Hud (1963) - full transcript

Hud Bannon is a ruthless young man who tarnishes everything and everyone he touches. Hud represents the perfect embodiment of alienated youth, out for kicks with no regard for the consequences. There is bitter conflict between the callous Hud and his stern and highly principled father, Homer. Hud's nephew Lon admires Hud's cheating ways, though he soon becomes aware of Hud's reckless amorality to bear him anymore. In the world of the takers and the taken, Hud is a winner. He's a cheat, but, he explains "I always say the law was meant to be interpreted in a lenient manner."

♪ Our Eastern states

are dandies ♪

♪ So the Western people say ♪

♪ New York and Chicago ♪

♪ And St. Louis... ♪

♪ From the hills

of Minnesota, where... ♪

Okay, thanks for the lift.

Where you going

to look for him?

I don't know, but if I find

a pink Cadillac,

he'll be around somewhere.

♪ ...Birmingham

one cold December day ♪

So long.

♪ As I pulled

into the station ♪

♪ I could hear

all the people say ♪

♪ There's a gal

from Tennessee... ♪

Who's that?

It's Lon.

Hi, Lonnie.

I'm making chili.

But if you want breakfast,

I'll come out.

No, thanks.

Daisy, you seen

my Uncle Hud?

I chicken-fried him

a steak last night,

about 7:00.

Haven't

seen him since.

All right.

Daisy, I'm taking

two doughnuts.

Okay, honey.

Just leave a dime

on the counter.

All right.

It's 26 after 6:00

on a Thursday, and 71 degrees

in the good ol' summertime.

On the Bobby Don Brewer Show.

Must have had quite a

brawl in here last night.

I had Hud in here last night

is what I had.

Sure looks it.

Mr. Larker!

Hey, there,

Mr. Larker!

Hey, there, Lon!

You gonna rodeo

this year, Lon?

Not me. I ain't looking to get

my stomach stepped on.

What you doing

in town this early?

Trying to run down Hud.

Hud? Didn't I see

that big Cadillac car of his

parked right down

the street?

Pretty sure I did.

I don't know

if I'd go

disturbing him,

if I was you.

Well, I ain't dying to,

but I've been told to get him.

♪ I'm just driftwood

on the river ♪

♪ Floating down the tide ♪

♪ I don't care where

this old river carries me ♪

♪ I keep drifting just because

my heart is broken inside ♪

♪ And I'm tired of wishing

for what cannot be... ♪

Hud?

Hud?

Honcho...

I just hope for your sake

that this house is on fire.

Well, I'm sorry

to roust you out, Hud,

but we got trouble at the ranch.

Well, you've got trouble

right here, bub.

I was just getting

nicely tucked in.

You come tiptoeing

through the tulips.

Granddad wants you,

and he said right now.

Oh, he said, "right now"?

Well, do you think maybe

it would be all right

with my old daddy

if I stopped to button up

my shirt?

Oh, come on, will you, Hud?

You got me out of the wrong side

of bed this morning.

Don't go snapping at my heels.

Just liable to turn around

and bite you.

Hud?

Thank you, honey.

Hey. Hi, Joe.

Which one of you two

is coming out of my house

at 6:00 in the morning?

I asked you a question.

Which one, damn it?

Well, I hate

to have to tell you,

seeing it's

my own nephew,

but it's

this snot-nosed kid here.

Been lookin' for him

all night.

Just flushed him out

a couple of minutes ago.

I'll kill the little punk.

Oh, now, Joe...

- Just let me at that kid.

- Wait a minute.

- I'll kill him, I'll kill him.

- Now Joe, you know

you got sugar diabetes.

Just take it easy.

I'll handle this thing

for you.

I don't need any help

from you.

I can do it myself.

Now, you get out of my way.

Now, Joe, you can't afford

to get worked-up, buddy boy.

I ain't gonna let

that kid get away...

I'll lower his temperature

some, I promise you.

All right, hotshot.

You and I are gonna finish

this little discussion

behind the woodshed.

Thank you.

Thanks a whole lot.

Relax.

Be able to

charge a stud fee

by the time that story

gets around town.

Yeah, if I'm still alive.

I could have gotten hurt

back there, you know that?

So could I.

Ain't it lucky

you were handy?

Well, maybe you ought to take

me along as a regular thing.

The pace would

kill you, sonny.

And now that the

dust has settled,

what's so red-hot important

that my daddy has to drag

me back on my day off?

Wants to ask your advice about something.

Ask me?

He hasn't asked me about

anything in 15 years.

Just work out there from

the shoulders down, myself.

You gonna be able

to make it all day,

after a night

like you put in?

At a hundred years

old like him,

I don't need a week's

sleep to be fresh.

He can't help being

an old man, Hud.

Boy, you sure do drive

this thing, don't you?

That'll be Hud.

He's parked right

in my flower bed.

Good morning, Hud.

Morning.

I'm sorry to cut

into your time off.

Lonnie, close

that screen door.

We're getting

a lot of flies in here.

Well, I see the house

is still standing,

and you're pouring coffee

in your saucer, as usual.

How come you pushed

the panic button on me?

We come up with

a dead heifer in the night.

Is that what you dragged me

back here for? A dead cow?

I'm kinda worried

about this one.

She wasn't cut

or crippled-looking.

No swellin' on her.

Was there any Johnson grass

or milkweed around?

Nothing. This may be something

I ought to know about.

Jose and Jesse are out there

now, keeping off the buzzards.

Lon, stay out

of those berries.

They're going

in the pie.

Well, let's not stand

around here till dinnertime.

I got other things

to do today.

Watch that cigarette ash.

It's going in the pot.

I'll go bring the

pickup around.

How come you're always

running your car

over my zinnias?

I've been trying to get

those things to come up

for two weeks.

Don't plant 'em

where I park.

You're cheerful

this morning.

Missy, your job

is to keep house,

not worry

about my disposition.

Frying pan's still on.

Want a couple of eggs?

Or did you have

breakfast in bed?

Nope. I didn't quite

get around to breakfast.

Morning, boys.

Mr. Bannon.

Morning,

Mr. Bannon.

Pretty hard to keep

them birds away.

Had to use a flashlight

most of the night.

Ah, look at them buzzards.

They'll be back.

You couldn't scare 'em off

with artillery.

I wish you wouldn't

do that, Hud.

