3. The film opens with Mildred Hayes calling on the offices of the Ebbing Advertising Company to rent out three billboards along Drinkwater Road outside Ebbing, Missouri. What is her purpose in renting the billboards?
From Quiz Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Answer:
To put pressure on the local police
At first, Red Welby down at the Ebbing Advertising Company thinks that Mildred is crazy for her interest in the billboards, as no one drives down Drinkwater Road anymore since the freeway was installed. But he quickly understands after he reads what Mildred wants printed on the billboards. "I guess you're Angela Hayes' mother," he says as he reads the slips of paper that Mildred hands to him. "That's right," Mildred replies. "I'm Angela Hayes' mother."
After the billboards go up, Mildred appears on the local news to describe her motivation. "My daughter, Angela, was abducted, raped and murdered seven months ago, along this self-same stretch of road here," she explains. "It seems to me the local police department is too busy going around torturing black folks to be bothered doing anything about solving actual crime. I thought these here billboards might concentrate their minds some." Deputy Dixon and Chief Bill Willoughby are watching the broadcast at home, stony-faced. "I don't know what the police are doing, to be honest with you," Mildred continues. "I do know that my daughter's burnt body is lying six feet underground, and all they're doing is eating Krispy Kremes and busting eight-year-olds for skating around parking lots." When the reporter asked her why she decided to single out Chief Willoughby, Mildred replies, "He's the head of them, ain't he? The buck's gotta stop somewhere."
The billboards read: "Raped while dying", "And still no arrests?", and "How come, Chief Willoughby?" Needless to say, the local police are less than thrilled.