My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991) - full transcript
A rodeo rider decides to quit his line of work after a serious injury, but when he visits his family and finds out that his dad is not well, he'll have to risk it one more time.
RODEO ANNOUNCER:
San Antonio Days,
cowboy saddle bronc
riding is an event
that we saw starting
out on the open range
many, many years ago.
The cowboys got
together [INAUDIBLE]..
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
the most dangerous event
we have in rodeo,
wild bull riding.
[INAUDIBLE]
Get in there.
Get his hand free.
Watch it.
[INAUDIBLE]
Watch him there.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE].
They did get the cowboy loose.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's
give those two rodeo clowns
and bullfighters a big round of
applause if you would, please?
[INAUDIBLE]
The clowns and the
cowboy are doing great.
Ladies and gentlemen,
that little ruckus down
in the bucket shoot is none
other than that legendary bull
Thunderbolt. [INAUDIBLE] that's
going to be performing for you.
This is a bull that's
never been ridden.
No one really knows where
this bull came from.
About five years ago some
very severe destruction
came through the owner's
ranch, [INAUDIBLE]
an enormous young
bull came walking
out from this real heavy
rain, [INAUDIBLE] and stayed.
Later this bull was named
Thunderbolt. [INAUDIBLE]..
Remember, this bull has never been
ridden, ladies and gentlemen.
The only one in the rodeo
that has never been ridden.
So let's [INAUDIBLE]
welcome Mr. Hank Peterson,
San Antonio, Texas cowboy, home
of [INAUDIBLE] in shoot number
five today.
[INAUDIBLE]
OK.
[CHEERING]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE]
let's give a big round
of applause [INAUDIBLE].
a bull like that.
You two [INAUDIBLE]
better watch out.
He will definitely horn
in on your business.
Here, boy.
Here, boy.
Give me his arm.
You just hold his head,
still traction on his neck.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Ladies and
gentlemen, I know you're all
concerned about this cowboy.
That's HD Dalton, folks,
one of our top bull riders.
He was just filling in for a
buddy today playing the clown.
Looks like it was his unlucky day.
Keep it straight as possible.
RODEO ANNOUNCER:
We hope he only has
the breath knocked out
of him, but as you saw,
he took a pretty bad hooking.
We'll keep you posted as soon as
the paramedics get information
back up to us, and
we'll be bringing
his condition back to you just as
soon as it's available to us.
Once again, as the
ambulance leaves,
let's put our hands together.
Perhaps he can hear
us in the ambulance.
Let's let him know what we
appreciate what a fine effort
this young man made to get
this cowboy out of the way
and try to keep him from
having injuries himself.
[SIRENS]
Nope.
Do you know your name?
HD.
Great.
Are you hurting anywhere?
Yeah, everywhere.
Get this damn makeup off.
OK, wait, sir.
Just a minute.
Just a minute.
OK, I'll wipe that off.
You just need to relax.
[MUSIC - WILLIE
NELSON, "MY HEROES
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS"]
I grew up dreaming
of being a cowboy
and loving the cowboy ways.
Pursuing the life of
my high riding heroes,
I burned up my childhood days.
I learned all the rules
of a modern day drifter,
don't you hold on
to nothing too long.
Just take what you
need from the ladies,
then leave them with the
words of a sad country song.
My heroes have
always been cowboys.
Good as new.
[MUSIC - WILLIE
NELSON, "MY HEROES
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS"]
Still are, it seems.
Sadly, in search of, but one
step in back of themselves
and they're slow moving dreams.
Sadly, in search of, and
step in back of themselves
and they're slow moving dreams.
Anybody home?
Hello?
Dad?
Jeeter?
Here, boy.
Hey, HD, where you been hiding?
I've been around.
Hi, darling.
HD, look at you.
Mr. Hornby?
Look who's here.
I'll call you right.
Whoa.
Good golly, Miss Molly.
Look what the cat drug in.
How are you?
Does Cheryl know you're here?
Uh-uhn.
Well, you just missed
her 15 minutes ago,
and she's not going to be
back till late afternoon.
Where's Dad?
You went by the house?
Yeah, nobody there.
Well, he's at Chillicothe.
What the hell's he doing there?
We thought it would be best.
He's just not himself anymore.
We.
Come by the house
tonight for dinner.
Cheryl... sweet thing, would you
please get my wife on the phone
right now?
[MUSIC - JIM REEVES, "BILLY
BAYOU"]
Back about 1800 and
some, a Louisiana couple
had a redheaded son.
No name suited him, Jim,
Jack, or Joe, so they
just called him Billy Bayou.
Billy, Billy Bayou,
watch where you go.
You're walking on quicksand.
Walk slow.
Billy, Billy Bayou,
watch what you say.
A pretty girl look at
you one of these days.
Billy was boy, kind of big
for his size, red hair and
freckles, and big blue eyes.
13 years from the day he was born,
Billy fought the battle
of Little Big Horn.
Billy, Billy Bayou.
Hello?
Can I help you?
Jesse Dalton's room.
Room number one,
first one on the right.
Thanks.
TV EVANGELIST: All
right, thank you, Donna.
You need that.
You'll enjoy it, you'll love it.
Now...
Junior?
Hm?
Hey.
Hey, Junior.
Hey, there, Hank.
Hey, how you been doing?
Okey dokey.
Okey dokey.
Them nurses, they're mean.
Really?
We'll just have to see about that.
TV EVANGELIST:
Heaven and the earth
calling into existence now.
The heavens and the earth here.
We understand that the worlds
were framed, not with things
which do appear, Paul says.
Angels ruled in reigned back here.
The person we know of is Lucifer
in Isaiah the 14 chapter.
Pictures his downfall.
I didn't know you were such
a Dolly Parton fan, Junior.
Yes, I love her.
Fine Christian lady.
That's why the Lord blessed
her with such abundance.
She sings a song in every show
she does, a religious song,
and it's not for show.
She does it from her heart.
You know what I mean?
Where's my daddy, Junior?
Oh, he's outside.
Where, out there?
He's playing with them birds.
I'll see you later,
Junior, all right?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll see you later.
TV EVANGELIST: Laid the
foundation of this earth.
So your read in the beginning, God
created it all into existence.
What you doing up there?
Just trying to
stay above the crowd.
What are you doing down there?
Just trying to get
by without shoving.
So how you've been doing?
I have been making it.
No use complaining.
You been gone a long time.
Yeah, I've been chasing them
white lines on the highway.
You know the worst
thing about getting old?
No, sir.
Getting old.
You've seen Cheryl?
No, sir.
I'm supposed to go over
there tonight for dinner.
Food in here is like pasteboard,
but most these goats in
here don't taste or smell,
so it don't make any
difference anyway.
So where you been?
On down the road.
Honky tonk life, huh?
So why are you here?
Figured I'd take a break.
You're hurting or
you wouldn't be here.
Yeah, a little bit.
Looks like you're
doing a first class
job of wrecking yourself.
Well, thanks.
And why you walking funny?
It's how I walk.
I'm sorry, if you
think it's funny.
Still got that same
old attitude, ain't you?
You got any money?
Yeah, some.
Why, you need some?
Yeah.
Bring me a fifth of Jack Daniels.
They'll let you have that in here?
If I could do what I
wanted, I wouldn't be in here.
Staying out at the place?
Yes, sir, I thought I would.
How's it look?
Lonely.
How long you going to be here?
Uh, I don't know.
Kind of depends.
Well, you know where to find me.
Jolie?
Hello, HD.
I didn't know you were here.
I didn't know you were back.
Just got in today.
Gonna be staying?
I don't know.
That sounds like you.
What are you looking for?
A kind word.
Well, I haven't had to nice
talk anyone in a long time.
I'll be seeing you?
I live here.
You having a party?
[MUSIC - KEITH WHITLEY, "I'M
OVER YOU"]
Where there's a cloud
don't mean there's rain.
Tears in my eyes don't
mean there's pain.
Don't flatter
yourself, I'm over you.
Things aren't always
what they seem.
You can't believe everything
you read on my face.
I'm over you.
You heard I'm
drinking more than I...
Why didn't you tell
anybody you were coming?
Oh, I didn't think about it.
Oh, you never do think about
it, you good for nothing.
Look at you.
You're too skinny.
Get in here.
Come on.
I'll be right back.
A Jack Daniel's for you, honey.
HD, it's good to see you.
Howdy.
Make yourself at home, please?
Let me fix you a drink.
What are you drinking?
I never touch the stuff.
How come?
Screws up your personality.
Hm.
Well, you been out
to the rest home?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I was out there this afternoon.
Yeah.
It's a nice place to retire
with all those nice people
taking care of you.
Pathetic.
The rooms are nice.
Yeah, sure, if you don't
mind the smell of piss.
Will you get out here?
Your old man put up
a good fight on this,
but you've got to face the
cold hard facts sometime.
Oh, hell, HD, I know you
hate seeing him out there.
None of us like
it, but believe me,
I think it's the best thing.
I think it's best for all of us.
And besides, he's got
friends out there.
You know Junior.
Yeah, I've known
Junior my whole life.
Well, then, you know what I mean.
He's great company for Jesse.
Well, hell, yes.
There's nothing I'd like better
than talking to Junior all day.
So, you hungry?
I am.
I've been running like an ape
with his ass on fire all day.
I saw Daddy today.
How was he?
He was up a tree.
You know, there's a
good deal of interest
on that land your dad owns.
Now I think you ought to
talk to the real estate boys
while you're still around here.
What for?
Well, it doesn't hurt to talk.
No, it doesn't hurt to talk.
Well, it ain't my land.
HD, I know you're
tired of hearing this,
but Jesse's getting old.
How was he today?
I don't understand why he's there.
You don't understand?
No, I don't.
Let me run this by you.
Does he sound like
the kind of a man that
could take care of himself?
I know he's getting old, I
know he rambles and forgets.
Is that any reason to put
him in that God damn place?
Now you're talking about selling
his land like he was dead.
He ain't dead.
He's alive.
Who the hell do you two
think you are anyway?
Well, I think that
I'm his daughter,
and I think that I've
been the one here
looking after him
while you've been
off playing cowboy somewhere.
I knew you'd accuse me.
I knew you would.
I knew you'd accuse me.
I ain't accusing
nobody of nothing.
I just want to know what
the hell's going on.
I'll tell you what
the hell's going on.
Cheryl has been
through a lot with him.
Now it's going to take some time,
but you're going
to get used to it.
Trust me.
For once in your
life, just trust me.
HD, I tried everything.
I did.
I hired a woman to go out there
and cook and clean for him,
you know, kind of
watch after the place,
but, no, he ran her off.
And then I brought
him here, and, God,
you should have seen the two
of them at the dinner table
together.
He did everything
but sit in my food.
And you know that I'm not
one of Jesse's favorites.
He forgets things, HD.
He's not who he used to be.
Is that right?
Well, then, who is he?
How long are you going
to be around here anyway?
A while.
Long enough to mend.
You're still riding bulls.
Aren't you through with that?
You know, it's a big mistake
to stay at the fair too long.
The smart ones quit.
It's over when it's over.
Don't leave.
HD, please, just stay for supper.
Did you even bother to
go out and feed Jeeter?
We looked everywhere for
that dumb dog of yours.
Yeah, well, he'd probably run off.
Probably scared you were gonna put
him in a God damn rest home.
[PHONE RINGING]
Jud, get the phone.
Jud, when are you
going to fix my bike?
Shut up, Becky.
Jud, now.
Jud!
Hello?
HD: Jolie?
I hope it ain't too
late to be calling.
Um, no, I got a teenage son.
