Cream of the Crop (2022) Movie Script
1
(bright orchestral music)
(bright orchestral music)
(bright orchestral music)
(auctioneer calling)
(slow orchestral music)
(slow orchestral music)
- Oh, I can't believe it.
- Oh, rough morning?
- Hey.
Yeah, you could say that.
- Why, what's wrong?
- It's just something
I saw on the way over.
- Okay.
Hey, don't forget about tonight.
- Uh, tonight?
- Yeah, my brother's
birthday, remember?
- [Jodi] I forgot.
- Meet me there at seven.
You have the address, right?
- Yes, but, I'm
not really invited.
- Yes, you are. I invited you.
- [Jodi] Okay,
okay, I'll be there.
- You need some fun.
- Good morning.
Sorry I'm late, guys.
All right, if we could
please take our seats.
All right, girls I'm
gonna have you pass out
these folders and
we're all gonna take
a couple of notes
before we feed up.
- Notes? Do we have to?
- Just a few.
And then you can take care of
the animals both inside and out.
But first, we need to
get a little perspective
on what it might be like
to pursue your goals
of farm life.
Let's talk stats.
Now, did you guys know
that farming is one
of the most dangerous
occupations?
It's near the top of the list
with 25 deaths for
every 100,000 workers.
- Yeah, remember that
guy that fell off
the silo ladder last year?
It was like 10 miles from here.
- Yeah, I knew that guy
and it's not just the danger.
I mean every year of
farming is a crap shoot due
to weather, falling prices,
even government policies.
You could be in business
successfully for 10 years
and lost it all on your 11th.
- My uncle lost his farm.
Had to auction off everything.
Didn't get much back.
- And that is happening
more and more.
Banks foreclose,
developers move in
and pretty soon
there's no farms left.
Even if you work really hard,
'cause guys, you
have to understand
that farming,
especially dairy farming
is seven days a week.
There's no going to the
beach on the weekends.
- Yeah, Holly, forget
working on your tan.
- Except maybe a farmer's tan.
(students laugh)
- All right, all right, guys.
That's enough.
It can be difficult to get into.
There's a saying that
you either marry the farm
or inherit it.
Did you know that
the average age of
the farmer is 58 years?
So, I do hope that some
of you guys will try it.
We can definitely use you.
- Thanks for the encouraging
words, Ms. Stafford.
- All right, now that's
enough for today.
Tomorrow we will talk about some
of the more positive
aspects of farming.
Now Caroline, Bella, if you
will feed the goats outside.
Riley, Alexis will take
care of the chickens.
Everyone one else
will feed up in here.
Thanks, guys.
(slow orchestral music)
(upbeat music)
(Jodi knocking)
- You made it.
I was worried.
- I told you I'd be here.
I just, I feel weird.
- [Lynn] Why?
- I don't know anybody.
- Well, you know me
and here's a run down
on the name characters.
So Mike, who's turning 28,
he's my brother, so naturally
I think he's a jerk,
but he's actually
a pretty nice guy.
And then there's
Matt, our older bro.
He's going through
a divorce right now,
so he's living with Mike.
As far as the other guests,
your guess is as good as mine.
I do know one thing.
Our parents are not invited,
so, okay, brace yourself.
- Okay.
- Have you ever thought
about living on your own?
- No, I have to be home
on the farm to help my family.
Looks really fun, though.
(guests cheering)
- [Guests] Chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug.
- Whoo!
- So, there's the birthday boy
and our older brother, Matt.
- Nice.
- Oh, he's not always like that.
- [Mike] Check this out.
- He's really
stressed out at work
and, hey, it's his birthday.
Mike.
Mike.
Mike.
- What, what?
- [Lynn] Hey, I want
you to meet somebody.
- Who? Oh.
This is Jodi, Jodi Stafford.
- Hey.
- She lives out
on Stafford farm.
You know, on Limestone Road?
- Oh, yeah.
- Yeah.
- She invited me
out there next week
to help out around the place.
- So you're gonna be on a farm?
What if your hair gets messed up
or if you break a nail.
I get it, you're
gonna go can some jam
and bake some whole wheat
bread, right (laughs)?
And you're gonna teach her?
That's great.
- Hey, you know what?
I've got an idea.
How about you come
help out on the farm?
You think you can handle it?
- Me? No.
I eat Wonder Bread, right?
- [Lynn] Mike.
- Okay, fine, I'm sorry.
I, um, farming?
Yeah, that sounds different.
Um, yeah, why not,
I'm up for it.
What about tomorrow?
- Okay.
I'll pick you up at 5:30.
- AM?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, no problem.
- All right, well, I'll
see you at 5:30 then.
- Definitely.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed.
- Hope so.
Um, Lynn, I'm gonna head out.
I have an early
morning tomorrow.
- You just got here, though.
Okay, all right.
I'll walk you out.
You're gonna like her.
- All right, all
right, here we go.
Got a surprise.
- Round two.
- I got a surprise.
- [Matt] (laughs) All
right, here we go, ready?
- You're gonna like him.
- Right.
- Three-
- [Together] Two, one, go.
- Go, go, go.
(guests cheering)
- Whoo.
Come on.
(Jodi knocks)
- Mike?
(bright suspenseful music)
Mike?
(Mike snores)
Mike?
Mike?
- Oh, what?
What?
- Hi.
It's Jodi.
I'm here to pick
you up, remember?
Remember Jodi from the party?
From the party?
- Oh.
The party.
That was a bad idea.
- Well, are you coming?
- Am I coming?
With you?
- Yeah, that's the idea.
(Jodi clears throat)
So, today or?
- Sure.
(Mike groans)
Just, um, hey, if you
would just give me
like a second or like a minute.
That was a good party.
- I'll just wait here.
(water running)
(Mike sniffs)
(playful music)
- Ready.
- [Jodi] Okay.
- Is something wrong?
- No.
No.
Not at all.
Let's go.
(Jodi whistles)
- I'm so sorry.
Do you mind just, uh, not
doing that so loud, please?
- Sorry.
How do you feel?
- Oh, fine, just fine, you know.
Good.
Ow!
Holy.
- I, I'm sorry.
Are you okay?
- Yeah, I'm good.
I'm fine.
Are we, uh, we here yet?
- We are there.
- Wow, this is nice.
- Thanks.
- Hi, guys.
(slow orchestral music)
All right.
Ready?
- Yeah.
Hey, wait, what
is that guy doing?
- [Jodi] Oh, that's my dad.
- That's your dad?
- Yeah, he's just getting the
chickens ready for market.
Come on, I'll show you.
- That's great.
(door closes)
That's great.
- Hey, Daddy.
- Mm-hmm.
- Daddy, this is Mike Jared.
Remember my friend, Lynn.
This is her brother.
- How do you do, sir?
- No use complaining.
- Right.
(Bob laughs)
- Um, Mike came
to help out today.
- Oh, really?
Okay, Jodi.
Let's see how you
do today, Mike.
- Come on, I'll show you around.
- Wow. God.
Was your dad wearing like a
baseball mitt or something.
- What?
- Yeah, his hands, it felt like
it was like, uh-
- Leather.
- Yeah and-
- So big.
- I mean, yeah.
- Yeah, that's from 50
years of milking cows.
They just got like that.
- Oh.
(rooster crows)
Could you excuse me
for a minute, please.
(Mike vomits)
- Next time, boy,
clench your teeth.
Save some of them big chunks.
- Daddy.
- Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
- Uh, do you want
some breakfast?
- No, no, hey, no,
thank you, no thanks.
Just, um, hey, you
go ahead, I'm good.
- [Jodi] That's okay.
Um, hey, you know what, maybe
I should just take you back.
Here, come on.
- Aw, man.
I'm, uh, I'm really
sorry about this.
- No, I'm sorry.
You weren't feeling well.
- I wasn't feeling well.
- Yeah.
- Um, maybe you can
come back another time.
- Maybe, yeah.
- When you're feeling better.
- Yeah.
- Wow.
Okay then.
Coming?
- Yeah.
(slow orchestral music)
Hmm.
(door close)
- Hi, Mom.
- Hey.
- [Bob] Where did you get him?
- I told you, Daddy,
he's Lynn's brother.
- And has that boy got a job?
- Yeah.
Yes, he does.
- [Father] What does he do?
- I haven't asked him yet,
but I think he makes good money.
- Won't last long around here.
- He wasn't feeling well.
- I could see that (laughs).
- He'll be all right.
(Mike taps fingers)
(phone ringing)
- Nope.
- What's up, Mikey?
- Who wants to know?
- Ooh, touchy, aren't we?
(Mike exhales)
- Why not?
(phone rings)
- Jodi.
- What?
- You have a call,
you forgot your phone?
- Who is it?
- He says it's Mike.
He sounds very polite.
- Oh, uh, okay,
I'll be right there.
Thanks.
Hello?
- Hey, Jodi.
This is Mike.
- Who?
- (laughs) The guy who lost
the big chunks this morning.
- Oh, right, how could I forget.
- Yeah, so, you know
to tell you the truth,
the strangest thing
just happened.
Yeah, I put on an
old pair of pants
and found a $50
bill in my pocket.
So, anyway, I was just thinking
that since I have
this extra $50 and all
that maybe, you know, you'd
like to help me spend it.
- Uh.
Well, I'd like to,
but the thing is
it's getting real busy
around here right now
and I'm working almost
every night unloading hay
and I just-
- Okay, yeah, no problem.
- Wait, um, how about
you save your $50 for now
and just come over again.
We could go riding or something.
- Riding?
You mean, like a horse?
- Yes, a horse.
I don't have a Harley.
- A horse (laughs), of course.
I've done that.
- Okay, um, how about tomorrow?
- 5:30 again?
- No, um, eight's fine.
- Oh, I'll be there.
- Oh, and I promise
no chickens this time.
- (laughs) Thanks.
- All right, I'll see you then.
- Use the old $50
bill line on her?
- Yeah, but it didn't,
it didn't work.
- We'll see how long you last.
(triumphant music)
(door closes)
- What are you looking at?
- Not much.
- [Jodi] Hey, you made it.
- Yeah, at your service.
What are we gonna do first?
- Well, uh, we're just
about finished milking.
How about a guided tour
of the cow stables?
- I would like that.
- Come on.
It's right this way.
- Right.
(gentle orchestral music)
- Here we are.
- Hey, you guys use machines?
- What do you mean?
- Well, you know, I
just wanna milk by hand.
- Uh, yeah, yeah,
we use machines.
And hey, guess what, we
have indoor plumbing, too.
- Really?
- Hey, Jodi.
Give me a hand with
this heifer, will you?
- I'll be right back.
Make yourself at home.
This is my brother, Frank,
and our hired hand,
Willie, guys, this is Mike,
I'll be right back.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Hey, Mike, let me
show you something.
- Yeah, what's up?
- Have you ever seen the pattern
at the end of a
guy's teat before?
It looks just like a
star, it's fascinating.
- No, no, I can't say I have.
- [Frank] Yeah,
yeah, yeah, look,
look right here, right here.
- Oh!
- [Jodi] Frank!
- It just came out.
I thought this cow was dry.
- No, no, it's cool, it's fine.
- You okay?
- Is there anything?
- Yeah, you'll be fine.
Um, sorry about that.
Come on, um, you can
help me pick up the eggs.
- Okay.
- See you later now, Mike.
- See you.
(boys laugh)
- Willie!
I'm sorry, don't
worry about them.
Come on, let's go.
(Willie laughs)
(chickens clucking)
- Get that one.
Just reach in.
- Right there.
- Yeah, just reach your hand in.
- Easy.
(chickens cluck)
(triumphant music)
(goat bleets)
- Oh, yeah.
See this?
Come on, buddy.
He hates me.
- You wanna hold him?
- I would, yeah, let's do it.
Take, take, take it.
- [Jodi] There you go.
- You good?
Oh, God.
- Oh, really, that's amazing.
(horse whinnies)
(playful orchestral music)
(cow moos)
Hey, Willie?
Where's the restroom?
- Right over there
will work, huh?
- Yeah, man, it's fine.
- Okay.
(cow moos)
(electricity pops)
Oh, man.
(Mike exhales)
(Willie laughs)
(horse whinnies)
- Hey, where'd you go?
- Oh, just, you
know, looking around.
- Oh, well, you're
gonna ride Billy.
It's my dad's horse.
His trots a little bumpy,
but he's real quiet.
- That's great.
Yeah.
- You have done
this before, right?
- Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
- All right, let's mount up.
- Mount up.
- Not bad, here, let
me give you a lift.
- Yeah, it's just that the
jeans are tight, you know.
- Yeah.
- Just give me a little-
- All right, one.
- Something.
- Two, three.
- Gah!
(Mike exhales)
- What's wrong?
- Nothing, I'm just, you
know, a little tight.
It's been a little while.
- All right, let's get this.
Here.
And, reins.
- Yeah (exhales).
Wow, that was good.
- I've done it a few times.
Ready?
- Oh, yeah.
Go, go, go, go, go.
Come on (exhales).
Ah!
Don't wait up.
I'm good.
Ugh!
What the heck have
you been doing?
- Farming.
- No, no, don't sit on that.
Go get in the shower, man.
Oh, God.
God, Mikie, is she worth it?
(Mike exhales)
- Yeah.
(gentle music)
(bell rings)
- Hey.
What are you doing here?
- Well, I was just
checking out a property
and I'm driving by and
I thought I'd, you know,
stop by and see what
you do here all day.
- Too late. Day's over.
You're, um, visit
wouldn't have anything
to do with a fellow
teacher of mine, would it?
- What?
No.
- That's too bad 'cause
here she comes now.
- Hi.
- Hey, Jodi.
- What are you doing here?
- Oh, it's funny, I
asked the same question.
- Well, I was-
- Oh, he was just driving by.
Sorry.
I'm late for something.
Mike, why don't you
walk Jodi to her truck.
- Oh, yeah.
Um, yeah, it's no
problem at all.
- It's, you really
don't have to.
- It's fine.
I have so much time before
my next appointment.
- Okay.
(gentle orchestral music)
Are you okay?
- I'm fine, couldn't be better.
- You sure you're okay.
- Absolutely.
- Not to be rude, but is it
for a doctor's appointment?
- Doctor?
Oh, no, no, this
is, it's for my job.
- Ah.
Well, uh, what time?
- Um, oh, geez, it
starts in five minutes.
- Oh, I'm sorry,
I'm keeping you.
You should go.
- No, it's, um, it's fine.
Will I see you around?
- Well, actually I was
wondering if you might want
to come over for dinner tonight?
If you're not busy.
- Well, why don't you take me up
on my offer to help
you spend my 50 bucks,
'cause, you know, that's
not gonna last forever.
- Okay.
How about a compromise?
I'll go out with
you if you come over
for dinner first.
- Will your parents be there?
- Yeah.
- Just, I have a feeling
sometimes they don't like me.
