The Son (2017) s02e06 Episode Script
The Blue Light
1 [VEHICLE APPROACHING.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
Muero pero mi alma no muere Los Amare y Los bendeciré en el cielo como lo hice en la tierra.
[BRAKE SQUEAKS.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
[SIGHS.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
[PRAYING QUIETLY IN SPANISH.]
[SIGHS.]
Thank you for bringing me here.
So what is it? What did you want to say to me? We We don't have to do it here.
Working with Standard Oil is a bad idea.
You can't win.
You think I'm afraid of what your father will do to me? No, but whether you're afraid or not ain't gonna stop him from doing what he's gonna do.
I'm trying to figure a way through this.
A way that keeps you safe.
Like what? Wait.
Wait for what? - Me.
- You.
The old man can't live forever.
Maria, he he he's putting me in control of the business.
And I'll provide for you now, as much as I can, and when I'm finally in charge, all this will be yours.
I'm sure your brother would have something to say about that.
[LAUGHS.]
And your wife.
[LAUGHS.]
Oh, she'd love the idea of me being your kept woman.
It wouldn't be like that.
It's not about the land.
[SIGHS.]
It's not even about the money.
Your father offered me plenty of that.
What I want is my father back.
I want my mother, my brother, and my sister.
I want my little nephew back.
I want those holes to be filled with nothing but dirt.
- I can't give you that.
- I know.
That's why you're gonna testify in my case.
About how your father bribed a judge, how he plotted the murder of my family.
You're gonna tell the world what is true, Peter.
You're gonna help me clear my father's name.
That's what you owe me.
And that's what I want.
Will you just wait? It's hard enough asking for your help.
Don't make it harder.
I should take you back to town now.
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
PHINEAS: Thank you.
How you doing? Good to see you.
Howdy.
Evening.
Take care, now.
Happy birthday.
Mm.
Thought about you at work today.
Oh, yeah? Yes, sir, every meeting I had.
Which meetings? Who'd you meet with? - No idea.
- [LAUGHS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
- Hm.
- [SIGHS.]
What you thinking about? Your daddy.
- [SCOFFS.]
Please don't.
- [LAUGHS.]
The other day, when I ran into him, he didn't seem all that surprised.
- He seemed - Amused? - Yeah.
- Yeah.
That's cuz he knows.
What? No.
- No! - Yep.
Yeah, I must've been about Hard times.
They were all still reeling from Momma and Everett's deaths.
One night, I met up with this rancher boy and snuck back into the house.
Daddy was there waiting for me, and I thought he was gonna give me a whuppin'.
But, instead, he poured me a whiskey and said, "Be more careful.
I cannot lose another son.
" I guess being raised Comanche broadens the mind.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Yeah, for the longest time, I I felt this enormous gratitude to him, you know, for letting me be.
But then Pete got married and had kids and I saw how he was with 'em.
He wasn't keeping quiet just out of love for me.
He'd put me in a drawer 'cause I couldn't contribute to his legacy.
Did you even want children? 'Course.
What sort of man doesn't want a son? You still could.
Plenty of married men with our ways.
Nah.
No, I see what Sally goes through.
Pete doesn't love her.
She holds up the marriage on her own.
I could never do that to another woman.
Can we have some more booze or something? I thought this was supposed to be a celebration.
[GLASS CLATTERS.]
OFFICER: Don't move.
Right over here.
Hold on a minute.
Hold on a minute.
All right, go ahead.
MONAHAN: Good.
Wait outside.
You can cover up now.
Mr.
McCullough.
Despite what the current situation indicates, I do believe you're a man of substance.
What do you want? What I want's for you to come and work for me.
How's that? Well, you have the ear of some very powerful men, about to start a fantastic position at this Railroad Commission, and, of course, most importantly, you can corroborate Maria GarcÃa's claims in our lawsuit.
You want me to betray my father.
What I have here it's an employment agreement.
You sign that and that photograph goes away, and so do these two police officers.
Do it.
- What? - Sign it.
This is how you break away from your father.
It's everything you've been hoping for.
Now, there's a man with a head on his shoulders, and you ought to listen to him.
All right, then.
Take them out through the lobby.
Hands off me.
Put your hands behind your back.
Put your wrists together.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
You sure about this? Got a full house down there tonight.
Folks from the legislature, the Capitol, the bar.
And a reporter from "The Statesman" for spice.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
Okay.
[WHISTLES.]
[BANJO PLAYS MID-TEMPO TUNE, CAMERA BULB CLICKS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
[BANJO STOPS.]
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING.]
[MID-TEMPO PIANO MUSIC PLAYS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Colonel, I appreciate you having us over.
Though we're a bit late in the season for quail.
Nah, it's gonna be a great day for a shoot.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- I'll say.
Charles, have Clarence here come over and get some of those little pancakes.
- They're my momma's specialty.