His friends don't ever seem
to think it's too late.
Girl, I've heard
the opposite all day.
JOLIE: What do you mean?
It don't matter.
It's just a lot of
things have changed.
That's right.
They have.
I was wondering if maybe
we could have dinner?
Hold on.
I don't think so, HD.
You know, it's really hard
for me to get away at night.
HD: Maybe lunch then?
No, that's worse.
Well, you tell me.
You must have a few minutes
to give an old friend.
Look, you know, I'm trying to
get everyone in bed right now.
It's real hard.
I'd just like to spend
a little time with you,
you know, talk about things.
Would you guys
knock it off, please?
I'm trying to talk on the phone.
Now.
Shut up.
HD, this is a really
bad time for me.
Hell, Jolie, I don't want
to shove you or nothing.
I mean, if it ain't...
OK.
Well, Becky, you know,
my daughter, she's
in this little dance class,
and they're performing
at the park on Saturday.
And well, there's going to
be a lot of people there,
and I'll be there, and, well,
I mean you could show up.
It's 2 o'clock.
A dance in the park?
I gotta go.
Bye.
Welcome home, HD.
RODEO ANNOUNCER
(VOICEOVER): Ladies
and gentlemen, [INAUDIBLE].
HD just scored a second place.
[APPLAUSE]
RODEO ANNOUNCER (VOICEOVER):
That was HD Dalton on Chisel.
Remember this bull has never been
ridden, ladies and gentlemen.
The only one in the rodeo today
that has ever been ridden.
[CROWD GASPING]
I really love that
song, you know that?
Reminds me of my fifth wife.
Play, play, play.
Well, what do you
say there, Shotgun?
Hey.
You've been away for a while.
Yeah, how long you been, HD?
I don't know, a couple years.
Couple of years?
Shit, HD, I ain't
seen you around here
for at least five years.
Five?
Could be.
I don't blame him.
Not if I was at the bottom
of the barrel playing
a rodeo clown.
Just helped a buddy out one night.
Painted my face and
crawled in the barrel.
Just like his daddy.
When you're needing help,
Jesse won't let you down.
You remember when
you used to out them
peanuts in your soda pop, HD?
Last time I see this
old cowboy ride was over
in Weathering, I believe,
and if I'm not incorrect,
he drew down a third place.
Is that right?
It was a second.
I knew that.
I was just pulling your leg.
Where's that old coot Jesse
hiding out these days?
He's out at Chillicothe.
Good god almighty, HD.
I didn't know that.
How's he like it?
He don't.
That place will drive you nuts.
I was out there
for about six week,
they had it down
where they expected
me to fart on schedule.
They drive you
crazy in that place.
I ain't never been on a
schedule my whole damn life.
You don't mind if
I take some dominoes?
Take that box on that table.
They're mine.
Ain't that just like a rodeo bum,
you never got a dime
for nothing, do you?
That why you went
into that barrel?
You licking up all the leftovers?
Is that what you wanted?
You son of a bitch.
I'm gonna kick your ass for that.
I don't know about that, Bubba.
Better get in line.
See you later, boys.
Hey, Skeet, we gonna
see you ride in Bullmania?
HD: I don't know, maybe.
Maybe knock your damn head off.
Who's up?
Who's up?
Oh, Misty, did you
get that poison ivy
at yesterday's church picnic?
Uh-huh.
And the bad part is is that
my boyfriend got it too
and he wasn't even there.
Hey, I saw you on TV.
HD: You did?
He watches everything.
Worse than some kid.
HD: Ain't nothing
wrong with watching TV.
There is when you're
in the same room
with it going day and night.
He said that all people
that are on TV are whores.
That ain't very
nice of him, is it?
They can't here him.
What'd you bring me?
All right, Junior,
time for a shampoo.
No, I don't want to.
He hates to get his hair
washed, but it has to be done.
I don't want to do it.
Every week it's a fight.
I'll be back.
Oh.
[INAUDIBLE], almost caught me.
Will she remember?
Of course, she'll remember.
She'll be back.
Lord, he hates to
get his hair washed.
They'll both be soaking
wet by time she gets done.
How is it?
It tastes just like it used to.
Hey, brought some dominoes.
I figured we might
have a little fun.
Not in this nuthouse.
Damn, I sure wish I could
get out of this place.
What's stopping you?
You want to go, let's go.
You really mean that?
Sure, I mean it.
Let's go.
Right now?
Right now.
Junior, come on with us.
My roommate's always leave me.
I always stay.
I'm ready.
Let's get out of here before
that old witch comes back.
Don't forget to wash your hair.
[MUSIC - PAUL OVERSTREET,
"SEEING MY FATHER IN ME"]
I'm seeing my father in me.
Yes, it's how it's meant to be.
And I find I'm more and
more like him each day.
I see them.
They're headed for the farm.
Right, I'm on my way.
Clear.
[MUSIC - PAUL OVERSTREET,
"SEEING MY FATHER IN ME"]
I notice I talk the way he talks.
I'm starting to see
my father in me.
And I'm happy to
see my father in me.
[HONKING]
Virgil.
Hey.
HD, how you doing?
Man, I didn't know
you was in the service.
It's just something to do.
You look about the same.
Mean.
What'd you do, arrest my dog?
Just feeding him.
Jeeter.
Come here, boy.
Come here.
Yeah.
Thanks, Virgil.
No problem.
I didn't come out here
to bring our dog back.
You didn't come out here
to visit either, did you?
VIRGIL: There's folks
looking for you, Shotgun.
Oh, hell.
I knew it.
There's a report out that
your daddy was kidnapped.
Kidnapped?
Man, we just left.
Yeah.
Sometimes you ought
to tell somebody, HD.
What the hell for?
It's up to him if he stays there.
Cheryl, she's upset.
Yeah, she probably is.
This is my house,
and I'm not leaving.
It's all right
with me, Mr. Dalton.
I really don't know
all that's going on.
Just a family matter, Virge.
I'd rather go after serial killers
than getting in the middle
of a family squabble.
Ain't gonna be no squabble.
I'll talk to Cheryl.
I'm sure glad to hear you say
that because here she comes.
I hope it hurts.
VIRGIL: Hold on, Cheryl.
No, Virgil, you've done your job.
It's a family matter
from here on out.
Just stay out.
What do you think you're doing?
You scared the hell out of me.
Have you gone crazy or what?
Of all the stupid things
I have ever heard.
I hope the rest home
presses charges.
I do.
You outta be locked up.
You ought to be in jail somewhere.
Who the hell died
and made you boss?
I'm talking to, girl.
Don't touch me.
You shut up and listen.
He don't belong in that place.
It'll kill him.
Well, who's going
to take care of him?
- Me.
- You?
Yeah, me.
You can't take care of yourself.
What are you going to do,
sell that precious pickup
truck of yours?
Yeah, you'll take care of him.
You'll take care of him until you
tramp off to some damn rodeo,
and then it's my problem.
Don't you worry about it.
I'll take care of him.
You're both crazy, you know that?
You're gonna start fighting
like cats and dogs the minute
you start reliving the past.
Come on, Daddy.
He ain't going nowhere.
Stay right there.
[HONKING]
Add one more to the picnic.
Is everything OK?
No, everything's not OK.
They're both crazy.
Dad, are you going
back to Chillicothe?
Oh, no, HD here is
going to play nursemaid.
Are they going to
sleep here together?
I don't know, Clint, but
you can bet one thing, when
the trouble starts, I'm going to
be the one that hears about it.
I don't know what's going on here,
but if you want my opinion...
Well, thank you.
Thank you very much for
your attention, gentlemen.
You want me, you know
where to find me.
It's like talking to
two uncaged badgers.
Cheryl!
Damn it.
If it's not one
thing, it's another.
I guess they handled
that situation pretty well.
Shotgun?
Huh?
I ain't seen you sack like
that since our senior year.
HD, welcome home.
Thanks, Virgil.
VIRGIL: Mr. Dalton.
See you, Virgil.
Well, that's the end of that.
That wasn't too bad.
[LAUGHING]
Haven't you shaved yet?
No, sir, I was waiting
till you was done it here.
I always shave first.
First thing every morning.
I'd rather be caught
out without my pants
than to start the
day without shaving.
Uh-huh.
What the hell's that?
What this?
A throwaway razor.
You use those little old
cheap throwaway razors?
Yes, sir.
There ought to be
a law against them.
HD: Uh-huh.
I heard they weren't
any good anyway.
HD: They're all right.
They don't cost much.
You just use them a few
times and throw them away.
Sounds like progress to me.
Of course, there never
was anything better
than a straight edge razor.
Uh-huh.
When did you start
shaving that way?
What way?
Well, crossways like
you was doing there.
I always stick to a
smooth up and down stroke.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
Well, when did you start that?
I don't... ow.
What'd you do, cut yourself?
No, that's why I'm bleeding.
Well, now you don't
need to get smart alecky.
I didn't teach you
to shave that way.
It's those damn little
old things there.
They'll do it every time.
What the hell we talking about?
Shaving, I thought.
Why don't you go feed Jeeter?
I've already fed Jeeter.
Ow.
God.
That razor about
chewed you up, didn't it?
Yes, sir.
What you getting
all duded up about?
I'm going into town.
Well, you don't need to get
all gussied up to go into town.
Well, that's right.
I'm going to see a little
girl dance in the park.
Well, hell, if you don't
want to tell me, just say so.
Daddy, you want to
ride to town with me?
Nope.
You're sure?
Yep.
You're welcome to come along.
Go on.
I'll be all right.
Be good to have a
little peace and quiet.
You sure?
Yep.
Be back in a couple hours.
Don't hurry.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Toot, toot,
Tootsie, goodbye.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry.
The choo choo train that
takes me away from you.
No words can tell
how sad it makes me.
Kiss me, Tootsie, and
then do it over again.
Watch for the mail,
I'll never fail.
If you don't get a letter,
then you'll know I'm in jail.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry.
Which ones yours?
The prettiest.
No, she's the tallest
one in the center.
(SINGING) Toot, toot,
Tootsie, don't cry.
The choo choo train that
takes me away from you.
No words can tell
how sad it makes me.
Kiss me, Tootsie, and
then do it over again.
Watch for the mail,
I'll never fail.
If you don't get a letter,
then you'll know I'm in jail.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, goodbye.
That's Becky's last
number, unless you want
to stay for the rest of them?
Uh-uhn.
Mom?
Oh, sweetie, you were fabulous.
So good.
Perfect.
HD, this is Becky.
Becky, this is HD.
He came by here today
to see you dance.
Hi, Becky.
I loved you.
Thanks.
HD, this is my son Jud.
Jud.
Jud, you and Becky got
a ride with the Johnsons.
I'm going to visit with HD
and pick up some groceries.
If that's OK with you?
Uh-huh.
You watch Becky for me?
Great.
I won't be long.
(MOCKING) I won't be long.
Excuse me.
I told you I didn't want
you using this shit.
Great looking kids.
Yeah, thanks.
Jud gets a little
sullen sometimes.
I guess it's hard
living with two females.
Yeah.
I guess he misses his dad.
Sorry to hear about Ed's accident.
It must have been horrible.
Yeah, it was horrible.
I don't really want
to talk about it.
Why don't you tell me
what's going on with you.
Seems like old times.
You, me, and a pickup.
That was a different time,
and I was a different person.
Feels the same to me.
Damn toy food.
Kids love them.
You stick them in the microwave
for about four minutes,
and, boom, you got a meal.
Ought to be a law against it.
Can't cook it yourself,
you shouldn't eat it.
Well, it looks like
you're a real gourmet.
