[film projector clicking]
[bird calling]
[rain splattering]
[bird calling]
[rain splattering]
[wind blowing]
[slow, gentle music]
[water flowing]
[slow, somber orchestral music]
[gentle piano music]
[birds singing]
[insects buzzing]
[door creaking open]
[piano chord striking]
♪ And am I born to die ♪
♪ To lay this body down ♪
♪ And must my trembling spirit fly ♪
♪ Into a world ♪
[dog barking]
♪ Unknown ♪
[gentle piano music]
[kids yelling]
[Boy] Hit him Francis, hit him.
- Get him, Francis. - Get him, get him.
Get outta here, you guys.
[Boy] Get him, Francis, hit him, punch him.
Hit him.
[slow, somber music]
[boys talking quietly]
Boys, what are you doing?
What do you have?
Don't touch that.
[book slapping]
Come on, it's time for the spelling lesson.
Come on.
Get your notebooks.
First word is forest, F-O-R-E-S-T.
The second word is mountain,
M-O-U,
Francis, take that out of your mouth.
It ain't lit.
Class is almost over, you can smoke when you get outside.
My mama said I don't have to listen to you.
Said ain't no good ever came from learning
from a family of murderers.
So if I sent you home early,
your mama wouldn't have anything to say about that?
Suppose not.
The next word is...
Coalmine.
Class is dismissed.
[birds chirping]
[boys chattering]
[boys laughing]
Did you see her face?
Yeah, she won't be doing any of that anytime soon.
[Mrs. Bandy] What're y'all talkin' about?
Francis told Coralie off.
Yeah, I did.
She was raggin' on me for no good reason.
And I said to her, I said,
"My mama said that I don't have to listen to you."
That family always was puttin' on airs.
[Harlon] The next time she tries to act
all high and mighty.
[Mrs. Bandy] Now you stop that nonsense and get on home,
all of you.
Francis, you make sure you're ready for supper
by the time your daddy gets back.
Yes, ma'am.
[birds chirping]
[dogs barking]
Afternoon, Mary.
Those children are too hard on that poor girl.
[Mrs. Bandy] I really don't wanna hear
any sympathy for her.
She's lost her family.
She's one little girl, what about the rest of us?
I'll just take what I need for the sheriff's dinner,
and then I've got to go.
[items clinking]
I only meant...
Thank you.
[birds chirping]
[door bells tingling]
[gentle, somber guitar music]
[insects buzzing]
[dog barking] [birds chirping]
Afternoon, ma'am.
I was walking by and I noticed, no offense,
but I noticed a little paint could use some work.
I was hoping you might let me do that for you.
Francis, where have you been?
Go inside and get washed up.
Thank you, but I have a husband and a son for such things.
[footsteps clicking]
[birds chirping]
[silverware clinking]
[gentle music] [fire cackling]
[birds chirping] [gentle piano music]
Therefore, we were buried with him,
through baptism into death.
That just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so-
we also should walk in newness of life.
He's so handsome.
Don't get too excited.
He'll be gone by tomorrow, I promise you.
Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
I do.
[gentle, somber piano music]
[water rushing]
[Gossiping Girl] He's so cute,
I wonder where he came from.
[Gossiping Girl] He's so handsome.
[girls talking quietly]
A toast to the newly baptized?
You'll be in trouble if they catch you with that in here.
I'm not afraid of a little trouble.
Anyway, I've never had any.
You've never had moonshine?
You've lived here your whole life
and you've never had moonshine?
[chair clunking]
Try it.
Just a little though, it takes some getting used to.
[Coralie] Now I've had some.
Guess so.
How did you know I've lived here my whole life?
People don't really seem to come and go around here.
That's what makes you such a novelty.
Well, I hope I'm still welcome once the novelty wears off.
You wanna stay here?
Depends.
Don't you wanna know what it depends on?
Well, what if I said it depends on you?
[people chattering in background]
I should be getting home.
I'll walk you out.
[birds chirping]
Goodnight.
Night.
[birds chirping]
[slow, solemn music]
Mind if I join you?
No.
You a big reader?
Guess I am.
Helps me feel a part of something bigger than this place.
I can see that.
Have you traveled much?