They keep the

country clean.

Besides, there's a law

against killing buzzards.

Well, I always say the law

was meant to be interpreted

in a lenient manner.

And that's what I try to do.

Sometimes I lean

to one side of it.

Sometimes I lean to the other.

I don't like to

break the law

on my place, Hud.

Well, she ain't gonna sit up

and tell us herself.

Well, what do

you think, Hud?

I don't know.

She looks clean to me.

Well, something

killed her.

I think I'll call

up the state vet.

He might know.

Well, what for?

This is our land.

I don't want

any government men on it--

any time, any place, anywhere.

This ain't nothing.

Just leave her lay.

Let the buzzards have her.

No, I don't believe I will.

Before I go to bed,

I'll call the government man

and ask him to come out

and take a look at her.

Yeah, that's the stuff.

Bring some jellybean in here

to tell you how to run

your own business.

Only don't ask me

what I think from now on.

I'd like for you and Lon

to stay out here for a while.

I'll take these boys

back with me

so they can snooze

a little.

Lon, you take that water bag

so you won't parch.

Honcho, why don't you sit up

with our sick friend here?

I got a healthy one in town

that won't wait.

Hyah!

Come on, hyah.

♪ Honey love,

my heart is lonely ♪

♪ Lonely as can be ♪

♪ Honey love... ♪

Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Boy, it's a good thing

you showed up.

We blew a tire

on the pickup,

and I got to get this stuff

back for dinner.

Need any help,

there, Jesse?

I'm all right, Hud. Thanks.

You think your hand

would fall off

if you opened

the door?

You pick up my beer?

Two six-packs.

That ought to see you

till tomorrow.

Keeping count on me?

I keep tripping

over those empties,

I know that.

Boy, somebody in this car

smells of Chanel No. 5,

and it isn't me--

I can't afford it.

Well, you sure

weren't riding the range

this afternoon, were you?

I sure wasn't.

No.

I just wish I knew

where some gals

get the time

during the day.

I don't know--

by the time I get through

scrubbing the kitchen floor,

cleaning out the bathtub

and hanging up

the clothes...

They just drop

everything, honey.

I suppose it does

beat housework.

Want an orange?

No.

I'll peel it

for you.

No, thanks.

H-Hey, look,

it says "Florida" on it.

We grow 'em

right here in Texas,

and then they send 'em in

all the way from Florida.

That makes sense,

doesn't it?

Yeah.

Oh, uh, the checker

at the A&P market,

he said it's Truman Peters' wife

you're seeing.

Is that what he says?

Mm-hmm.

Uh, he says she's got

a bad temper.

He says her maid quit her

'cause she hollers so much.

Well, our maid's

gonna get canned

'cause she's

talking too much.

Hey, you want

a Fig Newton?

Nope.

Just leave a

little something

for dinner, will ya?

I don't believe it.

You're still

eating bread?

After I gave you steak

and flour gravy

and hominy and fried

okra and onions

and hot rolls?

Well, it looked like a

lot when we set down,

but it sure

melted away.

Hud didn't want

any dinner?

He's prettying up.

Said he'd eat later.

What's for dessert?

You think a big

freezer full

of peach ice cream

would hold you?

Boy, I've been waiting

all winter long

for those locker-plaid

Alberta peaches.

Oh, is that what

you've been waiting

all winter for, sugar?

How 'bout

those peachy pinups

you keep hidden in

with your shorts and socks?

That's my private drawer.

You stay out

of there, Alma.

I'm a girl, honey.

They don't do

a thing for me.

I'll dish up

the ice cream, Mr. Bannon.

You have it on the

front porch. It's cooler.

That'll be

fine, Alma.

Go on, before you

wet your didie.

Alma!

Alma.

Yeah?

Alma!

Yeah!

Give me a clean,

white shirt.

Boy, you're real big

with the "please"

and "thank you," aren't you?

Please get up

off your lazy butt

and get me a clean,

white shirt. Thank you.

Had a little trouble

getting the lipstick

out of this one.

Just try the brand

you're wearing.

Maybe it'll

wash out easier.

Let's not.

Look, you ain't getting

any younger.

What are you saving it for?

The tabs are in the collar.

Hear the

whippoorwill?

I think

there's two of them.

You know, I've

never seen

one of those birds

in my whole life.

All I do is hear them

calling across the flat.

What are you

thinking about, Lon?

Oh, I don't know.

Just looking up

ahead, I guess.

You know, to

what's coming.

Thinking about your worries

and your ambitions, are you?

Yeah, that,

having a car of my own

to tear around in,

and girls.

Well, I expect you'll get

your share of what's good,

and a boy like you

deserves it.

Hey, it's

getting late.

Boy, my daddy

sure looks

like his collar

was choking him.

Those were

his Sunday best.

I don't remember him any.

I do.

You don't carry a picture

of Hud around

with you, do you?

No, I don't.

But he's your son,

same as my dad was.

Yep, he is.

What are you holding

against him, Granddad?

He knows,

and you don't need to.

Here you go.

Ah.

Thanks.

Ain't you having any?

A little too

many calories.

I'm trying to lose

a couple of pounds.

Listen, Mr. Bannon,

if you don't mind,

I'm gonna leave those

dishes till later.

I just gotta get

off these feet.

The kitchen's

your department, Alma.

Yeah, I've seen enough

of it for today.

Hud, are you

planning on

going back

to town tonight?

Well, I didn't

get washed up

to sit on the

front porch

and listen to

the frogs mate.

I'd like for you

to make it back here

before morning.

The vet'll

be here early.

All right.

It's pretty

good. Peachy.

Oh, you can't get much air

through this nylon.

Well, you ought

to go around

in a sarong, Alma,

like they do

in the South Seas.

Oh, yeah,

that'd be a lot of laughs.

You're half native already.

I haven't seen you

in a pair of shoes

since you come to work here.

Oh, I wore 'em once.

I've things to get married in--

black satin pumps.

I don't have 'em anymore

or the man either.

I'm going to get to town.

Alma, you want to blow

some foam off of some beer?

No, thanks.

I'm going to get up

out of this swing.

Set some biscuits, go to bed.

I'll settle for

half that action.

I'll go with you, Hud.

Well, what

big deal

you got lined

up, sport?

A snow cone

or something?

No, I just thought

I'd catch a ride

with you, that's all.

