Oh God!
Didn't you see that?
There was a dead cat...
hanging from that sign we just passed.
Really? Cool.
Don't you even think about going back there.
What color was it?
Tiger-striped.
What difference does it make?
Well I thought it might be black you know?
Satanists out in the desert.
Marielle said the Nevada desert was full of oddballs.
I just don't know who could kill a living creature like that.
You're traveling through another dimension...
A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.
Very funny.
I can't wait to get back to Salt Lake City at least.
Too much nature out here.
I'm starting to miss civilization.
What? What is it?
A car. Really movin' too.
Get over. Give him the road.
It's a cop.
Why is he going so fast with his flashers off?
Who's he gonna run them for out here?
Well there's us.
What's he doing?
I don't know.
Hi.
What does he want?
Well I guess he wants to get back behind us again.
Well why didn't he just pull over...
and let us pass then if that's what he wants?
I don't know.
Why is he stopping us Peter? Why?
These asses have a quota to make.
They keep the posted limit at 55 so they can make it.
Don't pull over.
I don't have a choice Mary.
Great.
Holy God it's Sasquatch!
Guess I was going a little fast officer.
Had the hammer down a little huh?
Can I see your registration please sir?
No problem.
But the car's not mine.
It's my sister's.
We're driving it back for her to New York.
She's... she goes to school in Oregon.
Rand College.
Have you ever heard of it?
Mar could you get the registration?
I think it's in the glove compartment.
I don't believe this...
I can't find my license.
Sorry officer I...
Oh wait a minute here it is.
OK and um here's the registration.
Oh good.
I see you're an organ donor.
Think that's wise?
Well...
Is there a problem officer?
Your name is Jackson?
The one on the pink slip says Deirdre Finney.
That your sister?
Right.
She's been divorced for about a year...
but she kept her husband's last name.
Deirdre's a bit of a flake.
Bit of a flake huh?
Tak.
Can I ask you to step out of the car Mr. Jackson?
What for?
Of course.
Come around back Mr. Jackson.
Hell!
Peter what is it?
Our... our damn license plate fell off!
I doubt it.
Did you stop in Fallon?
Yeah we got gas at the Conoco there.
Why?
They got some light-fingered kids hang out there.
I reckon your license plate is hangin' in their clubhouse right now.
You know this and it still goes on?
Oh Fallon is not my place.
Those are not my ways. Gosh no.
What should we do about that officer?
Well you just take the plate off the front...
and put it in the back.
That's should get you across the country.
You got a tool kit?
These are yours.
Thanks.
I think I saw a tool kit in the trunk.
Yeah OK.
There behind my make-up case.
Hey.
What is this?
Damned sister!
Officer I know what this looks like.
But we checked her stuff...
But we're not customs officers!
That... that is not our dope!
No.
Let me have your keys.
Get in the car.
But...
Are you deaf? Get in the car!
Get in the car!
OK we'll get this taken care of.
In Desperation.
Get in the car folks.
Tak.
Slow down you'll flip us!
What are you doing? Are you crazy?
Officer you saw our registration.
You know that isn't our car and it's not our dope either!
Do you think we'd be so stupid...
Shut up you New York deviant.
Wh... wh... what did you call me?
I'm arresting you for possession of marijuana...
with intent to sell.
You can't be serious!
You have the right to remain silent.
If you choose to not be silent...
everything you say can be held against you...
In a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney.
I am going to kill you.
If you cannot afford an attorney...
One will be provided for you.
Do you understand your rights...
as I have explained them to you?
Do you understand your rights?
Just... Act normally.
I don't think he understands what he just said.
Do you understand your rights?!
Do you or not? Answer me...
you smart-aleck blue state unisex swingles!
Do you or not? Do you or not?
Yes! Yes we understand.
Please just watch the road.
Don't worry about me.
I got eyes in the back of my head.
You'd do well to remember that.
Up there on the horizon's the china pit.
Gotta go all the way to Peru
to find a bigger one.
Yeah we just started working her again.
They got some kind of technology...
that makes even the tailings valuable.
Science huh?
Gosh.
Yeah I think we're gonna be a boom town again...
just like in the old days.
Officer please don't kill us.
We'll do whatever you say. Just don't kill us!
Shut your quackin' yuppie pothead mouth!
We're not potheads.
You look like potheads to me.
Yuppies killed Princess Di you know.
Wasn't she beautiful?
Officer...
Shut up and walk.
Where is everybody?
Disneyland.
Come on walk hay foot straw foot.
You're Peter.
You're Mary.
So where's Paul?
I mean how can you sing Puff the Magic Dragon
without Paul?
Wait a minute. Peter Jackson.
I love Lord of the Rings!
You are useless.
You at least look healthy.
Get in there girlfriend.
Forgot all about her.
You can never remember everything now can you?
I don't care if you're a Jew a Hindu or Mr. Magoo.
In Desperation...
We don't care about those things much.
Peter!
Peter! Let me go!
Peter!
Shotgun get the shotgun!
Shoot him shoot him!
Get it! Get it woman!
Pick it up for God sakes!
Don't do that.
