Affliction

THIS IS THE STORY OF MY OLDER BROTHER'S...

STRANGE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND DISAPPEARANCE.

WE WHO LOVED HIM NO LONGER SPEAK OF WADE.

IT'S AS IF HE NEVER EXISTED.

BY TELLING HIS STORY LIKE THIS, BY BREAKING THE SILENCE ABOUT HIM,

I TELL MY OWN STORY AS WELL.

EVERYTHING OF IMPORTANCE,

THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT GIVES RISE TO THE TELLING OF THIS STORY,

OCCURRED DURING A SINGLE DEER-HUNTING SEASON...

IN A SMALL TOWN IN UPSTATE NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE WADE WAS RAISED,

AND SO WAS I.

ONE NIGHT SOMETHING CHANGED, AND MY RELATION TO WADE'S STORY WAS DIFFERENT...

FROM WHAT IT HAD BEEN SINCE CHILDHOOD.

I MARK THIS CHANGE BY WADE'S TONE OF VOICE...

DURING A PHONE CALL A NIGHT AFTER HALLOWEEN.

SOMETHING I HAD NOT HEARD BEFORE.

LET US IMAGINE THAT AROUND 8:00 ON HALLOWEEN EVE...

COMES A PALE BLUE, EIGHT-YEAR-OLD PLYMOUTH WITH A POLICE BUBBLE ON TOP.

A SQUARE-FACED MAN WEARING A POLICE JACKET IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

BESIDE HIM SITS A CHILD,

A LITTLE GIRL WITH A PLASTIC TIGER MASK COVERING HER FACE.

SORRY FOR THE SCREWUP. I COULDN'T HELP IT.

IT'S TOO LATE TO GO TRICK OR TREATING.

I HAD TO STOP AT PENNEY'S TO GET YOUR COSTUME, THEN YOU WERE HUNGRY.

WHOSE FAULT IS IT THEN IF IT'S NOT YOURS ?

YOU'RE THE ONE IN CHARGE, DAD.

YEAH.

LOOK, THOSE KIDS ARE STILL TRICK-OR-TREATING. THEY'RE STILL OUT.

THOSE ARE THE HOYTS. I DON'T CARE. THEY'RE OUT !

CAN'T YOU SEE ? LOOK OUT THERE. IT'S JUST TOO LATE.

THOSE HOYT KIDS, THEY'RE JUST OUT TO GET IN TROUBLE.

SEE, LOOK. THEY PUT SHAVING CREAM ALL OVER THAT MAILBOX.

WHY DID THEY DO THAT ? DO WHAT ?

YOU KNOW. BREAK STUFF ?

YEAH. IT'S STUPID.

WELL... I GUESS THEY'RE STUPID.

DID YOU DO THAT STUFF WHEN YOU WERE A KID ?

NO !

WELL, SORT OF.

NOTHING REALLY MEAN. ME AND MY PALS. ME AND MY BROTHERS.

IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY THEN.

BUT IT'S NOT FUNNY NOW. NO, NO. IT'S NOT FUNNY NOW.

I'M A COP. I GOTTA LISTEN TO THE COMPLAINTS PEOPLE MAKE.

I'M NOT A KID ANYMORE. YOU CHANGE.

I BET YOU DID A LOT OF BAD STUFF WHEN YOU WERE A KID.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ?

I DON'T KNOW. I JUST THINK YOU USED TO BE BAD. NO.

NO.

I DIDN'T USE TO BE BAD.

NO, SIR !

WHERE DO YOU GET THIS STUFF FROM ? YOUR MOTHER ?

NO. SHE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT YOU ANYMORE.

HEY, WADE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LaRIVIERE COMPANY...

IS PROUD TO SPONSOR ANOTHER ANNUAL LAWFORD COSTUME PARADE.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE FUNNIEST COSTUME, THE SCARIEST--

OH, THE SCARIEST ! IS HE THE SCARIEST ? IS THAT ONE SCARY ?

WHAT ABOUT THIS ? IS HE SCARY ?

NO, NO. HERE'S THE SCARY ONE RIGHT THERE.

THE MOST IMAGINATIVE AND THE BEST COSTUME OF ALL.

HELP ME LINE THE KIDS UP.

PRETTY AWESOME, HUH ? HI, MARGE. HI, WADE.

GO AHEAD, JUMP IN LINE. MAYBE YOU'LL WIN A PRIZE.

GO ON. SOME OF THOSE KIDS YOU STILL KNOW !

I DON'T WANT TO. OH, WHY ? WHY NOT ?

YOU KNOW THESE KIDS FROM WHEN YOU WENT TO SCHOOL HERE.

IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG.

IT'S NOT THAT. WHAT THEN ?

I DON'T LIKE IT HERE.

OH, JESUS, JILL, COME ON. DON'T MESS THIS UP ANY MORE THAN IT'S BEEN MESSED UP.

JOIN THE KIDS. YOU DO THAT, BEFORE YOU KNOW YOU'LL BE HAPPY AS A CLAM.

WADE !

IS THAT JILL ? COME ON AND JOIN US. COME ON !

GO, GO, GO. GO ON. GO, GO, GO.

THAT'S IT, COME ON. COME ON.

HERE, MAKE A PLACE FOR HER ON THE STAGE.

LOOK OUT ! HERE COMES A TIGER ! SHE'S COMING THROUGH.

WHAT ARE YOU BOYS UP TO ? SAME OLD SHIT.

YOU SEEN THE DAMAGE THESE LITTLE SONS OF BITCHES BEEN RAISING TONIGHT ?

GONNA HAVE TO MOVE YOUR PICKUP. I KNOW.

TAKE A BITE. COULD USE IT. DON'T MIND OF I DO.

LaRIVIERE'S HAVING A HELL OF A TIME IN THERE TONIGHT.

MASTER OF FUCKING CEREMONIES.

WHERE'S THAT GUN YOU WERE BRAGGING ON TODAY ?

LET'S LOOK AT IT.

OH, HO-HO-HO. OH, HO-HO.

MMM ! GOT YOU FOR $650, $700 ?

NICE. SEE YOU GOT JILL TONIGHT.

HOW'D YOU MANAGE THAT ?

DON'T FORGET TO MOVE YOUR TRUCK.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, REMEMBER, THERE ARE NO LOSERS.

EVERYBODY GETS A NICE RIBBON.

NOW, HERE IS OUR FIRST AWARD. FOR THE MOST IMAGINATIVE--

ALMA, HAVE YOU SEEN JILL ?

SHE'S AROUND SOMEWHERE. DO YOU COME IN TO SEE ME NEXT WEEK ?

YEAH.

SOME PARTY, HUH ?

I'M SORRY. I HAD TO STEP OUTSIDE FOR A SMOKE.

FIND ANYBODY YOU KNOW ? THERE MUST BE SOME KIDS YOU KNOW FROM SCHOOL.

SAY, YOU WANT TO GO TOMORROW ? SEE YOUR OLD TEACHERS ?

NO. NO WHAT ?

NO, I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY I KNEW. NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE TOMORROW !

I WANT TO GO HOME. COME ON, JILL, YOU ARE HOME !

THERE'S LOTS OF KIDS YOU STILL KNOW HERE.

DON'T WORRY, DAD. I LOVE YOU. I DO !

BUT I WANT TO GO HOME.

ALL RIGHT, I TELL YOU WHAT.

TOMORROW MORNING IF YOU STILL WANT TO GO HOME, I'LL DRIVE YOU WHEN I GET OFF WORK.

OKAY ?

I CALLED MOM. WHAT ? YOU CALLED MOMMY ?

JUST NOW ? YEAH.

JESUS, WHY ? WHY DIDN'T YOU TALK TO ME FIRST ?

I KNEW YOU'D BE MAD. WELL, YEAH, HONEY, I AM MAD.

YOU KNOW. WHAT DID YOU TELL HER FOR CHRISSAKE ?

I TOLD HER I WANTED TO COME HOME.

DAD, DON'T BE MAD AT ME.

WELL, I GUESS I AM.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW.

I PLANNED THIS. I PLANNED ALL THIS.

SORT OF PATHETIC. BUT I PLANNED IT.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE CALLED YOUR MOTHER.

COME ON, WE'RE GONNA CALL HER BEFORE SHE LEAVES.

HI, THIS IS THE HORNERS.

PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AT THE BEEP. SHE'S GONE ALREADY.

GONE ALREADY ! SHE COULDN'T WAIT.

YEAH. YEAH ?

THAT'S ALL YOU'VE GOT TO SAY, IS "YEAH" ?

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SHE WON'T BE HERE FOR A HALF HOUR.

THINK YOU CAN STAND IT THAT LONG ? YEAH.

WHERE DO YOU EXPECT TO WAIT FOR HER ?

OBVIOUSLY DOWNSTAIRS WITH THE OTHER KIDS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

SIT THERE BY YOURSELF IF YOU WANT.

WAIT FOR HER BY YOURSELF ! THAT'S FINE WITH ME. JUST DANDY !

I'M GOIN' DOWNSTAIRS. IT'S FINE WITH ME TOO.

