Out of the Wild (2019) - full transcript
Out of the Wild is the story of Henry McBride, a down and out cowboy with a painful past he can't drink away. Living on his last dollar with nowhere to go, he ends up working the last place an old cowboy wants to be: A dude ranch. It is here he meets the owner, Jessie King, a no-nonsense rancher with a deep love for horses. McBride's self-discovery begins when she introduces him to a new way of training a troubled mustang, a horse whose past and temperament mirror his own. As the story brings together the paths of these two beaten souls, man and horse, it is King that sees a shared spirit deep within them- One that is hidden beneath anguish, torment, and years endured in the darkest of places. Behind the broken heart of a family lost, a soul tormented with guilt, and an endless haze of booze to dull the pain, she knows McBride is at heart a good man. Just as she knows the mustang can once again find that spirit, so too must McBride. What transpires is a story of redemption, moving McBride beyond even his deepest wounds to discover a life he never thought possible.
[nature sounds]
- It's said, that when the body is beaten and the heart broken,
[gulping and bottle clanging]
it's the spirit that
keeps the soul alive.
[nature sounds and horse noises]
Even, sometimes, when the soul
believes it's already dead.
[gulping and bottle clanging]
[sneeze]
[crying]
[cows mooing]
[loud engine]
[door slam]
[heavy footsteps]
- Henry, I haven't seen you in forever.
You look like hell,
you all right?
- Yes Sir, I'm fine.
You sorting pairs?
- That time of year.
What can I do for you Henry?
- Well, Mr. Mitchell, I'm
wondering, that job offer
you gave me a while back,
does that still stand?
- Job?
Hell, Henry that was
nearly twelve years ago.
- The pairs are
sorted Mr. Mitchell.
The boys are moving 'em
to the south end.
- Wiley Pratt... Henry McBride.
Wiley's my foreman.
I hear you've been hitting
the bottle hard lately.
- I'm a good hand Mr Mitchell.
- I know that Henry, me
more than most I expect.
Truth is, you're no good
to me or anybody else
the shape you're in.
-Well I'm okay.
I just had a rough night,
you know, sleeping in
the truck and all.
- Hell, Henry.
I can smell the whisky
on ya from up here.
- Well, I appreciate your time.
- Henry, come here.
You got any money?
- I got some.
No, I can't do that.
- This ain't charity.
It's six months wages.
You sober up, you come
back here and work it off.
Don't come back til you're
off the bottle, you hear?
- Much obliged.
- It's all right.
- That's money you won't
see again I reckon.
- Henry's a good man
in a bad way.
He'll be back.
I'm proud to know him.
- If you say so.
♪♪
- Want another?
Yeah?
♪♪
- Excuse me, Ma'am?
I'm looking for the owner.
The fella out front
sent me back here.
- I'm the owner, Jessie King.
What can I do for you?
- I found this ad, says you
might be needing some help.
I can turn my hand to
just about anything.
- Where you from?
- Well, most recent,
up near Elko.
- That's all cattle
country up there.
- Yes Ma'am.
- Why you want a job at a dude
ranch instead of chasing cattle?
- No cowboying jobs right now.
- You have references?
- I reckon all the outfits
I've been on
would have something
to say about me.
- I can give you $100 a week,
a place to sleep
and three meals a day.
- That'd be fine Ma'am.
- You smoke?
- No.
- Wear gloves when you work?
- No Ma'am.
- What's your name?
- Henry McBride.
- Bronc rider huh?
- Yeah, I was a hundred
years ago.
- Well, go unload your gear
Mr. McBride
and I'll show you around.
- All right, yes Ma'am.
What'll I be doing?
Riding the rough off some
of your stock or shoeing?
Breaking colts?
- Not exactly.
- Hey buddy, come here,
take a look at me.
Come here, let me
get a big smile.
Come on.
Mr. Cowboy Man, can you get
in on the shot with him?
Thank you, I wanna get the two of you.
Can you go and pick up his hat?
I want that in the shot.
- Just like your Papa,
hiring drifters.
- He thought one of them
would change one day.
I know he'll probably be gone
as soon as he gets
his first pay check.
♪♪
Did you work the
chestnut filly today?
- Yeah, why?
- Her face is all tore up.
- I just worked her
over at the round pen.
Next thing I know, she's
rearing and kicking.
Had to bump her on the nose
a little bit
to get her to settle down, that's all.
- All the hide is gone.
- Had to do something Jess.
She was acting like she
wanted to eat my lunch.
- This is the third time
something like this
has happened.
You left spur marks on
the little sorrel filly
and the black colt was tore up
nearly as bad as this one.
- Listen, you and I both know
sometimes things like that
just happen.
- Get Jim to finish this.
I want you out on
the east fence line.
It's needed fixing
for two years.
- The east end.
That's two miles of wire!
- Don't come back
til it's finished.
- Goddammit, that's a three
day job Jess, maybe four.
- Give you time to think about
how you're treating my horses.
- Evening Henry.
You get some dinner?
- I did.
- You ain't worked many
dude outfits have ya?
- Nope.
- Me and a few of the
others figured as much.
No offense, you just seem more
like a cowhand than a wrangler,
that's all.
- No offense taken.
- You'll get the hang of it.
- Hell, I hope not.
- I've worked a bunch
of these dude ranches.
Ain't one of them with better
food, or horses as this one.
Looks like Chad's back.
He's the foreman here.
He's been out fixing
fence for a week.
- Fixing fence, the foreman?
- Yeah, he got on Jess's
bad side.
Hey, Chad, this here
is Henry McBride.
- Henry.
Well, Jess may have hired you
but I'm the boss
on this outfit, huh?
So if you work here, it
means you're working for me.
Them mares need to get
moved before dark huh?
Better get to it.
Go on.
Done much of this
kind of work Henry?
- Why did you do that?
- What's that?
Ah hell... he likes it.
- Nope.
- No?
- No I ain't done much
of this kind of work.
- That don't matter.
All you need to know is,
I'm a man of few words.
So, if I say, "Come,"
you better come.
- Well, Chip, I'm a man
of few words too
and if I'm shaking my head,
that means I ain't coming.
- Hey listen!
I don't wanna get off
on the wrong foot here
but you might wanna lose
that attitude.
I won't tolerate it, you hear?
- Running roughshod over me
is something I won't
tolerate either, Chuck.
- The name's Chad!
Get that through your head.
Cory, you got the 9 o'clock.
Ben, you can get that gelding
down off the lower pasture.
Jed, get the pony saddled
and down to it's pen by 8:30.
Henry... Henry!
Well, welcome back cowboy.
You Sir, get the honor
of another glorious day
at the end of a scoop shovel.
Any questions?
Go, let's get to work.
Who tied the horse
with these reins?
Pulled back and broke it again.
I don't even know
why I bother asking.
Dan, get in my saddlebags and
get my spare set of reins.
- There ain't no
reins in there Chad.
- Dammit, who took my reins out of my bag?
I'm tired of this crap!
Every time I turn around,
I'm fixing something one
of you idiots screwed up!
- Chad, let's not make a scene.
- No, one of you, and
I don't care who,
is gonna get back down
to that barn
and get me my spare set
of reins.
Now, who's it gonna be?
- Jesus Christ.
- What you doing there cowboy?
- Hold on there, Chauncey.
- Jess, Jim said
you wanna see me?
- This is my favorite
picture of you and Dad.
- That's back in '99, right
after he shot that big buck
up near Tonopah.
A couple of years after you
moved to Denver I think.
- You were the son
he never had...
which makes this difficult.
Chad, I'm gonna
have to let you go.
- Let me go?
