Creature from Black Lake (1976) Movie Script
1
Hey, Joe, look at this.
Ah, something's been stealing our game.
You mean someone's
stealing from our traps, Joe?
Yeah.
Damn!
A theory that many
anthropologists have considered
is that this creature could
possibly be a mutated bear or a gorilla.
Some scientists absolutely
scoff at the idea
of a Sasquatch, a Bigfoot, a yeti,
a skunk ape,
or whatever you wanna call him.
Hey, Joe, look!
- He got this one too!
- Yeah?
Science has been proven
wrong on many occasions
with regard to evolution
in the animal kingdom.
For instance, 1938.
A fish caught off the coast of Africa.
Supposedly extinct for 70 million years.
Just a few years back, a tribe of Indians
found in the Philippines,
their living habits and tools
supposedly what prehistoric man
used to be.
They had never seen civilization.
That thing was broke apart.
That was done not by any animal!
You ever see anything like that, Joe?
Will you understand...
Willy, would ya shut up?!
No animal did that.
Don't you tell me an animal did that, Joe.
I never seen nothin' like that, Joe.
That thing was ripped
right in half.
I saw it right there,
right in front of me.
I saw that damn thing,
right in front of the boat.
Hey, come on.
Look at this one.
This one is...
Shut up! Listen!
You hear that?
Hey, Joe? Let's get out of here.
There is one good note, though.
There's never been a report or an incident
of this creature ever attacking
or harming a human being.
Damn, hit something.
- Oh, what do you reckon it is?
- There.
All right, I'll check it out.
Joe?
Joe!
Willy! Willy!
Willy!
We've done research,
you've done research.
We know it's in southern Arkansas
or northern Louisiana.
And we're willing to do it,
we've got the summer free.
The only thing we lack are two things:
That's money and wheels.
Y'all really wanna go
down there, don't you?
Man, I wanna prove its existence.
Prove its existence?
What do you reckon we'll find down here?
Well, hopefully a bipedal primate
and about 14 or 15 Cajun women.
What? Caj...
You tired of driving?
Ah, a little bit.
Let's switch.
- While we're moving?
- While we're moving.
You ready?
- Oh, switcheroo!
- Whoo!
Now, down to some heavy driving.
Gas.
- Gas.
- Thanks for warning me.
No, I mean the van, we need gas.
- Did you get it?
- Yeah.
Here's the orange juice.
That's my orange juice?
How far have we gone today?
I don't know.
You wanna stop somewhere for the night?
You bet.
Well, why don't we find a place to camp
and try out some of our new gear?
If we stop at the campgrounds, you know,
we're not gonna get French fries,
hamburger and a Coke.
Aw, isn't that a shame?
Suffering.
All right.
Big creature, here we come.
Hey!
Hey, you, hey.
Speak!
Speak!
Woof!
You all take care.
All right.
Bye.
Bye.
Relaxed?
Meditating.
A little... a little nectar?
Why, thank you.
Ah, this is great, isn't it?
Wish I had a hamburger
to go with this beer.
What's this with you and hamburgers, man?
I've never seen anybody eat
so many hamburgers in my entire life.
Chicken.
Chicken?
I'm from the chicken capital of the world.
And my daddy was the king,
so we had chicken for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner.
We had chicken fried,
barbecued, stewed, skewered.
We had chicken...
My mother, one day,
tried to make chicken Jell-O.
That did it.
Well, that explains it.
Rives, you really believe
there's a creature?
Yeah, I do.
Just like any other phenomena, you know,
UFOs or stuff like that,
you kinda believe,
but you never really believe
until you see one.
There's a guy down here,
never made the papers
like the thing down in Oil City.
This guy comes home from work one day,
the two kids are a wreck.
They're saying,
"Daddy, we saw the boogeyman!"
"We saw the boogeyman! We saw him!"
I mean, but they're scared.
So he thought the wife
was telling stories, right?
He says,
"What have you been telling them?"
And she can't handle any of it anymore
and snaps right in front of his very eyes.
I mean, flips out.
They all go in the loony bin.
So this guy is just, "What happened?
So he goes out for 21 days,
stalking this thing.
- By himself?
- By himself.
Yeah?
And if my memory serves me well,
it's right around
these parts here some place.
And he goes,
search party goes out after him.
Then they found him,
totally dismembered
and his gun wrapped around a tree.
You know?
I believe I'll relieve myself.
- Hi!
- Hey, what's happening, man?
Uh, we, uh... we're camped out down here.
We got a lot of hot coffee
if you'd like some.
- Sure, that sounds pretty good.
- Okay.
This guy wants a cup of coffee.
I'm changing my pants.
Man, it is hot.
How much further we got to get there?
We got enough time
for a little nap before lunch.
Almost there.
So just drive on.
Okay, we're here.
Come on, wake up.
Oh, my God!
- Good morning!
- You and your sense of humor!
Early.
Oil City, here we come.
We're here!
Wow!
What do we do now?
I don't know.
Walk around, introduce ourselves,
ask a few questions,
and try and find Joe Canton.
Do you happen to know
Joe Canton, by any chance?
No? Some sort of creature attacked here.
I think it was about
40 miles out this way?
You don't know Joe?
Appreciate your time.
You didn't read anything
in the papers around here
about some trapper and his friend
that was killed or lost?
Do you know a guy named Joe Canton?
You know about any creature
living around here?
Am I in Oil City, Louisiana?
Come in, have a seat.
I believe you're next.
Well, actually, I'm not shopping
for a haircut today.
Well, you kind of look like you need one.
No, actually, I'm a student
from the University of Chicago,
and I'm down here doing some research
on the Bigfoot creature.
You know if anybody has seen it?
I was wondering, uh,
if anybody claimed to have seen it.
Like that trapper
I read about, lost his partner?
Well, I don't know
anything about that creature.
Maybe you'd better talk
to this man right here.
Okay.
Look, son.
I'm Sheriff Billy Carter.
And it's my duty to protect
the citizens of this parish.
That includes keeping them
from getting riled up over a wild rumor.
Now, you're welcome here,
so long as you don't go nosing around,
scaring the daylights out of these people
about some mysterious monster.
We've had more problems
than we can say grace over
that have happened without you.
Yeah, what about that trapper?
Could I see a police report, please?
You don't listen very well, do you?
I told you to forget about
any creature you were talking about.
Now, if you don't,
you're gonna have to start
doing business with me.
Do I make myself clear?
Oh, yeah. Perfectly clear.
- Good.
- Good afternoon.
Hi.
You better watch out, H.B.,
I'm gonna tell your wife!
- Now don't get nasty.
- Oh!
What can I get for you, sir?
Uh, just like a hamburger,
French fries and a Coke.
And I'd like to hold your...
I'd like for you to hold the tomatoes.
I bet you would!
Hey, hey, hey, come here, please.
Uh... sit down, please.
I'm Pahoo.
Eve.
Listen, we're a couple
of college students
who are doing research, uh,
from the University of Chicago,
on the Bigfoot creature, and...
What'd you say?
The Bigfoot creature, and what we were...
H.B.!
This fella here is looking
for the Bigfoot creature!
He's from Chicago.
Ooo-wheee!
H.B., you know anything
about any creature?
Sure do.
Is that right?
I was laying up there
in bed one night,
I heard something stirring
out in the kitchen.
So I got my gun and my flashlight
and I went to creep up
off the floor there.
I shoved the door aside,
and there I was, standing face to face!
Oh, them red eyes
and this long, stringy hair.
Awful! Awful!
Yeah, well, what?
What happened?
It was my wife.
- Is that supposed to be funny?
- No.
I said is that supposed to be funny?!
No, Joe.
Well, little Willy don't think it's funny!
And I don't think it's funny!
All right, Joe.
Any more of your funny jokes,
you got me to answer to!
Okay, Joe.
Who was that?
What was he saying, something about Willy?
Well...
he claims that this creature of yours
killed a friend of his called Old Willy.
He's crazy as a coot, if you ask me.
I think his name is Joe Canton?
Joe Canton? Thanks, Eve.
Oh, my God!
Excuse me, did you see somebody
just come out of there?
He looked like a wild man.
He was like, uh...
Sorry, uh...
Damn it!
I just saw the guy we're looking for.
- Yeah, in there?
- Yeah.
Did you talk to him?
Joe Canton, the trapper!
Where is he?
Well, I lost him.
You lost him?
- Yeah.
- Nice going.
Don't worry about it.
I already had a warning
from the town sheriff
to forget about any kind of creature.
Great start.
Hey!
Listen, it might not
be any of my business, uh...
but I heard what was going on
in the barber shop.
And, uh, well...
seeing how you're researching, uh...
I figure I might as well tell you.
Tell me what?
I seen him.
You saw Joe Canton?
No.
I saw the creature.
Listen, hey, I don't
want this getting around.
And, uh...
seeing as how I could use a ride home,
I figure I could tell you
on the way out there.
Step into my office.
- Pahoo.
- Orville.
Come on, I want you to be comfortable.
You live close by?
No, I live out in the country.
It's on down.
Well, Orville Bridges,
tell us about your experience
with the creature.
Did you really see him?
Experience with what creature?