All right, come on,

let's make tracks.

You didn't need me for

anything, did you, Granddad?

No. No, you go on,

if you like.

Just be careful.

You drive, sport.

What was that all about?

It's a story I'll tell you

someday when I'm drunk.

Come on, gig this thing

a little, will you?

Eh, it's a lonesome old night,

isn't it?

Ain't they all.

Boy, I love that sound.

Goes right through me.

It scares the hell

out of the cattle.

Know what trains always

make me think about?

No, but I got a strong feeling

you're going to tell me.

I guess I just like

'em, that's all.

Keys.

Well, golly.

Boy, just look at that

Las Vegas saddle.

You couldn't lift

that hunk of junk

on a horse with a crane.

Yeah, it is

pretty noisy.

Where you think

you're going?

I'm just tagging along.

Not with me, you ain't.

You go tie on a

couple of Dr Peppers.

I'll see ya.

Hey, come up here

and have a drink with us!

Come on, now!

Hi, Mr. Kirby.

Hi.

Read that one?

Yeah, twice.

It's about the best book

you ever had

on your paperback stand.

Pretty steamy, ain't it?

Oh, I don't know.

People in it seem

a lot like the ones I see.

Did you read the part

where the sergeant gets her

for the first time?

Yeah, I read that part.

Hi.

I sure have seen

an awful lot of you

for one night.

I'm just headed for

the square, is all.

Where are you headed?

Well, just to keep you

up-to-date,

I am making my way

to Mrs. Reuben Fletcher's house.

I don't think

that's a house

you're likely to have heard

very much about.

Well, I've heard some.

Iam out of my three-

cornered pants, you know.

I have been for some time.

How old are you?

Fantan-- a fast 17.

Boy, when I...

When I was your age,

I couldn't get enough

of anything.

That was the summer

you were born.

Your ma died...

and your daddy was feeling

a little wild about things.

He bought us a '27 Chevy.

Kept it tied together

with baling wire,

hit every honky-tonk

in the country.

I don't know which

we run the hardest--

that car or them

country girls

who came to them dances.

Boy! We do-si-do'd

and chased a lot

of girlish butts around

that summer.

Now, I wouldn't mind

going that route myself.

Come on along.

No, I don't think so.

All right.

Hey, wake up.

Come on, Lonnie.

Open your eyes.

You going to stay here

till dinnertime?

What do you want?

I want you to get up.

I can't stay here

rasslin' around with you

all morning.

Why not? I kind

of like it.

Yeah, I bet you do.

That's enough out of you.

Now, come on, get up.

Can't do that, Alma.

- Are you sleeping in the raw again?

- Mm-hmm.

Listen, I got two pair

of nice, ironed

cotton pajamas in there.

How come you're not

using them?

I don't know,

they strangle me.

Mm-hmm. Come on.

What do you sleep in?

In my own room,

with the door locked.

You ever wear any of those

little, uh, shorty things?

What kind of question is that?

Just wonder.

Does your mind usually run

in that direction?

Yeah, it seems to.

Boys with impure thoughts

come out in acne.

Did you know that?

Oh, that's all bull, Alma.

Keep it up, you'll see.

Hurry up.

The vet's coming

this morning.

Well, let's get away

from this stink.

I got all I need here.

Mr. Bannon...

I'm going to ask you

to get your cattle together,

all of them.

I'm going to have

to make an inspection.

An inspection for what?

Well, for what killed

that heifer.

I hope I'm wrong,

but I'm very much afraid

you got the worst kind

of trouble

a cattle man can have.

I think that cow died

of foot-and-mouth disease.

Oh, me.

I never thought

it'd be anything like that.

Well, let's have it.

What are we in for?

Well, y'all get

your herds together.

We're going to have

to take some samples.

Bring in a few

healthy calves

and a couple of

horses from outside,

infect them

artificially,

and then...

just wait and

see what happens.

I'll tell you what'll happen--

they turn up sick,

you kill them.

That's right, isn't it, mister?

If the calves turn up sick

and the horses don't,

it's foot-and-mouth--

you got to.

The last bad outbreak

in the United States,

the government had to kill

over 77,000 head of cattle,

plus that many

sheep and goats.

Even 20,000 deer.

It's a terrible thing.

I just bought me 20 head

of Mexican cows down South.

Could they be

the bad ones?

Uh, could be.

If there were, you're going

to have to get rid

of every cow that's been

in contact with them.

Well, you're talking about

all the animals I own.

I know I am.

I hope I'm wrong.

I hope it turns out

to be something else,

so we won't ever have

to talk about it again.

Looks like I landed in

the wrong place again.

Uh, you guys get on.

There's some fence to fix.

Yeah, how 'bout that?

You going to let them

shoot your cows

out from underneath you

on account of a

schoolbook disease?

You getting

that old, Homer?

I wonder if a long quarantine

wouldn't satisfy him.

You think

they'd agree to that?

Yeah, they don't have

to agree to nothing--

they're the law.

You can agree with them

till hell freezes over

for all the good

it'll do you.

Yeah, but that Mr. Burris

seemed like a reasonable man.

You think they'd come in here

and liquidate?

Hell, yeah, they'll liquidate,

you got what they say you got.

Now, you look a-here.

You've had 24

of my 34 years

working for you

on this ranch,

and, Daddy, you have had

top-grade cheap labor.

I shoveled manure

out of barns for you.

You got my calluses,

for what?

Your blessings

the day you die?

Now, damn it, I want

out of this spread

what I put into it.

Well, you got a proposal

to make to me, Hud?

You get on the

telephone tonight

and sell every

breed cow you own.

They haven't got

a chain on you yet.

Would that be your way

to getting out of a tight?

Well, I can ship

the whole herd out

before they begin the test.

You mean, try and pass

bad stuff off on my neighbors,

who wouldn't even know

what they was getting?

Eh, you don't know

it's bad stuff.

Aw, ship them

out of state,

unload them up north

before the news gets out.

And take a chance

on starting an epidemic

in the entire country.

Why, this whole country

is run on epidemics!

Where you been?

Epidemics are big business--

price-fixing,

crooked TV shows,

income tax finagling,

souped up expense accounts.

How many honest men

you know?

You take the sinners

away from the saints,

you're lucky to end up

with Abraham Lincoln.

So I say, let's us

put our bread

in some of that gravy

while it is still hot.