- For the past year and a half,
it's been one thing
after another.
From the colts you roughed up,
to the things I ask you to do
that never get done.
That thing this morning.
- I can explain this morning.
The guys were out of line.
- Several of the guests
are complained
and it's not the first time.
- Well, hell Jess, this
place wasn't supposed to be
no damn dude ranch anyhow.
Hell if I care if
a dude complains.
Your Dad and me... we had
big plans for this outfit
before he got sick
and those plans didn't
include playing nursemaid
to damn dudes nine
months of the year.
- Yes, Dad had plans.
- You're damn right he did.
- Unfortunately,
they didn't include
being able to pay the bills.
Ever since we started
turning a profit,
you've been fighting me
every step of the way.
I'm done.
- You ain't gonna fire me.
- Chad, I need you to
pack your things.
I'll have your check
ready in an hour.
- You can't do this.
- Come in, Mr. McBride.
- Ma'am.
- Thank you, Chad.
You can go.
- What can I do for you?
- Excuse me Ma'am.
I just wanna let you know that
I got those two horses shod
like you asked.
The mare's got a pretty good
stone bruise on her left hind
but she's moving better
with the new shoes.
- Thank you.
Would you ask Jim
to feed early today?
- Yes Ma'am, anything else?
- No, that's it for now.
- Alright.
- Actually, there is one thing.
There's a little grulla
mare in the corral.
Her ligament's healed and
I think we should start
getting her back into work.
Would you take a look at her?
- I'd be happy to.
- Spend some time with her
if you have a chance.
- Yes Ma'am.
- Thank you.
♪♪
- What do you have?
Partner, can I
get you something?
- Yeah, a whisky.
Shot of whisky and a beer.
- Hey Tony.
Set us up, would ya.
- Ain't seen you in a while.
Where you been?
- Looking for work.
- Jesus, Chad, you get run off?
[laughing]
- Oh you boys go on and laugh.
Wouldn't be so damn funny
if you had to try
and work for a bitch like
Jessie King.
I swear, she's gotta be
about half crazy.
Like one of them ladies that
collects cats, you know?
I mean, don't get me wrong,
she's pretty enough and all.
Heck, I even gave it
some thought
to asking her out one time.
Just don't want that
crazy to rub off on me.
[laughing]
Besides, I think she swings from the other side
of the plate anyway.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I know it.
- Hey Chip.
You think maybe you could
talk a little quieter?
Or better yet, take your dog
and pony show someplace else.
- Well, I'll be.
If it isn't Henry McBride.
In for a drink are ya?
Probably just one of many.
Hey pal.
I've got news for you old man.
You don't like to hear me talk?
Maybe you should be
the one to move on.
So get this boys.
One night last summer
after dark,
I was walking past
Jessie's house,
the window shades wide open, getting ready for bed...
ain't never seen a more
perfect body like that
in my life.
Especially on an
older gal like that.
I'm telling you,
man, I'm telling you.
It's just... it was-
- Hey! All right, hey mister!
Sorry, we don't want no trouble.
We just come here 'cause he said
he was gonna buy us some beers,
that's all.
- Goddammit!
It's three o'clock
in the afternoon, it is
too early for a fight.
You boys take him outta here.
I'm gonna let this
one slide this time,
'cause Jessie King
is a friend of mine
and Collins is being an asshole.
But any more trouble out of
you, and you're out of here.
You understand?
- You might wanna put some
ice on that for him.
- Thanks.
- Not so tough now,
you old son of a bitch.
Payback's are hell old man.
Nobody takes my job from me.
Not you, not nobody.
- Morning Mr. McBride.
Jesus, what happened to you?
- I missed a step, fell down.
- Mr. McBride, just so
we're clear.
When you're night drinking
affects your days work,
I'll no longer have
a use for you.
- Yes Ma'am.
♪♪
- My wife's named him Tico,
but he'll answer to anything.
- He's a dandy, Tom.
- He wandered in with all our
old horses a few months back.
- Probably got separated
from the rest of his band
last winter when food
got scarce.
- Yeah, be my guess too.
- Well, I think it best to let
him settle in for a few days
before we try to do
anything with him.
Yeah, whatever you think Jess.
- Morning Mr. McBride.
What do you think
of our new boarder?
- I believe I'd keep him
away from the amateurs
for another day or two.
- Well, I'll be damned.
He's never done that before.
- What's that?
- Stop and look at someone
like he's looking at you.
Usually he does what
he can to avoid people.
♪♪
- This what you want buddy, huh?
You hungry?
I know how you feel buddy.
Sometimes you just gotta run.
♪♪
- What are you looking at?
- I've just never seen
it done like that.
- Me neither.
Not since my Daddy did it.
[knocking]
- All right, all right,
hold your damn horses.
Ah, shit, goddammit.
- Are you okay baby?
- Go back to bed.
Shit... shit.
[knocking]
I'm coming.
What?
- Ollie, it's me.
- Chad, what the hell
are you doing out here
at this time of night?
-Well, old buddy.
Looks like I need a place to
stay for a couple of days.
I thought maybe you'd let me
bunk up on one of your couches.
- My couch?
Chad, I thought you had a place.
- Yeah, looks like that,
uh, kinda fell through.
- I'd like to oblige
you Chad, but I can't.
- Oh no, it's just for
a couple of days
til I can find another place.
- I wish I could but I can't.
- Not even for a couple days?
Hell, it ain't like
I'm asking to marry ya.
- I'm afraid not, man.
You know-you know how
Connie is, she ...
- No, Olly, how is Connie?
- You know, she's a little
funny about this kinda thing.
- Yeah, everybody's funny Ollie.
Now you're funny too.
- I'm gonna miss you Jim.
- I'll miss you too Jess.
This year sure
flew by didn't it.
See you next fall?
- I'll be here.
You drive careful.
- I will.
Take care Henry.
- All right Jim.
- How about some breakfast?
- Ma'am?
- I've been eating yogurt
and toast for the past month
and I'm tired of it.
I'm gonna cook up
some bacon and eggs.
You want some?
- Why, yeah.
I got a couple of
chores I gotta finish.
- All right, well, go ahead
and finish them,
and come in the back door
when you're done.
[engine noises]
- It looks like Jim missed out.
- Yes he did.
By the way, that's
quite a saddle you have.
Owned it long?
- Well, my Dad had it and
then his Dad before that.
My Great Grandad had it
built in 1888 in Texas.
- That's quite a family heirloom.
You have anyone to
hand it down to?
- No, I guess, I guess I was
going to give it to my son.
- Oh... I didn't know you
had a son!
Does he live nearby?
- No ma'am, he's up north
with his mother.
He's got no use for it.
- Well, I love those
old saddles.
My dad rode in one till
he couldn't ride anymore.
Sold it to Tom Essex.
Used the money to
buy a dun filly.
- Tom Essex?
- The man who brought
the mustang in.
He collects those old saddles,
must have two hundred of them.
Don't let him see yours,
he'll want to buy it too.
- Oh no ma'am.
I think the world
of that saddle.
It ain't goin' anywhere.
- Well if he starts
hounding you about it,
don't say I didn't warn you.
Please, go ahead and eat,
Mr. McBride,
you don't have to wait.
The reason I asked you
here to stay, is,
now that we're closed
for the season,
I'm going to need a little
extra help,
and I wanted to know if you
wouldn't mind sticking around?
- Well, I reckon I would.
Um, please call me Henry.
Only bankers and lawyers
call me Mr. McBride.
- Well, I wouldn't want to
be mistaken for either.
Henry it is.
♪♪
Hey... good boy, good boy.
♪♪
- How the hell she do that?