Now, why does everybody clam up
when we talk about the creature?
Orville, we're talking about the creature
who supposedly lives in this area.
Yeah, well, my memory's
just not too good right now.
I'll tell you what, though,
you turn that tape recording machine off,
my memory might improve.
How'd you know that was on?
This old country boy ain't quite
as stupid as what you might think.
Ah, we didn't think
you were stupid, Orville.
No, we weren't trying
to trick you or anything.
I mean, this is just
a part of our research.
Yeah, well, just the same,
I don't want this to be repeated.
- Deal.
- It's a deal.
Okay.
Well, to tell you the truth,
I was, uh, too young to remember.
But my grandpa told me
the story so many times,
I figure I can tell you
as good as anybody.
One day, me and my mom and dad,
just when I was a little baby,
we all went out on a picnic
with grandma and grandpa...
Yeah, that tire's flat again.
- Grandma.
- Dadgum hot day, flat tire!
Dadgummit.
You ladies come on and get out, please,
while we fix this flat tire.
- Take off a load and get in the shade.
- All right, come on, Orville.
- Get on there, Orville.
- Wanna get a blanket?
Don't know why you picked such a hot day.
Get that on and put that on
and get over in that shade.
Dadgum woman.
Now, Pa, get that hooked to that winch.
You know, Ma, they been
griping ever since we left.
Mama, Mama.
- Mama!
- Well, don't you fret none, honey.
Menfolk always fuss.
You pay 'em no mind.
- Here, Orville, you stay right here.
- Mama! Mama!
And don't go running off.
Dadgummit, Grandpa.
I can't get this last lug off!
Orville?
Orville!
Come back here.
Orville!
Orville, come back here.
Hey!
I thought I heard you.
Get back, get back!
- Oh, my God!
- Get back!
Cecile, come on!
Come on, Cecile!
Watch the tree there!
Mom and Dad were killed in the wreck.
Sorry.
Well, I was really too young to remember.
I've lived with my grandma
and grandpa all my life here.
Well, what about that trapper
that I mentioned in the barbershop?
You know anything about him?
Joe Canton?
Oh, yeah, well, I've heard his name.
But, uh, all I know is he lived
back in the swamp somewhere,
and, uh, folks around here
say he's kind of a craze-o.
We oughta get along fine
with him, Rives.
Say, listen, pull in
at this mailbox down here.
And don't say anything to my grandpa
about me talking about the creature.
He's, uh... he's real touchy about it.
Can we share anything about our work?
- Sure, yeah.
- All right.
Who is that, now?
Hey, May, go on in the house, honey.
I'll find out who it is.
Hey, Orville, where you been?
I been looking for you all day.
- Hey, Grandpa.
- What?
I went to town and got a haircut,
just like Grandma said.
Well, you look a lot better.
You was getting to look
more like a dadgum hippie every day.
Who are these two fellas?
This is Pahoo, that's Rives.
- Pahoo?
- Yessir!
- Gol' dang.
- Good to know ya.
You boys ain't from around here.
- No, sir, we're from Chicago.
- Yeah?
We're anthropology students
here doing a research project
on a bipedal primate
that was reported in these parts.
What'd you say?
It's a scientific term.
It means a creature
that walks on its hind legs.
Come here.
What you been telling them boys?
Grandpa, I...
I didn't... I didn't think that...
Oh, you didn't think it.
Best thing for y'all
is to get out of here.
We don't want nobody snooping around
making us look like dumb rednecks!
Now, what we seen
and what we heard is our own business.
So get out of here.
Mr. Bridges, we're not trying to make you
look like a bunch of dumb rednecks.
The only thing that's peculiar about this
is that you people
have obviously seen something
and are reluctant to talk about it.
Or afraid to.
Now, if there is something out there,
well, we're here to find it,
or capture it if necessary,
but we can't do that
without the cooperation
of people that have seen it.
Doesn't look like we're gonna get any.
Come on, Pahoo, let's get outta here.
Rives, what about that $25?
What $25?
The $25 that we're saving to give
to the person who cooperates?
...who cooperates
for the reward money.
Reward? Wait a minute.
Hey, Orville, go on in
and tell your grandma
to set a couple extra plates.
We gon' feed some Yankee boys.
Get on in there!
Well, boys, what was that there
y'all was talking about, that reward?
For information.
Information?
Well, y'all come in here up on the porch
and we'll talk it over, hear?
- You boys like it down here?
- Yeah, it's a little hot.
Oh, it gets a little hot,
but, heck, it's nice down here.
We've got good food
down here, though, boys.
We sure appreciate that!
Where is it?
- What's that?
- The reward!
Yeah.
There's 20.
Sure nice doin' business
with you Yankee boys.
Sho' 'nuff.
All right!
You Yankee boys really like
good country music, don't you?
- Yeah, you bet!
- It was really good, really good.
That alone was worth $25.
However, how about some information?
You mean about the creature?
Yes, sir.
Well, Orville already told you
what happened to his mom and papa.
She was my daughter.
I never will forget
the first time I seen it.
About eleven o'clock,
I woke up and I heard the worst
commotion you'll ever hear.
My two good hound dogs, Bob and Blue,
was a-growlin', a-barkin',
and the worst scream you ever did hear.
I walked out on the porch and...
The most ungodly scream
I've ever heard in my life.
Just like...
it was just like an old cat
being cornered by a red-boned hound.
First thing...
Well, you boys almost ready to eat?
Supper's nearly ready.
Yes, ma'am, honey!
Wait a minute, boys.
I don't want you Yankee boys to say
one word about that creature, you hear?
Yes, sir.
Because this just scares
the devil outta my wife.
All right.
Let's go in and get
something to eat, boys.
Show the boys where to wash up, Orville.
You boys ain't gonna never taste any food
like you're gonna get tonight.
Tell "em now, Orville, the way it is.
It's the best food
you boys ever had.
You get on this side
and you sit down there.
Come in and sit down.
- What did you say your name was?
- Pahoo.
- Pahoo!
- Oh, looks good.
Potatoes, beans and things.
- Here you are, Pa.
- Greens.
- Oh, Ma, it looks good.
- Chicken?
You boys like chicken, I know.
I know you like it.
Yeah, I reckon it's about my favorite.
Go on over and sit down, Ma.
Sure is good, I'll tell you that much.
- We starting in...
- Wait a minute.
We... I don't mind you eating,
but we always thank the good Lord first.
Lord, I wanna thank you for this day,
even though it was hot.
I wanna thank you for my wonderful wife,
for our grandson Orville,
and for giving him
the inspiration to get a haircut.
I want to thank you for these two boys
who come down to visit us,
even if they are Yankees.
I wanna thank you for all the vittles,
especially chicken.
- Amen.
- Amen.
- Now, y'all start this one around here.
- Amen.
Because when it gets back
around here, it stops.
- There you are.
- This from your garden?
- Turnip greens.
- We just don't get that.
- Everything here we growed ourselves.
- This is good food!
- Organic.
- That's good for you.
Really interesting.
You eat that chicken,
because it's really good.
- I believe I'll start with onions.
- We got more, plenty more of it too.
How about some more greens, Rives?
Hm, no, thank you, I've had enough.
You know something?
I can't remember having such a fine meal.
- Why, thank you.
- Well, I'll have a little more.
Good for you, son.
Pahoo, you know, you're something.
Well, you know, I do enjoy
good home cooking.
You know, I caught a catfish one time,
weighed 350 pounds.
Really?
And I took that sucker home
and learned him how to read and write.
He tells it different every time.
Was that it? Was that it?
Was that the creature?!
No, that was just our mule.
Ma?
Ma.
I told you not to say
anything about that creature.
Now, you done scared the devil out of her.
After she fixed this good food
for you boys.
Just like a damn Yankee
to go back on his word.
Now, you get outta here.
Get outta here before I chuck you out.
Get up!
Git! Both of ya!
That damn creature!
...when I get my chance right now.
- Okay.
- Stand behind me.
Orville...
I owe you an apology.
I... I didn't mean
to upset your family in there.
Yeah, well, I just can't
believe y'all did that,
after me asking you not to.
We're sorry.
Yeah, well, I mean, that's okay.
But as you can see,
my grandad's really sensitive about it.
Yeah.
Well, listen, you know a place around here
where we could camp tonight?
Yeah, sure. Why don't you just
stay out in the barn tonight?
- Ah, thanks, but...
- Uh...
Sure, why not? Thank you.
- Okay.
- That's very nice.
Rives.
Match and aperture knob
one quarter to the left.
4 Light! J.
Rives, I believe I ate too much.
How many times have I told you
and reminded you
about your dietary habits?
It's got nothing to do with hamburgers,
French fries and Cokes.
It was this chicken!
Yeah, I'm gonna try to get some sleep.
Arrived in Oil City 11:47 a.m.
Weather conditions, et cetera, et cetera,
same as last report.
- We met the local sheriff.
- Tell 'em I wouldn't wanna mess with him.
That's for sure.
Initially, no new data.
Only after brilliant interrogation
on Mr. Lewis's behalf
did we lose some valuable
and pertinent information
as to the whereabouts
of Joe Canton, the trapper.
