Bastard's Crossing (2021) - full transcript

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(LIGHT RAIN PATTERING)

Good girl.

Vacation's over.

Back to work.

Come on.

Come on, Sandy.

Come on, Sandy, you gotta go back to work.

Back to work.

Come on, get back here.

Look back this way.



You got something for me?

MALE: Nope.

You got something for me?

I didn't think so.

Come on, let's get some supper.

Come on.

Giddy up.

Giddy up.

Giddy up.

Giddy up.

Giddy up, giddy up.

Giddy up.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's about goddamn time.



You were supposed to be here
three god damn weeks ago.

I just drive.

I don't set the schedules.

Man could starve to death out here

and nobody would give a
good god damn about it.

This don't look like everything I ordered.

I was supposed to get two full wagons.

They said to give this letter to you.

A letter.

What's it about?

I don't know.

Well, they ain't never
sent no letter before.

Am I supposed to read it now?

I don't know.

I wonder what it's about.

Well, why don't you
read it and find out?

You think I should?

I've been sitting on this
wagon for four days now.

I'm cold.

My feet are wet.

I really just don't care.

Well, they aint never
sent a letter before

and now they don't tell
me if I read it now

or wait till you're gone.

I think you ought to read it now,

but it just don't make no
difference to me, anyhow.

I think I will read it now.

That don't look like everything I ordered.

Well, they can't do this to me.

God damn it.

Did you know about this?

About what?

Well, they're not gonna send me

any more god damn supplies.

This is to inform you that
Wilson Freight Company

will no longer be available
to make deliveries

to your location.

Signed, Mr. James Wilson.

No longer available.

What does that even mean?

I reckon they ain't
coming out here no more.

What am I supposed to do now?

I got my next order already made up.

There's not another freight company

inside of a hundred miles from here.

Well, they've been cutting back a lot.

They might be closing up.

There just aint no money
to be made out here.

Closing up.

Why didn't you tell me
that before I opened

the god damn letter?

God damn it.

I knew I shouldn't open it.

I knew I shouldn't.

God damn it all to hell.

Giddy up.

Giddy up.

Please give my regards to Mr. Wilson.

And tell him I hope he breaks his back

bending over to kiss my god damn ass.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(SNIFFS)

There's just not very much here.

No, there's not.

Here's your soap, ma'am.

Thank you so much.

How long does it take
to pump the water up?

Well, it don't take that long.

And we've had a lot of rain lately

so that river down in the
holler is running full.

And you can knock the mud off
outside next time, please.

Darling.

You looking for something special?

We're fine.

CAM: Two goddamn dollars.

Moving out!

Giddy up.

You're early!

You're early!

Dammit.

Hey, you want some water?

Do you want a cup of coffee?

Just stay for a second, will you?

Gotta get.

Well, at least somebody
wants to stick around.

Hey, no, you get back in there.

Come on.

Let's go.

You're the only one I can depend on, huh?

Yeah.

Good boy.

That's a good boy.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Afternoon, Mister.

I'll be needing some water.

There's a pump out back.

It don't take long to fill it up.

I'll be needing some supplies too.

Yeah?

Well, I ain't had a
freight wagon in a while,

but I still got a lot of stuff inside.

You got coffee?

Or whiskey?

No, I'm out of coffee.

But I got some turned fruit
squeezings, I'd have a bite.

and I got some elk jerk,
some fur traders brought.

I'll be needing some of that.

A few other things.

Well, okay.

Well go water your horse
and come on inside.

Which way you headed?

Does it matter?

No.

You know, people going west
are headed to the mountains,

gold prospecting.

Them going north are
looking for other things.

Well, I aint looking for those things.

Well, it don't matter to me anyway.

They always pass by here
again in a year or two,

after they hadn't found
it is they're looking for.

I doubt you'll be seeing me again.

I'm not trying to get up
in your business, mister.

Then don't.

Would you happen to have noticed some

new freight companies
in any of these towns

you've been passing through recently?

As you can see,

I could use some inventory.

I lost my company six months ago.

Sorry, I can't help.

I am the only stop between
Fort Smith and Little Rock.

It's 150 god damn miles.

I still can't help.

All I get now is a occasional trapper

passing through with this
shit I can't buy, can't sell.

You got any 44 40 cartridges?

No.

I traded the last box to
those fur traders last month.

Have you seen this man?

No.

I'll be going now.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Hey, friend.

CAM: Afternoon, mister.

Where you headed?

I'm going as far as San Francisco.

