Buffalo Dreams (2005)

[bunniefuu]

[BUFFALOS GRUNTING]

[HORN BLARES]

We're moving somewhere
beyond cell phone service.

Doesn't that bother you?

It is so beautiful.

What is? The scrub?

Look at all the blue sky.

[MUSIC ON THE RADIO]

WOMAN ON THE RADIO:
Domino here at KTQT 91.8...

Civilization!

DOMINO: You give us two minutes
and we'll give you the Turquoise Trail.

Still hot and sunny,
but hey, you knew that.

In our top story,
congratulations to our bison moms.

There are seven newborn calves
on the Dinétah Buffalo Preserve.

She's kidding, right?

You know, when I was an army brat,

I relocated to weird islands
in the middle of nowhere.

Least here they speak English.

[SPEAKS NAVAJO]

What did he say?

[MAN CHUCKLES]

We have beef jerky,
buffalo jerky, moose jerky.

We have aloe gel,

aloe shampoo,

aloe conditioner,

antelope jerky,

caribou jerky,

buckwheat hulls,

birch cones, chickweed,

linden leaf,

wild turkey jerky,

and my favorite, rabbit jerky.

[SPEAKS NAVAJO]

Welcome to town.

Thank you. It's nice to be here.

Try some of our fry bread.

Oh, that's okay.

SHOP ASSISTANT:
How about some beef jerky?

No, thanks.

Do you have batteries?

Um, that's okay.
We'll get some later if we need them.

[CHATTER OUTSIDE]

-MAN: All right.
-WOMAN: Look at the view all around.

Don't freak out. It's a little sloppy.
But I think you're gonna love this.

Where is it?

Laundry room.

-Where?
-MAN: Uh, other way.

And don't get too excited.

Take a left.

It's weak, but it's wheels.

Hey. Not in the house.

[MAN SIGHS]

-You got him a bike?
-All right, look, having his bike stolen

and relocating for my work again,
that's punishment enough.

Working with you at the lab
will be good for him.

-Give him a chance to see what he can do.
-Mm-hm.

You like it?

And it's three-time champion
Josh Townsend

-going for the record.
-[NEIGHING]

He's coming from behind.

He's about to take the lead.

Wait. There she is, the competition.

Watch the lady with the straw bag.

She's crafty, she fakes,

but Townsend doesn't flinch.

She's changing strategies.

Josh puts in the power,
steps into gear, and pass...

Hello.

The crowd goes wild!

She is history.

But this race is not over yet.

It's just begun.

Note their fierce concentration
as they plot to destroy me.

But wait till they see this.

Oh, yeah. Be afraid.

-Be very afraid.
-MAN: Stop! Stop!

[HAND SQUEAKS ON THE GLASS]

You got to be kidding me. Jeez.

Wasn't me.

[THUNDER]

-MAN: It's beautiful, isn't it?
-WOMAN: Mm-hm.

You're gonna miss it, Josh!

I know!

[THUNDER ROLLING]

Mom!

-Dad!
-WOMAN: Josh?

[WOMAN YELLS]

WOMAN: Who left luggage in the middle
of the floor?

MAN: Where's the flashlight?

I got it.

Here.

You got batteries?

MAN: Oh.

-[WOMAN SPEAKING NAVAJO]
-MAN: May there be beauty in front of me.

MAN: May there be beauty behind me.

MAN: May there be beauty to my left.

MAN: May there be beauty to my right.

MAN: May there be beauty all around me.

[WOMAN SPEAKING NAVAJO]

[BOTH SPEAKING NAVAJO]

There's no riding here.

Why not?

You can't ride off trail.
You're tearing up the grasslands.

[HUFFS] I don't see any grass.

No dirt heads allowed.

What's a dirt head?

A mountain biker who rides
where he's not allowed.

What do they call you?

Hey!

What's going on?

I was just telling this dirt rag
to get lost.

Who you calling dirt?

Welcome. I'm Moon
and this is Scout,

granddaughter
of Abuela Rose Blackhorse,

because of a dream her mother had
when she gave birth.

And this is Thomas Blackhorse,
grandson of John Blackhorse,

a Navajo elder who came
from the Near Water clan

on his mother's side,
born of the Edgewater clan

on his father's side.

Um...

I'm Josh.

I'm not interested.

Can we do this now?

Yeah. Let's bring him in.

THOMAS: You think he's friendly?

MOON: Can't always tell.

[SINGING "SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON"]

[BUFFALO GRUNTS]

We tried every song we knew,

but... this is the only one that worked.

[BUFFALO GRUNTING]

MAN: My son's first day of work.

Dad.

DOMINO ON RADIO:
Good Monday, she lied.

We're caught here
in a buffalo dispute

between my guest, veterinarian

Seth Touched By Lightning,

and our caller, Jean.

So, Jean, wanna tell us
why you're so mad?

WOMAN ON THE PHONE:
Yeah. You're not gonna believe this.

The buffalo charged my truck.