♪♪
- It's your heart, Henry.
Sorry, I thought
you knew I was here.
- I-I thought that -
uh - the horses...
- It's your heart.
That's why they don't
want to be around you.
If your heart isn't
right, they'll know it.
- My heart's just fine.
♪♪
Yeah, maybe we need to both get our hearts checked out, huh boy?
- Probably the starter.
- I don't see anything.
- Tap the top lead.
- Alright, try it now.
[engine noises]
- You got it.
- By the way, I've got
to deliver
a couple of colts tomorrow.
You wanna ride along?
- Where they goin'?
- I've got to meet the owner at
the rodeo grounds in Humbolt.
It's about five hours north.
- Nah, I-I'm gonna pass
on that one.
I got lots to do around here.
Alright... sounds good to me.
[hood slam]
♪♪
[crying]
- Henry, you up?
- Yeah!
- I'm getting ready to head out.
I just wanted to see if you
changed your mind
about coming along?
- Well why don't you come in
and have a drink
and we'll discuss it.
- You're drunk.
- We don't have to drink.
♪♪
- Hey Webb, I noticed the name over on the 4-H Pavilion.
Who's Josh McBride?
- Josh McBride?
Well that's a sad story.
- Oh?
- Yeah... he and his mom were
killed in a wreck about uh,
17 years now, I suppose.
A real tragedy.
Happened up on Baker's pass.
They were all coming back from
a talent show that Josh was in -
great little guitar player,
especially for his age.
End up winning the contest that
night, if I remember right.
Well, Henry, his dad, had been
working non-stop
for three days, no sleep at all.
You know what it's like
on a cattle ranch:
too much work and not
enough time to do it.
- Henry.
- Well, I've known he and Anne
since we were all kids.
They were sweet on each
other even back then.
Well, Henry was driving
because Anne broke her ankle
at a branding a few
weeks before that.
He, um, fell asleep
at the wheel, and a
about halfway over the pass
and drove off the road.
Henry got thrown from the truck,
but Anne and Josh
got trapped inside.
Ol' Henry was busted up
real good, but
even as hurt as he was,
he still tried to get
them out of that truck.
By the time he got to where
they was, it was too late.
He took it real bad too.
Blamed himself, you know.
Family meant the world to him.
- I know I should
still fire him.
I can't... I don't know
how to explain it.
- Some things don't
need explaining.
They just are.
- I don't know what to do.
- Sour milk doesn't
get any sweeter.
But this is a good man I think.
Lost, a little maybe,
but good inside.
Maybe he just needs
a friend to talk to.
♪♪
- Morning Henry.
- Morning, Ma'am.
I wanted to let you know
that I'm leaving.
And uh-save you the trouble
of firing me, I guess.
I uh, I also wanted to tell
you that I am truly sorry
for yesterday morning.
There's no excuse
for what I did.
- Well, first off, I don't
remember firing you.
Second, I accept your apology.
And third, I'm going
to make some breakfast.
You want some?
♪♪
- What do those letters
on the cantle stand for?
- William McBride.
That's my great
grandfather's initials.
- And on the horn cap?
- Celtic thistle.
My Great Grandad Will,
and his wife Claire,
my Great Grandmother, come
over from Scotland.
And as I heard it told,
Claire, she was mighty partial
to the thistle flower.
So when ol' Will had
this saddle built,
he had the maker carve
this thistle right here
so he could always see it,
to remind him of Claire
for when he was out on them
long cattle drives.
- That's pretty romantic.
- Well, us McBride boys,
we're nuthin',
if not romantic.
♪♪
- Five hundred pounds of feed,
Chicago screws, leather soap,
sixteen penny nails,
power steering fluid.
Anything else?
- Fencing staples.
- Right.
- The fabric I ordered came in.
Can you get that too?
- Sure, Is it at Jolie's?
- Si, mija.
Maybe you let Mr. Henry
drive today?
- No, I'll drive.
- Maybe you drive?
- Nah - that's alright,
I don't mind.
- Not now, maybe.
- What?
- You know if you're not careful,
you're going to get
Henry thinking that
there's something wrong
with the way that I drive.
♪♪
- Well that wasn't
so bad now, was it?
Your hat's crooked.
- You ok?
- Almost.
- First time riding with her?
- How'd you know?
- Ah, once is usually
all it takes.
What can I do for you, Jess?
Ok, no problem.
Looks like we have everything
here except Chicago screws.
We're out right now.
- That's alright.
I'm going to go get
Hester's fabric.
You wanna stay here, or
do you want to come along?
- Why don't you go ahead.
Looks like you
could use the walk.
- Might help my upset stomach.
- Oh hey Jess.
Chad Collins came hunting
up a job the other day.
Reckon he's worth hiring?
- I'm sorry Melvin.
I'm probably not
the person to ask.
We're gonna be back.
- Ok.
- Hey!
- Well Jessie King!
How are you doing?
I'm so glad to see you.
- Hi!
- You good?
- I'm good.
- Well, who do we have here?
-Jolie, meet Henry McBride.
- Ma'am.
- Not like those other
boneheads you bring in here.
- Don't listen to a
word she says.
- So, you like football?
- Yes ma'am.
- Favorite team?
- I like Denver.
- Oh, they only been in
the league since 1960.
Me?
I like the Packers.
Best record in history.
- It's a good team.
- "Good team" they are!
Vince Lombardi never
took crap from nobody.
- So what can I do for you?
- Hester said you had
some fabric for me.
- I do.
Came in yesterday.
Here it is.
And, tell her I need some
more of those tamales.
Damn they're good.
Have you ever had
Hester's tamales?
- Uh - no ma'am.
- They are damn good.
Give me gas to bad, the
dog won't even come around.
But I cannot stop eating them.
- I want to be just like
her when I grow up.
What?
- I'm just picturing you at
seventy years old, swearin'
and fartin' and talkin' football.
- We can't all be Leona Helmsley.
- Who?
- Nevermind.
- Hey listen, I've been
wonderin'
ever since you said it.
Before you hired me,
you asked me
if I wore gloves or if I smoked.
Why'd you do that?
- Well, my daddy always
said that
someone who wore gloves would always need to find them
before they could do any work.
And a smoker would
always be off somewhere
having a cigarette
when you needed them.
- You found that to be true?
- I don't know.
I never hired anyone who
smoked or wore gloves.
♪ [gentle guitar music] ♪
[truck engine starts]
- Howdy.
- Hey Henry!
You clean up nice.
You want some lemonade?
I made some.
- No ma'am.
- You wanna sit?
- No thanks, ma'am.
- Is there something you
wanted to talk to me about?
- Well, the fact of the matter
is there's this dance.
And uh, I got this flyer here when we were in town.
Saturday night, they've
got a live band.
And uh- I thought, you know,
get off the ranch a few hours.
- Henry, are you askin' me
on a date?
- Well...I don't know.
I thought...
I don't know.
I...
-I'd love to.
- Whew... alright!
- Ah... Melvin, just the man
I want to see.
- Hey Chad, what can I
do you for?
- Well, I was just wondering
if you made a decision
about me working here?
- Sorry Chad.
I'm gonna have to pass.
- Mind if I ask why?
- Truth is, uh, I couldn't
get a recommendation
from your old boss.
- Hi Henry.
- Ma'am.
- Henry, I'm not taking
a step off this porch
unless you promise to call me
by my first name,
for the rest of the night.
I'm waiting.
- Ok, I promise.
- Alright, shall we go?
- Yes ma'am... Jess - Jessie!
- We'll work on it.
[distant dance music]
- That's quite a
belt buckle there.
- You're not the only
one who used to rodeo.
