♪♪
Theo: Wow, dad!
A heat wave in the middle of November?
Perfect for your birthday bbq.
God must love you.
[ sizzling ]
[ inhales deeply ]
Here you go, matt. Blow these up, too.
And hurry up, 'cause we need you on door duty.
Theo, if you're not gonna help out,
Can you at least get the grill set up?
Rumor has it darby's bringing his signature prime rib.
No. [bleep]. Way.
Oh, yeah.
Goddamn it, theo!
You had one job. One simple job!
And you managed to shart all over it!
What did you shart on?
I just saw the evite he sent out last week
For the birthday party.
Theo, honey, could you do me a favor
And tell us how to correctly format a date?
Easy. Day, month, year.
Any other brain busters?
No, it's just that today is November 9th,
But you invited everyone to come over on September 11th
To, and I quote...
There's no mention that it's your father's birthday,
And for some reason you signed the e-mail off with,
"let the bodies hit the floor"!
That's how I sign off every e-mail, dumbass.
Goddamn it, theo. Look at dad. He's devastated.
Not only is no one gonna show up for his birthday party,
They're all now under the impression
That we're throwing a 9/11 party next year.
Where are we gonna get the budget for that?
You've deprived this wonderful, selfless man
The one day he loves the most.
[ discordant music plays ]
Nurse mary: Mr. Hornsby, you are a horrible, selfish man.
How dare you speak to me like that?
On my birthday, no less!
Lucky for you, I hate my birthday.
These crackers are not the same crackers
From your first sales pitch.
What are you accusing me of?
Packaging a different company's crackers
In a royal crackers box and pawning them off as our own,
Then offloading our inferior product onto you
Once the deal went through?
Do you realize how insane you sound?
You should be lobotomized!
Luther? Is that what he did?
Yes, nurse mary.
He used munkhauser sugar thins as his samples.
Wow. We only signed a contract with you
Because of the joy those crackers brought
To these poor children.
I could sue you in the court of law for this.
Oh, are you certain about that?
Be a shame if the court of law found out
About your little torture chamber downstairs.
I beg your pardon?
That room with those metal tubes
You lock the sickly degenerates in.
I saw it with my own two peepers.
Mr. Hornsby, that is our polio ward.
Oh. Wait. You let me walk through that?
Luther, we're supposed to be partners!
You made me look like a real penis in there.
Nurse mary is right. We are horrible men!
Oh, yeah? Why don't you go tell that to your mansion?
I'm serious. As am I.
You don't talk to your mansion?
It's very therapeutic.
Theodore! We were told my recipe
Could rapidly accelerate ailments in small children.
And you just swindled deals
With every child-care facility in the state!
I can't do this anymore, theodore.
I'm leaving royal crackers.
Wh-- what? I'm donating my assets
And committing to a life of charity.
It's the least I can do knowing the horrors
We may have unleashed upon this great state.
I implore you to do the same before it's too late.
You're not better than me, luther!
You hear me? I have an enormous heart!
I pay my bills on time.
I don't block fire hydrants
If I get to a meeting early enough.
I use my turn signal. I make sure to eat
All the leftovers in my refrigerator.
Luther!
[ depressing music plays ]
[ door slam echoes ]
Y-you'll never believe the day I've had, mansion.
First I land the sales contract of the century,
And then luther quits on me,
Then has the audacity to call me a bad person.
Can you believe that?
Ah. Let's see what's on the airwaves.
Maybe I'll catch an airing
Of the "procter & gamble mystery hour."
Old-timey news reporter: And now for the news.
A wave of mysterious food illness
Is ravaging california's children's hospitals,
Schools, and orphanages. Ugh! Ah!
[ radio shatters ]
♪♪
How long has this been sitting here?
Paulson: "dear mr. Theodore hornsby,
My name is paulson mayworth.
I helped sow the seed on your first wheat field,
Which is why I write, asking for your charity."
Oh, boy. Here it comes, mansion.
