A Simple Plan

This film contains strong language.

MECHANICAL WHIRRING

'When I was just a kid, I remember my father telling me what he thought that it took for a man to be happy.'

-Tommy - finally. Come on, man. New Year is tonight.

-Sorry I'm late.

-I covered for you.

-Thanks, Hank.

-Did you stay out till they hung the last dog?

-Yeah.

'Simple things, really.

'A wife he loves.

'A decent job.

'Friends and neighbours who like and respect him.

'And for a while there,

'without hardly even realising it,

'I had all that.

'I was a happy man.'

Hey, Tom. Remember we talked about me getting off early today?

Family obligation.

-Hey, Hank.

-Hey, happy New Year.

-Hey, Linda. Happy New Year.

-Happy New Year.

-Where are you guys going?

-Sledding.

-Can I come?

-No!

-Oh, please! Oh!

-Hey, Carl.

-Happy New Year, Hank.

-You gotta start charging people for that.

-Yeah. It'd pay better than the county does.

WHISTLING: "O Tannenbaum"

Honey, it's me.

-How are you feeling today?

-Hey...

OK.

-My gosh.

-She's kicking a lot today.

CAR HORN BLARES

Uh-oh.

Looks like it's gonna be a long afternoon for you. He brought Lou.

-Oh, great(!)

-I'll just be lying here,

-relaxing.

-SHE GIGGLES

Hey, Jacob.

-What's he doing here?

-He needed a ride home.

-Out of the way, isn't it?

We can drop him off when we're done, Hank.

No big deal. You need to shovel this shit off your what-do-you-call-it.

-I'll pay you a quarter to do it.

-I could use it.

-JACOB CHUCKLES

-Look at Lou.

Hey, baby.

-Hold this, will you?

-Want to put it back there?

-No, it's gonna wilt.

-You didn't say hi to Mary Beth.

-Hi, Mary Beth.

-He said hi, Mary Beth.

-Hi, Lou.

-Hank said hi.

Somebody else was here.

I brought those.

When?

What the hell do you think, Hank? Is this the only day we can come here?

What's the hell's wrong with you?

Hey, Jacob! Look! I'm writing my name.

Hang on a second! Let me get Mr Johnson out! I'll help you out.

THEY LAUGH

SNARLING

-And you know what the guy says?

-Says it's a crock-pot.

-No.

Pay attention. That's the preacher.

-This is the cowboy.

-He says moo.

No, it's the guy standing by the road.

He says, "Officer, it's a pineapple."

-You get it?

-Yeah.

Well, Mr Accountant doesn't get it.

-Look out!

-Shit!

-You OK, baby?

-Come on, get out.

Look at that, man.

My truck.

-Come on, get out.

-Mary Beth!

She's gonna come back. What are you doing? It's a nature preserve.

-So?

-You can't hunt here. Put the gun back.

-But it messed up my truck.

-So what?

-Hey, hey, Hank.

It's not like we're hunting here.

Uh-uh. We're collecting a debt.

-Come on.

-Let's go.

-Collecting a debt.

MUFFLED CHAT

LAUGHTER

Come on, wait up!

I'm not dressed for this shit.

12-point buck last year.

LOU AND JACOB CHAT

Mary Beth?

Jesus! Look at all them birds.

Those things are always waiting on something to die so they can eat it.

What a weird job.

Wish we had something to drink.

-Always be prepared.

-That's a good idea(!) Let's all start drinking.

See there? See how he is?

Like that guy. You know?

-Remember?

-Uh-huh.

-You want some?

-I'm not thirsty.

-You don't drink till after five?

-After five.

-You don't want to share. You're afraid you'll catch something.

Hey, Hank...

What are you doing? Jacking around.

You see, that's what you might call an "insinuating" throw.

Remember? You said that to me last time I saw you.

Could have just said "hint". But no, you had to put on airs.

-Show us them fancy words you know.

-You think about this? That was two months ago.

Kiss my ass.

-Jesus Christ.

-Shit, a airplane.

Probably one of those drunk doctors. They're always crashing their plane.

-Must have come down there. See them broken trees?

-Too dark. I can't see.

Scrape some of that snow off the windshield.

Can't see a damn thing.

Door's stuck.

Can't see nothing.

-Still can't see anything. Can't see a damn thing.

-I see the pilot.

He says somebody's in there.

Are you OK?

Hey, buddy...

Agh! Help! The door!

God!

-Shit!

-Let me outta here.

-Hank?

-Let me get this off of him. Here.

Hank, did you see all them birds?

Did I see the birds(?) Come on, help me get out of here.

-Put that on your eye.

-Thanks.

-You tore your coat.

-Oh, my God. Oh, my God, look at this!

-Shit!

-Oh, my God!

-How much do you think is here?

-God! 100 bills. The bag's full of them.

Is this...? Is it real money, Lou?

Yes, it's real. Don't be stupid.

-Why would somebody fly around with this?

-Drug money.

-Probably.

-I bet you're right.

-This guy is a dope dealer. They fly in little planes.

-This is dirty money.

Dirty money? You mean counterfeit?

No, no, no. No, this is real.

Whatever it is, it's a police matter now. Somebody should get the cops.

-What? Let's think this through.

-What?

-Hold on.

What if we didn't turn it in?

You want to keep it?

He wants to keep it. That's a hot one.

-Why wouldn't we?

-Why? Because we'd go to prison.

-Why?

-It's stealing.

-Stealing?

-Yeah.

-Stealing from who? From him? Hell, he won't mind.

Cos he'd dead, right? That's pretty funny. He's dead. He won't mind.

-I say we take this bag and we pretend like we were never here.

-Why not?

-Because we'd get caught.

Oh, hell! Stay the hell out of it, then.

-We don't need you. It'd be more money for us.

-Another fancy word, Lou.

-Does "accomplice" mean anything to you? Come on, it's stupid.

-Hank...

-Why would we get caught?

-It's a lot of money. Somebody's looking for it.

-They're gonna come looking for us.

-This is dirty money.

As far as that guy's concerned, the cops don't even know he exists. Nobody knows about this but us.

Nobody knows but us. We came out here

and found lost treasure.

The American dream in a gym bag.

-He just wants to walk away from it.

-You WORK for the American dream.

Then this is even better.

-If this guy is a dope dealer, that means we're like Robin Hood.