Oh! Yeah, right.
We did meet a local family,
one Bridges family.
Uh, Orville Bridges, in particular.
The townsfolk are very reluctant
and afraid to talk about this subject.
I wonder why.
- Damn creature!
- Come on!
Will you come on?!
Rives!
Don't worry!
That's him again!
- Get in here, that's him!
- I just want my tape recorder.
Get in here, that's him!
Rives, wait up.
Rives, I've heard screams
and I've heard screams.
I mean, I was in Vietnam, I heard screams.
As a matter of fact,
I used to go with an ol' gal.
Every time she'd get excited,
she'd scream.
Now that scream scares me!
I'll tell you what I think we oughta do,
is just gather up all our equipment
and just head back to the Windy City,
and we'll just call this whole thing
a misadventure.
Rives, old buddy, you listening to me?
...afraid to talk about this subject.
I wonder why.
Did you hear that?
Yeah, I heard it.
I think we should call Dr. Burch.
I'll be in touch with you.
Right, thanks.
Do you wanna know what he said?
What?
After we eat.
- I'll see ya, babe.
- Okay.
- Are you still here?
- Yup.
You find your creature yet?
Would you just take our order, please?
Why don't you order, then?
I'll have two hamburgers,
two orders of fries and a large Coke.
How about you?
I'll have the same as him.
Hey, all right!
- Heavy on the onions.
- Whoo!
You give me four burgers, four fries,
two large Cokes, and heavy on the onions!
Looks like you've been making
a lot of friends around here lately.
What are you, running for mayor?
Ah, I don't think it has
anything to do with me.
I think it's the company I keep.
- Check it out.
- Huh?
Check it out.
What? I don't see anything.
I believe I just fell in love.
Oh, is she a beauty!
Those, uh... eyes.
Thank you.
Back to work.
I don't think Dr. Burch believes us.
Why do you say that?
Well, he wants to have
the sound expert examine the tape
to determine whether or not it is a fake.
Pickup!
- Get to work.
- Listen to it again.
And you tell me
if you think it's a phony, okay?
- I believe, I believe!
- Just listen to it again.
I wonder why.
No!
Ehhhhhhh!
Watch the trash can.
I don't know what you find so funny.
We didn't get to eat!
She threw the food at us.
I know.
Funny.
- She was beautiful, though.
- She was beautiful?
The girls were beautiful
across the counter.
The redhead, did you see her?
She was looking at me.
What I wouldn't...
The skin, the hair, the eyes!
It was just, mmm...
It was all there!
- Hi.
- Hi.
Hi!
You enjoy your meal?
Yeah. Uh...
No. I think the waitress did.
Hey-oh!
Hi.
You girls live around here?
Sure, lived here all our life.
Oh, really?
Well...
...my name's Rives.
- My name's Becky, and this is Michelle.
- Hi, Becky.
Hi, Michelle. This is Pahoo.
- Pahoo?
- Yeah.
- Uh, yeah.
- Oh.
You're the guys from Chicago, aren't you?
How'd you know that?
Well, in a town this size,
word gets around.
Uh, uh, what do you all do here at night?
Oh, we just do what comes natural.
Listen, uh, we're gonna set up camp
tonight outside of town,
the state park, you know where that is?
Oh, yeah, mm-hmm.
Why don't you drive by about 7:30?
- Seven?
- What do you think?
Yeah.
Sure, sounds interesting.
Oh. Really good time.
- That's good.
- Uh-oh.
- What's wrong?
- Here comes the man.
- The what?
- Oh, he's a mean one.
We had a little discussion yesterday.
Business, you know.
- Hi, Dad.
- Becky.
Tonight's prayer meeting,
your mother wants you home early.
Sure.
Well, did you sleep
on the conversation we had
in the barbershop yesterday?
Yes, sir.
Good.
Yes, sir.
Becky, go on home, dear.
You don't look like your dad.
Bye.
How's this?
No, the blue.
Oh, that shirt.
What time is it?
Seven?
We'd better get this place cleaned up.
We didn't have time to do our wash!
I needed that.
Clean and lean,
ready for my redheaded queen. Whoo!
They're not comin'.
Oh, I think they probably
had to go to a prayer meeting.
No, you can't trust 'em.
Especially redheads.
You know, I think
they were just leading us on?
I think they're gonna come.
They're not comin'.
They'll show up.
Yeah.
What'd I tell you?
Right, we gotta be cool, casual.
Just play it like, you know,
we haven't been waiting or...
Hi!
Hi!
- Hi! Hi!
- Wow. Good to see ya.
- Becky?
- Pahoo?
- Michelle?
- Yeah.
We're just sitting around.
Sorry we're late, but we
had to go to prayer meeting.
Uh, glad you guys could come.
Would you guys like, I mean...
...would you-all like a beer?
- I'd love one.
- Yeah, I'd like one.
Well...
Yeah, thanks.
Thanks.
Well...
Well...
since we're out here with mother nature,
you wanna do what comes natural?
You Chicago people
don't waste much time, do you?
I like you. Sit down.
I like you.
Now, you really can't waste time
because, well, life's so short.
You're right, I was just thinking
about that the other day.
Oh, no, rain!
Hey, it looks like
we're gonna have to move inside.
- I Whoo!
- How do you like this?
I That was fun!
Do you work? Do you go to school?
- He thought you were creating trouble.
- Senior.
- Yeah? What school?
- Oil City High.
- High?
- Yeah.
You have beautiful eyes.
Uh, well...
Fact is, I never even
kissed a Yankee before.
Um... I hear you've been doing
research on the creature.
Uh... Yeah, that's why we're here.
I did some research on the creature
one night and had a date with him!
Ready for the North to meet the South?
Well, I don't know why not.
Okay.
Well, watch out,
because here comes the North.
- North meets South!
- Oooh!
Here we are.
Rives, for crying out loud!
There's a time and place for everything
and other things to play with!
- Just a little humor, I mean, really.
- Ho ho ho!
- Just, you know...
- Hey, the rain's stopped.
- Sure did.
- Wow.
- That was quick, wasn't it?
- Is it like that all the time?
Why don't we go outside?
For sure.
I'm kind of comfortable in here.
Do you wanna go outside?
No.
It's beautiful after a rain, isn't it?
Yeah, it is.
Smell the woods.
Do you really believe there's a creature?
Yep, I do.
Do you?
I don't know.
Daddy says it's just a crazy man.
A lot of people think that, you know.
It's a...
I certainly don't feel
like talking about any creature.
You know I don't feel like talking
about any creature now.
What's the matter?
Daddy!
Give me that!
Becky, what in the hell
are you doing here?
Daddy!
Get home, both of you! Get home!
Want a beer?
We were just having a little party.
You think that's funny, boy?
No, sir...
Well, if you do,
we're both gonna have a big laugh.
Because you're going to the slammer.
- What?
- Ha ha.
Now get up and come on!
Can't be nice to these kids.
Here, take this.
Come on!
Good Lord.
I'll give you punks just ten minutes
to get this junk all packed up
and get out of here, understand?
Ten minutes, all that time?
Sheriff.
[Hooting]
I swear I heard something.
You hear something?
Brrr!
"Dolores Ann, my one and only love.
Signed, Sally.
Here's a good one.
"DV loves Willy, Willy loves
Dimples, Dimples loves..."
Mabel? Mabel?
I am not sending
any more deputies out there.
Because every time I send one out,
he comes back all scratched up
where you've jumped on him.
"If you're writing graffiti
on these walls, you're in big trouble.
"If you're standing on my table
writing graffiti on these walls,
you're in bigger trouble.
"Signed, Billy Carter...
Sheriff."
Sheriff! Sheriff!
I gotta go.
Sheriff! You got...
Sheriff!
Sheriff!
Come on out to my place!
Get all the men you can!
- Bring all the ammo, come on, hurry up!
- Joe, Joe, Joe!
Yeah, come on!
- Joe!
- I swear I seen the creature!
- He damn near come into my house!
- Joe!
Joe!
Just what in the hell
are you trying to tell me?
I'm trying to tell you
I seen the creature, he's that big!
Joe, have you been drinking?
You don't believe me?
Close your eyes,
hold your left arm straight out
and touch the end of your nose.
You've been drinking, all right.
Just a little bit.
Come on, bring him in here.
- My God.
- Bring him in here.
Let's go.
I... touched my nose with my hand.
Yeah, you sure did.
Come on.
You couldn't find it
with both hands.
Come on.
He's pretty rough.
Come on, Joe.
Here, let me help you.
Here we go.
Well, boys...
here's your trapper.
Between the three of you,
you should make a great team.
We'll talk in the morning.
Say, you're Joe Canton, ain't ya?
Well, I...
I was last night.
I wanna shake your hand.
You the same Joe Canton
who claimed his partner was attacked
by a bipedal primate?
By a what?
I mean, a creature of some sort.
Oh, yeah, that was me.
I'll tell you boys something.
Old Willy was the best...
well, he was the second-best trapper
ever was in these parts.
He was jerked out of that boat,
just like you'd snatch
a catfish outta the bayou!
Neck was broken, snapped just like a twig.
He didn't drown.
