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(suspenseful music)

(engine humming)

(tires screech)

(metal crashes)

(siren wailing)

(flare sizzles) (dispatchers chatter)

- [Dispatcher] 217 and one on suspect.

- How bad is it, sergeant?

- Two people, husband and wife.

The woman's unconscious, but they think she's gonna be okay.

The man's gone, we're gonna have to cut him out.

I want you to go around back,

I want you to check, make sure we didn't miss anything.

Get going.

(suspenseful music)

(dispatchers chattering)

- Gimme some help, there's a kid over here!

(birds chirping)

- Sunny, come on, dinner's here!

It's pizza, it's your favorite.

(birds chirping)

Sweetheart, come on, you have to try to eat something.

(somber music)

Do you remember the story about the little girl

who was looking out the window watching her brother

bury the family dog?

She was crying.

And her dad came and brought her to another window.

She looked out, and she saw this beautiful flower

growing up out of the ground, and she smiled.

And her dad said,

"See, you were just looking out the wrong window."

- But dad's dead, Mom.

- I know, sweetheart.

I miss him too, I miss him very, very much.

- Can I please be excused?

(midtempo instrumental music)

- Dear God.

How do I tell her that she has to move?

♪ When I look in the future ♪

♪ You're standin' right there ♪

♪ Fishing for an old worn out shoe ♪

♪ Drinkin' some coffee, always twisting your hair ♪

♪ Your love was all the strength that I knew ♪

♪ I took it for granted, little things that you did ♪

♪ What I'd give now to have that all back ♪

♪♪ I'm over the heartache, not over the pain ♪

♪♪ My love will survive to be born once again ♪

♪ Right now I feel nothing, but the cold bitter rain ♪

♪ I'm over the heartache, never over the pain ♪

- Sweetheart, Dr. Olson says you have to use your leg,

otherwise you could wind up crippled.

Why don't you go outside and play

and get some sunshine, all right?

Come on, here you go.

(birds chirping)

(uplifting instrumental music)

(horse whinnies)

(horse whinnies)

- [Buddy] Get off there, get my hat.

Get, ah!

Get off, I said, get off!

(horse whinnies)

- [Ben] Ginger, Ginger!

Whoa, whoa, easy!

Easy, Ginger! - Look at my hat.

That horse done gone bad, Ben.

Look what it did to my favorite hat.

- Oh, settle down, amigo.

It could have been a lot worse.

- Oh yeah, like how?

- You could have been wearing that hat.

- Well, you got a point, there.

But Ben, I don't mean to tell you your business,

but you've got to put that horse down

before she kills somebody, namely me.

- Buddy, you know as well as I do

that horse is championship quarter horse stock.

At least she was before she got that leg hurt

and started getting mean.

- Mean?

That horse is psycho!

Look at my hat! - Forget the dang hat, Buddy!

Spirit like that comes along maybe once in a lifetime.

Putting her down, it just don't seem right.

- Yah!

Hey, get away from that hat, you hear me?

Get away from that hat. (grumbles)

(lively instrumental music)

(horse whinnies)

- Ouch, dang! (Sunny giggles)

Hey, hey, hey!

Hey, kid, hey, hey!

Get outta there! (horse whinnies)

Get, get!

Easy, Ginger.

Ginger, easy, kid, kid, easy.

Kid, kid, kid don't move.

Easy, Ginger.

Ginger.

Kid, get back, get!

(gentle instrumental music)

(horse whinnies)

Well, I'll be.

Kid.

Easy, Ginger, come on.

Didn't anybody ever tell you not to get in a paddock

with a strange horse, huh?

That is a mean animal!

She could've killed you!

- I'm sorry. (whimpering)

- I'm not mad at you, I'm just.

Here.

What's your name?

- Sunny Matthews.

Is this your horse?

- Yeah, Ginger's my horse.

I'm Ben Taylor, this is my place.

- Why'd you name her Ginger?

- Look at her coat.

It's the same color as gingerbread.

- She's pretty.

- She's pretty mean.

She's mean as the devil.

- Her leg hurts. - Mm-hm.

- [Sunny] She limps just like me.

