Red Dirt Rising (2010) - full transcript
Based on a true story about the early days of stock-car racing. A story of love in the time of moonshine as three of stock car racing's earliest heroes come of age to find escape from life's challenges on the track, ultimately shaping the future of their families and auto racing during the Fighting Forties.
(crickets chirping)
(slow country music)
- Everything's set.
- Yeah, you're all
packed up then?
- Yes sir.
- You know, the truck of
yours won't do much longer.
- Folks said it
ain't the machine,
but the name that matters.
- You handle things all right.
- We're still the same though.
- I still certed you, boy.
- Yes, sir.
- Sherrif's comin', Pa!
- Get off!
Get outta the home, boy!
- What should I do?
- Get goin'!
(banjo music)
(car engine idling)
- hydrogen levers.
- Boy, sit your tail down.
Are you asking for a bullet,
coming up here lit
up like a ballpark?
- It won't happen again.
- Damn right.
I ain't give you leave to go.
Me and my boys are new here.
We ain't gonna tell you
how we're gonna do things.
- I appreciate the cars.
- Them shotguns
ain't for long now.
They're for stool pigeons,
snow poles.
Get me?
- Yes sir.
- Let me know what
you're hearin', boy.
- I can handle myself.
- I'll be the judge of that.
Now, you best git.
(slow guitar music)
- Where in the name
of notion you at?
- Eager to greet the days, huh?
- Maybe I oughta have your papa
take you out back and
give you a "what for"
- I think you're doing it good.
- Jimmy, you are
riskin' an awful lot.
- We gotta eat, don't we?
- Well, we've gotten by so far.
- Well, I'm gonna help.
- Like I said, if anything
ever happened to you,
I'd die.
(footsteps approaching)
- Why ain't there no
corn left on my plate?
I suppose my son ain't
been out to milk the cow.
- Milking cows is women's work.
- You talking back to
me, Jimmy Lewallen?
- No sir.
I'm just saying.
- Look, here's your biscuits
and your eggs are going to
be ready in a jif, okay?
Jimmy, get yourself a biscuit.
- Yes'm.
- What you been
doing with my truck?
- I fixed that oil
like you was on about.
- I guess you took the
liberty of testing it after?
- Just rode it around a while.
- This family can't
afford them kinda kegs
you hear me?
- I just wanted--
- You leave that truck
be, unless I say.
You understand me?
You got that?
Huh?
- Yes sir.
(slow guitar music)
- Hey Jimmie.
- Jimmie?
- Yeah, ma?
- Was you planning on meeting
up with Bill and Fred later?
- I'd sure like to.
Blair's just back
from High Rock Lake.
- No trouble.
- I won't start
none, won't be none.
- Okay, I'll talk to your
daddy about the truck.
- All right.
(slow guitar music)
- Hey, Pop.
- Done with them chickens?
- Sure did, a while ago.
- What a surprise, then
there's a first time
for everything, ain't there?
What?
- Nothing.
- Yeah, that's what I thought.
(metal clanking)
- Well, you've all been
runnin' this thing hard.
Gimme a yank.
(grunts)
- You wanna help me
wipe down the flathead?
- No, not particularly, Fred.
- Go on.
- Aye-aye, cap'n.
Gracious alive, Jimmie.
You see this thing?
Got half the farm in here.
You plannin' on pickin'
up Brack's delivery?
- Can't do it.
- Awe, sorry, I forgot.
Tuesday's needlepoint
night for you, isn't it?
- Oh listen to you.
Then again, like you need it
your car look better than most.
- Y'all two need to quit
messin' with that devil juice
I tell you.
- Look Fred, how we come
by is our own business.
- I hear they've hooked to
that, stuffed their radiators.
- How come you think
it tastes so good?
- Well, you all
gonna help me pick
this hay outta the engine?
(laughs)
- This is a fine mess in here.
- Is Pop's standard still up?
- Mm-hmm.
- I wish he'd just
give me a chance.
- You ain't no help.
- Well, bless his heart.
- Stop that.
- You know, he sure gets on
Bill and me the quickest.
- Fathers are always
tough with their sons.
- Well, Bill ain't even his kin.
- You know, something
tells me he's sore
about some of the
breaks Bill's daddy got
that he didn't.
- It just don't seem fair.
- I expect your papa
feels the same way.
(sighs)
- Well, I'm gonna hit the sack.
I gotta whole hill of
potatoes to dig tomorrow.
Goodnight, Mama.
(door slams)
- Don't you have a
wife to get home to?
- Morning, Pop.
You scared the devil outta me.
- I see you're still
itching to get the Feds
crammed down your throat.
- They don't have no
reason to trouble us.
- Bill Blair, are
you gonna stand
there and lie right at me?
- No sir.
- You know, around
here, a mason jar's
got more lies than a cat.
Let your mama put something
less incriminating in them.
- I ain't never gotta call
from the sherrif on me.
- Don't underestimate
Beecher, son.
He knows every car
in this county.
- My apologies for
tryin' to spread
a little joy around here.
- Tires are getting a
little slick on this side.
- Yeah.
Thanks, Pop.
(ripping noise)
- Cold prison shower
is a poor stubstitute
for that bride of yours.
- Yes, sir.
(mellow guitar music)
(upbeat banjo music)
- That all you got?
- I'll bet you half this payload
I get past Beecher
before you do.
- Hoohoo! You're on!
(engine dies)
No, no, no, come on, now!
Come on, baby!
(engine sputters and clicks)
- Oh lord, please don't
let this be Beecher.
(car approaching noise)
- That you, Bill Blair?
- Yes, sir.
Sherriff, I'm glad to see you.
I was just out lookin' for you.
- That so?
- Yes, sir.
There is a ruckus
up behind here.
A couple of big ol' boys.
They're duking it
out and I'm sure
they could use your assistance.
- Then why are you stopped?
Everything all right?
- With me, yes, sir.
I'm fine.
I'm just looking for
a flashlight's all.
- So you could look for me?
- (laughs) You had
me there, yeah.
How's the missus?
(upbeat guitar music)
- It's 6:00 man, what happened?
- Beecher.
- He catch you?
- Uh-uh, but damn near.
Told him I saw a couple
of ol' boys duking it out
over a girl on Miller's Road.
I don't know about all that,
but I think he bought it.
- Yeah, until he finds out there
ain't no girl, ain't no dukes.
- One more night
with my Lucille,
that's all I see clear to.
How come you don't meet yourself
a girl anyway?
- When I find one
that's worth getting.
- Hell, I can name
you a few if you
ain't so keen on
bland conversation,
do you know what I'm saying?
- I can't afford to go steady.
- Who said anything about that?
- Anyways, you still
owe me half a beating.
- (laughs) There
is that, I suppose,
but it's a technicality
if you ask me.
That's why I don't have any gas.
- You see, that's
just not right.
(knocking on door)
- Door's open, Carrie.
- Factory whistle's
in 20 minutes.
- Well then, we'd
better getta move on.
I'm ready.
- What're you all
gussied up for?
- Mama says "Always be prepared"
(engine sputtering)
- Oh no.
What're we gonna do now?
What're we gonna do?
- We're gonna walk.
- It is miles to the factory.
I will not make
it in these shoes.
Hey, I got an idea.
We're near the
Lewallen home place.
They gotta truck
and a nice lookin'
boy to drive it.
What do you say?
- Good thing you put
on all that lipstick.
- Morning Mrs. Lewallen.
- May I help you?
- I'm Dottie, this
here's Carrie.
I'm a friend of Jimmie's.
Is he home?
- Well, he's out tillin'.
I can have Harold fetch him?
- That'd be right kind of you.
- Harold!
Now, how do you
girls like Archdale?
- Too quiet for me.
Daddy seems to think
it's a good place
for me to stay outta trouble.
Carrie's new here.
She seems to like it on her own.
- Well then, you two should come
to Friend's Meeting
on Sunday, with us.
- I reckon I might, thank you.
- Well, hey there, Jimmie.
I haven't seen you in a while.
- What brings you by?
- This is Carrie, son.
She's another woman
from the boarding house.
- How do you do?
- Hi there, nice to meet you.
- These ladies could
use a ride to work, son.
- Glad to.
Yeah, come on.
- Thank you for the water.
- Thank you so much.
- You're so welcome.
- This is just so sweet.
I gotta think of a way
to express my gratitude.
- Don't mention it.
- I'm just gonna
hop in the back.
- No, no, no, no.
Come on, come on.
Sit up front.
You sit in the middle.
- You sure?
- Yeah, come on.
- You taking on
mechanics work now?
- No sir, I brought
a couple of girls
out to the factory.
- I see.
Need a hand?
- Appreciate it.
- All right.
Shake the hose.
- The bad news, the carburetor.
Things are always
getting clogged.
- Yeah, could be that,
but it's the hose.
Take a look.
Clamp's loose.
Betcha what happened was engine
overheated because
the water evaporated
out of it, so all
you gotta do is
tighten that clamp down.
You go out to the well,
get a pail of water,
you fill it up,
it'll be good as new.
Girls are gonna like that,
but just my thoughts on it.
Being your helper is hard.
(engine turns off)
(knocks on door)
- Well, hey again!
Don't you clean up nice?
Wanna come in for some lemonade?
- Got your car running.
Is Carrie here?
I was kinda hoping she'd
give me a ride home.
- She's off running
errands with Miss Haggins.
- Oh.
- Well, I could give
you a ride (laughs)
- No thanks.
I'd just as soon walk
home if that's all right.
- So are you gonna
be home for supper?
- I should be home
around suppertime.
- All right.
- [Ellie] Hey Bill?
- Yes, ma'am?
- You make sure you
gets home by supper.
- You can count on
me, Ms Lewallen.
- Oh, don't you worry.
Bill's got plans
with me tonight,
and he ain't gonna be
getting in any trouble.
Ain't that right, Bill?
- Yeah, absolutely.
Whatever you say.
- [Ellie] All right, well you
boys best be getting along.
- I'll see you at
the barn, Bill.
Bye, Ma.
- [Ellie] Bye, honey.
- [Bill] Hey, hey!
Here you go.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Can I give you a lift?
- It's all right.
I seem to have
better luck walkin'
than I do ridin' these days.
- Dropped Dottie's
car off the other day
Was kinda hoping
to see you there.
- Why is that?
- No reason.
- Well, shouldn't you best
be getting on here?
- All right then,
I guess I'll be
seeing you later.
- [Fredl] Man, this fuel
line's pushing slower
than molasses in January.
- [Jimmie] Wanna hand?
- [Fred] No, I reckon I got it.
- So where'd Lucille run off to?
- She went with Mama and Pop
to see the new calf.
- [Fred] Ain't it so cute!
" Come on, Bill.
" Let's go see the
baby. (laughs)"
I reckon that's the cutest thing
I ever did see in my whole life,
I tell you what?
- Gary Knowles.
I say, how about
that Carrie girl?
- What do you mean?
- She's a might pretty.
- I suppose.
- You suppose?
I saw you looking at her.
