Mom always said she never belonged here
with me and Daddy, that the river stink drove her crazy.
She had to go find herself, she said.
And she couldn't do that here.
Daddy and I were doing our best to get by.
I know it was hard for him, taking care of me on his own.
He quit drinking the day we found mom's note.
Maybe what happened was bound to happen.
Like destiny.
A year had gone by, I had just turned 15
and I missed Mom all the time.
The way she smelled of cocoa butter and white wine.
But Daddy and I couldn't talk about it.
Not bad, kiddo.
You're starting to scare me.
What's the main rule again?
Only make the good shot, not just any shot.
That's right.
Listen to your breathing, to your body,
it'll tell you when the time is right.
It's an art form, not just sport.
Murrayville, Michigan, was a company town.
My dad's half-brother, Cal Murray,
pretty much ran the place.
We lived right next door to the Murrays.
Go, Margo!
- Good luck, river nymph. - Woo!
That is unholy.
Your granddad would be so proud.
Here.
Try that.
Hold up.
- That was beginner's luck. - Yeah.
This will be good.
Hey.
You wanna come hunt with me for opening day?
You're gonna go hunting with her?
Are you kidding me, Dad?
- Billy. - Are you kidding me?
Shut it.
She's family.
Well, think about it.
It'll be fun.
Give me that.
Think it over and tell me tonight.
It's mine.
You know, you're lucky we even help you.
- Come on, Billy. - Shut it, Junior!
It's the truth.
And don't you forget it.
This is it, Margo.
Hunting season hasn't even started yet.
We'll get fined.
I'll get you whatever target you want, okay?
Just no more kill.
You hear me?
I heard you.
That dress looks nice.
Having fun?
You know, sprite, if you wanna go huntin'
you better learn how to skin a deer.
Teach you right now if you want.
Coming with me at five a.m., right?
I'd like to, yes.
You're so lovely, Margaret.
Is this your first time?
Uncle Cal.
Uncle Cal?
It's all right, I was careful.
But, Uncle Cal, did you see...
You dirty son of a bitch!
Dad!
- Mom! - What's going on?
The devil's slut lured me in there,
but I swear I never touched her, Jo.
Guess she's just like her mama, huh?
You shut that mouth of yours.
Margo!
What the hell...
What the hell are you doing?
Stay away from my family!
Margo.
Come on, now.
Let's go.
Hey, nympho, why don't you meet me in the shed?
I have something to show you later, all right?
I'll see you there!
Tomorrow I wanna talk to you about
another creepy crawly animal that's
found right near Pronto Valley,
and that'll be tarantulas.
Now, tarantulas are types of spiders
that are related to things like black widows,
brown recluses, wolf spiders and jumping spiders.
Spiders belong to a group of animals known as arachnids.
All arachnids are invertebrate animals,
which means they lack a backbone.
Vertebrate animals include mammals, reptiles,
fish, and amphibians and birds.
All insects and arachnids are invertebrates,
- which means- - I'll bring him right up!
Well, I hope you come visit us in California.
Mighty glad to see you, especially Pearl.
Pearl, you got the green cov-
Margo, you know, you're the only reason
I'm alive and sober in this world.
I know that, Daddy.
Margo!
Dad!
Margo, where are you?
I'm right here.
Why do you have your gun?
They told me you weren't at school.
Just stay where I can see you from now on.
Sparkler.
Do mine.
Because I was always... okay.
All right, then, I'm going to work.
If I catch you going over I'm dragging
you back by your ears.
More of this, Nicholas!
You're doing it!
Your dad said you've become quite the hunter, Maggie.
Crackshot with the rifle.
That's my brother, Paul.
Paulie, meet my dream girl.
The prettiest thing on the river.
I'm keeping him off the junk, Maggie.
No need for speed out here unless it's in your boat,
- right? - Hey, don't tell her that
for Christ's sake.
Come on.
She ain't gonna tell anyone.
Just about got him cured, too.
Will you shut the fuck up, Brian?
There you go.
You know, I just can't get enough of a girl who don't talk.
That's right, baby.
Yes, yes!
Margo!
Dad?
Are you over there, Margo?
Put that down, Billy.
You shot my dad, you asshole.
- What are you talking about? - Billy, no.
- Don't point that at me. - No.
Put that down before somebody gets hurt.
Margo, are you okay in there?
Just give me a second.
Sheriff's here.
You gotta talk to him.
I'll be right there.