- Got banged up in a rodeo.

Got that leg there, healed crooked.

- Maybe she needs therapy.

(Ben laughing)

- Yeah, therapy, huh?

- Yeah, physical therapy.

I have to go there three times a week.

- Mm-hm. - Well, I better be going.

(giggles) She's funny.

- So you live around here?

- Over there in the trailer park.

- Uh-huh.

Well look, kid, you come on back, if you want.

But you do me a favor.

- Yes, sir?

- You don't crawl into a paddock with a strange horse, huh?

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

- [Sunny] Okay, bye bye Ginger, bye bye.

(uplifting music)

- Ah, like this don't ya, honey? (chuckles)

Yeah, yeah.

(horse whinnies) Yeah.

- Hey, Buddy. - Yeah?

- You're not gonna believe what just happened.

- Don't tell me you proposed to Dallas again.

- If I get that crazy, you can shoot me.

I'll leave Dallas for you in my will.

- No thank you.

As you well know, I've been down that marriage trail

four times already.

That's enough for any cowboy. (chuckles)

Well, what's got you so fired up?

- It was a little girl.

She just crawled into Ginger's paddock.

Of course,

I thought Ginger was gonna stomp a mud hole in her,

but she didn't.

She let the kid pet her.

- You gotta be lyin'... - No, no.

The kid walked up and petted Ginger like she was a puppy.

- I'll be dang.

That kid is lucky she's not dead.

You know that Craig Hardy is coming by in a couple of days

to pick up some horses.

- I know.

(horse sputters)

- All right, okay, okay.

You like that, huh?

(horn honking)

(swing squeaking)

- How's my little Sunshine? - Fine.

- [Kathleen] I could sure use a hug.

(dog barking)

- Mom, did you know there were horses next door?

- Really? - Mm-hm.

- Did I ever tell you when I was a little girl,

I had a horse.

- No. - I did.

- You did? - Uh-huh.

- What has his name? - His name was Socks.

- [Sunny] Why'd you name him that?

- [Kathleen] Because it looked like

he had white knee socks on.

(Sunny laughing) (midtempo country music)

Beat you up the stairs!

(midtempo country music)

- Ben!

Ben! (horse whinnies)

Ben Taylor, get over here!

- [Ben] Mornin', Dallas, how are you, Melinda?

- [Dallas] I'm sick and tired of you babying Melinda.

- [Ben] Mornin' to you, Ben, how you doing?

- Just look at this ring, look at it.

It's way too soft for competition.

- Dallas, that track ring keeps the footing safe.

Horses don't get hurt, the kids don't get hurt.

- I'm paying you good money to teach Melinda to race,

And you're not worth a plug nickel.

- It seems like this plug nickel has done good enough

to get your daughter to the state championship.

You know, Dallas, you got a real attitude.

- Personally, Ben, I'd rather be a widow

with an attitude than a broken down old cowboy

without a dime to his name.

Melinda, saddle your horse.

- Hey, Dallas.

You still make a pair of Wranglers

look better than any woman I ever saw.

They love it, come on.

- [Sunny] You love getting your nose scratched, don't you.

You're so pretty.

Yes.

Hi, I'm Sunny and this is Ginger.

Do you ride here?

Gee, I wonder what her problem was.

(horse grunts)

- Hey little girl, what are you doing in there?

(horse whinnying)

- Ginger, stop that.

That's no way to behave.

- Hey.

Now didn't you hear what I told you

about climbing into paddocks?

- Yes, sir, Mr. Ben.

You said not to climb into pens with horses I don't know.

- Uh-huh. - I know Ginger.

We already made friends.

(Ginger sighs)

- Well, I guess you have.

- That's the craziest thing I ever saw.

I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it with my own eyes.

I still don't believe it.

- Sunny, this here is Buddy.

Buddy works with me.

- Howdy. - Hi.

- Sunny, I tell you what.

You run over to the tack room, grab down a brush.

I'll bet we can convince Buddy here

to give you a little lesson in brushing Ginger down.

- Really? - Yep.

- Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?

Yes, you would.

Stay right here, okay?

Don't you go anywhere.

- Here you go.

Yeah.

