Getting Married in Buffalo Jump (1990) - full transcript

[bagpipe music playing]

-Why have you told
everyone that I'm

leaving or selling the ranch?

-I don't want you wasting
your life here in this--

so I won't, Sophie, I won't.

-Dad left me the
ranch and I'm staying.

You know that, Mother.

-Let's not now,
not today, please.

-High heels-- high heeled shoes.

I came here with--
with one, only

one pair, bridesmaid shoes.



The mice made a bed in them
first season, first year.

30 years later, I'm still
standing here in flat shoes,

washing dishes.

And every other girl in the
country who looks like you

can at least expect to
come away from university

with a man who can
buy her a dishwasher.

Will you put away your
father's damn books?

You don't know [inaudible]
from [inaudible].

-Mother, please go
in and lie down.

I can do these dishes myself.

This guy is late, and
I've got lots of time.

-You know perfectly well
it's not the dishes.

And don't pretend it is.

Fine.



Your father had dreams,
charming in a man.

Thank the good Lord
for that bit of money

my grandfather left me.

Ian was a loon to
leave you this ranch.

And you're a worse
loon not to sell it.

You can't afford to hire
someone to work you don't know.

-Well, I can't do it alone,
and I am going to do it.

So his mother says he's
a very good worker,

and he knows the farm.

-Well, this young buck,
Alexander Bresnyachuk,

as it so happens, is--

[knocking]

-Come in.

Hi.

-Hi.

-I'll just carry
on with the dishes.

-So I, uh, [clears throat]
well, I suppose

your mother's told you
everything about the job.

And now it's not a
lot of money, I know.

But, um-- didn't we go
to high school together?

-Yeah.

SOPHIE: Well, it's
been a long time,

I mean, since, what, high
school, I guess, huh?

-Yeah.

SOPHIE: 15 years?

About so.

-So is your mother
moving to Vancouver?

-Yeah.

She's got a sister
there, so she's

going to go live with her, and--

-I'm sorry about your dad.

-Yeah, thanks.

The uh, ranch ends
in that valley

there, and past that
point it's the, uh--

-Burley's.

-Burley's land, thank you.

-So what'd you do in Toronto?

-I was a lounge act.

-A what?

-I played piano
in bars, you know?

"Don't Cry For Me, Argentina,"
"Moon River," like that.

-Really?

SOPHIE: Yeah, the fences
are all in bad shape,

but we sold off the cow calf
operation when Dad got sick

and kind of let them go.

-It's good land for cow calf.

-Well, horses, I was thinking.

So I understand you
were away for a while.

-Yep.

-But you've moved back, I guess.

-Yeah.

-For good?

-Oh, I don't know.

Four men in one
home's pretty tough.

-Try two women.

AUCTIONEER: Seven
in the ring, boys.

Same old, same old.

All right.

Good.

You bet.

You bet they're
good steers, boys.

Eight quarter and a half.

Eight quarter.

[auctioneering]

-Don Herman bought some of
your father's breeding stock.

Misses, is it?

-Miss.

RANCHER: Miss.

[auctioneering]

-You're not interested
in anything here.

It's pretty basic,
but uh, I think

you should have a look
at Sherlake Cross.

It's real good stock.

-I don't know.

My instinct's still horses.

I only want to live and
work with things I love.

-That's pretty sentimental.

Horses aren't very practical.

-SOPHIE: You never get
used to them, do you?

-Beg your pardon.

-Sunsets.

-Maybe you would if
she'd ever repeat one.

-So I gather you don't think
horses make sense for me.

-Oh, they're pricey, Sophie.

I mean, you could
breed quarter horses,

but it'd cost you enough.

You got some pain for
it in three years.

-Three years?

Boy have I been
thinking day to day.

-Why are you
staying here anyway?

-Because I don't want to spend
my life in some smoky bar

wearing a sequin top
playing "New York, New

York" for potential heart
attack victims, that's why.

[chuckles]

Who was it you dated
in high school, Alex?

Alex?

[dog barking]

We're at my place.

-God, I guess I was sleeping.

-I guess.

-Did I snore?

-Well-- I'm only kidding.

You didn't.

Do you want a cup of coffee?

-No.

Thanks.

-If you wanted to, you could
take the truck from here,

get an early start
in the morning.

-OK.

[dog barking]

[car starting]

-Come here.

Come here.

Hi, girl.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, you're a big, stupid girl.

Yes, you are.

-And now we're willows,
weeping willows.

Oh, boo-hoo.

Waving in the wind.

Nothing's giving our bodies.

Waving--

-I must say, you ladies make
the most graceful forest.

[giggling]

-And waving.

And now we're strong maples.

Reach up.

Very, very strong,
and very, very tall.

-So how was the cattle auction?

-Lots of cattle.

-Lots of Alexander Bresnyachuk?

-Oh, I just remembered what
I hate about small towns.

-They sure love women like you.

I went to see a [inaudible], OK?

-You want to see one every day?

-Ew, a bit transparent.

-There are a few things
you don't know about Mr. B.

-Gossip's so
attractive in a man.