Then you've seen him,
the creature, yourself?
Damn right, I've seen him.
I tell you, last night,
when he come by my house,
if I hadn't been drinkin' so much,
I'd have blowed his butt off.
Well, what did he look like?
Well...
it was kind of dark outside.
Some shadows,
and I never did get a real close look,
but he was big, I'll tell you that!
Over 300 pounds.
Seven or eight feet tall.
Big, and he was strong.
And he was mean, like me!
Had them big eyes,
glowing in the dark
like some animals you see.
- Okay, Joe.
- Hi, Sheriff.
Time to go home.
Look, I want you to lay off that bottle.
I ain't never drinking no more,
I'll tell you.
You boys wanna hear more
about that creature, come out to my place.
- Come on!
- Come out to my place!
Go on!
- Morning.
- Morning.
Yes, it is.
Now look, kids, I'm gonna turn you loose.
Now, you gotta promise me
you'll get outta town, right?
Yes, sir.
I, uh...
I hope you didn't pay too much attention
to Joe's tall tales about this monster.
You gotta understand,
when Joe starts drinking,
he begins to see buggers.
Okay, now get the hell out of here.
Thank you, sir.
See you in Chicago.
Hey, Joe?
Like to take you up on that invitation.
Mind if we follow you out to your place?
Well, if you think
you can keep up with me.
There she is, boys,
that's home, sweet home.
By golly, just make
yourself comfortable here.
I'll... I'll cook ya's up
some swamp coffee.
Tell us more about
what happened to your friend.
Well, I don't talk about
my private matters with just anybody,
but I guess since we was all
just in the calaboose together,
it won't matter.
I went back in them swamps,
a hell of a lot farther
than I ever been before.
And I found the tracks,
and I started following them.
And they just went in deeper,
and deeper, and deeper...
and that's when I began
to notice something kinda strange.
There's lots of birds
and that little stuff around,
but there wasn't no big game at all.
Now, I'd been trapping
in these here swamps for 40 years,
and I know I shoulda found some wild pigs
or some coons or something.
And I come up over a little knoll,
and I smelled something.
There was something dead upwind of me.
And it stunk up the whole place.
So I headed that way,
and that's when I found
what I was looking for.
It was a wild boar, about a 200-pounder.
Was all clawed up,
couple of big bites out of his gut.
Neck was just snapped like a stick.
Been dead about a week.
Went on about another 50 feet,
and there was a big boar hog,
about 400 pounds,
all squashed up like it was
a little wet rag.
Couple of big bites out of him.
He wasn't bit all up,
just a couple of bites.
Went a little farther,
and there was another.
Couple of bites out of him.
Squashed up.
Back broken.
Little farther there was another,
and then another.
And I stand there
in the middle of all this stuff,
and that's the first time I heard it.
What was it?
- Nothin'.
- Huh?
Nothin'.
That's what I heard. Listen, boys.
Hear all them livin' creatures here?
They cawkin' and they squawkin' away.
That's what the swamps is.
They's talking all the time,
and there's noise.
It ain't never nothin',
and it was nothin'.
Not a sound.
And I could just feel
there was something out there,
just... staring at me.
I don't know
what kind of a creature it takes
to eat his way through
a whole herd of wild boar,
but that thing is killin'
an awful lot of big animals.
Got Old Willy.
Do you think you could
tell us how to get out there?
Well, you go through
that gate over there,
past the hill,
stay to the right of the ridge.
And then just keep going
and going and going,
as far as you can go.
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you, Joe. Nice meeting you.
He's flipped, man!
Are you crazy, are you nuts?
We've come this far, let's not quit now.
Yeah, but...
Come again!
All right. Hold it, hold it, hold it!
All right, try it again.
Hold it, hold it, hold it!
Come here. Take a look.
Looks like "come along time.
It's coming, it's coming,
it's coming, it's coming...
Hey!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
This is it.
Hey, did you bring that camera
with the infrared film?
It's in the trunk.
Okay.
- What was that?
- What?
I didn't hear anything.
You gonna eat all those beans?
No, I thought I'd save a little for you.
Wouldn't want you scaring that thing off.
All right, go ahead and make jokes.
You stupid...
I don't think you understand
how dangerous this can be.
I mean, I been in places
just like this, just like this!
In Nam, yeah, I was running around
getting my butt shot at
while you were probably
lollygagging around Canada!
I think you better go back now.
The van's not far from here.
The keys are in it.
It got you in here,
it can get you out again.
Because the last thing I need
right now from you is trouble.
Now, why don't you just get out of here?
You know, I might just do that?
Want some beans, buddy?
Yeah.
- Sure.
- They're pretty good.
My own special concoction.
Some more?
There you go.
Good.
Guess you had it pretty tough in Nam, eh?
Yeah.
You know, I...
I guess I never really
realized how important
this project could be.
The scientific importance
makes the danger all worthwhile.
- Doesn't it?
- I'm glad to hear that.
Because I think something's
been circling the camp.
Now?
Why didn't you tell me?
Because I wasn't sure.
Think I just lost my appetite.
It's over there somewhere.
Let's go.
- We have had company.
- What?
Good Lord.
Look at that baby.
Gotta be ten inches long.
It's a beauty, isn't it?
Look.
Here's the other one.
This is where he was standing.
This is where he saw us!
Look at the depth of that.
It's gotta weigh 300, 400 pounds.
Need a light up here...
I'll bet...
he's out there.
Rives! This thing's empty.
I was hoping we wouldn't have
to use any bullets tonight.
Rives!
Okay, all right,
I'll go to the van and get some.
Hurry!
Rives!
Rives!
I'm over here!
Oh, my God.
Pahoo!
Pahoo!
Answer me!
Clear 190, clear 190, I have a Mayday.
Mayday, please, clear!
Clear one-niner, clear one-niner, please!
I have a Mayday, I have a Mayday!
Never mind, get off the line!
Hey, you, get off our band!
They're pullin' my leg, come on now.
One-nine, clear, please.
One-nine, clear, please.
I have a Mayday.
Come on, it's an emergency!
Boy, that sounds just great.
You know, I just come down from Nashville.
I spent the week up there, and, man,
I gotta tell you something, Fat Boy,
there is the place to be.
I know what you're talking about.
Country music and fine women, right?
Oh, those country women, yeah.
I gotta tell you something
about them country women.
Of course, I don't dare
tell you over this band.
This is Sheriff Carter here.
Who's calling Mayday?
- I said, who's...
- Yes, clear, here, here!
I got a Mayday!
I'm at Black Lake and I need
some people to come out at the swamp...
Slow down, buddy boy,
I can't understand you.
We got a... I'm about 25 miles east
of Joe Canton's place,
off the old swamp road up County 90.
You got that?
Hurry and come as fast and as...
come as fast as you can.
- Okay? Are you there?
- I got you.
- Just take it easy, I'm on my way.
- Thank you.
No!
No!
No! No!
Joe?
- Joe!
- Who is it?
Sheriff Billy Carter, open the door.
Come on!
Rives!
My God!
Oh, Jesus.
Come on, man. Hold on.
What it is I can't figure out is,
why you sent those boys out when you knew
damn well I wanted 'em out of town!
Well, I didn't
send nobody out nowhere.
It's like you said,
they just followed me out here.
Come on. Come on.
Come on.
Hell, kid, what happened?
What happened, son?
- I... I was looking in the...
- Come on.
- ...for the thing and...
- Come on, let's go.
...and he came out instead of...
- That's all right, get in.
- ...and I stabbed...
Dr. Snell,
you're wanted in Radiology.
Dr. Snell to Radiology.
Well, it shouldn't be long now.
You knew I wasn't crazy, didn't you, boy?
Son, you can't go on blaming yourself.
Your buddy's gonna be all right.
Old Doc will fix him up, and if he don't,
I got some stuff I can use
on anything from rheumatism...
Look, son.
I was wrong about you and your friend.
It's just that I've got
this responsibility.
I understand, Sheriff.
We've all got responsibility.
Stink in here to you?
Stinks in here to me.
Dang creature...
I'm gonna get my shotgun,
and I'm gonna make a rug
out of that damn thing!
Sure stinks in here!
Maybe I'll mount him, and then folks
will know I ain't lying, I'll tell you.
Make a good blanket, I'll betcha!
Well, look, I gotta go.
But will you do something?
Just as quick as you find out anything,
will you call me?
Sure.
Thanks.
Attendant needed
in emergency room.
Becky was asking about you.
I think she's ready
for another hot date.
I guess you could care less
about that right now.
Because you can't even hear me, can you?
Pahoo?
Hey, man, you hear me now?
You gotta make it.
Because...
well, we got a lot of things to do.
We have places to go,
people to see, and...
I can't stand to see you
lying there like that.
Dammit!
You look like you...
If there was only something I could do.
Something I could get.
How about a hamburger,
French fries and a Coke?
Hey, Pahoo.
You okay?
I'm okay.
A little beat up.
I'm a little mad at this point.
I don't blame you.
I had no idea that this was gonna happen.
Hey, partner, I'm not mad at you.
I'm just mad that we gotta start
this dang project all over again.
You gotta be kidding.
It's out there somewhere.
We're gonna find it.
