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(ELLIE SNORING SOFTLY)
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
(WHISPERS) Please don't
leave a message.
(VIBRATES)
(SIGHS)
Hey, where are you going?
I was just coming to see you.
Oh, I'm sorry,
I gotta go see Cole.
Wait, why,
what's up with your brother?
Nothing, I just gotta
go see him.
You gonna ask me?
Ask you what?
How I did in the poker game.
Well, you're not wearing
your shirt, so, I'm guessing
you didn't do too well.
Yeah, only 'cause the guy
who won it from me left early,
so, I didn't get a chance
to win it back.
But about an hour ago,
I turned it around. I won...
...over $200.
So, you've got my money.
I kind of had to pay
some back rent.
I gotta go.
ELLIE: Hi.
Hey, Ellie.
ELLIE: What are you doing?
Sarah wants to start
parking her car in here, so...
All this stuff's
gotta go to Goodwill.
You send your resume
in to that design firm
you were talking about?
They're never
gonna hire somebody
without a degree, so...
COLE: How do you know
without even trying?
I, um, got a call
from somebody in Texas.
Was it Dad?
I don't know, I haven't
listened to the message,
I'm too scared
to listen to it.
You want me to listen to it?
Wha... What do you think
that he wants?
Booze. Or money to buy booze.
Or money to get out of jail
so he can go buy booze.
-Yeah, but do you think
that maybe he...
-Erase it, Ellie.
As far as I'm concerned,
we have a mom and dad
and they're both
very much dead.
Except no one's gotten around
to burying Dad yet.
I think that we should hear
what he has to say.
Let me show you something.
I found this, uh,
this morning.
That trip was about
the last time I can remember
being a whole family.
Who's to blame for that
except Dad?
(CLATTERING)
WOMAN ON RECORDING:
This is a message for Ellie.
This is, uh,
your stepmother, Amanda.
I think you may wanna head on
down here to Texas.
Your daddy had a stroke,
and I don't know if he's gonna
be around much longer.
Anyway, I just thought
I should let you know.
He wants money, right?
Is there anything?
I'm sorry, but this flight
is overbooked.
Yeah, well, I know.
What does that mean?
It means that not everyone
on this flight...
No, I know
what the words mean, but I...
I really have
to get on this flight.
My father is not well.
Uh, it's... There just...
We do have another flight
that leaves at 3:30...
No. Please, um, I...
-I've got to get on this one.
-I don't...
Could you just check for,
like, a last minute
cancellation or...
Please?
(KEYBOARD CLACKING)
I'm sorry, but the 3:30
is the best that we can do.
-But there's...
There's got to be...
-(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
I...
-Hello?
-AMANDA: Ellie? We lost him.
Who, what? Lost who?
I'm afraid we lost your daddy.
He died not two minutes ago.
Hey, there you are!
Oh, hi!
-Wait, you are Ellie,
aren't ya?
-Yeah.
It's a good thing
or I might've been
arrested for being a lesbian.
-Can you get arrested?
-I'm just kidding.
Is that all you have?
-Uh-huh.
-Okay, come on now,
we gotta scoot.
I had no idea
you'd be so late.
-I know.
There was a problem...
-Do you drive a truck?
I guess.
I might've had a few
too many cocktails
waiting for you,
I'm gonna need you to drive.
-(KEYS JANGLING)
-AMANDA: There you go.
(SIGHS) Oh, hang on,
just a sec.
Before you get in,
I wanna show you something.
How's the light out here?
Can you see okay?
ELLIE: See what?
Well, what do you think?
About...
Well, they're
your daddy's suits.
I mean, I like the brown,
but everyone else
seems to like the blue.
Mmm. Maybe we can buy him
something new.
Like some black.
God, are you...
What a waste that'd be.
Actually, can I be
100% honest with you?
-Okay.
-I really don't know that your
daddy wanted to be buried.
Well, what did he want?
I mean, he always said
we could just shove him
under the couch.
But sometimes he'd say
he wanted to be cremated.
-Oh.
-Yeah.
I know you know your daddy
joked around a lot.
I mean, did he ever tell you
or your brother
what he wanted?
Mmm-mmm,
I don't think we ever
talked about his death.
Are you kidding?
He talked about that
all the time.
Come on, hop in.
(SIGHS) What time's
your brother flying in?
-Cole's not coming.
-He's not?
Mmm-mmm.
Well, I didn't know
it was quite like that.
It is, and then some.
So, which way am I going?
-BOY: Grandma!
-(GASPS)
(SIGHS) Tommy,
go back to sleep.
We'll be home soon.
That's my grandson, Tommy.
What, he's just been
out in the car the whole time?
I couldn't exactly bring him
into the airport bar now,
could I?
TOMMY: I'm hungry, Grandma.
Okay, I'll fetch you
something. Just,
when you pull out of here,
make your first right and
head down the road a while.
(LINE RINGING)
-COLE: (OVER PHONE) Hello?
-Hi, it's me.
How was the trip?
Uh, it was a little...
Are you okay?
Did Dad say something
awful to you?
No, Dad's dead.
Really?
He died while I was still
at the airport
and this Amanda woman
called to tell me.
I don't understand,
so you... So you're still
at the airport?
No, I decided to come
to Texas anyway.
-What?
-(TOMMY SQUEALING)
Um, I gotta go,
I'll, I'll call you later.
(CONTINUES SQUEALING)
Come on, get in.
Why can't this just wait
until tomorrow?
It just can't.
Anyway, I thought
you might want
to see your daddy
before they take him
over to the funeral home.
I don't wanna be rude,
but I think that I can
wait to see him.
Okay, look,
can I be 100% honest
with you, Ellie?
