Back to Back (1989) - full transcript
Modern day western about two very different brothers, who join forces to clear their family name, from the shadow of their dead brother's blame for a bloody unsolved robbery.
[narrator]
The Superstition Mountains.
Twenty-five years ago,
a new legend of lost riches
was added to the likes
of the Lost Dutchman Mine
and all the others.
An armored car
loaded with $7 million
vanished from
the face of the earth
right in the shadows
of the Superstition.
And started a blood feud
between two families,
the Duros and the Brands,
that has lasted till this day.
A quarter of a century later,
with the people of Backbend
still believing
that Hank Brand was
the murdering mastermind
behind the robbery.
I tracked down his sons
and one beautiful young woman
lost in the middle of nowhere.
When they told me their story,
well, I realized
the secret I've kept
for all this time
must finally come
into the light.
But I can't tell you my tale
without first
telling you theirs.
Like most treasure stories,
this one started with a dream.
Only this dream
turned into a nightmare.
And that nightmare
haunted Hank Brand
until the day he died.
[guns clicking]
[Warren] Damn it, Manny.
Stop screwing
with that gun back there.
What the hell's
the matter with you today?
[Manny] Why do I always have
to ride in the back?
I'm boiling back here
in this goddamn oven.
[Hank] My, my!
Aren't we agitated today, boys.
What's wrong, Manny?
Losing big at the track again?
-[Manny] Cram it, Warren.
-[Warren] Hell, Manny,
why don't you just grab
a handful of the seven million
back there
and buy yourself a fan?
It's the biggest load
we ever hauled.
-They won't miss a few bucks.
-[Manny]
Why don't you shut up?
[Warren] Guess you
blew it, hey, Manny?
If you'd joined
the sheriff's department
like your big brother Wade,
you'd be riding around
in an air-conditioned
squad car right now.
[Hank] Wade's
a fat prick, by damn.
-[Manny] I said, shut up!
-[Hank] Both of you, cool it.
We got a lot of boring road
in front of us.
Look, there's
enough heat in this cab
without you two
continually going at it.
[Warren] Whoa, Hank,
will you look at that broad?
Damn it, Hank.
Turn on the wipers.
What happened?
Where'd she go?
Christ! Look out!
[tires squealing]
[Hank] Something ain't right.
That detour wasn't
on the route map.
Get on the horn.
Get on the horn!
Phoenix 1. Phoenix 1.
This is Range Rider 3.
We've been diverted
from the main road.
We should stop!
Let 'em have it.
[Hank]
What are you talking about?
Brace yourselves.
You guys hear that?
Oh, Jesus.
I'm getting out of here.
[Hank] Damn it, Manny.
Get back on the gun.
Get back on the gun!
[Manny]
God, that's dynamite!
These guys ain't foolin'.
Hank, they got dynamite.
What good's a gun?
Let's give it up.
We're dead men.
But then you've known us
for 25 years now.
[Manny] Sometimes you have
to make a choice, Hank.
And I've already made mine.
Don't fire.
It's me, Manny. Don't shoot!
[gunshots]
[sizzling]
[panting]
[groans]
[grunting]
-You're dead, Brand.
You're dead.
-[grunting]
-[screaming]
-[grunts]
Ow!
[grunting]
[sizzling]
[Hank]
Why did you open
the door, Manny?
Why?
Why, Manny?
Why?
[man 1] There he is.
Don't worry.
-I'll get him.
-[Hank] Oh, not again.
Oh, God.
[explosion]
Todd...
[indistinct muttering]
I gotta find the truck.
Find the truck.
Here you go, Dad.
[gagging]
-What's wrong?
-No, Toddy.
Call your brother.
Dad, I'm here. Calm down.
-We don't need Bo.
-Oh, please.
-Please, son...
-We don't need Bo.
Please, son.
Call him this time, for me.
-Please. Please.
-He's never come before.
Come on, Dad.
[Bo]
Yeah, and get ahold of Stevens
over at the courthouse.
Tell him to move
for a mistrial.
No, still haven't had one.
[upbeat music playing]
Yeah, that's right, willpower.
What?
What, you... You sound like
you're breaking up.
Hello, Ginger. Hello?
Dropped off the end
of the goddamn world.
[narrator] Hank Brand's
oldest boy, Bo,
left the town of Backbend
when he was 18,
soon after his mother had died.
He worked days,
put himself through law school
at night
and tried to leave the legacy
of his father's notoriety
behind him.
Perfect.
I hate the goddamn desert.
I hate the goddamn desert!
[sirens wailing]
[narrator] But when
the call came
and he reluctantly returned
to his childhood hometown
that hated him and his family
for the murder of Manny Duro,
the sheriff's brother,
he learned right away that
nothing had really changed.
[indistinct radio chatter]
[thunder rumbling]
License and registration.
Well, well.
Return of the prodigal son.
Sheriff Duro.
Hey, I was expecting a wake.
Instead, I get you.
I can't tell you
how disappointed that makes me.
Pretty fancy set of wheels
for white trash.
Where'd you pick 'em up?
I picked it up right out
of the dealer's showroom.
Used my gold card.
How's that?
On the door lock?
Late at night, maybe?
Let's cut to the chase, Duro.