Right, partner?
Hey, Joe, look at this.
Ah, something's been stealing our game.
You mean someone's
stealing from our traps, Joe?
Yeah.
Damn!
A theory that many
anthropologists have considered
is that this creature could
possibly be a mutated bear or a gorilla.
Some scientists absolutely
scoff at the idea
of a Sasquatch, a Bigfoot, a yeti,
a skunk ape,
or whatever you wanna call him.
Hey, Joe, look!
- He got this one too!
- Yeah?
Science has been proven
wrong on many occasions
with regard to evolution
in the animal kingdom.
For instance, 1938.
A fish caught off the coast of Africa.
Supposedly extinct for 70 million years.
Just a few years back, a tribe of Indians
found in the Philippines,
their living habits and tools
supposedly what prehistoric man
used to be.
They had never seen civilization.
That thing was broke apart.
That was done not by any animal!
You ever see anything like that, Joe?
Will you understand...
Willy, would ya shut up?!
No animal did that.
Don't you tell me an animal did that, Joe.
I never seen nothin' like that, Joe.
That thing was ripped
right in half.
I saw it right there,
right in front of me.
I saw that damn thing,
right in front of the boat.
Hey, come on.
Look at this one.
This one is...
Shut up! Listen!
You hear that?
Hey, Joe? Let's get out of here.
There is one good note, though.
There's never been a report or an incident
of this creature ever attacking
or harming a human being.
Damn, hit something.
- Oh, what do you reckon it is?
- There.
All right, I'll check it out.
Joe?
Joe!
Willy! Willy!
Willy!
We've done research,
you've done research.
We know it's in southern Arkansas
or northern Louisiana.
And we're willing to do it,
we've got the summer free.
The only thing we lack are two things:
That's money and wheels.
Y'all really wanna go
down there, don't you?
Man, I wanna prove its existence.
Prove its existence?
What do you reckon we'll find down here?
Well, hopefully a bipedal primate
and about 14 or 15 Cajun women.
What? Caj...
You tired of driving?
Ah, a little bit.
Let's switch.
- While we're moving?
- While we're moving.
You ready?
- Oh, switcheroo!
- Whoo!
Now, down to some heavy driving.
Gas.
- Gas.
- Thanks for warning me.
No, I mean the van, we need gas.
- Did you get it?
- Yeah.
Here's the orange juice.
That's my orange juice?
How far have we gone today?
I don't know.
You wanna stop somewhere for the night?
You bet.
Well, why don't we find a place to camp
and try out some of our new gear?
If we stop at the campgrounds, you know,
we're not gonna get French fries,
hamburger and a Coke.
Aw, isn't that a shame?
Suffering.
All right.
Big creature, here we come.
Hey!
Hey, you, hey.
Speak!
Speak!
Woof!
You all take care.
All right.
Bye.
Bye.
Relaxed?
Meditating.
A little... a little nectar?
Why, thank you.
Ah, this is great, isn't it?
Wish I had a hamburger
to go with this beer.
What's this with you and hamburgers, man?
I've never seen anybody eat
so many hamburgers in my entire life.
Chicken.
Chicken?
I'm from the chicken capital of the world.
And my daddy was the king,
so we had chicken for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner.
We had chicken fried,
barbecued, stewed, skewered.
We had chicken...
My mother, one day,
tried to make chicken Jell-O.
That did it.
Well, that explains it.
Rives, you really believe
there's a creature?
Yeah, I do.
Just like any other phenomena, you know,
UFOs or stuff like that,
you kinda believe,
but you never really believe
until you see one.
There's a guy down here,
never made the papers
like the thing down in Oil City.
This guy comes home from work one day,
the two kids are a wreck.
They're saying,
"Daddy, we saw the boogeyman!"
"We saw the boogeyman! We saw him!"
I mean, but they're scared.
So he thought the wife
was telling stories, right?
He says,
"What have you been telling them?"
And she can't handle any of it anymore
and snaps right in front of his very eyes.
I mean, flips out.
They all go in the loony bin.
So this guy is just, "What happened?
So he goes out for 21 days,
stalking this thing.
- By himself?
- By himself.
Yeah?
And if my memory serves me well,
it's right around
these parts here some place.
And he goes,
search party goes out after him.
Then they found him,
totally dismembered
and his gun wrapped around a tree.
You know?
I believe I'll relieve myself.
- Hi!
- Hey, what's happening, man?
Uh, we, uh... we're camped out down here.
We got a lot of hot coffee
if you'd like some.
- Sure, that sounds pretty good.
- Okay.
This guy wants a cup of coffee.
I'm changing my pants.
Man, it is hot.
How much further we got to get there?
We got enough time
for a little nap before lunch.
Almost there.
So just drive on.
Okay, we're here.
Come on, wake up.
Oh, my God!
- Good morning!
- You and your sense of humor!
Early.
Oil City, here we come.
We're here!
Wow!
What do we do now?
I don't know.
Walk around, introduce ourselves,
ask a few questions,
and try and find Joe Canton.
Do you happen to know
Joe Canton, by any chance?
No? Some sort of creature attacked here.
I think it was about
40 miles out this way?
You don't know Joe?
Appreciate your time.
You didn't read anything
in the papers around here
about some trapper and his friend
that was killed or lost?
Do you know a guy named Joe Canton?
You know about any creature
living around here?
Am I in Oil City, Louisiana?
Come in, have a seat.
I believe you're next.
Well, actually, I'm not shopping
for a haircut today.
Well, you kind of look like you need one.
No, actually, I'm a student
from the University of Chicago,
and I'm down here doing some research
on the Bigfoot creature.
You know if anybody has seen it?
I was wondering, uh,
if anybody claimed to have seen it.
Like that trapper
I read about, lost his partner?
Well, I don't know
anything about that creature.
Maybe you'd better talk
to this man right here.
Okay.
Look, son.
I'm Sheriff Billy Carter.
And it's my duty to protect
the citizens of this parish.
That includes keeping them
from getting riled up over a wild rumor.
Now, you're welcome here,
so long as you don't go nosing around,
scaring the daylights out of these people
about some mysterious monster.
We've had more problems
than we can say grace over
that have happened without you.
Yeah, what about that trapper?
Could I see a police report, please?
You don't listen very well, do you?
I told you to forget about
any creature you were talking about.
Now, if you don't,
you're gonna have to start
doing business with me.
Do I make myself clear?
Oh, yeah. Perfectly clear.
- Good.
- Good afternoon.
Hi.
You better watch out, H.B.,
I'm gonna tell your wife!
- Now don't get nasty.
- Oh!
What can I get for you, sir?
Uh, just like a hamburger,
French fries and a Coke.
And I'd like to hold your...
I'd like for you to hold the tomatoes.
I bet you would!
Hey, hey, hey, come here, please.
Uh... sit down, please.
I'm Pahoo.
Eve.
Listen, we're a couple
of college students
who are doing research, uh,
from the University of Chicago,
on the Bigfoot creature, and...
What'd you say?
The Bigfoot creature, and what we were...
H.B.!
This fella here is looking
for the Bigfoot creature!
He's from Chicago.
Ooo-wheee!
H.B., you know anything
about any creature?
Sure do.
Is that right?
I was laying up there
in bed one night,
I heard something stirring
out in the kitchen.
So I got my gun and my flashlight
and I went to creep up
off the floor there.
I shoved the door aside,
and there I was, standing face to face!
Oh, them red eyes
and this long, stringy hair.
Awful! Awful!
Yeah, well, what?
What happened?
It was my wife.
- Is that supposed to be funny?
- No.
I said is that supposed to be funny?!
No, Joe.
Well, little Willy don't think it's funny!
And I don't think it's funny!
All right, Joe.
Any more of your funny jokes,
you got me to answer to!
Okay, Joe.
Who was that?
What was he saying, something about Willy?
Well...
he claims that this creature of yours
killed a friend of his called Old Willy.
He's crazy as a coot, if you ask me.
I think his name is Joe Canton?
Joe Canton? Thanks, Eve.
Oh, my God!
Excuse me, did you see somebody
just come out of there?
He looked like a wild man.
He was like, uh...
Sorry, uh...
Damn it!
I just saw the guy we're looking for.
- Yeah, in there?
- Yeah.
Did you talk to him?
Joe Canton, the trapper!
Where is he?
Well, I lost him.
You lost him?
- Yeah.
- Nice going.
Don't worry about it.
I already had a warning
from the town sheriff
to forget about any kind of creature.
Great start.
Hey!
Listen, it might not
be any of my business, uh...
but I heard what was going on
in the barber shop.
And, uh, well...
seeing how you're researching, uh...
I figure I might as well tell you.
Tell me what?
I seen him.
You saw Joe Canton?
No.
I saw the creature.
Listen, hey, I don't
want this getting around.
And, uh...
seeing as how I could use a ride home,
I figure I could tell you
on the way out there.
Step into my office.
- Pahoo.
- Orville.
Come on, I want you to be comfortable.
You live close by?
No, I live out in the country.
It's on down.
Well, Orville Bridges,
tell us about your experience
with the creature.
Did you really see him?
Experience with what creature?
