
the dog a kick, Sam.
He killed it.
It's still just cruelty
to animals, Ave.
That's all the law
has to say about it.
You can ask for up to
but practically speaking,
no prosecutor in his right mind
is going to request more than 30.
And he wouldn't get
more than 10.
The Sheriff could
at least arrest him,
put the fear of God into
the little son of a bitch.
To arrest the little
son of a bitch,
the Sheriff would've had to
have seen him pull the trigger.
I'm sorry, Ave.
It's no good.
I still have to try.
All of this time,
work and expense
for an old mongrel dog
you already buried?
That really what you want?
That old mongrel dog
was Mary's gift to me
for my 50th birthday, Sam.
And they made a joke
about killing him.
( radio playing )
There he is.
Hey.
Where's the old mutt?
He's gone, Emma.
Gone?
A boy shot him
Back by Miller's Bend
On Sunday.
Oh My Lord.
- Why would--
- There wasn't any sense to it.
Just meanness.
( creaking )
( car engine starts )
( tires squeal )
Sam: You know, Ave, last time
we talked it got me thinking.
I know how much that dog
meant to you,
especially after what happened
with Mary and the boys.
Will they prosecute?
All I could get out of them
was a "we'll see."
Which I guess is better
than a "no way."
I'll be over as soon as
I check with Emma.
Fine.
I found out a few things
about McCormack.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah, he made his money in trucking
just like his daddy.
He had some run-ins with
the law when he was younger.
There was some talk
about government payoffs.
Oh, married a beauty queen.
You see her out there?
Sure did.
Yeah, he married
pretty well,
But I'm not sure he
treats her that good.
Anyway, all in all,
there's plenty of money
and political clout there.
But underneath, McCormack
is nothing but a redneck
one generation removed.
Oh, I also think
I've found out
who your third boy is.
Word is Danny
and Harold hang out
with a kid
named Pete Doust.
Man:
Don't move shit around.
With your sewing crap
in the way
I can't find
the remote control.
Woman:
Hey, open the door.
Mr. Doust?
- I'm Avery Ludlow.
- I know who you are, sir.
I guess you talked
to Mr. McCormack then.
Mr. McCormack don't talk to
no out-of-work carpenter.
His boy called my boy.
And?
And what?
Oh, Mr. Ludlow...
Petey says they drove
out to Jenny Lind,
They hung out there,
even bought
a couple CDs there.
Goddamn expensive
couple CDs.
Didn't say nothing
about no shotgun
or no old dog.
Maybe they did drive to
Jenny Lind before or after,
but at about 4:00
in the afternoon
they were
at Miller's Bend.
And when they didn't get
the money they wanted from me
Danny McCormack
shot my dog.
And your son stood there
with him
laughing about it.
- Look--
- No, hey, Mr. Lud-- Ludlow.
I heard every word of this
and I want to know
just what you think you're
doing coming out here like this?
I mean, if you have a
complaint with the McCormacks
why don't you just
take it up with them?
You heard that your boy was
party to attempted robbery?
That he thought it was funny
that his friend
shot my animal?
He didn't shoot your dog.
He was there.
He saw the boy who did.
I want him to say that.
Maybe he's sorry.
You ever think of that?
How can he be sorry
if he denies it happened?
You're right.
It wasn't your boy
who fired the weapon.
And I'd be willing
to forgive him
if he'd only show
some nerve and decency
and own up
to his part in it
and tell the Sheriff
what Danny McCormack did.
This is my phone number.
I know a boy can be hard
in his heart sometimes
and regret it later on.
I only want
the truth from him.
Tell him to do what's right.
That's all I'm asking.
( car horn blaring )
Got a pie cooling
in the back, Ave.
Might make this go down
a lot easier.
That'll be nice, Gloria.
Thank you.
- Evening, Sam.
- Gloria.
Ave, this is
Carrie Donnel
from KPZS News over
in Portland.
- Mrs. Donnel.
- Carrie will be just fine, thank you.
I'm sorry to hear about Red.
I've got an idea
I want to run past you--
A modified course
of action.
What about the present
course of action?