Who's out there?
Shit.
Brian, what's a girl doing here holding a gun?
Paulie, open your eye.
Maggie Crane.
Get in here and put your gun down.
Hey, you came just in time for my winning hand.
Just have a seat.
Shit.
We heard about your dad and we're so sorry.
None of them Murrays are fit to lick
your father's boots, you hear?
You remember that.
Where you headed, Maggie?
Trying to get to my mom.
I have this.
Mentions Heart of Pines.
Well, I can drop you at Heart of Pines tomorrow.
We'll find your mom.
What if they report her missing?
You are asking for trouble.
Well, I'm not asking for your opinion on anything, so...
You stay here tonight, make yourself at home.
I was thinking about it last night.
So, why would your dad have shot Cal like that?
He mess with you?
He did, didn't he?
Wish I could tell you where Luanne is.
She ran off with a guy I used to know.
That's all I got for you.
She may be out to Florida by now.
That was her plan.
But so was Lake Lynne.
Hey.
We will find her.
So, what are we hoping to find here?
To see if somebody's home, ask some questions.
Come on, we'll come back tomorrow.
Margo the river nymph.
I've been looking for you.
Get away from my boat.
It's not your boat.
A Murray boat does not belong to
a part-Indian bastard like you.
Grandpa gave me that boat, and you know it.
You going to find your ma?
I mean, I guess that makes sense.
You two should stick together seeing as you're both whores.
Shut up.
I saw her with my dad a bunch in the shed.
He said not to tell you, but I don't really give a fuck.
And then she ran off with some man.
She didn't care about you.
Shut up.
You don't know anything.
Aren't you even sorry that you killed my dad?
I didn't have a choice.
He shot my dad.
I was the one who shot your dad.
No.
- No, everybody saw- - I...
I was the one who shot your dad.
You is being crazy.
You can kill me if you want.
Kinda wish you would.
Hi, I'm looking for Luanne.
I'm Margo, her daughter.
Yes.
Now, why on Earth is a girl skinning
a rabbit in a picnic park?
I'm not afraid of protecting myself when I have to, okay?
Listen, if that meat's safe, I'll pay for it.
Deal.
Tell me when they're gone.
They're gone.
What tribe?
I'm not sure.
Somewhere out west.
I'm Cherokee from Oklahoma.
I'm studying the routes from Canada on down.
Why?
What's your name?
Margo.
Let me tell you something, Margo.
People who came to this country and took over,
they never intended for us to survive.
That's what I've been learning.
My name's Will, by the way.
This is really good.
Thank you, Margo.
You're welcome.
Tomorrow I can fish us some trout.
If you're still here, I mean.
You know, the problem is that the river's polluted.
The same everywhere, I guess.
Everything's poison.
My dad used to try and clean it up whenever he could.
When we'd go fishing.
Is he the one who taught you all this stuff?
It seems like you know a lot about living on your own.
Yeah.
I can get you closer to Lake Lynne,
but if you start to change your mind
I'm not bringing you back.
That's fine.
I don't know what I'm getting caught up in.
Are you sure you're not running away from home?
Hey, were you really gonna hitchhike the whole way?
What?
Nothing.
I wish you could stay longer.
In one week I'll be at school.
They're letting me help teach a class.
Why aren't you in school?
Guess I quit.
You need to go back and do that.
My sister quit and school and wishes she could go back now.
You wanna clean houses the rest of your life?
That's about all she can do now.
No, I guess not.
Have you thought about what you wanna be?
Seems like you could do just about anything you want.
I have to leave in the morning.
I know.
Hey!
I'm stuck!
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
I mean, except for the fact that I'm dying of emphysema.
What's your name?
Smoke.
Smoke, I'm Margo.
Margo, huh?
Well, know this, Margo,
sometimes life is, it's a lousy goddamn business.
Oh, that's Fishbone's deer hyde.
Who's Fishbone?
Well, he's the man that oughta be here
by now with my smokes.
Instead I get stuck and a stranger comes by and saves me.
Now, don't mind him, that's just Nightmare saying hello.
Well, come on.
Can I buy that pot from you?
Sure.
Kid, you are filthy.
Don't you ever take a bath?
Well, I was camping.
Camping alone?
A girl your age should be with her family.
Well, I'm trying to find my mom.
And I had to hitchhike.
If you want a shower, you don't need to ask for it.
You're supposed to be hooked up
to your oxygen all the time.
