East of the Mountains (2021) Movie Script

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Hey. Come on.
Beat it.
Stay.
[sighs]
[door creaks open]
[sighs]
Hmm.
[sighs]
[sighs]
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Am I late?
Oh, no! Hi, Dad.
Hi.
Hi. How're you feeling?
I'm fine, I'm fine.
[woman] Chris was
supposed to graduate this year,
but because of the divorce,
he's just gonna take
a semester off.
Take a semester off?
Yeah, he wants to travel.
He's saved up some money,
and...
You should come by the house.
He really misses you.
Well, Renee, I'm... uh...
I'm going to take a few days
I'm going to go hunting
in my old stomping grounds,
and I'm leaving in the morning.
Oh! Who's going with you?
Rex...
and me.
I've been thinking about it...
for a while.
Are you gonna go see
Uncle Aidan?
No.
I just thought that
maybe now things
would be different than...
What would be different?
So when will you be back?
Uh...
Thursday or Friday.
I'm okay, I'm just fine!
I just wanna go
over the mountains,
and let the dog run around,
and walk a little.
Okay.
When you come back,
we're gonna have a serious talk.
A serious talk.
Yes.
About you coming
to live with us.
You know.
If you have to start treatment...
If.
I haven't heard back
from the doctors at all.
So it doesn't make sense
to talk about anything.
Doesn't make sense.
No.
Well, you know
that's what you say
when you just don't want
to talk about something. right?
Well, I just don't want
to talk about it!
Just like you don't want
to talk about Mom...
It's...
it's late.
Dad, I'm sorry, I'm not trying
to box you in or anything.
Chris is in college now
and you just need
someone to take care of.
No!
I'm just concerned
about your health, Dad.
I'm not sure my health
is your business.
I've barely seen you
since mom died.
I miss you.
And I just want to spend
some time together.
I... I'm sorry.
I have to go.
Dad...
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[kettle whistling]
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Come on.
Come on. Up you go.
Up you go. Come on.
[answering machine beeps]
[automated voice] Please
leave a message after the tone.
[answering machine beeps]
Hi, Dad, it's Renee.
I hope I catch you
before you leave.
I'm sorry about
last night.
I didn't mean to offend you
or upset you.
I'm just not feeling that great
about this trip that you want
to take all alone.
Will you please call me back
when you get this message?
Thank you, Dad.
Love you.
Bye.
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[engine clunks]
[engine struggling]
[engine turns off,
steam hissing]
Oh!
Oh, Jesus.
[vehicle approaching]
[vehicle slowing down
and stopping]
[man] Hey, how's it going?
Well, not great.
You got some car trouble?
Yeah.
Need a ride?
Well, I could use one.
I've got a dog, however,
and, um...
some other things.
That's not a problem.
Okay.
- Thanks.
- Need some help?
No service.
What are you gonna do
with your car?
I'll take care of it.
Where you want us to take you?
I was thinking of hunting
up in Frenchman Coulee.
Meeting friends up there.
Sweet climbing spot.
Perfect.
[engine starts]
Look, I don't want
to take you out of your way.
We're super flexible.
It's not a problem.
I appreciate it, really.
I do appreciate it.
I was following the...
I was following the
I was following the...
I was following the
I was following the...
I was following the
I was following the...
I was following the
What's his name?
Oh, that's Rex.
Are you from around here?
Oh, I used to be.
Do you still have
family out here?
Not really.
And Michael
you would fall
And turn the white snow
Red as strawberries
in the summertime...
[grunts]
Are you okay?
Oh, yeah, it's just...
bad back.
I'm okay.
I was following the pack
All swaddled in their coats
With scarves of red
tied 'round their throats
To keep their little heads
from falling in the snow
And I turned 'round
and there you go
And Michael
you would fall
And turn the white snow
Red as strawberries
in the summertime
[engine turns off]
[Rex barks]
Stay.
You got everything?
Yeah. I'm fine.
I appreciate you doing this.
Giving me a ride.
Um. Here you go.
Uh. Some snacks for later.
We thought you could use it.
Oh, that's really sweet of you.
Thank you very much.
You sure you're gonna be
all right out here?
I'm gonna be fine.
Okay.
I'm gonna be just fine.
Thank you.
You have a good climb?
