On Swift Horses (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[SONG PLAYING] Our guardian star

lost all his glow

The day that I lost you

He lost all his glitter

the day you said no

And his silver turned to blue

Like him, I am doubtful

That your love is true

But if you decide to call on me

Ask for Mr. Blue

I'm Mr. Blue

Whoa, whoa, ooh

When you say you love me

I'm Mr. Blue

Then prove it by going out

On the sly

Proving your love isn't true

Call me Mr. Blue

I'm Mr. Blue

Whoa, whoa, ooh

When you say you're sorry

I'm Mr. Blue

Then turn around, heading for

The lights of town

Hurting me through and through

Call me Mr. Blue

-I stay at home at night

-I stay at home

Right by the phone at night

-Right by the phone

-But you won't call

And I won't hurt my pride

Call me Mister

I won't tell you

Whoa, whoa, ooh

-While you paint the town

-I'm Mr. Blue

A bright red

to leave it upside down

I'm painting it, too

But I'm painting it blue

[PANTING, GRUNTING]

Call me Mr. Blue

Whoa, whoa, ooh

Call me Mr. Blue

[HORN HONKS]

Whoa, whoa, ooh

Call me Mr. Blue.

-[PANTING, MOANING]

-[SONG ENDS]

JULIUS: Thank you.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

-Say yes.

-[LAUGHS]

Lee.

Marry me, Muriel.

You promised me an answer

by Christmas.

And it's Christmas Eve.

And I'll give you one.

Right now I need a shower.

[SHOWER RUNNING]

[SNIFFS]

[MATCH STRIKES]

[WIND WHISTLING]

JULIUS: You must be her.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Must be.

Toss one of those down to me.

[CHUCKLES]

[MATCH STRIKES]

It's got to be freezing.

I'm Julius.

I know.

-Hi.

-Hello.

I heard your mom

left you the place.

That's right.

Lucky you.

I like the country.

JULIUS: Hmm.

[JINGLING]

[RADIO PLAYING INDISTINCTLY]

JULIUS: Solitaire.

MURIEL: Passes the time.

-Can play a real game, you want.

-[KNIFE CLATTERING]

Real game like what?

Poker.

You'll have to teach me.

Liar.

MURIEL: Only played a few times.

You know, you don't need

to keep secrets.

My brother's seen cards before.

It's no secret.

Lee never seemed interested

in card games is all.

Yeah, that's 'cause he's not.

-Not that it matters.

-[CRUNCHING]

[CARDS SHUFFLING IN OTHER ROOM]

[GRUNTS]

[SHUFFLING CONTINUES]

See, the thing about poker is,

uh, cards aren't just cards.

This right here is

pieces of time.

Okay?

There's what's on the table

and then what's coming

down the line. Follow me?

So, there's only a certain

amount of cards in each deck,

so you got some idea

what's already been dealt,

you got some idea

what's gonna happen next.

[CARD RUSTLES]

But you can't know

what's already been dealt.

Well, it most certainly

is frowned upon,

but that doesn't mean

you can't know.

And if, uh, memory fails.

Clever.

Truth is, a real gambler's only

got one solemn obligation.

What's that?

Staying well-informed.

Watch out now, Muriel.

He's coming for you.

JULIUS: [LAUGHING]

Hey.

LEE: Come here, you little sh*t.

See you met this one

already, huh?

Yeah, she's been spilling

her secrets all afternoon.

[LEE CHUCKLES]

Oh, don't worry, Muriel.

That's just the way

my little brother is.

I don't mind.

Let me show you around.

We called it

Hell Fire Valley

'cause that's exactly

what it was.

And we're running out of a*mo,

but we all know there's more

on the truck, right?

Lee, this story's been told

and told again.

We all know there's more a*mo

-on the truck.

-Come on, now.

Chinese b*ll*ts

are flying everywhere,

but no one's crazy enough

to risk it.

-[JULIUS CLEARS THROAT]

-So we figure, "That's it."

When all of a sudden

I see this guy.

He's up there

on this burning truck,

throwing a*mo down to us

and pushing

wounded soldiers off.

It's this crazy-a*s redneck

right here.

I guaran-g*dd*mn-tee you,

if it wasn't for him,

you and I would've never

even met.

Wow. A hero,

this brother of yours.

-LEE: Oh, you bet.

-[JULIUS CHUCKLES]

Nothing but a shoulder wound.

-That's how they tell it.

-[JULIUS CLEARS THROAT]

I guess that's why they, uh,

they let me out.

Let you what?

I was discharged, um...

last week.

Well, I got six months left.

That means you got

six months left.

Well, not anymore.

LEE: You can still

fire a g*n, can't you?

You can still walk.

We're still at w*r, aren't we?

Lee.

Your separation payout?

Pension?

Nope.

[SIGHS] We had a plan,

didn't we, Julius?

-[MURIEL MUTTERING]

-Pool our discharge pay

and get us a place

out in California.

-That was the plan, wasn't it?

-I-I got an idea.

-This is what he does, Muriel.

-No-no, my-my idea...

-He is always holding...

-No, she's got an idea.

...something

back. Always.

My idea is that

I-I want to dance.

I need a smoke.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

[ LOVE OF NO RETURN

BY PETER SIVO BAND PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

[SONG PLAYING]

You whispered...

-Well?

-MURIEL: Oh.

Oh, I-I was just trying

to smooth things over.

So let's smooth them over.

Only to learn

JULIUS: Mm.

This love is a love

Of no return...

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

He, um... he thinks so highly

of you is all.

Yeah, that's 'cause

I'm all he's got.

Besides you.

You ever been in love before?

No.

Uh, not before now, I mean.

Have you?

You know what I think?

I think you see

right through all of it.

All of what?

All the supposed tos.

All the stuff

they tell you matters.

All the stuff the guys

next to me in Korea

cared so much about

right up until

their brains got blown out

the back of their heads.

[DOOR OPENS]

You got room for a dumbass hick

in the middle?

JULIUS: Mm.

Let me on in here now.

You know what?

I got the two people

that I love most in the world

right here in front of me.

-[JULIUS] Here it comes.

-[LEE CHUCKLES]

Muriel Jane Edwards...

[CHUCKLING]

I've asked before.

Lord knows I've asked.

And I'm asking you again.

I'm back to Korea in 72 hours.

It's Christmas Eve.

Go on, now, Lee, get up.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

I know you're worried about me,

but nothing's gonna happen.

And besides, if it does,

Julius here

will take care of you.

Don't say that to him.

LEE: Won't you, Julius?

Of course I will.

LEE: I can make you

happy, Muriel.