- [Jimmie] So? I look
at lots of things.
- (clears throat)
Are y'all two gonna
quit your gosspin'
and give me a hand?
I ain't gonna be
able to keep this
car runnin if
y'all keep treatin'
it the way you do.
- This, comin' from
the man who changes
the fuel line from
under the car?
- Hey! Never you mind.
I'm the only one here who knows
what I'm doin'.
- Jeez Fred, what's eatin' ya?
- Nothin's eatin'
me, but I can't
very well feel
sorry neither when
y'all two are forever
up to no good.
- No good?
Did he just--
- He did.
- (laughs) Fredrick,
that hurts my feelings.
I'll tell you what.
I'm gonna make
you a little wager
on just how "no
good" I really am.
I got ten cents here that says
my Coupe can take both
y'alls cow patties
to the fence line and back.
- You don't say?
- I sure as hell do.
(upbeat banjo music)
(engines idling)
- Boys, turn off them engines.
(engines cut out)
- The sheriff just called.
- What'd he want?
- You know damn
well what he wanted,
Bill Blair.
- I just come in from
Greensboro, Mr Blair.
- Well, you've got
more sense than
the two of these put together.
Now'd be a good time
for you to head on back!
Front and center, boys.
Y'all were tearin'
hell outta them
roads when you came
back from church.
I am not gonna stand for it!
If you two wanna
do somethin' with
these machines, other than what
Henry Ford intended,
well that is one thing,
but when you bring
your speed devilin'
to the roads of Randolph County,
now that is somethin' else.
- Pa, we will lay off.
- [Mr Blair] Oh, you
will do more than that.
You will cease and desist today!
That includes the cornfields
and the cow patches.
- Look, Pa. We didn't mean
to stir up any trouble--
- Listen here!
I hear tell anymore
foolishness from you two,
and I will call your papa,
and I will set Beecher
on you my damn self.
Now are we clear?
- Yes, sir.
- Well, get outta my sight.
(car door opens and closes)
- Lord, where y'all
been at, boys?
I didn't think y'all
was ever gonna show up.
- Well, that was fun.
I'd like to do that
again sometime soon.
- Whoo! So, about that bet?
Got anything for me?
- (laughs) I dunno,
but you earned that.
- And?
(kicks bumper)
Come on, quit holdin'.
- Did you want me to
help you out here?
- If you don't mind?
- Am I ever gonna see
any of these back?
- I appreciate it.
- Probably not.
Thank y'all fellas, kindly.
Pleasure doin' business with ya.
- As long as you know
that I had you both.
- Bill, who's the cow patty now?
(hammering noise)
(harmonica music)
- Say man, what'd you clear
on deliveries this week?
- I dunno, why?
- No reason.
- Oh lord, is this
about Carrie again?
- No, why'd you say that?
- 'Cause you're sweet on her.
- No, I ain't.
- Well, good.
A girl as sophisticated
as she is,
she won't have anything
to do with you, farm boy.
- You see, you're just
jealous 'cause she's
better than Lucille.
- Now, I know you're not talking
about my Lucille, are you?
- Y'all simmer down,
simmer down now!
I'll tell you what, Bill.
I sure really do miss the farm.
Your mama's apple pies.
Your papa's voice
crackling like bacon
on a hot skillet,
your sister's big ol'--
- Hey, hey! Come on, Fred.
- Well, what in
tarnation are you doin'?
- You see, I was
wonderin' when someone
would take a shine on my genius.
What I'd done here
is, I rigged me up a
do-jobber which
shuts off the brake
lights from inside the car.
- Well, why'd you
wanna go and do
somethin' 'like that?
That's only good for
crooks and criminals.
- Well, you never know.
Folks might like to
have the option one day.
- Well, I tell you
what, Mr Blair,
feel like givin' her a test
run up to the fence line?
- Fred, Pop would
have our asses.
- You know, Mr Blair only said
to not tear hell
across Randolph County,
but we ain't in Randolph County.
- Look, guys!
- Oh, thanks, Mama.
You read my mind.
- It is hot today.
- Indian Summer's
definitely a promise.
- I'd take it over a
long winter day anytime.
- Amen.
- You boys head up to
the house and wash up.
Jimmie, I wanna know
if you have intentions
towards that Carrie girl.
- She won't even
let me court her
past the front steps.
I can't seem to
get her off my mind
is all I know.
- Now you be careful
with her, okay son?
- I hear she's not
all she appears to be.
- What are you
tryin' to say, Mama?
It appears to me she's
just a strong woman
tryin' to make it on her own.
Folks gonna hold
that against her?
Don't you think
that's the kinda woman
I ought to be with?
We met at the same meadow
you showed me, comin' up.
- Yeah, I know.
Be that as it may, I mean,
what do you really
know about her, Jimmie?
Life can't be fair to all of us.
- Yeah, I reckon not.
This ain't all there is.
- Maybe not, for you.
- Hey, how'd you
get her over here?
- Don't blame me.
I didn't have anything
to do with it.
Thank Lucille.
She's the one with the touch.
- Lord, here we go again.
If you wanna impress her,
why don't you show
her what you got?
- Because I ain't got squat.
- Speed, stupid.
Girls love that kinda moxie.
- He's gotta point you know?
What do you think?
- Couldn't hurt.
(engines start up)
- Oh!
- The hell kinda
driving was that?
- Bill?
- This is a workin'
farm, and you know that.
Don't you think for
one minute, BIll Blair
I'm not up to whoopin'
you just 'cause you
a married man.
(grunts)
(engine revving)
- Hey!
- Hey.
- What on earth
took y'all so long?
- We just heard the sound
of thunder from Pop.
- Oh, great.
Well, that ladies and
gentlemen is the end
of racing as we
know it. Good job.
Way to go, fellas.
- Thanks, Fred.
- Lord have mercy.
What is your Pop gonna do now?
- There's no telling, babe.
I think we probably
ought to head on
back to town.
I think it'll be the
last I'll hear about it.
- Say, I'm gonna stay a spell.
- Yeah?
- Do you mind if I
keep you company?
- Sure
- Take care.
- [Lucille] See
you later, Carrie!
(car horn beeps)
- So how'd you get
started in racing, anyhow?
- You could say Bill,
I mean, he's
practically a professor.
- Moonshine, huh?
- Yeah. At least
I have fun, right?
- I suppose.
- Why don't you like me?
- Who said I didn't like you?
- Well, you sure
have a funny way
of showin' it if you do.
- It ain't you, Jimmie, it's me.
- I know I'm just
a farm boy and all,
but I ain't stupid.
I used that same
line before, myself.
- It ain't a line.
It's 'cause of
where I come from.
My background and all.
- How bad could it be?
- You really don't
know why I'm here?
I used to be married.
- You're kiddin' right?
- No. I mean, my mama and daddy,
- they've struggled
since the day
I was born.
They had a whole mess of kids
and I was just
always looking for
opportunity to get
outta that house.
I just wish I wouldn't
have taken the
first opportunity
that came around.
I mean, after I got
married, he did nothin'.
He laid around all day.
I had to go get
work, and it ain't
easy getting work
where I come from.
It's not like it is here.
Things just kinda got bad
and I left, and got divorced.
Now I'm here.
- That's kinda how
my family is too.
I mean, I wanna
get away from them,
but I can't.
Do you love him?
- Yeah. I suppose I did.
It's just for all the
wrong reasons though.
(slow guitar music)
- Mr Blair?
Do you know where Bill is?
- You can try the back
fields behind the barn.
(laughing)
(engine approaching)
- What in the name of God?
- Jimmie?
- Yeah?
Two bits says I can beat
you ten times around this thing.
(upbeat music)
(talking quietly)
- Hey, how y'all doin'?
- All right.
- Good.
- This here's Henry Suttles.
- I invited him to come
up and race with us.
- Thank you for havin' me.
- We were just
remarkin' on that car.
That's right sharp.
Is that yours?
- Well, thank you.
That's my pop's car.
My pop will make me quit school
if I tear up his car.
- So you don't go that fast?
(laughter)
- Yes, ma'am. I go fast.
- Or is that 'cause you're
friends with Fred and all.
- Hey, what's that
supposed to mean?
(car approaching)
- This is Carolina Racing?
Red dirt tracks and
dried up fields.
Hi, fellas.
- Hi.
- Hey there, baby boy.
- How you doin' Miss Mason?
- Don't you dare
speak to my wife.
- Buck, you already
causin' trouble?
- Jimmie Lewallen, as
I live and breathe.
- Henry, you got your
car ready for the race?
- Sure do.
Fred's been a big help.
- Hey, you wanna
quit your jawin'
and let's go get you tied in?
- It's okay you
bein' here, Buck.
You just mind your edge
that's on the track.
- You mind yours
and I'll mind mine.
You best be goin' or
you know what's comin'.
(cars revving)
- Sorry you didn't win.
- Aw, it was nothin'.
- You reckon you might
take me on a proper date now?
- You mean it?
- Well, there's no reason to be
so eager, I didn't agree
to marry you or nothin'.
- Let me show you somethin'.
Come on.
- What?
- I'll show you, come on.
- What are you doin'?
- You'll see.
After you.
- Okay.
- Just hang on.
- What are you doing?
(lively music)
- Surprised to see
you up before dawn.
What'd I tell you about
that truck out there?
- Sir?
- I marked how much gas
was in it last night.
- Well, I forgot right as rain,
after chores.
- Don't worry about it.
You ain't gonna be using
that truck no more.
- But Pop!
- I'm through lettin'
you take chances
with what little the good Lord
has seen fit to provide us.
- Pop, you've gotta
lot to say about
what goes on around here.
I ain't your property
to deal with.
- What did you say to me, boy?
(slow guitar music)
- Not any word.
- Hey, you wanna hand
me that socket wrench?
Thank you.
- Listen, I keep
vowing number two.
I try to reject them,
but he's not gettin'
anything out of it. Thoughts?
- You might wanna
check your points
on the distributor.
- That'd be great.
- What happened to you?
You all right?
- Look, I hope you don't
mind me sayin' this
but Roy's just Roy.
You can't let him get to you
like that Jimmie.
- I think he's madder than
a possum in a gas can.
- Now, that weren't
nothin' compared
to when Ellie
finds out about you
and that Carrie girl.
- You're too young
to understand.
- No, I ain't.
I got me my own fiancee.
- You what?
- Yep.
- What's her name?
- Betty.
She's as pretty as
the day is long.
I met her up at the roller rink.
- Yeah, right.
- I gotta notice about the news
so it might cheer you all up.
My daddy took that manager job
down at the furniture mart.
- You idiot, how's
that good news?
- He's gonna let me manage
the garage, stupid. (laughs)
- Okay, that's pretty good news.
- Cheers.
- I don't wanna be the
one to bring this up
but how are you
gonna make a livin'
without a truck?
- More than that,
how am I gonna race?
- You can come and work
for me if you want.
- No, I gotta help
tend the farm.
At least wise until my
brothers get bigger.
That does say you got it done.
That'll be good for somethin'.