I've been on the road
for ten hours.
So save your
penny-ante harassment
for the locals
and write out your ticket.
I'm an attorney now.
Don't school me.
Here you go, Mr. Attorney.
Just remember,
to the folks around here,
you're still nothing
but the son
of a murdering thief.
[engine starts]
[indistinct radio chatter]
Jackson, are you there?
[Jackson] Go ahead, Sheriff.
Well, it's just like
I told you.
Brand's oldest son's come back.
I want you to get out there
and stick to that damn family
like a fly on shit.
I want to know
every move they make.
[man] You don't think
that's him, do you?
[woman] No. Couldn't be.
He wouldn't have the nerve.
Todd?
Jesus, Todd buddy.
Look at you.
Damn, I didn't realize
you were so grown up.
Last time I saw you,
you must have been about--
-Six.
-Yeah, six.
It's good to see you, buddy.
He's in with the doctor.
Close the door, please.
[muttering] It's nice to
see you too, shithouse.
This isn't a charity case,
Dr. Pardee.
I want you to
give him the best.
I have the money.
Oh, you'll get my bill,
Mr. Brand.
But I'm afraid
even all the money
they say your father
has hidden away
couldn't help him now.
Money?
Look around here, Doc.
Look around!
This look like the death
of a rich man to you?
[labored breathing]
Bo.
My boy.
How you doing, Range Rider?
You seen Todd?
Yeah.
[laughs] He's somethin',
isn't he?
He's gonna need you now.
These last years...
caring for me,
it's held him back.
Don't worry, Daddy.
I'll make sure
he gets special attention.
No...
No, he needs you.
[coughing]
[coughs and gasps]
[labored breathing]
You know I'll be there
for Todd.
You know that.
Take care...
Daddy, what didn't I do?
What didn't I do?
You never believed
in my innocence.
You never did.
No, Daddy!
I had no part
in that robbery, Bo.
It doesn't matter now!
[cries, sniffles]
You're wrong.
No!
[Bo speaking indistinctly]
Call Maggie Cohen
over at community services,
see what she can tell us.
It's got to be
a special school.
No, just give me a list
of the top five.
No, I'm gonna be
bringing him back to LA.
[Todd sniffling]
[Bo continues indistinctly]
[sniffles]
[Hank groaning]
Shh.
[softly] Shh. He's asleep.
He's asleep.
Shh.
[sniffles]
[Bo] No more nightmares, Dad.
[narrator] The news
of Hank's death
reverberated across the desert
and opened up
a heap of old wounds
that had never
really healed over.
[woman]
You better come and see.
Hey, pretty girl.
I saw what you did.
You know, I'm talking to you!
[minister speaking
indistinctly]
"Thou anointest
my head with oil,
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me
all the days of my life.
And I will dwell
in the House of the Lord
forever.
And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
even as God,
for Christ's sake,
has forgiven you.
Amen."
Thanks, Reverend.
We appreciate you showing up.
Don't we, Todd?
Todd?
[lighter clicks]
Hey, sweetie.
Where you going?
How about a ride across town?
Where to?
Hank Brand's place.
The dead man?
Jump on.
Look what I got.
Very nice.
This ain't
Hank Brand's place, man.
I tell you what.
I gave you a ride,
now you give us a ride.
[man grunts]
Don't be stupid now.
[groans]
[engine starts]
[men grunt]
[laughs]
I made a list
of all the witnesses.
A couple of them
are still alive.
You know how many times
this trail's been gone over?
He kept having that
same dream over and over again.
He was real sure
that his bullet hit
one of those money bags.
Bag of money
with a bullet hole through it?
That wouldn't prove anything.
What would?
Finding the truck.
Finding the money.
Finish your food.
-[man 1] Here they come.
-[man 2] Here they are.
-[man 1]
Get out of there, Clovis.
-[woman] Here they come.
Hey, they're here.
Those damn brats.
They should have been
out of here a long time ago.
[man 3] Damn straight.
[man 4] Come on, Bo.
Let's hurry up.
You good neighbors
proud of yourselves now?
Hell, why don't you use
that cannon on us?
You've had it pointed at us
for years.
Good idea.
Gary Mackintosh.
Well, if it ain't the blast
from the past.
I put on 40 pounds
since the last time
you whipped my ass.
[shouts, grunts]
And I don't wait
to be hit first anymore.
This is between the two of you.
Why the hell
didn't you stop this?
I just got here.
Bullshit.
You stood here and watched
the whole goddamn thing.
I don't know a single reason
why you and your brother
ought to hang around here.
Do you?
There's nothing in there.
How would you know that?
You just got here.
[man 1]
Get back in there, Brand.
[man 2] Get out of here.
[woman] Get out of town.
We don't need your kind
around here.
[people muttering]
[man 3] Nobody wants
your kind around here.
[woman] Your father
was a murderer,
and everyone knows it.
-[clattering]
-[man 4] Take that, you scum!
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter and muttering]
[man] Aw, man.
Son of a bitch hit me.
[laughter and chattering]
[man] Get out of here.
We don't need your kind.
[gas hissing]
[Bo] Todd, get in here.
If there's anything else
you want, get it now.
No.
