Knee High (2025) Movie Script
Your service was...
- Thank you.
- Thanks for coming.
- Mel was good people.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
Well, he kept Richie in line.
- We're sure gonna miss him.
Yeah.
- Let me know if you need anything, all right?
- Mm-hmm. - Give me a call, okay?
- Say hi to Mary for me.
- Where are we going?
It's like the parade?
- It's a procession.
- What's that?
- It's uh...
It's like a parade but for just one person.
- GG Mel got his own parade?
- Yeah, he did.
Put your seatbelt on, please.
What are they doing?
Wanna gonna go see Mom?
- We're just gonna get a fist full of dirt, okay?
And you're gonna throw it over GG Mel's grave
and say goodbye.
- I love you.
- Love you too.
I can show you how to do it.
- Okay.
- You need some dirt.
And then do this.
You have to close your eyes.
- Right, right. Yeah.
- And then you do this.
- I got it.
- All right.
I brought my boots so I can muck out while you...
- What else needs done?
- You don't need to do anything.
Just ride out with you then.
See?
Helping already.
How you holding up?
- I need to...
I need to move the heifers.
- Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Hey, come on!
- Anything else?
- Okay, Avery, could you please put that away
until lunch is done?
- Can I just finish this game?
- No.
- No phones at the table.
- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
Mamie, did you get some coffee?
- Mm-hmm.
- It's good to see you, Mamie.
- How's your mom doing?
- She's doing good. Yeah, little sisters keep her busy.
Kara just started softball
and then Margo's on the robotics team,
which I'm not gonna begin to understand,
so I told her, I'm like, "I'll take Cara to softball
because at least I understand that..."
- Cal, did you hear that Gunner's little sister
is on the robotics team?
- No. - Yeah.
What do you think about that?
- Are they like Transformers?
- I don't think they watch Transformers, Ave.
Eat something.
- All right. - You need a plate?
- Yeah, I already ate. Come sit down.
- You sure? - Yeah.
- Well, I appreciate you
stopping by after Cal asked you.
- How's uh, how's city life, Kels?
- Um, it's good. Yeah.
Busy but good.
- I get to play basketball.
- What?
- I'm on the orange team.
- That's like my favorite team! That's so cool!
- Hey, um,
Did your folks take over your uncle's farm?
Are they still running it?
- Uh-uh, no. Uh, they...
They ran it for a while, but...
You want that warmed up?
Sure.
- You really should try to eat that, Mamie.
Hey, uh...
- Thanks.
- Let's go.
Well, good seeing ya.
- Tell your mom hi for me.
Yeah.
- We gotta get going too, Ave.
Can you hand me your plate?
Thank you. Go get ready.
Are you gonna be okay out here all by yourself?
- I won't be by myself.
- You can come stay with Ave and me whenever you want.
- I know.
We'll see.
Oh, there you go.
Thank you.
Gunner leave?
- Yeah.
- Do you want us to come out tomorrow?
- No, I'm good.
- If you wanna skip Tuesday...
- I don't.
- I just thought you might want some time.
- I don't know what I'd do with it if I had it.
- Okay, four o'clock?
- Mm-hmm.
Your place?
- No, I don't have to be at school. I have class.
- Okay.
Okay, see you then.
See you.
- Bye.
- I just don't know what to do next.
- It's okay.
- Well, do you think we'll be all right?
Did you get the stalls cleaned out?
- Yeah. What's this about?
Hun, this is Stef.
I'm your new community
rep from the Ag Department.
- Cal.
- Well, I should get going.
If you need anything, you've got my number.
Thank you.
- Thanks for having me.
- Hey.
What happened to the other guy, the normal rep?
- Uh, he didn't feel like the relationship
was working for him anymore.
- Wait, what?
- I am taking over for him.
You need to prove you can
meet or exceed minimum yield.
Everything's in there.
- We already rotate crops and fertilize regularly.
- There is a lot more to it.
- How much is that gonna cost?
- Everything's in that packet.
If you have questions, just call the office.
- They foreclosed on us.
They didn't give us any time, Mamie.
- We fell behind and...
- How far behind?
- Months.
- But how much?
- More than we have.
- No, there has to be something I can do.
I don't...
I don't know what, but something.
- Cal, this is not all on you.
It isn't.
I know it's not easy,
but Grandpa,
your dad, we've all...
Cal.
Oh, God.
Going into town?
It's my night with Avery.
- Take him this.
- Thanks.
He's probably missing it.
- Sure he is.
Drive safe.
- Mm-hmm.
Come here. Ah!
I missed you. - Missed you too.
- Did you have a good day? - Yeah.
- Did you pay attention? Did you learn stuff?
- Yeah, yeah.
Mm-hmm?
Hey.
- Hi.
How's Mamie doing?
- She's okay.
Yeah, she's just taking it one day at a time.
- What about you?
- Do you like it here?
- It's different.
Ave is loving school, though.
Show your dad what you learned.
Oh, that's really cool.
- Can you do it?
- I bet you could teach me.
Nice.
Okay, come on, come on.
There you go.
- You're late.
- Yeah, I didn't think there'd be traffic.
- There's always traffic.
- Really? - Yeah.
You get used to it, though.
My place, 8:00?
- Yes, ma'am.
- I love you. Be good.
- Love you. I will. - Okay.
See ya.
- Bye.
What do you think of your mom's school, Ave?
- It's nice. The cafeteria has everything.
Okay.
Is GG Mamie moving?
- No.
What makes you think that?
- Mom said that she was moving in with us
because the farm was getting sold.
- Nothing's gonna happen to the farm, Avery.
- If Mamie does move, w-would you move too?
- I don't know.
- You could sleep in my room!
I'm gonna show Dad my Transformers.
- Hey. - Hey.
Where'd you go?
- The taco place down the street. He got the-
- Yeah, tacos al pastor. He's on a kick lately.
- Oh, wow.
Who's this?
- Connector.
- Conne-Connecto?
- Connector. - Connector. Sorry, okay.
How do you even play with this? What is this?
- You open it on this corner.
- Oh, is it...