Okay.
Technically, me and your daddy
ain't exactly married
on account of
I'm still married
to some no-good son of a bitch
-who lives up near Houston.
-I don't understand.
I need someone to officially
sign some forms
so they can release his body
to the undertakers.
-Someone who's family.
-I see.
I knew you were coming,
I didn't wanna make
your grandparents
have to do it.
Who?
SUSAN: Ellie?
Yeah.
I thought that might be you,
you look just like
your father.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
What's this?
SUSAN: Your father asked
me to give it to you
if you showed up here.
Amanda, where did you
get that wheelchair?
Oh, uh...
These things are not toys.
No, I know, Susan,
it's just he's so heavy.
-You just about done here?
-Uh-huh.
This is where you live?
Oh, this is it.
"Be it ever so humble..."
We had an apartment
down the road,
but your daddy loved
to monkey around
with those guitars.
This place suited him
'cause of the garage.
It's my son's place.
Really, it was too big
for just him and Tommy
by themselves.
He was still making guitars?
Oh, making 'em,
repairing old ones, sure.
Yeah, he worked on 'em
most days.
Don't think he ever finished
too many,
but he loved working on 'em.
All right, come on, love bug.
You gotta get up,
we're goin' in.
(SIGHS) Let's see.
Uh, yeah.
And that's my baby boy.
Jack, this is Ellie.
Mark's daughter.
Oh, he's a charmer.
No, don't worry,
don't worry about a thing,
I'll put your son to bed.
He works hard, so we cut him
a little slack when he acts
like a poo-poo head.
I'll be right back.
There you are.
I can't believe this.
Oh, yeah, well.
That was your daddy's. (SIGHS)
No, but he had this piece
of junk when we were kids.
We used to take
the worst road trips
in this beast.
And he never got it
to work right.
Well, Jack got it running
for me to drive
but I'm too scared
it'll break down.
Who did he make
the guitars for?
Oh, different folks,
here and there.
He'd sell a few every year,
if he'd finish 'em, anyway.
Did he ever make
anything else,
like any violins or...
Violins? No, I don't think so.
Ellie, listen, I...
I was wondering
if you could help me
with the announcement
of your daddy's death.
Uh, I wasn't really
planning on staying.
I might just even
get on the first plane
in the morning.
But you've only been here
two minutes.
And I could really
use your help, please.
At least stay
until after the funeral.
I know, I, I'm sorry...
Isn't this the least
you could do?
Okay.
Sure, I'll stay
until he's in the ground.
All right.
You know, I'd really
like to just, um,
maybe like go for a drive.
See some of the town.
Well, I don't know
if there's that much
to see, but okay.
But the thing is,
Jack needs his truck tonight.
You can try your luck
with that thing.
Is there any other way
of getting into town?
(SCOFFS)
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO)
Don't do that again, Billy.
But I'm hungry.
You said you wasn't hungry.
Just...
Don't you start.
Don't. Billy, don't do that.
Stop it.
Billy, put... You...
Better put that back on.
You got kids of your own?
No.
Then why don't you
mind your own business,
we ain't some TV show
for you to gawk at.
G.D., woman!
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING IN BAR)
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON SPEAKERS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
RENO:
♪ Well, I'm a wild one
to ramble
♪ The whole world
out in front of me
♪ I got places to go
♪ I got people to see...
Is this fellow lip-syncing
to some woman?
Or is he about two balls
short of a sack?
♪ I'm headed
for the big town... ♪
(GLASS SHATTERS)
(MAN SNICKERING)
(LAUGHING)
(PATRONS MURMURING)
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING
ON SPEAKERS)
MAN: Hey,
can I get another one?
I really liked your song.
At least what I heard of it.
You know,
it really pisses me off.
He's just wasting
all that beer.
Does this happen a lot?
Uh, you mean,
bottles getting thrown
at my head?
(CHUCKLING) No, that guy
doesn't come here that often.
-Cheers.
-(BOTTLES CLINK)
What you got there?
ELLIE: Mmm, it's a key.
Hold on...
Is this the key to my heart?
-(CHUCKLES)
-Hey, I have been looking
everywhere for this.
Yeah, I don't know
what it's for.
Um, my father left it for me.
He... He's just, uh...
He died.
Huh.
This is familiar.
-Is it?
-Yeah.
You know, I can't remember
where, but I saw this kind
of key before.
So, you wanna
hear my new song or what?
You're not gonna get
back up there again, are you?
No. Uh, no. I think once
is enough for tonight.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Come on, let's go.
(PLAYING GENTLE SONG)
(SONG ENDS)
That was great.
Thanks.
Um, who is this?
That is Brenda Thacker.
Also known as my mother.
Yeah, she's been in
a diabetic coma here
for three days now.
I'm so sorry,
is she gonna be okay?
Uh, yeah,
I mean, they think so.
But you know.
They're not really sure.
On the plus side,
we never got along so well
as we have these
past three days,
have we, Brenda?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Do you come here every day?
Mmm-hmm.
(PLAYING GENTLE SONG)
Hi.
(GRUNTS)
Hi, um...
I, uh, I don't know
where Amanda is,
but I think
she might be in the back.
Oh, we're here to see you.
Why?
Well, because
you're our granddaughter.
Why wouldn't we wanna see you?
Yeah, we didn't mean
to step on your beauty sleep.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
I carry this picture
around with me
everywhere I go.
Um...
Yeah, I, I remember this day.
Do you have any?
Any what?
Uh, she wants to know
if you have any pictures
of our beautiful faces.
(CHUCKLES)
(CLICKS TONGUE) Uh...
