Mud Page #3

That's because God put 'em

here for us to fear.

(SIGHS) We knew to be afraid of snakes long

before we ever even got into this world.

The Cherokee would wrap their pregnant

women's bellies in snake skin.

Induce labor, scare the child out.

Put that around your bed at night.

Snake won't cross a braided rope.

Thanks.

So what's that tattoo for then?

A reminder.

Don't get bit.

I was 10, swimmin' about a mile

up from here, me and Juniper.

Son of a b*tch

swam up on me,

bit me right here up under the armpit.

Juniper got me off to the clinic.

Doctor said I should have

been dead in 20 minutes.

Took us over an hour just to get to town.

NECKBONE:
So what'd they do for it?

Gave me the anti-venom.

Cottonmouth.

See here?

Thing with anti-venom is,

they can only give it to you once.

Made of horse blood.

Body would reject it a second time.

So the cure becomes

more dangerous than the poison.

What happens if you get bit again?

I die

or just sweat it out.

We gotta go help Neck's uncle.

All right.

You never said your name.

Mud.

You can call me Mud.

Here, Mud.

I think you need this worse than I do.

I'll be all right.

(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

(PEOPLE TALKING

INDISTINCTLY)

(LAUGHING)

You start datin', I bet her dad'll

give you a free pickup.

I don't care about that.

What the hell are you doing?

Where you goin'?

MAY:
Stop it!

Stop it! God!

Hey.

(THUDS)

BOY:
Holy sh*t, Pryor,

get off your ass!

You only got what you deserve!

That's right, go home, Pryor!

(TEENS TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Do I know you?

I'm Ellis, that's Neck.

We went to junior high with you

before you went to high school.

How old are you?

Fourteen.

You know you just punched a senior.

So?

I'm May Pearl.

I know.

What else do you know?

Nothing.

Son of a b*tch.

Ellis.

Ellis!

Look.

NECKBONE:
You ever

seen that girl before?

No.

Did you see her hands?

PRYOR:
Hey, girl!

Hey!

Hey, girl, where you goin'?

That ain't even cool.

Hello?

Oh, sorry.

We think we know a guy that might

know that girl over there.

- Oh.

- May Pearl, let's go!

Okay.

Okay, I guess I'll see you.

If you can find my number,

you should give me a call.

I can find it.

Where'd she go?

Into the Piggly Wiggly.

She came from the motel.

SENIOR:
Home for dinner?

ELLIS:
What you hidin' for?

I ain't hidin'.

Come over here.

You know I love you?

Yes, sir.

I know.

I work you hard, 'cause life is work.

You know that?

Yes, sir.

(SIGHS)

Your mom is talkin' about movin' into town.

What's that mean?

She seems set on it,

wants to separate.

May even ask for a divorce.

What's that mean for me?

It means enjoy this river, son.

Enjoy it while you live on it.

'Cause this way of life

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