-Fine, fine, OK, no problem.

-I suppose you and,
um, uh, Alex have,

uh, plans for Saturday night.

-No, of course we don't.

Great.

Pick you up at the usual time?

-Ab!

-And since you're
not interested,

I promise not to tell you
anything more about Alex--

like why he left.

But I'll bet you wish I had.

-Lemonade?

-Yeah.

-Thompson just delivered
the irrigation pipes.

-Did you check them off
against the invoice?

-No, but I'm sure they're fine.

-Mm-hm.

Well, that rig's
coming in Saturday,

so we should probably
hire a couple bay

workers through Sunday.

-Yeah, OK.

Well, what about
your brother, Luke?

No.

-Take your eye off
him for a second,

he's got his nose in a book.

So uh, I guess you'd
be going out Saturday?

-No.

-OK.

Good.

-United Church Bridge Club give
prizes, like the little bars

of soap with-- with
beads and stuff

like that stuck
in them with pins.

Nice to look at, but
you can't dust them.

[laughs] Sniff that one.

Five diamonds, game.

-Well, I'm off.

Bye-bye.

WOMAN: Where are you going?

-Into town, a movie.

WOMAN: With Robert?

-Why is there only one
phone in this house?

Robert, hi.

Hi.

Yeah, I'm glad I caught you.

Listen, uh, oh, you
won't believe this.

Something really stupid's come
up, and I can't, um, yeah.

I know.

Really, I'm really sorry
about this, but it-- no, stop.

Of course I am.

I just-- I forgot I
had this prior thing.

You know, I can't-- yes,
quite frankly, with Alex.

Well, sorry.

You too.

-Oh, Sophie, no.

-No what?

-Well, I hardly think
it's appropriate.

-Appropriate?

-Well, I don't see what
you're going to talk about.

He's not educated.

Well, I'm only thinking of you.

Now you know I don't care, but
other people-- I mean, he's--

-Ukrainian.

-We're going to a
movie, not breeding.

-Well, I for one
think that Robert

is quite the gorgeous thing.

-Well, he's free tonight.

-Your father--

-No fair.

[car honking]

WOMAN: He's no manners.

-Don't wait up.

[door closing]

[music playing]

SOPHIE: You know, I worked here
my last year of high school.

God, I thought if I ever
saw another grilled cheese--

oh, it's uh, oh-- Walter, hi.

-Hey, Soph.

Alex.

-Walter, you hated it here.

-Oh, well, you know, I'm
supporting three kids now

and big Ruth McIntyre, so's
I guess I better like it.

-Oh, wow.

-Besides I, in part,
own the place now.

-Do you?

-In part.

So what can I get you?

-Uh--

ALEX: I'll have a burger with
gravy on the fries and a milk,

please.

-You got it.

-Oh, you don't sell the
rice pudding, do you?

-You bet.

We sure do.
SOPHIE: Great.

I'll have that

WAITER: Drink?

SOPHIE: Pineapple shake.

No, I won't.

I'll have soda water.

WAITER: That's good.

-Ooh, look at this.

Do you have a quarter?

-Yeah.

"Brown-Eyed Girl." "He's so.

Fine," "You Can't Hurry Love."

Oh, oh-- do you remember this?

[music playing]

-This is-- um--

-No.

-No, after you.

-Well, you know Robert
Marcovich at the high school?

-I know you're seeing him, yeah.

SOPHIE: Well--

-Jerk date.

-Well, then it's some kind
of guy competition thing,

because--

-No.

Sophie, um, there's something
I've been thinking about,

something I want to
talk to you about.

-Hm?

-You know I want a place, right?

I want a ranch, and uh--

SOPHIE: Great, thanks.

--[clears throat]
Well, anyway, I uh,

I think you got what
it takes for ranching.

I really do.

I guess I didn't for
a while there, though.

-Really?

Thank you.

-So what it means is that
we both got something

that the other one wants now.

So you think I'm, uh, what?

-You mean what do
I think of you?

-OK.

-I think you have just about the
nicest forearms I've ever seen.

[chuckles]

-Well, I'm not sure
quite what you mean.

-You want to stay on your
father's place, right?

-Mm-hm.

-Well, I want to stay on
your father's place, too.

-I'm sorry, you've
lost me completely.

Can we just go back a bit?

-I'm proposing that
we get married.

No, I'm serious.

You know, we could have a long
engagement till you could,

uh-- till you could see that--

-See what?

-That we could do it,
that we can make it work.

See, I think I'd
make a good husband.

And I'm pretty sure
you'd make a good wife.

This would be business.

[car starting]

Did I insult you?

-Look, can't we
just sleep together

like reasonable adults?

-Sophie, I'm 29, OK?

You're even older
a little, right?

Like a year.

I mean, you must
want to have kids.

Well, I do too.

I want to have kids and a wife.

SOPHIE: Put an ad in the paper.

-But this is done.

-Believe me, I know.

-I mean, it's how it
happened for my mother.

-I know, Alex.
I've traveled.

I've been to India.

I've seen the results of a
lot of arranged marriages.

-And they didn't work out?