Well, I know
you wouldn't carry them
around with you,
but at home, I was wondering
if you had any.
ELLIE: The thing is um,
when Amanda mentioned you,
yesterday, that was
the first time I knew
that you were even alive.
I, um...
TOMMY: Daddy!
Uh, I'll...
I'll be right back.
TOMMY: Daddy!
Hey, little man.
-How are you?
-Good.
-Where are you going, Daddy?
-I gotta go to work.
-TOMMY: May I please go?
-AMANDA: No, no,
Daddy's gotta work.
We just picked up some food
before Jack takes the truck.
JACK: Yeah, somebody's
gotta work around here.
-What is that supposed
to mean?
-He's cranky in the morning.
Well, he wasn't much nicer
last night.
Well, we keep, uh,
sneaking up on you, don't we?
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Oh.
Oh, it is so good
to finally meet you.
ELLIE: You too.
I've thought about hugging you
and your brother
for so many years.
Hopefully, this is "hello"
instead of "goodbye."
And don't worry, we don't have
that many years left
to bother you.
Oh, Bruce, will you be quiet?
(CHUCKLES)
-Bye.
-AMANDA: Come on, hon.
I let you sleep in, but now,
we gotta shake a leg.
See you got
your parking skills
from your daddy.
AMANDA: Can you talk
to the undertaker
when we get there?
ELLIE: Why?
Oh, I just don't like
those kind of folks.
And I don't know
what kind of coffin
to get and...
Yeah, I can talk to 'em.
(SIGHS) Oh, I just don't know
what to do.
I said I'd talk to him,
it's really not a problem.
It's just that I think
your daddy really did
want to be cremated.
But everyone says
a body's got to be buried
to be at peace.
And I don't know
if that's true,
but it sure
did make me feel bad.
Well, you shouldn't.
Mmm.
I tell ya, it's like
my head is splittin' in two.
I just don't know
how I can face today.
(SIGHS) I used to
rely on Mark to make
these kind of decisions.
And when he couldn't,
'cause he was too drunk,
Jack would.
He's been
in such a mood lately.
Ever since Mark
and I moved in with him
he's been... Mmm!
(SIGHS) It's all just
too much.
Why don't we just
finish up eating
and you can go home,
get a little more sleep
and I can take care
of all of this?
You will? You'd do that?
Oh, I tell ya,
that's a huge load
off my mind.
And anyway, he is your daddy.
-That's right.
-Mmm.
I'm gonna go ahead,
have him cremated and then
I'm gonna go back home.
Good, 'cause I think
that's what he really wanted.
I mean that, or for us
to bury him in the backyard.
And I think that's illegal.
We just rent that house.
Did he have a...
A favorite place?
You know, I always saw him
crossing the train tracks
in his car.
He'd just stop.
Right on the tracks.
Like he was trying
to speed up the process.
(CHUCKLES) Almost like that
was his favorite place.
Mmm. I guess his body
took care of that in the end.
Hmm.
Mmm. Okay.
Why don't you go ahead
and pay for all this
and I'll just run
to the little girl's room.
-(DOOR BELL JINGLES)
-And it's always one of them.
-Yeah.
-It is, it is.
Excuse me, hi.
I was wondering if
you could help me?
Sure can.
What can I do for you?
I'm looking
for the funeral home.
Whoa, what's wrong?
Are you suicidal?
Glen, get in there
and stop that woman
from hurting herself.
GLEN: I'm sorry, miss.
What are you sorry about?
She's looking
for the funeral parlor.
-Maybe somebody
she knows has died.
-Hmm.
You ought to show
a little more respect.
Somebody die on you, honey?
-Yeah, my father.
-BOTH: Oh.
Mark Edwards.
(GLEN EXHALES DEEPLY)
-(DOOR BELL JINGLES)
-What's his problem?
Um, I guess not
everyone around here
liked your daddy so much.
Thanks.
RENO: Hey!
-Hi!
-Hi.
-My number-one fan.
-(BOTH CHUCKLE)
-You get home okay last night?
-Yeah, yeah, I did.
-How's your mom?
-Uh, she is, I guess,
the same,
or someone
would have called me. Yeah.
Hey, do you know where
the funeral home is?
I think I'm lost.
Oh, you've come
to the right person, honey.
I was lost for years. Come on.
RENO: What do you think?
I mean, I like how thin
I look in black,
-but I don't really think
that's a concern here.
-Mmm-hmm.
ELLIE: Do you have it
in a different color?
Hmm, no, ma'am,
it just comes in black.
Okay, well... (CLICKS TONGUE)
Let's just go with the black.
(CLAPS) Well, I like
the black. Makes me think
of Johnny Cash.
You know, we can do
a nice inscription on the urn.
Perhaps, your father's name?
What would she need
the name for?
You think she has
like 20 different urns
around the house...
-(CHUCKLES)
-...she might get
all mixed up?
Or perhaps, his favorite poem?
I don't think he had one.
Well, it would look real nice
with a Texas flag,
-or, maybe, a fishing theme?
-(CHUCKLES) What?
Or golf?
Just a simple urn, Mr. Harris.
MR. HARRIS: (CLICKS TONGUE)
As you wish.
Now, normally,
the casket is displayed
at the front of the chapel.
But for a cremation,
what we do
is place a nice framed photo
of your father on the table,
or you can use several photos.
Now, we've recently
redone the sound system there,
we have
a real good selection
of soothing tape music
that you can choose from...
You okay?
I think so.
What next?
I need boxes.
You're not planning on taking
all those boxes?
I was gonna pay for 'em.
Those are all
my big boxes, though.
Well, are these boxes for sale
or not?
-Yeah, but...