- So I hear.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
CHARLES: You've been a good and loyal friend to this family and the Colonel wanted you to hear that directly from us.
See, my Uncle Phineas is set to take a seat on the Railroad Commission.
They're gonna control oil distribution for all of Texas.
- That so? - Uh-huh.
- I never heard of 'em.
- Well, you're about to, make no mistake.
They're gonna be in charge of how everyone moves oil around the state.
Set prices, control production Needless to say, Standard's gonna be pretty crippled without a way to move their product to market.
[CHUCKLES.]
Well, this is a godsend.
We've been on tenterhooks since the injunction.
I'm sure you understand.
The announcement's gonna be coming soon, then we can all breathe a sigh of relief.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
NILES: Good morning, Colonel.
[SIGHS.]
Niles.
- [CONVERSATIONS STOP.]
- You're not welcome in this house.
I come in peace.
At a time like this, neighbors should pitch in.
I'm here to offer condolences.
Condolences for what? [CRUNCHING.]
You have not heard.
Oh, Lord.
I have put my foot in it, haven't I? Your son Phineas was arrested on a sodomy charge last night in Austin.
A deviant is a scourge on any family.
As I understand it, Phineas is currently being scrubbed from the public rolls and drummed out of government.
So, I imagine that Railroad Commission spot One more word.
PETE: Come on, Niles.
Just one.
[SIGHS.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
Sorry again you had to spend the night in lock up.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
I couldn't get a straight answer for why you were denied a phone call.
Doesn't matter.
[KEYS JINGLE.]
I'll be back later with an advisor who, uh, knows how to well, let me just say she's a master of the better social sets.
She re-introduced Senator Perkins to good society when he was caught fiddlin' with those little girls.
I am not a child molester.
No.
'Course not.
Anyway you try to get some rest, and, uh, I'll see you later.
Don't forget this.
[SOBBING.]
PETE: I thought he was a bachelor.
Didn't want to settle down.
I don't know.
We never talked about it, but hell.
Of course you knew.
We all did.
Since when? Since forever.
You never said anything.
[SIGHS.]
He's your brother.
Do I have to pack a fancy dress? No, we're not going to celebrate.
But tell your brothers to hurry up.
I want us to be on the road in 15 minutes.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm surprised this doesn't bother you.
I mean, it's a sin.
[SIGHS.]
Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do.
Why doesn't it? I know it should.
And I go to church, and I read my Bible.
I just can't help the way I feel.
Finn is my rock, and I don't know.
I just love him.
[SIGHS.]
Sal? [SIGHS.]
I'm sorry.
I really am.
For what? For everything.
I shoulda said it sooner.
You deserve better.
You're damn right I do.
Go get packing.
He needs us.
SALLY: Finn? [DOOR CLOSES.]
[PHINEAS CRIES.]
I'm so glad you're here.
[WHISPERING.]
We're gonna get through it together.
- Okay.
- I swear.
[SNIFFLES.]
[SIGHS.]
[SNIFFLES.]
WAYNE: Thankfully, the prosecutor is an admirer of the Colonel's, so we've come to an understanding.
How much did that understanding cost us? The charges will be dropped.
That's all that matters.
What about the press? We can't stop the stories from running in the papers, but we can discredit them after they do.
How? You're being framed by Yankees because you stood in the way of their oil monopoly.
Standard Oil paid a male prostitute to break into your room and strip down to his skivvies.
The man was a deviant, and you helped the police set a trap to catch him.
Yeah, I'm not saying that.
You don't get to dictate terms.
[SIGHS.]
I'm sorry, son.
You gave up that right when you dragged the family into your personal life.
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
Olivia, this is, uh, as good a time as any to break out the photographs.
Of course, Colonel.
Phineas, as I explained to your father, an important part of your public rehabilitation is for you to live your life in a manner that argues against the fabric of these allegations.
We'll get you active in the local church, we'll put you on the boards of several notable charities, and your wedding will be a significant social event.
- My wedding.
- Yes.
I've selected some excellent candidates for you.
Miss Cornish is a widow and can't have children, so you wouldn't be obligated to perform the duties of a husband.
Miss Kiley certainly has the looks.
Wouldn't this face look good on your mantel? But you should know she's been in and out of hospitals for the last few years.
Her father's anxious for her to meet a stable man.
And Miss Langford here is a very interesting option.
- Bright and articulate - Stop.
Just stop.
[SIGHS.]
If I do this, if I get married, do I still have a shot at salvaging the Railroad Commission? You best let go of that.
They've pulled you from consideration and will deny you were on any list.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION IN DISTANCE.]
JONAS: So Uncle Phineas has sex with men? I-I mean, how is that even possible? You want me to draw you a picture? - [LAUGHS.]
- [SCOFFS.]
Come on, I-it's disgusting.
I'm not the only one who thinks that, right? You sound like a sheep, Jonas.
You were talking just like they want us talking.
- Who? - Our enemies.
