Original subtitles

Young man, do you have the time?

I got six clocks in the house, and none of them work.

Twenty after 9:00.

After? It's 20 after, dear.

-Dar ing! -Five minutes. What about you?

I‘m all set. Ijust ironed my sling.

The lawyer said 9:30 sharp, darling.

Okay.

I hope you‘re not miserly. It's brand-new. She ought to get a good price for it.

Is that the right mileage? 23 miles?

Yeah. We only took two rides in it.

Men keep running into her to start a conversation.

-Will you come up here? -Sure, dear.

It's brand-new.

It was a divorce present from her husband.

-They‘re giving presents for divorces now? -Why not?

On the anniversary of our divorce, my husband sends me a potted yellow rose.

It'll be 19 years in July.

He never did pay me alimony,

but I wouldn‘t want to put a man out if his heart's not in it.

Did you break your arm in the car?

No. My last roomer, the one before Mrs. Taber,

we celebrated her divorce

and I misbehaved.

I‘m so sick and tired of myself.

He cruelly ignored my personal rights

and resorted on several occasions to physical violence against me.

He persistently and cruelly ignored my personal rights and wishes.

-Will you go over my answers with me? -Sure, but don’t worry.

You'll do wonderfully.

Let‘s see.

"Did your husband, Mr. Raymond Taber, act toward you with cruelty?"

Darling?

Well, yes.

Just say yes.

Yes.

"In what way did this cruelty manifest itself?“

He persistently...

How does that go again?

"He persistently and cruelly ignored my personal wishes and my rights

"and resorted on several occasions to physical violence against me."

He persistently...

Do I have to say that?

Why can't I just say he wasn't there?

You could touch him, but he wasn't there.

Darling girl, if that was grounds for divorce,

there‘d only be about 11 marriages left in the United States.

Just repeat after me.

He persistently...

He persistently...

They'll call in their estimate from the office.

Those dents aren‘t my fault, you know.

I'll recommend the best price I can, ma'am.

You can drive her. I put in a new battery.

I'll never drive it again.

Let‘s take a taxi.

-I‘II give you a lift if you're leaving now. -Swell. Two minutes.

lz, get dressed. You‘re my witness!

This will be my 77th time I‘ve witnessed for a divorce.

Two 7s! That's lucky, darling!

I hope.

-Easy does it, now. -You're a dear.

Here we are.

Thanks a lot. We got to go now.

If you're not going back east right away, I'd like to show you around.

Beautiful country around here.

I don't know where I'll be, but okay. Thanks again.

My name is Isabelle Steers.

Isabelle. Well, you come along, too.

That's a sweet afterthought.

You Reno men.

I can’t memorize this. It‘s not true.

Just say it. It doesn't have to be true.

It's only a court, not a quiz show.

I just got here. I‘m not late, am I?

-I don't want to hear. -Just five minutes. After two years...

You can‘t have me, so you want me.

Please. I'm not blaming you.

I just don't believe in the whole thing anymore.

Kid, I understand.

You don‘t understand. You're not there.

If I'm going to be alone, I want to be by myself.

Go back. You won't make me feel sorry for you anymore.

Gay!

Wait! I was just going to see you.

Good luck, Susan.

I won't forget you. You can be sure of that.

I don't even know where to write you.

General delivery. I‘ll get it.

Will you think about it?

It's the second largest laundry in St. Louis.

I ain‘t cut out for business.

Will you think of me? Gay!

You know I will, honey.

Good-bye.

Bye.

How are you doing?

You ready to cut out of this town? I am.

I've been thinking about it.

Which one was that?

Susan. Swell sport, that woman.

I just met me a girl sweet enough to eat.

A fine-looking woman.

Trouble is, all the useless talking you got to do gets me discouraged.

I‘m dying for fresh air and no people, male or female.

Let‘s take out to the mountains, do some mustanging.

I wanted to pile up $500.

-I want a new engine. -Yours will fly you anywhere.

You've been working two months. You're getting the habit.

I'll see you at Harrahs later. Let's talk about it.

Tom Dooley.

If you throw in your ring, you'll never get another divorce.

Go ahead, honey. Everybody does it.

More gold in that river than there is in the Klondike.

Did you do that?

Who, me? No. I lost my ring on my honeymoon.

-Let's get a drink. -That‘s my girl.

Wait a minute, honey. This machine loves me.

Never say die.

Scotch, I guess, on ice. Yeah, on ice.

Rye and water.

Scotch on ice, rye and water.

Cheer up.

I will. I just hate to fight with anybody.

When you win, you lose, you know, in your heart.

You're free.

Maybe the trouble is you're not used to it yet.

The trouble is I always end up back where I started.

I never had anybody much. Here I am.

You had your mother, didn't you?

How do you have somebody who disappears all the time?

They both weren't there.

She'd go off with a patient for three months.

You know how long three months is to a kid.

Listen...

Don't leave, settle here.

They got a school. You could teach dancing.

One thing about this town, it's always full of interesting strangers.

I‘m sorry. What did I say?

I suddenly miss my mother.

Isn't that the stupidest thing?

Iz, you're a fine woman.

You're practically the only woman who's ever been my friend.

Drink up, kid.

Isn‘t that the dearest dog?

Look how sweet he sits there.

Yeah. Dogs are nice.

Here.

Puppy.

Here, puppy.

Hey, Dooley.

Hello. How did you make out?

Okay.

I‘d like you to meet a friend of mine. Gay?

Gay Langland, Mrs. Taber.

How do you do?

-And this is Mrs... -Steers. Isabelle Steers.

One thing about Reno men, they remember names.

Why don't you sit down?

Thank you.

-What are you girls drinking? -Whiskey.

We're celebrating, the jail burned down.

Mary, get four doubles, will you?

You sure made a big impression on my friend here

and I can see why.

You a mechanic, too?

Him? He‘s a cowboy.

-How did you know? -I can smell, can‘t I?

You can‘t smell cows on me.

I can smell the look on your face, cowboy,

but I love every miserable one of you.

You're all good-for-nothing, as you know.

That may be, but it‘s better than wages.

I suppose you‘re heading back east?

I can't make up my mind. I don't know.

You don‘t have a business or...

I never finished high school.

That's real good news.

You don‘t like educated women?

They're okay, but always want to know what you're thinking.