-Well, there's no
"Yeah, but..."
They're either for sale,
or they're not.
(WHISPERS) Look,
I don't want this kind
of person in my store.
His name is Reno,
he can be here if he wants.
Ellie, let's just go.
Oh, God. See, what is that?
ELLIE: What?
What are you talking about?
MAN: She's tracking mud
all inside the store.
What are you talking about?
I can't see anything.
MAN: Yeah, there's filth,
and dirt, and...
-Okay, crazy.
-Can't we just go?
No, my father is dead,
I gotta pack up his shit.
MAN: Yeah, we all know
who your father was, don't we?
Always scheming to get money
out of people.
No wonder he couldn't
stand up straight.
He's lucky he didn't run over
any innocent kids
driving drunk like he did.
You know what?
I don't want any of your...
-Fucking boxes!
-Okay. Ellie, let's just go.
-You guys need
to get out of here.
-ELLIE: Fine by us.
You can stay here. You can be
King of the Box World.
And you can stay here
until the day that you die.
-And, oh, shit! Look...
-(DOOR BELL JINGLES)
My shoes
are fucking dirty too!
Idiot! I wanna burn
his store down.
RENO: That seems
a little extreme.
Well, he's just a jerk.
He doesn't like you,
he doesn't like my father.
RENO: Yeah, well,
he probably doesn't like you
too much right now, either.
Come on, I know
where we can get some,
uh, used boxes.
(TOMMY GIGGLING)
(SIGHS)
Tommy, stop that jumping.
-(GIGGLES)
-(SIGHS)
What are we gonna do
with all this stuff?
Well, whatever Reno
doesn't want
I'm gonna take along
to Goodwill.
-Where is your friend?
-Trying something on.
Oh. I just don't think I could
wear a dead man's clothes.
Why not?
Well, they're dead.
-Doesn't seem right.
-(CLOSET DOOR OPENS)
-Check it out!
-(BOTH CHUCKLE)
These are some
fly threads, man.
-Are you sure
I can keep these?
-Yeah.
Don't really seem
to fit you too good.
Oh, I can take care of that.
Well.
RENO: And then,
you can clamp it down
and it makes different sounds
on the strings.
Are you going to play?
(CHUCKLES)
Hey, you ever play
an instrument?
No. Not really.
But when I was eight,
my dad made me a violin.
And...
I mean, I was too young
to actually play it,
but I loved it.
I carried it
with me everywhere.
Uh...
He sold it when we were broke.
I can't believe
that he kept all this.
Like, all of our
report cards, and...
RENO: And, what?
These letters I wrote him
when I left.
I was so harsh.
(DOOR OPENS)
Tommy, go on in,
get ready for soccer.
Your daddy can't get out
of work in time,
so I'm gonna have
to run you over there.
Come on, git! Let's go.
ELLIE: Amanda.
What is it, hon?
Why don't I take Tommy
to soccer?
You'd wanna do that?
Yeah, yeah,
I, I think it'll be fun.
Great. Yeah, give me a chance
to make some calls.
I think we're gonna have
a full house at this memorial.
-MAN: Run, run.
-(ALL CLAPPING)
(KIDS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
-MAN: Other way, other way.
-(ALL CLAPPING)
(KIDS TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
Let's go, Tommy!
-(KIDS TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
-(PEOPLE CHEERING)
Hey, how's it going out there?
He's doing great, you know,
he's kicking that ball.
Has anybody scored yet?
Hard to say.
KID 1: You touched it.
-(CHUCKLES) You don't know
anything about soccer, do you?
-Nope.
KID 2: Out of the game!
Where's my mom?
Oh, she'd had
a few too many drinks.
You brought him?
Yeah.
Thanks.
I really appreciate it.
She's a handful. She's always
just relying on other people.
(KIDS CHATTERING)
-JACK: Some tea?
-Yeah, thanks.
Are you gonna come
to the memorial?
Tommy wants to go.
You didn't like
my father much, did you?
Well, he kept my mom busy.
That was something.
That's funny, I don't...
You say that he kept
her busy, rather than...
"He made her happy."
Look, it's tough living
with drunks.
I put up with her
'cause she's my mom, but...
You know, your dad... (SCOFFS)
He's happy one day,
and mean as hell the next.
He'd throw me some money
if he sold one of those
guitars, but...
It was just hard to get him
to focus long enough
to finish anything.
Yeah. I mean, I know that
he was tough to live with.
I grew up with him.
Yeah.
But you ain't really been
around much lately.
Hmm, I thought...
I don't know what I thought.
I never thought he'd die.
Just thought we'd have
some more time.
Was he that bad
when you were younger?
(CHUCKLES)
When I was 11,
my parents took us
to this party.
It was, like, a barbecue
at a friend's place
outside of town.
And, um,
he got really...
You know, drunk, and...
When it was time to leave,
he wouldn't give my mom
the car keys.
He drove, and, uh...
You know, we were swerving
and he went to
change the music
on the stereo and we wrecked.
And it seemed like...
...forever till
the ambulance got there.
He was friends
with the sheriff 'cause...
...he walked.
And we were all fine
except for my mom.
She died the next day.
So...
Yeah.
He was pretty bad back then.
Not much changes with time,
I guess.
I'm really sorry.
Did you, uh, did you live
with him after that?
For a while,
yeah, um...
He got a lot worse,
and then when my brother
went off to college,
that's when I moved in
with my aunt.
What about Tommy's mom?
She just out the picture?
She's alive,
if you wanna call it that.
She's a junkie.
I never even suspected it.
I knew about alcohol,
obviously, but...
I didn't know anything
about the drugs.
I just...
Seems like I blinked,
and I was married.