-No, actually, a lot of
them were fine, but--

-Look, I know I
could do something

with that place of yours.

-Why don't you just buy it then?

-Because every rancher
should have a wife.

-But should ever
wife have a rancher?

-OK.

All right, you're just-- you're
too smart for me, I guess.

-I'm sorry.

I just don't know how
to take this seriously.

-Think about it some more.

-No.

Alex, no.

[cars honking]

[piano playing]

-And running, and
running, and stop.

What do you see?

Why, it's a beautiful flower.

And you pick it and smell.

Wonderful.

Now use your scarves, and
lightly, lightly on your toes.

But where is our prince?

Where could he be?

Wasn't he here just moments ago?

Our hearts are so
big and so full.

And we are swoon and fall.

[bell ringing]

Very nice, ladies.

You may go.

That's all for today, Soph.

-OK, we'll see you Wednesday.

-Bit of a traffic jam
in town the other night?

-This is not making you
more attractive to me.

-Look, Sophie,
great women simply

do not walk into this town.

You're looking at a man in
pain here-- dumped, rejected.

For what?

Some bo-hunk.

Sorry.

Anyway, I gather
things didn't work

out too well the other night.

I hope.

I hope.

No melancholy baby for me?

Guess not.

It's not that he's a creep.

I mean, I'm a creep
myself sometimes.

-Oh, say it isn't true.

-As long as you know what
these Ukrainian guys are after,

with the exception
of myself, of course.

-Meaning what?

He's after my ranch, but you,
you're just after my body,

right?

ALEX: You been
thinking about it?

SOPHIE: Alex, I don't know you.

ALEX: First thing after I
left, I worked in Le Duke.

Then I got to thinking, what--
what the hell are you doing?

You know, you're 22.

You-- so I finished school.

I went back for three months.

-Finished in three months?

-Yeah.

Well, all the
other kids were 15,

and my knees didn't
hardly fit under the desk.

So I wasn't going
to hang around.

And then I went north
and worked the rigs.

It's a miserable occupation.

When the booze and the fighting
kind of emptied me out,

I hitched home.

-It's really not sex, is it?

-Sophie, all I'm saying
is I think us marrying

is your best shot
at a working ranch.

That's straight goods.

-So you're looking at me
and you're thinking cattle.

That's terrific.

All right, Alex,
how about we simply

court in a traditional
time-honored fashion, OK?

We have a quick bout of
nude wrestling followed

by confessions of doubt
leading to mutual rejection,

and then if by some miracle
it is true love, we cry,

we say we're sorry, and
we wrestle some more.

I'm not marrying a man
I don't know, Alex.

Coming, Alex?

Listen, Alex, If we have sex,
it won't make me not nice.

-Hey, one thing that
I think, that I feel,

there's probably a whole
lot of that tough city

girl crap you'd do well to dump.

[piano playing]

[crying]

-That song-- I'm sorry.

-No.

No.

It's just that I've
never barbecued before.

He had always-- your
father cooked the meat.

[crying]

-It's OK.

-I don't even like
barbecued food.

It's all burnt and dirty.

When I get to Vancouver,
I'm going to date.

[chuckles]

I'm serious.

Don't laugh.

-OK, that's fine.

-Tell me about a party
you've been to, how

ritzy, sophisticated, all
those gorgeous university men.

Was there a special one?

[inaudible] letters
that first year.

-A bit nervous I like
Alex, are you, Mother?

-Just don't forget your dream.

-Whose dream?

-Oh.

Look what you made me do.

Burnt the burgers.

-Listen, I'll tell
you, I finally

figured out who those university
men wanted to date, versions

of themselves with
long hair and tits.

-Oh, Sophie.

[laughing]

-You-- just tell me that
you're going to sell this

place and have yourself a life.

Oh, no.

-Ooh. [chuckles]

-Are you OK?

-Yeah.

[sighs] You win.

-Beg your pardon.

-OK.

All right.

-Um, what do you mean?

-I mean, OK.

-You're saying yes?

OK, well, that's, uh--
[sniffs] that's great.

Uh, listen, we're
gonna have to-- gonna

have to call Thompson's
in the morning

about-- about this motor.

-OK, good.

-OK, good.

-I'm going to wake up Mom.

-OK.

VERA: I knew it.

I knew it.

I knew it.

No!

-Mother.

-She's artistic.

She's educated.

What do you have to say about
Mr. Beethoven or Mr. Mozart?

Sophie, you've
never been a fool.

Don't tell me now
that you're getting

married just on the
basis of-- of what?

Sex, I suppose.

-No, it isn't sex, believe me.

-My parents--

-Your parents are Ukrainian.

-Whoa, Mother.

-Stop that.

I don't believe
what I'm hearing.

And if your father were here--

-You know he wanted me to stay.

-Your father did not
give you this ranch

just so that you
could give it away.

-I'm not.

We can make it work.

Between us, this is a business.

It's a partnership.

You understand that.

-Understand?

Understand?

Why should I understand,
Mr. Bresnyachuk?

What is there to understand?