Damn straight.
I'm an expert.
They had hamburgers
all over the country.
Trick is, baste them in
beer, smother them in garlic,
just a touch if chili sauce.
Jolie, you ever think
about getting old?
Give me a break.
What did you think I'd
looked like after 14 years?
I'm not talking about you.
I mean, just plain getting old.
I got two kids.
I don't have time
to think about that.
There ought to be
a law against it.
Against what?
There ought to be a damn
special police force that when
you get too old, they
just come and arrest
you, and throw your ass in
one of them old age homes.
At least then when
you got stuck there
you know what your crime was.
Got a lot on your
mind, don't you, HD?
Yeah.
Jolie, do you think that maybe
we could have a real date?
I mean, like for dinner or some...
Oh, god, I sound like
a sappy teenager.
Sorry I said anything.
Forget the whole thing.
Didn't mean it.
You're still something else.
You make me laugh.
I'll go out on a real date
for dinner or something.
Go on.
Go on.
He called me.
Said he hadn't eaten
all day, and there
was nothing in the house.
And you were gone.
I told you I'd be
back in a couple hours.
Been longer than that.
I stopped off to get some things.
Well, I was starved.
Well, we've got plenty now.
I wasn't gone that long.
Well, it was long enough
for him to get hungry.
Cheryl.
I'll handle it.
It ain't your problem anymore.
Oh, it's not?
Well, tell me, what do
I do when he calls me
and he needs clean clothes
or something to eat,
or maybe he's confused, he
needs to know what day it is?
Then I'll be here.
No, you won't.
You'll be here until
you can rodeo again,
and then you're going to be gone.
I know, HD.
You're selfish.
You think you're too good
to work like everybody else.
You don't care what happens here.
If I didn't care, I
wouldn't have broke him out.
Broke him out?
God, listen to you.
You sound like you've
just pulled off
some great romantic escapade.
We'll Well, grow up.
What the hell's the
matter with you, Sis?
I'm mad.
God.
It's one thing for you to kind
of just slouch through life.
It's your life.
Fine.
But what you have done here
is so typically irresponsible,
and I know who's going to
have to pick up your mess
when you're gone.
As usual, it's going to be me.
Cheryl, I promise you, I'm
going to see this one through.
How?
Are you going to
take him with you?
You know, you either
got to get a day job
or you have to go
back to rodeoing,
and either way, he is a problem.
I don't know.
I'll work it out.
Just don't give up on him.
He never quit on us.
HD, he cannot take
care of himself.
He needs a babysitter.
He ain't an old pair of
boots going to Goodwill.
He's a hero.
He's my hero.
You don't put away your heroes.
Oh, really?
Well, tell me what do you
do with them when they are
old and sick and
tired and worn out
and unable to function anymore?
You honor them, Cheryl.
You honor them.
They ain't plastic.
You don't throw them away.
You ever think about getting old?
Of course, I do.
You want to be in
that rest home, Cheryl?
Is that what you want?
It could happen to you.
You want your kids to put
you in a damn home some day?
[BARKING]
[COUGHING]
Dad?
Dad?
Jesus.
Oh, god.
Come on, Jeeter, get out here.
Dad, what you trying to
do, burn down the house?
Hey, Daddy, you left
bacon grease on the fire.
The house is full of smoke.
God damn.
You could have burned
the house down.
You should have been up.
Probably would have
noticed if you'd been up.
I put it out.
That's good thinking.
Dad, you could have
set the house on fire.
But I didn't, and
that's what counts.
I just about got this little
old puddle jumper started.
Plugs was bad in it.
I'm gonna open up the
windows, clear out the smoke.
Good thinking.
HD?
What happened?
Left the skillet in the fire.
Shit, I've done that before.
That ain't nothing.
That old man's gonna kill us both.
Oh, god.
Wow.
How'd you get that?
You wear that all the time?
What do you want?
I want to ride bulls,
like, like you do.
Oh, yeah.
I don't think your
mama's going to be too
excited about you riding bulls.
That's why I came out to see you.
I thought if I could get you
to help me, it might, you know,
smooth things out with her.
Yeah, well, it just might.
Look, we're going to have a
little understanding first.
I don't want to never hear you
talking back to your momma.
Me?
Whoa.
Whoa.
I never want to hear
you talking vulgar.
I don't.
Give me that dip.
What?
In your back pocket,
son, hand it over.
I don't won't you using
this sh... stuff neither.
You can learn a
bunch on this thing.
All right, cover this
sucker with a carpet
so it's more like a bull's hide.
It's loose like a bull's hide plus
it'll give you something to dig
your spurs into, hang on with.
You got grommets there,
there, there, and there.
Attach this one with a
rope to that post there.
One to that one there.
One...
[CAR APPROACHING]
What the hell?
What happened?
You dad had a little
accident with the tractor.
Accident?
Oh, it wasn't really an accident.
You OK, Daddy?
How you doing there?
Fine.
Need some help with this thing?
Yeah.
You're Jolie's boy, aren't you?
Yep/ Did HD learn on this?
Yes, sir.
Him and his buddies, they'd
put one of these things
together every weekend.
They'd ride it till
they wore it out
or somebody got an arm broke.
What happened, Virgil?
He said he was going
to mow the ditch over
at Mrs. Miller's house.
He and a woman in a
Ford station wagon,
they hit the bridge
about the same time.
He veered off and hit
the bridge railing.
Just about scared her to death.
- Didn't hurt her?
- No.
No.
He didn't even touch the car.
I don't think it hurt
the tractor either.
It's up Mustang Gas.
Hand me that pipe there.
Here you go.
Do you know what
they do with this?
No.
What in the hell
is that in your ear?
I'll be damned.
Well, they take this pipe and
they make a place for your knee
on each side of this barrel.
That way you ride a little better.
[INAUDIBLE] quite so round.
Thanks, Virgil.
I really appreciate this.
Any time, Shotgun.
Get that rope there and
tie on that post right there.
Man, this ain't gonna be easy.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING]
JOLIE: I sure had a
good time tonight.
I'm glad we did this.
HD: Me too.
So, um, how's Jud
doing on the rig?
Good, he's learning
the same way I did.
Good.
I had some big
dreams in them days.
You sure did.
Tell me this, all those
years on the road,
think it was worth it?
I don't know.
If you're talking about
all the crap I've taken,
lousy food, and the busted bones,
the mornings I woke up
with no idea where I was,
or who I was, no,
nothing was worth that.
Then why'd you keep doing it?
Because when I'm on that bull
and everything's going right,
right then it's the best.
You know what I'm saying?
Not really.
OK, like, race car drivers
and pilots, people like that
are running machines that
are built to be controlled,
but the bull's uncontrolled.
He don't want me on his back.
He wants me on the ground
where he can dance on me.
He's wild and free,
just a part of nature.
And sometimes, when the chute
opens, and they turn us loose,
just sometimes,
something magic happens,
and I'm a part of that animal.
For 8 seconds, I get to be
wild and free and uncontrolled.
And when I make that right,
and then I hit the ground
and raise my hands, everybody
yells, it is worth it.
It sure is pretty.
Yeah, it sure is.
Remember?
Yes.
Yes, I remember.
What's wrong?
You broke my heart when you left.
Took a long time trying
to get over you, HD.
Then I met someone else.
Thank god for Ed.
Forgot about you.
I never forgot about you.
Oh, that's hard to prove by me.
What, did you think I was
just here frozen in time
waiting for you to come back?
You think the world just stops
because you're not around?
You can't leave me and
then walk back into town
and just pick up
where you left off.
There's been a lot
of living going on.
While you've been out
chasing your dreams,
I've been stuck
here standing still,
and it hasn't all been
fun, and it's been lonely.
I needed you, and you left.
All you ever needed
were your damned rodeos,
and now you think you can just
waltz right back into my life,
and take me for some
dancing and a little dinner
and to the grocery store, then
bring me out under the stars.
I mean, is that what
you think you can...
Well, you're probably right, but
you're the only one that could.
You bastard.
Jolie.
I missed you.
I missed you bad.
You think your
dad's been watching?
Yeah, you can bet on it.
Good night, Mr. Dalton.
Goodnight, Jolie.
[LAUGHING]
There he was, the
biggest, meanest looking
bull I've ever seen in my life.
Looked like a nightmare from hell.
He had me trapped.
There wasn't nothing I
could do but face him,
so I stood my ground.
I knew there was only
one way to stop him,
but I didn't have time.
Because there was 2,000
pounds of hide and horns
running at me.
You know what I did, son?
I dove into that ground like
a rock, and I reached up
and I grabbed a
handful of testicles.
You know what testicles are, son?
Balls.
Balls.
Stopped that bastard
right in his tracks.
The moral to mt
story is, son, when
you've got them by the balls,
you can stop them on a dime.
You're a lot of help.
Come on, Jud, we've
got some work to do.
[PHONE RINGING]
Got any more stories?
Yeah, I got another
one, but I don't
want him to hear it though.
I'll get down her with you.
Hello?
Jolie.
Hm?
Yeah, sure, right away.
Yeah, right now.
OK.
Jolie?
Jolie?
Jolie?
What happened?
I thought you was hurt.
Come on in.
You want some coffee?
Uh-uhn.
What's going on?
What's going on?
Sit down.
That's why I asked
you to come here
this morning, because
I thought maybe you
could tell me what's going on.
I don't understand.
You don't understand?
That's the problem.
You don't understand.
Let me help you.
Now I'm going to put
this on your terms.
The way I figure it, I've
already struck out twice,
so I was wondering if last
night was strike three.
Last night was wonderful.
It was wonderful?
How wonderful was it, HD?
Was it wonderful enough
to keep you here?
You know, I was touched when
you told me that you felt bad
about Ed's accident, and
then I remembered that I
never even heard from you.
You didn't call me.
You didn't write me a letter.
You didn't even ask any of
my friends how I was doing.
I guess you were just
at one of your rodeos
down in Arkansas or Texas.
Jolie, what are you talking about?
All you cowboys, you're all alike.
You just shuffle in and you
grin and you never grow up.
You're all hat and
you're no cattle.
I'm hurting, HD.
I just want to know
if it's going to stop.
What are we doing?
What are we doing?
Just tell me what we're doing.
You know me, Jolly.
I never did know what to say
to a woman till after midnight.
Oh, god.
I didn't mean that.
I really didn't mean that.
Please, don't cry.
Don't feel bad.
Please?
Why, HD?
Because it's too real for you?
I am real, and I
come with baggage.
I've got two kids, and I'm
looking for more than just
a good time on a Saturday night.
Me too.
Oh, really?
I never knew till right now.
What?
I love you.
I'm in love with you,
and I ain't leaving.
I ain't going nowhere.
I love you.
Thank you.
Oh, I love you.
You going to be all right?
Yep.
You sure you ain't
going to get hungry on me
and be starving before I get back?
No.
Good enough.
I'm going to Cheryl's.
Well, be sure and give my best
to your brother-in-law Clint.
How do you want our steak, Teresa?
Medium is great.
Thanks.
Rex?
Rare, please.
HD?
As long as it ain't breathing.
OK.
HD, that's rare.
[BUG ZAPPER]
Whoa.
How do you like my bug light?
Bugs fly into that
and fry like burgers.
I hate the think.
I wish you'd turn it off.
Well, Cheryl,
that's what's keeping
the bugs out of the meat, OK?
HD, we heard about
Daddy's accident.
Is he all right?
Oh, yeah, it's nothing.
He just got a bloody nose.
He wanted to ignore,
so that's what I did.
Something awful is
going to happen to him.
OK, OK, hold it down a minute.