Maybe they want to know you better.

Did you ever know a man better by asking questions?

You mean he'd lie?

He might not, and then again, he just might.

Say, Pilot, we taking off today?

You ever been outside Reno, Mrs. Taber?

Once I walked to the edge of town. Not much there.

Everything's there.

Like what?

The country.

What do you do?

Just live.

How do you "just live"?

You start by going to sleep.

You get up when you feel like it. You scratch yourself.

You fry some eggs. You see what kind of a day it is.

You throw stones at a can and whistle.

I know what you mean.

I have an empty house just beyond Hawleyville.

It‘s all yours if you want some peace and quiet.

The last woman‘s gone?

No kidding. I never offered it before.

I wouldn‘t stay there, but let's rent a car. We'll look at the country.

Gay has a truck. You can have my car.

-No. Then you‘ll have to drive me back. -I don't mind.

No, thanks. I like to feel I'm on my own.

-Where can I rent a car? -Now?

Why not?

Okay! You sure don't waste your time.

I've just got to quit my job.

Hey, that's the boy.

No, Gay. This is mine.

What is that beautiful smell? It smells like green perfume.

That‘s sage, Darling.

Sure. I never smelled it except in bottles.

-It‘s beautiful here. -Look, dear girl,

I think I'd better tell you something about cowboys.

-You really worry about me, don‘t you? -You’re too believing.

Cowboys are the last real men left in the world

and they‘re about as reliable as jack rabbits.

Is anybody different?

Maybe you‘re not supposed to believe what people say. Maybe it's not fair to them.

I couldn‘t hear what he said

but it looked like she left him, the husband.

She's kind of hard to figure out, you know?

One minute she looks kind of dumb and brand-new, like a kid,

and the next minute, she...

She‘s real prime.

Why, it isn't finished yet.

It's weather-tight. Come in.

It's insulated.

Flush doors.

This is the living room.

This was going to be another bedroom.

It's even nice this way.

Here's a picture window.

Take a look at this view.

Look at that.

It goes on forever.

Fireplace.

-Brick. -This is the kitchen.

Gas refrigerator.

Looks nice.

And here's the bathroom. Ceramic tile.

And here's our...

This was our bedroom.

My wife.

She died here.

I‘m sorry.

She was due to have a baby.

I was setting the capstone on the chimney

and she screamed

and that was that.

Couldn‘t you call a doctor?

She didn‘t seem to be that sick.

Then I got a flat. I didn't have a spare.

Everything just happened wrong.

It'll do that sometimes.

Yeah. I know.

You couldn't live here anymore?

We knew each other since we were 7 years old, see?

You ought to find yourself another girl.

I don't know.

Being with anybody else, it seems impossible, you know?

She wasn't like any other women.

Stood behind me 100%, uncomplaining as a tree.

Maybe that's what killed her.

I mean, a little complaining helps sometimes, maybe.

Isn't this a beautiful place here?

Yeah, it would be perfect if someone would get that whiskey

I bought with my money.

Hey, that‘s right!

And bring the groceries. Maybe somebody is hungry.

The glasses are in the kitchen. I'm real tired.

You're just a cowboy, darling.

You fellas won't move unless it’s raining down your necks.

Too rough for you, Roslyn?

I don’t mind that.

You should have seen his wife.

She helped pour cement and knocked in nails.

She was a real good sport.

Now she's dead because he didn't have a spare tire.

That's the way it goes.

It goes the other way, too. Don't forget that.

It's sure nice to see people again.

Come on, let‘s have a drink. The refrigerator makes ice quick.

Ice?

-We‘re staying that long? -I don‘t know.

Come on! There's no better place to be.

You couldn't find better company.

-All right. -That‘s it, sport.

Turn on the ice. Let‘s get this stuff flowing, make the desert bloom.

Flow it slow. We only got one bottle.

There you are, put that in your thoughts and see how they come out.

Sit down, everybody. Let‘s get comfortable.

I'm sure glad you like this place.

Here's to Nevada, the leave-it state.

-The what? -Leave-it.

You got money to gamble, leave it here.

Get rid of your wife here.

Blow it up here, no one will mind a bit.

The slogan of Nevada is, "Anything goes, but don't complain if it went.“

That's no lie.

I left my southern accent here.

How come you never went back home after your divorce?

-I wasn't beautiful enough. -Isabelle.

That's true. Beauty's a help anyplace,

but in Virginia, it's a necessity.

You can't hardly get a driver's license without it.

I love Nevada.

They don‘t even have regular mealtimes.

Never met so many people with no watch.

Maybe two wives, but no watch. Bless them all.

How quiet it is here.

Sweetest sound there is.

There‘s an Indian store about five miles.

It's got groceries, everything.

If you want to stay, that is.

Be glad to come by and do chores.

He reminds me of that cowboy friend I told you about.

Had one arm gone but was more man with one arm than any man with two.

I mean like cooking.

He‘d throw a panful of chops up in the air, and they came down on the other side.

Who is he? Maybe they know him.

Darling, you can't go looking for a man.

He took off?

No, not exactly.

He just never came back.

Andy Powell. Ever...

Sure. Called Andy Gump sometimes?

That's him!

-Where is he? -Saw him at the rodeo only last month.

Maybe we could find him...

Stop thinking you can change things.

If you can do something...

I don't know what to do, but if! knew, I‘d do it.

Have you got a radio or a phonograph for music?

There‘s no electricity.

The car radio!

Who‘d have thought of that?

You always get an idea, don‘t you?

I'll go bring the car around.

How about another drink to keep that one warm?

I'd love it.

I‘m making myself a sandwich. How about you?

Okay.

I hope you‘ll stay on here. Any chance?

Why? What difference would it make?

Might make all the difference in the world, as time goes by.

Like to dance?

Okay.

Thanks.

Iz, give him another drink. It's a wonderful house, Guido.

That's pretty good dancing, cowboy.

What are you doing?

She used to teach dancing, you know? Before she was married.

No kidding. In a dance hall?

How about the landlord? Move over, boy.

-Watch out for those pretty feet. -She knows how to get out of the way.

Let‘s go.

Where did you learn that, Pilot?

I never knew him to dance at all.

Look at old Pilot coming out from under a bushel.

You two ought to put on a show.

Come on, honey, this is a good one. I haven’t danced like this in years.

