Okie (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[birds chirping]

[pensive music]



[Bridgette on voicemail]

Hey, babe. Um, it's just going

straight to voicemail, so you

must be out of service,

but, um,

I just wanted to see if

you made it to your dad's yet.

Um... look, I know you

didn't wanna talk about this

before you left, but the venue

really needs a deposit,

and, um, we just kind of

have to make a decision,

and I-- I really

love Union Station.

I mean, you liked

Union Station,

right?

I mean, it's beautiful,

and they never have openings,

and I just feel like

we have to, you know, um...

I know you have a lot going on,

but, um, Dr. Martinez said that

we have to start expressing

our needs, um, so...

I just--

I need you to call me, okay?

When you get to

your dad's. Okay.

All right, love you.

[coughs, sniffles]

[exhales]

[chuckles]

[high-pitched ringing]

[grunts]

[ringing fades]

[thud]

[lock clatters]

[distant engine rumbling]

Oh, sh*t!

[engine rumbling grows louder]

[engine idling]

Hey.

Travis?

Louie! What's up, man?

-Oh, my God.

-My God.

-Hey, can I cut this off?

-Yeah, k*ll it.

Just go ahead and k*ll it.

-No, it's not-- it's not there.

-Down?

[Travis] No, no, no.

Down, down, down, down. Down.

-To the right, to the right.

-Oh, got it, got it.

-The switch. Yeah, there you go.

-Got it. Found it.

[laughs]

Didn't know you was back. I seen

the, uh, Prius

and just figured a hipster

got lost leaving the city.

Ha! No, that's mine.

It's actually a Tesla.

Oh, sh*t. Those are electric,

right? Costs like, 100 grand?

No, no. Well, you know,

they can, but mine's only--

But that doesn't--

Yes. It's electric.

-[distant rooster crowing]

-[Louie clears throat]

You grew.

Yeah.

Hey, this is a nice ATV you got.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I fished some possums

out of Art Carter's crawl space

and trapped some raccoons

in his barn.

-Got that as payment.

-[Louie] Huh. Cool.

So are you

an exterminator now, or?

Nah, I'm a butcher. Running

the Country Butcher in town.

-So how long you back?

-Uh, I'm not. I just came to--

Well, you know, to get some

of my dad's things for Hillary.

-Yeah. Sorry about that.

-[Louie] Nah, it's all right.

That from the beer safe?

[Louie laughs] No.

-Yeah.

-Remember we'd sneak

the sh*t that he didn't like,

and we'd head out

onto the river bottom?

-[Louie laughs] That's--

-Drink till we puked.

Didn't take too many

back then, did it?

[Travis] No.

[Louie laughs]

[Louie] Chelsea Shaw.

Meth.

JJ Calhoun.

He's a cop.

[scoffs]

My schoolyard bully

becomes a cop, huh?

Um, Ricky Malowski.

Son of a b*tch robbed the ARCO.

-What?

-Yeah!

-Dumb son of a b*tch.

-[Louie chuckles]

He managed to put a baby

in Lainey Gambie

before they closed

the bars on him.

Lainey Gambie. Wow.

That girl was

all kinds of messed up

when you left for college.

She held a candle

for quite a while.

Well, if it wasn't for

long distance, who knows?

But I actually just got engaged.

To a great girl.

Her name's Bridgette.

She's amazing.

She does PR for

lifestyle brands, you know?

So...

Lainey's tending bar

down at Moonshiners.

She's here all the time.

Maybe she can wiggle free if

we're trying to get in trouble.

Uh, I gotta be heading back.

I was just supposed to

pick up some stuff for Hill.

You know, ever since Dad passed,

she can't bring herself

to come back.

sh*t, you could barely

bring yourself to come back

even when your old man

was alive and well.

Yeah, anyway, long drive back

home, so I should probably...

Come on, man. Just kick it

for a little bit, huh?

You just got here.

County fair's in a couple days.

Yeah, I didn't plan on

this being, like,

an extended trip or anything,

you know?

-So I'll probably--

-Just one night.

What's better than

kicking up the old ones?

Just one text to old girl.

Hmm? See what's up.

All right.

Probably shouldn't drive with

a lot of beer in me anyway.

[twangy music playing on radio]

Hey, why'd you use

all that stuff about me?

What do you mean?

The books.

Just seemed like

you used a lot of my sh*t.

Dad selling Vicodin, Mom boozing

on sangria, fist fights.

I don't know, it just felt like

you used more of my stories

-than your own.

-[Louie] Right.

You know,

a writer is like a sponge.

I absorb the world

around me, and I--

I filter it through my voice.

Yeah, but you used your name.

Lainey, Steve,

even your Pop Herman.

You used their names.

Pretty near everybody in town.

But there ain't no mention

of Travis in any of those books.

It just felt

like you combined us

and slapped the name "Louie" on.

Well, you know,

"Louie" is an amalgam.

He's-- he's everybody.

He's a symbol of what

it was like growing up here.

Oh. An amalgam.

I get it now.

[high-pitched ringing]

[ringing fades]

[exhales]

[forced chuckle]

Oh!

-What do they call these again?

-Garbage fries.

These are better than some of

the most expensive meals

I've had in the city.

I'll let 'em know they

should change the name.

-[Louie] Yeah, you do that.

-[car approaching]

-[Lainey] 'Sup, losers!

-Whoa! There she is.

-Whoa.

-[Travis chuckles]

[Lainey] Thanks, Mama.

-Wow.

-[Louie laughs]

Is that Lucky Louie? I didn't--

I didn't see any Mercedes

parked anywhere.

No, no, no. He drives a Prius

that cost him 100 grand.

Oh, my God.

-$100,000 car.

-That's not-- Okay.

[exhales] So.

You here for more material, or

you just in town for the fair?

[snickers]

I asked the same damn question.

But no, Lucky Louie

ain't gonna be around for long.

What's with the "Lucky Louie"?

[Lainey] That's what

people here call you.

You know, 'cause you're lucky.

Making it and all.

Oh, my God. Really?

[scoffs] It's a bit reductive,

don't you think?

I mean, the publishing industry

-isn't even that lucrative--

-Oh, my God.

We got it, we got it.

Hey, you working tonight?

No, I got my shift covered.

And Mama's watching Jackson,

-so I am free as a bird.

-All right.

Hey, that's right.

Um, congrats on the kid.

Love the little f*ck,

but he is a cash suck, so...

And this is

a great little reunion.

Everything but free time

is precious for a single mama.

So what are we--

what are we getting into here?

Actually, I was thinking

if you guys wanted to,

we could head back to my place.

I've got that app Heads Up,

you know, on my phone.

It's like charades.

It was-- it was

developed by Ellen. That's not--

I mean, I know she's

a divisive figure now, but--

Oh, the races are tonight.

Corey Boyd's driving.

Mmm!

That f*ck hits on me

all the time.