Everything's gonna be
all right, Todd buddy.
We're leaving, man.
We're leaving.
Hey! We're leaving.
And not with our tail
between our legs.
[woman] There they go.
[people muttering]
[woman] Right. Just go.
[people shouting]
We just thought
we'd help you pass out
the rest of Dad's things.
[man] Get out of here!
Sheriff Wade, you okay?
[woman] Honey, are you okay?
Everybody all right?
[deputy]
Come on, Sheriff,
let's go get 'em.
I'll have a roadblock set up.
[Wade] And have half
the sheriffs in the territory
are laughing at me?
Where's your brains,
Deputy?
[deputy]
Just gonna let 'em get away?
[Wade]
No place they can hide out here
where I can't find 'em.
[Bo chuckles]
[both laughing]
[man on radio]
Come on, Sheriff.
How long am I supposed
to look for
those two peckerheads?
Christ, Wade, let it go.
That damn robbery took place
in the Ice Age, old man.
No one's ever spent a dime
of that money.
Who the fuck asked you?
I'm telling you, Sheriff,
the money's gone.
No matter what Brand
had to do with it.
The money is long gone.
You're just chasing ghosts.
Wade?
Wade?
You there, Wade?
-[knocking on door]
-[man] Duro, get out here.
It's Hank Brand.
I'm bringing this back to you.
That's the third one this week.
I got a wife and a kid,
and I want this harassment
to stop.
And I want it to stop now.
Your brother's death
wasn't my fault.
I'm sorry about Manny.
I truly am.
But I got just as much right
to live in peace
as the next guy.
You're talking about this?
This is just foreplay.
I can be a stubborn
son of a bitch.
You screw
with my family again...
you're dead.
I'll show you stubborn,
you son of a bitch!
Every guilty man makes a slip.
And when you make yours,
even if it takes me forever,
I'm gonna nail you
to the fucking wall.
[narrator] Two days
after the confrontation,
Hank Brown's truck
was firebombed.
Hank was badly disfigured
by the flames.
But no one was ever arrested.
Lots of people sent letters.
Saying they know
stuff about the robbery.
Most of them are crazy,
you know.
But Dad used to check 'em
all out anyway.
Yeah, I remember him saying...
"Son, the final proof
will be in the details."
Yeah. He said that to me too.
Lots of times.
I promised him I'd help him.
But I never did.
But now I can.
"You can" what?
Well, I'm gonna go
to all these places
in those letters
and I'm gonna
talk to those people.
And I'm gonna prove
that he was innocent.
[exhales] What if you can't?
Dad spent his whole life trying
and he couldn't.
You let people believe
what they want to believe.
They're gonna anyway.
It doesn't matter now.
Yeah, well, it matters to me,
all right?
Fine!
[sighs]
Come on. Get your stuff.
Let's get the hell out of here.
[upbeat music playing
on car stereo]
All right, Todd buddy,
I'll make a deal with you.
We do this thing together.
We'll look around.
We'll go and talk to
any of the witnesses
that are still living.
If we find something out
that everybody else overlooked,
we'll check that out too.
[chuckles softly]
If the trail goes cold again,
it's over.
I want you to promise me
that if and when
that time comes,
you'll put this thing
to rest once and for all...
and come back to LA with me.
Deal?
And I get to drive
your car too?
Deal?
[Bo groans]
This is like a spaceship.
It's a car, Todd buddy.
Would you mind
creeping down to lightspeed?
This little baby cost me
35 grand.
Christ! Don't downshift
unless you have to.
All it needs is lasers.
[tires squealing]
[grunts]
[groans]
Shit.
No...
[panting]
Mm-mm. No.
[rock music playing
on car stereo]
[Bo] What are you doing?
Wow.
Hi.
I really appreciate
you guys stopping.
[groans]
God, are you all right?
Yeah, I thought
I can walk on it.
Todd buddy, give me a hand.
Easy, easy. Real easy.
All right.
-Ow.
-Oh, God.
What happened?
Damned 18-wheeler
blew me right off the road.
Careful.
What do you got there,
Todd buddy? Some aloe?
Good.
[winces]
I think we should take her
to a doctor.
No, I don't need a doctor.
I could sure use a ride.
Hop in.
Just put your hand
right there...
[softly]
Todd buddy, Todd buddy.
Where's home?
Thataway.
That's where we're heading.
Uh, I'm Todd,
and this is my brother, Robert.
But they've been calling him Bo
since he was a little boy.
I'm Jesse.
Jesse.
That...
That's a beautiful name.
Buckle up, Todd buddy.
I'd hate to have
to stop real quick
and see your face go flying
through the windshield.
[chuckles]
I'm on vacation.
As of now, Jackson,
you're minding the shop.
No screw-ups.
Look around, Sheriff.
This here's Backbend.
What's to screw up?
You know,
if on a ghost of a chance
you happen to find that money,
what'll you do?
You wouldn't kill those boys,
would you, Wade?
I mean,
you wouldn't go that far.
What do you think?
Well, if those boys
don't show up again,
I'll be coming after you.
Then you'll be the one
chasing ghosts.
I lost my brother,
and my family left me,
and I don't care, Jackson.
That money is
still out there somewhere
and I outlasted Brand for it,
and now it's all mine.