You're an unprincipled man, Hud.

Well, don't let

that fuss you.

I mean, you've got enough

for both of us.

This afternoon's

been a regular bitch.

You out of poop?

I'm just having a breather.

Well, why don't you go back

to the ranch

and grab yourself a nap?

No, I'll hold up my end of it.

Yeah, I guess you would.

Granddad!

Found your longhorns

out near Idia Ridge.

Government's going

to have a hard time

trying to

inspect 'em.

Those big horns'll never

go through a chute.

There ain't many left in the

country, are there, Granddad?

No, they're dying out.

I just keep 'em

for old time's sake.

Keep 'em to remind me

of how things was.

Everything we had

come from their hides--

our furniture, our ropes,

our-our clothes, our hats.

Granddad...

let's turn 'em loose.

No, Lon, that wouldn't be

the thing to do.

They got to go along

with the rest.

Granddad.

Why, thank you, Lon.

I shouldn't have brought

you out here tonight,

not after the day

you put in.

Oh, if the picture's

any good,

I'll wake up,

don't you worry.

Looks like you're

the only one around here

who ain't got somebody

whose knee you can pinch.

Oh, I think

I can stand it.

You wouldn't think

they'd pay 65 cents

to come here and do it.

They can go up in

the hayloft for nothing.

Come on, you miners 49ers.

Let's all join in and sing

that old favorite, "Clementine."

Just follow the bouncing ball.

♪ Oh, my darling,

oh, my darling... ♪

♪ Oh, my darling Clementine ♪

♪ Thou are lost

and gone forever ♪

♪ Dreadful sorry, Clementine ♪

♪ In the cavern, in the canyon ♪

♪ Excavating for a mine ♪

♪ Dwelt a miner 49er ♪

♪ And his daughter, Clementine ♪

♪ Oh, my darling,

oh, my darling ♪

♪ Oh, my darling, Clementine ♪

♪ Thou art lost

and gone forever ♪

♪ Dreadful sorry, Clementine. ♪

♪ I don't care where

this old river carries me ♪

♪ I keep drifting just because

my heart is broken inside ♪

♪ And I'm tired of wishing

for what cannot be... ♪

You going to get your

mouth around all that?

Going to try.

Hi, Hud.

How are you, sport?

Is that Truman Peters'

wife with Hud?

I think so.

Want me to call him over?

No, no, just leave him

to his own business.

Got a half a buck?

Okay, come on on back.

Aren't you going to

give me the change?

Hey, hey.

Well, let's make

a party out of this.

Daddy, this not

too natural blonde here

is Mrs. Truman Peters.

How do you do?

How do you do,

Mr. Bannon?

"Wild Horse"

Homer Bannon, Lily.

That's what

he used to be known as.

And this kind of gangly youth

over there is my nephew Lon.

You may have just noticed,

but my daddy hasn't asked us

to sit down.

That's 'cause he doesn't

want to socialize with me.

He's a little fussy

about the company he keeps.

Yeah, you're

a married woman, Lily.

That doesn't go down

very well with him.

He's a man of high principals

and what have you.

He doesn't believe in any

loose living at all.

Isn't that right,

Homer?

Granddad.

Hey, Homer,

you okay?

Get me...

get me home, boy.

Roll down that window

a little, will you, Hud?

Ah, that's good.

The place back there seemed

a little short of air.

Maybe you just got

a little too

much sun today.

Well, whatever.

No need to pose

such a long face about it.

I feel better now.

When we get home,

I'm going to fix you

some salipadicha.

Yeah, yeah, that'll

settle me right down.

He dropped

right off.

He's beginning to look

kind of worn out,

isn't he?

Sometimes I forget

how old he is.

I guess I just don't

want to think about it.

Time you started.

Well, I know he's

gonna die someday.

I know that much.

He is.

Makes me feel like somebody

dumped me into a cold river.

Happens

to everybody.

Horses, dogs,

men.

Nobody gets out

of life alive.

I'll give you

a hand upstairs.

Lon'll take care of me.

Suit yourself.

Good night, Hud.

Thanks for the game, boys.

You can have another

shot at me next payday.

You got a cigarette?

Yeah.

Then I wish you wouldn't keep me

hanging around

on the front porch.

Makes me feel

like I'm selling something.

All right, come on in.

They're a little

squashed.

It's all right,

they'll do.

Well, I see you got

things fixed up some.

I try.

Looks pretty good.

Except your sweet potato plant

over here has got the blight.

I can't seem

to get one started.

Well, they need a lot of

tender loving care, honey.

Same as the rest

of us.

I'll keep it

in mind.

Could I have a match?

Well, what do we

got here?

"Jiffy...

portable hair dyer."

"...triple screen."

Hmm.

Automatic toaster.

What have you

been doing?

A little rustling down

at the five and dime?

I go in for

those prize contests.

"How Shiny Shampoo

changed my life,

in 20 words or less."

You know, they give free

two-week trips to Europe.

But I end up with

the fountain pens

and the Japanese binoculars.

Yeah, won me

a turkey raffle once,

but it was fixed.

I got to be pretty

friendly with one

of 'em gals picking

the numbers.

It figures.

How much you take

the boys for tonight?

20 dollars

and some change.

You're a dangerous

woman to have around.

I'm a good

poker player.

You're a good

housekeeper.

You're a good cook,

you're a good laundress.

What else you good at?

At taking care of myself.

You shouldn't have to,

a woman looks like you do.

Oh, that's what

my ex-husband used to tell me...

before he took my wallet

and my gasoline credit card

and left me stranded

in a downtown motel

in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

What'd you do

to make him take to the hills?

You wear your curlers to bed

or something?

Ed's a gambler.

He's probably up at Vegas

or Reno right now,

dealing at night,

losing it all back

in the daytime.

Oh, well, a man like that

sounds no better than a heel.

Aren't you all?

Honey, don't go shooting

all the dogs

'cause one of them's got fleas.

I was married to Ed

for six years.

Only thing he was ever good for

was to scratch my back

where I couldn't reach it.

You still got that itch?

Off and on.

Well, let me know

when it gets to botherin' you.

Hep, hep, hep,

hep, hep!

Ya! Giddy! Ya! Ya!

Ya! Giddy! Ya!

Ya! Hep, hep, hep, hep!

Hep, hep! Ho!

