All language subtitles for The.Iron.Orchard.2018.1080p.WEB-DL.H.264.AC3-EVO_track3_eng

(relaxed violin tones)

(soft country guitar music)

(machinery whirring)

(wind howling)

(machinery clanking)

(woman hooting)

Hey boy, you that
new Bison hand?

That's right.

Throw your shit in
the back of the truck

and get your ass in here, we
ain't got all day, come on.

(engine humming)

YY Pucketts.

Jim McNeely.
[YY] Good to meet you.

How long you been
working for Bison?

Shit, I've been with these

son-bitches since they started.

Funded by some old rich
outfit up there outta Dallas

that don't know shit
between goddamn air.

Hell them son a bitches
I've been doing this still

for forever started out just
like where you're starting.

You a weevil?
[Jim] A what?

A boll-weevil, somebody
who don't know shit.

That's a fella that ain't
never been out to an oil patch.

[Jim] What do you
reckon I'll be doing?

The first thing they're
gonna do is they're

gonna have your ass out there
goddamn diggin' ditches.

The next thing they gonna have

you do is buckin'up
four inch pipe.

You get ready to get
a dose of that shit.

I used to have two nuts, now
both of 'em's up my belly.

I'll tell you right now,
you'll need to

the break quarter and lay down.

I've seen guys didn't
bathe for four days

they was so god-dang
tired to get in there.

Thank you kindly
for the ride, YY.

You can thank me in two weeks.

Do me a favor son, you
tell that Cap Bruner

that YY Pucketts said
to go fuck himself!

(laughing)

Oh, wait.

Hold up!

(knocks)

Hello.

Name's McNeely.

Hell, I know who you are.

Another favor from corporate.

Well I'm Dent Paxton,
a friend to all men

so long as they don't
ask anything of me.

Well I'm here, what do I do?

You can write, I presume?

You'll be in bunkhouse 1,
bunk number 3, you got that?

Okay, now it's time
for the free lecture.

Welcome to jolly Camp Dead Lake

of that great octopus,
the Bison Oil Company.

Our sole purpose out here
is to get that stinkin'

crude oil out of the
ground and move it on down

the pipeline where it can be
made into gasoline and dollars.

You'll be assigned to Cap
Bruner's gang, God help you.

That's the connection gang,
they do the oil field plumbing.

It don't sound so bad.

Buddy, I don't know
what you've been doing

but whatever it is, I guarantee
you it's better than this.

My advice to you
is run like hell

because you'll either
get run off in a week

or what's worse, you'll
want to prove you're

a real tough character and
get indentured for life.

Look, I ain't planning
on gettin' run off

or becoming anybody's slave,
I got plans of my own.

Well tough titty
buddy, all hopes

and illusions are blasted
to pieces out here.

Fair warning, go back
to where you came from.

I got no place to go back to.

(relaxed violin music)

[Mazie] Jim McNeely,
you better wait for me.

[Madelon] I gather you think
you are in love with Mazie.

It ain't a thinking matter
Mrs. Wales, I know I am.

Listen Jim,

I don't think it's for the best

that you and Mazie
see one another.

[Peaches] What the hell?

Who's that layin' up
in your best, Buster?

Look, he's got his fucking
shoes on in my bed.

You keep your goddamn dirty
clodhoppers off my sheets.

(laughs)

Hey, what's the idea?

The clerk feller told
me to take bunk three.

That queer don't know shit.

This boll-weevil must be one
of them college athletes.

He looks like a little
two-bit hotshot to me.

Ain't that right?

Hotshot, you got
dirt in those ears?

[Jim] I answer to
the name McNeely.

[Buster] Know your goddamn
place, you stay down.

Get off him.

[Buster] You leave
this bunk be, hotshot.

Go on.

Assholes.

(soft violin tones)

(rock hits sheet metal)

[Jim] I got plans.

[Mrs. Wales] Face
the facts, Jim.

You're a checker in a
grocery store and that is

all you're equipped by
background or education to be.

Piece of shit.

[Mrs. Wales] I want
you to see my husband.

He has important friends,

he'll get you a
good job somewhere.

Perhaps out in the oil fields.

(screams)

(anxious music chord rising)

(men grunting)

Ort!

Take that boll-weevil

and get to piss-antin'
them joints.

By God, you'd best
keep up today.

Just hook your hand in
the belt, do like I do.

When I say hump,
heister-up and take off.

Ain't nothin' but back and guts.

All right.
Here we go.

Hump.

(grunts)

Step back!

Looks like hotshot's eyes

gonna bug out of
his fucking head.

Why don't you go ahead
and check him, Peaches?

Goddamn you sorry
ass boll-weevil.

Are you trying to
get somebody killed?

(grunts)

(grunting)

(grunting)

(anxious violin music)

(grunts)

(shrieks)

(crickets chirping)

[Jim] What gives,
you little rat?

That's right, I'm a little rat

and this little rat'll bite ya.

(slap)

(grunts)

(mechanical creaking)

(relaxed violin music)

Move your ass, boll-weevil.

[Ort] Come on.

Come on.

There ya go.

All right everybody
up, let's go.

(relaxed country guitar music)

[Cap] All right,
that's breeeeak!

Yeah, not you McNeely.

(relaxed violin music)

Been expecting you,
just didn't know when.

You win.

I win, do I get a trophy?

You said it,
nothing here for me.

[Dent] Look.

Personally I don't give a damn.

It's completely
immaterial to me.

But I hate to give
those Neanderthal

bastards the pleasure
of running you off.

I can't do it.

[Dent] You came here
with something to prove.

Now I don't know to who

but I do see it in you.

Besides...

you don't have
anything to go back to.

Sit down.

Can I get a raise?

(Dent chuckles)

(slow tempo country
guitar tones)

[Cap] All right,
puttin' you in pairs

today and see if we can't
spread out the line.

Cotton, you go with Scrap.

Buster,

you've got Jim.

You're going down, hotshot.

