Manifest West (2022) Movie Script
[melancholy music]
[indistinct radio chatter]
RILEY HAYES: Once
it was a family of pioneers.
They were looking
for a better life.
[music continues]
The family came from a big city,
but then they ran out of money
and they had to leave.
There was a big sister
and a little sister.
There was a mom and a dad.
They weren't perfect.
But they were a family.
[indistinct radio chatter]
MAN ON RADIO: ...and
are throwing in the towel.
The indicators are right there.
We have the highest
unemployment in-
and growing segment
of the population
who are taking out more
than they are putting in
at a national debt
that outweighs our GDP.
Folks, we are living
in a house of cards.
And when the walls
come tumbling down...
Riley, we can't leave
without you.
You'd never survive on your own.
I would.
Oh, yeah?
What would you eat?
Cereal.
There's three boxes
in the kitchen.
All right, Cap'n Crunch.
Let's roll.
This is home.
No, home
is where we're together.
Promise?
[melancholy music]
[car door closing]
[engine starts]
MARY HAYES: Vroom, vroom,
vroom, vroom, vroom.
[Mary neighs and nickers]
Vroom, vroom, vroom,
vroom, vroom.
DAVE HAYES: How you girls
doing back there?
After we move,
are you going to have a job
like before?
Not right away.
You know, unless I want one.
You know why?
Because we're going on
an adventure.
You know adventurers, right?
Like a Tarzan.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah, like a Tarzan.
I like the monkeys.
[whooping]
Mommy...
[pensive music]
MAN ON RADIO: People out there
are pissed off.
They've lost homes, businesses,
and they're not taking it
anymore.
The phone lines are blowing up.
Let's go to Dennis in Milwaukee.
What's up, man?
DENNIS ON RADIO: Jerry, look,
we're going to talk about
what the last caller was saying.
I gotta...
[song playing over radio]
When can I play?
Never.
Why?
Your brain
is still little and stupid.
Someday it'll grow up
and it'll work better.
Riley, share with your sister.
She doesn't even know
how to play.
She just wants to press buttons.
- Uh, excuse me.
- Yeah.
Yeah. My husband and I, we split
the combo number one,
but we didn't get
the hash browns
since he had chose
the hash browns.
Yeah, that's just
how they do it.
All combos are $7.99.
Doesn't really matter
if you get everything or not.
I just don't want
to pay for the hash browns.
Will you take it off?
-Like I said, the-
-You know what?
I'd love to have
the hash browns.
Thank you.
WAITRESS: Be right out.
Mom.
Mary!
MARY: Mommy, look.
It's name is Cookie.
Baby, you...
you can't do that, okay?
I love riding her.
She's very pretty.
- And I love braiding her hair.
- Okay?
She comes from Unicorn Land
and she's a very rare unicorn.
She's very pretty.
[song playing over radio]
I woke up this morning
And found a note on my head
Said I'm leaving you, baby
And I'm leaving you
a whole can of beans
And then I drove
my pickup truck
Down to the corner store
And got myself some beers
But I had to lay
my woman down
Because she's bugging me
all around town
That is what she does
And I left you
an old can of beans
Yes
[birds chirping]
[ominous music]
ALICE HAYES: Guys, we're here.
[insects chirping]
[crow cawing]
What is this place?
Home.
[birds chirping]
Pipe wrench.
I'll get you.
What do you think?
Call it a day?
I'm not tired.
It's because you're not the one
on top of the house.
First lesson
of upper management.
Respect union breaks
or the workers will strike.
[exhales sharply]
Thanks, hon.
Hey, little monster.
Get over here
and finish your food.
What, you don't like it?
Tomatoes are gross.
What? No. They're so good.
[grunts]
When do we go back to school?
What if you don't have to?
What if you could
just stay up here?
Kids have to go to school.
Okay.
Then this is a school.
What is?
This cabin.
It can be a school. It can be
whatever you want it to be.
- Really?
- Mary likes it.
If you could learn about
anything, what would it be?
I like history.
Then we'll learn history.
Your mom and I, we had two jobs
so we could buy groceries
that somebody else grew.
Send you to school
where somebody else taught.
And it was backwards.
We make the rules now.
All four of us.
This place, it's just us.
It's ours.
[birds chirping]
[cricket chirps]
[squelching]
Oh. Mm.
Pew. Pew, pew. Pew. Pew.
Now what?
Nothing. You exploded.
When do you explode?
I don't. I'm the American.
You're the Taliban.
Oh, okay.
One, two, three.
RILEY: When the early pioneers
went west, life was hard.
Many spent all their money
on the trip
and had nothing left
when they got there.
They were everyday Americans
who risked everything
for an uncertain reward.
The frontire was a-
Frontier.
The I-E-R is like ear.
[chuckles]
RILEY: The frontier was...
ALICE: Well, what do you guys
want on the flag?
MARY: Can there be stars?
ALICE: How many?
Four?
Why four?
Four of us.
I like pirates.
Like a skull and crossbones?
MARY: No, no, no!
Your sister is afraid
of skeletons.
RILEY: You said
it could be anything.
Anything that doesn't
involve skeletons or the undead.
Sharks.
Sharks we can do.
[instrumental music]
ALICE: You look like a man
with a question.
DAVE: What does that look like?
Hmm. Pensive, squinty eyes,
maybe a little constipated.
Really?
Are you okay?
Better than okay.
Do you think this place
is good for you?
Is it, is it helping?
Hmm.
I love you.
And I love you, too.
[birds chirping]
[mimics static]
Spotted a base command.
We have eyes on target.
Be advised. He has a weapon.
May need air support. Over.
[mimics static]
[car engine revving]
Good afternoon.
You got a minute?
I'm with Building and Safety.
I was up here for an inspection
three or four years back.
The place was already
in foreclosure then
but it looked like hell.
DAVE: Yeah, I found some
spare lumber around the place,
you know, fixed what I could.
INSPECTOR:
Power come off the grid?
DAVE: Yep.
Hoping to go solar, though.
Phone?
Uh, old land line hookup.
And where's your septic?
Uh... over there, I think.
Yeah.
You smell that?
You got a leak.
You're gonna need
to dig out the tank,
patch it, maybe replace.
[flies buzzing]
Come on.
You've got farms in the valley.
County considers
cross-contamination
to be an E. coli risk.
Previous owner probably
got grandfathered in.
I... I got to dig it out myself?
You got a winch?
- No.
- You're going to need a winch.
It's bullshit.
No, that is your shit
running into the county's
water table.
Fuck's sake!
MARY: What do you think
they look like?
Do you think
that they're yellow?
You think they're orange?
RILEY: How do you not know
what a monkey looks like?
[Mary whooping]
Mary!
Mary! Mary!
Mary!
MARY: She said there weren't,
but I think I found one.
Have you seen any in the trees?
I think they only come out
at night.
And that's why
nobody's seen them.
Is she with you?
I'm Eric.
Riley.
Well, Riley,
you gonna give her
the bad news about the monkeys?
Or am I gonna have
to be the one?
So it's a night
before Thanksgiving.
We got some family
coming into town.
So Susie cooks up everything
the day before,
the bird, mashed potatoes,
cornbread, that works.
That night I wake up,
I hear this crashing
coming from downstairs.
It's like a marching band's
moving in.
Now I just figured
it was Susie, right?
Figured she was putting the last
minute touches on the meal.
Then I hear this deep,
deep grumbling inches
from the back of my neck.
MARY: Oh. Was it a monster?
It was worse.
It was Susie snoring.
SUSIE LIND: I do not.
[mimics snoring]
[all laughing]
So then I go downstairs, right?
The fridge is wide open,
and I kid you not,
there is this guy
gorging his face,
going to town on Susie's food.
And I'm like, "Hey, buddy,
that's our Thanksgiving dinner."
DAVE: Well, what did he say?
"The neighbor's food
was better."
He's like, "The neighbor's
food was better."
"Get the hell out of my house."
Yeah. That's when we decided
that Tampa wasn't for us.
Too many lunatics.
Those people
should be permanently locked up,
as far as I'm concerned.
- Bourbon?
- ERIC LIND: Oh, yes.
Hey, old man.
Pour me up a tall one
on the rocks.
[all chuckling]
SUSIE: Have you all seen
the bear that's been
roaming around here?
ERIC: You walk all the way
down to the creek.
There's a little waterfall,
but you-
Guns are bad.
Well, uh, guns can be bad,
but if it's used correctly,
it's just a tool,
like a screwdriver.
MARY: Or like a pipe wrench.
That too.
I'm sorry if I made anyone
feel uncomfortable.
I'm used to carrying it
everywhere.
I'm sorry.
Nah. We're a bunch
of city folk talking.
