Cowboy

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Senor Reece is coming.

- Beg your pardon?

- He's here, in Chicago.

Mr. Reece, did you say?

- He'll be here soon.

- He wants his usual accommodations?

- Just like always.

- Tell him everything will be ready.

Right.

Tucker, Hamblin.

Mr. Reece is in town.

He'll want the south wing

of the 2nd floor.

- We already have people in that wing.

- They'll have to be moved.

Tucker, the kitchen and liquor pantry

will need extra waiters.

We'll put Mr. Reece in 200A as usual.

Mr. Fowler,

the Vidals are in that suite.

You're well acquainted with

Miss Vidal. Move them elsewhere.

You just don't move

people like the Vidals.

Bring Mr. Reece's trunks up.

Everything is to be pressed,

evening clothes first.

You know I cannot see you here.

My aunt is inside,

and my father is due.

I know, I have to speak

to your father.

- My father?

- Yes.

It's a hotel situation.

Something about the rooms.

May I wait inside? Please?

Yes, of course.

Last night, I thought it was

the moonlight. I was wrong.

- About what?

- You're just as pretty in here.

- Frank, please!

- You said she doesn't speak English.

She can see the expression in your

eyes. Anybody can understand that.

Did you understand the poem I sent?

Poem? What poem?

- Father, this is...

- Yes, I know Mr. Harris.

There's been a mistake.

It seems these rooms were reserved.

However, I have another suite of rooms

that is much larger.

- There's a breeze...

- We're comfortable here.

Yes, sir. But I'm only acting

on orders from the manager.

- Isn't there anything I can do...?

- Yes, there is.

You can tell me if you wrote...

...this poetry to my daughter.

I'm in love with your daughter.

I'd like to marry her.

I could never approve.

Our way of life is too different.

I don't intend to remain

a hotel clerk.

I came to get in the cattle business,

to make a fortune on the trail.

In Maria's world,

money is no recommendation.

Maria, we are going home.

Let's start packing.

And now, be good enough

to have my bill sent up.

Goodbye, young man.

And don't think

that love can find a way.

I know all the ways.

Here he comes!

- Pleased to have you again.

- Pleasure to be here.

- I want my men taken care of.

- We'll take you to your rooms.

- Bring a large herd?

- Worst trail ever.

Storms, droughts and Indians

fed on my beef.

Send up whiskey and cold chickens.

I'm sick of beef.

Right away.

- You have enough food for the party?

- All taken care of.

And hot baths. We've been

on the trail for two months!

First one to the bath, boys!

- Senor Vidal, what are you doing here?

- A visit. I'm returning to Mexico.

We'll be there in spring.

Any cattle worth buying?

I can sell you all you want.

Hold on to them.

We'll do business when I get there.

Thank you.

Maria.

Maria!

We lost 87 head on the stock train

between here and Wichita.

They got shaken off their feet,

kicked to death.

You should have seen that roadbed.

It had rail gaps in it

8 inches wide.

Might've been safer to trail through.

Lose a few pounds, save a few cow.

- How's the opera season this year?

- Beg your pardon?

Opera, man. Opera!

- I don't know, I guess it's all right.

- You guess?

You call yourself civilized,

but know nothing about the opera?

- I keep my mind on business.

- Let's get to business.

- I have 2476 head. Quotations?

- Two and a half cents per pound.

- Could go down by morning.

- Could go up.

I got 80 percent grassers...

...10 percent half-fats,

10 percent canners.

- Little low on canners.

- Little high. You get the best of it.

I figure two and three-quarters

for the lot.

We figured two and a half.

Two and three-quarters,

or I feed them till they go to three.

Decide. I want a bath.

New York market's closed.

We should wait.

- He's right. We should think it over.

- You do that, Mac.

Paco, go keep an eye on those cows.

We're holding on to them for a while.

Chicago has all the coal in the world!

You can't get enough hot water!

Where's that boy?

Boy, when I take a bath,

I want hot water!

When I mean hot water,

I mean hot water!

Hot water...

Can't take a bath...

Tom...

...you ready to talk business now?

Boot's grown to my foot.

I think I'm beefsteaked.

- You were kind of quiet out there.

- Let the boys do the bickering.

Makes it easier to close the deal.

Two and a half cents for everything

if you deal right now.

You know how I feel about cows.

I'd just as soon own them and be poor

as sell them and be rich.

You can't wait for them to fatten,

you have to start on a new drive.

You need beef so bad

your mouth's watering.

You can have the whole lot for 48,000.

You got a deal.

Now we can quit lying

and get to business.

Pull up a chair and open the whiskey.

Have a drink.

- Boy, we need more whiskey!

- Yes, sir!

Tom, when will you get smart...

...stop beating yourself

out on that trail?

Hook up with me here.

We'll build the biggest

meatpacking business in town.

I could never learn to play partners.

I just think about it,

I get itchy all over.

Get some nice clothes on,

we're going to the opera.

- Opera?

- Yeah.

- What about the party?

- That's after.

Pour it in, son.

Sounds like the party's

already started.

Close that door out there!

I'm freezing my whiffletree!

Come in.

Come in.

I took the liberty

of bringing these to you myself.

- Set them down and open one for me.

- Yes, sir.

I understand you're going

back down to Mexico?

If the good Lord spares me.

And if I ever get another drink.

Mr. Reece...

- To the brim, that's what a cup's for.

- Yes, sir.

Mr. Reece...

...Im a farmer.

You had me fooled.

No, what I mean is,

I was raised on a farm.

I know a lot about animals, and I'm

interested in the cattle business.

That's why I came here.

I'd like to go to work for you, sir.

Cockroach.

What makes you think

you'd like to go trail-herding?

All my life I've dreamt

of going into the cattle business.

Getting on the trail.

I hate Chicago,

I'd like to live in the open.

- You know what I mean.

- I know.

Lying under the stars,

the boys singing around the campfire.

And your faithful old horse

grazing at the grass by your side.

- You do much riding?

- Me?

I bet I could ride all day and night.

Is that a fact?

- I bet you like horses.

- I sure do.

I thought so.

You're an idiot. A dreamy idiot,

and that's the worst kind.

Know what it's really like?

Dust storms and cloudbursts.

Only a fool wants that.

And that hogwash about horses.

The loyalty and intelligence

of the horse.

A horse's brain

is the size of a walnut.

They're mean, treacherous and stupid.

Not enough sense to move away

from a hot fire.

No sensible man loves a horse.

He tolerates the filthy animal

because riding's better than walking.

Pour me a little more whiskey.

In spite of having a brain

the size of a bean, no horse ever...

- And did you ever taste horse?

- No.

Hasn't got a gamy or beef flavour.

Just tastes like horse.

As for cattle, those miserable,

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