- Well, you know
I did have a fella
from up the Trinity Way come in
the garage today.
Tried to sell me his
Coupe for 50 dollars.
- 50 dollars? Did he push it in?
- Why didn't you say so?
- I've got his
address right here.
- Come on, man!
- Ladies, ladies, ladies.
- I believe you there.
(laughs)
- I believe there's a
matter of a quarter.
Oh, that's your quarter now.
- Yeah, I guess this is
your quarter (laughs)
- Come on, boy.
I'll take you down right here!
- So what do you think?
- Well, there's a right big
open grids on there,
but I reckon it should do.
- I can make a few adjustments.
Hey, Carrie!
How about a kiss for good luck?
- In your dreams.
Where's the truck?
- That's my new car.
Ain't she a beaut?
- I guess.
How am I supposed to count
when it looks like all
the others? (laughs)
- Come on.
(engines idling)
- Have you lost your mind?
- Hey! False player!
- Not now, Buck.
- Hey, why you got
Jimmie on the inside?
I come in faster qualified.
- The time is proper.
- If you say so.
I believe you in his pocket.
- I can't believe those
guys got into it again.
Do you think Bill has the
worst trousers, to you?
- It's hard to say.
- Yep, I think they're done for.
In all my married years, Carrie,
I have mended more trousers
than I've had dinners out.
- Oh (laughs)
- Hey, Lewallen!
You advertising
your lot in life?
Your big zero (laughs)
Hey, best be glad
my tire blew out
or I'd have whooped you today.
- Can't you just
congratulate me, Buck?
- Buck ain't capable of that.
- Come on, let me go! (grunts)
- I'll see you next Sunday.
Come on, baby, come on.
It's all right.
Come on, now.
That's a good girl.
(slow guitar music)
- I cannot believe that driving
does this to your hands.
You look awful!
I can't believe that.
- Your husband ever
treat you like that?
- Like what?
- You know, how ...
Buck is with his girl?
- No.
Ain't nobody ever gonna
treat me that way.
Jimmie, I don't wanna
talk about that.
I told myself I'm gonna enjoy
my last days in Archdale.
- What do you mean?
- Well, they're
naming off some women
at the factory, and I'm gonna be
losing my job soon.
Without work, I'm
gonna be moving.
I can't stay here if
I don't have any work.
- I reckon that's good for you.
But I don't want you to go.
Carrie, you know I love you.
- Jimmie, I...
don't have any say in this.
You best be takin' me home.
Okay?
(excited conversation)
- [Greeter] Welcome to
the Tri-City Racetrack.
Good to see you.
Welcome to the
Tri-City Racetrack.
Enjoy yourselves.
- [Woman] Thank you, sir.
- [Greeter] Tri-City
Racetrack, welcome to you.
Good to see you.
- You sure have done
a mighty fine job,
settin' all this up.
- Thank you.
- That your boy?
- Sure is.
You know, he had
an awful lot to do
with puttin' this whole
thing together too.
- My boy, Buddy,
he's about yea high.
He's already into racing.
- Oh boy.
Well, listen. It's about time
for me to make the rounds.
Why don't you come with me?
I'll introduce you to
some of the drivers.
- That sounds good.
I'd appreciate that.
- Hey, Bill.
- Huh?
- Who's that?
- Who's who?
- On the claw of your dad?
- That's Bud Nance.
Race promoter down Florida way.
They do it on the beach there.
- That'll put sand in
your drawers (laughs).
- I'd like to do it
on the beach someday.
(laughs)
- Boy, your engines are running,
but there's damn
sure ain't nobody
behind the wheel.
- What?
(laughs)
- Henry, just keep
eatin' your peanuts.
(engines roaring)
(sparking noise)
(flames whoosh)
(Henry screaming)
(loud crash)
(dramatic music)
(flames crackle)
- [Bill] Look, I know
that we're all sorry,
but cuttin' him off out there
and as much as I like to,
we can't lay this
at his doorstep.
- Someone who's
done right there.
- Jimmie, you're no saint,
but if you tell me
this was an accident
I'll know you're
tellin' the truth.
- It was.
- It's a real shame.
- All right then.
- I reckon it's time
I go tell his folks.
- It coulda been you.
- What?
Races just ain't
all that dangerous.
- You tell that to
that dead boy's mama.
- I reckon that ain't perfect.
- I don't want that
to happen to you.
- I know things ain't
always been good for you.
Life can't be perfect
for all of us.
I know I ain't perfect neither.
But you'd think...
you think maybe we might
be perfect for each other?
♪ Your love is like
a crystal water
♪ Pure and sweet it gently flows
♪ Southern son and
mountain daughter
♪ Easy as it goes
(light guitar music)
- Are you scared?
- Not anymore.
- You expect to be long?
- Long enough for you to
get your stuff packed up.
- Think your mama's
gonna be mad?
- Well, if she is,
we'd better find
another state to
sleep in at night.
I'll stay the
same, Mrs Lewallen.
- Good luck.
(car starts)
- Hey, Mama.
What's wrong?
- You've been called to service.
Jimmie.
(Ellie crying)
- You take care of
of yourself, son.
Okay?
- All right, Mama.
- He'll be fine, Mama.
Let's go.
- Jimmie, I love you.
- Was there ever any doubt?
(Carrie crying)
(gunshots firing)
(airplane flying overhead)
- [Carrie] Livin' at
your mama's is good.
She's been real kind to me.
She's been teachin' me how
to bake a lotta things.
I think even your pop's
taken a liking to me.
Well, that might be
because he found out
he's gonna be a granddaddy soon.
(bomb explodes)
- Get down, man!
- [Carrie] He did say you
wanted a whole mess of kids.
I just want you
to come home soon.
(splashing water)
- [Carrie] I love you, "daddy".
(splashing water)
(distant gunshots)
- [Carrie] Enclosed is a
picture of your baby girl
at her second birthday.
Everybody says she looks
just like her daddy
and she is already
talkin' up a storm,
you won't believe it.
(gunshot firing)
- [Carrie] I just can't
wait for this war to be over
and I just want you to
know how proud I am of you.
I just want you home so you
can hold me in your arms.
(dramatic music)
(shot fires)
- Dear Carrie...
(laughs) oh thank
God, it's from Jimmie!
- Okay.
- I hope this letter
arrives timely,
because I wanna be sure
you have plenty of notice.
I'm comin' home this summer,
and I want you to be forewarned.
Tell Harold I heard
about him wreckin' my car
and it better be fixed
when I get there (laughs).
The box I sent
contains a few mementos
I got from planes.
What happened, at Normandy and
the Battle of the Bulge.
Please show me to my little girl
so she'll know there's a reason
she hadn't seen her daddy yet.
The Purple Hearts ain't arrived.
I believe there's three.
They might get
there before I do.
Tell everyone that I will
see them soon, Jimmie.
Oh my goodness.
- He's coming home.
- Yeah, yes he is.
Oh my.
- What's wrong, Rita?
- Stay and play with me?
- Aww, come here.
Daddy's gotta go to work.
They need me to see
to all them nice cars.
- You have to see me too.
- How about if I tell
you a story later?
- You mean it?
- Of course I do.
I gotta get.
- Daddy, are we poor?
- No, sweetie.
- Why do you have
to work so much?
- Well, everybody's got to work.
- I don't.
I'm just a little girl.
- Well, you help your
mama around the house.
- Yeah, but I don't like to.
- Here, give her to me.
- Go see Mama.
Give me a kiss, bye.
- Don't forget to
pay the gas bill.
- I got it.
- Love you!
- Love you too.
- Lewallen?
- Hey.
- How are you doin'?
- Good, yourself?
- Good. You're
lookin' good today.
- Likewise.
- At my house, I've got
a picture of you up there
with Jeffrey where
your fourth tire
finished the race
before you did.
You won the race, but
only on three wheels.
- I remember that.
Let's get back to
advance your car.
- Okay.
- Want me to pop
the hood for you?
- Yeah.
- How you doin' Bill?
- I can't complain.
Things are pretty good.
- I've been seein'
your pop's campaign
signs all over town.
- Yeah, if things keep
goin' the way they're goin'
he'll be Senator
Blair come fall.
- You stayin' busy?
- Yeah, I got the dairy farm
I'm runnin' Tri-City
while dad's on the road.
You know, it keeps me goin'.
I see you're getting' restarted
in the family business.
- Well, you like
doin' the race track?
- Yeah, it's all right I guess,
but I'd rather be drivin.
Listen, think maybe you'd
come out this Saturday?
Race a little bit?
- I don't know.
I mean, what with
the family and all.
- I got the same.
- Yeah, but you ain't in a pinch
to feed 'em every week.
- Well, for whatever it's worth,
the purses are getting
a little bit better.
I'm not tryin' to
talk you into nothin',
but I think it'd mean a lot
to the folks around here,
me included if you come on out
and join us this weekend.
- You know, I've been waitin'
for a chance to whip you again.
- Aww hell (laughs).
Whip me again?
- (laughs) Yeah.
- Like hell.
- What do you think
about that, Bill?
- We'd better get
you on out there.
I'll take it.
- Well, we'll have to find out.
- [Carrie] Eat your
soup, sweetheart.
I don't want you to.
- You knew I was a racer
when you married me.
Carrie, the purse
is 100 dollars.
- I don't care.
After what happened to Henry,
and the war and everything?
I thought that part
of our life was over.
- Yeah. Well, I started thinking
of my dad too.
I stopped racing so
we could have all this
for us.
When I'm out on them tracks
I feel alive.
Can't you understand
that, Carrie?
- But you think we're
gonna live forever,
and we ain't.
- We gotta live.
Come on, babe.
- Do you want some cake?
- Yeah.
- Can daddy have a
piece of cake too?
- Mm-hmm.
- Can he have two
pieces of cake?
- No.
- Maybe?
- Maybe.
- [Bill] Look at this guy.
Hey, Lewall!
Nice hat.
- Well, ain't this a hoot?
- Isn't it?
Crazy, huh?
- How you doin' Bill?
- I'm good, you?
- I'll tell you what,
things sure have changed.
- What you doin' boy?
- Hey Fred.
- Welcome back.
- Thanks.
- Yeah, money
still ain't nothin'
to squawk about though.
- Is there anything you
won't complain about?
Hey, I meant to tell you guys.
Listen to this, I heard
some of the drivers
down in Georgia are
getting sponsors now.
You ever hear of such a thing?
- No.
- No, and he won't neither.
You've got to have know-how
to get paid to race.
- Buck, you are windier
than a bag of buttholes.
- Fred Harb on a race track.
Ain't that a sight?
We've got us a poker game goin'
tonight over the campfire.
You care to part
with a few dollars?
- Well, I suppose
poker does beat
your usual pasttime
if I wanted to fetch
more farm animals.
- You better shut
your little mouth
before I take a mind to
knock your block off.
- Ohh, he makes me
mighty scared, gentleman.
- Give you a little
piece of advice, Curtis.
Don't take that
fella too lightly.
That boy'll run you down as
sure as look at you.
- He ain't kiddin'.