Let's take a walk, OK?
Rex?
Yo.
Come and mind the barbecue?
Absolutely.
Let's go around the house.
HD, this is the right thing to do.
I haven't wanted to tell you this,
but it's costing us a fortune
to keep him at the rest home,
and Medicare is not paying a dime.
Yeah, you got nothing
to worry about, because he
ain't going to be there.
Listen to me, I would
do anything for Jesse,
but the way the government's
got everything all screwed up,
it's just plain silly for his land
to sit there while it
could be working for him.
It's just not good business.
What the hell's he talking about?
I'll tell you what
we're talking about.
I don't know if Daddy's told you.
He probably doesn't
even remember it,
but he signed his power
of attorney over to me.
Now, I don't want to
do it this way, HD,
but I will if I have to.
I want you to work
with us on this,
but Daddy should be in that home.
Yeah.
Oh, I understand.
You don't want to sell him out,
but you just might have to.
She don't know.
She don't care.
Nobody knows.
Nobody cares.
Need any help?
I can make it by myself.
When did that happen?
What difference does it make?
None, I guess.
You get hurt, you get up.
You go on, that's rodeo.
Least you could've told me.
Oh, I'm sorry, sir, but
I'd be hurting just the same.
Sometimes it helps to
share your pain, son.
HD: It's my pain.
I;m the one that's
got to live with it.
That's just like you.
You're just going to
do what you want to do.
What are you yelling at?
Well, you're not going
to tell anybody anything.
You're not going to
listen to anybody.
Listen?
That's all I ever did
with you is listen.
Listen to me?
Hell, yes, listen.
You told me everything.
You told me what
schools I should go to.
You told me what
sports I should play.
You even god damn
told me when to ride.
You had the answer to everything.
I thought that's what a
father was supposed to do, help
his kids with their decisions.
Yeah, they was your
decisions, not mine.
Never once did you ask
me what I wanted to do.
We talked all the time.
No, we didn't.
You talked, I listened.
That's all I ever did was listen.
I didn't know you felt that way.
You never asked.
I thought I understood
what you wanted.
I didn't know it was
to get rid of me.
Wait, get rid...
I wouldn't be here if I
didn't want to be with you.
I did the best I
could for you kids.
But going down the road wasn't
any place for a family man,
so I stayed home.
I left, you stayed.
I did it.
You didn't even try.
You put that goddamn guilt
trip on me because I did
what you was never able to do.
It was your mom, son.
The truth is with her,
I didn't want to leave.
And then we lost her,
and then you left.
I'm here now.
I'm still hurting, son.
You just got to figure
out some way to get along.
I just don't know
what to say anymore.
You could say you're
going to make me the best
damn hamburger I've
ever had without burning
down the damn house.
Yeah, I'll put just a little
touch of chili sauce on it.
Basted in beer,
smothered the garlic.
What are you doing here?
Thinking.
I was looking for you.
Saw your pick up.
Something wrong?
Well, I haven't heard from you,
and, well, the other
day, you said...
And then I didn't see
you, and I didn't...
You didn't call and...
Jolie, come here.
HD, you scared the shit out of me.
I thought you changed your mind.
Not about us, never.
Come on.
It's just about money.
I've got to get my
hands on a lot of money
to fight my sister, and the
only way I know how to do that
is to ride that damn bulls.
You're already broken up.
It's too dangerous.
You can't go back to that.
Jolie, it's the only
thing I know how to do.
It's the only thing I can do.
What's the matter, son?
Uh, Everything's just crowding in
on me, pushing me for answers.
All the answers involve money.
They usually do.
I think I'm going to go after
that big money at Bullmania.
I know that all
sounds sweet, but are
you sure you're up to it?
No, sir.
I'm going to need some help.
All right, son,
let's rise and shine.
[INAUDIBLE] 10 miles
from here in a long trot.
Come on, let's go.
That's good.
Now put them all back
where they came from.
Son, roping in like dancing.
Once you get out time, you
probably won't catch it.
Step back there just a little.
That's enough.
Now you watch where my hand
is when I deliver that rope.
How about getting old
dad one of them beers?
Yes, sir.
What the hell happened to you?
Just trying to get my head right.
Let's go.
You're finally getting
with the program, huh?
Yeah, that looks better.
You boys look so pretty, that I'm
gonna buy you some breakfast.
Go back for some more.
Mr. Dalton, think I'll get
you for cruel and unusual
punishment.
Yeah.
Looks like he's in the Army.
Going to war.
What's that got to
do with bull riding?
It's just a small part
of the big picture, Virgil.
Mr. Dalton, you would've made
a hell of a football coach.
You been running all these years?
A little bit.
Oh, man, more than a little bit.
Stay with him, son.
You got one more to go before
you get to ride for the money.
Stay with it.
[INAUDIBLE], boy.
Rodeo is getting your head right.
He could be crippled
for life on that bull.
That's right.
But now his mind's crippled.
If he doesn't get his head right,
it's not going to
matter about his back.
Yeah, well, it matters to me.
When's he gonna come down?
Tonight.
He's got to ride
three bulls and score
real big to get that
bonus bull, and that barn
is his third bull.
Third bull.
Bullshit.
You're all crazy.
She talks kind of
dirty, don't she, son?
Sure does.
Won't be able to do much today.
Why not?
Well, if it keeps on raining,
it'll be all wet and muddy.
They don't cancel rodeos
for wet and muddy, son.
Especially when there's
$100,000 involved.
If you're going to
be a rodeo hand,
you better keep using that thing.
That's better.
Got a little off
balance didn't you, son?
Dad.
Jud, get the truck.
But I don't drive.
You're gonna drive tonight.
Get the damn truck.
Get it started now.
Now.
Dad?
Come on, Daddy.
Come on.
Shotgun.
Hey, Virge, thanks for coming.
Boy, he took a hell of a whack.
They gave him some stitches.
Running tests on him right now.
Come on, let's take a walk.
OK.
I want you to listen to me.
I'm your friend.
Yeah?
But I got my job to do.
I got a call from Cheryl.
In the morning, she's going to get
a court order, a
restraining order that
protects your daddy from you.
What?
What, what are you talking about?
It means you can't
go near your father.
What is this bullshit?
Look, I told you something
bad was going to happen,
but, no, you wouldn't
listen to me.
It was an accident.
I know it was an accident, HD.
An accident that wouldn't
have happened if you'd left
him alone where he belonged.
Yeah, where he could rot
away and die from neglect.
That would be fine.
Well, it ain't gonna
happen, Cheryl.
It ain't.
Look, HD, if you want to
kill yourself, that's fine.
You just go right
ahead, but you are
not taking my father with you.
Hey, glad you're back, HD.
Hey, good to see you, HD.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Lazy
E [INAUDIBLE] Bullmania, where
today we're going to see the
greatest bucking bulls in all
of professional rodeo, and they're
going to be pitted against the
top bull riders in the world.
Speaking of bucking bulls,
that includes the greatest
one in the world today, the mighty
Thunderbolt. The $100,000 bull.
That's the amount of money that
somebody can win in the bonus
round [INAUDIBLE] and no man
has ever been to four seconds
on his back.
So you see, friends, this is
not a five and dimer deal.
No, sir.
This is a blue plate special.
You're going to see
the best of the best.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE].
Oh, look at this one.
Get back.
Which way is he going to go?
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: That's
a good solid score.
Here's David Burton next
going on one called Big Ben.
[INAUDIBLE]
Everything's set to go here.
[INAUDIBLE] no score.
Richard Rule is the cowboy,
New Deal is the bull under him.
He's a big, bad,
son-of-a-gun, [INAUDIBLE]..
Richard is there and
he's going to be.
[INAUDIBLE] outside foot.
Stay there, stay up on the rope.
He's out of his [INAUDIBLE]
and down he goes.
David Burton is next to go
on one called Black Bart,
and here's about
1,800 pounds of fury.
[INAUDIBLE]
Come on.
He's making a great ride.
[INAUDIBLE]
Come on, Dave, you can do it.
Stay there.
Look at the strength and
the power of the bull
can throw a man.
We hope it's not a
bad injury, but medics
are here to take care of him.
Come on, David, be all right.
How about a great big
old-fashioned home
town welcome for a
home grown cowboy
who's been away for awhile?
Next to go is HD Dalton
on House Wrecker.
Be the first ride
for what he hopes
will lead to the bonus round.
[INAUDIBLE] tear him
apart [INAUDIBLE]..
He's ready.
Ride this son-of-a-gun, HD.
Let's go.
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Oh,
what a great ride.
HD scores an 83 on that ride.
Welcome home, HD.
That's the way to go.
HD has just completed the
first step of the comeback
with that great ride,
but, oh, golly, he's
up against people
like world champions
Tough Hedeman and Jim Sharp.
There's still a
long, long way to go.
[INAUDIBLE] relying on balance.
Look at this one.
Lifting through the
power of this man.
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE].
Score one for the bull.
The bull is looking for
someone to play with.
Look out, Patch, [INAUDIBLE].
How about that?
Here's HD up on his
second ride, [INAUDIBLE]..
He didn't score too well
on that ride, just 76,
but that still puts
him in second place
just behind the leader Jim Sharp.
[INAUDIBLE]
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: A
great score, an 81.
HD Dalton, currently in
second place, is next to go.
He needs a high scored
ride on Best Western
if he's going to move
into that number one spot.
[INAUDIBLE]
Come on, HD, let's go for it.
Let's go.
Drop shoulder and look
at that great recovery.
[INAUDIBLE]
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Sensational.
He's done it with a score of 90.
He is hurt.
That leg just buckled under
him and this man is hurt.
As our rodeo clown escort this
man out of arena and this man
is hurt.
We're waiting to hear if HD's
injury is gonna keep him from
trying to ride son-of-a-gun
called Thunderbolt. If yes,
it means $100,000 to him.
Let's hope that HD will
be able to make this ride.
[INAUDIBLE], hurts like hell.
Well, what you going to do?
He's gonna ride that damn bull.
That's what he's going to do.
He hurt his leg.
I think it's broke.
Those people out
there didn't spend
their money to watch you walk.
They come here to watch
you ride that bull,
and that's what
you're going to do.
Jud, get in that satchel and
give me a bandage and some tape
out of it, please.
Now, you're going
to ride this bull
and I'm gonna tell you why.
You're riding this bull
because you're ready to ride.
You're going to
make magic tonight.
It's going to be you and
that bull for eight seconds.
Nothing else in the
whole world matters.
All right.
Thanks, Virgil.
Good luck, HD.
[INAUDIBLE].
You remember me too, don't you?
I remember you.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: HD's
at the shoot, folks.
He's going to ride,
banged up leg and all.
No way this cowboy's gonna
pass up his chance at $100,000.
And all he's got to do to get
it is stay on the back of a bull
that's never been ridden.
There they are right there.
Virgil, how could you
have let him come out here?
Nobody let me do anything,
and I hope you didn't come
down here and try and stop me.
And I'll tell you something
else, little girl.
If you punch me, I'll
turn you over my knee
and spank your bottom.
Virgil, what are you
going to do about this?
I'm gonna wish him luck.
Tell HD to kick ass.
Get out of the way.
Jesse, we still have
power of attorney.
Not now, you don't.
Come on, HD, stick to him.
Let's go, boys.
Let's go.
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: He's done it.
He's done it.
My god, he's done it.
HD Dalton has ridden
that $100,000 bull.
HD has done it.
Thunderbolt has been ridden.
He's won.
He's won.
HD has won.
He's won.
HD has won.
Thunderbolt has been conquered.
