Strange Way of Life (2023)
Posted: 02/14/24 21:01
[guitar playing "Estranha Forma de Vida"]
[song continues
with man singing in Portuguese]
[song continues]
[horse sputtering]
[continues singing in Portuguese]
Did you like the coffin?
I don't like coffins.
Made of the best oak, like you asked.
I noticed.
[song continues
with man singing in Portuguese]
[continues singing in Portuguese]
[continues singing in Portuguese]
I saw him coming out of her house.
What did you see?
He mounted his horse and disappeared.
He was drunk.
How could you even be sure it was him?
That alley's very dark.
He was limping.
He's not the only man in town who limps.
He's the only lefty I know of.
He was limping on his left leg.
Have you told anyone?
Everyone is already thinking it, Sheriff.
Just keep your mouth shut.
Okay.
[chuckles softly]
[chuckles]
Mr. Silva in person.
How are you, Jake?
I'm good.
What brings you to town?
Oh, my back is k*lling me,
and I hear you have a good doctor in town.
Well, you look well.
No, it's you...
who look impressive dressed as a sheriff.
- [chuckles]
- Yeah, well,
I'm not just dressed as one.
I am one.
Well, it suits you.
- I was hungry.
- Mm.
- You made this?
- Yes.
I didn't know you could cook.
There's a great many things
you don't know about me, Silva.
Of course. 25 years is a very long time.
[laughs] Yeah.
To our reunion.
[sniffs] To whatever you like.
Every time I drink wine,
I remember when we were in Mexico
and we went down into
the cellar with some whores.
We were very young and very crazy.
What a bunch of misfits.
[chuckles]
The worst from every county.
You know, I think we're
the only ones who survived.
Let's drink to that.
Don't look at me like that.
How do you want me to look at you?
How long did that madness last?
Two months.
And it wasn't madness.
When I drink...
I remember every single one
of those 60 days.
I think you drink too much.
I myself have given it up.
Of course now I'm contradicting myself.
To your contradictions, then.
[glasses clink]
[Silva sighs]
[melancholic music playing]
- [rooster crowing]
- [bell clanging in distance]
Jake?
[drawer opens]
Jake?
[sighs]
I think you lied to me, Silva.
Were you hiding in the bathtub?
I wasn't hiding.
And you could use a bath yourself.
Are you inviting me
to take a bath together?
No.
[sniffs]
Don't.
I know how to dry myself.
You should get dressed.
Where did I put my underpants?
Take a pair of mine.
They're in the drawer on the right.
And you did lie to me, Silva.
You don't have a bad back.
What do you mean?
You don't need a doctor.
I wanted to have a couple
of drinks with you again
while I can still move.
And believe it or not,
working with horses destroys your back.
Well, no one would ever know.
Nothing hurts this morning.
You cured all my ailments.
I haven't felt this good
in such a long time.
What are you doing today?
We could go to Hot Mountain River.
I've got work today.
Work can wait.
It's not every day
someone crosses the desert
to come see you.
We've celebrated enough.
I've got things to do.
Can I help?
Maybe.
No.
Three days ago,
a woman was found k*lled in town.
I've got to find the man who did it
and bring him to justice.
Can't you find someone else
to do it for you?
You are the sheriff.
It's a question of honor.
The woman k*lled is my brother's wife.
And I am the law around here, remember?
Ours is a strange fate.
What does that mean?
Your brother's wife had to die
for us to find each other
in the same bed again.
- Last night...
- Last night we drank too much.
We drank because we were happy
to be together.
That's not gonna spare your son
from paying for what he did.
He didn't do it.
They were lovers. He mistreated her.
He must have told you
he came here from time to time.
No, I would have asked him about you.
Jake, don't walk away. I'm talking to you.
When my brother d*ed,
I promised him
that I would look after her.
She wasn't an easy woman,
but I made a promise.
Before then, on my father's deathbed,
I promised him I'd look after
my little brother.
I can't fail any of them.
I heard you had an affair with her.
- That was a long time ago.
- Was your brother still alive?
It doesn't matter.
What matters is someone saw
a man with a limp on his left leg
leaving her place
the night she was k*lled.
Now, if your son didn't have a limp,
he'd have nothing to worry about.
I understand you've crossed the desert
to intervene on his behalf.
Anyone could have pretended
to have a limp to frame him.