Drop it Mary.
Put it down Mary.
Put it down.
Drop it.
Now if you don't want to see your liver...
come squirting out of your nose...
I'd put it down Mary.
Kill me if you're going to.
Now why would I want to kill you...
when things are just starting to get interesting?
He killed my husband!
He killed our little girl.
Three billion red Chinese don't give a damn.
How they hangin' old timer?
Don't you hurt him! I'm warning you.
Who are you boy?
I'm David Carver.
I live at 248 Poplar Street in Wentworth Ohio.
Yeah but...
who made thee?
Canst thou say who made thee? Tak!
I guess my folks did.
And God.
There's no god out here little Dave.
Leave him alone!
Haven't you done enough to our family?
Even bald-headed hoppin'-Satan...
don't step his split-foot much west of Tonopah.
This is Desperation.
Only thing out here is can tah and can tak.
And don't you forget it!
You're mine.
David what's wrong?
What's... what's wrong with him?
There's nothing wrong with him.
What do you mean? Are you blind?
I think your son is praying.
Well. Hey there.
Are you a nice person?
Well I like to think so...
but then again if I was Ted Bundy...
do you think I'd tell you?
I'd know. I got a psychic streak.
Up yours!
That's pleasant.
So what's your name young lady?
Cynthia Smith.
Smith? Oh. Smith. That's a likely story.
No really it is.
Sure.
Honest!
OK.
Who are you?
Me? Steve Ames. A noble moniker.
So haul your psychic streak on up here...
Cynthia Smith...
And let's make some miles OK?
Yeah I guess you'll do.
Oh. Well thank you very much cookie.
Don't call me cookie and I won't call you cake.
Oh my.
You gonna smoke that or gum it to death?
Yeah I quit.
Never hurts to keep in practice though.
What you lookin' at huh?
Your T-shirt.
Yeah right!
I'm lookin' at your t-shirt!
Come on that's OK! We're all animals right?
Oh come on now! Give me a break.
I worked with Dylan back in '95 when uh he did Unplugged.
No way!
Yeah yeah way. Yeah.
I was doin' amps and guitar tech...
back in those days.
Are you a roadie?
Well this truck looks too small to carry a band's gear.
No I'm workin' for this writer...
And he's uh he's driving cross country...
doing little speaking things you know?
And he does one every couple of days or so...
and when he gets back to the west coast...
he's gonna write a book about it.
Is he famous?
Have you ever heard of John Edward Marinville?
No.
Well he's famous amongst book people I guess.
Yeah I pretty much stick with Dean Koontz.
Is he cool?
Is he cool? Yeah...
you know once you get past the ego...
which is like the size of Tibet.
Yeah I mean he gets cranky every so often but I like him...
you know.
People drive across country everyday.
Why is he writing a book about it?
Ah well it's like he's got this midlife crisis thing...
You know the guy's 60 years old.
He's been everywhere he's done everyone you know.
The guy rides a big Harley soft tail.
Hey hey! Is his bike red and cream?
Yeah red and cream.
I think I saw him this morning!
Yeah yeah yeah you probably did.
Lookin' all handsome on his bike.
Handsome man yeah!
Yeah and he knows it too believe me.
Well he's got to be what...
like 50 70 miles ahead of you.
Yeah about that.
You know I catch up to him when he has a gig...
And I set up the sound systems for him...
And I you know...
Make sure he's got the names straight stuff like that.
And I'll have dinner with him if he wants somebody to talk to.
Not with to.
But the guy's having the time of his life.
Yeah he likes to play the lone wolf huh?
Yeah. That's... that's the boss.
Lone Wolf McQuade.
A film before your time.
Come on come on. Go.
Water in the desert.
Thank you Lord.
You want to come up here sir?
I think we need to have a talk.
Afternoon officer.
A wise man once told me...
no matter how much you squirm and dance...
last two drops end up in your pants.
Sir. Are you aware that parking your vehicle
on a state road is against the law?
And that relieving yourself in public...
is also against the law?
Well I didn't see any crowd gathering to watch me so...
Sir.
Yeah. Well listen you can...
write me up if you have to...
and I will take it with a smile and apologize...
if that will improve your day.
I'm not gonna write you up sir.
Just a warning will do this time but...
What?
Something wrong?
Holy God.
Holy God!
You're John Edward Marinville aren't you?
- Oh I... - Damn!
I'm busted. You got me again.
Damn!
Glad to meet you.
I am shaking hands
With the guy who wrote Delight!
Yeah.
With the guy who wrote Song of the Hammer!
- Yeah. - This is...
Wow!
What are you doing out here?
And on such an unsafe mode of transportation?
I mean they don't call them murder-cycles for nothin'...
and I'm a wolf.
Are you workin' on anything new sir?
Yeah a book of essays.
I thought I'd cycle across America...
and get in touch with the common folk.
You know get back to my roots.
That's amazing.
Sir can I can I have your autograph?
I mean that'd... that'd... that'd make my whole day.
Hell that'd make my whole year.
Yeah that'd be fine. Right here and?
- Yeah yeah yeah. - All right.