Right underneath, here you go.

Right up on the wall you'll see them up there.

- Okay.

- I still don't believe it. (Ben chuckles)

- Who's that girl with the crutch?

- I don't know her name,

but I think she's a friend of Ben's.

- I've seen her around here.

- What's she doing with that old crow bait Ginger?

- I don't know, why?

- Because I wanna know, that's why.

- Okay.

(gentle instrumental music)

(door thuds)

- Ready for sweet dreams?

- Mm-hm.

What's that?

- This is a book that I had when I was a little girl

about horses.

Want me to read you some?

- Sure.

Mommy? - Hm?

- Do you think there are horses in heaven?

- I would think so.

- Do you think daddy would have a horse in heaven?

- I think that Daddy would probably rather have a sail boat.

Let's see.

- You love to get your tummy brushed, don't you?

You're looking so pretty.

- [Melinda] They're selling that horse, you know.

- Are you talking to me?

- The guy's here right now who buys horses to chop 'em up

and sell them for dog food.

I heard him talking to Ben,

And that's the horse he's here to get.

- You're a liar!

- Whatever.

- Don't worry, Ginger,

I'm not gonna let anybody hurt you.

(gate squeaks)

- Sunny, go on, clear outta here for a minute.

Go ahead.

- So, this is the man killer I've heard so much about, huh?

(Ginger whinnies)

- He sure don't like me, that's for sure.

- I don't know, Ben, she's pretty skinny.

I tell you what, I'll give you $400 dollars for her.

- [Buddy] Ben, I'd take it and run.

- Sunny, Sunny, we're doing business here.

- What is it?

- I'll buy her. (whimpering)

- You'll what?

- I'll buy Ginger.

- How much you offering?

(horse whinnies)

- $4.

- [Ben] Uh-huh, $4.

Now, Sunny, why should I go and sell Ginger to you for $4?

This man here is gonna give me 400.

- (sniffs) Because I love her.

- [Craig] Ben, come on, you want the $400 or not?

(horse whinnies)

- Craig, I'll tell you what, you go on and get her.

She's yours.

(suspenseful music)

(Ginger whinnies)

- Whoa, steady girl.

(Ginger whinnies) Steady, steady.

Whoa!

- [Ben] Easy, easy, Ginger.

- Here, that horse is a killer, Ben!

You oughta have her put down!

- Sunny, you lead her outta there, she's yours.

(uplifting music) - Are you crazy?

Let that horse... - Let her go, let her go.

- He'll kill her.

- That's it, Sunny.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Ain't a deal until I get my money.

She's yours.

Go on.

(uptempo instrumental music)

- Somehow, I was gonna go to $500.

No wonder I'm broke all the time.

- You had to do it, huh?

- Buddy, I couldn't help myself.

- Ah.

- Sherry, did I do the right thing?

Ah, you're darn right, I did.

(buttons clicking) (birds chirping)

- Mom, Mom, guess what?

I bought Ginger!

- You bought who?

- Ginger, Ben was going to sell her for dog food,

But I said I'd buy her and Ben said okay.

- Wait a minute, you're not making any sense.

Who is Ben?

- The cowboy who owns Ginger.

- What does he have to do with dog food?

Did you buy a dog?

- No, no, no, a horse!

You've gotta see her, come on, come on!

- A horse? - Come on!

- [Kathleen] Wait, you bought a horse?

(uptempo country music)

- Come on, Mom.

This is Ginger.

Hi, Ginger. (Ginger whinnies)

- [Ben] Hey there, you must be Sunny's mother.

- Ben?

- Yeah, Ben, Ben Taylor.

- Um, look, there must be some kind of misunderstanding.

Sunny says you sold her that horse.

- That's about the size of it.

- She's a little girl,

you can't sell her a horse without my permission.

- That's a fact, but you see,

there was some extenuating circumstances.

- Oh really, such as?

- Well.

(Sunny laughing)

- Ew. (laughing)

You're a sweetie, you're funny.

- Look, that's all well as good, mister,

But the truth is I can't afford

to feed and care for a horse.

- Sunny can do a little work for me part-time

to pay for Ginger's care.

