The 3 Letters in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Every once in a while, you fall in love with a movie. It is magnanimous, and you fall short of words to explain how it makes you feel.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has been one such movie for me. It takes me into the world of Mildred Hayes, a mother who is grieving over the rape and murder of her teenage daughter. Angered by the lack of progress in finding the convict, Mildred rents three billboards and posts three messages on them.
I won’t get into the details of the movie and the characters, but I wanted to highlight the three letters that the chief officer, Bill Willoughby, writes before killing himself. I am not analysing the messages as well; it’s something I want people to read. They are just beautiful.
Letter 1
Chief Willoughby to his beloved wife, Anne:
My Darling Anne,
There’s a longer letter in the dresser drawer I’ve been writing for the last week or so, that one covers us, and my memories of us, and how much I’ve always loved you. This one just covers tonight, and more importantly, today. Tonight I have gone out to the horses to end it. I cannot say sorry for the act itself, although I know for a short time you will be angry at me, or even hate me for it. Please don’t. This is not a case of, I came in this world alone and I’m goin’ out of it alone, or anything dumb like that. I did not come in this world alone, my mom was there. And I am not goin’ out of it alone, ’cause you were there, drunk on the couch, making Oscar Wilde cock jokes. No, this is a case, in some senses, of bravery. Not the bravery of facing a bullet down. The next few months of pain would be far harder than that small flash. No, it’s the bravery of weighing up the next few months of still being with you, still waking up with you, of playing with the kids… Against the next few months of seeing in your eyes how much my pain is killing you. How my weakened body, as it ebbs away, and you tend to it, are your final and lasting memories of me. I won’t have that. Your final memories of me will be us at the riverside, and that dumb fishing game, which I think they cheated at. And me inside of you, and you on top of me… And barely a fleeting thought, of the darkness yet to come. That was the best Anne. A whole day of not thinking about it. Dwell on this day baby, ’cause it was the best day of my life. Kiss the girls for me, and know that I’ve always loved you… And maybe I’ll see ya again if there’s another place, and if there ain’t… Well, it’s been heaven knowing you.
Your Boy, Bill
Letter 2
Chief Willoughby to Mildred Hayes:
Dear Mildred,
Dead Man Willoughby here. Firstly, I wanted to apologize for dyin’ without catchin’ your daughter’s killer. It’s a source of great pain to me and it would break my heart to think you thought I didn’t care. ’Cause I did care. There are just some cases, where you never catch a break. Then 5 years down the line, some guy hears some other guy braggin’ about it in a barroom or a jail cell. The whole thing is wrapped up through sheer stupidity. I hope that might be true for Angela, I really do. Second, I got to admit Mildred, the billboards were a great fucking idea. They were like a chess move. And although they had absolutely nothing to do with my dyin’… I am sure that everyone in town will assume that they did. Which is why, for Willoughby’s counter-move, I decided to pay the next month’s rent on ’em. I thought it’d be funny, you having to defend them a whole ‘nother month after they’ve stuck me in the ground. The joke is on you Mildred. Ha ha, and I hope they do not kill you. So good luck with all that, and good luck with everything else too. I hope and I pray that you get him.
Letter 3
Chief Willoughby to Dixon:
Jason,
Willoughby here. I’m dead now, sorry about that. There’s something I wanted to say to you that I never really said when I was alive. I think you’ve got the makings of being a really good cop, Jason, and you know why? Because, deep down, you’re a decent man. I know you don’t think I think that, but I do, dipshit. I do think you’re too angry though, and I know it’s all since your dad died and you had to go look after your mom and all, but as long as you hold on to so much hate, then I don’t think you’re ever going to become, what I know you want to become — a detective. ’Cause you know what you need to become a detective? And I know you’re gonna wince when I say this, but what you need to become a detective is love.
Because through love comes calm, and through calm comes thought. And you need thought to detect stuff sometimes, Jason. It’s kinda all you need. You don’t even need a gun. And you definitely don’t need hate. Hate never solved nothing, but calm did. And thought did. Try it. Try it just for a change. No one’ll think you’re gay. And if they do, arrest ’em for homophobia! Won’t they be surprised! Good luck to you, Jason. You’re a decent man, and yeah you’ve had a run of bad luck, but things are gonna change for you. I can feel it.
It’s an incredible movie with a great story, excellent plot and fantastic acting. I hope you liked reading these letters and if you get a chance, do watch the film and let me know your view on it :)
