The Indian Runner

The Indian knew that deer

moved in circles.

That if the hunter moved with skill...

...he could run the swift deer

into submission.

Its hooves would bleed,

and the animal stumble.

The Indian was to kneel

above his dying prey...

...putting his mouth

to that of the deer...

...stealing its last breath.

While he had earned

the swiftness of the beast...

...in its death, he was struck

by its peace and stillness.

And by his own.

I tried telling myself

I'd done my job...

...defended my life.

I didn't believe me.

You killed my boy, Joe Roberts!

You killed my baby boy!

This is how houses catch fire.

Murderers' houses! Murderer!

- Murderer!

- Mrs. Baker, this won't help.

He killed my baby.

Robert, you and Jim want to get

Mr. Baker there? I'm sorry.

My brother Frank was due back

from Vietnam within the week.

We hadn't seen each other

since I'd lost the farm in '65...

...and took the uniform job

to make ends meet.

In one of his letters,

he said his comrades...

...were disturbed

by the killing they'd seen.

He wrote:

"Guys over here...

...expect their hair

to stay dry in the rain."

Good.

Your mom called.

Yeah? What's happening?

First, the plane

was gonna be delayed in Hawaii...

...then it was on time.

Now she says 9:
30, Tuesday. For sure.

It's gotta go through Fort Dix.

- Raffael asleep?

- Yes, babe.

You worried about today?

Or about Frank coming home?

No, no, no. This kid today...

- His parents came in making threats.

- What threats?

Threats.

When they pulled the father outside,

he started singing.

- Don't move!

- Hey, hey, it's me!

Sh*t! You scared the hell

out of me! Come here.

- I almost killed you.

- He's got you trained.

- You're early.

- I didn't wanna hang around Fort Dix.

Joe will be so happy to see you!

Joe is so happy to see you.

Come on, baby. Come on.

Come on, a little bit. A little bit.

Share with your Uncle Frankie.

I'm gonna take Frank over

to the folks. I'll be back in a bit.

- You be here?

- Yeah, I've got two lessons later.

See you.

Welcome home, Frank.

Bye-bye.

Your uncle is a barnyard dog.

Well, town looks same-same.

So you're a dad, man. How's that?

Undescribable.

Great.

He's amazing.

- What?

- Just looking at you.

It feels kind of strange

riding upfront in the Man's car.

No handcuffs, my own brother driving.

Sh*t.

Remember we used to plug

cop cars with snowballs?

Pull over. Pull over.

Hey, don't you do that!

Don't you do that!

He did it.

Hey, get the cop.

King of the mountain!

Need an army to fight me, huh?

What are you doing?

Listen, I just wanted

to see you guys...

...meet the baby and all.

I ain't gonna see Mom and Pop.

What are you talking about?

Frankie.

You caught me off balance.

What are you saying?

Goodbye?

Let's call it, "See you later."

- I came to see you, brother man.

- What about mom and dad?

- What about them?

- You'll break their hearts.

You're the one

who always takes sh*t personal.

If anything, they'll be relieved.

You'll see.

Where you going?

You got a place to stay?

- You got money?

- I took 40 bucks from your wallet.

It's in the glove box.

I don't want you to go.

This whole town's talking about you.

- Good job, boy.

- Thanks.

If I could figure out

the difference...

...between what gets you a kiss

on the ass and me locked up...

I used to know my brother

like I knew I'd always be a farmer.

But drifting off on the train

that day was a stranger.

He looked like a hero.

I felt closeness with that

rough-and-tumble kid...

...I knew before

high school distractions.

Then later my wife and farm

occupied our time together.

In the last few years

before going overseas...

...Frank had become branded

the hell-raiser of town.

That he'd come to no good.

Maybe leaving suddenly was the only

mercy he knew for the grief he'd caused.

As for my parents, Frankie was right.

They would not take it personally.

They say some of the boys

coming back...

...are coming back real confused.

Frank left confused.

Maybe it'll straighten him out.

That's what Randall said.

Now my boy's

comparing his mama to a moron.

It wasn't a comparison, Mom.

He's a very restless boy,

that Frankie.

That's what got him into trouble.

That's why he left.

I thought he just hated cops.

Don't say that.

Listen to your mama.

You are a good man. You hear me?

You are a good man.

It don't mean the time won't come

when you have to kill.

Can't regret it.

If it hadn't been him, it might

have been my son. No, sir. No, sir.

Don't you regret it.

You just say the Serenity Prayer

and get on with it.

We didn't see or hear from Frank

for a good six months...

...when our lives took a turn.

- Do you want anything?

- No, we're fine. Thank you.

She sure could make good apple pie.

Do you need anything?

No, thanks, Maria.

Thanks.

You know, Joe...

...it didn't sit right with me

when you married a Mexican.

When I look at her today...

...she's beautiful.

She's a beautiful and good woman.

Boy, was I wrong. I was dead wrong.

I'm gonna check the Teletype

at the station.

- He's probably in the system.

- He is.

He sent out a card a month ago.

But I didn't want her to know.

He's got 24 more days.

Well, 23 and a wake-up.

Oh, yeah. I've been counting.

- Where is he?

- Columbus.

Now, he didn't send the card...

...but a girl named Dorothy.

"Dear Mr. And Mrs. Roberts...

...Frank hit me.

My daddy said he had to go to jail.

But don't worry because I'm here

to take care of him."

He's a likable son of a b*tch.

Where does he get it?

I don't know.

Frank, he took off his clothes

to take a sh*t.

Frank, he took his clothes off

to take a sh*t. Frank.

- Great-looking kid, Joe.

- Yeah, thanks.

Got a great-looking mama.

What did she say?

- She asked if you'd take him.

- Sure, kids love me.

Come here, Raffael.

How you doing, boy?

Incest product?

That ain't really what she said?

I knew that.

I got a real bad idea I want

to follow though on...

...and I need your okay.

It's about Frankie, huh?

I wanna offer him a room

when he gets out.

I gotta get close to him again.

I gotta try.

Something.

Why do you think he'll want to?

You told me... I thought he had

that masochist waiting for him.

- Maybe the masochist will come too.

- Wait a minute.

No, you're probably right.

He probably won't want to come anyway.

- We have a child in the house.

- I've thought about that.

I'd talk to him first.

If he wants to come with the girl...

I'd meet her, decide from there.

I'm not going to say no.

Doggone it, Raffael.

What'd you do that for?

Put sand down my pants for?

Frank's jailer told me releases

didn't start until 10 a.m.

I'd only driven through

three states...

...but, man, this country

looks smaller on a map.

Frankie had few enough

moments of tenderness in him.

I didn't need to interrupt this one.

I thought better to wait my turn.

Collect from Joe.

Hi, babe. I'm still here.

No, I haven't yet.

Soon. I figure.

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