Alabama Moon

Just before Pap died

He told me that I'd be fine as long as I never depended on anybody but myself

I made Pap's grave just like he had done Mama's.

All I had to remember her face was one picture Pap kept.

but I can remember in the bed at night

keeping me warm from the other side

Pap said people passed on and came back as some kind of animal

that the old part of them would float around like smoke

and a person could burn letters and talk to them that way

He said my momma was a yellow finch now.

I mostly thought of her that way

I was 11 years old and Pap said he taught me everything I needed to know

about living in the forest

When it came to fightin', he said he figured I could whip someone 3 times my size..

but he mostly talked about the government

said they were after us

said they'd always be after us

and one day a war would come

and I'd have to fightem and be ready to die for what was right

Pap look!

What's that Pap?

-What are they doing Pap? - Making a road.

Why?

Who are they, Pap?

I don't know.

Fill up the canteen. I'm going into town.

Yeah. Bring some vegetables for us to sell?

We don't have time for that. Fill up the canteen like I told you.

Pa, I did it!

- How are you, Ali? Moon? - George

- What you two have for me today? - Nothing.

What's going on with the dozers?

I hate to tell ya, Ali...

Heard that a lawyer from Birmingham bought up a big track from the paper company.

12,000 acres

- They're going to build a big huntin' lodge. - What else you know?

Oh, not much, just what I heard from a couple fellows come in here to buy coats and such...

Do I get to buy anything? Pap!

You keep up, you hear me?

Nothing was ever the same after the bulldozers came.

Even though I watched his face, I didn't know what Pap was thinking anymore.

Sometimes it was like, he didn't know I was there.

A couple weeks passed before the bulldozers grew silent.

We started hearing the hammering.

which made Pap even more nervous.

He got upset over the smallest mistakes.

Alright.

We made one more trip to Mr. Aberscotti's store

when the vegetables ripened in the fall

That was the last time Pap left the forest alive.

Ahh, South America's Andes. lt and it's

...fringing islands...

- are basically a jagged... - Stop reading outloud.

You're old enough to read to yourself now.

Pa! Pa!

Help me!

Pa!

Help me!

Tell me again why we live out here.

Because you never ask for anything.

Nobody ever give us anything either.

Go on.

Because of that...

We don't owe anything to anybody.

Who it that thinks we owe them something?

The government.

I'm not gonna get any better.

What are we gonna do?

I'm not gonna make it.

You're gonna to die?

- When? Tonight? - No. But soon.

This leg is gonna get infected

What will I do?

The paper company that owned this land

was too big to notice us out here.

But that new owner is gonna find you.

and he'll send the law.

You need to leave here, Moon...

and go find other people like us.

Most of them are out west, in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming.

Alaska's even better.

A man can still homestead in Alaska

Find a place where nobody can find him.

You gonna have to find your way up there, son.

- But how... - You'll figure it out.

You can't rely on me anymore.

You just remember what I taught you.

And don't you trust nobody.

If you get lonely, you can write me smoke letters.

But how will I get answers from the smoke?

I want to burn that picture of your mom and put me and her both out of your head.

You'll feel lonely for awhile...

but it will go away if you ain't carrying things to set it off.

How will I get anwers from the smoke Pap?

You just do what I tell you, son

- I don't want you to die! - Shut up my boy, you don't cry.

You hear me? You'll be alright.

I don't want to hear anymore about it.

After I buried Pap, I felt the lonliness he told me about

crawlin' up my stomach and up into my throat.

lt didn't seem like anything that would go away anytime soon.

Dear Pap, I'm gonna start for Alaska tomorrow.

Maybe you can talk to me soon.

Pap!

Pap! Wait, Pap!

Pap! Pap!

Easy now, easy.

I not gonna hurt you.

You're the boy the store owner told me about, aren't ya?

Where's your father?

I buried him. He's dead.

When did that happen?

Yesterday.

- I shouldn't be here. - Hold on, where do you plan to go?

I gotta get away from the law.

How about some food?

I've got a sweet roll that's sittin' on the counter in there.

You stay right here. I'll be right back with it.

Take it easy.

We're just trying to help.

You should've grabbed that boy!

Rabbit

Pap was right. The law was after me.

I'll have to make to Alaska.

Where you think you're going, boy?

Where'd you bury your daddy?

You know you cant just go off buring people without the law involved.

I know a thing or two about trackin'.

I'll find your stick hut.

Ahh, reach for it and see what happens boy

I didn't do nothing to nobody!

Ahh, quit bowing up to me

Now get in the car before I knock you sideways.

- Get in the car - No

Settle down!

Come on boy, get in the car. Get in there!

Where are we going?

Where are we going?!

When will I get my things back?

When ready to give'em

Can't help but think I'll be seeing you in and out of jail your whole life, boy.

Pure bread white trash.

Don't need that in my town.

People like your pap. Poachin' and trespassin' for a livin'.

Don't you ever talk mean about Pap! Ever!

Well what ya goin' do about it?

That's what I thought.

Go!

Open the gate

Where is your daddy, kid?

Man, can you believe it's really him?

This way boy.

Alright, back on the line, let's go.

Thank you Constable Sanders, the boy will be safe in our care.

You best put restraints on this boy before I leave.

- I don't think he's going anywhere. - I telling you, this kid's an animal

He'll be on you like a wet cat you do not tie him down.

This is our watchman, Mr. Carter.

He'll handle Moon from here.

A wet cat.

Mr Carter, get this boy a uniform and show him to his bunk.

Come on son.

The rest of the residents are in the school trailers right now.

You got 16 boys in your bunk room.

Chances are, you'll find a friend.

I'm not going to be here long enough to need friends.

I'm busting out. Soon as I find a way.

You better get that out of your head.

You'll be fine and learn to like it.

Just follow the rules. Come on.

What's this for?

You haven't started yet?

Turn that lever. Let's go.

Find bunk 14. That's you.

Those other boys will be comin' out of class soon.

They come through here to clean up for supper.

You hitch a ride with them to the mess hall, alright?

You the one all over the news?

Well, I don't know about any of that.

- It said you fought a cop. - I didn't want to go with him.

- He don't look so tough to me. - I could whip you.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Everybody! To your bunks. Now!

Whatta you do to him?

Well I hit in the balls as hard as I could.

He curled up on the floor all on his own.

I guess you weren't provoking him, were you Hal?

That's what I thought.

I'm tired of you mouth and your trouble.

You be sleepin' outside again tonight, without any supper.

The rest you... go back to your business.

Miss Broomstead will ring the supper bell in 10 minutes.

I can sit here?

My name is Kit

So ahh... How's your first day going?

Thanks

- What's that? -uhh...my pills.

- Are they any good? - No, it's medicine.

I have to take them my whole life.