You're not even using it.
I use it when I need it, Shelly.
Don't bother about it.
Kim, just leave me be, please.
Do I bother you about your lives?
Come on, it's time to go.
Thanks for stopping by!
It's been a real pleasure.
This another niece?
He sees me five days a week, that thing.
I don't care.
You said you'd take care of Nightmare when I'm dead,
you better keep your promise.
Oh, you ain't going nowhere anytime soon.
Ya grouch.
Oh yeah, by the way, here's your death sticks.
I was hoping I could sleep in your camper, Mr. Smoke.
I don't need a kid sleeping and hanging around here.
But I'll clean and cook, chop wood,
meat, anything you want.
I just need to save up enough money
to make my way further north.
Ain't you supposed to be in school?
I saw your skins, Mr. Fishbone.
I could sell you skins.
Pelts need to be perfect.
I shoot 'em in the eye.
Where'd you get this girl, Smoke?
Shooting critters in the eye.
Real throw back here.
Fishbone's a funny name.
I like it.
Smoke, too.
Yeah, well, Terry here don't know any better
that Smoke's a black man's name.
Go to hell.
See, Smoke wish he was black that way
he'd have more to complain about.
Where's your mother?
Lake Lynne, I think.
Well, why can't you just, you know, go to her?
I'm not even sure I have the right address.
Please, it wouldn't be for long.
Yeah, you should take her in, Smoke.
I don't like seeing a girl out there all alone.
All right.
You don't need to pay me for anything,
you can shoot me in the head instead.
You know, if you had been in the war,
you wouldn't say such things.
You're getting to be a real church lady
these days, ain't ya?
Now, kid, when the time comes,
you better live up to your end of the bargain.
Or send me away.
I'm not gonna die in there.
Right, kiddo?
Can kiss me farewell then blow my fucking head off.
This property has had a number of complaints
and the county has sent letters.
He knows.
Okay, so what do we need to do?
This is your last warning.
Clean up your act over here or we will have to.
All right, we'll take care of it.
Thank you.
Sure.
Let's go.
You see the way people can just strut in and
take away your right to live the way you want?
Remember this.
No more freedom in this country.
Wish you'd keep your promise.
I know you joke about this, but I don't like it.
I'm not joking.
I've shot someone before.
So what?
You're turning yourself in?
Probably a lousy son of a bitch anyway.
It doesn't matter.
I still wish I never did those things.
Maybe my dad would still be alive.
I'm impressed.
You got a shotgun?
No, I used my rifle.
Well, you're still gonna need traps.
Smoke got some he ain't using.
Hey!
Will you stop giving my shit away while I'm still alive.
Smoke told me to ask you where a girl goes
to get rid of a baby.
What do you mean?
Girl's pregnant.
She doesn't want it.
I don't like that kinda business.
I can't take care of a baby.
Fishbone.
I'm asking as a favor to me.
Help her.
Or just take me to my mother.
I have an address, I just don't know if it's right.
I think that's the idea.
Here.
You all right?
I wonder if that's what the ocean looks like.
Well, you'll know when you see the ocean.
This is beautiful country up here.
Well, your ma's a rich lady.
Wouldn't of guessed it from you.
I wish I had my rifle.
Not around here.
No, rich folks get uneasy about poor folks and firearms.
Thank you for bringing me.
Yeah, well...
Who is it?
Margaret Louise.
Did you hear what happened?
Yeah, no, come in.
I, you just... you caught me by surprise, that's all.
Come in.
Can I get you anything to drink?
Isn't this an amazing view?
I missed you.
I'm so glad I had the right address.
Oh, Margaret.
I really wanted to see you.
I would've given anything,
it just wasn't the right time, you know?
Why not?
When I met Roger I told him I didn't have any kids.
Now, if I change my story he'll think I'm a liar.
But you are lying.
Look, Roger is my fiance.
He's a lot of fun, really.
He's a great guy,
it's just he's a little opinionated, that's all.
Your fiance.
Yeah.
Oh, Margaret, it really is so good to see you.
Come on, come sit with me.
Roger's away until Friday, I can run around how I like
as long as I keep a low profile.
So, what do you think?
It's big.
It's really nice.
Yeah, Roger hates the geese, but I don't mind 'em.
How's Cal doing?
He ever ask about me?
I'm pregnant.
What?
Sweetie, how far along?
Not too far.
Who's the father?
His name's Will.