Well?

-You mean it?

-Yes. [CHUCKLES]

-LEE: Pardon me, now?

-MURIEL: Yes!

[MURIEL CHUCKLING]

-LEE: Woo-hoo!

-[MURIEL LAUGHING]

We can still do it, you know?

LEE: What's that?

San Diego, California.

I-I got money saved.

You serious?

I mean, that was the plan,

wasn't it?

Sure.

But don't do it for us

if it's not what you want.

Well, hell, I like sunshine

as much as the next guy.

[LEE AND JULIUS CHUCKLING]

All three of us

out in California.

What do you think, Muriel?

Well, a plan's a plan.

LEE: Yeah, but you got

to promise, Julius.

Promise.

I... I promise.

[ GAMBLIN' WOMAN BY CHUCK

HIGGINS AND HIS BAND PLAYING]

[LAUGHTER, WHOOPING]

JULIUS: Oh, here we go.

She's a gamblin' woman

I've got to let her go

JULIUS: Come on, now.

She's a gamblin' woman

I've got to let her go

[LAUGHTER, WHOOPING]

She goes, plays dice

She loses all my dough

-She goes, plays dice

-[DISHES CLATTERING]

She loses all my dough

[BELL RINGING]

MURIEL: Dear Julius...

Maybe it won't last forever,

but even Lee says

there's something

in the air here... a feeling.

It's really true what they say

about California.

Yeah, we both got jobs

just like that.

You believe it?

It's like that here.

You never know

what's just around the bend.

Like anything is possible.

As if the odds are stacked

in your favor.

I heard about a card game

for you down by the docks.

So get out here

and make us all rich.

We sure could use it.

I hope that new job

in Stockton's working out.

With love and high hopes

to see you soon.

Muriel and Lee.

She's a gamblin' woman

Well, I've got to let her go

She goes, plays dice

She loses all my dough

Gives me trouble

-[SONG ENDS]

-[QUIET CHATTER, LAUGHTER]

Hey, so, Rosie, uh,

what's your feminine intuition

tell you about, uh, Lone Sailor?

Track's running cuppy,

and he's all rode out.

Smart money's on Pastoral

in the sixth.

WAYNE: No sh*t?

Ten to one? [WHISTLES]

EDDIE: Money like that'd solve

anybody's problems.

WAYNE: Ain't that right, Rosie?

ROSIE: Anybody who's got

the stomach.

WAYNE: What do you got

in-in the third?

-ROSIE: Got Magic Hour.

-WAYNE: Magic Hour?

MURIEL: Oh.

-Here you go.

-LEE: Thank you, baby.

Those new houses going up

in the Valley.

Just...

something to think about.

[SIGHS] We talked

this through, Lee.

We can't afford this right now.

Sell your ma's place

back in Kansas.

My mother worked her whole life

for that house.

Right, but that was

her dream, Muriel.

This is ours.

So I don't have a choice?

[HESITATES, SIGHS]

That's the house I grew up in.

I shouldn't have said anything.

[PAMPHLET SKIDS]

[BUGLE PLAYING

CALL TO THE POST ]

[QUIET CHATTER]

Uh... [CLEARS THROAT]

$20 on Pastoral

in the sixth to win.

[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENOVER P.A.]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[STARTING g*n FIRES]

ANNOUNCER:

And here they come.

Othello's fading back now as

Pastoral heads up the outside

coming into the final stretch.

It's Pastoral and Lone Sailor,

Mother's Helper in third.

Now it's Pastoral and

Mother's Helper one and two.

Pastoral and Mother's Helper.

It's Pastoral

and Mother's Helper.

And here we go, into the finish.

Mother's Helper, Pastoral.

It's Pastoral

and Mother's Helper.

-It's Pastoral!

-[CHEERING]

-Pastoral takes the win!

-[LAUGHS]

I'd like an envelope, please.

[MAN GROANS]

[MEN GROANING, MUTTERING]

You ought to take a game

like yours out to the desert.

Yeah? Why's that?

Open all night, no cops,

$20 buy-ins.

Just like Korea.

The good parts, anyway.

This round's on me.

-MAN 1: You f*cking kidding me?

-MAN 2 : Sit back down.

-Classic hit-and-run.

-MAN 3: Oh, come on.

[DISTANT CLATTERING]

You play a real tight game,

don't you?

Feel like a nightcap?

JULIUS: Probably not tonight,

friend.

Probably not?

Hey, somebody's

a little ginned up, huh?

You looking for company?

Twenty bucks, I could be, yeah.

Okay.

-What the hell is this, man?

-Hey.

-Easy. Relax.

-[BELT CLATTERING]

JULIUS: Get your

f*cking hands off me.

Oh.

Now I'm impressed.

[JULIUS GRUNTING]

Jackpot.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

[DISTANT TRAFFIC NOISES]

[PHONE RINGING]

MURIEL: Hello?

JULIUS: [OVER PHONE]:

That you, Kansas?

Julius?

Are you waiting

on somebody else?

[LAUGHS]

Where are you?

Now, how is that card game

shaping up?

I-I've been playing the horses.

-You have not.

-Yeah.

I'm waiting tables

at this little place,

and it's all horsemen,

so I've been taking notes.

[CHUCKLES]

No sh*t? You remembered.

Yeah, a real gambler's

only solemn obligation

is staying well-informed.

That's a nice racket for a gal.

Oh, I bet nobody

sees you coming.

-Just for fun, really.

-Well, be careful now.

Might be one of those things

you can't ever get enough of.

We sure hoped

you'd be here by now.

Lee sure does miss you.

Lee just wants that happy

little home that we never had.

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

Well, what's wrong with that?

Say, how about you?

Is that what you want?

I...

I thought we had a plan.

I, uh, I lost my share.

I-I got a way to make it back,

I just got to...

I got to go on my own steam.

I think you understand that.

[CLICKS TONGUE]

I don't think I do, but...

give me your address

and I'll send you some money

for a bus ticket.

Uh, you can send it, uh,

care of me,

Western Union, Stockton.

[DOOR OPENS]

Oh, and, uh,

don't tell Lee, uh...

I want to surprise him.

Okay. Okay, thank you.

Bye, now, Nathaniel.

Uh, just the neighbor boy

checking on Ma's house for us.

JULIUS: To Mrs. Lee Walker,

Western Union, San Diego.

Muriel, sorry.

Change of plans.

Unexpected opportunities

have come up.

Back as soon as I can.

Wish me luck in Sin City.

Julius.

DEALER: Lucky number seven...

[SONG PLAYING] See the moon

above the mountain

Winner, 11. Front line winner.