ALICE: We made a mistake, babe.
We're going home.
DAVE: The girls
are having fun out here.
I like it, and I think
it's great to be up here.
Is Mom okay?
DAVE: And we do not
have to deal
with the real world right now,
okay?
That is the best for you.
We moved up here for you.
- You understand that?
- She'll be fine.
ALICE: We're nothing
like these peoples!
We're going back...
She'll be better in the morning.
ALICE: We're going
to figure it out.
[door closes]
Do you think
Eric kills people with his gun?
Probably.
How many?
Ten.
Really?
Yeah.
Shot them right in the head.
I mean, their brains explode
like spaghetti.
I don't think he kills anyone.
[instrumental music]
You can fix it, right?
Yeah.
Motherfucker!
Fucking winch!
Where am I going
to find a fucking winch?
ERIC: Remember
what we talked about.
You take a breath.
Exhale slowly.
And whenever you're ready.
Ha-ha! Nice shot.
You're a natural.
Look, uh,
it's none of my business,
so you just tell me
to fuck right off
if I'm overstepping.
Is Alice okay with her
being out here?
Yeah. Yeah, she's okay.
She's... she's fine.
Alice is bipolar.
A year ago, she was teaching
elementary school and...
she had an episode
and she thought a student
was somebody they weren't.
And it was pretty bad.
She...
She just needs some time off.
Get some rest.
Get her mind right.
I mean, they put her
on this medication
and it helps for a while,
but she always gets worse.
But up here, she seems good.
You know?
I think this is a really
good place for her.
She's happy. We're happy.
[crickets chirping]
[birds chirping]
Chin up.
You'll be a family
of mountain men in no time.
Pioneers.
DAVE: Yeah.
We have all the help we can get.
Do you have a winch?
-Sweetheart, don't bother-
-I don't.
But I might know
someone who does.
I... I may need a favor.
[upbeat music]
All right. How does it look?
Is it tight?
- DAVE: Yep.
- Okay.
I figure you can plug
that leak with a can of sealer
and drop it
in the ground up there.
Mr. Danik,
I can't say how much...
Oh, Mr. Danik?
Mr. Danik's my dad.
Come on, Steve, man.
- All right, Steve.
- We're neighbors.
Yeah. You'd do
the same thing for me, right?
Yeah, of course.
You're a real badass
motherfucker, aren't you?
You're the real deal.
We're a dying breed up here.
Hey, Lana, you want to operate
the winch.
Wait. Seriously?
Hell no. He's not serious.
Come on.
You want a beer?
- Yeah.
- Let's go.
RUTH: Squeeze the trigger.
Don't yank it.
All right.
Then what?
It's going to kick you
in the shoulders,
so keep it tight.
Kick?
You're going to want
to keep... keep it right...
keep the butt right up in there.
ALICE: All right.
Yeah.
Oh! That hurts.
You got something
that doesn't rip your arm off?
That thing's got more recoil
than a 12-gauge.
So it'll be smooth sailing
after this.
Gave our daughter one
when she turned seven.
Dumbass kid shot right next
to her brother's head.
Still can't hear us
half the time.
[gunshot]
LANA: What did your dad do?
He used to work
at a mine, but he got fired.
Now?
I don't know,
he's like a farmer, I think.
That's pretty good.
My family's rich as shit.
We just live up here because
we like hunting and fishing.
Could probably even live
in Beverly Hills if we wanted.
Have a pool or something.
We used to have a pool.
I'm talking about a real pool.
Not your family's weak-ass pool.
Should we go back?
You scared?
I'm trying to show you
the big dog shit.
You a big dog?
I think so.
Good.
[birds chirping]
Cool place.
Yeah, it's pretty sweet.
Thinking about putting
an ice machine
in over there for the summer.
What do you do in here?
Adult shit.
You're clinging it!
Be careful with the pages. Okay?
Okay.
I drink my dad's beer sometimes.
We should go back.
Why?
I think I may be heard
somebody yelling,
so we should go back.
If you didn't want
to hang out with me,
you should've just said so.
It's just...
I... I don't want to drink it.
I thought we could be friends.
We can.
Drink it.
You gotta drink! Drink it!
Hey! Get back here!
You said you're a big dog.
[panting]
I'm sorry I didn't do that.
I didn't do that, okay?
DAVE: Riley!
- Okay?
- STEVE DANIK: Hey, what's up?
- What's going on?
- Riley.
- Are you okay? Yeah?
- LANA DANIK: I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to.
It was an accident.
I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry.
You shouldn't move.
You shouldn't move.
It's okay.
Let me take care of her.
I just want to see you.
I just want you to move for me.
Just move it.
How's that?
Yeah, it hurts a little? Okay.
All right. Well, you know what?
Looks like you wrenched
a little bit,
but I think you're going
to live.
Riley.
What's going on? What happened?
Mom.
Oh, God. Are you okay?
Oh, baby.
LANA: I'm sorry,
it was an accident.
It was an accident.
What did she do to you?
Why would she hurt you?
It's okay.
ALICE: What did you do to her?
I'm sorry. It was an accident.
We were just playing.
This is not playing.
What did you do?
I'm sorry, it was an accident.
I'm sorry.
What did you do?
What did you do?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
Honey, honey, honey, honey.
Honey, honey. Honey, cut it out.
Honey. Hey, look at me.
Look at me.
Hey, look at me.
Look at me.
It's okay. It's okay.
Look, she's okay.
All right. Look at her.
- LANA: I'm so sorry.
- She's okay. Look at me.
LANA: I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean it.
[Lana sobbing]
- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
- Hey, stop crying!
Okay? Enough.
Sorry this happened.
Yeah. We'll make it up
to you somehow.
And she's going to be...
it's going to be okay, so.
It's okay. She's okay.
- She's not okay.
- She's okay. Look at her.
- She's fine.
- She's not okay.
Come on.
Riley, let's go.
RILEY: Mom is sick.
MARY: Like a cold?
RILEY: She got like this before.
You don't remember.
MARY: I remember.
Dad took her to the doctor.
Then she was Mom again.
RILEY: I don't think
Dad's going to take her
to the doctor this time.
It's different than before.
MARY: Is Dad sick too?
RILEY: No.
Just different.
ALICE: And I feel like
it's been so long.
When was the last time
that... that I saw you?
My kids are older now.
You have to see them
before you go.
You just don't know
where they go off to.
Hmm.
MARY: I'm here.
You know, the kids.
They're growing up so fast.
You just turn around one day
and boom, they're little people.
It's me.
I'm here.
Mary?
I thought...
Of course it's you.
Of course it's you.
I'm so sorry, babe.
That's okay.
[rock music]
[indistinct chatter]
I built this shit myself.
This is my only child.
This is my only child.
Fuck those other kids.
This is a serious motherfucking
weapon of war right here, buddy.
[indistinct chatter]
No.
[groans]
It's pretty cool
that your parents
let you hang out late.
Push the sides in, dumb fuck.
I brought the spray.
Trying to get fucked up or what?
You going in?
Yeah. I will.
Hey, I'll beat your ass.
JAY: Take it easy.
We're just fucking around.
Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, wait, wait.
Are you serious?
What?
Huffing,
that's old school.
Best high is to take it
direct, the rag just dilutes it.
Everyone knows that.
- JAY: Since when?
- Since always.
Look, you want to get blasted,
ditch the rag
and stick it right in here.
Fine, man. If you're too much
of a pussy,
let daddy do it for you.
Fuck off!
[all laughing]
JAY: Fuck you, man!
Fuck you!
RICK: You're so stupid.
RILEY: Dad.
Is Mom okay?
Yeah, Mom's fine.
She's just tired.
You know how she gets
when she's tired.
It's not easy taking care
of everyone all the time.
Should she go to a doctor?
Mom doesn't need a doctor.
She just needs rest.
She'll be good, I promise you.
Mom?
Mom?
When they got here,
they were over 500 native tribes
already in the United States.
But as white
settlers moved west,
violence increased
between these newcomers
and the local tribes.
In 1800, the Indian population
of the United States
was roughly 600,000.
But by 1890,
it had dropped to only 250,000.
MARY: Where did they go?
They died.
Why?
We killed them.
Riley, your sister doesn't-
It's true.
Your sister doesn't like that.
The remaining Indian tribes
had the lands taken from them
and were forced
onto reservations
where thousands more died
of starvation and-
Riley.
Why did they kill them?
Mom.
[sighs]
Riley.
Did you take out
one of these pages?
It's okay if you did.
You can tell me the truth.
No more school today.
[water trickling]
You look cool.
Really?
[coughs]
[both laugh]
I felt bad everybodytgot dressed up
But I knew'd messed up
so I had to 'fess up
That all-really wanted was
just to get drunk as-hell
Now!
