Original subtitles

SHEDIAC, NEW BRUNSWICK

Move! We're closing in!

This wasn't the deal, damn it!

I know, Moreau. But there's no going back.

VAILLANCOURT, QUEBEC 8 YEARS LATER

And here's our next contestant, running in the Vaillancourt arena.

Luc Jandrot from Saint-Nicolas and his horse,

Black Locomotion.

He's in the starting blocks.

And here we go!

He goes for the first barrel. And the first maneuver is a success.

Yes!

The second one as well. And he rides back. Quick, quick!

There goes the third barrel and here comes the finish line!

And there it is! He finishes the race in 18.786!

THE OPTIMISTS CLUB

It's time to welcome the last rider of this race,

our very own Jean-François Gagnon and his horse.

And here we go! Yes!

Speeding! Great first barrel.

And he goes for the second one. Whoa!

He's so fast and precise, too! He has full control of his horse.

Here he comes. Quick!

And here's the finish line with a time of 16.94!

Yes!

Jean-François Gagnon,

we need you in the arena,

please.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce

the organizer of the annual Vaillancourt Western Competition,

Jean-François Gagnon! Make some noise!

I found you all by myself.

Seriously? You're a smart one.

Someone's here to see you.

A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture.

I put him in a good mood and put in a good word for you.

I told him you would meet him.

You have to talk to him.

Where is he?

In the VIP lounge. Just relax. You're not only devoted to this center, you also have a charming wife.

Charming? That depends. She has her father's temper.

How is the mayor doing? I heard he had some health problems.

He needed some rest, but he'll be back in September.

Excellent.

I didn't know you were such a talented rider.

Compared to the competition, I'm actually quite average.

Come on, and you're modest as well.

Seriously, Jean-François.

I'm delighted. It's a great event.

As your wife was saying, if the number of attendants keeps growing...

We could make good money. If we had the means to renovate.

That would be a nice plus.

By the way,

what did the town council say?

Are they backing you?

The majority are. Why, are you worried?

I wouldn't go that far, but...

My son-in-law is about to bewitch you, you'd better watch out.

No need, I'm already convinced.

-Hi. -Hi.

If your father had seen all this, he would have died a happy man.

Yeah. He would have been really proud of Jean-François.

So?

Any chance the event can get bigger?

Well, at the Ministry, we're waiting to know how much the town

of Vaillancourt is willing to invest.

You'd be willing to fund the rest?

If it was only up to me, things would look good.

Well, that's all I wanted to hear for now.

Mr. Sylvestre, we'll get it done. I'm delighted.

Next time, I hope we'll get to drink some champagne together.

Excuse me.

Excellent. Yes?

He's in, isn't he?

Nothing has been signed yet. There's something on his mind.

He'll give you what you want.

It's the other line.

Go get'em, Tiger.

Hello?

We got a missing horse.

I'm coming.

Let's give a round of applause to our contestant.

Looks like the horse ran off. It's nowhere to be seen.

The owner doesn't know.

Damn it!

And no one was watching?

The volunteer was chatting with the contestants.

We found it. Where?

By the road.

Shit.

Is this the truck that hit it?

Shit.

He's done for.

Who's got a rifle?

I have mine.

What about the vet?

He'll be here in 30 minutes.

Hey.

Hey, are you OK?

Are you OK?

Come on, Gagnon! Hey! Gagnon!

CAP-PELÉ, NEW BRUNSWICK

Hey. A call for you.

No.

No, I'm Zachary's grandmother. What did he do?

Have you called his mother?

What would make you happy?

You expect me to stay on the phone for you all day?

I'm not a local.

Did he hurt the other boy?

No idea. The principal was beating around the bush and he's not talking to me.

We'll have to get organized, he's suspended for a week.

Should I talk to him?

No, I wanted you to take him today until I'm done with my shift.

I can't. I have three facials and three bikinis left to do.

What about Jean-Jean?

I'll ask.

No, Dad. It's nothing serious.

Want me to take care of her?

No, don't tell the kids.

Call me back.

I will, as soon as I know more.

OK. Take care.

-Yeah. -Bye.

Are the sedatives too strong?

Well, I wouldn't speed on the freeway. Did you tell them it happened before?

Yes, darling.

The box wasn't closed.

The door was unlocked.

I don't get it.

They'll blame us.

Why would they blame you?

It was an accident. The horse ran off.

It was the best horse in the event. It was worth a fortune.

The owners will get me fired.

If they don't sue me first.

Our insurance should cover it. Ask them.

It's the worst possible timing. The reputation of my festival is at stake.

I have to talk to Joe.

I'll make the call.

