Wind River

There's a meadow

in my perfect world...

where wind dances the branches of a tree,

casting leopard spots of light across the face of a pond.

The tree stands tall

and grand and alone,

shading the world beneath it.

It is here, in the cradle of all I hold dear,

- I guard every memory of you. - (SOBBING)

And when I find myself frozen in the mud of the real,

far from your loving eyes...

I will return to this place, close mine,

and take solace in the simple perfection of knowing you.

Hey.

You got blood on your shirt.

Uh, yeah, I just came from work.

Who was the victim today?

Looks like it's gonna be me.

Want some coffee?

Sure.

(TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY IN DISTANCE)

So, I gotta go to the rez tomorrow.

Figure I'd take Casey by to see your folks.

Hmm.

Something killed a yearling in the pasture behind their house.

Yeah, that's why I'm going.

Don't let Casey out of your sight on the rez.

- Okay? - No, like I said,

I'm gonna leave him with your folks while I scout.

You know, it's too cold to drag him through the snow,

- so... - You know what I mean.

Yep.

Yeah.

Case!

- (CALLS): Dad? - Come on, bud.

- Okay. I'm coming. - Time to go.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa whoa.

What's your BB gun pointed at right now?

Come here. Come down here.

Sorry, Dad.

Hey. What's the rule, bud?

Okay? Gun's always loaded, even if it ain't.

Right?

- (QUIETLY): Yes. - Okay. Come on, buddy.

Put that in the truck. Hurry up.

- Okay. - Don't run.

I'll be back Monday afternoon.

Just be careful on the road, okay?

This won't be my first snowstorm in a car.

Okay.

Is this it?

Yeah.

Here you go, buddy.

You know, it's a good town, Wilma.

They got good schools there.

If I get the job, we're gonna have to talk

about his child support.

Jackson's a lot more expensive.

Well, you go get that job,

and we'll figure it out from there.

Don't you worry about it.

Take Togwotee Pass.

And don't go through Pinedale, okay?

This, uh, this storm's comin' from the south, so...

Yeah, you couldn't drag me through Pinedale with a rope.

: I'll never set foot in that town again.

Well, good luck, okay?

Better hurry it up... it's hungry.

Chow time, boys.

You okay?

Fine.

You gotta push his nose back

when he rubs up on you like that.

- Okay? - 'Kay.

Yuck.

Told you I'd get that hat dirty.

He's got the height advantage on me is the deal.

Is that right?

Well, let's fix that.

Come on.

You're gonna earn his respect, buddy.

You know how you do that?

By standing your own ground.

So, let's get you up on there.

So, like I showed you, right?

Up.

Who's got the height advantage now?

Huh? Who's got the height advantage?

Let's back him up.

- (NEIGHS) - Be gentle.

Till he tells you not to be.

- (HORSE HUFFS) - Take him around.

That's it.

Pass right by his food.

Keep on going, keep on going.

There you go. You show him who's boss.

Want to sidepass him over this way?

- Whoa. - (HUFFS)

There you go.

That's it, son.

Keep coming.

Back him up.

He wants the food. Back him up.

- (GRUNTING) - Look at that.

All right, come on in.

- How about that! - (CASEY LAUGHS)

Good job. Come over here.

Put your hand up on his nose.

Let him smell you, let him breathe you,

let him know you.

He'll love you forever.

Okay?

Hey.

So, what do you think of that, son?

: That was pretty cowboy, huh?

No, son.

That was all Arapaho.

Hey, grandson! Hey!

Grandma's making you fry bread.

- Did you have breakfast? - Just eggs.

Well, go ahead, get you some!

- Horses sense the storm, huh? - Yeah.

So, uh, police chief call you to hunt the lion, eh?

Well, he called me to hunt something.

- Yeah. - Heard you lost a steer.

Yeah. I'll show you where.

- It's a lion. - Is that right?

Come on.

- (GEESE HONKING) - How's Wilma?

She got a job interview in Jackson.

Some hotel, I think.

- (CHUCKLES): Jackson Hole. - Yeah.

Going to live with the millionaires, eh?

Well, I don't know about that.

I think the billionaires

chased out the millionaires years ago.

Well, save your money.

When the wolves start eating their golden retrievers,

that land's gonna go for pennies on the dollar.

Yes, sir.

Tell me what that is.

Yeah.

Well, it's a lion, all right.

There's two.

Three of 'em.

She's got both of last year's kits with her.

They chased your steer around for a while, it seems.

That's what the tracks say.

Mama's teaching her kids how to hunt.

She's teaching them on livestock.

Mama just got her whole family killed.

You got gas in your sled?