They are trying to turn us against each other.
You fell for it.
Baaah.
Stop it.
I'm not a sheep.
Baaah.
[CHUCKLES.]
I'm just trying to figure out how I'm supposed to act around him.
It's Uncle Phineas.
Just act normal.
He's not some different person all of a sudden.
He was a different person the whole time.
[WIND GUSTING.]
JEANNE ANNE: So, once dear old Texas [ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
Came into his hands The Devil pissed down To water the lands He mixed up the sand With millions of fleas He put horns on the toad And put thorns on the trees [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.]
Don't creep around like that.
What can I do for you? I'm checking to see if you need anything.
I do not.
How was your trip to San Francisco? Terrible.
I'm sorry.
You have my condolences.
For what? I was talking about the shitty weather.
I was told that your son is dying.
Yeah, I bet.
You and the hands sitting around spreading gossip.
The rich old bitch and her wasted pups.
Nobody meant any disrespect.
Not about respect.
My boy Tommy is lying in a hospital half a country away.
All you know is I'm rich and he goes around with boys, but y-you don't know how funny he is and how hard he worked to please his dad.
[SIGHS.]
W-What's your last name, anyway? Sanchez.
Ulises Sanchez.
Hmm.
Bet you any amount that you have never promised your child [VOICE BREAKING.]
that he would grow old and be happy.
No, ma'am.
Don't Don't promise 'em nothing.
It might turn out you're lying.
I'm happy that you love your son.
You You're surprised or something? Some mothers wouldn't.
Tommy being the way that he is.
Who you love is nobody else's damn business.
My Uncle Phineas was a homo, too.
Best man I ever knew.
Protected me through dark, dark times.
More of a father to me than my real one was.
What happened to your real father? Why? I like to hear family stories.
I guess I don't know that many of my own.
His name was Pete.
I have no idea what happened to him.
Anything else? No, ma'am.
Thank you, ma'am.
[VEHICLE APPROACHING.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
Oye, Ulises.
Ven acá.
¿SÃ, patrón? [INDISTINCT TALKING IN DISTANCE.]
Hello.
I'm Sally McCullough.
It's an honor to meet you, ma'am.
[SIGHS.]
I don't think we have to be so formal, do we? Formalities are a comfort, if you don't mind.
Please.
How are you? Well, I've seen better days.
Can you get me out of here? [WHISPERING.]
I wish that I could.
They're gonna court-martial me.
My sister's the only one left in my family who still speaks to me.
I send her half my pay.
She has a little boy.
They won't have money for rent.
Look, we can help them with that.
What would really help is a phone call from your father-in-law to my commanding officer.
Come on.
He's the Comanche Gringo, the First Son of Texas.
If Eli McCullough suddenly wanted the Colorado River on the other side of the state house, they'd move it for him.
The subject came up, and he can't be seen getting involved.
So, what? This visit is the limit of his influence? I wish there was more.
Is that from Phineas? Yes.
I don't want it.
Throw it away.
I can't.
Nothing in there changes anything.
I'd never socialized above my station before.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
I won't make that mistake again.
Oh, no, Phineas d God, he didn't see you like that.
He felt close to you very quickly.
And for him, that's rare.
He wishes he could be with you, even now.
God, he's heartbroken, I promise you.
[NORMAL VOICE.]
Which prison is he in? I have a feeling he'll be fine.
PHINEAS: How to choose, I tell you? Oh, Diane Culey was a Parade Princess.
- Princess? - Yeah.
At the Hogeye Fair, two years running.
Consistency is a virtue.
[CHUCKLES.]
And Miss Carley Hughes raises chickens and enjoys the fine art of decoupage.
[POUNDING ON DOOR.]
Ah, maybe that's her now.
Don't get married, Finn.
Say no to him.
Ah, but Miss Rainier is a mezzo-soprano who adores The Beggar's Opera.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
What a treat that could turn out to Ever wonder if we're cursed somehow? This family.
I don't believe in curses.
So what, then? God testing us? Punishing us? [SCOFFS.]
God.
[SIGHS.]
He doesn't give a damn about us.
That's a hell of a thing to say.
[CHUCKLES.]
We are not being taken to task for our sins.
We're playing the game all wrong.
Our opponents are coming at us bare knuckles and we aren't willing to take off our gloves.
Right, Daddy? [SIGHS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
What's that supposed to mean? I'm damned if I know.
Excuse me a moment.
[LIQUID POURING.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
What the hell are you thinking bringing that shit up in front of your brother? - I told you.
- Huh? I told you she had to go.
I begged you to listen to me.
If she had quietly disappeared, we would have stopped the injunction, stopped the lawsuit.
I'd be on the Railroad Commission, and we'd have our goddamn monopoly.
But you didn't have the stomach because when it comes to Pete, you have a blind spot.
And now look where we are.
Look where I am! Son, I know this is hard for you, but I'm not to blame.
[SIGHS, CHUCKLES.]