All I have to do is

give him the right idea,

-he's gonna get us into it.

-Oh, yeah.

Wait,

you wanna go to the dirt track?

I mean,

don't people get knifed there?

They check pockets now,

it's all good.

You getting p*ssy on us,

Lucky Louie?

[Louie] Uh...

[phone chimes]

[Travis] Uh-oh. Is that

the future ball and chain?

What's that?

Um... [clears throat]

Should I grab us

some more beers?

-Yes.

-Oh.

-Got some roadies from the bar.

-Hey, I got that.

[Lainey] Ooh! You gotta be

quicker than that here.

-I guess so.

-I don't know if you remember.

I'll go look for Corey

in the pits.

Back in a sec.

[indistinct PA announcement]

[Lainey sighs]

Sorry to hear about your daddy.

Yeah, he was a good man.

Thanks. That's nice to hear.

Especially since

some people feel like I...

wrote him out to be

some kind of monster.

[Lainey] Yeah.

I think you were

a little hard on him.

[scoffs] He was a character.

He was symbolic.

He was an amalgam.

"He encroached

like a barbaric bull.

His blood boiled as he coiled

his fist, ready to strike."

You read my book?

I don't look like a reader?

No-- no, yeah, no, of course.

I'm talking to the sixth grade

spelling bee champ.

Of course you're a reader.

That's not what I--

-Um, and seventh grade.

-That's right.

Plus I was class president

in eighth grade, so.

I just think it's impressive

you were able to

pull that line out of thin air.

Yeah.

Well, some of 'em stuck with me.

Specifically that one,

because I just, like...

I don't really remember him

beating on you.

Well, he didn't.

So why did you write that?

[Louie sighs, scoffs]

Because it's like I said.

It's symbolic.

You know, it's supposed to be...

symbolic of this town, of this

area, how it can be so brutish.

Why-- why are you

so hard on this place?

I mean, it kind of feels

like you just enjoyed

kicking us

while we're on our knees.

No, no! My God, I feel like I'm

getting the third degree here.

It's the opposite of that,

I promise you.

-Mmm.

-I love this place.

I think there's beauty

to its pain.

It's my way of honoring it,

you know?

Kind of seems like

something else to me.

[high-pitched ringing]

[faint whispering]

You know what?

I like dandelions.

What you called me in your book.

Or what you called "Lainey."

My neighbor-- my neighbor

has a sh*t ton of 'em

in her front yard,

and they, like,

attract all these cottontails,

and I like to look at 'em

in the morning with my coffee.

Just kind of feels like

one of those things you have to

take the time to appreciate.

You know?

Oh!

Corey snuck his cousins in,

-so he's got heat on him.

-[Lainey] Oh, f*ck.

But Kevin Miller's

working the ticket booth.

Oh, yeah. He's a little b*tch.

He'll let us in.

Well, how much are tickets?

What are they, like, ten bucks?

Twelve if you got a car,

but f*ck that. Here, follow me.

Let's do it.

-What's this?

-[Lainey] It's heroin.

You can't smoke heroin.

[laughing] Jesus f*cking Christ.

[mellow music]



Oh, no. No!

'Sup, Miller time?

Three VIP passes, por favor.

You can go f*ck yourself,

Travis.

Dude, I am lucky to be alive

after you sold my uncle

those bunk shrooms.

Hey, I told Neil to

use them within the week.

That blood ain't on my hands.

If he sees me talking you,

he will whoop my a*s.

I'd be more concerned

with the a*s whooping

I'ma be putting on you unless

you let me and my friends in.

All right, I'm serious.

If he gets angry, then sh*t--

Louie? Louie Mulgrin?

Hey, you remember

the Louie Mulgrin fan club, Kev?

[Kevin] Yeah, totally.

Hey, you went to school

with my brother Gil.

Do you remember him?

Gil Miller? Yeah.

Oh, you're that Kevin.

Hey! Yeah, Gil was funny.

What's he doing now?

Uh,

he actually failed a piss test

trying to join

the welder's union.

He's working at Jiffy Lube.

Hey, did you come back

for the fair?

Uh, no.

[Kevin] I dig your books, man.

Thank you. Thank you, Kevin.

That's really nice to hear.

Yeah. No, I just love

the way you just--

you sh*t all over this place.

I f*cking hate it.

It's just a bunch of dumb Okies

with sh*t for brains.

Okay, thank you. Appreciate it.

-[Kevin] All right.

-Thanks.

[Kevin] For our local celebrity,

quarter midgets first seed

is about to start.

Uh, I'm off in an hour,

so I'll come find you guys.

Go f*ck yourself, Kev.

Thank you.

Wow.

[soulful guitar music]

[indistinct PA announcement]

[crowd cheering]

[indistinct PA announcement]





[indistinct PA announcement]

[engines revving]



[man on PA] Apparently we got

a celebrity in our midst.

Local author and son of Herman

and Martha, Louie Mulgrin,

has decided

to take in the races.

I think I see him

down there at concessions.

Let's give him a warm welcome.

[high-pitched ringing]

[faint whispering]

-f*ck!

-[Travis laughs]

They ain't getting you that bad,

are they?

Did you see...

Y'all famous?

Oh, he is. Yeah.

Louie. This is Louie Mulgrin.

He's a writer.

-Louie, tell him about--

-No, no.

-Tell him about the books.

-Yeah, I wrote a book.

Multiple.

No, he wrote multiple books.

He wrote three books.

They're becoming movies.

They're gonna be

on the big screen.

-Right?

-Well, I-- [forced chuckle]

-[engines roaring]

-[tires screeching]

[crowd cheering]



Hey, you guys waited for me!

God, Kevin. Couldn't be

further from the truth.

And unless you have, like,

some ill*gal drugs, then scram.

-I do.

-[all snickering]

I mean, not ill*gal drugs,

but I got something ill*gal.

-Okay?

-[Lainey] And?

No, not-- not here. My uncle

will have me pissin' blood.

Why?

Hey, just meet me

in the parking lot.

It's the black Chevy Spark.

You still drive that turd?

It's not a turd.

-[Lainey imitating fart]

-[Travis & Louie laughing]

Look, you know,

I thought firecrackers

were pretty badass, but...

f*ck you say?

Oh, g*dd*mn it.

What?

These are fireworks.

Not firecrackers.

-[Lainey] Oh, sh*t.

-What do you mean?

Firecrackers are the ones that,

like, blow off your fingers.

Fireworks are the ones

that you can buy, like,

in the Dollar General

parking lot in June.

No, my cousin Chet

bought these in Montana.

He swore they were bonafide.

There's sparklers in here,

sh*t for brains.

How much did Chet make you pay?

-200?

-[all snickering]

-[Lainey] Great haul for Chet!

-f*ck.

Okay, well, look,

fireworks are still fun, right?

