[Reading paper]
Maybe, it's...
Maybe it's not the right place.
This is the right place, 5-3-0. Yeah, this is it. [Camera reveals a semi-rundown trailer with Tyler going up to the door]
C Clint
[Appears at door]
Jesus Christ. Who are you?!
You're Salt Water Redneck?
I'm sorry, is this the wrestling school?
My name's Tyler. I ain't selling nothing to you. You see that boy back there?
Yeah, so, we done, uh... we done some hard trailing to get to you. It's a big deal seeing you here. You mind waving to him? He's got a lot riding on him. You mind just waving to him?
You don't teach no wrestling school here no more?
C Clint
I closed that ten years ago.
Did you? So I promised him he would do this one thing. You know, this wrestling thing. And he told me about this school here in Ayden. And we... we had a big journey to get here. And, uh... now I gotta break his heart, you know? And I don't really know what to say to him. But that ain't your shit, you know? I don't mean to bring shit to your doorstep or nothing like that. What's your name?
C Clint
Clint. It's Clint.
C Clint
So... he used to be a fan?
Oh, man, shit, you're his hero. He believes in you. That's a hard thing to do, believe in something, you know? Hey Zak!
This is Clint! Hey, come up here. You mind if he comes up and says hi?
C Clint
That'd be alright.
Hey pal, Salt Water don't live here no more. But, uh, Clint's a regular guy, just like me or you. He wanted to shake your hand.
C Clint
Good. Nice to meet you.
[Starts herding Zak away]
All right, thanks, partner. Come on, bub. Nice to meet you, Clint.
I bet, we could find him by... by the raft. Maybe he is hiding in the swamp.
He's not real, bud. Salt Water don't exist.
I saw the videotape, and he is real.
I just saw, like, a thousand movies of him.
Zak, I don't think we're gonna find him. I think it's time for us to go back now.
I don't wanna go back. Tyler told me this, and he lied to me, and he promised me. And I don't wanna go back. I wanna stay here.
We can't, Zak. We have lives to go back to.
Eleanor, I am strong enough. And I could catch a fish for you. And I'm gonna be a hero. And I could take care of you. We could be a family. [Clint comes swerving around billowing up dust in a muscle car] Holy shit. Salt Water Redneck. It's you. Hey. [They shake hands]
C Clint
I'm happy to see you.
I saw so many videos about you.
C Clint
Yeah? You want to learn some wrestling?
Oh, hell, yeah. And I feel great. Um, can I, uh... uh, join you for the ride?
C Clint
Of course. Get in.
And.. and... and can I bring my family?
I told you. I told you. I told you. He's real. Come on. Join us. Have some fun. [Tyler and Eleanor get in Clint's vehicle]
C Clint
[Clint is mentoring Zak in an impromptu wrestling ring set up in his front lawn]
First thing you do is, you're gonna kind of just, like, you're gonna feel out, you know, just how big the ring is. you just go, you know, kind of check out, you know, what your space is, where you're gonna be moving around. All right, one of the fundamentals now is when you go to hit a guy with an elbow. You got to hit a guy with an elbow, but you also gotta do a foot stomp. [Zak mimics] Yeah, but kind of pop your head too. Just gives it more energy. Yea. Okay, that's good. Um, was there anything special in the video that you want me to teach you?
Uh, will you please show me the Atomic Throw? [Sam chuckles derisively]
C Clint
Ah. Yeah, the Atomic Throw. Honestly, Zak, we just made that up. You know, it was smoke and mirrors. It was just a camera on my face. And then it looked like I was holding the guy up over my head, and then we'd cut to a guy getting thrown out of the ring. It's not possible to do. But I can show you a lot of other cool stuff. What do you think, Sam?
Might try to do a collar and elbow lockup. There you go, lockup. All right, now, what you do, you come in and boom, right there, boom. You know, boom, boom. But when you come in to do it, you got really, really, really slam... yeah. Yeah. Growl all you want, see? Then we kind of... now we move around a little bit, like this. You don't know what I'm going to do...
What are you going to do?
I mean, what are you going to do after all this is over?
Well, I'm going to settle my debts with Duncan. Imma go up to Jupiter, Florida. Town called Jupiter up there is a small fishing town. It's on the Indian River and it opens up to this big estuary. It's the biggest estuary in America. I'm gonna get a boat and I'm gonna just live a good life. Run charters and take people sport fishing.
You ever been to Florida?
C Clint
[To Zak]
You know, certain things, it take years to learn. Like how to fall without hurting yourself. But then that stuff just comes with time. As you don't do the same move-
[Walking past]
It takes time.
C Clint
Yeah, it takes time, but as long as you don't do the same move in the same bout, you're good to go. You look real.
Oh, yeah, and I'm totally ready to do this.
C Clint
You want to fight for real?
C Clint
You want to do a match?
Oh. Oh, yeah, seriously. Yeah. I love it.
I don't think he's ready.
C Clint
Oh, lookit, he can't be out here practicing all the time. He did great today. We can set that up. I mean, there's a card in Jacob's backyard tomorrow. I mean, you're fighting on that card.
C Clint
Okay. Y'all two can fight.
Hey! That's outstanding! A real match! [Pats Zak's shoulders] You want to fight Samson?
Oh, man! Yeah, take on Sam.
Yo, um, please, don't mess with the Peanut Butter Falcon.
C Clint
Peanut Butter Falcon in the house.
I see a problem here. Seems a bit soon.
C Clint
Yeah! I'm going to be there! He's going to take care of him. It'll be like dancing.
