Walking Tall

Here you go. Thanks, man.

See you tomorrow.

How you doing?

Okay.

- When did the mill close? - Three years ago this August.

If you're looking for work, you may want to try Aberdeen.

That's about the closest mill work you'll find.

- Too bad. - It's just simple economics.

You know, we have a really nice casino, the Wild Cherry.

Want to make some money, maybe you ought to go on down

and try your luck at the blackjack tables.

No, I don't think so. Thanks.

You're Chris Vaughn?

Well, hell. I know all about you, Chris.

I know your folks. I'm Sheriff Stan Watkins.

- How you doing? - Ralston, get out of the car!

You're looking at a real soldier here. Pay some respects.

- Welcome home, soldier. - Thanks.

Well, hell, Chris.

- I'll give you a ride up to your folks'. - No, I'm fine. Thank you.

- I insist. - I'll walk.

- It's my pleasure. - It's okay.

I won't take no for an answer. Get in the car.

- Did I scare you with that one? - Little bit.

I scared him.

You were gone a while, huh?

Eight years. Harstad was sheriff back then.

Aaron Harstad, yeah.

Sad story.

About five months back, he fell asleep at the wheel and hit a tree.

Car folded up like an accordion.

He was a good man. A good man and a good sheriff.

All right.

- Thank you very much for the ride. - Welcome home, Chris.

It's election month. I'm your man.

Okay. Say hey to your old man.

Let's go.

Can I help you?

Little brother. You come over here and give me a hug.

- You look great. - What is this?

I couldn't let you be the only one looking good in uniform.

Hey, Ma. Chris is here.

- Whose tent? - That's for Pete.

- Watch out, now. - Chris.

- Look at you. - Mom, how you doing?

How long's your leave? How long do we have you?

For good. I'm home.

- Really? You're not kidding? - No.

- Hey, Dad. - Welcome back.

I wish you had told us exactly when you were coming.

I'd have cooked.

- This is fine, Mom. We love Chinese.

- No, this is great. - So what are you going to do now?

I was planning to work at the mill, but you never mentioned it closed.

We didn't want to bother you when your father got laid off.

I got my business. You saw the furniture outside.

And I substitute at the elementary school. Michelle pitches in,

we try to keep things simple.

Pete.

- This is your Uncle Chris. - Hey, Pete.

Sit down. Say hello.

Last time he saw you, you were barely walking.

- And now I'm camping. - I said you could sleep on the couch.

It was Chris' room first.

Your tent's going to take on water. I can show you how to rig it.

Doesn't look like it's going to rain to me, Colonel.

Sit down. Eat something.

First of all, I was a sergeant. I worked for a living.

A grunt.

- Did you ever smoke anybody? Pete!

Poppa's still got your gun locked up in the garage.

- Would you teach me how to shoot? - I figured that'd be scrap metal by now.

No. I'm still hoping you'll melt that thing down on your own.

- Sorry, Pete. - Whatever.

- I'm out of here, Mom. - Be back by 10:00.

- 10:30. - 10:00.

Remind you of anyone?

Okay, it rained. Happy?

No.

Why don't you crash on the floor?

Okay. I'll crash on the floor. You crash on the bed.

Huh-uh.

Pete.

Keep you dry.

Did you really kill people?

- Ray-Ray. - Hello, pudding.

- What's up, man? - Good to see you, man.

- How you doing? - I'm all right.

What is that?

- That's the Love Machine. - Girls actually get in there?

- How you been? - Good.

- Clean living? - Please. You want a beer?

No. Believe it or not, I quit drinking. I'd take a soda, though.

Okay. Here.

Thanks, man.

Like that? When you left town,

it gave me the idea I should do something with my life, too.

So I went down to Seattle, got a guitar, and became all about music.

And then, pretty soon, I was about music and drugs,

and pretty soon I was basically just about drugs

and ended up doing two years for B and E.

I'm sorry.

Look at me now, though, right? I've been clean and sober 14 months.

Doing construction and renewing those supportive and healthy friendships

from my past.

Matter of fact, I talked to the bastards, told them you were back,

and they asked me to politely remind you that it is Saturday.

- As in... - As in, kick-off's in 20 minutes.

- Like old times. - You guys still doing it.

We're still doing it.

- Playing ball? - Absolutely. Let's go, superstar!

- Just like the old days. Go deep. - Come on.

When did that happen?

Jay Hamilton Field.

His parents hadn't left him the mill for more than two minutes

- before he shut it down. Why?

Heads up!

Because I opened my casino.

Still got a gun, huh, Jay?

Still got your reflexes.

What? Did you get tired of being all that you could be?

- No. I'm still all I can be. - Really?

- I'll just have to see about that. - Yeah.

- What brings you home? - I just want to relax. Catch my breath.

- You? Relax? - Yeah.

Not today.

I got it.

Let's go. Come on!

Is that how it's going to be?

That's how it is.

Full contact, huh? - That's two-hand touch. Too rough?

Sorry, ladies.

Pick up the outside!

- Fumble! - Set!

How's that for touch?

- That was pretty, wasn't it? - Want to go get your pads?

- That the best you got? - What?

- Here, take a walk... - And knock a long loose?

- Touchdown. - First and your last.

- You want to go? - Nobody's going. We're not going to go.

You almost caught it.

We stop them here, we win, right? - Right, boys, last play.

- You know how I like winning. - We need to put this to rest.

- I will take care of Ray. - You two cross. You stay in and block.

Booth? Isolate on Vaughn.

- You two cross... - Just give me the ball.

- Go low. Left knee. - All right, man.

You got it? On the first hut. Ready? Break!

Be strong.

All right, Chris Vaughn. Last chance.

- Black-nineteen! Black! - Watch the outside!

I'm open!

That's game.

Sorry about that.

Cool, man.

Nice game, ladies.

What the hell was that?

That was a great game, wasn't it? Is that the bad one?

- Yeah, it was good. - Hey, welcome home.

Good to be back.

See you around.

If you're not doing anything later on, want to come by the casino?

Introduce you to some nice girls. Drinks are on me. What do you say?

- See you tonight. - Cool.

I'll see you later on.

Be good.

Hey, Sarge. Good game. Maybe next time.

Hold up.

Maybe next time I won't see you in the bleachers, smoking weed.

Welcome home, buddy.

I thought you had to be Native American to own a casino.

Hamilton's one-sixteenth Blackfoot now.

Put it on his application.

And what he slid under the table convinced the powers that be it was true.

It's ours for the taking tonight. Let's pick some cherries, boys.

- Here we go. - I'm feeling lucky.

Just so you guys know, I'm done after I triple my money.

That's what you said last time.

You wound up selling your body for bus fare.

He had to walk.

Nobody's going to have any problems finding this place.

It's the subtle attention to aesthetics that I find most impressive.

Blends in with the mountain so nicely.

- Hi there. - Hi. How you doing?

- See? Not bad, huh? - It's not bad.

A lot of pretty girls. I'm getting chips. Let's gamble.

We'll see you at the Shower Tower, okay?

Isn't it wonderful? All your gambling needs under one great, big roof.

You got your ATM machines, tellers to cash your paycheck,

and when you're here, you don't got to worry about things,

like child support, rent, laws of mathematical probability.

Gentlemen, Mr. Hamilton would like to invite you to the VIP lounge.

- The dream team. You all healed up? - Nice place.

Welcome to my world.

Tonight all the drinks are on the house. If you need a line of credit, say how much.

If you need a little female companionship, done.

All right?

- Get inside. Have a good time. - Where you going?

Don't you worry about me. I got a few things to do. Enjoy.

Just remember, nothing in here is free. Ma'am.