If my wagon here will
stay together that long.

I'm a sailor looking for my next ship.

A sailor?

Yep.

I was a captain once.

I sailed on most of the Caribbean,

and even once went around
the horn when I was younger.

A horn?

The horn of Africa.

I've been on the Missouri and Mississippi

for dang near five years,

but I need some salt in my blood.

Well, I'm running low, but
I got a little salt inside.

(CHUCKLES)

I mean some salt water.

I'm going to Frisco to take a
job sailing the Pacific ocean.

That's halfway across the
god damn world, aint it?

It's a fair piece for sure.

But they got women out
there don't wear no clothes.

I do trading if you
got something to barter.

No, I just need to
rest my team for a spell,

and I got a wrong axle
that'll need some tending to.

Well, I got plenty of grease.

I got some too.

I'll take some of yours.

I'll save mine for the trail.

Well, okay.

Pull your team around back

and I'll get that bucket of grease.

Friend, friend.

I'll take you some food
too, if you got that,

and some grain, I'd be obliged.

Okay.

If you don't think you'll
be needing anything

before morning, I think I will turn in.

No, I'm fine.

I got this last wheel to finish

and I'll be getting
out my bed roll myself.

I wanna be on the trail by sun up.

I'll see you in the morning.

Hey, friend.

I got a question.

You out here, all alone.

Got no wife, no comforts,
nobody to talk to.

Is that the sort of life you like?

About three years ago I
won this God forsaken place

in a god damn poker hand in Fort Smith.

I ain't never had nothing,

till I got this place.

I decided I was gonna make it.

Or I was gonna die here trying.

I can understand.

Isolation just aint my nature.

Well, a woman would be nice to have.

(CHUCKLES)

Especially on them cold nights.

Ain't it the god damn truth.

Hey.

Have a taste of this.

Some kind of whiskey?

Yeah, friend.

It's a whiskey.

It's smooth as silk.

Warms your throat right down to your soul.

Now, it's not as good as a woman though.

Just Keep it. Just Keep
it. I got a few bottles

from a fella on a riverboat on
the Mississippi a while back.

Well, okay.

I'm gonna turn in.

Okay, friend.

Good night.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Mister.

I'm trying here.

(GROANING)

Oh.

All right, this is important.

Now you gotta come.

You gotta come on.

Come on, this way.

Pull.

Pull.

Come on.

God damn it, come on.

We got one chance here.

Gotta get this right.

Gotta get this wagon moving, okay?

Come on.

Okay.

All right.

Here we go.

Giddy up.

Giddy up.

Giddy up.

(RAIN PATTERING)

Wait a minute.

Got no time.

God damn it, I gotta tell somebody.

A man was here and...

God damn.

And his wagon fell on him and...

I don't need any trouble.

I don't need any trouble.

I'll be god damned.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(GROANING)

(FIRE CRACKLING)

Well, okay.

Much obliged.

Be careful now.

Thanks for the reading material.

(CHUCKLES)

Damn, this is three months old.

(WAGON APPROACHING)

Afternoon.

You got water?

Out back.

How much further to Fort Smith?

It's about 60 miles to
the foothills thataway.

Fort Smith is a day or so past that.

60 miles?

Yep.

Now, I'm running low on some things,

but you're gonna need some supplies

if you're headed to the goal.

Yeah, I'm gonna need to fill
my water barrel and canteens.

You don't need no supplies?

No, I think I got all I need.

Pump's out back for your water.

And that'll be two bits
to fill your barrel.

It's like you're about out of business.

I lost my freight company a year ago.

I still get stuff from the stage.

From people passing by.

You got anything you wanna barter on?

Friend, I got a wagon
full of mighty supplies

out there to sell.

But not here.

Not here?

No.

Not unless you're willing
to pay me top dollar.

Well, I aint asking for charity.

I could pay.

I got paper money and silver.

I even got a couple of nuggets.

I can get $20 for a good
mighty pick up in the mountains.

$20?

Hell I only get $3 here.

That's what I'm talking about.

I put this load together in Memphis.

Only a dollar and two
bits for a pig there.

I can't even pay that.

I got a load of prime supplies.

Gonna take 'em up to the mining
camps and get top dollar,

and then I'm gonna buy
a good claim for myself.

Why don't I buy this load?

For a fair price.

Then you won't have to
travel all the way up there.

$20 for a pig.

No way.

I can't pay mining camp prices.

Well, selling to you at no profit

won't get me no claim, neither.

