[creaking]
[rummaging]
[quiet creaking]
[man chuckles]
- [man speaking indistinctly] - [woman laughs]
[man chuckles]
[conversation continues indistinctly]
[birds chirping]
[vehicles passing by]
[distant machinery grinding]
[panting]
[panting continues]
[vehicle passing by]
- [metallic scraping] - [sizzling]
- [girl] Meet me out back, all right? - [dogs barking]
[woman] Hello.
[panting] Hi.
Hi. You must be Charley. Lynn.
- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
You want some breakfast?
Sure. Yeah.
Where'd you get the food?
Well, I made your dad go to the grocery store
'cause all you had in the fridge was beer and Cap'n Crunch,
which I'm betting was yours.
So?
Well, you don't need to keep cereal in the refrigerator, you know?
Oh, well, we got roaches.
One of them got in the last box I left out.
[Lynn] Determined little fuckers, huh?
Uh, is it okay if I get a glass of water?
Yeah, of course. It's your house, isn't it?
[man] Charley, you take my fucking belt again?
[Charley] No!
[man] Well, then we must have been robbed...
Never mind...
[sighs]
- You meet Lynn? - [Lynn] Yeah, we met.
Met her at work.
[whispers] She's a secretary.
Front office. Hmm?
- [Lynn] Go ahead, have a seat. - [man] Where's my...
[Lynn] It's almost ready.
How far did you run today, kiddo?
I found a horse track. Just around here.
[Dad sighs]
Have you seen it?
I've driven past it.
- We should go sometime. - Mm-hmm.
- All right, here you go. - [Dad] Oh!
- [both] Thank you. - [Lynn] Mm-hmm.
- [Dad] Mmm. - [Lynn] Good?
- Delicious. - Mm-hmm?
All right, it's that time. I'm gonna get ready.
[door opens]
[Dad] Oh...
[door closes]
Is she your new girlfriend?
Is she gonna be?
I don't know. Why? Do you wanna fuck her?
[Dad chuckles]
I like her better than Marlene.
Marlene was smart for a stripper.
Marlene was mean.
- And she couldn't cook like this either. - [chuckles]
[sighs]
Lynn and I just work together, you know. [softly] Plus she's married.
Really?
Well, she's separated, but her husband's a Samoan.
So, he'll probably cut my head off with a machete.
[mimics machete striking]
- What's a Samoan? - Big motherfuckers, that's what.
They play football.
Is he gonna be mad?
Ah...
She said he moved in with some other woman, so who knows?
[toilet flushing]
- [door opens] - Is he gonna come here?
[sighs] Hell, Charley, I'm just talking.
[whispers] Plus, he doesn't know where we live.
So, don't worry about it, huh?
What did you do last night?
Um, I just watched TV.
Yeah? Watched TV? Anything good on?
No, nothing.
[Lynn] All right, let's get a move on, we're gonna be late.
See you around, Charley.
Oh, thanks for breakfast. You're a really good cook.
Anytime.
[door opens]
You gonna be okay on your own today?
- [door closes] - Yeah, sure.
Yeah? Here.
Oh, thanks, Dad.
Sorry I can't give you more.
Oh, don't worry about it. This is... I don't need any more.
- Don't wait up, okay? - [door closes]
- [Dad] Hear that? - [Lynn] Yeah.
He likes your cooking. Said you're a good cook.
[engine starts]
[vehicle departs]
[panting]
[distant chatter]
[announcer, indistinct]
[indistinct music playing]
[music continues on TV]
[loud thud]
[dogs barking in distance]
[distant indistinct shouting]
[sighs deeply]
[metal clinking]
[jockeys urging horses]
[panting]
- [horses nickering] - [indistinct chatter]
[man] Ah, you motherfucking, cocksucking fuck!
Hey, what are you doing?
Me?
Yeah, there's no one else here.
- I was just running. - All right, you strong?
- I don't know. - Come here.
[man sighs]
You know what time it is?
It's about 7:00.
Right, I got to load two horses and get to Wenatchee by 1:00,
and I got a fucking flat, all right?
My hand is killing me. How about...
how about you get those lug nuts off, I'll give you ten bucks?
Come on, ten bucks.
Yeah, keep going, keep going.
[man grunts]
Keep going.
- I'm Del, by the way. - I'm Charley.
- What's in... - Wenatchee? A race.
- A horse race? - Well, yeah, a horse race.
[chuckling] What do you think goes in this trailer? Dogs?
Hey, would you need help?
- Help with what? - With anything.
[Del grunting]
- How old are you? - I'm 16.
You know much about horses?
Not really.
[sighs]
Would your... Would your folks be okay with you spending the night away?
'Cause I... I can't drive there and back in a day.
Where would we be staying?
I'm just gonna sleep in the truck.
You can sleep wherever you want, I don't care.
You got a sleeping bag?
Yeah, would we have time to go and get it?
- Where do you live? - Delta Park.
Yeah, let's go get it.
Hey, how much would you be paying me?
Twenty-five dollars. Take it or leave it.
- Okay. I'll take it. - All right. Get in. Come on, let's go.
Gotta get these damn horses loaded.
[engine starts]
- Those boots feel okay? They too big? - No, these are great.
You don't want to lose your fucking toes with the shoes you were wearing.
How many horses live in here?
Well, when the races start, there's... could be up to 50 in a row,
and there's about 25 rows, so it's over 1,000 horses.
How many of them are yours?
Shit, I used to have... 20 or so. Now I got about six.
All right, this is Tumbling Through.
Be careful. He's a biter, all right?
If he goes for you, just smack him on the nose, he'll quit.
Just take him out there and wait for me, all right?
- Straight down there? - Stay down there.
Take him, just go.
Come on, you lazy piece of crap.
Come on. Don't give me any of your shit today.
Don't let him stop on you.
If he tries to stop, just give him a quick pull.
If he pulls away from you, just give him a harder pull.
Never let go of the rope.
If you let go of it, he'll fucking run on you.
[nickering]
Come on, come on, come on.
No, no, what are you doing? Don't wrap the rope around your hand.
That's a good fucking way to lose your hand.
Here, let's switch.
This one's a pussy.
Just wait.
Come on, come on.
- What's this one's name? - Lean On Pete.
Get in.
How old are the two horses?
Uh, Tumbling Through is two. He's green, but he can run.
Lean On Pete is five.
He's a piece of shit, but he's good enough for this.
- You know what a Quarter Horse is? - No.
Quarter Horse is a breed.
In racing, they're sprinters. Anything from 100 to 400 yards.
The tracks don't give a shit about Quarter Horses anymore.
Maybe Los Alamitos, but... you won't see me again in California.
Why not?
- [Charley] In this one? - [cows mooing]
Yes, go ahead, come on.
- [indistinct chatter] - [horses whinnying]
[Del] Do you know how to drive?
Uh, yeah.
You sure? I don't want you messing up my truck.