(CHANTING) HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
San Antonio Days,
cowboy saddle bronc
riding is an event
that we saw starting
out on the open range
many, many years ago.
The cowboys got
together [INAUDIBLE]..
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
the most dangerous event
we have in rodeo,
wild bull riding.
[INAUDIBLE]
Get in there.
Get his hand free.
Watch it.
[INAUDIBLE]
Watch him there.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE].
They did get the cowboy loose.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's
give those two rodeo clowns
and bullfighters a big round of
applause if you would, please?
[INAUDIBLE]
The clowns and the
cowboy are doing great.
Ladies and gentlemen,
that little ruckus down
in the bucket shoot is none
other than that legendary bull
Thunderbolt. [INAUDIBLE] that's
going to be performing for you.
This is a bull that's
never been ridden.
No one really knows where
this bull came from.
About five years ago some
very severe destruction
came through the owner's
ranch, [INAUDIBLE]
an enormous young
bull came walking
out from this real heavy
rain, [INAUDIBLE] and stayed.
Later this bull was named
Thunderbolt. [INAUDIBLE]..
Remember, this bull has never been
ridden, ladies and gentlemen.
The only one in the rodeo
that has never been ridden.
So let's [INAUDIBLE]
welcome Mr. Hank Peterson,
San Antonio, Texas cowboy, home
of [INAUDIBLE] in shoot number
five today.
[INAUDIBLE]
OK.
[CHEERING]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE]
let's give a big round
of applause [INAUDIBLE].
a bull like that.
You two [INAUDIBLE]
better watch out.
He will definitely horn
in on your business.
Here, boy.
Here, boy.
Give me his arm.
You just hold his head,
still traction on his neck.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Ladies and
gentlemen, I know you're all
concerned about this cowboy.
That's HD Dalton, folks,
one of our top bull riders.
He was just filling in for a
buddy today playing the clown.
Looks like it was his unlucky day.
Keep it straight as possible.
RODEO ANNOUNCER:
We hope he only has
the breath knocked out
of him, but as you saw,
he took a pretty bad hooking.
We'll keep you posted as soon as
the paramedics get information
back up to us, and
we'll be bringing
his condition back to you just as
soon as it's available to us.
Once again, as the
ambulance leaves,
let's put our hands together.
Perhaps he can hear
us in the ambulance.
Let's let him know what we
appreciate what a fine effort
this young man made to get
this cowboy out of the way
and try to keep him from
having injuries himself.
[SIRENS]
Nope.
Do you know your name?
HD.
Great.
Are you hurting anywhere?
Yeah, everywhere.
Get this damn makeup off.
OK, wait, sir.
Just a minute.
Just a minute.
OK, I'll wipe that off.
You just need to relax.
[MUSIC - WILLIE
NELSON, "MY HEROES
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS"]
I grew up dreaming
of being a cowboy
and loving the cowboy ways.
Pursuing the life of
my high riding heroes,
I burned up my childhood days.
I learned all the rules
of a modern day drifter,
don't you hold on
to nothing too long.
Just take what you
need from the ladies,
then leave them with the
words of a sad country song.
My heroes have
always been cowboys.
Good as new.
[MUSIC - WILLIE
NELSON, "MY HEROES
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS"]
Still are, it seems.
Sadly, in search of, but one
step in back of themselves
and they're slow moving dreams.
Sadly, in search of, and
step in back of themselves
and they're slow moving dreams.
Anybody home?
Hello?
Dad?
Jeeter?
Here, boy.
Hey, HD, where you been hiding?
I've been around.
Hi, darling.
HD, look at you.
Mr. Hornby?
Look who's here.
I'll call you right.
Whoa.
Good golly, Miss Molly.
Look what the cat drug in.
How are you?
Does Cheryl know you're here?
Uh-uhn.
Well, you just missed
her 15 minutes ago,
and she's not going to be
back till late afternoon.
Where's Dad?
You went by the house?
Yeah, nobody there.
Well, he's at Chillicothe.
What the hell's he doing there?
We thought it would be best.
He's just not himself anymore.
We.
Come by the house
tonight for dinner.
Cheryl... sweet thing, would you
please get my wife on the phone
right now?
[MUSIC - JIM REEVES, "BILLY
BAYOU"]
Back about 1800 and
some, a Louisiana couple
had a redheaded son.
No name suited him, Jim,
Jack, or Joe, so they
just called him Billy Bayou.
Billy, Billy Bayou,
watch where you go.
You're walking on quicksand.
Walk slow.
Billy, Billy Bayou,
watch what you say.
A pretty girl look at
you one of these days.
Billy was boy, kind of big
for his size, red hair and
freckles, and big blue eyes.
13 years from the day he was born,
Billy fought the battle
of Little Big Horn.
Billy, Billy Bayou.
Hello?
Can I help you?
Jesse Dalton's room.
Room number one,
first one on the right.
Thanks.
TV EVANGELIST: All
right, thank you, Donna.
You need that.
You'll enjoy it, you'll love it.
Now...
Junior?
Hm?
Hey.
Hey, Junior.
Hey, there, Hank.
Hey, how you been doing?
Okey dokey.
Okey dokey.
Them nurses, they're mean.
Really?
We'll just have to see about that.
TV EVANGELIST:
Heaven and the earth
calling into existence now.
The heavens and the earth here.
We understand that the worlds
were framed, not with things
which do appear, Paul says.
Angels ruled in reigned back here.
The person we know of is Lucifer
in Isaiah the 14 chapter.
Pictures his downfall.
I didn't know you were such
a Dolly Parton fan, Junior.
Yes, I love her.
Fine Christian lady.
That's why the Lord blessed
her with such abundance.
She sings a song in every show
she does, a religious song,
and it's not for show.
She does it from her heart.
You know what I mean?
Where's my daddy, Junior?
Oh, he's outside.
Where, out there?
He's playing with them birds.
I'll see you later,
Junior, all right?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll see you later.
TV EVANGELIST: Laid the
foundation of this earth.
So your read in the beginning, God
created it all into existence.
What you doing up there?
Just trying to
stay above the crowd.
What are you doing down there?
Just trying to get
by without shoving.
So how you've been doing?
I have been making it.
No use complaining.
You been gone a long time.
Yeah, I've been chasing them
white lines on the highway.
You know the worst
thing about getting old?
No, sir.
Getting old.
You've seen Cheryl?
No, sir.
I'm supposed to go over
there tonight for dinner.
Food in here is like pasteboard,
but most these goats in
here don't taste or smell,
so it don't make any
difference anyway.
So where you been?
On down the road.
Honky tonk life, huh?
So why are you here?
Figured I'd take a break.
You're hurting or
you wouldn't be here.
Yeah, a little bit.
Looks like you're
doing a first class
job of wrecking yourself.
Well, thanks.
And why you walking funny?
It's how I walk.
I'm sorry, if you
think it's funny.
Still got that same
old attitude, ain't you?
You got any money?
Yeah, some.
Why, you need some?
Yeah.
Bring me a fifth of Jack Daniels.
They'll let you have that in here?
If I could do what I
wanted, I wouldn't be in here.
Staying out at the place?
Yes, sir, I thought I would.
How's it look?
Lonely.
How long you going to be here?
Uh, I don't know.
Kind of depends.
Well, you know where to find me.
Jolie?
Hello, HD.
I didn't know you were here.
I didn't know you were back.
Just got in today.
Gonna be staying?
I don't know.
That sounds like you.
What are you looking for?
A kind word.
Well, I haven't had to nice
talk anyone in a long time.
I'll be seeing you?
I live here.
You having a party?
[MUSIC - KEITH WHITLEY, "I'M
OVER YOU"]
Where there's a cloud
don't mean there's rain.
Tears in my eyes don't
mean there's pain.
Don't flatter
yourself, I'm over you.
Things aren't always
what they seem.
You can't believe everything
you read on my face.
I'm over you.
You heard I'm
drinking more than I...
Why didn't you tell
anybody you were coming?
Oh, I didn't think about it.
Oh, you never do think about
it, you good for nothing.
Look at you.
You're too skinny.
Get in here.
Come on.
I'll be right back.
A Jack Daniel's for you, honey.
HD, it's good to see you.
Howdy.
Make yourself at home, please?
Let me fix you a drink.
What are you drinking?
I never touch the stuff.
How come?
Screws up your personality.
Hm.
Well, you been out
to the rest home?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I was out there this afternoon.
Yeah.
It's a nice place to retire
with all those nice people
taking care of you.
Pathetic.
The rooms are nice.
Yeah, sure, if you don't
mind the smell of piss.
Will you get out here?
Your old man put up
a good fight on this,
but you've got to face the
cold hard facts sometime.
Oh, hell, HD, I know you
hate seeing him out there.
None of us like
it, but believe me,
I think it's the best thing.
I think it's best for all of us.
And besides, he's got
friends out there.
You know Junior.
Yeah, I've known
Junior my whole life.
Well, then, you know what I mean.
He's great company for Jesse.
Well, hell, yes.
There's nothing I'd like better
than talking to Junior all day.
So, you hungry?
I am.
I've been running like an ape
with his ass on fire all day.
I saw Daddy today.
How was he?
He was up a tree.
You know, there's a
good deal of interest
on that land your dad owns.
Now I think you ought to
talk to the real estate boys
while you're still around here.
What for?
Well, it doesn't hurt to talk.
No, it doesn't hurt to talk.
Well, it ain't my land.
HD, I know you're
tired of hearing this,
but Jesse's getting old.
How was he today?
I don't understand why he's there.
You don't understand?
No, I don't.
Let me run this by you.
Does he sound like
the kind of a man that
could take care of himself?
I know he's getting old, I
know he rambles and forgets.
Is that any reason to put
him in that God damn place?
Now you're talking about selling
his land like he was dead.
He ain't dead.
He's alive.
Who the hell do you two
think you are anyway?
Well, I think that
I'm his daughter,
and I think that I've
been the one here
looking after him
while you've been
off playing cowboy somewhere.
I knew you'd accuse me.
I knew you would.
I knew you'd accuse me.
I ain't accusing
nobody of nothing.
I just want to know what
the hell's going on.
I'll tell you what
the hell's going on.
Cheryl has been
through a lot with him.
Now it's going to take some time,
but you're going
to get used to it.
Trust me.
For once in your
life, just trust me.
HD, I tried everything.
I did.
I hired a woman to go out there
and cook and clean for him,
you know, kind of
watch after the place,
but, no, he ran her off.
And then I brought
him here, and, God,
you should have seen the two
of them at the dinner table
together.
He did everything
but sit in my food.
And you know that I'm not
one of Jesse's favorites.
He forgets things, HD.
He's not who he used to be.
Is that right?
Well, then, who is he?
How long are you going
to be around here anyway?
A while.
Long enough to mend.
You're still riding bulls.
Aren't you through with that?
You know, it's a big mistake
to stay at the fair too long.
The smart ones quit.
It's over when it's over.
Don't leave.
HD, please, just stay for supper.
Did you even bother to
go out and feed Jeeter?
We looked everywhere for
that dumb dog of yours.
Yeah, well, he'd probably run off.
Probably scared you were gonna put
him in a God damn rest home.
[PHONE RINGING]
Jud, get the phone.
Jud, when are you
going to fix my bike?
Shut up, Becky.
Jud, now.
Jud!
Hello?
HD: Jolie?
I hope it ain't too
late to be calling.
Um, no, I got a teenage son.
His friends don't ever seem
to think it's too late.
Girl, I've heard
the opposite all day.
JOLIE: What do you mean?
It don't matter.
It's just a lot of
things have changed.
That's right.
They have.