WHEN MOM COMES, TELL HER I'M UP HERE.

I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO MOVE THAT GODDAMN TRUCK !

RELAX, CHIEF. WE'RE LEAVIN' NOW.

YOU WANT A TOKE ?

NO, JESUS CHRIST, JACK !

WHY DON'T YOU GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE ?

IF GORDON OR ONE OF THOSE GUYS SEE YOU SMOKE THAT WACKY TABACKY AROUND ME,

THEY'LL EXPECT ME TO BUST YOU, AND I'LL BE OUT OF A GODDAMN JOB.

SOME JOB !

HERE, HAVE A HIT. DON'T BE SUCH A HARDASS.

I KNOW YOU GOT PROBLEMS. WE ALL GOT PROBLEMS, SO RELAX.

NOT HERE.

WELL, COME ON, GET IN. WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE RIDE, MY MAN.

GOT A JOB. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. FIRST DAY OF SEASON.

TWOMBLEY SOMETHING. ERWIN--

EVAN ? HE'S A UNION OFFICIAL FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

YOU'RE LUCKY.

GOTTA GUARANTEE A KILL, OF COURSE.

WHICH I CAN DO. THERE ARE SOME MONSTER BUCKS HIDIN' OUT UP THERE.

HOW'D YOU GET THE JOB ? GORDON.

HE'S ALWAYS GOT SOME ANGLE WORKIN'.

HE WANTS TO KEEP TWOMBLEY HAPPY, I'M HIS BOY.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU ? A TOOTHACHE.

YOU SHOULD GET CLOSE TO HIM, JACK.

MAKE YOURSELF IRREPLACEABLE. THE GUY IS LOADED.

LIKE YOU AND GORDON ?

RIGHT. THE SON OF A BITCH COULDN'T GET ALONG WITHOUT ME.

YEAH, HE'D GO BROKE TOMORROW IF YOU QUIT HIM.

RIGHT.

BASTARD'S GOT HIS HIGH BEAMS ON. SHIT !

WHAT ?

THAT'S MY EX-WIFE LILLIAN AND HER HUSBAND IN THE AUDI. AUDI'S A GOOD CAR.

WHAT'S SHE HERE FOR ? SHE'S HERE TO GET JILL. ME AND JILL HAD AN ARGUMENT.

JACK, I GOTTA GET BACK TO TOWN. MOVE THIS THING, WILL YA ?

SEE IF YOU CAN GET BACK TO THE TOWN HALL BEFORE THEY GET THERE, OKAY ?

PIECE OF CAKE. TAKE THIS JOINT.

LILLIAN ?

LILLIAN.

WHERE'S JILL ?

ME AND JILL, WE HAD A LITTLE SPAT.

SHE KIND OF FELT LEFT OUT FROM NOT KNOWING THE NEW KIDS.

WHERE IS SHE ? IS SHE IN THE TRUCK WITH YOUR FRIENDS ?

NO. SHE TOLD ME SHE WANTED TO WAIT FOR YOU INSIDE.

WHILE YOU WENT FOR A FEW BEERS WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

THAT HETTIE ROGERS IN THERE WITH WHAT'S HIS NAME ?

YEAH.

BOY, SHE'S GROWN UP A LITTLE, HASN'T SHE ?

JESUS, LAY OFF, WILL YA ?

YOU'VE WON THIS ROUND, SO JUST LAY OFF FOR CHRISSAKE.

YOU AMAZE ME. YEAR AFTER YEAR IN THE SAME OLD WAYS.

HORNER, LEAVE HER BE.

IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, SO JUST ACT LIKE A CHAUFFEUR.

YOU GOT IT ? WADE, NOBODY WANTS ANY TROUBLE.

LISTEN TO ME. I DON'T WANT HER TO GO.

PLEASE DON'T MAKE A SCENE. NOBODY IS TRYING TO WIN ANY ROUND.

DON'T MAKE THIS ANY WORSE.

I'M NOT MAKING IT ANY WORSE. YOU ARE ! ME ?

ME AND JILL, WE COULD'VE WORKED THIS OUT.

IT'S NORMAL. IT'S A FATHER-DAUGHTER THING. SHE CALLED ME.

I KNOW SHE CALLED YOU. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS MAKES ME LOOK ?

COMING UP HERE AND TREATING HER LIKE SOME TRAGIC VICTIM. I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS.

JUST WAIT TILL WE'RE THROUGH, GODDAMN IT !

DON'T SAY A WORD.

I DIDN'T HIT HIM.

I'M NOT GONNA HIT ANYBODY.