Sharp Objects

You sure Mama won't notice we're gone?

Better hope not.

(GASPS)

Hello?

Preaker.

Sure. Bye.

Mmm-hmm?

-Am I in trouble? -Always.

But you don't need me to tell you that.

Wind Gap. What's it like?

Oh. Okay, well...

It's at the bottom of Missouri, boot heel.

Spittin' distance from Tennessee.

I know where it is. I asked what it's like.

Small. Population's held at 2,000 for years.

Only real industry is hog butchering,

So you got your old money and your trash.

Mmm-hmm. Which one are you?

-Trash. From old money. -(CHUCKLES)

What the hell's goin' on?

In Wind Gap, or...?

Your mom's still there, right, Preaker?

Mom? Yeah.

Step-dad. They had a kid.

Have. I don't really know her.

-But you talk to 'em? -Not if I can help it.

Well, read the wires then.

Jesus Christ, there was a murder there last August.

Little girl got strangled.

I didn't know.

Well, then you also don't know that another one's missing now.

Might be a serial.

So, get your ass down to that heel or whatever,

and get me a story. Now. Today.

We have murders here, Curry,

so I don't see why I gotta go to Wind Gap.

Because nobody else is covering it.

Do you remember that piece in the Tribune last year?

Guy who wrote about a Killing in his hometown?

It made an impact, because it was personal.

People give a shit when you give a shit.

I'm not gonna win a Pulitzer off of Wind Gap.

You're not winning a Pulitzer

‘cause you're only half-good at writing.

-This could change that. -(SIGHS)

And I'm your boss.

So, goodbye.

All right, look, if you can't, you can't, but it might be good.

You know,

flush some things out, get you back on your feet.

-And it's a good story. -Yeah.

Could be a damn good story if you do it right.

No pressure, right?

Life is pressure.

Grow up.

Get the hell out of here.

-(ENGINE STARTING) -(I CAN'T QUIT YOU BABY PLAYING)

Get out! Come on.

Come on!

-(BOYS CHATTERING) -(BOTTLES CLINKING)

(SMALL TOWN HEROES PLAYING ON RADIO)

Hi, Betty.

That was Natalie's favorite color.

Oh.

Well, actually, her folks said it was black,

but that just seemed too grim.

So, her second favorite.

Little girls, first pink,

and then it's purple, purple, purple.

My two looked like grapes on legs until they were 11 or so.

It's a terrible thing.

Practically the whole town is out there, searching the woods.

Chief Vickery, he set it up.

You have children?

-No. -Well, I hate to say it,

but right now, that's a blessing.

I won't even let mine out of the house to get the mail, even.

You can't imagine.

My girls, every night, gettin' in bed with us.

My husband, usually, he wouldn't allow that,

but now, not one of us is gettin' a good night's sleep,

but at least we know they're safe.

Chief Vickery?

Well, the thing is,

I have no intention of letting this thing get out, so.

Yeah, I understand.

This isn't going to be a exploitative piece,

more like a think piece

on how something like this can affect a town.

If it makes you feel better, I'm from here.

Just up off Bluebird Circle.

What's your name?

Camille Preaker.

My mom is Adora Crellin.

She married out of her maiden name about 30 years ago, to Alan...

Crellin. Sure, okay.

You're the...

-You moved away. -Yeah.

Amma, she's your half-sister.

Yeah.

Damn.

Jesus. Hot as hell in here, isn't it?

-My kids give me that. -Oh. Yeah, sorry.

No, it's all right. Stress relief.

Because of this case?

Look, I just can't have you here, Ms. Preaker.

You know, this story gets out in St. Louis,

suddenly that's all Wind Gap's known for.

We're already "the hog killers."

Some publicity could help, get you some information.

It's worked in other cases.

I have a right to be here,

and I will let you do your job if you let me do mine.

Fine.

I got no comment.

On Natalie Keene, fair enough.

But what about the other girl?

Ann Nash.

I can ask around and I can get the local version,

or you can have a say in what gets out.

First girl, Ann, found last August,

strangled with a clothes line and dumped in Falls Creek.

Some hunters found her.

That's all Vickery said? No leads?

Well, I don't think he has any. It's just the way he was...

He was defensive. Not like he was hiding something,

more like he was pissed off that he wasn't.

-Theory. -(KNOCKING ON WINDOW)

Jesus, Curry, I just got here.

Well, you have the police. Get me some local stuff.

I need facts and color.

Fine. I will write you a fuckin' rainbow.

You know what I mean.

If you think this place has some small town charm...

Well, give me local bleak, then, kiddo,

paint a goddamn picture.

I'm goin' out to join the search party now.

Hopefully, we'll turn up a dead little girl.

Go get 'em.

You lookin' for the search?

-Yeah. -That way.

Thanks.

Are you... You're...

That reporter, right? From St. Louis?

Well, that was fast.

Gotta hand it to Wind Gap, you guys do gossip like nobody else.

That's ‘cause this place is so totally dead.

"Dead."

That's awful.

Anyway, better get goin' if you want to catch up.

Thanks.

-(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING) -(GIRLS LAUGHING)

Camille!

Did you see something?

No.

You with the search?

In a way.

-Detective Willis. -Ah.

You're not from here, huh?

No. You?

Used to be.

I'm up in St. Louis now.

I'm with the Chronicle.

A reporter. Great.

Camille Preaker!

-(JACKIE LAUGHING) -Jackie O'Neill.

Detective.

Oh, Lord.

I see you met our new detective.

I'd like to take him home and turn him into pound cake.

Cover him in chocolate. He's single, by the way.

Oh, hey, settle down.

Aww!

Come here. Look at you.

Your mama didn't say that you were in town.

'Course, she's not talkin' to me right now.

I disappointed her again.

Probably forgot to send her a card or something, you know.

-You know how that goes! -I haven't seen her yet.

I'm gonna head over there after this.

Ah, she's gonna be thrilled.

Baby girl, look at you.

What about you, are you well?

You know, well as I can be.

Pretty grim around here.

I'm in charge of refreshments for the guys.

It's the least I can do.

You want a sweet tea?

I got sweet tea with a little bit of a kick in it.

No one should face all this without a little kick.

I'm fine. I'm on the job.

You still workin' for that newspaper?

Yeah, that's why I'm here, actually. I'm writing a story.

Oh.

Yeah, those girls...

I see you, when you were the same age.