DOMINO ON RADIO: All right. Call us
with your thoughts on bison.

Friend or fender bender?

But first, here goes
the weather report.

There's a high pressure moving in

-over the Great Basin
-KYLE: Where you think you're going?

-which should bring us...
-KYLE: He's tough.

[KYLE SNICKERS]

Adios, amigo.

Yeah, just keep on walking, man.

Doesn't all this blue sky
make you just wanna send up

a robotic exploratory spacecraft

just to find out what
it's really all about?

JOSH: You could get every channel
if you have one of those.

-This is very exciting.
-[PHONE RINGING]

How can you tell?

Some of our greatest thinkers
are right here in this facility.

Welcome to New Mexico
Astrophysics Research Center.

-Here's your I.D. badge.
-How you doing, Virgil?

Branded... nerd.

That's my boy.

Virgil, I want you to show Josh
exactly what to do.

All right? Gotta go.
Call you later.

All right.
And this area is for our databases

of abstracts and technical reports,

citations and documentation,

and texts of technical reports,

and archives and distribution systems.

Cool, huh?

Dead man walking.

And here's where you'll be working.

Copy what's on the cart.

[DOOR SQUEAKS AND BANGS]

We lose our power a lot, too.

But we always get it back.

I'm talking about the electricity.

-Of course.
-We have dried corn,

dried corn soup, dried corn stew,

and dried corn with squash.

Well, I guess I should have some of each.

All right.

Is this a new cause?
I'm not familiar with it.

For centuries,
our northern brothers and sisters

have honored the buffalo,

who provided them with food,

shelter, clothing.

Now we're partnering with them

to restore the herds and...

Yes, we have buffalo,

and we need teenagers like your son

to help us out.

I'm sorry. I wish I knew sign language.

My granddaughter Scout is sure

your son would enjoy working
with the herd

much more than the lab.

-Sorry.
-So, I'll make the announcement,

then I'll go into a short interview,
and open up into Q and A, okay?

-[BOY LAUGHS]
-[DOMINO HUFFS]

-RSVP?
-BOY: Ow!

We've got Kyle
and his wrecking crew here.

These boys wanna test your bravery

on single track, intermediate,
and advanced trail riding.

So, ask yourself,
fellow heartbreaking thrill-seekers,

can you fly?

Friday at Red Rocks. Be there.

Yeah. Say something like that.

So, like, are we on the air?

-Hey, grandpa.
-Hm?

I'll be graduating in a couple years,
and...

I need a real job, a money job.

I could teach you
to be the next survivor.

-I'm just saying...
-Oh, look.

Monardella odoratissima.

That's mountain pennyroyal.

It's good for food seasoning
and deodorant.

You know, you can cure yourself
and your herd of anything

if you know nature.

You can't get Scout's voice back.

[JOHN SIGHS]

Meanwhile, your work's here,
restoring the buffalo

and taking care of your community.

-I know, but...
-The tree has to be rooted

in the ground before it can grow.

How can you stand the sweat lodge
in the summer?

You don't even have a ceremony today.

Certainly, a place
your grandma can't get at me.

-Hey, what's up?
-Well, my editor wants photographs

of my recipes for his web site
to go with my book.

Hey! How was work?

Cruel and unusual.

Well, I thought you found it
very creative.

I'm stuck in a tiny room,

alone, with no windows.

I think I like page 19
of the Signus Space Report the best.

This... oh, yeah.
This was my favorite.

Yeah. See?

I only hope that 37 of my new colleagues
will find my son as photogenic as we do.

How did that get there?

You know, it was not easy
getting you this job.

Making copies?

It's great exposure.

To radioactivity.

I spoke to a nice Navajo today.

They need help at the Diné Bikeyah
Buffalo Preserve.

-Where?
-The Diné Bikeyah Buffalo Preserve.

Look outside.

Oh, no. I met the guy who works there
and he was a jerk.

You could ride your bike.

Bro, look who it is.

THOMAS:
Is this supposed to be a joke?

A dirt head to work with us?

Sorry.

-What'd she say?
-You're gonna tear your hands up.

Try these.

Appreciate it.

So, don't do much work, huh?

I had a job at the Research Center
for, like, a minute.

You gave up a job there, to be here?

-Yeah.
-You're nuts.

I'd rather be riding my bike outside.

Free.

This isn't free.

I have to work here.

Come on, let's go!

Hey!

Very funny!

What do you guys do for an encore?

Dude, it's safe.

Buckle up.

This is a fence pull.

Put the wire through here...

JOSH: What's the big deal?

Well, we don't want any buffalo
running around town.

What are they, man-eaters?

MOON: Strictly vegans, dude.

But you don't wanna stress them.

I mean, I've seen them toss a man
and his Bernese mountain dog

way across the field.
I mean, it was gnarly.

What do you guys do with the buffalo?

I mean, you don't eat them,
you don't wear them.

They don't make good pets.

It's a native thing.

Oh.

So, where do you guys go around here?