"the recent draught has ravaged our crop.
Worst of all, my daughter is rather ill."
[ snoring ]
Ghostly voice: Ooooh. Ooooh!
Mister. Huh?
Why did you kill me?
[ screams ] I-I-I didn't.
Your crackers.
They made my insides feel like
I was being ripped open by a horse [bleep]
Jesus christ. What do they teach you up there in heaven?
Not heaven.
Your satanic crackers were festering inside me
When I crossed over,
And I was sent to hell by mistake.
How do you know it was the crackers that killed you?
Thanks to nurse mary's ramblings today,
I'm able to deduce that you also had polio.
Believe me, I'd take 1,000 polio deaths
Before biting into another one of those atrocities
You're peddling.
I see right through you, theodore hornsby.
You're beginning to feel very guilty.
If you don't change your ways, you may find yourself paralyzed,
Incapacitated by guilt and self-hatred,
Bound to a metal contraption till your dying day,
Just like me!
[ screams ]
If this date is correct,
This was sent not but a week ago.
I could still make it.
Paulson: "my wife and I are the sole proprietors
Of mayworth ranch.
I've included a map on the back of this letter.
Unfortunately, you'll have to travel
Through greymarsh swamp to access our land.
Please hurry, mr. Hornsby.
Time is a luxury my daughter does not have."
[ chomps and crunches ] mm. It's not so bad.
These savages just don't know quality
When it hits their tongue.
Tell that to my discarded bowels.
Oh, jesus, you're gonna follow me this whole trip, ghost boy?
Hey! Right now I'm the best friend you got, old man.
I'm gonna see to it that you carry out the plan.
Fine. Just don't keep me up at night
With those polio tentacles of yours.
[ thunder crashes ]
[ coos and snores ]
[ sizzling ]
Stebe: Hey, matt?
Matt, anyone show up yet?
Matt: No.
K, well, just stay put.
You never know. [ sighs ]
Just look at him,
All alone on his birthday. Poor guy.
Yeah, seeing all these empty tables is bumming me out.
Why don't we head inside and let dad soak up these rays?
-Yeah, good idea. -Yeah, let's do it.
Hey, hornsbys!
Who's up for some fresh meat?
All: Yeah!
[ sizzling ]
[ thunder rumbles ]
Theodore! The storm is only getting worse.
It's not so bad.
Actually, kind of nice to be out
Of that insufferable bakersfield heat.
Yeah, but the car is starting to fill up like a bath tub.
We'd be fine if you hadn't removed the top off this thing.
What's the point of owning a flashy motorized carriage
If no one can see you driving it, you amateur?
Hey, look. Over there.
[ mellow music plays ]
[ doorbell rings ]
Listen here -- my name is theodore hornsby,
And I'm in need of shelter from this dire storm.
Oh, why, of course.
Please, come in before you catch a cold.
I apologize. We're a little undermanned.
My husband and two boys are out gathering food for supper.
It's just my daughter and I at the moment.
Jesus christ, I didn't ask for your life story.
Marjorie? We have a guest, dear.
Oh, sorry, mother. I was just sewing some bandages
In case the men get hurt on their hunt again.
Marjorie, please meet our guest, mr. Hornsby.
Hello, my lord.
Please, m'lady, call me ceo of royal crackers
Theodore hornsby of bakersfield,
Kern county, california,
Zip code 93311,
United states of america.
And this'll be your room for the night.
Ahhhh.
I hope it suits your needs.
Yes, ma'am, it's -- it's quite lovely, actually.
You know, we don't get many folk from california staying here.
What brings you through greymarsh?
Well, it's a sad tale, actually.
There's a family east of here.
They've penned a letter to me begging for my charity.
And, unfortunately, this man before you bends like soft candy
When it comes to those in need.
A damned weakness, I tell you!
Oh, brother.
That is no weakness.
Heaven forbid we live in a world
Where a heavy heart is considered such a thing.