Go. No more bet.

No more bets.

Watch the stars

Light up the sky

Yes!

Oh, wherever

You are, darlin'

Do you feel

The same

As I?

Do you ever

Long to see me?

Do you ever

Feel this blue?

Hey, darling.

[OVER RADIO] Oh, wherever

You are, darlin'

Do you know

I'm missing you?

LEE: Just think...

Twenty-five bucks a month,

by the time we're 50,

this could all be ours.

If I could feel your arms...

[TOOLS CLATTERING]

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

[WORKERS SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

LEE: Come on.

We'll be the first ones in here.

Developer says he can sell us

this model here for 10% off.

And this tract's

the best of them.

It's $2,000 for the land,

build-out's another four,

maybe six.

That's hardly anything,

considering.

Considering what?

How fast this will go.

We'll get at least a few grand

for your mother's place, right?

But you promised your brother

we'd all do this together.

What is it with you

and waiting on him?

See my brother around here

anywhere?

You know what Julius said?

He said it was good

that I was marrying you.

He said, "That sad girl,

she needs someone

to tell her what to do."

Muriel.

Muriel.

Stop. Stop there.

Stop there? Why?

I want to buy some olives.

You want to buy some olives?

Yes.

Sure.

[ROOSTER CROWS]

-[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

-SANDRA: Come in!

[BANDURRIA PLAYING IN DISTANCE]

Out back.

Lost?

Uh, no, your sign? Olives?

That was the Garcias',

next door, before they tore

the place down.

Oh.

You really want some,

I got some.

Looking at land, huh?

-We are.

-Hmm.

Now's the time, I hear.

Uh, that was real nice,

what you were playing

on the guitar.

-It's not a guitar.

-Oh.

-Give it here.

-Sorry.

Never had an olive.

There's a pit.

Oh.

What do I do with it?

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

You on your own here, then?

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

Could use some eggs,

if you're gonna shop.

Got some laid fresh

this morning.

How much do we owe you for it?

Doesn't feel right

selling you the olives.

It wasn't me you really wanted.

Oh, then we'll have

to overpay you for the eggs.

I've got money, Lee.

Thanks.

[SPITS]

[LAUGHS]

You've got it.

[ROOSTER CROWS]

Mind if I drive?

No.

[EXHALES]

You're right.

Let's do it.

Let's get the house.

What?

Really? You mean that?

[ TIME AND PLACE

BY THE MCGRAW BROTHERS PLAYING]

Well, there's a time

and a place for everything

Whoa, there's a time to be nice

And a time for play

Oh, baby,

there's a time to be true

And a time to be cheatin'

[COINS CLATTERING]

Oh, there's a time to be bitter

And a time to be sweet...

[SIGHS]

Say, I got a question.

The, uh, the work

you fellas do here,

you got any openings?

Entry level, of course.

What skills do you have

to offer?

Well, I know how people steal

and I know why they do.

You yourself do not steal.

And partly,

I know how people steal

'cause I've stolen in the past,

I'll be honest with you.

Well, this doesn't really seem

like the kind of place

to steal from,

and I'd like to stay

on the right side of that.

We've seen you around,

you play aboveboard.

We like that.

Blackjack's the only casino game

where the gambler can get

an edge over the house.

For that reason it attracts

cheaters of all kinds.

-Do you agree?

-I sure do.

Pit surveillance?

Simple, you see something,

you say something.

We take it from there.

Two-way mirrors

looking down on the floor.

You can see them,

but they can't see you.

Call box up top.

Spot a sharper, you phone it in.

[SONG CONTINUES FAINTLY]

[DISTANT CHEERING]

[LAUGHTER]

[CHEERING]

[LAUGHTER]

That's my girl. Woo-hoo!

Clever.

[CHUCKLES]

[DOOR CLOSES]

You're new.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

Henry.

Julius.

First time?

It is, yeah.

What do you think so far?

It's instructive.

HENRY: Only maybe

there's such a thing

as knowing too much.

Yeah, maybe there is.

Okey dokey.

I'll see you around.

ROSIE: I'll wait

for positions tomorrow.

Then I'll take

that Roustabout cash,

put it all on Flood

in the seventh.

EDDIE: What? Flood's too young.

WAYNE: Jumpy as a virgin.

ROSIE: You boys do what

you want, but at six to one,

that horse is a monster

in sheep's clothing.

WAYNE: Sounds like

some people we know.

[JAZZ PLAYING IN DISTANCE]

[DISTANT CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

You're looking at my scar.

Sorry.

HENRY: Why?

You didn't do it.

115 degrees today.

Tomorrow, too.

Well, the heat's

just fine with me.

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

[JAZZ PLAYING IN DISTANCE]

[JULIUS EXHALES]

[DISTANT CHEERING]

JULIUS: [ECHOES] You okay?

Oh, whoa, whoa.

Hey, come on, come on.

Hey, hey, come on.

[STRAINS] Come on, now.

Okay.

[GRUNTING]

[SNIFFLING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

HENRY: Hey.

Ain't going home, are you?

Was planning on it.

I owe you a drink for before.

What is this? What is this,

some kind of hustle?

Ain't no hustle.

I got something

-to show you, that's all.

-Oh, yeah? What's that?

America.

[ENGINE REVS]

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

[R&B PLAYING OVER RADIO]

Thanks, man.

Hey.

Mira.

Call this an atomic c*ck.

Salud.

Oh, I don't think

this is such a good idea.

Why's that?

When boss men see us

palling around,

they're liable to think

we got an angle.

-[SIREN WAILING]

-This is Vegas.

So?

So they know we got an angle.

-MAN: Five!

-There's no other reason

-to be here.

-CROWD: Four, three,

two, one!

-[expl*si*n]

-[HENRY CHUCKLES]

They test the f*ck

once a month out at the base.

We got a front-row seat.

[CHEERING]

See? I told you.

America.

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

HENRY: Hey.

Hey.

What's all this?

I'm just calling it.

-You are, huh?

-Yep.

Give me a smoke.

Give me a light.

Mm.

Know any good jokes?

I bet you do.

Get out of here.

Sir, yes, sir.

[ SONG FOR HENRY

BY LOREN KRAMAR PLAYING]

There's a life

I've always wanted

I can't say

That I'm living it now

But someday

Someday

I could

Know how

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

The f*ck is this?

-What are you doing?

-Hey. Hey.

Tranquilo.

No, I don't...

Hi, friend

Can I meet you again?

