Run with the Hunted

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"...the last rains came gently,

"and they did not cut the scarred earth.

"The plows crossed and recrossed the rivulet marks.

"The last rains lifted the corn quickly

"and scattered weed colonies and grass along the sides of the roads

"so that the gray country

"and the dark red country began to disappear..."

You listened to the sermon today?

Yes, sir.

And?

I don't know.

I don't know?

"I don't know," is not much of an answer, boy.

Ah, pulled in nap time.

I don't care much for the Reverend's rhetoric.

In fact, I'm sure his papi,

Reverend senior would be rolling in his grave

for some of the utterings coming out of his mouth

in the house of the Lord.

But I think we both understand

what he was basically getting at.

I think so.

You see, Oscar,

there comes a time when a man's gotta step up, son.

Not so much for himself,

but for the betterment of others.

You understand what I mean?

And when that time comes,

we as men, we have to be ready to oblige it.

- It's a mighty fine meal, Jo. - Thank you.

- Thanks, Mom. - You're welcome, honey.

Oscar, you're gonna run this over to Loux?

Josephine, do not be giving away what's ours.

Augustus, those children won't eat otherwise.

Take this to them and hurry home.

Yeah.

Come over here, boy.

Don't be lagging.

I don't want you catching whatever virus lingers in that house, all right?

Yes, sir.

It's open.

- Hey, Oscar. - Hey.

Hey, dove.

What you got there?

It's chop from my mum.

- Loux, why don't you go crank up the stove? - All right.

- Take your brother in there. - Amos.

Boy.

Did you not hear me? Get your ass in there and help your sister.

- Get your ass in there! - Hey!

Huh?

Hey! You're a daft little fucker, ain't you?

Oscar.

Come here, boy.

Why don't you do something for me now?

I want you to tell that daddy of yours I don't need his givings.

I don't need his nor your mom's backhanded charity.

You understand me?

Loux, cut the stove off, give the feast back to Oscar.

- But, Dad... - Just do it, baby.

You heard me.

But...

Do what I say.

Here, take it back.

Get the fuck out of my house.

Go!

Loux?

Loux!

Amos?

- You okay? - Yeah.

What happened?

Come sit with me.

Get in there.

Mmm.

You know I love you, right?

- Will you love me? - Mmm-hmm.

No one will ever hurt you.

You getting to be real pretty, you know that?

I didn't notice how much you've grown up.

I couldn't stop him.

You have to do something.

What do you mean?

There's nowhere else for us to go.

You could live out here.

No one telling you what to do.

Can you hear them?

They're in the wind.

Their screams.

They were here long before us.

And they will be forever.

It's okay.

It's okay.

I have been wanting to give you this.

It was my mom's. My dad won't let me wear it.

I want you to have it.

Let me help you.

Got another minor, Keryn.

Look at you. You're just a baby.

We're short-staffed tonight.

That's fine. I'll take him to Six.

Come on, boy.

I got another one for you.

Is that the boy who came in last night?

Does that kid look like a murderer to you, Keryn?

No, he doesn't.

Says this one's from out near the marsh too.

How is a kid gonna get a hundred miles away overnight?

Think he's got accomplices?

You think there's a conspiracy here?

I don't know.

They're all starting to look the same to me.

I'll leave you to it.

Boy.

Go on.

"Oscar,

"Clean up after yourself and put the milk delivery away. We'll see you tonight.

"Love, Mom."

I'm Peaches.

You hungry?

Go ahead.

Come on.

Don't worry. Come on.

Where are your parents?

My mom died when I was three. I never knew my father.

I have a place to live, people who look out for me.

Now, the real question is where do you live?

Watch your step.

After you.

Well, look who it is.

Took her forever to get back.

Thought she tried to run away again like last time.

Fellas, this is Oscar.

Oscar, this is my family of broken toys.

Sway?

Sway!

Come in.

No. No. No!

No room for him.

Sway, come on. He's got nowhere to go.

Said no.

God, will you please just take a look?

I found him outside the station.

Quit being so fucking lazy.

Oh, listen to the lady.

Now let me have a look at you.

I'm gentle as a lamb's ear.

His name is Oscar.

Ah, I see.

Do you know what your name means, boy?

No.

Oscar, uh,

divine spear, champion warrior.

You are a champion, aren't you?

Huh?

Noble.

You've made decisions only a man should make, not a boy.

Should be a natural.

Billy.

Uh... I know, I know.

You know what, Neville?

Not to come here.

But I do understand, you know,

you liking the ambience and all, so...

- Neville. - What?

Right. Well, it's about the new boy.

All right.

Well, you just bring him by the office.

He has family.

He ain't told me where he's from,

but he's not from the city.

So... You know,

I mean, I was thinking that we don't have the room.

You see, this is why I leave the selection process to Flan.

If this was your show, we'd be running a goddamn petting zoo.

I was just thinking that...

Well, don't be thinking, Neville.

It ain't what you do good, okay?

Look... Do you want to meet him?

- You brought him here? - Yeah, I did.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

What? I just...

Well...

All right, look, I'll go get him.

Come here, come here. Come on.

They treatin' you all right?

- Go ahead, answer him. - Yes, sir.

Good.

You just keep your eyes open.

Maybe you'll learn a thing or two.

Okay, all right. Okay.

Go on out.

I like him. Oh, he stays.

Goddamnit.

Goddamnit!

How's the ticker, Neville?

Running like a Swiss watch.

Billy.

Go! You know what to do.

And you?