Could you just make it out to Collie Entragian...
your number one fan.
Thank you.
I heard you saw some pretty hairy stuff in the 'Nam.
I was just a correspondent officer.
Just one more ink-stained wretch.
But I must say...
that the Vietnam experience defined me.
Nobody wrote about 'Nam like you.
I heard you saved some soldiers...
when some suicide gook blew up a restaurant.
Well it was gut check time for a lot of us.
We did what we could.
Yeah well some people don't do anything.
Some made the bread of forgetfulness...
and drank the wine of cowardice. Tak.
Hey you don't want to ride around like that Mr. Marinville.
That thing gets caught up in your back wheel...
you're toast.
How'd that get like that?
It can't be.
I always check these buckles before I get on the cycle.
It's the last thing I do.
Well they say the memory's the first thing to go.
What's that supposed to mean?
What the hell is that?
That's a wolf! Shoot it!
Ah that's just a wild dog.
They're not dangerous.
Ordinarily.
Tak!
Tak ah lah!
Tak ah wah!
What the hell did you say to it?
Is that some kind of Indian dialect?
Well it's a lot older than that.
Now since you can't take care of yourself...
You big baby...
Hey.
Gosh.
Houston we have a problem.
That's not mine.
You put that in there when I was off doing my business.
Yeah.
Blame the cop just like in your lefty New York stories.
Tak.
Why do you keep saying that?
Why do you keep saying "tak"?
I didn't say tak. You said tak.
You say tomato I say tomat-oh.
You say potato I say potat-ah.
What the hell's the matter with you?
Tomato...
Tomat-oh.
Potato.
Potat-oh.
# let's call the whole thing off #
My nose!
That's not all I'll break.
My children of the desert.
Can toi.
What music they make.
Get up!
On your feet Lord Jim.
Upsa-daisy you worthless piece of crap.
You've been redefined.
Watch what you're doing to me.
Shut up!
You're in my house now!
You're in the house of the wolf and the scorpion...
and don't you forget it!
You really did wet your pants this time.
You're a sorry excuse for a writer...
and you're a sorry excuse for a man.
Your whole life is a lie...
and I could just kill you right here.
Yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
No. No. No. No.
It's still showing.
I can still see it.
Cover it up more!
More please.
Yes.
Thank you for using Sky.
Your call is now being routed.
Have a great day.
Oh damn it.
I was in a literary commune in Chicago.
Yeah that's a new one on me.
Well when you have a bunch of people...
sitting around in a roach motel...
smoking crystal meth they're addicts.
- Nice. - But!
If they've been to college they're a literary commune.
For a while though it wasn't bad...
But then I realized I was getting old before my time.
So I split.
OK all right...
Do me a favor. just don't say anything OK?
He's... he'll be cool about it.
But his agent made a huge stink...
about picking up wayward hitchhikers.
Hey boss that you?
Steve... Steve I'm...
Johnny?
Boss is that...
Trouble...
I hear you boss. What's wrong?
Boss?
About a mile and... about a mile and a half...
Boss?
Boss? Boss!
Steve...
Boss? Boss?!
Steve can you... can you hear me? S...
S... Shoot.
Lost him.
Miss me?
Where you taking me?
The old calabozo my friend...
Where anything you bray will be abused against you...
in the court of caw.
Well aren't you going to at least say gesundheit?
He's in trouble isn't he?
Said something about the cops.
Oh God.
Bad.
Not good.
Big ego. Big temper.
Just hope he hasn't killed anybody.
All right brace yourself Cynthia.
There might be blood.
Yeah I will.
I'm a woman.
I can deal with blood.
Look John.
What in the name of God is going on?
What's up with the praying David?
I've been doing it since Bryan's accident.
Everyone thought he'd die.
Your sister died.
I'd say that's a pretty lousy bargain.
Honey leave him alone...
I want to know about this!
He's praying. That's all.
He's not hurting anybody.
Praying is great.
Without it the crusades would've never gotten off the ground.
Do you do this all the time son?
Or is it special?
I ask for help in the morning and give thanks at night.
In the middle I just take a few minutes...
and try to...
get open.
Sort of like a football receiver or something.
It's hard to explain.
Bryan got you going on this?
Bryan's accident.
You remember the doctor saying...
how his recovery was almost miraculous?
I saw him Mom.
It wasn't "almost."
Bryan look out!
Bryan!
Bryan are you OK?
Bryan are you...
Help me! Somebody help me!
I think he's dying!
Come on please.
God please don't let him die.
If you save him I'll do something for you.
Anything you want I promise.
Only don't let him die.
Please don't let him die.
God could work a miracle on your friend...
but not on your baby sister?
He couldn't save her from that cop?
What kind of a god is that?
I don't know what kind of god he is.
Look leave him alone.
I want to know how you can get on your knees...
and pray to a god who killed your sister!
Lady he's your son...
and I don't mean to interfere.
But why don't you take it easy on the boy?
I know you lost your little girl.
I lost my husband.
It's been a tough day on everyone.
Tough day.
Listen.
Maybe it's help.
No. It's Collie.
I recognize the engine.