Time lost

And won and lost

And won and then

I burned the bridge of my life

To get to you

I'm a runner, I'm a runner

You're the lover I'm running to

[SOFT CLICKING]

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING

INDISTINCTLY]

-$200 on Roustabout to win.

-CASHIER: Yes, ma'am.

ANNOUNCER: And it's Sayonara

breaking on the outside,

Roustabout on the inside.

Roustabout and Sayonara.

Roustabout and Sayonara.

It's Roustabout!

Roustabout takes it.

CASHIER: Uh, ma'am?

Put it all on Flood

in the seventh.

All of it, ma'am?

Yes.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

GAIL: Excuse me,

is this table open?

Oh, uh, it is.

[SIGHS]

Crowds always make me sweat.

[BUGLE PLAYING

CALL TO THE POST ]

Who's yours?

Oh, uh, Flood.

No. Me, too.

Aren't we both brave?

-Six to one.

-I like

the look of him, though,

don't you?

I do.

Very much.

-[STARTING g*n FIRES]

-ANNOUNCER: And they're off.

It's Flood and Lost at Sea.

Lost at Sea holding his lead.

Flood coming up fast,

Lost at Sea and Flood.

Lost at Sea and Flood.

-[GASPING]

-Here they come.

Flood and Lost at Sea.

It's Flood making

one last break down the rail.

-It's Flood!

-[BOTH LAUGHING]

Flood takes it!

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

There you are.

How did we come out?

-Oh, darling.

-[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

-We won.

-Excellent.

Goodbye.

Bye.

[EXHALES]

CASHIER: $12,000.

Do be careful, ma'am.

Yeah.

GAIL: Don't flatter yourself.

You know I would never bet

on a loser. [CHUCKLES]

Someday I'm gonna

k*ll him in his sleep.

HENRY: So...

where are you supposed to be?

San Diego.

With my brother.

We, uh, we planned that

when we were overseas.

I think mostly he just wants

to keep an eye on me, though.

And how come you're not there?

We never had much in the way

of a family growing up.

My mom died when I was small,

and my dad pretty much

lost his marbles.

Then we just moved around,

place to place.

You know,

aunts and uncles and...

My brother,

he needs all that, I guess.

You know, walls, windows,

happy little home,

woman waiting at the door

for him.

And what about you?

Hey.

I thought

this was not a good idea.

Everybody makes mistakes.

[HENRY SIGHS SOFTLY]

[BABY CRYING]

[KEY CLICKING IN LOCK]

Where the hell have you been?

-Lee. Something happened, Lee.

-What? What is it?

I called the HeyDay.

-They said you left hours ago.

-Lee.

This isn't farm country, Muriel.

You can't just go out wandering.

Anything could happen

to you, okay?

Do you understand that?

What is this?

-We did it, Lee.

-You sold your mother's house?

-$3,000?

-[LAUGHING]

$3,000?

Oh, my gosh!

[CHUCKLES]

I've never even

seen money like this.

Muriel...

[SNIFFLING]

I know.

I know. That house is the last

piece of your ma you had left.

I understand.

[KISSING]

MURIEL: General

delivery, Las Vegas, Nevada.

To Julius Walker.

Dear Julius,

been a while since

I've heard back from you.

Suppose you must have hit it

big and forgot all about us.

As you can see, we went

and bought ourselves a house.

Included in this letter

is our new address.

Come on.

MURIEL: Come see us

when your luck runs out.

Muriel.

[TOOLS CLATTERING]

[SIGHS SOFTLY]

[GRUNTS SOFTLY]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

[SCOFFS] g*dd*mn it, Julius.

Muriel. It's my brother.

Thought she might like to know

you're not dead.

So tell me all the news, then.

Well, we finally sold

the house in Kansas.

Got us a little place here

in the Valley.

That ain't no news.

Muriel already

wrote me about it.

She did?

You know, I can't believe

she let her ma's place

go like that.

You know, truth be told,

I didn't know a thing about it.

She got it all done on her own

as a surprise to me.

Hold on. I'll put Muriel on

for a minute.

Hold on.

JULIUS: [OVER PHONE]:

Muriel, is that you?

Uh, it's that sad girl

that needs someone

to tell her what to do.

Oh, come on now. You know

I didn't mean nothing by that.

So why'd you say it?

You know why.

Don't tell me what I know.

Say, piece of advice.

Don't spend all that

horse money in one place.

Like on a bus ticket?

Well, I'd, uh,

I'd say I miss you,

but you probably don't believe

a word I say, do you?

[RECEIVER CLICKS IN CRADLE]

[DIAL TONE]

Said you wrote him.

Think he'll come?

I don't think

he ever planned to.

My brother is, uh...

My brother's not what you think.

What does that mean?

The world Julius lives in,

it's a different world,

that's all.

It's not like ours.

Um...

I-I love my brother, you know,

I always will, but...

He has passions of his own.

Do you know what I mean?

He's just not like us.

[DISTANT CROWD CHATTER]

[COINS JINGLING]

[DISTANT CHEERING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[MAN WHISTLES]

JULIUS: Partners.

-That's a new one.

-I guess it is.

Instructive.

-TERENCE: What's going on?

-At table ten.

-[BLOWS LANDING]

-[MEN GRUNTING]

[BODY THUDS ON GROUND]

-[MAN CRIES OUT]

-[GRUNTS]

Risk reward, eh?

[GRUNTS]

For your diligence.

-[JAZZ PLAYING]

-HENRY: Did you ever think of

tipping them off,

those blackjack players?

I always do.

Think of it.

We could make even more money

if we work with them.

Yeah, don't sh*t

where you eat's what I think.

But maybe a place where you can

take another man's money

and get rich doing it,

catch cheats, and watch a b*mb

go off all in the same day

is exactly the kind of place

where the lines get blurred.

If you're saying there ain't

no difference between cheating

and not, I'd say you're crazy.

[SIGHS]

You have people, though.

-Just my brother and his wife.

-That's enough.

They probably love you

and wonder where you are.

I don't see your point, friend.

All I'm saying is,

they know you.

They don't know

a thing about me.

They know more about you

than anyone knows about me.

I've been dead a hundred years,

my friend.

You can ask my father.

Well, ain't that

just too bad for you?

-It is. It is too bad for me.

-Henry.

You saw what they did

to those boys back there.

I mean, we got a good thing

going here. Why f*ck it up?

You ain't never seen good.

You think this is it?

So you're just leaving now?

We had a great time, right?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. We always do.

All you can ask for, I guess.

Right?

[SIGHS] See you at work.

WAYNE: Some as*h*le will

always say, "Well, at least

he took pills

so he didn't suffer."

And I'd say,

"Then you didn't know Gerald."