- Look, they will.
It just takes them
a while to get used
to somebody new coming around.
You'll see.
Uh, 6 o'clock okay?
All right.
Don't be late.
(door closes)
(engine revs)
(playful orchestral music)
Peas?
- I heard Walt
Crossen has to sell?
- I saw that comin'.
- Yeah, he didn't have
much of a crop this year
to begin with.
- And then the four-wheelers.
- Oh, hey, my brother
actually bought
a couple of really
nice four-wheelers
for my nephews.
Give them something to do,
hopefully keep those
guys out of trouble.
- Yeah, four wheelers.
Ruined half the man's
crop just playing around.
Little bastards.
- Oh.
- So, what does your
family do, Mike?
- Uh, my dad is a
partner in a law firm
and my mom's an
interior decorator.
- Oh, how nice?
What about you?
Jodi says you have a good job?
- Yeah, he's an astronaut
and he's taking up space.
- [Jodi] Daddy.
- Um, I'm a real estate
marketing specialist
for a company called
Poole and Associates.
- Yeah, yeah, I've
heard of them.
They're the ones building all
those McMansions out
on Walker's Road.
That used to be good land
until the bank foreclosed.
- Mike, would you like
some more oysters?
- Oh, it's oysters?
I didn't realize
these were oysters.
I've never seen
anything like this.
Is it like blue point?
- Mountain.
- Mountain?
- Mountain oysters.
You know the low hanging
fruit of the bull.
- [Mother] Bob!
(Mike laughs)
(playful orchestral music)
- Mm, I'm sorry.
(Frank laughs)
- It's not funny.
- [Mother] Stop.
- You know that'd
boy grow more if he
could keep some food down.
- Daddy!
(Mike spits)
Why?
(dog whines)
- Hi.
Just too much.
- Feeling better?
- I could definitely use a beer.
- Well, do you wanna go
to the Triple Nickel?
It's right up here.
It's a country place, though.
(Mike laughs)
What?
- Do they have beer there?
- Yes, turn left up here.
(patrons laughing)
- Well, hello there, Jodi.
- [Jodi] Hey.
- How's your daddy?
- He's fine, ornery as ever.
- Oh, yeah, I know
what you mean.
- Oh, Mr. Miller, this is Mike.
Mike, this is Mr. Miller
from the farm down the road.
- How do you do?
- I'm doing great.
Pleasure to meet you, Mike.
Enjoy.
- Have a good night.
- Thank you.
(gentle music)
- I really am
sorry about dinner.
- Oh, no, no, no, no,
it's okay, really.
Just don't worry about it.
- I guess I just wasn't thinking
about what we were having.
- Well, the chicken
casserole was really good.
- Chicken?
- Yeah, it was in the bowl next-
- That wasn't chicken.
- No, no, no, no, you really,
you don't have to tell me.
- Okay.
- What can I get you?
(both talk over each other)
- Two of whatever's on tap.
I'm more than a $10 drink
- I love this song.
More than a smile and a wink
Oh, lonely boy
- Do you wanna dance?
- Sure.
- Oh, here he comes.
Now's our chance.
But you're going
through the motions
You're stealing my part
When you got every notion
- We're gonna go ledge
city boy's car out there.
Randy, you, too, come on.
(playful orchestral music)
Fill an empty space
If only boy you
get to know me boy
I'm more than a $10 drink
More than a smile and a wink
Oh, lonely boy
(playful orchestral music)
(gentle music)
- What the he-?
- Oh, no.
- Aw!
Are you kidding me?
- I guess they were looking
for something to do.
- Something to do?
Something to do?
God, what am I supposed to do?
(men laugh)
It's no problem.
Stay back.
- Mike!
Mike!
(upbeat music)
(Mike exhales)
(engine revs)
Mike, you're too
close to the ledge,
you'll never make it.
- Watch me.
(engine revs)
(upbeat music)
Get in.
See you later,
suckers, yee ha! Whoo!
(birds chirping)
It's a nice view.
- Right.
I love it.
I could come up
here a million times
and never get tired of it.
- Oh, so you just park
here all the time, huh?
- No, but I ride
Dixie up here a lot.
- Yeah, you must
really love this place.
- It's the only place
I've ever known.
I grew up here and
so did my father
and his father bought the land
when he was young and farmed it.
I guess it's in my blood.
- I, I don't get it.
- [Jodi] What?
- Like why I'm here.
- Gee, thanks.
- No, I'm just, all
right, think about it.
The first time I come
over to your house
on some mad mission to
prove myself or whatever,
I tossed my cookies
in your yard.
Then, I come back and make
a complete idiot of myself.
Tonight, I completely
degrade myself
in front of your parents
and then I almost get
myself killed trying
to get this car off a ledge.
So, what?
Am I being tested
by God or something?
- Maybe.
- Or maybe there's some
kind of fatal attraction.
- Maybe that, too.
- Maybe I'm starting to realize
there's a lot more to
life than just making
my future millions
in real estate.
- I hope so (clears throat).
Speaking of, I
really wish I'd known
your career path before tonight.
- Well, you didn't ask.
Like I never imagined it'd
be a problem, you know,
and I was gonna
tell you at school
and then I had to
rush off like that.
- No, I, I'm trying not
to let it be a problem.
It's just-
- I get it.
I do have a question, though.
- What's that?
- The second time
you ride a horse,
can you walk the next day?
- Sometimes.
The hayfield.
- What do you mean?
- Mike there's four
wheelers in the hayfield.
We gotta go.
- Okay.
(engine revs)
(dramatic music)
- [Jodi] Hey, four wheelers.
Four wheelers in the field.
- No!
- Let's go.
Let's go, let's go.
- Hey, what should I do?
- [Jodi] Frank.
- Wait!
All right.
Oh, no, no.
(dramatic music)
All right.
(engine stalls)
Okay.
Hey, boy.
Good boy.
You remember me?
(dog barks)
Stupid mutt.
(dog barks)
Okay.
(engine stalls)
- He, Duke, shute up.
- Oh, great.
Good evening, sir.
(gun cocks)
- What the hell are
you doing up there?
- I, uh, Jodi and I,
we were up on the hill
and then we saw-
- Oh, yeah.
- Yeah, no, I mean, no I mean,
we weren't doing anything.
I don't do, I would never
do anything, you know.
- Uh-huh.
- Oh, God, oh, man.
(dramatic music)
(engines revs)
- Hey!
Bastards.
- The four wheelers,
they're in the field.
That's where we're going.
(engines revs)
- [Man] You won't
shoot farm boy.
- Watch me, you son of a bitch.
(gun fires)
- Dammit.
(door closes)
(dramatic music)
(engine revs)
- Willie, you jackass.
- [Willie] Get up, idiot.
- Willie, Willie.
- I planted that field.
- I know.
Take a walk.
- Oh, my God, look what you did.
- What are you
talking about, boy?
Did you see what
you did to my hay?
- Danny?
- Uncle Mike.
What are you doing here?
- No, the question is
what are you doing here?
- This is your nephew?
Well, that figures.
Frank, go get the
John Deere with
the loader and turn him over.
Get him out of here.
Jodi, call the cops.
- The cops, for what?
- I'm filing charges.
Trespassing,
destruction of property
and whatever else
I can get you on.
- What about the
guy with the gun?
He shot at me.
I could get him for attempted
murder or something.
And what about the
damage to my ATV?
- You're pathetic.
- Hey, no, no, wait,
wait, wait, wait,
just wait, okay.
Danny, you've caused way
more financial damage
to them than they did to you
and you get get
someone for defending
their own property.
Look, Mr. Stafford.
Look, somebody Danny
wants to go to law school.
All right?
And if he has a record, he
may not be able to get in.
You don't want him to
go to jail, do you?
- Hell, yeah.
- Okay.
I see your point.
But I promise that
I'll make sure
that nothing like this
ever happens again, okay?
Right, Danny?
- Yeah.
- Right, Danny?
- All right, sorry.
- Frank, tow him out of here.
We gotta milk in four hours.
Let's get some sleep.
Well, I just scored about
a million more
points with your dad.
- You stood up to
him, he likes that.
- Oh, yeah, I can tell.
- No, trust me.
I know him.
- Come on, you two,
let's get outta here.
Come on, let's go.
Hey, boy.
- Mike, Daddy, his name is Mike.
- Oh, yeah, excuse me, Mike.
Have you ever baled?
- Uh, baled?
- Yeah.
- Yes, sir, on a camping trip.
Yeah, the canoe sprung a leak
and so I was-
- [Jodi] Hey, he means
have you ever baled hay?
- Uh, no, um, no, sir.
I have not.
- Well, be here tomorrow.
Maybe you'll learn something.
- Tomorrow, yeah,
uh, is 6 a.m. okay?
(Bob laughs)
- You don't bale
until afternoon when
the dew dries.
- Of course you don't.
- And, oh, I should warn you,
we still bale the
old-fashioned way.
(upbeat orchestral music)
(door closes)
(triumphant orchestral music)
Grab it when it's ready.
- I got you, is this, one sec.
- Don't be scared.
(upbeat orchestral music)
Oh, thanks, sorry.
You all right?
(engine idles)
How are your hands?
- Oh, there's no blood yet, so.
- Daddy, why'd you stop?
- Hey, boy, don't you
think I wore gloves
the first time I baled.
Kids.
- That's good.
- Okay.
- You'll thank him later.
- Oh, yeah, I will.
- Thanks.
- It's so easy.
With the gloves.
- [Jodi] Told you.
- Good job.
- Nice job.
- Thank you.
- Hello, son.
- Dad, Dad, I'd like
you to meet Jodi.
Jodi Stafford.
- Jodi, so nice to meet you.
I've heard so much about you.
- Nice to meet you, sir.
- Please sit down.
You know, son, your
mom couldn't make it.
Problems with a client.
You know how her job is.
- Sure, Dad.
- Hi, Mr. Jared.
Can I offer you a drink?
- My usual please.
- [Waiter] How about you?
- Just a soda for me, please.
- All right, and
I'll do the same.
- Terrific, be back in a minute.
- So, Jodi, what do
you plan on doing
with your summer now
that school's out?
- Well, I'll be working at home.
We're still milking twice a day
and doing some baling.
Mike's gotten really
good handling a bale.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
- Sounds like a wonderful life.
Farming.
You know, your mom's
been pestering me
about buying a piece
of land somewhere out
in the boondocks.
Says she wants to
be able to get away
from the working world.
I don't know.
- Will you excuse me
just for one minute?
- Seems like a nice girl.
- Dad, why?
- By the way, I saw Jim
Poole the other day.
Real estate is
booming apparently.
It's uncanny how
this guy always seems
to get the best deals.
Said he just bought a
piece of land for a song.
Were you in on that deal?
- No.
Not that one.
- He's got a lot
of wonderful things
to say about you, son.
Says you'll really
rise up in this company
if you'll stick with it.
- [Mike] Oh, yeah.
- You know I'm
proud of you, son.
I pulled a lot of
strings to get you there
and you haven't let me down.
- Uh-huh.
Uh, you know I've
actually been working
at the Stafford
farm in my time off.
- Mr. Stafford?
- Jodi's father.
He didn't like me much at first,
but I think I'm starting
to make a good
impression on him.
I'm really learning a lot.
- [Mr. Jared] Learning
a lot about what?
Pitching manure?
- No.
Yeah, a little.
I don't know, it's just,
after a day's work there,
you actually feel like you've
accomplished something.
- Accomplished?
Mike, when you're
working on developing
a piece of land,
watching those buildings rise,
providing people with jobs,
a decent place to shop,
I mean, that, that's
accomplishment.
- Yeah, it's, I don't know.
- Son, you gotta know
what I'm talking about.
I mean, look at the
money you're making.
A whole lot more money than
I ever did at your age.
Look, I know you like
this girl and all, but-
- [Mike] Jodi.
Dad, her name is Jodi.
- Whatever her name is.
Just don't lose sight of where
your real responsibilities lie.
At any rate, Jim's expecting
great things from you.
(George knocking)
- Hey, it's George Moore.
Morning, George.
- Hey, Florence, how are you?
Bob.
- What brings you out?
- Well, nothing good.
- Come on, George, sit
down, have some pie.
- No, thank you, Florence, yeah.
- What do mean nothing good?
- Walter Patterson's
had an accident.
Must have had his
shirt cuff undone
or something and got it
caught up in the PTO shaft.
Ripped his shirt clean off.
Caught his arm up in it, too.
Mangle it up pretty bad.
Doctor says he might not ever
have full use of it again.
- Oh, Lord, how's Ruth?
- Well, you know, she's
at the hospital with him.
She been there all day.
- Well, what are we gonna do?
- I don't know.
I figured we'd come up
with some kind of a plan
or a schedule, get in
his wheat and his hay,
get his milking done for him
and Clyde, Bill, Ted Dawson said
they'd pitch in and
lend a hand, too.
- We'll be there.
- Thank you, Bob.
Boys.
Florence.
- See you, George.
- All right, George.
- Bob, how are you gonna do it?
You're so far behind yourself.
- Yeah, I know.
It's gotta be done.
I mean, they'd do
the same for us.
- I know they would.
- I can work overtime
and that extension agent
from down state is
coming tomorrow.
He might help out.
And there's always
Jodi's boyfriend.
- Yeah, that boy's
trying, though.
- [Willie] Yeah.
- She won't have a boyfriend
after her fancy lunch today.
She's probably dumping soup
in his dad's lap right now.
- Frank.
- Well, come on, we got
work to do, let's go.
We'll see you later.
- Okay.
- Thanks.
(doors close)
Need a hand?
- Oh, nah, I got it.
- Hey.
You don't put gas
in a diesel tractor.
- Something must have gone wrong
with the equipment.
That gets him madder
than anything.
- Can't blame him.
I'm the same way.
- Hey, why don't you set
your suitcases down
by the truck for now
and I'll take you
down to meet him.
Maybe that'll calm him down.
- Lucky I caught
that when I did.
Now, I gotta drain the tank
and hope that it starts okay.
I mean the John Deere's
already broke down.
I don't have time
for this this week.
- Mr. Stafford, I'm so sorry,
I just, I got into
the wrong tank and-
- Yeah, you sure did.
All right, now the front
loader's broke down.
Now we're gonna have
to finish loading
the manure spreader by hand.
Do you think, do you think
that you can do that
without breaking something?
- Daddy.
- What?
- Daddy, this is Skip
Stevens, the extension agent.
- Glad to know you.
I'm sorry about
all the commotion.
(Mike exhales)
- This is my dad, Bob Stafford.
This is my brother, Frank.
And, uh, Willie our hired hand.
- Gas instead of diesel fuel?
- Yeah, dad gum it.
- Daddy, it's not his fault.
The tanks aren't even marked.
- Yeah, but lucky I
caught it when I did.
If I would have
started the tractor,
it would have ruined the motor.