-Yeah. You've got a wife.

You're having a baby. You ain't pulling down much at the mill.

-Wouldn't you love to have a piece of this?

-Yes, but we can't take it.

What if there's a reward? Maybe...

Maybe there's not. I'll tell you what.

I'll bet you 10,000 that when they find this plane

there's no mention of this money.

Hank, why turn it in until we know whether or not somebody's looking for it?

That's right.

If you scratch, don't itch. It it's broken,

don't fix it, right?

Or if...if...if...if it's...

I know what you mean.

CAWING

Suppose I was the one to keep it?

-For how long?

-Till spring, till they find the plane.

-Then what?

-If you're right - nobody mentions the money - we split it up and we all leave town.

-Why should you get to hold it?

-That's the only way

-I'll do it. Otherwise we can turn it in right now.

-So, what are...?

You don't trust us? Is that what you mean?

A lot of money. I guess I don't.

-No promises. If somebody comes for it, I'll burn it.

-But...

-That's the only way I'll do it. We gotta agree.

That's the deal. I hold onto it. We wait till they find the plane.

-Nobody mentions it, we split it up and we move away. OK?

-I'm in.

We count it first.

That's probably a good idea.

I mean, you know...

THEY CHUCKLE

This is nuts. Oh, my God...

What are you gonna buy, Jakey boy?

-I'm gonna buy me a truck.

-Fuck that. Get something classy. Trans-Am.

-Yeah, in my wildest fucking dreams, a Trans-Am.

-A fleet of Trans-Ams.

Mary Beth!

New shoes for baby.

Four million, three hundred and fifty thousand. Four million, three hundred and sixty thousand. Four million...

Four million, three hundred and eighty thousand. Four million, three hundred and ninety thousand.

-Four million, four hundred thousand dollars.

-Listen to that. Look at that shit. Look how square it is. Cool.

-How much is that apiece?

-About a million and a...

-A million and what?

-Ssh!

-What?

-Hear that?

-Uh-uh.

CAR ENGINE IN DISTANCE

-Oh, shit.

-Get in the truck. I'll handle this.

-Shit!

-Go on.

Let's go. Cover up the money. Jacob, get in the truck. Dummy up. Let's go. Come on.

-Hey, Carl.

-Engine trouble, Hank?

-I wish. Dog trouble.

-Jacob's mutt chased a fox into the woods.

-Oh?

-When we went after her, she came running back.

What did you do to your head?

Oh, God... Ran into a tree branch.

Your brother

-still out of work?

-Yeah.

-Lou?

-Yeah. Him, too.

-It's a shame, ain't it?

We'd better be headed back...

Hey!

-Hello, Jacob.

-Hello, Carl. How are you doing?

-Good.

-I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.

-Sorry?

-Sitting in that truck.

-I thought you were avoiding me.

-No. I was sitting in the truck. It's cold out here. Just keeping warm.

-Well, we'd...

-Did you tell him about the plane?

-Sounded like a plane.

-What plane?

You heard a plane?

-I don't know what he heard. He's always hearing shit.

-Tell me, Jacob.

-It's OK. We're gonna get on home.

-All right.

-Come on. It's New Year.

-Call me, Carl.

-Happy New Year.

-You sure you don't need help?

-No.

-All right.

I've seen you do some stupid things,

-but that pretty much takes the cake.

-It was my idea.

-Brilliant, Lou(!)

-When they find the plane and realise the money's gone, they're gonna know who took it.

-That's what's cool.

-We wouldn't tell somebody if we'd done it.

-It's not like he said you saw a plane.

-You heard one with engine trouble.

-You want me to burn the money?

I'm not going to prison. If there's any chance of us getting caught, it's gonna vanish. You understand?

"It was a pineapple."

LOU GIGGLES

God, this is gonna be fun(!)

Lou, where the hell have you been?

You come home when I'm almost finished,

you asshole.

Hi, Nancy. Don't...don't... Don't hit Mary Beth.

(Nobody knows. That includes Nancy.)

(She's gonna have to find out. She'll wonder where my money's coming from.)

-Stop it!

-(Tell her when it's safe.)

(And the same goes for Sarah.)

-Of course.

-SNOWBALL HITS

-Dammit.

-Come on. Shovel the walk,

-you lazy son-of-a-bitch.

-I've got a good reason for being late.

See you, Lou.

I bet he's telling her.

That guy can't keep a secret.

-Hey, honey.

-Hey.

-Where have you been?

-I was starting to get worried about you.

-Sorry I'm late.

-It's all right.

-What happened to your head?

-It's OK. It's just a scratch.

-It's bloody.

-Can I ask you something?

-Yeah, sure.

-What if you were walking in the woods...

-It's not deep.

-..and you found a bag full of money.

Let's say four million dollars.

Would you keep it?

-Of course not. Here, hold that.

-How come?

-For starters, it'd be stealing.

-It's lost money. Nobody's looking for it.

-Give me that. Four million dollars that nobody's looking for?

-Yeah.

So, then, whose money is it?

-Yours.

-Oh...

It's my money? Whose money was it before?

A bank robber's.

So, then, it's the bank's money?

All right, it's...a drug dealer's.

This...

Hank...this is really silly.

Obviously you want me to say something in particular. You want me to agree with you, or something.

But I wouldn't take it. That's just me. I wouldn't.

It's real.

SHE LAUGHS

-If we keep it, we never have to worry about money again.

-We don't have to worry about money now, Hank.

You've got a good job. We don't need it.

Nobody gets hurt by us keeping it.

That's what makes it a crime - somebody getting hurt.

It is a crime. It's against the law. If you get caught, you go to jail.

Nobody's gonna get caught. The money is the only evidence that we've done anything. We see what happens.

If somebody comes searching for it, we burn it. That'll be that. There's no risk. We'll always be in control.

-What about Jacob and Lou?

-We're handling the money. They'll let us call the shots.

Seems crazy

just to give it up. I mean,

before we know if anybody's searching for it

This is it. It ain't champagne,

but happy New Year.

-You have to go back and return some of the money.

-What?

A lot.

Like 500,000. When they find the plane they'll assume nobody's been there yet.

-It puts us beyond suspicion. No-one would walk away from that.

-Wait.

We're gonna keep the rest?

