the Ghost Coon, which seemingly disappears every time a dog trees it. Billy stays true to his morals and refuses. After goading him, however, his Grandpa is provoked to accept. The boys and dogs hunt after the Ghost Coon, which seemingly disappears after being treed. However, Billy investigates a nearby shed and finds the coon hidden in the roof. The Pritchard Boys' hound dog, Old Blue, breaks free from the boys' bondage and pursues them. He gets into a scuffle with Old Dan, who overpowers Old Blue. As Billy climbs down to deescalate the fight, Rubin attempts to kill Old Dan with his hatchet. As Billy arrives, Rubin trips and falls on the axe. Rainie runs off to get help. Billy sees that Rubin is already dead. Ridden with guilt, Billy vows that he is done hunting. Grandpa persuades Billy to enter Old Dan and Little Ann in a championship raccoon hunt in the Ozarks. Billy decides to accept, agreeing with Grandpa that Dan and Ann deserve to prove their worth. At the Coon Hunt, Billy, along with his father and grandfather, reunite with the sheriff from Tahlequah, who is collecting for the hunt's prize money and gold cup. During the hunt a thunderstorm strikes. Grandpa injures his leg after falling down a hill. Billy wins the hunt, and presents the prize money to his mother, and can finally afford to move from the Ozarks to Tulsa, something his mother always wanted for the family. During a hunting night, the dogs are attacked by a mountain lion. Billy scares it off with his hatchet. Little Ann survives, but Old Dan is mortally wounded. The entire family mourns for the loss of Old Dan. A few days later, Billy finds Little Ann dead at Old Dan's grave, having succumbed to her grief. His father says that his dogs served their purpose as an answer to his mother's prayers for the move. As the family packs for the move, Billy visits his dogs' graves one last time. He sees that a red fern has grown between their graves. As they move, older Billy narrates his desire to return to the Ozarks, "where the red fern grows". Cast Joseph Ashton as Billy Coleman Dave Matthews as Will Coleman Renee Faia as Jenny Coleman Mac Davis as Hod Bellington Kris Kristofferson as Older Billy Coleman Ned Beatty as Sheriff Abe McConnell Dabney Coleman as