- You know, we had a hired
hand do the same thing once.
I drained the tank then.
I could do it for you now.
Just let me change my clothes.
- Nah, don't trouble yourself.
You're our guest here.
- No, I'm happy to do it.
Just give me a minute.
(gentle music)
- It's really nice
of you to help out.
- Yeah, it's not a problem.
Well, the sooner it
get done, you know,
the sooner I can get to work.
- [Jodi] Yeah, I know,
it'll be helpful.
(somber music)
- That was a blessed
meal, darling.
- Thank you, dear.
- Sure like what you
did with the tractor.
Ran like a charm this afternoon.
- Well, while I was in there,
I changed the fuel filter.
I like fooling
around with engines.
- Skip's actually speaking at
the local ag conference tomorrow
with a couple of other speakers.
- Oh, yeah, who else?
- Kelly Grant from upstate.
He's talking about
manure management.
- Yeah, I know him.
He stayed with us
last year, nice guy.
Jodi had a big crush on
him, didn't you, Jodi?
- Shut up, Frank.
- So what's your topic, Skip?
- One of my sessions is
on pasture management
and poisonous weeds.
- That sounds fascinating.
What about your
other session, Skip?
- I'll be discussing
the future of farming,
trying to motivate
young farmers and others
to pursue agricultural
careers in tough times,
the importance of
farming in today's world
and how everyone can make
an impact on the future.
- Well.
- Oh.
- Well, we sure need
someone promoting
the farm way of life.
People getting too
far away from it
and you can't
understand something
that you're too far away from.
- Well, thank you so much
for dinner, Mrs. Stafford.
It was really good,
but Jodi and I better get going.
Moving starts in half an hour.
- Oh, that's right.
- Oh, wait, Jodi, I thought
you and Mike were going
to stay and watch
Skip's presentation
of the ag delegation
trip to Japan?
- Oh, well.
- I always like a presentation.
Like a PowerPoint?
- Well, I would like to see it,
but let's go to the movies.
I can see it some
other time, right?
- But he'll only
be here two weeks
and, you know,
he's gonna be busy.
- Hey, you just stay.
I'll go home.
I've got some work to do.
- No, no, no, no.
- Yes, it's fine.
I'll call you later.
Thanks again, Mrs. Stafford.
- You're welcome.
- Hey, Mike.
(gentle music)
Who wants dessert?
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
(phone buzzes)
- Hello?
Mike, hi.
Oh, today?
It's, yeah, well, Frank
and I were gonna go down
to the conference center
to hear Skip speak, but
I'll be home by six.
Oh. Okay.
Call me tomorrow?
Oh.
Well, I'll talk
to you soon then?
Are you sure?
Okay.
All right.
Bye.
(gentle music)
- Morning.
- Morning.
- Nice horse.
- Thanks.
- You sure it's all right me
borrowing the truck this week?
I could just rent a car.
- Oh, no, it's fine.
I don't need it
when school's out.
- Oh, thanks.
I'll have to thin of
some way to repay you.
- That's okay.
Uh, I'll see you this afternoon?
- Yeah.
I'll be back to pick
y'all up around 1 o'clock?
- Sounds great.
See ya.
(gentle music)
(tractor rattles)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic music builds)
(dramatic music)
Frank!
(tractor rattles)
(dramatic music)
Go home, girl.
Frank, Frank, oh.
Frank.
(horse whinnies)
Okay.
Oh, God.
Frank.
No, hang in there, Frank.
Help will be here real soon.
Please, God (cries).
Help!
(Jodi cries)
Help!
(dramatic music)
- Bob!
- That rope.
- Bob!
- Come on, let's go.
- [Operator] Paging Dr. Bender.
Paging Dr. Bender.
- He's going to be fine.
His nose is broken,
but we can fix that.
And he does have a concussion,
so he'll have to take it easy.
You can see him now
if you want to go in.
Just the parents at first.
We don't to overwhelm him.
- Thank God.
- You know he wouldn't
have made it at all
if you hadn't been there.
If he'd fallen off the tractor.
- Don't, don't even say it.
- I wonder how the rock got
in there in the first place.
- I know how it got in there.
- Willie, it wasn't
anyone's fault.
- I'm sure that's true.
- Yeah, right.
- What'd you say?
- Mike.
Maybe you should just go home.
Mike, wait.
Mike.
Mike, where are you going?
- Where am I going?
I'm going home.
Isn't that where
you told me to go?
Yeah, that's the
best place for me.
- Just wait.
- No, don't worry about it
because this is my fault.
It's my fault for
thinking that any
of this was gonna work out.
God, I've been working
my butt off trying
to impress you and your family.
- You have.
- And, sure, look at this.
This accident was
probably my fault.
How do you think
that makes me feel.
And then you, I really
started to think
that there may be
something here.
And then mister ag
extension shows up
and you act like
I'm not even there
and then you just, just a
second ago you sounded like
you were sending me to
my room for being bad.
I mean...
Look, I'm, I'm
sorry, you're right.
I don't belong here.
My dad was right.
It's time that I started
to focus on my real job.
So if you could just tell Frank
that I'm sorry.
I've gotta go.
- Mike.
Mike.
(car rumbles)
(door closes)
- Hey, back from the hospital?
- Yep.
- [Matt] How is he?
- He's gonna be fine.
- [Matt] Yeah?
(cabinet slams)
- [Mike] Yeah.
- How are you?
- Me (scoffs)?
I'm just fantastic.
- Okay.
By the way, your boss called.
- What did he want?
- To say he's got some
new project he wants
you to work on.
He said it can wait until
he sees you tomorrow.
- That's great.
I'm gonna hit the hay.
- Is that a newly
learned farm expression?
- That's very funny.
- Hey, Mike.
- [Matt] Yeah.
- It never would
have worked out.
(somber music)
(phone buzzes)
(somber music)
- Jodi.
Jodi.
- What, Dad?
- I think it's clean.
(gentle music)
(door closes)
(gentle music)
(chickens clucking)
(gentle music)
(phone buzzes)
(Mike sighs)
(Jodi sighs)
(chickens cluck)
(eggs sizzle)
- Oh, man.
(gentle music)
(water runs)
(gentle music)
(phone rings)
- All right.
I'm comin'.
I'm comin'.
- Hello?
- Yep.
- Hey, Willie.
- She's not here.
Well, she must have
forgot her cell phone.
No, she went out this morning.
I don't know where she went.
No, Skip took her.
A while ago.
Yeah, I'll tell her.
(gentle music)
(water splashes)
(pan clanks)
(engine rumbles)
(Mike knocks)
- Michael, come right in.
- How you doin', sir?
- Good to see you. Take a seat.
Look, I just wanted
to touch base
and run something by you.
I haven't talked to you lately.
You've been a little distracted.
- I'm sorry, I was,
uh, it's not important.
I'm back with you now.
- Great, great.
So, uh, we've been
starting some research
on some available properties
for transformational
development,
first one in the area.
- I did my master's thesis
on transformationals.
- I'm aware of that.
That's why I wanted you on this
from the ground floor up.
See, I need your
knowledge on how
these projects have
worked in the past
and also your research
and computer skills
as far as crunching the data
and finding the best
property for it.
So, sound like something
you'd be interested in?
- Absolutely.
I'm your man, I'll
get started today.
- Perfect.
Okay, great.
See, thing is, though,
we're a little rushed,
so if you could put
something together,
have it ready for
us early next week.
- I'll do my best.
- Excellent. Thank you so much.
You're my guy.
- [Frank] These heifers
I'm about to show you
are gonna save us.
- [Skip] Oh, yeah, how's that?
- Well, Mom started
arguing with Dad
about a year ago
about selling out.
Says she can't pay
the bills anymore.
Dad can hardly stand
to talk about it
because the farm has been
in the family for so long,
so we made an investment
in artificial insemination
from the best bulls.
When these heifers calf,
they should raise the herd
from 30,000 to
35,000 pounds easy.
And raise butter fat
from 3.5 to 3.9%.
- Yeah, I've seen it happen.
- These heifers
are beautiful, too.
The vet should be here any
minute to vaccinate them.
What the hell?
- [Jodi] Frank?
Frank, what's the
matter with them?
- How the hell should I know?
- Almost looks like
they've been poisoned.
- [Skip] Poisoned.
- [Frank] Here comes the vet.
Thank God I called her today.
- What's happened here?
- I don't know.
We were just coming
out to look 'em over
and wait for you.
They were fine yesterday,
they were fine.
- Take it easy, Frank.
I'm going to have to put
her down and get inside.
- Why.
It's obvious they've got
a hold of something toxic.
Have you changed feeds lately?
- No, they've been
eating the same hay
and say grain since
they've been out here.
- Jodi, can you walk the field
to see if there's
anything unusual?
- Sure.
- I'll come with you.
- I don't get it.
I can't lose these heifers.
- This will cause death
almost before I pull
the needle out.
- Are you sure you
have to do that?
- I've got to examine
the stomach contents
if you want me to try
and save any of them.
- [Jodi] Frank!
Frank!
- What the hell?
- I found these.
They were thrown over the fence
at the far gate by the road.
There's a whole pile
of them scattered about
like the cows have
been into them.
- Yew bushes,
poisonous to cattle.
I'm sorry, Frank.
I can only help the ones
that aren't too far gone.
- How did they get out here?
- I don't know.
- I bet I know how
they got there.
It's the four-wheelers
getting revenge.
And your ex-boyfriend.
I bet he's pretty pissed
off at you, ain't he?
- No, no, he wouldn't do this.
- Wouldn't he?
I bet your ass I
can prove it to you.
- Willie!
(Jodi cries)
- That's the end of it.
- I'll get started
examining the others.
I can't promise anything.
(tense music)
- There you are.
- Dad said you're
pretty much running
the company now.
- Uh, yeah, not exactly.
- What do you do there?
- Marketing research.
So I tell companies
where to build,
where they can find
land dirt cheap
and they can make
millions on it.
- How much do you make?
- It's none of your business.
- Well, I mean, at least
enough to pay for our lunch.
- Sure, Danny.
- Hey.
- [Danny] Uh-oh, here
comes the hillbilly.
- Hey, Willie.
Is there something
I can help you with?
- I should have known
you'd be here, too,
you son of a bitch.
- [Mike] Hey, what's the
matter with you, man?
- You know what's
the matter with me.
You probably planned
the whole thing.
- What the hell are
you talking about?
- Quit playing stupid.
I'm talking about the heifers.
- The heifers.
- Yeah, the heifers, asshole.
The ones you poisoned.
The ones laying
dead in the field.
- You little-
- Shut up, Danny.
Just, Willie, just
tell me what happened.
- Just one you planned on.
They ate the yew bushes
you dumped in the field.
- Oh, yeah, that was us.
Like we got nothing better to do
than to poison some dumb cows.
I ain't even never heard
of a yew bush before.
- I hope you're happy,
you son of a bitch.
Them heifers ain't
even good enough
for making into
a dead hamburger.
- Come on, come on,
Willie, not here.
- You're disturbing
the peace, boy.
Get out of my restaurant.
I'm gonna call the cops.
- I'm going.
- Damn right you are.
- What a jerk.
- Shut up, Danny.
I swear, if I find out
you guys had anything
to do with this.
- [Nephew] We didn't Uncle Mike.
- You think we would
do something like that?
I know we wheeled the guys farm,
but I'm not into
killing dumb animals.
- Would you sit down?
Sorry.
(Mike sighs)
- Yeah, I'm going, in
just a couple minutes.
(engine revs)
(rock music)
I needed some body
work done anyway.
(ATV crunches)
No!
Stop, stop, I just had it fixed.
- No, no, no, no, hey, whoa.
Whoa, no.
Whoa, whoa, hey!
Hey, come on, open
the door, let's talk.
Let's talk, man, come on,
just, just open it, come on.
Willie.
Willie, wait, whoa,
whoa, whoa, no.
(siren blares)
Don't make this any worse, man.
Come on.
Just, hold on.
- Back up, back up, back up.
Out of the truck.
Out of the truck.
Turn around real
slow, real slow.
Hands behind your
back, slow, slow, slow.
Don't move.
All right, let's go.
Let's go, come on.
Get in the truck.
(door closes)
- You're gonna pay for this.
You're gonna have
more than dead cows
to worry about next time.
- Shut up.
Just shut up, Danny.
- I just had it fixed.
- It just won't work, Dad.
- Why not?
- Those heifers
were our only chance
to pull ourselves
out of this hole.
Now, we can't even
get ourselves out
of the debt we
got ourselves into
when we bred them,
much less any of
the other bills.
- Bob, he's right.
When you can't
even pay the bills,
you gotta make a change.
- Change?
Change to what?
This is all that
I have ever done.
This farm was handed
down in the family
to keep in the family and
that's where I'm gonna keep it.
- But, Dad, times have changed.
You just, you can't
make a living out of it
unless you expand or
diversify or something.
And when you get a drought
like we got two years ago
or with the heavy
rainfall from last year,
or like what just happened,
you can't keep going.
- Like hell I can't.
- With what?
When you can't pay the bills
or even put food on the table.
We used up most of our
savings last year just trying
to keep ahead.
And most men your
age are retiring
and collecting their pensions.
You don't even have a pension.
You don't have anything
but this place.
If we sold to the developers,
at least we'd have a
chance to live comfortably
at our old age.
(tense music)
Bob, I'm sorry.
(phone rings)
- Mom.
Look, there's gotta be
something we can do.
I'll start coming
up with a plan.
Maybe the ag department at
the university can help.
- Jodi, you don't know
what we're up against.
- I'm just saying
there's gotta be
some different
options of things-
- That was the cops.
Willie's at the police station.
We gotta go bail him out.
- Oh, God.
- Oh, what'd the fool do now?
- He went to get even
with the four-wheelers.
- Oh, that dummy.
Well, at least he's a
loyal dummy, let's go.
(gentle music)
(Florence cries)
- Mom, don't cry.
It's gonna be okay, I promise.
(Florence cries)
(tense music)
(horn blows)
- [Man] How you guys doing?
What seems to be
the problem, sir?
- What are you doing with
those yew bushes, boy?
- [Man] Yew bushes? Oh,
those are yew bushes?
- That's right.
- Oh, wife and I just
moved into a new place
up there at, you know,
Creekside Farm Estates.
- Farm estates?
- Right, right, we're
just clearing out
the property and just was
gonna dump 'em over here
in the pasture.
Those cows seem to
really love 'em.
- Don't throw anymore out there.
- Oh, yeah, sure, I don't
wanna cause any trouble.
- Those bushes aren't
good for cattle.
- Oh, I am so sorry.
I didn't know, I had no idea.
Like, really, I won't
dump 'em there anymore.
I'll find someplace else.
- You do that.
Come on, Frank.
- Have a nice day, guys.
- [Bob] Come on.
- Is that all you're
gonna say to him?
Is that all you're gonna do?