I hear them natives out
there are running wild.

Killing and burning.

They won't mess with me.

I give them a wet finger of
sugar and they'll be happy.

You got sugar?

I got damn near 100 pounds.

Hell.

I haven't had any god damn
sugar in a god damn year.

You know, with that heavy load

you might wanna check them axles.

You might wanna grease them wheels.

You don't wanna take a
chance on a wheel coming off

out there on the trail.

Out here I'm squeaking.

Mister, I'm desperate.

You see, I ain't got nothing left,

and you got a full wagon out there.

Couldn't you see yourself free to-

- No, I'm sorry.

I gotta get top dollar or I
can't get no decent claim.

Man's gotta think about himself, you know.

Obliged for the water.

For the little man.

Tell you what, how about I
give you a finger of sugar?

How 'bout I give you a finger instead?

A man's gotta think for himself, you know.

Are you okay, Mister?

Cartridges.

44 40s.

(LAUGHING)

(GRUNTING)

(FIRE CRACKLING)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

(WOMAN HYSTERICALLY CRYING)

Shut up.

I said shut up!

(WOMAN CONTINUES CRYING)

I said stop the noise.

I said shut up!

(CHUCKLES)

If you plan to violate me,

I ask you not leave
your seed inside of me.

I can't bear the thought of
mothering a bastard child.

I'd be more concerned about
drawing a breath tomorrow.

This aint my nature.

You see, I didn't think this through.

Having a woman has been on my mind a lot.

You murdered my husband
so you could have me?

I got an express rider coming
through here once a week.

A stage every other.

And I'm not sure what I'm
gonna have to do with you.

But you rest assured that if
I'm surprised by somebody,

you are gonna be the
first I turn my pistol to.

It don't matter.

Got nothing to live for now.

That express rider.

Day after tomorrow.

He ain't no problem.

He ain't here more than
a few seconds anyhow.

But that stage next week, that's
gonna be a different story.

That's gonna be a problem.

I got to think on this a while.

Where's your god damn horse?

I ran it to death.

Had to steal this mule out of a pasture.

Go on.

Whoa.

No, no, no.

You got to go.

Come on.

Get up.

Go, go, go.

Come on.

There's the horse right there.

No, you got to go.

You got to go.

I just want a drink of water.

Here's your sand bags, go.

I need some water.

All right, god damn it.

God damn it.

God damn it.

Wait.

Wait.

Help!

Help!

God damn it.

Has to have water.

It's raining like a son of a
bitch and he's gotta get water.

Here.

Here's your water.

You got to go now.

Okay.

Now, go.

Go.

(THUNDER CLAPS)

I will untie you if you won't act up.

It's the best offer you're gonna get.

All right.

You can stay tied up like a pig in a poke.

I don't care.

This will help take the edge off the pain.

You know I'm not that bad.

Do you think you could ever

forgive me?

You're kidding, right?

I guess now's not a good god damn time.

(DRAMATIC GUITAR)

(GROANING)

You god damn angel of Satan.

The stage is due here today.

Sometimes it's a day or two late.

Here's some water, some
jerky and some bread.

You leaving me out here?

I'll be back as soon
as the stage passes.

I haven't seen any bear
signs in quite a while.

You should be just fine.

I pray for the day you
draw your last breath.

You make that prayer to the almighty

or to your friend Satan?

You better hope that prayer
don't get answered today

cause I'm the only one
that knows where you are.

And ain't nobody out here
to hear you screaming.

Give me something to defend myself with.

Really?

So you can use it against me.

No.

And just so you know, the key to that lock

is back at the trading post.

So even if you get over on me here,

you still chained to this
god damn tree til you die.

Get eaten by some creature.

(CHUCKLES)

I think you broke my god damn rib.

(CHAINS RATTLING)

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(WAGON APPROACHING)

Hey.

Can I do something for you?

No, I'm just waiting for everyone to go.

So am I.

What you got in there?

It's my instrument.

I'm a musician, an entertainer.

I'm on my way to Fort Smith
to play at the opera house.

You don't say.

Well, yes.

I've been back east and even
played down in New Orleans.

It's too bad you can't play here.

I can do that.

Oh no, folks, it's time to load up.

I can put this inside for you.

Why yes.

Put the case away and I'll play everyone

a diddy on the trail.