Look, they're loud and

the colors are pretty and sh*t.

Let's just--

let's light 'em off. Yeah?

-[Travis sighs]

-Come on, guys,

let's light 'em off right here

in the parking lot, okay?

I'm gonna run to

my uncle's office and make sure

he's not there, and I will

grab us a lighter and some beer.

-Ugh! Fine!

-Okay?

Go! Just go. Hustle it up.

We got sh*t to do.

Okay, awesome.

This is gonna be sick, I swear.

-We're stealing those, right?

-f*ck yeah.

[Louie] Hmm?

What, really?

Should I--

[lighter flicking]

These wicks are

cheap Mexican bullshit.

I don't know how old they are,

so just give me a minute.

[high-pitched ringing]

-[ringing fades]

-Yep. Those levees, man.

No one will tell you this, but

they're all sand on the inside.

You know who I heard

that from was Dale.

You remember Dale, Louie?

Remember Dale?

[Lainey] You know,

this is the parking lot

that we learned

to ride our bikes.

[Travis] Dale. Yeah,

he works reclamation now...

-Oh, Jesus, that's right.

-[Lainey] Yeah.

-[both chuckling]

-[Travis continuing to speak]

-I didn't realize.

-Yeah.

You remember we used to

sneak into movies?

-[Louie chuckles]

-Do you remember in that

little movie theater

in the mall?

And we would say that we were

brother and sister. [laughs]

-[Louie] My God.

-And then-- and then we'd say

that our parents were, like,

inside just waiting for us.

[Louie laughs] Oh, my God.

And they totally knew, too.

They would talk to you and

you immediately started crying.

[both laughing]

You were always so...

[Travis speaking indistinctly]

-[Lainey] Yeah?

-No, I don't know.

I appreciate you.

You did, huh?

[Louie] Yeah. That's why

I called you "Dandelion."

You know, they're resilient.

You were always

adaptive and tough.

I mean, for God's sakes,

you smoke Reds.

[chuckles]

You spit in public, you cussed.

And I know you've been

here your whole life,

but you're not this place.

You're not like Travis.

What is that supposed to mean?

Nothing, just--

You know. I mean...

I know who you really are.

Deep down,

who you've always been.

Do you remember

my old spot over there?

-[Louie] Oh, yeah.

-[Lainey] I still feel like

I should be able to just,

like, walk in there.

You know?

How does a place

not belong to you anymore?

How about...

a national holiday

where you get to walk around

the house that you grew up in?

And then for the people

who live there now,

-you can make a new friend.

-[Louie chuckles]

And-- and, you know,

you could talk about

what you think

the energy in the house is.

[Louie] Ahh.

That'd be nice, wouldn't it?

Just walk through the past

a little bit.

[tender music]

[fireworks hissing]

Whoo! Whoo.

-[Lainey] You did it!

-[Louie] That's not bad.

-[fireworks popping]

-[exclaiming]

[all cheering]

-g*dd*mn!

-[Travis] All right!

[cheering, laughing]

Yeah!

[officer]

What the hell's going on here?

[Louie] Oh, no.

[Travis] Hey! What's up, JJ?

How you doing, man?

Travis. Lainey.

Jesus Christ, you guys. Aren't

you a little old for this sh*t?

-[Lainey] What do you mean?

-Who's your friend?

Louie? Louie Mulgrin?

[Lainey giggles]

The hell are you doing in town?

-Stop, drop, and roll, baby.

-[firework pops]

-[faint whispering]

-[JJ] Cut it out, Lainey.

[indistinct], huh?

Hey!

-[high-pitched ringing]

-Get that sh*t away from me.

Guys, seriously,

one rogue fire--

-Stop, drop, and roll.

-[Travis] Uh-oh!

-[ringing grows louder]

-This is over.

Come on!

[ringing, whispering stops]

Don't do anything you'll

regret reading in a courtroom,

Lucky Louie.

Oh! I got your torch. Yeah.

-Whee!

-Give that sh*t back.

[Travis laughing]

What's the matter?

Here you go. You can have it.

Here, go ahead, take--

[Travis laughing]

-Hey, hang on.

-Oh, sh*t.

-[all exclaiming]

-[Travis] Oh!

-Lainey's got it.

-[JJ] Come on, give it back.

Come and get it.

No, come and get it. Here.

-[JJ] Don't-- Come on!

-Just come here.

-Oh, oh!

-Just give it back to you.

I'll take it.

Come on, Louie. You're not

like these two. Be an adult.

-[faint whispering]

-Give me the g*dd*mn flashlight.

Come on, man.

[laughing] Oh!

All right, come on, man.

Come on, grab it.

Come on, grab it, hurry, hurry!

-[JJ] Ow! f*ck!

-[all laughing]

-You okay, though?

-[JJ] God, f*ck!

[Louie] Is he all right?

Is he okay? Are you okay?

[Lainey laughing]

I'm gonna pee my pants.

-[Travis] Come on, man.

-[Louie] All right, all right.

I'm gonna f*cking pee my pants.

-[Travis] God.

-[Lainey laughing]

-[Louie] Is he okay?

-Oh, no, I need the ambulance.

[car engine starts]

[Louie] You're going

the wrong way, man!

-You're going the wrong way!

-Here we go,

here we go, here we go!

Whoo!

[all laughing]

Hey, a little souvenir

for you, buddy.

Check it out.

Hey!



[Travis] Oh, my God.

He's gotten really fat, dude.

He just get--

Every time I see him,

-he's getting fatter.

-He's just getting bigger.

He's getting balder.

[distant rooster crowing]

[grunts]

[grunts]

[confused grunt]

Wha--

[groans]

[country music playing]

You're alive.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess.

[Lainey] Well, your fridge

was completely empty.

But your neighbor

still has chickens.

Is scrambled okay?

I don't really know any

other way to make eggs, so.

Yeah, no,

that's-- that's-- Yeah.

[groans]

I must've blacked out

last night.

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

By the time we went to bed,

you were sloppy as f*ck.

[chuckles]

[cell phone ringing]

Oh, sh*t.

[door opens]

Hey.

[Bridgette]

Why are you shirtless?

Oh. Uh, it's really hot

out here today. Um...

But, uh, also, I ran into

some old friends, and, um,

we got some, uh--

we got some drinks

and just did some

catching up, you know?

How did you run into friends?

I thought you were just

picking up your stuff

and then heading home.

No, I know. Yeah,

I was-- um, I was gonna--

Well, there's just a lot more

than I thought, you know?

There's really a lot of stuff to

wade through. I didn't really--

I didn't really plan

on it being so much.

[clears throat]

This place, this-- it makes

you do crazy things, you know?

And I just-- I mean,

I'm running into some

familiar faces, and it's just--

it's really, uh--

it's really, you know,

stirring some stuff up in me.

And, um...

Huh. Yeah. I don't know. I...

[sighs]

I have been avoiding you.