My dad has a van. He lets me drive it sometimes.
Yeah, but this one's tricky.
I'll be fine.
All right. Take the truck, park it around over there.
I want you to clean the shit out of the trailer.
There's a broom and a shovel in the bed of the truck.
Then come back here and find me, all right?
- Okay. - I'm gonna go race Tumbling Through.
Shut that gate.
You better not fucking lose today.
You know what happens if you do.
Hey, don't run. Walk.
[indistinct chatter]
[gears grinding]
[engine stops]
[men urging cows]
[cows mooing]
- [distant gunshot] - [announcer on PA] And they're off!
[crowd cheering]
Where's Tumbling Through? Did he win?
He bowed a tendon, so I sold him.
I got enough fucked-up horses as it is.
Who did you sell him to?
He's going to Mexico. Hold that.
Is he in a lot of pain?
- It's not my problem anymore. - What is that stuff?
Here, stay here. It's just vitamins.
Come here, come here.
- Get in there. Good boy. - [horse grunts]
- Good boy. - What kind of vitamins?
What did I tell you about too many questions?
Zip that up and put it in the truck.
You gonna fucking win today, huh?
It's up to you. It's up to you.
All right? Come on.
[Lean On Pete neighs]
[Del] All right, all right. Open the gate. Come on.
[indistinct chatter]
It's your first race?
Yeah.
Don't blink. It's over in, like, two seconds.
[crowd cheering]
- [horse neighs] - [gunshot]
- [announcer, indistinct] - [Del] Come on!
Come on, you... Come on! Oh, what the fuck?
Come on. Come on!
Did you see how fast he was going?
[Del] He ain't fast.
If he hadn't beat that slug, I would've slit his throat.
Pete ain't fast, the other horse is just a pig.
Now, listen.
I want you to walk him down that road and cool him off.
Then we got to get the hell out of here, all right,
before those fuckers get drunk and want their money back.
[cows mooing]
Come on.
All right. There you go.
Uh, this is a 50.
I know. You did good today.
Now let's get Pete and put him in the paddock.
[hoofbeats approaching]
[horse snorting]
[softly] Hey, Pete.
How you doing?
[Dad] Where you been?
I left a note. I got a job.
What kind of job?
Uh, working for this guy named Del at the horse track.
And that's who you went off with?
Yeah.
We went up to this ranch in Washington for a race and...
Where did you sleep?
On the bed of his truck.
I got $50.
- Fifty bucks? - Yeah.
And this guy seems all right?
I guess.
I mean, he paid me.
I got more food.
He get you those fancy boots, too?
Oh, these are just so I don't break my toes.
Well, ain't you a piece of work.
You know, I was a cook for two years once I dropped out of school.
- Yeah, I know. - [Dad clears throat]
It's no way to live, though.
Getting up at 4:00 every morning. Getting hit by grease all day.
People complaining, orders backing up, it's...
it's no way to live.
Yeah, but you get free food.
Yeah, you get free food.
But let me tell you, you end up hating food.
[chuckles]
But there are waitresses.
- [Charley] Hmm. - You like waitresses, don't you?
[chuckles] Yeah, I guess.
The best women
have all been waitresses at some point.
[Charley chuckles]
- [Dad sighs] - [fridge door opens]
So, what have you learned?
Mmm...
- Don't be a cook. - [grunts]
And...
go out with waitresses.
- Boom. - [chuckles]
Besides being a hotshot athlete and getting a job,
you're smart, too.
[chuckles softly]
No, not over your neck. Drape the rope over your shoulder.
Good, all right. Come on.
[Charley whispering] It's okay. It's okay.
Hey, hey, hey...
- Slow down, slow down. - You remember what I told you yesterday?
Yep.
Hook him up before you take the rope off. 'Cause he'll run on you.
Good.
[indistinct chatter]
See that, Bob? This kid's a natural.
Yeah. He's a good kid.
And he ain't afraid of a hard day's work like some of these other kids.
[Charley] Come on, Pete, it's all right.
[Del] Just relax your arm.
- You're walking. - [Lean On Pete neighs]
I know. I know. You're just excited.
- You did real good. - [Del] Come on, Pete.
- You got it. - [Charley chuckles]
[Charley] Just happy.
[Del] There you go, keep moving, keep moving.
Stay ahead of him.
- [Lean On Pete neighs] - [Del] Yeah, yeah.
[Charley] You singing a song?
Oh.
- [waitress] There you go, hon. - Thanks.
[country music playing]
Put it on my tab, Cindy.
[Charley] Mmm.
Jeez, you don't have any manners, do you?
[chuckling] What did I do wrong?
You just wolfed down half a sandwich before I even started.
You don't just shovel food in your mouth like it's...
You're not a pig, are you?
[chuckles] No.
Then let yourself chew.
I don't know how you get it down without choking.
You gotta chew your food. What does your mom say?
I don't know. I don't know her.
Well, does your dad have any manners?
I don't know. I guess I haven't really noticed.
Did your mom leave you or something?
Yeah.
And she never showed up again?
No.
Huh. That's something you don't hear about too often.
Mom leaving her kid.
She must've been a real piece.
You don't have a stepmom?
[Cindy] More coffee?
Uh, no.
Thanks.
That's a shame.
A kid needs a mother.
There's my Aunt Margy.
Yeah? Do you see her?
No, not really.
Her and my dad got in a big fight, and they don't speak anymore.
Fight about what?
Me, I guess.
Yeah, what did you do wrong?
Nothing.
I was just 12 and...
my dad went away for a few days with some girl,
and Aunt Margy found out, and she got pretty mad.
She wanted me to live with her instead.
But you didn't?
No.
Look, Charley, look, if we're gonna be eating together,
you gotta get some manners.
But don't be asking me, okay?
Because I don't have time to teach you everything, all right?
All right.
I'm gonna go home. That's it for today.
You can take off, too.
There's your pay.
[Del sighs]
Why is this less than last week?
[coughs] I just bought you lunch, didn't I?
And I'm letting you go home early.
[music continues]
[pounding on door]
[man] Open the fucking door!
[Dad] Look, calm down, buddy! I didn't do fucking nothing.
- [man] I heard what you two did tonight! - [continues banging]
[Charley] Dad, what's going on?
[Dad] Charley, get the fuck back in your room.
Shit.
- [man panting] - Come in. Come in.
Calm down. Calm down. Maybe I can help.
You wanna talk about it? I'll get you a beer.
We should have a beer together. Just stop. Shh.
[man] Fuck you.
- [Dad groaning] - Dad!
[grunting]
[Dad] Stop it! Get off... Charley! [continues groaning]
- [glass shatters] - [Dad groans]
[Dad, crying] Oh...
[car door closes]
- [engine starts] - [Dad whimpering]
[tires screeching]
[Charley] You okay? You okay?
[panting] Okay...
Okay, okay, okay...
Call 911!
It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay.