You know, l Last summer when it came time to move against the GarcÃas, you got cold feet.
If I hadn't taken action, we'd have lost everything.
Deny it, go ahead.
I told you it was a mistake to bring Pete home after he sold us out, but you insisted.
Y-You polished him up, you put him in charge, and what's the first thing he did? He forced you to fire Niles Gilbert and turn him against us.
And when Maria GarcÃa came at us, the right thing to do was to put a bullet between her eyes.
But we didn't.
Why not? You were scared of losing Pete.
[GLASS THUDS.]
It makes me sick how weak you are.
Comanche, my ass.
[BOTTLE RATTLES.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Everything okay? Daddy? Hey, where you going? Daddy! Some people use two feathers.
Flies better with three.
Fat Wolf said to use two.
We use three.
There's Scalped-A-Dog's widow, praying again.
She comes down here every day.
I've seen her.
[SIGHS.]
She's wasting her time.
What? Prayers won't bring her husband back.
She doesn't know that.
It's been two weeks, Eli.
She should understand he's dead by now.
Get on with her life.
Anything else is stupid.
You You have a cold heart.
Don't say things like that, Eli.
- It hurts me.
- Does it? Does it hurt you? You killed that woman's husband.
Are you sorry? He deserved it.
That's not what I asked, and you know it.
Are you sorry? [SIGHS.]
When I was a little girl, my grossmutter told me a story.
It was about a soldier who could no longer fight because he had been wounded in battle.
- What does that have to do with anything? - Shh.
The soldier had no home, no purpose left.
One day, not knowing where to go, he was walking through the woods when he came across a witch.
She offered him food and shelter if he agreed to do her chores for her.
Gardening, chopping wood.
She also asked him to retrieve a beautiful blue light of hers that had fallen down a well.
The soldier went down to get it.
When he got there, the blue light warmed his hands and filled his spirit.
It healed all of his pain.
When he was climbing back up with the blue light, the witch reached down to get it from him.
He fought her off.
Didn't want to let go of that blue light.
Is that the end? The witch had to kill him.
She took back what was hers.
And you know what? She wasn't sorry.
Your grandmother told you that story? Yes.
Well, it's horrible.
So is the world, Eli.
A soft heart is weakness.
[INSECTS CHIRPING.]
[GROANS, COUGHS.]
[GRUNTS.]
Okay.
[GROANS.]
ELI: Ingrid.
Ingrid! Ingrid, open the door.
Are you crazy? You'll wake my husband and the whole neighborhood.
- I need to talk.
- No, you can't be here.
I'm lost, Ingrid.
Oh, no, you're drunk and full of self-pity.
Let's talk tomorrow.
I'll meet you somewhere.
Do you remember the blue light? The story you told me.
The soldier and the blue light.
Can you tell it to me again? I have no idea what you're talking about.
You have to leave.
- Come on.
- We should.
- We should.
- Should what? Leave.
You and me.
I have my car.
We can drive to New Mexico.
You can still get big tracts of land for pennies.
And do what? And you can paint.
I can hunt deer and javelinas.
Yeah.
Eli, I'm I'm married.
Oh, that doesn't matter.
I have a life I've built, and so do you.
And whatever you're sad about today, - it will be different tomorrow.
- No, that's not true.
That's not true.
We're the only two people who really know each other.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Help me.
Help me remember who I was, and I'll help you.
I don't need help! TOM: Ingrid? - Oh, I'm begging you.
Go.
- Shh, shh, shh.
- TOM: Ingrid? - Go.
[BREATHES SHAKILY.]
- We have let this go on too long.
- No, you don't mean that.
You don't You can't ever come here again! No, Ingrid.
You don't mean that.
I can't be the person you come to when everything else falls apart! [CRYING.]
It's okay, Tom.
He's leaving.
[SNIFFLES.]
And he won't be back.
[WHISPERING.]
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[SNIFFLES.]
Eli! [ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
Ingrid! Ingrid! [BREATHLESS.]
Eli.
- You changed your mind.
- Yes.
Wait.
Ingrid.
Wait! Ingrid, wait! Wait! Ingrid! Ingrid, come back! Wait for me! Ingrid! Ingrid! [BREATHLESS.]
Ingrid.
Good.
You're here.
You can help me when he comes out.
I can't do that.
God, you're a mess.
I can't do what Phineas wants.
I can't stomach any more bloodshed.
So, you're deciding to surrender? Just like that? Not going to fight? Who are you, Eli? I'm a father.
You're a warrior, Eli! Or at least you used to be.
The young man I loved would have knocked down anything in his way and never looked back.
Come on, Eli.
Take what you want or it gets taken from you.
That light is yours, Eli.
- It will solve all of your problems.
- Ingrid But if you want it, you have to take it from him.
No.
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Coward.
[INSECTS CHIRPING.]
[ELI GROANING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Oh, man.
[GROANING.]