The caves are pretty cool,
and the community center has a new pool.

[CHUCKLES] Not what I meant.

Go anywhere you want.

I'll be right back.

[GRUNTS]

Oh.

[SINGING "SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON"]

[SINGS] Somethin'...

Somethin', somethin'

-[BUFFALO GRUNTS]
-Please be nice, Mr. Buffalo.

Don't get mad.

[SINGING]

-Ha!
-[BUFFALO GRUNTS]

-That's easy.
-What are you singing?

[BOYS LAUGHING]

I wasn't singing.

-Yeah, you were.
-It wasn't me.

You guys aren't supposed
to be riding here.

What, are you protecting
some endangered toad or lizard

or scrub brush maybe?

This is restricted tribal land
for the buffalo.

BOY ON THE BIKE: Come on.

They get 11 million acres,
and we can't ride on a few?

You guys can ride on the fire roads
and the trails.

Okay, but there are these moon rocks
in the north end here.

You go right over the boulders
and you catch some big air.

-BOY 1: Awesome, man.
-BOY 2: Yeah.

-Yeah?
-Really sick descents.

Check it out.

MOON: Josh!

Where'd you go, dude?

Over here.

Thought maybe the bulls
got you cornered.

I see they did.

Tell your friends to share.

-BOY 1: Let's go!
-BOY 2: Come on!

[BOY SHOUTS]

BOY: Later! See ya!

-BOY 1: Watch that jackass, man!
-BOY 2: Yeah, boy!

[BOY SHOUTS]

[THUNDER IN THE DISTANCE]

We should get going.

I'll ride back.

We got some weather coming in.

Not a problem for me.

Suit yourself.

You sure?

-It could rain.
-You heard what he said.

Let's get going.

Ugh.

[SNEEZES]

[SIGHS]

[KNOCKING ON THE DOOR]

FATHER: Are you okay in there?

[GROANS]

JOSH: Let's burn it.

-We can't do that.
-Why not?

Because we wanna preserve, not destroy.

Our Dinétah, our land
that was given to us

by the ancient holy ones

who came from the sacred four mountains.

Moon, you're Danish.

Maybe in this life.

Okay.

Ready? Three, two...

[MOON LAUGHS]

Nobody lifts on one.

-What?
-You count up to three.

No. It's three, two, one, go.

Like a space launch.

They count down.

But people count up.

Not today.

-Whatever.
-Okay. Three, two, one.

I could use a little O2
right about now.

Put a fork in me, I'm done.

Not yet.

And this, this is why we're here.

That's cool.

Awesome.

Don't get too attached.

It's mine.

Just bought it.

Sweet ride.

Lighter, stronger,

and a whole lot faster.

Come out and ride.

You're gonna turn into a stiff
working on the res.

It's not that bad.

Taking orders from chili-pickers
all summer?

Get real!

Grab a bike
and come out and ride with us.

I mean, they're not that expensive.

So, do you have a team or,
or club or what?

Just some thrashers like us.

Cross-country racing,

enduro riding, free-ride dropping.

What else could you want?

Sounds cool.

[KYLE CLEARS THROAT]

Hey, Friday, we're at Red Rocks.

See you there?

I think it's time
for one of my famous potlucks.

[SPEAKING NAVAJO]

Look at this.

Hi.

WOMAN: This is beautiful.

Hey.

[WOMAN SPEAKS NAVAJO]

Hello.

Yummy. what are these?

These are my dried blue corn
cheese ball pick-me-ups.

Perfect with lamb kebabs.

Yeah.

You must be a real chef.

More of a culinary anthropologist.

Oh. This is Thomas Blackhorse.

Hello, Thomas Blackhorse.

What have you got there?

Who knows?

My grandson doesn't speak Navajo.

He doesn't eat Navajo food.

He only eats food
that comes out of a box or in a bag.

You must be Dr. T.

Welcome. I'm Moon.

That's a stellar name.

-[MOON CHUCKLES]
-[NICK LAUGHS]

Stellar.

Which, which one are you named for?

Io, Europa, or Titan?

Zappa.

Pardon?

-Titan, for sure.
-Oh, good.

You can never see this many stars
in the city.

[OWL HOOTS]

JOSH: It's too bright.

This place is so...

Hot, quiet, boring?

Big.

Nothing ever happens here.

Abuela Rose isn't letting you go anywhere.

Is that your mother?

My grandmother.

She's such a Navajo.

She wants me to eat and speak
and live Navajo.

My father's such a scientist.

He'd love for me to work
in a lab all my life.

My grandson and your son
will become good friends

because you and I
have a lot in common.

You do work at the Research Center?

Nope.

Oh. Oh, I'm an astrophysicist there.

We have the same mission.

We do? Well...

I've actually begun to shift my focus

to the laws and origins
of the universe and...

and the evolutionary process there
so we can more effectively, uh...

Protect our atmosphere

and our planet, well,
you know, our world.

Yeah, me too.

The Diné, the people, that is,

we learn from the sky.