Go in the morning. When it storms later, it'll cover your tracks. We can't tell Jacob.

You think he'd go back and take it?

It's... It's just being careful. That's what we have to be from now on - careful.

We have to think ahead all the time.

OK. OK.

OK.

(OK...)

Jacob?

-KNOCKING

-Jacob, come on. Open up.

Oh...

I moved the pilot. We gotta put him back like he was.

Come on. I need a lookout.

If somebody comes by,

you pretend you're changing a tyre.

-That's not gonna work.

-What do you mean, it's not gonna work?

-Well, nobody's gonna believe that. It's not flat.

-Ah...

-You're kinda crafty.

-I observe things.

Observe and learn, my friend. Observe and learn.

AIR HISSES

That's cool.

ENGINE WHINES

Jacob,

-what happened?

-We had a flat tyre.

I fixed it. The new one's on. I put the other one in the trunk.

It's back there, flat. It's cool now.

You see that goddam fox five minutes ago, heading on down to the woods?

-I didn't see a fox.

-If you'd been here, he'd have bit you on the ass.

JACOB'S VOICE IS AGITATED

ARGUING

(Don't do anything stupid.)

DULL THUD

Jacob!

Ah...

-Oh, God...

-Jesus, Jacob!

-What the fuck?

-It's... I-I-I hit the farmer.

-He was tracking a fox.

-Dwight...

-He was gonna go right by the plane.

Listen to his heart, or something. Cool, man, listen. You gotta do it.

-He's gonna be OK.

-God, Jacob, I think you killed him.

-What else was I gonna do?

-Oh, God. He's dead.

-Hank, that's not right.

We could probably...probably...

We could probably do that CPR deal.

Do that cardiac arrest thing.

-Do something, goddammit!

-Jacob!

-Stop it! Stop it!

-Come on!

-Jacob!

Stop it!

Be still. Let me think. OK, we can't panic.

Have any cars gone by?

-Cars?

-Cars, cars. Think. Did any cars go by?

-Why, Hank?

-Oh, God...

-All right. We gotta make this look like it was an accident.

-Come on.

-Accident?

-Come on. Grab his legs.

-Wait, wait.

-What?

-We can't do that.

-What?

We're gonna make tracks. It's gonna be like a crime scene.

Drive to the bridge. I'll take him through the park.

You'll get there ahead of me. Don't stop. Drive by and circle back.

-Circle back...

-That's right.

Come on. Come on, now.

They're not gonna take me away?

-Promise me.

-Nobody's gonna take you away. I promise.

-OK.

-Come on, go.

-You're gonna be there?

-Yes. Go.

Go.

Ungh...

Dwight?

Dwight?

-Dwight!

-Your brother...

He hit me.

Call the police.

Get the police.

Hank...?

-Jacob, what are you doing? Come on, before anybody sees us.

-No.

-What?

It's stupid. If we cover it up,

-it's gonna be worse.

-Get in the car.

-I'm gonna pull him out. We're gonna tell the truth.

-Tell them about the money.

-You're gonna leave tracks!

-Wait a minute!

This is MY decision! Mine!

Not yours!

You didn't kill him.

We both did.

What are you talking about, Hank?

He was alive when you left. I smothered him.

I guess that makes it MY decision.

'It's gonna be OK. It looked real.'

Even if... Let's say it didn't look like an accident.

-Why would anyone think of us?

-Your tracks lead to the plane.

-But it's gonna snow. Any minute now it's gonna snow.

-Was there any blood?

-Blood?

-Jacob hit him. Did he get blood on anything?

-I can't remember.

-Did you look?

-I looked. I don't... It was all happ...

Honey, it's gonna snow. Everything is gonna be covered up - the tracks.

-Ssh.

-'He was apparently trying to cross along this bank of snow

'when his snowmobile slipped over the edge, throwing him into Anders Creek.

'Wright County deputies recovered the body. A tragic beginning to this New Year

'for one local family. Back to you, Paul.

'Thanks, Tracey. Playful pooches or killer canines? In this case it seems to depend on who you talk to...'

I wish you hadn't told Jacob.

I wish he thought that he did it.

-Does it scare you?

-Yeah. What if he tells?

-I mean, what I did.

What you did?

You did it because you felt trapped. You couldn't find any other way.

Would you have done the same thing if you'd been there and not me?

I-I just need to know if it's possible.

Oh, honey...

You listening to me, Hank? Every Monday I come down here,

buy two bags of feed.

Two bags a week, four times a month. Eight bags I should be billed for.

-I...

-December started on a Monday. Five Mondays in the month.

-Are you telling me there were five weeks last month?

-No, sir. Five Mondays.

-RINGING

-I got it. Yeah?

-'Hank, it's me.'

Hang on a second. ..Check that calendar, sir.

-'I need to talk to you.'

-I'm busy, Jacob. What is it?

-'Listen, can you meet me at the farm?'

-What farm?

-'Our farm.'

-Look, what is it?

-'On your lunch break. 12.30, OK?'

Are we straight on this, Mr Schmitt?

Thanks for coming in.

-I can't drive out there... Jacob?

-LINE GOES DEAD

Jacob?

Hey, what are you doing here?

Look out!

-What is it?

-I'm gonna buy it back.

-I'm gonna fix it up like it was before Mom and Dad died.

-Whoa, whoa.

We've been over this. Once we split up the money, we've gotta leave.

What do you want me to do?

Just drive off by myself?

-If you stay, where are you gonna tell people you got the money?

-Easy.

We just tell people that Sarah inherited some money. Nobody knows what you think about her family.

-You guys could've bought the farm and left me to run it.

-It won't work.

-I thought you'd be happy.

Jacob...

Farming? Come on.

You don't just buy a farm.

You gotta work it. You gotta know about machinery and seed.

-I know that.

-You don't. Fertilisers, pesticides, drainage, irrigation,

-the weather. You don't know about that. You'll end up like Dad.

-Why do you think he ended up like that?

I'll tell you. He had two mortgages. He couldn't make the payments.

-Where did the money go?

-He was a bad businessman.

-Where? On the farm?

The money went on four years of college.

-Didn't you ever think about how he paid for that?

-No, my tuition was...

I'm supposed to get the farm!

What do I get? I'm supposed to get the farm.

-Jacob, you've got the whole world. You can...

-I don't wanna hear that.

