Country Strong

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1

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

BEAU:
When I was a littIe boy,

my mom used to play

A Portrait of Merle Haggard

every night before bed.

Her favourite song

was Silver Wings,

so I figured I'd surprise her

and learn how to play it.

I played that song

day and night until my fingers bled.

(BEAU CHUCKLES)

Finally, when I sat her down

to play it,

she waited until I was finished

and then she said,

"Merle sings it better,

but keep trying."

(BEAU LAUGHS)

So I guess I am.

(BEAU SINGING SILVER WINGS)

Put it out, Beau.

Yes, ma'am.

Peterson went through

withdrawal all over

the dogwood deck.

It's got your name on it.

And Beau?

I don't want to see you

anywhere near Mrs Canter's room.

(BEAU PLAYING GUITAR)

(BOTH AD LIBBING COUNTRY LYRICS)

The what?

The what was wet?

Go with it.

What did you get wet?

The stage was wet.

Oh, the stage

was wet, right.

(STRUGGLING TO FIND LYRICS)

I'm looking.

That's when it what?

You keep messing me up here.

I'm sorry. (LAUGHING)

You know, here. You just. . .

You were what?

You sing it.

What were you going to say?

No, that was good.

Why are you

giving this to me?

Go on, please.

What?

I don't know.

Make it yours.

I like that song.

What do you say

when you start?

"l remember that day."

"l remember that day.

When. . ." When what?

"When we first met."

(AD LIBBING LYRICS WlTH EASE)

How do you do that so fast?

l didn't do anything.

You were there.

You had it already.

Give me that.

"Timing is everything."

Try that one.

I like that.

That one was good.

(SINGING

TIMING IS EVERYTHING)

(BOTH SINGING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

JAMES:
Kell.

What's going on?

This is Beau.

Do you remember him?

He's one of my sponsors.

We were just

messing around.

Of course.

Hey, Beau.

How are you doing?

Hey, beautiful.

Hi.

Beau, would you mind

getting a couple bellhops

for Kelly's bags?

You got bellhops here,

don't you?

No, sir.

Well, then, do you mind?

Because the car's out front.

They're letting me out early.

Well, you still got

another month left.

They think I'm better.

Better than what?

l was going to tell you.

l was. . .

l was just thinking,

"How am I going to tell you?"

Beau !

Are you Kelly's doctor?

Because the last I checked,

Dr Stevens was

taking care of her.

No, he's just being protective.

Aren't you, Beau?

He's just being

a good sponsor.

Why don't you let me

be the protective one,

all right, hoss?

Now, if you wouldn't mind,

I'd like to get some help

with these bags

so we can get

Kelly out of here.

She doesn't travel light,

in case you hadn't noticed.

(SlGHS)

JAMES:
The first two

venues are small.

We'll ease you back into it.

And the third?

We're going to go back

to Dallas, televised.

What?

Yeah, we're going to

prove them all wrong.

Look, Kell, you're

the toughest girl I know,

so if you tell me

you're not ready,

well, then,

l'll take that

at face value.

l want Beau

to open for me.

Who's Beau?

He's that kid you just met.

He's a singer.

He's a good one.

Well, why don't we

get the gardener

to open for you?

I'm sure he's good.

It's important to me.

Besides, l've already got

an opener for you.

Chiles Stanton.

The beauty queen

l was telling you about.

She's playing tonight

at The Stage,

and I'm going to go

check her out.

I'm sure you are.

You can check out Beau

while you're there.

All right. Well,

how about this?

Look, l'll. . .

Hold on. l'll go

check out Chiles tonight

and if it doesn't work out,

and if she doesn't

blow me away,

then we'll look at

other options.

Don't placate me.

l wouldn't dare.

Oh, yeah.

(SlGHS)

So, where did you

find the bird?

Under a tree down there.

(SlGHS)

l waited 20 minutes

for her mama to come back,

and when she didn't,

l swooped her up.

l've been taking care

of her ever since.

lt looks like

a baby quail.

l've been calling

her Loretta Lynn.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

What if I took her

for just a little while?

l'll take care of her.

You got a really

big tour that you need

to get ready for.

Okay.

Hey.

l got a good idea.

What?

Let's get out of here.

Let's go.

FEMALE NEWSCASTER:

Nashville's Kelly Canter

was released, once again,

from rehab this morning.

You'II remember,

the country music star

was arrested last year

for drunk and

disorderly conduct

while performing

at a show in Dallas.

She was five months

pregnant at the time.

Hi, guys. Hey. Hey,

how are you doing?

Be careful.

We can't wait to

get on the road again.

We can't wait for

the tour to start.

Kelly's feeling

better than ever.

She's looking

better than ever.

And it's going to be fun.

We can't wait

to get in front of

the fans again, okay?

Thanks, guys. Take care.

FEMALE REPORTER:

James, what about

the divorce rumours?

Hey, Beau.

What are you doing here?

l couldn't just

wait by the phone

for you to call, could l?

I'm here to hear you sing.

And to support Chiles,

of course.

Chiles? What does she

got to do with tonight?

You be nice, Beau.

Find me after the show.

All right.

(SINGING

FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES)

Oh, hi, Beau.

You better be here

to wish me luck.

I'm on the board.

I'm playing

three songs tonight.

Says who?

Says James Canter,

that's who.

Bullshit.

Bull-true.

l happen to be

in consideration

as the new opening act

for Miss Kelly Canter.

James, my new manager,

booked me this gig

as a rehearsal.

Not that I need it.

l've been ready

for this moment since

l was four years old.

The last time I saw you sing,

you froze up like an ice cube.

That was seven

and a half months ago.

And it was just that one time.

I'm not playing

county fairs any more.

I'm much more seasoned.

You don't have any songs.

You can't even

play the guitar.

l've been writing songs.

l got a whole bunch

of them right over there.

LittIe Heartbreaker,

Summer Girl,

Rinky Dinky Town.

These aren't songs,

these are rides at Disneyland.

(RESUMES SINGING

FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES)

Clint,

tell me Garth Brooks here

isn't opening up for me.

She's not. She's closing.

l can't do anything

about it, either.

It's your place.

You can tell her no.

Not to James Canter, I can't.

So you're going to

let this prom queen

get up on stage?

l mean, for Christ's sake,

Patsy Cline sang here.

I don't care if she sings

Yankee Doodle Dandy,

she's still going to play.

I'm not cutting

your set, Beau.

You've got

the same three songs.

Don't worry, Beau.

l have no intention

of stealing your

invisible career.

(SlGHS) You see,

l want one.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(SINGING HARD OUT HERE)

Hey, you did make it.

Good to see you.

How are you doing?

We got

a packed house tonight,

l got your favourite spot

on the rail right

straight through here,

and Chiles is up next.

Yeah, what do you

hear about her?

Well, I saw her

last Tuesday at Robert's.

And to tell you the truth,

I don't know

which was bigger,

the hair or the dress.

Hey, she could be

a diamond in

the rough, you know?

Well, I ain't got

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