I was wondering if maybe
we could have dinner?
Hold on.
I don't think so, HD.
You know, it's really hard
for me to get away at night.
HD: Maybe lunch then?
No, that's worse.
Well, you tell me.
You must have a few minutes
to give an old friend.
Look, you know, I'm trying to
get everyone in bed right now.
It's real hard.
I'd just like to spend
a little time with you,
you know, talk about things.
Would you guys
knock it off, please?
I'm trying to talk on the phone.
Now.
Shut up.
HD, this is a really
bad time for me.
Hell, Jolie, I don't want
to shove you or nothing.
I mean, if it ain't...
OK.
Well, Becky, you know,
my daughter, she's
in this little dance class,
and they're performing
at the park on Saturday.
And well, there's going to
be a lot of people there,
and I'll be there, and, well,
I mean you could show up.
It's 2 o'clock.
A dance in the park?
I gotta go.
Bye.
Welcome home, HD.
RODEO ANNOUNCER
(VOICEOVER): Ladies
and gentlemen, [INAUDIBLE].
HD just scored a second place.
[APPLAUSE]
RODEO ANNOUNCER (VOICEOVER):
That was HD Dalton on Chisel.
Remember this bull has never been
ridden, ladies and gentlemen.
The only one in the rodeo today
that has ever been ridden.
[CROWD GASPING]
I really love that
song, you know that?
Reminds me of my fifth wife.
Play, play, play.
Well, what do you
say there, Shotgun?
Hey.
You've been away for a while.
Yeah, how long you been, HD?
I don't know, a couple years.
Couple of years?
Shit, HD, I ain't
seen you around here
for at least five years.
Five?
Could be.
I don't blame him.
Not if I was at the bottom
of the barrel playing
a rodeo clown.
Just helped a buddy out one night.
Painted my face and
crawled in the barrel.
Just like his daddy.
When you're needing help,
Jesse won't let you down.
You remember when
you used to out them
peanuts in your soda pop, HD?
Last time I see this
old cowboy ride was over
in Weathering, I believe,
and if I'm not incorrect,
he drew down a third place.
Is that right?
It was a second.
I knew that.
I was just pulling your leg.
Where's that old coot Jesse
hiding out these days?
He's out at Chillicothe.
Good god almighty, HD.
I didn't know that.
How's he like it?
He don't.
That place will drive you nuts.
I was out there
for about six week,
they had it down
where they expected
me to fart on schedule.
They drive you
crazy in that place.
I ain't never been on a
schedule my whole damn life.
You don't mind if
I take some dominoes?
Take that box on that table.
They're mine.
Ain't that just like a rodeo bum,
you never got a dime
for nothing, do you?
That why you went
into that barrel?
You licking up all the leftovers?
Is that what you wanted?
You son of a bitch.
I'm gonna kick your ass for that.
I don't know about that, Bubba.
Better get in line.
See you later, boys.
Hey, Skeet, we gonna
see you ride in Bullmania?
HD: I don't know, maybe.
Maybe knock your damn head off.
Who's up?
Who's up?
Oh, Misty, did you
get that poison ivy
at yesterday's church picnic?
Uh-huh.
And the bad part is is that
my boyfriend got it too
and he wasn't even there.
Hey, I saw you on TV.
HD: You did?
He watches everything.
Worse than some kid.
HD: Ain't nothing
wrong with watching TV.
There is when you're
in the same room
with it going day and night.
He said that all people
that are on TV are whores.
That ain't very
nice of him, is it?
They can't here him.
What'd you bring me?
All right, Junior,
time for a shampoo.
No, I don't want to.
He hates to get his hair
washed, but it has to be done.
I don't want to do it.
Every week it's a fight.
I'll be back.
Oh.
[INAUDIBLE], almost caught me.
Will she remember?
Of course, she'll remember.
She'll be back.
Lord, he hates to
get his hair washed.
They'll both be soaking
wet by time she gets done.
How is it?
It tastes just like it used to.
Hey, brought some dominoes.
I figured we might
have a little fun.
Not in this nuthouse.
Damn, I sure wish I could
get out of this place.
What's stopping you?
You want to go, let's go.
You really mean that?
Sure, I mean it.
Let's go.
Right now?
Right now.
Junior, come on with us.
My roommate's always leave me.
I always stay.
I'm ready.
Let's get out of here before
that old witch comes back.
Don't forget to wash your hair.
[MUSIC - PAUL OVERSTREET,
"SEEING MY FATHER IN ME"]
I'm seeing my father in me.
Yes, it's how it's meant to be.
And I find I'm more and
more like him each day.
I see them.
They're headed for the farm.
Right, I'm on my way.
Clear.
[MUSIC - PAUL OVERSTREET,
"SEEING MY FATHER IN ME"]
I notice I talk the way he talks.
I'm starting to see
my father in me.
And I'm happy to
see my father in me.
[HONKING]
Virgil.
Hey.
HD, how you doing?
Man, I didn't know
you was in the service.
It's just something to do.
You look about the same.
Mean.
What'd you do, arrest my dog?
Just feeding him.
Jeeter.
Come here, boy.
Come here.
Yeah.
Thanks, Virgil.
No problem.
I didn't come out here
to bring our dog back.
You didn't come out here
to visit either, did you?
VIRGIL: There's folks
looking for you, Shotgun.
Oh, hell.
I knew it.
There's a report out that
your daddy was kidnapped.
Kidnapped?
Man, we just left.
Yeah.
Sometimes you ought
to tell somebody, HD.
What the hell for?
It's up to him if he stays there.
Cheryl, she's upset.
Yeah, she probably is.
This is my house,
and I'm not leaving.
It's all right
with me, Mr. Dalton.
I really don't know
all that's going on.
Just a family matter, Virge.
I'd rather go after serial killers
than getting in the middle
of a family squabble.
Ain't gonna be no squabble.
I'll talk to Cheryl.
I'm sure glad to hear you say
that because here she comes.
I hope it hurts.
VIRGIL: Hold on, Cheryl.
No, Virgil, you've done your job.
It's a family matter
from here on out.
Just stay out.
What do you think you're doing?
You scared the hell out of me.
Have you gone crazy or what?
Of all the stupid things
I have ever heard.
I hope the rest home
presses charges.
I do.
You outta be locked up.
You ought to be in jail somewhere.
Who the hell died
and made you boss?
I'm talking to, girl.
Don't touch me.
You shut up and listen.
He don't belong in that place.
It'll kill him.
Well, who's going
to take care of him?
- Me.
- You?
Yeah, me.
You can't take care of yourself.
What are you going to do,
sell that precious pickup
truck of yours?
Yeah, you'll take care of him.
You'll take care of him until you
tramp off to some damn rodeo,
and then it's my problem.
Don't you worry about it.
I'll take care of him.
You're both crazy, you know that?
You're gonna start fighting
like cats and dogs the minute
you start reliving the past.
Come on, Daddy.
He ain't going nowhere.
Stay right there.
[HONKING]
Add one more to the picnic.
Is everything OK?
No, everything's not OK.
They're both crazy.
Dad, are you going
back to Chillicothe?
Oh, no, HD here is
going to play nursemaid.
Are they going to
sleep here together?
I don't know, Clint, but
you can bet one thing, when
the trouble starts, I'm going to
be the one that hears about it.
I don't know what's going on here,
but if you want my opinion...
Well, thank you.
Thank you very much for
your attention, gentlemen.
You want me, you know
where to find me.
It's like talking to
two uncaged badgers.
Cheryl!
Damn it.
If it's not one
thing, it's another.
I guess they handled
that situation pretty well.
Shotgun?
Huh?
I ain't seen you sack like
that since our senior year.
HD, welcome home.
Thanks, Virgil.
VIRGIL: Mr. Dalton.
See you, Virgil.
Well, that's the end of that.
That wasn't too bad.
[LAUGHING]
Haven't you shaved yet?
No, sir, I was waiting
till you was done it here.
I always shave first.
First thing every morning.
I'd rather be caught
out without my pants
than to start the
day without shaving.
Uh-huh.
What the hell's that?
What this?
A throwaway razor.
You use those little old
cheap throwaway razors?
Yes, sir.
There ought to be
a law against them.
HD: Uh-huh.
I heard they weren't
any good anyway.
HD: They're all right.
They don't cost much.
You just use them a few
times and throw them away.
Sounds like progress to me.
Of course, there never
was anything better
than a straight edge razor.
Uh-huh.
When did you start
shaving that way?
What way?
Well, crossways like
you was doing there.
I always stick to a
smooth up and down stroke.
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
Well, when did you start that?
I don't... ow.
What'd you do, cut yourself?
No, that's why I'm bleeding.
Well, now you don't
need to get smart alecky.
I didn't teach you
to shave that way.
It's those damn little
old things there.
They'll do it every time.
What the hell we talking about?
Shaving, I thought.
Why don't you go feed Jeeter?
I've already fed Jeeter.
Ow.
God.
That razor about
chewed you up, didn't it?
Yes, sir.
What you getting
all duded up about?
I'm going into town.
Well, you don't need to get
all gussied up to go into town.
Well, that's right.
I'm going to see a little
girl dance in the park.
Well, hell, if you don't
want to tell me, just say so.
Daddy, you want to
ride to town with me?
Nope.
You're sure?
Yep.
You're welcome to come along.
Go on.
I'll be all right.
Be good to have a
little peace and quiet.
You sure?
Yep.
Be back in a couple hours.
Don't hurry.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Toot, toot,
Tootsie, goodbye.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry.
The choo choo train that
takes me away from you.
No words can tell
how sad it makes me.
Kiss me, Tootsie, and
then do it over again.
Watch for the mail,
I'll never fail.
If you don't get a letter,
then you'll know I'm in jail.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry.
Which ones yours?
The prettiest.
No, she's the tallest
one in the center.
(SINGING) Toot, toot,
Tootsie, don't cry.
The choo choo train that
takes me away from you.
No words can tell
how sad it makes me.
Kiss me, Tootsie, and
then do it over again.
Watch for the mail,
I'll never fail.
If you don't get a letter,
then you'll know I'm in jail.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, don't cry.
Toot, toot, Tootsie, goodbye.
That's Becky's last
number, unless you want
to stay for the rest of them?
Uh-uhn.
Mom?
Oh, sweetie, you were fabulous.
So good.
Perfect.
HD, this is Becky.
Becky, this is HD.
He came by here today
to see you dance.
Hi, Becky.
I loved you.
Thanks.
HD, this is my son Jud.
Jud.
Jud, you and Becky got
a ride with the Johnsons.
I'm going to visit with HD
and pick up some groceries.
If that's OK with you?
Uh-huh.
You watch Becky for me?
Great.
I won't be long.
(MOCKING) I won't be long.
Excuse me.
I told you I didn't want
you using this shit.
Great looking kids.
Yeah, thanks.
Jud gets a little
sullen sometimes.
I guess it's hard
living with two females.
Yeah.
I guess he misses his dad.
Sorry to hear about Ed's accident.
It must have been horrible.
Yeah, it was horrible.
I don't really want
to talk about it.
Why don't you tell me
what's going on with you.
Seems like old times.
You, me, and a pickup.
That was a different time,
and I was a different person.
Feels the same to me.
Damn toy food.
Kids love them.
You stick them in the microwave
for about four minutes,
and, boom, you got a meal.
Ought to be a law against it.
Can't cook it yourself,
you shouldn't eat it.
Well, it looks like
you're a real gourmet.
Damn straight.
I'm an expert.
They had hamburgers
all over the country.
Trick is, baste them in
beer, smother them in garlic,
just a touch if chili sauce.