(BANGING)

♪ Me and my wife live all alone ♪

♪ In a little log hut we're all our own ♪

♪ She loves gin and I love rum ♪

♪ And don't we have a lot of fun ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

♪ 'Tis you that makes
me friends and foes ♪

♪ 'Tis you that makes
me wear old clothes ♪

♪ But seeing you're so near my nose ♪

♪ Tip her up ♪

(GROANING)

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

Help me!

Help me!

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

♪ If I'd a cow that gave such milk ♪

♪ I'd dress her in the finest silk ♪

♪ Feed her up on oats and hay ♪

♪ And milk her 20 times a day ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

Help me!

Help me!

Somebody, please!

Help!

♪ Better take another drop ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

♪ Ha ha ha you and me ♪

♪ Little brown jug how I love thee ♪

I'm just trying to see if
there is something I can do.

There's some ointment for your bug bites.

(CHAINS RATTLE)

(GROANING)

You try anything again and that's it!

You sick little man.

God damn you!

What goes on here?

Didn't hear you ride up, stranger.

Expect not.

I'll be needing some supplies.

I've seen you before.

I come this way a while back.

I remember now.

You had all them beaver pelts.

Going to Little Rock.

Sold 'em all at the market.

Going back for some more.

I could use a hot meal.

What else do you need?

Some ground beef, if you got it.

Some beans and flour.

And a roll of wire for making my snares.

That's gonna take a few minutes.

Why don't you go rest
yourself out front there?

Think I'll do that.

I see you got a woman.

She got stranded here.

She's just waiting til the
next stage passes through.

Before the war I spent some time

up in the Wyoming territory.

Never been out west.

The Comanche,

they raid the Cheyenne and Sioux.

Kill their braves,

take their squalls,

tie 'em up,

work 'em til they're tame,

use 'em for slaves,

convert to more Comanche braves.

Sounds like a savage place.

It's good to have a
woman around, aint it?

Yeah, but she's-

- I know a captive when I see one.

I'm headed up to the hills tomorrow.

Be gone all winter.

I could use a woman.

I got $50 in gold from selling my pelts.

Gold is useless up in the hills.

Better if it was led.

But a woman.

I could use a woman.

She is a predicament.

I did have carnal intentions, but,

she hasn't been so disposed.

And she knows things she can't tell.

She won't be coming
out with me come spring.

I set up camp, just up the trail.

Come back at daybreak.

You can't do this.

I can do whatever I want.

You can't even look at me, can you?

You got to understand.

I don't know what else I can do.

You said this ain't who you are.

Was that a lie too?

I'm sorry.

I am trapped here with you.

If you weren't such a devil's
bitch I might have a choice,

but I don't see one.

If making me out to be the
one at fault gives you comfort,

not much I can do either.

But you know what the truth is, don't you?

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Thinking about it won't
make you sleep any easier.

I know you can hear me.

Much as I hate looking at you,

I have more fear of leaving with him.

If I give myself to you,

if I give in to your desires,

will you not send me away?

I have no choice either.

Morning.

You lying no good son of a bitch.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

You got her tied up down there?

CAM: Yeah.

She's tied.

Giddy up.

You're gonna get yours one day.

Maybe.

(GROANING)

I'll be coming back this way, Cam.

Aint much chance of that.

You'll see.

Settle down back there, woman.

You'll be thrown over the
saddle like a sand bag.

I didn't have no choice neither.

(RAIN PATTERING)

(WAGON APPROACHING)

Boy.

Am I glad to finally see you.

Me?

Are you Mr. Talcutt?

Folks call me Cam.

Boy, I just aint the man I once was.

That's for sure.

I'm Patrick Cole.

At your service.

Come on inside, Mr. Cole.

You need any supplies?

No, sir.

But I'm hoping that you do.

I don't see how you've managed to

stay in business out here so long.

With no freight.

Well, I ain't had no
steady human company

in a few months now.

I lost my god damn...

Lost my freight company
near about two years ago.

I know.

I bought this route from Wilson.

And well, I'm looking
to start hauling again.

Well that's about the
damnedest god damn good news

that I have heard in a long god damn time.

I got my supply order list right here.

Well, I'll make my way
down a few of the lines.

Let's see what I can set up to schedule.

This is the last of my last bottle,

so we are gonna celebrate.

I bought four runs out
a Little Rock, you know.

And I almost didn't come this far.

I figured you'd be closed up by now.

Still here.

Tell me, how did you
manage to stay out here

with no freight?

Well, the express riders were coming

til about two months ago.

And then, well, they put the
railroad in just south of here.

And well I picked up from some things

from some traders and
trappers and settlers.

