J W Coop (1971) Movie Script | Subs like Script

[BULL KICKING]

[BULL SNORTING]

[CLAPPING]

GUARD:

Play it loose, J.W.

Thank you, Bob.

Sign your name

on the three forms by the "X".

Where?

By the "X".

One-way bus ticket to Chicawa

and $25 release.

$25?

More coming, ain't there?

When I hear it,

you'll get it.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:

First place saddle-bronc,

Elwood Medcalf.

First place bull riding,

J.W. Coop.

Best all-around, J.W. Coop.

You heard it.

You got it.

Where is that cowboy?

Just went

out the door, warden.

Stop!

Where do you think

you're going?

Damn, cowboy.

You don't waste

no time, do you?

I gave you

two extra weeks already.

Oh, now, J.W.

You don't begrudge

the old warden two extra weeks

for rodeo finals, do you?

Besides, it gave you time

to let your hair grow out.

You gonna be fine, boy.

You gonna be just fine.

Nobody bothers my number one

bucking-horse rider.

Not if I got anything

to say about it,

and, you know,

I got just a little bit

to say about it,

now, don't I, J.W.?

No, sir. Nobody bothers

the captain

of Warden Morgan's

Champion All-State Prison

Rodeo Team.

Now, anything else I can do?

Anything else you want?

No, sir.

All I want is some gone

between me and here.

Okay, cowboy.

Chute's open.

Good luck.

J.W.: Hello.

Hello, Sonny Boy.

Did you have a nice time?

Your supper's gone cold.

Daddy was fit to be

tied, waiting.

I fed him.

He's in bed.

I won't wake him.

You got to learn to be

on time, Sonny Boy.

Else you'll never

hold down a job.

That day's not far off.

Of course you always

have a roof here

with your daddy and me.

But the first thing

you gotta do

is finish your schooling.

Daddy's kidneys

gotta be looked at.

Company won't help a lick.

Maybe Roosevelt.

Still, all Communists, NRA.

[MOTHER SIGHS]

I ain't hungry, Mom.

You ain't ate yet.

No, ma'am.

Well, it's going to rain,

I suspect.

And Sunday,

we'll go to the park,

and after, we'll go over

to Iona's for dinner,

if your Daddy ain't working.

Oh, that woman,

she takes the cake.

It's just wrong,

that's what it is.

It's wrong.

People like us,

your daddy and me,

we're not getting

any younger, you know?

I mean, he's still working.

Worked till we was

blue in the face, Sonny Boy,

and for what?

So our boy would have to

go on working in that

dead rodeo.

[MOTHER SIGHS]

And all those,

I don't know what,

all them gypsies.

It's just wrong, that's all.

I don't know.

It's wrong.

It's just...

Seems like all the people...

[BURNER FLARES UP]

Tsk. Oh! Stove.

Gotta get a new one.

Seems like people

who got things,

God just gives them more

than people who need things.

God just seems to have to keep

testing his holy truth.

PREACHER ON RADIO:

Brothers and sisters,

praise his name.

Praise his name.

Praise His name.

Praise God's name.

Sonny?

Is there anything

you want to tell me?

Anything you want

to tell your daddy and me?

Anything about the,

uh, envelopes?

Your poor daddy.

He'll work himself

into the grave.

I know there was

an envelope somewhere.

Daddy thought you might be

needing some spending money.

PREACHER ON RADIO: Brethren,

let's open up our hearts

to the glory of God.

God's glory. Amen, amen.

[HUMMING]

I'm okay, Mama.

Mmm-hmm.

Did you clean up your room?

Yes, ma'am.

Practice your trumpet?

Hmm.

[HUMMING]

Mama, you gonna,

you gonna be needing

that old car of Daddy's?

Does it, does it still work?

Where're you going?

Rodeo.

Well, that's nice.

You be careful playing around

in that old empty rodeo

ground, Sonny Boy.

Sonny, you hear me?

That's nice.

Give your old

mommy a nice kiss.

When did you start smoking?

I've been smoking

a long time, Mama.

Your daddy would tan

your behind good

for you if he found out,

if I was to tell him.

Mama, if you ain't

gonna be needing

that old car of Daddy's,

I'd like to use it.

Now, you know that car

is Daddy's lifeblood.

Daddy's gone, Mama.

Daddy's gone.

You need a shave.

I didn't notice it before,

but you do.

You're just so pretty, Sonny.

Got your daddy's

nose, perfect.

I'll see you in the morning.

Be a good boy.

Don't let the dark catch you.

Sleep tight, Mama.

Sleep tight.

Don't let the bedbugs bite.

PREACHER ON RADIO: And now

offer up a silent prayer.

Did you hear me?

I said, don't let

the bedbugs bite.

If they do, get a shoe...

And slap them until

they're black and blue.

Good night, Sonny.

[CHICKEN CLUCKS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

How're you doing, cowboy?

Okay.

I appreciate

you letting me

use these tools.

Appreciate?

I appreciate you

and anybody else

being in this dead town.

You think it's dead now,

you ought to have been here

when I was growing up.

You mean this town

was deader then?

Sure as hell was.

The only thing here

in those days

was Chicawa Oil Company.

And if you didn't work

for Chicawa, you didn't work.

Is that right?

That's right.

How long have you lived here?

63 days.

[CAR APPROACHING]

Be right back.

PATRON: Fill her up.

Hey.

Hector.

Goddang, is that you, J.W.?

Son of a bitch!

When'd you get back?

Oh, I got back last night.

Well, son of a bitch.

Damn. Been a long time, J.W.

Yeah.

What, six, seven years?

No, it's been nine years,

nine months, 13 days.

Goddamn. Just for

one little pissant check?

Yeah. Well, I got,

you know, three,

three for the check

and two for the sheriff.

What sheriff?

Well, that guy that

arrested me in Lone Hill.

That's right.

You beat the shit

out of that guy,

didn't you, J.W.?

Yeah.

What did you get

the other three

or four years for?

Oh, the same thing.

You know, giving

the guards a hard time.

Yeah?

Know what you

gonna do now, J.W.?

Well, pick up

where I left off.

Rodeoing?

Yep.

Where?

Oh, where I left off.

