Dancer, Texas Pop. 81

Y'all listen to this.

Rand McNally and Co., 150 East 52nd Street,

New York, New York 10022.

Dear Mr. McNally,

-I called our company about... -Think there really is a Mr. Rand McNally?

Sounds like one of those made up company names to me.

Y'all, it's called Rand McNally and Company.

Called you company about putting our town Dancer, Texas on...

-Could be dead. -Yeah, so could you, Squirrel, shut up.

I called your company about putting our town Dancer, Texas on your maps.

The lady on the phone said for me to write this letter

giving you more information about our town,

anything worth knowing.

-This won't take long. -No kidding.

Dancer is in West Texas.

It sits smack dab in the middle of Brewster County,

the largest county in the United States,

larger than the state of Connecticut, even.

On your Rand McNally road map, Brewster County takes up eight square inches.

It's that big blank area just east of El Paso.

Most of the county's 6,000 folks live in Alpine,

some 80 miles away.

Dancer's isolated location makes it the perfect spot for the weary traveler.

And one hell of a boring spot to grow up in.

Y'all going to let me finish this or not?

Continue.

Dancer sits just off old Highway 90,

which used to be the major thoroughfare

until they built the interstate 200 miles north.

-The commercial district... -Commercial district!

-The commercial district has... -I like that!

The commercial district has a general store where you can always find

plenty of hearty food stuffs,

-useful hardware, and local characters. -Character part's right.

There's a restaurant offering fine dining and a friendly atmosphere

and plenty of available retail space for lease.

Other buildings of note include a church, of course,

and the school.

24 students attend grades six through 12.

Today, Saturday, is an especially big day

because the largest senior class in 20 years, five students, is graduating.

Yee-haw!

That's all I can think to tell you about Dancer.

I ought to mention that the population figure is fixing to change pretty drastically

'cause four of us, all four guys graduating today,

are leaving town on the bus first thing Monday morning.

Sincerely, Keller Coleman.

So what do y'all think?

Car.

What's the matter?

You don't like the letter?

Well...

sounds like you don't much care for the town.

Didn't ask me if I liked it or not. He just wanted information.

I liked it. The letter, I mean.

Yeah, Squirrel, you would.

I tell you, Keller, the way you talk about this town,

if I was Mr. Rand McNally, I wouldn't put it on the map either.

You should tell him why Dancer's important, you know, special.

-Give reasons. -I would have, if I could've thought of any.

Must be some.

Well, tell you what. I'll hold off sending the letter in case we think of any.

You know, Keller, maybe it isn't such a hot idea,

putting in the letter that the four of us are leaving, and all.

Yeah, Terrell Lee's right.

Makes it sound like we're leaving town because we don't like it here.

Well, aren't we?

Guess we ought to get to graduation.

Ain't starting without us.

We are sort of the feature attraction.

We got to go soon anyway with that car coming.

Come on.

-Let's go graduate. -All right.

Squirrel, you sit right there.

Heads up!

It's about to begin.

This is the first day

of the rest of their lives,

so we are filled with pride

as these five young people

set sail on that adventure called life.

So without further ado,

I now pronounce you

high-school graduates.

Hi, you want some?

Have some of this...

This is my momma's...

Thanks for everything.

Josie!

-Josie, don't strangle your brother. -Mom!

Thank you, ma'am.

You did good.

Thank you, sir.

Well, let's eat.

-We're all real proud of you, son. -Thanks.

Hey!

Mom!

What are you wearing?

Can't I dress up to see my only son graduate from high school?

Well you're going to look a little silly trying to balance

a paper plate of fried catfish on your lap.

Oh hush!

We wouldn't dream of having supper here.

Would we, honey?

No, ma'am.

My friends are waiting.

I hope you broke the news to them.

Terrell Lee.

I promised them. They can't go to L.A. without me.

We have discussed this.

You're making me ruin all my plans.

It's not fair. Dad!

This is between you and your mother, just leave me out of it.

Well, at least let me go with them for a month or two till they get settled in.

You are going to work for your father Monday morning,

no ifs, ands or buts.

This family

has had oil for blood going back generations, Terrell Lee.

It is a part of you

and you will learn to love it.

You'll see.

Now, your Daddy has got to say hello

to all the men who work for him.

You be sure to come back and say goodbye to us before we leave.

I thought about leaving town.

I had a brother-in-law who did.

He was just about your age.

He went out to California, too.

You sure remind me of him.

Yeah?

I'll look him up.

He died a few years back,

murdered

in prison.

Thank y'all.

Leave some room for the catfish.

Squirrel, you just don't get enough vegetables.

Look at those scrawny arms!

When you get to California, you be sure and eat plenty of vegetables.

I bet they don't even eat vegetables out there.

I heard they eat nothing but.

Well then you be sure and get enough good red meat, too.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank y'all.

I want some of that catfish.

Your boy looked real good today.

Thank you.

How're you doing this year?

Getting by.

You?

Same.

Well,

see you.

Good talking to you.

Hey, Keller!

Come over here, son.

Hi, Dale.

Keller.

So, you boys still set on leaving?

Yes, sir, all four of us are leaving on the bus first thing Monday morning.

Awful damned sure, ain't he?

Not as easy as you think, leaving.

When we was your age,

we thought about leaving.

Still thinking about it.

No, see for us it's all decided.

See, when we were 11

the four of us promised after we graduate to leave town together on the first bus.

Uh-huh.

We made a solemn vow.

Oh, a solemn vow.

-Well, hell, that's different. -Must be where we messed up.

We skipped the solemn vow part.

Talking about leaving is one thing.

Folks get fed up with the place. It's natural.

But actually picking up and taking off

well, that's something else.

What is today, Saturday?

A lot can happen between now and Monday morning.

It's put up or shut up time for you boys.

The four of us are going.

We really are.

Keller, don't be disappointed if things don't turn out the way you hoped.

Some folks don't belong in a small town.

Some folk

don't belong anywhere else.

Good luck now, Keller.

Didn't mean to be discouraging or nothing.

-No. -Sure hope we weren't!

No, it's okay.

Hell, I'd be surprised if one of them left.

No more than two, definitely.

Maybe three.

I smell betting opportunities here, fellows,

major betting opportunities.

20 dollars says one leaves.

30 on two.

You got it.

-More pie? -Third plate's a charm.

Howdy, Squirrel.