You should have been
married a long time ago,

and you know that I sure
enough understand that.

-What is that supposed to mean?

I wasn't going to say it.

I wasn't going to-- I was not.

-Alex?

-She's talking about Bennie.

-You tell my daughter the truth.

-He's my son.

-With whom, Alex?

-Annie Malone.

-I knew Annie.

-That's why I left.

-I see.

You got her pregnant
and you left.

Is that it?

So where's your son now?

-He's in, uh, Marcovich's class.

-Why didn't you just tell me?

Why didn't you just
tell me the truth?

I wouldn't have-- [sighs]
Fine, I'm so tired.

Alex, tomorrow, this little
arrangement between us

has not happened, all right?

You work here.

I pay you, and that's it.

Good night.

Go.

-Sophie, you just--

-Don't.

It's not sexual.

I knew the first
moment he said it.

If I wanted to keep the
ranch, I needed his help.

And I find--

VERA: You could be a concert
pianist and travel the world.

-No, I can't.

Mother, I don't have it.

Whatever it takes,
it's not there.

And I am not here because
I think that I failed.

I am here because this
is where I want to be.

And this little incident
isn't going to force me away.

I'm not going to
make that mistake.

-I can finish up the season.

-What?

-I decided I'd better go.

-Yeah, fine.

-Listen, Sophie,
I shouldn't have--

-Look if you think it's a
threat, it's no threat, OK?

Just so you know.

-No, I wasn't thinking that.

I just thought that, uh--

[car honking]

-I'm going to lunch.

I'll be back by 3:00.

[music playing]

ANNOUNCER: Thank
you, rodeo fans.

And now here's a young man
making his first appearance

in a long, long time,
Mr. Alex Bresnyachuk.

[horn]

[cheering]

ANNOUNCER: Thank you,
ladies and gentlemen.

He turned in a time of 4.94.

We'll move on down
now to the arena.

-Hey, Sophie, listen,
you want to take it easy.

He's gonna be pretty
feisty if hasn't been rode.

-Ridden.

And I've not been neglecting
my horse, thank you.

I'm OK.

Ma?

Ma?

-No, no.

Now listen, doctor--
you know Dr. Morrison?

He's right here.

Says you just have
a mild concussion.

But you're to stay put.

-Did you get my horse?

VERA: Alex got the horse.

-Did he get the horse?

VERA: Yeah, the horse is fine.

OK, now you just rest.

-Just give me--

VERA: Yeah, we'll
look after him.

[music playing]

-Annie?

-Yeah?

-Hi.

I'm Sophie Ware.

Mind if I sit down?

-Take the load off.

Did you say you were
drinking, Sophie Ware?

Fizz, swing, something
with peach schnapps in it?

-Nothing, thanks.

-Who are you?

-We went to high school
together, uh, Livingston.

Do you remember?

Actually, I was a couple
grades ahead of you,

so-- but you know
Robert Marcovich, right?

He's the school principal.

Yeah, he said I
could find you here,

and I just would like to have
a talk with you, if that's OK.

-I'm going to the can.

Rob attacked me in
here, broke the mirror,

went after me with these
shards, fingers all bloody.

I decked him.

Got some jackass
beating up on you?

-Fell off my horse.

ANNIE: Better than saying
you walked into a cupboard.

Well, what?

-Well, it's rather complicated.

I'm involved with
someone you used

to date-- Alexander Bresnyachuk.

-Alex never beat up on
a woman in his life.

-What?

No.

No, I really, I-- I really
did fall off my horse.

-Here, hold this.

I'm gonna do what
I came here for.

I can still hear you.

-Um, well, I just found out.

He just told me about you.

ANNIE: What about me?

-About Bennie.

ANNIE: Yeah, there's a Bennie.

-Well, I thought we could
straighten things out.

You know, I just want
to do the right thing.

ANNIE: Yeah, well,
you and Alex, too, eh?

Sends me these checks,
$20, $80, $130.

Keep it.

I still got three.

-He's back, you know.

He's here now.

-I got a man, honey.

What?

You writing a book?

-I remember you, Miss
Sucky Piano at school.

-Can I buy you another beer?

ANNIE: Sure.

Never refuse a beer.

[music playing]

-You're telling me
you're too good for him?

-I just hate to think that he
walked out on you, you know,

like it was your problem.

WOMAN: Get me a drink will you?

-I booted him out.

[train bells ringing]

There he is, nice,
big, popular white kid,

and an Indian girl
up and gets herself

pregnant and ruins his life.

Think I wanted that hanging
over my head, in this town?

Screw that.

I raised that kid alone.

It was fine, just fine.

-Really?

-Not easy, fine.

ALEX: Hi.

-So how you doing, Sasha?

-Fine, Annie.

-So I heard you got married.

-He's away a lot,
long haul driver.

-So how's Bennie?

-Good.

Why don't you just talk to him?

He's funny.

-So I guess he doesn't
like me too much.

-Why?

Because you left
him alone with me?

That's kind of insulting.

Trish.

TRISH: Yeah?

-Sasha's buying.

We'll start with
three double whiskeys.