- Hey, Ave, it's time to put on your pajamas.
- It's okay. I'll help you.
- He's just really into doing things himself lately, so.
- This place is nice.
- Thanks.
- Is it safe?
- Yes. There's security and cameras everywhere.
- Do you like my jammies?
- Yeah. What happened to your Transformers ones?
- They're just robots.
- Oh, they're just robots. Sorry.
- Ave, go brush your teeth.
- Come on, I'll help you.
Is that a new toothbrush?
That's enough.
That's enough.
Don't brush your teeth out. Jeez.
- How was he?
- He was good.
I had to...
I had to take his booster out of the truck already.
- Yeah.
He's gonna be nine.
- I can't believe it.
- How are you doing with everything with-
- I'm fine.
- Avery's handling it pretty well.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
I mean he still asks about him sometimes, but...
- Really?
- Yeah.
He misses him.
- What do you tell him when he asks?
- That GG Mel went to heaven.
What do you tell him?
- The state sent a new rep.
- Who is it?
- Some woman named Stef.
- Stef Flores?
Dark hair, ran track. She was a year younger than us.
I think she was the student body president too.
- Well, you know I never got into any of that shit.
- She is smart, though.
She went to ISU so she knows what she's doing.
- All right.
I'll pick him up on Friday at 2:00 PM, right?
- Yeah, in the gym after his game.
- In the gym.
- Watch for deer.
- I appreciate everything you've done.
- Of course, of course. Just here doing my job.
- Well, thank you.
- Yeah, I mean, it's a very beautiful farm.
I think it's gonna appraise very well.
- We love it.
- Yeah. - Great.
- Casey. You must be Cal.
- Yeah.
- Mrs. Melbourne speaks very highly of you.
Well, I'll let you two talk.
I'm just gonna make some final notes.
- I am having the bank make you the account holder.
- They came out here for that?
- No, they came out for the appraisal.
- What'd he say?
- Well, nothing yet, but...
But what? What?
- That it might not be worth saving.
- Mamie, we live here.
I grew up here. Avery grew up here.
Cal... It's home.
- I know, but haven't you ever thought
about moving closer to Kelsey and Avery?
- She lives like 30 minutes away,
and besides, Avery loves the farm.
- He loves you, Cal. He'll love anything you love.
- Well, then he can love the farm.
How's it looking?
- You just might break even if all goes well.
So read it over
and make sure you're comfortable
with what you're taking on.
- Okay. Is there anything else I need to know?
- Auction's scheduled for the end of the month.
Just start cleaning up.
- How, how do I stop that?
- You'd have to pay off the past due payments
and bring the property taxes up to date.
- Thank you.
What the hell are you doing?
- Collecting soil samples.
- Yeah, why?
- You have to step up production.
- I know, but it's-
- And if you don't meet state minimum,
your insurance is not gonna cover the loss.
Fertilizer, it starts at 95 an acre
plus 120 per acre for enhanced
seed for the next season
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, no, no, no, no.
I bought seed a month ago.
- Okay, then you're looking at a starting cost
of 95 an acre, assuming these samples are-
- No, no, that's too much.
- You need to get it done.
- I know.
- Have you tried talking to your neighbors?
They've all gone through this in the past, okay?
Everything okay?
- Are you going somewhere?
- I can't stay here.
- This is your house, Mamie.
- This was our home,
but it, it doesn't feel like it anymore.
This is hard for me. You know that.
I'm gonna go into town and stay with Kelsey and Avery.
- Why don't I make you something to eat, we could-
- Cal,
No.
Okay.
- At least let me drive you.
- I would love that.
- I'll get it. - Okay.
I think I left my pills.
- Your what? - My pills inside.
- Okay. Hop in, I'll grab 'em.
- Sorry. - No, it's okay.
Mel.
Kels knows you're coming?
- She offered again after the funeral,
but I just didn't think I would.
- Did you and Mel ever think about...
About what?
- About what living somewhere else might be like?
- A very, very long time ago.
I did, years ago.
But life got busy.
The farm kept everybody fed
and, you know, we had to stay.
- Yeah, I know the feeling.
You have choices, Cal.
Choices your grandpa, your
dad, none of us ever imagined.
You have the whole world in front of you.
And you're smart.
You're young. I mean, you are.
And so is Avery. He'll have
even more choices than you do.
- Yeah, he will.
How long you staying?
- Oh...
- I was told there were a lot of them.
- Yeah.
- Oh well, that's pretty big.
- Money's gotten...
- Did you guys have to scrape your windows today?
- Uh-uh, no.
- Yeah. We actually had to cover things due to the frost.
- Yeah, it did get a little nippy out last night.
- Yeah, yeah. Oh well.
- Morning. - Hey, Cal.
- Thanks.
How's Mamie doing?
- My wife said she went to stay with Kelsey and your boy.
- Yeah, she's staying in town.
Everything, uh, else coming along all right?
- The...
The state's been breathing down my neck
about meeting minimum yield, something like that.
Was it Bill?
- No. Some lady.
Stef?
- Oh, well, she's damn smart. - Uh-huh.
They call her in when things are uh-
- Her family runs the farm out on the 110th. The big one.
Mel trusted her.
- He did?
- Look, she got us through last year, right?
- Might be lean this year
since you're starting behind the eight ball, but-
- I'm gonna get some more coffee.
- Are you gonna bid at the auction?
They sent out the bid packets
to the neighbors already.
Yeah, I got mine this...
Well, I got mine this morning.
Heifers are out.
- Shit.
Sorry.
- See you later.
Well, that didn't go well.
- Yeah.
- Come on! Come bring her this way.
We'll move her through the gate laterally. Come on.
She ain't moving!
- Come on.
Yeah, come on, come on. - Hey.
Go!
Hey, come on.
- What happened?
- Drove by. Fence was open.
- Good thing.
Sorry about the mess.
- It's all good.
Hey, where's Mamie?
Staying in town with Kelsey.
Hey, you want any of this?
It's that strawberry shit my mom makes.
I got it. I got it.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
Did you know?
- What?