I think it might be good for her.

- Can't you see she's been hurt?

- Well look, lady, I'm no doctor, but look at 'em.

It kind of looks like good medicine to me.

- Oh yeah, oh yeah. (giggling)

- You're right, you're no doctor.

Come on, Sunny, we're going home.

- Oh, come on, Mom.

- Sunny, we're going home, come on, get your crutch.

- [Sunny] I just wanted to stay a little bit longer.

- [Kathleen] Let's go.

- [Sunny] Bye bye, Ginger.

- You're cutting too tight in the turn.

(horse whinnies)

Sweetheart, pay attention!

(barrel clatters)

You're cutting too tight.

Come on, Melinda, concentrate!

Come on!

Oh, no. (scoffs)

- Melinda, come on over.

We cut those a little close, did we?

Ooh, take your boot out of the stirrup.

Did you adjust these?

- Dallas did, said they were too short.

- Mm-hm, everybody's an expert.

That's why you lost a stirrup.

Good news, that run was an 18 flat.

- [Melinda] But I knocked down all the barrels.

- Well, that's why we're gonna try again, huh?

Here you go.

All set?

- Yep. - Ride away, here we go.

Ready?

Go ahead! (uptempo country music)

There you go.

There you go, lookin' good.

Kick the barrel.

Sit, sit, good.

Good, Melinda.

Come on, choke the barrel.

Now kick it, kick it.

Bring it on, here we go.

There you go!

- Yes!

- All right, Melinda, that one was 15.9.

- Yes! - I did it, I broke 17!

- Good job! - I wanna ride again.

- All right, you got it, you've got it.

Head over.

- 'Cause Ginger's hurt like me,

I couldn't even ride her if I wanted to.

- That is not the point.

What if you get kicked or stepped on?

- Ginger wouldn't do that!

She loves me.

You're not fair.

You had a horse when you were my age.

- That was different, I wasn't injured.

- I wish Daddy were alive.

He'd let me have Ginger.

- Sunny, Daddy wouldn't let you have anything

that was bad for you.

- Ginger's not bad for me!

She's my only real friend.

- [Kathleen] Do you think Dr. Olson is a smart man?

- I guess.

- Okay, I will make a deal with you.

If Dr. Olson says that it's okay for you

to be around Ginger, then you can have her.

- You promise?

- I promise.

(bold instrumental music)

- [Dutch John] Morning, ladies.

- Dutch John, you look mighty fine in this new car.

- That old thing?

It's nothing but a horse with wheels.

- Melinda, say hi to Mr. Hathaway.

- Hi, Mr. Hathaway.

- Girl, you're growing faster than a weed on a cal pine

and you're just as pretty as your mom.

- [Dallas] Let's go inside, we've got a lot to talk about.

- Well, I talked to my company about sponsoring Melinda.

Head honcho likes the idea, but there's a little wrinkle.

- Wrinkle, what's that?

- It's not gonna happen this year.

Melinda did real good last year on the regionals,

but Vet Sprag gonna sponsor her,

she's gonna have to win the state championship.

- That's a lot to ask of a 12 year old.

- Full ride college scholarship, all expenses,

gear, saddle, truck, trailer.

Oh, and I forgot to mention $100,000 dollars cash.

(Dallas whistles)

To win, she needs a new horse, John.

Not that broken down bag of bones Ben's got her on.

- If I were you, Dallas, I'd listen to Ben.

If he's got her riding a nag, he's got reasons for it.

- Forget Ben.

What about a new horse, John?

- Okay, name's Steel.

Johnny Dobson's selling him.

But he's expensive.

- How expensive?

- Very.

- I can handle that.

- Ben named her Ginger

because she's the same color as Gingerbread.

He sold her to me for $4.

She got banged up in a rodeo, and she limps just like me.

- And I don't think that a grown man

should be selling a little girl a horse

and an injured little girl at that.

And he didn't even ask me my permission.

- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Time out, everyone, take a deep breath, hm?

All right, Sunny, why don't you hop up on the table now.

Well, that was very good.

- My mom said if you said it was okay,

I could keep Ginger.

- All right, so suppose you tell me what's going on.