You can go anywhere you want.

This is what I want.

This...this is where I wanna be.

It's my home, Hank.

Shit...

-(Hey, honey.

-What?

-I wanna show you something.)

-(What is it?

-I got this. I had it sent from the other branch. Look.)

-("Heiress's body ID'd by Feds."

-4.4 million ransom.)

(You see? As far as anybody knows, it's disappeared into thin air.)

-(Recognise one of them from the plane?

-I can't tell.)

(His face was...)

-(What?

-This changes it.

-Why's that?)

(We can't say it isn't stealing any more.)

(Hank, it's always been stealing. We just didn't know who from.)

-(We thought it was drug money.

-You thought that. This is good.

-Good?)

(It's good we know where it's from. I thought it might be counterfeit.)

-(It might be marked.

-No. It says right here... Look. "Demanded unmarked bills." Unmarked bills.)

(You see? You're being paranoid, Hank.)

(It's over. It's good.)

Sarah?

-Could you come here, please?

-Sure, OK. Just a second.

-(I'll see you tonight.

-OK.)

MUFFLED BANGING

BANGING

-Jesus!

-Hey, come on, Hank. Open up.

-What the hell are you doing here?

-I've come to make a tiny withdrawal.

-Go home. Turn around and go home.

-Come on. It's freezing, Hank.

-Ssh!

All right, just for a second.

I don't have time for this shit. I gotta get up and go to work.

-I want my share.

-What?

I do, I do. I want my share.

I don't have the money here. Even if I did, I wouldn't give you any.

Just because you have it doesn't mean it's yours. Part of that is my money.

Part of it might be your money...

if we decide to keep it.

-We sit on the money till we decide it's safe to keep it.

-Look, look...

Just give me... Just give me one packet, OK? Just one packet.

I mean, I'll come back later for the rest.

Ask me again and I'll go burn it tomorrow morning. Is that clear?

It's a bluff.

-What?

-Yeah, it's a bluff.

-B-L-U-F-F.

-Then why don't you call it, then, and see what happens?

-Yeah.

-All right.

-Yeah.

-OK.

Jacob told me a secret, Mr Accountant.

I know what happened to Dwight Stephanson.

You drink too much. You don't...

-I want one of those packets.

-I told you, I don't have the money here.

I hid it away from the house.

You know, it'd be a shame if somebody was to drop a note to Carl Jenkins

saying there might be something suspicious about Dwight's accident.

-He just drove off that bridge. Do you believe that? Do you?

-Come on, Lou.

Remember, you're a thief, too.

We're all in this together. If one of us goes to jail, we all do.

(Oh, God...)

I need my share, Hank.

I do.

I'm broke.

And I owe people money.

That's... Christ, Lou... I mean, what...?

I need some help here, man.

OK. Just wait here.

Here. Here.

Forty dollars?

That's all I've got. Maybe I can get you a loan out of our savings.

Look, the money's a day's drive from here. I can't go get it, not till Sarah has the baby.

-A day's drive?

-That's... Yeah. In a storage locker above the interstate.

-What the hell is it in...?

-It's safe.

All right? I didn't want it near us

-in case we come under suspicion.

-How's that gonna happen?

-How? Carl and the plane. Whose idea was that?

-Yeah.

-All right.

But we go get it as soon as she's done.

We split it up right then.

Right?

Yeah.

Hank...

BABY CRIES

JACOB SINGS

Hey... "Ah said, whoa."

I'm looking for Hank and Sarah. I'm sorry.

A copy of the footprints.

God, look at this. Look at that.

-Hello.

-Do you have a car seat?

-Yes.

-Is it currently installed?

-Hello. Look who's here.

-Hang on a second.

-Bearing tidings and gifts and great joy.

-Could you sign it?

-Sure.

-Gambling where?

-At the casino. He lost money.

-How much?

-I don't know.

-Hey, congratulations.

-Thank you.

-Congratulations.

-That baby looked like a tomato.

-You told him. I put myself out for you, what do you do? You betray me.

-What are you talking about?

It's like there's two sides now.

You both talk about sides. There's no sides.

-Lou talked about sides?

-I'm on both sides. We're all in this together.

If you had to pick, who would it be?

-Why would I wanna pick?

-I wanna know.

Me or Lou?

Good grief, man.

I'd pick you. You're my brother.

I bought... I bought a present

for the baby.

OK, I brought it from the house.

I didn't buy it.

It's cool. You're gonna like it

when you see what it is.

Thanks.

-It's used.

-Let me see that.

Oh, my gosh. This was his,

when we were kids.

-I guess it's sweet of him, then.

-Buddy the Bear.

Here's your little girl.

Bring her.

-Oh, good, good, good.

-Easy.

-Got her?

-She's just about ready for feeding.

-Grab that thing. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Hello, little girl. Hello.

She's hungry.

Yes.

I want you to buy one of those little tape recorders, the dictating kind you can hide in your pocket.

-Why?

-Tape Lou confessing to Stephanson's murder.

What are you talking about?

(You and Jacob invite him out for drinks. Get him drunk.)

(Go back to his place. Start joking around, kidding about confessing.)

(Each of you takes a turn pretending how you'd do it. You go first.

(Jacob second and Lou last. Tape Lou.)

(Come on, that's not gonna work.)

(Jacob helps you. That's the key. If Jacob eggs him on, he'll do it.

(But even if he talks on the tape, it won't mean anything. Who'd believe it?)

(That doesn't matter, as long as Lou believes it. As long as he sees that Jacob's taking your side.)

(That's all you want.)

(We should try, shouldn't we? We can't lose anything by trying.)

(Right?)

Come on. Just pick up the phone.

-Say, "Lou, Hank suggested we go out drinking."

-Hank suggested that?

You never suggest we go drinking.

Let me finish. Tell him I've agreed to split up the money and I thought it'd be a good idea to celebrate.

So you want me to trick my friend.

-OK.

-You get what's happening here? Do you understand the seriousness?

-He can put us in jail.

-He won't.

I can't take that chance. Not now, not with the baby.

I can't afford to go to prison.

What about Sarah? Huh?

-What are they gonna do?

-I'd like to get rid of that Christmas tree.

-It's too dry. It's...

-Would you pay attention here? Pay attention.

-What would Dad want?

-Don't bring up Dad.