Didn't your wife dance?

Not like you. She had no gracefulness.

Why didn't you teach her?

You can‘t learn that.

How do you know? I mean, how do you know?

You see, she died, and she didn't know how you can dance.

To a certain extent, maybe you were strangers.

I don't feel like discussing my wife.

Don't be mad.

I only meant, if you loved her, you could've taught her anything.

Because,

we're all dying, aren‘t we?

All the husbands and all the wives,

every minute,

and we're not teaching each other what we really know, are we?

You're a nice man.

Smile.

Come on.

Come on, Iz.

I‘m looking for your shoes, dear girl.

Watch out. There's no step.

We better get you home, girl.

You were worried about me.

How sweet.

Just want to keep you all in one pretty piece.

Would you have had a spare tire?

Somebody better drive her.

Go ahead. I'll take the truck.

No. Don't leave poor Guido alone.

Tom Dooley.

You're a real beautiful woman.

It's a kind of an honor sitting next to you.

You just shine, in my eyes.

That's my true feeling.

What makes you so sad?

I think you're the saddest girl I ever met.

You're the first man that ever said that. I'm usually told how happy I am.

That's because you make a man feel happy.

I don't feel that way about you, Gay.

Don't get discouraged, you might.

Why don't you try it here for a while? See what happens.

Sometimes when you don't know what to do, the best thing is to stand still.

I'll guarantee you'll have something here you wouldn't find on every corner.

I may not amount to much in some ways

but I am a good friend.

Thanks.

Let‘s go back to get your things.

Try it for a while, see what happens.

Did you hear about the city man in the country?

He sees this fellow sitting on his porch.

He says, "Could you tell me how to get to town?“

The fellow says, "Nope."

"Could you give directions to the post office?"

The fellow says, "Nope."

"How about the way to the railroad station?"

"Nope."

"Boy, you sure don‘t know much, do you?"

The fellow says, "Nope, but I ain‘t lost."

Don't you have a home?

Sure. There never was a better one, either.

Where is it?

Right here.

Come on, now.

I got a surprise for you.

You cooked breakfast.

-Here, let me. -No. You sit and enjoy yourself.

Just this once.

You do this often?

First time for me.

Really and truly?

Smells delicious.

You really go all out, even the way you eat.

I like that. Women generally pick.

You like me?

The birds must be brave to live here,

at night especially.

They‘re so small.

You think I‘m crazy.

I just can't make you out.

-Why? -I don't know.

You got children?

I never wanted children with him.

Children are supposed to bring you together

but what if they don't, you know?

I‘ve known of so-called happily married couples.

One time, the wife was in the hospital

to have the baby, and the husband was calling me up.

I mean, he was calling me.

They're still supposed to be happily married.

You believe in true love, don‘t you?

I don't know,

but you shouldn't have children unless you care for each other.

Because kids know the difference. I always knew the difference.

If you want to go somewhere, I don’t mind being alone.

Do I look like I want to leave?

I just mean, I want you to do what you feel like.

You ain't kidding.

Even when you‘re kidding, you ain't kidding.

No, it makes me feel peaceful.

They come here from New York, Chicago, St. Louis, and they find a cowboy.

Cowboys are supposed to be dumb.

They tell them everything, and they do everything,

everything they couldn't do back home.

-It‘s pitiful. -Why?

Cowboy's laughing at them, and they don't know it.

It's nice to meet someone who has respect for a man.

Did you ever think of remarrying?

Yeah, I've thought about it a lot of times, but never in daylight.

You miss your children?

I see them a couple times a year. They come whenever I‘m in a rodeo.

I'm a pretty good roper.

I get lonesome. Sure.

My daughter‘s almost your size.

You a size 12?

So is she. I bought her a dress for Christmas, size 12.

What happened? Did you just stop loving your wife, Gay?

I came home one night, and she's all wrapped up with a fellow.

Turned out to be a friend, a cousin of mine, actually.

You never had any idea, huh?

No. You know, I thought you got married and that was it.

But nothing's it.

Not forever.

That's what I can't get used to. Everything keeps changing.

I'll tell you this, though,

I wouldn‘t know how to say good-bye to you, Roslyn.

It surprises me.

There‘s a lot to be done around here if we were going to stay.

Let‘s go out in the sunshine. Come on.

Let‘s just live, like you said in the bar.

I don't know where I am yet.

Hey! Couldn‘t we use that for a step?

We just might at that.

-There you are. -Let me try it.

It's perfect. I can go in

and I can come out.

Go in

and I can come out.

Go in

and I can come out.

I can go in

and I can come out.

Guido!

-What‘s he doing? -He might land. There’s a place back there.

No. I guessjust saying hello.

-Here, have some lemonade. -Oh, thanks.

What does he do, just fly around?

Could be going for eagles.

Sometimes the ranchers hire him to shoot eagles.

Why?

They kill a lot of lambs.

He gets $50 a bird.

I never really saw anything grow before.

How tiny those seeds were

yet they know they‘re supposed to be Iettuces.

You say the darnedest things. You know that, don‘t you?

Everybody‘s busy in Chicago, and here we are.

I love this whole state.

Hey! What have we here, now?

Just plain old rabbit.

I‘m going to get him.

Just one lettuce. Maybe he won't do it anymore.

Once they‘ve zeroed in on that garden, it's them or us.

-There won‘t be a thing left in a week. -Couldn’t you wait and see?

I can't stand to see anything killed.

Honey, it‘s only a rabbit.

But it doesn‘t know any better.

Go inside. I'II handle this.

You worked hard, but...

You're darn right, I never worked like that for anybody

and it wasn‘t for some bug-eyed rabbit.

Gay, please.

Will you go inside and stop being silly?

I‘m not being silly.

You don't respect what I feel.

I don’t care about the lettuce!

I care about it. How about having some respect for me?

Oh, Guido and Isabelle!

Dear girl.

I thought I saw a passenger.

How you been? We never heard you land.

Am I in the right place?

Have you seen the vegetable garden? It took a week to turn the soil.

Mowed the grass and put in the flowers, too.

I got your windows unstuck. The fireplace don't smoke anymore.

Roslyn, you‘re a magician.

The only thing he ever did for women was get out ice cubes.

-We have chairs. Come sit down. -Let's go inside.