- How bad the money was before he...
I'm not trying to pry, man.
- You're doing a damn good job for not trying.
- It's the same shit we went
through when my uncle passed.
- Was it this bad?
I don't know. I haven't seen 'em.
- Fuck it.
Am I screwed or what?
- Nah.
Nah man, they...
Yeah, they always make it look worse than it is and...
Just gotta call 'em.
Hey.
- Hm?
- It ain't that bad.
- I just don't understand why they didn't tell me.
- Eh, no one wants to burden the people they love
with money problems.
- So they leave it till they die?
- No.
Nah, he just knew you'd be able to handle it
when the time came.
Probably didn't expect the time to come so soon, is all.
Let's go for a drive.
- Let me get cleaned up.
Thanks. - Yeah.
- Cheers.
Is that Stef?
- Yeah, looks like her.
- What is she doing out here?
- She lives here, man.
- But I thought she was... She's also our age.
- Yeah, that's what Kelsey said too.
- Gunner!
- Hey.
- What year did you graduate?
- Year after you.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
- You run track?
- Yeah.
Cheerleading too?
Hell no.
- I just can't remember you.
Well, the school really wasn't that small.
- Who'd you hang out with?
- We just ran in different circles.
- Yeah, I guess
- I remember you, though.
And Kelsey.
- 'Cause we had a kid?
- Yeah.
Everyone's parents
used you guys as an example.
Shit's gonna be hard,
but if you just do the soil enhancements
and follow the schedule... It's gonna be fine.
- No.
No.
But you might not lose your farm.
- I, uh,
saw you and Stef talking at the party.
- Yeah.
- Well, did she say anything helpful?
- No, just the same shit that she said
when she was here the other day.
Something about soil enhancements.
- She's just trying to get you through it, man.
- It'll be fine, Gunner.
- That's what you call fine?
- Okay. Goodnight.
- No, now's not the time for your stubborn bullshit, Cal.
No one's gonna help you if you keep acting like this!
- All right, here we go. Good job.
- Oh, oh!
Yeah! Come on.
- Hey. - Hey.
Pass it, pass it.
You got it, you got it!
Come on, Avery! - You got it!
Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it!
- Can you believe we have a third grader?
- That's okay. It's all right.
All right, back on there, guys.
Come on, pass the ball.
Grab it.
Yes, good job.
Yeah, that's right.
Okay, come on. Get over to the left.
- Almost. - Nice.
- Oof!
One more try, one more try!
- Pass it! - Another.
Pass it! - Almost.
I knew it.
- Good game. - That's right.
- You want some help? - Gladly.
Thanks.
You doing okay?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I'm okay.
What about you? How's the season been going?
It's good. Busy.
- Good.
Hey pal, could you take the cart back for us, please?
Thank you.
- Auction's public now.
- It's a misprint.
It's probably already scheduled or something.
- We could work something out.
- Like what?
- I could bid on it and then lease it to you.
You could live there, of course.
Be in charge of the day to day,
managing the cattle and the crops.
- For how long?
- It's just an idea.
Think about it.
- Avery, get in the truck, please.
Now!
Where are we going?
Just gotta run one more errand and we'll head home.
How long's that gonna take?
- Not long.
Wait in the truck.
Shit.
Do you wanna get ice cream while we're here?
Yeah?
Okay.
Can you catch the drips, please?
Avery, go in the house, please.
- Why? - Avery Joseph.
Hey! Hey!
What do you think you're doing?
- Putting up the sign for the auction.
Get it outta here.
Get it off my land right now!
- I just need a couple of minutes and I can do my job.
I just said get it off my property! I'm not asking.
- Look, I've gotta just-
- Man, get it off my property.
I'm not asking you.
Okay, this one will be good, I swear.
- Can I call mom?
- Um...
How about you wait till after breakfast?
- That might be forever.
- Okay.
There you go.
Hello?
- Hey, Mom.
Hey baby. Is everything okay?
- Dad's trying to make pancakes.
He is?
- Can I stay another night?
- You have school tomorrow?
- Okay. - Dad can take me
Hey, breakfast is ready. Come on.
Let me talk to your dad.
- Okay.
- Hello?
He wants to stay an extra night with you.
- Okay.
I miss him though,
- Avery, no.
I know, but if he wants to stay, we need to-
- You have to get him ready
and take him to school and...
- I can do that.
Okay.
- All right. We'll see you tomorrow.
Okay.
Hey, hey, Avery.
I wanna see!
- Don't distract her. She's working.
Come on.
Kelsey, I'm only getting little bits. How do you do this?
- Okay, well first, you're not holding it right, okay?
- I'm holding it the exact same way you are.
- You are not. So take the-
- Am I not holding it the exact same way?
- No! The bottom one goes like this.
- That's what I'm doing!
- Just try again. Like, reset it.
- Okay. - And then the top one,
you hold like a pencil.
- Okay. That's what... Okay, no.
- Look. - It's fine.
- I'm doing the exact same thing that you're doing.
- Fork. - I just am...
- It's okay.
- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
- Look dad, you can eat it like me.
- Nice.
Very nice. - Perfect form.
- Try not to make a mess, please.
- So what do you have to bid?
- Well, have you talked to the bank?
- What was this tablet that Avery was talking about?
Is it just for games or is it for something-
- I'll go get it.
Avery, can you please wait
until we're finished eating?
Sorry.
It's Okay.
Avery.
- I'm just showing him how to use it.
All right, well, be careful, okay?
- See you later, Mamie.
- Goodnight. - Night.
- I'll walk you out.
Cal.
- Hm? - Look,
I know that you don't want to talk about it,
but what are you gonna do?
- I don't know.
Really, Kelsey, I have no fucking clue.
And I'm, I'm trying to figure it out, but it's just,
it's taking more time than I have.
I don't know.
- There's not a lot of time left.
- I know.
- You are responsible for that farm now,
so whatever happens, it's on you.
- I don't even know what I want anymore.
Really, I don't.
- We have to figure it out.
Not just for you.
You have Avery to think about and Mamie.
- Kels, I know.