Why have you come here, Silva?
I came because I wanted to see you.
I've been wanting to see you
for a long time.
Bullshit!
You could've come much sooner.
I thought about it, believe me,
but I didn't know
what kind of welcome I would get from you.
I got the feeling that you put
distance between us on purpose.
After working together as hired g*ns,
I proposed to set up a ranch,
the two of us,
but you didn't want to.
I left to be with my father, who was sick.
I decided to be a good son for once.
You don't have to be an avenging judge
to be a good son.
I wanted to be
on the right side of the law.
I was sick of being a hired g*n.
Besides, I'm not cut out to be a rancher.
You were the best gunman.
Well, that hasn't changed.
There was one day you missed.
What are you talking about?
Nothing.
No matter how good you are with a g*n,
there will come a day
where you miss the sh*t.
It happens to all of us.
You don't remember?
I don't know what you're talking about.
I will say, you've done very
well on this side of the law.
You are the most respected
sheriff in the county.
You've done well for yourself.
The split's been good for both of us.
But I knew that one day
I would cross the desert
to come and see you again.
Don't go down that path, Silva.
I miss those two months in Mexico.
Don't you?
That was a long time ago.
My life is here now,
and yours is on the other side
of the desert.
- I like that you've kept my red scarf.
- St...
If not to save your boy,
why have you come here precisely now?
I wanted to see you.
- I told you...
- I don't believe you.
You had 25 years for that.
I spent the last hours showing you
how much I wanted to see you.
Did you love your sister-in-law
more than you love me?
I promised my brother, I told you.
Just s-stop talking like that.
We are alone.
You made a mistake 25 years ago,
thinking we could s-start
a business together.
And you're making a mistake right now.
Just finish getting dressed
and go on your way.
- My way is yours.
- [grunts]
I'm starting to worry
you might be right about that.
Why are you so sure it was my son?
People saw them together.
They had a violent relationship.
[panting]
Silva, your son is dangerous.
I told him.
I told him to never set foot
here in Bitter Creek again,
and you see-- you see
how much he listened to me?
I'll make him go to Mexico.
Or anyplace
where he won't bother you or me.
It's a big world out there.
I'm gonna bring him in to trial.
And if he's found innocent,
know, I will make sure
nothing happens to him.
But you don't need to be
the one looking for him.
Just... give me a truce.
[laughs] A truce?
What are you talking about?
You have no heart, Jake.
You never did.
You just like to f*ck. Huh?
You never loved me.
You never loved anyone in your life.
Don't say that.
You gonna sh**t me?
Enough, Silva.
You gonna k*ll me
while I'm half undressed?
How will you explain that?
A dead man in your bed
still smelling of cum.
Get the f*ck out of my house.
[tense music playing]
[door opens]
[door slams]
Morning.
Good morning, Sheriff.
[drawer opens, closes]
Lock this up.
You're in charge of the office
till I get back.
When are you gonna be back?
I don't know.
[horse neighs, sputters]
[woman laughs]
There's plenty of wine.
- But how do we drink it, Silva?
- Leave it to us. S?
Let's do some target sh**ting, Silva.
Let's see if you can hit the wineskin.
[chuckles] Let's do it.
Ladies, please step aside.
Okay.
Let's see.
- [women giggling]
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
[Silva inhales sharply]
- Are you ready?
- Always.
- One.
- Two.
[laughter]
- [excited shouting]
- [laughter continues]
[in Spanish] I can't drink anymore.
Look at them!
They are so much worse than us.
Let's go. We have nothing to do here.
Let's grab some fresh air.
It is now that the party begins!
[poignant music playing]
[both laughing]
[both laughing]
[both panting]
[both laugh]
[both panting]
[panting continues]
[animals chittering]
[horse sputtering]
[horse neighs]
Joe!
Joe!
Come on. Get dressed and leave.
- What's wrong?
- Get dressed.
[drawer opens]
Jake has been on my tail
since I left Bitter Creek.
- Couldn't you convince him?
- No.
Now, you take a horse and
you get as far away as you can.
Even though, no matter where
you are, Jake will find you.
She was a whore, Father.
Sooner or later,
she'd have ended up like that.
[drawer slams]
You were two of a kind.
Now get out of here
before I hang you myself.
Okay.
Go to Agua Dulce.
Old Ral has a smithy,
and he will let you in.