We should sue him or something.
- Sometimes you just
gotta forgive 'em son.
He did not know
what he was doing.
- But those heifers.
- You gotta let it go.
There ain't nothing
you can do about
those heifers now.
Sometimes you just
gotta forget about it
and go on.
Sometimes you just gotta go on.
(engine revs)
- All right, so this
new program I developed,
some made several variables
to help us making
building decisions based
on age demographics,
income levels,
current population,
even traffic patterns.
Now, the program has taken
the information I fed it
and has come up with the
most feasible location
for the building site
of this transformational
development.
I saved the results to present
to you, Mr. Poole.
I haven't even had a chance
yet to take a look at it.
- Oh, that's fine.
We didn't give you
a whole lot of time.
Let's have it.
- Here goes.
- Oh, yeah, there's
Lindon Hill Road
and that's where it
intersects with Limestone.
Yeah, I know that area.
There's a lot of
development going on there.
- Wait (laughs nervously).
- Michael, what is it?
- Isn't that, uh?
- Yeah, it's farmland.
We'll probably
get it dirt cheap.
Then we'll have to
rezone, build by spring.
It's the perfect spot, perfect.
- But what if they
farmer won't sell?
- They'll sell, don't
worry about that.
- You know there's other
variables I should put in.
This may not be the best place
for us to build.
This is only the first
time I've done it.
- I'm satisfied.
Great job, Michael.
I think this might be
worth another promotion.
I think it's cause
for a celebration.
In fact, I have a lunch meeting
with someone that I would
love for you to meet.
Are you free?
- Yes, sir.
- Excellent.
Gentlemen, that'll be all.
(somber music)
- Call me, Jim, son.
How many times I
gotta tell you that?
We're on our way, kid.
(somber music)
- Yes, I know the place.
That's the Stafford farm.
We handle their account.
They've been having
some trouble lately.
- Is that right?
- Seems some of their
AI heifers got poisoned.
They're really
behind on their loan.
I don't know how they're
going to pull out of it.
It's the same story with a lot
of the other farm
loans, pitiful.
- I know, I know.
It's a shame.
I just don't understand
how so many farmers borrow
so heavily and get into debt
they're never gonna get out of.
It's like they're
never gonna learn.
- Well, the bank's learning.
We're really picking up
on loans to developers
as you know.
- Well, I hope we haven't
let you down now, have we?
Uh, about Stafford, exactly
how far behind is he?
- Far enough.
- Far enough to sell out?
- No.
- What was that, Mike?
- Oh, I mean, I meant
that it can be difficult
to get farmers to
sell sometimes.
- Well, if they won't sell,
then we have to convince them
that they're heading
for disaster,
that they need to pursue
another line of work
and that we can't
support them any longer.
- In other words, we'll
have to foreclose, right?
I mean, it's for their own good.
- Is it?
- Certainly.
Most of the time
they're grateful
when they change jobs
and realize they've
been working themselves
to death on the
farm for nothing.
I've seen it happen many times.
- Have you?
- [Jim] Now all we gotta
do is put it in front
of the planning board first.
- To which I have
just been appointed.
- What?
Outstanding.
Then all we gotta do is
bring our presentation
to the county council
at the end of the month
and then we'll bring
along the model
and present that at the meeting
and we'll get the
town's people, you know,
used to the idea.
And I think they're
gonna love it.
Maybe we should have you do
the presentation, Michael.
- Well.
- Right?
Then all we gotta do
is get a majority vote
and we are in.
Just think, Michael, you're
responsible, congratulations.
I'm telling you,
this young man is
the cream of the crop.
- I'll go see if
Diane's ready to go.
Michael?
What's wrong?
You're not nervous about the
planning meeting, are you?
- This is just the first step.
We're just getting
the used to the idea.
- You don't even have
to open your mouth
until the presentation
at the county council.
That's at the end of the month.
- Cheer up, man.
- No, I'm sorry.
I'm just, I've had
a lot on my mind.
- Okay, you're sure
you'll all right then.
All right.
I'll be back in a few minutes.
(somber music)
(all speaking indistinctly)
(somber music)
(somber music)
- Well?
- Well, what do you think?
- Where's Dad?
- He's outside telling Mom.
I saw your boyfriend
at the bank.
- What?
- He was sitting in a
fancy car outside the bank.
- Are you talking about Mike?
- That was the last
boyfriend you had, wasn't it?
- Well, what was he doing there?
- I don't know.
Maybe he was trying to rob
the place or something.
- Very funny.
Frank.
What are we gonna do?
- I don't know.
I just don't know.
(somber music)
(door closes)
- Michael, hey, good to see you.
Glad you stopped by.
- Hey, Dad.
- [Mr. Jared] Hey, how'd
the planning meeting go?
- It was okay, I guess.
- [Mr. Jared] Good, good.
- They seemed to
really like the plans.
- Great.
That'll make for an
even stronger case
at the county council meeting.
- Where's Mom?
- She and your sister had
to go shopping somewhere.
But you know, Mike.
Here lately, I've been
kind of worried about you.
You know, I felt like you
were just playing around
too much, but you've
really proven yourself.
Jim Poole, he speaks
pretty highly of you.
- Thanks, Dad.
- You know, there comes a time
when you realize where
your responsibilities lie.
You just wake up one
day and you realize
that you've got to take
charge and do what's right.
- What'd you say?
- I said there comes a time
when you have to
wake up and realize
you gotta take charge
and do the right thing.
- You're right.
You're absolutely right, Dad.
See you.
- Where you going?
- I just got something
I need to tell somebody.
- Okay.
Bye.
(door slams)
(bright orchestral music)
- Jodi.
It's getting late.
- No, I know.
I have two more pages to
finish on this lesson plan.
School will be starting back
before I know it.
All right, I'm going up.
Don't forget to
turn the lights out.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
(keys clicking)
(Mike knocking)
- [Jodi] Skip.
- Hi, Jodi (laughs).
Well, can I come in?
- Yeah, sorry, I'm just
surprised to see you.
I thought you were going back
to North Carolina this month.
- Well, I don't have to be back
till the end of the week.
So I thought I'd
stop by and say hello
before I leave for good.
- Well, how's the
speaker circuit going?
- Really well.
But, it gets kind of lonely.
Here, have a seat.
- Oh, no, thanks,
I'd rather stand.
Been in the car all day.
- Would you like some iced tea?
I just made some.
- That'd be great.
Thank you.
- You know, everybody
just went to bed.
Why don't I wake them up.
I know they'd like to see you.
- No, no, no, no,
don't wake them up.
Uh, lesson plans?
- Yeah, I, uh,
curriculum changed again,
so having to adapt.
- How's that going?
- It's okay.
I get tired.
My neck gets so stiff.
I don't know how people sit
and work at a computer all day.
- Stiff neck, huh?
- Yeah.
- Well, I've always
been pretty good
at getting cramps out.
I learned the technique
when I played football,
here let me help you.
- No, that's okay.
- Come on, you'll feel
better, I guarantee it.
- You know, Jodi, I
really only came back here
to see you.
- You did?
- Sure did.
I've been thinking about
you ever since I left,
after the heifer's died.
- Oh, come on, I bet
you have girls hanging
all over you on the road.
- Well, sure.
But my mind kept
coming back to you.
(gentle music)
(dramatic music)
- What are you doing?
- It's okay.
- No, no, no, it's not okay
and my parents are
right upstairs.
- They won't hear
us, come on, Jodi.
- Cut it out.
- What the hell's
the matter with you?
(Jodi grunts)
- Get the hell out of here
before I have to use it.
- Okay.
I'm sorry, just
put the gun down.
I'm going.
- Now before I wake my Daddy
and he won't hesitate.
(Jodi cries)
(somber music)
(keys clicking)
- Good evening
ladies and gentlemen.
That doesn't even sound right.
(somber music)
- [Jim] What do you mean
you changed your mind?
I thought we had a deal?
You know I need
your vote on this.
Are you crazy?
I offered you $50,000.
What are you doing to me?
Did you suddenly
grow a conscience?
I got this through the
planning commission,
but I need you to get
it through the hicks
on the county council.
I'll talk to you later.
(somber music)
(gavel pounds)
- May I have your
attention please.
At the top of the
agenda tonight,
we have a special presentation.
I think we'll all be
interested in hearing it.
Here's Mr. Jim Poole of Poole
& Associates Real Estate
to tell us all about it.
- Thank you Mr. O'Neil.
It's wonderful to see
such a large turnout
for tonight's presentation.
My colleagues and I
are happy to share
with your our most
ambitious project to date,
a project that I'm
sure you'll agree
will benefit the
area many, many ways.
To present this project to you,
is our own Michael Jared,
who has been instrumental
in developing ideas
and also choosing the
location for the project.
Without further ado,
Michael, you have the floor.
- Thank you, Mr. Poole.
And as Mr. Poole said, this
project he's speaking of
would be of great
benefit to the people
of this county.
Marking studies show
that this project will
benefit the community
by creating fresh
housing and retail
along with job opportunities
to elevate the economy
and we spent many long hours
with community studies
and computer programs in order
to facilitate the best way
in order to put this
plan into action.
- What are you talking about?
- [Participant] What is it?
- Where is going to be?
- Please, just let me finish.
This, this project will
involve all of you.
The planning commission
has reviewed it
and they're in favor,
so this transformation
development
is a new concept in real estate.
This is a multi-use project,
so residential,
single-family homes,
condos, senior living apartment,
as well as retail commercial
and light industrial
uses are included
to create a lively work
and play community aspect.
And it will take place
on over 288 acres.
- Where's it going to be?
- Yeah, where?
- Where's it gonna be?
- Quit stalling.
- [Participant 2] Yeah, come on.
(participants grumbling)
- [Participant 3]
Come on, hurry up.
- Computer studies show
that the most logical,
practical, accessible
and economic location
for this development
would be right here
where Limestone
and Lindon Hill Road meet.
(participants protesting)
- Hey, that's the
Stafford place.
- So that's why they're
foreclosing on them.
- To make room for this?
No.
(participants protesting)
- Please let me finish.
This is gonna benefit
the entire area, okay.
This is a department store,
that's a full service
automotive center.
There's a bistro,
there's a cafe.
I mean, can't you just imagine
the beautifully
landscaped development
on this piece of farmland?
The playgrounds and
the restaurants?
(participants protesting)
It's gonna be a
great place to live.
(participants protesting)
(somber music)
(participants protesting)
- [Participant 4]
This is ridiculous.
- [Participant 5] Come on.
- Well.
- Jared. Michael sit down.
I'll finish the presentation.
- Let him talk.
- Okay.
- I thought this
was a good idea.
You know, houses,
progress, stores,
jobs for people, it
all sounds great.
It does and maybe it would be,
but, I mean, you could
always use a new store,
a housing development,
road, skyscraper,
we could use all those things,
but the problem is you forget.
You forget what
you have to give up
to get what you think you want.
Sure, we want this development,
but we need the farm.
Even if it is only to look at
when you drive by.
See the cows grazing
in the field,
the combines
harvesting the wheat.
We need it to remind
us where we came from.
And the Stafford
family needs their farm
like their ancestors did,
to live and to work on.
Sure, we could build
this development,
but maybe we should
save the farm instead.
I worked hard on this project,
but not as hard as I
worked on that farm.
And I'm asking the
county council tonight
to vote against this project
in accordance with the
American Farmland Trust.
Sorry about the
model, Mr. Poole.
- Wait.
You could talk all you want,
but it won't make
any difference.
Damn county council don't
care what they build on.
Next thing you
know, there won't be
any farmland left.
- Yeah, there's nothing
you can do about it.
They'll foreclose,
it'll go through.
- It always does.
- Let me address this.
- Yes, sir, you are right,
this will go through
'cause it's the best thing
for the area.
And for the Stafford farm,
it's the best thing
for you to foreclose
and you will find that
out in the long run.
- You son of a-
- Daddy.
- Wait, wait.
I don't think anyone's
foreclosing on anyone.
- What?
- I hoped I wouldn't
have to do this.
- [Jim] I thought we had deal.
You know I need
your vote on this.
Are you crazy?
I offered you $50,000.
What are you doing to me?
I got this through the
planning commission,
but I need you to get
it through the hicks
on the county council.
Let go of me.
You cretin, let go, I'll sue.
Let go.
(participants applauding)
I'll sue.
- Everybody calm down now,
everybody calm down now.
Settle down.
Settle down now.
Everything is under control.
Mr. Poole.
- Thank you.
- I think you just
better come with me.
- You can't do this.
I didn't do any-, what,
I didn't to anything,
what are you doing?
The whole thing's a lie.
That tape is fixed.
Michael Jared, you'll never work
in real estate again.
- No problem.
(triumphant orchestral music)
- Proud of you.
It's prejudicious, it's amateur.
- Oh, thanks.
Hey.
- [Man] Mike, proud
of you, great job.
(triumphant music)
- What the?
(man whistles)
- Whoo!
Where's it at.
(participants applauding)
(triumphant music)
- Thank you.
- No, don't thank me.
I'm the one who
should thank you.
I'm, I'm sorry I ever left.
- Me, too.
- But what about, um...
- About what?
- Skip.
- Skip?
- Yeah, I thought you and he-
- That jerk's not worth
scraping my boot on.
- I was hoping you'd say that.
(horn blows)
- Hey, boy, looks like
your ride left without you.
- Yes, sir.
- Well, get in.
Come on over to our place.
I wanna talk to you.
- Yes, sir, I'd like to
talk to you, too, sir.
It's just, sir,
I have some ideas
that I would really like
to, uh, tell you about.
- I bet you do.
I guess we're gonna need
all the help we can get.
Now get in, you're
letting all the AC out.
(Jodi laughs)
(gentle orchestral music)
(gentle orchestral music)
(triumphant orchestral music)
(triumphant orchestral music)
(gentle orchestral music)
Picked you up, asked
how you were doing
You said you'd been fine
Then you said tell
me about yourself
Just give me the highlights
I said I grew up then
I moved to Nashville
You said something
But I interrupted
I honestly had to say that
You're the most
beautiful human
That I've ever seen
We should turn on the lights
And take off the sheets
The world is so broken
But not you and me
'Cause here in this moment
We are complete
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Yeah, here in this
moment we are complete
You told me that
it'd been a while
And that this was nice
I said you should
stay for breakfast
If you still have the time
Then you said
don't look at me
I'm not pretty
Please just cover your eyes
I said I want to hold you
Who ever told you that
was out of their mind
'Cause you're the
most beautiful human
That I've ever seen
We should turn on the lights
And take off the sheets
The world is so broken
Not you and me
'Cause here in this
moment we are complete
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Yeah, you're the
most beautiful human
That I've ever seen
We should turn on the lights
And then take off the sheets
The world is so broken
But not you and me
'Cause here in this moment
We are complete
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Stay with me
You're so beautiful
Yeah, here in this
moment, we are complete
(bright orchestral music)
(bright orchestral music)
(bright orchestral music)
(auctioneer calling)
(slow orchestral music)
(slow orchestral music)
- Oh, I can't believe it.