- Look, it is breaking my heart to keep telling Avery
that I don't know what is going on.
- Just tell him that-
- Cal. - I'm trying my best.
- Cal! - I'm going to...
- I'm not gonna tell him anything, okay?
I need you to do that.
And it's gotta be the truth.
- Hey.
Hey.
- The office said you called.
- I did.
I need help.
Whatever's in that packet,
whatever ideas you have, anything.
I don't, I don't want to lose this place.
- It's gonna be a lot of work.
- I know.
- And you're gonna need extra hands.
You can't do it alone.
- Whatever it takes.
- Do you trust me?
- Can I get a Bud Light, please?
He was only seven - Thanks.
Mama said his daddy died
And now his mama cries
Put away the kid things
When she'd get a question
then she chose the family home
Rebuild new alone
When she thinks of Dallas, we could move
- Let me get you a beer.
- Two Bud Lights. Two shots of Fireball.
He was only seven, mama said, when his daddy died
- Good stuff. And now his mama cries
Put away the kid things
When she'd get a question,
then she chose the family home
Rebuild new alone
When she thinks of Dallas
We could move
- Two more. - No.
- It's the weekend.
Zero thing but hay fields
I blast my care tonight
Without a store in sight
Running up the tired story
- Thank you. Rolling down the highway
- I'm sorry about the other night,
what I said... It's all good.
It's all good.
You run away
Look down the lane
You carve the way
The way you came in
- Hey, come on.
The scene lay out before him
His country lay behind
Oh, he walked that faithful line
Even when he stumbled, into the icy water
When the ladies turn us down
Never did he frown
Letting go as he would slip and go
You turn away
The skies are mean
They never disappear
They part the way from where you came
And they never go away or leave
Oh, we're going for real
Oh, we're going for real
- Could I get a couple waters?
- What are you doing all the way out here?
- You hate this place.
- I needed a break.
I'm really glad that you're here.
- Let me drive you home.
- Come on.
Cal.
- You're the only one.
You're the only one that gets it.
- Go inside,
get some sleep, okay?
- Okay.
- Look, Mom downloaded me a new game.
- Very cool.
- How you doing?
- It's gonna be okay.
What's gonna be okay?
- Everything.
- Food.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
We're ready outside when you're ready.
Thank you.
- Take your time.
- Okay.
Come on, Avery.
- Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the auction.
On my behalf, I'd like to thank each and every one of you
for being here today.
We're gonna auction off this
200 acres of prime farmland.
The auction's on. 200 acres of prime farmland.
Million, million five. Who wants to bid a million five?
First hand up.
A million five. One five.
Million five, million five. One five.
A million five, five, five, bid a five.
A million five. One five.
Now a million five. A million five to you, sir?
One five. A one five, five, five, bid a five.
A million five. A million five.
A million. 1 million.
Who wants to bid a million? 1 million.
A million dollars, now a million. 1 million, 1 million.
A million dollar, bid one, 1 million.
A million dollars to anybody? 1 million.
50,000. You can all bid.
50,000. Who'll give 50? 50,000.
A 50,000 now. 50,000.
50,000 to you sir? 50,000.
Who'll bid 50? 50,000.
50,000 on 200 acres of prime land.
Who wants to bid 50,000? 50,000 to anybody?
- Just do what you gotta do. Sell it.
- Will do.
Ladies and gentlemen, my
instructions are to sell the farm.
I'll start it down there where you can all bid.
A dollar bill. $1, now a dollar.
A $1, now a dollar, now a dollar.
Now bid a $1 now, now a dollar.
$1. A dollar now, dollar now, a dollar.
Bid a dollar. Now two.
One and a two.
A two, two, two. Bid a one, now two.
A one, two, two. $2 and I'll a bid of a two.
One and a two. Two, two, now two.
And you wanna bid two?
A dollar now, two, two, a minimum of two. And now two.
Now bid of a two to anybody? $2 and a two.
I'm bid one in the back row. Now two.
Now $2 and a two, a minimum of two.
$2 on 200 acres of prime farmland.
Who will give two? Bid one, now two.
A $1 and I'll take a bid of a two. One and now two.
$1 and a two, two, two.
Minimum one, two. And now two to anybody, $2.
Folks, if you're done, I gotta be done.
Yes or no? We gotta go.
I'm bid $1. Now two.
One and a two. Two, two, two, now two.
I'm gonna sell it.
Sold, dollar bill. Young man in the back row.
Thank you, sir. You bought a nice farm.
Congratulations.
- $1.
It happens.
All right, we can move it.
Yep.
Need any help chorin'?
I'm wrapped up at the house.
- I'm all right. Thank you.
- How's it lookin'?
Yeah, it's one lean year.
You'll be all right.
- Yeah.
Yeah, I hope.
No.
Hey Gunner!
- What's up buddy? - Hey.
- Did I make it in time to chore?
- Yeah, I was waiting for you.
- I'll get outta your hair. See y'all later.
- Yeah. - See ya.
Do you wanna join us at the Harvest Festival?
- Um, I'll think about it.
- Come on!
- Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
Hey, I love you. Be good.
Love you! I will!
Try the broccoli.
- Nah.
- Hm.
Don't they know it's supper time?
There better not be any extra broccoli
on my plate when I get back.
I'm serious.
Avery, finish your supper. I'll be right in.
- I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner.
- It's okay. What's up?
- We've been keeping an eye on the crops,
and I ran some numbers and...
- I know it's bad. You can just say it.
- Looks like you're gonna have the lowest yield
in the county.
- The whole county.
Do I get a ribbon for that or what?
- But you met the minimum.
Next year, you'll be okay.
You can be more proactive and...
But I just wanna prepare you for how bad that-
- Thank you.
- That's all I had to tell you. I just...
Yeah.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Do you wanna come to the Harvest Fest later?
- I think I'm gonna take a rain check.
Maybe next year, though.
- All right, Stef.
- Does this mean I can have dessert?
- Hm...
- I ate it, I promise.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, let's go. Could you grab your hat, please?
- Okay.
- Oh!
- It's beautiful.