Now, what we're doing,

Mr. Bannon,

is injecting

these cows and horses

with specimens that are

taken from your herd.

In three to six days,

we should know

what we want to know.

Ya!

Move on in there!

Get in that chute!

Move on in there!

Ah-ha-ha-ha! Hey!

Ho!

Go over there!

Ya!

You all right, Lon?

She...

she kicked you

into the fence.

You skinned your head

a little.

Boy, you caught a lick!

Better get

back to work.

Boys'll be on you

for a week,

you quit 'cause you

dented your head a little.

No need to rush him.

You all right, Lon?

Mm...

Whoa!

Oh, you've had it, fantan.

Now, get him to bed.

All right, Jack,

back to work.

You know, all this time,

I thought you were skinny!

You weigh a ton.

Can't seem to get

my head on straight.

Get in there, cow.

Hud, I think I'm going

to lose my breakfast.

Not over me, you ain't.

You hold your fire

till we get to the house.

Sugar, you're white

as a sheet.

Alma, you're getting flour

all over me.

What happened?

Ah, one of the cows

cuddled up to him.

- Ow!

- Shouldn't a doctor look at him?

Pay five bucks

and some iodine and

aspirin, he'll mend.

Well, that's about

as far as I go.

I draw the line at bedpans.

Thanks, Hud.

You can goldbrick

for the rest of the day.

Just don't try

to stretch it into two.

Here, let's get

those boots off.

Cold lemonade.

Here.

Oh, come on.

They're only lemon seeds.

Mmm.

That better?

You ought to doze off now.

Gee, Alma, you're cool.

You smell of lemon.

Alma?

What is it, sugar?

You're really beautiful.

Oh, sure I am.

You're one of the best

people there ever was.

You're good to me, Alma.

In fact, you're good, period.

You be good, too.

Get some sleep.

Morning, Granddad.

Well, how are you today,

Lonnie?

Good, real good.

Boy, have I been

sawing wood up there.

Looks like I slept

'round the clock.

You know, I feel

almost like working,

for a change!

Well, what do

you got for me?

Patch a little fence?

Pull up some weeds?

Work a few calves?

Well, I don't guess

we'll do anything much.

I don't see any sense

in wasting work

until I find out

about my cattle.

You bet.

Yeah, we're just gonna

roll over and play dead

and let 'em shovel dirt

in our faces.

If I don't get

a clean bill of health

on my cattle,

we are just about dead.

Dead broke.

We've been breeding

and crossbreeding this beef

all our lives to get us

the best stock in the country.

We're going to end up

with the government

paying us four bits

on the dollar for 'em.

Poor but honest.

That's us.

Well, we ain't sure

of anything yet.

We're just gonna have

to sit and wait it out.

Don't get sores on

your butt doing it.

I can do without

that noise, Lon.

Now, go stretch your legs

a little, will ya?

Well, where's that bottle?

Had myself a bottle

of Jack Daniel's

stashed in that

cupboard in there.

You drank it.

When?

Instead of dinner,

Wednesday night.

Don't remember.

If you think I've

been nipping at it,

I don't drink anything

but Tokay wine.

Yeah, I bet you keep

your little finger crooked

while you're doing it.

Well, why don't you

go stick your head

in the water trough

and sober up for lunch?

Now don't you find me

in control of myself?

Hate to see you walk

a straight line.

That's easy.

I don't like setting passes.

We'll ease into it, then.

There's another one

coming up on your right.

Don't you ever ask?

Well, the only question

I ever ask any woman

is, "What time is your

husband coming home?"

What's keeping you?

You're over the age

of consent, ain't you?

Way over.

Let's get our shoelaces

untied, what do you say?

I'd say I've been asked

with a little more

finesse in my time.

Yeah...

Hmm?

I wouldn't want

to come on crude. No, ma'am.

I'll bring you a

two-pound box of candy,

maybe a bottle of perfume,

from the drugstore.

How 'bout some colored

beads and wampum?

Whatever it takes

to make you trade 'em.

No, thanks.

I've done my time with

one cold-blooded bastard.

I'm not looking for another.

It's too late, honey,

you already found him.

You hardly touched

your plate, Mr. Bannon.

Nothing to do

with your cooking, Alma.

I just ain't very hungry.

Hear anything

from the vets?

No.

They're taking their own

sweet time about it.

Well, I ain't going to sit

around here and stew.

Kiwanis are waiting

for me.

You gonna be in that pig

scramble tonight, Hud?

Yup, see if I can make

the Bannons

look good for a change.

You honchos want

to come on in,

there's plenty of room

in the cheering section.

They're letting ladies

in free tonight, Alma.

You just might

qualify.

Hey, you know,

that's the first time

Hud ever asked me to go

anyplace in his whole life.

I wonder why

he did that.

Lonesome, I imagine.

Just trying to scare up

a little company.

Hud, lonesome?

He can get more women comin'

than anybody else around.

Well, that ain't

necessarily much.

They ain't necessarily company,

neither.

Women just like to be around

something dangerous

part of the time.

Even Hud can

get lonesome

once in a while.

Well, I wouldn't mind watching

him chase those squealers.

Well, then,

we'll go on in.

I'll stay home.

I don't like pigs.

Now let's give these kids a hand.

Now, applaud for the kid

that you like the best.

That's it, ladies and gentlemen.

Looks like number ten won it.

All right, now you've all seen

one kind of twistin'.

You're about to see

another kind.

We've got ten able-bodied men

going to tie themselves in knots

trying to catch ten

of the fastest greased pigs

you've ever seen in your life.

Now the first man

that catches his pig

and brings it back

to this little square here

in front of the judges stand

is going to be the winner.

Now if you boys'll come on in,

we'll get this started, come on.

You guys got the pigs

ready down there, Marlon?

You bet!

Okay.

Let's go then.

Come on, let's go there.

Arnold, you're outside there.

Step in, will ya?

Hey, Wag, pull your hat off,

will ya?

Let's go.

All right, boys, now when

I say "three," we'll go.

One, two, three-- go!

Off they go.

Look at them go.

Well, it looks like

we got a winner-- Hud Bannon.

Hud, that pig looks

about as dirty as you do.

Towel back there?

Folks, we sure do thank you

for turning out tonight,

- and we hope you enjoyed yourself.

- Whew!

We look forward

to seeing you next year

at the annual

cotton festival.