(anxious guitar tones)

Buster, can I talk to you?

Hot damn, that
must've stung good.

Somehow you've got the idea
that you need to break me.

You're gonna leave me be

from here on out,
if you wanna live.

Don't think I'm gonna fight
you fair. That I won't do.

And you got something
to say to me,

you call me by my
name. That's McNeely.

(guttural screaming)

(mid tempo country guitar music)

Buster!

Shut up, you little rat.

¶ Call my black cat back

(laughs)

¶ Well I get up on Monday and
I call my black cat back ¶

¶ My black cat comes a-running

¶ And the hound
dogs, they get back ¶

¶ Get back, way back

Howdy fellas.

You a boll-weevil?

Nah, I'm Clayton
LeMane the Third.

Jim McNeely.

Damn good to meet ya, Jim.

Quit your fraternizing
Stabber and get back to work.

Just like I was saying
Mr. LeMane, there's

a lot to gettin' a days work
out of a bunch of hands.

[Clayton] That sure is good
to know Captain,

seeing as I'm a hand now too.

I'll be sure to
put in a word

with my uncle for how
amiable you've been.

(soft country guitar music)

Pay up son, them beers
don't buy themselves.

You know why I'm
so poor and measly?

Because my daddy was such
a tight old son of a bitch,

he used to pay me 10
cents not to have supper.

Then that bastard
would charge me

a dime every morning
for breakfast.

Meanest man there ever were.

It's a wonder I growed at all.

Pity you did, you old liar.

No sir, I ain't lying,
that there I know.

(horse neighing)

Oh Lord, here she comes.

Hi Dent.
Ma'am.

Hey ma'am, what can I get?

Boy, I am in love with
that engineer's wife.

You are just a randy old goat,

what do you know about love?

When you sack up with
someone you still wanna

kiss her in the morning when
you're through, that is it.

You better shut your trap.

If Clyde Montgomery hears
you talking that way

about his wife, you'll
be outta camp yesterday.

I bet she flangs
that silly Montgomery

around 'til he don't
know which way west is.

[Jim] She sure is
something to look at.

Yeah but lookin' at it
ain't getting it, now is it?

Which reminds me fellas,

I got some business
to transact in Odessa.

Take the strain off.

Adios.

[Dent] If they
cut his head open,

wouldn't nothing come out
but a pile of cockroaches.

Ain't that the truth.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Bye Dent.

Ma'am.

Mm-mm.

Hm.

(machinery clanking)

(relaxed violin music)

[Jim] What are
you doing out here

so far from the other rigs?

[Barry] I'm seeing if this
wildcat's worth drilling.

The damn lease is
about to expire,

so I gotta see what's
going on underneath.

I'm a geologist for Bison,
name's Barry Wakely.

Barry,

Jim, Jim McNeely.

We cut the damn hole.

Now it's time to see how smart
or how dumb we really are.

We can pay more
money to complete the
well or shut her in.

Who makes that decision?

Me, that's who.

Me and this swab test.

Oou.

It's oil.
[Barry] Yeah, that's oil.

Glad I checked.

(laughs)

[Jim] Ever thought about
going out on your own?

I've thought about it.

Well if you run
across an oil field

nobody's found yet, maybe
you and I can grab it.

Coker field.

As in Coker City?

The old codger
won't lease it out.

Convince him and your
name will be known

for 14 counties, hell maybe
all the way up to Fort Worth.

A couple broke bastards like us

can't compete with the big boys.

Good thing I enjoy
sniffin' them rocks.

(chuckles)

That damn Pluto's
as worthless as

a one-legged man in an
ass kicking contest.

Spent the entire
day behind a bush

and Cap didn't do a
goddamn thing about it.

Why should he?

He's the nephew of the
Vice-President of Bison.

A blue blood
through and through.

The luck lands on the
sorriest, most worthless souls.

Good work out there today, boys.

How much we got now?

I've got..

$3,221.

Oou.

Tell you what let's
do, let's take that

3,221 and let's go
down to old Mexico.

We'll get us a big old house
with plenty of tequila and some

cute little muchachos and
man, we'll have us a time.

And when we're cashed out?

Well then we come
back here and save up

another 3,221 and do
it all over again.

Oh goddamn, I like
the sound of it.

It sure sounds sweet.

This here is my ticket
outta here, fellas.

Indentured for life
my ass, sweetie pie.

Where you headed?

[Jim] To town, you inquisitive
little bastard, by myself.

To Mexico.

[YY] Tell Cap Bruner to
kiss my ass, ha ha ha!

(slow tempo country
guitar music)

[Lee] Hello.
[Jim] Hello.

[Lee] It's a lovely afternoon.
[Jim] I hadn't noticed 'til now.

It must be the contrast, it
was a real scorcher today.

Yeah it was, fella on
the rig said he saw

a lizard crawl up a steam
pipe just to cool off.

Really?

Fella said it, I can't
say about the lizard.

I'm headed into town
to get some candles.

My husband said
the electricity's

going out for a while tonight?

[Jim] Yeah, they're cuttin'
a new pumping station

into the power line but it
shouldn't be out too long.

Is that why you're
going into town too?

For candles?

And razorblades.

Do you want a ride?

Sure, thanks ma'am.

[Lee] I don't make a
practice of picking up

strange men in the middle of
the road but I recognized you.

[Jim] It's mighty kind of you.

(relaxed guitar music)

[Lee] Tell me Mr. McNeely,

how are you enjoying
your stay in Dead Lake?

You can call me Jim.

But if I call you Jim, then
you should call me Lee.

I'll call you Mrs. Montgomery
like I'm supposed to.

I guess it wouldn't be
proper, what a world.

It sure is.

Me being me and you being you.

I didn't mean it like that.

(pensive guitar music)

[Lee] Thanks Arnie.
[Arnie] You bet.

Arnie, I'm gonna need
another pack of razorblades.

Let me get a couple
Schlitz to go.

Thank you.

Thanks for waiting.