His name is Collie Entragian.
He's been on the force here for...
about 12 years.
I'm... I'm the vet in these parts...
and I took care of Collie's dogs.
He was a nice fellow.
Yeah a real sweetheart.
Till this I mean.
I'll tell you something though.
He's bigger.
What do you mean "he's bigger"?
Bigger.
Taller.
A few inches at least.
That's impossible.
I know.
Look at us would you.
Just one big happy family.
Tak.
I don't even know what I'm looking for.
His bike...
Skid marks or just anything out of the ordinary.
- Wait wait... what is that? - What?
He said something about an R.V.
Hey!
What? What is it?
Just a reflection I guess. Go slow.
Hello?
Anybody home?
Look.
This is some little girl's favorite.
See how the dress is patched?
So why was it left in the sand?
Yeah. And why...
Why are all the tires flat you know?
Like not just one or two of them but all of them.
Eeny meeny miney mo.
Catch a tourist by the toe.
Don't you scream.
Don't you shout.
Time has come
to take you... out.
Leave them alone!
Haven't you done enough to us?
In a word...
No.
Come on out hon.
Or this no chin pencil neck paper pusher...
gets it right between the eyes.
Ellie no.
And the boy goes next.
No!
I'll be all right.
OK.
That's right hon.
Fine as fiddlesticks.
If you want that...
take me where my son won't have to see.
Oh don't worry hon.
I don't want "that."
Especially not from "you."
Mom no!
Leave her alone you bastard!
Leave my mother alone.
Don't worry honey. I'll be back. OK?
Make him stop. Dad make him stop.
Oh God.
I'm warning you.
If you hurt her you'll be sorry.
Maybe.
But I doubt it.
You're just a little prayboy aren't you?
Yes yes you are.
You just little prayboy in a baseball shirt.
Well go ahead and pray.
See what good it does.
But God ain't here any more than he was...
when Jesus was dying on the cross with flies in his eyes.
Tak!
Tak! Ah lah!
Him en tow!
If you set a hand or a foot outside your cell...
he'll have it off before you even know it was gone.
Leave her alone.
Son!
I will put a stick through your mother and spin her...
until she catches fire if I so desire.
And you'll not stop me.
And I'll come back for you.
Collie!
Don't hurt her!
Carver. Carver.
Well there was boy here as well as a girl.
David Carver. Carver.
What do you got?
Jewelry.
Earrings and rings.
You know not Tiffany but not cheap either.
Not the kind of stuff you'd leave behind...
unless you were in a hurry.
Time for the cops isn't it?
Well I'm pretty sure the boss said something...
about being like a mile from the R.V.
So...
Before we start yelling for the cops...
You're crazy.
Cynthia!
Why are you taking me here?!
It's beautiful isn't it?
Oh God.
Please don't kill me.
Just...
Now what?
Well there's a town not too far far east of here...
Desperation.
They got some cute names out here don't they?
Yeah I don't care about the name.
I just care about if they have at least one working phone...
and maybe one working cop.
Yeah. Wouldn't that be nice.
# Mother Mary #
# What's the story #
# Save my soul from Purgatory #
Pie.
Murder God.
That's what it really says.
Pie I'm sorry he killed you.
Never mind.
I have something for you.
Tak ah lah!
Tak!
Look David.
David are you OK?
Could you please turn around?
This is a little embarrassing.
David whatever you have in mind...
It can't be a good idea.
It's the only idea.
Who says so son?
My sister...
God.
Are you going to stop this...
before you son does something he regrets?
David you don't have to do this.
The cop's bleeding out. He can't last much longer.
It won't take him long...
to kill my mom if decides to.
David I don't know what you're planning...
But I forbid it.
Sorry Dad.
What's he doing?
David! David you don't have to do this.
You'll get stuck.
Even if you do get out
That thing'll eat you from the feet up.
Lord close its mouth like you did with the lions...
When Daniel was cast into their den.
Amen.
Stop it!
Get away from him you ugly bastard.
Here here. Here! Here!
Hey! Hey come on!
Get over here you mutt.
Come to me! Come to me!
Come on take another bite!
Come this way! Come to me!
David there's no time! Come on move!
Get out of there David!
David pull it! Get out of there!
Come on come on!
David push!
Get out! Get out!
Call the police!
Run run David!
Please help me take care of my mom...
and do what I'm supposed to do.
Hello?
Anybody home?
Tasteful.
Operators are standing by.
Hello?! Anybody there?
It's dead!
It's got to be the...
Hey wait! Wait! Wait!
Wait.
There are some garbage cans lined up against the wall.
The wind just knocked one down. That's all.
I don't care. I want to get out of here.
This place is empty and it gives me the creeps.
There's trucks out there.
Where is everybody?
I don't know. But I just think...
we ought to just keep...
I know just tell me...
we're going to be laughing at each other...
and feeling stupid in a few seconds. OK?
OK. A few seconds.
Good enough.
Let's see what we see.
Do you hear that?
Sounds like a kid blowing bubbles through a straw.
Do not worry Little Nell
for I shall save you.
Dork.
Yeah.
It's just an aquarium.