We tell stories of creation.

We explore and protect the earth,

just like you.

[SONG PLAYS ON THE RADIO]

[SCOUT MOUTHS LYRICS]

She can hear fine.

She just doesn't talk.

Has she always been this way?

Not always.

I think your parents are leaving.

Okay. Thanks...

for dinner and everything.

Not a problem.

Well, I met a boy named Moon,

a girl named Domino,
and a medicine man

who says that the Navajo and scientists
are like blood brothers.

[SIGHS] The sign of a great party.
[LAUGHS]

Why don't you take him out
and show him a good time?

-Who?
-That new boy.

His type doesn't stick around.

Then I guess you don't have much time.

You can't tell anyone
about this place. I mean it.

And I'm not kidding.

Don't worry. I don't know anyone.

And I have no idea where I am.

Just track the trees to water.

If you see a pinyon or juniper,
you know there's no water.

[WHOOPING]

[THOMAS LAUGHS]

THOMAS: You can do it!

It's a risk management thing!

What did she say?

Lift your arms,
open your heart, and jump.

You know, you don't have to do it
if you don't want to.

Don't sweat it, bro.

Whoa!

Yeah!

-Yes!
-Yeah.

JOSH: So, why is this place such a secret?

'Cause way back when,

boys came here
to learn how to be men.

They learned how to hunt
and respect animals.

Moon, your ancients were
probably Vikings.

So why do you care
so much about Navajo?

'Cause I like that
they had to go through stuff.

The only thing we go through is school.

They had to go for days
without water

and they'd suck on pebbles
just to survive.

Did they have visions?

No.

I really wanna have a vision.

-Of what?
-I don't know yet.

It has to come to me first.

What you see

is what there is.

I don't believe in that stuff.

I believe in everything.

The Navajo have a lot of stories.

Exactly. Stories.

Whenever they don't understand something,
or why nature happens,

they find an animal
or a story to explain it.

You don't really care about all this
Navajo stuff, do you?

-No.
-Then why do you get so mad

at Kyle and those guys?

It's my job.

[MOON HISSES]

-You are fried chicken.
-[THOMAS LAUGHS]

It's... an aloe leaf.

I've never seen it
outside the bottle before.

[GUITAR PLAYING]

-Hey.
-Hey, where have you been?

You know, hiking up mountains,

jumping off cliffs,
diving into waterfalls. The usual.

Why are you all... shiny?

It's aloe for my sunburn.

Who are you and what have
you done with my son?

You know, I really need a new bike.

Shush. Darling. Don't ruin the moment.

In the back.

Thanks.

I'm going to the...

Red Rocks.

Yeah.

Red Rocks.

Hey, you made it.

[BOYS SHOUTING IN THE BACKGROUND]

Thanks for the ride.

It isn't a restricted area, is it?

-No.
-And it's not sacred?

WOMAN: You're all right.

Be careful.

Be smart.

Okay.

[BOY WHOOPING]

This course eats bikes, man.
You sure you can race on that?

Thanks for caring.

[WHISTLES]

BOY 1: Go!

-BOY 2: Hey, watch out!
-BOY 3: Dude.

JOSH: Whoa!

BOY: Yeah!

JOSH: Yeah!

Stop!

[BOY WHOOPING]

Whoa!

[PANTING]

[JOSH PANTING]

[JOSH GROANS]

Ow. That's gotta hurt.

[BOY LAUGHS]

BOY 1: Pretty bike, man!

-BOY 2: Eat my dust!
-BOY 3: See ya later!

[GRUNTS]

Guess we'll never know who's better.

We'll find out.

It's too hot to eat.

-Let's swim.
-Let's go to the community pool.

No, there's too many locals.

[BOY WHISTLES]

Strong start, dude.

Too bad about the whole blowout.

Yeah, I bet that thing handles great
on a paper route.

-I'm gone.
-Kids, don't try this at home.

That probably wouldn't have happened
if you would've had a bike like mine.

Yeah, it's really cool.

Cheating death
one more time, right?

BOY: Man, did you see the way
that loser crashed?

-KYLE: All right, later!
-BOY: Cheating death one more time.

I know a great place to swim.

Oh, yeah?

[WHOOPING]

Good. Take a left.

Here we go. Watch this.

-Timber!
-[BOYS CHEERING]

-Nice! Right on!
-Let's go! Let's go.

[BOYS SHOUTING]

BOY 1: Oh, yeah!

BOY 2: Oh, yeah!

Here we go!

BOY: Oh, yes!

[BOY MAKES A HOWLING SOUND]

[BOYS WHOOPING]

It's this way.

Hey, I think I hear it.

[WATERFALL RUSHING]

Oh, man!

[BOY LAUGHS]

-Whoops!
-[BOYS LAUGHING]

Yes!

Shock and awe.

Whoa!

Yeah!

Come on, lady! Jump!

I've done it before.

Yeah. Right.

Don't be weak!

No!