Well, Jack Wentz declined
to prosecute
and McCormack's already
got himself a lawyer.
A fella by the name of Cummings.
He's good.
Did you--
did you ever throw Danny
McCormack out of your store?
I never laid eyes
on him before Sunday.
What they're saying
is you did.
That you threw him out for
trying to steal a penknife
a few months back
or some damn thing.
They're trying to make out
like you're some kind of crank
who's got a grudge
against Danny.
What about their father?
He's backing them up,
lying all the way.
They've closed ranks, Ave.
So they got an anonymous
phone call
in the Sheriff's office,
went down
to investigate it.
They found two dogs
barely alive
chained outside
in the yard.
It was the dead
of winter,
no food, no water.
The owner had been on vacation
in Florida for a week.
Now the D.A. wasn't going
to prosecute the case
until the local papers
got hold of it.
Then she changed her mind.
How are you guys
doing over here?
That pie's still waiting
on you in the back, Ave.
Oh, sure, Gloria.
Sure.
Maybe in a minute, huh?
Are you saying you want to
report all this
on television?
I want you to report it,
Mr. Ludlow.
I want to take a film crew
down to where it happened.
Well, what about slander?
You won't name any names.
You're just going to tell
your story.
What those boys did
and what the D.A.'s Office
isn't willing to do,
I want to piss people off
about it.
I don't suppose you have
a dog, do you, Carrie?
Cats.
- Cats?
- Cats, Mr. Ludlow. Three of them.
Ave will do
just fine, Carrie.
- I was sitting down here.
- Oh, is that right?
That's where we usually
get the best catch.
So this is where you were?
Dave, I think you can
just set up over here.
Red, he knew this lake
like his front paws.
And he was sitting
just here.
That's where he sat.
And the boys...
Sam said you didn't have a T.V. and
I wouldn't want you to miss the show.
This thing's heavy.
You want to get the door for me?
Oh, let me help you
with that.
Oh no, I appreciate
the chivalry, Ave,
But the door
will be just fine.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
( sighs )
So the report ran a few hours
ago, but they're gonna replay it.
- Oh.
- So where's your cable connection?
Right, no T.V.
Uh, do you have
any wire hangers?
- Wire hangers?
- Yeah.
Uh, yes.
Try the closet.
Found one.
You were a soldier?
Mmm-hmm.
Carrie: And the dog was a
birthday gift from your wife?
Avery:
Yeah, that's right.
About 13 years ago.
And your wife Mary,
she's gone now, isn't she?
Avery:
Uh-huh, a couple years after that.
She never did get to see
Red fully grown.
Carrie:
So far the District Attorney
has refused
to prosecute the case.
Nationwide for the killing
and violent abuse of animals,
offenders are fined
on average
only 32%
of the maximum fine possible
and have spent a mere 14%
of the maximum jail time.
Most offenders never
even come to trial.
It has been said that
the greatness of a nation
and its moral progress
can be measured
by the way it treats
its animals.
Here in York County
it might also be measured
by the justice it seeks
for Avery Alan Ludlow
and his dog Red.
This is Carrie Donnel
reporting for KPZS...
So what do you think?
Well, I don't know
if it'll do any good,
but what you said,
you certainly said it well.
And that means a lot to me.
( man coughs )
( Carrie screams )
- Are you okay?
- Yeah.
( car engine revs )
Well, we certainly got
their attention.
Carrie:
Well.
This McCormack son of a bitch
has got one long reach.
The D.A. is still declining
to prosecute.
After last night?
Well, there are no prints
on the rock or the note.
Anybody could have
done it.
- Nobody else had reason to.
- You know that and I know that.
The court's
a different story.
But that note implied a threat.
Maybe that'll help, Sam.
Not necessarily.
But what it could mean
is that Carrie had better
call into work ASAP.
Right.
( dialing )
So that's it?
No, we could still sue--
hire our own forensics man,
subpoena the shotgun.
Maybe they'd even settle.
But that's just money.
Yeah, just money.
So, uh, you want to
go ahead with this?
Of course I do!
You know I can't do this
for free, Ave.
But I'll try to keep
the cost down.