So I jilted that poor woman
and got drunk as hell
[brakes screech]
Hey, kid!
Get over here!
Fuck you!
Fuck me? Fuck you.
I'm talking 'bout hellfire,
hellfire!
Hellfire! Hellfire!
Oh, hellfire
That's where I'm bound
RILEY: History
is really important
because we learn about
butt holes and vaginas
that happened a long time ago.
In the past, adults used
to dress in shitty -
and kids...
[music stops]
[crickets chirping]
Mom, I need a shirt.
They're in the washing machine.
We don't have a washing machine.
That was at the old house.
What are you talking about?
Never mind.
I'm sorry.
[birds chirping]
What are you doing?
Being a worm.
That's fucking stupid.
Let's go, dear both.
MARY: Where's Mom?
She's not coming.
MARY: How do you know?
Hardware?
Down on 12th.
- What are you doing?
- OShut up.
Riley!
- Give it.
- Hey, let go.
No! Mom would let me have it.
Mom's not here!
Hey. Is everything
cool back here?
Riley won't share.
Looks like there's enough
to go around.
Share with your sister.
It's on me.
So, haven't seen you two before.
We live on the mountain.
The mountain.
That sounds like fun.
Yeah, sometimes it's boring.
There aren't any other kids
except for this one girl,
but she hurt Riley.
Are you okay?
My mom hit the other girl
right in the face.
Mary.
Everyone's okay.
My mom didn't hurt anybody.
My mom is scary sometimes.
Shut up!
When I was your age,
my parents would fight.
And it was scary.
And sometimes
they would hit people, too.
Does your Mom hurt you?
You can talk to me.
It's fine. We need to go.
Mary, let's go.
It's okay to ask for help.
What the fuck
do you think you're doing?
Get away from them.
We were talking about Mom.
Girls, in the car.
-MARY: But we were-
-Now!
What did you tell her
about your mom?
RILEY: I didn't tell her
anything.
[tires screeching]
[instrumental music]
STEVE: It's like Reagan, man.
Remember Reagan? He said,
"Be as a shining city
on the hill." Right?
And he fucking got that shit
from the Bible.
But he said it best.
God, fucking badass.
City on a hill, I like that.
- You're on it.
- Yeah.
We're the shining city
on the hill, right?
That's us, dude.
That's fucking us.
- That's what we're doing.
- Yeah.
And they don't fucking get it.
- Yeah. Who?
- Huh?
Who?
The fucking uptight elites.
Wait.
Are you fucking listening to me?
You gotta fucking breathe.
[pensive music]
[Alice sobbing]
[glass shatters]
[Alice sobbing]
I'm sorry.
I don't know
what's happening to me.
Oh, baby.
I need a doctor.
Hey, who's going
to pay for that?
I mean, this place
is good for you.
Now, you said
you were good here.
You said it was helping.
[Alice sobbing]
[bird chirping]
What are you guys doing?
Are your parents home?
- Can I help you?
- Mr. Hayes.
I'm Loraine Miller.
I'm with the Department
of Child and Family Services.
Okay.
We've received a child
welfare report for your family.
A report from who?
May we come in?
And do either of you
have a criminal record?
No.
Do you discipline your children?
No.
I mean, yes.
I mean, if they're bad,
but we don't hit them.
I mean, are you asking
if we hit our children?
These are just
standard questions.
If your children are injured,
do you have contingencies
in place
for their medical care?
Yeah. We have a first aid kit.
May I see it?
Sure.
Do you have a copy
of your children's
current school records?
Uh, we home school our children.
My wife's a teacher,
professionally.
Oh, you're licensed?
Yeah, she's credentialed
in California.
I'm sorry, sir.
I'd like her to answer,
if that's all right.
Ma'am.
I was credentialed
with the California Board
of Education,
but that lapsed
during a leave of absence.
I do still have my early
childhood credential, though.
Would you like to see it?
That would be helpful.
Quite a few families
up here home school.
Normally, though,
we have standardized reporting
and benchmarks that we expect
parents to provide annually.
Hmm. Of course.
Yeah. Yeah. Found it.
Okay.
I'm going to need to speak
to your children in private.
Is there somewhere
we can do that?
And what's this a picture of?
A turtle with no shell.
Hmm. That's very creative.
You need to know that it's okay
to be honest with me.
Are we in trouble?
Nobody's in trouble.
Then, why are you here?
I'm here to help. That's it.
What does that mean?
It means that I'm here to do
whatever I can
to help your parents
make this the best home for you
that it can possibly be.
Have you helped lots of people?
LORAINE MILLER: I have.
Riley.
Is there something
you need to tell me?
Does it always take this long?
Can I speak to you outside?
What did you guys talk about?
What did she say?
She's going to help.
How is she going to help?
Riley!
She's going to help mom.
Riley, whatever you told her,
you have to tell her
that it's a lie.
Do you understand me?
- It wasn't.
- I don't care!
Mr. and Mrs. Hayes,
based on observable evidence
in your home,
I believe it's in the best
interest of the children
to be placed
into the care of DCFS
while we complete
a further investigation.
No. No way.
You said you would help my mom.
She said she would help mom.
DAVE: Whatever my daughter
told you is not true.
Please, I don't understand,
can we just sit down?
We can just, we can just
sit down. Come on.
Calm down, ma'am.
Calm down. Calm down.
Have a seat.
Please, have a seat.
Hey, enough.
Step away from my wife.
Why do I have to go?
You said you would help my mom.
- I'm not a kid!
- It's okay, Riley.
Don't talk to me
like I'm a little kid.
- Calm down.
- Same team, remember?
We're not.
You lied, you're a liar.
You said you would help my mom.
You can't do this.
Riley!
Hey.
You can't do this.
[intense music]
Riley!
[music intensifies]
[crickets chirping]
MAN ON TV: Welcome back
to the game.
SUSIE: It's okay. Hold still.
Okay.
There. All done.
[indistinct chatter over TV]
You know you're gonna
have to go soon?
I know.
[siren wails]
[alarm ringing]
Riley.
You're gonna be late.
Come on, get up. Let's go.
MARY: Mama Carol says we can go
to the good park this weekend.
Stop calling her that.
She's just taking care of us
until we go back home.
Hey. Cool shirt.
Thanks.
What'd you bring for lunch?
Mm-mmm. I don't know.
Want to trade?
Okay.
Thanks.
[girls giggling]
She didn't give you her lunch.
[instrumental music]
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
No, I know.
I'm gonna call you
right back. Hold on.
I'm gonna have to call you back.
Mary, are you okay?
I'm the Taliban.
Riley, get over here.
Happy birthday to you, Riley
Happy birthday to you
What do you think
Mom and Dad are doing right now?
They'll be at the house.
Do you think they'll visit?
No.
Mama Carol said
that maybe they would.
Happy birthday to you
[melancholy music]
[hooting and chirping]
MARY: No!
[indistinct chatter]
Hey, guys. He's here.
[Mary gasps]
Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!
Hey! Oh.
It's good to see you.
What, no hug for your old man?
That's okay.
Whoo, heck of a grip.
Hey, what happened to your eye?
There was an incident.
Someone hurt you?
She got into a fight
with some other girls at school.
Hey, who wants pizza, huh?
MARY: Is Mommy coming?
No. Mom couldn't make it.
But she told me to tell you that
she loves you both very much.
What's the matter? You don't eat
your crust anymore.
When did that happen?
Come on, crust builds character.
Oh, it's terrible.
Warned you.
Oh, it speaks.
How is school?
I had to go to a new one.
A new school, when?
It's on the same campus.
DAVE: I... don't understand.
Riley is enrolled in a satellite
program for children
who need some extra
academic support.
That's for stupid kids.
Riley, you're not stupid.
This doesn't make any sense.
I mean, she's a great reader.
She loves school.
[phone chiming]
What is this?
Medicine.
For what?
My brain.
It's generic methylphenidate.
She's on a relatively
low dosage.
Mary was diagnosed with ADHD.
She's just a little kid.
She has a personality.
You have to get our permission
for that, don't you?
LORAINE: Parental consent
wasn't required in this case.
The foster family and DCFS felt
it was the right choice.
Hey. Baby, does
this stuff help you?
If they say you have to take it,
then you have to take it, okay?
Okay.
If you'll excuse me,
I have to use the restroom.
Maybe you should start
wrapping up.
[Dave sighs]
Hey, I've got a present for you.
What is it?
It's... it's in the car.
You wanna go see it?
Should we wait for Loraine?
Let's not.
We left my medicine.
You don't need those, okay?
You're perfect exactly the
way you are. Come on.
Okay.