Jimmie Lewallen, how do you do?
- Is he kiddin'?
- No, Curtis.
He ain't kiddin'.
There is a time we
tried to act like
gentlemen out here.
- All right, I see.
- Jimmie Lewallen, Curtis
Turner, resident playboy.
- Ah, the ladies'
man from Virginia.
- You have heard that
Virginia's for lovers, right?
Where'd you hear that?
- Maybe Lucille told me.
- Where is that old gal?
- Never you mind, Curtis.
Never you mind.
Why don't you run along?
- All right, gentlemen.
I guess I will see you
out on the track, old man
- Mm-hmm.
- I gotta get my beauty rest.
- We'll see you there.
- He does need his beauty rest.
- Reminds me of
somebody I used to know.
(door squealing)
- You've gotta lot of nerve
sneaking in so late.
- I just came to get a blanket.
I'm gonna stay with Fred
and Bill at the track.
- Just like the old days?
- Oh, I got you somethin'.
(child crying)
- I'm sorry, babe.
I'll tend to her.
- What did you bring me?
- Tickets.
- Tickets?
- I'll take two.
- You know?
- Ready.
- Hey, is this good?
- (laughs) No, fold.
- Four, Jimmie?
- Now I'm the one that's losin'.
- Dealer takes.
- I lost that.
What you got?
- Full house, pay up.
- He's cheatin'.
Ain't no way you can have
a full house again, Buck.
- Y'all are always
accusing me of things
and I don't have no idea why.
- Tell me you ain't got
nothin' up your sleeve.
- Fellas, I'm out.
I just can't keep
this kinda company.
- Goes to show you,
there's no hard feelings
when you pay up.
I'll buy you a drink.
I hear this here
come from one of
Jimmie Lewallen's suppliers.
- Hey, you know I ain't messed
with that in years.
- Don't you get all high
and mighty with me, Lewall.
Just 'cause everybody
thinks you were
a hero over there,
that don't make
you shit back here.
- Can I borrow $2?
- No you may not lose
two of my dollars,
Doug Ross, go and ask your mama.
You know, it must be awful hard
without being such a
son of a bitch, Buck.
I think I'm gonna go join Fred.
- So it's just you and me, Buck.
- Take it easy, Jimmie.
It's only a game.
(applause)
- Hey, Jimmie.
Do you remember me?
- Of course, Mr Nance.
I'm surprised to
see you here though.
I thought you were off promotin'
a race off of Johnson Street.
- Well, you know
I gotta check out
the competition.
That was mighty fine racing
out there today.
That's the
experienced one today.
- It feels good to
be back out there.
- I don't wanna take up
too much of your time.
Do me a favour, call me Bud.
My daddy's Mr Nance, all right?
- Will do.
- All right, congratulations.
- Thanks.
- Spin me, grandpa, spin me!
- Oh, I think grandpa's
too tired for that.
Why don't you run
inside and see grandma?
I know she wants
to see you, okay?
- Okay.
- All right, hop on down.
There you go.
Oh my goodness, you're heavy.
- Bye grandpa, bye.
Love you.
- I love you too, darlin'.
- So how was the doctor?
- They don't know nothin'.
- I see you got the far
fields mowed and ready.
- Yep.
Your brother, Harold
come by, done that.
- You gonna need
some help tillin'?
- No.
Mama made arrangements
for that too.
- I see.
You know, I started
racin' again.
Got one comin' up soon.
You and Mama should
come out and watch.
- No.
No, your mama dont
wanna see that.
- All right, Pop.
I'll see you.
(applause)
- Ladies and gentlemen, can
I have your attention please?
I'd like to present your winner.
It's Jimmie Lewallen,
number zero.
(applause)
- Hey, wasn't that prized
to the wrong driver?
- What are you saying, Buck?
- I won that race.
- Buck, you lost
a whole lap when
you stopped to fill
up and have a smoke.
- I did no such thing.
Darlin' come here.
Now, did you see
me stop to smoke?
Would you please tell this man?
- It says here you
did Buck, on lap 20.
- You need to pack
up your car, Buck.
You pack up and you get
the hell off my track.
- Your track?
This track ain't
nothin' without me.
To hell with you.
To hell with all of you.
- Jimmie, I want you
to address the crowd
if you would?
Let these people
know who the real
winner of the race was.
Your winner, ladies
and gentlemen,
Jimmie Lewallen!
(applause)
(cheering)
- Whats wrong?
- I'm all right.
- You wanted daycare,
ain't you happy?
- Yeah.
(car nudging from behind)
- Aw, it's Buck.
Are you all right, babe?
- Yeah.
(car beeping)
- All right, that's it.
- Easy, Jimmie.
- Rubbin's racin' slow poke.
Hey!
- Mom, why did
daddy hit that man?
- It's okay, honey.
It's all right.
Can you get out?
- Yeah.
Am I walkin' fast for you?
- Nope.
Am I walkin' to fast for you?
- Nope.
- Why don't you go ahead?
Run on inside, get
yourself a cookie, okay?
I'm gonna talk to
your dad for a minute.
You can't go doing
that in front of Rita.
What happens at
the track between
you and the boys needs
to stay at the track.
You can't go bringin' it home.
- Buck had it comin'.
- I know.
Buck's dangerous,
and guys like that
are a big part of racin' now.
It's not like how it
used to be, Jimmie.
- Carrie, you know
what it means to me.
- I never asked you to quit!
I just don't wanna see you die.
- What are you talkin' about?
- Jimmie, you're not 17 anymore.
You have a family.
You have responsibilities
here, okay?
Now, I'm not saying
that all the guys
out there are like Buck
and they're dangerous,
but they're not
like you and Bill,
who do it for the love of it.
It takes one guy
like Buck Mason,
and you can end up dead.
Just one.
- You shouldn't think
about things like that.
- How can I not?
Huh?
How can I not?
I don't wanna be alone, Jimmie.
It scares me to
death to think about
what it would be like
if you wasn't here.
I'm already alone,
tryin' to take care
of Rita, waitin' for
this baby to come
when you're out camping
with your friends.
I don't wanna take
away from that, Jimmie.
I don't.
But it's hard.
It's hard, Jimmie.
- I'm just tryin'
to do right by us.
Just live a little.
I work hard, Carrie,
you know that.
- I know, and that's not
what I'm tryin' to say.
You know, we may struggle,
but you take care
of us good, you do.
But you gotta understand the
position you put me in,
and this family in
when you're out there racin'.
Think about that.
- Listen.
Mr Nance has called on me
down Daytona Beach.
Some sorta business proposition.
- What's it about?
- I don't know.
Mr Nance is smart
and he wants me there,
and I'm gonna go hear him out.
- We can't afford
to do anything.
- I work at the Ford
dealer for cryin' out loud.
- You can't feed a
family on race winnin's.
(slow guitar music)
- What I'm sayin'
is let's make a
formal arrangement
with the drivers.
Keep people on the stands,
keep our garages open.
Now, as a one-time
driver myself,
I've been swindled more
times than I care to count.
We can, and we should,
protect these drivers
from unethical promoters.
- Stop all the fightin'.
- Yes.
My first order of
business would be
to expel the likes of Buck Mason
and any other driver like him
from any of my races.
If this thing is handled right,
there could be a
lot of money made
out of it.
- It sounds like it'd
be a lot safer too.
- Measurably.
Now, here's what I need:
I'm asking each of you
for a $500 investment.
- Bud, you've been
good to us drivers
all these years,
and I'd like to be
a part of this,
but I just can't put
my family at risk.
- You can take a few
days and think about it.
- I don't need it.
Now, I love racin', I truly do.
I just ain't
convinced it's gonna
amount to anything.
- Okay, I can't
fault you for that,
but I am going to
go ahead with it.
- Best of luck to you.
I'll be proud to race
at any event you have.
- Well, I'll
certainly be in touch.
Thanks for makin' the
trip down, Jimmie.
I appreciate it.
Questions?
- What are you gonna call it?
- [Jimmie] I already got a
foot ahead of Curtis Turner.
I'm gonna beat him by
the tail car lights.
- (laughs)
- He's gonna have a
problem with that.
- I don't know.
How did you land
back here so far?
- Jimmie Lewallen.
- Oh lord, here he is.
- What is with this get up?
Why aren't you racing today?
- Of course I am.
Carrie and Rita is up yonder.
They've got my gear.
- This old man is often
the biggest purse I
ever heard of, Jimmie.
- Curtis, this right
here is Fireball Roberts.
He's one of my
boys from Florida.
- Fireball, how are you doin'?
Aren't you the one I heard
wrecking on the
ninth lap in Daytona?
You're gonna have to
do better than that
today boy, if you
wanna win this thing.
Win that big money.
- Sir, yes sir.
- Well, speakin' of big money,
I gotta go find my boy,
he's helping me promote.
- Well, you folks be
safe out there today.
- All right, Mr Nance.
- Be careful of that ninth lap.
- (laughs) Yes sir.
- [Carrie] There it is.
Here comes your daddy.
You cold?
- Yeah.
- You know what?
Have you looked behind
your ears lately?
- Yeah.
- You have?
Then you would see this
money that I just found
behind that one.
Look at that.
- You nervous?
- Not anymore.
- Hey, who's gonna
win this race?
- Go daddy!
- Go daddy!
Are you sure he's gonna win?
- Yeah.
- What are you gonna say?
- Go daddy!
- Woohoo!
We know he's gonna
win, don't we?
- Yeah.
(upbeat music)
- So how's business?
- Pretty good.
- Tri-City's doing all right.
- You fixin' to
promote a race though.
- Carolina versus Georgia
I think that'll
bring some folks out.
- Your pop's doing real
good in the senate.
- Yeah, politics
seems to suit him.
No big surprise though,
he's always good at
tellin' the folks
what to do. (laughs)
- Times sure are changing.
Now, I hear there's a colored
fella name of Joie
Ray comin' up.
- Yeah, yeah.
Louisville, I think that's where
folks said he hails from.
- Yeah, I hear he was live
and they're tryin'
to get NASs races.
- Mr Nance sure seems to be
makin' a go at that thing.
- I'll tell y'all what.
- It might.
It might turn into somethin'.
I just ain't convinced
yet, you know?
See what it does.
I'll tell you what, I'm gonna
get some of Carrie's
famous Coca-Cola cake.
Do you want some?
- Hey, you should.
- Yeah, I'll take a piece.
- Hey, do y'all have any milk?
- Okay.
- So I saw little
Gary crawling into
your driver's seat today.
- You don't say?
I'll tell you what, that boy.
- He's comin' up
just like his daddy.
- I guess it's better than
little Lulu, right?
- I reckon she ain't far behind.
- They're askin' me to run them
down to Daytona next weekend.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
- Hmm.
- It gives us a whole
mess of new drivers.
- Well, that's interesting.
- It's gonna be a big purse.
- A big purse? Hmm.
- You know, some of
the other families,
they like to make a
beach trip out of it.
- A beach trip?
- Mm-hmm, do you wanna get
you a tan?