- Yeah, it is.
- Thank you.
- Thanks for coming.
- Mel was good people.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
Well, he kept Richie in line.
- We're sure gonna miss him.
Yeah.
- Let me know if you need anything, all right?
- Mm-hmm. - Give me a call, okay?
- Say hi to Mary for me.
- Where are we going?
It's like the parade?
- It's a procession.
- What's that?
- It's uh...
It's like a parade but for just one person.
- GG Mel got his own parade?
- Yeah, he did.
Put your seatbelt on, please.
What are they doing?
Wanna gonna go see Mom?
- We're just gonna get a fist full of dirt, okay?
And you're gonna throw it over GG Mel's grave
and say goodbye.
- I love you.
- Love you too.
I can show you how to do it.
- Okay.
- You need some dirt.
And then do this.
You have to close your eyes.
- Right, right. Yeah.
- And then you do this.
- I got it.
- All right.
I brought my boots so I can muck out while you...
- What else needs done?
- You don't need to do anything.
Just ride out with you then.
See?
Helping already.
How you holding up?
- I need to...
I need to move the heifers.
- Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Hey, come on!
- Anything else?
- Okay, Avery, could you please put that away
until lunch is done?
- Can I just finish this game?
- No.
- No phones at the table.
- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
Mamie, did you get some coffee?
- Mm-hmm.
- It's good to see you, Mamie.
- How's your mom doing?
- She's doing good. Yeah, little sisters keep her busy.
Kara just started softball
and then Margo's on the robotics team,
which I'm not gonna begin to understand,
so I told her, I'm like, "I'll take Cara to softball
because at least I understand that..."
- Cal, did you hear that Gunner's little sister
is on the robotics team?
- No. - Yeah.
What do you think about that?
- Are they like Transformers?
- I don't think they watch Transformers, Ave.
Eat something.
- All right. - You need a plate?
- Yeah, I already ate. Come sit down.
- You sure? - Yeah.
- Well, I appreciate you
stopping by after Cal asked you.
- How's uh, how's city life, Kels?
- Um, it's good. Yeah.
Busy but good.
- I get to play basketball.
- What?
- I'm on the orange team.
- That's like my favorite team! That's so cool!
- Hey, um,
Did your folks take over your uncle's farm?
Are they still running it?
- Uh-uh, no. Uh, they...
They ran it for a while, but...
You want that warmed up?
Sure.
- You really should try to eat that, Mamie.
Hey, uh...
- Thanks.
- Let's go.
Well, good seeing ya.
- Tell your mom hi for me.
Yeah.
- We gotta get going too, Ave.
Can you hand me your plate?
Thank you. Go get ready.
Are you gonna be okay out here all by yourself?
- I won't be by myself.
- You can come stay with Ave and me whenever you want.
- I know.
We'll see.
Oh, there you go.
Thank you.
Gunner leave?
- Yeah.
- Do you want us to come out tomorrow?
- No, I'm good.
- If you wanna skip Tuesday...
- I don't.
- I just thought you might want some time.
- I don't know what I'd do with it if I had it.
- Okay, four o'clock?
- Mm-hmm.
Your place?
- No, I don't have to be at school. I have class.
- Okay.
Okay, see you then.
See you.
- Bye.
- I just don't know what to do next.
- It's okay.
- Well, do you think we'll be all right?
Did you get the stalls cleaned out?
- Yeah. What's this about?
Hun, this is Stef.
I'm your new community
rep from the Ag Department.
- Cal.
- Well, I should get going.
If you need anything, you've got my number.
Thank you.
- Thanks for having me.
- Hey.
What happened to the other guy, the normal rep?
- Uh, he didn't feel like the relationship
was working for him anymore.
- Wait, what?
- I am taking over for him.
You need to prove you can
meet or exceed minimum yield.
Everything's in there.
- We already rotate crops and fertilize regularly.
- There is a lot more to it.
- How much is that gonna cost?
- Everything's in that packet.
If you have questions, just call the office.
- They foreclosed on us.
They didn't give us any time, Mamie.
- We fell behind and...
- How far behind?
- Months.
- But how much?
- More than we have.
- No, there has to be something I can do.
I don't...
I don't know what, but something.
- Cal, this is not all on you.
It isn't.
I know it's not easy,
but Grandpa,
your dad, we've all...
Cal.
Oh, God.
Going into town?
It's my night with Avery.
- Take him this.
- Thanks.
He's probably missing it.
- Sure he is.
Drive safe.
- Mm-hmm.
Come here. Ah!
I missed you. - Missed you too.
- Did you have a good day? - Yeah.
- Did you pay attention? Did you learn stuff?
- Yeah, yeah.
Mm-hmm?
Hey.
- Hi.
How's Mamie doing?
- She's okay.
Yeah, she's just taking it one day at a time.
- What about you?
- Do you like it here?
- It's different.
Ave is loving school, though.
Show your dad what you learned.
Oh, that's really cool.
- Can you do it?
- I bet you could teach me.
Nice.
Okay, come on, come on.
There you go.
- You're late.
- Yeah, I didn't think there'd be traffic.
- There's always traffic.
- Really? - Yeah.
You get used to it, though.
My place, 8:00?
- Yes, ma'am.
- I love you. Be good.
- Love you. I will. - Okay.
See ya.
- Bye.
What do you think of your mom's school, Ave?
- It's nice. The cafeteria has everything.
Okay.
Is GG Mamie moving?
- No.
What makes you think that?
- Mom said that she was moving in with us
because the farm was getting sold.
- Nothing's gonna happen to the farm, Avery.
- If Mamie does move, w-would you move too?
- I don't know.
- You could sleep in my room!
I'm gonna show Dad my Transformers.
- Hey. - Hey.
Where'd you go?
- The taco place down the street. He got the-
- Yeah, tacos al pastor. He's on a kick lately.
- Oh, wow.
Who's this?
- Connector.
- Conne-Connecto?
- Connector. - Connector. Sorry, okay.
How do you even play with this? What is this?
- You open it on this corner.
- Oh, is it...