Now, why does everybody clam up
when we talk about the creature?
Orville, we're talking about the creature
who supposedly lives in this area.
Yeah, well, my memory's
just not too good right now.
I'll tell you what, though,
you turn that tape recording machine off,
my memory might improve.
How'd you know that was on?
This old country boy ain't quite
as stupid as what you might think.
Ah, we didn't think
you were stupid, Orville.
No, we weren't trying
to trick you or anything.
I mean, this is just
a part of our research.
Yeah, well, just the same,
I don't want this to be repeated.
- Deal.
- It's a deal.
Okay.
Well, to tell you the truth,
I was, uh, too young to remember.
But my grandpa told me
the story so many times,
I figure I can tell you
as good as anybody.
One day, me and my mom and dad,
just when I was a little baby,
we all went out on a picnic
with grandma and grandpa...
Yeah, that tire's flat again.
- Grandma.
- Dadgum hot day, flat tire!
Dadgummit.
You ladies come on and get out, please,
while we fix this flat tire.
- Take off a load and get in the shade.
- All right, come on, Orville.
- Get on there, Orville.
- Wanna get a blanket?
Don't know why you picked such a hot day.
Get that on and put that on
and get over in that shade.
Dadgum woman.
Now, Pa, get that hooked to that winch.
You know, Ma, they been
griping ever since we left.
Mama, Mama.
- Mama!
- Well, don't you fret none, honey.
Menfolk always fuss.
You pay 'em no mind.
- Here, Orville, you stay right here.
- Mama! Mama!
And don't go running off.
Dadgummit, Grandpa.
I can't get this last lug off!
Orville?
Orville!
Come back here.
Orville!
Orville, come back here.
Hey!
I thought I heard you.
Get back, get back!
- Oh, my God!
- Get back!
Cecile, come on!
Come on, Cecile!
Watch the tree there!
Mom and Dad were killed in the wreck.
Sorry.
Well, I was really too young to remember.
I've lived with my grandma
and grandpa all my life here.
Well, what about that trapper
that I mentioned in the barbershop?
You know anything about him?
Joe Canton?
Oh, yeah, well, I've heard his name.
But, uh, all I know is he lived
back in the swamp somewhere,
and, uh, folks around here
say he's kind of a craze-o.
We oughta get along fine
with him, Rives.
Say, listen, pull in
at this mailbox down here.
And don't say anything to my grandpa
about me talking about the creature.
He's, uh... he's real touchy about it.
Can we share anything about our work?
- Sure, yeah.
- All right.
Who is that, now?
Hey, May, go on in the house, honey.
I'll find out who it is.
Hey, Orville, where you been?
I been looking for you all day.
- Hey, Grandpa.
- What?
I went to town and got a haircut,
just like Grandma said.
Well, you look a lot better.
You was getting to look
more like a dadgum hippie every day.
Who are these two fellas?
This is Pahoo, that's Rives.
- Pahoo?
- Yessir!
- Gol' dang.
- Good to know ya.
You boys ain't from around here.
- No, sir, we're from Chicago.
- Yeah?
We're anthropology students
here doing a research project
on a bipedal primate
that was reported in these parts.
What'd you say?
It's a scientific term.
It means a creature
that walks on its hind legs.
Come here.
What you been telling them boys?
Grandpa, I...
I didn't... I didn't think that...
Oh, you didn't think it.
Best thing for y'all
is to get out of here.
We don't want nobody snooping around
making us look like dumb rednecks!
Now, what we seen
and what we heard is our own business.
So get out of here.
Mr. Bridges, we're not trying to make you
look like a bunch of dumb rednecks.
The only thing that's peculiar about this
is that you people
have obviously seen something
and are reluctant to talk about it.
Or afraid to.
Now, if there is something out there,
well, we're here to find it,
or capture it if necessary,
but we can't do that
without the cooperation
of people that have seen it.
Doesn't look like we're gonna get any.
Come on, Pahoo, let's get outta here.
Rives, what about that $25?
What $25?
The $25 that we're saving to give
to the person who cooperates?
...who cooperates
for the reward money.
Reward? Wait a minute.
Hey, Orville, go on in
and tell your grandma
to set a couple extra plates.
We gon' feed some Yankee boys.
Get on in there!
Well, boys, what was that there
y'all was talking about, that reward?
For information.
Information?
Well, y'all come in here up on the porch
and we'll talk it over, hear?
- You boys like it down here?
- Yeah, it's a little hot.
Oh, it gets a little hot,
but, heck, it's nice down here.
We've got good food
down here, though, boys.
We sure appreciate that!
Where is it?
- What's that?
- The reward!
Yeah.
There's 20.
Sure nice doin' business
with you Yankee boys.
Sho' 'nuff.
All right!
You Yankee boys really like
good country music, don't you?
- Yeah, you bet!
- It was really good, really good.
That alone was worth $25.
However, how about some information?
You mean about the creature?
Yes, sir.
Well, Orville already told you
what happened to his mom and papa.
She was my daughter.
I never will forget
the first time I seen it.
About eleven o'clock,
I woke up and I heard the worst
commotion you'll ever hear.
My two good hound dogs, Bob and Blue,
was a-growlin', a-barkin',
and the worst scream you ever did hear.
I walked out on the porch and...
The most ungodly scream
I've ever heard in my life.
Just like...
it was just like an old cat
being cornered by a red-boned hound.
First thing...
Well, you boys almost ready to eat?
Supper's nearly ready.
Yes, ma'am, honey!
Wait a minute, boys.
I don't want you Yankee boys to say
one word about that creature, you hear?
Yes, sir.
Because this just scares
the devil outta my wife.
All right.
Let's go in and get
something to eat, boys.
Show the boys where to wash up, Orville.
You boys ain't gonna never taste any food
like you're gonna get tonight.
Tell "em now, Orville, the way it is.
It's the best food
you boys ever had.
You get on this side
and you sit down there.
Come in and sit down.
- What did you say your name was?
- Pahoo.
- Pahoo!
- Oh, looks good.
Potatoes, beans and things.
- Here you are, Pa.
- Greens.
- Oh, Ma, it looks good.
- Chicken?
You boys like chicken, I know.
I know you like it.
Yeah, I reckon it's about my favorite.
Go on over and sit down, Ma.
Sure is good, I'll tell you that much.
- We starting in...
- Wait a minute.
We... I don't mind you eating,
but we always thank the good Lord first.
Lord, I wanna thank you for this day,
even though it was hot.
I wanna thank you for my wonderful wife,
for our grandson Orville,
and for giving him
the inspiration to get a haircut.
I want to thank you for these two boys
who come down to visit us,
even if they are Yankees.
I wanna thank you for all the vittles,
especially chicken.
- Amen.
- Amen.
- Now, y'all start this one around here.
- Amen.
Because when it gets back
around here, it stops.
- There you are.
- This from your garden?
- Turnip greens.
- We just don't get that.
- Everything here we growed ourselves.
- This is good food!
- Organic.
- That's good for you.
Really interesting.
You eat that chicken,
because it's really good.
- I believe I'll start with onions.
- We got more, plenty more of it too.
How about some more greens, Rives?
Hm, no, thank you, I've had enough.
You know something?
I can't remember having such a fine meal.
- Why, thank you.
- Well, I'll have a little more.
Good for you, son.
Pahoo, you know, you're something.
Well, you know, I do enjoy
good home cooking.
You know, I caught a catfish one time,
weighed 350 pounds.
Really?
And I took that sucker home
and learned him how to read and write.
He tells it different every time.
Was that it? Was that it?
Was that the creature?!
No, that was just our mule.
Ma?
Ma.
I told you not to say
anything about that creature.
Now, you done scared the devil out of her.
After she fixed this good food
for you boys.
Just like a damn Yankee
to go back on his word.
Now, you get outta here.
Get outta here before I chuck you out.
Get up!
Git! Both of ya!
That damn creature!
...when I get my chance right now.
- Okay.
- Stand behind me.
Orville...
I owe you an apology.
I... I didn't mean
to upset your family in there.
Yeah, well, I just can't
believe y'all did that,
after me asking you not to.
We're sorry.
Yeah, well, I mean, that's okay.
But as you can see,
my grandad's really sensitive about it.
Yeah.
Well, listen, you know a place around here
where we could camp tonight?
Yeah, sure. Why don't you just
stay out in the barn tonight?
- Ah, thanks, but...
- Uh...
Sure, why not? Thank you.
- Okay.
- That's very nice.
Rives.
Match and aperture knob
one quarter to the left.
4 Light! J.
Rives, I believe I ate too much.
How many times have I told you
and reminded you
about your dietary habits?
It's got nothing to do with hamburgers,
French fries and Cokes.
It was this chicken!
Yeah, I'm gonna try to get some sleep.
Arrived in Oil City 11:47 a.m.
Weather conditions, et cetera, et cetera,
same as last report.
- We met the local sheriff.
- Tell 'em I wouldn't wanna mess with him.
That's for sure.
Initially, no new data.
Only after brilliant interrogation
on Mr. Lewis's behalf
did we lose some valuable
and pertinent information
as to the whereabouts
of Joe Canton, the trapper.
Oh! Yeah, right.