Been to just about every continent.
You have?
Yes, ma'am.
[birds chirping]
Have you ever seen an owl, up close I mean?
No.
I have once, on the side of the road.
It was a baby, I think it got knocked out of its nest
or something, it was all alone, its wing was broken.
I took it home and I put it in this box,
put it under a lamp.
I fed it, and it got stronger and stronger but,
when the time came, it was too afraid to go outside.
Then one day I went somewhere and I left the window open,
and when I got back it was gone.
Guess it finally got up the courage to leave.
I like to think it's much happier now.
Free, where it belongs.
[gentle acoustic music]
[birds chirping]
[gentle acoustic music]
[music increasing in intensity]
[bell tolling]
[door creaking open]
And God shall wipe away all their tears.
I wonder how she sleeps at night
[Preacher] For there will be no more death.
Neither sorrow, nor crying.
Neither shall there be anymore pain.
For the former things have passed away.
Behold, the new have come.
In Christ, all things are made new.
And with this good news, we can find hope.
[slow, somber music]
[Willie] I don't see how you stand it.
They've always hated me.
Willie...
I need to show you somethin'.
[slow, solemn music]
[water bubbling]
[slow, somber music]
My daddy heard they were opening coalmines
in other towns nearby.
He saw the destitution after the war
and said that something needed to be done.
They say there was a sense of hope
that was never felt before or since in these parts
when it opened.
Everything was going well, the men were busy,
but then there was an explosion.
Thirty-eight men were killed.
My daddy wasn't one of 'em.
His heart gave out right before I was born.
My mama was alone for awhile,
but I don't remember her being very strong.
I remember her hands, they were so pale.
I think she died of a broken heart.
[Willie] There's a whole world out there, Coralie,
bigger than this one.
Bigger than these people, bigger than your loneliness.
[gentle, somber music]
I think I'd do anything to get away from here.
[gentle, solemn music]
[water gurgling]
[gentle, solemn music]
I wanna take you away from here.
I wanna marry you, Coralie.
[Coralie] We don't even know each other.
[Willie] The first time I saw you, you wounded my heart.
[water rushing]
[slow, gentle music]
Come up here.
[birds chirping]
See that big, tall peak?
That's Mount Mitchell.
Over there's Blowing Rock.
And way over there, is Tennessee.
We're gonna follow this trail north for awhile.
[birds chirping]
"So will I build my altar in the fields."
"And the blue sky my fretted dome shall be."
I'm glad to be here with you, Willie.
I wonder what else is stored up there.
I'd like to figure it out.
[wind whipping]
[birds chirping]
[insects buzzing]
[grass rustling]
[brush snapping]
[thudding]
[snake rustling]
Let me see.
I didn't see it there.
Let's get some rest, huh?
Yeah?
Come on.
[birds chirping]
They met him on the trail.
He was odd, least that's what other people said.
He asked to have dinner with them,
and by all accounts they had a normal, everyday dinner
with the guy.
[Coralie] What went wrong?
[Willie] Well, they parted ways,
the couple didn't see him for weeks.
They just kept hiking, didn't even think of him.
Then they ran into their friend again
but this time he wasn't quite so normal.
I think the wife felt sorry for him, you know,
just thought he was lonely.
Then they found her with her hands tied behind her back,
two stab wounds in the throat, four in the abdomen.
And those were just the wounds they could see.
What happened to the husband?
He was left lying facedown
with six bullet holes in his back.
These woods can be a dangerous place.
[low, tense tonal buzzing]
[birds chirping]
This looks like a good place to camp.
It doesn't seem very safe.
Don't worry, you have your own personal protector.
[birds chirping]
[low, tense tonal buzzing]
[insects Buzzing, fire crackling]
Willie?
[Willie] Hm?
When are we gettin' married?
You said you wanted to marry me.
[Willie] Course I do.
There's no one to marry us around here.
We can go into another town and find a preacher.
I don't wanna get married in some hovel.
That's all we'd find around here.
I don't mind. Honestly, I don't.
Tell you what...
There's this town in Virginia,
the most beautiful church I've ever seen.
The sun peaks through a window just so,
filling the whole room with light.
I can see you walking towards me in that light,
dressed in white.