[laughs]

-Why didn't you just tell me?

-Ow.

It wasn't my story
you wanted to hear.

It was hers.

-So now I suppose it's my turn.

-For what?

-Well, I have a ranch.

And I thought I might
marry myself a ranch hand

just so I didn't
have to pay him.

Just a business deal-- you
think you're interested?

-Yeah.

Come on.

VERA: Well, all I know is that
she's promised me she'd sell.

And this is the last
I've heard from Herman.

I caught him forking
out the sign,

just plucking it right out.

Can you imagine?

You assume quite a lot,
young man, you really do.

-I'm sorry.

I guess I thought you'd talk.

-Mother, I've changed my mind.

-No you haven't.

No, no.

Well, I guess we
could just leave

it there as a joke for Eleanor.

-Eleanor?

You're kidding.

-Oh, did I forget to
tell you, she called.

Yeah, she called, and
I invited her here

next weekend for a few days.

That girl will lighten the
mood around here a wee bit.

-And Eleanor just happens
to be a real estate agent,

am I right?

-Kissing outside the
bar on Main Street.

You're a disgrace.

-[speaking ukranian]

-First time I've gotten this
far at meeting the parents.

-They were real
happy when I called.

They think I'm marrying
you for your money.

-You are.

-You'll like my mother.

-Not your father?

-She walks to me, all
blonde, red dress.

I am [inaudible].

She is traitor.

And uh, she comes to me and
she says, Rudolph, kiss me.

Well, I didn't know
mama then, Sophie.

But our bloody men,
[inaudible], I kiss her.

-Then he shoots her.

[laughing]

-Oh, Papa.

He makes it up.

You turn yourself into a joke.

MAMA BRESNYACHUK: Alex.

-No, it's all right, Mama.

It's OK.

I-- I forgive them.

But you made a sour note, Sasha.

And it's all for you.

So we talk marriage.

To Rudy, the oldest, I have
to leave all land, yeah?

Sasha, money.

And the Luke, nothing.

[laughing]

Nothing.

-Negotiations later, Papa.

Is it OK, Sophia?

-Oh, yes, of course.

-Your father, Sophia,
is a wonderful man.

Not everybody says it.

He comes here from
city, Mr. Green Acres.

-(SINGING) You are
my wife, goodbyes.

-What do you say,
Sophia, that Alexander

Bresnyachuk is a good
looking boy, yeah?

But your papa would
look at him and say,

that one is a good worker.

-Yes, like buying a horse.

-Yeah, good, very good.

Your mama is--

-I think we should be leaving.

-OK.

-Walk with me.

Sasha.

-Because he has a
grandson he does not know,

it's so hard for
Papa to forgive him.

I thank God for you, Sophia.

-She's a modern girl, Papa.

She won't.

-No negotiation, no.

She's strong, you see.

She's smart.

It must be done.

-Well, it won't be done.

-Her mama, you tell her to come.

It's for her mama to decide.

-No, Papa, I won't.

-Don't be ashamed of us, Sasha.

Never be ashamed of your family.

It's me?

Me?

I embarrass?

This one at least
you marry first.

ALEX: He's been in
this country 40 years.

How the hell does he
hold onto the accent?

-What?

Alex, we're engaged.

Do you fine me attractive?

-I've never even dated
a girl with a diploma.

[laughing]

-Oh, Alex.

Are you sure you wouldn't like
a little coffee, tea, or--

-No.

Thank you.

Good night.

[honking]

-Eleanor.

[screaming]

-Oh, stop.

God.

Where is he?

Where is he?

-Oh no.

What did she tell you?
-Oh, you're getting married.

You're not getting married.
You're getting married.

-Oh, Mother, such
wonderful things.

-Oh, god.

-Eleanor.

-[grunts] How is he?

Wait a second.

Really shoulders?

-Yes, yes.

-Ooh.

Tall?

-Oh, stop.

-Oh, god.

I'm dying.
I'm dying.

I'm dying.
I'm dying.

Where is he?

Where is he?

What?

Are you hiding him?

-No.

-Come on, Soph.

Tell me, where is he, Sophie?

-He's, um--

-What?

-Why don't we go for
a little walk first?

-Wait, wait--

-We could--

-You want-- you want me to
go for a walk in my full

priced suede mod
[inaudible] pumps?

What, are you crazy?

We'll take my car.

-OK.

No, wait, wait.

Let's-- let's take my truck.

-What?

Truck?

What, are you crazy?

Oh.

[chuckling] So you own this too?

-Well, it's here.

-Oh.

Well, what do you
say we condo-ize?

No, no, no, really.

It's clear potential.

I mean, there's more
than enough room

here for an in-ground pool.

Oh my.

Now doesn't that just
break your heart?

-Yeah, it's beautiful.

-Beautiful.

Kind of makes you think of the
old girl stuck in this shack,

waiting for her
man to come home.

She's lighting her
little lamp, nobody

to talk to but entirely
unfashionable rats.

-No rats in Alberta?

-Oh, no.

Any man that sticks a woman
out here is definitely a rat.

[laughing]

-You look fabulous.