Lone Hill?

Yep.

You working?

Working for Chico.

Your brother?

That's right.

This here's his truck,

one of them.

Damn.

Tacos, huh?

Oh, yeah.

Taco stands.

He's got them

franchised.

Is that right?

That's right.

He's got

six of them.

One in Pecos,

one in Redwing,

one in Gardner,

two in Abilene,

and one right here

in Chicawa.

Damn, sounds like

he's up to his ass

in tacos, huh?

[ENGINE RUMBLING]

Six tacos,

three enchiladas,

three tostadas.

[ENGINE REVVING]

Three burritos

and one chili dog.

You owe me $2.50.

Hurry up, Maylene.

Coming when I get done

feeding them.

[ENGINE REVVING]

There's you kids' lunch,

Billie Rae.

Now, I'll see you home

for dinner.

GIRL: When's dinner, Ma?

When I get done bowling!

[ENGINE REVVING]

Damn kids.

Treat me like a slave.

Why can't they

make me dinner?

[TIRES SQUEALING]

Hey, old Chico do business

like this every day?

And night.

Of course, today is special,

it being Saturday

and the jalopy races

down street.

Oh, yeah. Jalopy races.

Where they bump

them old cars around.

Right, it's a big thing

around here.

Most every weekend,

they get one big

son-of-a-bitching

crowd out here.

That right?

That and the, uh,

drag races.

Yeah.

Well, if old Chico

does business like this

in all his other stands,

he must be one rich Mexican.

I reckon.

They made him vice-president

of the Chamber of Commerce

last year.

First Chicano ever to make it.

Is that right?

Damn. He's got it made.

Pretty soon,

I'm gonna have to

whip his ass.

Well, that's good

for the Mexicans, eh?

For the wet ones it is.

Wet?

Sure, amigo.

They all work

out in the back.

I rotate them for Chico,

and this way, we get

no trouble with the border.

Border patrol

keeps a tight rein, huh?

Yeah, what with

the pot and all.

Them kids

and their pot.

Remember when

we used to dig it out of

old Doc Haggart's vacant lot?

Because we couldn't

afford tailor-mades?

Remember that?

Not today, amigo.

These guys around here

are getting 50 cents a joint.

Son of a bitch, you've

been away a long time, J.W.

Lots of things have changed.

I guess so.

[LOUD BANG]

SHERIFF:

That's him, all right.

That's the cowboy.

How's he doing?

MAN: He's doing

good, sheriff.

SHERIFF: Let's see

if he's learned

anything in 10 years.

DEPUTY: In yonder, cowboy.

SHERIFF: Sit down, cowboy.

Well, J.W.

Long time, no see.

How'd you do, cowboy?

How much did he win, Tiny?

Uh, $50 for saddle,

$90 for bareback,

$155 for bulls.

His total of 295, $295.

Enough to cover his check.

If it's good.

SHERIFF:

But if it ain't good...

Matt did you, uh,

call Harker at the bank?

Yes, sir.

He opened an account

at the bank this morning.

It's good.

Good?

[ROCKABILLY MUSIC PLAYING]

You like them, cowboy?

You like the show?

Yeah.

Well, you gotta drink

if you're gonna look.

Well, give me a Toro.

$1.00.

For a Toro?

Honey, you're paying

for the tits.

Well, for the Toro,

I don't know.

Hey, 14 more,

and you can go

down to Rosie's.

You can get the real thing.

WOMAN: You come back

to Rosie's, you hear?

[SIREN WAILING]

Put your hands on the wheel.

You didn't see me, did you?

Huh. Tsk.

Didn't hear me

either, did you?

No, sir.

I guess it's because

of the wind.

[STAMMERING] Hey, what year is

this piece of shit

here anyway?

'49.

But, well, what is it?

A Hudson.

A Hudson?

That's right.

And I know,

I guess you've never

been stopped before either,

have you?

That's right.

Well, I'm sorry

I got to be the first one,

but, you know, uh,

we got to take care

of these things these days,

you know, pollution and all.

Pollution?

Yeah. Pollution.

You know, we gotta fight it

every way we can, you know.

Car exhaust like that of yours

is the worst offenders we got.

Especially on trash

like you're driving.

Now, if you'll just sign

right here.

Nope, the other hand.

I want your left hand.

Use the other hand.

Keep them both up.

Where do I sign?

By the "X".

Right there by the "X".

Wait a minute.

Keep one hand

on the wheel.

Other hand. Left hand.

You hand it back

with your left.

Now,

if I could just see

your driver's license,

Mr. J.W. Coop.

Damn, I, I must've...

I may, I may have

left it at home.

Yeah. Mmm-hmm. Yeah.

I think I left it at home.

Keep your hands up.

Put them back

on the wheel.

Well, I was just

gonna give you

an exhaust warning ticket,

but now

I'm gonna have to give you

a real ticket.

What's your address?

My address?

Yeah, your address.

Uh, I live

in Chicawa.

And the address?

13, 13 Luck Road.

Mmm, how do you spell that?

L-U-C-K. Luck.

Okay.

Use your left hand as usual.

Now, if you'll meet me

at Municipal,

Municipal Building, room 218,

tomorrow morning at 9:00,

I'll make it a point

to be there with you.

Right.

Sorry I had to do this.

But that's our job.

Okay?

Now you drive slow.

Right.

Obey the law.

Right.

And get

that exhaust fixed.

Right.

See you 9:00, Mr. Coop.

[ENGINE STARTING]

Wrong.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

Where you headed,

cowboy?

Toward Mesquite.

I'm going as far

as Redwing.

Come on, get in.

Throw them back there.

I appreciate it.

I see that.

As I see it,

it's the kids, the Commies,

worst of all, the unions.

They're trying

to ruin this country,

all of them.

Used to be a

damn good country.

When I left Oklahoma

during the Depression,

hell, we never had

no trouble with kids.

They were too busy working.

Or they was out

looking for work.

Went out to California,

me and the missus

and the kids,

we had to live

in one of them

orchard chicken houses.

Is that right?

That's right,

chicken house.

All five of us.

Boy, we was up at daybreak

and we started picking.

Ah!

We was picking fruit all day,

way past sunset.