- Hey, Ave, it's time to put on your pajamas.
- It's okay. I'll help you.
- He's just really into doing things himself lately, so.
- This place is nice.
- Thanks.
- Is it safe?
- Yes. There's security and cameras everywhere.
- Do you like my jammies?
- Yeah. What happened to your Transformers ones?
- They're just robots.
- Oh, they're just robots. Sorry.
- Ave, go brush your teeth.
- Come on, I'll help you.
Is that a new toothbrush?
That's enough.
That's enough.
Don't brush your teeth out. Jeez.
- How was he?
- He was good.
I had to...
I had to take his booster out of the truck already.
- Yeah.
He's gonna be nine.
- I can't believe it.
- How are you doing with everything with-
- I'm fine.
- Avery's handling it pretty well.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
I mean he still asks about him sometimes, but...
- Really?
- Yeah.
He misses him.
- What do you tell him when he asks?
- That GG Mel went to heaven.
What do you tell him?
- The state sent a new rep.
- Who is it?
- Some woman named Stef.
- Stef Flores?
Dark hair, ran track. She was a year younger than us.
I think she was the student body president too.
- Well, you know I never got into any of that shit.
- She is smart, though.
She went to ISU so she knows what she's doing.
- All right.
I'll pick him up on Friday at 2:00 PM, right?
- Yeah, in the gym after his game.
- In the gym.
- Watch for deer.
- I appreciate everything you've done.
- Of course, of course. Just here doing my job.
- Well, thank you.
- Yeah, I mean, it's a very beautiful farm.
I think it's gonna appraise very well.
- We love it.
- Yeah. - Great.
- Casey. You must be Cal.
- Yeah.
- Mrs. Melbourne speaks very highly of you.
Well, I'll let you two talk.
I'm just gonna make some final notes.
- I am having the bank make you the account holder.
- They came out here for that?
- No, they came out for the appraisal.
- What'd he say?
- Well, nothing yet, but...
But what? What?
- That it might not be worth saving.
- Mamie, we live here.
I grew up here. Avery grew up here.
Cal... It's home.
- I know, but haven't you ever thought
about moving closer to Kelsey and Avery?
- She lives like 30 minutes away,
and besides, Avery loves the farm.
- He loves you, Cal. He'll love anything you love.
- Well, then he can love the farm.
How's it looking?
- You just might break even if all goes well.
So read it over
and make sure you're comfortable
with what you're taking on.
- Okay. Is there anything else I need to know?
- Auction's scheduled for the end of the month.
Just start cleaning up.
- How, how do I stop that?
- You'd have to pay off the past due payments
and bring the property taxes up to date.
- Thank you.
What the hell are you doing?
- Collecting soil samples.
- Yeah, why?
- You have to step up production.
- I know, but it's-
- And if you don't meet state minimum,
your insurance is not gonna cover the loss.
Fertilizer, it starts at 95 an acre
plus 120 per acre for enhanced
seed for the next season
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, no, no, no, no.
I bought seed a month ago.
- Okay, then you're looking at a starting cost
of 95 an acre, assuming these samples are-
- No, no, that's too much.
- You need to get it done.
- I know.
- Have you tried talking to your neighbors?
They've all gone through this in the past, okay?
Everything okay?
- Are you going somewhere?
- I can't stay here.
- This is your house, Mamie.
- This was our home,
but it, it doesn't feel like it anymore.
This is hard for me. You know that.
I'm gonna go into town and stay with Kelsey and Avery.
- Why don't I make you something to eat, we could-
- Cal,
No.
Okay.
- At least let me drive you.
- I would love that.
- I'll get it. - Okay.
I think I left my pills.
- Your what? - My pills inside.
- Okay. Hop in, I'll grab 'em.
- Sorry. - No, it's okay.
Mel.
Kels knows you're coming?
- She offered again after the funeral,
but I just didn't think I would.
- Did you and Mel ever think about...
About what?
- About what living somewhere else might be like?
- A very, very long time ago.
I did, years ago.
But life got busy.
The farm kept everybody fed
and, you know, we had to stay.
- Yeah, I know the feeling.
You have choices, Cal.
Choices your grandpa, your
dad, none of us ever imagined.
You have the whole world in front of you.
And you're smart.
You're young. I mean, you are.
And so is Avery. He'll have
even more choices than you do.
- Yeah, he will.
How long you staying?
- Oh...
- I was told there were a lot of them.
- Yeah.
- Oh well, that's pretty big.
- Money's gotten...
- Did you guys have to scrape your windows today?
- Uh-uh, no.
- Yeah. We actually had to cover things due to the frost.
- Yeah, it did get a little nippy out last night.
- Yeah, yeah. Oh well.
- Morning. - Hey, Cal.
- Thanks.
How's Mamie doing?
- My wife said she went to stay with Kelsey and your boy.
- Yeah, she's staying in town.
Everything, uh, else coming along all right?
- The...
The state's been breathing down my neck
about meeting minimum yield, something like that.
Was it Bill?
- No. Some lady.
Stef?
- Oh, well, she's damn smart. - Uh-huh.
They call her in when things are uh-
- Her family runs the farm out on the 110th. The big one.
Mel trusted her.
- He did?
- Look, she got us through last year, right?
- Might be lean this year
since you're starting behind the eight ball, but-
- I'm gonna get some more coffee.
- Are you gonna bid at the auction?
They sent out the bid packets
to the neighbors already.
Yeah, I got mine this...
Well, I got mine this morning.
Heifers are out.
- Shit.
Sorry.
- See you later.
Well, that didn't go well.
- Yeah.
- Come on! Come bring her this way.
We'll move her through the gate laterally. Come on.
She ain't moving!
- Come on.
Yeah, come on, come on. - Hey.
Go!
Hey, come on.
- What happened?
- Drove by. Fence was open.
- Good thing.
Sorry about the mess.
- It's all good.
Hey, where's Mamie?
Staying in town with Kelsey.
Hey, you want any of this?
It's that strawberry shit my mom makes.
I got it. I got it.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
Did you know?
- What?
- How bad the money was before he...