Thanks, Sam.
I appreciate it.
Oh come on, Barry.
We can't just lay down and let--
Yeah, but we're the only
division that has the freedom
to go after stories like this.
If we give into them now we're just--
( sighs )
Yes, yes.
No no, I understand.
Yeah.
Okay.
That was my editor.
Wants me to cover an apartment
building fire instead.
A goddamn fire that nobody
was injured in.
He got ordered off.
Yeah, damn right he did.
It's okay, Carrie.
It's not your fault.
I just can't
walk away from this.
But you have to.
I'm so sorry, Ave.
Okay.
Oh boy.
When I drink
I get so hungry.
You know what I could use?
I could use a piece of that
cherry pie right about now.
and speaking
of sweet things,
You know, I think that
waitress was sweet on you.
Who?
Gloria?
It's those eyes.
And of course now you've
been on television.
- You better look out.
- You're crazy.
Maybe you should have
some cherry pie,
soak up some
of that alcohol.
Thank you.
You know, Ave,
I'm just so disappointed.
I swore that I would
never let--
I've been suited for this job
from the very beginning
and I'm good at it.
I know what I want.
What about you, Ave?
What do you want
out of this life?
There must be something.
The truth?
The truth about what?
When I lost Mary...
all I had left of her was
a house, our store
and Red.
Those boys nearly took
all that away from me
and I...
I just need to make
some sense of it.
What if you can't find the
answers that you're looking for?
What if there's no answer?
How do you know when
to stop trying?
I learned one thing
during the war:
That you fight with
whatever you've got,
Whatever you can
lay your hands on...
and you never stop.
The minute you do,
that's the minute the world
rolls right over you.
This is Mary?
She was 53 there.
She was beautiful.
She never thought so.
Carrie:
Well, she was wrong.
She looked so young
for her age.
How old are you, Ave?
I ever ask you that?
- No.
- Well, then.
How come you don't have
any pictures of your sons?
I don't have any sons.
Yes you do,
Sam told me.
He shouldn't have.
We had Timmy late.
I was 48,
Mary was 42.
So it was a kind of surprise
to both of us.
We had to fix up the attic in
order to give him a bedroom.
He was a good boy.
An easy boy.
Favored Mary that way.
But the older boy, Billy,
had been different
right from the start.
He always had a way of turning
a good thing sour on himself.
He always had
a problem with lying,
here at home
and to other people.
He dropped out of school when
they kept him back Junior year.
Went to work for Clover's
Hardware here in town.
Got to work late
half the time.
Stayed out nights,
made up lies about why.
He always had
this way with him,
Like he couldn't
help himself.
I got this idea in my head
that he might work it out
for himself in the service.
Get some discipline in his life.
It had worked for me.
Maybe he wanted to leave
the house by then anyway,
because it was one of the few
times he listened to me
and did what I told him to.
He joined the Navy.
Nine months later
he was out
on a section 8.
- Do you know what that is?
- Mentally unstable.
Unfit is the word
they use.
The night it happened...
I was with Emma
down at the store
taking the six-month
inventory.
It was the dead of winter.
Tim was asleep
in the bedroom upstairs,
Mary was reading
in the kitchen.
It was about 11:30
by the time
we finished the inventory.
When he told
the story later
to the police,
to the detectives,
to the lawyers,
Billy lied.
But it was confused lying.
It was as if he couldn't actually
remember what had happened.
He'd lie about one thing
and then tell the truth about
whatever the hell that was
and then go back and lie
about the first thing again.
Or something
completely different.
It just went on that way.
But how we pieced it
together was...
Billy had come around the house
earlier that evening
looking for some money.
Mary told him no.
Told him if he wanted money
he'd have to come down to
the store and talk to me.
Well, he knew he wasn't
going to do that.
I'd had it by then.
So they argued
and eventually he left.
Then just before 11:00
He came back to the house
again still looking for money.
And Mary still told
him no again.
I don't know why,
but he...
locked Red here,
up here in the bedroom.
Maybe he was barking,
I don't know.
Then he went back out
to the kitchen
and started hitting her.
Beating her.