This should be enough to buy his silence.
This is not enough for even a month.
Then you will have to work.
Ral will find you something to do.
Get out.
- Where are you going?
- To get my f*cking horse.
- I have to saddle him up.
- No, there's no time for that! Take mine.
And don't even think about
crossing the border back here again.
Oh, don't you worry.
I wasn't planning on rotting
on this godforsaken ranch.
You're not going anywhere, Joe.
Put the g*n down! Put it down.
Right now.
Put it down, Joe!
Don't turn your back on me. S-Silva!
I'm only here for your son.
- [grunts]
- [horse neighs]
[both grunting]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting continues]
- Enough, Joe!
- What are you doing?
Enough!
Holster your g*n, Jake.
No! Stop! Joe! Stop!
Don't move.
Or I swear I will k*ll you.
Put that g*n down, Joe.
No sh*t, Jake.
Now get on the horse
and get the f*ck out of here.
[horse neighing]
[ragged breathing]
[pained grunt]
[pained groaning]
[gasping]
[ragged breathing]
It was a clean sh*t,
straight through the waist.
Okay. Okay. Okay.
You're going to be all right.
Rot in hell, you son of a bitch.
Keep pressure on it.
[breathing heavily]
So you think you got it
all figured out, huh?
These things cannot be calculated, Jake.
It is destiny,
and we cannot run away from it.
What destiny?
Ours.
[pained groan]
Since you decided to follow me
and look for my son,
the three of us were doomed to meet.
- Each of us armed.
- Bullshit.
You sh*t me, and now
you're trying to kidnap me.
I just wanted to save my son.
And I am sorry I had to sh**t you.
And now you think
you've got me in your hands.
Don't strain yourself.
Don't talk.
As soon as I can ride, I'll leave here
and charge you with attempted m*rder.
No one will understand
why I missed the sh*t,
let alone why I treated
your wound afterward.
Rest.
There's plenty of time to talk.
The only reason I would open my mouth
is to spit in your face.
You hate me as much as you want, Jake...
but it won't help your wound
heal any faster.
Years ago, you asked me
what two men could do
living together on a ranch.
I'll answer you now.
They can look after one another.
Protect each other.
They can keep each other company.
[horses neighing]
[song continues
with man singing in Portuguese]
[song continues]
[horse sputtering]
[continues singing in Portuguese]
Did you like the coffin?
I don't like coffins.
Made of the best oak, like you asked.
I noticed.
[song continues
with man singing in Portuguese]
[continues singing in Portuguese]
[continues singing in Portuguese]
I saw him coming out of her house.
What did you see?
He mounted his horse and disappeared.
He was drunk.
How could you even be sure it was him?
That alley's very dark.
He was limping.
He's not the only man in town who limps.
He's the only lefty I know of.
He was limping on his left leg.
Have you told anyone?
Everyone is already thinking it, Sheriff.
Just keep your mouth shut.
Okay.
[chuckles softly]
[chuckles]
Mr. Silva in person.
How are you, Jake?
I'm good.
What brings you to town?
Oh, my back is k*lling me,
and I hear you have a good doctor in town.
Well, you look well.
No, it's you...
who look impressive dressed as a sheriff.
- [chuckles]
- Yeah, well,
I'm not just dressed as one.
I am one.
Well, it suits you.
- I was hungry.
- Mm.
- You made this?
- Yes.
I didn't know you could cook.
There's a great many things
you don't know about me, Silva.
Of course. 25 years is a very long time.
[laughs] Yeah.
To our reunion.
[sniffs] To whatever you like.
Every time I drink wine,
I remember when we were in Mexico
and we went down into
the cellar with some whores.
We were very young and very crazy.
What a bunch of misfits.
[chuckles]
The worst from every county.
You know, I think we're
the only ones who survived.
Let's drink to that.
Don't look at me like that.
How do you want me to look at you?
How long did that madness last?
Two months.
And it wasn't madness.
When I drink...
I remember every single one
of those 60 days.
I think you drink too much.
I myself have given it up.
Of course now I'm contradicting myself.
To your contradictions, then.
[glasses clink]
[Silva sighs]
[melancholic music playing]
- [rooster crowing]
- [bell clanging in distance]
Jake?
[drawer opens]
Jake?
[sighs]
I think you lied to me, Silva.
Were you hiding in the bathtub?