I know that I've been

avoiding you. Um...

And, um...

I don't know. It's just...

[chuckles]

All this has kind of put things

into perspective for me,

I think. Um...

And maybe you and I, um,

have been moving too fast

in a direction that I don't--

I don't even know if I can...

[sighs]

-[Bridgette speaking]

-[connection breaking up]

...which is the way I've

been feeling for a while,

and I just need to be sure

that we're on the same page.

So... are we?

Uh-huh. Mm-hmm.

So you agree?

Sure. Yeah. Yeah.

-Are you taking your

medication?

-Yep. On it. I've got 'em.

I've been doing it.

What about your ending?

Isn't that due?

Uh-huh. Yeah, no, I'm good.

I got-- I got everything

covered. I'm good.

Hey, you're not some,

like, p*ssy vegan, are you?

-sh*t.

-Because I found frozen bacon.

-Hmm?

-[call ends]

Frozen bacon.

Oh! Sorry.

-No, no, it's--

-I'll just make it.

[sighs]

She see me?

Uh, it's impossible to know.

I'll have to check her Instagram

Stories for cryptic posts.

[chuckles]

Let's try these eggs.

Mmm. Oh, my God.

You have to, um, whip 'em

alternating hot and cold.

I've seen Gordon Ramsey

do it on YouTube.

He's the best.

Oh! My God.

Mmm!

[laughing]

That good, huh?

[exhales]

I'm such a f*ck' idiot.

[sighs]

Easy to take that personally.

I'm sorry, Lainey.

I really-- I didn't--

I just...

never cease to amaze myself

at my propensity

to torpedo my own life.

You've got company in that one.

[door opens]

[Jackson] Mommy!

[Lainey] Hey, baby!

Hi. Hi! How was Granny's?

Oh, a g*dd*mn w*r zone.

Little b*stard

didn't go down till

half hour north of midnight.

Pretty near ate me

out of house and home.

Mom, if you just

stop feeding him candy,

-he'll just go to sleep.

-I can't keep eyes on him.

The little booger motors through

the house like g*dd*mn tweaker.

You grew.

[chuckles] Yeah.

Nice to see you, Mrs. Gambie.

Yeah.

Right. Adios.

Mama. Mom. Um, they want me

to work college football today.

What the f*ck, Lainey?

Why'd you text me

to drop him off here, then?

'Cause they text me right after.

I'm going to the casino

to play cards.

Staff gets pissy

when I bring the kid.

Okay. Eat some bacon, okay?

All the bacon.

Mama, can you just come here?

[sighs]

[hushed argument]

-[Wilma] I know.

-[Lainey] Mama--

Listen, listen.

I have to keep this job.

[hushed argument continues]

Oh. Hey, buddy. I, um...

Hey.

Um...

-Do you like dinosaurs?

-I like beer.

Yeah, I do like beer. Yeah.

-Does your mom know--

-You got a job?

I do have a job. Mm-hmm.

What do you wanna be

when you grow up?

You ever make Mama cry?

Mama. Mama.

Hey. You two getting along?

-He's okay, Mama.

-[gasps] Oh, my goodness.

All right, you little t*rror1st.

We're gonna hit the pinochle

room at the Hard Rock.

The Hard Rock smells like farts.

[blowing raspberry]

-[Wilma] He ain't wrong.

-Love you. Okay.

-Bye, baby.

-Text me when you're off.

Okay. Thanks, Mama.

Hey, baby, wear your seat belt.

Well,

he's a unique little kid, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah. Thanks.

Yeah, we didn't. Um...

you and me.

Travis just dropped us off,

and, um, and I got you inside,

and, uh, we looked at

the yearbook for a little bit,

and then, uh...

you know, you were fading, so

I just pulled off your clothes

and fell asleep

a few seconds later.

Oh, my God.

Okay. [chuckles]

[chuckling] Okay.

Can you drive me to work?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Is this you here?

[Lainey] Yep.

[exhales]

Taking off from here?

Yeah. Yeah, I think so.

You ain't sticking around

for the fair, huh?

-[both chuckling]

-That damn fair.

Just a bunch of old rusted rides

and cheap beer

and scared farm animals anyway.

Sounds f*cking awesome,

don't it?

[laughs]

Travis gonna be upset

that you didn't say goodbye?

He's working over at

the Country Butcher

if you wanna just

give him a holler.

[tender music]

Guess we'll never know, huh?



Scene at the mall.

Fireworks.

Louie gives a big speech.

After dad dies,

new people move into the house.

Wishes for a national holiday

to revisit.

How can a place

not belong to you anymore?

-[car beeping]

-sh*t.

g*dd*mn it.

f*ck.

[groans] What the f*ck

is wrong with you?

[sighs]

-[sighs]

-You grew.

Hmm?

Oh, oh. Uh...

Right, yes. It's good

to see you again, um--

Pete. Sims.

We played Peewee together.

I was a grade older

than you, though, so.

Right. Right. Great. Yeah.

Um, so what do we think

the problem here is, Pete?

Uh, well, I googled it,

and it looks like it could be

an issue with

the high voltage, um, system.

So you're using Google

to fix my car?

Isn't that who makes it?

No.

Oh, sh*t. It was the Apple guy.

Different website.

Okay, so if you don't

know how to fix my car

and I can't drive out of here,

what the hell

am I supposed to do?

How the f*ck am I

gonna get home now?

Let's untie the knots in the

panties you're wearing there.

I got some friends

in the city I can call

and see if they got any ideas.

In the city?

How long is that gonna take?

[exhales] Unclear.

Uh, depends on if the fix

requires parts, which I'd have

-to order, so that's extra time.

-Great, great, great, great.

Perfect. Perfect.

Just ideal. Okay, well, just--

Yeah, do whatever

you gotta do to fix it.

-[Pete] Okay.

-[sighs]

All right. Uh,

I just need the key from you.

Right. Yeah.

Oh, you don't need to pay yet.

I just need the key.

No, that is the key.

That's the key to the car.

-This is a card.

-I know. It's--

It just-- You have my number.

Just call me

when it's done, okay?

You could've just

dropped me off at my house

-if you had work to do.

-Don't worry about it.

It'll only take a sec.

You're in good hands with Pete.

Don't worry. Won't let him

put the squeeze on you.

[Louie] Oh, thanks, man.

You wasn't trying to head out

without saying goodbye,

were you?

I would absolutely not.

No, I just was--

I was trying to get a,

you know, early lunch.

[Travis]

I got you covered, boss.

Ribs.

Said you was looking

for an early lunch.

Oh, yeah.

No, thank you, that's--

No, these look really good.

That's...

Oh, um...

Uh...

Mmm! Mmm. Delicious.

-Yeah, you make these?

-Home-grown, buddy.

You best watch your back, Lou.

Steve Harris come by this

morning to pick up some racks.