[Lee] Mm hmm.

[Jim] How about a cold
beer to ease us along?

[Lee] Are you
offering me a beer?

No, I'm just trying to pay
you for the ride is all.

Thank you.

(relaxed guitar, piano music)

I had almost forgotten how
good a cold beer tastes.

If you had a million dollars,

you couldn't enjoy it any more.

I'll remember that.

[Jim] I'll tell you what,
you can call me 'Hey'

and I'll call you 'Say'
and then next time we meet,

you could say "Hey,
how you doing?"

And I'll respond "Say,
good to see you."

I like that.

[Lee] Thank you, you
should get out here,

people talk.

Thanks again.

(tepid violin, piano music)

¶ Da, da da ¶

¶ Da da da ¶

[Jim] All right, turn it.

Come on.

¶ I love you ¶

[Jim] One, two, three, snap!

[Cap] Come on, get it in.

[Jim] One, two, three.

Damn!

One, two, three.

Snap!

¶ Of all the things that
ever lived, I choose you ¶

¶ To rue me, ¶

¶ my Roooooosemary ¶

(shattering)

[Jim] All right
boys, let's drink.

[Cap] Just a goddamn minute.

You ain't drawin' enough money

to be givin' the
orders to these men.

A man don't live that
makes enough money

to tell me when I
can and won't drink.

[Cap] All right you scraps of
nothing... get back to work!

[Lee] Thank you.

Razorblades?

Yeah.

Come on.

[Lee] Mazie's a beautiful name,
you might still marry her.

I got pretty good instincts.
[Jim] No.

All that's over
and done with now.

Besides, she doesn't
bother me anymore, only--

[Lee] Only what?

Say what you're thinking.

(relaxed violin music)

You should've just dropped
me off at the gate.

I know.

You fill up my whole head, Lee.

What?

It's true.

Don't talk like that.

[Lee] What are you doing?

[Lee] Jim.

Oh God, Get off of me.

Get out!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, uh...

Please get out before I scream!

I'm sorry, I just thought...

You know,

I've got instincts too.

You don't love the
man you're married to.

Stabber, come over here.

Jesus Christ.

[Pluto] Tonight's my last night.

I'm saying sayonara to
this shit hole manyana.

You'll be missed, Pluto.

Hey, what do you say me and
you hit the town to celebrate?

I got some moolah...

They paid me off and it
ain't even payday yet.

I don't think so, man.

Hey the next time you see me,

you'll be calling me El Jefe.

Or maybe I'll be
calling you boss man

and you'll be
running these gangs.

Come on, just a couple
drinks, Stabber.

Okay then.

OK, that's what I like to hear.

(up tempo violin music)

[Pluto] Don't you think that old
Pluto is gonna forget about you.

You oughta be Cap's boss
and I got a toast to make.

Ladies and gentlemen,

here

is the best, damn pipe liner

in all of West Texas.

Sit your ass down, Pluto.

[Pluto] I give you

the one, the only

Jim...

Stabber McNeely.

¶ Just a little more love,
then I'd be dreaming ¶

(glass breaks)

(throws up)

¶ I could do, yeah ¶

That's it Jim, you'll
feel better now.

You're a bonafide drunkard
now, welcome to the club.

[Cap] Move it!

(anxious violin tones)

Get up from there, you
gold-bricking son of a bitch.

Think you're a little too smart
to be laying pipe no more?

You're just asking to
get your ass run off.

You need to get the drain
plate off that tank.

It ain't bleeding the
bullshit out of the bottom.

Maybe that'll wake your ass up.

(anxious violin tones)

- That Cap's a son of a bitch.
- Yes sir.

[Jim] (singing) Florina, Florina

¶ Where'd you stay last night ¶

¶ Florina, Flori--na! ¶

¶ Where'd you go last night? ¶

¶ Come home in the morning ¶

¶ And the sun don't shine ¶

¶ Florina, Floriiinaaa ¶

¶ Where'd you stay last night ¶

[Jim] Florina...

That swamp gas is
gettin' to his head.

It'll kill his ass unless we
get him outta there quick.

¶ Go home in the
morning and the sun ¶

(metallic clanking)

Jim.

Jim?

(coughing)

Get up, you sorry
son of a bitch.

Come on, Jim.
Come on, get him.

(thuds, grunts)

[Men] Get him son.
Come on.

[Men] Get up.

Yeah! That a boy Jim.

(anxious violin, guitar music)

(men cheer)

My boy Jim.

You piece of shit.

(soft piano and violin music)

(crickets chirping)

(soft piano music)

Hey.

Say.

I heard all about what you did.

You know I'm leaving for good.

I figured.

Where you headed?

(relaxed guitar music)

(birds singing)

[Jim] Dent, I did it.

I married her

and now you and everyone in this

God-forsaken world can
call her Lee McNeely.

How about that?

(Lee laughs)

You always asked what
my money was for.

Well you'll be content to
know I found some use for it.

And who knows?

Maybe someday I'll need
some good, cheap labor

if you happen to know
anyone interested.

Well?

It smells delicious, hon.

Don't gimme that,
tell me something.

We are the sole owners
of the sorriest,

oldest oil field servicing
company in all of West Texas.

Ooh, I knew it.
[Jim] Oh calm down now.

I made a bad deal.

I bought out Mrs.
Sullivan on the worst

layaway plan known
to man and maybe,

just maybe, if I
work 18 hours a day,

seven days a week
and give up breakfast

and chewing gum and picture
shows and I get an amazing

string of luck, we might just
be able to make the payments.

I don't care.

You will care when we're
eating beans every night.

I love beans.
[Jim] Oh!

(laughing)

(upbeat country guitar music)

You know, the surefire
way to get through

to an old timer is to
get down on his level.

Make him laugh.
I know what I'm doing.

I know you do, big boss man.

Shut up.

Mr. Coker?

My name's Jim McNeely.

That road you just come on in on

don't lead nowhere
but right here.