C Clint
Oh, come on, man. He's in, he's in. He's grumpy. He's in. Just let him lead, huh? All right, yeah.
C Clint
[Cline takes Zak, Tyler and Eleanor to a live wrestling match]
I need you to put somebody else on the card to fight Samson. Yeah, look over there.
R Referee
Looks kind of lean, wiry, like a swimmer's physique.
C Clint
No, no, not him. The little guy. [Walks to Zak] Had to grease your wheels a little bit, but, Zak, you're good buddy. You're fighting. [Points to Eleanor] You want to fight? They'll take girls. [Eleanor looks on disapprovingly] Okay. All right. Yeah.
OB Obese black man
[On phone]
Yeah, Tyler's here. At this wrestling thing in Ayden.
...
C Clint
[To Zak in a warehouse]
Zak! One thing you got to remember, buddy. Huge part of the game is smack talk. As soon as you set foot in that ring, I want you to say the meanest, evilest thing that comes into your head, Zak, okay? You got to go in aggressive. He is gonna hit you. He's gonna hit you, but you come back harder! Harder, Zak, all right? Oh, one last thing, okay? It may not even happen. If you start bleeding, though, take it to your advantage. All right? Rub it on your face a little bit. Get it on your hands. He hates that. He believes in vampires and shit. All right, I think that's it. It's Zak attack time. How are you feeling? you ready? Rah! Oh, you're up, yeah! [Walks out of warehouse and slams door]
I wish I was in there with you.
No, don't do that right now. Hey. Hey! Don't do that right now. I know you got this Zak. You got this. I know you can do this. Say; "I got this". You've been out here. You got this. Say; "I got this".
No, not... like you're asking a question! Like you mean it! Mean it! Mean it! I mean, in your heart! You know it! Say; "I got this".
Mean it. Make me believe it.
I got this. [ Stands up and yells] I got this!
It's you. There he is. [They start doing handshakes] Peanut Butter Falcon. Really? You're gonna win. You're just gotta show up. Take your shirt off. We got to find some cardboard. Wait. Wait. Come here come here. Get this box, get this box
[Tyler and Eleanor are sitting in Clint's vehicle]
I understand why you took me out of here, but there ain't no reason to be scared. We're talking about two different matches. You're talking about a hardcore match which was what you just sat through, and then Zak's gonna be doing, which ain't gonna be the same match.
He's going to do a couple moves, he's going to lay down, it's going to be simple, and that's going to be that. Zak's gonna win and we go home.
Tyler, they don't care about him.
I know. We care about him. They don't.
Referee: Well, that was going to be the case but then, at the very last moment, an old friend stopped by.
S Spectators
Who?! Who was it?!
Referee: The Salt Water Redneck. The Salt Water Redneck stopped by and brought with him tonight a protégé.
Yeah. [Leans in and passionately kisses Eleanor] You want popcorn?
Tyler, oh my god. Tyler, what the... [Realises that Tyler tricked her in handcuffing her to the steering wheel]
Nobody's gonna die today. I'll be right back.
Referee: May I present to you... the Peanut Butter Falcon! [Tyler bangs on door] Let's go! Let's go! [Zak comes out dressed as a falcon]
Hey! Whoo! [All spectators silently stare unimpressed]
C Clint
He's wearing a freaking cardboard box.
Falcon time! Here we go, here we go. Fly around baby! Fly around baby! Whoo! [Zak starts slapping hands of front row spectators] The Falcon! Falcon! [Spectators start cheering] Whoo!
S Spectators
[Chanting]
Peanut Butter Falcon!
Referee: Who's ready for some wrestling?!
Come on Zak! [Zak faces Sam who puts hands on top of Zak who immediately falls over into a corner]
C Clint
Zak, say something!
What do you think about that, huh?! I've been doing this for 38 years, and guess what?! This isn't Make-A-Wish Foundation!
Kick out, Zak! Kick out that leg! Legs! Kick out! There you go, there you go. Get up, get up! Recover!
Oh, son! You messed up! [Zak wraps arms around Sam's waist] You want to play some more?! [Sam pounds Zak's back sending falling down]
The Peanut Butter Falcon?! Are you ser- How bout Tweety Bird? That's more like it! Tweety Bird!
Get up. Get up bud. Fight!
You want to play some more? You know, I've never had enough of you. [Knocks down Zak with a running finisher]
C Clint
Samson! We had an agreement!
Don't come to me and expect favors! [Picks up Zak and throws him down]
What else you want? You stupid little punk. You're going down. ****, get up, man. Get your stinking ass out of the ring, man. [Zak rolls around in pain]
[Sees Duncan and Ratboy arriving]
Oh, my god.
Hey, hey, hey. Look at me. Look at me. Look at me. Hey, hey, look at me. Let me know, do you want to do this anymore? [Does double thumbs up with Zak doing a thumbs up] Then get up now!
Referee: Listen up, Sam. You're a piece of shit.
C Clint
Say something, Zak.
Come on, Zak! Come on, Zak! Come on! [Samson gives referee the finger in the style of a Jack-in-the-box]
You are not invited to my birthday!
Go, Zak! Go, Zak! Run! Run! [Zak wraps arms around Sam's waist] Yeah! Go underneath! Up! Up! [Zak picks up Samson entirely starts walking to the ring edge with Duncan and Ratboy arriving with Eleanor in pursuit, Ratboy stares in awe when Zak throws Sam out of the ring, Duncan strikes Tyler's head with a tire iron]