[dance music]
♪ [gentle guitar music] ♪
♪ [music continues] ♪
- It's getting late.
- It is.
- I should probably get goin'.
Say goodnight.
I been worried about
that all night.
- Me too.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
♪ [music continues] ♪
[traffic sounds]
- Morning Henry!
- Morning Jessie!
How's the day treatin' you?
- Oh, not bad.
Listen, I just got a call
from Ed Wilson over in Gypsum.
He's been after me for
about a year to sell him
that little Grulla mare.
He finally offered
me what she's worth.
He wants her delivered today,
and I got so much to do
around here,
I was wonderin' if you want to take her over there for me?
There's a home cooked
meal in it for you.
- That sounds good.
Gypsum... that's about
150 miles to the south?
- It is.
- No problem.
Just give me the directions
and I'll be on my way.
- Alright, I'll get the trailer hitched up.
- I'm leaving now, mija!
- How does the roast look?
- Looks good!
Mr. Henry's going
to like this one.
Very nice!
Mr. Henry's going to
like that one too.
- Thank you.
- Henry is that you?
- Henry is that you?
What happened?
That old fool run off on you?
- I want you off my
property right now.
- Well hell, Jess.
I just got here.
- Leave now or I'll
call the sheriff.
- And he'll be here in what?
An hour... maybe two?
I heard you cost me that job
down by the feed store.
Normally I wouldn't care, but
times are tough right now Jess.
- I'm calling the sheriff.
[fighting sounds]
♪♪
- Stupid.
♪ [music continues] ♪
[engine sounds]
- Jessie
- Jessie... oh my God!
Oh my God honey -
Honey!
We're going to get Hester... I'll get Hester.
Alright?
Oh sweetie...
It's going to be ok.
You're going to be alright.
♪♪
[fighting sounds]
You fucking bitch boy.
Now you better listen
real close, alright?
You climb into your piece
of shit truck
and you drive outta here, alright?.
You get as far as you can away
from here, and if you come back,
or get anywhere near
Jessie King, I'll kill ya.
Am I making myself clear?
That's good.
We finally got an
understanding together.
How you feeling Jessie?
You had a rough
night last night.
You're going to get better.
I promise that.
We're all going to get better.
♪♪
The more I practiced...
♪ [music continues] ♪
- Thank you Henry.
- Oh, I wouldn't be handing out too many thank you's
till you tried it first.
- I don't mean the food.
- I'm happy to do it.
- Tell me where
you're at with him.
- I can get him
caught, and haltered.
He'll let me brush him.
He hasn't run off.
- He likes you.
He has from the start.
- I like him pretty well too.
I've never been around a
horse like that before.
He looks right through me.
Like he knows who I am.
Where I've been.
What I've done.
♪ [guitar strumming] ♪
- You ready for tomorrow?
- I'm just gonna sure miss Teek.
- Me too.
[truck noise]
- So he turned out to be
a good horse after all huh?
- One of the best
I've seen in awhile.
'Fact, I wouldn't mind
buying him from you
if I could meet your price.
- I'd like to get him home
and see if he works on
the ranch before I think
about selling him.
- Well, if he doesn't work out
for ya, keep me in mind.
-Oh, I will. Yeah.
- Here they are!
Henry, you remember Tom?
- Mr. Essex.
-Henry.
Is this your saddle?
-Yes sir.
- May I?
I-God... is this an old
Clarence Beecher?
- Yes sir.
- I'll be damned.
I've only seen these in books.
Beecher's saddles are legendary.
He only made a handful, not
more than ten or fifteen total.
How'd you come to have this?
- My great Granddad and Beecher
were cowboying together
back in the old days.
- Your great Granddad must
have been a good hand.
Old Beecher knew more about
cattle than a rabbit
knows about runnin'.
It's been in your
family all this time?
- Yes sir.
- Well, Henry, I know
it's a long shot, but
I'd kick myself
if I didn't ask.
What will you take for it?
- It's not for sale.
- I'll pay ya cash money.
You name your price.
- The saddle's not for sale, sir.
- Fair enough.
But if you should ever
change your mind-
- I won't.
- Alright, Henry.
Why don't you show me how
Mr. Tico is doing, then.
- Yes, sir.
Tico.
[truck noises]
♪♪
- Good morning Jessie.
- Good morning Henry.
Did you sleep well?
- I did.
You?
- Very well, thank you.
I was wondering-
- I suppose-
- I'm sorry-go ahead.
- Actually, I was planning on
making a pot roast for dinner
and I was wondering if
you wanted to stop by?
- Are you asking me out
on a date?
- I suppose I am.
- Henry - Henry McBride
is that you?
Over here, Henry-
- Mr. Mitchell!
- By golly, I thought
that was you.
I'm surprised to see you up
in this neck of the woods.
- I was just going to say
the same about you sir.
You're a long way from Elko.
- Oh, there's an
auction south of here.
The boys are loading up
what we bought as we speak.
Workin'?
- Not too far from here.
- Cowboyin'?
- Workin' horses mostly.
- Horses must agree with you.
You look good!
How's everything else going?
Still drinking?
- No sir.
Haven't had a drink
in quite awhile.
- You know I, I never blamed you
for what-what you went through.
Ah hell if I- had gone through-
you like you're doing fine.
Real impressed, Henry.
- Yes sir.
- You haven't said a
word since we sat down.
You feelin' ok?
- I'm fine.
You know actually I ran into
an old friend of mine today,
more like an old boss.
Well, he helped me out with some
money before I showed up here.
I owe him six months
worth of work.
- What are you telling me, Henry?
- I-I gotta go up there
and pay him off.
The only way to do that is to
go up there and work it off.
- If it's money that you
need...
- I appreciate that.
That's not the deal I
made with him though.
I don't want to go, Jess.
But I gotta go do this.
- Come back in the spring.
I'll be here.
[truck sounds]
Lunch.
- Thanks.
- You got everything you need?
- Yeah.
I do.
- Well, I guess you
should be going then.
- Yeah, I reckon, yeah.
- Well...
Drive carefully.
- I almost forgot.
I got something for you, too.
- You didn't have to-
- Oh, now-
- Are you alright?
- Almost.
♪♪
- Where's Coop?
Where's Coop?
- Night off.
- Give us a couple of Buds.
You new?
Ain't see you around.
- First day.
Took this job till I could
find some ranch work.
You boys don't
know of any, do ya?
- Not around here.
Not this time of year.
Nobody hires in the winter.
We've even got one more
hand than we need right now.
- What's with that
old Henry anyway?
- Gone and find religion?
- Henry?
- Yup, Henry McBride.
- He workin' around here?
- Runnin' line out
of Wild Basin.
Workin' off a debt to our boss.
Reckon we won't see him
for a couple of months.
Reckon?
You know old Henry?
- Nah - nah, not really.
That Wild Basin.
Ain't that just north of here?
- Uh-uh.
Southwest, about fifteen miles.
Rugged damn country.
Glad Henry's up there
this winter and not me.
[coughing]
♪♪
[nature sounds]
♪ [music continues] ♪
- Guess you shoulda been the
one to watch your back,
you old drunk piece of shit.
Ain't so damn tough now, are ya?
- Why don't you put
that damn thing down
before you hurt yourself!
- Somebody's going
to get hurt alright.
Ain't gonna be me.
Maybe when I'm done here, I'll
go pay another visit to Jessie.
[gun shot]
[door slam]
[gun shots]
- Fuck - Jesus fucking Christ.
[nature sounds]
- It's said that when the body
is beaten, and the heart broken,
it's the spirit that
keeps the soul alive.
When the soul believes
it's already dead.