We was picking

for a nickel a lug,

and we was damn

glad to get it.

And any of them agitators

was sent back across

state lines or back to Russia,

or wherever the hell

they come from,

because there was

plenty of dustbowl farmers

to take their place.

Let alone the wetbacks.

Shit!

J.W., I want to tell you

something.

Fruit and fruit pickers,

they just alike.

You don't mess with them

and they do fine,

but just start to agitate

them, and they'll rot.

No, sir.

You don't agitate the fruit

and you don't agitate

the pickers.

When'd you come back?

Three years ago.

I bought myself a pig farm

six miles from

where I was born.

Were you working, uh,

picking fruit

all that time in between?

Hell, no.

I wasn't gonna bust my back

picking somebody else's

peaches very long.

Not me.

No, in 1940, I seen it coming.

I got myself into the

shipyards.

Oh, you're

a shipbuilder, huh?

Naw.

Nobody working in them yards

in them days were

shipbuilders.

Hell, we were just workers.

Well, how'd you

get your stake?

How do you mean that?

Well, your farm,

your pig farm you got now?

Oh.

War.

Which one?

All three of them.

I got to be a

master machinist.

I worked in defense plants

for 25 years.

How many pigs you say you got?

Fifteen hundred.

Damn.

Machinist pay must be good.

Damn right.

Good union.

[HORN HONKING]

Climb aboard, mate.

Where're you headed?

Mesquite.

What happened

to your horse?

Oh, the sheriff

impounded it.

You got a lot

of miles to log

to get to Mesquite.

Yeah.

You been waiting long?

Yeah, quite awhile.

Yeah, well,

when I saw you hitching,

I figured you wanted a ride.

Right.

That's the trouble with

most drivers nowadays.

They're in too much

of a damn hurry.

I mean, on the step,

and flat out all the way.

Holy Christ.

An Atlas fork 22-2.

[HORN BLOWING]

One of these days!

One of these days.

One of these days,

if the kids and the Commies

don't screw it up.

What?

The country.

I mean, what do they want?

Christ, they got everything

handed to them

on a plastic spoon.

Silver spoon.

You and me,

we gotta work for what we got.

At least I did,

I imagine you did too.

Right.

Hauling these rigs

across country,

sometimes 16 hours a day.

B.H.

You know, you can say

what you want about Jimmy,

but he did a lot of good

for a lot of drivers.

Things were damn tough B.H.

B.H.?

Before Hoffa.

I sure as hell wouldn't be

driving my Trojan today

if it weren't for Jimmy.

Trojan?

Is that the kind of truck

this is?

No, that's my boat.

Holy Mary, mother of God!

Hey, look at that.

A Twin-craft X.K. 18.

[HORN BLOWING]

You're beautiful.

DRIVER:

Hey, one of these days!

Well, you can say

what you want

about an outboard,

but when it comes

to all-around dependableness,

you still can't beat them.

You sure you don't want

to take off tomorrow

for all day

and come skiing with the wife

and me on the lake?

Well, maybe some day.

I got a lot of

ground to cover.

Gotta keep moving.

Gotta lot of time to make up.

Well, I can appreciate that.

I mean, a man's gotta do

what he's gotta do.

You gotta ride them broncs,

I gotta ride my boats.

Well, listen, I'm gonna have

to turn off for Dallas

right up here.

Now, if you want,

I can drive you

to the plant.

Maybe line you up for

a couple of days work

when you're finished.

I mean, if you need it.

Well, I appreciate it,

but I think I'll stick

to bucking horses.

Suit yourself, mate.

And you're sure

you don't want

to go water-skiing?

Oh, maybe some day.

Thanks a lot.

Good sailing, mate.

Keep her nose

to the wind.

WOMAN:

Where you going?

Which way you headed?

Oh, uh,

I'm headed north, I think.

You're not sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Where are you headed?

I'm headed for Mesquite.

What do you do in Mesquite?

I mind my own business,

for one thing.

I'm going to Woodlake.

Good.

You ever been

to Woodlake?

Nope.

You ever planning

on going to Woodlake?

Maybe.

Yeah, they, they got a rodeo

up there on the 12th.

Tomorrow is the 12th.

Yeah, well,

I'm going to Mesquite.

You make more money

in Mesquite?

No, you make more money

in Woodlake.

It's a bigger rodeo.

So why don't you

go to Woodlake?

Why don't you want

to go to Woodlake?

So, what's wrong

with Woodlake?

Damn hippie.

What did you make them

the victory sign for?

They didn't give you a ride.

They didn't have any room.

You want a ride?

What?

Do you want a ride?

Uh, no, I'm just waiting

for a friend.

Okay, cowboy.

Thanks.

He's just going down the road

a couple of miles.

Just, just going down the road

a couple of miles.

Hi.

Thanks a lot,

partner.

Here, you'd better

take these with you.

You might need them.

What for?

Energy.

Oh, hell, I've got

all the energy I need.

I don't need a mess

of hippie seeds.

They're not seeds.

They're soybeans

for high-protein.

High-protein, huh?

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

I'll see you around.

I hope so.

HIPPIE GIRL: Hey!

What's your name?

J.W.

Coop.

MAN:

Gosh, how've you been, J.W.?

Oh, I'm all right, Mersh.

How you been?

Oh, pretty good.

Good.

Still some old timers

hanging around.

Is that right?

Yeah, Big Ball, Case, Meadows,

even Jim Wild.

Is that right?

Even old Fred's

hanging there.

Damn.

He'll probably be

up there in his camp

this weekend.

Yeah, I sure as hell hope so.

I sure didn't see anybody

I knew in Lone Hill,

except the sheriff.

Gosh, I wouldn't be glad

to see him.

Sure.

After what happened.

No way.

It's good to see you, though,

and thanks for letting me

borrow your chaps.

Any time, J.W.

Hey, we'll have a beer

afterwards, huh?

Okay, J.W.

Hey, thank you.

ANNOUNCER: Good afternoon,

ladies and gentlemen,

this is Johnny Jackson

of Woodlake, California,

your rodeo announcer,

bidding each and every one

of you a very fond

and western welcome

to the first performance

of the Woodlake Rodeo.