Come on, get in the car.
Where's the present?
Uh, I forgot it at home.
Come on, we have to go.
RILEY: Dad? Dad?
- You should write a note.
- What?
Next time
before you leave the house,
you should write a note,
so you don't forget my present.
- RILEY: Dad!
- Good idea.
What?
Can I ride at front?
I've beenolding it in since
I clockedn Monday morning
Come the end of the week
I'm about-to -blow
[intense music]
DAVE: Are you guys ready?
- Yeah.
- Let's do it.
[whispering]
Who let the farts out?
It was who let the frogs out.
- MARY: It's not what Dad said.
- DAVE: I like mine better.
Shouldn't you be gone all ready?
DAVE: Where?
Doing your work today.
DAVE: Uh, it's... it's Sunday.
I thought we could bum around
with the kids.
Hmm. I'm not just gonna let you
watch Sponge Bob all day.
RILEY: I have homework.
Homework?
I'm gonna have a talk
with your teacher.
The way she loads you up.
I know she doesn't grade
any of it.
-MARY: You don't have-
-RILEY: No, it's fine.
I don't want to do it.
DAVE: What can I say?
She's... she's a hard worker.
Hmm. Who's hungry?
You don't have any homework.
Shut up. Pretend.
MARY: This is stupid!
DAVE: Mary, quiet.
Don't set her off again.
Why are we pretending
we're in our old house?
We're not in our old house.
Dave.
Where's the food?
I thought we bought food.
[Alice breathing heavily]
DAVE: Alice.
[helicopter whirring]
It's okay. It's okay, it's okay.
[indistinct yelling]
They're gonna come inside.
Honey, honey,
they're gonna come inside, okay?
OFFICER: Mr. Dave,
your house is surrounded.
DAVE: Alice, look at me,
as long as the kids are here,
they won't come in.
ALICE: You lied to me.
OFFICER: We have
a medical chop on standby.
You need to communicate with us.
[indistinct radio chatter]
[mimics static]
Spider to command, do you copy?
Looks like we got
some heavy manpower out here.
Probably got a fucking rocket
launcher or something.
[mimics static]
[indistinct radio chatter]
OFFICER: Mr. Hayes,
this is going to end.
You do not control that.
Think about your family.
[melancholy music]
MARY: Why do they do
this every night?
RILEY: So we can't sleep.
They want us to leave.
Mary.
- What?
- Drums or guitar?
Come on, gotta think fast,
drums or guitar?
Oh, guitar.
All right, cool.
[heavy metal music]
[birds chirping]
Hey, take it easy.
Ow!
Hey, that hurts.
Mama Carol says
they have to do it tight
so I don't look like a slob.
Mama Carol called you a slob?
Hmm. Yeah.
Hmm.
Mama Carol sounds like a bitch.
[Mary giggling]
[somber music]
[birds chirping]
[indistinct radio chatter]
How about that drink you wanted?
For real?
Yeah, sure. Why not?
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
We gotta cheers to something.
Make it official.
Pioneers?
Yeah, sure. Pioneers.
[coughs]
Does it taste better
when you're older?
Nah. You just get better
at drinking it.
Do you have a plan?
No.
I like this, though.
What?
Being together again.
Yeah.
Me too.
[heavy metal music]
[melancholy music]
[helicopter whirring]
MARY: Is there food?
ON PHONE: 911 operator.
Hey, can I get
a two meatball subs,
toasted turkey sandwich
and a salami sandwich?
Dad.
No, no lettuce
on the salami, please.
OPERATOR: Is this a joke?
No, it's not a joke.
I don't have a phone book
and my kids are hungry.
OPERATOR: Sir, this is -
we don't deliver sandwiches.
Well, why don't you tell
one of your guys
parked outside of my house
to go get one?
OPERATOR:
Who am I speaking with?
This is Dave Hayes.
[car approaching]
[footsteps approaching]
[knocks at door]
Drop it at the door.
I'm not fucking around.
You're gonna let me in or what?
So you just took the kids
and walked right out the door?
Pretty much.
And then you...
you came back here.
Yeah, well,
we weren't doing too well
without them here.
Hmm.
Kids belong with their parents.
Sheriff gave a press conference.
Said you opened fire
on a cruiser
when they pulled up.
I hadn't fired a shot
in the air.
That's about it.
Well, I'm personally willing
to testify under oath
you couldn't hit shit
if you tried.
That being said,
he had a driveway full of cops
who don't know you
as well as I do.
Danik's protesting
the police, made signs
and everything.
He got the whole family
camped out at the turnout.
Personally, I think
Steve likes being on TV.
God bless him.
So we're the Danik clan's
last stand, huh?
Well, you're going to die
on a cross,
make it a big one.
I don't know how big we are.
Don't tell that
to the news crews.
They got these people
on little boxes
talking about your six, seven,
eight on screen at once.
Are any of them on our team?
Mostly just the assholes.
Well, us assholes
are a proud people.
We have to stick together.
What'd you learn from this?
Like I said, kids belong
with their parents.
No, I mean, from all of it,
this... this place.
Man, I thought it'd be nice
not to be part of the world
anymore.
What do you got
against the world?
It had something against us.
You know,
this is the world, right?
You're still in it, buddy.
All he did was move
to the top of a mountain.
Can you help us?
Can you talk to them?
Tell them
that we're good people.
When I was in the Corps,
during basic,
they put us in a room and tossed
in percussion grenades.
It was fast.
You go blind.
The shock wave wrecks
your inner ear
so you can't stand.
I saw grown men puking
their guts out
till nothing but bile came out.
What do you think
one of those grenades
will do to a child?
What do we do?
Let me walk out
with the kids, today.
Whose side are you on?
They're coming in, Dave.
I don't know when,
but this will end.
But you...
What, you're trying to take
my family away from me?
You need to end this right.
- You need to leave.
- No, not yet.
Dave, stop.
Riley, Dad.
Baby.
He's right.
What are you
fucking talking about?
What do you mean?
You don't ever want
to see our kids again?
- Is that what you want?
- Dave, stop.
You think I'm some
sort of fucking joke, huh?
This is my house!
- [gunshot]
- Ahh!
OFFICER:
Shots fired, shots fired.
- Get out!
- [gunshot]
- Find a safe place to hide.
- Don't talk to my fucking kids.
- Girls, upstairs.
- ALICE: Dave.
- Get out of my fucking house!
- Okay.
Get out!
Stay back.
Stay back from the door.
DAVE: Move!
Get the fuck out
of my house, Eric.
Argh! Fuck you!
Dad.
Oh, jeez! No.
Alice.
Hey, no, don't go,
don't go, don't go.
Stay with me. Stay with me.
Do you understand?
Girls, come here.
Keep pressure on her.
Mommy. Please. Please, please.
Keep pressure on it.
You don't need me anymore.
You're all grown up now.
Promise me that you won't leave.
Promise!
Promise!
Promise.
[intense music]
DAVE: Get out of the way,
get out of the way, move, move.
Hon, you're okay, you're okay.
Riley, anything that
comes through that door,
you shoot it.
Do you understand me?
Do you understand me?
Honey, honey, honey, honey.
Honey.
Stay with me, okay?
Just stay with me.
It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
You're gonna be okay.
I promise you.
OFFICER: Mr. Hayes, is
everyone inside okay?
You shot my wife!
Fuck you! Fuck you!
OFFICER: Hold your fire.
Hold your fucking fire.
Why can't you just
leave us alone?
We just want to be left alone!
It's all we ever wanted!
Fuck you!
[gun firing]
Dad!
We just want to be left alone.
That's it.
- Why can't you do that?
- Dad! Dad!
What?
Stop!
You want to see your mom die?
They did this to her.
They shot her.
They're going to come in here
and take her away from me.
No.
Now you shut up
and listen to me.
No, you listen.
You don't ever listen.
All Mom ever needed was help.
They didn't do this to her.
You did.
[groaning]
[sobbing]
We'll never be a family again.
This isn't home anymore.
It hasn't been
for a really long time.
But this place doesn't make us
a family.
It never did.
I'm sorry.
[melancholy music]
RILEY: Once there was a family
of pioneers,
who were looking
for a better life.
There was a big sister
and a little sister.
There was a mom and a dad.
They made lots of mistakes,
but they tried their best.
They had a house
on top of a mountain.
And they laughed and fished
and grew their own vegetables.
[melancholy music]
Most of the time
they were happy...
except for the parts
that were sad.
[music continues]
They weren't perfect,
but they were a family.
Give me land, lots of land
under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide
open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself
in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur
of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever
but I ask you please
Don't fence me in
I want to ride to the ridge
where the west commences
And gaze at the moon
'till I lose my senses
I can't look at hovels
and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in
[indistinct radio chatter]
RILEY HAYES: Once
it was a family of pioneers.
