Mud

Mud: I like you two. You remind me of me. And seeing how you boys are from Arkansas and we know some people and sounds like we all from the same place I'd say we can make a deal here about somethin'. Ellis: A deal for what? Mud: Food. Food for a boat. Neckbone: This guy's a bum Ellis. Come on. Ellis: Why don't you go get your own food? Mud: I would if I could, but I told somebody I’d meet ‘em here. So I’m stuck for now and what I got’s runnin’ low. Neckbone: He's a bum Ellis, let’s go. Mud: I'm no bum. I got money. You can call me a hobo ‘cause a hobo’ll work for his living and you can call me homeless ‘cause that’s true for now, but if you call me a bum again I'll have to teach you somethin' about respect that your daddy never did.

Mud (2012 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Neckbone: I hate snakes. Mud: That’s because God made them for us to fear. It’s a thing we knew to be afraid of before we even got into this world. Cherokee would wrap snake skin around their pregnant women’s bellies. Induce labor, scare the child out. Here. [He fetches a length of rope out of the duffel bag and tosses it to Neckbone.] Set that ‘round your bed at night. Snake won’t cross braided rope. Neckbone: Thanks. [nods to Mud’s snake tattoo] So what’s that for then? Mud: A reminder. Don’t get bit. I was 10, swimmin’ ‘bout a mile up from here. Me and Juniper. Sonofabitch swam right up under me, bit me just below the armpit. June got me out, got me to a clinic. Doctor said I shoulda been dead in twenty minutes. Took us an hour just to get back to town. Neckbone: What’d they do? Mud: Gave me antivenom. For a cotton mouth. See here. [Mud shows the tattoo on top of his right hand. He points out the two cotton blossoms bulging from the snake’s mouth.] Problem with antivenom is they can

Mud (2012 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Senior: You know I love you? Ellis: Yessir. I know. Senior: I work you hard 'cause life is work. You know that? Ellis: Yessir. Senior: Your Mamma's been talkin' 'bout movin' in town. Ellis: What's that mean? Senior: She seems set on it. Wants to separate. She may ask me for a divorce. Ellis: [pause] What's that mean for me? Senior: It means enjoy the river son. Enjoy it while you live on it, 'cause this way a life isn't long for this world. Game and Fish’s 'bout made certain of that. Ellis: But you and me can still live out here. Game and Fish can't take your boat. Not while you’re still in it. Senior: The houseboat's in your mother's name. Her daddy give it to her not me. If she wants to leave it, Game and Fish has ever' right to take this boat apart board by board. Ellis: But that ain't right. You work outta here. We got the ice machine, the traps. What are we supposed to do? Senior: Like I said, this is your mother's business. Ellis: I ain't no townie. I ain't livin' like that. Seni

Mud (2012 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Ellis: The girl you’re waitin’ on, she’s your girlfriend? Mud: Juniper. Yeah. Elis: How’d you meet her? Mud: We grew up together. Ellis: Do you love her? Mud: I do. The first time I saw her was on this river. Just up from here. She saved my life. Ellis: From the snake bite. Mud: That’s right. I was younger than you are now, but when I came to in the hospital and she was there, it was like the world split open, came back together new. Everything changed. I knew from then on I’d do anything for her. Ellis: Why aren’t ya’ll married? Mud: I’ve asked. Several times. Marriage just doesn’t work for some people. Ellis: My dad says my parents may be gettin’ a divorce. Mud: I’m sorry to hear that. Ellis: If it happens, and my mom moves us off the river, they say the government can come take our boat away. Mud: Who says that? Ellis: Everybody. They passed a law so you can’t sell your boat. Can’t rent it. If the owner leaves, they got you. Game and Fish want ‘em off the river. Mud: I’ve never been

Mud (2012 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Neckbone: I knew it. I told you that dirty son of a bitch was trouble. Did they say what he did? Ellis: No. Neckbone: Did you tell them where he is? Ellis: No, that's why I called you. He needs to know people are looking for him. Neckbone: You think he doesn't know that already? Jesus, Ellis! Why do you even think he's on that island? Ellis, I'm serious! We don't know who this guy is. Ellis: He loves her, Neck. He told me. Neckbone: I don't give a shit who he loves! Ellis: He's not dangerous. Neckbone: [sighs] Sounds like a shitload of state troopers thinks differently.

Mud (2012 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Tom: The real reason Mud’s in the trouble he’s got is because of her. He’s been in love with that girl since he was your age. They used to run all around here and it was the same back then. He’d follow that girl wherever she led him. Problem is she don’t care about nobody but herself. I’ve told him as much. She’d bed down with the meanest snake she could find, then when things went bad she’d go runnin’ to Mud. Mud would take her back, then go find whatever unlucky sonofabitch last put a hand on her and beat ‘em ‘til they knew to never touch her again. And this time I guess he thought a beating wasn’t good enough. Had to shoot that fella. I don’t know for sure, but I’d put money on Juniper knowin’ he’d do it. And I have a suspicion she might of even told him to. Either way, those two are set for failure. Only chance Mud has is to cut her loose. Cause I’ll tell you what, Mud’s no bad ass. He’s runnin’ scared. Ellis: I gotta go. [pauses] You’re wrong about Juniper. They love each other an

Mud (2012 film), CC BY-SA 4.0