I‘ve moved this furniture so much, I‘m getting long ears.

My, you look lovely.

You've really found yourself, haven't you?

It's so nice to see you. Look, we have a step.

-How‘s your arm? -Still weak as a bird's wing.

I never saw anything like it in my life. It’s magical.

Just hope you realize you finally made contact with a real woman.

My dear girl.

Guido, I want to show you the rest. I changed a few things, though.

We've changed things around,

and how do you like it?

Don‘t look at those. They‘re nothing. Gay hung them for a joke.

I put your picture up in the living room.

Come on. Let's have lots of drinks. Come on.

It's so nice to have company.

I put your picture over there. Is that all right?

You don‘t have to keep it out, Roslyn.

Why? It's part of the house.

Besides, it's your house. Don't sit there. Sit in the big chair.

-This must've been your chair. -Matter of fact, it was.

Isabelle, put this under your arm.

Thanks, dear girl.

I did all my studying in this chair, when I was still ambitious.

What did you study?

I wanted to be a doctor before the war.

Who knows? Maybe you‘ll get ambitious again.

I‘m going to tell you something, Roslyn.

I spent four years in the war.

Did two tours, flew 50 missions.

Every time I came back to base, I started designing this house

but it never looked like my idea of it.

Now it almost does.

You walk in, a stranger out of nowhere,

and, for the first time, it all lights up.

And I'm sure you know why, too.

Why?

Because you have the gift for life, Roslyn.

The rest of us, we're just looking for a place to hide and watch it go by.

Amen.

Here's to your life, Roslyn.

I hope it goes on forever.

And yours.

And yours, Isabelle.

And Gay.

Gay did all the work, you know.

Yeah, and the rabbits are sure enjoying it.

Could you break away from this paradise long enough to do some mustanging?

Mustanging? Now you’re saying something.

You been in the mountains?

Took a look this morning. I spotted 15 horses.

That's not too bad.

Boy, I'd sure like to get my hands on a rope again.

What do you say?

I will never understand cowboys. All crazy about animals.

The minute they got nothing to do, they go bother those poor wild horses.

Shame on you.

Horses?

Oh, sure, honey. Nevada mustang.

They used to ship them all over the United States. Not many left.

We'd need another man.

The Dayton rodeo's on today. We‘ll get one there.

That's an idea. You never saw a rodeo.

You got to see one.

I‘d love to. Will you come?

I'm all set.

I‘ll get dressed up. Let's have some fun.

That's a girl. Get going, now.

Honey, when you smile, it's like the sun coming up.

I'd like to stop and get cleaned up.

Why? You look nice. Doesn't he?

Lots better than some I‘ve known.

You're just a mass of compliments.

Hey, Gay. Stop.

That guy next to the phone booth.

You worked the Stinson rodeo with him last year.

-Perce Howland? -Gay Langland.

You old buzzard, you.

What are you doing here?

I hitched me a ride to the Dayton rodeo

but this fellow changed his mind and left me sitting here.

Roslyn, this is Perce Howland.

Gay‘s coming up in the world. How do, Ma'am?

This is Isabelle.

I got a call in for home, but they keep putting me in to Wyoming.

Hello?

Hello, Ma. This is Perce.

Yeah, I'm okay.

No, I was in Colorado. I'm in Nevada now.

Just won me a bull ride.

Yeah.

Yeah, a pretty good rodeo.

$100.

Ma, I was going to buy you a birthday present with it

but I was coming out of my boots.

No, Ma, I haven't been in the hospital since we talked.

I just bought some boots.

Ma, why would I want to get married? I just bought some boots.

Hey, you know what?

On top of purse money, I won me a nice silver buckle.

Got a bucking horse on it and my entire name written out underneath.

You proud?

Oh, no. My face is fine. It's all healed. It‘s as good as new.

You would, too, recognize me.

Okay, operator. Ma, listen.

Say hello to Frieda for me, will you? And to Victoria.

Yeah, and to Uncle George.

Okay, say hello to him, too.

No, Ma. Itjust slipped my mind, that's all.

Well, okay. I‘m saying it now.

Ma, you married him, I didn‘t, so say hello to him.

Oh, is that... Listen. Listen.

Maybe I'll call you Christmastime.

Okay.

Hello? Hello.

God bless you, too.

I just know you'll take me to that rodeo.

Sure. You entered?

I aim to be, if I get a ride

and if I can raise $10 for the entrance fee.

I spent my last dollar on the phone.

I‘m real equipped, ain‘t I?

How‘d you like to do some mustanging?

We were going to find a third man.

You still flying that DC-6 and seven-eighths?

It's safer than bucking horses.

I didn't know there were mustangs.

I spotted 15 this morning.

There might be more.

What do you expect to get out of 15 horses?

If there was a thousand or more...

But going all the way up there for 15 kind of hits me sideways.

Better than wages.

Anything‘s better than wages.

We'll drive you to the rodeo, put up the $10.

Tomorrow morning, you help us run some mustangs.

All right.

You get me a good bottle of whiskey to keep me primed for the rodeo.

Just wait right here.

You an old friend of Gay's?

Pretty old.

I broke my arm three times in the same place.

You don't do that faking a fall.

You know what some riders do?

They drop off and lay like they were dead.

Not me. I don't fake nothing.

-Right, Gay? -That‘s right, you're a natural-born fool.

It's wonderful to be that way. I know what you mean.

I used to dance in places, and everybody thought I was crazy.

I really tried.

-People don't know the difference. -She'd try. I can just see her trying.

What kind of dancing did you do?

Interpretive dancing. Nightclubs and... That's all.

I was in a nightclub in Kansas City called the Naked Truth

and they wasn‘t kidding.

Dayton, coming up.

Hey, Joe.

Hey, Bengie.

Hi, you old heathen, you.

Gimme.

Hiya, Perce.

There‘s Franklin. Boy, does he hate his wife.

Hey, Franklin. How's the wife?

Man, there are a lot of good men here.

I hope I draw a good horse.

Just come out in one piece. You got to go mustanging tomorrow.

Church Ladies‘ Auxiliary.

Sure.

-How about you, sinner? -I ain‘t got no money yet.

Church Ladies‘ Auxiliary.

-You got me at the bar next door. -That'll learn you to stay put.

Church Ladies‘ Auxiliary.