I wasn't hiding.
And you could use a bath yourself.
Are you inviting me
to take a bath together?
No.
[sniffs]
Don't.
I know how to dry myself.
You should get dressed.
Where did I put my underpants?
Take a pair of mine.
They're in the drawer on the right.
And you did lie to me, Silva.
You don't have a bad back.
What do you mean?
You don't need a doctor.
I wanted to have a couple
of drinks with you again
while I can still move.
And believe it or not,
working with horses destroys your back.
Well, no one would ever know.
Nothing hurts this morning.
You cured all my ailments.
I haven't felt this good
in such a long time.
What are you doing today?
We could go to Hot Mountain River.
I've got work today.
Work can wait.
It's not every day
someone crosses the desert
to come see you.
We've celebrated enough.
I've got things to do.
Can I help?
Maybe.
No.
Three days ago,
a woman was found k*lled in town.
I've got to find the man who did it
and bring him to justice.
Can't you find someone else
to do it for you?
You are the sheriff.
It's a question of honor.
The woman k*lled is my brother's wife.
And I am the law around here, remember?
Ours is a strange fate.
What does that mean?
Your brother's wife had to die
for us to find each other
in the same bed again.
- Last night...
- Last night we drank too much.
We drank because we were happy
to be together.
That's not gonna spare your son
from paying for what he did.
He didn't do it.
They were lovers. He mistreated her.
He must have told you
he came here from time to time.
No, I would have asked him about you.
Jake, don't walk away. I'm talking to you.
When my brother d*ed,
I promised him
that I would look after her.
She wasn't an easy woman,
but I made a promise.
Before then, on my father's deathbed,
I promised him I'd look after
my little brother.
I can't fail any of them.
I heard you had an affair with her.
- That was a long time ago.
- Was your brother still alive?
It doesn't matter.
What matters is someone saw
a man with a limp on his left leg
leaving her place
the night she was k*lled.
Now, if your son didn't have a limp,
he'd have nothing to worry about.
I understand you've crossed the desert
to intervene on his behalf.
Anyone could have pretended
to have a limp to frame him.
Why have you come here, Silva?
I came because I wanted to see you.
I've been wanting to see you
for a long time.
Bullshit!
You could've come much sooner.
I thought about it, believe me,
but I didn't know
what kind of welcome I would get from you.
I got the feeling that you put
distance between us on purpose.
After working together as hired g*ns,
I proposed to set up a ranch,
the two of us,
but you didn't want to.
I left to be with my father, who was sick.
I decided to be a good son for once.
You don't have to be an avenging judge
to be a good son.
I wanted to be
on the right side of the law.
I was sick of being a hired g*n.
Besides, I'm not cut out to be a rancher.
You were the best gunman.
Well, that hasn't changed.
There was one day you missed.
What are you talking about?
Nothing.
No matter how good you are with a g*n,
there will come a day
where you miss the sh*t.
It happens to all of us.
You don't remember?
I don't know what you're talking about.
I will say, you've done very
well on this side of the law.
You are the most respected
sheriff in the county.
You've done well for yourself.
The split's been good for both of us.
But I knew that one day
I would cross the desert
to come and see you again.
Don't go down that path, Silva.
I miss those two months in Mexico.
Don't you?
That was a long time ago.
My life is here now,
and yours is on the other side
of the desert.
- I like that you've kept my red scarf.
- St...
If not to save your boy,
why have you come here precisely now?
I wanted to see you.
- I told you...
- I don't believe you.
You had 25 years for that.
I spent the last hours showing you
how much I wanted to see you.
Did you love your sister-in-law
more than you love me?
I promised my brother, I told you.
Just s-stop talking like that.
We are alone.
You made a mistake 25 years ago,
thinking we could s-start
a business together.
And you're making a mistake right now.
Just finish getting dressed
and go on your way.
- My way is yours.
- [grunts]
I'm starting to worry
you might be right about that.
Why are you so sure it was my son?
People saw them together.
They had a violent relationship.
[panting]
Silva, your son is dangerous.
I told him.
I told him to never set foot
here in Bitter Creek again,
and you see-- you see
how much he listened to me?
I'll make him go to Mexico.
Or anyplace
where he won't bother you or me.
It's a big world out there.
I'm gonna bring him in to trial.
And if he's found innocent,
know, I will make sure
nothing happens to him.