[LAUGHING]

Oh, yeah!

Yeah!

-[WHOOPING]
-Yeah!

You could have hurt me!

It looked like you needed help.

BOYS IN WATER: Yeah!

[BUFFALO GRUNTS]

[LOW GRUNTS]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

[LOW GRUNT]

There he is. See?

[SINGING "SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON"]

[BUFFALO SNORTS]

[BUFFALO SNORTS]

MAN: Good job, Thomas!

Whoa.

WOMAN: Good job, Thomas.

JOSH:
Get out of here! What are you doing?!

Adding to the natural beauty.

Stop! This isn't your land!

-Says who?
-The Navajo.

-Oh!
-Give me a break.

This is a sacred place.

What are you, afraid of
a couple tortilla makers?

No, I'm not afraid.
I'm just saying...

Stop worrying so much.

We gotta get out of here.
Right now, I mean it.

Who made you chief?

[HORSE NEIGHING]

Hey, hey, hey. Let him sleep.

-But I thought he had to go to work.
-He said he wasn't feeling well.

-Come on.
-All right.

He's not coming.

The guy's a tourist.

It's way too hot.
I wanna be done now.

We have to fix a fence in the north corner
where the dirt heads rode over.

And then, let's go for a swim.

All right.

This is wrong, man.

All the places in the world,
and he brings them here.

Who?

Josh. Who do you think?

You don't know it was him.

Well, who else would it be?

Spirits of the four winds
make the buffalo trample

their bikes and trucks.

Let the wild animals stomp them
into roadkill... wait!

-Don't ask the spirits for that.
-THOMAS: No.

Ask "Where's Josh?"

You haven't eaten anything all day.

I'm not hungry.

You look hungry.

Taste my corn chipotle popovers.

Corn is the symbol of life, you know.

Stop, Mom.

Josh, there's someone here to see you.

What's up?

You know.

You and your friends
trashed Shining Steps.

It wasn't me.

Then how'd those guys know about it?
They tagged the place!

I didn't tag anything.

But you were there.

I tried to stop them.
You know what they're like.

They didn't even listen to me.

That is so weak.

But it's true.

We told you not to tell
anyone about the place,

and then you show
those jerks?

I'm telling you,

I tried to stop them.

I assure you,
this will be taken care of.

Immediately.
We are very sorry.

The boys need to find
a balance with nature...

to live in Hozho.

What's that?

You don't even wanna know.

Thank you.

JOHN BLACKHORSE: There comes a time

when you must go
into the wilderness alone

to discover your true nature.

The time spent alone
will help you find your ground

and determine your place
in the world.

Dim sum.

JOHN BLACKHORSE: Embrace the dreams

and the animals
that may visit you.

They will reveal
your strengths, wounds,

and life's purpose.

Bye, Mom.

Bye, Dad.

Bye-bye, baby.

See you tomorrow.

JOSH: Bye.

I'm leaving now.

[WOMAN SIGHS]

Okay.

Let him go.

[NICK SIGHS]

The Navajo belief is based
on a harmonious relationship

between our people
and Mother Earth.

When you're out of balance,
you feel it.

Been a lot of storms lately.

-Right.
-Right.

You must be clear in your heart
as to what you seek for yourself,

for your people,

for the people
of the world.

Sunrise is a time to pray.

Sunrise is a time to sleep.

It's a good thing you're going.

It's a long time.

I'm gonna need that stuff.

If my blood sugar drops,
I get dizzy

and cold and hungry and tired.

You can't take dim sum.

Look after one another.

JOHN BLACKHORSE: Go to a place

where you can bring forth what you are

and the way you might be.

Is that a cave up there?

No. it's a hole in the rock.

Just like home.

We have geological
formations, too, you know.

Ancient sub-level parking lots
and subways with great acoustics.

You must've climbed up
those a million times, huh?

Not a million.

Well, not a million,
but I mean a lot.

Isn't it a part
of your culture and stuff?

No.

No, what?

No, I didn't come here a lot.

I don't sit around caves
passing peace pipes.

So, what is Hozho?

Like a vision quest?

Navajo don't do vision quests.

I'm gonna go cool off.

He didn't find my candy bars.

If he didn't want you to have them,

you wouldn't find them in your bag.

No.

Go for it.

So, this looks like
a good camp site, right?

Look at the tracks.

Animals come here
at night to water.

What kind of animals
are we talking about?

Quail.

They're small.
I could take one if I had to.

Deer.

They're shy
and they stay away from people.

A bobcat and a cougar?

That's harsh.

Doesn't look like rain.

Does it?

Where are you going?

Up river.

I'm coming with you.

That's your problem.

Stop being a follower.

I'm not a follower.

Yeah, right.

You led those guys to Shining Steps.

I said I was sorry.

It doesn't mean anything
if you don't understand

what you did was messed up.

What was I supposed to do?

You're supposed to stick up for us.

And say what?
Leave, please?

Something like that.

I'm sorry I couldn't stop them.

