Introduction to Place of Bones
Place of Bones is a compelling Western drama and thriller directed by Audrey Cummings. It narrates the harrowing story of a mother and her daughter who survive in isolation on a desolate ranch in the rugged American West. Their lives are marked by hardship, resilience, and dark secrets that unravel as the story progresses.
Living in Isolation
Hester, the daughter, frequently visits her father’s grave on a nearby hill, embodying her hope and determination amidst scarce resources. The mother, Pandora, believes divine intervention will sustain them, trusting that God’s miracles will provide in their time of dire need. Their remote location, 95 miles from the nearest town, amplifies their vulnerability and dependence on faith.
The Unexpected Stranger
Their quiet existence takes a turn when they discover a severely injured man on their property. They rescue him and bring him into their home, uncertain whether he is friend or foe. This stranger, later revealed as Calhoun, is a bandit fleeing from a recent bank robbery. Pandora tends to his gunshot wound, and tensions rise as they confront the danger posed by outlaws and Calhoun’s fragile state.
The Stranger’s Identity and Past
Calhoun admits to stealing money from the Union Bank, explaining that he was driven to desperation during tough times. His story reveals that his accomplice, Bob Kenny, was shot during their escape, leaving Calhoun as the sole survivor. As Pandora and Hester probe his past, they learn that Calhoun’s actions have put him in the crosshairs of vengeful enemies, including Bear John, a notorious and ruthless bandit brother seeking retribution for his brother’s death.
Defending the Ranch
Despite Calhoun’s pleas to flee, Pandora and Hester resolve to defend their home rather than abandon it. Pandora recounts their history, emphasizing their deep attachment to the ranch and its memories. They prepare to face the approaching outlaws, utilizing old firearms and strategic planning. Hester bravely ventures into the desert to gather weapons, demonstrating her courage and resourcefulness.
The Confrontation with Outlaws
Hester encounters and kills one of the outlaw gang members, Cherokee Jack, in a desperate self-defense. The gang, led by Bear John, arrives at the ranch seeking vengeance. A fierce firefight ensues, resulting in Pandora locking herself in a smokehouse as chaos unfolds. Pandora and Hester fight valiantly, with Pandora ultimately injuring and confronting the outlaws. During the chaos, Pandora is assaulted but manages to defend herself and her daughter.
Climactic Moments and Pandora’s Last Stand
The outlaws threaten Pandora, demanding money, but she cleverly threatens to burn the cash, risking her life to protect her family. Calhoun unexpectedly stabs Bear John with a pitchfork, turning the tide in their favor. The gang member is incapacitated, and Pandora’s quick thinking helps them survive the attack. Throughout this ordeal, Pandora’s resilience and strategic thinking shine, as she refuses to surrender to the violence and chaos.
Why Pandora Killed Calhoun
Calhoun, fatally wounded, recognizes that he has little chance of survival. Pandora expresses her gratitude for his brave act in protecting them. In a surprising turn, Calhoun requests to be buried with his severed leg, believing it would prevent him from entering Hades. Pandora, however, reveals she did not keep his leg; instead, she had already prepared the meat from his amputated limb for their sustenance. This grim revelation underscores their desperate need for survival.
The Final Act of Survival
With Calhoun’s death, Pandora and Hester confront the brutal reality of their existence. Pandora, in a shocking act of necessity, slits Calhoun’s throat, ensuring he cannot pose a threat. They dismember his and the outlaws’ bodies, storing the remains in the smokehouse, symbolizing their grim means of survival. Hester buries Calhoun’s severed head in the ground as a macabre tribute, reflecting the brutal circumstances they face.
Are Pandora and Hester Cannibals?
The story’s conclusion reveals that Pandora and Hester have resorted to cannibalism, a desperate measure for survival in their isolated existence. Pandora’s overprotectiveness and dark past—marked by her father’s oppressive control, his attempt to kill her husband, and her subsequent acts of violence—highlight her complex, disturbed character. Their reliance on consuming their own cattle and horses, and ultimately human flesh, underscores their tragic descent into survival at any cost.
Pandora’s Overprotectiveness and Dark Past
Pandora’s history reveals a life marred by violence and loss. Her father, who disapproved of her love and aspirations, once hired a killer to assassinate her husband, witnessing her act of deadly self-defense. Years later, after her husband’s death, she and her daughter have endured years of hardship, consuming their livestock while awaiting divine providence. Pandora’s overprotectiveness of Hester stems from her fear of abandonment, reminiscent of her father’s control and violence.
The Future of Hester and Pandora
Hester’s curiosity and desire to explore the outside world threaten Pandora’s control. Pandora’s actions suggest she might mirror her father’s oppressive tendencies, or her fear of losing her daughter entirely. The story leaves open the possibility that Hester could break free from her mother’s grip and seek a different life, raising questions about survival, morality, and the bonds between mother and child.