Maybe he thought he'd get
money from her that way.
Maybe it was just one
of his crazy rages.
But he hurt her.
He hurt her so bad
I guess he thought
he'd killed her.
Because then he decided--
he decided he'd have to
cover up what he did.
So he went out
to the tool shed
and got the can of kerosene
I used to keep out there...
went up to the attic bedroom
and threw it all over Tim.
All over my son
who was lying asleep.
He burned him to death...
up there in his room.
But kerosene doesn't burn
as hot as gasoline.
I mean,
he killed Tim all right,
the boy was saturated
with the stuff.
But all that burned
up there was my son
and the mattress he lay on.
Not even the drapes
caught fire.
He...
closed the bedroom door,
locked it behind him,
stood outside and waited
till my son
stopped screaming.
Until it was quiet.
Then he came back down
and threw the kerosene over Mary
lying on the kitchen floor, lit
another match and threw that on her.
Then got into his car
and drove away.
But she...
my wife
wasn't dead.
Oh, he'd hurt her,
but he hadn't killed her.
She was still alive.
He'd got it wrong.
Wrong about that just like
he was wrong
about the kerosene
burning the house down.
He was wrong about
everything always.
It was all for nothing.
I guess the pain woke her.
She managed to get
herself outside
And roll across the ground
on the dirt and the grass
until the flames were out.
Then she still had
enough left in her
to crawl back into the house
and dial 911.
They found her on the stairs
halfway up to Tim's bedroom.
She lived
for another five days.
Never did come out
of the coma.
I think that was
a blessing.
Her burns were so bad
they wouldn't let me
hold her.
In the end
I did anyway.
( dog barking )
Thank you.
( car starts )
- Danny: Pete!
- Pete: I'm leaving right now.
I don't care.
- No!
- Leave a little bit!
Pete:
I didn't fucking take it!
Don't you lie.
Go back in the house,
you crazy bitch.
- Fuck you.
- Fuck me?
( spits )
Fuck you!
( engine starts )
That is disgusting, man.
( girl giggling )
You're touching me but
you're not looking at me.
Ow!
- I'm going.
- Are you going?
- I want to go home.
- Danny: I had a nice time.
- ( Danny laughing )
- I'll tell you in the car.
He's such a dick.
I hate him.
( Pete laughing )
What are you doing?
Danny:
I don't know.
She's the most irritating
girl I've ever met.
( laughing )
I saw you parked here.
Danny didn't.
Where is he?
He's down the street
at Bowman's Auto.
Does he know you're here?
No.
No, I told him
I needed cigarettes.
You know, he'd be pretty damn mad
if he knew I was talking to you.
- Would he?
- Yeah.
You and him argue a lot,
your brother?
Look, Mr. Ludlow,
I'm not gonna pretend that
things are all buddy-buddy
between Danny and me.
That's not why I'm here.
That's not my point.
What is your point then?
That, um...
That I just wanted
to say sorry.
You know, for what we did.
About your dog.
That's why I'm here.
I'm here to say that.
I'm glad to hear it.
Though the one I need
to hear it from most
is your brother.
I'm still glad to hear
it from you though.
Question is, what now?
What do you--
what do you--
Are you gonna keep on
lying for him?
God, I mean what do you
expect me to do?
I mean, first you come and you
ask me in front of my father.
Then you go
and you get it on T.V.
I expect you
to tell the truth.
I expect you
to tell your father.
I expect you to tell the
Police if it comes to that.
You don't get it.
You don't understand.
That's just not gonna happen.
Suppose you
make me understand.
Look, I gotta go,
all right?
If Danny sees me here--
Who are you
afraid of, Harold?
Your brother?
Your father?
You were man enough to come down
here and say what you just said to me.
I figure that already
makes you a bigger man
than your brother
and maybe even
your father.
I don't think
you've got all that much
to worry about
from either of them.
Do you?
Believe me, Mr. Ludlow,
you don't have a clue.
Mr. McCormack:
Hon, what is it?
I was going to vacuum.
And?
So I hear
you're suing me.
- I'd rather not.
- Yeah?
I don't know why
you bother.