-Stick together.

-Don't say that.

You don't know what Dad would do. Don't bring him up.

Well...

what if I was to say I'd help you get the farm back, huh?

All right.

I'll help you buy back the farm.

But you gotta help me first.

You know, all I meant about the tree is that it's dried out and it could start a fucking fire.

Wasn't like I was trying to ignore you, or something. I was talking about practical shit, is all.

-You got that... Look at that white carpet.

-Honey?

-Oh, Hank.

-Hi, Sarah.

-Hey, Jacob.

-Take my shoes off for you there. See?

-Thank you.

Look.

-It's a nice shirt.

-Ta-dah.

-That's...

-Here. I'll help you.

-Just drop it there.

-I'll...

-Yeah, go ahead.

-Hi, baby.

-Hey. You brought him here?

-Yeah, I invited him for dinner.

Oh. Oh, good.

Good. Good. OK.

So he's gonna do it?

I had to promise him the farm.

What? I thought you said...

Where's he supposed to go, Sarah?

I mean, what's he gonna do? Drive away?

But if he stays, we get caught.

I know, I know.

-It's just a matter of time before he screws up.

-I know. That's not what I'm saying.

I just wish he could, that's all.

THEY ALL LAUGH

You remember? She was so freaked out, she called the volunteer fire department.

-They came out.

-Dad's buddies.

-Drinking buddies.

The volunteer fire department

-was all guys he knew.

-Oh, God.

-He's sitting in the kitchen with an ice-pack on his face.

-Ridiculous.

They're all gathered in there.

Ssh.

BABY CRIES

OK.

Well, it's back on call.

How about some more wine?

-Is that like a walkie-talkie? A baby walkie-talkie?

-Yeah, it's cool.

-Remember we had that thing we did with walkie-talkies?

-Yeah.

-That kit.

Remember that?

Yeah...

-You know, I think about that stuff. It's weird.

-You remember everything.

Well, I was always talking to Dad.

I know you were.

Always figuring out what's going on. I was always nervous about shit.

But I tell you what. He's...

If he had this deal like we've got going on right now,

he would have done the same thing.

Well, I guess so.

He always wanted to get everything set up. He wanted to have enough to take care of things and relax.

-Yeah.

-He never quite had that, so I think he'd have done it.

But if he had this, he'd still be here. He'd have never done that.

Done what?

-Killed himself. Just wouldn't have happened.

-What?

What are you talking about?

-Dad killed himself. You know that.

-What are you talking about?

They were drunk. They had a wreck.

On Jacksborough Road, where he went every day? You don't go down the wrong way on a ramp like that.

He'd been there 8,000 times a year.

You think all of a sudden he forgot his way? Good grief.

He figured that the insurance money would take care of the whole deal.

-He wanted to, you know...

-No, no.

-What...?

-You know that, Hank.

I mean, think about it.

MUSIC BLARES INSIDE

What I'm trying to say is, maybe I misjudged you, Hank.

Cos you're a bit more... I don't know. Let's say...

serious...than a guy like me.

Maybe sometimes you can come across like you got a stick up your ass.

I mean, to someone who doesn't really know you. To someone

who can't get beneath that first impression.

And OK, OK, maybe...maybe sometimes

I can come off a little bit like an asshole.

-No, come on.

-Yeah. Oh, no, no, no. No! No.

I know what I'm talking about.

But fuck it.

It's all in the past, right?

-What do you say? Come on.

-Sounds good to me.

Hell, yes. Live and let live.

Live and let live.

I gotta take a leak.

Don't look at me like that.

Woo! Jerk!

MAN SNIGGERS

You think that's funny?

What? You think it's funny, tripping a guy?

-Look, buddy...

-Don't "buddy" me.

-It's cool.

-That is my buddy.

-This guy is my buddy. You're not my fucking buddy.

-Let's go.

-Come on!

-I'm gonna kill him!

-No, no! Come on.

-Not worth it.

-Come on out here, out in front. Paint you up and down the fucking sidewalk!

Shut the fuck up! Asshole!

-You know what, you shit...?

-You better get the fuck outta here!

CUSTOMERS LAUGH

Listen, man, if you gotta pee, pee out here.

DRUNKENLY: Anyway, this one guy steps forward

and he says, "You know what?

"The guy was OK until we twisted his head back around and then he just fucking died on us."

You get it? You get it?

-Hey...I got one.

-Ah, shit.

This old drunk was telling jokes

to his two drunk friends

and he was keeping up his wife who had a job to go to in the morning.

She's so fucking fed up she says if he doesn't shut up he'll have to find some other place to live.

You get that one?

-Listen, baby...

-Get it, guys?

-Baby, come on.

Come on, let's get this over with.

I'm not gonna do it, Hank.

It's not fair.

We did a deal.

It's not right.

-It's not right.

-Dummy up.

Better just keep it down a little bit.

Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit.

You know how it is.

What the fuck's wrong with you, Hank?

Have you seen this?

Have you seen the way this fella drinks? Hank takes a drink of that whisky. It's like this.

-LOU GIGGLES

-Like fucking... What is it? Like...some kind of commercial

for Preparation X.

Like he lives on Primrose Lane.

Like some goddam bird, or something.

Stop playing big brother, teaching me how to drink whisky.

Ever see anybody drink like that?

No, I don't believe I've ever seen anybody drink like that before.

I don't drink like that. My Dad didn't drink like that.

We don't have one thing in common, me and him, except our last name.

YOU'RE more like a brother to me.

Oh...

Do... Do him crossing the field.

Do it. He won't care.

You don't care, do you, Hank?

Crossing the field?

-Crossing the field.

-Like you did that night in the snow.

Like, uh... What was it?

OK.

It starts out like he's walking across

like he was a quail.

"Hey, guys, come on. Wait up. Wait for me. I'm not dressed right." You were wearing your pussy-loafers.

LOU LAUGHS

Do him when the crow pecks him in the head.

That's fucked up. It was like... It was like...

Fucking thing wasn't electric.

You know, we should never have let him keep that money.

I'm not shitting. We shouldn't have done that.

Never. Look how he's looking at us. Like he's fucking better than us.

-Like you own us.

-I think we've all had too much to drink.

-Because you're gonna keep the money.

That's what you wanted, Hank. You wanted me to pick sides. You said.

-What are you talking about?