Oh, geez.
God.
[GRUNTS.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
Muero pero mi alma no muere Los Amare y Los bendeciré en el cielo como lo hice en la tierra.
[BRAKE SQUEAKS.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
[SIGHS.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
[PRAYING QUIETLY IN SPANISH.]
[SIGHS.]
Thank you for bringing me here.
So what is it? What did you want to say to me? We We don't have to do it here.
Working with Standard Oil is a bad idea.
You can't win.
You think I'm afraid of what your father will do to me? No, but whether you're afraid or not ain't gonna stop him from doing what he's gonna do.
I'm trying to figure a way through this.
A way that keeps you safe.
Like what? Wait.
Wait for what? - Me.
- You.
The old man can't live forever.
Maria, he he he's putting me in control of the business.
And I'll provide for you now, as much as I can, and when I'm finally in charge, all this will be yours.
I'm sure your brother would have something to say about that.
[LAUGHS.]
And your wife.
[LAUGHS.]
Oh, she'd love the idea of me being your kept woman.
It wouldn't be like that.
It's not about the land.
[SIGHS.]
It's not even about the money.
Your father offered me plenty of that.
What I want is my father back.
I want my mother, my brother, and my sister.
I want my little nephew back.
I want those holes to be filled with nothing but dirt.
- I can't give you that.
- I know.
That's why you're gonna testify in my case.
About how your father bribed a judge, how he plotted the murder of my family.
You're gonna tell the world what is true, Peter.
You're gonna help me clear my father's name.
That's what you owe me.
And that's what I want.
Will you just wait? It's hard enough asking for your help.
Don't make it harder.
I should take you back to town now.
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
PHINEAS: Thank you.
How you doing? Good to see you.
Howdy.
Evening.
Take care, now.
Happy birthday.
Mm.
Thought about you at work today.
Oh, yeah? Yes, sir, every meeting I had.
Which meetings? Who'd you meet with? - No idea.
- [LAUGHS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
- Hm.
- [SIGHS.]
What you thinking about? Your daddy.
- [SCOFFS.]
Please don't.
- [LAUGHS.]
The other day, when I ran into him, he didn't seem all that surprised.
- He seemed - Amused? - Yeah.
- Yeah.
That's cuz he knows.
What? No.
- No! - Yep.
Yeah, I must've been about Hard times.
They were all still reeling from Momma and Everett's deaths.
One night, I met up with this rancher boy and snuck back into the house.
Daddy was there waiting for me, and I thought he was gonna give me a whuppin'.
But, instead, he poured me a whiskey and said, "Be more careful.
I cannot lose another son.
" I guess being raised Comanche broadens the mind.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Yeah, for the longest time, I I felt this enormous gratitude to him, you know, for letting me be.
But then Pete got married and had kids and I saw how he was with 'em.
He wasn't keeping quiet just out of love for me.
He'd put me in a drawer 'cause I couldn't contribute to his legacy.
Did you even want children? 'Course.
What sort of man doesn't want a son? You still could.
Plenty of married men with our ways.
Nah.
No, I see what Sally goes through.
Pete doesn't love her.
She holds up the marriage on her own.
I could never do that to another woman.
Can we have some more booze or something? I thought this was supposed to be a celebration.
[GLASS CLATTERS.]
OFFICER: Don't move.
Right over here.
Hold on a minute.
Hold on a minute.
All right, go ahead.
MONAHAN: Good.
Wait outside.
You can cover up now.
Mr.
McCullough.
Despite what the current situation indicates, I do believe you're a man of substance.
What do you want? What I want's for you to come and work for me.
How's that? Well, you have the ear of some very powerful men, about to start a fantastic position at this Railroad Commission, and, of course, most importantly, you can corroborate Maria GarcÃa's claims in our lawsuit.
You want me to betray my father.
What I have here it's an employment agreement.
You sign that and that photograph goes away, and so do these two police officers.
Do it.
- What? - Sign it.
This is how you break away from your father.
It's everything you've been hoping for.
Now, there's a man with a head on his shoulders, and you ought to listen to him.
All right, then.
Take them out through the lobby.
Hands off me.
Put your hands behind your back.
Put your wrists together.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
You sure about this? Got a full house down there tonight.
Folks from the legislature, the Capitol, the bar.
And a reporter from "The Statesman" for spice.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
Okay.
[WHISTLES.]
[BANJO PLAYS MID-TEMPO TUNE, CAMERA BULB CLICKS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
[BANJO STOPS.]
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING.]
[MID-TEMPO PIANO MUSIC PLAYS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Colonel, I appreciate you having us over.
Though we're a bit late in the season for quail.
Nah, it's gonna be a great day for a shoot.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- I'll say.
Charles, have Clarence here come over and get some of those little pancakes.
- They're my momma's specialty.
- So I hear.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
CHARLES: You've been a good and loyal friend to this family and the Colonel wanted you to hear that directly from us.