The bucking events in rodeo

are bareback bronc riding,

saddle bronc riding,

and bull riding,

and each rider

is judged on his ability,

or inability,

to ride his mount till

the 10-second buzzer sounds.

Riders are judged on the

performance of both rider

and horse, or both.

Strict rules concerning the

treatment of these animals

must be adhered to.

They're under the supervision

of the American Humane

Society.

And down here on my right,

gate number one,

is Dallas Kleeton

of Burbank, California,

on Blue Care.

[CROWD CHEERING]

Down on gate number six

is J.W. Coop

from Chicawa, Texas,

on Thundermount.

Good luck, cowboys.

From

Santa Monica, California.

Now the famous suicide race,

ladies and gentlemen.

One and a half miles

through marsh, mud, and water

for $200.

Winner take all.

All right,

they're all lined up.

[GUNSHOT]

And they're off.

We've got a running start

as four horses

are leading the pack.

We're gonna have

a bunch of wet cowboys now,

because they're

all in the pond together,

and that pond is 12 feet deep

and 300 feet long.

This is a horse race.

In the lead is J.W. Coop

from Chicawa, Texas,

and right behind him,

Buzz Makarat

from South Dakota.

In third place,

looks like Greg Jackson,

number five,

and this is getting

to be a tough one,

and we have a cowboy

down in the water

and a horse coming through

by himself.

Out of the pond,

J.W. Coop coming down

the back stretch now.

And Makarat

is right behind him

as they head

towards the final gate.

Greg Jackson.

We still have

that riderless horse

coming in all by himself.

Look out, cowboys, now,

as we head into

this final round.

J.W. Coop and Makarat

right through the first gate.

And we have got a horse race,

and they're neck in neck

down the home stretch.

The winner takes all, $200.

And this is home,

and we have a winner.

It's J.W. Coop

from Chicawa, Texas.

He might help

all of our tired,

wet cowboys out now.

Coming up now

is this dangerous

rodeo event,

professional brahma

bull riding.

Winner of the suicide race,

in the clean green shirt,

J.W. Coop on My Own Choice.

I think you've got to admit,

ladies and gentlemen,

that if rodeo is rough

on anyone,

it's got to be the cowboy.

Well, J.W., maybe

you'd better go on.

What do you mean?

You know, this ain't

no rodeo bar.

Oh, bullshit. Come on.

Thank you

for the drink, J.W.

Thanks for letting me

borrow your chaps.

They brought me

good luck.

No, you brought

your own self the good luck.

You've got

a lot of try.

That one horse

was a high humper.

Yeah, that one,

humped like

a Korean whore.

Humped a few

of them, huh?

Who? Me?

Oh, yeah, years ago.

Hell, I was 16, gyrene,

shooting the gook

and dreaming the nook.

That was my first hitch.

You had two, huh?

Yeah, I had two.

I was kind of late

out of the chute.

I've got a lot of time

to make up, Mersh.

How much time

did they give you

in the pen, J.W.?

Almost 10 years.

You know,

ever since you've been gone,

rodeo is big business now.

Yeah?

The sky's the limit.

A guy like Billy Hawkins,

he's making

$50-60,000 a year.

Is that right?

He flies his own plane.

Makes two or three

rodeos a day.

It's not like the old times

when we rode rodeo,

you just had to throw 'em

down the back of the stairs.

Yeah.

J.W.: Yeah.

Yep.

Hey, Dulcie.

How about some more

spurring juice?

What about your friend?

Well, Mersh, you want

something?

The same thing, J.W.

Well, make it two.

Excuse me, J.W.

Yeah.

Hey, Miss, I don't think

he was through

with that other drink.

Yeah?

Um, where's my hooch?

No more, cowboy.

What do you mean,

no more?

There is no more, cowboy,

and if you don't like it,

talk to the boss,

don't talk to me, all right?

Hurry it up, Dora Mae.

Hurry it up.

All right, folks,

got a nice table

right down here.

Wait a minute, friend,

I'm sitting here.

Wrong.

Your friend is on the way out.

We ain't running

no NAACP tea house here.

Sit right down here, folks.

[TOILET FLUSHING]

[WATER OVERFLOWING]

What's going on

in here, cowboy?

Oh, nothing, Sheriff,

just a couple of boys

making weird advances.

What's that fellow

doing in there?

I don't know,

just washing up.

Uh, hello, amigo.

Hector?

J.W.

Yeah.

Oh, all right.

It's been a gravy lick

up to now.

How are you doing?

Good.

Oh, not bad.

It's starting to rain

a little bit up here.

Listen, uh, how's Mama?

Mmm-hmm.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, well, look,

I'm gonna send

a money order tonight,

and there should be more

next week.

Right.

Keep an eye on her,

will you, amigo?

Okay. I appreciate that.

Okay, buddy. Thank you.

Goodbye.

Hey! Hey, J.W.

Well, my lord.

How are you?

How'd you do?

Oh, I did all right.

How you doing?

Fine, fine.

I'm glad

I found you.

What you got there?

Licorice.

Oh, licorice.

Good.

Well, thank you.

What happened

to your beans?

I thought you didn't

like beans.

Oh, yeah,

I like some beans.

I like pinto beans,

chili beans,

even some human beings.

You like me?

Yeah, you're a

pretty nice bean.

Are you riding

again tomorrow?

No.

Today is the last day.

Where's your next stop?

Mmm, Angel Camp.

Do they have

a rodeo up there?

Sure do.

Are you hitching?

No, I'm driving.

Driving what?

Well, come around

tomorrow about 9:00,

I'll show you.

Where?

You see them trees

over there?

Yep.

I'll meet you

over by them trees,

right by them weeds.

[HONKING]

J.W.: Hey!

Hey there, Bean!

Hey, wow!

Hey, well,

I couldn't afford a Cadillac.

Well, I'm sure glad.

Where did you get it?

Oh, I got it

at an army surplus yard.

It's old, but it's strong.

Come on, get in.

J.W.: What was you doing

over there anyway?

BEAN: Waiting for you.

You waiting long?

All night.

All night? Well, I told you

I wouldn't be here

till now.

I like sleeping out.

What? In them weeds?

Yeah.