- Oh, rough morning?
- Hey.
Yeah, you could say that.
- Why, what's wrong?
- It's just something
I saw on the way over.
- Okay.
Hey, don't forget about tonight.
- Uh, tonight?
- Yeah, my brother's
birthday, remember?
- [Jodi] I forgot.
- Meet me there at seven.
You have the address, right?
- Yes, but, I'm
not really invited.
- Yes, you are. I invited you.
- [Jodi] Okay,
okay, I'll be there.
- You need some fun.
- Good morning.
Sorry I'm late, guys.
All right, if we could
please take our seats.
All right, girls I'm
gonna have you pass out
these folders and
we're all gonna take
a couple of notes
before we feed up.
- Notes? Do we have to?
- Just a few.
And then you can take care of
the animals both inside and out.
But first, we need to
get a little perspective
on what it might be like
to pursue your goals
of farm life.
Let's talk stats.
Now, did you guys know
that farming is one
of the most dangerous
occupations?
It's near the top of the list
with 25 deaths for
every 100,000 workers.
- Yeah, remember that
guy that fell off
the silo ladder last year?
It was like 10 miles from here.
- Yeah, I knew that guy
and it's not just the danger.
I mean every year of
farming is a crap shoot due
to weather, falling prices,
even government policies.
You could be in business
successfully for 10 years
and lost it all on your 11th.
- My uncle lost his farm.
Had to auction off everything.
Didn't get much back.
- And that is happening
more and more.
Banks foreclose,
developers move in
and pretty soon
there's no farms left.
Even if you work really hard,
'cause guys, you
have to understand
that farming,
especially dairy farming
is seven days a week.
There's no going to the
beach on the weekends.
- Yeah, Holly, forget
working on your tan.
- Except maybe a farmer's tan.
(students laugh)
- All right, all right, guys.
That's enough.
It can be difficult to get into.
There's a saying that
you either marry the farm
or inherit it.
Did you know that
the average age of
the farmer is 58 years?
So, I do hope that some
of you guys will try it.
We can definitely use you.
- Thanks for the encouraging
words, Ms. Stafford.
- All right, now that's
enough for today.
Tomorrow we will talk about some
of the more positive
aspects of farming.
Now Caroline, Bella, if you
will feed the goats outside.
Riley, Alexis will take
care of the chickens.
Everyone one else
will feed up in here.
Thanks, guys.
(slow orchestral music)
(upbeat music)
(Jodi knocking)
- You made it.
I was worried.
- I told you I'd be here.
I just, I feel weird.
- [Lynn] Why?
- I don't know anybody.
- Well, you know me
and here's a run down
on the name characters.
So Mike, who's turning 28,
he's my brother, so naturally
I think he's a jerk,
but he's actually
a pretty nice guy.
And then there's
Matt, our older bro.
He's going through
a divorce right now,
so he's living with Mike.
As far as the other guests,
your guess is as good as mine.
I do know one thing.
Our parents are not invited,
so, okay, brace yourself.
- Okay.
- Have you ever thought
about living on your own?
- No, I have to be home
on the farm to help my family.
Looks really fun, though.
(guests cheering)
- [Guests] Chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug, chug.
- Whoo!
- So, there's the birthday boy
and our older brother, Matt.
- Nice.
- Oh, he's not always like that.
- [Mike] Check this out.
- He's really
stressed out at work
and, hey, it's his birthday.
Mike.
Mike.
Mike.
- What, what?
- [Lynn] Hey, I want
you to meet somebody.
- Who? Oh.
This is Jodi, Jodi Stafford.
- Hey.
- She lives out
on Stafford farm.
You know, on Limestone Road?
- Oh, yeah.
- Yeah.
- She invited me
out there next week
to help out around the place.
- So you're gonna be on a farm?
What if your hair gets messed up
or if you break a nail.
I get it, you're
gonna go can some jam
and bake some whole wheat
bread, right (laughs)?
And you're gonna teach her?
That's great.
- Hey, you know what?
I've got an idea.
How about you come
help out on the farm?
You think you can handle it?
- Me? No.
I eat Wonder Bread, right?
- [Lynn] Mike.
- Okay, fine, I'm sorry.
I, um, farming?
Yeah, that sounds different.
Um, yeah, why not,
I'm up for it.
What about tomorrow?
- Okay.
I'll pick you up at 5:30.
- AM?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, no problem.
- All right, well, I'll
see you at 5:30 then.
- Definitely.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed.
- Hope so.
Um, Lynn, I'm gonna head out.
I have an early
morning tomorrow.
- You just got here, though.
Okay, all right.
I'll walk you out.
You're gonna like her.
- All right, all
right, here we go.
Got a surprise.
- Round two.
- I got a surprise.
- [Matt] (laughs) All
right, here we go, ready?
- You're gonna like him.
- Right.
- Three-
- [Together] Two, one, go.
- Go, go, go.
(guests cheering)
- Whoo.
Come on.
(Jodi knocks)
- Mike?
(bright suspenseful music)
Mike?
(Mike snores)
Mike?
Mike?
- Oh, what?
What?
- Hi.
It's Jodi.
I'm here to pick
you up, remember?
Remember Jodi from the party?
From the party?
- Oh.
The party.
That was a bad idea.
- Well, are you coming?
- Am I coming?
With you?
- Yeah, that's the idea.
(Jodi clears throat)
So, today or?
- Sure.
(Mike groans)
Just, um, hey, if you
would just give me
like a second or like a minute.
That was a good party.
- I'll just wait here.
(water running)
(Mike sniffs)
(playful music)
- Ready.
- [Jodi] Okay.
- Is something wrong?
- No.
No.
Not at all.
Let's go.
(Jodi whistles)
- I'm so sorry.
Do you mind just, uh, not
doing that so loud, please?
- Sorry.
How do you feel?
- Oh, fine, just fine, you know.
Good.
Ow!
Holy.
- I, I'm sorry.
Are you okay?
- Yeah, I'm good.
I'm fine.
Are we, uh, we here yet?
- We are there.
- Wow, this is nice.
- Thanks.
- Hi, guys.
(slow orchestral music)
All right.
Ready?
- Yeah.
Hey, wait, what
is that guy doing?
- [Jodi] Oh, that's my dad.
- That's your dad?
- Yeah, he's just getting the
chickens ready for market.
Come on, I'll show you.
- That's great.
(door closes)
That's great.
- Hey, Daddy.
- Mm-hmm.
- Daddy, this is Mike Jared.
Remember my friend, Lynn.
This is her brother.
- How do you do, sir?
- No use complaining.
- Right.
(Bob laughs)
- Um, Mike came
to help out today.
- Oh, really?
Okay, Jodi.
Let's see how you
do today, Mike.
- Come on, I'll show you around.
- Wow. God.
Was your dad wearing like a
baseball mitt or something.
- What?
- Yeah, his hands, it felt like
it was like, uh-
- Leather.
- Yeah and-
- So big.
- I mean, yeah.
- Yeah, that's from 50
years of milking cows.
They just got like that.
- Oh.
(rooster crows)
Could you excuse me
for a minute, please.
(Mike vomits)
- Next time, boy,
clench your teeth.
Save some of them big chunks.
- Daddy.
- Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
- Uh, do you want
some breakfast?
- No, no, hey, no,
thank you, no thanks.
Just, um, hey, you
go ahead, I'm good.
- [Jodi] That's okay.
Um, hey, you know what, maybe
I should just take you back.
Here, come on.
- Aw, man.
I'm, uh, I'm really
sorry about this.
- No, I'm sorry.
You weren't feeling well.
- I wasn't feeling well.
- Yeah.
- Um, maybe you can
come back another time.
- Maybe, yeah.
- When you're feeling better.
- Yeah.
- Wow.
Okay then.
Coming?
- Yeah.
(slow orchestral music)
Hmm.
(door close)
- Hi, Mom.
- Hey.
- [Bob] Where did you get him?
- I told you, Daddy,
he's Lynn's brother.
- And has that boy got a job?
- Yeah.
Yes, he does.
- [Father] What does he do?
- I haven't asked him yet,
but I think he makes good money.
- Won't last long around here.
- He wasn't feeling well.
- I could see that (laughs).
- He'll be all right.
(Mike taps fingers)
(phone ringing)
- Nope.
- What's up, Mikey?
- Who wants to know?
- Ooh, touchy, aren't we?
(Mike exhales)
- Why not?
(phone rings)
- Jodi.
- What?
- You have a call,
you forgot your phone?
- Who is it?
- He says it's Mike.
He sounds very polite.
- Oh, uh, okay,
I'll be right there.
Thanks.
Hello?
- Hey, Jodi.
This is Mike.
- Who?
- (laughs) The guy who lost
the big chunks this morning.
- Oh, right, how could I forget.
- Yeah, so, you know
to tell you the truth,
the strangest thing
just happened.
Yeah, I put on an
old pair of pants
and found a $50
bill in my pocket.
So, anyway, I was just thinking
that since I have
this extra $50 and all
that maybe, you know, you'd
like to help me spend it.
- Uh.
Well, I'd like to,
but the thing is
it's getting real busy
around here right now
and I'm working almost
every night unloading hay
and I just-
- Okay, yeah, no problem.
- Wait, um, how about
you save your $50 for now
and just come over again.
We could go riding or something.
- Riding?
You mean, like a horse?
- Yes, a horse.
I don't have a Harley.
- A horse (laughs), of course.
I've done that.
- Okay, um, how about tomorrow?
- 5:30 again?
- No, um, eight's fine.
- Oh, I'll be there.
- Oh, and I promise
no chickens this time.
- (laughs) Thanks.
- All right, I'll see you then.
- Use the old $50
bill line on her?
- Yeah, but it didn't,
it didn't work.
- We'll see how long you last.
(triumphant music)
(door closes)
- What are you looking at?
- Not much.
- [Jodi] Hey, you made it.
- Yeah, at your service.
What are we gonna do first?
- Well, uh, we're just
about finished milking.
How about a guided tour
of the cow stables?
- I would like that.
- Come on.
It's right this way.
- Right.
(gentle orchestral music)
- Here we are.
- Hey, you guys use machines?
- What do you mean?
- Well, you know, I
just wanna milk by hand.
- Uh, yeah, yeah,
we use machines.
And hey, guess what, we
have indoor plumbing, too.
- Really?
- Hey, Jodi.
Give me a hand with
this heifer, will you?
- I'll be right back.
Make yourself at home.
This is my brother, Frank,
and our hired hand,
Willie, guys, this is Mike,
I'll be right back.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Hey, Mike, let me
show you something.
- Yeah, what's up?
- Have you ever seen the pattern
at the end of a
guy's teat before?
It looks just like a
star, it's fascinating.
- No, no, I can't say I have.
- [Frank] Yeah,
yeah, yeah, look,
look right here, right here.
- Oh!
- [Jodi] Frank!
- It just came out.
I thought this cow was dry.
- No, no, it's cool, it's fine.
- You okay?
- Is there anything?
- Yeah, you'll be fine.
Um, sorry about that.
Come on, um, you can
help me pick up the eggs.
- Okay.
- See you later now, Mike.
- See you.
(boys laugh)
- Willie!
I'm sorry, don't
worry about them.
Come on, let's go.
(Willie laughs)
(chickens clucking)
- Get that one.
Just reach in.
- Right there.
- Yeah, just reach your hand in.
- Easy.
(chickens cluck)
(triumphant music)
(goat bleets)
- Oh, yeah.
See this?
Come on, buddy.
He hates me.
- You wanna hold him?
- I would, yeah, let's do it.
Take, take, take it.
- [Jodi] There you go.
- You good?
Oh, God.
- Oh, really, that's amazing.
(horse whinnies)
(playful orchestral music)
(cow moos)
Hey, Willie?
Where's the restroom?
- Right over there
will work, huh?
- Yeah, man, it's fine.
- Okay.
(cow moos)
(electricity pops)
Oh, man.
(Mike exhales)
(Willie laughs)
(horse whinnies)
- Hey, where'd you go?
- Oh, just, you
know, looking around.
- Oh, well, you're
gonna ride Billy.
It's my dad's horse.
His trots a little bumpy,
but he's real quiet.
- That's great.
Yeah.
- You have done
this before, right?
- Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
- All right, let's mount up.
- Mount up.
- Not bad, here, let
me give you a lift.
- Yeah, it's just that the
jeans are tight, you know.
- Yeah.
- Just give me a little-
- All right, one.
- Something.
- Two, three.
- Gah!
(Mike exhales)
- What's wrong?
- Nothing, I'm just, you
know, a little tight.
It's been a little while.
- All right, let's get this.
Here.
And, reins.
- Yeah (exhales).
Wow, that was good.
- I've done it a few times.
Ready?
- Oh, yeah.
Go, go, go, go, go.
Come on (exhales).
Ah!
Don't wait up.
I'm good.
Ugh!
What the heck have
you been doing?
- Farming.
- No, no, don't sit on that.
Go get in the shower, man.
Oh, God.
God, Mikie, is she worth it?
(Mike exhales)
- Yeah.
(gentle music)
(bell rings)
- Hey.
What are you doing here?
- Well, I was just
checking out a property
and I'm driving by and
I thought I'd, you know,
stop by and see what
you do here all day.
- Too late. Day's over.
You're, um, visit
wouldn't have anything
to do with a fellow
teacher of mine, would it?
- What?
No.
- That's too bad 'cause
here she comes now.
- Hi.
- Hey, Jodi.
- What are you doing here?
- Oh, it's funny, I
asked the same question.
- Well, I was-
- Oh, he was just driving by.
Sorry.
I'm late for something.
Mike, why don't you
walk Jodi to her truck.
- Oh, yeah.
Um, yeah, it's no
problem at all.
- It's, you really
don't have to.
- It's fine.
I have so much time before
my next appointment.
- Okay.
(gentle orchestral music)
Are you okay?
- I'm fine, couldn't be better.
- You sure you're okay.
- Absolutely.
- Not to be rude, but is it
for a doctor's appointment?
- Doctor?
Oh, no, no, this
is, it's for my job.
- Ah.
Well, uh, what time?
- Um, oh, geez, it
starts in five minutes.
- Oh, I'm sorry,
I'm keeping you.
You should go.
- No, it's, um, it's fine.
Will I see you around?
- Well, actually I was
wondering if you might want
to come over for dinner tonight?
If you're not busy.
- Well, why don't you take me up
on my offer to help
you spend my 50 bucks,
'cause, you know, that's
not gonna last forever.
- Okay.
How about a compromise?
I'll go out with
you if you come over
for dinner first.
- Will your parents be there?
- Yeah.
- Just, I have a feeling
sometimes they don't like me.
- Look, they will.