They were looking
for a better life.
[music continues]
The family came from a big city,
but then they ran out of money
and they had to leave.
There was a big sister
and a little sister.
There was a mom and a dad.
They weren't perfect.
But they were a family.
[indistinct radio chatter]
MAN ON RADIO: ...and
are throwing in the towel.
The indicators are right there.
We have the highest
unemployment in-
and growing segment
of the population
who are taking out more
than they are putting in
at a national debt
that outweighs our GDP.
Folks, we are living
in a house of cards.
And when the walls
come tumbling down...
Riley, we can't leave
without you.
You'd never survive on your own.
I would.
Oh, yeah?
What would you eat?
Cereal.
There's three boxes
in the kitchen.
All right, Cap'n Crunch.
Let's roll.
This is home.
No, home
is where we're together.
Promise?
[melancholy music]
[car door closing]
[engine starts]
MARY HAYES: Vroom, vroom,
vroom, vroom, vroom.
[Mary neighs and nickers]
Vroom, vroom, vroom,
vroom, vroom.
DAVE HAYES: How you girls
doing back there?
After we move,
are you going to have a job
like before?
Not right away.
You know, unless I want one.
You know why?
Because we're going on
an adventure.
You know adventurers, right?
Like a Tarzan.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah, like a Tarzan.
I like the monkeys.
[whooping]
Mommy...
[pensive music]
MAN ON RADIO: People out there
are pissed off.
They've lost homes, businesses,
and they're not taking it
anymore.
The phone lines are blowing up.
Let's go to Dennis in Milwaukee.
What's up, man?
DENNIS ON RADIO: Jerry, look,
we're going to talk about
what the last caller was saying.
I gotta...
[song playing over radio]
When can I play?
Never.
Why?
Your brain
is still little and stupid.
Someday it'll grow up
and it'll work better.
Riley, share with your sister.
She doesn't even know
how to play.
She just wants to press buttons.
- Uh, excuse me.
- Yeah.
Yeah. My husband and I, we split
the combo number one,
but we didn't get
the hash browns
since he had chose
the hash browns.
Yeah, that's just
how they do it.
All combos are $7.99.
Doesn't really matter
if you get everything or not.
I just don't want
to pay for the hash browns.
Will you take it off?
-Like I said, the-
-You know what?
I'd love to have
the hash browns.
Thank you.
WAITRESS: Be right out.
Mom.
Mary!
MARY: Mommy, look.
It's name is Cookie.
Baby, you...
you can't do that, okay?
I love riding her.
She's very pretty.
- And I love braiding her hair.
- Okay?
She comes from Unicorn Land
and she's a very rare unicorn.
She's very pretty.
[song playing over radio]
I woke up this morning
And found a note on my head
Said I'm leaving you, baby
And I'm leaving you
a whole can of beans
And then I drove
my pickup truck
Down to the corner store
And got myself some beers
But I had to lay
my woman down
Because she's bugging me
all around town
That is what she does
And I left you
an old can of beans
Yes
[birds chirping]
[ominous music]
ALICE HAYES: Guys, we're here.
[insects chirping]
[crow cawing]
What is this place?
Home.
[birds chirping]
Pipe wrench.
I'll get you.
What do you think?
Call it a day?
I'm not tired.
It's because you're not the one
on top of the house.
First lesson
of upper management.
Respect union breaks
or the workers will strike.
[exhales sharply]
Thanks, hon.
Hey, little monster.
Get over here
and finish your food.
What, you don't like it?
Tomatoes are gross.
What? No. They're so good.
[grunts]
When do we go back to school?
What if you don't have to?
What if you could
just stay up here?
Kids have to go to school.
Okay.
Then this is a school.
What is?
This cabin.
It can be a school. It can be
whatever you want it to be.
- Really?
- Mary likes it.
If you could learn about
anything, what would it be?
I like history.
Then we'll learn history.
Your mom and I, we had two jobs
so we could buy groceries
that somebody else grew.
Send you to school
where somebody else taught.
And it was backwards.
We make the rules now.
All four of us.
This place, it's just us.
It's ours.
[birds chirping]
[cricket chirps]
[squelching]
Oh. Mm.
Pew. Pew, pew. Pew. Pew.
Now what?
Nothing. You exploded.
When do you explode?
I don't. I'm the American.
You're the Taliban.
Oh, okay.
One, two, three.
RILEY: When the early pioneers
went west, life was hard.
Many spent all their money
on the trip
and had nothing left
when they got there.
They were everyday Americans
who risked everything
for an uncertain reward.
The frontire was a-
Frontier.
The I-E-R is like ear.
[chuckles]
RILEY: The frontier was...
ALICE: Well, what do you guys
want on the flag?
MARY: Can there be stars?
ALICE: How many?
Four?
Why four?
Four of us.
I like pirates.
Like a skull and crossbones?
MARY: No, no, no!
Your sister is afraid
of skeletons.
RILEY: You said
it could be anything.
Anything that doesn't
involve skeletons or the undead.
Sharks.
Sharks we can do.
[instrumental music]
ALICE: You look like a man
with a question.
DAVE: What does that look like?
Hmm. Pensive, squinty eyes,
maybe a little constipated.
Really?
Are you okay?
Better than okay.
Do you think this place
is good for you?
Is it, is it helping?
Hmm.
I love you.
And I love you, too.
[birds chirping]
[mimics static]
Spotted a base command.
We have eyes on target.
Be advised. He has a weapon.
May need air support. Over.
[mimics static]
[car engine revving]
Good afternoon.
You got a minute?
I'm with Building and Safety.
I was up here for an inspection
three or four years back.
The place was already
in foreclosure then
but it looked like hell.
DAVE: Yeah, I found some
spare lumber around the place,
you know, fixed what I could.
INSPECTOR:
Power come off the grid?
DAVE: Yep.
Hoping to go solar, though.
Phone?
Uh, old land line hookup.
And where's your septic?
Uh... over there, I think.
Yeah.
You smell that?
You got a leak.
You're gonna need
to dig out the tank,
patch it, maybe replace.
[flies buzzing]
Come on.
You've got farms in the valley.
County considers
cross-contamination
to be an E. coli risk.
Previous owner probably
got grandfathered in.
I... I got to dig it out myself?
You got a winch?
- No.
- You're going to need a winch.
It's bullshit.
No, that is your shit
running into the county's
water table.
Fuck's sake!
MARY: What do you think
they look like?
Do you think
that they're yellow?
You think they're orange?
RILEY: How do you not know
what a monkey looks like?
[Mary whooping]
Mary!
Mary! Mary!
Mary!
MARY: She said there weren't,
but I think I found one.
Have you seen any in the trees?
I think they only come out
at night.
And that's why
nobody's seen them.
Is she with you?
I'm Eric.
Riley.
Well, Riley,
you gonna give her
the bad news about the monkeys?
Or am I gonna have
to be the one?
So it's a night
before Thanksgiving.
We got some family
coming into town.
So Susie cooks up everything
the day before,
the bird, mashed potatoes,
cornbread, that works.
That night I wake up,
I hear this crashing
coming from downstairs.
It's like a marching band's
moving in.
Now I just figured
it was Susie, right?
Figured she was putting the last
minute touches on the meal.
Then I hear this deep,
deep grumbling inches
from the back of my neck.
MARY: Oh. Was it a monster?
It was worse.
It was Susie snoring.
SUSIE LIND: I do not.
[mimics snoring]
[all laughing]
So then I go downstairs, right?
The fridge is wide open,
and I kid you not,
there is this guy
gorging his face,
going to town on Susie's food.
And I'm like, "Hey, buddy,
that's our Thanksgiving dinner."
DAVE: Well, what did he say?
"The neighbor's food
was better."
He's like, "The neighbor's
food was better."
"Get the hell out of my house."
Yeah. That's when we decided
that Tampa wasn't for us.
Too many lunatics.
Those people
should be permanently locked up,
as far as I'm concerned.
- Bourbon?
- ERIC LIND: Oh, yes.
Hey, old man.
Pour me up a tall one
on the rocks.
[all chuckling]
SUSIE: Have you all seen
the bear that's been
roaming around here?
ERIC: You walk all the way
down to the creek.
There's a little waterfall,
but you-
Guns are bad.
Well, uh, guns can be bad,
but if it's used correctly,
it's just a tool,
like a screwdriver.
MARY: Or like a pipe wrench.
That too.
I'm sorry if I made anyone
feel uncomfortable.
I'm used to carrying it
everywhere.
I'm sorry.
Nah. We're a bunch
of city folk talking.