I'm not trying to pry, man.
- You're doing a damn good job for not trying.
- It's the same shit we went
through when my uncle passed.
- Was it this bad?
I don't know. I haven't seen 'em.
- Fuck it.
Am I screwed or what?
- Nah.
Nah man, they...
Yeah, they always make it look worse than it is and...
Just gotta call 'em.
Hey.
- Hm?
- It ain't that bad.
- I just don't understand why they didn't tell me.
- Eh, no one wants to burden the people they love
with money problems.
- So they leave it till they die?
- No.
Nah, he just knew you'd be able to handle it
when the time came.
Probably didn't expect the time to come so soon, is all.
Let's go for a drive.
- Let me get cleaned up.
Thanks. - Yeah.
- Cheers.
Is that Stef?
- Yeah, looks like her.
- What is she doing out here?
- She lives here, man.
- But I thought she was... She's also our age.
- Yeah, that's what Kelsey said too.
- Gunner!
- Hey.
- What year did you graduate?
- Year after you.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
- You run track?
- Yeah.
Cheerleading too?
Hell no.
- I just can't remember you.
Well, the school really wasn't that small.
- Who'd you hang out with?
- We just ran in different circles.
- Yeah, I guess
- I remember you, though.
And Kelsey.
- 'Cause we had a kid?
- Yeah.
Everyone's parents
used you guys as an example.
Shit's gonna be hard,
but if you just do the soil enhancements
and follow the schedule... It's gonna be fine.
- No.
No.
But you might not lose your farm.
- I, uh,
saw you and Stef talking at the party.
- Yeah.
- Well, did she say anything helpful?
- No, just the same shit that she said
when she was here the other day.
Something about soil enhancements.
- She's just trying to get you through it, man.
- It'll be fine, Gunner.
- That's what you call fine?
- Okay. Goodnight.
- No, now's not the time for your stubborn bullshit, Cal.
No one's gonna help you if you keep acting like this!
- All right, here we go. Good job.
- Oh, oh!
Yeah! Come on.
- Hey. - Hey.
Pass it, pass it.
You got it, you got it!
Come on, Avery! - You got it!
Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it!
- Can you believe we have a third grader?
- That's okay. It's all right.
All right, back on there, guys.
Come on, pass the ball.
Grab it.
Yes, good job.
Yeah, that's right.
Okay, come on. Get over to the left.
- Almost. - Nice.
- Oof!
One more try, one more try!
- Pass it! - Another.
Pass it! - Almost.
I knew it.
- Good game. - That's right.
- You want some help? - Gladly.
Thanks.
You doing okay?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I'm okay.
What about you? How's the season been going?
It's good. Busy.
- Good.
Hey pal, could you take the cart back for us, please?
Thank you.
- Auction's public now.
- It's a misprint.
It's probably already scheduled or something.
- We could work something out.
- Like what?
- I could bid on it and then lease it to you.
You could live there, of course.
Be in charge of the day to day,
managing the cattle and the crops.
- For how long?
- It's just an idea.
Think about it.
- Avery, get in the truck, please.
Now!
Where are we going?
Just gotta run one more errand and we'll head home.
How long's that gonna take?
- Not long.
Wait in the truck.
Shit.
Do you wanna get ice cream while we're here?
Yeah?
Okay.
Can you catch the drips, please?
Avery, go in the house, please.
- Why? - Avery Joseph.
Hey! Hey!
What do you think you're doing?
- Putting up the sign for the auction.
Get it outta here.
Get it off my land right now!
- I just need a couple of minutes and I can do my job.
I just said get it off my property! I'm not asking.
- Look, I've gotta just-
- Man, get it off my property.
I'm not asking you.
Okay, this one will be good, I swear.
- Can I call mom?
- Um...
How about you wait till after breakfast?
- That might be forever.
- Okay.
There you go.
Hello?
- Hey, Mom.
Hey baby. Is everything okay?
- Dad's trying to make pancakes.
He is?
- Can I stay another night?
- You have school tomorrow?
- Okay. - Dad can take me
Hey, breakfast is ready. Come on.
Let me talk to your dad.
- Okay.
- Hello?
He wants to stay an extra night with you.
- Okay.
I miss him though,
- Avery, no.
I know, but if he wants to stay, we need to-
- You have to get him ready
and take him to school and...
- I can do that.
Okay.
- All right. We'll see you tomorrow.
Okay.
Hey, hey, Avery.
I wanna see!
- Don't distract her. She's working.
Come on.
Kelsey, I'm only getting little bits. How do you do this?
- Okay, well first, you're not holding it right, okay?
- I'm holding it the exact same way you are.
- You are not. So take the-
- Am I not holding it the exact same way?
- No! The bottom one goes like this.
- That's what I'm doing!
- Just try again. Like, reset it.
- Okay. - And then the top one,
you hold like a pencil.
- Okay. That's what... Okay, no.
- Look. - It's fine.
- I'm doing the exact same thing that you're doing.
- Fork. - I just am...
- It's okay.
- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
- Look dad, you can eat it like me.
- Nice.
Very nice. - Perfect form.
- Try not to make a mess, please.
- So what do you have to bid?
- Well, have you talked to the bank?
- What was this tablet that Avery was talking about?
Is it just for games or is it for something-
- I'll go get it.
Avery, can you please wait
until we're finished eating?
Sorry.
It's Okay.
Avery.
- I'm just showing him how to use it.
All right, well, be careful, okay?
- See you later, Mamie.
- Goodnight. - Night.
- I'll walk you out.
Cal.
- Hm? - Look,
I know that you don't want to talk about it,
but what are you gonna do?
- I don't know.
Really, Kelsey, I have no fucking clue.
And I'm, I'm trying to figure it out, but it's just,
it's taking more time than I have.
I don't know.
- There's not a lot of time left.
- I know.
- You are responsible for that farm now,
so whatever happens, it's on you.
- I don't even know what I want anymore.
Really, I don't.
- We have to figure it out.
Not just for you.
You have Avery to think about and Mamie.
- Kels, I know.