♪♪
- My god Jessie, you're even prettier than I remember.
♪♪
- I didn't think
you were coming.
-It was a little touch
and go there for awhile,
but I'm here now.
I brought you somethin' here.
- How did you get him?
I went to see Tom Essex
about buying him a month ago.
He said he wasn't for sale.
Your saddle.
My god, Henry, your saddle.
- It's alright.
It's alright, right, Teek?
It's alright.
♪♪
- You ok?
- I am, I am.
♪♪
- It's said, that when the body is beaten and the heart broken,
[gulping and bottle clanging]
it's the spirit that
keeps the soul alive.
[nature sounds and horse noises]
Even, sometimes, when the soul
believes it's already dead.
[gulping and bottle clanging]
[sneeze]
[crying]
[cows mooing]
[loud engine]
[door slam]
[heavy footsteps]
- Henry, I haven't seen you in forever.
You look like hell,
you all right?
- Yes Sir, I'm fine.
You sorting pairs?
- That time of year.
What can I do for you Henry?
- Well, Mr. Mitchell, I'm
wondering, that job offer
you gave me a while back,
does that still stand?
- Job?
Hell, Henry that was
nearly twelve years ago.
- The pairs are
sorted Mr. Mitchell.
The boys are moving 'em
to the south end.
- Wiley Pratt... Henry McBride.
Wiley's my foreman.
I hear you've been hitting
the bottle hard lately.
- I'm a good hand Mr Mitchell.
- I know that Henry, me
more than most I expect.
Truth is, you're no good
to me or anybody else
the shape you're in.
-Well I'm okay.
I just had a rough night,
you know, sleeping in
the truck and all.
- Hell, Henry.
I can smell the whisky
on ya from up here.
- Well, I appreciate your time.
- Henry, come here.
You got any money?
- I got some.
No, I can't do that.
- This ain't charity.
It's six months wages.
You sober up, you come
back here and work it off.
Don't come back til you're
off the bottle, you hear?
- Much obliged.
- It's all right.
- That's money you won't
see again I reckon.
- Henry's a good man
in a bad way.
He'll be back.
I'm proud to know him.
- If you say so.
♪♪
- Want another?
Yeah?
♪♪
- Excuse me, Ma'am?
I'm looking for the owner.
The fella out front
sent me back here.
- I'm the owner, Jessie King.
What can I do for you?
- I found this ad, says you
might be needing some help.
I can turn my hand to
just about anything.
- Where you from?
- Well, most recent,
up near Elko.
- That's all cattle
country up there.
- Yes Ma'am.
- Why you want a job at a dude
ranch instead of chasing cattle?
- No cowboying jobs right now.
- You have references?
- I reckon all the outfits
I've been on
would have something
to say about me.
- I can give you $100 a week,
a place to sleep
and three meals a day.
- That'd be fine Ma'am.
- You smoke?
- No.
- Wear gloves when you work?
- No Ma'am.
- What's your name?
- Henry McBride.
- Bronc rider huh?
- Yeah, I was a hundred
years ago.
- Well, go unload your gear
Mr. McBride
and I'll show you around.
- All right, yes Ma'am.
What'll I be doing?
Riding the rough off some
of your stock or shoeing?
Breaking colts?
- Not exactly.
- Hey buddy, come here,
take a look at me.
Come here, let me
get a big smile.
Come on.
Mr. Cowboy Man, can you get
in on the shot with him?
Thank you, I wanna get the two of you.
Can you go and pick up his hat?
I want that in the shot.
- Just like your Papa,
hiring drifters.
- He thought one of them
would change one day.
I know he'll probably be gone
as soon as he gets
his first pay check.
♪♪
Did you work the
chestnut filly today?
- Yeah, why?
- Her face is all tore up.
- I just worked her
over at the round pen.
Next thing I know, she's
rearing and kicking.
Had to bump her on the nose
a little bit
to get her to settle down, that's all.
- All the hide is gone.
- Had to do something Jess.
She was acting like she
wanted to eat my lunch.
- This is the third time
something like this
has happened.
You left spur marks on
the little sorrel filly
and the black colt was tore up
nearly as bad as this one.
- Listen, you and I both know
sometimes things like that
just happen.
- Get Jim to finish this.
I want you out on
the east fence line.
It's needed fixing
for two years.
- The east end.
That's two miles of wire!
- Don't come back
til it's finished.
- Goddammit, that's a three
day job Jess, maybe four.
- Give you time to think about
how you're treating my horses.
- Evening Henry.
You get some dinner?
- I did.
- You ain't worked many
dude outfits have ya?
- Nope.
- Me and a few of the
others figured as much.
No offense, you just seem more
like a cowhand than a wrangler,
that's all.
- No offense taken.
- You'll get the hang of it.
- Hell, I hope not.
- I've worked a bunch
of these dude ranches.
Ain't one of them with better
food, or horses as this one.
Looks like Chad's back.
He's the foreman here.
He's been out fixing
fence for a week.
- Fixing fence, the foreman?
- Yeah, he got on Jess's
bad side.
Hey, Chad, this here
is Henry McBride.
- Henry.
Well, Jess may have hired you
but I'm the boss
on this outfit, huh?
So if you work here, it
means you're working for me.
Them mares need to get
moved before dark huh?
Better get to it.
Go on.
Done much of this
kind of work Henry?
- Why did you do that?
- What's that?
Ah hell... he likes it.
- Nope.
- No?
- No I ain't done much
of this kind of work.
- That don't matter.
All you need to know is,
I'm a man of few words.
So, if I say, "Come,"
you better come.
- Well, Chip, I'm a man
of few words too
and if I'm shaking my head,
that means I ain't coming.
- Hey listen!
I don't wanna get off
on the wrong foot here
but you might wanna lose
that attitude.
I won't tolerate it, you hear?
- Running roughshod over me
is something I won't
tolerate either, Chuck.
- The name's Chad!
Get that through your head.
Cory, you got the 9 o'clock.
Ben, you can get that gelding
down off the lower pasture.
Jed, get the pony saddled
and down to it's pen by 8:30.
Henry... Henry!
Well, welcome back cowboy.
You Sir, get the honor
of another glorious day
at the end of a scoop shovel.
Any questions?
Go, let's get to work.
Who tied the horse
with these reins?
Pulled back and broke it again.
I don't even know
why I bother asking.
Dan, get in my saddlebags and
get my spare set of reins.
- There ain't no
reins in there Chad.
- Dammit, who took my reins out of my bag?
I'm tired of this crap!
Every time I turn around,
I'm fixing something one
of you idiots screwed up!
- Chad, let's not make a scene.
- No, one of you, and
I don't care who,
is gonna get back down
to that barn
and get me my spare set
of reins.
Now, who's it gonna be?
- Jesus Christ.
- What you doing there cowboy?
- Hold on there, Chauncey.
- Jess, Jim said
you wanna see me?
- This is my favorite
picture of you and Dad.
- That's back in '99, right
after he shot that big buck
up near Tonopah.
A couple of years after you
moved to Denver I think.
- You were the son
he never had...
which makes this difficult.
Chad, I'm gonna
have to let you go.
- Let me go?
- For the past year and a half,
it's been one thing
after another.
From the colts you roughed up,
to the things I ask you to do
that never get done.
That thing this morning.
- I can explain this morning.
The guys were out of line.
- Several of the guests
are complained
and it's not the first time.
- Well, hell Jess, this
place wasn't supposed to be
no damn dude ranch anyhow.
Hell if I care if
a dude complains.
Your Dad and me... we had
big plans for this outfit
before he got sick
and those plans didn't
include playing nursemaid
to damn dudes nine
months of the year.