But you don't need to be
the one looking for him.
Just... give me a truce.
[laughs] A truce?
What are you talking about?
You have no heart, Jake.
You never did.
You just like to f*ck. Huh?
You never loved me.
You never loved anyone in your life.
Don't say that.
You gonna sh**t me?
Enough, Silva.
You gonna k*ll me
while I'm half undressed?
How will you explain that?
A dead man in your bed
still smelling of cum.
Get the f*ck out of my house.
[tense music playing]
[door opens]
[door slams]
Morning.
Good morning, Sheriff.
[drawer opens, closes]
Lock this up.
You're in charge of the office
till I get back.
When are you gonna be back?
I don't know.
[horse neighs, sputters]
[woman laughs]
There's plenty of wine.
- But how do we drink it, Silva?
- Leave it to us. S?
Let's do some target sh**ting, Silva.
Let's see if you can hit the wineskin.
[chuckles] Let's do it.
Ladies, please step aside.
Okay.
Let's see.
- [women giggling]
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
[Silva inhales sharply]
- Are you ready?
- Always.
- One.
- Two.
[laughter]
- [excited shouting]
- [laughter continues]
[in Spanish] I can't drink anymore.
Look at them!
They are so much worse than us.
Let's go. We have nothing to do here.
Let's grab some fresh air.
It is now that the party begins!
[poignant music playing]
[both laughing]
[both laughing]
[both panting]
[both laugh]
[both panting]
[panting continues]
[animals chittering]
[horse sputtering]
[horse neighs]
Joe!
Joe!
Come on. Get dressed and leave.
- What's wrong?
- Get dressed.
[drawer opens]
Jake has been on my tail
since I left Bitter Creek.
- Couldn't you convince him?
- No.
Now, you take a horse and
you get as far away as you can.
Even though, no matter where
you are, Jake will find you.
She was a whore, Father.
Sooner or later,
she'd have ended up like that.
[drawer slams]
You were two of a kind.
Now get out of here
before I hang you myself.
Okay.
Go to Agua Dulce.
Old Ral has a smithy,
and he will let you in.
This should be enough to buy his silence.
This is not enough for even a month.
Then you will have to work.
Ral will find you something to do.
Get out.
- Where are you going?
- To get my f*cking horse.
- I have to saddle him up.
- No, there's no time for that! Take mine.
And don't even think about
crossing the border back here again.
Oh, don't you worry.
I wasn't planning on rotting
on this godforsaken ranch.
You're not going anywhere, Joe.
Put the g*n down! Put it down.
Right now.
Put it down, Joe!
Don't turn your back on me. S-Silva!
I'm only here for your son.
- [grunts]
- [horse neighs]
[both grunting]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting continues]
- Enough, Joe!
- What are you doing?
Enough!
Holster your g*n, Jake.
No! Stop! Joe! Stop!
Don't move.
Or I swear I will k*ll you.
Put that g*n down, Joe.
No sh*t, Jake.
Now get on the horse
and get the f*ck out of here.
[horse neighing]
[ragged breathing]
[pained grunt]
[pained groaning]
[gasping]
[ragged breathing]
It was a clean sh*t,
straight through the waist.
Okay. Okay. Okay.
You're going to be all right.
Rot in hell, you son of a bitch.
Keep pressure on it.
[breathing heavily]
So you think you got it
all figured out, huh?
These things cannot be calculated, Jake.
It is destiny,
and we cannot run away from it.
What destiny?
Ours.
[pained groan]
Since you decided to follow me
and look for my son,
the three of us were doomed to meet.
- Each of us armed.
- Bullshit.
You sh*t me, and now
you're trying to kidnap me.
I just wanted to save my son.
And I am sorry I had to sh**t you.
And now you think
you've got me in your hands.
Don't strain yourself.
Don't talk.
As soon as I can ride, I'll leave here
and charge you with attempted m*rder.
No one will understand
why I missed the sh*t,
let alone why I treated
your wound afterward.
Rest.
There's plenty of time to talk.
The only reason I would open my mouth
is to spit in your face.
You hate me as much as you want, Jake...
but it won't help your wound
heal any faster.
Years ago, you asked me
what two men could do
living together on a ranch.
I'll answer you now.
They can look after one another.
Protect each other.
They can keep each other company.
[horses neighing]