My Friend Flicka Page #2

to make your own choice.

I can have any colt

on the ranch?

- Ayearling?

- Thats right.

Gosh.

Jeepers, maybe I can have

the one I saw yesterday.

Come on,

you old jughead.

Come on there.

Oh, come on. Come on.

Oh, step on my foot,

would you?

Come on.

Why dont you take Highboy

for your colt?

That chump?

Dont think Im riding Cigarette

because I want to.

Its because

I have to.

Then how about Lassie?

Shes as fast as anything

and black as ink.

Who said I wanted

a black horse?

How about College Boy?

Hes smart like a fox.

Im going to pick

a filly.

I know the one

I want, too.

I hope I find her.

Hey, dont do that

again, Hildy.

Cigarettes

kind of nervous.

She might kick you.

She better dont.

Ill kick her back.

Thanks, Tim.

OK.

Ready, Ken?

Yes, sir.

Dont see why

I cant go, too.

Youre a girl.

Thats why.

Check your cinch?

Yes, sir.

Lets go.

Ken, dont you

want your hat?

Oh, thanks, Mom.

Dont see why

I cant be a boy.

Even youre a boy...

I guess.

Maybe you think its funny,

giving you a colt...

when you deserve

a good hiding.

Flunking all your exams...

then pulling that stunt

yesterday.

Dont think

Im letting you off.

Im not.

I havent gone soft.

Dont get that

into your head.

I expect as much now

as I ever did.

This isnt any reward...

because you havent

won any reward.

This is a partnership.

One of these days,

Ill need your help.

You have to be trained

so you can give it.

Every man needs training.

Discipline.

I got mine at West Point.

And how.

Youre going to

train that colt.

Ill help you

with the first breaking...

but youll train it,

and itll train you.

Yes, sir.

You and your mother

may have to care for this ranch...

without me pretty soon.

Where will you be?

I may have to go back

into the army.

You understand,

dont you?

Yes, sir.

You make a good pony

out of that colt...

and let it make

a man out of you.

Yes, sir.

I rode all through here

yesterday.

I didnt leave

any colts behind.

If Rocket had a colt,

she wouldnt leave it.

I saw a colt yesterday...

that got separated from

the bunch in the stampede--

a sorrel filly

with a cream mane and tail.

Sounds like

Rockets yearling.

Rockets?

The filly sired by Banner

last spring.

Thats what was

wrong with Rocket--

she missed

that little filly.

Shed very likely console herself

with a yearling.

Should pick up a track

around here someplace.

Hey, Boss!

A cat.

Thats a mountain lion,

all right.

Ja. A big one.

Havent had one around here

for a long time.

Good thing we got

the brood mares out of here.

Maybe we better

look around that cave.

Well, it got

one of them.

Its dark brown.

Its Rockets, I guess.

Tim was right.

She had one.

Didnt she know

it was dead?

Yes and no.

Mares are funny

about death.

Theyll leave

a dead foal...

then remember it

and hunt for it.

Will the mountain lion

get any other horses?

Not now, Kenny.

Theyre all out on the range.

Cant he get

the horse and colts there?

Not where theres

no cover.

Their only chance

is surprise.

If a horse is off

by itself...

a lion will jump on it,

bite through the spine.

Quick kill.

[Whinny]

Its Rocket.

And her filly.

What a pretty

little flicka she is.

Flicka

What does that mean?

Swedish for :
:little girl.

Flicka. Thats

what Ill call her.

My colt.

Your colt?

Yes, sir.

Thats the one I want.

Rockets filly, Ken?

Yes, sir.

I hoped youd make

a wiser choice.

You know how I feel...

about Rockets

line of horses.

But shes fast.

Rockets fast, too.

Theyre my worst horses.

Theres not one among them

with any real sense.

The mares are hellions,

the stallions outlaws.

Theyre untamable.

Ill tame her.

Nobodys ever been able

to tame a one of them.

You want a horse

thatll be a friend?

Yes, sir.

Youll never make

a friend of her.

Look what they did

to get back together.

No fence in the world

will ever hold them.

You better

change your mind.

No.

OK, Ken. I promised you could

make your own choice.

But remember--

Rockets loco...

and 1 0-to-1

the colt is, too.

But she may not be.

Banners her father.

All right.

Well bring her in

tomorrow or the next day.

Its silly

to write horses names on things.

Horses cant read.

People can read.

But Pop cant.

Besides, you aint even

got a horse yet.

What do you mean

I havent got a horse?

Well, it aint here.

Dads bringing her in

today.

[Honk Honk]

[Honk Honk Honk]

Thats Mr. Sergent.

Hes got lots of race horses.

Hes got

a fat belly, too.

Hey, Gus,

is Rob around?

Ja.

Hes in the house.

Hi, Rob.

Hi, Charley.

How you been doing?

Good. You?

Swell.

Glad to see you.

Sit down.

Rob, Im shipping a carload of horses

to Los Angeles.

Maybe youd like

to go in on the deal...

and share

the shipping expenses.

Might do that.

Theres room in the car

for four more horses.

Sounds pretty good.

You know, Pop says

Flickas loco...

like her mother.

Dont say that, Hildy.

Well, aint her fault.

She cant help it

if her moms crazy, can she?

Banners got sense.

She could be like her father,

couldnt she?

I dont know.

When I do

something dumb...

Mom says I take after

the old man...

and when I do

something smart...

Pop says I sure dont

take after the old lady.

You havent got

anything like Rocket.

That she-devil

can outrun...

any animal

youve ever seen.

Youre crazy.

Like to make a bet?

Hello, Charley.

Well, hello there, Nell.

No. Dont get up.

I only have a minute.

What are you two

talking about?

Rocket.

If I could get a mare

to do #5 miles an hour--

Shell make you

a fortune...

if you could

break her.

My broncobuster

can break any horse.

He can do it

if shes worth breaking.

Worth it?

Didnt I tell you?

How much

do you want?

- 500.

- 500.

Dollars.

You got

a stopwatch?

No. I got

a speedometer.

Good enough.

Lets go.

Ill get lunch

ready for you.

[Honking]

There they are.

Isnt Flicka beautiful?

[Honk Honk]

Shes heading

for the north range.

Well clock her there.

The grounds flat.

[Honk Honk]

Shes like

a locomotive.

Does she always run

with her nose up?

Yeah. Shes a stargazer.

[Honk Honk]

[Honk Honk]

Look at the speedometer.

Faster, Boss.

She aint half trying.

[Honk Honk]

If she does #5,

Ill buy her.

Jumping jeepers!

Well, what

do you say?

Its a deal...

if shes delivered

sound in wind and limb.

Just how youll do that

is anybodys guess.

You leave that to me.

Look out for Rocket.

Get in there,

get in there!

Tim, throw

a rope on her.

[Whinny]

Wont be easy

to get her in.

Stay with her, Tim.

Come on!

Get that noose

off her neck.

Be careful, Rob.

Think Id deliver her

with string hanging on her?

I put it on.

Im going to get it off.

Look out!

Open that chute gate

so she can see through.

Get in there.

Shut the gate.

Get the truck.

Whoa. Thats it.

Sergent expects her

in good shape.

Try not

to skin her up.

Get her out of here.

Well, thats that.

You mean thats $500.

Itll come in mighty handy,

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