- Yes, Dad had plans.
- You're damn right he did.
- Unfortunately,
they didn't include
being able to pay the bills.
Ever since we started
turning a profit,
you've been fighting me
every step of the way.
I'm done.
- You ain't gonna fire me.
- Chad, I need you to
pack your things.
I'll have your check
ready in an hour.
- You can't do this.
- Come in, Mr. McBride.
- Ma'am.
- Thank you, Chad.
You can go.
- What can I do for you?
- Excuse me Ma'am.
I just wanna let you know that
I got those two horses shod
like you asked.
The mare's got a pretty good
stone bruise on her left hind
but she's moving better
with the new shoes.
- Thank you.
Would you ask Jim
to feed early today?
- Yes Ma'am, anything else?
- No, that's it for now.
- Alright.
- Actually, there is one thing.
There's a little grulla
mare in the corral.
Her ligament's healed and
I think we should start
getting her back into work.
Would you take a look at her?
- I'd be happy to.
- Spend some time with her
if you have a chance.
- Yes Ma'am.
- Thank you.
♪♪
- What do you have?
Partner, can I
get you something?
- Yeah, a whisky.
Shot of whisky and a beer.
- Hey Tony.
Set us up, would ya.
- Ain't seen you in a while.
Where you been?
- Looking for work.
- Jesus, Chad, you get run off?
[laughing]
- Oh you boys go on and laugh.
Wouldn't be so damn funny
if you had to try
and work for a bitch like
Jessie King.
I swear, she's gotta be
about half crazy.
Like one of them ladies that
collects cats, you know?
I mean, don't get me wrong,
she's pretty enough and all.
Heck, I even gave it
some thought
to asking her out one time.
Just don't want that
crazy to rub off on me.
[laughing]
Besides, I think she swings from the other side
of the plate anyway.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I know it.
- Hey Chip.
You think maybe you could
talk a little quieter?
Or better yet, take your dog
and pony show someplace else.
- Well, I'll be.
If it isn't Henry McBride.
In for a drink are ya?
Probably just one of many.
Hey pal.
I've got news for you old man.
You don't like to hear me talk?
Maybe you should be
the one to move on.
So get this boys.
One night last summer
after dark,
I was walking past
Jessie's house,
the window shades wide open, getting ready for bed...
ain't never seen a more
perfect body like that
in my life.
Especially on an
older gal like that.
I'm telling you,
man, I'm telling you.
It's just... it was-
- Hey! All right, hey mister!
Sorry, we don't want no trouble.
We just come here 'cause he said
he was gonna buy us some beers,
that's all.
- Goddammit!
It's three o'clock
in the afternoon, it is
too early for a fight.
You boys take him outta here.
I'm gonna let this
one slide this time,
'cause Jessie King
is a friend of mine
and Collins is being an asshole.
But any more trouble out of
you, and you're out of here.
You understand?
- You might wanna put some
ice on that for him.
- Thanks.
- Not so tough now,
you old son of a bitch.
Payback's are hell old man.
Nobody takes my job from me.
Not you, not nobody.
- Morning Mr. McBride.
Jesus, what happened to you?
- I missed a step, fell down.
- Mr. McBride, just so
we're clear.
When you're night drinking
affects your days work,
I'll no longer have
a use for you.
- Yes Ma'am.
♪♪
- My wife's named him Tico,
but he'll answer to anything.
- He's a dandy, Tom.
- He wandered in with all our
old horses a few months back.
- Probably got separated
from the rest of his band
last winter when food
got scarce.
- Yeah, be my guess too.
- Well, I think it best to let
him settle in for a few days
before we try to do
anything with him.
Yeah, whatever you think Jess.
- Morning Mr. McBride.
What do you think
of our new boarder?
- I believe I'd keep him
away from the amateurs
for another day or two.
- Well, I'll be damned.
He's never done that before.
- What's that?
- Stop and look at someone
like he's looking at you.
Usually he does what
he can to avoid people.
♪♪
- This what you want buddy, huh?
You hungry?
I know how you feel buddy.
Sometimes you just gotta run.
♪♪
- What are you looking at?
- I've just never seen
it done like that.
- Me neither.
Not since my Daddy did it.
[knocking]
- All right, all right,
hold your damn horses.
Ah, shit, goddammit.
- Are you okay baby?
- Go back to bed.
Shit... shit.
[knocking]
I'm coming.
What?
- Ollie, it's me.
- Chad, what the hell
are you doing out here
at this time of night?
-Well, old buddy.
Looks like I need a place to
stay for a couple of days.
I thought maybe you'd let me
bunk up on one of your couches.
- My couch?
Chad, I thought you had a place.
- Yeah, looks like that,
uh, kinda fell through.
- I'd like to oblige
you Chad, but I can't.
- Oh no, it's just for
a couple of days
til I can find another place.
- I wish I could but I can't.
- Not even for a couple days?
Hell, it ain't like
I'm asking to marry ya.
- I'm afraid not, man.
You know-you know how
Connie is, she ...
- No, Olly, how is Connie?
- You know, she's a little
funny about this kinda thing.
- Yeah, everybody's funny Ollie.
Now you're funny too.
- I'm gonna miss you Jim.
- I'll miss you too Jess.
This year sure
flew by didn't it.
See you next fall?
- I'll be here.
You drive careful.
- I will.
Take care Henry.
- All right Jim.
- How about some breakfast?
- Ma'am?
- I've been eating yogurt
and toast for the past month
and I'm tired of it.
I'm gonna cook up
some bacon and eggs.
You want some?
- Why, yeah.
I got a couple of
chores I gotta finish.
- All right, well, go ahead
and finish them,
and come in the back door
when you're done.
[engine noises]
- It looks like Jim missed out.
- Yes he did.
By the way, that's
quite a saddle you have.
Owned it long?
- Well, my Dad had it and
then his Dad before that.
My Great Grandad had it
built in 1888 in Texas.
- That's quite a family heirloom.
You have anyone to
hand it down to?
- No, I guess, I guess I was
going to give it to my son.
- Oh... I didn't know you
had a son!
Does he live nearby?
- No ma'am, he's up north
with his mother.
He's got no use for it.
- Well, I love those
old saddles.
My dad rode in one till
he couldn't ride anymore.
Sold it to Tom Essex.
Used the money to
buy a dun filly.
- Tom Essex?
- The man who brought
the mustang in.
He collects those old saddles,
must have two hundred of them.
Don't let him see yours,
he'll want to buy it too.
- Oh no ma'am.
I think the world
of that saddle.
It ain't goin' anywhere.
- Well if he starts
hounding you about it,
don't say I didn't warn you.
Please, go ahead and eat,
Mr. McBride,
you don't have to wait.
The reason I asked you
here to stay, is,
now that we're closed
for the season,
I'm going to need a little
extra help,
and I wanted to know if you
wouldn't mind sticking around?
- Well, I reckon I would.
Um, please call me Henry.
Only bankers and lawyers
call me Mr. McBride.
- Well, I wouldn't want to
be mistaken for either.
Henry it is.
♪♪
Hey... good boy, good boy.
♪♪
- How the hell she do that?
♪♪
- It's your heart, Henry.
Sorry, I thought
you knew I was here.
- I-I thought that -
uh - the horses...
- It's your heart.
That's why they don't
want to be around you.
If your heart isn't
right, they'll know it.
- My heart's just fine.
♪♪
Yeah, maybe we need to both get our hearts checked out, huh boy?
- Probably the starter.
- I don't see anything.
- Tap the top lead.
- Alright, try it now.
[engine noises]
- You got it.