[engine starts]
It's out there, all right.
She needs a place to stay.
She's real nice.
She smells good.
And she's potty-trained too.
Look, Todd, we don't have time
for this right now.
Besides, we can't go bringing
other people into our business.
Got to play this close
to the vest.
Understand?
Okay.
But can I have my own room?
[Bo sighs]
I'll unload the trunk
and, uh, you can pay
for the rooms, okay?
I'll unload it.
Hey, Jesse.
Um, do you still need
a place to stay?
Because I...
I got a room.
Okay.
Okay, um,
just wait 20 minutes, okay?
[car approaching]
Hey, babe, hop in.
No, thanks, mister.
[man] Yeah, well,
make up your mind.
I've got my ride.
[knocking on door]
[indistinct chatter on TV]
-Hi.
-Hi.
We've got to be kind of quiet
'cause Bo is in the next room.
We can watch the TV
if you want. I got it on low.
Um, you can use the bathroom.
I haven't used it yet.
Still got the whole paper thing
around it, you know.
It's okay. Thanks.
So, sit down.
Thank you.
So... where are you from?
South.
South of here.
How far south?
How old are you, Todd?
I'm 18.
I can't stand
being close to you, then.
I... I can open the door
if you want.
Oh, no, that's okay.
Hello, Mr. Stanislaw.
My name's Robert Brand.
I hope I'm not
calling you too late.
Yes, sir, he was my father.
Thank you, sir.
I appreciate that.
-Can I ask you something?
-Sure.
Back in the car...
I couldn't help but to notice.
What?
Do you always do
what your brother
tells you to do?
I mean, you seem old enough
not to worry about
what he thinks.
I got us a room, though,
didn't I?
I... I know, it's okay.
I just...
I just don't want to cause
any problems
between the two of you.
It's okay.
Um...
I'll sleep here,
um, and you can sleep
on the bed there.
I'm not tired yet.
Do you have to get up early
tomorrow, Todd?
Yeah. Yeah, um, real early.
Do you have
a lot of driving to do?
Yeah, we're going to Su...
-Todd?
-Bo doesn't like me
to say anything.
Oh.
Bo.
We're going
to the Superstition Mountains.
It's no big deal.
Oh, more hot desert driving.
Yeah.
You know, sometimes I wonder
if I'll ever get out
of this furnace.
You know what
I've been thinking about
all day today?
What?
Hmm...
I've been thinking about...
diving into
a cool pool of water.
-Yeah.
-Let's go swimming.
The pool is closed.
We'll sneak in.
I don't have
any swimming trunks.
[Jesse chuckles]
Come.
Come on, Todd.
Mr. Stanislaw, I was wondering
if it wouldn't be too much
of an imposition
if me and my brother
could come out
and see you tomorrow.
Well, wanted to ask you
a few questions
about the Phantom Robbery.
Get in, Todd buddy.
Come here.
Yes, sir, I know it happened
a long time ago.
Gee, that'd be great.
[Jesse laughing]
[gasping] This...
This is great.
I've never done
anything like this before.
I bet there's a whole world
of things you haven't
done before.
How about this?
Lucky bastard.
[device beeps]
Mm.
[horn honking]
[man] Hey, knock it off
out there!
What the hell
is the matter with you?
Hey, Bo.
It's four o'clock
in the morning.
Get over here.
I'm not dressed.
Well, it didn't seem to matter
last night, did it?
Get over here!
What?
Get your clothes and let's go.
She's not coming with us.
Why? She's going
in our direction.
Consider yourself lucky,
old man. You had a good night.
Now it's time to get down
to family business, remember?
And that's nobody's business
but ours.
Yeah, well,
I told her about it,
so there's nothing to hide, Bo.
Sure. Now say goodbye
and let's split.
No, I'm not gonna say goodbye
to her, Bo.
Her mom is dying.
And... And I told her
we'd give her a ride.
And her legs hurt real bad,
but she only limps
when it suits her.
She sure as hell
wasn't limping
at the pool last night.
Take a look at her, Todd.
That lady's been on the road
a long time.
She's got more mileage on her
than my Michelins.
Yeah, well, if we can't give
her a ride, then I don't
want a ride either.
-Fine!
-Okay.
[engine starts]
[brakes screech]
All right,
you got five minutes.
Jesse too?
[Bo] Yes, Jesse too.
♪ Loving is easy ♪
♪ Since I fell for you ♪
♪ I can't fight the feeling ♪
♪ That I have for you ♪
♪ Since I fell for you ♪
How's the leg?
I bet it's really hurting you
this morning.
Yeah, it's killing me.
I think I should've just
left it alone last night.
Should have kept it closer
to the other one.
We got to meet someone
outside of Junction.
How far are you going?
Junction's right on the way.
Yeah. I should have
guessed as much.
-Hey, Bo? I want to drive.
-Later.
Maybe, uh,
Jesse can drive later too, huh?
Don't push it.
It's all right, Todd.
I don't know
how to drive stick anyhow.
What's this meeting
you're going to?
It's got anything to do
with seven million bucks?
Our business is
none of your goddamn business.