Said he heard a rumor

JJ's on the payback trail.

Oh, sh*t.

Man, I lost control last night.

I imagine you got

a bit excited when you seen

that you and JJ

was the same size now.

You know, I had this recurring

dream

where he's looming over me and

just throwing punch after punch,

and no matter how hard

I punch back, it's...

You know, it's like

a fly fighting a rhino.

[chuckles] Yeah,

but look at you now.

-You're packing some delts.

-Delts?

Shoulders.

Deltoids.

You got some meat on you.

You know,

growth don't always mean size.

Sometimes one can grow

but remain scrawny.

But not you, man.

You filled out.

Got a nice trapezius there

that connects to the neck.

That means you can take a punch.

Pectorals, solid.

You can give him a hefty shove.

[bone cracks]

You do squats?

Yeah, come on.

Your calves, your thighs?

It means you got some power.

Yeah, you shaped up, buddy.

-[bone cracks]

-Not JJ, though.

He went the other way.

Chubby, depressed,

surrounded by beer.

Nah, if he were an animal,

he'd be no good to nobody.

-[bone cracks]

-Not you.

Lucky Louie.

Blue ribbon boy. Prize hog.

g*dd*mn.

You've been gone so long you

forgot how to clean your bones.

And you didn't do

four H neither.

If we do not devour

every speck of the creature,

then we dishonor its sacrifice.

[inquisitive music]

Well, I guess I'll just

order an Uber, then.

Nah, we only got one. Tara.

He's got a DUI.

What's your rush?

Thought we were going to

Steve's pool party.

Steve? Harris?

[chuckles]

He's having a pool party today?

Aww, you must've been

real f*cked up.

I told you last night

Steve's throwing a pool party.

And you were like,

"Sounds tight."

And I was like, "sh*t,

I haven't heard the word 'tight'

-since my tips were frosted."

-[laughs] All right, all right.

-And then you were just like--

-No, please, please.

I don't need to hear the whole

humiliating transcript.

Supposed to be

triple digits today.

Steve's the only one

with a pool.

He's still at the old house?

-Even after his parents--

-Ever since they bit the dust,

he's been clinging to that place

harder than ever.

-Right? Sure like to see you.

-[phone chimes]

Wouldn't believe me when

I said that you were in town.

Uh, I don't even have a--

I don't have a bathing suit

or anything, so I--

I have, like, six bathing suits.

[dance music playing

over speakers]

[partygoers laughing,

chattering]



Hey, buddy. How's it going?

-[Steve] Oh, my God.

-[Louie] Hey. Yeah.

Dude! He's back!

-Dude, come here!

-Hey, Steve. How are you?

-God!

-[Louie chuckles] Hey. Hey.

Travis told me, but I told him

I'd believe it when I see it.

[Steve exhales]

-You get taller?

-Uh, I think it's you.

[shouting]

Lucky Louie's back! Whoo!

[normally] Eh, f*ck them.

Welcome back, brother.

Hey, thanks.

You back in town for the fair?

No, no, no. I'm just back to get

some of my dad's things,

you know?

Travis said that

you would have to-- Oh.

-Try as we might...

-[Louie] Mm-hmm.

...we take them for granted,

you know?

[Louie] Mm-hmm.

You know,

there's a special club,

for guys like you and me.

I'm here if you need to talk.

[chuckles awkwardly]

Thanks, man. I appreciate that.

-Uh, where's the bathroom?

-Aw, stop it!

You know where it's at.

You practically lived here.

-Go on.

-Right, right, right.

Okay. That's...

Uh, the other way.

[shouting] Lucky Louie!

[partygoers chuckling]

[exhales]

I miss the way he used to cheer.

[deep voice]

"Stevie, Stevie, Stevie!"

[sighs] Sure, he was a hard-a*s.

And, yeah,

he could be tough on me.

I remember him making an example

out of you pretty often.

It's 'cause he saw

so much potential.

In me.

Travis.

You, he...

he thought you were special.

-[chuckles]

-He loved your books.

[chuckles]

Or he loved the way

you talked about 'em.

Made me out to be a GD saint!

Whenever I miss him,

I crack one.

I got all the sentences

about him highlighted.

When I read 'em, it's--

it's like he comes back to life.

-Wow. That is so...

-[Steve exhales shakily]

...hard. That's so hard, man.

Yeah. You know, I was supposed

to be with them in Mexico.

I was supposed to

be on that flight.

The coaches were

riding my a*s at U of I.

My folks,

they always wanted to skydive.

Skydiving?

-I thought that-- I thought--

-You know how my dad

liked a deal, right?

"Stevie, we got a great deal.

They're sending us up

for pennies on the dollar."

"Dad, are you sure

it's the type of thing

you should be

getting a deal on?"

-[sighs] He didn't care.

-In Mexico?

-I--

-There's a video.

But I can't watch it.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Long time before I could

pick up a basketball again.

Jesus, Steve. I had no idea.

[exhales] Listen,

I-- I know you're famous,

and I'm sure people ask you this

all the time, but...

can I ask a favor?

Um, yeah. Yeah, of course.

[tearful] Don't k*ll them.

In the book.

What-- what happens

hasn't happened yet.

And I'm sure it would make

for a really interesting story,

but if you could, uh...

if you could make it

so that they're still alive?

-Yeah. Of course, yeah.

-[exhales]

Yeah, I got you.

Yeah. I'm just glad

that you're here, man.

[Steve laughs, sobs]

Whoo! All right, everybody,

cannonball competition.

Who's ready? Let's go.

[Travis] Kevin,

who the f*ck let you in?

I didn't invite you.

Who invited Kevin?

Well, I was driving by

and I saw y'all partying,

so I ran home and I grabbed

my trunks. All right, all right,

so we're gonna do

biggest cannonball wins.

I don't wanna see any

can openers, okay? No cheat--

All right,

cannonball competition.

Here we go.

Let's go. In the pool.

Hey, no can openers! If I see

any can openers, you're--

Whoo!

[splashing]

[high-pitched ringing]

[ringing intensifies]

[Lainey] You okay? Thought

you took a knee to the head.

No. No, I'm good, I'm good.

I thought you were working.

They cut me

on account of the begging.

-[Louie laughs]

-You want a drink?

-Yeah.

-Come on.

-Oh, my God.

-[laughs] I told you!

-I haven't done it long.

-This stuff is awful.

-Long lost time.

-Yeah, [indistinct] for sure.

[rap music playing on stereo]

Aww, yeah! [laughs]

-No, no, no. No, no.

-[Lainey] Oh, my God.

Y'all already remember this.

Recorded by two of this town's

most notorious gangstas.

[laughing] Oh--

Is this the-- I'm sorry.

Is this the famous

local rap group,

-The Glocksmiths?

-The Glocksmiths?

Is that what we're-- [laughs]

Yeah,

what were your names again?