Grandson, I'll buy you a drink.

Excuse me.

There ain‘t many of us left now.

Things are tough all over, pop.

Give me a great big glass of soda pop

for my grandson, Lester.

I got to hold on to him tight, othen/vise he'll run off to school.

Hey, let me show you this.

This is the gol‘ darnedest contraption that anybody's ever seen.

You got to hit the ball.

-You catch what I mean? -I can do it. Let me try.

I'll bet $2 you can‘t hit it 10 times.

I'll take that bet.

I can do 10, I think.

Here's the paddle.

Gangway!

We've got a bet on.

3, 4, 5, 6,

7, 8, 9, 10,

11,12,13,14,15,16,

17, 18, 19, 20,

21, 22, 23, 24,

25, 26, 27,

28, 29, 30.

$5.

$6.

The bet's $5.

Help the good work, boy. Do it while the spirit's in you.

70.

-What's the trouble? -He put his hand on her.

-That right, fella? -I didn't mean nothing.

What's going on? Are you looking for a fight?

-Let's look for the rodeo. -Okay. Here, for the kid.

Isabelle, come on.

Lester, where'd you get the money?

Hey, $100... $145.

Hello, gold mine.

That girl can do anything.

I‘d marry you.

Thanks for saying it, but you don‘t have to do that.

Charles!

You've got it in your eyes.

You're looking for the light, sinner.

I know you and love you for your life of pain and sin.

Give it to the one who understands, the only one who loves you.

-She ain't sinned that much. -Lord be praised!

We're buying a fence around the graveyard.

Keep these cowboys from pasturing their horses there.

Sweetheart, you‘ve gone and helped our dead to rest in peace.

Who do you think is here?

-Who do you think is here? -Who?

My husband.

I‘m so happy!

I never was so surprised.

They‘re here on their vacation.

-His wife? -Clara. You‘ve heard me speak of her.

She‘s my oldest friend. She's sweeter than ever.

She must be, if you're glad to see her.

Charles never would've stayed married to me.

I lost the vacuum cleaner once.

They still haven't found it.

We gotta get this boy on a horse.

I'll be around, but I can't go mustanging.

They're staying at my house for a week.

Good luck, boys.

Jim Palem in the saddle, now ready to go on Polka Dot, Gate 1.

I didn't know it was dangerous.

That‘s how they want it.

That strap makes them buck, grabs them where they don't like it.

That‘s not fair.

You wouldn't have a rodeo otherwise.

Then they shouldn't have a rodeo.

What are you trying to do?

Come on, Les.

Don't break it, Grandpa.

Don't get mad about it. Come on, Lester.

I hope you‘re sober.

I've won money in towns I couldn't remember the name of.

There she is.

I mean, there they are.

I wouldn't want to move in on you.

Unless you wouldn't mind.

Boy, I'd mind.

The next rider is Perce How/and of White River, Wyoming.

-Ca ifornia, not Wyoming! -You ready, boy? Open the gate!

Come on, Perce!

Perce!

-Thanks, Jim. -It‘s okay.

-Where's my hat, Pa? -You got it on.

-You‘re bleeding! -Frieda, I'm all right.

Boy, she ain‘t your sister.

You've been messing with the wrong end of the horse.

Are you a doctor?

I don't want a doctor.

I'm no doctor. I'll clean you up.

-Isn't there a doctor? -Not for 60 miles. He ain’t badly hurt.

How do you know? Come with me.

Don't start running things here.

I don't understand, he‘s your friend...

You're all right, ain‘t you?

Are you all right?

-Did I make the whistle? -Almost. You done good, though.

That old horse, he sure was rank, wasn't he?

He was a real killer. You done good.

Leave him alone.

The next event is the Brahma bull riding.

No. You‘ve a couple minutes.

-What for? -He‘s got a bull to ride.

Come on, walk yourself around.

-He's not going in there again? -I guess he wants to ride that bull.

Let him walk it off!

Why are you doing it? Take the money we won in the bar.

You helped me win it. Take it.

It's over $100. You don‘t have to go back in there.

I‘m pretty good at riding bulls. Watch me.

-But why are you doing it? -I put in for it.

I entered.

-Stop him! -How can I?

They don‘t mind getting busted up.

-You don't know what you're saying! -Here's your prize!

Okay, boy, you want it?

Hell, yes.

There are real men in the West.

Back again, this time on a Brahma bull,

the cowboy from Black Hills, Colorado, Perce How/and!

Come on, honey. We’re going to have some drinks.

Is he unconscious still?

It ain’t noticeable.

He‘s arguing with the judge about who won.

Are you still mad at me?

I don't understand.

People dying and people just standing around.

Don't you care?

I went in for that boy with a bull running loose.

I‘m lucky to be here. Don‘t you know that?

You did?

I thought I could get him out, so I did.

But what if he died? It would be terrible.

We got to go sometime. Reason or no reason.

Dying‘s as natural as living. A man afraid to die is afraid to live.

Roz, did you see me?

You were wonderful. Let‘s go to the hospital.

We're going to have some fun.

How do you feel?

How do I feel? Like I was kicked by a bull.

He was something.

I want no part of him, except on a plate, medium rare.

Is he all right?

Sure. In two weeks, he won’t remember this, or you, either.

Give your sympathy where it‘s appreciated.

Where's that?

You guys, come on!

Boy, do I feel funny.

I feel like...

What was in the injection that man gave me?

I see the prettiest stars. I‘ve never seen stars before.

You ever see stars before, Gay?

It's like that bull had the Milky Way in his hoof.

Whiskey for eight people, huh?

Was that you, crying in the ambulance?

Was that her, Gay?

It sure was.

I certainly want to thank you.

Here's to my buddy, old, elderly Gay.

Gay's not old.

And to old, elderly Pilot and his $5, elderly airplane.

And to my friend Roslyn.

We're all buddies now, right?

That‘s right.

What are you looking mad at me for?

Is it all right if we have this dance together?

Sure.

Roslyn, why don‘t you dance with Perce?

Okay.

Nothing like being young, is there, Gay?

That‘s right.

But you know what they say.

There's some keeps getting younger all the time.

What's eating you?

Just my life.

This is the way my father used to do it.

-What‘s the matter? -lt's all right.

Come on, let‘s go out and see the world.

Are you okay?

I better sit down.