It just takes them
a while to get used
to somebody new coming around.
You'll see.
Uh, 6 o'clock okay?
All right.
Don't be late.
(door closes)
(engine revs)
(playful orchestral music)
Peas?
- I heard Walt
Crossen has to sell?
- I saw that comin'.
- Yeah, he didn't have
much of a crop this year
to begin with.
- And then the four-wheelers.
- Oh, hey, my brother
actually bought
a couple of really
nice four-wheelers
for my nephews.
Give them something to do,
hopefully keep those
guys out of trouble.
- Yeah, four wheelers.
Ruined half the man's
crop just playing around.
Little bastards.
- Oh.
- So, what does your
family do, Mike?
- Uh, my dad is a
partner in a law firm
and my mom's an
interior decorator.
- Oh, how nice?
What about you?
Jodi says you have a good job?
- Yeah, he's an astronaut
and he's taking up space.
- [Jodi] Daddy.
- Um, I'm a real estate
marketing specialist
for a company called
Poole and Associates.
- Yeah, yeah, I've
heard of them.
They're the ones building all
those McMansions out
on Walker's Road.
That used to be good land
until the bank foreclosed.
- Mike, would you like
some more oysters?
- Oh, it's oysters?
I didn't realize
these were oysters.
I've never seen
anything like this.
Is it like blue point?
- Mountain.
- Mountain?
- Mountain oysters.
You know the low hanging
fruit of the bull.
- [Mother] Bob!
(Mike laughs)
(playful orchestral music)
- Mm, I'm sorry.
(Frank laughs)
- It's not funny.
- [Mother] Stop.
- You know that'd
boy grow more if he
could keep some food down.
- Daddy!
(Mike spits)
Why?
(dog whines)
- Hi.
Just too much.
- Feeling better?
- I could definitely use a beer.
- Well, do you wanna go
to the Triple Nickel?
It's right up here.
It's a country place, though.
(Mike laughs)
What?
- Do they have beer there?
- Yes, turn left up here.
(patrons laughing)
- Well, hello there, Jodi.
- [Jodi] Hey.
- How's your daddy?
- He's fine, ornery as ever.
- Oh, yeah, I know
what you mean.
- Oh, Mr. Miller, this is Mike.
Mike, this is Mr. Miller
from the farm down the road.
- How do you do?
- I'm doing great.
Pleasure to meet you, Mike.
Enjoy.
- Have a good night.
- Thank you.
(gentle music)
- I really am
sorry about dinner.
- Oh, no, no, no, no,
it's okay, really.
Just don't worry about it.
- I guess I just wasn't thinking
about what we were having.
- Well, the chicken
casserole was really good.
- Chicken?
- Yeah, it was in the bowl next-
- That wasn't chicken.
- No, no, no, no, you really,
you don't have to tell me.
- Okay.
- What can I get you?
(both talk over each other)
- Two of whatever's on tap.
I'm more than a $10 drink
- I love this song.
More than a smile and a wink
Oh, lonely boy
- Do you wanna dance?
- Sure.
- Oh, here he comes.
Now's our chance.
But you're going
through the motions
You're stealing my part
When you got every notion
- We're gonna go ledge
city boy's car out there.
Randy, you, too, come on.
(playful orchestral music)
Fill an empty space
If only boy you
get to know me boy
I'm more than a $10 drink
More than a smile and a wink
Oh, lonely boy
(playful orchestral music)
(gentle music)
- What the he-?
- Oh, no.
- Aw!
Are you kidding me?
- I guess they were looking
for something to do.
- Something to do?
Something to do?
God, what am I supposed to do?
(men laugh)
It's no problem.
Stay back.
- Mike!
Mike!
(upbeat music)
(Mike exhales)
(engine revs)
Mike, you're too
close to the ledge,
you'll never make it.
- Watch me.
(engine revs)
(upbeat music)
Get in.
See you later,
suckers, yee ha! Whoo!
(birds chirping)
It's a nice view.
- Right.
I love it.
I could come up
here a million times
and never get tired of it.
- Oh, so you just park
here all the time, huh?
- No, but I ride
Dixie up here a lot.
- Yeah, you must
really love this place.
- It's the only place
I've ever known.
I grew up here and
so did my father
and his father bought the land
when he was young and farmed it.
I guess it's in my blood.
- I, I don't get it.
- [Jodi] What?
- Like why I'm here.
- Gee, thanks.
- No, I'm just, all
right, think about it.
The first time I come
over to your house
on some mad mission to
prove myself or whatever,
I tossed my cookies
in your yard.
Then, I come back and make
a complete idiot of myself.
Tonight, I completely
degrade myself
in front of your parents
and then I almost get
myself killed trying
to get this car off a ledge.
So, what?
Am I being tested
by God or something?
- Maybe.
- Or maybe there's some
kind of fatal attraction.
- Maybe that, too.
- Maybe I'm starting to realize
there's a lot more to
life than just making
my future millions
in real estate.
- I hope so (clears throat).
Speaking of, I
really wish I'd known
your career path before tonight.
- Well, you didn't ask.
Like I never imagined it'd
be a problem, you know,
and I was gonna
tell you at school
and then I had to
rush off like that.
- No, I, I'm trying not
to let it be a problem.
It's just-
- I get it.
I do have a question, though.
- What's that?
- The second time
you ride a horse,
can you walk the next day?
- Sometimes.
The hayfield.
- What do you mean?
- Mike there's four
wheelers in the hayfield.
We gotta go.
- Okay.
(engine revs)
(dramatic music)
- [Jodi] Hey, four wheelers.
Four wheelers in the field.
- No!
- Let's go.
Let's go, let's go.
- Hey, what should I do?
- [Jodi] Frank.
- Wait!
All right.
Oh, no, no.
(dramatic music)
All right.
(engine stalls)
Okay.
Hey, boy.
Good boy.
You remember me?
(dog barks)
Stupid mutt.
(dog barks)
Okay.
(engine stalls)
- He, Duke, shute up.
- Oh, great.
Good evening, sir.
(gun cocks)
- What the hell are
you doing up there?
- I, uh, Jodi and I,
we were up on the hill
and then we saw-
- Oh, yeah.
- Yeah, no, I mean, no I mean,
we weren't doing anything.
I don't do, I would never
do anything, you know.
- Uh-huh.
- Oh, God, oh, man.
(dramatic music)
(engines revs)
- Hey!
Bastards.
- The four wheelers,
they're in the field.
That's where we're going.
(engines revs)
- [Man] You won't
shoot farm boy.
- Watch me, you son of a bitch.
(gun fires)
- Dammit.
(door closes)
(dramatic music)
(engine revs)
- Willie, you jackass.
- [Willie] Get up, idiot.
- Willie, Willie.
- I planted that field.
- I know.
Take a walk.
- Oh, my God, look what you did.
- What are you
talking about, boy?
Did you see what
you did to my hay?
- Danny?
- Uncle Mike.
What are you doing here?
- No, the question is
what are you doing here?
- This is your nephew?
Well, that figures.
Frank, go get the
John Deere with
the loader and turn him over.
Get him out of here.
Jodi, call the cops.
- The cops, for what?
- I'm filing charges.
Trespassing,
destruction of property
and whatever else
I can get you on.
- What about the
guy with the gun?
He shot at me.
I could get him for attempted
murder or something.
And what about the
damage to my ATV?
- You're pathetic.
- Hey, no, no, wait,
wait, wait, wait,
just wait, okay.
Danny, you've caused way
more financial damage
to them than they did to you
and you get get
someone for defending
their own property.
Look, Mr. Stafford.
Look, somebody Danny
wants to go to law school.
All right?
And if he has a record, he
may not be able to get in.
You don't want him to
go to jail, do you?
- Hell, yeah.
- Okay.
I see your point.
But I promise that
I'll make sure
that nothing like this
ever happens again, okay?
Right, Danny?
- Yeah.
- Right, Danny?
- All right, sorry.
- Frank, tow him out of here.
We gotta milk in four hours.
Let's get some sleep.
Well, I just scored about
a million more
points with your dad.
- You stood up to
him, he likes that.
- Oh, yeah, I can tell.
- No, trust me.
I know him.
- Come on, you two,
let's get outta here.
Come on, let's go.
Hey, boy.
- Mike, Daddy, his name is Mike.
- Oh, yeah, excuse me, Mike.
Have you ever baled?
- Uh, baled?
- Yeah.
- Yes, sir, on a camping trip.
Yeah, the canoe sprung a leak
and so I was-
- [Jodi] Hey, he means
have you ever baled hay?
- Uh, no, um, no, sir.
I have not.
- Well, be here tomorrow.
Maybe you'll learn something.
- Tomorrow, yeah,
uh, is 6 a.m. okay?
(Bob laughs)
- You don't bale
until afternoon when
the dew dries.
- Of course you don't.
- And, oh, I should warn you,
we still bale the
old-fashioned way.
(upbeat orchestral music)
(door closes)
(triumphant orchestral music)
Grab it when it's ready.
- I got you, is this, one sec.
- Don't be scared.
(upbeat orchestral music)
Oh, thanks, sorry.
You all right?
(engine idles)
How are your hands?
- Oh, there's no blood yet, so.
- Daddy, why'd you stop?
- Hey, boy, don't you
think I wore gloves
the first time I baled.
Kids.
- That's good.
- Okay.
- You'll thank him later.
- Oh, yeah, I will.
- Thanks.
- It's so easy.
With the gloves.
- [Jodi] Told you.
- Good job.
- Nice job.
- Thank you.
- Hello, son.
- Dad, Dad, I'd like
you to meet Jodi.
Jodi Stafford.
- Jodi, so nice to meet you.
I've heard so much about you.
- Nice to meet you, sir.
- Please sit down.
You know, son, your
mom couldn't make it.
Problems with a client.
You know how her job is.
- Sure, Dad.
- Hi, Mr. Jared.
Can I offer you a drink?
- My usual please.
- [Waiter] How about you?
- Just a soda for me, please.
- All right, and
I'll do the same.
- Terrific, be back in a minute.
- So, Jodi, what do
you plan on doing
with your summer now
that school's out?
- Well, I'll be working at home.
We're still milking twice a day
and doing some baling.
Mike's gotten really
good handling a bale.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
- Sounds like a wonderful life.
Farming.
You know, your mom's
been pestering me
about buying a piece
of land somewhere out
in the boondocks.
Says she wants to
be able to get away
from the working world.
I don't know.
- Will you excuse me
just for one minute?
- Seems like a nice girl.
- Dad, why?
- By the way, I saw Jim
Poole the other day.
Real estate is
booming apparently.
It's uncanny how
this guy always seems
to get the best deals.
Said he just bought a
piece of land for a song.
Were you in on that deal?
- No.
Not that one.
- He's got a lot
of wonderful things
to say about you, son.
Says you'll really
rise up in this company
if you'll stick with it.
- [Mike] Oh, yeah.
- You know I'm
proud of you, son.
I pulled a lot of
strings to get you there
and you haven't let me down.
- Uh-huh.
Uh, you know I've
actually been working
at the Stafford
farm in my time off.
- Mr. Stafford?
- Jodi's father.
He didn't like me much at first,
but I think I'm starting
to make a good
impression on him.
I'm really learning a lot.
- [Mr. Jared] Learning
a lot about what?
Pitching manure?
- No.
Yeah, a little.
I don't know, it's just,
after a day's work there,
you actually feel like you've
accomplished something.
- Accomplished?
Mike, when you're
working on developing
a piece of land,
watching those buildings rise,
providing people with jobs,
a decent place to shop,
I mean, that, that's
accomplishment.
- Yeah, it's, I don't know.
- Son, you gotta know
what I'm talking about.
I mean, look at the
money you're making.
A whole lot more money than
I ever did at your age.
Look, I know you like
this girl and all, but-
- [Mike] Jodi.
Dad, her name is Jodi.
- Whatever her name is.
Just don't lose sight of where
your real responsibilities lie.
At any rate, Jim's expecting
great things from you.
(George knocking)
- Hey, it's George Moore.
Morning, George.
- Hey, Florence, how are you?
Bob.
- What brings you out?
- Well, nothing good.
- Come on, George, sit
down, have some pie.
- No, thank you, Florence, yeah.
- What do mean nothing good?
- Walter Patterson's
had an accident.
Must have had his
shirt cuff undone
or something and got it
caught up in the PTO shaft.
Ripped his shirt clean off.
Caught his arm up in it, too.
Mangle it up pretty bad.
Doctor says he might not ever
have full use of it again.
- Oh, Lord, how's Ruth?
- Well, you know, she's
at the hospital with him.
She been there all day.
- Well, what are we gonna do?
- I don't know.
I figured we'd come up
with some kind of a plan
or a schedule, get in
his wheat and his hay,
get his milking done for him
and Clyde, Bill, Ted Dawson said
they'd pitch in and
lend a hand, too.
- We'll be there.
- Thank you, Bob.
Boys.
Florence.
- See you, George.
- All right, George.
- Bob, how are you gonna do it?
You're so far behind yourself.
- Yeah, I know.
It's gotta be done.
I mean, they'd do
the same for us.
- I know they would.
- I can work overtime
and that extension agent
from down state is
coming tomorrow.
He might help out.
And there's always
Jodi's boyfriend.
- Yeah, that boy's
trying, though.
- [Willie] Yeah.
- She won't have a boyfriend
after her fancy lunch today.
She's probably dumping soup
in his dad's lap right now.
- Frank.
- Well, come on, we got
work to do, let's go.
We'll see you later.
- Okay.
- Thanks.
(doors close)
Need a hand?
- Oh, nah, I got it.
- Hey.
You don't put gas
in a diesel tractor.
- Something must have gone wrong
with the equipment.
That gets him madder
than anything.
- Can't blame him.
I'm the same way.
- Hey, why don't you set
your suitcases down
by the truck for now
and I'll take you
down to meet him.
Maybe that'll calm him down.
- Lucky I caught
that when I did.
Now, I gotta drain the tank
and hope that it starts okay.
I mean the John Deere's
already broke down.
I don't have time
for this this week.
- Mr. Stafford, I'm so sorry,
I just, I got into
the wrong tank and-
- Yeah, you sure did.
All right, now the front
loader's broke down.
Now we're gonna have
to finish loading
the manure spreader by hand.
Do you think, do you think
that you can do that
without breaking something?
- Daddy.
- What?
- Daddy, this is Skip
Stevens, the extension agent.
- Glad to know you.
I'm sorry about
all the commotion.
(Mike exhales)
- This is my dad, Bob Stafford.
This is my brother, Frank.
And, uh, Willie our hired hand.
- Gas instead of diesel fuel?
- Yeah, dad gum it.
- Daddy, it's not his fault.
The tanks aren't even marked.
- Yeah, but lucky I
caught it when I did.
If I would have
started the tractor,
it would have ruined the motor.
- You know, we had a hired
hand do the same thing once.