I'll do it.

In the meantime, ask the doctors what might be causing all of this.

Did you tell them your hands shake when you sleep?

And your nightmares?

I don't have that many.

It's kind of hard to miss, with you screaming out loud.

You wouldn't be the first to come back from Afghanistan with PTSD. I know you hate talking about the past, but sometimes you have to.

I'm not talking about a therapist.

You know what?

Go back there, find Joe, and find out what's going on.

If I was dead, would you haunt my funeral?

You're not the only guy I have my eye on.

Are you gonna need a bypass

or did it happen in your noodle?

Fuck off.

What's wrong?

I got myself in deep shit, telling my wife I was in the Army.

Told you. You didn't listen.

I have frequent nightmares where I scream out loud.

So? How much shit are you in?

They don't send vets to civil hospitals.

If they transfer me to an Army hospital, I won't be on any list.

We'll find you a family doctor.

Someone safe.

Working for us.

We'll arrange for them to get in touch with a doctor here.

Jean-François Gagnon, please go to Room 8. Mr. Gagnon, Room 8.

Jean-Jean?

Jean-Jean! Jean-Jean?

I'm here. Here!

Look who's here.

My boss pays me a visit just when I'm taking a nap.

Forget about the boss thing.

It was too windy this morning, so I decided to work on the engine.

Could my young sailor give you a hand today?

Maybe the open sea will get his head straight.

What's the matter with him?

Go ahead. Say, Caro.

What about the boat?

Don't you think the boys will be interested in fishing when...

This boat has faced many storms.

They'll have to make a living.

But I'm not saying no. Let me think about it.

And you...

behave!

Or you'll spend the week here.

It's encouraging that they let you out. Did they tell you what's wrong?

Just my ear. They think the gunshot messed up my eardrum.

When did the Americans leave?

About an hour ago. They went to see the horse at the slaughterhouse.

They came back for the trailer.

She was crying as if she'd lost a kid and he was furious.

Damn it.

I told them you were at the hospital and that it might have been a stroke.

Oh, by the way, they left you a letter.

It looks like it's gonna cost us. Lawyer fees, I think.

Right.

They wanna sue the town.

They'll sue us, too.

The woman wants to sue you personally for killing the horse.

She says a vet could have saved it.

No way.

You had to put it down. We saw it, it had a broken leg.

She and her husband will come after us. They even took photos.

They even had their own CCTV.

With the horse they brought, no wonder.

Anyway. We didn't do anything wrong.

By the way, while you were gone, your guy from the Ministry called.

He wants to talk.

About what?

He wants you to call him before the council meeting.

So if we're here this morning, it's because of Jean-François.

Why don't you tell us what's up?

Gilles and I have been in talks with the Ministry of Agriculture

to try and subsidize renovations for the equestrian center. As you know.

But I just found out

that there are lots of people, even around this table,

who would like to tear down the center

and build a bunch of condos instead.

Guess who told me?

My guy from the Ministry.

And I wanted to bring some great news for our next council meeting.

The subsidies are a done deal.

But they'll retract the offer if we decide to build condos.

Is that true?

Well, I wasn't aware of it either.

I thought we passed on the condos.

Sorry, but when Gilles had to go on sick leave,

may I remind you I was named Deputy Mayor?

Am I not entitled to some latitude?

And when did you decide we wouldn't want to have a say in this?

Wait, hold on.

I'm not taking sides, but did we really decide anything?

I know that the equestrian center is a landmark,

but renovations are expensive.

If we're going to invest in something new, why not real estate?

Why the hell should we go for that?

-We'll go bankrupt. -No way.

It would bring in more taxes and we'd eventually make a profit. Right?

Vaillancourt's reputation is built on the equestrian center.

And you want to build condos?

Who would move here if our stables were gone?

One third of the residents have horses.

Our festival gets bigger each year. Where's the problem?

I asked you to fill in for me, Réjean. Not to change our plans.

Jean-François.

You did a nice job with the Ministry.

We should have a chat,

see if your Ministry guy might be interested in my condo project.

I don't have anything against open spaces or horses, by the way.

What makes you think your project will happen? You're not the mayor.

If Gilles Bonin had been able to trust anyone else with this job,

I doubt he'd have asked me to take over. Let's be honest.

Most of us don't want to see the center die out. Neither does Gilles.

I'm not sure our residents will want that, once they learn that

an American insurance company is suing

our town council for damages

over a horse that their client lost here.

A guy unable to put together a team to watch over his stalls during an event

isn't going to inspire much trust.

I did nothing wrong as an organizer.

We don't know what happened.

Listen to me.