- (laughs) Me with a tan.
- Say, you're not still scared
about me racing, are you?
- Not anymore.
("Red Dirt Rising"
by Cliff Downs)
(slow country music)
- Everything's set.
- Yeah, you're all
packed up then?
- Yes sir.
- You know, the truck of
yours won't do much longer.
- Folks said it
ain't the machine,
but the name that matters.
- You handle things all right.
- We're still the same though.
- I still certed you, boy.
- Yes, sir.
- Sherrif's comin', Pa!
- Get off!
Get outta the home, boy!
- What should I do?
- Get goin'!
(banjo music)
(car engine idling)
- hydrogen levers.
- Boy, sit your tail down.
Are you asking for a bullet,
coming up here lit
up like a ballpark?
- It won't happen again.
- Damn right.
I ain't give you leave to go.
Me and my boys are new here.
We ain't gonna tell you
how we're gonna do things.
- I appreciate the cars.
- Them shotguns
ain't for long now.
They're for stool pigeons,
snow poles.
Get me?
- Yes sir.
- Let me know what
you're hearin', boy.
- I can handle myself.
- I'll be the judge of that.
Now, you best git.
(slow guitar music)
- Where in the name
of notion you at?
- Eager to greet the days, huh?
- Maybe I oughta have your papa
take you out back and
give you a "what for"
- I think you're doing it good.
- Jimmy, you are
riskin' an awful lot.
- We gotta eat, don't we?
- Well, we've gotten by so far.
- Well, I'm gonna help.
- Like I said, if anything
ever happened to you,
I'd die.
(footsteps approaching)
- Why ain't there no
corn left on my plate?
I suppose my son ain't
been out to milk the cow.
- Milking cows is women's work.
- You talking back to
me, Jimmy Lewallen?
- No sir.
I'm just saying.
- Look, here's your biscuits
and your eggs are going to
be ready in a jif, okay?
Jimmy, get yourself a biscuit.
- Yes'm.
- What you been
doing with my truck?
- I fixed that oil
like you was on about.
- I guess you took the
liberty of testing it after?
- Just rode it around a while.
- This family can't
afford them kinda kegs
you hear me?
- I just wanted--
- You leave that truck
be, unless I say.
You understand me?
You got that?
Huh?
- Yes sir.
(slow guitar music)
- Hey Jimmie.
- Jimmie?
- Yeah, ma?
- Was you planning on meeting
up with Bill and Fred later?
- I'd sure like to.
Blair's just back
from High Rock Lake.
- No trouble.
- I won't start
none, won't be none.
- Okay, I'll talk to your
daddy about the truck.
- All right.
(slow guitar music)
- Hey, Pop.
- Done with them chickens?
- Sure did, a while ago.
- What a surprise, then
there's a first time
for everything, ain't there?
What?
- Nothing.
- Yeah, that's what I thought.
(metal clanking)
- Well, you've all been
runnin' this thing hard.
Gimme a yank.
(grunts)
- You wanna help me
wipe down the flathead?
- No, not particularly, Fred.
- Go on.
- Aye-aye, cap'n.
Gracious alive, Jimmie.
You see this thing?
Got half the farm in here.
You plannin' on pickin'
up Brack's delivery?
- Can't do it.
- Awe, sorry, I forgot.
Tuesday's needlepoint
night for you, isn't it?
- Oh listen to you.
Then again, like you need it
your car look better than most.
- Y'all two need to quit
messin' with that devil juice
I tell you.
- Look Fred, how we come
by is our own business.
- I hear they've hooked to
that, stuffed their radiators.
- How come you think
it tastes so good?
- Well, you all
gonna help me pick
this hay outta the engine?
(laughs)
- This is a fine mess in here.
- Is Pop's standard still up?
- Mm-hmm.
- I wish he'd just
give me a chance.
- You ain't no help.
- Well, bless his heart.
- Stop that.
- You know, he sure gets on
Bill and me the quickest.
- Fathers are always
tough with their sons.
- Well, Bill ain't even his kin.
- You know, something
tells me he's sore
about some of the
breaks Bill's daddy got
that he didn't.
- It just don't seem fair.
- I expect your papa
feels the same way.
(sighs)
- Well, I'm gonna hit the sack.
I gotta whole hill of
potatoes to dig tomorrow.
Goodnight, Mama.
(door slams)
- Don't you have a
wife to get home to?
- Morning, Pop.
You scared the devil outta me.
- I see you're still
itching to get the Feds
crammed down your throat.
- They don't have no
reason to trouble us.
- Bill Blair, are
you gonna stand
there and lie right at me?
- No sir.
- You know, around
here, a mason jar's
got more lies than a cat.
Let your mama put something
less incriminating in them.
- I ain't never gotta call
from the sherrif on me.
- Don't underestimate
Beecher, son.
He knows every car
in this county.
- My apologies for
tryin' to spread
a little joy around here.
- Tires are getting a
little slick on this side.
- Yeah.
Thanks, Pop.
(ripping noise)
- Cold prison shower
is a poor stubstitute
for that bride of yours.
- Yes, sir.
(mellow guitar music)
(upbeat banjo music)
- That all you got?
- I'll bet you half this payload
I get past Beecher
before you do.
- Hoohoo! You're on!
(engine dies)
No, no, no, come on, now!
Come on, baby!
(engine sputters and clicks)
- Oh lord, please don't
let this be Beecher.
(car approaching noise)
- That you, Bill Blair?
- Yes, sir.
Sherriff, I'm glad to see you.
I was just out lookin' for you.
- That so?
- Yes, sir.
There is a ruckus
up behind here.
A couple of big ol' boys.
They're duking it
out and I'm sure
they could use your assistance.
- Then why are you stopped?
Everything all right?
- With me, yes, sir.
I'm fine.
I'm just looking for
a flashlight's all.
- So you could look for me?
- (laughs) You had
me there, yeah.
How's the missus?
(upbeat guitar music)
- It's 6:00 man, what happened?
- Beecher.
- He catch you?
- Uh-uh, but damn near.
Told him I saw a couple
of ol' boys duking it out
over a girl on Miller's Road.
I don't know about all that,
but I think he bought it.
- Yeah, until he finds out there
ain't no girl, ain't no dukes.
- One more night
with my Lucille,
that's all I see clear to.
How come you don't meet yourself
a girl anyway?
- When I find one
that's worth getting.
- Hell, I can name
you a few if you
ain't so keen on
bland conversation,
do you know what I'm saying?
- I can't afford to go steady.
- Who said anything about that?
- Anyways, you still
owe me half a beating.
- (laughs) There
is that, I suppose,
but it's a technicality
if you ask me.
That's why I don't have any gas.
- You see, that's
just not right.
(knocking on door)
- Door's open, Carrie.
- Factory whistle's
in 20 minutes.
- Well then, we'd
better getta move on.
I'm ready.
- What're you all
gussied up for?
- Mama says "Always be prepared"
(engine sputtering)
- Oh no.
What're we gonna do now?
What're we gonna do?
- We're gonna walk.
- It is miles to the factory.
I will not make
it in these shoes.
Hey, I got an idea.
We're near the
Lewallen home place.
They gotta truck
and a nice lookin'
boy to drive it.
What do you say?
- Good thing you put
on all that lipstick.
- Morning Mrs. Lewallen.
- May I help you?
- I'm Dottie, this
here's Carrie.
I'm a friend of Jimmie's.
Is he home?
- Well, he's out tillin'.
I can have Harold fetch him?
- That'd be right kind of you.
- Harold!
Now, how do you
girls like Archdale?
- Too quiet for me.
Daddy seems to think
it's a good place
for me to stay outta trouble.
Carrie's new here.
She seems to like it on her own.
- Well then, you two should come
to Friend's Meeting
on Sunday, with us.
- I reckon I might, thank you.
- Well, hey there, Jimmie.
I haven't seen you in a while.
- What brings you by?
- This is Carrie, son.
She's another woman
from the boarding house.
- How do you do?
- Hi there, nice to meet you.
- These ladies could
use a ride to work, son.
- Glad to.
Yeah, come on.
- Thank you for the water.
- Thank you so much.
- You're so welcome.
- This is just so sweet.
I gotta think of a way
to express my gratitude.
- Don't mention it.
- I'm just gonna
hop in the back.
- No, no, no, no.
Come on, come on.
Sit up front.
You sit in the middle.
- You sure?
- Yeah, come on.
- You taking on
mechanics work now?
- No sir, I brought
a couple of girls
out to the factory.
- I see.
Need a hand?
- Appreciate it.
- All right.
Shake the hose.
- The bad news, the carburetor.
Things are always
getting clogged.
- Yeah, could be that,
but it's the hose.
Take a look.
Clamp's loose.
Betcha what happened was engine
overheated because
the water evaporated
out of it, so all
you gotta do is
tighten that clamp down.
You go out to the well,
get a pail of water,
you fill it up,
it'll be good as new.
Girls are gonna like that,
but just my thoughts on it.
Being your helper is hard.
(engine turns off)
(knocks on door)
- Well, hey again!
Don't you clean up nice?
Wanna come in for some lemonade?
- Got your car running.
Is Carrie here?
I was kinda hoping she'd
give me a ride home.
- She's off running
errands with Miss Haggins.
- Oh.
- Well, I could give
you a ride (laughs)
- No thanks.
I'd just as soon walk
home if that's all right.
- So are you gonna
be home for supper?
- I should be home
around suppertime.
- All right.
- [Ellie] Hey Bill?
- Yes, ma'am?
- You make sure you
gets home by supper.
- You can count on
me, Ms Lewallen.
- Oh, don't you worry.
Bill's got plans
with me tonight,
and he ain't gonna be
getting in any trouble.
Ain't that right, Bill?
- Yeah, absolutely.
Whatever you say.
- [Ellie] All right, well you
boys best be getting along.
- I'll see you at
the barn, Bill.
Bye, Ma.
- [Ellie] Bye, honey.
- [Bill] Hey, hey!
Here you go.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Can I give you a lift?
- It's all right.
I seem to have
better luck walkin'
than I do ridin' these days.
- Dropped Dottie's
car off the other day
Was kinda hoping
to see you there.
- Why is that?
- No reason.
- Well, shouldn't you best
be getting on here?
- All right then,
I guess I'll be
seeing you later.
- [Fredl] Man, this fuel
line's pushing slower
than molasses in January.
- [Jimmie] Wanna hand?
- [Fred] No, I reckon I got it.
- So where'd Lucille run off to?
- She went with Mama and Pop
to see the new calf.
- [Fred] Ain't it so cute!
" Come on, Bill.
" Let's go see the
baby. (laughs)"
I reckon that's the cutest thing
I ever did see in my whole life,
I tell you what?
- Gary Knowles.
I say, how about
that Carrie girl?
- What do you mean?
- She's a might pretty.
- I suppose.
- You suppose?
I saw you looking at her.
- [Jimmie] So? I look
at lots of things.
- (clears throat)
Are y'all two gonna
quit your gosspin'
and give me a hand?
