Nutshell (spoilers)

He was confused because she wasn't jealous of him. Then she got pregnant and mean. Then she had a dream where she tried to run away but he was always there to stop her. Then, to keep her from running away he tied a cowbell to her foot, but she got away anyway. Then he tied her to the stove. She lights him on fire and takes off with the boy, gives him away to sister in law. He, meanwhile, wakes up from the fire and runs to find wife and son gone. He runs down to Mexico and realizes how bad everything got and stays for 4 years. Then the movie starts. That's what he describes in the booth, right?

I wouldn't have done the movie any differently.