Life on the Line

What, when is this gonna be on?

Um...

My wife likes to tape it.

'Cause she shows all her relatives and stuff.

Can we put our cell phones off?

I'm trying to do an interview.

- Do I just, I just look at you? - Uh-huh.

Okay, so I'm here with Duncan from the Elite Power Corporation.

Duncan, I have a few questions for you.

Sure.

So let's start with the first one.

What is a lineman?

Um...

A lineman is formerly known as an electrical line worker.

Back in 1943, they...

No, no, I'm sorry,

not the encyclopedia version, that was my bad.

What is a lineman to you?

From the heart.

A lineman's the motherfucker you want around

if you feel like the world's coming to an end.

I'm sorry, am I allowed to say that? I didn't mean to cuss, that's okay?

Yeah, don't worry about that, we'll take care of it later.

- You gonna beep that out? - Yeah, we'll beep that out.

But you know what, that's exactly what I'm looking for. Something raw.

Something honest.

Tell us what happened that night.

The night of the storm.

What really happened in substation 127?

Daddy!

I'm right here, sweetheart.

Daddy.

It's okay, I'm right here.

I know you be afraid of the lightning, Baby.

That's just God reminding us he's around.

I just don't want you to go.

Come on now, you know I have to.

But got something for you.

In case lights go out. Alright?

I love you, Baby.

I love you too, Daddy.

Alright, yep, alright.

- She okay? - She'll be fine.

It's your ugly wife.

- Hey, Pok Chop. - Hey.

- What we got? - Branch came down on the line.

- Uh-huh. - Off the interstate.

- Talk to Beau yet? - No, I can't get through.

Alright, try him again.

I'll drive past his place, his truck's still there,

- I'll kick his ass. - Got it.

- Alright, I'll see you in ten. - I'll see you.

- Maggie... - I love you, too.

Bye.

Hey! You be careful now! No shortcuts.

Yes, ma'am.

- Split right in two, huh? - Uh-huh.

We got the grounds on the line.

We're all boxed in here. Where's your brother?

Not at home. Don't know where the hell he is.

Hey, Beau, you out there anywhere? Earth to Beau!

I'm here, I'm traveling as fast as I can.

You drive careful, you hear? Don't want you racing down here.

Holy shit.

You crazy mother!

What did I tell you?

What, are you trying to wreck the digger?

Looks okay to me.

Where the hell you been, Beau?

I was celebrating with my future ex-wife.

- Celebrating what? - It's my birthday.

- Come on, man, cheer up! - Oh, Happy Birthday, Beau!

Alright, well, let's celebrate your birthday

by getting the goddamn tree off the line.

Let's do it. Come on.

Alright, boys, let's do this nice and clean, okay?

Hoist!

Come on.

Cutters!

Take out!

- Hey, boss, what do you think? - We need to clear outta here.

Get those branches off the road, we're going home.

A little vine on the line, she's done, Danny boy.

- Ah, goddammit, Beau. - What?

I told you I wanted this clean.

You gotta be a cowboy. Look at that!

You missed one, right there!

- Oh, shit. - No, no, no.

Do it right the first time or don't do it at all, Beau.

Beau's here.

Hi.

Who's your favorite Uncle?

You are.

That's right.

Baby girl.

You know your mom and dad love you, right?

Now I gotta tell you something and I need you to be strong.

Uncle Beau? Pok Chop called.

Said they need you at the yard.

Some kind of emergency or something.

What?

What'd you say?

- What you looking at? - New neighbors moving in.

- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hmm.

She's good looking.

You do that paperwork for college?

- The registrar? - Mm-hmm.

I'll do it tomorrow.

'Cause today... Today is somebody's birthday.

- Oh, hell. - Happy Birthday.

You know I hate birthdays.

- Well. - But I like cupcakes.

Don't forget we have a very special dinner tonight.

- Baked potato? - Baked potato.

I need your truck, you mind if I drive you to work?

I do.

But I'll let you, being that it's my birthday and all.

So come on, let's get going.

Alright.

Hi, there.

Hi, I'm Bailey.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

- Hi. - That's my Uncle Beau.

- Hi. - How y'all doing?

I'm Carline, and that's Elly and Dylan over there.

- Hi. - Hi, nice to meet you.

Hi, nice to meet you.

You have a real pretty dress on.

Oh, thank you.

Eugene says I always over-dress.

I mean it is moving day, isn't it?

Oh, there's Eugene. That's my husband.

Hey.

Elite man, huh?

You a new hire?

- Yep. - I'm in distribution, you?

Transmission.

Well, good to have you aboard.

With this new contract we need all the men we can get.

Yep.

Bailey, come on girl, we need to get going.

Okay, we're going to work. Very nice to meet you.

- Bye. - Bye.

They seem nice.

Alright, you be safe now.

- You drive safe. - I will.

Why the hell would the lights be out

in the damn power company?

You.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Beau.

- You behind all this. - Hey.

- Happy Birthday, Beau. - Thanks.

Happy Birthday, Beau, now blow out the damn candles.

I don't have enough wind in me to blow out all them candles.

- You wanna help? - I'll help you.

- Alright. Let's go. - Alright. Let's do it.

You shoulda seen your face, we got you good.

- You looked scared there for a minute. - Yep.

Thought the only thing that scared you was electricity, heights, and women.

No, no, no, it's that map that scares me.

Upgrade maps of state.

Contract's only for line 12, Beau.

No, well, line 12's the longest line in the county,

the one at most risk.

You know you ought a think less about how old I am

and get in your trucks and get back to work.

That's well said, Beau.

- After the cake. - Yeah, after the cake.

Alright.

And after... this.

What'd you do?

You shouldn't be spending money on this,

you should be saving it for college.

Oh, I saved on the wrapping.

I understand you need money,

but you've never held a job longer than two months.

But I'll work hard.

I will!

Beau, you know what mom used to say?

She used to say Beau is so lazy that he'd quit breathing

if he didn't think it'd kill him.

I mean, look, how long has it been since I've seen you?

You've been off being a bad-ass,

running around, getting in trouble.

Now all of a sudden you wanna come home and be a lineman.

I need something different, you know? Something better.

- Yeah. - Sure would appreciate it.

Besides, you got no choice.

- And why is that? - Because, it's my birthday.

It's my birthday.

You like it?

It's nice, it's real nice.

- Happy Birthday. - Thanks.

I gotta get to work but have a good day.

Sounds like the carburetor.

- Can you fix it? - Yep.

- How long? - As long as it takes.

Where you gotta be, buddy?

Hey, Ron. When'd you get out?

- What's the big rush, man? - I gotta get to work.