We trusted you,
and you didn't keep our secret

because you think it's more important
to hang out with those guys.

I don't know why.
They're jerks.

I said I was sorry.

I'm going up river.
You go down.

We'll meet back here
tomorrow morning at 9:00.

If you're not here,
I'm leaving.

You just be here.

Yeah.

JOHN BLACKHORSE:
Be aware of things within you.

Your anger and your fear can help you.

Rice. Beans.

Pan.

JOHN BLACKHORSE: Make a circle around you

to connect you with all things.

Come on. Come on.

Come on.

-[BRANCH BREAKS]
-[ANIMAL HOWLING]

JOHN BLACKHORSE: The day will come
when people will ask us

to teach them
how to care for the Earth.

When that day comes,

we will be ready.

Thomas Blackhorse,
you cannot leave.

Our people are hungry.

You must bring the herd
back to our people,

and you will bring
to our people health.

Sorry.
Not my problem.

But it is!

No matter where you travel,

this land is part of you.

It made you who you are

and who you will become.

You must go... or...

Or what?

[WIND HOWLING]

[SNORTS]

You talk to him.

You can do it, you know.

Why are you out here all alone?

You will never be forgotten.

We will help each other.

Can I have fries with that?

Do you deliver?

[BIRD SCREECHING]

BIRD: Thanks.

Okay. That's it.

This place is way too whack for me.

I gotta go home.

I... I'm from the city.
I take trains.

I can't fly without two engines
and a fuselage.

BIRD: You never tried.
We all have bird in us.

Obviously, some more than others.

What kind of bird spirit
are you going to be?

Okay.

Well...

What are my choices?

Ravens, blue jays, crows.

My family, the hawks.

Mighty, fierce,
and very good-looking.

And there is eagle,
mighty messenger

between up there and down there,

a true leader.

So, what bird spirit are you?

Get back to me when you find out.

Nothing broken?

The eagle has landed.

[THUNDER]

[RUSTLING]

Thomas!

Josh!

The wind's bringing in the storm!

We can make it to the cave!

That's where I's going!

For such an empty place, it sure is busy.

People really eat that stuff?

It comes in handy.

Here.

If you get a toothache,

chew on an echinacea root.

Okay.

My grandfather has a remedy
for everything.

I had the weirdest dream.

About what?

This talking bird.

And then I flew,

like I was an eagle or something.

In your dreams.

The Navajo love the eagles.

They believe they carry their hope
and dreams to the spirits.

Cool.

I dreamt about buffalo.

You gotta get out more.

They're invading your brain.

I was a hunter.

It felt so real,
I could feel the earth shake.

That was the thunder.

Leaked into your dream.

Scout was there.

Okay.

Well, we know the buffalo's
a native thing.

Yeah...

But I'm tired of being Navajo.

I wanna be from Brooklyn...

Or Graceland.

Go for it.

I couldn't leave Scout...

or my grandparents.

My parents left here.

Where'd they go?

They died in a car crash

on their way to Seattle.

I'm sorry.

That's gotta be rough on you.

Yeah.

Been tougher on Scout.

That's when she stopped talking.

She hasn't spoken a word since.

What did the doctor say?

Nothing.

What a whacked place.

FATHER: It was only one night.

Hey, hey, hey!

Joshie!

There he is.

Man, are we glad to see you.

We were just trying to remember
where those waterfalls were.

You guys gotta go clean up
the mess you made.

No, man, we wanna swim.

No way.

Shining Steps is private property.

Get over it.

-I'd rather settle it.
-Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

-Me and you.
-One on one.

We race.

Deal.

I win, we get to ride
where we want, when we want,

and you and your tribe back off.

Won't happen.

I win, and you guys get lost.

Turquoise Mountain ski resort,
next Saturday.

-Up and down.
-Up and down.

-I'm there.
-Guys?

-We gotta push it back a week.
-Wha...

I'm getting my braces off.

-Fine.
-Devil's Revenge.

-The trail.
-Bring it on.

[HUFFS]

I'm not too early, am I?

Maybe a little.

Thomas says you have
a remedy for everything.

Yeah, pretty much.

Well, I was wondering
if you had any Indian...

I mean, Navajo herbs and medicines to...

you know, get me into shape.

Oh.

Come on.

What kind of shape you wanna be in?

I knew this Lakota Warrior
who shape-shifted into a cougar.

I just wanna be ready for a cross-country,
and downhill mountain bike race.

Oh.

You have a good and true reason
for doing this?

So, when is this race gonna take place?

Two weeks.

You eaten anything today?

No.

Then don't.

Smells like photosynthesis.

Good for stamina, muscles, and joints.

Bloodletting and leeching
were popular, too, you know.

This is even older, mom.

Scout's just wondering
why you're trying to get buff.

No, I'm not.

No one ever lies to Scout.

I challenged Kyle to a race.

I win, and they're out of here for good.

Who are you to take this on?

That's not a bad question.
I mean...

And what if you don't win?

I'll win.

