Government Cheese

This is the tale of the Prevost brothers,

who began their soon-to-be prolific lives of crime

in the backwoods of Quebec, Canada.

They were poor.

Some would say dirt poor.

Their mother was a stern woman who became colder with each birth.

Because after six boys, all she wanted was a girl.

Shit!

Good luck.

Upon the arrival of the seventh boy,

she promptly departed.

So they were raised by their father,

who had a fifth-grade education and a stern backhand.

So to the best of his complete inability, he raised:

Patrice,

Nicholi,

Claude,

Felix,

Jacques,

Darius,

and Jean-Guy.

After being ridiculed at school for their dirty clothes,

their bond deepened with their hatred for people outside of their fraternity.

Do you alter pants?

Let me see what we can do.

And they realized as one they were nothing,

but as seven bonded together they could make life easier

and pull themselves out of abject poverty.

Some would say their lives of brutal crime was predestined.

Others would say it was born out of necessity.

I say that it doesn't matter how it came to be, just that it now is.

- -

But once they began to enjoy the fruits of their labor...

Patrice.

I can't make this go away. Someone has to do some time.

...Jean-Guy's position as the youngest became untenable.

Jean-Guy hated prison.

And he hated his older brother Patrice for putting him there.

Today we're gonna work on goals and intentions.

If you want to change your life, you have to plan.

Thoughts. Thoughts become words. Words become actions.

And actions shape your reality.

So I want you to write down three things you want to achieve.

One.

Create new revenue streams.

Two.

Kill Patrice.

Three...

take over the family.

So how did you even get out?

- - I started the riot.

Planted that it was due to overcrowding.

Little grease on the right palms and voilà.

Here I am.

Here you are.

So why are you here?

I will give you the money to pay off the debt to my brothers.

In exchange for your invention.

You want my drill?

I want your drill.

Why?

I want more than a life of crime.

I want a legitimate business.

Legitimate, huh?

Sounds like you're trying to strong-arm me.

Legitimate business doesn't mean fair.

This drill is all I have.

Without it I'm just an ex-con.

This invention is my future.

My family's future.

I can't just give it up.

My brother, Claude,

once made a man who couldn't pay his debt

collect all the teeth of the people he killed.

Very unsavory.

I convinced Patrice to give you the two weeks.

- You did? - Yes.

Because I know you won't have the money.

And I hope you change your mind before my brothers decide to kill you.

Oh, and, uh...

I'm sorry about Rudy.

Such a terrible way to die.

If you want to change your life, you have to plan.

Thoughts. Thoughts become words. Words become actions.

And actions shape your reality.

I'd like you to write down three things you'd like to achieve.

Okay? Go for it.

Business plan. Business plan.

Hey, Pops. You're up early.

I'm a man with a mission. A plan. Destiny.

Me too.

Morning reading is Economic Growth in Agriculture

and the training schedule of Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam,

greatest pole-vaulter west of Kansas.

Can you add the "Help Wanted" section to that list?

I have a job.

- You do? You didn't tell me that. - You never asked.

I'm a lifeguard at the Y.

How else would I study the photosensitivity of manta rays?

I thought you were pole-vaulting?

- Hey, Mom. - Hi, honey.

Son, can I get you some breakfast?

- I eat food from mother earth. - Thanks.

Not the government.

- - He fixed the refrigerator.

Harrison. I know this is hard, but I'm here trying to make things right.

Too late.

It's never too late. We're a family.

And you need to start treating me with respect.

Now both you and Einstein are going to be in charge of yard work.

Astoria, I'm going to take over the kitchen duties,

and we're going to start having dinner together as a family.

- Clear? - Clear as a spring day, Pops.

Dinner's at six.

Okay. Oh, Pops. The...

in the fridge, the container with the green lid that looks like soup?

It's not soup.

Don't drink it. It will kill you.

Huh.

Uh.

Can I, uh, get you some breakfast, dear?

Mmm. I just drink coffee.

Uh, I was wondering if you might be free later

to have an afternoon date with your husband?

I can stop by your job.

No. Too soon.

But I'll be home for dinner.

Honey. No kiss goodbye?

Come on.

Just one, just one bye. Mmm?

There it is.

Your smile was all I needed.

Have a good day at work.

Dinner's at six.

One bottle of very expensive scotch,

unknowingly gifted to you by Lefty's Liquor on Magnolia.

Thanks, man.

Can-Can you drop me off?

I'm short on time.

Time?

It's an illusion. Construct.

Made by man to control the sheep.

What are you talking...

There is no past, there is no present. There is no future.

It's all happening right now, so slow down...

and enjoy the view.

Come on, Boots.

I have to meet my parole officer,

get some money to help Astoria with the bills,

get to the bank by five and then home to cook dinner by six.

Huh? The answer to all your problems is right here.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I-I've got to go.

But can you at least give me a ride to the bus?

- I can't give you a ride. -

But I can give you a ride.

My old car. I kept it up and running.

You wanna rob a temple?

Don't think of it as a temple.

Think of it as a house.

A house with very little security

and a brand-new, carbon steel, drill-proof safe

that your invention has just rendered drillable.

Bootsy.

After the Sabbath, there's gonna be two, three thousand dollars

in that safe until Monday.

Just sitting in there.

All lonely and shit.

I know what you're thinking.

"But what about the security, Boots?"

My response would be, "Security?

What security?"

The only security is Eli, the maintenance guy,

but he likes to spend his Saturday nights gambling at the Prevost farm.

It's perfect.

Your drill, my plan?

Huh?

Huh?

No, no. My dreams do not include another bid of five to ten.

You think this job will put you back inside?

Wait till you see what the Prevosts make you do when you can't pay.

You can't escape the brothers in this town.

They have eyes everywhere.

I got a line on some cash.

Well, I hope it works out for ya!

Evan Rush Designs.

No, he's back.

I didn't even know he got out. I didn't know he was coming.

About that.

I have to be home for dinner.

Okay. Maybe after.