- Look, it is breaking my heart to keep telling Avery
that I don't know what is going on.
- Just tell him that-
- Cal. - I'm trying my best.
- Cal! - I'm going to...
- I'm not gonna tell him anything, okay?
I need you to do that.
And it's gotta be the truth.
- Hey.
Hey.
- The office said you called.
- I did.
I need help.
Whatever's in that packet,
whatever ideas you have, anything.
I don't, I don't want to lose this place.
- It's gonna be a lot of work.
- I know.
- And you're gonna need extra hands.
You can't do it alone.
- Whatever it takes.
- Do you trust me?
- Can I get a Bud Light, please?
He was only seven - Thanks.
Mama said his daddy died
And now his mama cries
Put away the kid things
When she'd get a question
then she chose the family home
Rebuild new alone
When she thinks of Dallas, we could move
- Let me get you a beer.
- Two Bud Lights. Two shots of Fireball.
He was only seven, mama said, when his daddy died
- Good stuff. And now his mama cries
Put away the kid things
When she'd get a question,
then she chose the family home
Rebuild new alone
When she thinks of Dallas
We could move
- Two more. - No.
- It's the weekend.
Zero thing but hay fields
I blast my care tonight
Without a store in sight
Running up the tired story
- Thank you. Rolling down the highway
- I'm sorry about the other night,
what I said... It's all good.
It's all good.
You run away
Look down the lane
You carve the way
The way you came in
- Hey, come on.
The scene lay out before him
His country lay behind
Oh, he walked that faithful line
Even when he stumbled, into the icy water
When the ladies turn us down
Never did he frown
Letting go as he would slip and go
You turn away
The skies are mean
They never disappear
They part the way from where you came
And they never go away or leave
Oh, we're going for real
Oh, we're going for real
- Could I get a couple waters?
- What are you doing all the way out here?
- You hate this place.
- I needed a break.
I'm really glad that you're here.
- Let me drive you home.
- Come on.
Cal.
- You're the only one.
You're the only one that gets it.
- Go inside,
get some sleep, okay?
- Okay.
- Look, Mom downloaded me a new game.
- Very cool.
- How you doing?
- It's gonna be okay.
What's gonna be okay?
- Everything.
- Food.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
We're ready outside when you're ready.
Thank you.
- Take your time.
- Okay.
Come on, Avery.
- Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the auction.
On my behalf, I'd like to thank each and every one of you
for being here today.
We're gonna auction off this
200 acres of prime farmland.
The auction's on. 200 acres of prime farmland.
Million, million five. Who wants to bid a million five?
First hand up.
A million five. One five.
Million five, million five. One five.
A million five, five, five, bid a five.
A million five. One five.
Now a million five. A million five to you, sir?
One five. A one five, five, five, bid a five.
A million five. A million five.
A million. 1 million.
Who wants to bid a million? 1 million.
A million dollars, now a million. 1 million, 1 million.
A million dollar, bid one, 1 million.
A million dollars to anybody? 1 million.
50,000. You can all bid.
50,000. Who'll give 50? 50,000.
A 50,000 now. 50,000.
50,000 to you sir? 50,000.
Who'll bid 50? 50,000.
50,000 on 200 acres of prime land.
Who wants to bid 50,000? 50,000 to anybody?
- Just do what you gotta do. Sell it.
- Will do.
Ladies and gentlemen, my
instructions are to sell the farm.
I'll start it down there where you can all bid.
A dollar bill. $1, now a dollar.
A $1, now a dollar, now a dollar.
Now bid a $1 now, now a dollar.
$1. A dollar now, dollar now, a dollar.
Bid a dollar. Now two.
One and a two.
A two, two, two. Bid a one, now two.
A one, two, two. $2 and I'll a bid of a two.
One and a two. Two, two, now two.
And you wanna bid two?
A dollar now, two, two, a minimum of two. And now two.
Now bid of a two to anybody? $2 and a two.
I'm bid one in the back row. Now two.
Now $2 and a two, a minimum of two.
$2 on 200 acres of prime farmland.
Who will give two? Bid one, now two.
A $1 and I'll take a bid of a two. One and now two.
$1 and a two, two, two.
Minimum one, two. And now two to anybody, $2.
Folks, if you're done, I gotta be done.
Yes or no? We gotta go.
I'm bid $1. Now two.
One and a two. Two, two, two, now two.
I'm gonna sell it.
Sold, dollar bill. Young man in the back row.
Thank you, sir. You bought a nice farm.
Congratulations.
- $1.
It happens.
All right, we can move it.
Yep.
Need any help chorin'?
I'm wrapped up at the house.
- I'm all right. Thank you.
- How's it lookin'?
Yeah, it's one lean year.
You'll be all right.
- Yeah.
Yeah, I hope.
No.
Hey Gunner!
- What's up buddy? - Hey.
- Did I make it in time to chore?
- Yeah, I was waiting for you.
- I'll get outta your hair. See y'all later.
- Yeah. - See ya.
Do you wanna join us at the Harvest Festival?
- Um, I'll think about it.
- Come on!
- Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
Hey, I love you. Be good.
Love you! I will!
Try the broccoli.
- Nah.
- Hm.
Don't they know it's supper time?
There better not be any extra broccoli
on my plate when I get back.
I'm serious.
Avery, finish your supper. I'll be right in.
- I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner.
- It's okay. What's up?
- We've been keeping an eye on the crops,
and I ran some numbers and...
- I know it's bad. You can just say it.
- Looks like you're gonna have the lowest yield
in the county.
- The whole county.
Do I get a ribbon for that or what?
- But you met the minimum.
Next year, you'll be okay.
You can be more proactive and...
But I just wanna prepare you for how bad that-
- Thank you.
- That's all I had to tell you. I just...
Yeah.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Do you wanna come to the Harvest Fest later?
- I think I'm gonna take a rain check.
Maybe next year, though.
- All right, Stef.
- Does this mean I can have dessert?
- Hm...
- I ate it, I promise.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, let's go. Could you grab your hat, please?
- Okay.
- Oh!
- It's beautiful.
- Yeah, it is.