Mr. Coker, I heard it
said in Odessa that

you'd shoot the next
fella that came out

here asking about
leasing the Coker ranch.

I ain't a lease broker and I

damn sure don't aim
to get shot, neither.

What in the confounded
hell do you want?

Not a damn thing
sir, unless you'd

spare a little of that
Beechnut you're chewin' on.

They say you're a fool 'cause
you refuse to lease your land.

You'd rather let
'em rob you blind

than get what's
rightfully yours.

Shit with what they say.

I don't agree with 'em
or I wouldn't be here.

I just think you haven't
been offered a fair deal yet.

You need a partner who
can help you get the oil

out of the ground before
they suck you dry.

(Coker laughing)

You're the worst goddamn

tobacco chewer I
ever seen in my life.

I never claimed to be an expert

in chewing tobacco
or anything else.

I'm just a poor boy
trying to get by.

(mid tempo country guitar music)

(metal clanking)

(bird chirping)

Take a look at it.

[Jim] Driller!
Let's test this son of a bitch.

Goddamn.

Driller, give me two more feet.

(cheering)

[Barry] You did it, you did it.

[Jim] We're in the oil
business now, sugar.

[Jim] Barry.
What is this?

That's your 1% interest.

But Jim, I'm happy to
help an old friend.

Hell with that.

I wouldn't have even known
about this deal without you.

Thank you, Jim.

(relaxed violin music)

So you're telling me,
you got no geological stats,

no geophysics, nothing but a
lot of hot air and high hopes?

And cheap leases, sir.

$6 an acre, can't beat that.

Not a uh...

deal for the risk-averse,
that's for sure.

Not exactly my idea of
aggressive expansion, Dent.

Well I'm no geologist and
Scurry County's not oil country.

However, it's a shit
load of cheap land

in West Texas
without a hole in it.

I'm willing to give y'all

until tomorrow morning
to consider it.

Otherwise I'm just gonna
shop it on down the road.

(relaxed country
guitar, violin music)

Santa Rita, gimme a sign.

(relaxed violin, guitar music)

Hot damn.

Hot damn.

To bet it all on a
stupid horseshoe?

Goddammit.

Well, how did it look?

Hmm, like you said.

Cheap lease is for a reason.

You know I was thinking we
could redo the guest bedroom.

Redo what?

We already got a bed and a
dresser in there already.

What else do we need?

We haven't even had
a guest over once.

I don't know, maybe a kids room.

You know,

someday.

Hon,

we barely have
time for you and I.

How the hell are we
gonna have time for kids?

We make time, that's
how it's done.

It won't be easy but
I will have a son

so I can teach him how to be
a real cowboy, work the land.

Cowboy huh, cowboy huh?

(laughs)

You want a son?

¶ Hello walls ¶

¶ Hello, hello ¶

¶ How'd things go
for you today ¶

¶ Don't you miss her ¶

¶ Since she up and walked away ¶

¶ And I'll bet you
dread to spend ¶

¶ Another lonely night with me ¶

¶ But lonely walls,
I'll keep you company ¶

Ted.

¶ Hello window ¶

¶ Hello, hello ¶

¶ Well I see ¶

Bob, Tom.
Boss.

You know I bought a good
lease with a bad title.

I got seven days to pay it off.

Two of the heirs are
in court right now

feuding over the
block that I want.

So renew the lease
from both heirs,

drill it and the royalty
money will go to the court.

Then when the suit is settled,

they'll give it to the
rightful owner, easy-peasy.

Hell, I don't even have

the money to renew
it from one of 'em.

Then drill it before
the lease expires.

In seven days?

We need a partner and
we needed one yesterday.

(mouths a name)

Mr. Naylor, my name's
Jim McNeely, President

of McNeely Oil Company,
can I have a word with you?

What's this all about?

Can't you see I'm
having a meeting here?

Mr. Naylor, I'm
about to move a rig

on the Turpin section,
offsetting your Sheets lease.

I intend to be making a hole by

Monday unless someone stops me.

Hell, I've never
heard of whatever

the hell company you're
supposed to be President of.

Sir, would you like to hear
what I have to say or not?

Guess he liked my speech.

Hello.

[Lee] Hi.

Just how much money are
you drawing, Mrs. McNeely?

Not enough to put up with
you clowns, that's for sure.

You're fired.

What?

Whaaaaat?

You're fired.

Oh yeah.

I'm trading you in
for a full time wife.

You can paint up that little
room you've been talking about.

Consul just bought
a piece of our lease

and hired us to drill
it, we start on Monday.

This sly son of a
silver-tongued devil

walked over to the
President of Consul

Petroleum and sold him the
damn deal outta nowhere.

Ah ha.

I nailed that son of a bitch.

Yes you did.

(upbeat trumpet music)

I've got the prettiest
girl in the state of Texas.

¶ Cheers, here's to you and me ¶

¶ Baby can't you see ¶

y Jim, I've been looking at it..

It's a great prospect.

(cheering)

(upbeat big band music)

Yes Jim!

You did it!

Yes.

¶ North, south, east or west ¶

¶ We've got whatever it takes ¶

¶ We'll make our
own lucky breaks ¶

¶ So clear the
decks for action ¶

¶ Guaranteed satisfaction ¶

¶ We'll go all the
way, stand or fall ¶

¶ So cheers ¶

¶ To one and all ¶

So soon, you pass
me off that soon?

(upbeat guitar music)

(relaxed violin music)

Goddammit.

[Jim] There's only a rare
few of these to be found.

Now there's one less.

They'd offered it to me and
I threw it out the window.

But you told me not
to buy cheap leases.

So now it's my fault?

So what if you did
buy Scurry County?

We'd be sloppy rich by now?

What would you have that
you haven't already got?

A title like millionaire?

In case you haven't
heard, I am a millionaire.

[Lee] Jim.

No wait, you add up
the value of the oil

in the ground and the
rig and the new office

building and this
house that you live in,

subtract what I owe, there's
a million dollars left.