Okay, I'm gonna be right back, okay? Okay.
Call 911, please!
My dad is really hurt!
It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay.
No, no, no...
- Where are they taking him? - To Samaritan.
- Is he gonna be okay? - [cop 2] Why don't we get out of the road?
Can you tell us what happened tonight?
- I don't know. - [siren wailing]
I was just asleep, and this guy started beating on the door,
and he broke the lock.
[cop 2] Do you know his name?
No.
But my dad was seeing this lady, and she was married to this Samoan.
And what's her name?
Um, Lynn.
- I don't know her last name. - How old are you?
I'm 15.
[cop 1] Do you have someone to look after you tonight?
My aunt's coming.
[cop 2] Are you sure?
Yeah, she's on her way right now.
[cop 1] All right. Wait here a minute.
[cop 2] We'll be right back.
We should call Family Services.
Give me the number, I can call them.
[dog barking]
[coughing]
[indistinct announcements on PA]
[nurse] So, your dad just got out of surgery,
so he's gonna look a little bit messed up.
The glass actually ended up cutting his bowels,
so it seeped an infection into his gut.
- Is that serious? - Yes.
It's very serious. It's like he's been poisoned.
[monitor beeping]
Okay, I'm gonna leave you two alone.
- Just try not too much talking... - [Dad blows raspberry]
...your dad needs to rest.
Hey.
Does it hurt?
No.
They got me pretty doped up.
You're gonna be okay?
I hope so.
Do you think he's gonna come back?
No. He won't be back.
Big fucker.
Yeah.
- He's the biggest guy I've ever seen. - [chuckles weakly]
I'm sorry...
that he threw you through the door like that.
Hey.
I'm gonna be fine.
- You should go home. Get some sleep. - Mmm. No, no.
I'm gonna stay right here, okay?
- I'm not gonna be much company. - [whispering] I'm gonna stay right here.
- It's okay. - [weakly] Yeah.
- [softly] Okay? - Yeah.
I'm gonna stay right here.
[weakly] Okay.
Okay.
[monitor beeping]
[panting]
[insects buzzing]
[indistinct TV chatter]
[strained breathing]
Hey, Dad.
Do you think you could give me the number for Aunt Margy?
Why?
Well, just so I could call her.
I think... maybe she could help right now.
We can take care of ourselves.
You and me.
We don't need anyone's help.
No, I know.
But...
with you being here and...
- me being back home, uh... - [Dad sighs]
You know what you need to do?
You need to go home, get a good night's sleep.
You're the only one working, you know. We need that money.
I ain't gonna get shit being laid up.
So, it's up to you.
[softly] Okay.
[glass crunches]
[panting]
[distant dog barking]
[horses nickering]
[sighs]
[softly] Hey, buddy.
Just me.
Hey.
I'm gonna be staying next door for a little while until Dad gets better.
[chuckles]
Promise not to tell Del.
You know he wouldn't like it much.
It's gonna be fun, 'cause I'm gonna...
get to come visit you a lot more.
- [snorts] - [chuckles]
No, I understand,
but can you tell him that I'll be away for the night,
but that I'll be back tomorrow?
- [nurse] Sure, I'll tell him. - Now you promise you'll tell him that?
Yes, I promise I'll tell him.
He's doing fine.
- Okay. - Don't worry.
Yeah, thank you very much.
- [horn honking] - [Del] Charley, hurry the fuck up!
All right, you too. Thank you.
- [Del] There she is. - [horn honks]
Move over.
Get in the front.
Hey.
This is Charley.
- Hey, Charley, I'm Bonnie. - Are you a jockey?
[scoffs] She's too fat to be a real jockey.
Ugh, I just lost seven pounds. I'm down to 122.
Yeah?
I swear to God. Get a fucking scale right now.
[chuckling] Oh yeah, okay.
["Yes Mr. Peters" by Roy Drusky playing on radio]
[Bonnie] So, what do you like to do, Charley?
When Del here isn't making you do all his dirty work?
- [Charley] I run. I play football. - [Bonnie] At school?
Yeah. But not yet.
I played in Spokane. I was on the freshman team.
We won eight games in a row.
What position?
Corner. And sometimes wide receiver.
But... I'm too little to play anything else.
I'm waiting to lift weights until I stop growing.
I haven't grown in six months, so... maybe soon.
Why did you move to Portland?
My dad moved here for work.
- What does he do? - Can we not talk?
I ain't talking to you. I'm talking to the kid.
I was tired of talking to you 15 minutes after I met you 20 years ago.
[laughs]
That's a good one.
Just tell it like I see it.
[increases volume]
♪...Don't worry Mr. Peters ♪
♪ 'Cause my wife don't mind at all ♪
♪ Please hurry up, dear... ♪
[carnival music playing]
[children squealing]
[Charley] Is it hard being a girl jockey?
[chuckles] It isn't easy, that's for sure.
I used to work out horses up at the track for a couple of trainers.
They always promised me rides.
And then when it came time, never called my name.
So, I just had to wait around for the horses no one else wanted to ride.
Did you ever get hurt?
Yeah, once at a race in Union, which is way out in Eastern Oregon,
I was in the gate,
this horse reared up, flipped over backwards,
and I couldn't get out.
He landed on me.
- What happened? - Broke my pelvis, punctured a lung.
My mom was there.
She saw me on the ground, screaming out in pain.
All she said was, "You're not too hurt to run in the seventh, are you?"
Got a job at Red Lobster after that.
I like that place.
I went to the one in Spokane with my dad for my 13th birthday.
But then I went back. And that's what happens.
I started riding for this guy that made Del look like a good guy.
I mean, a real pervert.
He liked to watch girls taking a piss.
Then there was another horse that spooked.
Threw me into the rail, and I broke my back.
- Shit. - It was worse for the horse.
Broke both his forelegs.
Something I'd hardly ever seen before.
[woman] Hey, what can I get you?
- Uh, elephant ear. - All righty.
And then what?
Then I met Del. He lets me ride.
- Thank you, ma'am. - Thank you.
Sometimes I think I might quit.
There's only so many times you can fall down, right?
You could go back to Red Lobster.
That I could.
[both chuckle]
[crowd cheering]
[Bonnie] Yeah!
Hey, Bonnie?
What?
I heard someone down by the track
saying that Del runs his horses into the ground.
You think he'll do that with Pete?
Well, it's true. If Del's broke, he'll run his horses every two weeks.
Sometimes even once a week.
And is he broke?
He's broke a lot more than he used to be.
We haven't done the fair circuit in a long while. We're here now, so...
Don't worry about Pete.
He's a Quarter Horse, so he's got that going for him.
And he's probably been laid up for a while.
Listen, you can't get attached to the horse.
Why not?
'Cause you can't think of them as pets. They're here to race and nothing else.
If they lose too much, they get fired.
Just the way it is.
Come on, let's get going.
[announcer] This race is a Quarter Horse event.
