Powder

Vitals are down to nothing.

One, two, three.

Let's get a prep. Let's move.

Anna didn't make it, Greg.

We tried everything. The trauma was just too much.

The baby?

The baby...

I'm concerned might have some abnormalities.

Outwardly, we can already tell that the child has no pigmentation.

It's called albinism. It's strictly genetic.

That's what? That's pale skin, right?

And pale eyes that are usually more light-sensitive.

I wanna see him.

Remember that an unborn child experiences everything

that the mother experiences.

You take me to him... You show me.

We'll do everything we can for him, Greg. You know that.

What are you doing to him?

Measuring his brain waves.

You don't have to do this now.

That's not my son.

That's not my son.

Come on, Greg. Let's go.

- That's not my son. - You don't need this. Let's go.

- Jessie. - Doug.

Thanks for making the drive.

- Are we still in Wheaton County? - Barely.

Did I ruin your Sunday?

I guess if somebody was gonna have to, I'm glad it was you.

Doug.

I can hear him again. He's moving around down there.

- Tell me you didn't try to talk to him. - You bet your ass I didn't.

Miss Caldwell.

They said a boy, right?

I'm guessing that's what it is.

The old man died last night.

The neighbours found him this morning.

- We figure the kid's his grandson. - So where is he?

He won't come up from the cellar.

He didn't report his grandfather's death either.

We already know he died of natural causes.

Doug, what am I doing here?

The neighbours say he may be retarded. One says deformed.

Physically handicapped. I don't know.

I couldn't for the life of me think of who else to call.

He's scared enough. You could talk him out of there

without us having to go down and drag him out.

Jessie.

The neighbours talk about him like he's some kind of phantom.

I haven't met one yet that ever had a good look at him.

What are you telling me, Doug?

That the old folks may have kept him down there.

Like some kind of a family secret.

I don't know.

Boy?

I brought somebody to talk to you.

Hello.

Hey. My name is Jessie.

Are you OK down here?

You think we could turn a light on?

If you're afraid, you don't need to be. Not with me.

I'm not afraid.

What's your name?

Powder.

Is that a name or a nickname?

He was getting coffee and he fell.

He just fell over and died.

I tried to help him. I tried. He...

We know that.

Son, I told you. You're not in any trouble.

It's all right. I just want to see you.

Why?

Come on. Nobody's gonna hurt you. It's all right.

Give me your hand. Come on.

What's your real name, son?

Jeremy Reed.

You've been down here all night?

You must be starved.

Could you get us something to eat?

Anything.

Sheriff?

We'll be all right.

I'll be right back.

Why didn't you tell anyone when you knew he was dead?

Why didn't you call the police?

Grandpa said there would be a day...

..when he would die.

Like Grandma died.

And that people would come...

..and see me...

..and try and take me away.

Get back there.

Keep an ear, but don't go down.

Sir.

Lucy, this is Barnum.

Go ahead, Sheriff. I'm here.

We're still out at the Reeds'.

We got something out here nobody's gonna believe.

You don't live down here?

I do most of the work around the place.

At least till the sun gets too high.

Then the sunglasses don't even help.

Did you know they make contact lenses now

that can protect your eyes from the sun all the time?

I read about them. But Grandpa said they cost too much.

When's the last time you were in school?

I've never been to school.

I read about it, though.

You said you read all these books.

Have you read this book?

I know college kids who couldn't wade through this one.

Pick a page.

216.

"Where lies the final harbour, whence we unmoor no more?"

"In what rapt ether sails the world

of which the weariest will never weary?"

"Where is the foundling's father hidden?"

"Our souls are like those orphans

whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them."

"And the secret of our paternity lies in their grave."

"And we must there learn it."

You know the whole book?

I know them all.

- Go clear them back. - Everybody, let's move back.

Back beyond the vehicles.

It's all right. You don't have to be afraid.

You're afraid.

You're afraid for me.

Why don't you get in? I'll take that.

Did you ever see so many goddamn lightning rods on one house?

I just got off the horn with the coroner.

That old boy died of natural causes with evidence of fibrillation.

His body was juiced with electricity.

That old man was dead all night.

Think the paramedics showed up and tried paddles on him?

Are you telling me the kid electrocuted the old man?

He's Dr Frankenstein?

I'm just saying that's more than an albino, Doug.

That is spooky.

I never thought we'd find a man too white for you, Harley.

Don't let them fool you. They spend their time trying to look tough.

You get to know them. They're...

mostly scared and lonely, just like everybody else.

Hut!

Whoa.

What the hell is that?

You need to see him, Aaron, to know what I'm saying.

You need to see him sitting out in the hall right now.

I've never seen anything like him.

That's exactly what I mean.

Because of the way he's lived.

He doesn't seem to know what things are.

Things you and I take for granted.

Common, everyday objects, simple ideas.

I don't think he's ever been exposed to them.

He's the most well-read teenage kid you could ever meet.

But in other ways...

..I think he's a lot like a little child.

Why do you look like that?

You look like some vampire from outer space or something.

Did they kick you out of cancer camp?

You got some kind of disease?

Don't look at me, man.

Did you hear what I said? I don't like your eyes.

What's a new guy gotta do the first day he gets here?

He's gotta do the due.

The new guy, first day,

first meal.

He's gotta wear his spoon.

You ever wear your spoon?

You've got two choices.

You either wear it on the end of your nose.

Show him, Mitch.

You can wear it like that or the other way, which is up your ass.

You choose.

What are you doing?

Poppa.

You see Steven?

He stayed three hours.

Did her more good than painkillers.

She was hurting all day till he got here.

He brought her that, too.

What happened out at the Reed farm today?

I'm here, angel.

Something about a retarded boy

they've got up at the state home now.

How the hell did you hear about that?

I guess I don't have to tell you what I think about that.

I'd love it if you didn't.

The last thing we need there is another mental defective,

along with all that other trash.

Here you go.

I don't know what he is. But retarded, he's not.

Well...

Aside from the absence of any and all body hair,

which is a condition not too uniquely uncommon,

he's a very healthy young man.

With all that farm work, you're in damn fine shape.