A Rumor of Angels

Damn it.

They got us in our scopes. It's infrared.

Come here.

Stop!

What the hell are you doin'?

What the hell's goin' on out here?

Do you have any idea how long I've been lookin' for you?

Scared you there, huh?

What's goin' on?

You all right?

You OK?

Come here.

What the hell's goin' on?

I can't remember.

Do you remember what time you were supposed to be home?

I do. You're an hour and a half late.

Don't tell Dad about this, OK?

Please, Charlie, you gotta swear that you won't tell him.

You know, you would pull this shit while he's gone.

I'll tell Dad, just as soon as they get back.

You'll tell him.

Please, Charlie?

I'll weed the garden.

I swear.

Here, put that on.

James, get that.

James, get the damn door!

For cryin' out loud.

Damn.

Where is the boy that belongs to this bike?

Get your ass down here now!

Damn it, Charlie!

He's my sister's kid.

You're Charlie?

Yeah. Hi, Mrs. Bennett.

James, get your butt down here!

Yeah, you. Get down here.

That's him.

That is the boy who broke my fence.

Jimmy, did you break Mrs. Bennett's fence?

Don't give it a second thought, Mrs. Bennett.

I'll fix it.

You didn't break it.

What do you have to say, young man?

-I'm sorry. -What?

I'm sorry.

You're sorry.

When are you going to come and fix my fence?

We'll take care of it right away.

He broke it. I want him to fix it.

OK. Fair enough.

We'll be right over.

Do you know who that is?

Yes. Maddy Bennett.

Go on, get dressed.

She's got a gun.

She shot at me.

I thought you didn't remember.

I bet she scared the memory out of me.

Jimmy, shut up.

Her house is haunted. I'm sure of it.

Boy, you are really startin' to bug me.

Billy Ray told me he saw her eat a cat.

Guts and all.

She has seances, talks to dead people.

I'm sure of it.

Billy Ray's full of shit.

Billy Ray's f amily is full of shit.

-But Charlie, she's-- -Shut up!

The scene of the crime.

Jesus, kid.

What the hell did you hit this thing with?

My arm.

Man. Let me see that.

That hurt?

How about that?

Gee! You jerk!

Hold that. Here.

Stand there. Hold it still.

Hold it! You gotta be workin' here.

Hold that.

I'm gonna go into town and get the wood.

You go ahead and get started cleanin' this up.

You said you wouldn't leave me alone with her.

I did not.

She has a gun, and she shot at me.

Yeah? She hit you?

What you cryin' about then?

Besides, it's just salt.

I can do it. I've got it, really.

I can do it. I've got it, really.

OK, now I've got it.

You ever used one of these before?

-A hammer? -Hold the nail.

What?

Set the nail in the wood.

Higher.

Mind your hand. Don't move.

Little tap....harder.

-Jeez! -You moved!

You silly twerp!

You hit my hand!

Use the other hand.

You're scared.

-I am not. -Then pick up the nail.

Come on.

You have to look at it to set it.

Open your eyes.

Don't move.

See? You didn't move.

Where are your parents?

Dad's in Boston working.

Your mother, too?

She's my stepmother.

Right.

The level's wrong.

Lower the nail.

Well, what was it?

If you've got something to say, say it.

Well?

-It's just that... -Just what?

I can't fix your stupid fence...

if you stand over me all day givin' me orders!

Good point.

I'm outta here.

Damn it!

What did you do? You hit that with a hammer?

No, she did.

Yeah, right.

I'm serious, Charlie. She did.

Nice try.

You're not gettin' out of it, though.

-Out of what? -Finishing the fence.

Charlie told me what happened.

Dad said it's your responsibility, Jimmy.

James, and I'm not going back.

You know, James, we all have to do things we don't want to.

-Maybe I can help you. -I don't want your help.

Hey, play nice.

Sorry.

Yeah, you look like it.

Are you in there?

You up there?

Bobby?

Hi. I decided to skip my afternoon meeting.

Your dad can finally make it up this weekend.

Who's Bobby?

My son.

Live around here?

He's dead.

Shit.

Did you say something?

Hi, I'm Mary Neubauer. Charles told me what happened.

I just wanted to say how sorry I was.

Why are you sorry?

You ran out so quickly this morning, James.

I thought we might-- your f ather and l--

thought that it might be nice...

for the three of us to take a ferry trip...

out to the island this weekend.

I can't.

I've hired James to paint the fence...

haven't I?

I gotta paint the fence.

Well, don't you think...

we should discuss this with your f ather first?

He'll be home tonight. We'll talk about it then, OK?

Well, now, I'll see you at dinner, OK, honey?

Wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Bennett.

$2.00.

What?

To paint the fence. I'll pay you $2.00 an hour.

What makes you so sure I wanna paint your stupid fence anyway?

I'll smack you if you speak to me ever...

like you just spoke to your mother.

She's not my mother.

She is now.

She doesn't give a shit about me.

So?

What do you say?

I'm sorry.

I should have hit her back.

Salt witch.

The garden. Yeah, I'm sorry.

No, forget about that. Come here.

Hand me that socket wrench.

-Right there. -There you go.

Here. Come here.

Gimme a hand here. Hold it.

Say, listen, buddy, your dad called.

He's not gonna make it for dinner tonight.

I'm sorry about that.

Hand me the 7 /16, will you?

OK, Nathan.

You'll be back tomorrow night, yeah?

Yeah, in the...

Yeah, I know. OK, darling.

Please just don't skip another night, really.

Bye, honey.

It is exactly six minutes past noon.