Because if ever there

was a sufferer, it was him.

[LAUGHTER]

Cops putting his picture

in the paper like that.

Jesus, no wonder

he offed himself.

"Lewd behavior"?

WAYNE: Why did the cops

actually pick him up?

EDDIE: Caught him in

the bathroom at the Chester

-with another guy.

-WAYNE: The Chester?

EDDIE: Yeah, the q*eer bar

down by the docks.

WAYNE: [CHUCKLES] I wonder

what'll happen to that place,

you think?

EDDIE: Ain't the first time

it's been raided.

Won't be the last.

Think all those pretty boys

ran out into the sea?

[LAUGHTER]

WAYNE: You see that?

[LAUGHTER CONTINUES]

[DISTANT SHIP HORN BLOWING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[DISTANT CROWD CHATTER,

LAUGHTER]

[WOMAN WHOOPING]

-Where's the other guy?

-You got me, bud.

JULIUS: Dear Muriel,

I saw a girl on the floor

the other day

who looked just like you.

But then she smiled back at me

and I knew it couldn't be you.

Most days I think I made

the right choice coming here,

and some days I just

don't know anything at all.

It's like they say, everybody's

got an angle in this town.

Here you go.

JULIUS: I guess you just got

to play the cards as they come.

But you and Lee

really have it all.

Just like you planned.

Sure hope some of your luck

rubs off on me.

Forgive me someday if you can.

Julius.

LEE: ...what you want to hear,

but I don't think other folks

are going to feel

any different.

-Oh, hi.

-SANDRA: Hi.

I was just telling your husband

I'm collecting signatures.

-Signatures?

-Yeah.

County's enforcing

eminent domain, and they want

to build a highway extension

right through my family's land.

Highway coming this way

seems like a good thing

for everyone, don't it?

That house has been

in my family for 60 years.

Right, but they'll give you

a fair price for it.

It's her family's home, Lee.

Well, you sold off your mom's

old homestead, didn't you?

Well, yeah,

but that's different.

Because you were looking

toward the future.

It's the same thing here.

I'll leave you

to your breakfast.

Hey.

Hey, Sandra.

I'll sign. I mean, I-I want to.

Are you the property owner?

Well, yes, partly.

So the house

is under your name?

My husband's name, but, um...

You're not

the primary property owner.

That's all they'll accept.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Hey. Um...

What was it? What you

were playing the other day

if it's not a guitar?

A bandurria.

Oh, bandurria? Is that Spanish?

-Mm-hmm.

-Oh.

Well, I like it.

I got eggs back if you need 'em.

[STATIC HISSING]

-[DOOR OPENS]

-[HENRY WHISTLES]

-[DOOR CLOSES]

-[HENRY CHUCKLES]

Where you been?

HENRY: Call in sick.

Got myself on a lucky streak.

Worried about me, huh?

No, it's just

a lot of cash to carry.

I can take care of myself.

Hmm?

[HENRY CHUCKLES]

[POPPING LIPS]

Did you get that

in a cereal box?

Hey, I won it in a game

of pitch in Tijuana.

Never go anywhere without it.

[HENRY SIGHS]

Why are you pulling

this sh*t, man?

Now, you ain't got to play

partners with nobody.

[HENRY SCOFFS]

You got me right here.

You know that.

I got you here in this room

but nowhere else.

So, what, I go out

and cheat with you,

or that's it, we just...

we're done?

You don't get it.

Me and you, this is

the one thing we can do

out there in the world together.

Right in front of them.

No, we can do something else.

We can change.

No, you can change.

You think we're the same?

Look at you.

Look at me.

People like me, we want

something, we got to take it.

There's no other way.

[CLAPS HANDS]

[HENRY SIGHS]

If we do this, we do it smart.

Okay, we play outside town.

Play it quiet, small rooms,

nobody knows us, private games.

That's it.

You don't have to do nothing...

But win.

Hmm?

-Stop.

-Nada.

Go.

Nada. [CHUCKLES]

[QUIET CHATTER]

[LAUGHS, SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

-Bang-bang-bang.

-[GROANS PLAYFULLY]

[PANTING HEAVILY]

This all feels like a dream.

Hmm?

It could be it is.

[FAINT HAMMERING IN DISTANCE]

MURIEL: Dear Julius,

the houses around us

are going up fast.

Soon we'll be

completely surrounded.

I'm gonna take 50 cents

out of the can for lunch.

Big day off, huh?

What you gonna do?

MURIEL: To be

honest, I can't see you here.

You wouldn't be able to breathe.

Lee says you have wanderlust

and you'll come back.

See you.

[VOICE-OVER] But I'm letting

go of the plans we made.

LEE: Bye.

MURIEL: I hope you're happy,

wherever you are.

Muriel.

-[QUIET CHATTER]

-[SEABIRDS CHIRPING]

-[QUIET CHATTER]

-[GENTLE JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING]

A stinger, please.

[GAIL LAUGHS]

[QUIET CHATTER

AND MUSIC CONTINUES]

GAIL: Such a funny story.

[LAUGHS]

I'll be back.

I bet you don't remember me.

How much?

So how's your luck these days?

Gave all that up.

Just like that?

Made a promise to myself.

What sort of promise?

If you think too much

about luck,

it starts to own you,

doesn't it?

We're all owned by something.

Or someone.

I'm Gail.

Oh, uh...

I'm Linda.

Nice to meet you, Linda.

[GLASSES CLINK]

You hear the news?

That poor Russian dog died.

The one they shot into space.

Sad.

You know they ran odds on it?

Twenty to one he'd make it

into orbit.

Hundred to one

he'd come back down.

What about dying?

Nobody wanted

to pay out that bet.

These days, people will bet

on just about anything.

Endless possibilities.

[SIRENS WAILING FAINTLY OUTSIDE]

Endless.

Funny.

[TIRES SCREECHING FAINTLY

OUTSIDE]

I never meet anyone.

[BUZZING]

[CLICK]

-MAN: Everybody quiet.

-[MUSIC AND CHATTER STOP]

-[SHUSHING]

-[BANGING ON DOOR IN DISTANCE]

GAIL: [WHISPERS]

The cops are outside.

OFFICER: Open up, open up!

MAN: Come in.

Uh, what can I do for you,

Officer?

OFFICER:

What's going on upstairs?

MAN: Uh, nothing, nothing.

Uh, I do have

this envelope here for...

MAN: Thank you, Officer.

[BUZZING]

-[CLICK]

-MAN: Coast is clear.

-[RELIEVED MURMURING, CHEERING]

-[GAIL CHUCKLES]

I can't stay out

any later tonight.