We did meet a local family,
one Bridges family.
Uh, Orville Bridges, in particular.
The townsfolk are very reluctant
and afraid to talk about this subject.
I wonder why.
- Damn creature!
- Come on!
Will you come on?!
Rives!
Don't worry!
That's him again!
- Get in here, that's him!
- I just want my tape recorder.
Get in here, that's him!
Rives, wait up.
Rives, I've heard screams
and I've heard screams.
I mean, I was in Vietnam, I heard screams.
As a matter of fact,
I used to go with an ol' gal.
Every time she'd get excited,
she'd scream.
Now that scream scares me!
I'll tell you what I think we oughta do,
is just gather up all our equipment
and just head back to the Windy City,
and we'll just call this whole thing
a misadventure.
Rives, old buddy, you listening to me?
...afraid to talk about this subject.
I wonder why.
Did you hear that?
Yeah, I heard it.
I think we should call Dr. Burch.
I'll be in touch with you.
Right, thanks.
Do you wanna know what he said?
What?
After we eat.
- I'll see ya, babe.
- Okay.
- Are you still here?
- Yup.
You find your creature yet?
Would you just take our order, please?
Why don't you order, then?
I'll have two hamburgers,
two orders of fries and a large Coke.
How about you?
I'll have the same as him.
Hey, all right!
- Heavy on the onions.
- Whoo!
You give me four burgers, four fries,
two large Cokes, and heavy on the onions!
Looks like you've been making
a lot of friends around here lately.
What are you, running for mayor?
Ah, I don't think it has
anything to do with me.
I think it's the company I keep.
- Check it out.
- Huh?
Check it out.
What? I don't see anything.
I believe I just fell in love.
Oh, is she a beauty!
Those, uh... eyes.
Thank you.
Back to work.
I don't think Dr. Burch believes us.
Why do you say that?
Well, he wants to have
the sound expert examine the tape
to determine whether or not it is a fake.
Pickup!
- Get to work.
- Listen to it again.
And you tell me
if you think it's a phony, okay?
- I believe, I believe!
- Just listen to it again.
I wonder why.
No!
Ehhhhhhh!
Watch the trash can.
I don't know what you find so funny.
We didn't get to eat!
She threw the food at us.
I know.
Funny.
- She was beautiful, though.
- She was beautiful?
The girls were beautiful
across the counter.
The redhead, did you see her?
She was looking at me.
What I wouldn't...
The skin, the hair, the eyes!
It was just, mmm...
It was all there!
- Hi.
- Hi.
Hi!
You enjoy your meal?
Yeah. Uh...
No. I think the waitress did.
Hey-oh!
Hi.
You girls live around here?
Sure, lived here all our life.
Oh, really?
Well...
...my name's Rives.
- My name's Becky, and this is Michelle.
- Hi, Becky.
Hi, Michelle. This is Pahoo.
- Pahoo?
- Yeah.
- Uh, yeah.
- Oh.
You're the guys from Chicago, aren't you?
How'd you know that?
Well, in a town this size,
word gets around.
Uh, uh, what do you all do here at night?
Oh, we just do what comes natural.
Listen, uh, we're gonna set up camp
tonight outside of town,
the state park, you know where that is?
Oh, yeah, mm-hmm.
Why don't you drive by about 7:30?
- Seven?
- What do you think?
Yeah.
Sure, sounds interesting.
Oh. Really good time.
- That's good.
- Uh-oh.
- What's wrong?
- Here comes the man.
- The what?
- Oh, he's a mean one.
We had a little discussion yesterday.
Business, you know.
- Hi, Dad.
- Becky.
Tonight's prayer meeting,
your mother wants you home early.
Sure.
Well, did you sleep
on the conversation we had
in the barbershop yesterday?
Yes, sir.
Good.
Yes, sir.
Becky, go on home, dear.
You don't look like your dad.
Bye.
How's this?
No, the blue.
Oh, that shirt.
What time is it?
Seven?
We'd better get this place cleaned up.
We didn't have time to do our wash!
I needed that.
Clean and lean,
ready for my redheaded queen. Whoo!
They're not comin'.
Oh, I think they probably
had to go to a prayer meeting.
No, you can't trust 'em.
Especially redheads.
You know, I think
they were just leading us on?
I think they're gonna come.
They're not comin'.
They'll show up.
Yeah.
What'd I tell you?
Right, we gotta be cool, casual.
Just play it like, you know,
we haven't been waiting or...
Hi!
Hi!
- Hi! Hi!
- Wow. Good to see ya.
- Becky?
- Pahoo?
- Michelle?
- Yeah.
We're just sitting around.
Sorry we're late, but we
had to go to prayer meeting.
Uh, glad you guys could come.
Would you guys like, I mean...
...would you-all like a beer?
- I'd love one.
- Yeah, I'd like one.
Well...
Yeah, thanks.
Thanks.
Well...
Well...
since we're out here with mother nature,
you wanna do what comes natural?
You Chicago people
don't waste much time, do you?
I like you. Sit down.
I like you.
Now, you really can't waste time
because, well, life's so short.
You're right, I was just thinking
about that the other day.
Oh, no, rain!
Hey, it looks like
we're gonna have to move inside.
- I Whoo!
- How do you like this?
I That was fun!
Do you work? Do you go to school?
- He thought you were creating trouble.
- Senior.
- Yeah? What school?
- Oil City High.
- High?
- Yeah.
You have beautiful eyes.
Uh, well...
Fact is, I never even
kissed a Yankee before.
Um... I hear you've been doing
research on the creature.
Uh... Yeah, that's why we're here.
I did some research on the creature
one night and had a date with him!
Ready for the North to meet the South?
Well, I don't know why not.
Okay.
Well, watch out,
because here comes the North.
- North meets South!
- Oooh!
Here we are.
Rives, for crying out loud!
There's a time and place for everything
and other things to play with!
- Just a little humor, I mean, really.
- Ho ho ho!
- Just, you know...
- Hey, the rain's stopped.
- Sure did.
- Wow.
- That was quick, wasn't it?
- Is it like that all the time?
Why don't we go outside?
For sure.
I'm kind of comfortable in here.
Do you wanna go outside?
No.
It's beautiful after a rain, isn't it?
Yeah, it is.
Smell the woods.
Do you really believe there's a creature?
Yep, I do.
Do you?
I don't know.
Daddy says it's just a crazy man.
A lot of people think that, you know.
It's a...
I certainly don't feel
like talking about any creature.
You know I don't feel like talking
about any creature now.
What's the matter?
Daddy!
Give me that!
Becky, what in the hell
are you doing here?
Daddy!
Get home, both of you! Get home!
Want a beer?
We were just having a little party.
You think that's funny, boy?
No, sir...
Well, if you do,
we're both gonna have a big laugh.
Because you're going to the slammer.
- What?
- Ha ha.
Now get up and come on!
Can't be nice to these kids.
Here, take this.
Come on!
Good Lord.
I'll give you punks just ten minutes
to get this junk all packed up
and get out of here, understand?
Ten minutes, all that time?
Sheriff.
[Hooting]
I swear I heard something.
You hear something?
Brrr!
"Dolores Ann, my one and only love.
Signed, Sally.
Here's a good one.
"DV loves Willy, Willy loves
Dimples, Dimples loves..."
Mabel? Mabel?
I am not sending
any more deputies out there.
Because every time I send one out,
he comes back all scratched up
where you've jumped on him.
"If you're writing graffiti
on these walls, you're in big trouble.
"If you're standing on my table
writing graffiti on these walls,
you're in bigger trouble.
"Signed, Billy Carter...
Sheriff."
Sheriff! Sheriff!
I gotta go.
Sheriff! You got...
Sheriff!
Sheriff!
Come on out to my place!
Get all the men you can!
- Bring all the ammo, come on, hurry up!
- Joe, Joe, Joe!
Yeah, come on!
- Joe!
- I swear I seen the creature!
- He damn near come into my house!
- Joe!
Joe!
Just what in the hell
are you trying to tell me?
I'm trying to tell you
I seen the creature, he's that big!
Joe, have you been drinking?
You don't believe me?
Close your eyes,
hold your left arm straight out
and touch the end of your nose.
You've been drinking, all right.
Just a little bit.
Come on, bring him in here.
- My God.
- Bring him in here.
Let's go.
I... touched my nose with my hand.
Yeah, you sure did.
Come on.
You couldn't find it
with both hands.
Come on.
He's pretty rough.
Come on, Joe.
Here, let me help you.
Here we go.
Well, boys...
here's your trapper.
Between the three of you,
you should make a great team.
We'll talk in the morning.
Say, you're Joe Canton, ain't ya?
Well, I...
I was last night.
I wanna shake your hand.
You the same Joe Canton
who claimed his partner was attacked
by a bipedal primate?
By a what?
I mean, a creature of some sort.
Oh, yeah, that was me.
I'll tell you boys something.
Old Willy was the best...
well, he was the second-best trapper
ever was in these parts.
He was jerked out of that boat,
just like you'd snatch
a catfish outta the bayou!
Neck was broken, snapped just like a twig.
He didn't drown.
Then you've seen him,
the creature, yourself?
