The Rare Breed Page #5

BOWEN:
You still think that bull of yours

could be her mate?

Mr. Bowen, Vindicator's

first calves...

will weigh half again as much

as your longhorn calves...

and they'll be hardy.

She can rip him to tatters

while he's still dancing.

- He'll never beget a calf.

- You're mistaken.

BOWEN:
Madam, I've lived half my life here.

And I tell you,

if the longhorns do not kill him...

then the wolves

and the winters will.

And I suppose you agree with him?

Sometimes it gets down

to 20 below, ma'am.

You can see that beast, Mother.

[Bellowing]

A cow? Good Lord!

I believe that Vindicator

will live long enough...

on the open range to reproduce.

And thas all we can expect of him.

Mother, thas cruel.

Yes, is cruel,

and stupid, and savage.

But then we live among

savage and stupid people.

And the only way to convince them

is on their own terms.

Survival.

Thas all they understand.

We could build a shelter.

Keep him alive that way.

I can keep roses alive

in a hothouse.

And you've got

a hothouse bull, madam.

Thas not so.

Vindicator does have stamina

and fighting spirit. He does.

My father bred it into him...

and if he has to risk his life

to prove it to you, then he will.

[Solemn instrumental music]

She'll not turn him loose

after what she's seen here.

Yes, she will.

You forget that my husband died...

trying to bring Herefords here

and prove this very point.

That woman does not

fear a thing, eh, Sam?

Nothing but dishonesty and dirt.

Do you think your ma

has any cold beef in the cupboard?

- Sure, Jamie.

- And my ma has tortillas.

[Horse approaching]

Get out of sight! And, Conchita,

come back later with tortillas.

HILARY:
All right, Vindicator. Come on.

Jamie, you shouldn't be out here.

I like to see open sky

once in a while.

Where you taking Rosy Red?

- Don't call him that.

- I'm sorry, Hilary.

I'm taking him out,

far out on the range...

and I'm going to leave him there.

There's no point in getting yourself

all upset over an old bull.

Vindicator isn't old.

Well, I mean,

he's an animal not a person.

You are a Bowen, yes, you are.

Insensitive and hateful.

You don't even know

what this means to me.

You can't understand it

and you never will.

Come on, Vindicator.

[Sober instrumental music]

You go along now, Vindicator...

and don't you come back,

do you hear me?

Go along.

[Snorting]

Vindicator, you've got to stand

on your own four feet. I mean it.

You're a British bull

with uncommon good sense...

and fine ancestors.

We've had some fine times together.

Now you've got to prove yourself.

And prove that Father was right.

Go on.

[Sentimental instrumental music]

[Bellowing]

She turned him loose.

Your lass has got guts,

I'll grant you that.

I suppose you'll be

going home now, ma'am?

What for?

I mean, whas the rush, Sam?

Mistress Evans could pay us

a wee visit for awhile.

Come summer, you'll see the first

crossbred Herefords on this range.

Sam, there's no sense

in telling her a lie.

This is longhorn country...

and ill stay longhorn country,

madam, you cannot change it.

I meant what I said.

If only I could believe that,

Mr. Burnett...

it might make a difference.

But I made that mistake once,

didn't I?

Martha, what I did was wrong.

I lied to you because I didn't want

you and Hilary to turn against me...

and I'm sorry.

[Soft instrumental music]

I think I'd better go to Hilary.

Then you're not still mad at me?

No, not particularly.

You know, Jamie...

there's really nothing

to keep us here anymore, is there?

Vindicator's out there

on the range...

- and you're up and around.

- No, now, wait a minute.

I've still got cracked ribs

and they hurt like the devil.

Here, I'll show you.

See? Thas painful.

I need attention.

Jamie, you're breaking my ribs.

Yeah.

And I will, too, if thas what

is gonna take to keep you here.

Look, all I've got is the two legs

I stand on, Hilary...

but there's room in this country to

make us a place like Herefordshire.

I don't care what is like.

I don't ever want to leave you.

[Romantic instrumental music]

[Wind howling]

BOWEN:
[Singing] I'll take the low road

I'll be in Scotland afore ye

Come on!

Get on, will you?

I don't need witnesses.

Get out of here! Go, will you?

[Bowen continues singing]

[Yelps]

Don't just stand there, man,

slam the door!

SAM:
Whare you doing?

BOWEN:
What does it look like?

You look like a bull

in a mud wallow.

Look, we got a blizzard

on our hands out there.

- The glass is still dropping.

- Thas grand.

She'll not be able to travel

in such weather.

Been wondering how to keep her here

short of violence.

How do I smell, Sam?

Do I smell grand now?

- You smell like an old buffalo.

- Thas not me, thas the robe.

Alex, I'm going out

and find Vindicator...

and bring him back here

until this weather lets up.

- Let nature take its course, man.

- But I can save him.

BOWEN:
Who wants to save him?

After he's no more here...

Mistress Evans will see

that I was right about this place...

and then she may get

a wee glimmer...

that I can be right about

some other things.

Well, it doesn't take any brains

to let a bull die in a blizzard.

Aye, but it takes a great deal

to turn loose of the past...

and thas exactly

what I want her to do.

I want her to forget all about

Herefords, and think about me.

I made up my mind.

I'm going to wed that woman.

- You're going to wed her?

- Aye.

But, Bowen, Mrs. Evans is a lady.

She's an English lady.

She didn't come

all the way out here...

to marry

an old grizzly bear like you.

BOWEN:
Yeah, she will, I tell you.

Once that bull is dead and gone,

she'll turn her attention to me:

Alexander Bowen!

[Bowen laughs]

[Singing] Every laddie has his lassie

And all the girls they smile at me

Coming through the rye

SAM:
Anything?

JUAN:
That bull has vanished, seor.

If he's smart like you say...

he headed for the Gulf of Mexico

last week.

A man cannot find a thing

in this snow.

Listen close. Listen.

[Whistles patriotic tune]

You try it.

[Both whistle same tune]

Keep it up loud.

We'll make another swing.

[Wolf howling]

[Sober instrumental music]

Sam, tomorrow I'm going with you.

No, you're not well enough.

I've been doing cartwheels

for weeks.

Hilary and Mrs. Evans are worried

half to death about you.

SAM:
Is your job to stop their worrying.

Come on,

les get in out of the cold.

[Tense instrumental music]

[Wolves growling]

[Whistles patriotic tune]

[Children singing]

CHILDREN:
Save her victorious

Happy and glorious

Long to reign

over us

God save the queen

Mistress Evans.

I'm serving tea at about 4:00

this afternoon.

- I wondered if you'd care to come?

- Tea?

Why, thank you very much, Mr. Bowen.

It could be a nice change for you.

At 4:
00, then.

All right, children. Stand up now.

We're going to sing America.

One, two, three.

[Singing] My country, 'tis of thee

Miss Evans, good day to you.

Up and about, are you?

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