♪ Dreaming is easy ♪
♪ Since I fell for you ♪
♪ Loving is easy ♪
[Bo] Go on, Mr. Stanislaw.
[Mr. Stanislaw] So, here I was,
out on this road hitchhiking.
God knows there ain't nobody
around for miles.
And just as I'm beginning
to believe that
I am stranded...
I hear this sound,
kind of distant-like,
coming from up there.
Something was thundering
down the road.
I look up and
I see this black-and-gold Merc.
And sitting right on its tail
was this huge truck.
And they were hauling ass.
So I thought
I'd try to flag 'em down.
Christ!
Shit!
Rotten fruit.
They were hauling rotten fruit.
Now, who in their right mind
would be hauling rotten fruit?
God, I knew they were up
to something dirty.
And later, when I read about
that black-and-gold car
-at the roadblock...
-Mm-hmm.
...it all made sense.
That old armored truck
went right underneath my nose.
All tricked up
to look like a fruit truck.
[pop music playing]
Coming up on Apache Corners.
Where do you want
to be let out?
Where are you headin'?
Okay, that's it.
If you won't give me
an exact destination,
you're getting out
at Apache Corners.
-No, she's not.
-Oh, yes, she is.
Haven't you
figured it out yet, Todd?
She's a gold digger.
She's after whatever
she can leech off of us.
Just knock it off. Come on.
[Jesse sniffles]
Oh, that's it.
Bring on the tears.
Poor, poor Jesse.
Listen, kid.
Thanks for turning
Todd buddy here
into a first-class slam hound.
Eat shit!
I'm sure it's something
you'll never forget.
Maybe you can
take care of me too
before we dump ya.
Ah, screw it.
I'm not interested.
-Shut up!
-You shut up!
[music stops]
-Apologize.
-I'm not gonna apologize.
The hell are you doing?
-Apologize!
-Apologize, my ass!
You fucking moron!
-[Bo grunts]
-[brakes screech]
[both grunting]
You wanna kill me?
Go on and fucking kill me!
[Bo exhales]
[mutters softly]
[Bo sighs]
Perfect.
Now we're stuck here.
We're not stuck here.
We still got Ma Bell.
Should have her good as new
by morning.
I'll give the old lady here
a call when it's ready.
Don't forget,
all my work is COD.
I sure hope
you find that wallet.
[engine starts]
I talked to the owner's wife
on the phone
on the way over here.
She says she'll rent us
two tents
and a couple of sleeping bags
for five bucks a piece.
She'll take a check.
She's even gonna
throw in a meal
for the both of us.
Yeah, what about me?
You're on your own.
Five bucks?
Shit, I could swing that.
I wonder
if I turn you upside down,
whether a few of
my credit cards will fall out.
Come on, search me.
You've been treating me
like a criminal
since you picked me up.
Come on. Search me.
Don't tempt me.
Bang.
[chuckles softly]
Must be almost there.
[tinkling]
-[door creaking]
-[footsteps approaching]
-Hi.
-Hi.
I'm Madeline Hix.
You must be the ones
that called.
Welcome.
I'm Robert Brand.
I'm the one you spoke to.
Brand, you said?
[laughs] Yes.
Is that significant?
[Madeline] No, no.
Should it be? [chuckles]
[clattering]
[Bo] Shit!
Are you all right?
[Madeline]
You needn't use
that kind of language.
It was just an accident.
We'll pay for the damages.
-I'm sorry.
-Don't worry about it.
Christ's sakes!
What the hell was that?
It was just an accident. Hush!
Go finish your whittling.
The Miller party
will be arriving soon
for their trip
to Geronimo's anvil.
Those things have
survived being buried
here in this desert
for 150 years of sand,
salt and rain.
Now, you keep
your paws off 'em, son,
they might survive 150 more.
Damn kid.
You pay no attention
to that old horned toad.
Come on.
I'll get you your equipment.
You can camp over
by the tree line there.
It'll serve as a windbreak.
Now, you needn't worry about
any of those stories
you might have heard.
Most of the stories about
the Superstitions
are just pure hogwash.
This is really cute on you.
Lovely. please.
[narrator] I didn't know who
the boys were at the time.
If I had, I might have saved
everyone a parcel of trouble.
Here, you see?
Surprised to see me, halfwit?
I thought you might be.
But it's our little secret.
You're not going to tell
your brother, are you?
'Cause if you do,
I'm gonna have to kill him,
and the girl,
and I'll do it
right in front of you.
You'll never get away
from me, kid.
I'll find you no matter
where you hide.
[owl hooting in distance]
[Wade groans]
[groaning] Bo.
Bo!
[Bo] No way!
[groaning] Oh, God.
Jesse. Jesse.
It's past your bedtime.
Leave me alone
and go to sleep, little boy.
[Bo] No, no, no.
I need the cash here.
No, you don't get it.
It's real simple.
I can't get to Phoenix
to get the cash
until I get the car.
I can't get the car
until I get the cash.
Yes, that's right.
I need the cash here.
What?
Three days?
Yeah, I'm not in
Las Vegas here.
I'm in the middle
of the goddamn desert!
No, I don't want to hold!
Great. I'm holding.
[Bo sighs]
Well, Phoenix happens to be
right on my way.
I guess I could trust you
with a loan until then.