Uh, me neither.

You're new at this, aren't you?

It's all luck, really.

You'll see.

We're all just a hair's breadth

from losing everything.

All the time.

[INSECTS CHIRRING]

[LAUGHTER AND CHATTER

IN DISTANCE]

[LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC

PLAYING FAINTLY]

[CHATTER AND MUSIC

CONTINUE LOUDER]

Oh.

Oh, yes.

I...

I'm looking for Sandra.

-Are you here for a book club?

-[LAUGHTER]

LORETTA: Password is

your favorite author.

I'm sensing Willa Cather maybe.

OTHERS: Oh.

Oh, we're really

big readers here.

-[LAUGHTER]

-SANDRA: Jesus.

-Move.

-What?

Come on.

[SIGHS]

You're not wearing any shoes.

Over here, Mrs. Walker.

[CLEARS THROAT]

I wanted it to be quiet.

What?

I want it to be quiet.

-Like that?

-[CHATTER AND MUSIC CEASE]

[SONG PLAYING]

Something cool...

This is what it's like?

SANDRA: What?

Your life.

You're a little drunk, I think.

Stop making fun of me.

Tell me why you want it quiet.

I don't think so.

My, it's nice

To simply sit and rest a while

Now, I know it's a shame

I can't think of your name

I remember your smile

I don't ordinarily drink

With strangers

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

I most usually drink alone...

[SIGHS]

[PANTING HEAVILY]

[BREATHES SHARPLY]

I wasn't sure about you.

Are you sure about me now?

[CHUCKLES] I'm not.

You're really not afraid

of being alone, are you?

Neither are you.

What makes you say that?

Because you're here.

It's just right for the heat

Save my furs for the cold...

[CLATTERING IN OTHER ROOM]

[LAUGHTER]

Come. Come with me.

Well, I don't smoke them

As a rule...

[PANTING SHARPLY]

Who would beg and beg

to take me to the ball

And I'll bet

you couldn't picture me

[GASPING]

[PANTING HEAVILY]

The time I went to Paris

In the fall

[BREATHING SLOWS]

-[MURIEL SIGHING]

-And who would think

The man I loved

Was quite so handsome

Quite so charmed?

I hope you come back.

Well, it's through

It's just a memory I had

Okay, well...

G-Good night.

One I almost forgot

'Cause the weather...

[g*nf*re]

TV ANNOUNCER:

The Rifleman.

If we ever hit it big,

where would you go?

Man, I've never really

thought about it.

Always got to have yourself

an exit plan.

Probably San Diego for you.

Got your brother there

and all, right?

Easier time down in Mexico.

Big money with the sailors

and the husbands

down from California.

They're always married.

[SIGHS]

Anyway,

why buy yourself a plain

old house in San Diego

when you can build

a palace in Tijuana?

Yeah, well,

if you ever hit it big...

If we ever hit it big.

-"We."

-So?

I mean, I'm wide open

to ideas, partner.

-Yeah, like what?

-Mm-hmm.

Taking five bucks a day

from housewives from El Paso?

Yeah, what's your idea, then?

Easy.

I mean, there's no rules

against us gambling there.

And our casino has

the best odds in town.

We can make a grand

in ten quick deals.

Are you insane?

You know they pay us

to catch guys like us.

I mean, the minute

you sit down at that table,

you're pinned.

No.

Not with you upstairs.

Not if you don't pin me.

When are you gonna see it?

You know, we got it good here.

I mean, real good.

I've been in Kansas and L.A.,

and I've been in Korea.

And in all those places,

I've been a thief,

a f*gg*t and alone.

And, you know,

for the first time in my life,

I can finally see

around the next g*dd*mn corner.

You know why?

Why?

Because I'm with you.

I mean, things are

different now, aren't they?

Well, aren't they?

You really are something.

-Aren't they?

-You know that, right?

Aren't they?

-Aren't they?

-You know they are.

No?

I'm just gonna wear you down.

But you know that, right?

One day you'll say yes.

[WHISPERS] Yeah.

Yeah, maybe I will.

You're crazy.

[WAVES CRASHING]

[SEAGULLS SCREECHING]

[BOTH GRUNTING, PANTING]

You okay?

Uh-huh.

-LEE: Like this?

-Uh-huh.

Open your eyes.

Let me see your eyes.

[DISTORTED PANTING]

[SONG PLAYING]

Baby

-Hush-a-bye, my baby

-[PANTING]

Go to sleep on Mammy's knee

[MURIEL SIGHS]

Rest your head upon my breast

In dreams again with me

Sandman is calling

Shadows are falling...

[GRUNTS SOFTLY]

This is becoming a habit.

[SIGHS] Yes, it is.

-What is this music?

-[LAUGHING]

My mother liked

this kind of music.

-Yeah?

-Mm-hmm.

Well, not this, but like this.

-Anything you could dance to.

-Mm, a real h*nky-tonker, huh?

[LAUGHS]

Oh, yeah. She drove all those

proper ladies in town crazy.

Do tell.

My, uh, my mother was the, uh,

first woman to own a car

in Marshall County.

-Mm-hmm?

-Mm-hmm.

She was the first woman

to get a college degree

and the first woman

to get a divorce.

-All unrelated, I'm sure.

-[BOTH LAUGH]

I wish I could have met

this mother of yours.

You ever been in love before?

[SANDRA CHUCKLES]

Yes, once, up in L.A.,

before I moved back here

to take care of my dad.

I think she figured I'd give up

on this place once he passed,

but... I'm still here

and she's not, so...

What about you? Lee?

Yes. I-I love Lee.

But you're talking

about someone else?

I don't know. It's, um...

It's like I...

saw something no one ever

told me was there before.

Never made any sense.

Still doesn't.

Measure it all out,

we spent maybe 24 hours

in front of each other

and that's it.

Could be that's all it takes.

It's strange.

Like the minute

he walked in the door,

I could breathe again.

He?

You're kind of a lot,

Mrs. Walker.

-[SNICKERS]

-[SANDRA CHUCKLES]

[EXHALES]

[GRUNTS SOFTLY]

JULIUS: f*ck.

f*ck.

[HORN HONKING]

Henry.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

JULIUS: No.

No, no, no.

CROUPIER: Thirteen...

black, odd.

JULIUS: Oh, no, Henry.

PLAYER: This feels like a seven.

JULIUS: Henry. Henry.

No, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, no, no.

f*ck, f*ck, f*ck. f*ck!

-[HENRY GRUNTING]

-TERENCE: You didn't

finger this greaser. Why?