That's a place that's worthy of you.
As soon as we get to Virginia, we'll find a preacher,
I'll drag him out of bed if I have to,
and we'll get married.
Virginia?
[Willie] It's a little ways.
Promise we'll get married there?
Promise.
[slow, haunting music] [fire crackling]
[slow, haunting music] [birds chirping]
[insects buzzing]
[eerie music]
[slow, tense music]
[sticks cracking]
Why'd you disappear?
I was just going for a walk.
You can't just leave out on your own like that.
[Coralie] You were asleep.
It isn't safe.
Come on, Coralie, I'm sorry if I sounded harsh.
I was just...
worried.
[slow, haunting music]
[birds singing]
Did you hurt yourself?
No.
I'm all right, I'm just tired.
Let me see.
We just have a little further to go.
We gotta cover more ground tonight.
Better?
Hm?
Mm-hm.
Come on.
[birds chirping]
I have no doubt now that if I were anywhere but here,
I wouldn't be in this situation.
My only comfort comes from knowing
that you're far away from here, my darling.
They did this to us, separated us.
Until the day I can see your face again,
I dream of us together.
[brush crunching]
[birds chirping] [insects buzzing]
[tent flap swishing]
What happened?
Christ, girl.
[bird cawing]
[Coralie] Why did you choose me?
What?
Back in town, there were other girls.
[Willie] You're the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen.
[Coralie] I'm serious.
[Willie] So am I.
[Coralie] I love you.
[gentle music]
[water gurgling] [gentle orchestral music]
[waterfall rushing] [romantic orchestral music]
[atmospheric music]
[birds chirping]
[woman humming lightly]
I heard something.
[Willie] It's probably just an animal.
[woman humming lightly]
No there, there it is again.
Coralie.
[woman humming lightly]
We don't know what they're here for.
We should leave 'em be.
Don't get up.
We just wanted to see if you're okay.
Can you stand?
I'm fine, it's nothin' a little rest won't fix.
She's fine, she said so herself.
[Coralie] Please, Willie.
I think it finally stopped bleeding.
Might be infected.
You have any antibiotics, anything to treat it with?
Neither do we.
We haven't passed a town in well over a week.
[Hiker] I passed one about three days south of here.
Must've just missed it.
We can take you back there if you show us the way.
Coralie, we can't go three days in the opposite direction.
I'm certainly no help on this leg, that's for sure.
But I'd be grateful if you'd help me get to a doctor.
Please, Willie, she needs us.
All right.
[Coralie] Will you be gone long?
Long enough to feed these hungry mouths.
[Hiker] What're you two doin' out here anyway?
Most people on this trail wanna be alone,
or they're hiding from something.
Willie's taking me to a town up north.
We're gonna get married there.
What town is that?
I don't know, I've never been.
[insects buzzing] [water lapping]
Can I see it?
[Hiker] That was a long time ago.
What's her name?
Adelaide. Not much of a baby anymore.
We'll get you back to her.
[birds chirping]
[wind whipping]
We should've passed another marker by now.
We're lucky no critters have come.
[Hiker] I can fix it myself,
if we're stopping here for awhile.
[Willie] I'll go take a look up ahead.
[light, tense music]
[bird caws]
[water rushing]
[eerie music]
[Willie] Maybe you should go check on her.
[eerie, tense music]
Willie?
[tense music]
It must've been the infection.
I guess it was worse than we thought.
[slow, orchestral music]
[sullen, heavy footsteps]
[insects buzzing]
[Coralie sniffling]
[Willie] There's a place up that next ridge.
Could we not make it a little further?
[Coralie crying softly]
What is that?
[slow, gentle music]
Why do you have this?
You took this off a corpse.
We didn't bury her.
[Willie] Coralie.
She's out there, she's alone, she needs me.
I left her. [crying]
I didn't bury her.
Come here. [Coralie crying]
It's okay. - She needs me.
You left her, I left her. [crying]
[slow, gentle music]
[Coralie crying]
[Willie] Sh.
[Coralie crying]
[slow, gentle music] [birds chirping]
What if someone lives here?
No one lives here.
[moonshine sloshing]
[tense music]
You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.
Willie, stop.