Damn right, I've seen him.
I tell you, last night,
when he come by my house,
if I hadn't been drinkin' so much,
I'd have blowed his butt off.
Well, what did he look like?
Well...
it was kind of dark outside.
Some shadows,
and I never did get a real close look,
but he was big, I'll tell you that!
Over 300 pounds.
Seven or eight feet tall.
Big, and he was strong.
And he was mean, like me!
Had them big eyes,
glowing in the dark
like some animals you see.
- Okay, Joe.
- Hi, Sheriff.
Time to go home.
Look, I want you to lay off that bottle.
I ain't never drinking no more,
I'll tell you.
You boys wanna hear more
about that creature, come out to my place.
- Come on!
- Come out to my place!
Go on!
- Morning.
- Morning.
Yes, it is.
Now look, kids, I'm gonna turn you loose.
Now, you gotta promise me
you'll get outta town, right?
Yes, sir.
I, uh...
I hope you didn't pay too much attention
to Joe's tall tales about this monster.
You gotta understand,
when Joe starts drinking,
he begins to see buggers.
Okay, now get the hell out of here.
Thank you, sir.
See you in Chicago.
Hey, Joe?
Like to take you up on that invitation.
Mind if we follow you out to your place?
Well, if you think
you can keep up with me.
There she is, boys,
that's home, sweet home.
By golly, just make
yourself comfortable here.
I'll... I'll cook ya's up
some swamp coffee.
Tell us more about
what happened to your friend.
Well, I don't talk about
my private matters with just anybody,
but I guess since we was all
just in the calaboose together,
it won't matter.
I went back in them swamps,
a hell of a lot farther
than I ever been before.
And I found the tracks,
and I started following them.
And they just went in deeper,
and deeper, and deeper...
and that's when I began
to notice something kinda strange.
There's lots of birds
and that little stuff around,
but there wasn't no big game at all.
Now, I'd been trapping
in these here swamps for 40 years,
and I know I shoulda found some wild pigs
or some coons or something.
And I come up over a little knoll,
and I smelled something.
There was something dead upwind of me.
And it stunk up the whole place.
So I headed that way,
and that's when I found
what I was looking for.
It was a wild boar, about a 200-pounder.
Was all clawed up,
couple of big bites out of his gut.
Neck was just snapped like a stick.
Been dead about a week.
Went on about another 50 feet,
and there was a big boar hog,
about 400 pounds,
all squashed up like it was
a little wet rag.
Couple of big bites out of him.
He wasn't bit all up,
just a couple of bites.
Went a little farther,
and there was another.
Couple of bites out of him.
Squashed up.
Back broken.
Little farther there was another,
and then another.
And I stand there
in the middle of all this stuff,
and that's the first time I heard it.
What was it?
- Nothin'.
- Huh?
Nothin'.
That's what I heard. Listen, boys.
Hear all them livin' creatures here?
They cawkin' and they squawkin' away.
That's what the swamps is.
They's talking all the time,
and there's noise.
It ain't never nothin',
and it was nothin'.
Not a sound.
And I could just feel
there was something out there,
just... staring at me.
I don't know
what kind of a creature it takes
to eat his way through
a whole herd of wild boar,
but that thing is killin'
an awful lot of big animals.
Got Old Willy.
Do you think you could
tell us how to get out there?
Well, you go through
that gate over there,
past the hill,
stay to the right of the ridge.
And then just keep going
and going and going,
as far as you can go.
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you, Joe. Nice meeting you.
He's flipped, man!
Are you crazy, are you nuts?
We've come this far, let's not quit now.
Yeah, but...
Come again!
All right. Hold it, hold it, hold it!
All right, try it again.
Hold it, hold it, hold it!
Come here. Take a look.
Looks like "come along time.
It's coming, it's coming,
it's coming, it's coming...
Hey!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
This is it.
Hey, did you bring that camera
with the infrared film?
It's in the trunk.
Okay.
- What was that?
- What?
I didn't hear anything.
You gonna eat all those beans?
No, I thought I'd save a little for you.
Wouldn't want you scaring that thing off.
All right, go ahead and make jokes.
You stupid...
I don't think you understand
how dangerous this can be.
I mean, I been in places
just like this, just like this!
In Nam, yeah, I was running around
getting my butt shot at
while you were probably
lollygagging around Canada!
I think you better go back now.
The van's not far from here.
The keys are in it.
It got you in here,
it can get you out again.
Because the last thing I need
right now from you is trouble.
Now, why don't you just get out of here?
You know, I might just do that?
Want some beans, buddy?
Yeah.
- Sure.
- They're pretty good.
My own special concoction.
Some more?
There you go.
Good.
Guess you had it pretty tough in Nam, eh?
Yeah.
You know, I...
I guess I never really
realized how important
this project could be.
The scientific importance
makes the danger all worthwhile.
- Doesn't it?
- I'm glad to hear that.
Because I think something's
been circling the camp.
Now?
Why didn't you tell me?
Because I wasn't sure.
Think I just lost my appetite.
It's over there somewhere.
Let's go.
- We have had company.
- What?
Good Lord.
Look at that baby.
Gotta be ten inches long.
It's a beauty, isn't it?
Look.
Here's the other one.
This is where he was standing.
This is where he saw us!
Look at the depth of that.
It's gotta weigh 300, 400 pounds.
Need a light up here...
I'll bet...
he's out there.
Rives! This thing's empty.
I was hoping we wouldn't have
to use any bullets tonight.
Rives!
Okay, all right,
I'll go to the van and get some.
Hurry!
Rives!
Rives!
I'm over here!
Oh, my God.
Pahoo!
Pahoo!
Answer me!
Clear 190, clear 190, I have a Mayday.
Mayday, please, clear!
Clear one-niner, clear one-niner, please!
I have a Mayday, I have a Mayday!
Never mind, get off the line!
Hey, you, get off our band!
They're pullin' my leg, come on now.
One-nine, clear, please.
One-nine, clear, please.
I have a Mayday.
Come on, it's an emergency!
Boy, that sounds just great.
You know, I just come down from Nashville.
I spent the week up there, and, man,
I gotta tell you something, Fat Boy,
there is the place to be.
I know what you're talking about.
Country music and fine women, right?
Oh, those country women, yeah.
I gotta tell you something
about them country women.
Of course, I don't dare
tell you over this band.
This is Sheriff Carter here.
Who's calling Mayday?
- I said, who's...
- Yes, clear, here, here!
I got a Mayday!
I'm at Black Lake and I need
some people to come out at the swamp...
Slow down, buddy boy,
I can't understand you.
We got a... I'm about 25 miles east
of Joe Canton's place,
off the old swamp road up County 90.
You got that?
Hurry and come as fast and as...
come as fast as you can.
- Okay? Are you there?
- I got you.
- Just take it easy, I'm on my way.
- Thank you.
No!
No!
No! No!
Joe?
- Joe!
- Who is it?
Sheriff Billy Carter, open the door.
Come on!
Rives!
My God!
Oh, Jesus.
Come on, man. Hold on.
What it is I can't figure out is,
why you sent those boys out when you knew
damn well I wanted 'em out of town!
Well, I didn't
send nobody out nowhere.
It's like you said,
they just followed me out here.
Come on. Come on.
Come on.
Hell, kid, what happened?
What happened, son?
- I... I was looking in the...
- Come on.
- ...for the thing and...
- Come on, let's go.
...and he came out instead of...
- That's all right, get in.
- ...and I stabbed...
Dr. Snell,
you're wanted in Radiology.
Dr. Snell to Radiology.
Well, it shouldn't be long now.
You knew I wasn't crazy, didn't you, boy?
Son, you can't go on blaming yourself.
Your buddy's gonna be all right.
Old Doc will fix him up, and if he don't,
I got some stuff I can use
on anything from rheumatism...
Look, son.
I was wrong about you and your friend.
It's just that I've got
this responsibility.
I understand, Sheriff.
We've all got responsibility.
Stink in here to you?
Stinks in here to me.
Dang creature...
I'm gonna get my shotgun,
and I'm gonna make a rug
out of that damn thing!
Sure stinks in here!
Maybe I'll mount him, and then folks
will know I ain't lying, I'll tell you.
Make a good blanket, I'll betcha!
Well, look, I gotta go.
But will you do something?
Just as quick as you find out anything,
will you call me?
Sure.
Thanks.
Attendant needed
in emergency room.
Becky was asking about you.
I think she's ready
for another hot date.
I guess you could care less
about that right now.
Because you can't even hear me, can you?
Pahoo?
Hey, man, you hear me now?
You gotta make it.
Because...
well, we got a lot of things to do.
We have places to go,
people to see, and...
I can't stand to see you
lying there like that.
Dammit!
You look like you...
If there was only something I could do.
Something I could get.
How about a hamburger,
French fries and a Coke?
Hey, Pahoo.
You okay?
I'm okay.
A little beat up.
I'm a little mad at this point.
I don't blame you.
I had no idea that this was gonna happen.
Hey, partner, I'm not mad at you.
I'm just mad that we gotta start
this dang project all over again.
You gotta be kidding.
It's out there somewhere.
We're gonna find it.
Right, partner?