Nice goin'.

Wish I could still get around

the way you do, Hud.

Boy, you sure do

churn up that dust.

Well, I'm going

to kick up

a little more dust

before the night's over.

Anybody interested?

Well, that's enough excitement

for me, I guess.

I'll be getting back.

Lon?

Oh, I don't know.

It's still kind of early.

I might just stick around

with Hud for a while.

Well, I'll leave

the door open for you.

Yeah.

Hitch up your

pants, fantan.

I'm going to get cleaned up,

then I'll buy you a drink.

You want to put

a little kick in that?

Sure, okay.

Come on,

I can handle it.

Whoa, whoa.

Kind of pretty girl.

Don't let me

cramp you.

Oh, I wouldn't make

any kind of move at her.

Why not?

You ain't

nailed down, are you?

Well, that's what I call

a woman and a half.

You're a pretty

good-looking kid.

You dab down

that cowlick

and button your collar

up over your Adam's apple,

you... you might

just make out.

I wouldn't mind driving her

the long way home.

Well, you ought to

take a crack at that.

Get all the good

you can out of 17,

'cause it sure wears out

in one hell of a hurry.

Ah, my trouble is

I got to like a girl a lot

before I can work up

to anything.

I mean,

like her as a person.

Honcho, you're

a regular idealist.

And what's wrong with that?

I don't know, I just

ain't never tried it.

Well...

suppose you think

I'm a jerk.

What do you care

what I think?

Ah, this is probably going

to hand you a big laugh...

...but I do.

You have another

little drink,

and I'll have

another little drink,

and then maybe

we can work up

some real family

feeling here.

Well, I think I'll...

shove some change

in that juke.

Hi.

What are you gawking at?

Well, I ain't gawking.

I don't like fresh kids.

Nobody's getting fresh,

mister, that I know about.

I think I'll take you

out in the alley

and jar some of

your teeth loose.

Are you having words with this

youngster about something?

I'm about to put him

into the hospital.

Is that so?

Why, has he been

bothering you?

No. No,

he ain't bothering me.

It's her

he's bothering.

Well, you didn't, uh,

offer him any encouragement

by any chance,

did you there,

young lady?

No.

That's funny.

I was sitting way over

on the other side of the room,

and I got

a little bit encouraged.

Maybe it's the way you move

around inside that dress.

All right,

smart guy,

I'll take you

instead.

Oh, I don't want to be hoggish.

Lon, you want a piece of him?

Ah.

Whoo!

Whoo! Whoo!

Boy, that is what I call

one hell of a night.

I can do that

about six times a week.

Well, you don't win

'em all, you know.

Well, I would

if you were backing me

all the time.

Hey, that'd make quite

a combination, wouldn't it?

Nobody'd ever mess

with the Bannons,

that's for sure.

Yeah, felt like

old times there

for a little while.

Your daddy and I

used to take them all

on a Saturday night.

Yeah, he must have been

a pretty good old boy.

What, Norman?

Yeah.

He was the

kind of guy--

he used to leave

his loose change

just lying out

on the bureau

when I was a kid so I

could swipe some of it.

Let me take a girl away

from him once in a while

like I done it

on my own.

He was bigger than

you, all right.

He had a

bigger wallet,

but I'll tell

you something.

When you ain't being

a pain in the tail,

you remind me

a lot of him.

I do?

Yeah, you sure do.

Well, then how come

you and me don't hit it off

so good?

I got short arms.

Hell, there ain't never been

anybody like old Norman,

never will be.

He was one-way-out boy.

Claimed he could

hear the grass grow.

He got me to go

down to this pasture

one night to listen.

After three

or four hours

of just nipping

away at that bottle

to keep the

dew off of us,

I swore I could

hear it, too.

That's the night I

wracked up the car.

Piled up on Sampson

Creek Bridge.

He died in a

half an hour.

I didn't even

have a mark on me.

Yeah, I wonder

if your daddy's

hearing the grass now,

growing up

over his grave.

That story ought to

cool you off some.

It doesn't.

Fantan, either

you're softhearted,

or softheaded.

I don't know which.

♪ Oh, it was sad,

dear Lord ♪

♪ It was sad, dear Lord ♪

♪ It was sad

when the great ship went down ♪

♪ To the bottom of the ♪

♪ Husbands and wives ♪

♪ Little children

lost their lives ♪

♪ It was sad

when the great ship went down ♪

♪ Oh, it was sad, dear Lord ♪

♪ It was sad, dear Lord ♪

♪ It was sad when the great ship

went down... ♪

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

♪ Oh, it was shh,

dear Lord ♪

♪ It was shh,

dear Lord ♪

♪ It was shh... ♪

Hey, Granddad.

All right, he's got you drunk.

What else has he given you

a taste for?

All we had was a...

...couple of drinks is all.

I don't remember

you being a teetotaler.

I drank. I don't object

to his having whiskey.

Well, something seems

to be eating away

at your liver.

You, Hud.

Like always.

Hey, what are you

climbing on Hud for?

You think a lot of Hud,

do you?

You think he's a real man.

Well, you're being took in.

You listen to

him, honcho.

He's my daddy,

and he knows.

I know you.

You're smart.

You got your

share of guts.

You can talk a man

into trusting you

and a woman

into wanting you.

Well, then,

I got it made, ain't I?

To hear you tell it.

Oh, why don't you get it off

your chest?

You've been griping

at me all this time

as what I done

to Norman.

You were drunk and careless

of your brother.

You had 15 years

to get over it.

That's half of my life.

That's not our

quarrel and never has been.

Oh, the hell it isn't.

No, boy.

I was sick of you

a long time before that.

Well...

isn't life

full of surprises?

And all along

I thought it was...

'cause of what I'd done

to my big brother.

I took that hard,

but I buried it.

Well, all right,

I'll bite.

What turned you sour on me?

Not that I give a damn.

Just that, Hud.

You don't give a damn.

That's all.

That's the whole of it.

You still don't get it, do you?

You don't care

about people, Hud.

You don't give a damn

about 'em.

Granddad...

Oh, you got all that charm

going for you,

and it makes the youngsters

want to be like you.

That's the shame of it.

'Cause you don't value nothing.

You don't respect nothing.

You keep no check

on your appetites at all.

You live just for yourself,

and that makes you

not fit to live with.