It's not gonna be worth either
your time or your money.
I'm wondering if you're proud
of Daniel, Mr. McCormack.
Because if not,
then there's gonna be trouble
between you and the boy.
And that's something you may
care to do something about
while you still have time,
instead of using your money
to cover up for him.
You know, I don't need
any lectures from you.
My boys are my boys.
And I'll handle them any way
I see fit, okay?
If you're gonna sue me,
just go ahead and do it.
It'll cause me
some embarrassment
in some places,
but it won't
hurt me very--
very much.
So do it.
And if you could win, what
are you gonna get out of it?
The value of a dog?
A goddamn dog from
a goddamn dog pound?
Huh?
Huh?
Really I could
care less either way.
Do you understand?
Do you understand, Ave?
Mm-hmm.
I guess I do.
You guess you do?
Good.
Do not come back here.
And do not go
snooping around
my boys anymore.
or I'll have the Sheriff
up your ass before
you know what hit you.
Okay?
( bat cracking )
Pete:
I got it, I got it!
Shit!
Come on, you guys.
Let's kick some ass.
Here we go. Batter
batter batter. Swing!
- Good eye, Danny.
- Why don't you pitch over the plate?
Come on, Danny, you're
playing like my grandmother.
- Come on!
- Listen, it's all good.
Hit the next one.
Let's go.
- Outside.
- Bitch!
Pete:
Hey, take it easy, Danny.
- Danny, it's okay, man.
- Danny: What was that, huh?
Pete: Yo, Danny. Danny, we
got a game going on here, man.
We have two outs.
Danny, hey!
- Danny, please, man.
- Harold: Danny!
Shut the fuck up, Harold.
Get in the car
or you're walking
your ass home.
- Pete: Danny, come on.
- Fuck! Fuck!
Calm down, man.
What are you doing? Danny!
- We'll see you guys later.
- Harold: Sorry.
Pete:
Danny, wait up.
Danny, come on, man.
Harold: Danny, could you wait?
Danny, wait!
- ( engine sputtering )
- Fuck!
Just get in the car.
Danny, wait.
( engine revving )
Real nice.
Catch a fucking ball, huh?
Leave me to do
all the fucking work.
( baby crying )
Hey.
It's the goddamn
old man again.
You've been following us,
haven't you?
Why would I want
to do that?
I've seen your truck.
It's a small town.
I suppose you would now and then.
Saw you in Jenny Lind.
That's possible too.
Cut it out.
Cut it out?
You know what
I'm talking about.
I'm telling you right now,
cut it out.
Are you threatening
me, son?
I'm telling you.
I wouldn't be threatening
anyone if I were you.
Not unless you can fight
a whole lot better
than you can swing
those things.
You stupid son of a bitch.
What are you doing
following us around, huh?
Spying on us?
Who the hell do you--
No, Danny! Danny, chill! Danny!
- Just chill.
- All right.
- Chill.
- Fuck this jerk.
You got a nice swing, Pete.
Good eye too.
Not like
Miss McCormack here.
You stupid fuck.
Come here.
Don't walk away from me.
I'll leave your fucking
dentures on the sidewalk.
( groans, gasps )
You've just been
suckered, boy.
I got witnesses
all over the street
Who saw you come at me
first with a weapon.
Some of them
are old friends of mine.
So don't you try
and make a fuss of this.
I just gave you what your father
should've given you and wouldn't.
But you damn well had to have
that one way or another.
It won't bring my dog back,
but maybe you'll think twice.
And maybe you'll think of me and Red
before you let that mean streak out again.
( coughing )
- ( gasping )
- You all right?
Don't even worry about it.
( horn honks )
On the house, Ave.
( rock music playing )
Bartender:
Last one's on me, Ave.
Call it a contribution.
Good night, jack.
( phone ringing )
Joe's.
Yeah, he's here.
He's just leaving.
Ave!
What?
I'll tell him.
( fire roaring )
( sirens blaring )
( groaning )
Cup of joe?
Hmm?
- Doughnut?
- No thank you.
Somebody torched it,
all right.
Didn't even try
to cover it up.