-Eh, it's a makeover.

Cost a small fortune.

-How's Arnold?

Well, let's just
say that there's,

without question,
rats in Ontario.

[laughs]

So listen, this fiance--

-Mm-hm.

-I do hope he's worth
the easy $300k plus you

could get for this place.

Oh, I'm sorry.

All right, so tell
me about him then.

-Well, he's not impossibly rich
or intellectually intimidating.

-What am I hearing?

-I think you're
hearing me mimic you.

He's straight
forward, clear-headed,

and I can be myself with him.

-Ah.

So is it, uh, L-O-V-E?

-No, it's business.

-Soph.

SOPHIE: You know, Eleanor,
listen, I've been here a while,

and I can't do the
shtick thing anymore,

you know, and I
don't even want to.

-Wait, so you think
this guy's going

to think that I'm
totally superficial?

-Yeah, he is.

[laughing]

Listen, I know how seductive
that whole urban cynical thing

is, but I got to tell
you, you know, I-- I

watch him ride his horse
or play with the dog,

and he is so under the surface.

-All right, all right,
I promise that I

will be on my best behavior.

All right?

So then, what, his disposable
income is under, what, 40?

So-- wait.

VERA: I've seen
it happen before.

The eldest inherits land,
and the younger boys

marry generations
of plain girls,

with handsome husbands
who are never at home.

ELEANOR: She's
not playing, Vera.

VERA: That makes it worse.

That boy just wants property.

-What are you thinking?

-I was just waiting
for my dad to come out

of the barn for lunch--
make him a toast

and meatloaf sandwich, maybe.

He never once
admitted he was dying.

ALEX: To you or to himself?

-You know how I knew?

Last month I was getting
ready to go back to Toronto

and I was packing
and running around,

and he asked me to come in, sit
down, and read his will to him.

Him sitting right
there, and I read,

"To my beautiful,
smart daughter, Sophie,

I leave this."

Oh, he could look
right into you.

But he wouldn't let me cry.

-Oops.

[chuckles]

Hi, Soph.

Eleanor Cruise.

How very nice to meet you, Alex.

-Hello, Eleanor.

So you're on holiday?

-Oh, I am.

Uh, and it is such
a beautiful spot,

except for the extreme
lack of shopping.

[laughing]

-No, there's not much of that.

Ah.

Sister of mercy, you are an
incredibly good looking man.

Listen, if its that easy, I
think I'm going to buy a farm

and get one too.

-Try some of this.

Did you tell her?

-Vera, no--

-Uh, Ellie thinks that,
you know, with the way

that, uh, city people are
buying up country properties

and with the
proximity of Calgary--

well, it's not too late.

-[sighs] Oh, hey, Soph, face it.

I mean, you won't
last two years here.

I know you.

Oh, I'm-- oh yeah, I
mean, he's gorgeous, sure.

But--

-I don't believe it.

Wait, no, Soph, come on.

Just hear me out, all right?

-I have to get to the school.

-He's not worth it.

[shouting]

-What happened?

-Grape vine has it he up and
hit Greg Burley in the fist

with his nose.

Go clean yourself up, and
I'll give you a ride home.

-Put a cold washcloth
against it, Ben.

You like him, don't you?

-I'm not sure it's safe to.

Yes, I do.

He's different.

He's a philosopher.

He's very good at math,
believe it or not.

And I teach math,
so there you go.

Come on, you guys, break it up.

-I can give him a
ride home, Robert.

So I hear you're
pretty good at math.

-Hate it.

-What do you like, baseball?

You know, I have this
ranch out on the old number

two, passed the bridge.

I'm always looking for
some good part time help.

-You a social worker or what?

-No, I'm not.

Why?

-You sound like one.

-How so?

-You're full of suck,
suck, suck, sucky.

Suck, suck, suck, sucky.

I know who you are, right?

With who.

People know, so
don't social work me.

-I just think your
father would really

like to talk to
you, Bennie, and I

know you'd like to talk to him.

Where'd you get this suck act?

Don't tell me what I think.

Because what I think is that
he looks like an asshole.

-Well, he isn't.

BENNIE: He's done
nothing from here

once, just hiked
up my mom's skirts.

It's got nothing to do with
me-- nothing, not a thing.

WOMAN: [non-english speech]

-Um, Annie.

ANNIE: Sophie.

-Hi.

ANNIE: Hi.

Bennie had a little
mishap at school, and--

-It's OK, Ma.

She's no social worker.

She's a friend.

-That's the nicest thing
I've heard all day.

-Third season we were here,
put the bales in damp.

Sun got hot, pressure built
up, the whole place blew,

like the crack of thunder.

There we were, back in debt.

Tea?

-Yeah, thanks.

-Why do men almost
pretend not to be vain?

Telling me your papa wants
to negotiate with me, Alex.

Brilliant girl, my
daughter, and with money.

Go anywhere, do
anything-- anything.

She's already had a
taste of that anything.

Sophie has performed solo on
stage at the Ontario Place.

She'll leave here,
end up with you

holding a wrench
and her chances.