I blinked again,
and I was divorced,
with a little boy.
I blinked again,
that little boy
is almost five years old.
I just wonder
how you get things
to slow down a little bit.
I don't wanna blink
and be in the grave.
Yeah.
It seems like that happens
to a lot of people.
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)
♪ If you lose
♪ Your horses
♪ 'Cause they ran off
♪ When lightning struck
♪ I will come home
♪ From wherever
♪ I am
♪ Till the last one
♪ Is rounded up
♪ If you've got the blues
♪ I'll stand by you
♪ If you've got the blues
♪ I'll stand by you
♪ I'll stand by you ♪
-(TOMMY GIGGLING)
-(CHUCKLES)
What are you laughing at, huh?
You want something
to laugh about? You do?
-(CONTINUES GIGGLING)
-You do?
-Uh-huh.
-(CHUCKLES)
ELLIE: Are you ticklish?
You better watch it,
he's gonna wet himself.
Oh, I am willing
to take that chance.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
BRUCE: So, what does this do?
It's for seniors
who have trouble rising
from their chairs.
What you do
is you hit a button,
and then,
the armrests would rise
and it would be like people
on either side of you
helping you up
out of the chair.
-Dang, I'd buy one of those.
-Yeah?
Yeah. Heck, I'd buy
two of 'em.
-(CHUCKLES)
-Where do I order?
Oh, it's just an idea
that I'm working on.
I have no way of getting
these things made.
Well, you sure won't unless
you show 'em to someone.
-JUDY: Here it is!
-BRUCE: Uh-oh.
I knew I brought it.
I left it in the car.
And here's
something I found.
Your father always loved
to ride.
-Did he?
-JUDY: Yeah.
He wasn't any kind
of a cowboy.
He couldn't rope a steer
to save his life,
but he loved to ride.
Oh, and this was some dance
or other.
Your father loved
to cut a rug.
BRUCE: Yeah, he was
a pretty good dancer.
-There's this, uh, old gal
that he took to the prom...
-Mmm-hmm.
And she still talks
about how your daddy
was the best dance partner
she ever had.
Oh, uh,
that was the last picture
-where he was still our boy.
-(SIGHS)
-It was, uh...
-(JUDY SOBBING)
It was while he was
in the Navy,
that all the drinking
started up.
(JUDY CONTINUES SOBBING)
Normally, you can't squeeze
a tear out of me.
Tell her, Bruce.
Why, she's a tough old bird,
but we're having a tough week.
And I expect it's, uh,
not been too much
fun for you, either.
WAITRESS: All right,
here we go.
Chocolate shake...
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON CAR STEREO)
ELLIE: Hey, Reno.
Hey.
What's up?
Uh...
I got a call
from the hospital.
Is your mom okay?
Well, I guess yes and no.
Well, it's not like
she's a little bitty thing
that you can really misplace
too easily.
Hey, there, Reno,
thanks for coming in.
Oh, hey! Should I have brought
a picture of my mom,
so we can start up
a search party?
We didn't misplace her.
She must have woke up,
got dressed,
and decided
to check herself out.
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
ELLIE: Should we go in?
RENO: In a minute.
You think I look like her?
ELLIE: Not so much.
You know, she's eating herself
to death.
Are you okay?
Ever had a nightmare...
That was so bad, you had
to get up out of the bed
just to try and
walk away from it?
Yeah.
I have this nightmare
where I'm sitting
at a table with my mom,
just feeding her,
and feeding her...
And I wanna get up,
I wanna leave, but...
I can't.
Well, I think there's no use
in just crying our eyes out.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
-RENO: Hey, Mom.
-Hi, there.
I think they're, um,
looking for you
back at the hospital.
Yeah, I woke up there
this morning.
What was all that about?
Uh...
I found you passed out
in the kitchen
the other night,
and then they said
that you were
in a diabetic coma.
Oh, I'm sorry.
This is my friend, Ellie.
Hi. It's nice to meet you.
Are you feeling better?
I never felt bad.
I can tell you
I sure was hungry, though,
when I woke up this morning.
(CHUCKLES)
Hey, you know, we should just
swing you by the hospital.
Oh, no,
I'm not going back there.
Uh, well, they might have
a list of foods
for you to avoid,
and medication
for you to take.
You pop on by there tomorrow
and pick that stuff up for me,
would you, Margaret?
Mom.
I mean, Reno.
-So, who's your friend?
-Uh...
She's in town 'cause her,
her father died.
Uh, Mark Edwards?
Did you know him?
I knew him just to wave at.
-I know his momma
pretty well, though.
-Mmm-hmm.
-You feel like doing
some sewing?
-Oh, sure.
Let me just grab
a Blizzard to go.
RENO: Okay, but make the pants
nice and tight, Mom.
You know how I like 'em.
I reckon I ought to by now.
Hey, so, Ellie thinks
I should record
some of my songs.
And move out of town
and become a fancy musician?
(CHUCKLES)
Well, I think those songs
are too good
to keep to yourself.
(CHUCKLES)
No, I'm not gonna leave
this place.
Yeah, well, I gotta go.
Do you need a ride
to the funeral home tomorrow?
I can just meet you there.
Bye.
Close your eyes,
and just go to sleep.
Does Ellie live here now?
No, she's just here
'cause her daddy passed away.
Would you let her live here
if she wanted to?
I think she's got
a life back where she lives.
Go on, close your eyes,
go to bed.
(HUFFS PLAYFULLY)
Go to sleep, okay?
JACK: This used
to be my field.
You owned a baseball field?
(CHUCKLES) No,
I used to go to school here.
I was one of the best players
we had.