ALICE: We made a mistake, babe.
We're going home.
DAVE: The girls
are having fun out here.
I like it, and I think
it's great to be up here.
Is Mom okay?
DAVE: And we do not
have to deal
with the real world right now,
okay?
That is the best for you.
We moved up here for you.
- You understand that?
- She'll be fine.
ALICE: We're nothing
like these peoples!
We're going back...
She'll be better in the morning.
ALICE: We're going
to figure it out.
[door closes]
Do you think
Eric kills people with his gun?
Probably.
How many?
Ten.
Really?
Yeah.
Shot them right in the head.
I mean, their brains explode
like spaghetti.
I don't think he kills anyone.
[instrumental music]
You can fix it, right?
Yeah.
Motherfucker!
Fucking winch!
Where am I going
to find a fucking winch?
ERIC: Remember
what we talked about.
You take a breath.
Exhale slowly.
And whenever you're ready.
Ha-ha! Nice shot.
You're a natural.
Look, uh,
it's none of my business,
so you just tell me
to fuck right off
if I'm overstepping.
Is Alice okay with her
being out here?
Yeah. Yeah, she's okay.
She's... she's fine.
Alice is bipolar.
A year ago, she was teaching
elementary school and...
she had an episode
and she thought a student
was somebody they weren't.
And it was pretty bad.
She...
She just needs some time off.
Get some rest.
Get her mind right.
I mean, they put her
on this medication
and it helps for a while,
but she always gets worse.
But up here, she seems good.
You know?
I think this is a really
good place for her.
She's happy. We're happy.
[crickets chirping]
[birds chirping]
Chin up.
You'll be a family
of mountain men in no time.
Pioneers.
DAVE: Yeah.
We have all the help we can get.
Do you have a winch?
-Sweetheart, don't bother-
-I don't.
But I might know
someone who does.
I... I may need a favor.
[upbeat music]
All right. How does it look?
Is it tight?
- DAVE: Yep.
- Okay.
I figure you can plug
that leak with a can of sealer
and drop it
in the ground up there.
Mr. Danik,
I can't say how much...
Oh, Mr. Danik?
Mr. Danik's my dad.
Come on, Steve, man.
- All right, Steve.
- We're neighbors.
Yeah. You'd do
the same thing for me, right?
Yeah, of course.
You're a real badass
motherfucker, aren't you?
You're the real deal.
We're a dying breed up here.
Hey, Lana, you want to operate
the winch.
Wait. Seriously?
Hell no. He's not serious.
Come on.
You want a beer?
- Yeah.
- Let's go.
RUTH: Squeeze the trigger.
Don't yank it.
All right.
Then what?
It's going to kick you
in the shoulders,
so keep it tight.
Kick?
You're going to want
to keep... keep it right...
keep the butt right up in there.
ALICE: All right.
Yeah.
Oh! That hurts.
You got something
that doesn't rip your arm off?
That thing's got more recoil
than a 12-gauge.
So it'll be smooth sailing
after this.
Gave our daughter one
when she turned seven.
Dumbass kid shot right next
to her brother's head.
Still can't hear us
half the time.
[gunshot]
LANA: What did your dad do?
He used to work
at a mine, but he got fired.
Now?
I don't know,
he's like a farmer, I think.
That's pretty good.
My family's rich as shit.
We just live up here because
we like hunting and fishing.
Could probably even live
in Beverly Hills if we wanted.
Have a pool or something.
We used to have a pool.
I'm talking about a real pool.
Not your family's weak-ass pool.
Should we go back?
You scared?
I'm trying to show you
the big dog shit.
You a big dog?
I think so.
Good.
[birds chirping]
Cool place.
Yeah, it's pretty sweet.
Thinking about putting
an ice machine
in over there for the summer.
What do you do in here?
Adult shit.
You're clinging it!
Be careful with the pages. Okay?
Okay.
I drink my dad's beer sometimes.
We should go back.
Why?
I think I may be heard
somebody yelling,
so we should go back.
If you didn't want
to hang out with me,
you should've just said so.
It's just...
I... I don't want to drink it.
I thought we could be friends.
We can.
Drink it.
You gotta drink! Drink it!
Hey! Get back here!
You said you're a big dog.
[panting]
I'm sorry I didn't do that.
I didn't do that, okay?
DAVE: Riley!
- Okay?
- STEVE DANIK: Hey, what's up?
- What's going on?
- Riley.
- Are you okay? Yeah?
- LANA DANIK: I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to.
It was an accident.
I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry.
You shouldn't move.
You shouldn't move.
It's okay.
Let me take care of her.
I just want to see you.
I just want you to move for me.
Just move it.
How's that?
Yeah, it hurts a little? Okay.
All right. Well, you know what?
Looks like you wrenched
a little bit,
but I think you're going
to live.
Riley.
What's going on? What happened?
Mom.
Oh, God. Are you okay?
Oh, baby.
LANA: I'm sorry,
it was an accident.
It was an accident.
What did she do to you?
Why would she hurt you?
It's okay.
ALICE: What did you do to her?
I'm sorry. It was an accident.
We were just playing.
This is not playing.
What did you do?
I'm sorry, it was an accident.
I'm sorry.
What did you do?
What did you do?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
Honey, honey, honey, honey.
Honey, honey. Honey, cut it out.
Honey. Hey, look at me.
Look at me.
Hey, look at me.
Look at me.
It's okay. It's okay.
Look, she's okay.
All right. Look at her.
- LANA: I'm so sorry.
- She's okay. Look at me.
LANA: I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean it.
[Lana sobbing]
- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
- Hey, stop crying!
Okay? Enough.
Sorry this happened.
Yeah. We'll make it up
to you somehow.
And she's going to be...
it's going to be okay, so.
It's okay. She's okay.
- She's not okay.
- She's okay. Look at her.
- She's fine.
- She's not okay.
Come on.
Riley, let's go.
RILEY: Mom is sick.
MARY: Like a cold?
RILEY: She got like this before.
You don't remember.
MARY: I remember.
Dad took her to the doctor.
Then she was Mom again.
RILEY: I don't think
Dad's going to take her
to the doctor this time.
It's different than before.
MARY: Is Dad sick too?
RILEY: No.
Just different.
ALICE: And I feel like
it's been so long.
When was the last time
that... that I saw you?
My kids are older now.
You have to see them
before you go.
You just don't know
where they go off to.
Hmm.
MARY: I'm here.
You know, the kids.
They're growing up so fast.
You just turn around one day
and boom, they're little people.
It's me.
I'm here.
Mary?
I thought...
Of course it's you.
Of course it's you.
I'm so sorry, babe.
That's okay.
[rock music]
[indistinct chatter]
I built this shit myself.
This is my only child.
This is my only child.
Fuck those other kids.
This is a serious motherfucking
weapon of war right here, buddy.
[indistinct chatter]
No.
[groans]
It's pretty cool
that your parents
let you hang out late.
Push the sides in, dumb fuck.
I brought the spray.
Trying to get fucked up or what?
You going in?
Yeah. I will.
Hey, I'll beat your ass.
JAY: Take it easy.
We're just fucking around.
Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, wait, wait.
Are you serious?
What?
Huffing,
that's old school.
Best high is to take it
direct, the rag just dilutes it.
Everyone knows that.
- JAY: Since when?
- Since always.
Look, you want to get blasted,
ditch the rag
and stick it right in here.
Fine, man. If you're too much
of a pussy,
let daddy do it for you.
Fuck off!
[all laughing]
JAY: Fuck you, man!
Fuck you!
RICK: You're so stupid.
RILEY: Dad.
Is Mom okay?
Yeah, Mom's fine.
She's just tired.
You know how she gets
when she's tired.
It's not easy taking care
of everyone all the time.
Should she go to a doctor?
Mom doesn't need a doctor.
She just needs rest.
She'll be good, I promise you.
Mom?
Mom?
When they got here,
they were over 500 native tribes
already in the United States.
But as white
settlers moved west,
violence increased
between these newcomers
and the local tribes.
In 1800, the Indian population
of the United States
was roughly 600,000.
But by 1890,
it had dropped to only 250,000.
MARY: Where did they go?
They died.
Why?
We killed them.
Riley, your sister doesn't-
It's true.
Your sister doesn't like that.
The remaining Indian tribes
had the lands taken from them
and were forced
onto reservations
where thousands more died
of starvation and-
Riley.
Why did they kill them?
Mom.
[sighs]
Riley.
Did you take out
one of these pages?
It's okay if you did.
You can tell me the truth.
No more school today.
[water trickling]
You look cool.
Really?
[coughs]
[both laugh]
I felt bad everybodytgot dressed up
But I knew'd messed up
so I had to 'fess up
That all-really wanted was
just to get drunk as-hell
Now!