Well, that's real big of you,
but forget it.
Suit yourself, man.
I mean, you know, we could be
flying down the highway.
Hey, buddy, what's it gonna be?
I don't need the sunshine.
How about a check?
You take a check?
Cash, brother. I told you
when I picked you up.
Cash, man. Cash!
What's wrong? What's going on?
[Bo whispering]
The mechanic. Wait.
[in normal voice] Hello. Hello.
Hello?
Shit.
So, what about your mother?
I thought she was dying.
Uh, she shouldn't be dead
by tomorrow. It's...
-It's a progressive illness.
-Mm.
-She's got money, Bo.
-[Bo] Chill out.
Okay, I'll make a deal
with you.
You foot the bill
from here on out.
I'll get you back to Phoenix
and you'll get your money back.
And that's it.
End of the trail.
Bye-bye. Sayonara. Adios!
You're not making a deal here.
I've got the cash, remember?
You pay me back
double whatever we spend
until we get to Phoenix.
And I'm now a partner
in this family treasure
of yours.
-We're not hunting treasure.
-Oh, yes, we are.
I am, in whatever shape
it comes to me.
-No kidding.
-Just do it. Come on!
Come on, bud.
What choice have you got?
[Bo sighs]
[grunts]
[pop music playing
on car stereo]
[Jesse sighs]
-Thanks.
-Anytime.
So where are we heading?
What's our plan?
My plan is to be
in Marina del Rey by Friday
playing tennis by the ocean.
A racket in one hand,
an ice-cold Corona
in the other,
and a redhead named Irene
bouncing all around
on the other side of the net.
Sounds deep.
You're awfully quiet
back there.
What did you want
to talk about last night?
Duro.
Wade Duro?
What about Duro?
-I saw him.
-[Bo] What?
I bashed him in the skull
with a rock last night.
[laughs] Get serious.
I did.
He jumped me
just outside our camp.
Damn it, Todd.
Why didn't you wake me?
I tried.
I was scared.
He's out there, Bo.
He's watching us.
How the hell did Duro find us
all the way out here?
Probably followed us.
And how the hell would you know
his name was Wade?
What's this, some kind of
accusation, Counselor?
I don't know. I saw his name
in the clippings.
You know, I can read.
Or is that something else
you despise about me?
Listen, stop it.
What are we gonna do
about Duro now?
[Bo] I don't know.
I don't know.
Let me think.
Do you see anybody
following us?
No, I don't see anyone.
[Bo] We'll make this quick
and then get the hell
out of here
before Duro can sniff us out.
[Jesse]
Why are we stopping here?
[Bo] Except for that siding
on the road,
this is the only place anyone
ever got a good look
at the robbers.
[Jesse] Aside from
the armored truck guards.
[Bo] Yeah, well, all the other
witnesses died.
Old Cable's
the only hope we've got left.
[can pops open]
Ah.
Thank you kindly.
Best in the world
when it's free.
Isn't that the truth?
So you were saying
that Mr. Sabatini
still lives around here?
That old dog ain't gone
more than a dozen miles
from here
ever since he retired
from the state police.
[scoffs] Says he's on
butt patrol now.
Shit. Offer him
a couple of six-packs,
he'd come down here
and chew your ear out
about that damn robbery.
Want me to get him on the horn?
Like I said,
I can only give you
my side of the story.
Well, that'd be great.
-You got a quarter?
-Sure.
Sabatini, you old fart hound!
Get off your butt!
I got a fella
springing for beer down here.
[siren wailing in distance]
[siren stops]
Hey, Cable!
You cheap bastard!
Somebody say "free beer"?
[laughing]
Mr. Hogue, that fishing trip
sounds like it must have been
a really good time.
But I was wondering
if you wouldn't mind
jumping ahead to the part
where the suspects
first showed up.
All right. All right.
I remember the wind
beginning to kick up.
I hated to shut the windows
'cause of the fish smell
and all,
but that dust...
went something terrible.
The customer bell rang.
I wasn't too keen on
going out there,
but a service station
meant "service"
in those days.
[bell rings]
What do you need?
[laughing]
Gonna hit the can. Sit tight.
Be right back.
Yeah. Me too.
Fill it up, boy,
and check the oil.
Yeah, sure.
Don't go nowhere without us.
Boo!
Change?
[cash register dings]
[Cable]
Out at the gas station
in Asker Springs,
there's a couple fellas
laughing about
an armored car robbery
of seven million bucks.
[man coughs]
[whistles]
[horn honking]
Hey, doofus,
hurry up out there.
We don't got all day.
Hey! We don't got all day.
Trouble.
Those two men
come back in yet?
[siren wailing]
[tires screeching]
Shh. Come on.
The other two were long gone.
Vanished.
-They get to the Merc somehow?
-No, ma'am.
There were only two
in that Merc.
Then can you tell us
what happened?
Old Cable just
shut down for a while.
I'll even do better than that.
[laughs]
I had that Merc up to about 70
before I got up
to this corner here.
Hang on!
[tires screeching]
[laughing]
And there they were.
-And I fired my pistol at 'em.
-[gun fires]
[gun firing continuously]
[siren wailing]
[sheriff] Dispatch.