I drained the tank then.
I could do it for you now.
Just let me change my clothes.
- Nah, don't trouble yourself.
You're our guest here.
- No, I'm happy to do it.
Just give me a minute.
(gentle music)
- It's really nice
of you to help out.
- Yeah, it's not a problem.
Well, the sooner it
get done, you know,
the sooner I can get to work.
- [Jodi] Yeah, I know,
it'll be helpful.
(somber music)
- That was a blessed
meal, darling.
- Thank you, dear.
- Sure like what you
did with the tractor.
Ran like a charm this afternoon.
- Well, while I was in there,
I changed the fuel filter.
I like fooling
around with engines.
- Skip's actually speaking at
the local ag conference tomorrow
with a couple of other speakers.
- Oh, yeah, who else?
- Kelly Grant from upstate.
He's talking about
manure management.
- Yeah, I know him.
He stayed with us
last year, nice guy.
Jodi had a big crush on
him, didn't you, Jodi?
- Shut up, Frank.
- So what's your topic, Skip?
- One of my sessions is
on pasture management
and poisonous weeds.
- That sounds fascinating.
What about your
other session, Skip?
- I'll be discussing
the future of farming,
trying to motivate
young farmers and others
to pursue agricultural
careers in tough times,
the importance of
farming in today's world
and how everyone can make
an impact on the future.
- Well.
- Oh.
- Well, we sure need
someone promoting
the farm way of life.
People getting too
far away from it
and you can't
understand something
that you're too far away from.
- Well, thank you so much
for dinner, Mrs. Stafford.
It was really good,
but Jodi and I better get going.
Moving starts in half an hour.
- Oh, that's right.
- Oh, wait, Jodi, I thought
you and Mike were going
to stay and watch
Skip's presentation
of the ag delegation
trip to Japan?
- Oh, well.
- I always like a presentation.
Like a PowerPoint?
- Well, I would like to see it,
but let's go to the movies.
I can see it some
other time, right?
- But he'll only
be here two weeks
and, you know,
he's gonna be busy.
- Hey, you just stay.
I'll go home.
I've got some work to do.
- No, no, no, no.
- Yes, it's fine.
I'll call you later.
Thanks again, Mrs. Stafford.
- You're welcome.
- Hey, Mike.
(gentle music)
Who wants dessert?
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
(phone buzzes)
- Hello?
Mike, hi.
Oh, today?
It's, yeah, well, Frank
and I were gonna go down
to the conference center
to hear Skip speak, but
I'll be home by six.
Oh. Okay.
Call me tomorrow?
Oh.
Well, I'll talk
to you soon then?
Are you sure?
Okay.
All right.
Bye.
(gentle music)
- Morning.
- Morning.
- Nice horse.
- Thanks.
- You sure it's all right me
borrowing the truck this week?
I could just rent a car.
- Oh, no, it's fine.
I don't need it
when school's out.
- Oh, thanks.
I'll have to thin of
some way to repay you.
- That's okay.
Uh, I'll see you this afternoon?
- Yeah.
I'll be back to pick
y'all up around 1 o'clock?
- Sounds great.
See ya.
(gentle music)
(tractor rattles)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic music builds)
(dramatic music)
Frank!
(tractor rattles)
(dramatic music)
Go home, girl.
Frank, Frank, oh.
Frank.
(horse whinnies)
Okay.
Oh, God.
Frank.
No, hang in there, Frank.
Help will be here real soon.
Please, God (cries).
Help!
(Jodi cries)
Help!
(dramatic music)
- Bob!
- That rope.
- Bob!
- Come on, let's go.
- [Operator] Paging Dr. Bender.
Paging Dr. Bender.
- He's going to be fine.
His nose is broken,
but we can fix that.
And he does have a concussion,
so he'll have to take it easy.
You can see him now
if you want to go in.
Just the parents at first.
We don't to overwhelm him.
- Thank God.
- You know he wouldn't
have made it at all
if you hadn't been there.
If he'd fallen off the tractor.
- Don't, don't even say it.
- I wonder how the rock got
in there in the first place.
- I know how it got in there.
- Willie, it wasn't
anyone's fault.
- I'm sure that's true.
- Yeah, right.
- What'd you say?
- Mike.
Maybe you should just go home.
Mike, wait.
Mike.
Mike, where are you going?
- Where am I going?
I'm going home.
Isn't that where
you told me to go?
Yeah, that's the
best place for me.
- Just wait.
- No, don't worry about it
because this is my fault.
It's my fault for
thinking that any
of this was gonna work out.
God, I've been working
my butt off trying
to impress you and your family.
- You have.
- And, sure, look at this.
This accident was
probably my fault.
How do you think
that makes me feel.
And then you, I really
started to think
that there may be
something here.
And then mister ag
extension shows up
and you act like
I'm not even there
and then you just, just a
second ago you sounded like
you were sending me to
my room for being bad.
I mean...
Look, I'm, I'm
sorry, you're right.
I don't belong here.
My dad was right.
It's time that I started
to focus on my real job.
So if you could just tell Frank
that I'm sorry.
I've gotta go.
- Mike.
Mike.
(car rumbles)
(door closes)
- Hey, back from the hospital?
- Yep.
- [Matt] How is he?
- He's gonna be fine.
- [Matt] Yeah?
(cabinet slams)
- [Mike] Yeah.
- How are you?
- Me (scoffs)?
I'm just fantastic.
- Okay.
By the way, your boss called.
- What did he want?
- To say he's got some
new project he wants
you to work on.
He said it can wait until
he sees you tomorrow.
- That's great.
I'm gonna hit the hay.
- Is that a newly
learned farm expression?
- That's very funny.
- Hey, Mike.
- [Matt] Yeah.
- It never would
have worked out.
(somber music)
(phone buzzes)
(somber music)
- Jodi.
Jodi.
- What, Dad?
- I think it's clean.
(gentle music)
(door closes)
(gentle music)
(chickens clucking)
(gentle music)
(phone buzzes)
(Mike sighs)
(Jodi sighs)
(chickens cluck)
(eggs sizzle)
- Oh, man.
(gentle music)
(water runs)
(gentle music)
(phone rings)
- All right.
I'm comin'.
I'm comin'.
- Hello?
- Yep.
- Hey, Willie.
- She's not here.
Well, she must have
forgot her cell phone.
No, she went out this morning.
I don't know where she went.
No, Skip took her.
A while ago.
Yeah, I'll tell her.
(gentle music)
(water splashes)
(pan clanks)
(engine rumbles)
(Mike knocks)
- Michael, come right in.
- How you doin', sir?
- Good to see you. Take a seat.
Look, I just wanted
to touch base
and run something by you.
I haven't talked to you lately.
You've been a little distracted.
- I'm sorry, I was,
uh, it's not important.
I'm back with you now.
- Great, great.
So, uh, we've been
starting some research
on some available properties
for transformational
development,
first one in the area.
- I did my master's thesis
on transformationals.
- I'm aware of that.
That's why I wanted you on this
from the ground floor up.
See, I need your
knowledge on how
these projects have
worked in the past
and also your research
and computer skills
as far as crunching the data
and finding the best
property for it.
So, sound like something
you'd be interested in?
- Absolutely.
I'm your man, I'll
get started today.
- Perfect.
Okay, great.
See, thing is, though,
we're a little rushed,
so if you could put
something together,
have it ready for
us early next week.
- I'll do my best.
- Excellent. Thank you so much.
You're my guy.
- [Frank] These heifers
I'm about to show you
are gonna save us.
- [Skip] Oh, yeah, how's that?
- Well, Mom started
arguing with Dad
about a year ago
about selling out.
Says she can't pay
the bills anymore.
Dad can hardly stand
to talk about it
because the farm has been
in the family for so long,
so we made an investment
in artificial insemination
from the best bulls.
When these heifers calf,
they should raise the herd
from 30,000 to
35,000 pounds easy.
And raise butter fat
from 3.5 to 3.9%.
- Yeah, I've seen it happen.
- These heifers
are beautiful, too.
The vet should be here any
minute to vaccinate them.
What the hell?
- [Jodi] Frank?
Frank, what's the
matter with them?
- How the hell should I know?
- Almost looks like
they've been poisoned.
- [Skip] Poisoned.
- [Frank] Here comes the vet.
Thank God I called her today.
- What's happened here?
- I don't know.
We were just coming
out to look 'em over
and wait for you.
They were fine yesterday,
they were fine.
- Take it easy, Frank.
I'm going to have to put
her down and get inside.
- Why.
It's obvious they've got
a hold of something toxic.
Have you changed feeds lately?
- No, they've been
eating the same hay
and say grain since
they've been out here.
- Jodi, can you walk the field
to see if there's
anything unusual?
- Sure.
- I'll come with you.
- I don't get it.
I can't lose these heifers.
- This will cause death
almost before I pull
the needle out.
- Are you sure you
have to do that?
- I've got to examine
the stomach contents
if you want me to try
and save any of them.
- [Jodi] Frank!
Frank!
- What the hell?
- I found these.
They were thrown over the fence
at the far gate by the road.
There's a whole pile
of them scattered about
like the cows have
been into them.
- Yew bushes,
poisonous to cattle.
I'm sorry, Frank.
I can only help the ones
that aren't too far gone.
- How did they get out here?
- I don't know.
- I bet I know how
they got there.
It's the four-wheelers
getting revenge.
And your ex-boyfriend.
I bet he's pretty pissed
off at you, ain't he?
- No, no, he wouldn't do this.
- Wouldn't he?
I bet your ass I
can prove it to you.
- Willie!
(Jodi cries)
- That's the end of it.
- I'll get started
examining the others.
I can't promise anything.
(tense music)
- There you are.
- Dad said you're
pretty much running
the company now.
- Uh, yeah, not exactly.
- What do you do there?
- Marketing research.
So I tell companies
where to build,
where they can find
land dirt cheap
and they can make
millions on it.
- How much do you make?
- It's none of your business.
- Well, I mean, at least
enough to pay for our lunch.
- Sure, Danny.
- Hey.
- [Danny] Uh-oh, here
comes the hillbilly.
- Hey, Willie.
Is there something
I can help you with?
- I should have known
you'd be here, too,
you son of a bitch.
- [Mike] Hey, what's the
matter with you, man?
- You know what's
the matter with me.
You probably planned
the whole thing.
- What the hell are
you talking about?
- Quit playing stupid.
I'm talking about the heifers.
- The heifers.
- Yeah, the heifers, asshole.
The ones you poisoned.
The ones laying
dead in the field.
- You little-
- Shut up, Danny.
Just, Willie, just
tell me what happened.
- Just one you planned on.
They ate the yew bushes
you dumped in the field.
- Oh, yeah, that was us.
Like we got nothing better to do
than to poison some dumb cows.
I ain't even never heard
of a yew bush before.
- I hope you're happy,
you son of a bitch.
Them heifers ain't
even good enough
for making into
a dead hamburger.
- Come on, come on,
Willie, not here.
- You're disturbing
the peace, boy.
Get out of my restaurant.
I'm gonna call the cops.
- I'm going.
- Damn right you are.
- What a jerk.
- Shut up, Danny.
I swear, if I find out
you guys had anything
to do with this.
- [Nephew] We didn't Uncle Mike.
- You think we would
do something like that?
I know we wheeled the guys farm,
but I'm not into
killing dumb animals.
- Would you sit down?
Sorry.
(Mike sighs)
- Yeah, I'm going, in
just a couple minutes.
(engine revs)
(rock music)
I needed some body
work done anyway.
(ATV crunches)
No!
Stop, stop, I just had it fixed.
- No, no, no, no, hey, whoa.
Whoa, no.
Whoa, whoa, hey!
Hey, come on, open
the door, let's talk.
Let's talk, man, come on,
just, just open it, come on.
Willie.
Willie, wait, whoa,
whoa, whoa, no.
(siren blares)
Don't make this any worse, man.
Come on.
Just, hold on.
- Back up, back up, back up.
Out of the truck.
Out of the truck.
Turn around real
slow, real slow.
Hands behind your
back, slow, slow, slow.
Don't move.
All right, let's go.
Let's go, come on.
Get in the truck.
(door closes)
- You're gonna pay for this.
You're gonna have
more than dead cows
to worry about next time.
- Shut up.
Just shut up, Danny.
- I just had it fixed.
- It just won't work, Dad.
- Why not?
- Those heifers
were our only chance
to pull ourselves
out of this hole.
Now, we can't even
get ourselves out
of the debt we
got ourselves into
when we bred them,
much less any of
the other bills.
- Bob, he's right.
When you can't
even pay the bills,
you gotta make a change.
- Change?
Change to what?
This is all that
I have ever done.
This farm was handed
down in the family
to keep in the family and
that's where I'm gonna keep it.
- But, Dad, times have changed.
You just, you can't
make a living out of it
unless you expand or
diversify or something.
And when you get a drought
like we got two years ago
or with the heavy
rainfall from last year,
or like what just happened,
you can't keep going.
- Like hell I can't.
- With what?
When you can't pay the bills
or even put food on the table.
We used up most of our
savings last year just trying
to keep ahead.
And most men your
age are retiring
and collecting their pensions.
You don't even have a pension.
You don't have anything
but this place.
If we sold to the developers,
at least we'd have a
chance to live comfortably
at our old age.
(tense music)
Bob, I'm sorry.
(phone rings)
- Mom.
Look, there's gotta be
something we can do.
I'll start coming
up with a plan.
Maybe the ag department at
the university can help.
- Jodi, you don't know
what we're up against.
- I'm just saying
there's gotta be
some different
options of things-
- That was the cops.
Willie's at the police station.
We gotta go bail him out.
- Oh, God.
- Oh, what'd the fool do now?
- He went to get even
with the four-wheelers.
- Oh, that dummy.
Well, at least he's a
loyal dummy, let's go.
(gentle music)
(Florence cries)
- Mom, don't cry.
It's gonna be okay, I promise.
(Florence cries)
(tense music)
(horn blows)
- [Man] How you guys doing?
What seems to be
the problem, sir?
- What are you doing with
those yew bushes, boy?
- [Man] Yew bushes? Oh,
those are yew bushes?
- That's right.
- Oh, wife and I just
moved into a new place
up there at, you know,
Creekside Farm Estates.
- Farm estates?
- Right, right, we're
just clearing out
the property and just was
gonna dump 'em over here
in the pasture.
Those cows seem to
really love 'em.
- Don't throw anymore out there.
- Oh, yeah, sure, I don't
wanna cause any trouble.
- Those bushes aren't
good for cattle.
- Oh, I am so sorry.
I didn't know, I had no idea.
Like, really, I won't
dump 'em there anymore.
I'll find someplace else.
- You do that.
Come on, Frank.
- Have a nice day, guys.
- [Bob] Come on.
- Is that all you're
gonna say to him?
Is that all you're gonna do?
We should sue him or something.