See, my Uncle Phineas is set to take a seat on the Railroad Commission.
They're gonna control oil distribution for all of Texas.
- That so? - Uh-huh.
- I never heard of 'em.
- Well, you're about to, make no mistake.
They're gonna be in charge of how everyone moves oil around the state.
Set prices, control production Needless to say, Standard's gonna be pretty crippled without a way to move their product to market.
[CHUCKLES.]
Well, this is a godsend.
We've been on tenterhooks since the injunction.
I'm sure you understand.
The announcement's gonna be coming soon, then we can all breathe a sigh of relief.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
NILES: Good morning, Colonel.
[SIGHS.]
Niles.
- [CONVERSATIONS STOP.]
- You're not welcome in this house.
I come in peace.
At a time like this, neighbors should pitch in.
I'm here to offer condolences.
Condolences for what? [CRUNCHING.]
You have not heard.
Oh, Lord.
I have put my foot in it, haven't I? Your son Phineas was arrested on a sodomy charge last night in Austin.
A deviant is a scourge on any family.
As I understand it, Phineas is currently being scrubbed from the public rolls and drummed out of government.
So, I imagine that Railroad Commission spot One more word.
PETE: Come on, Niles.
Just one.
[SIGHS.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
Sorry again you had to spend the night in lock up.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
I couldn't get a straight answer for why you were denied a phone call.
Doesn't matter.
[KEYS JINGLE.]
I'll be back later with an advisor who, uh, knows how to well, let me just say she's a master of the better social sets.
She re-introduced Senator Perkins to good society when he was caught fiddlin' with those little girls.
I am not a child molester.
No.
'Course not.
Anyway you try to get some rest, and, uh, I'll see you later.
Don't forget this.
[SOBBING.]
PETE: I thought he was a bachelor.
Didn't want to settle down.
I don't know.
We never talked about it, but hell.
Of course you knew.
We all did.
Since when? Since forever.
You never said anything.
[SIGHS.]
He's your brother.
Do I have to pack a fancy dress? No, we're not going to celebrate.
But tell your brothers to hurry up.
I want us to be on the road in 15 minutes.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm surprised this doesn't bother you.
I mean, it's a sin.
[SIGHS.]
Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do.
Why doesn't it? I know it should.
And I go to church, and I read my Bible.
I just can't help the way I feel.
Finn is my rock, and I don't know.
I just love him.
[SIGHS.]
Sal? [SIGHS.]
I'm sorry.
I really am.
For what? For everything.
I shoulda said it sooner.
You deserve better.
You're damn right I do.
Go get packing.
He needs us.
SALLY: Finn? [DOOR CLOSES.]
[PHINEAS CRIES.]
I'm so glad you're here.
[WHISPERING.]
We're gonna get through it together.
- Okay.
- I swear.
[SNIFFLES.]
[SIGHS.]
[SNIFFLES.]
WAYNE: Thankfully, the prosecutor is an admirer of the Colonel's, so we've come to an understanding.
How much did that understanding cost us? The charges will be dropped.
That's all that matters.
What about the press? We can't stop the stories from running in the papers, but we can discredit them after they do.
How? You're being framed by Yankees because you stood in the way of their oil monopoly.
Standard Oil paid a male prostitute to break into your room and strip down to his skivvies.
The man was a deviant, and you helped the police set a trap to catch him.
Yeah, I'm not saying that.
You don't get to dictate terms.
[SIGHS.]
I'm sorry, son.
You gave up that right when you dragged the family into your personal life.
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
Olivia, this is, uh, as good a time as any to break out the photographs.
Of course, Colonel.
Phineas, as I explained to your father, an important part of your public rehabilitation is for you to live your life in a manner that argues against the fabric of these allegations.
We'll get you active in the local church, we'll put you on the boards of several notable charities, and your wedding will be a significant social event.
- My wedding.
- Yes.
I've selected some excellent candidates for you.
Miss Cornish is a widow and can't have children, so you wouldn't be obligated to perform the duties of a husband.
Miss Kiley certainly has the looks.
Wouldn't this face look good on your mantel? But you should know she's been in and out of hospitals for the last few years.
Her father's anxious for her to meet a stable man.
And Miss Langford here is a very interesting option.
- Bright and articulate - Stop.
Just stop.
[SIGHS.]
If I do this, if I get married, do I still have a shot at salvaging the Railroad Commission? You best let go of that.
They've pulled you from consideration and will deny you were on any list.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION IN DISTANCE.]
JONAS: So Uncle Phineas has sex with men? I-I mean, how is that even possible? You want me to draw you a picture? - [LAUGHS.]
- [SCOFFS.]
Come on, I-it's disgusting.
I'm not the only one who thinks that, right? You sound like a sheep, Jonas.
You were talking just like they want us talking.
- Who? - Our enemies.
They are trying to turn us against each other.
You fell for it.
Baaah.