And what does that do?

What are you gonna
do with more money?

Where do you stop
wanting, when?

When you really get
to be a millionaire?

I am a millionaire, goddammit!

Well yippee for you.

Hey.

Say.

There's something I
forgot to tell you.

We're moving to Fort Worth.

[Jim] Surprise.

I knew we were going, I
just didn't know when.

(relaxed piano, violin music)

[Lee] My God, the houses
just keep on gettin' bigger.

[Jim] Yeah and the jerks
that live in 'em too.

Tomorrow I'm gonna
show you the new

headquarters for the
McNeely Oil Company.

I'm gonna kick my
boots up on my desk

every day and make
like a big oilman.

[Lee] When did this
all come about?

Dent took care of it.

What do you think
about this one?

It looks like a small castle.

They're having a
party, there's music.

Oh.

It's for you.

But I don't know anyone here.

Yet.

This is a housewarming
party honey, for you.

What?

This is your new castle and
since you're the queen of it,

you get a key.

Jim, what have you done?

Don't worry about it.

We're home.

(upbeat trumpet music)

Hey y'all, howdy.

You traitorous bastard.

Lookin' great, honey.

[Jim] Charley.
Jim, Lee.

Welcome home.

It took y'all long enough to
get out of that dustbowl but

I trust you'll find
yourselves comfortable here.

Excuse me gentlemen if
I use the powder room.

Jim McNeely, welcome
back to Fort Worth.

You sure have made quite a
name for yourself out West.

He certainly has.

Yeah, I've done all right.

A far cry from the days
on the schoolyard, right?

That was a long time ago, Jim.

Charley here was just telling
us about your latest streak.

Well, Charley tell
'em about our last

deal that bought you
that new Cadillac.

Maybe we'll get y'all in on
our Reeves County prospect.

Sounds all right to me.
[Jim] Excuse me boys,

y'all get a drink or 10.

One well, one Cadillac,
easiest money I ever made.

You still think you can struggle

along in this
little old bungalow?

Looks like a damn museum.

Everyone's impressed,
repulsed but impressed.

But that's what you
wanted, isn't it?

You done good, Denty boy.

I even got you a
little something.

Well open it, dammit.

Are you proposing?
[Jim] You wish.

Thank you.
For everything.

Alright. Don't go gettin'
all sentimental on me.

I need a drink.

Buster?

[Mrs. Wales] Jim McNeely.

Hello Mrs. Wales.

You do look wonderful.

Why thank you.

You look mighty sharp yourself.

I'm so glad you invited me.

I just wish Dr. Wales
had lived to see it.

Come on.

Let's walk.
Yes ma'am.

It's a lovely house, Jim.

It is, isn't it?

I remember it when I was a girl.

I remember a lot of things too.

Now Jim, the past
is a long time gone.

You have done so
magnificently well.

I'd like to think Dr.
Wales and I were partly

responsible for giving you the
push in the right direction.

I'd say it was a
pretty good shove.

Now you know bitterness will

suck the pleasure
right out of things.

How's Mazie?

I don't know how much you know.

It hasn't been all
sunshine for Mazie.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I figured y'all had it made.

Pluto, I mean Clayton, he
comes from such good stock.

Mrs. Wales, can I
get you a drink?

A scotch would be wonderful.

One scotch coming up.

It is so good to see you,
I'm so glad you're here.

Thank you, Jim.

[Ort] Jim.

You old boll-weevil.
[Jim] Ort.

Come here, you oughta be
mighty proud, son 'a bitch.

Save that kinda
talk for the field.

I just come to congratulate you.

I know you did, you look
great, I love this tie.

Jim.

Here she is.

Has she changed?

Just look at her.
Mom, stop.

You sound like you're
exhibited a registered heifer.

It's good to see you, Jim.

Wow.

Little old Mazie Wales grew up

to be even more stunning
than I remember.

You didn't turn out
so bad yourself.

[Pluto] Where the hell
did everyone get off to?

Stabber,

goddamn Stabber.

Pluto.

Me and this man, we had us
some times didn't we Jim?

I've had myself
some bad luck, Jim.

Hey, we gots to go and talk
somewhere, huh brother?

Let's all go get a drink.

Pluto, you still
drinking, whiskey?

[Pluto] I'm never not.

[Mazie] I should've sent
you a plant or something.

But I do have another
little present for you.

I've been saving it.

Don't open 'til Christmas.

That Christmas is
ancient history.

I am so happy for you, Jim
and I know that you have

a wonderful wife now and
I can't wait to meet her

and do everything I can to
make sure she likes it here.

You might as well start
now, here she comes.

Honey, come here for a minute.

I want you to meet
a very special

friend of mine, this is Mazie...

LeMane!

Hi Mazie, Lee McNeely,
it's nice to meet you.

It so nice to meet you too, Lee.

Welcome to Fort Worth.

Thank you.

Sorry to interrupt,
there are two gentlemen

who seem to have settled
into an all night

drinking game into what I
presume to be our bedroom.

Do you think they would
mind terribly if I

put on my pajamas and
slipped quietly into bed?

(Mazie laughs)

She's funny too.

I like her.

I'll take care of it, honey.

Jim, I think it's time you
kicked us all out and I

will get to know this wonderful
wife of yours soon enough.

That's very nice of you.

I'll lead you out.

[Jim] All right.

I'll be out there in a minute.

Good show, old man.

[Jim] Good to see ya.

(festive trumpet music)

[Lee] Two diamonds.

You gotta beat three, sweetie.

This country bumpkin
here is used to

throwin' dice with cowboys,
not playing bridge.

Cowboys?

Well that sounds fun.
(laughs)

[Woman] You kill me, Lee.

I admire you.

Me?

Why on earth?

Havin' the courage to
leave your first husband.

I mean weren't you worried
about people talking?

We didn't stick around to
find out what people would say

or do, it all happened so fast.

[Mazie] way you describe feeling

back then, that's the
way I feel right now.