I had scholarships
to play baseball
at three different colleges.
What position did you play?
I was a pitcher, but...
I played third base too.
What college did you go to?
I didn't. I never left.
Why not?
I hurt my arm pretty bad
and I couldn't
pitch anymore and then...
-I got Tommy's mom pregnant
a couple of years later.
-Yeah.
I thought I got her pregnant.
-What do you mean?
-You've seen him.
He doesn't look
anything like me.
I told you his mom
was an addict.
She used to do all kind
of shit behind my back
to get drugs.
Thought about getting
one of those paternity tests.
Does it really matter?
What do you mean by that?
Well, Tommy
is such a great kid.
I see your eyes
just light up whenever
he walks into the room.
So, does it really matter
if he's not
your biological son?
I don't know.
You are 100% the father
that he needs.
And you're much more
of a father than mine
ever was.
-AMANDA: Good morning.
-Hi.
You know, I think I might
wanna wear my hair up.
Mmm-hmm.
I haven't worn my hair up
in 10 years.
But this is a memorial
and I think it might be
the right thing to do.
Yeah, sure.
You think you could help me?
Well, I met your daddy
right down the road
at Charlie's Bar.
But I guess that's not
such a big shock, is it?
No, not really.
Yeah, he bought me a drink
and he told me that
he had just moved back here
to his hometown to die.
And that's exactly
what he did.
Of course, it took him
a little over five years
to do it,
but he was true to his word.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
I don't know.
I mean, you seem like
a nice enough girl.
Nice enough for what?
Well... (SIGHS)
I just don't know
that I'll ever understand
what you and your brother
have done.
-What we've done?
-To your daddy.
I mean, it seems like you all
just left his well-being
in the hands
of complete strangers.
I mean, it so happens
that I care for him
and I found him
this place to live,
but it does seem like
y'all didn't care if he was
living on the street,
dumpster-diving for his meals.
You, you have no idea
what you're talking about.
Look, I know
Mark had his problems...
His problems?
Do you know how many different
schools I had to go to
because my father got fired
and we had to move
to a different town
where nobody knew about him
or his problems?
And I'm sure that was hard.
And walking home from school
with the few friends
that I was able to make
and I see
all of our belongings,
all of my toys
and clothes being sold
in a yard sale
so that he would have enough
gas money to leave town.
Look, Ellie, I didn't mean...
Or seeing my mother
being carried away
in an ambulance
'cause he wouldn't give her
the car keys.
-What?
-He killed her,
and I still loved him.
(VOICE BREAKING)
So how does that
make any fucking sense?
No. No, that can't be right,
that can't be true.
"Can't be"...
Just forget about it.
Hey. Hey! What about my hair?
Wear a hat!
You're just so selfish.
You and your father, both.
Don't think I haven't noticed.
What about you?
You rely on your son
to put a roof over your head,
and you can't even
look after his kid.
Why don't you
have another drink?
Why don't you forget
about it just like my father?
What do you know
about anything, huh?
I had a baby boy
and I was married
a week out of high school,
and I have been trying
to catch up ever since,
just trying to...
So what do you know?
You come on back here
when you're my age
and you tell me
if you did everything right.
You come on back
and tell me how it went.
(DOOR OPENS)
Shit...
(EXHALES)
(ENGINE STARTS)
JAMES: (ON PHONE)
Hey, Ellie, what's up?
Hi, James.
Hey, I came by your place
last night.
Did you hear me knocking?
I'm still in Texas.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's right.
I came here
'cause of my father.
Yeah.
So, this is typically
the moment
when a boyfriend
would ask a girlfriend
if her father's
doing okay or not.
(SIGHS) You know
I don't like to deal
with sick people.
You know that.
James, I think
we should break up.
What? But I love you.
What are you...
No, you're not the kind of guy
who should really date anyone,
you know, you're more like
a fun one-night stand
and somehow I've let this
continue for a year.
You think I'm fun?
Uh... James, I don't think
we should date anymore.
Starting when?
When I hang up the phone.
Well, in that case
I won't let you
hang up the phone...
(JUDY GRUNTS)
Are we early?
I don't think so.
(GUITAR PLAYING GENTLE SONG)
(SONG ENDS)
(EXHALES)
Hello, everyone,
and thanks for coming.
I'd like to say a few words
about Mark Edwards,
who may not have been
my legal husband
here in Texas,
but who will be, I know,
waiting for me
at the altar of heaven.
ROGER: Where's the body?
Excuse me?
ROGER: I said,
"Where's the body?"
I heard what you said, Roger,
and I'm saying
I was still talking.
(SLURRING) Well,
I'm talking now, ain't I?
And this is
a memorial service, isn't it?
So I hope you're not planning
on rolling out the casket
like a birthday cake.
Roger, if I could
just finish, please?
Would you like
to take a step outside?
Get some fresh air?
Oh, something stinks in here,
all right,
but I ain't fixing to move.
Well, maybe
you'd just like to...
Who the hell are you?
I'm Ellie.
I'm Mark's daughter.
So now, the ungrateful
kids show up.
You looking
for a little money, are you?
Roger, you need to button it,
and button it fast.
Drunk as a skunk and the sun
isn't even down yet.
Drunk as skunk!
AMANDA: Okay.
You know, I spent a lot
of time thinking about
what I was gonna say up here
and y'all need
to sit on down
and get ready to cry!
ROGER: I'm fixing to cry,
all right.
This whole freak show
is gonna make me cry!
And I'm gonna ask you
one more time,
where is my friend's body?
It was my father's wish
to be cremated
-and that is what we...
-Cremated?
ELLIE: Mmm-hmm. Yeah.