Just a 200-yard dash down the straightaway.
Don't blink or you might miss it.
Here's Bonnie Durand riding number one, Lean On Pete.
[male handler] Come on, Pete.
[announcer] Lean On Pete into gate one on the inside.
[gate creaks, closes]
- [announcer continues indistinctly] - [horse neighs]
[snorts]
- [indistinct chatter] - [horses grunting]
[horses neighing]
[jockeys shouting indistinctly]
- [bell rings] - [jockeys urging horses]
[announcer] Lean On Pete and Bonnie broke well down...
[Charley] Faster, Pete.
- [man] Come on! - [Charley] Go, go!
[announcer]...but it's all Lean On Pete.
Lean On Pete and Bonnie Durand hit it with ease.
- [Charley] We won! - [Del] Yeah.
Did you see?
No.
[Charley] Holy shit.
- He won, right? - Yes.
- [shutter clicking] - [country music playing]
Here.
- Did you get rid of it? - Yep.
Looks like Rodriguez is gonna send out a search party.
Don't worry about it.
- [whinnying] - Is he okay?
Yeah, he just ran faster than he should have.
What are the tests for?
They test the winner for drugs.
Did Del give him something?
- Is that why he ran fast? - No. Keep your voice down.
What did you tell him you got rid of?
A buzzer.
- What's that? - Don't worry, they won't find it.
Yeah, but what is that?
Just gives the horse a little shock.
What kind of shock?
[woman] Hi.
[snorting]
[whinnies]
[Del] We good?
Let's get the fuck out of here.
- See you, Richie. - [Richie] All right.
Man, that Rodriguez is one suspicious son of a bitch.
Huh. I wonder why?
[both laughing]
[Del coughing]
[Lean On Pete whinnies]
Don't worry, he's fine.
[Del] So, what do you think about all this, Charley?
[Charley] What do you mean?
[Del] You know, working the backside...
surrounded by horse shit.
Being here in the asshole of nowhere.
I like working the horses.
And we need the money, so...
Hey, you should do something else before there's nothing else you can do.
Shit, I used to like horses, too, you know.
Now sometimes I feel like I wanna punch myself in the face
if I ever see a horse again.
[knocking on door]
Got the good stuff.
I'm okay. I think I'm gonna make a phone call if that's all right.
Yeah, why don't you go get something to eat, too?
- I know you must be hungry. - I just don't have any money.
Well, shit, I could pay you right now.
Are you sure?
Hey, any day I make more than I spend on these goddamn horses
is a good day in my book.
Bon appétit.
[chuckles] Thanks.
All right, well...
See you guys later.
- Can you wake him? - [nurse] No, he needs his sleep.
All right, but he got my note?
Yes, I told him.
Okay. Yeah, no, as long as he got my...
- Okay, Charley. - Thank you.
- [line rings] - [operator] Operator.
Hi, I'm looking for a number.
Um, for Margy Thompson.
Which county?
Yeah, no, she lives in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
I'm sorry, there's no listing for her.
There's no one at all?
No.
Maybe if you check under Margaret.
Okay.
Can you check that?
Yeah, I'm sorry, nothing's coming up.
Okay. Never mind.
- [waitress] Here you are, sweetheart. - Oh, I didn't order that.
That's on the house.
[chuckles] Thank you very much.
[somber instrumentals playing]
[hoofbeats]
[Del] He don't look that bad yet.
[Bonnie] He looks like he's walking on nails to me.
[Del sighs]
[Bonnie] You don't think he's navicular, do you?
[Del] I don't know.
I don't think so.
We'll see how he goes down at Grants Pass.
[Bonnie] You think he'll be rested enough by then?
[Del] He's gonna have to be. I'm not wasting my good horses down there.
Tell you one thing, if I had a gun, I'd probably shoot him right now.
[Charley] But he just won.
And you raced him too hard.
Listen, kid, things are changing.
The race meet starts soon, and we're gonna have a lot to do,
so we can't fuck around, you got that?
Let's load up and get back.
Like I said, Charley, he's not a pet.
He's just a horse.
[snorts]
[distant siren]
[monitor beeping]
[woman crying]
[nurse] Charley!
- Hey, where's my dad? - Hey.
We tried calling you at the house. Where you been?
- Has he gone home? - Listen, come with me.
- Where the hell is he? - Um...
Why don't you go have a seat in his room over here?
[softly] Okay.
- Is he with you? - I'm gonna be right back, okay?
Just give me a minute.
Charley.
I'm really sorry, but he didn't make it.
What do you mean, he didn't make it?
Okay, so that cut that was in his bowel,
there was one that didn't show up on the X-ray,
and so that became septic. And then his organs...
- I don't understand. - [sighing] Okay. I'm really sorry.
[breathing heavily]
Listen, he wasn't in any pain. He was asleep when it happened.
You said he was okay two days ago.
Okay, I need you to give me a number of somebody...
I wouldn't have gone if he wasn't okay.
Charley, listen. Do you have someone I can call...
You said he was asleep.
- Did he get my note, or was he asleep? - Um... I'm sorry, Charley,
but I need to call someone for you.
- Just give me a number. - There is nobody.
Okay.
Okay. Um, well, we can figure this out.
I'm gonna go talk to Family Services.
You stay here. I'm gonna get a phone.
[breathing heavily]
[gasping]
Charley!
- [Charley] Leave me alone! - [siren wailing]
[horse whinnying]
[panting]
[panting continues]
[somber instrumentals playing]
- [thumping] - [horse whinnies]
- [gates open] - [bell ringing]
[announcer]...a nd a good start for Easy Gainer down towards the inside,
Dander showing good speed. Wide Eyed Willy...
[jockeys urging horses]
...down to these two... photo finish! Might have been Easy Gainer.
Well, folks, that does close out the show for the exhibition day races.
But don't forget, opening day is coming up tomorrow,
and it's gonna be one heck of a day.
First post time is at 11 o'clock a.m., and races going throughout the day.
We can't wait to see you for opening day at Portland Downs.
[sirens wailing in distance]
Tomorrow's a big day.
I know your foot's been hurting, and I know you lost at Grants Pass,
but it's gonna be okay.
I'm gonna talk to Bonnie.
I'll get her to ride you.
- I know she'll help us. - [snorts]
Here we are.
Here. You want one?
There you go.
You gotta try and win tomorrow.
Okay? You hear me?
[snorting]
You gotta try and win.
[announcer, indistinct]
Hey, Bonnie.
Hey, Charley. Long time no see.
Del put Pete in the claiming race.
- I saw. - You need to ride him.
I can't, Charley. It's already decided. It's printed.
I'm riding Mr. High Pockets in the same race.
- Yeah, but maybe they can swap them. - [clears throat]
- Or you can persuade Del. - Doesn't work like that. No.
Mr. High Pockets is Del's best horse, I have to ride him. Plus I need a win.