-You mind? -No.

Damn that bull.

Don't say anything. Just be still.

Gay's a pretty great fella, isn't he?

Yes.

I can't figure you floating around out here.

You belong to Gay?

I don't know where I belong.

I don't like to see the way they grind up women out here.

I guess a lot of them don't mind, do they?

Some do.

Don't you let them grind you up, hear?

How come you got such trust in your eyes?

-I do? -Like you was just born.

Was you really crying for me before?

You were hurt.

Didn't anyone ever cry for you before?

No stranger.

Last April 12,

I was kicked so bad I was out all day and all night

and I was with my girlfriend and my two buddies.

They left you?

Alone?

Can I ask you something?

I don't have anybody, you know what I mean,

I could talk to.

And I don't know how you should do.

What do you mean?

See, this is the first year that I've been floating around.

I‘m not like Gay and Pilot.

I got a pretty good home.

I had a good home.

One day,

my father, we was out back, and,

boom, like that, it happened. Down he went.

Some damn fool hunters.

They killed him?

And then she changed.

Who was she?

My mother.

She used to be so dignified.

She'd walk next to him like a saint.

Pretty soon, this man starts coming around.

She changed.

Three months, they got married.

Okay.

But I said to her, "Ma, look,

"you get a paper from this Mr. Blackwell

"because I'm the oldest, and you know Papa wanted me to have this ranch.“

You know what happened?

On their wedding night,

he turns around and offers me wages

on my father's place.

What did she say?

She said...

I don’t think she heard.

It's like she hardly remembers me anymore.

I don't know.

It's hard to explain. It's like she's changed altogether.

What I want to know is

who do you depend on? Who?

I don't know.

Maybe all there really is is just the next thing.

The next thing that happens.

Maybe you‘re not supposed to remember anybody's promises.

You could count on mine.

I trust you, Roslyn.

I think I love you.

Oh, you don't know me.

I don't care.

That damn bull!

Here we are.

Come on, now. I want you to meet my kids.

Your kids are here?

Yeah. They came to the rodeo.

I ain‘t seen them in a year.

The welcome they gave me nearly knocked me over.

Isn‘t that great?

I‘m so glad for you, Gay.

She's going to be 19.

She got so pretty.

They just happened to be here for the rodeo.

Both of them. That great?

Where are they?

Where are who?

My kids. I told them I'd be back in a minute.

-You heard me tell them. -They went outside.

Outside.

Gaylord, here's your father!

Gaylord, I know you hear me!

Where you gone to? I told you I‘d be right back!

You come here, now!

Don‘t worry, mister. Probably find them at home.

Gaylord, you come here, now!

I know you hear me!

Rose-May, I know you hear me!

You come here, now.

Oh, come on!

They're looking for you, I'm sure. They probably thought you left them.

Poor Gay.

Aren't you going too fast? Please.

Don't worry, kid. I never kill anybody I know.

A fellow smashed up my best girlfriend. She was beautiful, with black hair.

Please, Guido.

Say hello to me, Roslyn.

Hello, Guido. Please, huh?

We were all blind bombardiers.

We killed people we never even saw.

I bombed nine cities.

I sure must have broken a lot of dishes, but I never saw them.

You think of all the puppy dogs

and mail carriers and eyeglasses must have gone up.

Boy, you know, dropping a bomb is like telling a lie.

It makes everything so quiet.

Soon, you don't hear anything, you don’t see anything,

not even your wife.

The difference is, I see you. You're the first one I ever really saw.

Please, Guido, don't kill us.

How do you get to know somebody, kid?

I can't make a landing, and I can‘t get up to God, either.

Help me.

I never said "help me“ in my life.

I don't know anybody,

so how do I land, honey?

Will you give me a little time? Say yes.

At least say, "Hello, Guido.“

Yes, Guido.

Hello, Guido.

Hello, Roslyn.

I'll drive.

Gay, we‘re here.

Where?

Guido, I'm so sorry.

Guido, I'm sorry.

Won‘t you hurt your hand? It's so dark.

Guido, look how dark it is. It's all dark.

What in hell are you stomping in the flowers for?

You busted all the damn heliotropes.

Look at that.

What in the hell good is that?

He‘s just fixing the house.

What call has he got to fix the house?

He‘s only trying to say hello.

Hello.

Who‘s doing that?

Who‘s done this?

Who‘s done this?

Don't take it off!

Take it off me! What is it?

Don't take it off!

-What is it? -It‘s your bandage. Stop tangling it.

-Bandage? What for? -For your head.

Who tied this on me?

-Don‘t take it off! -You leave me at a disadvantage all night?

No!

Was it you, Gay?

Was it you, Gay?

Who did that?

You leave me at a disadvantage?

Yeah.

Now, wait a minute here.

Where are we? Where are you going?

Leave me alone.

What's wrong? Where are we going?

What is this? Watch it.

What is this place? Where are we?

This is my house, or it‘s Guido‘s. It’s a house, anyway.

No. Ma, don‘t.

Come on, Gay.

I wish you'd met Gaylord or Rose-May.

If I had a new kid, I'd knowjust how to be with him,

just how to do it.

I wasted those kids.

I didn't know nothing.

No. I'm sure they love you, Gay.

Would you ever want a kid with me?

I‘ll turn off the light in the car. You get some sleep.

I don‘t want to sleep. I asked you a question.

Did I ask you to turn the lights out in the car?

What are you running away from all the time?

I wouldn‘t wash the windows for my wife.

Painted a fireplace, planted them damn heliotropes.

What are they doing here?

What do you keep bringing them around for?

-Gay, I didn't bring them here. -Where are you at?

I don't know where you‘re at.

Gay, I'm with you. I'm here with you.

Gay, what if someday, suddenly, you turn around

and you don't like me anymore?

Like before, when Perce got hurt, you started to give me a look.

I know that look, and it scares me, Gay.

I couldn‘t be with strangers anymore.

Honey, I got a little mad, that's all.

That don‘t mean I didn‘t like you.

Didn't your papa ever spank you

and then pick you up and give you a big kiss?

He did, didn't he?

He was never there long enough.

Strangers spanked me for keeps.

Gay, love me!

We made up now, okay?

Yeah, okay.

Let‘s get some sleep.

Yeah. We‘ll make out.

I‘ll farm, run some cattle maybe.