- By the way, I've got
to deliver
a couple of colts tomorrow.
You wanna ride along?
- Where they goin'?
- I've got to meet the owner at
the rodeo grounds in Humbolt.
It's about five hours north.
- Nah, I-I'm gonna pass
on that one.
I got lots to do around here.
Alright... sounds good to me.
[hood slam]
♪♪
[crying]
- Henry, you up?
- Yeah!
- I'm getting ready to head out.
I just wanted to see if you
changed your mind
about coming along?
- Well why don't you come in
and have a drink
and we'll discuss it.
- You're drunk.
- We don't have to drink.
♪♪
- Hey Webb, I noticed the name over on the 4-H Pavilion.
Who's Josh McBride?
- Josh McBride?
Well that's a sad story.
- Oh?
- Yeah... he and his mom were
killed in a wreck about uh,
17 years now, I suppose.
A real tragedy.
Happened up on Baker's pass.
They were all coming back from
a talent show that Josh was in -
great little guitar player,
especially for his age.
End up winning the contest that
night, if I remember right.
Well, Henry, his dad, had been
working non-stop
for three days, no sleep at all.
You know what it's like
on a cattle ranch:
too much work and not
enough time to do it.
- Henry.
- Well, I've known he and Anne
since we were all kids.
They were sweet on each
other even back then.
Well, Henry was driving
because Anne broke her ankle
at a branding a few
weeks before that.
He, um, fell asleep
at the wheel, and a
about halfway over the pass
and drove off the road.
Henry got thrown from the truck,
but Anne and Josh
got trapped inside.
Ol' Henry was busted up
real good, but
even as hurt as he was,
he still tried to get
them out of that truck.
By the time he got to where
they was, it was too late.
He took it real bad too.
Blamed himself, you know.
Family meant the world to him.
- I know I should
still fire him.
I can't... I don't know
how to explain it.
- Some things don't
need explaining.
They just are.
- I don't know what to do.
- Sour milk doesn't
get any sweeter.
But this is a good man I think.
Lost, a little maybe,
but good inside.
Maybe he just needs
a friend to talk to.
♪♪
- Morning Henry.
- Morning, Ma'am.
I wanted to let you know
that I'm leaving.
And uh-save you the trouble
of firing me, I guess.
I uh, I also wanted to tell
you that I am truly sorry
for yesterday morning.
There's no excuse
for what I did.
- Well, first off, I don't
remember firing you.
Second, I accept your apology.
And third, I'm going
to make some breakfast.
You want some?
♪♪
- What do those letters
on the cantle stand for?
- William McBride.
That's my great
grandfather's initials.
- And on the horn cap?
- Celtic thistle.
My Great Grandad Will,
and his wife Claire,
my Great Grandmother, come
over from Scotland.
And as I heard it told,
Claire, she was mighty partial
to the thistle flower.
So when ol' Will had
this saddle built,
he had the maker carve
this thistle right here
so he could always see it,
to remind him of Claire
for when he was out on them
long cattle drives.
- That's pretty romantic.
- Well, us McBride boys,
we're nuthin',
if not romantic.
♪♪
- Five hundred pounds of feed,
Chicago screws, leather soap,
sixteen penny nails,
power steering fluid.
Anything else?
- Fencing staples.
- Right.
- The fabric I ordered came in.
Can you get that too?
- Sure, Is it at Jolie's?
- Si, mija.
Maybe you let Mr. Henry
drive today?
- No, I'll drive.
- Maybe you drive?
- Nah - that's alright,
I don't mind.
- Not now, maybe.
- What?
- You know if you're not careful,
you're going to get
Henry thinking that
there's something wrong
with the way that I drive.
♪♪
- Well that wasn't
so bad now, was it?
Your hat's crooked.
- You ok?
- Almost.
- First time riding with her?
- How'd you know?
- Ah, once is usually
all it takes.
What can I do for you, Jess?
Ok, no problem.
Looks like we have everything
here except Chicago screws.
We're out right now.
- That's alright.
I'm going to go get
Hester's fabric.
You wanna stay here, or
do you want to come along?
- Why don't you go ahead.
Looks like you
could use the walk.
- Might help my upset stomach.
- Oh hey Jess.
Chad Collins came hunting
up a job the other day.
Reckon he's worth hiring?
- I'm sorry Melvin.
I'm probably not
the person to ask.
We're gonna be back.
- Ok.
- Hey!
- Well Jessie King!
How are you doing?
I'm so glad to see you.
- Hi!
- You good?
- I'm good.
- Well, who do we have here?
-Jolie, meet Henry McBride.
- Ma'am.
- Not like those other
boneheads you bring in here.
- Don't listen to a
word she says.
- So, you like football?
- Yes ma'am.
- Favorite team?
- I like Denver.
- Oh, they only been in
the league since 1960.
Me?
I like the Packers.
Best record in history.
- It's a good team.
- "Good team" they are!
Vince Lombardi never
took crap from nobody.
- So what can I do for you?
- Hester said you had
some fabric for me.
- I do.
Came in yesterday.
Here it is.
And, tell her I need some
more of those tamales.
Damn they're good.
Have you ever had
Hester's tamales?
- Uh - no ma'am.
- They are damn good.
Give me gas to bad, the
dog won't even come around.
But I cannot stop eating them.
- I want to be just like
her when I grow up.
What?
- I'm just picturing you at
seventy years old, swearin'
and fartin' and talkin' football.
- We can't all be Leona Helmsley.
- Who?
- Nevermind.
- Hey listen, I've been
wonderin'
ever since you said it.
Before you hired me,
you asked me
if I wore gloves or if I smoked.
Why'd you do that?
- Well, my daddy always
said that
someone who wore gloves would always need to find them
before they could do any work.
And a smoker would
always be off somewhere
having a cigarette
when you needed them.
- You found that to be true?
- I don't know.
I never hired anyone who
smoked or wore gloves.
♪ [gentle guitar music] ♪
[truck engine starts]
- Howdy.
- Hey Henry!
You clean up nice.
You want some lemonade?
I made some.
- No ma'am.
- You wanna sit?
- No thanks, ma'am.
- Is there something you
wanted to talk to me about?
- Well, the fact of the matter
is there's this dance.
And uh, I got this flyer here when we were in town.
Saturday night, they've
got a live band.
And uh- I thought, you know,
get off the ranch a few hours.
- Henry, are you askin' me
on a date?
- Well...I don't know.
I thought...
I don't know.
I...
-I'd love to.
- Whew... alright!
- Ah... Melvin, just the man
I want to see.
- Hey Chad, what can I
do you for?
- Well, I was just wondering
if you made a decision
about me working here?
- Sorry Chad.
I'm gonna have to pass.
- Mind if I ask why?
- Truth is, uh, I couldn't
get a recommendation
from your old boss.
- Hi Henry.
- Ma'am.
- Henry, I'm not taking
a step off this porch
unless you promise to call me
by my first name,
for the rest of the night.
I'm waiting.
- Ok, I promise.
- Alright, shall we go?
- Yes ma'am... Jess - Jessie!
- We'll work on it.
[distant dance music]
- That's quite a
belt buckle there.
- You're not the only
one who used to rodeo.
[dance music]
♪ [gentle guitar music] ♪
♪ [music continues] ♪
- It's getting late.
- It is.
- I should probably get goin'.
Say goodnight.
I been worried about
that all night.
- Me too.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
♪ [music continues] ♪
[traffic sounds]
- Morning Henry!
- Morning Jessie!
How's the day treatin' you?
- Oh, not bad.
Listen, I just got a call
from Ed Wilson over in Gypsum.
He's been after me for
about a year to sell him
that little Grulla mare.