If you remember,

all of the names had

the word "GL*CK" in it.

So I was Dr. Glocktopus.

-That's right.

-And Louie, he was--

No, no, I want Lou--

Lou, you say the name.

William Glockner.

-[cheering]

-Yes!

That's what you get for that.

Hey, you better watch how you

talk, 'cause I'm

ready to rock

And my only rebuttal, homie,

is the c*ck of the GL*CK

My blood is so thick, yeah,

I'm the c*ck of the walk

So don't ask me who sh*t,

'cause I got it on lock

[laughing]

I think it's-- it's Louie now.

-No, no, no, no, no.

-It's your verse! Come on.

-Come on. Come on.

-Come on, man.

-Quit being a p*ssy!

-Do it! Do it!

Spin my lines quick,

you can say my talk hurts

Lock up your daughters,

here comes Billy Glockner

c*ck, 'cause

I knock you out your socks

And I'll make your

knees shake

like you're Michael J. Fox

Put on the ache,

my lines k*ll in a blink

Leaving you dreaming like

I slipped a pill

in your drink

Oil spill when I think,

coil builds in the sink

I can make your girl c*m

before willing to wink

Opposite of Bruce Wayne

'cause my rhymes got powers

Soak you in the rain,

got in a GL*CK shower

Pour some sh*t on my cup

'cause I'm about

to get rotten

And I'm blowing sh*t up

like I'm Osama Bin Laden

[all cheering, exclaiming]

Whoo!

Hey, everybody, let's go

over to the high school, huh?

Come on, let's go

to the high school.

[all cheering]

[feel-good guitar music]

[indistinct cheering]

[indistinct yelling]



[police siren wailing]

[officer]

That's enough horseplay.

Enough, I said.

Yo, JJ.

We're just hanging.

No harm, no foul.

No, Steve. Harm and foul.

This private property.

Someone so much as breaks

a nail, the school's liable.

And now I see alcohol.

And I smell reefer.

-Ooh!

-Hey, if you never

smoked it before,

how do you know

-what it smells like, JJ?

-I just do, Travis.

What are you bozos doing

out here, anyways?

Reliving Steve's

failed sports dreams?

-[exclaiming, laughing]

-[woman] Holy sh*t.

That [indistinct] coming from

a Kentucky Fried mall cob.

[exclaiming, laughing]

JJ, we're just playing tag.

You want to play?

No, I don't want to play--

Finally! Someone else is it.

God dammit, Kevin.

I just f*cking hurt my knee.

I said I don't want to play.

Hey, check out Louie's torch.

-[laughing] Check it out.

-[Travis] Recognize it?

Give me that sh*t back. Okay?

-I don't want to do this again.

-[Travis] Come get it.

[JJ] I don't want to

do this again, all right?

-[Travis] Come get it, bud.

-[laughing]

Give me my g*dd*mn flashlight.

[Louie] Game change!

Hide and seek.

-[laughing]

-It's pathetic.

[Steve] Close your eyes

and count to 50, JJ.

-Come on. Let's go!

-I'm not going to count to 50.

-Count to 50-- One, two...

-No!

If I catch you

I'm gonna cuff you.

...four, five-- [laughing]

You're still it.

You gotta count.

One, two--

-[laughing]

-You gotta count to 50.

-[Steven] Count to 50, JJ.

-[panting]

[Travis] Are you already tired?

What happened to your knee?

[JJ] Same thing

happened to your knee.

[Steve indistinct]

[laughing]

[Travis] JJ, what number

are you at? 25? 46?

[JJ] Travis,

you f*cking as*h*le.

-Cut it out.

-[guys laughing]

Guys, come on.

[Louie short-breathing]

Steve, come on, man.

[eerie music,

high-pitch tone building]



[scared, panicked moan]

Ah! [panting]

-[punch landing]

-[JJ grunting]

-[Louie] Oh!

-[JJ] Ow...

Oh! Oh, sh*t.

-I didn't mean to-- I didn't--

-Game over.

Game over!

Everyone get out of here!

-[Steve indistinct]

-[JJ grunting in pain]

I'm so--

[Steve] ...you are

not getting ahead.

-[Louie panting]

-[Steve] Go! Go!

[grunting]

God dammit.

[eerie ambient music]



-[Travis] Hey, there you are.

-[Louie sighing of relief]

Been driving all over

the g*dd*mn place.

-Where the hell did you guys go?

-Everybody's scattered.

What was I supposed to do?

I figured you two

were all right.

Where's Lainey?

Oh, she had to get

back to Jackson.

I dropped her off at her mom's.

-[Louie exhaling]

-You good?

-No-- I have no f*cking idea.

-All right, well, hop in.

FYI, I gotta pick up some work.

[pensive, intriguing music]



[rattling]

[door thuds open]

Doctor Pete down

at the auto shop...

said he's going to need

a bit more time

-with his spaceship car.

-Uh huh.

-[Travis chuckling]

-[pigs grunting]

You know, most people

are uncomfortable with

slaughter in the cities.

[thudding]

Some folks can go their whole

lives eating meat,

but never seen an animal die.

It just don't seem right.

How do you do it? How do you--

How do you k*ll them?

Electric's stunning.

They're wetted,

and we put them out with a wand.

They still kick and sh*t,

but it's just nervous system.

And then we bleed them,

hang them, scald, gut.

Split the carcass,

donezo Rapunzel.

-[Travis effort grunting]

-Mhm.

Did you, uh, k*ll a human with

one of those things?

-[effort grunting]

-[loud thud]

Oh, f*ck, yeah, man.

Nobody can get rid of

a body like a butcher.

[imitates g*nsh*t, chuckles]

All right, man. Enough

bullshit and grab Wilbur.

[pigs grunting, snorting]

[wheelbarrow squeaking]

Thanks for the ride.

Woulda done

the same for me, right?

Sure.

Hey, there's this

opening weekend.

What say you and me hit it up?

If I'm around, yeah.

Got a feeling you will be.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means all this has

been too much of a good time

-I'll see you.

-Yeah.

[distant phone ringing]

sh*t.

Where is it?

[ringing continues]

-Hello?

-[Lainey] Jesus.

I'm trying to get ahold of you.

I thought the cop snabbed you.

Yeah. No, I-- I think I lost

my phone somewhere.

I-- I ran and fell and...

Doesn't really matter now.

I'm fine.

-[door slams]

-That sh*t was crazy.

-[distant door closing]

-So, um, well I'm guessing your

-car still ain't working.

-[suspenseful music]

Uh, yeah. Travis said it's gonna

be a little while longer.

Well, um, I've got

the afternoon free,

so, uh, do you want to

get some slushies and

see a haunted school bus?

-A-- A haunted what?

-[Lainey chuckles]

Do you remember the, uh,

the abandoned school bus

in that, like, cornfield?

Becky Burnside

bought the property.