Yeah, but Pete's never gonna win if you don't ride him.
I hate to say it, but I don't think there's much chance of him winning,
even if I was riding.
Well, if he doesn't win, then he's not gonna get claimed.
And if he doesn't get claimed,
then he's gonna go down to Mexico.
- Isn't he? - Charley...
They don't slaughter horses here, but I know they do down there.
I'm right, aren't I?
If his feet are fucked, then they're fucked.
So, they're just gonna kill him?
Just 'cause his feet are fucked?
Like I said before, if a racehorse isn't fast,
then he's no good as a racehorse.
This is the end of the line.
There's no lower tracks. It's just the way it is.
Come inside, I'll get you a soda.
I mean, back in the '80s it was, right? But now people don't give a shit.
[man] They just want to sit in front of their goddamn computer.
Right. Or else they go to the fucking mall like that's a big day out.
Jeez. Buy designer jeans or something.
Longacres. That was a real track, right?
- Remember that place, Bonnie? - Sure.
Longacres. That's where your mom, rest in peace,
she won her first race.
By the way, your mother was a decent jock for a woman.
[all laughing]
You think you can persuade him not to race Pete today?
[Del] But even in the '90s, it was still kind of all right.
And you could trust the jocks.
Not like now.
The jocks are all backstabbers.
No offense. I know your daughter's a jock, too...
- [Bonnie] Want a Coke? - Yeah, sure.
[Del] Didn't you used to go out with Gail Evans?
That was a time.
All right, just do your best today, okay?
[announcer] And here's number six, Lean On Pete,
for trainer Del Montgomery.
Pete's a five-year-old, and he's had a decent year so far
running on the fair circuit.
He won over at Burns, but came fourth down at Grants Pass.
Tonight he's being ridden byjockey José Alfaro.
In the number five slot is Mr. High Pockets.
He'll be ridden byjockey Bonnie Durand.
Del Montgomery also trains this runner.
An interesting long shot could be More Money Honey.
She's 14 to 1 right now.
[Del] All right, just win the fucking race, Bonnie.
[announcer] As the horses get set to come onto the track for the next race.
Folks, just a couple of minutes to post time
as the horses make their way toward the starting gate.
Heavy favorite right now is Excessive Jubilation.
Still got a few minutes left to make your wagers.
More Money Honey will be next.
Mr. High Pockets and Bonnie Durand in gate five.
And finally, Lean On Pete.
They're in the gate.
- [gates open] - [bell rings]
- Come on, Bonnie. - And the race is on.
[Del] Get him out front.
A very good start for Mr. High Pockets, who goes right out to the front.
Mr. Rear Tidal Wave in the second spot.
Here's Excessive Jubilation, who's away in third.
With a hundred yards to go,
- it's all Mr. High Pockets... - [crowd cheering]
Excessive Jubilation finished up third,
- Lean On Pete finished last. - [breathing heavily]
So, folks, that does close out the show for live racing here at Portland Downs.
We thank you forjoining us tonight.
Please drive home safely.
Good night, everyone.
[country music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[Charley] Bonnie.
You see me win? I won twice. Fucking twice!
I'm gonna buy you a beer, okay? I want us to buy Pete.
You can ride him, and I can take care of him.
Yeah, let's do it!
No, I'm being serious.
I'm sure you are.
[Del] Charley. Get over here.
I need you to pick up the truck.
Why?
Hook up the small trailer. We gotta load Pete in tonight.
Where's he going?
I'm selling him.
I'll buy him.
[laughs]
What? With what money?
And where are you gonna keep him? Not in my stalls.
I don't want him going to Mexico. He's a good horse.
Oh.
Go get the fucking truck.
What the fuck are you waiting for? Now!
[Bonnie] Charley, you don't want that beer?
- Don't worry, it's okay. - [nickering]
[Lean On Pete neighing]
[engine starts]
[Charley] Del's selling Pete.
He told me to load him up and park him in the lot.
Sign here.
- Thanks. - [phone ringing]
[truck beeps]
[woman] And what can I get for you?
Um...
I'd like a, uh... 27 regular, please.
Sure thing, honey.
[door sensor dings]
[indistinct country music playing]
[door sensor dings]
[pump bell dings]
[engine starts]
[Lean On Pete neighing]
[insects chirping]
[indistinct music playing on radio]
[birds chirping]
Hey, what are you looking for?
You better not be eating anything.
I mean it.
[birds continue chirping]
[indistinct chatter on radio]
- [spitting] - [liquid spilling]
- [liquid pouring] - [spits]
[waitress] You need a minute?
Um... I don't think so, uh...
could I get the chicken-fried steak dinner with baked potato and soup
and a large Coke? And then, um...
could I have two cheeseburgers to go?
You're hungry.
[coughing]
["The Heart Wants What It Wants" by Selena Gomez playing over PA]
♪ Shining like stars and screaming ♪
♪ Lighting me up like Venus... ♪
[swishes water, spits]
[coughs]
♪ Hell over trip, no more so ♪
♪ Finding a way to let go ♪
♪ Baby, baby, no I can't escape ♪
♪ The bed's getting cold And you're not here... ♪
[softly] Shit.
♪ But I'm not alive until you call... ♪
- Take your time. - Thank you.
[man] Hey. You forgot to pay for that, huh?
Get off of me.
- I don't have any money. - You don't have any money?
What a surprise.
[man on phone] Sherriff's office.
Yeah, put me on to the sheriff. This is Mitch, down at the Apple Peddler.
Whoa! No. You sit down.
What's your name, huh?
Yeah, hello? Yeah.
Yeah, we got a dine-and-dash down here.
Yeah, I want him down here now.
- [woman] Bus just showed up. - [Mitch] Okay.
- [Mitch] How many? - [woman] Twenty or so.
Driver wants to talk to you.
[Mitch] You don't let him leave.
[woman] Stealing from a waitress is pretty low.
I'm sorry.
I was just hungry, and I spent all my money on gas.
Where are you headed?
- Wyoming. - Why?
My aunt used to live there, and I'm trying to find her.
Maybe the sheriff can help you find her.
I can't go with the sheriff.
Why?
Because I can't.
[Mitch] There's 28 of them. They all want food.
I don't know what to do.
Not gonna leave him alone in the office, but we only got 45 minutes
till those people are on a bus back to Winnemucca.
[woman] I shouldn't say this, but just let him go.
[Mitch] What? Are you kidding me?
- You saw how much food he ordered? - [woman] Just let him go.
[Mitch scoffs]
[phone rings]
[engine straining]
Fuck. Come on.
[muttering] Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck...
[engine sputters and dies]
[panting]
[distant coyote barking]
[metallic thud]
Hey, hey, hey.
[snorting]
Hey.
Don't worry, don't worry.
It's gonna be okay.
Shh.
- [softly] Pete, hey. - [panting]
[shushing]
It's okay.
[neighs]
Hey, hey, hey...