He's a school teacher somewhere.
Well, don't worry, I'm gonna take care of you.
I didn't when I should have,
but I'm gonna take care of you now.
You know, I was about your age when I was pregnant with you.
I'm so sorry, Margaret.
So, why don't you rest up in here.
You can take a shower, there's a robe in here,
and I'll call the clinic before they close.
Sound good?
Watch and listen.
Some day I'll take you to the ocean
and taste the difference between saltwater fish and these.
No, honey, no one...
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Okay.
I love you, too.
Bye.
Hey, there, sleeping beauty.
You were out cold for four hours.
I got Chinese food.
You want some wine?
I usually try not to drink during the week
but today's turning out to be quite the surprising day.
Why'd you leave?
Listen...
Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do,
but I would have died or drank myself to death
if I would've stayed.
I really did try.
I thought you left because of me.
No.
I know, I know it seems selfish,
but I had to find happiness somehow.
I was miserable.
Do you hate me, Margo?
No.
You should live how you want.
Why are you looking at me like that?
You're so pretty.
Well, I can show you how to do all this.
That's something I can help you with, at least.
Okay.
Well, you ready?
Do you wish you hadn't had me?
Of course I'm glad that I had you.
But I had a husband to help me.
You're all alone, sweetie.
I'm not completely alone.
Do you wanna have this baby?
Okay, then.
Save yourself.
Oh, go to hell, you freaks.
I'll run your asses over.
I got mace!
You're making the right decision.
I'm gonna go to the bank and I'll be right back, okay?
Is this your first visit?
Okay, here you go.
Just fill this out.
Someone will come get you shortly.
You can come with me.
Undress and put this gown on, let it open in the back.
It'll just be a couple minutes now.
This is not normal.
You're gonna raise a baby? Here?
Why do you care so much about normal?
I never had any kids, but I could help that girl
live how she wants.
She is going to have a baby, it's not just about her.
Will you stop talking like I'm not evne here?
We will be okay.
Plenty of people are worse off than this.
I'm fine.
Something does not smell right in here.
It's you.
You feeling okay?
I'm fine.
You need to take a bath.
I would stay, but I have a house full of family and guests.
Why won't you let your health aide come and help you bathe
like she's supposed to?
My body is none of them bitch's business.
However, it has been a couple of weeks since I've bathed.
Let me help you.
You need to be look for your nieces tomorrow, right?
I don't want the lights on.
Okay.
Why does Fishbone look after you?
Why do you help me, kid?
Why does anybody help anybody?
We were in a band together for years.
You ever play still?
No, not so much.
I'd love to hear you play sometime.
You're a good girl.
Even your crazy mama always knew that.
How many cards?
What do you need, what do you want? How many?
- Two. - Two?
Oh, less than two weeks.
This could be our last supper before prison.
This place is... and they know what they're doing,
and you'll have help.
They're doing it out of love.
Oh, save me from their fucking love.
I like being alone.
Well...
I'll see you soon.
Huh?
Margo.
What's this?
No, you've already given me enough.
I should give you my shotgun, too.
Only, use it on me first.
You need to stop saying that.
I deserve to die with some dignity.
But I'll come visit you all the time.
I mean, you're my best friend.
Then you better make some friends.
Margo, listen.
I don't know if I'd of made it
these last couple of months without you.
♪ I came home from no place ♪
♪ I just left it all one day ♪
♪ We've all got our miles ♪
♪ But you're much younger than your lovely weary eyes ♪
♪ Stay here where the river runs ♪
♪ And true love never dies ♪
♪ We're all home from nowhere ♪
♪ From that busy world alive ♪
You missed it.
A beautiful sunrise.
Pink sky over a storm.
My favorite.
Go get my jacket and smokes.
I'll be right here.
Smoke!
No.
Please.
Smoke!
Don't leave me.
I have some skins for you.
You didn't come to the funeral.
They asked if I thought it was a suicide.
As it was a favorite topic of conversation,
they ruled it as such.
You know, he called me that morning all wheezy.
Scared my wife.
I wonder what he wanted to tell me now.
I have a good guess.
Hey, you know you need to have that baby
at the hospital, right?
Baby needs shots and a certificate.
I'll take you.
You don't have to.
Well, maybe I have a soft spot for a baby.
Is that okay?
You can go to the river to remember,
and you can go to the river to forget.
Spring is here and I wanna tell you my story
because it's yours, too.
I welcome you to the river.