She's turning it

into a spooky maze.

-We could sneak in.

-Um...

[scoffing] Yeah. I-- You know,

I haven't really

had a lot of sleep.

I'm not really feeling...

altogether right now.

Who cares? It's just sleep.

Do it when you're dead.

I'm telling you, you gotta see

what she did with the bus.

-It's f*cked up.

-[Louie sighing]

[music fades]

[Lainey] Man.

It's funny how life works out.

[Louie] How do you mean?

Like, specifically.

[Lainey] You know, like...

Like you and me.

What our-- What our

lives would have been like.

[Louie] Yeah, I, uh, I--

I think about that, too,

sometimes.

It's just-- [chuckles]

It's weird, you know.

There's sh*t that I want

to say to you, and I just...

I just feel like it's just

not fair of me to say it.

You can tell me anything.

What do you mean?

Please say it. It's okay.

Uh-- Um...

[smacks tongue]

We were-- We were pregnant,

me and you.

Right before our graduation.

[chuckles]

I-- I couldn't go to Steve's

graduation party

because I didn't feel well.

Whoa, uh...

[chuckles in disbelief]

Why didn't you say?

Why didn't you tell me anything?

I knew-- I mean,

I knew what I was gonna do.

And, you know, you were

busy with college sh*t,

and I just-- I didn't want it

getting in your head.

If we made it, I wanted

it to be because we made it.

Uh... [scoffing]

Should I not have told you?

-I'm sorry.

-No, no, no. It's fine.

I'm-- I'm glad--

I'm glad you did, honestly.

It's just...

You know,

that's-- that's a lot to...

Yeah. No, yeah.

Believe me.

I know what you mean, though.

Life does work in

mysterious ways.

Mm-hmm.

Just hearing this, like,

where-- where would we be if...

-Yeah.

-You know, I mean,

if you just...

decided to go the other way.

Due to that decision,

I was able to go off and

live my life, and-- and you...

-You know, you--

-Sure. Yeah.

-Right.

-Yeah.

Do you remember that one, um,

uh, that it was the satanist

who took the bus full of kids

out here and sacrificed

them to the devil?

-Yeah. Yeah. [chuckles]

-Yeah.

God, when was the last time we

were on a school

bus together, huh?

Uh, sh*t.

Um, maybe our field trip

to the Capitol?

-[chuckles] Oh, yeah.

-I bet you we were sitting

back here just pretending to not

don't be crushing on each other.

[Louie chuckling]

-Let me help you.

-[chuckling]

Let me give you some assistance.

I mean, you-- you

made a decision that...

greatly impacted my life.

I have a career because of it.

I have money because of it.

I have a lot of money.

I can-- I can help you.

Let me help you in

the only way that I can.

It's not a gift, you know?

Think of it like...

like payback.

[chuckles] That's-- Wow. Yeah,

that's-- that's much better.

You know what I mean.

I just...

What do you think?

I-- I think I'm ready to

get the f*ck off this bus.

[Louie sighing]

sh*t.

Do you want to come

in for a beer?

No.

-Look, I didn't mean to--

-I really-- Can we not?

I'm just trying to help,

that's all.

-I'm not a charity case.

-I-- I never said you were.

-All I want--

-Hey. We're doing fine.

Look, I never

intended to make you

-feel like you were--

-I mean, sh*t, he's growing up

the way that I grew up,

the same way that you grew up.

I feel like a piece of sh*t

right now, all right?

I just want to--

Will you let me give

you something, please?

Will you do me that kindness?

Here, just-- I have...

All right? Please.

Lainey, I know you need it.

You know I need it?

You said you have debt

and bills,

and you can use this for school

supplies or lunches or whatever.

Just please take it.

Let me help you.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, if that's what you want.

If that's helping.

Well, like, I-- I have more.

-I can give you more if you--

-No.

I think that's enough payback.

[sighing] That's not

what I meant. I didn't--

No, I mean, it's-- it's

what you were saying before.

I mean, you're right.

You know me.

You know me deep down.

So you must know

what I need, right?

[groaning] Whoa, whoa,

whoa, whoa. Hey.

[knocking]

-Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

-sh*t.

Honey, wait. Honey, wait--

You know, for someone

who thinks they're as smart as

they are, you sure are

an exceptional idiot.

Listen, it's not

what you think, lady.

I don't know what

to think at the moment.

It was just a gesture of

gratitude, that's all.

And what exactly are

we so grateful for?

He just-- He gave

me some money.

-[Louie] Okay. Okay, that's--

-Money.

It was some financial

assistance.

Oh, wow.

How charitable of you, Louis.

Listen, b*tch,

I'm not a f*cking charity case.

Well, hold on one second.

Look...

[chuckles]

The pharmacy said you haven't

refilled your prescriptions.

[Lainey] You know, who the f*ck

-do you think you are?

-I'm fine.

-Really, I'm great.

-[Lainey] Who the f*ck do you

-think you are?

-I called your reps,

they can't reach you.

-Your pages are long overdue.

-I lost my phone, okay?

And I-- There's a lot to

consider here, okay?

I'm-- I'm immersed in this.

This is my process.

Spare me your masterclass, okay?

They have given

you multiple extensions.

-I know.

-And now that you've been here

almost a week,

they're worried you're gonna

-lapse on your agreement.

-Don't do that.

Don't exaggerate.

I've been here three days.

You've been here

five days, Louie.

-Five.

-I haven't been here five--

-They said they're worried.

-No, no, I was--

I was-- I was with

Travis on the first day,

and then the next day...

The next day I was--

We were at Steve's party.

-Pool...

-You don't sound well.

Okay? You look awful.

You are in crisis mode.

So you have a decision to make.

Do you want to come home

to your real life?

-No, no, no.

-Or do you want to stay here...

-Wait, wait, wait, wait.

-...dicking around with a bunch

of rednecks and hookers.

[Louie] Okay, hang on.

-[gasping]

-Call me f*cking hooker

-one more time, b*tch.

-Whoa, whoa. Wait, wait.

Call me f*cking

hooker one more time.

Second thought,

you stay right where you are.

-Wait, just...

-[Lainey] Bye, b*tch.

You seem to have

thought this through.

[Louie] I'm sorry.

No, wait. Don't-- Don't--

-No. God-- Wait.

-[Lainey] Bye.

-[engine starts]

-Open the door. Open the door.

-Bridgette!

-[vehicle departs]

[distant rooster cawing]

What the hell just happened?

I almost

just kicked your fiance's

a*s on the front lawn.

[Louie] No, I know.

Yeah, you did, but...

I mean...

[Lainey sighing]

How long have I been here?

Louie?

[Louie] Hmm?

I said I'll see ya.

[door opens, closes]

[eerie music building]



[crunching leaves]

[thudding]

[engine rattles]



Dad.

[indistinct]

...fair.

I'll drag you there

if I have to.