[Lean On Pete snorting]
[nickering]
[distant car approaching]
Don't worry, it's okay.
[nickering]
It's okay, it's just a car.
Don't worry, you're fine.
[whinnying]
Hey, hey!
Hey! Hey! It's okay.
Hey! It's okay. Come on. [shushing]
It's okay. You're okay, Pete. It's okay.
[whinnies]
Come on, Pete. It's okay.
Hey, hey, hey.
Good boy.
[shushes]
Hey, hey, hey.
I was just thinking about, uh...
my friend back in Spokane.
He was called Colin, and he was a linebacker.
He used to invite me over to his house,
which was pretty cool.
First time I went over there...
Well, see, he had three sisters,
and we were all sitting by the kitchen table.
This big kitchen table.
We just ate breakfast,
and they just laughed and talked and...
they liked each other.
He...
His mother was there, too, and she had this bathrobe
and she...
she would make pancakes, and, Pete, I love pancakes.
It was the nicest place I've ever seen.
[insects buzzing]
I thought about calling Colin and his family
after what happened...
with Dad, but... I didn't.
I thought about calling a bunch of people from Spokane, too.
The truth is,
I don't mind telling you this,
I didn't wanna beg for anything.
And I didn't...
I didn't want them to know what I was living like.
If they ever thought of me, I'd rather them think of me as being okay.
Playing football and hanging out with Dad.
I'd rather them never see me again than see me like this.
[mellow instrumental music playing]
Me and Margy,
we used to go camping all the time
whenever my dad needed time to himself and...
there was this one time we just
sat around a fire, and there was no one around.
Just the trees and the mountains and...
we counted the stars,
and we tried to name them.
[distant coyotes barking]
And then eventually the...
eventually, the fire, it started going out.
And so we started to lie down and get ready for bed and...
eventually, we were lying down, and we were both kind of scared.
And, um... [chuckles]
And that's when Margy sat up, and she said,
"Is it all right if we just left?
It's getting spooky, and I'm just kind of scared."
And I was young, so I said, "I am, too."
And we went back to her house.
And we just stayed up watching TV all night.
And we camped there the rest of the weekend.
Just watching TV.
[sniffles]
I think that... [sniffles]
I think that she must have a nice house and...
if we went, as long as we behaved ourselves,
she'd let us stay, too.
[sighs, sniffles]
I think so.
[distant coyotes barking]
[cows mooing]
[insects buzzing]
[man 1] Yep?
Oh, fuck me. Are you all right, kid? You look awful.
My truck broke down on the highway.
- How did you get all the way out here? - I walked.
You should not be walking in the fucking desert.
My horse needs water. Do you mind if I get some?
- [man 2] Who's that? - It's a kid with a horse.
[man 2] What kind of horse?
He's a racehorse.
- Like, a "racehorse," racehorse? - Yeah.
No shit.
- What's the horse's name? - [Charley] Pete.
[man 2] That ain't much of a name for a horse.
There's a phone on the microwave in there
if you wanna call somebody about your truck.
[indistinct]
[man] Dude, that's my controller.
- Oh, yeah. - Man, I was racing.
[man 1] Oh, I bet you were. That what you call it?
- [man 2] I was racing! - [man 1] You call it racing?
[man 2] What do you call it?
[man 1] I thought you were just twiddling with your little fiddle over there.
See, this is why they don't let you drive...
[phone beeps]
- [phone beeps] - The line's busy.
[man 2] Where were you taking the horse to?
Wyoming.
[man 2] Why?
I'm supposed to drop him off.
You're in a world of shit then, aren't you?
Yeah, I guess.
You can use my phone until you find someone.
I'm Mike, that there is Dallas.
- Friendly fire. - [Dallas whoops]
I'm Charley.
Drink some fucking water, Charley. I don't need you dying in my kitchen.
All right, man... [indistinct]
- [video game noises] - [indistinct shouting]
[water rushing]
- Hey - [Dallas and Mike] Whoa!
All right!
Giddup. [clicks tongue] Giddup.
[Mike chuckles]
Stubborn fucker, this guy.
Maybe he just doesn't wanna be ridden.
Course he does, kid. He's a horse.
Hiyah! Come on. [clicks tongue] Let's go.
Hey, be careful of his foot.
[Mike] Foot's fine, kid.
- Let's go. - You gonna get on him next?
- I've never ridden a horse before. - Really?
Well, Mike will teach you what to do.
- I don't want to. - Why not?
He's just not for riding. Not by me at least.
[Mike] Sloppy Joes have arrived!
- [car horn honks] - Sloppy Joes!
- [Mike laughing] - Sloppy Joes are here.
Hey, who is that?
That's Mr. Kendall.
- [urging horse] - [Dallas] Oh hey, and Laurie, too.
Come on, Charley!
So, what's it like being back?
[Mike] I'm not sure.
You boys...
you done us a good service over there.
[Mike] Well, we done something all right.
[chuckles]
[Dallas] We had a buddy who lost both his legs and...
got a concussion so bad he couldn't talk anymore.
[Mike] Another one had to shoot a guy.
Said the head just blew off.
Body just stood there for a while before it fell to the ground.
Tell him about the girl.
Oh, we saw this truck get blown up.
This girl...
she just got blown in half.
Like, cut in two.
Split right here.
[imitates splitting]
That was seriously fucked up.
Yep.
But you gotta do what you gotta do, right?
[Dallas burps]
[men chuckle]
[chuckles, burps]
[burps]
[Mike chuckling]
[all laughing]
[Laurie] Food's ready!
[Dallas burps]
[Mike] That's us.
[Mr. Kendall] Let's eat.
What about you, kid?
[Charley] What about me?
[Mr. Kendall] Are you gonna...
join the army like these boys? Serve your country?
I guess I hadn't really thought about it.
Laurie, get me another beer.
- You boys want another beer? - I'm good.
Jesus Christ, if that girl gets any bigger,
she's not gonna get up the stairs.
I had to put a shower in downstairs.
She couldn't get in the fucking tub.
Last week I caught her
eating a whole goddamn bag of Snickers in her room.
- [Laurie] You know that's not true. - A whole goddamn bag. It is so true.
You get so ugly when you drink, Grandpa.
You wanna see ugly?
- You really wanna see ugly? - [slams fist]
[Mike] You're lucky you got someone looking after you, Mr. Kendall.
Yeah.
- You're probably right. - [Mike] Mm-hmm.
You want me to help dry?
If you want.
I like your belt.
It's my dad's.
I like the pictures.
Every time he'd go somewhere for more than six months,
he'd get something added to it.
From the looks of it, he must have moved around a lot.
Yeah, I guess.
[softly] Thanks.
Can I ask you a question?
Why do you let him treat you like that?
I don't have anywhere else to go.
And...
when you don't have anywhere else to go,
you're kind of stuck.
You want some ice cream?
I think Mike's got some in the freezer.