My mama loved me, but she died.

Why pick on Hud, Granddad?

He ain't the only one.

Just about everybody

around here is like him,

one way or another.

Well, that's no cause

for rejoicing, is it?

Lonnie, little by little,

the look of the country changes

because of the men we admire.

I still think you

nailed him pretty hard.

Did I?

Maybe.

Old people get as hard

as their arteries sometimes.

You're just going to have

to make up your own mind

one day

about what's right

and what's wrong.

Where's that cotton-picking

housekeeper of ours?

I want something to eat,

and I don't want any

hesitating about it.

It's late, Hud.

She's asleep.

Well, ain't

that just keen?

Paying her good money to sleep,

and I'm starving to death.

Well, maybe I can fry you up

an egg sandwich.

Forget it.

Oh, get your butt

out of here.

I can't think

with you standing around.

Knock some people on

their tails around here.

You just might

be one of 'em.

Go on, get

out of here!

Whoa, there.

Boy, they mean trouble.

Kind of wish I'd have stayed out

of bull riding.

Well, from the look of them,

you ain't gonna be riding

very far.

Well, thanks, buddy.

I better go check

my gear.

Never mind your gear.

You ought to go check your head.

That bull's gonna eat you up.

How are you, hotrod?

Hi, Hud.

Got a good seat for the

show this afternoon?

They're getting two bucks

for those bleachers over there.

Be my guest.

Well, this is ten dollars, Hud.

It's good.

I didn't print it.

Well, thank you.

Stick with me, honcho.

Your jeans will be

full of change.

How come?

Well, I'll tell you.

I put on a clean, white shirt

this morning,

and I saw me a lawyer.

There's a law that says

when old folks can't

cut the mustard anymore,

you can make 'em let go,

whether they like it or not.

What are you pulling

on Granddad now?

Something pretty raw, kid.

Yeah. It sounds like it.

You take your dough.

I don't want it.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Don't look down your nose

at me, sonny boy.

I'm gonna get old, too.

And I don't aim

to end up on county relief

with a bowl of soup

and two cigarettes a day,

if I behave myself.

I want what I worked for.

I got a right to it.

You know something,

honcho?

You don't look out

for yourself,

and the only helping hand

you'll ever get

is when they lower the box.

Now you have fun,

you hear?

Hud.

You're up awful late.

I got a lot on my mind.

Come on in.

Take a load

off your feet.

Talked to the vets today?

I talked to 'em,

but I didn't

get a whole lot

of information

out of 'em.

Yeah, you didn't expect to,

did you?

The government man wants you

to know something,

he'll call you

or send you a telegram.

They said they was watching

the test animals pretty close,

but they had nothing

showed up yet.

Hud?

Yes, sir.

What's this tricky

deal you're up to?

Lon tells me

you're gonna pull the

rug out from under me.

That's right.

I haven't got all

the rough edges ironed out yet,

but I can give you an idea.

The main thing is you, old man.

You're getting too old

to make the grade.

Whether they liquidate us or not

when this thing is over,

you just better get yourself

a rocking chair

and get out of my way.

What in the hell do you mean?

When an old man goes off

and buys himself a bunch

of sick Mexican cows,

it means he's over the hill.

You got the incompetence,

Daddy,

and the hotrod's too young

to take things over.

Just might get the court

to appoint me guardian

of your property.

I don't know.

If I don't get it one way,

I'm gonna get it another.

Well, you're badly

mistaken about all this.

I'll be the only one

to run this ranch

while I'm above ground.

After that, you may

get part of it.

I don't know.

But you can't get

control of this place.

No way in the world.

Don't go making any bets

on that.

Maybe I treated you too hard.

I don't doubt

I made some mistakes.

A man don't always do

what's right.

Ah, Daddy,

you ain't never been wrong.

Been handing out

the ten tablets of law

from whatever little hill

you could find to climb up on

since I was a kid.

Shape up or ship out.

That's the way

you runs things around here.

Wild-eyed Homer Bannon

passing out

scripture and verse

like you wrote

it yourself.

So I just naturally

had to go bad

in the face of

so much good.

Hud, how did a man

like you come to be a son to me?

Well, that's easy.

I wasn't

no bundle left

on your doorstep.

Wasn't found in no bulrushes.

You've got the same feelings

below your belt

as any other man.

That's how you got stuck

with me for a son,

whether you like it or not.

He was just

so drunk, Alma.

Did he hurt you?

Should I take you to town,

get you a doctor?

Go on out of here.

Well, what are

you looking at?

I'm looking at you, Hud.

Oh, climb off it.

You've been wanting to do

pretty much the same thing.

And wanting to wallow her

from the day she got here.

Yeah, I been wanting

to do it.

But not mean like you.

Here comes Mr. Burris.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Your timing's off.

You missed breakfast.

Thanks, but I've eaten.

I guess you got something

to tell us,

or you wouldn't be here.

I guess the tests are done.

Yes, sir,

they're done.

You got the worst thing

you could have.

And there's no cure

at all?

None we know of.

It's like a bolt of lightning--

it won't hurt you till it hits,

then it hurts a lot.

Your cows are

public enemies now.

You gotta handle

this thing fast

before it spreads.

Well, what do I do?

Just drive them into a pit

and shoot 'em?

I can't abide that.

I know it's a terrible

thing even to think about.

I've seen it

during the Depression.

It's a sight worse to see

than it is to think about.

Look here, Mr. Bannon,

you're getting up in years.

You can afford

to slow down.

The rest won't hurt

your grass any.

You might even sell

a few oil leases.

My daddy thinks that oil

is something you stick

in your salad dressing.

If there's oil down there,

you can get it sucked up

after I'm under there with it.

But I don't like it,

and I don't aim to have it.

There'll be no holes

punched in this land

while I'm here.

They ain't going to come in

and grade no road

so the wind

can blow me away.

That's all to me.

What can I do with

a bunch of rotten oil wells?

I can't ride out every day

and prowl amongst them,

like I can my cattle.

I can't breed them

or tend them or rope them

or chase them or nothing.

I can't feel

a smidgen of pride in them.

'Cause they ain't

none of my doing.

There's money in it.

I don't want that kind of money.

I want mine to come

from something that keeps a man

doing for himself.

We're much obliged to you for

coming out in person to tell us.

Start shootin'.

Didn't take long.