I ain't gonna be
able to keep this
car runnin if
y'all keep treatin'
it the way you do.
- This, comin' from
the man who changes
the fuel line from
under the car?
- Hey! Never you mind.
I'm the only one here who knows
what I'm doin'.
- Jeez Fred, what's eatin' ya?
- Nothin's eatin'
me, but I can't
very well feel
sorry neither when
y'all two are forever
up to no good.
- No good?
Did he just--
- He did.
- (laughs) Fredrick,
that hurts my feelings.
I'll tell you what.
I'm gonna make
you a little wager
on just how "no
good" I really am.
I got ten cents here that says
my Coupe can take both
y'alls cow patties
to the fence line and back.
- You don't say?
- I sure as hell do.
(upbeat banjo music)
(engines idling)
- Boys, turn off them engines.
(engines cut out)
- The sheriff just called.
- What'd he want?
- You know damn
well what he wanted,
Bill Blair.
- I just come in from
Greensboro, Mr Blair.
- Well, you've got
more sense than
the two of these put together.
Now'd be a good time
for you to head on back!
Front and center, boys.
Y'all were tearin'
hell outta them
roads when you came
back from church.
I am not gonna stand for it!
If you two wanna
do somethin' with
these machines, other than what
Henry Ford intended,
well that is one thing,
but when you bring
your speed devilin'
to the roads of Randolph County,
now that is somethin' else.
- Pa, we will lay off.
- [Mr Blair] Oh, you
will do more than that.
You will cease and desist today!
That includes the cornfields
and the cow patches.
- Look, Pa. We didn't mean
to stir up any trouble--
- Listen here!
I hear tell anymore
foolishness from you two,
and I will call your papa,
and I will set Beecher
on you my damn self.
Now are we clear?
- Yes, sir.
- Well, get outta my sight.
(car door opens and closes)
- Lord, where y'all
been at, boys?
I didn't think y'all
was ever gonna show up.
- Well, that was fun.
I'd like to do that
again sometime soon.
- Whoo! So, about that bet?
Got anything for me?
- (laughs) I dunno,
but you earned that.
- And?
(kicks bumper)
Come on, quit holdin'.
- Did you want me to
help you out here?
- If you don't mind?
- Am I ever gonna see
any of these back?
- I appreciate it.
- Probably not.
Thank y'all fellas, kindly.
Pleasure doin' business with ya.
- As long as you know
that I had you both.
- Bill, who's the cow patty now?
(hammering noise)
(harmonica music)
- Say man, what'd you clear
on deliveries this week?
- I dunno, why?
- No reason.
- Oh lord, is this
about Carrie again?
- No, why'd you say that?
- 'Cause you're sweet on her.
- No, I ain't.
- Well, good.
A girl as sophisticated
as she is,
she won't have anything
to do with you, farm boy.
- You see, you're just
jealous 'cause she's
better than Lucille.
- Now, I know you're not talking
about my Lucille, are you?
- Y'all simmer down,
simmer down now!
I'll tell you what, Bill.
I sure really do miss the farm.
Your mama's apple pies.
Your papa's voice
crackling like bacon
on a hot skillet,
your sister's big ol'--
- Hey, hey! Come on, Fred.
- Well, what in
tarnation are you doin'?
- You see, I was
wonderin' when someone
would take a shine on my genius.
What I'd done here
is, I rigged me up a
do-jobber which
shuts off the brake
lights from inside the car.
- Well, why'd you
wanna go and do
somethin' 'like that?
That's only good for
crooks and criminals.
- Well, you never know.
Folks might like to
have the option one day.
- Well, I tell you
what, Mr Blair,
feel like givin' her a test
run up to the fence line?
- Fred, Pop would
have our asses.
- You know, Mr Blair only said
to not tear hell
across Randolph County,
but we ain't in Randolph County.
- Look, guys!
- Oh, thanks, Mama.
You read my mind.
- It is hot today.
- Indian Summer's
definitely a promise.
- I'd take it over a
long winter day anytime.
- Amen.
- You boys head up to
the house and wash up.
Jimmie, I wanna know
if you have intentions
towards that Carrie girl.
- She won't even
let me court her
past the front steps.
I can't seem to
get her off my mind
is all I know.
- Now you be careful
with her, okay son?
- I hear she's not
all she appears to be.
- What are you
tryin' to say, Mama?
It appears to me she's
just a strong woman
tryin' to make it on her own.
Folks gonna hold
that against her?
Don't you think
that's the kinda woman
I ought to be with?
We met at the same meadow
you showed me, comin' up.
- Yeah, I know.
Be that as it may, I mean,
what do you really
know about her, Jimmie?
Life can't be fair to all of us.
- Yeah, I reckon not.
This ain't all there is.
- Maybe not, for you.
- Hey, how'd you
get her over here?
- Don't blame me.
I didn't have anything
to do with it.
Thank Lucille.
She's the one with the touch.
- Lord, here we go again.
If you wanna impress her,
why don't you show
her what you got?
- Because I ain't got squat.
- Speed, stupid.
Girls love that kinda moxie.
- He's gotta point you know?
What do you think?
- Couldn't hurt.
(engines start up)
- Oh!
- The hell kinda
driving was that?
- Bill?
- This is a workin'
farm, and you know that.
Don't you think for
one minute, BIll Blair
I'm not up to whoopin'
you just 'cause you
a married man.
(grunts)
(engine revving)
- Hey!
- Hey.
- What on earth
took y'all so long?
- We just heard the sound
of thunder from Pop.
- Oh, great.
Well, that ladies and
gentlemen is the end
of racing as we
know it. Good job.
Way to go, fellas.
- Thanks, Fred.
- Lord have mercy.
What is your Pop gonna do now?
- There's no telling, babe.
I think we probably
ought to head on
back to town.
I think it'll be the
last I'll hear about it.
- Say, I'm gonna stay a spell.
- Yeah?
- Do you mind if I
keep you company?
- Sure
- Take care.
- [Lucille] See
you later, Carrie!
(car horn beeps)
- So how'd you get
started in racing, anyhow?
- You could say Bill,
I mean, he's
practically a professor.
- Moonshine, huh?
- Yeah. At least
I have fun, right?
- I suppose.
- Why don't you like me?
- Who said I didn't like you?
- Well, you sure
have a funny way
of showin' it if you do.
- It ain't you, Jimmie, it's me.
- I know I'm just
a farm boy and all,
but I ain't stupid.
I used that same
line before, myself.
- It ain't a line.
It's 'cause of
where I come from.
My background and all.
- How bad could it be?
- You really don't
know why I'm here?
I used to be married.
- You're kiddin' right?
- No. I mean, my mama and daddy,
- they've struggled
since the day
I was born.
They had a whole mess of kids
and I was just
always looking for
opportunity to get
outta that house.
I just wish I wouldn't
have taken the
first opportunity
that came around.
I mean, after I got
married, he did nothin'.
He laid around all day.
I had to go get
work, and it ain't
easy getting work
where I come from.
It's not like it is here.
Things just kinda got bad
and I left, and got divorced.
Now I'm here.
- That's kinda how
my family is too.
I mean, I wanna
get away from them,
but I can't.
Do you love him?
- Yeah. I suppose I did.
It's just for all the
wrong reasons though.
(slow guitar music)
- Mr Blair?
Do you know where Bill is?
- You can try the back
fields behind the barn.
(laughing)
(engine approaching)
- What in the name of God?
- Jimmie?
- Yeah?
Two bits says I can beat
you ten times around this thing.
(upbeat music)
(talking quietly)
- Hey, how y'all doin'?
- All right.
- Good.
- This here's Henry Suttles.
- I invited him to come
up and race with us.
- Thank you for havin' me.
- We were just
remarkin' on that car.
That's right sharp.
Is that yours?
- Well, thank you.
That's my pop's car.
My pop will make me quit school
if I tear up his car.
- So you don't go that fast?
(laughter)
- Yes, ma'am. I go fast.
- Or is that 'cause you're
friends with Fred and all.
- Hey, what's that
supposed to mean?
(car approaching)
- This is Carolina Racing?
Red dirt tracks and
dried up fields.
Hi, fellas.
- Hi.
- Hey there, baby boy.
- How you doin' Miss Mason?
- Don't you dare
speak to my wife.
- Buck, you already
causin' trouble?
- Jimmie Lewallen, as
I live and breathe.
- Henry, you got your
car ready for the race?
- Sure do.
Fred's been a big help.
- Hey, you wanna
quit your jawin'
and let's go get you tied in?
- It's okay you
bein' here, Buck.
You just mind your edge
that's on the track.
- You mind yours
and I'll mind mine.
You best be goin' or
you know what's comin'.
(cars revving)
- Sorry you didn't win.
- Aw, it was nothin'.
- You reckon you might
take me on a proper date now?
- You mean it?
- Well, there's no reason to be
so eager, I didn't agree
to marry you or nothin'.
- Let me show you somethin'.
Come on.
- What?
- I'll show you, come on.
- What are you doin'?
- You'll see.
After you.
- Okay.
- Just hang on.
- What are you doing?
(lively music)
- Surprised to see
you up before dawn.
What'd I tell you about
that truck out there?
- Sir?
- I marked how much gas
was in it last night.
- Well, I forgot right as rain,
after chores.
- Don't worry about it.
You ain't gonna be using
that truck no more.
- But Pop!
- I'm through lettin'
you take chances
with what little the good Lord
has seen fit to provide us.
- Pop, you've gotta
lot to say about
what goes on around here.
I ain't your property
to deal with.
- What did you say to me, boy?
(slow guitar music)
- Not any word.
- Hey, you wanna hand
me that socket wrench?
Thank you.
- Listen, I keep
vowing number two.
I try to reject them,
but he's not gettin'
anything out of it. Thoughts?
- You might wanna
check your points
on the distributor.
- That'd be great.
- What happened to you?
You all right?
- Look, I hope you don't
mind me sayin' this
but Roy's just Roy.
You can't let him get to you
like that Jimmie.
- I think he's madder than
a possum in a gas can.
- Now, that weren't
nothin' compared
to when Ellie
finds out about you
and that Carrie girl.
- You're too young
to understand.
- No, I ain't.
I got me my own fiancee.
- You what?
- Yep.
- What's her name?
- Betty.
She's as pretty as
the day is long.
I met her up at the roller rink.
- Yeah, right.
- I gotta notice about the news
so it might cheer you all up.
My daddy took that manager job
down at the furniture mart.
- You idiot, how's
that good news?
- He's gonna let me manage
the garage, stupid. (laughs)
- Okay, that's pretty good news.
- Cheers.
- I don't wanna be the
one to bring this up
but how are you
gonna make a livin'
without a truck?
- More than that,
how am I gonna race?
- You can come and work
for me if you want.
- No, I gotta help
tend the farm.
At least wise until my
brothers get bigger.
That does say you got it done.
That'll be good for somethin'.
- Well, you know
I did have a fella
from up the Trinity Way come in
the garage today.
Tried to sell me his
Coupe for 50 dollars.
- 50 dollars? Did he push it in?