-But didn't her father--

-Don't you dare
mention her father.

I'll negotiate.

You tell your papa
I'm prepared, and I

know exactly what
to protect and how.

-I'll let them know.

-You don't talk of
sense and business.

I watched you moving your spell.

A woman who loves a man who
doesn't love her is a fool.

A fool's ugly.

Now bring the thermos back to
the house when you're finished.

-He won't confront things.

He won't fight with me.

When did he leave you?

-I don't remember.

Yeah, I do.

Want a cheese slice?
That's what there is.

-Sure.

-He left town three
days before the birth.

Mama Bresnyachuk came to
the hospital to tell me.

brought me pierogies.

But I figured, he'll
be back, check it out,

make sure he's got all his
fingers and toes, his son.

I didn't care if he was in town,
I just wasn't marrying him.

Should have known
better, though.

When that boy is
gone, he's gone.

12 years and only checks.

First I thought it was his
weird papa sending them to me.

He sure is one
beautiful man, though.

-Between you and me, makes
the backs of my knees sweat.

[chuckles]

--[clears throat] So Vera
tells me she thinks you two

haven't been sleeping together.

[laughs]

Is that true?

It's kind of like the blond
holding out for the mink.

Do you love her?

Look, I sort of know psychology.

My friends call
me the lay shrink.

But this is a new one on me.

I mean, you could have just
about any woman you want,

right?

Look at me.

You hurt her, and I'll come
back here with a rusty spoon

and have your balls.

That girl saved my life.

I love her.

She's the only real
person I've ever met.

Well, I know you heard me.

-Come on.

-Eleanor, you did your best.

-We'll see you, Vera.

-Drive carefully.

-I'll miss you, Soph.

-Yeah, well--

-Soph, I'll miss you.

SOPHIE: Eleanor left early.

You know, as bad as
she must have seemed--

ALEX: No, I liked her.

SOPHIE: What?

Really?

ALEX: Yeah.

She's loyal.

She's tough.

SOPHIE: So tell me what goes on
at these negotiations exactly.

ALEX: Well, Papa will try
to-- it's so both parties

can marry as equals, but
it can get kind of hairy.

I don't know about your mother.
SOPHIE: Oh, hey, don't.

Secretly, she's thrilled.

I mean, picture it.

A few vodka toasts,
hugs, weeping,

an all-out frenzy of
competitive gift giving.

-Sophie, you know, it isn't--

-Oh, don't.

Don't worry, I'll behave.

I can't believe
we're doing this.

VERA: Well, the Scotts
are no fools either.

-Either?

-I've always quite
liked his mother.

-Welcome.

-Mr. Bresnyachuk.

-Welcome to Bresnyachuk farm.

VERA: It's lovely.

Of all the ways the wind doth
blow, I early love the West.

Do you like poetry,
Mr. Bresnyachuk?

-[sighs]

From that fence to that
tree, it's always mine

VERA: Fine piece of property.

Oh, it's beautiful, yes.

Some of machinery
goes with Alex.

That he earned over
several years hard at work.

-I certainly hope you've got
a better tractor than ours

that he can take.

-Um, no.

No, no, tractor is promised
to my brother, Alexei.

-Oh.

I'm sure we can
figure something out.

I'm ready.

MAMA BRESNYACHUK: Mrs. Ware
will have some more sherry.

-Oh, only a very little.

Thank you.

-Sasha is an electrical
mechanic, also plumber, furnace

man, refrigerator
fixer, and mud man.

-Oh, mud man.

Oh, I don't believe--

-Mud man is not correct?

On oil rig.

Oh, very, very smart-- grade 12.

-Certainly a good
farmer, which he

must have learned from
you, Mr. Bresnyachuk.

Done an excellent job for us.

-Sasha will be good father, too.

Is loving children.

-And of course, our
Sophie was an only child.

-Which I think they
probably already know.

-Is lovely girl.

-Sophie, maybe you would like
to take a walk, you and Alex.

-Uh, yes, yes.

Uh, Sasha and Sophie, walk.

-I'm not moving an inch.

PAPA BRESNYACHUK: So that
settlement, it's very easy,

split 50/50.

-50/50 is too much.

-Oh, naturally.

The question of control, yeah.

-Well, we can't dissolve the
trust fund, for one thing,

because I have to live on the
proceeds until I pass away.

So that leaves, essentially,
the value of the land itself,

and the profits from the
harvest, if there are any,

and the money that
we've already banked

from the sale of the
reading stock this spring.

-[groans] [speaking ukrainian]

-[speaking ukrainian]

-It's none of our
business, Papa.

-Trust fund-- how much?

-Well, that is money from
my side of the family

with which I have
kept our ranch afloat,

and from which I currently
derive my income,

and that money
will pass to Sophie

and remain solely under
her name in perpetuity.

So there's no point
in disclosing.

Now I do have a suggestion.

-[speaking ukrainian]

-[speaking ukrainian]

-I was going to suggest that we
fix a flat sum on Alexander out

of Sophie's share
of the harvest.

That way he can get
started properly.

-Good.

So now it is question of land.