Your wife must be so proud of you.
My wife was ripped apart
By a pack of wild dogs two years ago.
I'm afraid it's just me and my giant mansion now.
Oh, I'm so sorry. Don't worry.
It was funnier than I'm making it sound.
I feel so fortunate to have had you as our guest,
As though it's...
Destiny.
[ both moaning and grunting aggressively ]
[ gasps and yelps ]
[ screams ]
[ thunder rumbles ]
Paulson: "we spent our last dime on our daughter's treatment,
And her condition has stabilized for now.
We're unable to move her, and the city doctors
Refuse to travel through greymarsh swamp
For some odd reason.
We're in desperate need of a real hero, mr. Hornsby."
Ha! Me -- a hero. Who woulda thought?
Looks like things are coming up hornsby, ghost boy.
Sorry, I can't get past what I just saw.
How do you live with yourself?
Listen, one day you'll learn the value
Of manipulating your way into a young bird's pantsuit.
Tell you what -- that wife-eaten-by-dogs bit?
It's a real bloomer-dropper.
Take it. It's yours. From me to you.
Go on. Take it. Whenever you need it.
All yours. On me.
Go ahead. Feel free.
You can have it. On the house.
Go ahead, take it. I insist.
Take it. Or leave it.
Look, I'm gonna be honest with you, hornsby.
Something about these swamp folk gives me the creepers.
How dare you talk about marjorie like that?
She's my girlfriend now, I think.
Trust me, we're better off braving the storm outside.
Wait a minute. I see what's happening here.
Just because my crackers killed you,
You can't stand to see me happy for even a moment.
Old-timey news reporter: Welcome back to "silver scoops"
On national public radio.
I'm joined by former co-owner of royal cracker company,
Luther dennison.
So, luther, why the sudden split
From your former business partner?
Luther: Frankly, I could no longer carry the guilt.
Theodore's royal cracker recipe is wildly unhealthy.
That was his recipe.
That's why I'm excited to announce
Dennison snacks --
A new, delicious, healthy alternative
To your everyday snack foods.
I figured, in atoning for my mistakes,
Why not make a small buck on the side?
[ both laugh ]
Ahhh! [ radio shatters ]
That son of a bitch is doing a press tour
Undercutting my business!
Meanwhile, I'm trapped in this putrid swamp like an asshole.
The whole reason I'm out here was to prove him wrong.
The reason you're out here is to do the right thing
For once in your miserable life.
Oh, what's the difference? Get out of my way.
I've got to get back to bakersfield.
Oh, now he wants to leave.
Go eat a fart, hornsby.
You go eat a fart, ghost boy.
Oh, uh, mr. Hornsby?
My father and brothers are back from their hunt.
It's time for supper.
[ thunder rumbles ]
[ rain pattering ]
Boys! Get down here!
It's time to say grace.
[ laughs ] get out of my way.
Get out of the way!
Oh, god! I'm faster.
No, I'm faster, you piece of shit.
Pa, tell him I'm faster. Nuh-uh!
Sit down before I unleash the fires
Of hell on both of you!
Mr. Hornsby, you may say grace.
Uh...
Dear, uh...
Jesus.
This family would like to thank you
For this supper you've fooled them into believing
They didn't acquire on their own.
So, well done.
Nevertheless, you do control the weather.
Seems to be the one morsel of power that you actually have.
And you've decided to flaunt it
By trapping me in this godforsaken swamp.
Hope you feel like a big man now
And not the needy, petulant child that you are.
The end.
[ clears throat ] thank you, mr. Hornsby.
Let's eat.
-Let's eat! -Let's eat!
[ chewing and grunting savagely ]
Angus: Good.
Real good!
[ ominous music plays ]
♪♪
-Mmm! -Mmm, mmm, mmm.
You know, mr. Hornsby,
It is quite fortuitous, you showing up at our door.
We've been running quite low on supplies.
Seems the traders and caravans have started to avoid
Greymarsh swamp for some odd reason.