There's gonna be a construction project on the center grounds,

whether you like it or not.

Wanna bet?

I'm ready to fight for that center.

I won't be intimidated by your shitty condo project.

Come on, he's 12.

If he's not allowed a few stunts now, then when?

Threatening a kid with a knife, you call that a stunt?

It was just a pocket knife, something to clean his nails.

You ask me how I'm doing, I'm telling you.

Steve Moreau.

If he really attacked another kid, there must be a reason. Right?

He probably asked for it.

You didn't ask?

Ask about what?

With what's going on in our family, the school would never believe us.

I'm thirsty. A drink?

No. Coffee.

What's wrong?

You hold a crisis meeting because the little bastard got suspended?

Don't say that, it's awful!

Yannick isn't a bastard

and neither is Zachary.

I got a call from Kentucky.

From the Americans' insurers.

They're going to have questions.

About what?

They want a list of all our employees

as well as the volunteers.

-Yeah? -I want us both to meet with the mayor.

Just the three of us.

Why?

It's a bit tricky. I can't talk about it over the phone.

Can you come over?

Sure, give me an hour.

Did you come here to dump all your problems on him again?

That's so unfair, how can you say that?

You never get to see how broken he gets after you leave.

-Pascal Moreau. -OK.

By the way, doesn't that kid have a mother?

You shouldn't have to babysit him.

We owe them nothing.

Hi, Mom.

Hi. Crying already.

Didn't take long.

No one asked you.

Aren't you supposed to meet your officer later?

I already did.

-It went really well. -Yeah?

What makes you say that?

I'll be released sooner than I thought.

Much sooner, even.

I'm perfect. Everybody says so.

Of course, you suck dicks all day.

Steve!

I gotta go. I have welding class in ten minutes. See you, boys.

That's great news.

Let's get to the point. If you want to blame me, go ahead.

The Americans seem to be

looking for a fight.

I'll have to go to court and explain why I killed the horse.

The experts will prove you right. And if not, we'll defend you.

But that's not why we wanted to see you.

We have another problem.

A bigger one.

What's wrong?

Look,

I don't want you to tell Brigitte before I call her myself.

It can't be. It can't be.

It is.

There's no hope left.

I have to resume chemo.

I shouldn't have trusted Marcil.

I can't in good conscience let him manage the town in my stead.

To save the center...

You'll have to replace him as mayor.

He's not the one we were thinking of.

It's you.

I don't have time.

I'm already opening up a second office.

No, I can't accept that.

Except for Marcil, the whole council will think it's a good idea.

They might not all vote for you, but I can guarantee you a majority.

You don't have much time to decide.

You have to say yes.

Don't give up just yet.

He's been through this before. He's tough as a bull.

And you'll be there to help.

I said I'll think about it.

It's him. Say yes.

Hello?

Hello, Sir,

we're conducting a survey in your area.

I'm listening.

My medical contact got your test results.

Everything's fine with your lungs, heart, and brain.

The bad news is, he wants you to see a shrink.

He thinks it was a panic attack.

They gave me sedatives,

I'll be fine if it happens again.

Does that mean you'll refuse to go?

No, it means I have more urgent business to take care of.

My father-in-law's cancer is back.

He wants me to take over the town hall.

Hey, hold on. You know you'll have to turn it down.

My whole renovation project is threatened,

I need to get more involved.

No, no. Out of the question.

I'm living in a small town, damn it.

Ever heard of the Internet?

Come on, no one's interested in our municipal business.

I can't protect your anonymity if you get into politics.

What's the matter with you? Have you forgotten who you used to be?

Because your enemies won't. And they won't stay in jail forever.

Look, forget about it. I'll find another solution.

Hi.

You're home early. Is there a storm coming?

I don't want to talk.

Watch your tone.

I've seen everything, OK? I'm not easily rattled.

I'm done with this place.

So, you want to move out?

Anything else I can do for you?

You talked to Jean-Jean.

Is it true you fought with a boy because he accused you of stealing?

It wasn't me!

You know that whenever something gets stolen at school,

it's always going to be your fault.

I'm sick and tired of going to school with a bunch or morons.

Zac.

What your grandfather and your uncles did isn't your fault.

When they blame you for something you didn't do, don't pay attention.

Just take a deep breath and go play elsewhere.

It's not that hard, really.

He's sweet when he sleeps.

They're all angels when they're asleep.

What's wrong?

I thought it over.

JF?

You can't turn it down.

I came here to find peace of mind.

We'd be bothered all the time.

Every time the renovation project got questioned, you were there to defend it.

Now my father gives you the opportunity to fight for it and you don't want it?