Jolie, you ever think
about getting old?
Give me a break.
What did you think I'd
looked like after 14 years?
I'm not talking about you.
I mean, just plain getting old.
I got two kids.
I don't have time
to think about that.
There ought to be
a law against it.
Against what?
There ought to be a damn
special police force that when
you get too old, they
just come and arrest
you, and throw your ass in
one of them old age homes.
At least then when
you got stuck there
you know what your crime was.
Got a lot on your
mind, don't you, HD?
Yeah.
Jolie, do you think that maybe
we could have a real date?
I mean, like for dinner or some...
Oh, god, I sound like
a sappy teenager.
Sorry I said anything.
Forget the whole thing.
Didn't mean it.
You're still something else.
You make me laugh.
I'll go out on a real date
for dinner or something.
Go on.
Go on.
He called me.
Said he hadn't eaten
all day, and there
was nothing in the house.
And you were gone.
I told you I'd be
back in a couple hours.
Been longer than that.
I stopped off to get some things.
Well, I was starved.
Well, we've got plenty now.
I wasn't gone that long.
Well, it was long enough
for him to get hungry.
Cheryl.
I'll handle it.
It ain't your problem anymore.
Oh, it's not?
Well, tell me, what do
I do when he calls me
and he needs clean clothes
or something to eat,
or maybe he's confused, he
needs to know what day it is?
Then I'll be here.
No, you won't.
You'll be here until
you can rodeo again,
and then you're going to be gone.
I know, HD.
You're selfish.
You think you're too good
to work like everybody else.
You don't care what happens here.
If I didn't care, I
wouldn't have broke him out.
Broke him out?
God, listen to you.
You sound like you've
just pulled off
some great romantic escapade.
We'll Well, grow up.
What the hell's the
matter with you, Sis?
I'm mad.
God.
It's one thing for you to kind
of just slouch through life.
It's your life.
Fine.
But what you have done here
is so typically irresponsible,
and I know who's going to
have to pick up your mess
when you're gone.
As usual, it's going to be me.
Cheryl, I promise you, I'm
going to see this one through.
How?
Are you going to
take him with you?
You know, you either
got to get a day job
or you have to go
back to rodeoing,
and either way, he is a problem.
I don't know.
I'll work it out.
Just don't give up on him.
He never quit on us.
HD, he cannot take
care of himself.
He needs a babysitter.
He ain't an old pair of
boots going to Goodwill.
He's a hero.
He's my hero.
You don't put away your heroes.
Oh, really?
Well, tell me what do you
do with them when they are
old and sick and
tired and worn out
and unable to function anymore?
You honor them, Cheryl.
You honor them.
They ain't plastic.
You don't throw them away.
You ever think about getting old?
Of course, I do.
You want to be in
that rest home, Cheryl?
Is that what you want?
It could happen to you.
You want your kids to put
you in a damn home some day?
[BARKING]
[COUGHING]
Dad?
Dad?
Jesus.
Oh, god.
Come on, Jeeter, get out here.
Dad, what you trying to
do, burn down the house?
Hey, Daddy, you left
bacon grease on the fire.
The house is full of smoke.
God damn.
You could have burned
the house down.
You should have been up.
Probably would have
noticed if you'd been up.
I put it out.
That's good thinking.
Dad, you could have
set the house on fire.
But I didn't, and
that's what counts.
I just about got this little
old puddle jumper started.
Plugs was bad in it.
I'm gonna open up the
windows, clear out the smoke.
Good thinking.
HD?
What happened?
Left the skillet in the fire.
Shit, I've done that before.
That ain't nothing.
That old man's gonna kill us both.
Oh, god.
Wow.
How'd you get that?
You wear that all the time?
What do you want?
I want to ride bulls,
like, like you do.
Oh, yeah.
I don't think your
mama's going to be too
excited about you riding bulls.
That's why I came out to see you.
I thought if I could get you
to help me, it might, you know,
smooth things out with her.
Yeah, well, it just might.
Look, we're going to have a
little understanding first.
I don't want to never hear you
talking back to your momma.
Me?
Whoa.
Whoa.
I never want to hear
you talking vulgar.
I don't.
Give me that dip.
What?
In your back pocket,
son, hand it over.
I don't won't you using
this sh... stuff neither.
You can learn a
bunch on this thing.
All right, cover this
sucker with a carpet
so it's more like a bull's hide.
It's loose like a bull's hide plus
it'll give you something to dig
your spurs into, hang on with.
You got grommets there,
there, there, and there.
Attach this one with a
rope to that post there.
One to that one there.
One...
[CAR APPROACHING]
What the hell?
What happened?
You dad had a little
accident with the tractor.
Accident?
Oh, it wasn't really an accident.
You OK, Daddy?
How you doing there?
Fine.
Need some help with this thing?
Yeah.
You're Jolie's boy, aren't you?
Yep/ Did HD learn on this?
Yes, sir.
Him and his buddies, they'd
put one of these things
together every weekend.
They'd ride it till
they wore it out
or somebody got an arm broke.
What happened, Virgil?
He said he was going
to mow the ditch over
at Mrs. Miller's house.
He and a woman in a
Ford station wagon,
they hit the bridge
about the same time.
He veered off and hit
the bridge railing.
Just about scared her to death.
- Didn't hurt her?
- No.
No.
He didn't even touch the car.
I don't think it hurt
the tractor either.
It's up Mustang Gas.
Hand me that pipe there.
Here you go.
Do you know what
they do with this?
No.
What in the hell
is that in your ear?
I'll be damned.
Well, they take this pipe and
they make a place for your knee
on each side of this barrel.
That way you ride a little better.
[INAUDIBLE] quite so round.
Thanks, Virgil.
I really appreciate this.
Any time, Shotgun.
Get that rope there and
tie on that post right there.
Man, this ain't gonna be easy.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING]
JOLIE: I sure had a
good time tonight.
I'm glad we did this.
HD: Me too.
So, um, how's Jud
doing on the rig?
Good, he's learning
the same way I did.
Good.
I had some big
dreams in them days.
You sure did.
Tell me this, all those
years on the road,
think it was worth it?
I don't know.
If you're talking about
all the crap I've taken,
lousy food, and the busted bones,
the mornings I woke up
with no idea where I was,
or who I was, no,
nothing was worth that.
Then why'd you keep doing it?
Because when I'm on that bull
and everything's going right,
right then it's the best.
You know what I'm saying?
Not really.
OK, like, race car drivers
and pilots, people like that
are running machines that
are built to be controlled,
but the bull's uncontrolled.
He don't want me on his back.
He wants me on the ground
where he can dance on me.
He's wild and free,
just a part of nature.
And sometimes, when the chute
opens, and they turn us loose,
just sometimes,
something magic happens,
and I'm a part of that animal.
For 8 seconds, I get to be
wild and free and uncontrolled.
And when I make that right,
and then I hit the ground
and raise my hands, everybody
yells, it is worth it.
It sure is pretty.
Yeah, it sure is.
Remember?
Yes.
Yes, I remember.
What's wrong?
You broke my heart when you left.
Took a long time trying
to get over you, HD.
Then I met someone else.
Thank god for Ed.
Forgot about you.
I never forgot about you.
Oh, that's hard to prove by me.
What, did you think I was
just here frozen in time
waiting for you to come back?
You think the world just stops
because you're not around?
You can't leave me and
then walk back into town
and just pick up
where you left off.
There's been a lot
of living going on.
While you've been out
chasing your dreams,
I've been stuck
here standing still,
and it hasn't all been
fun, and it's been lonely.
I needed you, and you left.
All you ever needed
were your damned rodeos,
and now you think you can just
waltz right back into my life,
and take me for some
dancing and a little dinner
and to the grocery store, then
bring me out under the stars.
I mean, is that what
you think you can...
Well, you're probably right, but
you're the only one that could.
You bastard.
Jolie.
I missed you.
I missed you bad.
You think your
dad's been watching?
Yeah, you can bet on it.
Good night, Mr. Dalton.
Goodnight, Jolie.
[LAUGHING]
There he was, the
biggest, meanest looking
bull I've ever seen in my life.
Looked like a nightmare from hell.
He had me trapped.
There wasn't nothing I
could do but face him,
so I stood my ground.
I knew there was only
one way to stop him,
but I didn't have time.
Because there was 2,000
pounds of hide and horns
running at me.
You know what I did, son?
I dove into that ground like
a rock, and I reached up
and I grabbed a
handful of testicles.
You know what testicles are, son?
Balls.
Balls.
Stopped that bastard
right in his tracks.
The moral to mt
story is, son, when
you've got them by the balls,
you can stop them on a dime.
You're a lot of help.
Come on, Jud, we've
got some work to do.
[PHONE RINGING]
Got any more stories?
Yeah, I got another
one, but I don't
want him to hear it though.
I'll get down her with you.
Hello?
Jolie.
Hm?
Yeah, sure, right away.
Yeah, right now.
OK.
Jolie?
Jolie?
Jolie?
What happened?
I thought you was hurt.
Come on in.
You want some coffee?
Uh-uhn.
What's going on?
What's going on?
Sit down.
That's why I asked
you to come here
this morning, because
I thought maybe you
could tell me what's going on.
I don't understand.
You don't understand?
That's the problem.
You don't understand.
Let me help you.
Now I'm going to put
this on your terms.
The way I figure it, I've
already struck out twice,
so I was wondering if last
night was strike three.
Last night was wonderful.
It was wonderful?
How wonderful was it, HD?
Was it wonderful enough
to keep you here?
You know, I was touched when
you told me that you felt bad
about Ed's accident, and
then I remembered that I
never even heard from you.
You didn't call me.
You didn't write me a letter.
You didn't even ask any of
my friends how I was doing.
I guess you were just
at one of your rodeos
down in Arkansas or Texas.
Jolie, what are you talking about?
All you cowboys, you're all alike.
You just shuffle in and you
grin and you never grow up.
You're all hat and
you're no cattle.
I'm hurting, HD.
I just want to know
if it's going to stop.
What are we doing?
What are we doing?
Just tell me what we're doing.
You know me, Jolly.
I never did know what to say
to a woman till after midnight.
Oh, god.
I didn't mean that.
I really didn't mean that.
Please, don't cry.
Don't feel bad.
Please?
Why, HD?
Because it's too real for you?
I am real, and I
come with baggage.
I've got two kids, and I'm
looking for more than just
a good time on a Saturday night.
Me too.
Oh, really?
I never knew till right now.
What?
I love you.
I'm in love with you,
and I ain't leaving.
I ain't going nowhere.
I love you.
Thank you.
Oh, I love you.
You going to be all right?
Yep.
You sure you ain't
going to get hungry on me
and be starving before I get back?
No.
Good enough.
I'm going to Cheryl's.
Well, be sure and give my best
to your brother-in-law Clint.
How do you want our steak, Teresa?
Medium is great.
Thanks.
Rex?
Rare, please.
HD?
As long as it ain't breathing.
OK.
HD, that's rare.
[BUG ZAPPER]
Whoa.
How do you like my bug light?
Bugs fly into that
and fry like burgers.
I hate the think.
I wish you'd turn it off.
Well, Cheryl,
that's what's keeping
the bugs out of the meat, OK?
HD, we heard about
Daddy's accident.
Is he all right?
Oh, yeah, it's nothing.
He just got a bloody nose.
He wanted to ignore,
so that's what I did.
Something awful is
going to happen to him.
OK, OK, hold it down a minute.
Let's take a walk, OK?
Rex?
Yo.
Come and mind the barbecue?
Absolutely.
Let's go around the house.