-You know...

You know what he's gonna do? He's gonna crawl into Carl's office.

-He's gonna confess.

-You're right. I bet you would rat on us to get off the hook.

-Take me home.

-I don't wanna stay. I gotta get home.

-Wait.

-Come on.

-We got something for you.

Let's do this. Let's do play-acting where he... Where Hank confesses.

To Carl. It's gonna be cool. You be Hank.

-You do it.

-No, you do it. You be Hank.

-I can't do him like you.

-When you're fucked up you're funny as shit.

-OK.

Knock on the door. I'm sitting here doing paperwork. Dumb-ass comes in,

with his tail between his legs, OK?

-OK, I'm coming in. Ready?

-OK.

Hello?

Carl...

It's Hank Mitchell.

Hank, how are you doing? Sit down.

-I need to talk to you.

-OK. What about?

-It's about Dwight Stephanson.

-Yeah?

-He didn't die in an accident.

-What are you talking about?

-No, no.

-I killed him.

-You killed Dwight Stephanson?

-That's right.

I suffocated him with his own scarf and I shoved him off the bridge into Anders Creek.

I made it look like an accident.

-Why would you do...?

-That's OK.

-4½ million was worth more to me than an old man's life.

-That's enough.

-No.

Now you're gonna agree to testify against us.

-'I killed him.

-You killed Dwight Stephanson?

-That's right.

'I suffocated him with his own scarf

'and I shoved him off the bridge into Anders Creek.'

You taped this?

'I made it look like an accident.'

Why would you do that, Hank?

It's your confession, how you killed Dwight.

Nobody's gonna believe that.

It's obvious I'm just kidding around.

-Isn't it, Jake?

-Why would anybody believe it? Let's think about this.

You and I go into Carl's office and we both claim the other one killed Dwight. Who will he believe? You?

A 40-year-old, unemployed drop-out who's proud of being the town drunk?

Or me? I've got a job.

I don't get drunk and...and scream obscenities at my wife. I don't pass out in other people's doorways.

I wonder who he's gonna believe.

Yeah. Now we're all back in the same boat again.

Isn't that right, Jacob?

-You forgot that we're all in this together.

-That's all it is, Lou.

-That's all. Insurance.

-It's not to hurt you. Like Hank said.

Just so you don't hurt him.

-It's like... It's just in case you confess.

-Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Are you telling me you knew about this, Jacob?

-Take it easy.

-You knew?

-He's not gonna use it unless...

Is that what you're saying, Jacob?

-Well...

-That you two are together?

-He said he'd help me buy back the farm, Lou.

-Oh.

Oh...

So that's cool, right?

-Lou, please.

-Let's go.

-Hey, Lou.

Don't be pissed off. We were just...

He'll cool down. Lou, Lou...

Don't move!

-What are you doing?

-Give me that tape!

-Put down the gun.

-You're not leaving till I get that fucking tape!

-OK, settle down.

-Hey, Lou! Leave him alone.

-Or what?

Are you gonna shoot me, Jake?

-Just leave him alone.

-You stabbed me in the back in my own house!

-Lou?

-What's going on?

-Lou, please.

-You know I need that money!

-Lou, leave him alone.

-No! I need it tomorrow! They're gonna take my truck.

-Put the gun down.

-He's got a job! It's you and me, buddy! We need it!

-He just WANTS it!

-OK, OK.

-Put the gun down.

-Shut up!

-Please.

-Shut up!

-Lou, please, don't.

-You think he's your friend?

-Put it down.

-He doesn't give a fuck about you! Do you?!

-Settle down. We'll talk.

-Jesus!

-That...

-was an insinuation.

-Lou, for God's sakes...

-Put the gun down, baby.

Lou?

This... This is the real thing!

Lou, no! No, Lou! Don't do it! Put it down!

Aaaagh!

NANCY SCREAMS

Oh, my God! Oh, my baby...

Oh, my baby... Oh, my baby... Oh, my God... Oh, my God...

My baby! Oh, my baby!

Hank, please stay and talk to me.

Tell me what's going on, Hank.

It's OK, Nancy...

-Call 911. Call the cops.

-We've got to decide what we're gonna say.

-What?

-It was an accident.

-You fucking killed him...

-He went crazy.

-..for the money.

-No.

You can have his share.

-You fucking think I...

-INCOHERENT RAGE

-Calm down.

-You scum!

Drop it.

What are you doing? Drop it. Take it easy.

-Please. Oh, my God. Please.

-No, I wasn't going to.

No, no, I'm not gonna... No.

You saw it was self-defence. Wait!

Let's just talk, OK?

Figure this out. Come on. We gotta... OK?

Hank...

Hello, yes, there's been a shooting.

H-Hank Mitchell.

I'm at Lou Chambers' place. County Road 27, just past the Borough Road.

They're both... They're both dead.

Oh... Oh, God! Oh, God, please hurry!

Jacob?

Jacob?

What are you doing?

Huh?

You gonna be OK?

Come on, we can make this work. We don't have much time.

Listen to what I have to say very carefully.

They were fighting, OK?

They were both drunk.

Lou started pushing Nancy around.

When we tried to stop him he got pissed off and grabbed his shotgun.

Nancy got her pistol. We ran out to your truck and got your rifle.

By the time we got back, it was too late. He'd already shot her.

He was shooting up the whole place - ceilings, walls.

When we stepped in the doorway he shot at me, but he missed. He aimed the shotgun at my chest.

Just before he pulled the trigger, you killed him.

You saved my life.

You see?

It was self-defence.

Come on, Jacob.

I need to hear you say it.

They were fighting.

Lou got really mad.

He shot the walls and he shot the ceiling.

Then what did we do?

We ran out to the truck.

'You ran outside with Jacob?'

Cos Jacob said he ran out to get his rifle on his own.

He said, uh...

He said Lou ran you out of the house after he shot Nancy.

Jacob said that?

Uh...

Well, I suppose... I can see how it might have seemed that way to him.

Because...

he did...he did go out to the truck alone.

I followed him, but...

but then when I heard the shot,

and Nancy got killed,

I turned back toward the house.

I was on the porch

when...when Lou started outside.

That's when I turned to run out into the yard.

So...

I guess...

I can see how it might have seemed to Jacob that I was running outside.

Yeah.