-No, no land.

-Oh, yes, land.

-No, no, no, no, no.

That's not good offer.

-Alex?

-Only with a full
section I will agree.

My boy won't marry
without enough of land.

-Well, [chuckles] I
guess the wedding's off.

Thank you, folks.

You've worked wonders.

-Sophia.

-Papa, it's fine.

Enough, all right?

-Just a trick.

-Sorry, no sale.

I don't like the deal.

How can you just stand there?

You know, I suppose I
thought that that was going

to be about how
much I was worth.

Like a charming old
world harem concept.

And you know, I'd even
thought, oh, kind of funny.

But we were buying you there.

My poor widowed
mother and I were

trading land for a good worker.

Well, I draw the line at buying
myself a husband, thank you.

Double standard, you
say, damn straight.

And also, quite frankly, do you
realize you got marked down?

I'm going to bed.

[door closing]

-Good night, Alexander.

[water pouring]

-You have no idea what I feel.

SOPHIE: Come here.

Come here.

Come here.

[dog barking]

[music playing]

MAN: [inaudible]
away from that crap.

Nope.

You're stuck
loading [inaudible].

You're a businessman
with business.

[inaudible]

You sure ain't the type
to love a lady stupid.

-Well, there's a limit
to what I can fight.

-Oh, sure.

Both of us knows, if
you did love the lady,

nothing is [inaudible].

Nope.

You'd hike, lickety split,
back, maybe with a gift, maybe.

You say she likes horse?

BENNIE: Yep!

-Hi.

Is, uh, Sophie here?

-They're gone.

They went swimming.

-Oh.

-What?

-Can I come in?

-No.

-You want to punch me, or what?

-Don't flatter yourself.

I already saw the
movie-- punching,

and we're supposed to cry
and hug and that crap.

Why should I go through with it?

Ain't my problem, as I see it.

I mean, uh, what
would I get out of it?

-Nothing, I guess--
except this horse.

-You serious?

-Yeah.

-Gift's a good idea.

You want a beer?

-You gonna have one?

-Hell, I'm only 13.

I'll take the horse.

-Yeah, that's not bad.

You want to drop this
one a little bit.

Give her a little more head.

That's it.

-That's--

-Keep bending your left.

That's fine.

Hold up here, so it's
loose, all right?

-Yeah, but it's twisted.

Should I turn it?

-Uh-huh, it's OK.

Then you just-- you hold
the slack up and you ride.

And you don't hold
on to the horse.

-Can you, like, wrap it around?

-No, don't wrap it.

OK?

Now you're trying to feel
it mostly in your legs.

Can you feel her
underneath you down there?

-Yeah, you can feel
her moving, yeah?

-Yeah.

-That's cool.

I mean, this is great.

Any time you feel guilty about
anything, you can buy me stuff.

-[chuckles] All right.

-OK, you're on.

-Want to cantor?

-Yeah, let's try.

-[clicks] Come on.

-Ever had sushi?

-Yeah.

-What is it?

-It's raw fish.

-[chuckles] Saves some time.

-He's taking off, Annie.

-I'd introduce you
to my brother-in-law.

Can't see you with a
guy with loose dentures.

Sorry, Soph.

Sophie.

Who's that, Bennie?

-He gave him to me.

-Hi, Annie.

-Figure out how much
the feed is and add

it to your next check, big shot.

-Hi.

-Hi.

-I got that horse for you
as an engagement present.

I gave her away.

Hey, Soph.

-Mm-hm.

-What do we do on our wedding
night with our folks at home?

-[laughs] Oh, thank you.

-For what?

-You just thought about me
without thinking cattle.

-We always fight, Sasha.

Now never again.

Today I-- I have
no words for what--

-Pop, you don't
have to apologize.

-Apologize?

I am no apologize.

Apology is weak
and sorry is weak.

And I am not sorry.

I say what I mean.

How about farming.

Maybe we'll just talk about
farming after the wedding.

-Just farming?

-Hm.

OK.

You need new tractor.

[knocking]

-Ma?

It's for you.

-It's your wedding.

-Well, it's just a
little something.

It's--

-Oh.

Oh, um, [inaudible] drive me
to the station in the morning.

-Oh, good.

-I think she's going
to sing at the wedding.

-Oh, no.

-High heels?

High heeled shoes.

Oh.

And plum, to match my hat!

-Yes.

[laughs]

-Oh.

[crying]

I only hope that you and
Alex have as much fun

in this room as your
father and I did.

-Look at that.

Do you see that leg?

Why are they going
tractor, Papa?

They can use the car.

What's the matter
with the car, Papa?

WOMAN: Bye!

[engine turning over]

[laughing]

-Oh, you're kidding.

-Well, not much we can do.

-So what are we going to do?

-Oh, I've got a couple
ideas up my sleeve.

-Well, there's got to be a
first time for everything.

[laughs]

Oh, checking me into
the no tell motel?

ALEX: Nope.

SOPHIE: Oh, you
dirty, dirty dog.

You planned this.

-You city girls don't
miss much, do you?

[cheers]

[music playing]