Have them run it
for prints.
Weren't any on the rock.
Ave, I'm sorry.
Ave. I want you
to leave town, Ave.
Go on up to the lake,
have a couple of
quiet days fishing.
Heck, I might
even join you.
We both know who did this.
Everybody knows.
We've been out on this
all night, Ave.
Nobody saw anything.
You don't always need
to see the truth to know it.
Listen, Ave,
they weren't even in town.
The Sheriff checked.
They were all out at their house
up at St. Elizabeth throwing
a big 17th birthday party
for their boy Harold.
Couple of dozen witnesses,
every one of them reliable.
nobody left there
all night long.
Pete Doust too?
( hammering )
You again.
Mr. Ludlow's here, Hon.
Is Peter around,
Mr. Doust?
Uh, no. He's up
to St. Elizabeth.
Why?
Went up for the party
last night, did he?
For the party, yeah.
Why?
Well, I guess
you all didn't hear.
My store burned down
last night.
Somebody set fire to it.
I hope you're not saying
what I think you're saying.
'Cause Pete was up there,
you know, with the McCormacks
all night long with dozens
of other people.
So he had nothing to do
with that fire.
I see you all have been making
a few home improvements.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, about time,
you know?
Yeah, about time.
Sure, I know.
I was wondering,
Good help like this
doesn't come cheap.
And what I heard was
you're out of work
these days.
Fuck you, Ludlow.
They're not gonna use
this story either, are they?
No, they're not.
Nobody died, am I right?
That's right.
Nobody died.
I wanted to go to
the McCormack house today...
get the father on camera
saying, "no comment,"
show everyone
what he's like--
that nothing
means nothing to him.
I pushed them, Ave.
I wouldn't let off it.
I didn't think--
They transferred me
to another affiliate--
In Boise.
I lost, Ave.
And I let you down.
( truck starts )
( crows cawing )
Oh my God.
I need to speak
with your husband, ma'am.
Oh my God.
I'm sorry.
It's your husband who needs
to see this, ma'am, not you.
Why are you
doing this to us?
I don't mean
any disrespect,
but I'm afraid you've got
that wrong, ma'am,
about who's done
what to who.
Can't you please
just leave us alone?
Where is he,
Mrs. McCormack?
Right here.
Goddamn lunatic
coming here.
Sometimes the only way
to know a thing, Mr. McCormack,
is to know it first hand.
- You're trespassing.
- See it,
taste it,
touch it.
And then you'll know it.
Somebody burned my store
down last night.
A few nights back,
somebody threw a rock
through my window.
But I'm not here
about any of that.
I'm here...
about this.
Get that goddamn thing
out of here.
Now, Ludlow!
In a minute
when you tell me what
you're gonna do about it.
I'm not gonna do
shit about it.
You stupid old fuck!
You just don't fucking listen.
- No, Danny, don't!
- ( gunshot )
( all shouting )
Dad!
Let my boy go!
God damn it, let him go!
Put it down.
Put it down.
That's simple.
Put it down.
- Okay...
- ( sobs )
...Now we're
gonna get up
- real slowly.
- It's okay, Danny.
Knees first.
Then all the way.
Ma'am, I'd be
obliged
If you'd throw me that
hand towel you have there.
Much obliged.
( Danny grunts )
I'm taking him into town.
Trespassing's one thing,
and I guess
I'm guilty there,
but weapon
assault's another.
And I never knew anyone
who'd shoot a suspected
intruder in the ear
at point-blank range
in broad daylight.
And I don't think
the police will either.
And who knows,
Mr. McCormack?
We might make the
papers this time. Huh?
I'd appreciate it
very much
if you'd cover up my dog
for me again, ma'am.
I'll be back for him.
Danny, it's okay.
You're driving.
( winces )
Go on.
Go easy.
It's a damn bumpy road.
You're fucking crazy.
In that case, you better do
as I tell you, hadn't you?
( engine starts )
Would it help if I said
I was sorry about the dog?
I think you're a tad late
with your apology, son.
( tires squealing )
Oh, shit!
Danny:
He's not gonna stop.
I'm telling you,
we got to stop the truck.