[exhaling]

[groaning]

Jesus.

-How did you get in here?

-Heard Lainey got into

a bit of a scuffle

with your soon-to-be wife.

Yeah, well, I think

soon-to-be might

be quite a ways off now.

Sorry news.

Well, how about we drown

those sorrows away

at one of our many

Coors-sponsored

booths at our county fair?

-Oh, Travis--

-Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Don't you go raining on

this parade, partner.

This is a yearly cause

for celebration.

Dressed with twinkly lights,

dangerous rides

and fattened livestock.

It is a New Year's Eve

for the farming

community and tired public.

A magical event.

Plus, I got shrooms.

-No, I'm good.

-Don't be a party-pooper.

No. Hey. Hey, listen, I gotta

get the hell out of here.

That ain't gonna happen.

Doctor Pete says he needs

another bit with your car.

-Another week?

-Yeah, another week.

-Oh, dude--

-You're stranded in paradise.

Enjoy yourself.

Dude, I can't, okay?

I'm dealing with some

stuff right now that I--

Buddy, buddy,

it ain't ecstasy, it ain't meth,

-it's f*cking shrooms.

-I know.

And if you are grappling

with some inner storms,

this is the sh*t

that you want to take.

[chuckling] I'm convincing

you to take drugs.

It's like high school

all over again.

-I don't know, man.

-Buddy. Here.

No. Come on. Come on.

-No. No, that's--

-Here. Just a little bit.

Please don't leave me

tripping on my own.

Ready? One, two, three. Go.

Go. Come on.

Ugh, it's gross.

Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh?

-Eh.

-Eh! Lets go.

-[eerie guitar music]

-[roller coaster rattling]

[muffled cheering, laughter]





-[indistinct]

-It's all right.

sh*t.



[muffled cheering]



[music slows down, distorts]



Hey, Travis, you better

[indistinct] cotton candy.

Travis?

[music turns strange,

suspenseful]

[voice on speaker]

Attention. Attention.

[voice becomes distorted]

[indistinct]

[indistinct]

As with livestock,

the opposite is--

What do you want?

[voice] Louie...

The land that births you is

the land that takes you.

-You were the butcher.

-No, that was--

It was an amalgam.

That's what it was

supposed to be.

It was supposed to

be an amalgam.

[strange sounds]

[voice] Careful. Careful, boy.

Psychosis gives people

a funny feeling around here.

The vines tore into

the flesh of his wrist.

Walleyed, he wailed

into the night.

They sought his immolation.

-Careful.

-I didn't write that.

No, you didn't.

But others are

writing it for you.

Beware of the butcher, son

-[groaning]

-Beware of the butcher.

I want to show you something.

Come on.

-[Louie] Where we going?

-[Travis] we go, bud.

What is this? Is this like

a special event or something?

Throw that away.

Hello and welcome.

May I present a celebrity,

both famous and infamous.

Let's hear it for our friend

and local author,

Louie Mulgrain.

-Huh?

-[cheering, applause]

Now, let's get down to business,

shall we?

[man 1] Yeah,

let's get down to business.

-[man 2] Come on, let's go.

-Hey, y'all,

I think he's missing something.

[cheering, applause]

[woman] Hey,

piggy, piggy, piggy.

Easy. [indistinct]

Up you go. Up he goes.

Here he goes.

[cheering, applause]

Get in position.

Can I get a volunteer?

Hey, I see somebody

in the front row.

Fire away in three...

[everyone] Two, one...

-[ding]

-[cheering, laughter]

Whoever wants a shot at

lucky Louie, follow the line.

-Untie me, man.

-[Travis] Up we go.

-[ding]

-[cheering, applause]

[Travis laughing]

[panting]

Travis, untie me.

[Travis] All right,

who's next? Who's next?

[eerie music]

[panting]

Come on, boy.

Here we go. Come on.

That's it.

[crowd laughing]

[indistinct exclaiming]

What is this?

-[Travis] Calm down...

-What is this you guys?

What did you f*cking do to me?

Look at me.

Look at me.

-[Travis] Calm down.

-[Louie] You

guys are right where you

f*cking belong

in this sh*thole.

In this f*cking sh*thole,

that's where you belong.

You stupid f*cking [indistinct].

[Travis] God. Louie!

Hey!

[panting]

Oh!

Cut the sh*t, man.

I gave you a f*cking opportunity

to make amends, but you go

and you pull that sh*t.

Look at what you did to me!

Yeah, look at you.

[panting]

What? No, no, no.

No, I was just...

I was just covered in...

[crunching leaves]

[distorted whispering]

[Travis] Now, I can

sneak you out of here

and save you an a*s-whooping.

That's more than you deserve,

-but I'm worried.

-God. [sobbing]

[Travis] Mind your business,

old timer.

[panting]

[distorted whispering]

You can see him?

-[Travis] Hey. Hey.

-[sobbing] No, no, no, no.

No, no, no, no!

Hey, you stay where you are!

[distorted whispering]

[Travis] Where are you going?

Louie-- f*ck, man.

Louie!

Louie!

[distorted whispering continues]

[crickets chirping]

[Holter monitor beeping]

[doctor] Ah, good. We're up.

Your dosage.

[muffled distorted whispering]

We'll call in

your prescription, which you can

pick up at the pharmacy

on the second floor.

[tool whirring]

[Pete] Oh, got it.

That's a smudge there.

Here's your key.

How long-- How long

has it been fixed?

Oh, I don't know.

About a day after

you dropped it off.

Oh, it was electrical.

My buddy knew what it was.

I heard you were

around with Travis.

I told him to tell

you it was ready.

I guess he liked

having you around.

Yeah. Thanks for that.

[Pete chuckles]

Hey, I-- I would love to

-buy you a beer--

-We're actually closed.

I mean, it looks--

[chuckles]

Looks pretty open to me.

Yeah, you know,

it's just-- it's just locals.

You ain't local.

Um, Lainey, if I could just...

Yeah, like I said,

it's locals only.

[strange keyboard music]





[police siren wailing]

-[sighing]

-[Tesla chiming]

[window whirring]

License and registration.

-JJ, look, I'm sorry, man. Okay?

-License and registration.

You know I'm a veteran, Louie?

We-- Uh, well, um...

Thank you for your service.

Since your little episode,

we've been getting

a lot of calls.

So for your safety

and the safety of others,

I volunteered to escort

you across county lines.

[JJ bangs on car roof]

[gentle, quirky music]

[calling tone continues]

[calling tone continues]

["Show Me" by

Mikal Cronin plays]



I'm so little in the middle

of a raging storm

Is it settled in the center

like I've always heard so

It's so funny being

lonely in the pouring rain

Yeah, like a movie it's

the scene where I find my way

My thoughts,

my path, my head

I don't want to

know me these days

Set myself afloat

into the water

Feeling like a fool

here alone

Show me where to go





[music fades]