1. What did you enjoy/despise about Ivory “Bones” Arcineaux’s character?

2. Did Hampton become a better man because of his relationship with Bones? Why or why not?

3. Which secret in the story was the most compelling? Why?

4. How did you feel about Pearl Lee Baptiste and her longterm affair with Trotter Delacroix?

5. Do you think Trotter was responsible for killing Toussaint Baptiste?

6. Was Mr. Ransom Delacroix responsible for the death of Hampton’s father?

7. Was Magnolia justified in killing the priest, Father O’Leary? Why or why not?

8. What did you think of plantation justice after learning about Sadie’s body planted underneath Pearl Lee’s floor?

9. Did Pearl Lee treasure her love for Trotter more than the opportunity to start over with Hampton and Magnolia?

10. What did you think of Bones’s plan to murder several men, implicate Hampton, then get Detective Mouton to help carry it out?

11. Why do you think Odessa, Janeen, and Joyce all kept quiet about the priest?

12. Should Hampton have taken Magnolia away from the plantation after his release from prison?

13. Do you believe that Bones had to die in order for Hampton’s family to survive?

14. What was behind Detective Cunningham’s decision to let Hampton go?

15. Is protecting some secrets worth dying for? Are any worth killing to keep?

16. If you were fi lming this movie, who would you cast as Hampton, Magnolia, Bones, Pearl Lee, Toussaint, Detective Mouton, and Trotter?