Spencer's Mountain

Over 100 years ago,

my grandpa come into this land.

Grandpa climbed this mountain and said, "this is it' "

and he built him a sod house' got himself a wife'

and they named the whole mountain after him.

Spencer's mountain it is to this day.

He could see the sun coming up mornings

and the sun setting behind the Grand Tetons.

Them pioneer French trappers named them that

'cause the peaks reminded them of big bosoms.

This here's the river my grandpa first come down.

They called it the Snake...

Because it kind of winds and meanders down our valley.

He saw plenty of buffalo...

And elk...

And in the ponds, the trumpeter swans,

so tame and loving, they'd swim right up to you.

Yep, it's a beautiful valley the Spencers come to'

and they come to stay...

Like this log house my papa built

long time back

that me and my brothers' and my babies' too'

got born in...

All nine of them.

Going to be a fine day.

Ohh.

What are you doing awake already?

It's not time for you to be up.

Now go back to sleep.

That's a good boy.

Clayboy.

Clayboy.

All my brothers

is coming for breakfast.

We'll need a slew of eggs.

Should I milk the cow, too?

I'll do the milking. Let the kids sleep.

Sweetheart?

I'm up.

Wake mom and papa.

They'd never forgive us

if my brothers came and went without a hello.

I will.

I need $18, Clay.

What for?

Clayboy's graduation ring.

Rings is for women.

I want him to have one, dear.

Why?

Well, it's kind of a sign,

a sign that he's special.

All our kids is special.

Clayboy will be the first Spencer

to ever graduate from high school.

Yeah, he won't be the last.

Each one our kids going to do it.

Ain't one of them going to end up in the quarry or the mill.

Could you draw me the money today?

Ain't there, Livvy.

But I put it in the bank Thursday.

Drew it out last night.

Paid Mr. John a down payment on a power saw.

He had Percy truck it up the mountain.

That why you've asked your brothers to give up Saturdays?

I've done as much for them a thousand times.

They've earned their rest.

I got rocks and log to haul.

They borrowed a truck.

You're gonna get that dream house I promised.

You've been saying that since we were married.

But now I got me this saw.

You know you're never going to get it built.

Right now I'd trade all of Spencer's mountain

for just one graduation ring

for our boy.

We'll get it, Livvy. I'll work overtime.

Yeah.

You know,

I've been thinking about our family graveyard,

wondering how the winds are treating it.

Well...

Where are my sons?

Said they'd be here by 6:00, papa.

Then they will be.

There never was a Spencer that couldn't keep his word.

Give me your hand, mother.

Haven't seen all my boys in one lump in too long.

Is it snowing?

Right on it.

?? She'll be coming around the mountain ??

?? she'll be coming around the mountain when she comes ????

Yahoo! Yee-haw!

It's Clayboy, Sam!

Man, it's cold!

Good morning, Clayboy.

Hello, Clayboy!

Boy, it's cold enough to freeze the ears off--

breakfast ready, Clayboy?

Let's eat!

Get it on the table, grandma!

Sit you down.

Let your mother go. Come on.

Not so fast. Not so fast.

Let me have one.

Thanks, Clay.

Here's mine. Where's yours?

How they treating you, papa?

They hide every drop of whiskey

I bring into this house.

Take care of that.

Drink hearty and eat fast.

Got a lot of work getting on before sundown.

I'm going with you.

Bring you some lunch, papa.

Thank you, son.

Build a good house, now.

See you, papa.

See you later, papa.

I'm going to have a walk up the porch.

Every year since Livvy and I got married,

I dug that basement,

every winter she's filled up again.

Just so happens that Luke, Matt, and John

are the best masons around.

Clayboy and ham can dig the hole

and you three would lay the big rock.

Cement's under that tarp.

The rest can start cutting that big timber.

You haul all them logs up here yourself?

Sure did.

Ain't she a beaut?

Got her from Mr. John.

Going great, fellas.

By tonight, we'll start pouring.

This will build me a real good house.

Thanks, brothers.

I can really start to see it now.

Going to put a deep bed of grass here

for my babies to play in.

Thanks again, brothers.

Hi. Good to see you.

Get up there.

Tell mama the dream house is finally underway.

Hurry and wash up.

Livvy's fixed a Saturday night supper

too good for poor folks.

Are we poor, grandma?

I'd say we were rich, Becky.

There was a time we were so poor

we didn't nothing all winter except one slice of bacon.

How many of you was there?

Nine brothers and grandma and grandpa.

How could you all live off one slice?

Grandma tied string on it

and let each of us chew it a while.

Why'd she tie the string on it?

So if anybody swallow it,

she could pull it and feed it to the next one.

Aw, daddy.

Goodnight, Becky.

Night, Shirley.

Goodnight, Moby.

Night, mark.

Night, Matt.

Night, dad.

Night, mom.

Now go to sleep, children.

Goodnight, Clayboy.

Morning, chance.

Guess you're feeling romantic this morning.

After breakfast I'll take you to Mr. John's ranch

and get you bred.

Remember that handsome old bull Methuselah?

Well, he's doing the honors this morning.

Thought you'd like to know.

Why, you sway-backed old heif.

We have some birthing coming on.

Hey, how's my saw working out, Spencer?

Pretty soon

it'll be a whole house, Mr. John.

Remember my boy?

Yeah.

Hey, she's a hot little devil, ain't she?

That four-legged butter churn run us all the way here.

Which way to the bull?

This way.

We need to help?

Ha ha! Methuselah never needs any help.

Watch him when he spots that pretty little heifer.

Whoo! Here he comes.

Well, how do you like that, dad?

She races us all the way here,

and now she pretends he doesn't even exist.

She's just being a lady.

Don't worry, boy,

she's got eyes in her rump.

Thu ain't putting up with any nonsense.

Sure acting silly.

You'll get crazy, too, when that love bug bites you.

Now look at Methuselah.