Stop it.
I'm not a sheep.
Baaah.
[CHUCKLES.]
I'm just trying to figure out how I'm supposed to act around him.
It's Uncle Phineas.
Just act normal.
He's not some different person all of a sudden.
He was a different person the whole time.
[WIND GUSTING.]
JEANNE ANNE: So, once dear old Texas [ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
Came into his hands The Devil pissed down To water the lands He mixed up the sand With millions of fleas He put horns on the toad And put thorns on the trees [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.]
Don't creep around like that.
What can I do for you? I'm checking to see if you need anything.
I do not.
How was your trip to San Francisco? Terrible.
I'm sorry.
You have my condolences.
For what? I was talking about the shitty weather.
I was told that your son is dying.
Yeah, I bet.
You and the hands sitting around spreading gossip.
The rich old bitch and her wasted pups.
Nobody meant any disrespect.
Not about respect.
My boy Tommy is lying in a hospital half a country away.
All you know is I'm rich and he goes around with boys, but y-you don't know how funny he is and how hard he worked to please his dad.
[SIGHS.]
W-What's your last name, anyway? Sanchez.
Ulises Sanchez.
Hmm.
Bet you any amount that you have never promised your child [VOICE BREAKING.]
that he would grow old and be happy.
No, ma'am.
Don't Don't promise 'em nothing.
It might turn out you're lying.
I'm happy that you love your son.
You You're surprised or something? Some mothers wouldn't.
Tommy being the way that he is.
Who you love is nobody else's damn business.
My Uncle Phineas was a homo, too.
Best man I ever knew.
Protected me through dark, dark times.
More of a father to me than my real one was.
What happened to your real father? Why? I like to hear family stories.
I guess I don't know that many of my own.
His name was Pete.
I have no idea what happened to him.
Anything else? No, ma'am.
Thank you, ma'am.
[VEHICLE APPROACHING.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
Oye, Ulises.
Ven acá.
¿SÃ, patrón? [INDISTINCT TALKING IN DISTANCE.]
Hello.
I'm Sally McCullough.
It's an honor to meet you, ma'am.
[SIGHS.]
I don't think we have to be so formal, do we? Formalities are a comfort, if you don't mind.
Please.
How are you? Well, I've seen better days.
Can you get me out of here? [WHISPERING.]
I wish that I could.
They're gonna court-martial me.
My sister's the only one left in my family who still speaks to me.
I send her half my pay.
She has a little boy.
They won't have money for rent.
Look, we can help them with that.
What would really help is a phone call from your father-in-law to my commanding officer.
Come on.
He's the Comanche Gringo, the First Son of Texas.
If Eli McCullough suddenly wanted the Colorado River on the other side of the state house, they'd move it for him.
The subject came up, and he can't be seen getting involved.
So, what? This visit is the limit of his influence? I wish there was more.
Is that from Phineas? Yes.
I don't want it.
Throw it away.
I can't.
Nothing in there changes anything.
I'd never socialized above my station before.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
I won't make that mistake again.
Oh, no, Phineas d God, he didn't see you like that.
He felt close to you very quickly.
And for him, that's rare.
He wishes he could be with you, even now.
God, he's heartbroken, I promise you.
[NORMAL VOICE.]
Which prison is he in? I have a feeling he'll be fine.
PHINEAS: How to choose, I tell you? Oh, Diane Culey was a Parade Princess.
- Princess? - Yeah.
At the Hogeye Fair, two years running.
Consistency is a virtue.
[CHUCKLES.]
And Miss Carley Hughes raises chickens and enjoys the fine art of decoupage.
[POUNDING ON DOOR.]
Ah, maybe that's her now.
Don't get married, Finn.
Say no to him.
Ah, but Miss Rainier is a mezzo-soprano who adores The Beggar's Opera.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
What a treat that could turn out to Ever wonder if we're cursed somehow? This family.
I don't believe in curses.
So what, then? God testing us? Punishing us? [SCOFFS.]
God.
[SIGHS.]
He doesn't give a damn about us.
That's a hell of a thing to say.
[CHUCKLES.]
We are not being taken to task for our sins.
We're playing the game all wrong.
Our opponents are coming at us bare knuckles and we aren't willing to take off our gloves.
Right, Daddy? [SIGHS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
What's that supposed to mean? I'm damned if I know.
Excuse me a moment.
[LIQUID POURING.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
What the hell are you thinking bringing that shit up in front of your brother? - I told you.
- Huh? I told you she had to go.
I begged you to listen to me.
If she had quietly disappeared, we would have stopped the injunction, stopped the lawsuit.
I'd be on the Railroad Commission, and we'd have our goddamn monopoly.
But you didn't have the stomach because when it comes to Pete, you have a blind spot.
And now look where we are.
Look where I am! Son, I know this is hard for you, but I'm not to blame.
[SIGHS, CHUCKLES.]