Oh.

Mazie, it was so much
different for me.

Look at all that you have.

You live in a city, the people.

Pluto, I mean Clayton,

he is such a fine young
man from a good family.

Look at this pity party.

Shake it off, that's what
I do and drink of course.

Thank you.

It's strange to
be served dinner.

[Jim] Well get
used to it, sugar.

I don't know what to do
in this big house, Jim.

Can I come work in the office?

How's your new accountant
doing, does he need help?

No, my wife's not
working at a damn office.

Besides, I thought you'd
like to be a lady of leisure.

Leisure and boredom
seem to go hand in hand.

Leisure and business,
that's how deals are made.

Speaking of, Pluto's
going to drop by later

for a drink, says he's got
an ace of a deal to show me.

I thought we could have
some time alone tonight.

For once.

He's my old oil field
buddy, you know?

You get mighty close working
on those gangs together.

Oh, and Mazie's
tagging along too.

Oh?

I have to say, I didn't know
how I feel about Mazie.

But I do like her,
she's down to earth

beneath all those fancy clothes.

She's a good girl, harmless.

I'm glad you two
are getting along.

(festive trumpet music)

I win again.

Hey Lee, why don't you
come over here and give

a girl a hand taking
down these knuckleheads?

I gotta say it, I hate
cards and I'm going to bed.

Don't be so sour, sugar.

I'm not being sour,
I'm just tired.

Hey.

Hey.

I can send them home, honey.

Nah.

Y'all are having
fun, I am being sour.

You enjoy yourselves.

Goodnight y'all.
[Pluto] Goodnight, honey.

[Jim] Goodnight.
All right Stabber,

come and deal 'em up
you goddamn field hand.

Let's beat this girl.

Oh please.
[Pluto] She's cheating.

(telephone ringing)

Hello.
[Jim] Hey sweetheart.

Pack your bags, we're going
to West Texas for the weekend.

West Texas, where, just you
and me, what should I bring?

[Jim] Oh hell, just
bring a toothbrush.

Do some cowgirl shopping
over at Lettie's.

I'll pick you up at 11.
- Are you crazy?

That's in an hour.
[Jim] Yeah well,

we'll arrive just
in time for dinner.

Jim!

(country violin music)

Upgrade us to the
Presidential Suite.

I mean if you're
gonna do it right,

you gotta do it
right, right sugar?

Sounds wonderful.

[Pluto] Stabber.

[Mazie] What took y'all
so long to get here?

Hey Lee.
I should've warned you.

[Mazie] Hi Jim.
[Lee] Jim,

this is a business trip?

Honey, it's an everything trip.

Let's go check out our suite.

(gunshot booms)

[Jim] Gentlemen, we've drilled
nine prospects together.

Five were dry, four produced.

The one in Reagan
County is just so-so.

I wouldn't recommend
drilling any more there.

We'll just, we'll farm it
out to another operator.

What we should
all be thinking is

looking for something with
a little more juice in it.

How long you think it's gonna

take for that Reagan
well to pay out?

At current production rates,
about three and a half years.

Oh, well that don't
sound too bad.

Why can't we just drill the
rest of that lease ourselves?

The Reagan well's cuttin' water

and history's taught
me when you get water,

that water's just
gonna increase.

I don't make money if you
boys don't make money.

Our oil in the ground today
will produce hefty returns.

Hell, we might even
find another East Texas.

Or Scurry County.

I'm gonna drill
these wells on my own

or with other partners if
y'all ain't interested.

Hold on a minute Jim, nobody
said we weren't interested.

Good.

After this next string
of wildcats, we'll

take that safari trip courtesy
of McNeely Oil of course.

All right.

I don't know if you
gentlemen know this

but one of my life's
great ambitions

is to kill every
species that exists.

I got about 100 of 'em so far.

Let me know when you get
around to homo sapiens,

so I can hide.
(men chuckle)

My wife's a comedienne.

Oh Jim, I have been dying
to kill an elephant.

Honey, I'll fix it
so that you kill

the biggest damn
elephant in Africa.

You could mount his foot
for an umbrella stand,

paint his toenails gold.

Dent, line up a safari.

You should come too, we'll
need somebody to mix drinks.

Yes B'wana.

[Jim] Well boys, this next
string's gonna be real nice.

Don't worry too much about
this circus, little buddy.

There are very few
people in this jolly new

milieu of ours who live lives
of any real significance.

All our new playmates seem to

dedicate their lives to
pleasuring themselves.

Sybarites, stay up
late, drink deep

from the laughing
waters and burn your

incense at sunset
to the God of Fun.

Count me out.

(tepid ensemble music)

The cabbie's loaded up.

I'm too close to
home to not go see it

and by golly, close that deal.

I always do.

I got a good feeling
about this next prospect.

It might be enough to retire on.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Someday we will, hon.

Hey.

I know.

Drive safe sugar,
I'll see you tomorrow.

Tell dad hi.

This old knee's givin'
me a little trouble.

But nothing an ice pack and
a shot of rye can't fix.

Enough about my health.

Spill it.

What's wrong?

You didn't drive all the way

out here just to make me dinner.

It's an empty life we're living.

All these men he used to
know now swarming around us

just because he
struck a few wells.

But he's trying to be a
part of something that

I just don't care about.
- Oil men want respect.

It's a disease.

It makes most crazy
and others crooked.

Breaks the hearts of the
strong and rewards a few

lucky ones with wealth and
power beyond their deserving.

Jim thinks he lost
his luck at Scurry.

Maybe he did.

Help him find his luck, darling.

Do that and you'll both be
necessary to one another.

(tepid piano, trumpet music)

(singing in French)

[Mazie] Oh.

Jim.

(moaning)

(Mazie screams)

Nothing?

What the hell do
you mean by nothing?

She doesn't want anything.

Not the house, no money.

Just the divorce.

She's got a legal
right to what's hers.

She said she can work

and you'll need all the
money you have and then some.

What?

What the hell does that mean?