He finally offered
me what she's worth.
He wants her delivered today,
and I got so much to do
around here,
I was wonderin' if you want to take her over there for me?
There's a home cooked
meal in it for you.
- That sounds good.
Gypsum... that's about
150 miles to the south?
- It is.
- No problem.
Just give me the directions
and I'll be on my way.
- Alright, I'll get the trailer hitched up.
- I'm leaving now, mija!
- How does the roast look?
- Looks good!
Mr. Henry's going
to like this one.
Very nice!
Mr. Henry's going to
like that one too.
- Thank you.
- Henry is that you?
- Henry is that you?
What happened?
That old fool run off on you?
- I want you off my
property right now.
- Well hell, Jess.
I just got here.
- Leave now or I'll
call the sheriff.
- And he'll be here in what?
An hour... maybe two?
I heard you cost me that job
down by the feed store.
Normally I wouldn't care, but
times are tough right now Jess.
- I'm calling the sheriff.
[fighting sounds]
♪♪
- Stupid.
♪ [music continues] ♪
[engine sounds]
- Jessie
- Jessie... oh my God!
Oh my God honey -
Honey!
We're going to get Hester... I'll get Hester.
Alright?
Oh sweetie...
It's going to be ok.
You're going to be alright.
♪♪
[fighting sounds]
You fucking bitch boy.
Now you better listen
real close, alright?
You climb into your piece
of shit truck
and you drive outta here, alright?.
You get as far as you can away
from here, and if you come back,
or get anywhere near
Jessie King, I'll kill ya.
Am I making myself clear?
That's good.
We finally got an
understanding together.
How you feeling Jessie?
You had a rough
night last night.
You're going to get better.
I promise that.
We're all going to get better.
♪♪
The more I practiced...
♪ [music continues] ♪
- Thank you Henry.
- Oh, I wouldn't be handing out too many thank you's
till you tried it first.
- I don't mean the food.
- I'm happy to do it.
- Tell me where
you're at with him.
- I can get him
caught, and haltered.
He'll let me brush him.
He hasn't run off.
- He likes you.
He has from the start.
- I like him pretty well too.
I've never been around a
horse like that before.
He looks right through me.
Like he knows who I am.
Where I've been.
What I've done.
♪ [guitar strumming] ♪
- You ready for tomorrow?
- I'm just gonna sure miss Teek.
- Me too.
[truck noise]
- So he turned out to be
a good horse after all huh?
- One of the best
I've seen in awhile.
'Fact, I wouldn't mind
buying him from you
if I could meet your price.
- I'd like to get him home
and see if he works on
the ranch before I think
about selling him.
- Well, if he doesn't work out
for ya, keep me in mind.
-Oh, I will. Yeah.
- Here they are!
Henry, you remember Tom?
- Mr. Essex.
-Henry.
Is this your saddle?
-Yes sir.
- May I?
I-God... is this an old
Clarence Beecher?
- Yes sir.
- I'll be damned.
I've only seen these in books.
Beecher's saddles are legendary.
He only made a handful, not
more than ten or fifteen total.
How'd you come to have this?
- My great Granddad and Beecher
were cowboying together
back in the old days.
- Your great Granddad must
have been a good hand.
Old Beecher knew more about
cattle than a rabbit
knows about runnin'.
It's been in your
family all this time?
- Yes sir.
- Well, Henry, I know
it's a long shot, but
I'd kick myself
if I didn't ask.
What will you take for it?
- It's not for sale.
- I'll pay ya cash money.
You name your price.
- The saddle's not for sale, sir.
- Fair enough.
But if you should ever
change your mind-
- I won't.
- Alright, Henry.
Why don't you show me how
Mr. Tico is doing, then.
- Yes, sir.
Tico.
[truck noises]
♪♪
- Good morning Jessie.
- Good morning Henry.
Did you sleep well?
- I did.
You?
- Very well, thank you.
I was wondering-
- I suppose-
- I'm sorry-go ahead.
- Actually, I was planning on
making a pot roast for dinner
and I was wondering if
you wanted to stop by?
- Are you asking me out
on a date?
- I suppose I am.
- Henry - Henry McBride
is that you?
Over here, Henry-
- Mr. Mitchell!
- By golly, I thought
that was you.
I'm surprised to see you up
in this neck of the woods.
- I was just going to say
the same about you sir.
You're a long way from Elko.
- Oh, there's an
auction south of here.
The boys are loading up
what we bought as we speak.
Workin'?
- Not too far from here.
- Cowboyin'?
- Workin' horses mostly.
- Horses must agree with you.
You look good!
How's everything else going?
Still drinking?
- No sir.
Haven't had a drink
in quite awhile.
- You know I, I never blamed you
for what-what you went through.
Ah hell if I- had gone through-
you like you're doing fine.
Real impressed, Henry.
- Yes sir.
- You haven't said a
word since we sat down.
You feelin' ok?
- I'm fine.
You know actually I ran into
an old friend of mine today,
more like an old boss.
Well, he helped me out with some
money before I showed up here.
I owe him six months
worth of work.
- What are you telling me, Henry?
- I-I gotta go up there
and pay him off.
The only way to do that is to
go up there and work it off.
- If it's money that you
need...
- I appreciate that.
That's not the deal I
made with him though.
I don't want to go, Jess.
But I gotta go do this.
- Come back in the spring.
I'll be here.
[truck sounds]
Lunch.
- Thanks.
- You got everything you need?
- Yeah.
I do.
- Well, I guess you
should be going then.
- Yeah, I reckon, yeah.
- Well...
Drive carefully.
- I almost forgot.
I got something for you, too.
- You didn't have to-
- Oh, now-
- Are you alright?
- Almost.
♪♪
- Where's Coop?
Where's Coop?
- Night off.
- Give us a couple of Buds.
You new?
Ain't see you around.
- First day.
Took this job till I could
find some ranch work.
You boys don't
know of any, do ya?
- Not around here.
Not this time of year.
Nobody hires in the winter.
We've even got one more
hand than we need right now.
- What's with that
old Henry anyway?
- Gone and find religion?
- Henry?
- Yup, Henry McBride.
- He workin' around here?
- Runnin' line out
of Wild Basin.
Workin' off a debt to our boss.
Reckon we won't see him
for a couple of months.
Reckon?
You know old Henry?
- Nah - nah, not really.
That Wild Basin.
Ain't that just north of here?
- Uh-uh.
Southwest, about fifteen miles.
Rugged damn country.
Glad Henry's up there
this winter and not me.
[coughing]
♪♪
[nature sounds]
♪ [music continues] ♪
- Guess you shoulda been the
one to watch your back,
you old drunk piece of shit.
Ain't so damn tough now, are ya?
- Why don't you put
that damn thing down
before you hurt yourself!
- Somebody's going
to get hurt alright.
Ain't gonna be me.
Maybe when I'm done here, I'll
go pay another visit to Jessie.
[gun shot]
[door slam]
[gun shots]
- Fuck - Jesus fucking Christ.
[nature sounds]
- It's said that when the body
is beaten, and the heart broken,
it's the spirit that
keeps the soul alive.
When the soul believes
it's already dead.
♪♪
- My god Jessie, you're even prettier than I remember.
♪♪
- I didn't think
you were coming.
-It was a little touch
and go there for awhile,
but I'm here now.
I brought you somethin' here.
- How did you get him?
I went to see Tom Essex
about buying him a month ago.
He said he wasn't for sale.
Your saddle.
My god, Henry, your saddle.
- It's alright.
It's alright, right, Teek?
It's alright.
♪♪
- You ok?
- I am, I am.
♪♪