No look.
Look.
What?
Behind the boat.
It's a hand.
My God what happened here?
I love you Pie.
Please help me not to freak.
Oh! Oh God!
- Oh! - Oh God.
Whatever happened here is over.
It's over. It's over.
Oh God.
OK. All right. OK.
The blood's dry.
It's... it's gone brown.
It's gone brown.
OK. It's all right.
It's all right. It's all right.
I wanna get out of here.
Yeah. Yeah we better...
What's the matter with you?
You think this is Anthropology 101?
What is it?
What the...
What...
I don't know.
Whatever.
Wait!
I think I just...
What?
Never mind.
Look at its tongue.
Do you think that that did all of this?
I don't know and I don't care.
I just wanna get out of here.
Come on.
No way!
David son.
If that's you don't come in!
That thing's right in front of the door!
How close?
About five feet.
And looking right at the sound of your voice.
I have a gun.
I'm gonna shoot it.
No don't even think about it!
I think you all better get under your bunks.
Have you ever shot a gun before kid?
Not a real one.
Oh Jesus wept.
You don't even know if it's loaded!
Or if it has a safety!
I have to do this.
I tried the phones.
They're dead.
David count to five so we'll know.
Hey you're gonna get my son killed!
What the hell's the difference?
If big daddy comes back here...
we're all dead.
Dad get down!
- Please. - OK David.
One!
Is my dad under cover?
Yeah.
- Be careful son! - And shoot up!
Remember he's gonna jump!
OK.
Two!
Three!
Four.
Five!
David!
You OK son?
Please David.
Answer me!
David...
It... twitched.
It was horrible.
You did a good job pal.
An amazing job.
Yeah it was David.
Would you check for a key here and let us out?
Maybe in the desk?
Look in there.
I'm so proud of you.
Seeing Pie was the hardest.
I covered her with a jacket.
You did the best you could my boy.
You did the best you could.
I'm scared for mom.
Look I don't mean to rush you...
But the sooner we get out of here...
Where is everybody?
Look! Look! Look!
Lights.
Where there's lights there's phones.
What was that?
You wait here.
Yeah right!
Eat me said the cake to Alice.
It's hot in here.
The air conditioning's off.
It smells funny.
Hey...
Now look forget this.
Forget this please.
We came here to find people all right?
So let's find 'em.
OK. OK.
Let's go.
Hello?
Anybody here?
Hello?
Hey. Hey Steve there's somebody there.
No no no.
She's... dead.
No she's not. I can see her head moving.
No Cynthia...
- Hey ma'am? - No! It's... Don't!
Ma'am?
Wait wait wait!
Wait wait.
A phone. A phone.
We got a phone.
Go back.
Boss! Oh my God we thought you were dead!
We found your bike underneath this...
What happened to your face?
Same thing that happened to mine.
The cop.
The market!
It's full of... things!
It's not just the market!
Never mind that. We got wheels.
Let's get the hell out of here. Come on!
Somebody's coming!
It's Collie!
He's coming back!
We gotta get out of here!
Come on let's go!
We gotta get that truck off the street too!
What? Make a run for the highway?
Son we'd never make it!
All right. Come on let's go! Hurry up!
Take them round the back!
Hey you know where we're going?
Yeah.
All right you're coming with me.
Let's go. You got it?
That damn little prayboy.
Where are they?
Show me.
Hey!
It's just a rope. You're OK.
I hate narrow places.
It'll get better soon.
Gather around.
I want you all to have the full effect.
Come on over here. Watch your step though.
Wow this is amazing.
Theater's been closed over twenty years now.
Few of us got tired of the hoorah...
down at the Owls' Club and bought it.
Hey Steve. Watch.
No no no no no no
Old-timer. Maybe later.
Here. Check this out.
Who the hell are you to tell me...
I can't have a drink out of my own liquor cabinet?
Somebody who knows what you are.
Somebody who's been there.
And while that crazy cop is still out there somewhere...
That is off-limits...
You got that?
Fine.
Well what about these lights?
The cop gonna see 'em out there?
The theater's boarded up your majesty.
No light shines through.
We're as safe here as anywhere.
I reckon.
The cop'll find us sooner or later.
- You know he will. - You saw him.
Time is not on his side.
Where's... where's everybody else?
Dead.
He killed 'em.
Yeah some of 'em I'm sure.
But where are the rest of 'em?
You're not hearing me.
Anything that got into his road...
he killed it.
Oh that's nuts.
He couldn't have killed 'em all.
Well look around smart aleck.
How come he didn't kill you?
I don't know.
He come for me a couple of days ago.
I had been on a ranch job...
and I slept a little bit late.
Slept in my coat actually.
I might... had too much to drink too.
Now he came right into my bedroom.
First I knew...
Collie Entragian was dragging me out of bed...
and snapping his damn handcuffs...
and dragging me off to jail.
He pulled me all the way through the house...
and across the yard and into his car.
Locked me in the back of the cruiser...
and hauled my ass off to jail.
He was talkin' all kinds of crazy stuff...
in some other language.
And they weren't all dead...
Then you know...
the folks in town I mean.