You were working tables all

around town together is why.

You were part of it.

Ain't that right, greaser?

No.

I don't work with

no dickless p*nsy boys.

Look at him, f*cking shaking.

Go. Go, cabrn.

-Is that right, Mary?

-[GROANS]

-Get the f*ck out of here.

-What are you gonna do to him?

-Get out of here.

-JULIUS: Henry!

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO]

-[HAMMERING]

-[CHATTER IN SPANISH]

[HORN HONKING]

-[HONKING CONTINUES]

-Well, I'll be damned.

Hey! [TRILLING]

LEE: Well,

I'll be damned, Julius.

[WHISTLES]

Would you look at that?

You really did it, didn't you?

That garden's coming in nice.

LEE: Jesus Christ.

[LAUGHING]

Not even a postcard?

Tell us you're coming?

JULIUS: Yeah, well,

you can always

count on me for a surprise.

That a horse trailer?

You, uh, win a bet

or lose a bet?

Since when are you

the kind of people

who couldn't make use

of a horse?

Hello.

-[HORSE SNORTS]

-Mm-hmm.

I thought y'all said

you had a ranch.

It's a g*dd*mn

ranch house, Julius.

[LAUGHS]

Well, I guess

we're real Westerners now.

-[LAUGHS]

-Come on, get in here.

Where the hell

did you get that animal from?

JULIUS: Lee, a fella

wants to bet his horse,

I'll take his horse.

Hey.

[SNORTING SOFTLY]

LEE: Got two bedrooms.

That one's all yours.

Figure this is a nursery.

We're still getting settled.

Muriel's been working doubles

at the caf.

I've been picking up extra

shifts whenever I can get 'em.

And, uh, this is ours.

-It's cozy.

-Mm-hmm.

Everything's looking

real prosperous around here.

LEE: Come on,

I'll show you out back.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

LEE: Builders here

took just eight weeks.

-You believe that?

-JULIUS: Mm.

Remember how long we took

trying to fix up

Uncle Jack's old place?

Burning the furniture for heat?

[JULIUS CHUCKLES]

[LEE CLEARS THROAT]

Imagine growing up

in a house like this.

Stand out back here some nights,

look at this house,

and I think...

"There's a place

that makes sense to a kid."

Yeah, well,

we ain't kids no more.

[DISTANT TRAIN HORN BLOWING]

I just wanted you to be here.

See it was possible.

Even for nobodies like us.

Only I ain't like you.

No, we ain't the same, Lee.

You think I don't know that?

You think I don't know

exactly who you are?

I ain't asking you

to change, Julius.

I just want you to be safe.

I want to see you.

I want to hear your g*dd*mn

voice around this place is all.

Well, I'm here now.

[BANGS LOUDLY]

[SONG PLAYING OVER STEREO]

I'm just a hot mama

I'm known by that name

Hot mama, hot mama

Hands off that heat

If you can't cool the flame

Hot mama, hot mama

I'm warning all you chicks

Telling you what's right

Hot mama, hot mama

Yeah, I'm warning

all you chicks

Telling you what's right

Hot mama, hot mama

If you wanna keep your man...

LEE: Muriel.

-Muriel.

-JULIUS: We're going out,

-Muriel.

-LEE: Grab a jacket.

Come on. Come on.

[DOOR OPENS]

Horse?

-Horse!

-[MURIEL CHUCKLES]

Suppose you'll have to

catch him first.

See, Lee, even your wife

thinks that horse

has got too much blood.

Yeah, yeah.

[HOOFBEATS APPROACHING]

Oh! He's making a run for it.

Come on now. Get out the posse!

Yeehaw!

-LEE: Whoo!

-[JULIUS LAUGHS]

[HORSE NEIGHS IN DISTANCE]

JULIUS: So this is, uh,

this is paradise, huh?

-MURIEL: Something like that.

-[SCOFFS]

It must have been hard

letting your mom's place go.

It was.

You swore you were coming.

Forgive me?

-[SIGHS] I wish...

-Yeah?

I wish you came before.

Earlier.

Yeah, I wish all kinds of

different things all day long.

Like what?

Can I show you something?

MURIEL: That real?

This g*n belongs to a man

named Henry.

And, uh...

Henry would say it

doesn't matter

whether the thing's

real or not.

What matters is that

people think it's real.

It-it belongs

to a man named Henry?

You remember once

I asked you about love?

[CHUCKLES] I didn't know

anything about anything.

I'm not sure I know

too much more now, but...

I am sure that

this is Henry's g*n.

And, um...

I'm gonna get it back to him.

I'm gonna find him.

Uh, I don't understand.

I think you probably do.

Probably.

I don't.

[SOFTLY] Sometimes...

someone comes

into your life, and, um...

Nothing's ever the same again.

I need to borrow some money.

What?

I need money to find him.

[MURIEL EXHALES]

That's why you're here.

That's why you came.

To borrow money.

Stop. Stop touching me.

You were never gonna stay.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Lee was right about you.

What's that supposed to mean?

You're a coward.

And you're a liar.

Take your damn pit pony and go.

Hey, Kansas.

You got your secrets

and I got mine!

[BOTTLE SHATTERS]

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

Julius.

It's just a dream.

Go back to sleep.

[ENGINE STARTING]

[ENGINE RUMBLING]

[TRUCK DEPARTING]

[SIGHS SOFTLY]

[MURIEL SCOFFS]

He couldn't go far.

Truck of his is about

ready for the...

We aren't gonna

find Julius, Muriel.

Not until the money's all gone.

We'll find a way, Lee.

[CAN CLATTERS]

[DOOR OPENS, SLAMS CLOSED]

[SIGHS]

[CROWD CHATTER]

[HORNS HONKING]

[TRADITIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC

PLAYING OVER RADIO]

Oh. P-Para. Para.

Stop. Stop.

[INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENTS

OVER SPEAKERS]

-[WHISTLE BLOWING]

-Henry!

Henry.

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

[ BAM-A-LAM BY ROY MILTON

AND HIS ORCHESTRA PLAYING]

[HUMMING]

[SNAPPING FINGERS]

You're a real suave dancer,

Mrs. Walker.

[SNAPPING FINGERS]

Hey, when's your husband

due home?

He's working late.

We've got hours

and hours and hours.

-Oh, yeah?

-Mm-hmm.

Besides, he knows I would never

do something like this.

Well, I love you, baby...

Like this?

You know what I mean.

Love me, baby, hold me tight...

Like me?

With all your might

Bam-a-lam

Bam-a-lam

-Well...

-[MUSIC STOPS]

Oh, come on. I love that song.