- Why didn't you say so?
- I've got his
address right here.
- Come on, man!
- Ladies, ladies, ladies.
- I believe you there.
(laughs)
- I believe there's a
matter of a quarter.
Oh, that's your quarter now.
- Yeah, I guess this is
your quarter (laughs)
- Come on, boy.
I'll take you down right here!
- So what do you think?
- Well, there's a right big
open grids on there,
but I reckon it should do.
- I can make a few adjustments.
Hey, Carrie!
How about a kiss for good luck?
- In your dreams.
Where's the truck?
- That's my new car.
Ain't she a beaut?
- I guess.
How am I supposed to count
when it looks like all
the others? (laughs)
- Come on.
(engines idling)
- Have you lost your mind?
- Hey! False player!
- Not now, Buck.
- Hey, why you got
Jimmie on the inside?
I come in faster qualified.
- The time is proper.
- If you say so.
I believe you in his pocket.
- I can't believe those
guys got into it again.
Do you think Bill has the
worst trousers, to you?
- It's hard to say.
- Yep, I think they're done for.
In all my married years, Carrie,
I have mended more trousers
than I've had dinners out.
- Oh (laughs)
- Hey, Lewallen!
You advertising
your lot in life?
Your big zero (laughs)
Hey, best be glad
my tire blew out
or I'd have whooped you today.
- Can't you just
congratulate me, Buck?
- Buck ain't capable of that.
- Come on, let me go! (grunts)
- I'll see you next Sunday.
Come on, baby, come on.
It's all right.
Come on, now.
That's a good girl.
(slow guitar music)
- I cannot believe that driving
does this to your hands.
You look awful!
I can't believe that.
- Your husband ever
treat you like that?
- Like what?
- You know, how ...
Buck is with his girl?
- No.
Ain't nobody ever gonna
treat me that way.
Jimmie, I don't wanna
talk about that.
I told myself I'm gonna enjoy
my last days in Archdale.
- What do you mean?
- Well, they're
naming off some women
at the factory, and I'm gonna be
losing my job soon.
Without work, I'm
gonna be moving.
I can't stay here if
I don't have any work.
- I reckon that's good for you.
But I don't want you to go.
Carrie, you know I love you.
- Jimmie, I...
don't have any say in this.
You best be takin' me home.
Okay?
(excited conversation)
- [Greeter] Welcome to
the Tri-City Racetrack.
Good to see you.
Welcome to the
Tri-City Racetrack.
Enjoy yourselves.
- [Woman] Thank you, sir.
- [Greeter] Tri-City
Racetrack, welcome to you.
Good to see you.
- You sure have done
a mighty fine job,
settin' all this up.
- Thank you.
- That your boy?
- Sure is.
You know, he had
an awful lot to do
with puttin' this whole
thing together too.
- My boy, Buddy,
he's about yea high.
He's already into racing.
- Oh boy.
Well, listen. It's about time
for me to make the rounds.
Why don't you come with me?
I'll introduce you to
some of the drivers.
- That sounds good.
I'd appreciate that.
- Hey, Bill.
- Huh?
- Who's that?
- Who's who?
- On the claw of your dad?
- That's Bud Nance.
Race promoter down Florida way.
They do it on the beach there.
- That'll put sand in
your drawers (laughs).
- I'd like to do it
on the beach someday.
(laughs)
- Boy, your engines are running,
but there's damn
sure ain't nobody
behind the wheel.
- What?
(laughs)
- Henry, just keep
eatin' your peanuts.
(engines roaring)
(sparking noise)
(flames whoosh)
(Henry screaming)
(loud crash)
(dramatic music)
(flames crackle)
- [Bill] Look, I know
that we're all sorry,
but cuttin' him off out there
and as much as I like to,
we can't lay this
at his doorstep.
- Someone who's
done right there.
- Jimmie, you're no saint,
but if you tell me
this was an accident
I'll know you're
tellin' the truth.
- It was.
- It's a real shame.
- All right then.
- I reckon it's time
I go tell his folks.
- It coulda been you.
- What?
Races just ain't
all that dangerous.
- You tell that to
that dead boy's mama.
- I reckon that ain't perfect.
- I don't want that
to happen to you.
- I know things ain't
always been good for you.
Life can't be perfect
for all of us.
I know I ain't perfect neither.
But you'd think...
you think maybe we might
be perfect for each other?
♪ Your love is like
a crystal water
♪ Pure and sweet it gently flows
♪ Southern son and
mountain daughter
♪ Easy as it goes
(light guitar music)
- Are you scared?
- Not anymore.
- You expect to be long?
- Long enough for you to
get your stuff packed up.
- Think your mama's
gonna be mad?
- Well, if she is,
we'd better find
another state to
sleep in at night.
I'll stay the
same, Mrs Lewallen.
- Good luck.
(car starts)
- Hey, Mama.
What's wrong?
- You've been called to service.
Jimmie.
(Ellie crying)
- You take care of
of yourself, son.
Okay?
- All right, Mama.
- He'll be fine, Mama.
Let's go.
- Jimmie, I love you.
- Was there ever any doubt?
(Carrie crying)
(gunshots firing)
(airplane flying overhead)
- [Carrie] Livin' at
your mama's is good.
She's been real kind to me.
She's been teachin' me how
to bake a lotta things.
I think even your pop's
taken a liking to me.
Well, that might be
because he found out
he's gonna be a granddaddy soon.
(bomb explodes)
- Get down, man!
- [Carrie] He did say you
wanted a whole mess of kids.
I just want you
to come home soon.
(splashing water)
- [Carrie] I love you, "daddy".
(splashing water)
(distant gunshots)
- [Carrie] Enclosed is a
picture of your baby girl
at her second birthday.
Everybody says she looks
just like her daddy
and she is already
talkin' up a storm,
you won't believe it.
(gunshot firing)
- [Carrie] I just can't
wait for this war to be over
and I just want you to
know how proud I am of you.
I just want you home so you
can hold me in your arms.
(dramatic music)
(shot fires)
- Dear Carrie...
(laughs) oh thank
God, it's from Jimmie!
- Okay.
- I hope this letter
arrives timely,
because I wanna be sure
you have plenty of notice.
I'm comin' home this summer,
and I want you to be forewarned.
Tell Harold I heard
about him wreckin' my car
and it better be fixed
when I get there (laughs).
The box I sent
contains a few mementos
I got from planes.
What happened, at Normandy and
the Battle of the Bulge.
Please show me to my little girl
so she'll know there's a reason
she hadn't seen her daddy yet.
The Purple Hearts ain't arrived.
I believe there's three.
They might get
there before I do.
Tell everyone that I will
see them soon, Jimmie.
Oh my goodness.
- He's coming home.
- Yeah, yes he is.
Oh my.
- What's wrong, Rita?
- Stay and play with me?
- Aww, come here.
Daddy's gotta go to work.
They need me to see
to all them nice cars.
- You have to see me too.
- How about if I tell
you a story later?
- You mean it?
- Of course I do.
I gotta get.
- Daddy, are we poor?
- No, sweetie.
- Why do you have
to work so much?
- Well, everybody's got to work.
- I don't.
I'm just a little girl.
- Well, you help your
mama around the house.
- Yeah, but I don't like to.
- Here, give her to me.
- Go see Mama.
Give me a kiss, bye.
- Don't forget to
pay the gas bill.
- I got it.
- Love you!
- Love you too.
- Lewallen?
- Hey.
- How are you doin'?
- Good, yourself?
- Good. You're
lookin' good today.
- Likewise.
- At my house, I've got
a picture of you up there
with Jeffrey where
your fourth tire
finished the race
before you did.
You won the race, but
only on three wheels.
- I remember that.
Let's get back to
advance your car.
- Okay.
- Want me to pop
the hood for you?
- Yeah.
- How you doin' Bill?
- I can't complain.
Things are pretty good.
- I've been seein'
your pop's campaign
signs all over town.
- Yeah, if things keep
goin' the way they're goin'
he'll be Senator
Blair come fall.
- You stayin' busy?
- Yeah, I got the dairy farm
I'm runnin' Tri-City
while dad's on the road.
You know, it keeps me goin'.
I see you're getting' restarted
in the family business.
- Well, you like
doin' the race track?
- Yeah, it's all right I guess,
but I'd rather be drivin.
Listen, think maybe you'd
come out this Saturday?
Race a little bit?
- I don't know.
I mean, what with
the family and all.
- I got the same.
- Yeah, but you ain't in a pinch
to feed 'em every week.
- Well, for whatever it's worth,
the purses are getting
a little bit better.
I'm not tryin' to
talk you into nothin',
but I think it'd mean a lot
to the folks around here,
me included if you come on out
and join us this weekend.
- You know, I've been waitin'
for a chance to whip you again.
- Aww hell (laughs).
Whip me again?
- (laughs) Yeah.
- Like hell.
- What do you think
about that, Bill?
- We'd better get
you on out there.
I'll take it.
- Well, we'll have to find out.
- [Carrie] Eat your
soup, sweetheart.
I don't want you to.
- You knew I was a racer
when you married me.
Carrie, the purse
is 100 dollars.
- I don't care.
After what happened to Henry,
and the war and everything?
I thought that part
of our life was over.
- Yeah. Well, I started thinking
of my dad too.
I stopped racing so
we could have all this
for us.
When I'm out on them tracks
I feel alive.
Can't you understand
that, Carrie?
- But you think we're
gonna live forever,
and we ain't.
- We gotta live.
Come on, babe.
- Do you want some cake?
- Yeah.
- Can daddy have a
piece of cake too?
- Mm-hmm.
- Can he have two
pieces of cake?
- No.
- Maybe?
- Maybe.
- [Bill] Look at this guy.
Hey, Lewall!
Nice hat.
- Well, ain't this a hoot?
- Isn't it?
Crazy, huh?
- How you doin' Bill?
- I'm good, you?
- I'll tell you what,
things sure have changed.
- What you doin' boy?
- Hey Fred.
- Welcome back.
- Thanks.
- Yeah, money
still ain't nothin'
to squawk about though.
- Is there anything you
won't complain about?
Hey, I meant to tell you guys.
Listen to this, I heard
some of the drivers
down in Georgia are
getting sponsors now.
You ever hear of such a thing?
- No.
- No, and he won't neither.
You've got to have know-how
to get paid to race.
- Buck, you are windier
than a bag of buttholes.
- Fred Harb on a race track.
Ain't that a sight?
We've got us a poker game goin'
tonight over the campfire.
You care to part
with a few dollars?
- Well, I suppose
poker does beat
your usual pasttime
if I wanted to fetch
more farm animals.
- You better shut
your little mouth
before I take a mind to
knock your block off.
- Ohh, he makes me
mighty scared, gentleman.
- Give you a little
piece of advice, Curtis.
Don't take that
fella too lightly.
That boy'll run you down as
sure as look at you.
- He ain't kiddin'.
Jimmie Lewallen, how do you do?
- Is he kiddin'?
- No, Curtis.
He ain't kiddin'.