I know him, okay?
He's not gonna stop.
Just keep on driving.
( crashes )
You hit him just like
we said, son.
Okay?
( screaming )
( crickets chirping )
( rattling )
( Avery groaning )
Hey.
How are you doing?
Come on.
What--
what you got there?
What you got there?
( groaning )
Yeah.
( groans )
Shit.
Thank you.
Bye.
Oh my god.
My god, what the hell
are you doing here?
I came back for my dog.
What?
I left him here
up on the porch.
They will fucking
kill you.
Jesus Christ, they think they
already fucking killed you.
I only want my dog,
that's all.
Your mother,
she covered him up for me.
It's around the back.
They threw your dog
in the woods.
Why?
Because it's evidence.
Mr. Ludlow, it is fucking
evidence of what they did to you.
Take me there.
Look at you,
you're fucking hurt.
You don't know what
you're talking about.
Just take me back
to where they threw him.
Fuck.
God.
Don't you worry about god.
Just take me there.
All right, fine.
Then you'll go?
- That's right.
- You'll go if I take you there?
Yes.
I know-- I know it's
around here somewhere.
- Where?
- I don't know.
Okay, fuck.
It's up--
Mr. McCormack:
Flying Jesus!
( chuckles )
You don't stay down,
do you, old man?
You're fucking
unbelievable.
I came back for my dog.
For the dog?
- Yes.
- You want the dog?
That's right.
Well, there's your
goddamn dog.
Now tomorrow
we're gonna bury him.
You sure do cause a whole lot
of trouble there, old man.
Whole lot of trouble.
- Dad!
- Jesus Christ, Harold!
Get the hell over here.
What are you doing over there?
Dad, come on, look.
Isn't this enough?
Just stop!
Harold, you got no more
sense than he does.
Dad's right.
Enough of this
old fuck already.
( cocks gun )
- This ends now.
- ( gunshot )
( groans )
( groaning )
( gunshots )
Aw, fuck!
Get him!
( grunts )
( groans )
( gasps )
( Danny groaning,
sobbing )
- Danny!
- Dad!
( grunts )
Easy, boy.
- Easy.
- They're not sorry.
No, not sorry.
No, easy.
( gagging )
Easy.
Easy.
( breathing stops )
( whimpering )
( sobbing )
You got shot, boy.
Stay still.
Stay still.
I'll send somebody.
( gasping )
- You see what you did?
- Huh?
- Huh?
- ( groans )
You see what you did?
And somebody,
either you or Danny,
shot your boy Harold too.
Now I don't think it matters
which one of you, do you?
My my.
My my.
You had yourself
quite a day.
Quite a day.
( digging )
( sighs )
( car door opens, closes )
Today's the day, huh?
Be sure to drop me a line
when you get to Boise
so I know how to find you.
Carrie:
I'm not going to Boise, Ave.
The editor from
a New York paper called.
He read the article.
Said it was the best
human interest story
he'd read in a decade.
That he wanted more
so he offered me
a staff job.
They even said they'd pay
for the lawyers
if McCormack follows through
on his lawsuit.
Good for you.
Jesus, Ave. How long
you gonna make me wait?
Wait?
What for?
The article.
What did you think?
Well, it was
certainly well written.
- But?
- But...
it wasn't true.
I don't understand you.
Carrie,
two boys died.
It was self defense, Ave.
I just couldn't let it go.
I couldn't.
Like it or not.
What?
What?
Emma gave her to me.
Evangeline had herself
a litter of four.
Ah.
Two of them black
and two of them red.
Oh no, Carrie.
I don't think I can--
What do you mean?
You don't think you can what?
Carrie, I'm old.
I-- she's just--
Don't think
of things that way
or else there's nothing
in life that you can have
that's anywhere
near worth having.
I can't do this.
I--
You give her
what time you can.
She'll do the same.
Carrie, take the dog.
You'll both do just fine.
Carrie, take the dog.
Take the dog, Carrie!
Carrie.
Carrie!
The dog!
( starts engine )
( paws pattering )
( whines )
So...
What do I
call you?
( orchestral music playing )