What are you doing?

What?

I'm real.

This is real.

God, Lee is real.

You get that, right?

[HESITATES] I know that.

-Do you?

-Stop.

Sandra, come on. We're ju...

we're just having fun.

Oh, I get it.

You're just having fun.

-You're on vacation.

-What are you talking about?

You go home every night

where it's warm and safe,

and you go f*ck your husband

to feel normal.

And then you come over here

and you f*ck me

to feel alive, and then

you do it all over again.

You knew exactly who I was

when you let me in here, okay?

You knew my situation.

You're too good at this.

-What did you expect?

-If that's all this is,

there's a bar in town

-with a dozen other women...

-Stop.

...that would

cause me a lot less pain.

-Sandra.

-Please, just go.

[OVER RADIO]

Cling to me

Like a fish in a deep, blue sea

Make my heart feel toodle-oo...

-[MUSIC STOPS]

-[MURIEL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

-Come on, please.

-[ENGINE IDLING]

-Just stop.

-Please don't.

I want you to leave.

-[SIGHS]

-MURIEL: I didn't,

I didn't mean it like that.

Hey. [LAUGHS SOFTLY]

Hey.

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

[SNIFFLES]

[SNIFFLES]

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

I thought they had you

on a double today.

MURIEL: I'm too slow.

Couldn't use me.

She was out of eggs, then,

your friend?

Oh, yeah, yeah, she was out.

I'm not sure I realized before,

not for certain, I mean, but...

you remind me of him.

Julius.

I envy him sometimes, you know?

You do?

Yeah.

He gets to live

like there's no tomorrow.

You think I'm like that?

-Lee?

-[KEYS JANGLING]

[DOOR OPENS]

MURIEL: Hey.

Don't... no, don't say anything.

I remember this girl from town.

She had two men.

One of them was a kid

Julius used to run with.

Pool hall kid.

The other guy was a college

type none of us really knew.

Ran the sand mill

across the river with his pop.

The girl... Sally, I want

to say her name was...

Spent her afternoons

with Julius and Pool Hall Kid.

Went to dinner

in a better dress,

half-tilted on Hamm's

with Mr. Sand Mill.

Pool Hall knew all about it.

Never bothered him,

'cause she always used to

come home to him

at the end of the night.

Baffled me

when Julius told me about it.

Six months later...

Sally sits down Pool Hall,

tells him it's over.

And a month after that...

there was her name

in the engagement section.

And Julius was just outraged.

I think Julius hated

the fact that...

she picked

what wasn't real... honestly.

Bothered him to no end that...

She hadn't chosen

what he'd thought of as love.

I didn't really know her, so...

Who am I to say?

But I bet Julius thinks

I'm on the other side

of that story now.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

JULIUS: I'm looking for

my buddy.

Tall, skinny.

Scarred to hell on one arm.

Yeah, I think

I seen him around.

Not that I knew his name.

Do you know

where I can find him?

SONNY: I got a pretty good idea.

You think you can

take me to him?

[SHUDDERS]

[SNIFFLES]

[CRIES SOFTLY]

LEE: Did you ever want this?

-Any of it, I mean?

-[SNIFFLES]

[CRYING SOFTLY]

I'm sorry, Lee.

It doesn't matter.

[SNIFFLES]

You being sorry doesn't matter.

Not even a little bit.

JULIUS: Say,

where is this place, friend?

SONNY: TJ's a pretty small town.

Think I've seen him

right around here.

LEE: Muriel?

MURIEL: Lee,

you once told me

that until we met,

you weren't sure

there was anything good

left in the world.

You're a good man.

Your dream is a good dream.

I know I've let you down,

and nothing

can ever change that.

But I hope this helps you

find what you want.

Please don't give up.

Muriel.

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

SONNY: Okay, gringo.

These boys will take

your money now.

Waiting for someone?

I am.

Someone who owes me money.

[GRUNTING]

[MEN SHOUTING IN SPANISH]

[COUGHING]

[MAN LAUGHS]

-You f*gg*t!

-TERRENCE: Come on!

[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING]

[ECHOING VOICES]

[CRYING SOFTLY]

[GRUNTS]

[SONG PLAYING]

Don't smile...

I'm waiting for someone, too.

Been a while?

It has.

Same here.

Well?

What do you say?

Beside

Your lovely smile

Don't laugh...

First time getting stood up?

-Big part of this game.

-Is it?

Guess it's never been easy

for people like us

to find each other.

MURIEL: No, I guess not.

You think it's all your fault?

Maybe it is.

I guess when you are

standing here

all on your own...

doesn't really matter

who did what

or who hurt who.

Does it?

It's just the world

getting in the way.

-Just the world.

-Hmm.

Well...

whoever they are,

they sure are missing out.

Tell him that for me

if you see him.

That's a promise.

Nature on her knees

[SPEAKS SPANISH]

Would fall

[SONG CONTINUES IN DISTANCE]

[BAG THUDS]

[WHISPERS] Goodbye.

[CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[PUDDLE SPLASHING]

[SONG ENDS]

[ GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN

BY OMO TRIO PLAYING]

[HORSE WHINNYING]

JULIUS: Dear Muriel,

I don't know where you are

and I don't know

if I'll ever send this letter,

but there are so many things

I want to say to you.

Last time we saw each other,

I was trying to say something

about the two of us

I thought we already knew,

even if we never

said it out loud.

Well, hell,

it's Christmas Eve, ain't it?

I'm sorry I got it so wrong.

And I'm sorry for stealing from

you and all the rest of it.

Everything turned out

all right for me in the end,

so I don't want you

worrying about me.

It's Christmas, and somehow

I just bet you're okay.

Everybody deserves

a chance to be happy.

I can just picture you

saying that.

Everybody deserves a shot.

Even card sharps and liars

and petty thieves.

Merry Christmas, Muriel.

Julius.

[SONG ENDS]

[SONG PLAYING]

There's a life

I'm slowly recognizing

Just outside of trying

It's hard to give up trying

Okay. [SNIFFLES] Okay.

Oh, but when I get there

If I get there

Come on, let's go.

-I get closer and closer

-Hyah!

Lady Luck

has done her best for me

Can I find

whatever's left of me?

Hi, friend

Can I meet you again?

Time lost

And won and lost

And won and then

I burned down the bridge

of my life

To get to you

I'm a runner

I'm a runner, you're the lover

I'm running to

I'm a runner

I'm a runner, you're the lover

I'm running to

Go on and break

what you've got to remake

Don't be afraid

I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid

I'm not afraid

I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid

I'm not afraid

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC ENDS]