This is definitely not a good idea.

Yes, it is.

Thomas, you've said it yourself.

I didn't understand at the time
how important it is

to do something
bigger than yourself for others,

and it's the only thing
these guys accept.

I'll race them.

No offense.
You're a tourist around here.

Thomas is right,

but he should
totally defend the Dinétah...

Moon!

-Where is the race?
-Devil's Revenge.

You guys know it?

JOSH: Whoa.

Think I should race.

I can do this.

Dude, this is nasty work.

And, well,

your bike is kind of weak.

I can fix it up fine.

I'll race Kyle.

I know the terrain.

I have to race for me

and for you and for Scout

and for my mistakes.

Otherwise,
what am I doing here?

Scout thinks you should race.

You know what's at stake here?

He's never done this course.

Kyle will be all over him.

Turquoise heals and attracts

good friends.

Just...

don't start shaving
your legs or anything.

[PANTING]

[STRAINING]

Ten!

Twenty!

Thirty!

Mm. That smells so good.

You're gonna have to give me
the recipe.

How's it going?

Going well.

Give it up, dude.

-No.
-Nobody wants a turf w*r.

-Then beat it.
-Let it go, dude.

You don't have the chops
or the bike to beat Kyle.

Yeah, I do.

[BOY 1 LAUGHS]

BOY 2: What was that, Kyle?

Hi, Thomas.
Is Josh with you?

No. he hasn't been with us all day.

-[VIDEO GAME SOUNDS]
-Hey.

Have you heard from Josh?

No. Sorry, Mrs. T.

Okay, thanks.

Hello, this is Blaine Townsend,

and I was wondering if you could help me.

We interrupt our normally
scheduled programming

to broadcast a special alert.

We're looking for Josh Townsend,

five-six, brown hair,

probably soaking wet by now.

Plug in, Josh.

Your mom's looking for you.

[VIDE GAME SOUNDS]

Thomas.

Hello?

We're looking for Josh.
Do you have any idea where he might be?

THOMAS: He's been riding
the train tracks lately.

Don't worry.

Trains don't travel there anymore.

Well, how... how far out is that place?

Try the north end of the Res,
and I'll try the Arroyo.

-Okay.
-Bye.

Let's go.

I... I could've beaten Kyle, but...

My bike's out there somewhere.

Never mind.
Thanks for the ride.

JOHN: All right. Do up your seat belts.

We can't thank you enough.

Thank you for all your help.

Well, his bruises will heal,

but it's his spirit
that needs Yerba del Lobo extract.

I'll make sure he gets some.

We've got a medical doctor
on the way. Thanks.

We're covering all of our bases.

I'm just saying...

-See ya.
-Thank you.

-Would you step outside?
-Yeah.

His bruises are going
to heal just fine,

but... has he been
under any kind of pressure

or stress lately?

Well, he's still asleep.

But I can't say it's peaceful.

He just seems so... restless.

What's he doing riding his bicycle
in the middle of a storm?

And why is my son out there
in the middle of nowhere riding around?

What was he thinking?

He was training for a competition.

What?

Since when does he compete?

Is there something I don't know about?

Thomas?

He was gonna race against this kid

whose g*ng keeps
on tearing up Navajo places and...

Josh challenged him
so they'd finally leave us alone.

He's a really strong rider.

-All right, step outside...
-I'm all right.

-and get some air, please?
-I'm all right.

-I'll tell you if something changes, okay?
-Okay.

[NICK SNEEZES]

DOMINO: All of us here at KTQT

are wishing Josh Townsend
a speedy recovery.

We're sending over white light

and a couple of pizzas,
so get better, dude.

Looking...

...for...

...something...

Huh.

You're looking for something,

but you don't know what.

No. no, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

I'm just...

a little lost.

No, you're not.

Yes, I am.

I'm...

[CLEARS THROAT]
trying to get something for my son.

Get him a bike.

-Excuse me?
-A bicycle.

That's a... that's a brilliant idea,

but how did you know that?

I'm sorry. I'm a scientist.

I measure, calculate.

Things are pretty much absolute for me,

and I...

I don't...
I don't understand you people.

There's one in the back.

One... one what?

One bicycle.
I can let you have it real cheap.

[SQUEAKING]

[GROANS]

Tight.

[SNORING]

You're awake.

How are you feeling?
You have been asleep for two days!

Oh. Hey.

Okay, let me check your wounds.

Oh, these are healing nicely.

I knew that alehoof would work.

NICK: Good morning.

Awesome bike, Dad.

Well, apparently,
you need one for a race.

I don't know.

I do.

Okay, now, remember,

distance is a product
of velocity and trajectory,

but only up to a certain angle.
After that, you're just

gonna get the height,
but not the distance.

So, don't go too high.

-That's my boy.
-JOSH: Good.

Pound it.

JOSH: Right over here.
I wanna get a straight shot of Josh.

-What's goin' on, Dr. T?
-Rock on, Moon!