Your daddy didn't want to be
burned to a crisp.
Well, apparently he did.
Good God almighty!
Did you hear that?
Did you hear her?
-Oh... Oh, I see.
-No.
So, now you're gonna
sic your goon squad on me,
is that it?
It's okay, Jack.
No, nobody is gonna hurt you.
ROGER: Can you imagine?
Getting beat up at the wake
of your best friend?
Oh, Christ, he was
hardly your best friend.
I knew him for about 50 years,
that's more than
the rest of you can say.
(STAMMERING) And you've
done this all wrong.
I can see that you're upset.
You burnt up his body,
you got that picture of him
from the Navy,
he hated the damn Navy,
you got this freaking...
(MUMBLING INDISTINCTLY)
Okay, that's it.
You have to get out!
-Get off of me.
-Out!
-Get off of me.
-Out, now!
-No, get out!
-Ahhh!
Oh, God.
ELLIE: Hey, just... Just...
(PEOPLE TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
(GRUNTS)
(GASPS) Oh!
(PANTING)
That's right.
(SIGHS)
All right.
Let's pick up
where we left off, shall we?
Ellie?
You spend more time
in this hospital than I do.
This is the last time,
I promise.
How can you be so sure
it's your last time here?
'Cause, basically, I'm gonna
throw my clothes into a bag
and catch the first plane
out of here tomorrow.
(DOOR OPENS)
-Hey.
-Reno, hey, are you okay?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm fine.
Y'all can leave.
I got to wait
for some stitches.
-No, we can wait.
-No, no, no.
I need to go home
and check on my mom
after anyway.
-You sure?
-Yeah.
How's the cut?
Is it gonna leave a scar?
I hope so.
Not very interesting until
you have a bunch of scars
you can tell
a bunch of lies about.
Go, get out of here. I'm fine.
-Okay.
-Bye.
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON CAR STEREO)
Can we leave it on,
for a minute?
Yeah, sure.
My father
used to love this song.
My brother thinks
we lost my father years ago,
you know, after the accident.
Is that how you feel?
I think he was still
in there somewhere.
Tell me something about him.
Like what?
First good thing
that pops in your head.
You know, he was
in all kinds of bands.
And then he met my mom
and she was singing
in a band in Nashville.
-For real?
-Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
So you're like
a show business kid?
No. (GIGGLES)
I mean, they quit all that
by the time my brother
and I came along.
But...
And she used to...
Sing around the house,
and, you know...
I bet she was a great lady.
(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
AMANDA: Hey,
what are you doing?
Hey.
(SIGHS) Nothing.
Just thought I,
uh, lost something.
What'd you lose?
I don't know.
You don't know
what you might've lost?
Guess that's gonna take you
a while to find that.
Is there anything
that you wanted?
I see you got your bag
packed and waiting
by the front door.
-Yeah. I'm, I'm leaving.
-You are.
I mean, I came
to say goodbye to my dad
and that's more or less
what I did.
Well...
They called and said that, um,
they'd have
your daddy's ashes ready
if you want to take them.
No.
Thank you, though.
What do you want me
to do with them?
You could keep 'em.
Or you could
scatter 'em someplace.
You know what,
I don't think I could do that.
Well, I'm sure
you'll think of something.
Okay.
(WOMAN ANNOUNCING INDISTINCTLY
OVER PA)
Should you be doing that?
Hmm? This bandage is
just not really my style,
you know?
How does it look?
Not great.
Do you think
anyone will believe me
if I said I got it
in a shark attack?
(LAUGHS)
Hey, what time
does your flight leave?
Leaves at 9:00.
-You don't have to stay
if you don't want.
-No, no, no.
You know, if we got
all this time
there's something
you could help me with.
Where exactly are we going?
Hold on, I think I saw one
right up here.
One what?
Here, here, here.
Pull up here.
(GRUNTS)
ELLIE: (WHISPERING) Wh...
Why do you want this thing?
RENO: I have an idea.
Can't we just
buy one of these?
Oh, I already got a bunch.
Is this like your thing?
-My thing?
-Yeah.
(LAUGHING) Yeah. Like,
you like to collect stolen
bird-feeders?
(BOTH SNICKERING)
How could that
be anyone's thing?
-(ELLIE MUTTERING)
-Quick now, you
ain't getting any lighter.
-Can you get it or not?
-Yeah, got it.
-(DOG BARKING)
-BOTH: Oh!
RENO: Run!
-What is that?
-Hold this, tools.
Tools for what?
Tools to help us
get into the store.
ELLIE: That is breaking
and entering
where I come from.
Yeah? That's what
we call it here too.
(SCREAMING)
(LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY)
Now what?
My plane leaves in 10 minutes.
I don't think
I'm gonna make it.
You're not ready to leave yet.
Hmm, I'm not?
No, you just got here.
I remember when I saw Amanda
at the airport.
I thought,
"God, would it be really rude
"if I was
to get on an airplane
-"turn right around
and go home?"
-(CHUCKLES)
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Yeah. (SIGHS)
This place sucks.
I think you should come out
to Los Angeles.
You could record some songs.
I think you need
to get out of this place.
I can't.
My mom, you know. (CHUCKLES)
Anyway, I'd sooner be dead
than set foot on an airplane.
(CHUCKLES) What?
You can get up
and you can sing
in front of a whole bar
of people who are
throwing shit at you
and you're too scared
to get on an airplane?
I'm not scared.
I'll get on one as long as
it don't take off the ground.
(LAUGHING)
-(BANGS)
-Hey!
Well, what are you two
doing here?
Oh, I'm calling the cops.
That's for damn sure.
I can't even look at all that.
It's everywhere.