Meg, I'm on Route 8.
I'm under fire.
Meg, listen,
we need to establish
a roadblock
before Sutter's Cutoff.
[siren wailing]
[Wade]
This is Deputy Duro.
I got 'em in sight.
Let's close it down, Brand.
Do it!
[gun clicks]
[Sabatini]
Wade, are they still alive?
We're coming.
You're just like
your greedy brother, Manny.
Fuck you.
[Wade] You crazy son of a...
[explosion]
[Sabatini]
Come on, it's gonna blow.
I never knew
what the bandit
in the car meant about Manny.
It's not every day
you find two brothers
that close.
Manny tagged after Wade
his whole life,
trying to live up
to Wade's example.
Wade was a good man,
a good officer.
He got married
and had a family.
So did Manny.
It was only at the end
that they had any trouble
between them
about Manny's gambling.
Anyway, Wade took care
of Manny's family
till they moved out of town.
And then he spent every day
trying to avenge the death
of his younger brother.
He loved that boy.
Practically raised him.
But that day I...
I could tell
by the look in his eyes that...
those flames
had burned something deeper
than his flesh.
Hell, he wasn't
the only casualty.
Instead of rewarding me,
the papers made me
look like a fool
for helping
the other two escape.
[laughing]
Why would anyone think that?
[Cable] Hell! It was a setup.
The call they made
from my garage
was to the police.
$7 million split two ways
is better than split four.
While the two dupes
in the Merc,
with a sack full of
chump change,
were being run to the ground
by old Sabatini here,
two masterminds were
doubling back to where
they hid the truck
and all the rest of the cash.
Did you find
where they stashed the truck?
We found the tracks.
The vehicle had been hidden
in a thicket for a while
and then moved.
From that point on,
it was a dead end.
Not a thing anywhere...
any time.
So that's it.
You talk to a couple
of old-timers and walk away.
Todd and I made a deal.
Yeah, but I made
this deal too,
to the tune of 400 bucks.
That's $800 owed.
You'll get your money
when we get to Phoenix.
Yeah.
-What?
-Duro.
Shit.
[guns cocking]
-Hold on!
-[tires screeching]
Uh-oh.
[Jesse] Punch it, ace.
Not yet.
Not till talk to 'em.
We've got to catch
that foreign thing thingamabob
before they'll be any talking.
You do what I tell you to
when I tell you to do it.
-Take that road.
-No.
-Take that road!
-No!
-Take it!
-[Bo screaming] No!
[Bo] Great idea. Oh, great!
[Todd] Come on. Come on!
[grunts]
[man] Ah, shit! You broke
the goddamn crank case!
Shut up. Let's go.
[bird screeching overhead]
[Bo] I hate
the goddamn desert.
I hate the goddamn desert.
I hate the goddamn desert.
[Jesse panting]
[Bo] I hate the goddamn desert.
I hate the goddamn desert.
I hate the goddamn... Huh?
[man groans]
That's it.
I ain't going any further.
Get up and move.
Mister, you ain't paying me
enough for this shit.
[gun cocks]
All right.
All right, I guess you ought
to know who you've been
chasing out here.
It's the Brand boys.
You know Hank Brand's sons,
and you know
what they're after.
And if you've got
any sense left,
you can figure out
what a share
of that'd be worth.
You can leave now...
and spend the rest of your
miserable lives rolling drugs.
Or you can follow me
and spend the rest
of your miserable lives
rolling in dough.
Hi.
[Todd]
How'd you find us?
[Eli] When I found
your car abandoned,
I kind of figured
you'd be out here on foot.
[Todd] Uh, Eli,
I'd like you to read.
[Eli] No, you'll have to
read it to me, son.
I didn't bring the specs.
"Dear Mr. Brand.
I am writing
from the intensive care ward
of the Sun Valley Hospital
where my husband
is gravely ill.
Over the years,
I have read about
your plight in the newspapers.
Though my guilt is strong,
I have waited until now
before contacting you.
My husband carries information
that may help you.
I am writing now
so that he may have
the opportunity
of unloading that burden
before he passes on.
Please contact me
at the above address.
I pray that
you respond quickly.
Sincerely, Madeline Hix."
That letter was written
better than two years ago, son.
As you know, the report
on my impending demise
was greatly exaggerated.
Too damn stubborn to die
in a hospital gown, I guess.
Well, for 25 years,
I've been knowing
this day would come
sooner or later.
So I best get it done
and set a lot of old ghosts
to rest.
[chuckles]
Hi, Maddie. Got the boys.
[Eli] When I told Maddie
about the car,
she sent me out
to look for the boys.
I had her collect
every weapon she could find.
There was more than one fire
on the desert that night,
and I knew I might be
bringing trouble back home.
Of course, I kept that part
to myself.
When the robbery happened,
I was out Tucson way,
out trying to stir up
grubstake.
Staked a claim on this old,
played-out hole in rock here.
And at that time
I was convinced
that I was really gonna
make a big strike. [chuckles]
Yeah, you want to hide
something well, son?
Hide it out in plain sight.
Anyways, I came back
in a couple of months
after the fact to find that
everything had changed.
The nearest I can piece
events together,
the truck came through
the mouth of my lower
original mine.