Thanks.
Okay.
- Bye, Ben!
- So long.
Come on.
Come on, come on.
Come on.
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Ah.
Okay, here we go.
Okay, let's go hunting.
Hold up.
Hunt 'em up.
[Rex barks]
[fires]
[fires]
Hmm.
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Yeah.
[chuckles softly]
[laughs]
Okay.
[coughs]
Whoo!
[coughs]
[sighs]
[grunts]
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[barking]
[Ben snores]
[barks]
Rex!
Dammit.
Rex!
[dogs barking]
[Rex whimpering]
Rex!
[gunshot fires]
[blow lands]
- [blow lands]
- Get off!
Get off, dammit!
[blows landing]
[gunshot fires]
Oh, God.
[vehicle approaching]
[brakes screeching]
[man] Hey. You alone down there?
[Ben] Can you help me?
My dog's hurt.
[man] You fuckin' shoot my dog?
[Ben] Your dog had my dog
by the throat.
[man] You coulda just
kicked him off.
Give him a good kick,
my dog'll listen.
[Ben] I did that.
He wasn't listenin'.
[Rex whimpering]
[man] Damn it.
[Ben] Your dog was gonna
rip my dog's throat out.
[man] Maybe I ought
to shoot your dog, too.
You get down on the ground now.
[cocks gun]
Turn your head away.
[Rex whimpering]
You killed my dog.
I'm takin' your gun.
[Ben] I need that gun.
Shoulda thought of that
before you shot
my best coyote dog.
[engine starts]
[engine revs]
[Rex whimpering]
[Rex whimpering]
Good boy.
Hold still...
Hold still.
[Rex whimpering]
Okay.
Okay.
[Rex whimpering]
[Rex whimpering]
I know.
Don't do that.
Don't do that.
[groans]
[groans]
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[Rex whimpers]
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Shh.
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[man] Hey.
Hey.
Do you need help?
My dog needs help.
Let's get you into my truck.
[man speaking in Spanish]
[man speaking in Spanish]
A vet I know.
She's going to open her clinic.
[engine turns off]
You're awake.
You were sound asleep.
He seems to be doing okay
back there.
[vehicle approaching]
Anita's here.
[speaking in Spanish]
Are you the owner?
I am, yes.
Thank you for coming out.
Yeah, of course.
I mean, when he asks me,
how could I say no?
[speaking in Spanish]
I'm going to open up
the clinic for us, okay?
Okay.
Thanks again.
I owe you something.
No, you don't.
It's not necessary.
Okay.
Ooh...
Are these your stitches?
Yeah.
You a doctor or something?
I was.
What happened?
Dog fight?
Yeah.
Where?
Bird hunting.
Okay...
I'm going to give him
some fluids.
I need to cut out your stitches,
clean him up, sew him up.
I'd say about $500?
Okay.
And he's going to need
to be here a couple nights.
How are your hands?
They're okay.
They're still good.
I don't have anyone
coming to help me.
And I would like
to get some rest
before I have to
come in tomorrow.
You mind helping out?
Okay.
All right, I'm gonna give him...
.32 mils of Dex...
Good job.
And now something for the pain.
[Rex whimpers]
Good job, baby.
[turns music on]
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You don't mind the music,
do you?
No.
That's lucky
because the other answer
would have you
waiting in the lobby,
where you'd still be able
to hear the music.
You do these one-handed?
I did.
They're not bad.
I was a cardiac surgeon
for 50 years in Seattle.
Oh.
You got stories?
Yeah.
Just, you know,
trying to pass the time.
It will pass on its own.
3-0 Weblon
with reverse cutting needle.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
That's very nice.
I know.
But thanks.
Okay, so I have someone
who comes in
a little later tonight.
She should be here shortly.
What about you?
You got a place
to stay tonight?
There's a motel
up the street.
It's on the way home.
I can drop you off.
Okay.
[Ben] Wow, this town
sure has changed.
[Anita] Change is good.
I could not get out of here
fast enough.
Why'd you come back?
My brother died.
And my nephew needed
a stable home.
Mm-hmm.
Well, thank you
for taking care of the dog.
I really appreciate that.
Yeah, no problem.
All right, good night.
And thanks for the ride.
Get some rest.
Yeah.
[door opening]
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[man] All right.