Why are you so insecure, all of a sudden?

If you let Marcil take over, it's his project that will get greenlit.

Go back to sleep.

OK, my man.

You say no and then what?

We put Marcil in charge?

Is that what we want?

Zac! Zac?

Isn't Zachary with you?

I docked and I saw him hop out. By the time I was done, he was gone.

Gone where?

I don't know, I thought he went home.

He didn't.

Dad! Close your eyes, close your eyes!

You're a real beauty today.

Mom has a surprise for you. Everyone's here, it's a secret.

-A sec-- -Surprise!

Surprise!

JF!

JF, JF, JF!

And the cars?

Parked at the neighbors'.

Right. And the babysitter came, too.

I'm not babysitting anyone today. My man's driving.

You'd better watch out, then. Thank you. Cheers!

Guys, who's hungry?

About time.

So you need some convincing to be named mayor until the elections?

If Brigitte was unable to convince him, I doubt we will.

The word's spreading fast, I see.

I want to make a toast to Joe.

Yes, Joe, who decided to throw a party so we could talk you through this.

-Thanks, Joe. -Good man.

Let's get it over quickly then, because I'll be totally trashed tonight.

We'll see what we can do.

Seriously. Let's make a toast.

To the best man ever.

Kids, cover your ears. We want to hear some details.

I'll tell you. I met Joe at a rodeo.

It was my first time.

JF is not from around here, if I'm not mistaken.

Any relatives in the area?

None.

He doesn't have much family.

No siblings?

No.

He has a great-aunt in Australia, but I never met her.

And a cousin in Vancouver.

Do they see each other?

Never.

Some people don't have any family. It's more common than you'd think.

True.

But what brought him here

is the huge open spaces. The house.

He wanted to have a stable.

That doesn't come cheap.

So he had some money.

JF had major back problems, when he was serving in Afghanistan.

He used to get a good pension.

Gagnon!

Forget the dishes, come join us!

So, it's official.

We're gonna have a brand-new event starting next year.

Give me a break, will you?

Come on, Gagnon. We know you secured the funds.

We want you to commit.

And fully.

I make half my year's earnings at the festival.

If they build condos instead,

I can close up shop.

You'll have to change jobs.

I've done horseshoeing for years.

The center's been around forever. No one will bury it.

So, you've made up your mind?

-Gagnon. -We're done here. Come on.

The inspector from the insurance company came to the stables earlier.

My jaw was on the floor.

Why?

He showed me the video. The owners had him check their CCTV feed.

It's one of our volunteers who opened the door.

Yes, Sir!

Does Dad know?

He will this afternoon.

Don't give up hope, bro.

If they're letting me out, your time will come.

I wouldn't be so sure. I don't trust them.

If I'm getting out, you guys will get released, too. Soon.

We're gonna have a hell of a party. We'll let it all out.

Don't get locked up again before we all get out, you hear?

Take it easy, OK?

Yeah, sure.

We have a big job waiting for us once we're all out.

You'll be part of it, too.

It can be a while until we find him.

I haven't wasted eight years of my life so he can get away with it.

We'll find him, trust me.

Keep an eye on Dad.

Let me finish!

If I'd known you'd asked me here to tell me that, I wouldn't have come.

I thought about what you told me. You're panicking for no reason.

I'm not running for Mayor of Quebec! I'll be in my tiny office with my files!

Nothing public, I swear!

You signed a contract. You have to respect the terms.

Leave the program if you want.

Sure, whatever. How can you say that to me?

I've been in the program for eight years. I never made a single mistake.

I might smoke pot from time to time, but apart from that, I'm a model citizen.

Go for it, then.

Take a public office and go fight some real estate promoters.

Renovate your center

and take your father-in-law's job. How are you going to do that?

With a paper bag over your head?

You can't. You can't lead a normal life, you have to hide.

You'll have to hide your entire life.

Too many folks hate you.

Your whole family plus the Logan gang are against you.

They're all gonna get out of jail sooner than you think.

Hey, I'm talking to you.

They all become eligible for parole this year.

You'll have to hide more than ever.

OK. You're right.

You know my vote.

I want you to raise your hand if you want Jean-François

to temporarily assume the function of Deputy Mayor.

Well, we have a majority.

I'm glad. I'm really glad.

Thank you for your trust.

Was that the news? The big bad news you mentioned?

Well, no.

The news is, your brother Pascal's out of jail.

Your father and your brother Steve will also get out soon.

It's a matter of weeks now. Maybe days.

You're bluffing.

Just to piss me off.

I'd love to piss you off just for fun.

I'm not like you.

I'm not a two-faced moron.