So I jilted that poor woman
and got drunk as hell
[brakes screech]
Hey, kid!
Get over here!
Fuck you!
Fuck me? Fuck you.
I'm talking 'bout hellfire,
hellfire!
Hellfire! Hellfire!
Oh, hellfire
That's where I'm bound
RILEY: History
is really important
because we learn about
butt holes and vaginas
that happened a long time ago.
In the past, adults used
to dress in shitty -
and kids...
[music stops]
[crickets chirping]
Mom, I need a shirt.
They're in the washing machine.
We don't have a washing machine.
That was at the old house.
What are you talking about?
Never mind.
I'm sorry.
[birds chirping]
What are you doing?
Being a worm.
That's fucking stupid.
Let's go, dear both.
MARY: Where's Mom?
She's not coming.
MARY: How do you know?
Hardware?
Down on 12th.
- What are you doing?
- OShut up.
Riley!
- Give it.
- Hey, let go.
No! Mom would let me have it.
Mom's not here!
Hey. Is everything
cool back here?
Riley won't share.
Looks like there's enough
to go around.
Share with your sister.
It's on me.
So, haven't seen you two before.
We live on the mountain.
The mountain.
That sounds like fun.
Yeah, sometimes it's boring.
There aren't any other kids
except for this one girl,
but she hurt Riley.
Are you okay?
My mom hit the other girl
right in the face.
Mary.
Everyone's okay.
My mom didn't hurt anybody.
My mom is scary sometimes.
Shut up!
When I was your age,
my parents would fight.
And it was scary.
And sometimes
they would hit people, too.
Does your Mom hurt you?
You can talk to me.
It's fine. We need to go.
Mary, let's go.
It's okay to ask for help.
What the fuck
do you think you're doing?
Get away from them.
We were talking about Mom.
Girls, in the car.
-MARY: But we were-
-Now!
What did you tell her
about your mom?
RILEY: I didn't tell her
anything.
[tires screeching]
[instrumental music]
STEVE: It's like Reagan, man.
Remember Reagan? He said,
"Be as a shining city
on the hill." Right?
And he fucking got that shit
from the Bible.
But he said it best.
God, fucking badass.
City on a hill, I like that.
- You're on it.
- Yeah.
We're the shining city
on the hill, right?
That's us, dude.
That's fucking us.
- That's what we're doing.
- Yeah.
And they don't fucking get it.
- Yeah. Who?
- Huh?
Who?
The fucking uptight elites.
Wait.
Are you fucking listening to me?
You gotta fucking breathe.
[pensive music]
[Alice sobbing]
[glass shatters]
[Alice sobbing]
I'm sorry.
I don't know
what's happening to me.
Oh, baby.
I need a doctor.
Hey, who's going
to pay for that?
I mean, this place
is good for you.
Now, you said
you were good here.
You said it was helping.
[Alice sobbing]
[bird chirping]
What are you guys doing?
Are your parents home?
- Can I help you?
- Mr. Hayes.
I'm Loraine Miller.
I'm with the Department
of Child and Family Services.
Okay.
We've received a child
welfare report for your family.
A report from who?
May we come in?
And do either of you
have a criminal record?
No.
Do you discipline your children?
No.
I mean, yes.
I mean, if they're bad,
but we don't hit them.
I mean, are you asking
if we hit our children?
These are just
standard questions.
If your children are injured,
do you have contingencies
in place
for their medical care?
Yeah. We have a first aid kit.
May I see it?
Sure.
Do you have a copy
of your children's
current school records?
Uh, we home school our children.
My wife's a teacher,
professionally.
Oh, you're licensed?
Yeah, she's credentialed
in California.
I'm sorry, sir.
I'd like her to answer,
if that's all right.
Ma'am.
I was credentialed
with the California Board
of Education,
but that lapsed
during a leave of absence.
I do still have my early
childhood credential, though.
Would you like to see it?
That would be helpful.
Quite a few families
up here home school.
Normally, though,
we have standardized reporting
and benchmarks that we expect
parents to provide annually.
Hmm. Of course.
Yeah. Yeah. Found it.
Okay.
I'm going to need to speak
to your children in private.
Is there somewhere
we can do that?
And what's this a picture of?
A turtle with no shell.
Hmm. That's very creative.
You need to know that it's okay
to be honest with me.
Are we in trouble?
Nobody's in trouble.
Then, why are you here?
I'm here to help. That's it.
What does that mean?
It means that I'm here to do
whatever I can
to help your parents
make this the best home for you
that it can possibly be.
Have you helped lots of people?
LORAINE MILLER: I have.
Riley.
Is there something
you need to tell me?
Does it always take this long?
Can I speak to you outside?
What did you guys talk about?
What did she say?
She's going to help.
How is she going to help?
Riley!
She's going to help mom.
Riley, whatever you told her,
you have to tell her
that it's a lie.
Do you understand me?
- It wasn't.
- I don't care!
Mr. and Mrs. Hayes,
based on observable evidence
in your home,
I believe it's in the best
interest of the children
to be placed
into the care of DCFS
while we complete
a further investigation.
No. No way.
You said you would help my mom.
She said she would help mom.
DAVE: Whatever my daughter
told you is not true.
Please, I don't understand,
can we just sit down?
We can just, we can just
sit down. Come on.
Calm down, ma'am.
Calm down. Calm down.
Have a seat.
Please, have a seat.
Hey, enough.
Step away from my wife.
Why do I have to go?
You said you would help my mom.
- I'm not a kid!
- It's okay, Riley.
Don't talk to me
like I'm a little kid.
- Calm down.
- Same team, remember?
We're not.
You lied, you're a liar.
You said you would help my mom.
You can't do this.
Riley!
Hey.
You can't do this.
[intense music]
Riley!
[music intensifies]
[crickets chirping]
MAN ON TV: Welcome back
to the game.
SUSIE: It's okay. Hold still.
Okay.
There. All done.
[indistinct chatter over TV]
You know you're gonna
have to go soon?
I know.
[siren wails]
[alarm ringing]
Riley.
You're gonna be late.
Come on, get up. Let's go.
MARY: Mama Carol says we can go
to the good park this weekend.
Stop calling her that.
She's just taking care of us
until we go back home.
Hey. Cool shirt.
Thanks.
What'd you bring for lunch?
Mm-mmm. I don't know.
Want to trade?
Okay.
Thanks.
[girls giggling]
She didn't give you her lunch.
[instrumental music]
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
No, I know.
I'm gonna call you
right back. Hold on.
I'm gonna have to call you back.
Mary, are you okay?
I'm the Taliban.
Riley, get over here.
Happy birthday to you, Riley
Happy birthday to you
What do you think
Mom and Dad are doing right now?
They'll be at the house.
Do you think they'll visit?
No.
Mama Carol said
that maybe they would.
Happy birthday to you
[melancholy music]
[hooting and chirping]
MARY: No!
[indistinct chatter]
Hey, guys. He's here.
[Mary gasps]
Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!
Hey! Oh.
It's good to see you.
What, no hug for your old man?
That's okay.
Whoo, heck of a grip.
Hey, what happened to your eye?
There was an incident.
Someone hurt you?
She got into a fight
with some other girls at school.
Hey, who wants pizza, huh?
MARY: Is Mommy coming?
No. Mom couldn't make it.
But she told me to tell you that
she loves you both very much.
What's the matter? You don't eat
your crust anymore.
When did that happen?
Come on, crust builds character.
Oh, it's terrible.
Warned you.
Oh, it speaks.
How is school?
I had to go to a new one.
A new school, when?
It's on the same campus.
DAVE: I... don't understand.
Riley is enrolled in a satellite
program for children
who need some extra
academic support.
That's for stupid kids.
Riley, you're not stupid.
This doesn't make any sense.
I mean, she's a great reader.
She loves school.
[phone chiming]
What is this?
Medicine.
For what?
My brain.
It's generic methylphenidate.
She's on a relatively
low dosage.
Mary was diagnosed with ADHD.
She's just a little kid.
She has a personality.
You have to get our permission
for that, don't you?
LORAINE: Parental consent
wasn't required in this case.
The foster family and DCFS felt
it was the right choice.
Hey. Baby, does
this stuff help you?
If they say you have to take it,
then you have to take it, okay?
Okay.
If you'll excuse me,
I have to use the restroom.
Maybe you should start
wrapping up.
[Dave sighs]
Hey, I've got a present for you.
What is it?
It's... it's in the car.
You wanna go see it?
Should we wait for Loraine?
Let's not.
We left my medicine.
You don't need those, okay?
You're perfect exactly the
way you are. Come on.
Okay.
Come on, get in the car.