HD, this is the right thing to do.
I haven't wanted to tell you this,
but it's costing us a fortune
to keep him at the rest home,
and Medicare is not paying a dime.
Yeah, you got nothing
to worry about, because he
ain't going to be there.
Listen to me, I would
do anything for Jesse,
but the way the government's
got everything all screwed up,
it's just plain silly for his land
to sit there while it
could be working for him.
It's just not good business.
What the hell's he talking about?
I'll tell you what
we're talking about.
I don't know if Daddy's told you.
He probably doesn't
even remember it,
but he signed his power
of attorney over to me.
Now, I don't want to
do it this way, HD,
but I will if I have to.
I want you to work
with us on this,
but Daddy should be in that home.
Yeah.
Oh, I understand.
You don't want to sell him out,
but you just might have to.
She don't know.
She don't care.
Nobody knows.
Nobody cares.
Need any help?
I can make it by myself.
When did that happen?
What difference does it make?
None, I guess.
You get hurt, you get up.
You go on, that's rodeo.
Least you could've told me.
Oh, I'm sorry, sir, but
I'd be hurting just the same.
Sometimes it helps to
share your pain, son.
HD: It's my pain.
I;m the one that's
got to live with it.
That's just like you.
You're just going to
do what you want to do.
What are you yelling at?
Well, you're not going
to tell anybody anything.
You're not going to
listen to anybody.
Listen?
That's all I ever did
with you is listen.
Listen to me?
Hell, yes, listen.
You told me everything.
You told me what
schools I should go to.
You told me what
sports I should play.
You even god damn
told me when to ride.
You had the answer to everything.
I thought that's what a
father was supposed to do, help
his kids with their decisions.
Yeah, they was your
decisions, not mine.
Never once did you ask
me what I wanted to do.
We talked all the time.
No, we didn't.
You talked, I listened.
That's all I ever did was listen.
I didn't know you felt that way.
You never asked.
I thought I understood
what you wanted.
I didn't know it was
to get rid of me.
Wait, get rid...
I wouldn't be here if I
didn't want to be with you.
I did the best I
could for you kids.
But going down the road wasn't
any place for a family man,
so I stayed home.
I left, you stayed.
I did it.
You didn't even try.
You put that goddamn guilt
trip on me because I did
what you was never able to do.
It was your mom, son.
The truth is with her,
I didn't want to leave.
And then we lost her,
and then you left.
I'm here now.
I'm still hurting, son.
You just got to figure
out some way to get along.
I just don't know
what to say anymore.
You could say you're
going to make me the best
damn hamburger I've
ever had without burning
down the damn house.
Yeah, I'll put just a little
touch of chili sauce on it.
Basted in beer,
smothered the garlic.
What are you doing here?
Thinking.
I was looking for you.
Saw your pick up.
Something wrong?
Well, I haven't heard from you,
and, well, the other
day, you said...
And then I didn't see
you, and I didn't...
You didn't call and...
Jolie, come here.
HD, you scared the shit out of me.
I thought you changed your mind.
Not about us, never.
Come on.
It's just about money.
I've got to get my
hands on a lot of money
to fight my sister, and the
only way I know how to do that
is to ride that damn bulls.
You're already broken up.
It's too dangerous.
You can't go back to that.
Jolie, it's the only
thing I know how to do.
It's the only thing I can do.
What's the matter, son?
Uh, Everything's just crowding in
on me, pushing me for answers.
All the answers involve money.
They usually do.
I think I'm going to go after
that big money at Bullmania.
I know that all
sounds sweet, but are
you sure you're up to it?
No, sir.
I'm going to need some help.
All right, son,
let's rise and shine.
[INAUDIBLE] 10 miles
from here in a long trot.
Come on, let's go.
That's good.
Now put them all back
where they came from.
Son, roping in like dancing.
Once you get out time, you
probably won't catch it.
Step back there just a little.
That's enough.
Now you watch where my hand
is when I deliver that rope.
How about getting old
dad one of them beers?
Yes, sir.
What the hell happened to you?
Just trying to get my head right.
Let's go.
You're finally getting
with the program, huh?
Yeah, that looks better.
You boys look so pretty, that I'm
gonna buy you some breakfast.
Go back for some more.
Mr. Dalton, think I'll get
you for cruel and unusual
punishment.
Yeah.
Looks like he's in the Army.
Going to war.
What's that got to
do with bull riding?
It's just a small part
of the big picture, Virgil.
Mr. Dalton, you would've made
a hell of a football coach.
You been running all these years?
A little bit.
Oh, man, more than a little bit.
Stay with him, son.
You got one more to go before
you get to ride for the money.
Stay with it.
[INAUDIBLE], boy.
Rodeo is getting your head right.
He could be crippled
for life on that bull.
That's right.
But now his mind's crippled.
If he doesn't get his head right,
it's not going to
matter about his back.
Yeah, well, it matters to me.
When's he gonna come down?
Tonight.
He's got to ride
three bulls and score
real big to get that
bonus bull, and that barn
is his third bull.
Third bull.
Bullshit.
You're all crazy.
She talks kind of
dirty, don't she, son?
Sure does.
Won't be able to do much today.
Why not?
Well, if it keeps on raining,
it'll be all wet and muddy.
They don't cancel rodeos
for wet and muddy, son.
Especially when there's
$100,000 involved.
If you're going to
be a rodeo hand,
you better keep using that thing.
That's better.
Got a little off
balance didn't you, son?
Dad.
Jud, get the truck.
But I don't drive.
You're gonna drive tonight.
Get the damn truck.
Get it started now.
Now.
Dad?
Come on, Daddy.
Come on.
Shotgun.
Hey, Virge, thanks for coming.
Boy, he took a hell of a whack.
They gave him some stitches.
Running tests on him right now.
Come on, let's take a walk.
OK.
I want you to listen to me.
I'm your friend.
Yeah?
But I got my job to do.
I got a call from Cheryl.
In the morning, she's going to get
a court order, a
restraining order that
protects your daddy from you.
What?
What, what are you talking about?
It means you can't
go near your father.
What is this bullshit?
Look, I told you something
bad was going to happen,
but, no, you wouldn't
listen to me.
It was an accident.
I know it was an accident, HD.
An accident that wouldn't
have happened if you'd left
him alone where he belonged.
Yeah, where he could rot
away and die from neglect.
That would be fine.
Well, it ain't gonna
happen, Cheryl.
It ain't.
Look, HD, if you want to
kill yourself, that's fine.
You just go right
ahead, but you are
not taking my father with you.
Hey, glad you're back, HD.
Hey, good to see you, HD.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Lazy
E [INAUDIBLE] Bullmania, where
today we're going to see the
greatest bucking bulls in all
of professional rodeo, and they're
going to be pitted against the
top bull riders in the world.
Speaking of bucking bulls,
that includes the greatest
one in the world today, the mighty
Thunderbolt. The $100,000 bull.
That's the amount of money that
somebody can win in the bonus
round [INAUDIBLE] and no man
has ever been to four seconds
on his back.
So you see, friends, this is
not a five and dimer deal.
No, sir.
This is a blue plate special.
You're going to see
the best of the best.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE].
Oh, look at this one.
Get back.
Which way is he going to go?
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: That's
a good solid score.
Here's David Burton next
going on one called Big Ben.
[INAUDIBLE]
Everything's set to go here.
[INAUDIBLE] no score.
Richard Rule is the cowboy,
New Deal is the bull under him.
He's a big, bad,
son-of-a-gun, [INAUDIBLE]..
Richard is there and
he's going to be.
[INAUDIBLE] outside foot.
Stay there, stay up on the rope.
He's out of his [INAUDIBLE]
and down he goes.
David Burton is next to go
on one called Black Bart,
and here's about
1,800 pounds of fury.
[INAUDIBLE]
Come on.
He's making a great ride.
[INAUDIBLE]
Come on, Dave, you can do it.
Stay there.
Look at the strength and
the power of the bull
can throw a man.
We hope it's not a
bad injury, but medics
are here to take care of him.
Come on, David, be all right.
How about a great big
old-fashioned home
town welcome for a
home grown cowboy
who's been away for awhile?
Next to go is HD Dalton
on House Wrecker.
Be the first ride
for what he hopes
will lead to the bonus round.
[INAUDIBLE] tear him
apart [INAUDIBLE]..
He's ready.
Ride this son-of-a-gun, HD.
Let's go.
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Oh,
what a great ride.
HD scores an 83 on that ride.
Welcome home, HD.
That's the way to go.
HD has just completed the
first step of the comeback
with that great ride,
but, oh, golly, he's
up against people
like world champions
Tough Hedeman and Jim Sharp.
There's still a
long, long way to go.
[INAUDIBLE] relying on balance.
Look at this one.
Lifting through the
power of this man.
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: [INAUDIBLE].
Score one for the bull.
The bull is looking for
someone to play with.
Look out, Patch, [INAUDIBLE].
How about that?
Here's HD up on his
second ride, [INAUDIBLE]..
He didn't score too well
on that ride, just 76,
but that still puts
him in second place
just behind the leader Jim Sharp.
[INAUDIBLE]
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: A
great score, an 81.
HD Dalton, currently in
second place, is next to go.
He needs a high scored
ride on Best Western
if he's going to move
into that number one spot.
[INAUDIBLE]
Come on, HD, let's go for it.
Let's go.
Drop shoulder and look
at that great recovery.
[INAUDIBLE]
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: Sensational.
He's done it with a score of 90.
He is hurt.
That leg just buckled under
him and this man is hurt.
As our rodeo clown escort this
man out of arena and this man
is hurt.
We're waiting to hear if HD's
injury is gonna keep him from
trying to ride son-of-a-gun
called Thunderbolt. If yes,
it means $100,000 to him.
Let's hope that HD will
be able to make this ride.
[INAUDIBLE], hurts like hell.
Well, what you going to do?
He's gonna ride that damn bull.
That's what he's going to do.
He hurt his leg.
I think it's broke.
Those people out
there didn't spend
their money to watch you walk.
They come here to watch
you ride that bull,
and that's what
you're going to do.
Jud, get in that satchel and
give me a bandage and some tape
out of it, please.
Now, you're going
to ride this bull
and I'm gonna tell you why.
You're riding this bull
because you're ready to ride.
You're going to
make magic tonight.
It's going to be you and
that bull for eight seconds.
Nothing else in the
whole world matters.
All right.
Thanks, Virgil.
Good luck, HD.
[INAUDIBLE].
You remember me too, don't you?
I remember you.
RODEO ANNOUNCER: HD's
at the shoot, folks.
He's going to ride,
banged up leg and all.
No way this cowboy's gonna
pass up his chance at $100,000.
And all he's got to do to get
it is stay on the back of a bull
that's never been ridden.
There they are right there.
Virgil, how could you
have let him come out here?
Nobody let me do anything,
and I hope you didn't come
down here and try and stop me.
And I'll tell you something
else, little girl.
If you punch me, I'll
turn you over my knee
and spank your bottom.
Virgil, what are you
going to do about this?
I'm gonna wish him luck.
Tell HD to kick ass.
Get out of the way.
Jesse, we still have
power of attorney.
Not now, you don't.
Come on, HD, stick to him.
Let's go, boys.
Let's go.
[HORN]
RODEO ANNOUNCER: He's done it.
He's done it.
My god, he's done it.
HD Dalton has ridden
that $100,000 bull.
HD has done it.
Thunderbolt has been ridden.
He's won.
He's won.
HD has won.
He's won.
HD has won.
Thunderbolt has been conquered.
(CHANTING) HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
HD!
[MUSIC PLAYING]