It don't take long

to kill things.

Not like it does to grow.

Well, there's

a couple we missed.

I'll get 'em.

Where do you think

you're going, mister?

To finish this job.

Somebody needs to.

Well, you just

close that gate.

I'll kill them

two myself,

seeing as how

I raised 'em.

Something wrong

with you, mister?

There's no guarantee

you'll do it.

He just said

he would.

You get in the car.

We're going down and finish

buying those carcasses,

and then we're leaving.

Mr. Bannon can handle

the rest of this

without us

bothering him.

You just get along,

Mr. Burris.

I know none of this

here ain't your doing.

You see about the burying,

and then get that fellow

there off'n my ranch.

All I can say is

I'm sorry.

I'm sure sorry.

He ain't such

a bad fella.

Just got a cruddy job.

Boys...

I don't plan to

have any work

around here

for some time.

I can't afford

to keep you on

till things get

better, so...

...I'll just have to let you go.

Give me the rifle.

Lord, but I've chased

'em longhorns many a mile.

I don't know

if I can kill 'em.

But I guess I can.

Guess this is the worst thing

that ever happened to you.

Oh, I'll get over it,

if my health don't

go to failing me.

Lon, you go away someplace.

Well, them old bulls

are hard to kill.

Drag 'em away and bury 'em!

Bury 'em quick!

Go on!

Did you call

about the bus for me?

Yeah, it leaves

at 10:26.

And can I buy my ticket on it?

Yeah. They said

that'd be okay.

Alma?

I got $200 calf money,

if you're short.

You just keep it.

Well, I'm ready.

Wish you weren't going

off and leaving us, Alma.

You look after

your grandpa.

He's getting old and feeble.

He's your job now.

We need you around here.

I sure do.

You'll get along just fine.

I wish you'd stay.

Well...

I been all over

this cow country,

looking for

the exact right place

and the exact right people,

so once I got stopped,

I wouldn't have

to be movin' again.

And it just hasn't worked out.

Good-bye, honey.

You take care of yourself.

Don't you be lazy, now.

How are you, Peewee?

Looks like

we're losing a good cook.

Maybe we should, uh...

boosted your

salary a little.

You ain't letting that

little ruckus we had

run you off, are you?

As far as I can get

on a bus ticket.

You saying that

I'm the first guy

that ever stuck his

foot in your door?

Oh, no.

The first one that

ever got rough, huh?

Well, I'm sorry.

It ain't my style.

I don't usually get

rough with my women.

Generally don't have to.

You're rough on everybody.

So they tell me.

You want to know

something funny?

It would have

happened eventually,

without the roughhousin'.

You look pretty good

without your shirt on, you know.

Sight of that through

the kitchen window

made me put down

my dish towel more than once.

Well, why didn't

you speak up sooner?

I'll remember you, honey.

You're the one

that got away.

Come on, there, boy, git!

Stupid knucklehead,

what'd you hit the brakes for?

You got your life's work

in front of you

paying for this car.

Granddad's out here.

He's crawling in the road!

Grandad, what happened?

Are you hurt?

I wanted to...

take a look around the place.

I fell off my horse.

This old man's

hurt pretty bad.

Let me up.

A man ain't to crawl.

Take it easy.

Lonnie, take my car,

get to the ranch,

call an ambulance,

tell 'em to get here quick.

And tell 'em we got

an awful sick man here.

It won't start!

All right,

forget it.

Forget it!

There's a bottle of whisky

in the dash.

Bring it over.

Come on, easy,

easy, old man.

Don't make me drink

that stuff.

Lonnie, go on down

to the main road,

try to flag a car down,

get some help up here.

Go on, move.

Don't send him away, Hud.

I'm right here, Grandad,

don't you worry.

I feel kind of cold.

Everything's going

to be all right.

I don't know

if I want it to be.

Don't talk like that.

You're going to

be just fine.

I feel like...

throwing in the sponge.

Like giving up.

You've never quit on

anything in your whole life.

Hud there is waiting on me...

and he ain't a patient man.

He isn't gone, is he?

Yeah.

I meant to buy him

a brand-new,

blanket-lined jacket...

and give it to him

sometime or other.

Lonnie...

Hey.

It was the best thing.

Man, he was wore out,

and he knew it.

He didn't seem so bad.

He didn't seem

so bad off at all.

Well, he was.

Trying to get up,

hurting himself.

He couldn't have made it.

Lonnie,

any way in this world,

he couldn't have made it

another hour.

He could if he had wanted to.

You fixed it so he

didn't want to anymore.

You don't know the whole story.

Yeah, him and me fought many

and many a round together.

But I guess you could say

that I helped him

about as much

as he ever helped me.

How did you help him, Hud?

By trying to sell him out?

By taking the heart

out of him?

By making him

give up and quit?

Is that how you helped him?

He ain't in any

loaf-around eternal life.

He's the way he always was--

enjoying his good horses,

looking after the land,

trying to figure out

ways to beat the dry

weather and wind.

You better settle down, boy.

You still got the

graveyard in front of you.

I know what you're

feeling, my boy,

but look at it

this way--

he's gone

to a better place.

I don't think so.

Not unless dirt is a

better place than air.

Well, we took him

to the graveyard

and put him down.

It's all over with now.

What have you got there?

My gear.

You going someplace?

Yeah.

Traveling kind of light,

ain't ya?

Got everything I need.

Planning to go for good?

That's right.

What about your half

of the spread here?

Well, you can put

my share in the bank.

I'm going somewhere else

and work for a while,

if I can happen

onto a job.

Ain't you a little bit green

to go cutting loose on your own?

Well, we'll see.

I was about your age

when I went in the army.

Granddaddy had bought me a Mars

candy bar down at the station,

and he said to me,

"Character's the only thing

I got to give you

to be a man."

Well, I guess he

was kind of worried.

You're trying so hard to

get out of the draft and all.

Honcho!

I just wanted you

to know that...

if you don't make

your million,

you can always come back

here and work for me.

I won't be back this way.

Well, I guess you've come to be

of your granddaddy's opinion

that I ain't fit to live with.

That's too bad.

Yeah, we might have whooped it

up some, you and me.

That's the way

you used to want it.

I used to.

So long, Hud.

You know

something, fantan?

This world is

so full of crap,

a man's going to get

into it sooner or later

whether he's

careful or not.