See you later.
Yes, I brought
the Brittany in last night.
Are you Ben Gibbons?
Anita told me about you.
Okay.
I heard you carried him
all day yesterday
after he was attacked.
He sure wasn't
going to carry me.
Like carrying
my buddy in the war.
World War II?
Korean War.
How are you doing?
Ben! What're you doing here?
I thought you'd still be asleep!
Hi! Uh...
I had to see him.
He's been through a lot,
so he just needs some rest.
- Yeah.
- Hey.
I have your number
at the motel.
I gotcha.
Okay.
Come on, Derek.
I need your help with something.
- Thank you.
- All right, see you later.
Appreciate it.
[TV playing softly, indistinct]
[TV playing softly, indistinct]
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Hey.
You're usually faster than this.
I can do this all day.
You'll be doing it all day
if you keep that up.
[Ben] Yeah...
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[phone ringing]
Hello?
Hi, Ben.
It's Anita.
Oh, Anita. Yes, uh...
How's Rex?
I looked in on him
before we left.
His vitals look a lot better.
Oh! Okay.
Have you had dinner yet?
No? Dinner?
Yeah.
I'm going to be passing by
in about five minutes.
If I slow down enough,
you think you could jump in?
Jump in?
Yeah.
Come have dinner at my house.
I mean, we sewed up
a dog together.
I think we could at least
make it through a dinner, no?
Oh!
Well, sure, I guess.
Yes, that's fine.
Thank you very much.
I'll see you in five minutes.
Okay, bye!
Bye.
[Anita] Yeah, okay.
Adios. Gracias.
Hey, hey, hey.
Did I mention I don't cook?
Here you go.
Well, thank you.
Yeah, cooking is just
way too claustrophobic for me.
It's like the walls
start to close in and... no.
Derek though.
Derek is a really good cook.
- Cooks dinner most nights, huh?
- Mm-hmm.
[Anita laughs]
How are the tacos?
Not spicy, right?
- My mouth is full.
- [Anita laughs]
Told you.
The owner
made it special for you.
Oh, well, that was very nice.
Lot more brown faces here
than when you were a kid, huh?
Ah...
most the pickers
came from Arkansas and Oklahoma
in those days.
Is that a marine plaque?
Yeah...
I joined,
after my brother did.
Derek's dad.
Okay.
- Where were ya?
- Iraq.
Then Afghanistan.
Oh, boy.
Y'all right?
Yeah.
Ben was in Korea.
Huh.
Were you a doctor out there?
Oh, no, no, no...
That's...
where I thought
I might be a doctor.
Yeah.
Did something happen?
Yeah, my buddy got shot up
pretty much.
I had to haul him back
to his aid station.
I put him over my shoulder...
and got there
and there was no pulse...
so the doctor did what he could.
And I was there,
watching it all,
and...
he had to slice
the side of him
so he could reach inside.
And he's telling me all this.
He puts the heart
in his hand.
Inside.
Starts squeezing it.
He said,
"You kind of squeeze it...
like a new sponge."
Squeeze it...
squeeze it...
not too hard...
squeeze it
so there's a rhythm to it.
And...
suddenly, there's a pulse.
[Derek] Wow.
[Ben] And, uh...
my buddy went home,
got married,
and had four kids.
And I went to medical school,
got married,
and I have a beautiful daughter.
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[dog snarling]
[Rex whimpering]
[gunshot]
[man] I'm takin' your gun.
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[Anita]
What are you doing here, Ben?
What do you mean?
I mean, your car breaks down,
and you just abandon it.
Yeah?
I feel like you would've
gotten your car fixed
and maybe even
come back to Seattle.
But you didn't.
You kept going.
This trip must have been
really important to you.
I have cancer.
Have you told your family?
My wife died a year ago.
What about your daughter?
She's going to find out
eventually.
I know.
You don't know
what's going to happen.
But I do.
I know exactly
what's going to happen.
Bedsores and bone fractures,
bacterial infection,
fluid in my lungs,
vomiting,
dehydration,
cracked lips,
dry mouth, pneumonia,
the sensation
of being strangled at the end,
and a final drip of morphine.
That's what's going to happen.
That's how it would end.
If I let it.
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[Young Ben]
You miss your home at all?
[Young Rachael]
You know what I miss?