You like sleeping

in weeds?

Yeah, I like

sleeping in weeds.

You're loco.

Oh, go on.

You've done it.

Oh, yeah, I've done it

lots of times,

but I'm not sleeping

in no weeds

unless I have to.

Where you headed anyway?

West.

Yeah? What's West?

Oh, some things

I want to learn,

some places

I want to see.

You sound like one of

them mystery people.

Nope.

I'm a lot of people.

J. W.: Well, I don't know

about any establishment.

But my daddy worked

and gave his life

for the big man,

who never knew he existed

until he ceased.

And they covered Mama

with religion like a blanket,

gave her $800, a pin, and a

bound volume on the history

of the Chicawa Oil Company.

Their version, abridged.

BEAN: Well, what's

your version?

The Chicawa Oil Company

bought the law,

stole the land,

and rode the Depression

to World War II.

I never knew a day

in my daddy's life

that he didn't stink of oil.

Ain't been a day since then

that I haven't dreamed

of that stink,

and that company.

J.W.: It's just damn puzzling.

I don't understand it.

We never threw

the empty bottles away

because each one

was worth two cents.

Us kids used to swipe

all the empty ones

we could find,

because we needed the money.

You know, people don't

need the money anymore.

They come up with that

"no deposit, no return".

Now, you tell me to return

them even though

we don't need the money.

Hell, that just don't

make sense.

It's called "recycling".

It's one way to fight

waste and pollution.

Yeah, that's another thing.

What?

Oh, that pollution.

I mean he's gonna give me

a ticket, cost me $35,

before I even have

the damn thing put on.

Who did?

That cop.

What did you do?

Well, what

could I do?

I dumped the car,

that's what I did.

Maybe I should've had that

recycled, you think?

Right.

Damn.

This is pretty good cocoa.

What do you

call this stuff again?

Carob.

Mmm. Tastes

just like cocoa.

Yep, except it's a lot

better for you, J.W.

Yeah.

With proteins.

Right.

It'll grow hair

on your chest.

Maybe even

your upper lip.

Yeah. I think

I'd like that.

Damn.

Make a hippie

out of me yet.

I'll sleep with you,

if you want, J.W.

Do you want me to wait?

No, you go ahead.

I'll see you later.

When?

I don't know when. Later.

I want to see my friends.

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

Hey, wake up.

Wake up,

you bunch of sage poppers.

Come and give me a hand here.

Lazy bunch of cowboys.

Hey, cowboy, come over here

and give me a hand.

Well, I'll be

a son of a bitch.

Where the hell have you been?

What you been doing?

Come here and give Big Marge

a hug, you.

[ENGINE STARTING]

MARGE: Some Texas

Siberian prison camp

give you the five-year shaft

for some $32 pissant check

you didn't write.

Where the hell you been

for the past 10 years, lover?

Honey, I tried to write.

Oh, who gives a damn.

Come on with me.

This I got to see.

Wake up, wake up,

you boozed-up

bunch of bushwhackers!

Get off your ass

and say hello to J.W.

MAN: Shut

the damn door.

Shut your snort

and look who's here.

J.W.'s back in town.

What are you jawing about?

Goddamn, look who's

come back to see us.

Man, you boys look

like you rode hard

and hung up wet.

Where've you been?

What you doing, Red?

Hey, what's happening!

[ALL LAUGHING]

J.W., have

a cold one, boy.

Well, I'll tell you one thing,

he's up to his ass

in money.

J.W.: Joe Bob?

Joe Bob Ryan?

Yeah.

How'd that dogger

make it?

He couldn't carry shit

to a dead bear

the last time

I was out here.

Still can't.

J.W.: Well,

how'd he get rich?

Well, upside down

in a car seat.

His wife's pappy

owns an oil field

that you can't

ride through

in a whole day.

She goes all over herself

every time she sees a cowboy.

You remember her, J.W.

She was, uh, Bonnie Gibbs

before Joe Bob

married up with her.

Right after you left.

Everybody knows

Bonnie Gibbs.

She's the town pump.

A real punchboard.

Well, how you doing,

old horse?

Damn, they took a little lard

off you, didn't they?

How'd they treat you

in there, anyway?

Oh, it weren't no county fair.

MARGE: No?

What brings you here?

Oh, too lazy to work,

too nervous to steal, I guess.

MAN: You got

your RCA card?

J.W.: Yep.

Signed up, paid up.

What's your event?

Bares, saddle

broncs, and bulls.

Oh. Three events

is a passel of rodeoing,

but most of the boys

just tend to sort of

specialize now.

Specialize, huh?

Well, it depends

on what you're looking for.

Well, I'm looking to get

in the national final.

Well, hell.

You're a month slow

out of the gate.

Most of the boys

have been collecting points

since the first.

Yeah, I got

a couple shows in last week.

Oh, yeah.

How'd you do, lover?

I did all right.

How's old Billy

what's-his name doing?

Lawson?

Yeah.

Oh, he's a hot one.

He won $60,000 last year,

and liked to double it

in, uh, commercial

endorsements.

You better believe it.

Goat shit.

He's just a good businessman,

like most

of the young dudes now.

He's riding for the money.

Ain't like the old days, J.W.

What'd you ride for

in the old days?

Peanuts?

Well, maybe

they did just that.

They didn't bail out

very often, I can

guaran-damn-tee you.

They didn't give up

when it got tough.

They hung in there.

You bet.

They busted their ass.

No.

You see, J.W.,

these boys,

like Hot Pistol Billy,

got this theory,

the less you hurt,

the more you're up.

And the more you're up,

the more chances

you got to win.

The more you win,

the more points

towards the finals.

Strictly playing

the percentages, J.W.

And it ain't only the rodeo.

Football and basketball.

Yeah, and some

of them others.

They're smart.

They use their head

when they ride.

I'm dumb,

I still use my ass,

but guarantee you

one thing,

I ain't bailing out

till that horn honks.

Well, you got big ones, J.W.,

but rodeo's changing.

Goat shit.

Nobody ever paid me

a nickel

for drinking

somebody's coffee

or wearing somebody's

pretty underwear.

You don't got

any underwear.

[ALL LAUGHING]

That's just what I mean.