I‘m a pretty good man, Roslyn.

Best man you'll ever see.

I‘ll show you tomorrow, up in the mountains.

Not many can keep up with old Gay.

You wait and see.

Help.

Why is the dog shivering?

He‘ll do that up here.

And then the Milky Way goes up there across that.

That star...

That star is so far away

that by the time the light from it reaches Earth

it might not even be up there anymore.

You sure know a lot, don't you, Pilot?

Astronomy‘s in library books, Perce. Nothing to it but reading.

It's wonderful to know things.

Knowing things don't matter much.

You got something more important.

What?

You care.

Whatever happens to anybody, it happens to you.

You're really hooked into the whole thing. It's a blessing.

People say I'm just nervous.

Without the nervous people in the world, we'd be eating each other.

I don‘t know about you educated people, but

us ignorant folk got to hit the sack.

Why is the dog trembling?

Got a whiff of those horses, I guess. Must be close by, Guido.

-Quiet, you fool! -Don't, Gay. He couldn't help it.

Have the horses ever kicked him?

It's not the horses he‘s afraid of. It's us.

What are you talking about? I never mistreated that dog.

It's only common sense, Gay.

He knows there‘s wild animals up there.

Dogs were wild, too, once. He‘s just remembering when.

He‘s been here enough to know what will happen.

He‘s scared he'll end up dead.

Come on, honey.

Keep yourself nice and warm by the fire.

You kill them?

No. We sell them to the dealer.

He kills them?

They're what they call chicken-feed horses. Turn them into dog food.

Like you buy in the store for the dog and cat.

I thought you knew that.

Everybody knows that.

Maybe you better sleep on the truck in case something comes crawling around.

Get some sleep, now. Come on.

Honey.

Honey, I just round them up and sell them to the dealer.

There's no need to look at me that way. You're looking at me like I was a stranger.

Honey.

I thought they were used for riding or...

Sure. They used to be.

Christmas presents for kids because they‘re small.

Kids loved them,

but kids ride motor scooters now.

They're real strong horses, though, little as they are.

They used to breed to them for stamina.

Mustang blood pulled all the plows in the West.

They couldn‘t have settled unless somebody caught mustang for them.

Somehow it all got changed around.

I‘m doing the same thing I always did.

It's just that they changed it around.

You know what you're doing isn't right, don't you?

-You know that. -If I didn‘t do it, somebody else would.

-I don't care about the others. -You bought food for my dog.

-What‘d you think was in it? -I don't want to hear.

Nothing can live unless something dies.

Stop.

We never kidded, you and I.

I don't want to lose you.

You have to help me, because I can't put on that this is as bad as you make it.

All I know is, everything else is wages.

I hunt these horses to keep myself free, so I'm a free man.

That's why you liked me, isn‘t it?

-I liked you because you were kind. -I haven't changed.

Yes, this changes it.

Honey, a kind man can kill.

No, he can't.

Maybe you have to take a little of the bad with the good

or else you'll be running for the rest of your life.

What is there to stop for? You're just like everybody else.

Yeah, sure. Maybe we're all alike, including you.

We start doing something, meaning no harm,

something that's naturally in us to do,

but somewhere it gets changed into something bad

like dancing in a nightclub.

You started out wanting to dance, didn't you?

Little by little, it turns out that people ain't interested in how good you dance.

They‘re gawking at you with something different in their minds.

They turn it sour, don‘t they?

I could've looked down my nose at you.

Showing yourself off in a nightclub.

But I took my hat off to you, because I know the difference.

This? This is how I dance, Roslyn.

If they make something else out of it, I can’t run the world any more than you.

You took your hat off to me?

You mean that, don‘t you, Gay?

Good night.

Shame on you, you old fool.

I can fly her back in the morning, it you want me to.

I was wondering how she agreed to come here.

She‘s got a lot of right.

It don't make too much sense for 15 horses.

Don't worry. She‘s coming along fine.

You be quiet, now.

Everybody‘s showing off.

Okay, Perce. Hold it!

Come on, Perce. Give me a hand here.

Look, Gay. He‘s not snapping anymore.

Things generally look different in the morning.

Try and chase them down the old mine road.

Okay, Gay. I‘m ready.

How do you want her?

That way.

Boy, that's some jacket. Pretty breezy though, isn't it?

Went on a lot of missions with it.

I wouldn‘t take $100 for it. It‘s bulletproof.

I wish you were coming.

You'd see some real flying.

Probably never see this again in history, you know.

Okay, Gay!

Switch off?

Throttle closed. Switch off.

Turn your partner, boy. Do-si-do.

Once more, con amore!

Here we go!

Contact!

Lousy car gas. All right, try it again.

Contact!

It's like a dream.

I seen a picture of the moon once.

Looked just like this.

-You want to come up? -Yes.

He‘ll be driving the horses out of that pass.

-Who owns this land? -Government, probably.

Just call it God‘s country.

See anything?

How quiet it is.

You can hear your skin against your clothes.

You're looking real good today.

What do you say we go dancing in Reno tonight?

Okay.

I forgot to tell you something.

Cow outfits use the pasture in those mountains.

When they come across mustang, they shoot them

because they eat all the good feed.

-You know that, don‘t you, Perce? -Yeah, I know that.

-Why didn‘t you say so? -I just did.

They're nothing but misfit horses.

In the old days, they came out of those passes 400, 500 at a time.

We'd funnel them into a corral.

Some were real beautiful animals.

Made sweet riding horses.

I wish I'd been here then.

-I hear something. -What?

Engine, sounds like.

Where?

Out there.

No, it‘s too soon. He wouldn't be in the pass yet.

I hear him.

There he is!

Gay, look!

He never worked this fast before. I didn‘t expect him so soon.

I saw him glinting against the sun. It was the glint.

-What‘s that? -He fired a shot.

You got good eyes.

Here they come.

1,2,3,

4, 5, 6.

I guess he‘ll be going back for the rest.

Let me have a look.

-You see the rest yet? -No. Six.

It looks like a stallion and four mares,

and a little colt.

You sure?

Yeah. A spring foal.

It's a colt, all right, Gay.

Want a look?

Maybe it‘s cooler in the truck.

It's all right. She's going to make it.

You said there'd be 15. There are only six.

Probably lost a few. That'II happen.