Listen, you find
out what I'm worth

and she'll damn sure
take half of that.

You go back and lay that
on the line right now.

Why don't you go?

I sent word I wanted to meet.

What else am I supposed to do?

In the spot you're in buddy,
you don't send emissaries.

You get over there, you get down

on your knees and
beg for forgiveness.

Unless of course you
want this divorce.

(soft violin tones)

(knocking)

[Lee] Who is it?

[Jim] It's me, Lee.

What do you want?

[Jim] I want to talk.

What do you wanna talk about?

I didn't mean to hurt
you, it just happened.

It's just stupid drunken
behavior, that's all.

You've loved her
since she left you.

No.

No.

[Lee] This is exactly what you

wanted and you
damn well know it.

Just get outta here so we
can get this over with.

I've suffered long enough,
you son of a bitch.

(somber violin music)

It's over now, I'm done with it.

Please, I love you.
[Lee] Go away.

Leave me alone.

I never want to see you again.

(somber violin music)

(Mazie laughing)

(mechanical creaking)

Goddammit.

Shut this son of a bitch
down right now, we're empty.

This is my eighth dry well

in a row and it
better be the last.

Shit Jim, you say that like
I'm a rock-sniffin' geologist.

I ain't nothin' but a two-bit
pie-playing son of a bitch.

I told you all not to eat that
bone-in chicken on the rig.

Bad luck.

Bad luck.

(somber violin music)

[Jim] You didn't wish
me a happy birthday.

Happy birthday, Jim.

Happy.

It's a stupid word, it
doesn't mean anything.

[Jim] You measure it by success.
- Successful birthday then.

A man who owes $3 million and is

only 36 has gotta be successful.

I wouldn't ride that
theory too long.

So what if we hadn't
found another East Texas,

we got reserves in the ground.

And our investors are starting
to doubt those reserves.

Look, I like risks
just as much as you do

but sometimes I wish
you'd let some of these

deals pay out before
we get in any deeper.

Stop being so neurotic.

We'll hit a sweet spot soon.

I'm just being realistic

and I wish you'd
take off that tire.

It makes me feel like I'm one

heartbeat away
from unemployment.

Ah hell Denty boy, I've had
too much fun puttin' it on.

Besides, I got a heart

that's stronger than
bull rhinoceros hide.

You know it's Lee's
birthday in a couple days.

Send her some flowers,
see if she needs anything.

Already taken care of.

Now there's a gift
worth the wait.

Isn't it lovely to be married to

a man who buys me
presents on his birthday?

Are you boys ready to go?

I'm ready.

[Mazie] I love my bracelet.

(anxious violin tones)

The Bison stock's done well.

It sounds like you've
got a nice nest egg.

They don't care a damn about

a geologist who put in 20 years.

I'll be scratchin' by just
to make my retirement.

Somebody somewhere
must owe you something.

I'm standing here
with my hand out,

waiting for the mana to drop.

I got news for you, buddy.

Mana don't drop.

You gotta reach up and pluck it.

I don't know how, Jim.

Never been able to.

This whole country's
riddles with damn holes.

Every time they drill a new one,

that's one less place to try.

I'm tired of drilling blind.

I got the rigs, I know
where to get the money

and I can drill better than
anyone in this goddamn state.

But...

I gotta know where to drill.

You tell me where

and you will never draw
another poor breath again.

Am I being too subtle
for you, Barry?

No.

You're not being subtle, Jim.

It sounds like you're
talkin' about larceny.

[Jim] It's just a little
map with a dot on it.

(anxious violin, piano music)

(Lee laughing)

Baby, are you okay?

Never better.

I was beginning to
look like a ragdoll,

so I had to go shopping.

The Neiman's card was declined
but I just paid in cash.

Buy whatever the hell you need.

Jim.

This house is a far cry
from Bowie Street, ain't it?

Jim, what's wrong baby?

(somber violin, piano music)

Good morning, sunshine.
This won't wash, Jim.

Leave Barry Wakely
out of your schemes.

You can do whatever
the hell you want

with Bison but
leave Barry alone.

It's funny how it
comes full circle.

You feeling sorry for
poor old Bison Oil

Company that's got more
money than Uncle Sugar.

You can't wreck a man like that

and get away with it,
it will wreck you too.

I see you got your preacher
suit on,

today, ready
to give me hell.

Well Barry has got
a retarded son who's

gonna wreck his life is he
doesn't get money somewhere.

You know you've
gotten mighty damn

spoiled workin' for
me livin' it up.

You're a real exotic
little gentleman

with mighty expensive tastes.

But if this outfit goes bust,

you're gonna be out on
your ass starvin' to death.

So quit actin' like a
goddamn neurotic woman.

I'm trying to run
an oil business.

Jim, you can still
undo what you started.

We can go back to West
Texas and run our rigs.

So what if we've
crapped out here?

At least we can look in the
mirror without throwing up.

Get outta here.

Hey, don't make a
crook outta him.

You can be a crook because you
don't believe it's crooked.

Did you ever stop to
think you're a sucker fish

who's been living off a mean,
mean shark all these years?

This is Dent you're talking to.

Yes Dent, my
pervert philosopher.

As far as I'm concerned,
you're a useless queer.

Get outta my sight.

Get outta my life, I
got a well to drill.

I've had to live with myself

the best way I could,
but I never hurt anybody

so far as I know or
corrupted anybody

with my own corruption.

(soft somber piano tones)

¶ How many ¶

¶ Times ¶

¶ Have you heard someone say ¶

¶ If I had his money ¶

¶ I could do things my way ¶

¶ But little did they know ¶

¶ That it's so hard to find ¶

¶ One rich man in 10 ¶

¶ With a satisfied mind ¶

¶ Once I was winning ¶

¶ In fortune and fame ¶

¶ Everything that
I dreamed for ¶

[Scottie] Jim!

Shit.

Everything is about to blow.
Let's hope so.

Your investors and
the New York Bank

both want certified audits,
they're serious Jim.