I'm sure he wouldn't mind.
Yeah, sure.
- [softly] Thanks. - Yeah.
[Mr. Kendall] Get in the goddamn car.
[Mike] Thank you for dinner.
[talk radio playing]
You get her number, Charley?
[Mike laughing]
Lost your chance.
- [line ringing] - [operator] Operator.
[Charley] Hi, could you connect me to Rock Springs, Wyoming?
It's a bar.
It's called Scottish Sam's, I think.
One moment, please.
Thank you.
Please hold.
- Um, hi, I'm looking for Margy Thompson. - [woman] Who?
Yeah, I think she worked there a few years back and... maybe longer.
[woman] Sorry, she doesn't work here.
And I don't know her.
Would anyone else know?
[woman] I don't know, Dwaine might know.
All right. When will Dwaine be in?
He'll be back in a couple minutes.
- Yeah. Could I get your phone number? - Yeah, 565...
[somber instrumentals playing]
[water rushing]
[music continues]
[Charley] Just gotta keep going.
This isn't our home, Pete, come on.
This isn't our home.
Gotta keep going. Come on.
[music continues]
Come on.
You're okay, you're okay.
I used to have a picture of my mom,
but I threw it away one night when I was mad.
Her name was Nancy, and she had real black hair,
and she was real tall.
When I was born, I stayed with her, but then
she left me with my dad for a week and never came back.
He said he didn't know why she left.
But, when I was little, I'd always ask about it.
And he'd never say anything, but then, one night, when he was drunk,
he told me that she was the moodiest person he's ever met.
He said that she'd walk in the room, and he'd swear she was a different person.
That she'd be mean one hour, and then nice the next.
Sounds a bit like Del, if you ask me, right? [chuckles]
And then he said to me...
"Charley, I ain't gonna lie to you.
She hasn't called or sent a card, but I know deep down she loves you.
She's just fucked up in the head and likes to party too much.
I know it's hard to hear, but it's a good thing she's gone."
Then he said to me...
he said, "I ain't worth shit, but I like being here with you."
It's okay.
I'm gonna get us out of here, okay?
[softly] I promise.
[engines approaching]
Hey, it's okay.
It's okay, don't worry. It's okay.
- It's just a car. Oh, it's motorcycles. - [engines revving]
Hey, you're okay. You're okay. Hey! Hey!
- [whinnies] - Shit! Pete! Shit.
Slow down, Pete!
- [whinnying] - Come on! Hey!
Hey! Pete!
Watch out!
[Lean On Pete screeching]
[gasping]
[screeching continues]
Hey, hey, hey...
you're okay. [shushing]
[Lean On Pete whimpering]
You're okay, you're okay.
I'm so sorry.
[gasping] You're gonna be okay.
You're gonna be okay, you're gonna be okay.
I promise, I promise.
[exhales dying breath]
[Charley breathing heavily]
[sniffles]
[hyperventilating]
[continues hyperventilating]
- [indistinct radio chatter] - [officer] Where's your family?
My family?
- What's your name? - My name is Charley Thompson.
Okay, Charley, where did you used to live?
Portland. I lived in Spokane before that. And Green River before that.
- Fine. Where you heading? - Wyoming.
- What's in Wyoming? - My Aunt Margy's in Wyoming.
- So, you're a runaway? - No.
Well, okay, Charley, where are your parents?
I don't have any parents.
All right, listen. Everything's gonna be okay.
We're gonna take you in, we're gonna get you cleaned up.
We're gonna fix everything.
But just, please, tell me whose horse this is.
[man] Officer!
[officer] Charley, why don't you wait in the truck?
- It's warm in there. - [indistinct radio chatter]
[somber instrumentals playing]
[radio chatter continues]
[distant dogs barking]
[coins rustling]
[coins clinking]
[machine whirring]
[indistinct chatter]
[muffled club music playing]
[indistinct chatter continues]
[siren wailing]
[indistinct shouting]
[indistinct chatter]
[man] Help the homeless.
[phone ringing]
[indistinct chatter]
[man] What's your name?
Charley.
[man] Harley? Harley?
[Charley] Charley.
[man chuckles]
When did you get into town? I haven't seen you here before.
I'm Silver.
How old are you?
Can you not talk?
I'm 18.
I just got into town yesterday.
Shit.
Newbie.
So, where are you sleeping?
Colfax.
Fuck!
Hey, that's no good.
There's nothing but junkies around there.
You get fucking raped and murdered off Colfax.
- I can look after myself. - Yeah?
All right, well that's your choice.
[Silver] Utah.
Idaho.
Uh...
Montana. We were in Montana
for, like, I don't know, six weeks. It was great.
Want to go to Alaska,
but I don't know if this thing will make it.
Are you sure she won't mind me staying?
Martha? Nah.
She's got a brother she hasn't seen in a long time about your age.
No worries.
Hey, we got a guest.
You can go ahead and put that there.
Come on in, check it out.
Charley, Martha.
- Hey. - Martha, Charley.
Go on.
Fix this door.
[TV playing]
Hey, do you guys think I could get a job around here?
I'd do anything.
[Silver laughs]
Yeah, yeah.
There's a lot of jobs [chuckles] around here for homeless kids.
I'm not homeless.
Well, I hate to break it to you, but that is exactly what you are.
Anyway, there's no jobs around here.
Ask the Mexicans.
They're the only ones that seem to get jobs.
See, she talks.
[Charley] Could I borrow your phone?
Sorry, man.
[Charley] Hey, would you guys mind if I borrowed your phone?
I just need to make a quick phone call.
All right. There you go.
- Thank you so much. - [man] Just one call?
[woman] Are you gonna stay right here?
[Charley] Yeah, I'll just stay right here. Uh, just one phone call, okay?
[Dwaine] Yeah, this is Scottish Sam's.
Hi, Dwaine? Is this Dwaine?
This is Charley Thompson. I'm calling for Margy Thompson.
I heard that you might know who she is.
Well, sure, I know her.
Well, I knew her. She ain't here though.
Do you know where she is?
Yeah, she got married and, uh, moved to Laramie.
Do you know who she got married to?
A guy named Steve. He was a chemical salesman.
Uh, you know, she was working at the library there in Laramie.
Um, do you know what library she works at?
I don't know. There's probablyjust the one.
Okay. Have a good day.
All right.
[machinery grinding]
Hi.
What do you want?
I heard you might be hiring.
From who?
From the Mexicans at the mission. I'm looking for work.
You ever paint houses before?
Uh, we moved around a lot, my dad and I, and we painted...
- How old are you? - I'm 16.
- You ever been to jail? - No.
What's your name?
Del Montgomery.
[painters speaking Spanish]
[music playing on radio]
[man] Everything okay?
Yeah. Thanks.
[music continues]
[ball bouncing]
[man] Check this out! Hey, Dad!
[boy] Over here!
[indistinct chatter]
You'll get more once you do a full week.
