A Fine Step Page #2

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Yeah. I see you've been, uh,

dabbling around here.

Yeah. There are some good

opportunities.

It's beautiful country.

Yes, it is.

Claire's mad about horses.

It's why we bought

the Murphy place.

You bought this place

to be close to your work.

Well, that, too.

Hmm. Oh, hey. Hey, honey.

Hi.

Guys, I would, uh, like you

to meet my wife, Maggie.

Hi.

Hi, Maggie.

New neighbors.

Mason. This is my daughter Claire.

Nice to meet you.

Hi.

Hello.

Aren't you a living doll?

Just beautiful. You take

after your mother, I bet.

Yes, she does.

Well, welcome. You all should

join us for lunch.

Okay. Can we do it in two hours?

We got some work to do.

Sure.

Uh...

Yeah, that'd be fine.

Okay, can we bring something?

No, we've got plenty.

Hey, you. Yeah.

All right. Come on, honey.

Let's go.

We got some work to do.

See you in two.

Okay, great.

All right.

Come on, honey.

They seem nice.

I guess.

But did you have to do that?

Do what?

Invite 'em for lunch.

Two hours? Come on.

We eat around 12:30.

By 2:
30, I'm starving.

You're a grown man.

You can handle it.

Didn't you see the poor thing?

No, what?

She's lost her mother.

Oh.

( MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO )

Slow down.

I'm just hungry.

Hey, uh, sorry I'm late.

This is our hand, Tucker.

Mason.

Hey, Mason.

Pleasure to meet you.

Did you wash up?

Yes, ma'am. I did.

I'm not 13 anymore.

I am.

You're what?

I'm 13.

Well, hello, 13.

My name's Tucker.

Nice to meet you.

So, what do we got?

Help yourself.

Yes, ma'am.

( SOFT MUSIC PLAYING )

You're doing a great job

with Claire. She's a neat kid.

Thanks.

That has gotta be hard

being a single parent.

Her mom died of cancer

six months ago.

Oh... I'm sorry.

What was her name?

Katherine. It was quick.

It has been rough.

Well, Claire seems like

a tough girl.

Yeah. Her and her mother

were really close.

I'd go to work, and Katherine

would stay home with Claire.

But we're getting to know each

other pretty well now.

It's coming together.

Katherine loved horses.

She became obsessed with them.

It's easy to do.

Well, Claire's taken it on.

I guess... it keeps her mom in her memory,

it's how she keeps going.

What about you?

Me? I work.

Your husband,

he's good with kids.

Fortunate, 'cause he's not

so good with adults.

We've been trying to have our

own family for some time, but...

You should keep trying.

It's worth it.

Here you go. Go on.

He likes you.

Yeah. Hm?

You got a good touch.

Seems like you guys are old

friends already.

You know, when he gets back

to being his regular self...

maybe you can come by,

take him to ride.

I guess.

I've just always been

scared to. You know?

Yes, I do.

You know, I didn't start

riding 'til I was 15...

but I haven't done anything else

with my life since.

I know what it's like

to be scared...

but I can tell that you

love these animals...

just like I did...

like I still do.

You know what?

I'll help you.

Go on.

It's good for the soul.

Trust me.

Thank you.

Honey? It's time to go.

See you at home.

Thanks for lunch.

And, uh, thanks for being so

good with my daughter.

Oh, it's my pleasure, really.

She's, uh, she's always

welcome here. So are you.

I don't usually get

to see her this happy.

Sorry.

"Sorry"? Why?

Eh, I kind of stole

your moment there.

No. No, you...

Listen, uh, if there's anything's that I

can do for you, you just... you just ask me.

Okay. Closed?

Mm-hm.

All right. Here's your step.

Just... there you go.

Closed? Really? Okay.

Here we go.

Open 'em.

This is Filena.

Oh, my gosh.

You like her?

She's beautiful.

She's yours.

Go.

I thought you could take her

over to the Mastersons.

Cal can teach you how to saddle

her up, and ride and...

giddy up, and all that

sort of stuff.

What?

Oh, come on, honey.

It's what she wanted.

She wanted you to ride.

( PHONE RINGS )

One minute.

Yeah?

MAN (ON PHONE):
Hey,

there's a problem with the contract.

What do you mean, "There's

a problem with the contract"?

Wait, d...

MALE (ON PHONE):

The fees weren't included in the deal.

The fees were included

in the... Claire?

No. We agreed on that.

Yes.

( HUMMING )

Well, hello, there.

Hi. Who are you?

Oh, I come out and help take

care of the horses for Cal...

every once in a while.

I'm a Ferrier.

You know what that is?

You trim and balance

the horses' hooves.

Oh, so you know a thing or two.

Yes, I do.

Do you know about Paso Finos?

A little. I just got one.

It was a gift... from my dad.

So you know about their gait.

It's a very unusual gait.

FERRIER (V.O.):

It's a four-beat gait.

It's impressive because the footfall

has to be in precise unison.

They can lope.

They can canter.

They can gallop,

just like every other horse.

But this is the most versatile

horse in the world...

because you don't bounce.

The rider remains

motionless in the saddle...

and all of this is executed

with style and pride.

And when done correctly,

it's... it's like music.

They also remember you

as their rider.

And they react as though

they're one with you.

That's why they're special.

Especially this one.

Especially Fandango.

MASON (O.S.):

Claire!

I have to go.

"Claire." Is that...

is that your name?

Yes.

Well, howdy, Miss Claire.

You have a nice night.

You, too.

( SOFT MUSIC PLAYING )

MAGGIE (O.S.):
I didn't think the

bank would close on us that soon.

And the owners are asking

for immediate payment.

The bastards, they dumped us

right after the accident.

I know you don't like

hearing it...

but I have to bring up how much we

could make studding out Fandango.

I'm not doing that.

Um, well, then, what else, Cal?

We'll have to sell some

of the horses...

or, what? The land?

The truck? Furniture?

I mean...

We'll think of something.

You got something?

No, not yet.

Daddy! You have

to do something!

What is it?

Cal and Maggie,

they're in trouble.

A bank closed on them.

Foreclosed, sweetheart,

foreclosed.

They need money...

or they're gonna have

to sell their horses.

Well, that's terrible,

but it's private business.

Can't you help them?

D... we just met.

I don't know them.

They're our neighbors.

Dad, they're our friends.

Oh... Claire.

Okay, nosey...

what did you hear exactly?

Okay.

Cal?

Mason.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm good.

How you doing?

I'm okay.

Listen, this might

be a little uncomfortable...

but I hear you're

in a bit of a bind.

Claire overheard you and

Maggie talking about a loan.

Listen, man, I don't want

to get in your business.

I just might be able to help you

cover your short end is all.

It was the hospital bills.

We didn't see 'em coming.

Well, I might be able

to get you a loan.

From who?

Well, that's not important.

I could get you covered

for a year.

Would that give you enough time?

Yeah, it's...

that'd be some time.

What's it gonna cost me?

Well, I am a businessman, so I

have to make it worth my while.

And, uh, "at my daughter's

request" doesn't fully cover it.

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