You know, l Last summer when it came time to move against the GarcÃas, you got cold feet.
If I hadn't taken action, we'd have lost everything.
Deny it, go ahead.
I told you it was a mistake to bring Pete home after he sold us out, but you insisted.
Y-You polished him up, you put him in charge, and what's the first thing he did? He forced you to fire Niles Gilbert and turn him against us.
And when Maria GarcÃa came at us, the right thing to do was to put a bullet between her eyes.
But we didn't.
Why not? You were scared of losing Pete.
[GLASS THUDS.]
It makes me sick how weak you are.
Comanche, my ass.
[BOTTLE RATTLES.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Everything okay? Daddy? Hey, where you going? Daddy! Some people use two feathers.
Flies better with three.
Fat Wolf said to use two.
We use three.
There's Scalped-A-Dog's widow, praying again.
She comes down here every day.
I've seen her.
[SIGHS.]
She's wasting her time.
What? Prayers won't bring her husband back.
She doesn't know that.
It's been two weeks, Eli.
She should understand he's dead by now.
Get on with her life.
Anything else is stupid.
You You have a cold heart.
Don't say things like that, Eli.
- It hurts me.
- Does it? Does it hurt you? You killed that woman's husband.
Are you sorry? He deserved it.
That's not what I asked, and you know it.
Are you sorry? [SIGHS.]
When I was a little girl, my grossmutter told me a story.
It was about a soldier who could no longer fight because he had been wounded in battle.
- What does that have to do with anything? - Shh.
The soldier had no home, no purpose left.
One day, not knowing where to go, he was walking through the woods when he came across a witch.
She offered him food and shelter if he agreed to do her chores for her.
Gardening, chopping wood.
She also asked him to retrieve a beautiful blue light of hers that had fallen down a well.
The soldier went down to get it.
When he got there, the blue light warmed his hands and filled his spirit.
It healed all of his pain.
When he was climbing back up with the blue light, the witch reached down to get it from him.
He fought her off.
Didn't want to let go of that blue light.
Is that the end? The witch had to kill him.
She took back what was hers.
And you know what? She wasn't sorry.
Your grandmother told you that story? Yes.
Well, it's horrible.
So is the world, Eli.
A soft heart is weakness.
[INSECTS CHIRPING.]
[GROANS, COUGHS.]
[GRUNTS.]
Okay.
[GROANS.]
ELI: Ingrid.
Ingrid! Ingrid, open the door.
Are you crazy? You'll wake my husband and the whole neighborhood.
- I need to talk.
- No, you can't be here.
I'm lost, Ingrid.
Oh, no, you're drunk and full of self-pity.
Let's talk tomorrow.
I'll meet you somewhere.
Do you remember the blue light? The story you told me.
The soldier and the blue light.
Can you tell it to me again? I have no idea what you're talking about.
You have to leave.
- Come on.
- We should.
- We should.
- Should what? Leave.
You and me.
I have my car.
We can drive to New Mexico.
You can still get big tracts of land for pennies.
And do what? And you can paint.
I can hunt deer and javelinas.
Yeah.
Eli, I'm I'm married.
Oh, that doesn't matter.
I have a life I've built, and so do you.
And whatever you're sad about today, - it will be different tomorrow.
- No, that's not true.
That's not true.
We're the only two people who really know each other.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Help me.
Help me remember who I was, and I'll help you.
I don't need help! TOM: Ingrid? - Oh, I'm begging you.
Go.
- Shh, shh, shh.
- TOM: Ingrid? - Go.
[BREATHES SHAKILY.]
- We have let this go on too long.
- No, you don't mean that.
You don't You can't ever come here again! No, Ingrid.
You don't mean that.
I can't be the person you come to when everything else falls apart! [CRYING.]
It's okay, Tom.
He's leaving.
[SNIFFLES.]
And he won't be back.
[WHISPERING.]
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[SNIFFLES.]
Eli! [ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
Ingrid! Ingrid! [BREATHLESS.]
Eli.
- You changed your mind.
- Yes.
Wait.
Ingrid.
Wait! Ingrid, wait! Wait! Ingrid! Ingrid, come back! Wait for me! Ingrid! Ingrid! [BREATHLESS.]
Ingrid.
Good.
You're here.
You can help me when he comes out.
I can't do that.
God, you're a mess.
I can't do what Phineas wants.
I can't stomach any more bloodshed.
So, you're deciding to surrender? Just like that? Not going to fight? Who are you, Eli? I'm a father.
You're a warrior, Eli! Or at least you used to be.
The young man I loved would have knocked down anything in his way and never looked back.
Come on, Eli.
Take what you want or it gets taken from you.
That light is yours, Eli.
- It will solve all of your problems.
- Ingrid But if you want it, you have to take it from him.
No.
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Coward.
[INSECTS CHIRPING.]
[ELI GROANING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Oh, man.
[GROANING.]
Oh, geez.
God.
[GRUNTS.]