Fireflies!
- You ever see them?
- No.
[Young Rachael] They're magical.
Come on! Let's go!
I wanna dance with you.
[Young Ben]
Okay, okay, I'll dance.
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[cheering]
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Good Morning, Sunshine.
Good morning!
I'm sorry...
I...
I fell asleep on ya.
Yeah, damn near mid-sentence.
It's all good,
I didn't want to wake you up.
Well, I made you some tea,
I washed your shirts,
and there is breakfast
in the kitchen,
whenever you're ready.
- Oh. Thank you.
- Yeah. No problem.
Take your time.
Okay.
[grunts]
[Ben] All right, see ya.
Thank you for the ride.
[Anita] You betcha.
See ya later.
[Ben] Okay.
[sighs]
[groans]
[sobs]
[sobbing]
[sobbing]
[sobbing]
[sighs]
[groans]
Huh.
[exhales]
[soft background music plays]
This paper has to come out
whether there's any news or not.
You ever think about that?
"Honoring Barrows.
Former Mayor Clint Barrows
receives plaque for service."
Breaking news.
Two months ago.
you sat in that same chair,
pushed your beer aside,
kindly said,
"This paper has to come out
whether there's any news
or not."
And then you read the headlines.
S'cuse me, gentlemen.
You don't happen to know
anyone around here
that handles coyotes.
You got a problem with coyotes?
Ah. You're looking for
a man named Harden.
What's his nephew's first name?
Ethan.
No, no. Ethan's his cousin.
The nephew...
Bill.
Bill! Harden. Yeah.
Lives up
on his uncle's orchards.
He runs his dogs
down here sometimes.
Hires 'em out
to hunt coyotes.
You know where I can locate
this Bill Harden?
It's up near...
I can't remember
the name of the orchard.
It's got a funny name.
Ah, they've all got funny names.
Hey. Buddy.
If you do find Bill...
Word of advice.
He's different.
Keep the talk on the coyotes,
you'll be fine.
Thank you very much.
Appreciate that. Thank you.
Hey, Ben.
Anita is in with a patient.
I just want to say hello to Rex,
see how he's doin'.
That's cool.
You know where he is.
Yeah. Thank you.
Hey.
[whimpers]
I'm gonna write down
my daughter Renee's
phone number.
I want you to call her...
have Anita call her...
ask her to come
and pick up the dog.
Okay.
Have a nice day.
[vehicle approaching]
You are one ugly old man.
Aidan.
[Ben] Nice place.
If you say so.
I was surprised
to get your call.
Ben Givens needs help.
Wonders and miracles.
How you doin', Aidan?
I was sorry
to hear about Rachel.
What's it been...
about a year now?
What she ever saw in you.
Wasted her good life.
You think you made her happy?
She didn't need me to be happy.
How's Renee?
I haven't seen her
since high school.
And I hear she has a...
a son?
Chris.
In college.
Ah, right.
I think I've asked
all the right questions.
So why don't you just tell me...
what do you need?
Well, I'm lookin' for
Bill Harden
and I understand
he lives in the area.
I know him.
What do you want with him?
Just want to meet him.
Rachel sent me a letter
before she passed.
Did she tell you?
No.
I think she knew pretty far out
that this was her time.
She wanted me and you
to reconnect.
I said I don't see
a reason for that.
There was nothin' between us.
We just lived different lives.
I got another letter from her.
Short time later.
It was a one-word response.
Horseshit.
She could be a real smartass.
Yeah.
I'm gonna go see
about some lunch.
After we eat, I'll take you
to see the old ranch.
Did you get any birds?
Yeah, I got a couple.
Where's your dog?
You got a dog?
Mm. Yep.
Where is he?
He got tore up.
He's with a vet.
Uh-huh.
I still do some huntin'
from time to time.
When I'm in here,
all I can think about
is being out there.
But lately, when I'm out there,
I keep thinking how nice it'd be
to be back in my chair.
It's getting old, I think.
You still have Dad's gun?
Why do you think
he gave it to you?
I don't know.
He must have wanted you
to have it.
I mean he had a reason.
I don't know.
I... I...
I just thought it should have
gone to me is all.
You can't imagine
what it was like
with Dad at the end.
I can imagine what it was like.
No. You can't.