[man]
Up near the top, Bobby.
And a couple places out back.
We'll drop this roof
neater than a pin.
When things cool off,
we'll come back and dig it out.
Just like
I promised you, Bobby.
-That Manny Duro
was such a sucker.
-[coughing]
The perfect heist.
No weapons,
no witnesses, no sweat.
Smooth as the curve
on a whore's ass.
Oh, yeah,
there's just one little detail
I gotta take care of.
[wind blowing]
[explosion]
[groaning]
[Eli] Those boys must not have
been from around here.
They sure didn't know
anything about geology.
Nobody in his right mind
would detonate
that much dynamite
while sitting under a ledge
of unstable sandstone.
[laughs]
A few hours work
and I'll be rid of
a quarter-century-old headache.
Can you believe this?
I never thought
the truck was intact.
Can you imagine
if all that money
is still in there?
"The final proof
is in the details."
Yeah, if it is,
you guys have no claim to it.
-What?
-The money's mine.
-I earned it!
-You earned it, bullshit!
-Bullshit!
-Yeah, bullshit.
Our father suffered
his whole life for it.
My father died
for the goddamn money!
You're crazy.
If anybody's entitled to
that money, it's me and Todd.
Wrong again.
I've got news for you.
I've earned a dollar
with every tear
for my butchered father!
The man
your father helped kill!
Manny Duro.
-Fire in the hole!
-[explosion]
[Bo and Todd coughing]
[Eli] Todd, where are
the wheel blocks?
[Todd] I've got 'em.
[grunting]
[Eli] Here.
Here, son, take that.
No, wait a minute.
Pry it open.
[Madeline] Be careful. Careful.
[grunting]
[Madeline shrieks, gasps]
So there's the fourth man.
I thought an awful lot
about him.
Double-cross
on a double-cross.
-[gunshots]
-[Madeline shrieks]
[Jesse shrieks]
Ow!
[Bo] Eli!
-It's all here.
-Well, for how long?
[gun clicks]
Shit!
What the hell am I doing here?
[groans]
Son of a bitch.
Jammed again.
[grunts]
[grunting]
[grunts]
[yells]
Oh, no.
Oh, stop it!
It won't stop!
The brakes are out!
We're gonna die,
we're gonna die.
No, we're not! No, we're not!
Oh, shit What was that?
[thuds]
[Todd exhaling]
This thing won't open!
[yells]
Oh, shit.
[laughing]
[crying]
[wailing]
Daddy!
[crying]
[screaming]
[grunts]
[grunting]
[Todd mumbling indistinctly]
You wanted proof?
It seems like while
my father was plotting
a permanent vacation
to the other side
of the world...
[voice shaking]
your dad was just
trying to do his job.
-How's the leg?
-[laughs]
It's getting better every day.
Well, we're gonna hit the road.
Just wanted to say goodbye.
I hate to see you go, son.
Hey, I just wanted to thank you
and Maddie for all your help.
-Is she here?
-Well, uh...
That brother of yours,
he sure is a fine boy.
Now, you watch after him,
will you?
You bet.
Eli, there's something
I just don't understand.
Thought maybe you could
clarify it for me.
What's that?
How could you have
that treasure here
all these years
and never tell a soul?
[chuckles]
That's simple, son.
I just don't like folks
poking around
in my little old
gold mine here.
-Gold mine?
-Yeah.
[sighs] Well, it's funny
the value we put on things,
isn't it?
It sure is.
-Well... I'll see you.
-Thanks again.
Okay.
-Say goodbye to Maddie for me.
-Will do.
-Bye. All right.
-Thank you.
And Maddie and I,
I guess you could say
we're out $7 million.
What did the boy want, huh?
Well, he just couldn't
understand why
I hadn't touched
any of the money. [chuckles]
But like I said,
there's more than one legend
in the Superstition Mountains.
Todd made up
his mind to stay
when it really came
time to leave.
This was Dad's.
I think it fits you.
[Eli] The boy had no use
for the city,
and in his heart,
his brother knew it
and accepted it.
I'll see you, Bo buddy.
See you, Todd buddy.
-Hey, drive safe, okay?
-Okay.
Hey, Todd buddy!
I'll see you, okay?
[Bo chuckling] No, no, no.
What?
There's something
I got to ask you.
What?
How was she?
What do you mean?
Jesse.
To sleep with?
I never slept with her.
[upbeat music playing]
[Eli] And Bo.
[chuckles] Well...
Bo buddy.
Did you actually think
I was gonna let you
get away that easy?
The way I figured it
you still owe me 800 bucks.
[Bo exhales]
And a quarter.
You know something?
I love the goddamn desert.
[engine starts]
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ I want to run to the sun ♪
♪ Run to the sun
And if we get out ♪
♪ Then we can run ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ A world full of space
Big sand and clean air ♪
♪ A place to believe in love ♪
♪ Where life has no cares ♪
♪ And if we get out ♪
♪ Then we can run ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ I want to run to the sun ♪
♪ Run to the sun
And if we get out ♪
♪ Then we can run ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ I want to run to the sun ♪
♪ Run to the sun
And if we get out ♪
♪ Then we can run ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪
♪ In the land of the sun ♪