(BANGS)
(PIGEONS COOING)
(GIGGLES)
Oh, wow!
(LAUGHS) Yeah, "Oh, wow!"
(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)
(TIRES SQUEALING)
(ELLIE SCREAMING AND LAUGHING)
Well, I guess this is it.
I guess.
(RENO SIGHS)
RENO: Uh...
I uh, meant to tell you.
I saw where, um,
your key came from.
My mom has one like it.
It's uh,
for a safety deposit box
at the bank.
(CLICKS TONGUE) Okay.
(TAPS CAR)
Reno!
Thank you.
-ELLIE: Hi.
-Morning.
Uh, is this key for your bank?
I believe it is. Let me see.
I'll give you some privacy.
(DINGS)
-Hi.
-Hi, uh, I'm here to pick up
my father's ashes.
Well, yes, but we've run into
a slight problem with the urn.
With the urn?
The one you selected
is not available right now
and we have
completely run out.
Well, is there a different urn
that I can put the ashes in?
The one you purchased
is the most
competitively priced urn
that we have and...
Well, if you'd want
to upgrade, we could...
No, um, I don't want
to do an upgrade.
Uh...
Is there anything else
that you could use?
(TRAIN HORN BLOWING)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
MAN: They're not home.
Oh.
Are you the granddaughter?
Yeah, I'm Ellie.
But how do you know about me?
You're all they could
talk about these
past few days. (CHUCKLES)
They're at the
department store.
Didn't Judy tell you?
Tell me what?
She's modeling today.
(WOMAN ANNOUNCING INDISTINCTLY
OVER PA)
No, uh-uh.
I do not do yellow.
And it's in my contract.
What contract?
No one's getting paid.
I do not do yellow
and I don't do purple.
They're just not my colors.
They never have been, I...
Just look at my hair.
Are you crazy?
STORE EMPLOYEE:
But, but this is all
that we have left.
ELDERLY WOMAN: Well,
then you've got a problem.
Judy.
Ellie!
Bruce said that you'd gone
and without saying goodbye.
I told him he was wrong.
He said that you got that
in your blood
from your father,
and I said, "Well,
she also got some of my blood
"and my blood
is just not that rude."
How are you, dear?
What is all this?
Oh, it's not the best timing.
But, but it was planned
months ago.
And well, I was just hoping
that it would take my mind
off my troubles.
(CHUCKLES)
How often do you get asked
to be a model at my age?
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Now, you go find Bruce
and you get a good seat,
and we'll go
to the diner after.
-ELLIE: Okay!
-(BOTH LAUGH)
STORE EMPLOYEE: Here we see
the California casual.
Delightful and comfortable.
-With this,
you can run your errands...
-(CAMERA CLICKING)
...and still
look like a lady on the go.
Here we see the elegant gray,
which is not
just for winter anymore.
-Beautifully cut...
-(CAMERA CLICKING)
...totally comfortable,
she looks so lovely.
Our next model
comes to the stage
bringing a little flash
and glitter.
And here we see midnight blue,
-suitable for any
formal occasion...
-(CAMERA CLICKING)
...while allowing for comfort
at the same time.
A beautiful
two-piece ensemble,
in beautiful midnight blue,
-with sparkle and bling
to match her beauty.
-(CAMERAS CLICKING)
(ALL GASP)
(WOMAN ANNOUNCING INDISTINCTLY
OVER PA)
She's gonna be okay.
Boy, I wish I knew a prayer
right about now.
Do you know any?
No, I'm afraid I don't.
But don't Judy and you
go to church?
I just go for the singing
and she goes
to see all of her friends.
I sleep through
a lot of the praying part.
-You can go in now.
-Oh, thank you.
You go ahead.
-Hey.
-ELLIE: Hey.
My mom told me that Judy
got into an accident.
Yeah, she had
a pretty bad fall
at the department store,
but I think that
she's gonna be okay.
I'm glad you're still here.
Can't seem to stay away
from this place.
(BOTH CHUCKLE SOFTLY)
Uh...
You're leaving?
Yeah. It, um, it's not that...
I understand.
It's not that I don't want to.
-Thanks.
-(LAUGHS)
And Tommy's gonna miss you.
He's wonderful.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
Yeah, I don't know
what I would do without him.
What about you?
What's waiting for you
back in LA?
I broke up with my boyfriend.
I'm gonna throw out
the annoying roommate
that I have
and probably
apply for that job
that I've been dreaming about.
Sounds like you'll be busy.
-(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
-(DOOR OPENS)
Well, come on in, sweetheart.
From the height you fell from,
I'm gonna
count ourselves lucky.
I thought you said
we wouldn't be
seeing you again.
(ELLIE CHUCKLES)
You should leave, dear.
Do you want to sleep?
No, you should go back
to your home.
-Well...
-No, don't overstay
your visit.
If you do that, then you won't
want to come back.
And I want you to come back
with your brother
and with my great grandkids.
Why, I've never even
seen them.
But you have a broken knee.
Well, there are doctors here.
Besides, it'll give Bruce
something to do. (CHUCKLES)
You need to get home
and find someone
who'll make that furniture
that you design.
Now, give me a hug
and you get out of here.
-ELLIE: HEY.
-Hey.
Where would I stay?
What do you mean?
In Los Angeles,
if I came with you,
where would I stay?
You'd live with me.
You'd have to help me
throw out my roommate
but she scares pretty easy.
Okay.
But then, just one thing is,
I'm not gonna get on a plane.
What? You want us to walk?
(BANGS CAR HOOD)
What's wrong with this thing?
(ELLIE CHUCKLES)
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)
(SONG ENDS)
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)
(SONG ENDS)