There is a time we
tried to act like
gentlemen out here.
- All right, I see.
- Jimmie Lewallen, Curtis
Turner, resident playboy.
- Ah, the ladies'
man from Virginia.
- You have heard that
Virginia's for lovers, right?
Where'd you hear that?
- Maybe Lucille told me.
- Where is that old gal?
- Never you mind, Curtis.
Never you mind.
Why don't you run along?
- All right, gentlemen.
I guess I will see you
out on the track, old man
- Mm-hmm.
- I gotta get my beauty rest.
- We'll see you there.
- He does need his beauty rest.
- Reminds me of
somebody I used to know.
(door squealing)
- You've gotta lot of nerve
sneaking in so late.
- I just came to get a blanket.
I'm gonna stay with Fred
and Bill at the track.
- Just like the old days?
- Oh, I got you somethin'.
(child crying)
- I'm sorry, babe.
I'll tend to her.
- What did you bring me?
- Tickets.
- Tickets?
- I'll take two.
- You know?
- Ready.
- Hey, is this good?
- (laughs) No, fold.
- Four, Jimmie?
- Now I'm the one that's losin'.
- Dealer takes.
- I lost that.
What you got?
- Full house, pay up.
- He's cheatin'.
Ain't no way you can have
a full house again, Buck.
- Y'all are always
accusing me of things
and I don't have no idea why.
- Tell me you ain't got
nothin' up your sleeve.
- Fellas, I'm out.
I just can't keep
this kinda company.
- Goes to show you,
there's no hard feelings
when you pay up.
I'll buy you a drink.
I hear this here
come from one of
Jimmie Lewallen's suppliers.
- Hey, you know I ain't messed
with that in years.
- Don't you get all high
and mighty with me, Lewall.
Just 'cause everybody
thinks you were
a hero over there,
that don't make
you shit back here.
- Can I borrow $2?
- No you may not lose
two of my dollars,
Doug Ross, go and ask your mama.
You know, it must be awful hard
without being such a
son of a bitch, Buck.
I think I'm gonna go join Fred.
- So it's just you and me, Buck.
- Take it easy, Jimmie.
It's only a game.
(applause)
- Hey, Jimmie.
Do you remember me?
- Of course, Mr Nance.
I'm surprised to
see you here though.
I thought you were off promotin'
a race off of Johnson Street.
- Well, you know
I gotta check out
the competition.
That was mighty fine racing
out there today.
That's the
experienced one today.
- It feels good to
be back out there.
- I don't wanna take up
too much of your time.
Do me a favour, call me Bud.
My daddy's Mr Nance, all right?
- Will do.
- All right, congratulations.
- Thanks.
- Spin me, grandpa, spin me!
- Oh, I think grandpa's
too tired for that.
Why don't you run
inside and see grandma?
I know she wants
to see you, okay?
- Okay.
- All right, hop on down.
There you go.
Oh my goodness, you're heavy.
- Bye grandpa, bye.
Love you.
- I love you too, darlin'.
- So how was the doctor?
- They don't know nothin'.
- I see you got the far
fields mowed and ready.
- Yep.
Your brother, Harold
come by, done that.
- You gonna need
some help tillin'?
- No.
Mama made arrangements
for that too.
- I see.
You know, I started
racin' again.
Got one comin' up soon.
You and Mama should
come out and watch.
- No.
No, your mama dont
wanna see that.
- All right, Pop.
I'll see you.
(applause)
- Ladies and gentlemen, can
I have your attention please?
I'd like to present your winner.
It's Jimmie Lewallen,
number zero.
(applause)
- Hey, wasn't that prized
to the wrong driver?
- What are you saying, Buck?
- I won that race.
- Buck, you lost
a whole lap when
you stopped to fill
up and have a smoke.
- I did no such thing.
Darlin' come here.
Now, did you see
me stop to smoke?
Would you please tell this man?
- It says here you
did Buck, on lap 20.
- You need to pack
up your car, Buck.
You pack up and you get
the hell off my track.
- Your track?
This track ain't
nothin' without me.
To hell with you.
To hell with all of you.
- Jimmie, I want you
to address the crowd
if you would?
Let these people
know who the real
winner of the race was.
Your winner, ladies
and gentlemen,
Jimmie Lewallen!
(applause)
(cheering)
- Whats wrong?
- I'm all right.
- You wanted daycare,
ain't you happy?
- Yeah.
(car nudging from behind)
- Aw, it's Buck.
Are you all right, babe?
- Yeah.
(car beeping)
- All right, that's it.
- Easy, Jimmie.
- Rubbin's racin' slow poke.
Hey!
- Mom, why did
daddy hit that man?
- It's okay, honey.
It's all right.
Can you get out?
- Yeah.
Am I walkin' fast for you?
- Nope.
Am I walkin' to fast for you?
- Nope.
- Why don't you go ahead?
Run on inside, get
yourself a cookie, okay?
I'm gonna talk to
your dad for a minute.
You can't go doing
that in front of Rita.
What happens at
the track between
you and the boys needs
to stay at the track.
You can't go bringin' it home.
- Buck had it comin'.
- I know.
Buck's dangerous,
and guys like that
are a big part of racin' now.
It's not like how it
used to be, Jimmie.
- Carrie, you know
what it means to me.
- I never asked you to quit!
I just don't wanna see you die.
- What are you talkin' about?
- Jimmie, you're not 17 anymore.
You have a family.
You have responsibilities
here, okay?
Now, I'm not saying
that all the guys
out there are like Buck
and they're dangerous,
but they're not
like you and Bill,
who do it for the love of it.
It takes one guy
like Buck Mason,
and you can end up dead.
Just one.
- You shouldn't think
about things like that.
- How can I not?
Huh?
How can I not?
I don't wanna be alone, Jimmie.
It scares me to
death to think about
what it would be like
if you wasn't here.
I'm already alone,
tryin' to take care
of Rita, waitin' for
this baby to come
when you're out camping
with your friends.
I don't wanna take
away from that, Jimmie.
I don't.
But it's hard.
It's hard, Jimmie.
- I'm just tryin'
to do right by us.
Just live a little.
I work hard, Carrie,
you know that.
- I know, and that's not
what I'm tryin' to say.
You know, we may struggle,
but you take care
of us good, you do.
But you gotta understand the
position you put me in,
and this family in
when you're out there racin'.
Think about that.
- Listen.
Mr Nance has called on me
down Daytona Beach.
Some sorta business proposition.
- What's it about?
- I don't know.
Mr Nance is smart
and he wants me there,
and I'm gonna go hear him out.
- We can't afford
to do anything.
- I work at the Ford
dealer for cryin' out loud.
- You can't feed a
family on race winnin's.
(slow guitar music)
- What I'm sayin'
is let's make a
formal arrangement
with the drivers.
Keep people on the stands,
keep our garages open.
Now, as a one-time
driver myself,
I've been swindled more
times than I care to count.
We can, and we should,
protect these drivers
from unethical promoters.
- Stop all the fightin'.
- Yes.
My first order of
business would be
to expel the likes of Buck Mason
and any other driver like him
from any of my races.
If this thing is handled right,
there could be a
lot of money made
out of it.
- It sounds like it'd
be a lot safer too.
- Measurably.
Now, here's what I need:
I'm asking each of you
for a $500 investment.
- Bud, you've been
good to us drivers
all these years,
and I'd like to be
a part of this,
but I just can't put
my family at risk.
- You can take a few
days and think about it.
- I don't need it.
Now, I love racin', I truly do.
I just ain't
convinced it's gonna
amount to anything.
- Okay, I can't
fault you for that,
but I am going to
go ahead with it.
- Best of luck to you.
I'll be proud to race
at any event you have.
- Well, I'll
certainly be in touch.
Thanks for makin' the
trip down, Jimmie.
I appreciate it.
Questions?
- What are you gonna call it?
- [Jimmie] I already got a
foot ahead of Curtis Turner.
I'm gonna beat him by
the tail car lights.
- (laughs)
- He's gonna have a
problem with that.
- I don't know.
How did you land
back here so far?
- Jimmie Lewallen.
- Oh lord, here he is.
- What is with this get up?
Why aren't you racing today?
- Of course I am.
Carrie and Rita is up yonder.
They've got my gear.
- This old man is often
the biggest purse I
ever heard of, Jimmie.
- Curtis, this right
here is Fireball Roberts.
He's one of my
boys from Florida.
- Fireball, how are you doin'?
Aren't you the one I heard
wrecking on the
ninth lap in Daytona?
You're gonna have to
do better than that
today boy, if you
wanna win this thing.
Win that big money.
- Sir, yes sir.
- Well, speakin' of big money,
I gotta go find my boy,
he's helping me promote.
- Well, you folks be
safe out there today.
- All right, Mr Nance.
- Be careful of that ninth lap.
- (laughs) Yes sir.
- [Carrie] There it is.
Here comes your daddy.
You cold?
- Yeah.
- You know what?
Have you looked behind
your ears lately?
- Yeah.
- You have?
Then you would see this
money that I just found
behind that one.
Look at that.
- You nervous?
- Not anymore.
- Hey, who's gonna
win this race?
- Go daddy!
- Go daddy!
Are you sure he's gonna win?
- Yeah.
- What are you gonna say?
- Go daddy!
- Woohoo!
We know he's gonna
win, don't we?
- Yeah.
(upbeat music)
- So how's business?
- Pretty good.
- Tri-City's doing all right.
- You fixin' to
promote a race though.
- Carolina versus Georgia
I think that'll
bring some folks out.
- Your pop's doing real
good in the senate.
- Yeah, politics
seems to suit him.
No big surprise though,
he's always good at
tellin' the folks
what to do. (laughs)
- Times sure are changing.
Now, I hear there's a colored
fella name of Joie
Ray comin' up.
- Yeah, yeah.
Louisville, I think that's where
folks said he hails from.
- Yeah, I hear he was live
and they're tryin'
to get NASs races.
- Mr Nance sure seems to be
makin' a go at that thing.
- I'll tell y'all what.
- It might.
It might turn into somethin'.
I just ain't convinced
yet, you know?
See what it does.
I'll tell you what, I'm gonna
get some of Carrie's
famous Coca-Cola cake.
Do you want some?
- Hey, you should.
- Yeah, I'll take a piece.
- Hey, do y'all have any milk?
- Okay.
- So I saw little
Gary crawling into
your driver's seat today.
- You don't say?
I'll tell you what, that boy.
- He's comin' up
just like his daddy.
- I guess it's better than
little Lulu, right?
- I reckon she ain't far behind.
- They're askin' me to run them
down to Daytona next weekend.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
- Hmm.
- It gives us a whole
mess of new drivers.
- Well, that's interesting.
- It's gonna be a big purse.
- A big purse? Hmm.
- You know, some of
the other families,
they like to make a
beach trip out of it.
- A beach trip?
- Mm-hmm, do you wanna get
you a tan?
- (laughs) Me with a tan.
- Say, you're not still scared
about me racing, are you?
- Not anymore.
("Red Dirt Rising"
by Cliff Downs)