Population 436 Page #4

would want to leave

Rockwell Falls in

the first place.

Well,

if there is something

wrong going on here,

I'm gonna have to report it.

Oh, jeez, I'm sorry to hear that,

but we've got nothing to hide.

How are you feeling,

Mr. Kady?

[###]

You look a little peaked.

Why don't you get

the sheriff to give you a lift.

You look like

you could use some rest.

[###]

That's okay.

I'll walk.

MAN 1:

Hello, Mr. Kady.

Beautiful day, Mr. Kady.

MAN 2:
Hello, Mr. Kady.

WOMAN:
How do you do, Mr. Kady?

MAN 3:
Good day, Mr. Kady.

Hi there, Mr. Kady.

[###]

WOMAN:

Hello, Mr. Kady.

What can I do for you?

Hmm. It doesn't look like

your friend is

gonna make it today.

You sure he knows

where we are?

Yeah, I told him.

Maybe he found

something better

to do, huh?

Maybe he just forgot.

Yeah, that could be it.

[###]

STEVE:
You know

what's going on

with Amanda Jacobs, don't you?

You don't know what it's like here.

Then tell me. Please.

They think that I'm dangerous

because I don't like it here.

But not to them.

To myself.

They've tried to kill my spirit.

But I keep my thoughts close,

where they can't find them,

all the while

just hoping for a chance

to leave.

Like Amanda.

I've gotta find her.

No, don't. Steve, it's too dangerous.

Bobby, you know,

some people are starting

to whisper about them two.

Stop it, Christian.

He wouldn't do that.

He's my friend.

Still, I wouldn't wait

too much longer to ask

Courtney to marry you.

Tomorrow, everyone

will be at the festival.

Now, you just... You go there,

you let everyone see

that you're okay.

And then you just

slip away.

I can't just sit here

and wait and do nothing.

But if you go now, you'll only

put her in more danger.

If they figure out what

you're doing, they'll just

take her somewhere else.

Steve,

stay with me.

I don't belong here.

This isn't...

This isn't right.

Just promise me

that you will take me

with you.

I promise.

[###]

[MOANING]

[CHILDREN LAUGHING]

[BANJO PLAYING]

Hey, Steve-O.

What happened

to you yesterday?

Thought we were

going shooting.

Oh. Oh, yeah, that's right.

You know, I completely forgot,

Bobby. I'm sorry.

Hey, Steve.

Come on, let's dance.

HECKER:

Boy, that's some friend

you got there, Bobby.

Shut up, Christian.

What was that all about?

I really need to talk to you,

but everybody's watching us.

Past the woods behind

our barn there's a cabin

about a half mile in.

And if you're in trouble,

you find it.

What?

BELMA:
Courtney.

Come stand with your mama.

Find it.

Gather around, everyone.

Gather around.

Is everyone here?

Minus the notable exceptions:

Amanda, the Sydes,

the Hillenbocks?

Well, that should be everybody, then.

We give you thanks,

almighty Father,

for bringing new friends

to the community.

We give you thanks,

O Lord our God.

ALL:

Solidarity and steadfastness.

We are the union of the divine,

and we shall cherish

equilibrium and peace.

All right, enjoy yourself, everyone.

I can't believe this is

the second one this year.

Would have had a third if

Ray Jacobs hadn't done

what he did.

How often do you

have these festivals?

It depends.

STEVE:
On what?

The population,

of course.

Why, we're having

this one because of you.

Didn't you know?

You make 437.

I'm so happy and blessed.

Thank you for this.

GRATEMAN:

Don't forget to restart

your clocks until next time.

Now, let's try to finish off

Sadie's pies there. She's put

a lot of love in them.

Are you out of your minds?

Doc, looks like we've got

a live one.

Are you all

out of your f***ing minds?!

CALCUTT:

How you doing there, Steve?

Why don't you come along with us.

It's okay, Steve-O.

The doctor can help.

Run! Run!

No! No! No!

Keep him still.

COURTNEY:

No. Don't hurt him, please!

CALCUTT:

Why would we hurt him, Courtney?

We're concerned about his health.

Can't you see, he's got the fever.

He wants to run, just like

you wanted to before.

He's not sick! You are!

All of you!

CAINE:

What are you saying? Take it back.

I won't.

It's evil!

CALCUTT:
Come on.

Help her. Take her to Doc Greaver.

COURTNEY:
No! No!

No!

MAN:

Very good.

How are you feeling, son?

Don't be embarrassed, Mr. Kady.

We've seen it all before.

STEVE:

You killed her.

You killed that poor woman.

Her name was Ruby Flynn.

And Ruby was honored

to sacrifice herself for the good

of the community.

[GRUNTING]

We can't help you

understand until

you lie still.

Back in 1860, the population

of Rockwell Falls was 436.

And the town was

happy and prosperous.

But then a wicked man

came to town,

and his wickedness

spread amongst the community

until God wiped

the cancer clear out by fire.

Seymour Grateman,

my great-grandfather,

he rebuilt the town.

And he established a moratorium

on the population: 436.

And that number obviously

pleased our Father because,

well, we guard it to this very day.

It's God's law.

But I didn't move here.

I'm going home to Chicago.

I have a home.

We believe in our ways,

Mr. Kady.

But we don't suppose

the outside world

would understand.

We know we've been chosen,

just as you were.

That's what your fever is.

You give subversion

a name and then you cure it?

GREAVER:

Mr. Kady, we did not

create the fever.

You're having a spell now.

Can you feel all of that rage

and that anger?

That's not what God intended.

We must save you from yourself.

Believe us, Mr. Kady,

everyone who tries running

ends up dying.

Not by our hands,

but by God's.

People will be looking for me.

That's all right.

We have taken care of that.

What does that mean?

You'll learn to love it here,

Mr. Kady, just like everyone else.

I'm not staying here!

Do you hear me?

GRATEMAN:
Doc.

I am not staying here!

God! No, don't! No!

Don't! Please!

Now, it's for your own good, Mr. Kady.

No, don't! Please! Don't!

GREAVER:

You'll see a bright light,

and it feels like you're dying,

but don't worry,

it passes.

No! No. No.

[###]

[MACHINE BUZZES]

ALL:

Solidarity and steadfastness.

We are the union of the divine.

We shall cherish

equilibrium and peace.

STEVE:

Dear Frank:

My life has changed here.

I've found a new home. Send regards

to everyone and arrange

to take what you want

from my place and my office.

Tell the boss I'll send

the reports soon. Thanks. Steve.

[ON ANSWERING MACHINE]

Hi, you've reached Steve.

Leave me a message.

[GASPS]

Easy, honey. You're fine.

You were having a nightmare,

but those will go away soon.

Oh, you're running a little hot,

but you'll be fine.

Don't worry.

Mr. Kady. Stop.

Get me the sheriff.

[###]

[DOGS BARKING]

MAN:

Thattaboy.

That's it.

Watch yourself.

Hey, boy!

Where you going?

Why didn't you go, Steve?

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

[###]

Get out of the car. Now.

It doesn't run.

They parted it years ago.

Even if it did,

you can't get away.

Who are you?

My name is John Green.

I came here eight years ago.

I also thought

I was just passing through.

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