He got half a dozen on the way back from my place.
Shot them down in the streets ran over them.
The waitress...
in the Desert Rose was screaming...
looking over his shoulder...
and she tripped.
That thump when we went over her...
and him... Laughing.
That little bear on the dashboard...
nodding his head up and down.
And him...
laughing.
Some people must have escaped.
He's not human.
I know that sounds crazy but...
Yeah I know what you mean.
They reopened a mine the old China Pit.
Whatever's happening here...
I think it came from over there.
What are you the town historian?
I guess... Guess you might say so.
In an unofficial way.
I like history.
Local history especially.
Up until now that is.
I found some stuff to eat.
Well this should certainly...
Take care of hunger in America.
It's sardines.
Not great I guess.
Bet this boy and I'd settle...
for woodchuck pâté.
Pass it around David.
Would anybody mind if I said a prayer first?
Sort of like a Grace?
Go for it Davey boy.
God bless this food we're about to eat.
Bless our fellowship.
Take care of us.
Deliver us from evil.
Especially my mom.
Please let her be OK.
Please.
Amen.
You really believe this don't you?
Don't you?
Well there's enough for everyone.
Honest.
Appears he's right ma'am.
We were headed to Tahoe...
when all the tires went flat.
And then he pulled up behind us...
and gave us some story about...
a crazy in the desert...
who was disabling vehicles and...
and shooting folks.
And... and then he looked at Pie.
When he smiled at her...
Your...
Your daughter dropped her doll.
Ellen couldn't stop her from crying...
But...
David made her feel better.
He always could.
So how do we get out of this?
I mean do we just...
wait for the wind to die down or what?
Waiting's a bad idea.
Why do you say that?
Well because...
somebody should've gotten out of here...
and nobody did.
There's something...
Loose here...
and if we hang around...
I think it's... its apt to eat us alive.
I'm not going anywhere until I find out...
what happened to my mom!
- No David no. - No!
It won't do your mom any good...
for you and the rest of us...
to die trying to find her.
It's true son.
It's a crock! That's what it is!
None of you care about my mother.
Not even you Dad.
You know that's not true.
If we leave it'll be too late to save her.
I know that just like...
I knew how to use the soap...
To get us out of the cell.
Why don't you pray?
I can't.
Right now I'm too pissed.
At God?
At Santa Claus.
Is that really how it was Mr. Billingsley?
All those white miners...
and Chinese miners working together?
Pretty much I guess.
Oh come on. They didn't call it...
The Chinese-American pit did they?
Why don't you tell us about it?
You think you know it all...
Mr. High and mighty!
Why don't you tell it?
You're the big storyteller.
I'll tell you about Vietnam.
You tell us about desperation.
Talk about it.
Every... town has a sister.
And every town has its secrets.
We're here. We want to know about it.
Tell us about it.
Well you'll all think I'm crazy.
After what we've seen?
Anybody think Tom's crazy...
raise their hands.
Well about a month ago...
An A.N.F.O. crew uncovered...
the old Rattlesnake Shaft...
while they were shooting blast holes.
They dug the Rattlesnake...
a good 150 years ago.
It caved in about three months later...
And the miners...
All but two of the Chinese...
were buried alive...
along with whatever they dug up...
when they started working the mine again last month.
Whatever they woke up.
I think it's...
a waisin.
An earth demon.
Now that the shafts are open again...
All of those animals we're seeing...
I think...
They're its eyes and ears.
Now the Chinese were treated badly...
in California but here in Nevada...
they were damn near part of the community.
They were working to support their families back home...
and to buy land of their own.
Nobody forced them down into the mines.
What about the two survivors?
How'd they get out?
Well they just beat the cave-in.
Pure luck.
Then they left town I guess.
And nobody tried to pin the cave-in on them?
Now why would they try to do that?
Well from my experience...
The best scapegoats are those...
who can't speak English.
You know that's all ancient history.
But they've been finding some damn strange stuff...
down in that hole...
in the last couple of weeks.
Carvings and such.
I think...
something came out of that mine.
Something that...
never died.
And never will.
Now I know how that sounds...
but you asked for it.
I...
I have to take a leak.
I'll be back in a minute.
Take this with you.
Thank you.
If you know he's got a bottle stashed...
In the boy's room why didn't you stop him?
Because I think he needs a drink...
to steady himself...
and one's all he's gonna take for now.
Did you used to drink Mr. Marinville?
No David I used to drown.
It was a way of putting out...
the dreams after the war.
David?
This god of yours performed a miracle...
on your friend right?
Yes.
Have you stopped to ask yourself...
why god would want to hurt a child...
to say hello?
I asked Reverend Martin about that.
and I asked him how to keep my promise.
What promise is that?
That if God saved Bryan I'd do something he wanted.
Anything he wanted really.
And this is it?
That something?
You think this is for the best?
That God is good and this is for the best?
I don't know anymore.
It's so much harder now.
Reverend Martin says...
that faith isn't just believing in God.
Believing God is sane.
I think I understood that.
But he killed my sister!
He took my mom!
We have to get out of here David.