[ both chuckle ]
Well, I just happen to have quite a selection of goods
In my motor carriage.
I'll just -- I'll bring them in now.
Brb.
Hello?
Is anyone down here?
[ thunder rumbles ] [ gasps ]
[ screams ]
You're not goin' anywhere, mr. Hornsby.
'cause I know a good cut when I see one.
Ow! Plate!
Ah!
Ow. My money-maker.
Check his pockets.
See if he has any extra meat in there.
Why would I have meat in my pockets, you [bleep] weirdo?
Hey, pa, lookie.
This -- this letter mentions some place
Called mayworth ranch, just east of here.
Looks like they got three fresh cuts livin' over there.
Praise the almighty!
The heavens are shinin' upon us today!
We can ride out tomorrow morning.
No! S-stay away from them!
Take this one down to the basement, alive.
We don't need him spoilin' overnight.
[ chuckles ] unhand me, you freaks.
Do you know who I am?
I'm theodore hornsby.
I'm a very important man!
People respect me. You hear me?
I have a bank account.
I only drink water with bubbles in it!
I've been inside a swimming pool.
Ahhhhh!
[ chewing and grunting savagely ]
Wow, darb, I gotta hand it to you.
Your barbecue really has a special effect on these guys.
Yep. I guess you could say I'm a regular cliff huxtable.
[ groaning ]
Ah!
[ grunting ]
[ groans ]
Ghost boy: Well, well.
Looks like someone should have listened
To ghost boy when they had the chance.
Pardon me for not taking advice from a child
Harboring an illness you only get from ingesting human shit!
A delicacy compared to the crackers
That put the nail in my coffin!
You showed me your cards, hornsby.
You were never on this trip to do a good deed.
You're here to prove a point.
Now look at you. This is not part of the plan.
Oh, it's not part of the plan for me to be hanging upside down
In the basement of a bunch of man-eating jesus freaks?
Well, I'll be damned!
We should check to see if there's any other
Conflicting items on the itinerary.
And in case you forgot, mayworth ranch is off.
I'm heading back to my empty mansion to drink alone
And have a nightly cry with my pants off, you loser.
[ grunting ]
Okay, look, I-I don't really know
Why I'm out here, okay?
I genuinely don't know what it means
To be selfless or charitable.
In fact, the only way I can justify doing it
Is an expectation that it will somehow
Make me feel good in the end.
Which is selfish. I get it.
But I'm trying, okay? I'm trying.
And shouldn't that be enough?
Shouldn't that be all we expect from one another?
That we try?
Alright. I'll take it, hornsby.
Wonderful. Now help me get out of this diarrhea pit.
What do you want me to do?
Hand you the cleaver myself?
That's exactly what I want you to do.
You can do it, ghost boy. I believe in you.
Come on, ghost boy. [ straining ]
Put every muscle on that sickly little body into it.
[ grunting and straining ] yes.
Yes, you're doing it.
Keep going, ghost boy.
[ continues straining ]
Ha-ha! I knew you could do it, you little imp!
Ah.
[ grunts ]
Ow!
♪♪
[ doorbell rings ]
Uh-ooh-gah! Who's this stud muffin?
Uh-oh! You hear that, matt?
Don't get any ideas, buddy.
Gotta watch you like a hawk.
[ chuckles ] nah.
Matt, what the hell are you doing?!
Who told you you could greet the party guests?
What, do you wanna bum everyone out
Before they walk through the door?
Go to your room!
Ron. My man.
I can't believe you guys actually came.
Yeah, neither can we. We had pitbull tickets.
But grandpa luther here happened to be in town
And insisted we come check out the hornsby fiesta.
Can you believe it?
Still remembers your father's birthday after all these years.
Choppy computerized voice: Good afternoon, young man.
Do you mind if I see the man of the hour?
Yeah, sure. He's up in his room.
Got the heater cranked up in there,
Keeping him nice and toasty.