- Sometimes you just
gotta forgive 'em son.
He did not know
what he was doing.
- But those heifers.
- You gotta let it go.
There ain't nothing
you can do about
those heifers now.
Sometimes you just
gotta forget about it
and go on.
Sometimes you just gotta go on.
(engine revs)
- All right, so this
new program I developed,
some made several variables
to help us making
building decisions based
on age demographics,
income levels,
current population,
even traffic patterns.
Now, the program has taken
the information I fed it
and has come up with the
most feasible location
for the building site
of this transformational
development.
I saved the results to present
to you, Mr. Poole.
I haven't even had a chance
yet to take a look at it.
- Oh, that's fine.
We didn't give you
a whole lot of time.
Let's have it.
- Here goes.
- Oh, yeah, there's
Lindon Hill Road
and that's where it
intersects with Limestone.
Yeah, I know that area.
There's a lot of
development going on there.
- Wait (laughs nervously).
- Michael, what is it?
- Isn't that, uh?
- Yeah, it's farmland.
We'll probably
get it dirt cheap.
Then we'll have to
rezone, build by spring.
It's the perfect spot, perfect.
- But what if they
farmer won't sell?
- They'll sell, don't
worry about that.
- You know there's other
variables I should put in.
This may not be the best place
for us to build.
This is only the first
time I've done it.
- I'm satisfied.
Great job, Michael.
I think this might be
worth another promotion.
I think it's cause
for a celebration.
In fact, I have a lunch meeting
with someone that I would
love for you to meet.
Are you free?
- Yes, sir.
- Excellent.
Gentlemen, that'll be all.
(somber music)
- Call me, Jim, son.
How many times I
gotta tell you that?
We're on our way, kid.
(somber music)
- Yes, I know the place.
That's the Stafford farm.
We handle their account.
They've been having
some trouble lately.
- Is that right?
- Seems some of their
AI heifers got poisoned.
They're really
behind on their loan.
I don't know how they're
going to pull out of it.
It's the same story with a lot
of the other farm
loans, pitiful.
- I know, I know.
It's a shame.
I just don't understand
how so many farmers borrow
so heavily and get into debt
they're never gonna get out of.
It's like they're
never gonna learn.
- Well, the bank's learning.
We're really picking up
on loans to developers
as you know.
- Well, I hope we haven't
let you down now, have we?
Uh, about Stafford, exactly
how far behind is he?
- Far enough.
- Far enough to sell out?
- No.
- What was that, Mike?
- Oh, I mean, I meant
that it can be difficult
to get farmers to
sell sometimes.
- Well, if they won't sell,
then we have to convince them
that they're heading
for disaster,
that they need to pursue
another line of work
and that we can't
support them any longer.
- In other words, we'll
have to foreclose, right?
I mean, it's for their own good.
- Is it?
- Certainly.
Most of the time
they're grateful
when they change jobs
and realize they've
been working themselves
to death on the
farm for nothing.
I've seen it happen many times.
- Have you?
- [Jim] Now all we gotta
do is put it in front
of the planning board first.
- To which I have
just been appointed.
- What?
Outstanding.
Then all we gotta do is
bring our presentation
to the county council
at the end of the month
and then we'll bring
along the model
and present that at the meeting
and we'll get the
town's people, you know,
used to the idea.
And I think they're
gonna love it.
Maybe we should have you do
the presentation, Michael.
- Well.
- Right?
Then all we gotta do
is get a majority vote
and we are in.
Just think, Michael, you're
responsible, congratulations.
I'm telling you,
this young man is
the cream of the crop.
- I'll go see if
Diane's ready to go.
Michael?
What's wrong?
You're not nervous about the
planning meeting, are you?
- This is just the first step.
We're just getting
the used to the idea.
- You don't even have
to open your mouth
until the presentation
at the county council.
That's at the end of the month.
- Cheer up, man.
- No, I'm sorry.
I'm just, I've had
a lot on my mind.
- Okay, you're sure
you'll all right then.
All right.
I'll be back in a few minutes.
(somber music)
(all speaking indistinctly)
(somber music)
(somber music)
- Well?
- Well, what do you think?
- Where's Dad?
- He's outside telling Mom.
I saw your boyfriend
at the bank.
- What?
- He was sitting in a
fancy car outside the bank.
- Are you talking about Mike?
- That was the last
boyfriend you had, wasn't it?
- Well, what was he doing there?
- I don't know.
Maybe he was trying to rob
the place or something.
- Very funny.
Frank.
What are we gonna do?
- I don't know.
I just don't know.
(somber music)
(door closes)
- Michael, hey, good to see you.
Glad you stopped by.
- Hey, Dad.
- [Mr. Jared] Hey, how'd
the planning meeting go?
- It was okay, I guess.
- [Mr. Jared] Good, good.
- They seemed to
really like the plans.
- Great.
That'll make for an
even stronger case
at the county council meeting.
- Where's Mom?
- She and your sister had
to go shopping somewhere.
But you know, Mike.
Here lately, I've been
kind of worried about you.
You know, I felt like you
were just playing around
too much, but you've
really proven yourself.
Jim Poole, he speaks
pretty highly of you.
- Thanks, Dad.
- You know, there comes a time
when you realize where
your responsibilities lie.
You just wake up one
day and you realize
that you've got to take
charge and do what's right.
- What'd you say?
- I said there comes a time
when you have to
wake up and realize
you gotta take charge
and do the right thing.
- You're right.
You're absolutely right, Dad.
See you.
- Where you going?
- I just got something
I need to tell somebody.
- Okay.
Bye.
(door slams)
(bright orchestral music)
- Jodi.
It's getting late.
- No, I know.
I have two more pages to
finish on this lesson plan.
School will be starting back
before I know it.
All right, I'm going up.
Don't forget to
turn the lights out.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
(keys clicking)
(Mike knocking)
- [Jodi] Skip.
- Hi, Jodi (laughs).
Well, can I come in?
- Yeah, sorry, I'm just
surprised to see you.
I thought you were going back
to North Carolina this month.
- Well, I don't have to be back
till the end of the week.
So I thought I'd
stop by and say hello
before I leave for good.
- Well, how's the
speaker circuit going?
- Really well.
But, it gets kind of lonely.
Here, have a seat.
- Oh, no, thanks,
I'd rather stand.
Been in the car all day.
- Would you like some iced tea?
I just made some.
- That'd be great.
Thank you.
- You know, everybody
just went to bed.
Why don't I wake them up.
I know they'd like to see you.
- No, no, no, no,
don't wake them up.
Uh, lesson plans?
- Yeah, I, uh,
curriculum changed again,
so having to adapt.
- How's that going?
- It's okay.
I get tired.
My neck gets so stiff.
I don't know how people sit
and work at a computer all day.
- Stiff neck, huh?
- Yeah.
- Well, I've always
been pretty good
at getting cramps out.
I learned the technique
when I played football,
here let me help you.
- No, that's okay.
- Come on, you'll feel
better, I guarantee it.
- You know, Jodi, I
really only came back here
to see you.
- You did?
- Sure did.
I've been thinking about
you ever since I left,
after the heifer's died.
- Oh, come on, I bet
you have girls hanging
all over you on the road.
- Well, sure.
But my mind kept
coming back to you.
(gentle music)
(dramatic music)
- What are you doing?
- It's okay.
- No, no, no, it's not okay
and my parents are
right upstairs.
- They won't hear
us, come on, Jodi.
- Cut it out.
- What the hell's
the matter with you?
(Jodi grunts)
- Get the hell out of here
before I have to use it.
- Okay.
I'm sorry, just
put the gun down.
I'm going.
- Now before I wake my Daddy
and he won't hesitate.
(Jodi cries)
(somber music)
(keys clicking)
- Good evening
ladies and gentlemen.
That doesn't even sound right.
(somber music)
- [Jim] What do you mean
you changed your mind?
I thought we had a deal?
You know I need
your vote on this.
Are you crazy?
I offered you $50,000.
What are you doing to me?
Did you suddenly
grow a conscience?
I got this through the
planning commission,
but I need you to get
it through the hicks
on the county council.
I'll talk to you later.
(somber music)
(gavel pounds)
- May I have your
attention please.
At the top of the
agenda tonight,
we have a special presentation.
I think we'll all be
interested in hearing it.
Here's Mr. Jim Poole of Poole
& Associates Real Estate
to tell us all about it.
- Thank you Mr. O'Neil.
It's wonderful to see
such a large turnout
for tonight's presentation.
My colleagues and I
are happy to share
with your our most
ambitious project to date,
a project that I'm
sure you'll agree
will benefit the
area many, many ways.
To present this project to you,
is our own Michael Jared,
who has been instrumental
in developing ideas
and also choosing the
location for the project.
Without further ado,
Michael, you have the floor.
- Thank you, Mr. Poole.
And as Mr. Poole said, this
project he's speaking of
would be of great
benefit to the people
of this county.
Marking studies show
that this project will
benefit the community
by creating fresh
housing and retail
along with job opportunities
to elevate the economy
and we spent many long hours
with community studies
and computer programs in order
to facilitate the best way
in order to put this
plan into action.
- What are you talking about?
- [Participant] What is it?
- Where is going to be?
- Please, just let me finish.
This, this project will
involve all of you.
The planning commission
has reviewed it
and they're in favor,
so this transformation
development
is a new concept in real estate.
This is a multi-use project,
so residential,
single-family homes,
condos, senior living apartment,
as well as retail commercial
and light industrial
uses are included
to create a lively work
and play community aspect.
And it will take place
on over 288 acres.
- Where's it going to be?
- Yeah, where?
- Where's it gonna be?
- Quit stalling.
- [Participant 2] Yeah, come on.
(participants grumbling)
- [Participant 3]
Come on, hurry up.
- Computer studies show
that the most logical,
practical, accessible
and economic location
for this development
would be right here
where Limestone
and Lindon Hill Road meet.
(participants protesting)
- Hey, that's the
Stafford place.
- So that's why they're
foreclosing on them.
- To make room for this?
No.
(participants protesting)
- Please let me finish.
This is gonna benefit
the entire area, okay.
This is a department store,
that's a full service
automotive center.
There's a bistro,
there's a cafe.
I mean, can't you just imagine
the beautifully
landscaped development
on this piece of farmland?
The playgrounds and
the restaurants?
(participants protesting)
It's gonna be a
great place to live.
(participants protesting)
(somber music)
(participants protesting)
- [Participant 4]
This is ridiculous.
- [Participant 5] Come on.
- Well.
- Jared. Michael sit down.
I'll finish the presentation.
- Let him talk.
- Okay.
- I thought this
was a good idea.
You know, houses,
progress, stores,
jobs for people, it
all sounds great.
It does and maybe it would be,
but, I mean, you could
always use a new store,
a housing development,
road, skyscraper,
we could use all those things,
but the problem is you forget.
You forget what
you have to give up
to get what you think you want.
Sure, we want this development,
but we need the farm.
Even if it is only to look at
when you drive by.
See the cows grazing
in the field,
the combines
harvesting the wheat.
We need it to remind
us where we came from.
And the Stafford
family needs their farm
like their ancestors did,
to live and to work on.
Sure, we could build
this development,
but maybe we should
save the farm instead.
I worked hard on this project,
but not as hard as I
worked on that farm.
And I'm asking the
county council tonight
to vote against this project
in accordance with the
American Farmland Trust.
Sorry about the
model, Mr. Poole.
- Wait.
You could talk all you want,
but it won't make
any difference.
Damn county council don't
care what they build on.
Next thing you
know, there won't be
any farmland left.
- Yeah, there's nothing
you can do about it.
They'll foreclose,
it'll go through.
- It always does.
- Let me address this.
- Yes, sir, you are right,
this will go through
'cause it's the best thing
for the area.
And for the Stafford farm,
it's the best thing
for you to foreclose
and you will find that
out in the long run.
- You son of a-
- Daddy.
- Wait, wait.
I don't think anyone's
foreclosing on anyone.
- What?
- I hoped I wouldn't
have to do this.
- [Jim] I thought we had deal.
You know I need
your vote on this.
Are you crazy?
I offered you $50,000.
What are you doing to me?
I got this through the
planning commission,
but I need you to get
it through the hicks
on the county council.
Let go of me.
You cretin, let go, I'll sue.
Let go.
(participants applauding)
I'll sue.
- Everybody calm down now,
everybody calm down now.
Settle down.
Settle down now.
Everything is under control.
Mr. Poole.
- Thank you.
- I think you just
better come with me.
- You can't do this.
I didn't do any-, what,
I didn't to anything,
what are you doing?
The whole thing's a lie.
That tape is fixed.
Michael Jared, you'll never work
in real estate again.
- No problem.
(triumphant orchestral music)
- Proud of you.
It's prejudicious, it's amateur.
- Oh, thanks.
Hey.
- [Man] Mike, proud
of you, great job.
(triumphant music)
- What the?
(man whistles)
- Whoo!
Where's it at.
(participants applauding)
(triumphant music)
- Thank you.
- No, don't thank me.
I'm the one who
should thank you.
I'm, I'm sorry I ever left.
- Me, too.
- But what about, um...
- About what?
- Skip.
- Skip?
- Yeah, I thought you and he-
- That jerk's not worth
scraping my boot on.
- I was hoping you'd say that.
(horn blows)
- Hey, boy, looks like
your ride left without you.
- Yes, sir.
- Well, get in.
Come on over to our place.
I wanna talk to you.
- Yes, sir, I'd like to
talk to you, too, sir.
It's just, sir,
I have some ideas
that I would really like
to, uh, tell you about.
- I bet you do.
I guess we're gonna need
all the help we can get.
Now get in, you're
letting all the AC out.
(Jodi laughs)
(gentle orchestral music)
(gentle orchestral music)
(triumphant orchestral music)
(triumphant orchestral music)
(gentle orchestral music)
Picked you up, asked
how you were doing
You said you'd been fine
Then you said tell
me about yourself
Just give me the highlights
I said I grew up then
I moved to Nashville
You said something
But I interrupted
I honestly had to say that
You're the most
beautiful human
That I've ever seen
We should turn on the lights
And take off the sheets
The world is so broken
But not you and me
'Cause here in this moment
We are complete
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Yeah, here in this
moment we are complete
You told me that
it'd been a while
And that this was nice
I said you should
stay for breakfast
If you still have the time
Then you said
don't look at me
I'm not pretty
Please just cover your eyes
I said I want to hold you
Who ever told you that
was out of their mind
'Cause you're the
most beautiful human
That I've ever seen
We should turn on the lights
And take off the sheets
The world is so broken
Not you and me
'Cause here in this
moment we are complete
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Yeah, you're the
most beautiful human
That I've ever seen
We should turn on the lights
And then take off the sheets
The world is so broken
But not you and me
'Cause here in this moment
We are complete
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm
Stay with me
You're so beautiful
Yeah, here in this
moment, we are complete