That's what I have faith in.
We have to.
What was that?
My God! It's the old man!
David!
Pie...
Pie wait up!
Oh! Oh my God!
Shoot it Steve! Blow its head off!
I don't want to hit the old man!
Then blow its ass off! It's killing him!
John Ford said...
"If you have a choice between truth or legend...
print the legend."
Come on! There's not much time.
Hey!
Come on!
Somebody get it!
Shoot it!
Kill it! I... I can't get it!
Somebody shoot this thing!
Get it off me!
- Shoot him Johnny! - Don't hurt Steve!
Somebody shoot the damn thing!
Thanks boss.
Where's David? Where's my boy?
David?
David!
You go find David. I'll stay with him.
David!
David! Where are you?!
What if the cop's got him?
Why are you here?
For the same reason everyone's here.
To love God and serve God.
What am I supposed to do?
Look David. See.
David?
He's in there.
Oh s-s-scared.
Oh gosh.
Tom.
It's OK.
Please somebody help me.
Ellen is that you?
Who else would it be?
Trouble with these bodies is how fast they wear out...
but you should last a while.
Come on David.
Come on back.
Tom is dead.
Mary's gone.
You think it was the cop?
Course it was.
I just don't know why he didn't trash us.
He's afraid of us.
And there is no "he."
It's a thing from the mine.
Collie Entragian is dead.
So is my mother.
David honey we can't give up hope.
I have a lot to tell you.
Just don't want to do it in here.
Yeah it is pretty creepy here
But he... it's out there some place.
No.
It's in the pit.
It took the head of the assay crew...
That uncovered the Rattlesnake Shaft.
His name was Cary Ripton.
That's how it started.
He followed a trail of those little stone animals...
The can tahs to tak's place.
That's its name...
Tak.
There's a hole that goes...
I think it goes into another dimension...
or something.
Tak got into Cary Ripton...
and from him it jumped to the cop.
It wears out bodies fast.
God showed you this on that editing machine?
You dog my cats.
Listen...
I know you're a famous writer.
You're...
used to being the center of attention and all...
but that doesn't give you the right...
to make fun of my boy.
He's just afraid Dad.
That's all.
That's it I'm afraid.
I'm terrified as a matter of fact...
But there is a certain hopeful geography...
about this situation.
You said Tak the magnificent is in the mine.
That's south of here.
The highway is north of here.
The truck is right here!
We get in the truck. We fire it up.
We get the hell out of Dodge.
Mary's alive.
Tak's got her stored...
like a spider stores flies to eat later on.
Damn it.
Is anybody here?
Oh God... Please.
Oh god. Oh god.
Oh god.
No!
Oh God!
Oh God.
Oh god!
Please!
Oh my god.
You gotta be joking.
You seriously think...
we can just drive up to that open pit mine...
and save the lady fair?
We have to get out of here...
You wanted to know about God.
I'll tell you what I know.
He works through people...
and right now he's trying to work through us.
I say we give it a try.
Who asked you?
Listen!
It has to be all of us.
Tak's not just a man or a woman...
No matter what it looks like.
It's a Can Tak
The big god the heart of the unformed.
Only all of us can stand against it.
Can't you feel that?
I can't feel anything.
You learn a lot of crap watching movies.
You know that kid?
Tak's like you.
It wants us to leave.
Well then why don't we give it what it wants?
Well there's Mary.
You know I didn't bring her here...
and I didn't take her up to that mine...
If that's where she is...
So don't give me that guilt-tripping stuff.
Now you people want to fly...
Trans-God airways with the boy...
Go right ahead.
I think I'll pass...
and not even God can stop me.
No.
He gives us free will.
That's right good old free will.
God bless God huh?
I think I'll go out and find a car with some keys in it...
and resume... my interrupted trip.
You folks have a good day...
and send me a postcard...
when it's time for the reunion.
You know what?
I have lost all my respect for you.
I've lost the respect of a man...
Who once carried out Steven Tyler's barf bags.
Shucks.
David tell me something.
If Tak wants us to leave...
why'd he bring us here in the first place?
It didn't.
It thinks it did but it didn't.
This is God's will
Not Tak's.
And if you leave now...
You'll smell Tak on your skin... for the rest of your life.
Well I better go heavy on the aftershave huh?
Hey...
Anybody make it to San Jose
I'm at the Sea Cliff. Drinks on me.
Thought you quit drinking.
That was a mistake.
Wish I didn't run into this kid.
Johnny!
Mr. Marinville...
We were put on earth to love God...
to serve him.
And what else are you doing tonight anyway?
It's not... it just isn't working kid.
It's not working.
Just shut up. Just shut up will you?
Bite me.
You can't can you?
You can't hurt me can you?
Because I'm supposed to be next.
Tak ah lah. Murder your god.
So he says to his wife this frog can cook...
you're outta here.
Are you Mr. Marinville?
What the hell are you doing?
Everything blow sky high.
You got five maybe ten second big boy then...
boom!
Tak.
Tak ah lah!
Tak ah lah.
Ran like a rabbit.
Didn't warn a soul.
Fraidy boy.
