Winter's Bone

1

Way down in Missouri

Where I heard this melody

When I was just a little baby

On my mama's knee

The old folks were humming

The banjos were strumming

So sweet and low

Hushabye my baby

Go to sleep on mama's knee

Journey back to these old hills

In dreams again with me

It seems like your mama

Was there once again

And the old folks were strumming

That same old refrain

Way down in Missouri

Where I heard this lullaby

When the stars were blinking

And the moon was shining high

And I hear mama calling

As in days long ago

Singing hushabye

Come on, Let's go.

[Wind blows]

[bluegrass on radio]

[Ree, softly]

Ashlee darling.

Hm?

Wake up.

Hm.

[grunts]

Wake up.

[grunts]

[Male Weatherman]

Temperatures are going

to do nothing but go down.

We'll have another very cold day tomorrow.

Morning.

...to freezing rain.

The Freewill Baptist Church

is having a fundraiser,

a covered-dish event,

that's coming up here

on Thursday evening,

so they're having a band concert.

That will be on Friday night

at the high school.

Better than nothing.

[Whines]

[distant gunfire]

[gunfire]

- [Water dripping]

- [country on radio]

Who's this?

Peanut Butter.

Where'd you find Peanut Butter?

In the woods.

He's sweet.

Spell "house."

- H-O-- [laughs]

- [laughs]

H-O...

A-woo.

U-A?

- Uh-uh.

- U.

Ssssss.

S-E?

H-O-U-S-E.

7 plus 2.

Good.

[children chattering]

Transfer.

Careful.

Cradle the head,

and then take him to your shoulder...

so he's up a little bit higher

but you're still supporting the head.

Make sure you hold this right under--

[Woman on P.A.]

Could I have your attention, please?

Forsyth, Missouri chapter

of the Family, Consumer,

and Career Leaders of America--

[Girl]

Hey, Ree.

...will meet this Friday at 3:00 p.m.

in Mrs. Boyer's room.

Truman University will be here--

Forward, march!

If you would like to attend,

please sign up in the counselor's office.

[Drill Leader]

March time.

[Drill Leader]

Forward, march.

The Marine Corps Birthday Ball

will be this Saturday in the men's--

All other P.C. cadets and their families

are encouraged to attend.

All right.

Hi, Sonya.

Hey, Ree.

You and the kids all right?

We're just a little short on cash right now.

How long's it been since the horse ate?

About four days.

That hay gets kind of expensive, don't it?

Yes ma'am.

Actually, l was wondering

if you could keep her with yours.

[gate clattering]

All right, Ginger, come on.

That's a girl.

There you go. There you go.

Have a little bit of that.

Come on. Get going.

Thank you, Sonya.

All right.

[chopping wood]

[barks]

[car approaching]

[barks]

[other dogs barking]

How are you today?

Ask me inside.

I need to talk some with your mama.

She don't talk much.

[Officer]

Ma'am?

I was wondering

if I could ask you a few questions.

Ma'am?

You better just tell me.

You know your daddy's

out on bond, don't you?

So what?

Looks like he's been cooking again.

l know that's the charges you laid on him,

but you ain't proved it on him.

You got to prove it every time.

Well, that won't be no hard thing to do,

but that ain't even why l'm here.

His court date's next week,

and l can't seem to turn him up.

Maybe he sees you and ducks.

That could be,

but where you all come into this is,

he put this house here,

and your timber acres, up for his bond.

He what, now?

Jessup signed over everything.

Now, if he doesn't show at trial, see,

the way the deal works is,

you all gonna lose this place.

You got some place to go?

l'll find him.

- Girl, I've been looking.

- I said I'll find him.

You make sure your daddy

knows the gravity of this deal.

[Boy]

Maybe they'll share some of that with us.

[Ree]

That could be.

Maybe we should ask.

Never ask for what ought to be offered.

[log thumps]

Evening, Ree.

- Evening.

- [Sonja] Kids. Hey, Connie.

Didn't want you to think

we'd forgot you all.

Brought you some meat, some potatoes,

and some stuff for a good stew, anyway.

Thank you. We can use it.

I seen your woodpile's low out front.

We got that splitter up there in the yard.

You should use it.

l'll do that.

We seen the law was

out here this afternoon.

Everything all right?

He's huntin' for Dad.

Hunting Jessup, is he?

You know where he's at?

No.

You sure about that?

Yes.

All right.

All right, well l guess you didn't have

nothing to tell him then, did you?

I wouldn't tell him nothing if l did.

Honey, we know that.

I'm going to let you get to it, all right?

[sighs]

How about some deer stew.

That sound good?

Mm-hm.

Both of you need to get over here

and watch how I make it.

[knocks]

Thank God it's you, Sweet Pea,

and not Floyd's

mommy and daddy again.

Them two watch me

like I done something wrong.

[Floyd]

Hush your mouth about them.

They put a roof

over your head, ain't they?

Hey, Floyd. You gonna invite me in?

Or I could just stay

out here and talk to you.

Yeah, you can come in.

Hey.

[cooing]

Sh*t.

Don't start.

C'mon.

It's been a while, Sweet Pea.

Things stack up, is all.

What's going on?

The Sheriff came by looking for Dad.

If he don't show up for his court date,

we're gonna lose the house.

I gotta get down to the Arkansas line.

l gotta ask him.

lt's his truck.

[coos]

[cooing]

He said no.

Did you tell him I'd spring for gas?

l told him. He still won't.

Why not?

He never says why not to me, Ree.

He just says no.

Man, that's so sad to hear you say

he won't let you do something

and then you don't do it.

lt's different once you're married.

lt really must be because you ain't

never used to eat no sh*t.

Ned needs his nap.

Come here.

[door opens]

[dog barks]

[door opens]

What brings you here?

Somebody dead?

l'm looking for my Dad.

Come on in. Shake off the chill.

Let's keep it quiet.

Teardrop's still laying up in bed.

The law came by today.

Dad signed over everything to his bond.

Victoria, I really gotta run

Dad down to get him to show.

- [cigarette lighter clicks]

- [Teardrop] You ought not do that.

Don't go running after Jessup.

Show or don't show,

that choice is up to the one going to jail,

not you.

You know where he's at, don't you?

Where a man's at ain't necessarily

for you to know, neither.

- But you do.

- I ain't seen him.

Could be running around

with Little Arthur and them, you think?

Don't you ever go down

around Little Arthur's

asking them people about sh*t

they ain't offering to talk about.

That's a real good way

to end up bit by hogs...

or wishing you was.

[clip snaps into pistol]

We're all related, ain't we?

[chuckles]

Our relations get watered kind of thin

between here and Little Arthur's.

You know all those people, Teardrop.

- You could ask--

- Shut up.

None of them's gonna be

in a great big hurry to tangle with you.

l said shut up once already

with my mouth.

Jesus. Dad's your only brother.

You think I forgot that?

Hm?

Jessup and me run together

for coming on 40 years,

but l don't know where he's at,

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