Ree quotes from Winter's Bone (2010)

Maybe they'll share some of that with us.

Ree

That could be.

Maybe we should ask.

Ree

Never ask for what oughta be offered.

I'm Mike Satterfield, A1 Bonds.

Ree

What is it you want?

We hold the bond on Jessup Dolly. Now he's a runner, it looks like.

Ree

Dad ain't no runner.

He didn't show for court. That makes him a runner.

Ree, I know losing Jessup leaves y'all hurting over there. I know it's a lot to handle.

Ree

We'll make do.

Sonya and me talked about it. We feel we could take Sonny off your hands. Not Ashlee, I don't reckon, but we could take Sonny.

Ree

You what?

We could take him and raise him up the rest of the way.

Ree

My ass you will.

We'd raise that boy way better than you and that nutjob mama of yours can. Maybe on down the line, we'd take Ashlee, too.

Ree

You go straight to hell, you son of a bitch. Sonny and Ashlee will die living in a cave with me and mama before they spend one night with you.

He said no.

Ree

Did you tell him I’d spring for gas?

I told him. He still won’t.

Ree

Why not?

He never says why not to me, Ree. He just says no.

Ree

Man, that’s so sad to hear you say he won’t let you do something, and then you don’t do it.

It’s different once you’re married.

Ree

It really must be. Cause you ain’t never used to eat no shit.

Teardrop

You ought not do that. Don’t go running after Jessup. Show or don’t show that choice is up to the one going to jail, not you.

Ree

You know where he’s at, don’t you?

Teardrop

Where a man’s at ain’t necessarily for you to know neither.

Ree

But you do...

Teardrop

I ain’t seen him.

Ree

Could be running around with Little Arthur and them, you think?

Teardrop

Don’t you ever go down around Little Arthur’s asking them people about shit they ain’t offering to talk about. That’s a real good way to end up et by hogs, or wishing you was.

Ree

We’re all related ain’t we?

Teardrop

Our relations get watered kinda thin between here and Little Arthur’s.

You know all those people, Teardrop. You could ask.

Teardrop

Shut up.

None of them’s gonna be in a great big hurry to tangle with you.

Teardrop

I said shut up once already with my mouth.

Ree

Jesus, Dad’s your only brother.

Teardrop

You think I forgot that? Hmm? Jessup and me run together for coming on forty years but I don’t know where he’s at, and I ain’t going to go around asking after him neither.

You want a line?

Ree

No.

You wanna blow some smoke?

Ree

No.

Then I guess I got nothing for you. [He waves his hand to dismiss them] Go on!

I didn't shoot the other night cuz you were there in the truck. He never backed me down.

Ree

It looked to me like he did.

Don't you let me hear that's a story gettin' around.

Ree

I don't talk much about you, man. Ever.

Don’t tell nobody it was me who told you this, okay? But you’re going to have to go on up the hill and ask for a talk with Thump Milton. Now, I hope he’ll talk with you - he generally won’t.

Ree

That man, scares me way more than the rest.

Well, scared ain’t a bad way to be about him, neither, hon. He’s my own granpaw, and I still make damn sure I never piss him off none.

You ain’t here for trouble, are you?

Ree

No, ma’am.

Cause one of my nephews is Buster Leroy, and didn’t he shoot your daddy one time?

Ree

Yes’m, but that ain’t got nothing to do with me. They settled all that theirselves, I think.

Shooting him likely settled it. What is it you want?

Ree

I got a real bad need to talk with Thump.

And he ain’t got no need to talk to you.

Ree

But I need to. I really, really got to ma’am. Please!

Ree

Some of our blood at least is the same. Ain’t that s’posed to mean somethin’ - isn’t that what is always said?

Ain’t you got no men could do this?

Ree

No, Ma’am, I don’t.

He ain’t likely to have time for you, child.

Ree

I’ve got to talk to him. If he don’t know, nobody does.

Nope. Talking just causes witnesses. And he don’t want for any of those.

Ree

I’ll wait.

You need to get yourself on home.
...

Thump knows you were in the valley, child. With Megan. And at Little Arthur’s. He knows what you want to ask, and he don’t want to hear it.

Ree

And that’s it? He ain’t gonna say nothing to me?

If you’re listening, child, you got your answer.

Ree

So, I guess come the nut-cutting, blood don’t really mean shit to the big man. Am I understanding that right?

Don’t you dare. Don’t! I want you to listen to me, child. You need to turn around, and get yourself on home. Don’t you make me come out here and tell you again!

Look, I don't want to kick your dad's ass, all right? I just want to keep the judge off mine.

Ree

Dad's dead. He didn't show for court 'cause he's lyin' dead somewhere.

When was the last time you saw him?

Ree

A couple weeks.

Who's he running around with? Where they all hanging out?

Ree

He doesn't tell me that stuff, sir.

Now, you know I got the legal right to go in there hunting the man, anyplace I want.

Ree

I know you'd be wasting your time and pissing me off. Jessup Dolly is dead. He’s lying in a crappy grave somewhere or become piles of shit in a hog pen. Maybe he’s been left out plain in the open, but wherever he is, he’s there dead.

And you know this how?

Ree

You must’ve heard what Dolly’s are, ain’t you, mister?

Well, I’ve heard what some are anyhow, and I have bonded a few.

Ree

I’m a Dolly, bred’n buttered, and that’s how I know Dad’s dead.

How old are you?

Ree

Seventeen.

What are we ever gonna do with you, baby girl?

Ree

Kill me, I guess.

That idea has been said already. Got any others?

Ree

Help me. Ain’t nobody said that idea yet, have they?

I tried to help you some before, and this is what come of it.

This right here is the last place me or anybody seen Jessup.

Ree

He never blew no lab before.

I know, but something must have jumped wrong this time.

Ree

He's known for never **** up labs or cooking bad batches. He's known for knowing what he's doing.

Well, you cook long enough, this is bound to happen.

Ree

You're sayin' dad's up there burnt to a crisp?

That's what I'm saying.

Ree

I'm going up there for a look.

No! That shit's poison. It'll rip the skin off your bones.

Ree

If dad's up there, I'm bringing him home to bury.

Ree

What I really can’t stand is how I feel so ashamed--for Dad.

Teardrop

Well, he loved y’all. That’s where he went weak. Lots of us can be tough, plenty tough enough, and do it for a long stretch, too.

Ree

But snitching.

Teardrop

For lots’n lots of years he wasn’t. He wasn’t, he wasn’t, and then one day he was.

Ree

You always have scared me.

Teardrop

That’s cause you’re smart.

Are you wanting to leave us?

Ree

I'd be lost without the weight of you two on my back. I ain't goin' anywhere.