Thanks.
[engine starts]
- [Charley] Hey, is he okay? - [Martha] No, um...
No, he's, uh...
[Silver speaking gibberish]
...not good when he's drunk.
So, if he doesn't pass out, you should leave.
Okay?
- Want any help with anything? - No. Mmm-mmm.
You sure?
Yeah.
- You okay? - [softly] Yeah.
- [Silver] You cocksucking little fuck! - [Charley] What the fuck, Silver?
[Silver] Thieving, good-for-nothing bitch!
[Charley] What the fuck are you doing? What the fuck are you doing?
- Get the fuck off me! - Drinking our water!
- Huh? Eating our food! - Get off me, man!
- [Martha] No! - I want my fucking money!
- I don't have any fucking money, man! - [Silver] Bullshit!
- [Charley] I don't have any! - [Silver] Bullshit!
Hey, you got a job! I know you did!
- That means you got fucking money! - [Charley] I don't have any fucking money!
I didn't get paid!
- [Martha whimpering] - [loud thud]
- [Silver] Martha, grab his fucking arms! - [Charley] Get the fuck off me, man!
- [Silver] Where's the money? - [Martha] Leave him alone, please!
[Martha screams and sobs]
- Give me your fucking leg. - Get the fuck off, man!
[Silver] I bet you hid it in your socks, little shit!
[Charley] Get the fuck off of me.
[Silver yells triumphantly]
- [Martha] Leave him alone! - You little fucking liar!
- What are you gonna do? - Give me my money!
- [Silver] Fucker. - [Martha] Please stop!
[thuds]
[Silver] Get the fuck out of here.
Give me my money!
[Martha] Get the hell out of here, Charley! Just get out!
[Martha sobbing]
- Fuck. - [Martha] Fuck! [sobbing]
[trunk clicks]
[distant dogs barking]
Give me my fucking money back!
- [Silver] Fuck! - [Martha whimpers]
Come on!
- Give it back! - What the fuck?
- [Silver groans] - [Martha] No!
[Silver] Jesus Christ!
You... [groaning]
[Martha sobbing]
Get out! Get out!
- This is my fucking money. - Get the fuck out!
I'm sorry.
[Martha sobbing]
[tire iron clatters]
[water trickling]
[breathing heavily]
[somber instrumentals playing]
[announcer] We want to invite all passengers
to board for Laramie, Wyoming, from platform two.
That's platform two for Laramie, Wyoming. Thank you.
[music continues]
[indistinct chatter]
- [man] Want me to take that? - [woman] Thanks.
[music continues]
[sighs]
Charley?
What...
Oh...
Feeling any better?
Oh. I don't know.
I felt really... guilty
not keeping better contact with you and your dad
after what happened between him and me.
I'm sorry.
I tried once.
But...
You tried?
Yeah, of course I tried.
You're my little Charley.
Course I tried.
Can I ask you a question?
Sure.
Would it be all right to stay here for a little bit, um...
as long as your husband says that's okay.
I'm not letting you go anywhere.
And there's no more husband.
Not anymore.
You stay as long as you want.
You and me.
Can you eat some more pancakes?
You used to have a really good appetite.
[insects chirping]
[knocks on door]
[Aunt Margy] Yeah?
[Charley] Is it okay if I come in?
Yeah, Charley, come in.
Are you sure?
Yeah, come on in.
Okay.
- [Aunt Margy] Hey. - Hey.
If you wanna kick me out in, like, a week or so, you can.
I'm not gonna kick you out.
No, but if you want to, I won't feel bad about it.
I'll be okay.
That's fair.
But maybe if I do get to stay, then I can finish up my school here?
You have to go to school, it's the law.
Maybe I'd get to play football if I get back to school.
Of course.
And the other thing is, if I have to go to jail,
do you think that I'd get to come back here?
You're not going to jail.
But if you did, yes.
[softly] Okay.
You need to go to sleep.
Get some rest.
I get nightmares.
About my dad.
About...
Pete sometimes.
Just that he's drowning, and that I can't save him.
I just get really sad sometimes, I can't save him.
[Charley breathing heavily]
It's okay, Charley.
- I'm here now. - Mm-hmm.
And the nightmares...
- are gonna get better. - [choked up] Yeah?
They might not go away completely,
but they're gonna get better.
The more good times you have.
And we're gonna have good times, Charley.
[softly] Yeah.
Promise.
I just miss him a lot.
[sobbing] I miss him so much.
- [shushing] - [Charley sobbing]
["The World's Greatest" by Bonnie Prince Billy playing]
♪ I am a mountain ♪
♪ I am a tall tree, oh ♪
♪ I am a swift wind sweeping the country ♪
♪ I am a river down in the valley, oh ♪
♪ I am a vision and I can see clearly ♪
♪ If anybody asks you who I am ♪
♪ Just stand up tall Look 'em in the face and say ♪
♪ I am a giant ♪
♪ I am an eagle, oh ♪
♪ I am a lion ♪
♪ Down in the jungle ♪
♪ I am a marching band ♪
♪ I am the people, oh ♪
♪ I am a helping hand ♪
♪ I am a hero ♪
♪ If anybody asks you who I am ♪
♪ Just stand up tall Look 'em in the face and say ♪
♪ I'm that mountain peak up high ♪
♪ I'm that star up in the sky ♪
♪ Hey, I made it ♪
♪ I'm the world's greatest ♪
♪ I'm that little bit of hope ♪
♪ With my back against the ropes ♪
♪ I can feel it ♪
♪ I'm the world's greatest ♪
♪ I'm that mountain peak up high ♪
♪ I'm that star up in the sky ♪
♪ Hey, I made it ♪
♪ I'm the world's greatest ♪
♪ I'm that little bit of hope ♪
♪ With my back against the ropes ♪
♪ I can feel it ♪
♪ I'm the world's greatest ♪
♪ In the ring of life, I'll reign, love ♪
♪ And the world will notice a king ♪
[song ends]
["Easy Run" by Richmond Fontaine playing]
♪ Do you think ♪
♪ An easy run ♪
♪ Could find us? ♪
♪ Do you think ♪
♪ An easy run ♪
♪ Could find us? ♪
♪ Flannigan and Cassie will be there ♪
♪ And old Leon and his wife ♪
♪ Annie will be sitting in the corner Playing records ♪
♪ She'll play them all night ♪
♪ Do you think someday ♪
♪ That might happen for me? ♪
♪ My uncle will be sitting In his recliner ♪
♪ And Hong Kong movies he'll be watching ♪
♪ When we're all together eating ♪
♪ I'll sit next to Annie ♪
♪ Underneath the table ♪
♪ She'll hold my hand ♪
♪ And no longer will I mess up anything ♪
♪ Do you think someday ♪
♪ That could happen for me? ♪
♪ Do you think ♪
♪ An easy run ♪
♪ Will find me? ♪
[song ends]