He felt pushed out.
Especially after
the cabin burned down.
The night he died,
I was holding his head
in my lap...
trying to calm him down some.
He would sleep shaking,
and then jerk awake in the dark,
afraid that
he was going to slip away.
Which he did a few hours later.
I was with him
when he sold off the land,
when he was sick.
I made his meals,
I did his laundry.
I did everything right.
And when he was gone...
what was left of me?
I wasn't the kind of man
that any woman wanted anymore.
What did you expect of me?
I had a practice. I had Renee.
I...
couldn't take care of him.
[phone ringing]
You didn't even come back
to help us
put him in the ground.
[phone ringing]
I was there for him.
You should have
been there for me.
[answering machine clicks]
Aidan Givens.
Leave a Message.
[machine beeps]
[Renee] Hello, Uncle Aidan.
This is Renee.
I'm Ben's daughter.
I know we haven't seen
each other
in a really long time,
but I'm looking for my dad.
He went hunting over there...
Are you going to get that?
If you hear from him,
if you see him...
[Ben] I've lost my appetite.
Let's go.
[Renee] He had a car,
it was found abandoned
on the old highway,
and I'm very, very worried
about him.
If you hear from him,
if you see him...
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[Aidan] The new owners
tore down our old place
and built a new one there.
Not so new anymore.
I have cancer.
I've got a year
if I don't take treatment.
Goddamn you.
Sayin' something like that.
Standing where we are.
Would you even have called
if you didn't need something
from me?
No.
But I'm...
I'm glad I did.
Really.
What do you want from Harden?
It's a long story.
It sure as hell
ain't gonna be a short one.
I mean, you out here
with no wheels, no dog...
dyin' from cancer...
Harden's place is near here.
Old Palisades Road.
North Star Ranch.
You want me to go with you?
No. I'll go myself.
This is it?
This is it.
Okay.
Thanks.
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[Young Rachel] Ben,
do you understand
that I'm leaving?
It shouldn't be a surprise.
It's always been my plan.
Somehow, I thought
maybe you had a plan, too.
I guess I did.
But it wasn't this.
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[Rachel] Think about
what you want
from your life, Ben,
and when you've done that,
let me know.
[train chugging]
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[engine struggling to turn over]
[engine struggling to turn over]
Bill Harden!
What the hell
are you doin' here?
I came to get my gun.
It ain't yours no more,
old man.
The gun has been with my family
for a long time.
It's not done yet.
And I'm not done with it.
You better get the hell
out of here
before I lose my temper.
Do somethin' I'm gonna
have to explain to the sheriff.
Not without the gun.
You're tresspassin'.
Go ahead, do it. Shoot.
Do it.
Goddamnit, shoot.
Go on, do it, damn it...
Get your goddamned hands off!
You crazy, stupid
son of a bitch.
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I see you again,
I'm going to hurt you
before I kill you.
[sighs]
[door slams]
[cocks gun]
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[Ben's father] Ben.
Come on.
Come on.
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[Renee weeping]
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Do it, Ben.
[gunshot echoes]
[leaves rustling]
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[banging on door]
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[cocks gun]
I came to get my dog.
Would you be so kind
as to open your clinic?
Of co...
Get in here!
God, you have no idea
how happy I am to see you.
So that number
that you gave me...
I hope you don't mind,
but I went ahead
and I called it.
Renee.
Dad.
Oh, my God.
- I was so worried about you.
- Oh, my. Oh, my.
[Ben] Oh, I'm so glad
to see you.
I'm so glad you're here.
Dad. They said
that Rex got hurt?
Did you get hurt?
Rex is fine, I'm fine.
I love you so much.
I'm so happy that you're back.
[Ben] I'm so sorry.
It's okay.
It's okay.
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That's a good boy.
[Ben sighs]
Doin' okay?
Yeah.
You, Dad?
Yeah.
[Ben singing softly]
Shine, little glow worm
Glimmer, glimmer
[singing together]
Shine, little glow worm
Glimmer, glimmer
Lead us
lest we too far we wander
Love's sweet voice
is calling yonder
Shine, little glow worm
Glimmer, glimmer
Hey there
don't get dimmer, dimmer
Light the path below, above
And lead us on to love
Okay.
[laughs]
That felt okay.
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