I can't see

no difference.

You pays your fee

and you takes your draw,

and then you try to keep

from getting

your ass busted,

just like everybody else,

and for what?

So if you're lucky,

you wind up in the top 15,

and go to the national finals,

and if you ain't,

why you just holed up

some place

them two weeks

and stay drunk.

Guess, it's still money

or mud.

Naw, J.W.

Rodeoing has changed.

[MARCHING BAND PLAYING]

ANNOUNCER:

Well, he's arrived, folks.

The current defending

all-around champion,

Billy Hawkins.

Here comes Billy.

Yeah, yeah. That's him.

Is everything ready?

The horse in the chute,

ready to go?

Yeah, he's ready.

Well, you know how he is

about being kept waiting.

Yes, sir.

That's old Hot Pistol Billy,

just a'balling and a'going.

And he's cut it

to the last minute, as usual.

I declare,

that boy could plumb

wear out a steam engine.

He is a steam engine!

I tell you one thing,

you got to hand it to him.

He's a top hand.

Any cowboy wears all-around

champion buckle on his belt

is a top hand.

How come they call him

"Hot Pistol"?

Because that's the way

he comes out of the chute.

He always cut it

this close?

Nope.

Sometimes even closer.

He makes it to

two or three rodeos a day.

When do we go, man?

Right now, Billy.

Right now.

Good. I don't like

to be kept waiting.

Got to be in Sonora

in a couple of hours.

What kept you, Billy?

Ran into some weather

just north of here.

Nearly had to set her down

in a wheat field.

Plane okay?

Spinning like a top,

tickety-boo all the way.

By the way, Billy,

is there anything

I can do for you?

Listen, you can

call my broker.

Broker?

Tell him I'm sorry,

but I'm running a little late.

He'll be in the office

for another 20 minutes.

There's a three-hour

time change, you know?

There is?

Tell him I'll take his advice

on those mutual funds.

Okay, man.

[HORN SOUNDING]

ANNOUNCER: There he is, folks,

Billy Hawkins with 80 points.

That moves him

into first spot,

and that's a familiar place

for Billy Hawkins,

last year's

all-around champion.

All right, here he is.

That lanky bull rider

from Sonora, California,

"Cisco" Maye.

Give me a hand,

will you?

I got it. Go ahead.

J.W., this here's

Billy Hawkins and Larry Mahan.

Glad to know you, J.W.

Hi, Billy.

What you got

to ride, J.W.?

I don't know,

but he don't look like

whipped cream to me.

Oh, you'll be all right

when he gets out

of these boards.

What happened?

Did you hurt your hand?

Yeah, what did you say

he does again?

He's a spinner.

He'll crank you

back to the left,

but you'll be able

to mark out on him.

LARRY: He's swift

out of the box, boys.

Be sure to get the gate

open in a hurry.

Thanks, Larry.

Now, friends,

about ready to go

is a rider who has just

returned to the rodeo circuit

after a long absence.

And here he is, from Chicawa,

Texas, J.W. Coop

on a bull called "Eight-ball".

[HORN SOUNDING]

Folks, the judges

say that ride is worth a 72.

Let's hear it for the new

leader in the bull-riding

event, J.W. Coop.

Welcome home, son.

[HORN SOUNDING]

ANNOUNCER:

From Lubbock, Texas,

here's one of the world's

leading bull riders,

Myrtis Dightman.

[HORN SOUNDING]

You ride bares

and broncs too?

Yes, sir.

Damn, you'll have me

working for wages.

I doubt it.

GIRLS: Billy! Billy!

Later, girls.

The King's in a hurry.

Here's an event

you've all been waiting for,

and the prettiest riders

in rodeo,

the girl's barrel-racing

event.

Clear the decks, boys.

Hey, that's a pretty

smooth-looking tomato there.

She's gonna be

at the party tonight.

Yeah? What party?

Bonnie's daddy's throwing

a barbecue for everybody,

and there's gonna be

some finger-licking

little girls there,

and she's just one

of them.

Damn.

[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]

Manuel, it looks

just marvelous.

Just divine.

Hey, everybody,

come and get your food.

Chow's on.

I really shouldn't,

Mr. Gibbs.

Ah, it's from the

horse's mouth, Billy.

Come on, come on.

Right from the horse's mouth.

You know, it isn't much.

Just a little old

country place for a

little old country boy,

but it's comfortable.

Sure is pretty,

Mr. Gibbs.

Yeah, it cost me

a half a million

before I got it fixed.

Five hundred acres,

100 thoroughbreds.

Twelve police dogs.

Billion burglar alarm system.

It ain't much.

The old lady said,

"Go ahead and shoot him,

Walter."

There was a fence

about five or six feet high

surrounding that

trailer court,

and I cleared it,

shucking clean.

Bam! Bam!

That little son-of-a-bitch

let go with both barrels.

The trouble was,

when you looked at Judy,

you couldn't tell the

difference between her

and some old boy.

But you could sure feel

the difference, I can

guarantee that. Why!

Is the green sauce

too hot, boys?

Green sauce?

Yes, ma'am.

Hello, Bonnie May.

It's just fine.

How about you, J.W.?

You like it hot?

Yeah, I do.

That doesn't surprise me, J.W.

But you did, turning up

after all these years.

It's been so long.

What's so long, Bonnie, hmm?

Why, Marjorie,

don't you look sweet,

and your hair, oh,

your hair looks real nice.

It really does.

Doesn't it, boys?

Doesn't it look nice?

What did you do to it?

Just teased

by the wind, Bonnie.

Just teased by the wind.

Well, Marjorie,

you should do it

more often.

It makes you look

so young.

Now, J.W.,

I want you to eat up,

because you're gonna need

all your strength

if you're gonna ride.

I wish I had a swing

like that in my backyard.

No, you don't, Leroy.

That's a public

playground.

Tell you what

I got in mind, Billy.

I want to get you

and all of the pros together,

all in one place.

You, Joe Namath,

Mickey Mantle, Arnold Palmer,

Jack Nicklaus.

Mmm-hmm.

Willy Shoemaker.

And what's the hockey jock,

that handsome hockey jock?

What's his, what's his name?

