Proud Men

You hush.

- Ain't a cow dog, that's a whore dog, Charley.

That's my dog, don't embarrass him.

- See you got yourself another orphan there, huh?

- Looks to me like I got myself a bunch of bankers.

What'd he mean by that?

Means get to work. (groans)

Breakfast is cold.

You coulda let Brian play nursemaid.

Had to get that calf started.

Are we gonna talk about it, or not?

What am I supposed to say?

I'm your wife.

It's a hell of a place.

You're never gonna get out of it alive.

- Overseas operator, may I help you?

Yes, I need to talk to Paris.

Just a moment, please.

Hello?

Oui.

Maman!

Charles is not at home right now.

What is the matter?

Rene!

Papa!

Hey (speaking in French).

The good guy has his problems, huh?

Bonsoir. - Bonsoir.

Finally, some money.

Once again, they threw away my best stuff,

but this is good enough for celebration, don't you think?

Hmm? I've even gonna pay back your family.

With the...

Where is the damn corkscrew?

I said your father is dying.

I heard you.

Charles, it has been 15 years.

If there was ever a reason to go back, I think it is now.

Charley!

Mom?

Mom, let go so I can look at you.

I thought I'd never see you again.

Yeah, well, I'm here.

Yes, you are.

All right, now let's get you out to the ranch.

How's Dad?

He's waiting at home.

Is he in bed?

No, it hasn't got to that, not yet.

It's just that I wanted you here, you see?

They say it could be any time now, they can't be sure.

He doesn't want anyone to know about this.

Okay, Ma, I understand.

Brian.

Brian drove me, that long ride to town.

It isn't as easy for me as it used to be.

How are ya?

Just fine, just fine.

It's been a long time.

Yes, it has.

Well, that all your stuff there?

Yeah.

Excuse me.

He's been a real help to us.

- You old outlaw! How'd you get back in the country?

Hello, Homer.

You still got it.

Yeah. (laughs)

Hello, Dad.

Hello, Charley.

I'm glad to be back.

You look in good health.

You look just fine.

- Charley, Jr., this is Abner. He's new since you left.

Heard about you.

Oh, I bet.

You want me to take his bags in?

I'll get it.

Abner had no call to be rude.

That's just his way.

I'll get some more welding rods from the barn.

- Charley! Now you can spare a minute to visit.

I've made some fresh ice cream, your favorite.

- I don't expect this is any easier for you

than it is for me.

Probably not. (laughs)

15 years, still ashamed.

Ashamed, of what?

- FBI man comes to my house, dead of night.

Charley, that was years ago!

- Was I hiding him, he asked me, hiding you!

- I didn't hide. I walked away, big as day.

- When you called me from Paris, I told you,

"You break the law, don't come runnin' back to me."

Yeah, that's about the last place-

You cut and run!

My, aren't you well turned out!

- I can't believe you saved all this stuff.

You know, this is the in thing in Paris right now.

It's the in thing here too. Here.

Here.

Aw, no, come on. (laughs) What's this?

Scotch.

- If I read between the lines of Adrienne's letters,

you drink too much.

- Oh, Mom, I'm 38 years old. Quit acting like my mother.

I am your mother.

It's for Dad.

It's his favorite brand.

The whole world's getting over Vietnam.

Why the hell can't he?

You need to give your father some time.

I thought that's what we were short of.

That looks great, Ma.

Try some.

See you built a new barn.

Yeah.

- Homer's still tryin' to keep that old tractor goin', huh?

Oh, yeah.

How's beef?

Up a little.

Yeah. Yup.

Yeah.

We're gonna eat just now.

Grace, Charley.

Dear, God, we thank you for your bounty

and the freedom we all enjoy,

and the men who paid for it, amen.

Dear, would you please cut the roast?

- Look, in World War II, I had buddies who died

so we could all sit here and eat supper.

I had buddies who just died.

I didn't come 6,000 miles to talk politics.

What did he come for?

To be with you.

I am not a charity case.

Fine.

- Look, I figured I'd be dead inside of six months,

but before you get all choked up-

- Don't worry, I've got a ticket that says I'm gone

inside of three weeks.

Please, will you two stop this?

You can't hate each other so much.

Hate him?

I don't know you.

When you were that high, I taught you

if there's any quit in you, you can't reach, you can't live.

I don't know what that boy grew into.

Your son.

I've got no son.

- You mean to tell me that he's chasin' wild steer

out in the back of the yard?

You know, one of the big-horned monsters

that had a couple of years to go crazy?

Get off of there!

Count on someone like Charley, Jr. to (indistinct)?

Why don't you lay off him?

And all them boys.

- Don't give me crap. A leopard don't change his spots.

Brian says Charley, Jr.'s a traitor, so I figure he is.

Hold on.

He got that graded Silver Star, for God's sake.

- Yeah, with white feather for high-tailin' it.

That's what I call a traitor.

- He went AWOL, absent without leave when he was on R and R.

Now, that ain't good, but that don't make him a traitor.

Traitor's somebody that helps the enemy.

What does a deserter do?

Hell, we're all traitors. Ain't that right, Brian?

- Wanna talk to you about some extra hands for the roundup.

Abner, you jabber too dang much.

- I'll go into town tomorrow and put my ear to the ground,

see who's available.

Don't want any drugstore cowboys.

Nope.

When you wanna start?

End of the week.

- Same wage as before, 35 a day (indistinct)?

I'll be broke by summer.

You always say that, Charley.

Ever tell you about my granddad,

built this place, what happened winter of aught-eight?

Only about 100 times.

- My dad, how he fought to hang on, drought in '33.

Ah, just about as many.

They gave me a gift, Brian.