Tak ah lah. Tak a wan.
It was him...
It...
Tak.
That was 35 years ago in Saigon.
Why I don't...
So you'd know when you saw it.
When you saw it the next time.
We can still travel David.
Drive to highway 50 head west.
Never look back.
Free will right?
Yeah.
Good old free will.
Oh God.
Eighty-seven people died in that bar.
Eighty-seven.
And I never tried to save anyone.
Not a one of them.
I only saved my own sorry ass.
And here? How many in this town?
Sometimes God is cruel.
What good is he then?
He wants us to love him...
and to...
Serve him?
Right?
Come here.
Come on.
You're crazy.
I like that in a person.
Where do we start?
Mary?
Let's go get her.
Come on.
Try the dryer Mary.
Mi him!
Can de lach.
Min en tow.
Tak!
Mi him.
Can de lach.
Oh God it's the cop.
It's the cop!
Come on!
Wait! It's Mary! It's Mary!
It almost got me!
It was so close.
It was in Ellen.
I'm sorry David.
I know. It's dead.
It's lying back there dead.
No Ellen's dead not Tak.
It's still in the mine isn't it?
The pirin moh.
That's where it really is.
Wh... what is that?
The well of the worlds.
This well...
If it's in there David...
can we block it up somehow?
I don't know.
Yeah we can... we can block up that mine shaft.
And that's what we're going to do right now.
So what does this Tak want?
It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter?
No all that matters is what God wants.
No we don't have time for that.
Let me do this.
Are you nuts? This is an explosive shed.
Either it works or it doesn't.
Now get back. Everybody get back.
David get back and pray.
Everybody get back!
What is all that stuff?
Ammonium nitrate.
Tim McVeigh used it in Oklahoma City.
What the hell are we doing here?
You got a better idea?
No.
Let's just say I got hit by a God bomb.
Never mind about God.
I'll settle for bombs.
Steven hold on.
Dave's getting a little antsy.
Pretty soon now you're going to have to grab him.
Hold him tight. Don't let go.
All right.
So what's the plan?
We do what God tells us to do.
That's the plan.
Come on.
We ought to pray.
Our father who art in heaven...
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come thy will be done...
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread...
and forgive us our trespasses...
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation...
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom...
The power and the glory forever and ever.
I think I'm supposed to go on...
from here by myself.
David no.
That's a load of crap Dave.
What do you mean?
Exactly what I say.
And don't give me that "God told me to"...
'cause right now he's not telling you anything is he?
All right you can lead the way.
How about that?
Let's go.
Let's get this over with.
Sorry kid. Sorry kid.
Sorry. Sorry.
Just got a bad back. It's all right.
It's all right.
Too much alcohol and too much cigarettes.
Do you want me to take those bags?
No.
Not far to go.
What do you know?
What do I know?
I want to get out of here before dawn.
Let's move it.
Come on.
There's something in there.
Someone help him! Help him!
I can't get him!
It's going to tear its head off!
Kill it!
Stop! Stop please!
He can't.
God can't take them all.
He can.
He's God.
And God is cruel.
He's no better than Tak.
Steve get him!
He can't take them all and leave me!
You want to know how cruel your god is?
How fantastically cruel?
Sometimes he makes us live.
Get him out of here.
There's going to be a big bang.
- Boss? - No time.
David you find your friend Bryan.
Make him your brother.
Then keep telling yourself...
there was an accident out in the desert.
A bad one.
And you're the only survivor.
That's not what happened!
That's exactly what happened.
Now get him out of here. Go on. Move it.
Come on.
Right!
Holy God...
You're John Edward Marinville aren't you?
You down there Tak?
Because I've come for you.
Come on big brave American writer.
Tak ah lah!
Stop! I command you to stop!
Tak commands you to stop!
The heart of the unformed commands you to stop!
Donald Rumsfeld demands you stop.
Adam Sandler demands you stop.
Anne Coulter demands you stop.
Even if he can get to it how can he set that stuff off?
I think he knows a way.
I can give you anything if you stop.
Anything!
Anything?
Oh man...
Norman Mailer burned my ass...
in a New York Times book review.
What more can a man want?
You can't! Os pa! You can't.
You untalented bastard!
Man you said the wrong thing there.
You're useless.
You're a drunk.
You're a no good for nothing piece of crap.
No. Don't do it.
You're a joke and you always have been!
See I hate critics.
Come on! Run for me now!
Come on!
It won't die will it?
It'll just keep coming for us.
Look...
It's going away already.
See?
Let's get out of here.
Wait! Stop!
Pull over.
What is it?
There's an overnight bag in the backseat...
if no one's stolen it.
David I think you should come here.
Any idea how your school album...
got in the backseat of my car?
That's um my boss' handwriting.
Are you sure?
Are you kidding me?
After a month of looking over his shoulder...
while he wrote "good luck" and "best wishes"
and "could you come up to my room" in people's books?
Yeah I'm sure.
The Bible reference.
Do you know it?
Sure.
"God is love."
What do you think David?
Is he love?
Yeah.
I guess so.
I guess God's sort of everything.
That's what makes him God.