It don't make much sense for six, does it?

Six is six. Better than wages, ain't it?

I said it's better than wages, ain't it?

Sure, anything's better than wages.

I know a place about 100 miles northeast, at Thighbone Mountain.

Must be at least 500 head in there.

I never bothered, because it's tough to get them out.

You have to horseback into them.

I don't know, Gay.

Truth is, I don't even know about rodeos anymore.

I'm beginning to smell wages all over you.

Sure wish my old man hadn't died.

When you get through wishing, all there is, is a man's work

and there ain't much of that left.

Give me a hand.

Come on, Perce. Let's get these stakes in.

Come on, Dooley.

Come on, dog.

Come on, Perce!

Let's go, boy!

Grab hold, now. We’ll be doing a lot of fast turning.

Throw again, Perce!

Get that horse, cowboy!

That‘s the way!

Atta-boy, Gay!

Get that horse!

Atta-boy, Gay!

Here's the chief.

-What? -The stallion.

Get that horse, cowboy!

That‘s the way!

We'll tie them up now

and open their nooses so they won't choke overnight.

Overnight?

The dealer‘s truck will pick them up in the morning.

Were those his mares?

-I don't know. -Was it his colt?

Get in here.

-Why are you killing him? -Stand aside!

Okay, you've won!

Let go of that rope! Get out of here!

Gay, darling!

Choke him down, Guido!

-Get off me, Roslyn! -Stop it!

Get away!

Shut up! Pull that horse down!

One, two, now!

Coming up here for the first time, like her,

there might not seem much sense to it for only five horses.

Not knowing how it used to be.

I guess the fewer you kill, the worse it looks.

What do you say we give her these horses?

How much do you want for them?

I'll give you $200, is that enough?

Let's get in the truck.

You just said you would give them to her.

I did think of it, but I sell to dealers only.

All they‘re looking to buy is a horse.

-I didn't mean to insult you. -No insult.

But who do you think you've been talking to since we met?

Brother, what a day.

I nearly hit a mountain back there.

The cylinder cut out just at the bottom of a dive.

Squirting oil.

Boy, that's the closest I ever came.

Do you want me to stop this?

I know how you feel, Roslyn. I never liked this part myself.

The only part I enjoyed is the flying.

Do you want me to stop it?

You would?

You're through with Gay now, right?

Tell me.

He doesn‘t know what you‘re all about. He'll never know.

Tell me, Roslyn.

I've been waiting. I‘m going out of my mind with waiting.

Come back with me. Give me a week. Let me show you what I am.

Tell me, Roslyn.

Give me a reason, and I'll stop it.

There'll be hell to pay, but you give me a reason, and I'll do it.

You, a sensitive fellow, so sad for his wife,

crying to me about the bombs you've dropped and the people you killed.

You have to get something to be human?

You never felt anything for anybody in your life.

All you know is the sad words.

You could blow up the world and feel sorry for yourself.

She‘s an old one.

Fifteen, if she's a day. She wouldn't last through the winter.

We'll tie down the other three on the way back.

How much does this mare weigh?

About 600 pounds.

There must be about 400 on that brown.

Just about. Yeah.

Must be about 800 on the stallion.

A little lighter. About 1,900, 2,000 pounds.

How does that come out?

Six cents a pound. About $110, $120.

How do you want to cut it up?

Any way you like.

I'll take $50 for myself and the plane.

I ought to have about $40.

That leaves $25 for you, Perce. Is that all right?

No, you take it. I just came along for the ride, anyway.

Butchers!

Killers! Murderers!

You're liars!

All of you! Liars!

You‘re only happy when you can see something die!

Why don't you kill yourselves and be happy?

You and your God‘s country!

Freedom!

I pity you!

You're three dear, sweet dead men!

She's crazy. They‘re all crazy.

You try not to believe it, because you need them.

She‘s crazy.

You struggle, you build, you try,

you turn yourself inside out for them, but it‘s never enough.

So they put the spurs to you.

I know. I got the marks.

I know this racket. I just forgot what I knew.

Butchers! Liars!

I pity you!

You're three dead men!

Hold this light for me, will you?

Buck up, boy. Before you know it, you'll be up to your neck in dames again.

I don't know how we got so stupid.

The world is full of mountains,

Montana, Colorado, Canada, even Mexico.

Where there's mountains, there's got to be horses.

We couldn't clean them out until we‘re too weak to walk.

We’d work a while...

I could sell my house. I don't know why I keep it, anyway.

Put everything into a good plane. Get this thing on a business basis.

We ought to water those horses before we weigh them in.

We could put 50 pounds on them.

We've just been fooling around here.

I want to get out of here.

With a good plane, you could fly into Reno from anywhere.

Check into the Mapes, have a good time and off we go again.

We wouldn‘t need anybody in this world.

Why don't you shut up, Guido? Just shut up, huh?

Do you want me to turn them loose?

No. There'd just be a fight.

I'll meet you at the dealer's tomorrow. We‘ll get his winch truck.

Don't spin the prop till I check the switch.

Switch off?

Switch off. Throttle closed.

Contact!

Go home. Go.

Help him, Perce.

He doesn't want any help.

You held him. I‘m proud of you, boy.

We'll get them all back tomorrow.

Just get your wind back.

Don‘t worry, we're not through here. Not by a long shot. We're only getting started.

We don‘t need anybody. You know that now, don't you?

What are you doing?

What in the hell did you catch him for?

I don't want nobody making up my mind for me, that's all.

Damn them all.

They changed it. Changed it all around.

Smeared it all over with blood.

I‘m finished with it.

It's like roping a dream now.

Just got to find another way to be alive, that's all.

If there is one anymore.

-Cut that mare loose for me, will you? -Sure.

I‘ll drive you back, if you want.

I'm pleased to have met you, Roslyn.

Don't get hurt anymore, will you, Perce?

-See you around! -Where will you be?

At some gas station, polishing Windshields?

Making change in a supermarket?

Try the laundromat! They need a fellow there to load machines!

I‘ll leave tomorrow, okay?

God bless you, girl.

If there could be one person in the world,

a child who could be brave from the beginning

I was scared when you asked me, but I'm not so much now. Are you?

No.

How do you find your way back in the dark?

Just head for that big star, straight on.

The highway is under it.

It will take us right home.