I had to make some sacrifices.

As you can see,

I'm at the end of my rope.

I'm god damn glad that you're here.

(LAUGHING)

Well, we can get you back up in no time.

Well, okay.

I got some gold and we can
make that order right now.

Got a contract.

And I expect that we can have
a couple of freight wagons

out here in two weeks
or less once I get back.

Well, I am sorry for
all the god damning,

but god damn,

it looks like things
are looking up for me.

Finally, things are looking up.

At your service.

(HORSE WHINNIES)

God damn it's cold out here.

Come in, where it's warm.

You just hang your coat
right there next to mine.

Much obliged.

You got coffee?

Aint I seen you here before?

Oh, I remember now.

You were here about three years ago.

Let me get you a clean cup.

Here's one.

What brings you out this way?

MALE: Was headed for Fort Smith.

What's your business?

I scout for the army sometimes.

I see a soldier or two round
here every once in a while.

I had a god damn platoon
by here about a year ago.

They were chasing some outlaw.

You scouting again?

I was about to start again.

But I got another job bounty hunting.

Few settlers come up missing.

Settlers?

God damn it.

Some family folk ain't
been heard from in awhile.

Well express stopped
running some while ago.

Aint no letters being delivered now

except by that train running down south,

way down south.

You know, I get some folk coming by.

You know, usually move on as
soon as they get some water.

I suspect so.

So what makes you
think they come this way?

Woman got captured.

Husband killed.

She got away.

You don't say.

Yeah.

She'd been through a lot.

Talking out of her head.

Talking?

Crazy stuff.

Said she'd been in the mountains.

God knows how long.

That poor thing.

The law didn't make much sense of it.

Figured she'd gone crazy.

Just making it all up.

But you believed her.

I didn't pay much attention to her.

Except for one thing.

She said she was chained
to a wall for a spell,

and then sold off.

That didn't make any sense.

I figured she was out of her head.

Then I remembered this place.

You are the dumbest god damn
bounty hunter I ever seen.

I figured this out.

I don't plan on no gun play.

I just aim to take you in.

I ain't going nowhere.

I just got things around
here back in order.

Aint nobody, not you,

not some god damn crazy woman,

gonna take it away from me.

You know, it's cold outside.

I ain't gonna have to dig
a hole for a few days.

(GUNSHOT)

It's you.

You came back.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

I'm sorry I doubted you.

I had hoped we could take him in.

How do you tell a child their
mother killed their father?

You sure about this?

Yeah, I can't take another ride so soon.

You keep that handy.

You be careful out there.

Odds are the judge
is gonna issue a bounty

on that trapper.

I wouldn't worry about that.

It's a long story.

Maybe you can tell me one day.

I just might.

Soon as I get him to the
marshal, explain everything,

I'll come back.

By then I'll have a good
mind about what I'm gonna do.

You know, by all rights this
place should be the child's.

Guess I hadn't given that much thought.

You might wanna pick out a new name.

Guess I could call
it Bastard's Crossing.

(CHUCKLES)

You didn't really think we'd
leave you hanging, did you?

(GENTLE MUSIC)

If you get me to a town, I
could make it worth your while.

I done told you,

we ain't going no place.

You ain't in no trouble.

You can just let me go.

I can, but I ain't.

So accept it.

(GROANING)

I aint expecting no play for a spell.

Whore gave me an infection.

Saw bone.

He gave me a hot rod cool.

Sure is painful trying to relieve myself.

Got a line cabin about five
more days in the country there.

When we get there, I'll
be cutting off that rope.

We get there, you ain't
got no place to go.

(GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES)

Try to leave, you'll die.

Either my bullet or a
bear out in the wilderness

will be your end.

Death might come as a welcome relief.

Choice will be yours.

(GROANING)

You should drink as
much water as you can

to help flush yourself out.

I'm telling you what's best for you.

Drink as much water as
you can so you have to go.

I don't need no nursing.

I'm just trying to help.

My leg's starting to get infected, too.

I won't be much good if I'm crippled.

I done told you, we get to the cabin,

I'm cutting the rope off.

Another day or two
and it's gonna be bad.

I ain't got no place to run anyway.

Think we'll set up camp here tonight.

I need some rest from the saddle.

My leg is getting worse.

Can hardly stand on it.

I guess, we're far enough out now.

You got no place to go.

(GRUNTS IN PAIN)

(GROANS)

(GENTLE MUSIC)

(SCREAMING)

(DARK OMINOUS MUSIC)