The Lusty Men Page #8

another cowhand.

You're only thinking

of the money.

Just a minute.

Let me tell you something.

When Wes asked me

to come into this,

maybe I told myself

that the money

was making up my mind,

but it wasn't.

I was lying to myself.

The only thing that kept me

stringing along was you.

Hope's a funny thing.

You can have it

even though there

ain't no reason for it.

You can tell me

to shut up and move on,

like anybody at your door

trying to sell you

something you don't want.

I'm just waiting to hear

what the lady

of the house has to say.

Don't let Wes end up

the way you did.

You mean a washed-up,

beat-up bronc rider.

I didn't mean that.

All I meant was...

don't let him wind up crippled.

That's all you

really care about is Wes, isn't it?

It's funny

how the people you never figure

ought to be together always are.

All right, Mrs. merritt,

I'll go back and tell him.

I made my pitch.

The lady just didn't buy.

We'll come back here

after we close the joint.

I do think I ought

to kiss you just once

for all the times I won't.

Ain't that pretty,

out here in the corridor

playing post office?

Somebody's going

to get real fed up with you

and beat your

head in with a rake handle.

Your friend?

Be the first thing

you've done on your own

since I knew you.

You've just been dragging

your foot in my stirrup.

You got anything to say,

say it at the stables.

Playing me for a sucker.

Taking half my dough.

Why? Because

you ain't got guts to ride yourself.

All that fancy talk

about being through with rodeoeoing.

You'll never be through

as long as you ride

somebody else's shoulders.

You're yellow!

You ain't got guts enough

to ride a dead mule.

You bounce real good.

Bronc riders.

I never met a bronc rider yet

that wasn't a wild man.

But if they weren't wild men,

they wouldn't be bronc riders.

You still sure?

Ginny, you keep an eye

on Mrs. merritt.

She'll need a place

to sleep tonight.

Remember once a party

in butte, Montana.

Big hotel.

Fella's wife

kissed another fella,

and this fella...

Once again, it's my pleasure

to describe to you

an outstanding event

in the world of sports...

The annual Pendleton roundup.

Passing before us now,

an exciting display

of old glory,

followed by our friends

the yumatella Indians.

Adding more color

to this review,

the serpentine ride

by the cowboy contestants

in the center of the arena.

What do you say, Bobby?

You sweetening up the kitty?

Get off his back.

You might ride for second.

Well, I'm just kidding.

What do you think you're doing?

What's it look like?

Signing up, huh?

Calf roping, steer

tying, bulldogging,

bareback, and saddle bronc.

Everything

but ladies' trick riding.

I owe you $350 entry fee.

Just a minute, Jeff.

You letting

this ruckus with Wes get under your skin.

That's my business, gentlemen.

Let's talk this over.

Take that money

and hand me one of those numbers.

You out of your head?

You ain't rodeoed all season.

You're

in no condition to compete.

The only thing

you've got to worry about

is keeping those chutes loaded.

Wouldn't let

nobody use them but you.

Won the average

four years at calgary with them.

Set a record

they been shooting at for 20 years... 9.3.

I'll be satisfied with 14 flat.

I hear you've signed up

for four events.

Quit yapping.

Ain't nobody in your class.

Now we're going to see

some records broke.

But you ain't competed all year.

Honey, I got told

two things yesterday.

One was to keep my nose

out of other people's business.

That's pretty good advice

all around.

Our first contestant

in calf roping

will be Jeff McCloud

of bandera, Texas.

Jeff's making

his first appearance

after a year's layoff

because of a leg injury.

I'm sure rodeo contestants

and rodeo fans alike

are happy to welcome Jeff

back to competition.

Guess he's a little overanxious,

but he's going to try

for a second throw.

You're going away.

Because of Wes?

No, honey, because of me.

Did you hear about Jeff?

No. Did he leave?

I wish he had.

He's going to rodeo today.

He signed up for four events.

No matter

what booker says, he ain't in shape.

Everybody knows it but Jeff.

They say

he's just doing it to show Wes.

No, that isn't it.

Maybe it's because

he needs the day money.

That isn't it, either.

Where is he?

Over at the chutes.

Wes merritt

of big Springs, Texas.

The time for Wes merritt

is 21.4 seconds.

It looks like Jeff McCloud

is going all the way.

He's next up in bulldogging,

and he's chosen for his hazer

a lifelong friend

and old-time rodeo great

of past years,

booker Davis.

Man be in trouble

if he front-holds

a steer this big.

I reckon I'll throw him

with a half Nelson.

Have him in shape

to throw him right.

If I have to,

I'll bump him in your lap.

Jeff's time...

11.6 seconds.

Sure bedded him down in a hurry.

That's good enough

for day money.

You had him in there

all the way for me.

To the chutes now

for the saddle bronc riding.

Our first contestant,

Bob Elliott

of newhall, California.

Next out, Wes Merritt.

Wes will try his hand

on one of al Dawson's

top broncs... Black widow.

Over to chute 8, where Pete fox

from rapid city, south Dakota,

is coming out on war paint.

Looks like war paint

is really on the warpath today.

Tough break, Pete.

I think red

just stayed out too late last night.

Oh, he did pretty good.

Hear you entered in

the saddle bronc riding.

Well, you heard right.

Picked a tough horse.

I remember saying

the same thing to Wes.

I can handle anything he can.

Everybody knows Wes

ain't in your class.

Everybody but me.

Now to chute number 6,

where Jeff McCloud

of Bandera, Texas,

the former saddle bronc

champion of the world,

will come out on a horse

called lightning rod.

All right. Let me out.

Look at that cowboy stick!

A great ride.

He's the best.

He's much of a man.

Our pickup men

seem to be having trouble

getting to Jeff.

Jeff McCloud is in trouble.

And he's got his foot

caught in the stirrup.

At chute 2, Craig Bentley

of Salinas, California,

is coming out on the drifter.

In here, boys.

Out of chute number 2,

Wes Merritt, Big Springs, Texas.

Come on, Wes.

You're next out.

What were you trying to prove?

I used to make my own money.

I used buy my own whiskey,

take my own falls.

A fella just likes to know

if he can still do it.

Isn't one man enough

for you to worry about?

He ain't bad hurt.

He's showing how tough he is.

Broken rib. That's nothing.

I remember...

I told you to lay still.

That rib's

sticking through his lung.

You're nothing

but a no-good, washed-out,

beat-up bronc rider.

All you know is

how to bust a gut.

The more bones you break,

the bigger man

you think you are.

Broken bones,

broken bottles, broken everything.

There never was a bronc

that couldn't be rode.

There never was a cowboy

that couldn't be throwed.

Guys like me last forever.

Where's Jeff?

He's dead.

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