Party's out in the backyard. Come on, dennisons.
[ ominous music plays ]
Ghost boy: We made it, theodore.
You know, you should do these acts of kindness more often.
It's a good look on you.
Mm. Thank you, ghost boy.
Who's ghost boy? Your boyfriend?
[ chuckles ]
You got heart, hornsby. I'll give you that.
So I'll make you a deal.
We'll spare you, and you can head on back
To your little bakersfield mansion.
But that family in there?
They're ours.
No! Say again?
Back in bakersfield, california, is a man named luther.
One could argue he's the reason
I set out on this journey to begin with.
He was my business partner and the best friend I ever had.
That is, until recently.
Luther stabbed me in the back.
But for the first time in my life,
I'm undeterred in believing
That there is a pure good in this world.
You think pointing your weapons is going to scare me?
I've stared down the barrel
Of a lifetime of guilt and loneliness,
And it hurts more than any shotgun shell ever could.
[ gunshot ] ah!
Oh, shit. Good lord! I was wrong.
That is wildly more painful!
[ laughs ] su-fi, baby.
Alright, boys.
Let's put the problem dog to sleep.
Stop! Marjorie!
Get out of the way, girl!
No! There will be plenty more families
And travelers for us to eat.
But this one is special.
We're in love.
♪♪
You're a lucky man, hornsby.
The bartlebee genes are stronger than a man's rock-hard penis.
-Ugh! -[ chuckles ]
I sewed these bandages myself.
I'll head home and start packin'.
Pick me up on your way back to bakersfield.
Yeah. I-I took a lotta weird turns getting here.
I-I don't know if I'd be able to find your house again.
Oh, don't worry. I'll find you no matter what,
Ceo of royal crackers theodore hornsby
Of bakersfield, kern county, california,
Zip code 93311, united states of america.
[ laughs ] eh...
Paulson: "I must return to my daughter's bedside now, mr. Hornsby.
I know the good in you will shine through.
And we'll patiently await your arrival.
Sincerely, paulson mayworth."
Hello? Paulson mayworth?
[ door creaks ]
I come bearing many a gift.
Clothes. Food. Blankets.
Medicine that'll have your daughter
Doing cartwheels by morning.
Maybe we can throw me a second birthday party
With the leftovers.
Maybe you should learn how to read a date correctly,
You useless idiot!
After spending all their money on my iron lung
And the crops drying out,
We had to resort to the only food we had left,
The remnants from my father's time
Working on your very first wheat field.
Feast your eyes, hornsby.
Across the entire state, there are hundreds of scenes
Just like this one.
This is the cost of your ugly, depressing mansion.
See you in hell, sucker!
Wait. Ghost boy. Or girl. Ghost girl! Ooooh!
Come back here, you little pepper grinder!
I'm sorry, okay?
I'll change the recipe, okay?!
Please! Please don't leave me.
Please! I'm sorry!
[ moans ]
[ birds cawing ]
You know what? I'm glad you're dead.
You think you're so clever? Ha!
You just caught me at a time when I forgot one thing --
That I'm theodore hornsby!
I don't need to put my trust in anyone.
I'm the american success story incarnate.
And nobody will stop me.
Not god, not luther,
And certainly not you and this measly little guilt trip.
Th-- the end.
[ engine starts ]
[ wheelchair whirring ]
Choppy computerized voice: Hello, theodore.
What a lovely family you have.
I know you were angry when I started dennison snacks.
You gave one hell of a fight in the beginning.
But here we are at the end of the line.
I spend a lot of time in my caymans villa
With a crushing realization that our rivalry consumed us.
But mostly...
I just miss my friend.
Theodore, no.
Please no. Stop.
Stop. Stop.
I can't -- can't breathe.
Help. Someone please sandwich.
Help. Jerry.
Theodore, please stop.
Jerry. George.
Seinfeld.
[ panting ]
[ whimsical music plays ]
♪♪
Chirp.