Bobby Orr.

Bobby Hull, that's right.

With Bobby, and you,

and all of us together,

all us pros, in my jet,

and fly down to the main ranch

for a week's hunt.

Just us pros.

What do you hunt?

Why, everything.

Everything that moves.

Mountain goat,

deer, antelope, birds.

Hell, anything that moves.

I don't give a damn.

I got 100,000 acres.

BONNIE: Help! Help!

You bitch!

You been aching for a breaking

for a long time.

Antelope, deer, birds,

lizards, snake, armadillo,

wild boar, elk. Who cares?

[BELL RINGING]

Look, it's moving!

Water moccasins.

There you are, Billy.

Right from

the horse's mouth.

GIBBS: Roadrunner, sloth,

bull eagle, snake,

snipe, horn toad.

I really need to be going now,

Mr. Gibbs.

Goat, hill rat, razorback,

and anything with hair!

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

J.W.: I don't know why

I don't live in a motel

like a civilized human being,

instead of a goddamn bushes

with a college graduate.

What the hell is that?

Looks like

some kind of Indian sign.

She must be some

kind of Indian,

putting a hex on me.

[SNIFFS]

Smells like licorice.

Damn Indian sign

made out of licorice.

It's a peace sign.

It's a what?

It's a peace sign.

What kind of peace?

You know, like peace on earth.

Yeah.

I guess that's

the only kind of peace

you'd know anything about.

I'm not a virgin,

you know, J.W.

Well, how would I know?

I don't know

if I'm glad or not.

I think I'm glad.

[CROWD APPLAUDING]

Pretty good, huh?

No, just wasn't cowboying

good enough today.

That old bull

honked me pretty good.

Didn't fit the ticket.

Were you hurt?

No, just honked.

Hell, it happens to everybody,

you know the saying.

What saying?

"Never a horse

couldn't be rode,

"never a cowboy

couldn't be throwed."

Want to bring

that chart we made up?

J.W.:

Can you tell me how in hell

I'm gonna give

Billy Hawkins a race

when he can do 120

rodeos to my 78?

It's that damn

Beechcraft airplane,

that's the difference.

Well, I'll just

have to try harder

and ride faster.

How many points

did Billy score?

Last year,

according to Marge,

60,000, which is

a hell of a,

a hell of a lot more

than I've scored.

Yeah, but you still got

11 months, J.W.

J.W.: Yeah, 11 months

to make up for 10 years,

and I'm hungry.

BEAN: Money hungry?

No. Time hungry.

[LAUGHING]

BEAN: Do you like

my new addition

to the paint scheme?

J.W.: Yeah. We'll be

the laughingstock

of the rodeo, but it's okay.

J.W.: Well, I guess

I'd better stick

to bucking horses.

Sure can't hack

this golf.

BEAN: Oh,

I don't know, J.W.

You were hacking away

pretty good there.

You got

any more surprises?

Yeah, wait'll you see

the hotel we're staying at

tonight.

[BEAN LAUGHING]

Where are our bags?

Where are you

taking me?

Oh, I got a surprise

for you.

I got a surprise

for you.

Now.

What, what are you doing?

Now for dessert.

How about that?

And how about that, huh?

How about that?

Can you believe that?

That's the next thing

to flying, ain't it?

Can you believe

that, Bean?

That this

East Chicawa jailbird

has achieved these heights

from a bucking saddle?

Ain't it a wonder?

Ain't, ain't that beautiful?

J.W.: There goes

Hot Pistol Billy.

And we're not far behind.

Honey, did you give

Larry Mahan back

those chaps I borrowed?

Yeah.

J.W., you're so funny

about that borrowed-chap

superstition.

Well, it ain't funny.

Hell, it works,

don't it?

If it works,

I'm gonna do it.

Can't afford not to.

Hot damn!

Oh, you Marge, you nut!

Oh, boy.

Nice going, lover.

Boy, you gave

your A act tonight.

You're breathing hard

on old Hot Pistol Hawkins.

Oh!

He kind of showed signs

of choking tonight.

What do you think, Bean?

You did

real well, J.W.

Oh, he ain't choking.

He ain't choking.

I just lucked out.

Lucked out, my ass.

You beat him for $1,200.

Come on,

party's in my van.

Oh, listen, I gotta call home.

For permission

to have a drink?

No, I haven't called

in a couple of weeks.

I'll hook up with you

in a few minutes. All right?

See you later, honey.

Hello, operator?

Operator, I'd like to call,

uh, Chicawa, Texas, please.

Looks like J.W. is moving up

on old Hot Pistol Billy.

Yeah, old J.W.'s

got a lot of try.

How'd he get

in the pen anyway?

Bad penmanship.

I heard it wasn't

a bad check, a bad friend.

A fella promised him

to hold it for two weeks

and didn't.

[MECHANICAL CHUGGING]

Come on down, Daddy.

It's late.

Come on down, Daddy.

Mama wants you home.

[MAN SCREAMING]

Mama wants you home.

[ORGAN MUSIC PLAYING]

[CROWD GASPS]

[SIREN WAILING]

GIBBS: Hell, I got

20 miles of shoreline.

J.W.: Well, what

do we fish for?

Anything. Hell, anything.

Anything that can swim.

Bass, trout,

perch, catfish,

mud tad, turtle tad, craw tad,

halibut, flounder,

flying frog.

J.W.: Flying frog?

GIBBS: I'm thinking of turning

it into a recreation center

for retired Republicans.

I'll tell you what I got in

mind for you, J.W.

Thought we'd start

an aqua-rodeo.

Get a bunch

of giant water skis

that can hold up a horse.

We'll have them bucking

on water.

Well, we're over the hump,

honey.

To the nationals.

To the nationals, champ.

Well, I don't know about that.

Still four weeks off.

Still, though, I'll say this.

It's one thing

going in one of 15,

and it's sure a hell of

a lot more comforting

going in top hole.

And coming out

number one.

I don't know.

Those cowboys are awful good

or they wouldn't be

in the nationals.

J.W.: Old Hot Pistol Billy got

$60,000, $70,000 in

endorsements alone last year.

That's a lot of money.

Sure as a pig's ass

is pork,

it's a lot of money.