The hell with them,
I'm drilling a hellcat.

They want you to shut down
and not spend another dime.

Are they outta
their fuckin' minds?

I'm drilling a well right now
that will pay off everybody.

They will force you
into bankruptcy.

Well how long can
you hold them off?

Jim, I'm a lawyer.

Not a shyster.
- Jesus Christ!

When did everybody
get so goddamn moral?

You lawyers will steal
and lie for a rich client

but you run like chickens when

it's a poor bastard
who's in a jam.

You no longer represent
me, that's all Scottie.

(well booms)

(muffled shouting)

What the hell's going on?

It's just a kink, boss.

[Jim] Then get back
to drilling, dammit.

Jim has been so damn irritable.

I warned him if he
kept deserting me for

a pile of clanking
machinery that I was gonna

replace him with something
a little more animate.

I have to be honest
with you, Mazie.

You're coming to the end of

the line with your
pudgy old magnate.

He's in trouble, your Jim.

It's a funny thing, isn't it?

What's that, sweetheart?

I guess

eventually,

we all wash up.

You?

Oh.

I would never say
that about you.

No, not me.

Not if I can help it.

(slap)

I'm...

so...

[Jim] Be better today.
- Yes sir.

Need some tall guys do.
- We need new daylight water.

(knocking)

What?

[Michael] James McNeely?

Who want to know?

[Michael] My name's
Michael Arthur,

Division Attorney for Bison Oil.

You sir are drilling on a lease
that doesn't belong to you.

You acquired this lease through

the defalcation of a
trusted Bison employee,

a geologist by the
name of Barry Wakely.

Those leases belong to Bison.

In order to save
embarrassing yourself,

my company is willing to pay any

out of pocket costs
you've incurred

provided you sign those
leases right back to us.

No charges will be filed against

you or Mr. Wakely if you do so.

Did Barry Wakely tell
you this bedtime story?

Wakely disappeared

and that is a clear
admission of guilt.

We know he's been
meeting with you.

Yeah?

Yeah?

Yes.

I've known him for over
15 years, on and off.

He's a friend of mine.

We worked together at Bison

partnering while you were
still making mud pies.

I know all about
your record at Bison

and I know I'm
dealing with a pro.

But Bison has been
unscrupulously looted

and we'll spare
no time or expense

getting back what's
rightfully ours.

Mister lawyer, you folks
are way outta line.

So you just draw up your papers

and sue me, hotshot.

We'll see you in the courthouse.

If she's dry, I'll
buy you a drink

'cause nobody will
give a shit but me.

If she comes roaring in
like a wildcat oughta,

well then we'll have
something worth suing about.

[Jim] I hope we both
have work to do.

(anxious guitar tones)

[Ort] Jim!

What?

I'm running late.

It's the crew, we's
two weeks late on pay.

[Jim] I got it covered,
just keep drilling.

Mr. McNeely, how about
upgrading your Corvette today?

Shit Red, how about
buying her back?

Never did like the color
my wife picked out anyhow.

But it's gotta be cash.

Cash will cost you, Jim.

But I'm sure we can
work something out.

Put it here, partner.
Great.

[Red] Come on let's go in here,

I'll buy you a drink boy.
[Jim] I can use a couple, Red.

(relaxed guitar tones)

Dent?

Dent Paxton, where have
you been you naughty boy?

Mexico's changed.

The colors have faded and gone.

I can't imagine
that, how could it?

It's true, they were vivid once.

Now they've all gone white.

So I came back home, home
is where the heart is.

Isn't that touching?

I made it up.

Dent, whatever it is,
it won't last forever.

Life is strange is all.

You only need to breathe
and to love to enjoy it.

But we make it so complicated
for no understandable reason.

Why?

(anxious violin music)

Goddammit.

(somber violin music)

Munson, can I get a goddamn
drink in here or what?

Mr. McNeely,

I seen Mr. Paxton here
just a few minutes ago.

I thought he was
going for fresh air.

Where did he go, Mr. Munson?

(somber violin music)

(sirens blaring)

Best man I ever knew.

Yeah.

Too good for this world.

We hit 12,000 feet but
we need to pull the bit.

We only got 400 feet to go,

can't you just keep
turning her right?

It'll run the cone
off if we don't

pull the bit up
out of that hole.

Goddammit, just snake
that pipe out of that

hole and put the new
drill bit on right now.

Do it, Ort.

All right, Jim.

Fuck.

(anxious guitar music)

[Ort] Take the drill, you
see that bit in there?

[Worker] Yes sir.
- All right well

pitch it out, pull
that son of a bitch off.

[Man] Yes sir.
[Ort] How long that gonna take?

[Man] Couple hours.
[Ort] Bullshit, let's move it.

Get that bit outta
there before noon.

Let's go, boys.

Ain't got time here to
dally, let's go, come on.

Move your ass!

[Ort] Shit, gas! Clear, gas!
Everybody clear out!

(anxious violin, guitar tones)

Hey Jim.

Jim,

come on buddy.

Jim, you all right?

(soft somber ensemble music)

(Jim weeping)

You okay, buddy?

[Nurse] He broke
his arm and several

ribs but that's not
the main trouble.

He's had a massive
coronary thrombosis.

He's sedated but he's conscious.

I'm glad you're here,
you must be his wife.

Um...

Yes.

I thought so, he's been

saying your name all
night. Lee, right?

(somber violin music)

Hey.

Say.

I had the worst damn nightmare.

You left me

and I married that
grubber Mazie.

It was awful.

Dent killed himself.

And Ort...

I can still smell the swamp gas.

(somber violin music)

Jimmy.

(relaxed violin music)

Hi.

[Boy] Are you daddy?
- Yeah.

You a little cowboy?

[Boy] Did you see that?
- Yeah, it's a chicken.

[Jimmy] It's a chicken.

[Lee] Come on, boys.

(relaxed country
guitar, piano music)

(relaxed country
music continues)