Go home, Hank. I think we've got what we need for right now.

May they rest in peace,

and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, with the mercy of God, rest in peace.

(In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.)

BABY GURGLES

(Hey.)

SPORTS COMMENTARY ON TELEVISION

I think the little lady's ready to come out. Buppity-buppity-buppity!

Yes...

KNOCK AT DOOR

KNOCKING

-Who could that be?

-I don't know.

It's Carl.

-Hey, Carl.

-Hope I didn't wake you, Hank. I saw a light was still on.

Oh, no, no. Just getting ready for bed.

I hate like hell to have to do this to you.

I was...

driving out by Lou Chambers' place.

I saw your brother's truck parked in the middle of the road.

Found him inside the house, passed out in an armchair.

Oh, no, I appreciate you bringing him here.

I mean, I hope it wasn't too much...

I know you guys have had a rough time. Have a talk with him. I'll try to keep an eye on him, too.

Come on. What the hell were you thinking about?

That's the last place in the world that you ought to be.

I just about had a heart attack when Carl knocked on the door.

We've got to be careful.

Can't take any chances.

Get yourself over.

Comfortable?

I don't think I should be in the baby's room. It's clean.

It's OK. The baby sleeps with us.

Hey, you remember this?

Everything goes to sleep.

Your head goes to sleep. Remember when Dad used to do that?

Your head goes to sleep. Your shoulders go to sleep. Your arms go to sleep. Your back goes to sleep.

Hank, do you really feel evil?

I do.

I feel evil.

Maybe I can get a family of my own now.

With the money, and all.

-Don't you think somebody would marry me if I'm rich?

-You don't need money for that.

Hank...

Hey, come on. What about...? What was her name? Carrie Richards.

She liked you even though you were broke.

Oh, her. Yeah.

That was a whole different deal.

Her friends, they pitched in 100 bucks altogether,

and bet her that she wouldn't go steady with me for a month.

Jesus, Jacob.

I...

I thought you guys had a thing.

Well...

it wasn't that bad.

Actually, it was kinda cool.

We used to walk around together a lot, you know. Take walks.

And, uh...

we talked about all kind of cool stuff.

I held hands with her one time. We were walking around. My hand sweated so much she had to let it go.

I was nervous, I guess.

But it was cool.

When the month was over, she...

she'd say hi to me sometimes in the hallway when I'd see her.

She didn't have to do that.

It was cool of her.

God, Hank. You know, I've never even kissed a girl before.

You know, if being rich will change that, I'm all for it. I don't care.

I just want to feel it, you know? I just want to know what people do.

I don't care if it's cos of the money.

Hank, I'm gonna be happy now, right?

Sure you are.

We all are.

Yeah.

That's right. We all are.

You know what? I'm going to buy back the farm,

and have a lot of kids because I'll meet this nice girl. She'll be really cool to me and be nice.

Just normal. Normal woman.

And, uh...

And then you and Sarah will come over and bring Amanda and we'll sit and tell stories.

We'll drink out on the porch, like Dad and Uncle Ted used to do.

Yeah.

He nod off on you, Jack?

Hey, Carl.

Getting a bit thin up top, Hank.

-Don't you have any crimes to solve?

-Maybe.

-Could you track down Jacob, bring him by my office tomorrow?

-Sure.

-What for?

-A man from the FBI is gonna be driving through.

You two might be able to help him.

Seems they're looking for a lost plane.

-See you about three.

-You bet.

-Maybe we should just leave. Take the money, the baby, and leave.

-Stop it.

Go in there and see what he knows. If it looks bad, we burn the money.

-It's the only thing tying us to...

-Connections are under the surface.

It wouldn't be that hard for somebody to put it all together.

There's the plane, and Stephanson.

-There's Lou and Nancy.

-Remember how people see you - just a normal guy.

-A nice, sweet...

-They're gonna know!

-No. Nobody would believe you'd be capable of doing what you've done.

It was snowing pretty hard, so we're not really sure.

Like an engine cutting on and off.

But that was it. We didn't hear anything more.

No crash, no engine. Nothing.

Anything you want to add, Jacob?

No. I can't... I can't think of anything.

-That's about it. It was probably a snowmobile, or something.

-Yeah.

-You know?

Well, I guess that's it, guys.

-Thanks for coming.

-Pleasure, Carl.

-Good to see you, Carl.

-Nice to have met you.

You think you could take us there?

To the nature preserve?

In the morning, after the storm.

Can you tell us what this is all about?

Looking for a plane.

-No way it's from an armoured car robbery.

-This isn't a guess. The guy from the FBI told me.

It doesn't make sense.

The kidnapping made sense.

Looking for a plane full of money.

It's 100 bills. If it was a robbery there would be other denominations.

-50s, 20s and 10s.

-Congratulations, Sarah. You know more than the FBI(!)

Hank...

Did he show you his badge?

Why would he show me his badge?

Wait.

It's him, isn't it?

-The older one, Vernon. He's looking for his brother.

-He was skinnier.

-He didn't have a beard.

-Maybe he lost weight and shaved.

It doesn't make a difference. No matter who he is, I have to take him to the plane.

If it's him, you shouldn't go.

-Why not?

-He's gonna shoot all three of you as soon as he sees the plane.

He can get rid of the witnesses.

But if he's from the FBI and I don't show up, it's gonna look suspicious.

-I'll call the FBI in the morning and ask for Agent Baxter.

-I'm meeting them at nine. They won't be open.

You can stall them for a bit. I'll call from here.

Then I'll call you at Carl's office.

What if there's no Agent Baxter?

Then you won't go. You can tell Carl that the baby's sick,

and that you have to come home.

-What about Jacob?

-Say he's hungover. Carl will believe that.

Whoever the guy is, you don't want Jacob there.

It sounds like a BS excuse.

-Hank, what do you want? Do you want to walk out there and get shot?

-No.

No, I don't wanna get shot.

-I'm trying to come up with a plan.

-Plan?

-Yeah.

Like take money back to the plane and we end up killing Stephanson. Tape Lou, and two more people die.

Is that the sort of plan?

Well, I'VE got a plan.

-I'm taking the money back right now.

-Hank...

-No. I'm gonna put it back.

Everything's gonna be just like it used to be.

Goddammit! Fucking money!

Is that what you think you want?