Where's the present?
Uh, I forgot it at home.
Come on, we have to go.
RILEY: Dad? Dad?
- You should write a note.
- What?
Next time
before you leave the house,
you should write a note,
so you don't forget my present.
- RILEY: Dad!
- Good idea.
What?
Can I ride at front?
I've beenolding it in since
I clockedn Monday morning
Come the end of the week
I'm about-to -blow
[intense music]
DAVE: Are you guys ready?
- Yeah.
- Let's do it.
[whispering]
Who let the farts out?
It was who let the frogs out.
- MARY: It's not what Dad said.
- DAVE: I like mine better.
Shouldn't you be gone all ready?
DAVE: Where?
Doing your work today.
DAVE: Uh, it's... it's Sunday.
I thought we could bum around
with the kids.
Hmm. I'm not just gonna let you
watch Sponge Bob all day.
RILEY: I have homework.
Homework?
I'm gonna have a talk
with your teacher.
The way she loads you up.
I know she doesn't grade
any of it.
-MARY: You don't have-
-RILEY: No, it's fine.
I don't want to do it.
DAVE: What can I say?
She's... she's a hard worker.
Hmm. Who's hungry?
You don't have any homework.
Shut up. Pretend.
MARY: This is stupid!
DAVE: Mary, quiet.
Don't set her off again.
Why are we pretending
we're in our old house?
We're not in our old house.
Dave.
Where's the food?
I thought we bought food.
[Alice breathing heavily]
DAVE: Alice.
[helicopter whirring]
It's okay. It's okay, it's okay.
[indistinct yelling]
They're gonna come inside.
Honey, honey,
they're gonna come inside, okay?
OFFICER: Mr. Dave,
your house is surrounded.
DAVE: Alice, look at me,
as long as the kids are here,
they won't come in.
ALICE: You lied to me.
OFFICER: We have
a medical chop on standby.
You need to communicate with us.
[indistinct radio chatter]
[mimics static]
Spider to command, do you copy?
Looks like we got
some heavy manpower out here.
Probably got a fucking rocket
launcher or something.
[mimics static]
[indistinct radio chatter]
OFFICER: Mr. Hayes,
this is going to end.
You do not control that.
Think about your family.
[melancholy music]
MARY: Why do they do
this every night?
RILEY: So we can't sleep.
They want us to leave.
Mary.
- What?
- Drums or guitar?
Come on, gotta think fast,
drums or guitar?
Oh, guitar.
All right, cool.
[heavy metal music]
[birds chirping]
Hey, take it easy.
Ow!
Hey, that hurts.
Mama Carol says
they have to do it tight
so I don't look like a slob.
Mama Carol called you a slob?
Hmm. Yeah.
Hmm.
Mama Carol sounds like a bitch.
[Mary giggling]
[somber music]
[birds chirping]
[indistinct radio chatter]
How about that drink you wanted?
For real?
Yeah, sure. Why not?
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
We gotta cheers to something.
Make it official.
Pioneers?
Yeah, sure. Pioneers.
[coughs]
Does it taste better
when you're older?
Nah. You just get better
at drinking it.
Do you have a plan?
No.
I like this, though.
What?
Being together again.
Yeah.
Me too.
[heavy metal music]
[melancholy music]
[helicopter whirring]
MARY: Is there food?
ON PHONE: 911 operator.
Hey, can I get
a two meatball subs,
toasted turkey sandwich
and a salami sandwich?
Dad.
No, no lettuce
on the salami, please.
OPERATOR: Is this a joke?
No, it's not a joke.
I don't have a phone book
and my kids are hungry.
OPERATOR: Sir, this is -
we don't deliver sandwiches.
Well, why don't you tell
one of your guys
parked outside of my house
to go get one?
OPERATOR:
Who am I speaking with?
This is Dave Hayes.
[car approaching]
[footsteps approaching]
[knocks at door]
Drop it at the door.
I'm not fucking around.
You're gonna let me in or what?
So you just took the kids
and walked right out the door?
Pretty much.
And then you...
you came back here.
Yeah, well,
we weren't doing too well
without them here.
Hmm.
Kids belong with their parents.
Sheriff gave a press conference.
Said you opened fire
on a cruiser
when they pulled up.
I hadn't fired a shot
in the air.
That's about it.
Well, I'm personally willing
to testify under oath
you couldn't hit shit
if you tried.
That being said,
he had a driveway full of cops
who don't know you
as well as I do.
Danik's protesting
the police, made signs
and everything.
He got the whole family
camped out at the turnout.
Personally, I think
Steve likes being on TV.
God bless him.
So we're the Danik clan's
last stand, huh?
Well, you're going to die
on a cross,
make it a big one.
I don't know how big we are.
Don't tell that
to the news crews.
They got these people
on little boxes
talking about your six, seven,
eight on screen at once.
Are any of them on our team?
Mostly just the assholes.
Well, us assholes
are a proud people.
We have to stick together.
What'd you learn from this?
Like I said, kids belong
with their parents.
No, I mean, from all of it,
this... this place.
Man, I thought it'd be nice
not to be part of the world
anymore.
What do you got
against the world?
It had something against us.
You know,
this is the world, right?
You're still in it, buddy.
All he did was move
to the top of a mountain.
Can you help us?
Can you talk to them?
Tell them
that we're good people.
When I was in the Corps,
during basic,
they put us in a room and tossed
in percussion grenades.
It was fast.
You go blind.
The shock wave wrecks
your inner ear
so you can't stand.
I saw grown men puking
their guts out
till nothing but bile came out.
What do you think
one of those grenades
will do to a child?
What do we do?
Let me walk out
with the kids, today.
Whose side are you on?
They're coming in, Dave.
I don't know when,
but this will end.
But you...
What, you're trying to take
my family away from me?
You need to end this right.
- You need to leave.
- No, not yet.
Dave, stop.
Riley, Dad.
Baby.
He's right.
What are you
fucking talking about?
What do you mean?
You don't ever want
to see our kids again?
- Is that what you want?
- Dave, stop.
You think I'm some
sort of fucking joke, huh?
This is my house!
- [gunshot]
- Ahh!
OFFICER:
Shots fired, shots fired.
- Get out!
- [gunshot]
- Find a safe place to hide.
- Don't talk to my fucking kids.
- Girls, upstairs.
- ALICE: Dave.
- Get out of my fucking house!
- Okay.
Get out!
Stay back.
Stay back from the door.
DAVE: Move!
Get the fuck out
of my house, Eric.
Argh! Fuck you!
Dad.
Oh, jeez! No.
Alice.
Hey, no, don't go,
don't go, don't go.
Stay with me. Stay with me.
Do you understand?
Girls, come here.
Keep pressure on her.
Mommy. Please. Please, please.
Keep pressure on it.
You don't need me anymore.
You're all grown up now.
Promise me that you won't leave.
Promise!
Promise!
Promise.
[intense music]
DAVE: Get out of the way,
get out of the way, move, move.
Hon, you're okay, you're okay.
Riley, anything that
comes through that door,
you shoot it.
Do you understand me?
Do you understand me?
Honey, honey, honey, honey.
Honey.
Stay with me, okay?
Just stay with me.
It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
You're gonna be okay.
I promise you.
OFFICER: Mr. Hayes, is
everyone inside okay?
You shot my wife!
Fuck you! Fuck you!
OFFICER: Hold your fire.
Hold your fucking fire.
Why can't you just
leave us alone?
We just want to be left alone!
It's all we ever wanted!
Fuck you!
[gun firing]
Dad!
We just want to be left alone.
That's it.
- Why can't you do that?
- Dad! Dad!
What?
Stop!
You want to see your mom die?
They did this to her.
They shot her.
They're going to come in here
and take her away from me.
No.
Now you shut up
and listen to me.
No, you listen.
You don't ever listen.
All Mom ever needed was help.
They didn't do this to her.
You did.
[groaning]
[sobbing]
We'll never be a family again.
This isn't home anymore.
It hasn't been
for a really long time.
But this place doesn't make us
a family.
It never did.
I'm sorry.
[melancholy music]
RILEY: Once there was a family
of pioneers,
who were looking
for a better life.
There was a big sister
and a little sister.
There was a mom and a dad.
They made lots of mistakes,
but they tried their best.
They had a house
on top of a mountain.
And they laughed and fished
and grew their own vegetables.
[melancholy music]
Most of the time
they were happy...
except for the parts
that were sad.
[music continues]
They weren't perfect,
but they were a family.
Give me land, lots of land
under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide
open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself
in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur
of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever
but I ask you please
Don't fence me in
I want to ride to the ridge
where the west commences
And gaze at the moon
'till I lose my senses
I can't look at hovels
and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in