Fire Down Below Page #5

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She just never did get over that.

That right?

I think she never got over it

because she didn't do it.

My theory is...

...when she was a little girl,

you were molesting her.

Your daddy found out, went

to throw you a bad beating one time...

...and you killed him.

Then you said, "Little sister,

this gun went off by accident.

I'm an adult.

If they convict me and I go to prison,

you'll be all alone.

If you take the rap for me,

you're a minor.

They won't do nothing to you."

So you convinced her to do that.

And everybody in town...

...is convinced that she's crazy

and she killed her daddy...

...when really you did it,

didn't you?

Ain't you slicker than possum sh*t?

You got a sharp mind and a fast mouth.

Hey, Jimmy Joe.

Bobby T.

This is Mr. Taggert.

He's a government man with some agency.

I don't know, what is that...

...the EPA? FDA?

FBI? I'm not sure.

Come down here to show us

backwoods folk how to do things.

These are my buddies.

They work down here.

I wanted you to meet them...

...because I'm not sure

you appreciate...

...what it means to be poor.

To have to put bread on the table.

I imagine your coat cost more

than Cyrus' wages for a month.

Damn thing is, Jack, I like you.

And my sister likes you too.

That's why I'm not gonna kill you.

Randall, you do it.

Kill that son of a b*tch!

Give me that.

Can you hear this, Daddy?

You okay?

Earl's going to kill you.

You all right?

Earl was killed

in the explosion in the mine.

We got to worry about Hanner.

If you testify, we can put them in jail.

That means it's gonna get

hot around here.

I'll see if I can put you

in protective custody.

In the meantime, we'd better

pack and get out of here.

- Chick Larsen.

- It's me. Listen.

We found the stuff.

How big is it?

It's the most I've seen in one spot.

There was a cave-in...

...so it's unstable.

We have to move fast. Also...

... I have a witness

who needs protective custody.

How can I help?

Send a couple of agents from

the Witness Protection Program.

See if we can escort her

out of here to a safe place.

Meet me on Highway 98.

The cavalry's on its way.

Just hang in there.

I'll make the call.

There they are.

Officer Adams. We've been briefed

by Agent Larsen.

Is this the wit?

This is her.

How will you find me?

He can get in touch with us anytime

through Agent Larsen.

These gentlemen will take

good care of you.

You go with them now.

Will you know where I am?

He'll know every step of the way.

I have a direct line through Chick.

Is that a quick-draw rig?

Yes, it is.

Odd for a federal agent, isn't it?

We're in the country here,

and they let us do what we want.

We'll be in touch.

Go!

Stop the car!

Stop the car!

Shut up, lady!

Come on!

Get the f*** out, now!

Get away from that window, boy!

Everybody down!

Sit down! Shut up and act like

nothing's happening!

Stay down! Come on.

Let me get his attention.

Tell your boss I'm coming to get him.

On second thought, I'll tell him.

Holy sh*t!

Stick around.

We're gonna have some fun.

You're a five-alarm fuckup.

What am I paying you for?

- Want me to find someone else?

- No. Taggert doesn't know about me.

I can protect you.

I'll make sure any investigation

goes nowhere.

Then you oversee

the cleanup of the cave-in.

Any problems, you're out.

No problem.

I'm going to head into town

and take care of a few things.

Then I'll come back

and finish fixing this porch.

Don't worry about a thing.

You'll be safe here.

You're never gonna come back, are you?

Your fling with

the country girl is over.

You can tell me the truth.

I'm an adult.

No. I was going to go

take care of Hanner...

...come back here...

...and get you.

You can count on it.

Please approach the bench.

Mr. Hanner,

you are accused of dumping...

...4. 1 million barrels...

... of toxic waste, 42 times...

...in 13 different locations.

How do you plead?

Your Honor, he pleads guilty

under the Emergency Planning...

...and Citizens' Right to Know Act.

- Very well.

That's a $25,000 fine.

I'm fining you an additional 25,000

for failing to disclose...

... your company's

toxic release inventory.

Next case.

That's what I love about this country.

I made 300 million last year,

and it only cost me 50 grand.

Can I have a word with you?

The EPA's never been good

at punishing criminals, catching them...

...helping the environment. I got

a surprise for you. I quit the EPA.

So I can spend my every waking

moment making your life miserable.

We played this one by your rules.

Your court decided I was clean.

You're violating

my constitutional rights.

Mr. Hanner, I promise you

as sure as you stand here now...

...I'm going to show you a new meaning

to the word "violation."

How you doing, Chick?

Didn't expect to see you here.

I know why you didn't

expect to see me here.

You set up Frank, didn't you?

What are you saying?

If it weren't for you,

they'd have never found him.

You're under arrest.

You have the right to remain silent.

- Anything you say will be...

- You can't arrest me!

I outrank you.

Who do you think you are?

I was going to ask you that.

You're a piece of sh*t.

I'm ashamed of you.

Hook him up.

Come and hold this bag.

Why? It ain't going nowhere.

Just heel, damn it.

Lean into it more, like this.

Here, boy.

I want to talk to you.

What you afraid of?

It's just Mr. Agent Man.

Want to arrest me for 10 minutes too?

Come here, boy.

Let's talk.

You come here.

Don't hide behind that big old pimple.

- You don't have sh*t on me.

- I have quite a bit on you.

But our current judicial system wouldn't

provide adequate punishment for you.

You really deserve to suffer.

And since I'm feeling selfish...

...I've arranged for that to happen.

Leave my friend alone or I'll have to

educate you on how to beat the sh*t...

...out of somebody.

In fact, you must be

a dumb motherf***er...

...or you wouldn't be here.

He'll whip your ass

like a rented mule.

He's going to slap you

like a redheaded stepchild.

I've been all over Appalachia

and met lots of fine people.

I've never met any people like you.

You guys are unique.

You've hung out

with the ignorant people.

We're educated.

Education can't buy common sense.

If your dad knew how stupid you were,

he'd trade you in for a pet monkey.

Go! Go!

Get him. Now!

My nose! My nose!

You got to have more than that, son.

Here, boy. Let's talk.

Now's the time for you

to step up and be a man.

You want to talk to me now?

What do you want?

You have to talk to me.

You know the things

your father's doing ain't good.

You have to turn state's evidence.

You can do that...

...because it's the only way

to save your ass...

...or because it's the right thing.

I don't really give a sh*t,

but you're going to do it.

Yes, sir.

Is there some sort of problem,

Mr. Taggert?

There's a problem for Orin Hanner.

I've got a warrant for his arrest.

I don't care if it's tablets from God.

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