[Willie] We're getting married soon anyway, Coralie.
I didn't force you to come here with me.
[tense atmospheric music]
[Coralie] We aren't yet.
[slow, tense music]
[footsteps clomping]
[Willie] That woman set us back a few days.
May need you to help me lay some traps.
Could you turn around, please?
You can't be serious.
[wind chimes jingling]
I'll be outside.
[birds chirping]
[wind whipping]
♪ And am I born to die ♪
♪ To lay this body down ♪
♪ And must my trembling spirit fly ♪
♪ Into a world unknown ♪
Where you been?
You all right?
You left me.
I thought... I thought you were behind me.
[insects chirping]
[Coralie] Aren't many more days left now,
before Virginia.
No, we're real close now.
When you see me in that church,
all dressed in white,
you'll remember why you love me.
Coralie?
I won't leave you, Willie.
You think you know what love is, Coralie?
Yes.
What if you knew love as a letter from a mother
you never knew, while another man raised you.
Raised you to be strong by making your hide so raw
with his belt that you'd never do anything wrong
in his sight.
I thought about my mother every day.
Till I met you.
[insects buzzing]
[birds chirping]
[slow, romantic piano music] [rain splattering]
[Willie] Coralie.
[slow, somber piano music]
This is our chapel.
You said you loved me.
[Coralie] I do, Willie.
Say you'll marry me.
[gentle orchestral music]
Do you think someone like me could know what love is?
[gentle orchestral music]
[birds chirping]
[moonshine sloshing]
[flask cap clinking]
[footsteps clomping]
[paper rustling]
[insects buzzing]
[footsteps approaching]
[deep, tense music]
Get up, Coralie.
You drunk?
[Willie] What're you doing with that?
You're hurting me.
Good.
You and your people always meddling in things
that don't belong to you.
I'm sorry, I know haven't...
Shut up.
I've been busy tonight.
Don't you wanna know what I've been busy doing?
Don't you?
What've you been doing tonight?
[deep, tense music]
Thinking about where I'm going to dig your grave.
[slow, tense music]
Willie.
[deep, tense music]
[heavy breathing]
[leaves rustling]
[Coralie yelling]
I don't understand, Willie.
[Willie breathing heavily]
Willie.
Please.
[tense orchestral music]
[birds chirping]
[bird cawing]
[knocking at door]
[Mrs. Bandy] Francis, get upstairs.
Get upstairs, Francis.
Don't you recognize me, Mom?
Don't you recognize me?
Of course I do.
You look just like your father.
I've avenged us Mom, I've avenged my father.
[Mrs. Bandy] What do you mean, what have you done?
Coralie Whitt is dead.
She can't hurt you anymore.
Where is she?
It doesn't matter.
I'm home, Mom.
[Mrs. Bandy] Willie.
[Willie crying]
My husband is home,
you have to go. - You can tell him.
Mom, you can tell him.
[Mrs. Bandy] You have to go.
No, Mother.
Please.
[Mrs. Bandy] I'll see you soon.
[tense music]
[Mrs. Bandy crying]
[dog barking]
[deep, tense music]
[birds chirping]
[slow, somber orchestral music]
[swelling orchestral music]
Coralie?
[intense orchestral music]
[door creaking]
What're you doing up, get back to bed.
[Francis] I saw Coralie
Disappearing into the woods with that
Willie Lowe fella.
Okay
[footsteps clomping]
[slow, solemn orchestral music]
[gentle, melancholy orchestral music]
[deep, somber music]
['Had To' by Mason Schmitt plays]
♪ Sometimes I think you're lying ♪
♪ I know that you were over her ♪
♪ But are you even tryin' ♪
♪ 'Cause I remember that room ♪
♪ I remember that space ♪
[singing softly]
♪ We held it all for so long ♪
♪ Cause we knew it was wrong ♪
♪ But I couldn't go ♪
♪ Without getting one ♪
♪ Taste ♪
♪ Well what ♪
♪ Does it matter now ♪
♪ If it worked itself out ♪
♪ What am I still holding on to ♪
♪ That kiss wasn't what I planned ♪
♪ Those hands, they were guilty hands ♪
♪ I had to ♪
♪ Softly singing ♪