Enough money

to buy the dream too.

The dream?

Ten year dream.

What's that?

Oh, not much.

Just a few hundred acres,

a few charolais,

some good bucking stock,

and a house on a hill.

That's all. Nothing fancy.

That's all?

Yeah, that's all.

Oh, maybe a few other things.

What other things?

Oh, it'd be kind of nice

to have a boat, a plane.

To herd cattle?

No. Oh, no, I don't

mean because it's gonna be

business, silly.

It's nice to have

a boat, plane.

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

Hello?

J.W.: Hello, Bean?

Yeah.

Uh, listen, I'm gonna

be a little late.

Where are you?

I'm in Hale's Corners.

Hale's what?

Corners. Corners.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I just, uh, got lost

and ran out of gas.

How are you going to get home?

Well, I'm gonna fly home,

just as soon as I get some gas

back to the dairy.

J.W., are you all right?

Yeah, I told you

I'm all right.

I just gotta take some gas

back to the plane.

Well, where is the plane?

It's resting

on a field.

It's resting on a dairy field

about, uh, four

miles from here.

Well, when will

you be home?

Oh, shouldn't be

more than a couple of hours.

[DOOR CLOSES]

J.W.?

Yeah.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Well, what happened?

What happened?

The damn cows

ate my plane.

J.W., are you sure

you're all right?

Yeah, hell, I'm fine,

but my plane ain't.

Damn cows

ate off all the fabric.

Shit!

Well, it's official, honey,

we're in the nationals.

Next stop, Oklahoma City.

GIRLS: Oh, J.W.!

J.W., will you?

Will I what?

Kiss me?

[GIRLS SQUEALING]

These last 10 months have been

about the happiest time

of my life.

Not just because

I'm riding and winning,

but because I'm with you.

And you're with me,

all the way.

And I'd like

to extend that

partnership.

I'd like to extend

that happiness.

I'd like to extend

an invitation to you

to be my wife.

And I know you're a lot

younger and a hell

of a lot smarter,

but I can't help it.

I just gotta offer you

that extension.

Do you know what a loner is?

I mean, do you really know?

Me.

I'm the original loner.

At least I was,

until I met up with you.

You opened up my

head, my heart.

Now I can't make it alone.

J.W., you can make it

with or without anybody.

You've proven that.

No way.

And I don't want to go back.

A loner is a lonely man.

And I don't want to go back.

J.W., don't go back.

Nobody wants you to go back.

Just look back at this year,

and then look back

at the 10 years before that,

and what do you see?

You see a man,

a very exceptional man,

who had a dream,

and who never let go,

and who never

will let go.

You're strong, J.W.,

and you don't need anything

but your own beliefs.

You must believe that.

I believe in you with me.

[APPLAUDING]

ANNOUNCER:

For a place here

in the national finals

in Oklahoma City.

This year,

we have beauty of a race,

the all-around

cowboy championship

between the defending

champion, Billy Hawkins,

and this year's

dark horse contender,

J.W. Coop.

Coop now leads by $300,

with a total of $49,400.

Here at the national finals,

the championship

will be decided

on the reference rank

in bucking stock,

having every strain

in the United States

and Canada,

including

the infamous "Escadero",

the bull the cowpokes

will tell you

is the meanest one

they've ever seen in rodeo.

[SNORTING]

[HORN SOUNDING]

[GASPING]

[BRAKES SCREECHING]

Hey, where the hell

have you been, cowboy?

You're supposed to wait for me

in the doctor's office.

I don't like waiting

in the doctors' offices.

They all stink of Lysol.

Get your ass in this car

or Big Marge'll kick it in.

MARGE: Broke, my ass.

It's a compound fracture

you dumb-dumb.

Just like the doctor said,

if you never want

to ride again,

all you got to do

is go out there

and break it again,

and the closest you'll

ever get to rodeo

is parking cars

right here on this lot.

Now that's the truth of it.

It's just a break, Marge.

I broke it 12 years ago

in Abilene,

and it didn't

slow me up much then.

Uh-huh.

Well, it's gonna

slow you up

this time, doctor.

See you shaved

your moustache off.

Listen, J.W.

I know you're pissed off,

but you can't

let it get to you.

Sure, she's cute little filly,

but when people

aren't right for each other,

they're just not right

for each other.

Besides, you're in good shape.

You won almost $50,000.

You don't like

to be second, Marge.

This was gonna be my year.

I waited 10 years.

And I blew it.

Blew it?

You didn't blow it.

Jesus, you won

49,000 goddamn dollars,

didn't you?

You started from nothing.

In one year,

you worked your way up

to second-leading cowboy.

Second's the bottom.

Second's last.

Even if you were to go out

there and win every event,

you couldn't win.

When you were getting

your leg fixed,

Billy nailed down four firsts.

It's too late.

It's just too late.

ANNOUNCER: And now

the most dangerous event

on the American

sporting scene today,

this is cowboy's bull riding.

First and second place,

of course,

has already been determined.

Winner of this year

will undoubtedly be

Billy Hawkins

of Meadow Wells, Texas.

Second place,

the guy who came from nowhere

to get the runner-up position,

J.W. Coop from Chicawa, Texas.

On Tornado,

a great bucking bull,

all the way from

St. Paul, Minnesota,

let's watch Clyde Maye.

[HORN SOUNDING]

And again, might we suggest

a consolation round

of applause.

These bulls are really

taking the toll

on these great bull riders

in the finals this year.

Well, if he,

if he drew him, it's legal,

but I can't believe it.

Here is a guy with a broken

leg, ladies and gentlemen,

it, it's official now.

This dark horse, J.W. Coop,

suffering a broken leg

just performances ago,

has drawn legally

the greatest bull

that professional rodeo

has ever known,

the mighty "Escadero",

and tonight he's going to try

to ride him.

So in chute three,

a guy with the greatest heart

we've ever seen

in professional rodeo.

Let's watch J.W. Coop

try to do the impossible.

Here he is on "Escadero".

He's gonna make it.

[LOUD BUZZING]

He's done it.

Get off, J.W.!

[ESCADERO SNORTING]

[NO AUDIO]

J W Coop (1971) - full transcript