-MOON: Abuela, John.
-Yet eh, Moon.

Are you sure you're feeling all right?

I feel fine.

Are you sure?

Yeah. Stop asking me.

Now, remember,
after the second hairpin turn...

I know! Stop telling me that.
It drops out.

I was gonna say
that's when you start praying, but...

All right. You guys climb
the fire roads to the summit,

then pick up mine field
back down to Devil's Revenge.

First one back here wins.

You guys ready?

-Yeah.
-Yeah.

Shake hands.

See you soon.

-See you.
-Play nice,

and I'll let you ride on my land.

Don't worry. We'll find you
some nice trails in Nevada.

Baby.

It's starting.

Who's gonna call it?

Him.

BOY: Come on, Moon.

Moon, can you get it started here?

WOMAN: We're counting on you.

THOMAS: You can do it, Josh.

Racers, mount your bikes!

Already did.

Can you just raise
and lower your arm, please?

Got it.

MOON: Ready...

Set...

-Go!
-JOSH'S MOTHER: Yes!

Go! Go, go, go, Josh!

-Let's go!
-MAN: Come on!

JOSH: Whoa!

-Oh!
-Oh, come on now!

And they're going up now.

Sources say the heat is on.

Kyle and Josh
are on a stairway to heaven.

That's the Turquoise ascent, folks,

Two thousand vertical feet of leg-burning,

lung-busting heartbreak.

Watch up there.

[PANTING]

Whoa!

Go, baby, go, baby, go!
Oh, yeah!

Yeah, go!

[EXHAUST PIPE SHOTS]

WOMAN: Oh, man.

[BUFFALOS GRUNTING]

[JOSH GRUNTS]

Buffalo.

They're off the preserve.

Ride! Right behind you!

They're at the top!

Find it!

NICK: Find it.

-Yeah!
-Yes, yes!

JOSH: Yeah!

[KYLE GRUNTS]

Josh is on his way back down.

You see him?

[KYLE GRUNTS]

Go, Kyle!

Oh, they're going down mine field.

It's Kyle and Josh
on the mine field dirt staircase,

coming down
to Terra Firma before,

dare I say it,

Devil's Revenge.

Mountain biking's mother lode.

No way!

-Yeah!
-All right!

-Hey!
-Whoa!

Hey, neat jump, but the trail's that way.

Yo! Trail!

THOMAS: What are you doing?

The buffalo are headed toward town.

We have to stop them
before they reach the ridge.

How?

Josh, what exactly did you see?

The whole herd,

going towards Turquoise Trail.

Let's go!

The buffalo are stampeding!

They're gonna destroy the town!

Dude, that was awesome!
I mean, did you see me?

I totally kicked his butt
right out of the chute.

No, you didn't.

Whatever. I rule now.

Didn't you hear?
The herd got out.

-Not my job.
-Those guys need help.

-You don't live there, remember?
-Come on.

Dude, I'm gonna finish the race.

We need to lead them
to the western end.

Over there.

Don't get too close.

They wanna go
where we want them to go.

They just need to know
where that is.

Watch out, okay?

Yeah. You, too.

Let's ride!

THOMAS: Come on, follow me.

MOON: Go, go, go, go!

[THOMAS SCREAMS AND GRUNTS]

[ROARS]

[GRUNTS]

[GROANS]

[SINGING "SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON"]

[BUFFALO GRUNTS]

[BOTH SINGING]

BOY: Go up there!

[BUFFALO GRUNTS]

DOMINO: Good evening, Turquoise Trail,
and we really mean that.

You know, things and people
come to our lives

and we don't always know why

until we live through
a day like today.

MOON: Yeah!

DOMINO: Now that the buffalo
are back where they belong

and our kids are safe
and soaking their knees,

we wanna thank everyone.

You were awesome, guys.

Sleep tight.

[TRIBAL SINGING]

Yet eh.

Yet eh.

Hey, very good, Josh.

Um... this is prickly pear salad,

that's prickly pear salsa,

and this is prickly pear surprise.

Is that rice wild enough for you?

Totally native.

Mm.

Come in, everyone.

Navajo can reside in the city,

but we can never really live there.

The memories of our animal brothers
and sisters are within us.

They wake and stir
when we come to our holy place,

our Dinétah.

This belonged to your father.

He'd be very proud of you.

The arrowhead represents courage,

strength,

and survival.

When you wear this,

you honor our ancestors.

Their great strength
allowed the Diné to survive.

Through your veins
runs the blood of a proud people.

Sometimes these truths come to us
from strangers who become friends.

Tonight, we thank
and honor Josh Townsend

for uniting so many
to sustain the buffalo.

You have earned the name

"Rides-with-the-wind."

The two of you have lived the ideals
of friendship and loyalty

that bind nations together.

When every member fulfills
his responsibility

as you two have,

we are all blessed.

Yo, Thomas Blackhorse.

Yes, Josh Rides-with-the-wind.

It's a nice place you've got here.

Better take care of it.

We will, right?