Working at the feed store for 30 years waiting for Tom Butler to retire so you can get a raise?

What about Amanda? You think she'll like wearing hand-me-down clothes?

Playing with some kid's old toys

-because we can't afford anything new.

-Don't say any more.

-And me.

What about me?

Spending the rest of my life eight hours a day with a fake smile plastered on my face,

checking out books, and then coming home to cook dinner for you.

The same meals over and over again. Whatever the week's coupons allow.

Only going out to restaurants for special occasions, and even then having to watch what we order.

Skipping the appetiser and dessert. You think that will make me happy?

-Enough.

-No, I haven't done Jacob.

It's back to the Welfare Office for Jacob. The occasional odd job.

-With Lou gone, just himself and his dog alone in that filthy apartment. How long do you give him?

-Stop it!

Sounds wonderful, does it?

Everything just like it used to be.

PHONE RINGS

'Federal Bureau of Investigation.'

I would like to speak to...

Is there an Agent Neil Baxter there?

Well, if Jacob can't make it,

that leaves more of Lynn's breakfast treats to go round. Have one.

Help yourself. That's her own special creation. Deep-fried dietetic doughnut.

It is so inedible you won't be able to get enough of it down.

This guy... This guy Baxter - did he show you his badge?

-Badge?

-Yeah. It's stupid, but I always wondered if they look like

-they do in the movies.

-How's that?

-You know,

bright and silver with "FBI" across the centre.

-Not really.

-He showed you his?

Well, no, but I've seen them before.

-I wonder where he is.

-I bet he'd show it to you if you'd just ask him.

Hell, he might even

let you hold his gun if you ask him real nice.

PHONE RINGS

You know what? Later on, I could take you for a ride in my truck

and make the lights flash for you.

-Yeah?

-'Carl?'

-Yes.

-'It's Sarah. Hi. Is Hank there?'

-Yes, ma'am.

He's here, trying to avoid eating one of my wife's home-made doughnuts. How's the baby?

'Not so good. That's why I'm calling.'

-I'm sorry. Well, you probably better tell him that yourself.

-'All right.'

-You take care. ..It's your wife.

-Hi, honey.

-'It's him.'

-What?

-'It's him, Hank. Come home. Get out of there.

'Hank?'

-I gotta stay.

-'What do you mean? We agreed that if I called you, that you were gonna come home.'

-(What about Carl?)

-'I don't know. Tell Carl... Tell him to give the guy directions

'and you'll meet him there later.'

-Ready?

-'Hank, he's gonna shoot you.'

< Ready to roll.

'Hank?'

Yeah.

'Hank!'

Uh... Yeah. They're waiting for me, baby. I gotta go.

-How did you sleep?

-'Hank, come home.'

-Sarah... OK.

-'Wait, Hank.'

-Yeah, I'll see you then.

-'Hank!'

-OK, yeah. I'll see you then.

-'Oh, goddammit, don't!'

-I love you, too.

-'Wait...

-'Hank...?'

-HE HANGS UP

-Everything OK?

-Oh, yeah. Just some confusion about this evening's plans.

Where's your brother? Jacob won't be joining us. Seems he tied one on again last night.

-Ready when you are, Hank.

-Good. Let's go.

CARL AND BAXTER CHAT

Oh, no. You should have asked me.

Oh, hey. Forgot my hat.

-I'll catch up with you guys.

-Go get it. It's cold out there.

-Yeah.

HORN BLARES

This is the place, Hank. I'm pretty sure. Right there is that nature preserve sign. That's where you were.

I guess you're right, but I thought it was a little further down...

That's farmland over there. Farmers would have found it by now.

Best bet's in the nature preserve. Each of us take a different section.

Oh, good for Jacob. This'll make things go faster.

Bring your rifle.

Take a section of the woods. If you or I find it, we'll fire in the air.

Hank, you take that whistle. If you find it, blow it loud. We'll all come running.

-I thought you weren't up for this.

-I talked to Sarah.

Well, I got up and I felt better.

-You don't look good. Something wrong?

-I just... I had a rough night.

-Let's go, guys.

-I'll take the centre.

-All right.

GUNSHOT

-Hey!

-Carl...

GUNSHOT

WHISTLE BLOWS

GUNSHOT

Run, Carl! Carl!

-Get outta there! Run!

-I've found it!

-Pull your gun on him!

-What?

He's got a gun! He's got a gun!

-He's not FBI! He's lying!

-What are you talking about?

-Just do it!

-Guess you might as well show him your badge. It's OK, Hank.

-Don't turn your back!

Where's my money?

Where is it?!

It's in the plane.

Then go get it. Come on!

-You waiting for something, genius? Do it!

-OK, OK.

Come on! Today!

TWO GUNSHOTS

OK, I've got it!

That's it? Where the fuck is the rest...?

So you had a piece, huh?

But you're not the cold-blooded type, are you, Mr Mitchell?

Looks like we're both gonna have an awful lot of explaining to do.

Just me.

Jacob?

Hank...

It's OK.

Don't. Don't.

-You're gonna mess it up.

-Mess it up?

-Just leave him be.

OK...

You understand what we've gotta say? Huh?

We tell them that Carl lent me the gun to signal if I found the plane.

Then when I saw Baxter shoot him...

-We can't do this, Hank.

-What do you mean?

-We're gonna have to tell on ourselves.

-No, we don't.

We can't.

No. No. No, this is gonna work.

Not any more.

Yeah. Yeah, it's gonna work.

It's perfect.

Come on, Jacob.

We just get through the next couple of hours and then we're home free.

You wanna be happy?

You want a wife and kids?

Me and you sitting around the porch, drinking late at night.

Goddammit, this is what it costs.

Right here, right now.

Come on. Come on. Let's go over this again, make sure we haven't overlooked anything.

-I wish somebody else had found that money.

-Well, they didn't. Now quit.

OK.

Baxter came down here.

He came up behind Carl.

I was over there.

You were in the woods. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's gonna work.

It's gonna work, yeah.

What are you doing? Put this back.

Make it look like the bad guy did it, Hank.

What?

Come on, we're almost home.

I'm tired, Hank.

And I don't care. It's OK with me. I'm not afraid.

-No, Jacob.

-I'm not afraid. It's perfect.

-Stop that.

-It's perfect.

-No.

-Come on. Let me do something.