- Well, she has been hanging out at this guy's stable,

this Ben character, and he sold her this crippled horse...

- Ginger. - Ginger, for $4.

I just don't think it's a good idea for her

To be around horses,

but I promised her that I would talk to you

before I made my decision.

- Oh, so I can be the bad guy, huh?

I get the picture.

Your main concern

is that Sunny doesn't re-injure her leg, huh?

- Yeah, that's pretty much it.

- Well, it's true there certainly is some risk involved

in owning a horse.

But that has to be weighed

against the possible good it can do.

So Sunny, how is your leg doing?

- Better. - Uh-huh, how better?

- I don't limp as bad, and it doesn't hurt like before.

- Well you certainly seem to be doing a lot better

than The last time I saw you, wouldn't you agree?

- Yes, I would have to agree.

- Now, Sunny, are you gonna be riding this horse?

- No, I just walk her.

Ben said nobody can ride her because of her leg.

- Ah.

- Dr. Olson? - Yes, Dr. Upchurch?

- I've checked x-rays, and I have them in my office

when you care to come in to discuss 'em.

- All right, thank you, I'll be right in.

Well, medically speaking, Mrs. Matthews,

there really is no reason why Sunny shouldn't have Ginger.

- Please Mom, you promised.

- Oh, boy.

- [Sunny] Please?

- Well, this is against my better judgment,

but okay, a promise is a promise.

- Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,

thank you, thank you, thank you.

(gentle instrumental music)

- Hey, stable girl. (horse whinnies)

You still wasting your time on that old crow bait?

I thought I told you

the only thing she'd be good for is glue.

Hey, maybe I could get her a wooden leg.

I hear they got 'em real cheap at Sears.

- Don't you girls have someplace to be gettin' to?

Eh? (horse whinnies)

Go on.

What is it?

Why you cryin'?

- Those girls said terrible things about Ginger.

- You believe it?

Lemme tell you something.

If you're gonna be a cowgirl, you gotta be tough.

You can't let mean people hurt your feelings.

Believe me, I know.

- Is Ben a real cowboy?

- You bet.

Ben and me, we rode the rodeo circuit together

for a lotta years.

- Buddy, can Ginger get well?

- I don't know.

Vet says she's crippled.

- Maybe he was wrong.

- Could be.

Ben and me, we'll look into it a little more for you, okay?

- Thank you.

(gentle orchestral music) - Okay, honey.

- I don't know, Mr. Taylor.

The damage to the ankle is extensive.

The nerve isn't damaged, that's for sure.

She can feel this injury.

- [Ben] Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy.

- I'll do my best to make friends with Ginger.

- Don't worry, Mom.

She'll love you just fine.

What are they doing, Mom?

- I don't know.

- [Ben] Well, thanks a lot, Doc.

- I heard about a fellow with a horse hospital

who's been doing some experimental surgery

on crippled horses.

Do you know anything about him, doc?

- You must be talking about Dale Janssen.

- That's the fellow.

- He's had some success with some new techniques,

but he's expensive. - Hm.

- He could run you as high as 10,000,

and it still ain't for sure.

- (sighs) Well, Doc, I'm glad you stopped by.

Appreciate it. - Sure.

- How much is $10,000?

- A lot, it's enough to buy a car.

- Do we have $10,000?

- No, I'm afraid we don't even have one.

- [Buddy] Howdy.

- Ginger, this is my mom.

- Hi, Ginger, what a nice horse.

- Ginger's the best.

If she didn't have that bad leg, she'd be worth 50 grand.

- Yeah, a lot more than that.

- Wow!

- I'll talk to this Doc Janssen

and see what he has to say.

Maybe he can cut us a discount, so.

- I don't want you to go to any trouble.

- No, no trouble to ask a question or two.

Let's get her put back.

- That Steel is a powerful horse.

Think Melinda can candle him?

- Look, I told Melinda that I didn't spend $30,000

and risk losing this place to have her hold back.

She'll do it.

- We'll see. (glasses clink)

- Come on, Sunny.

Gimme three more, just three more,

and we're done for the day.

- Doctor, I've been on this thing for 20 minutes already.

- Oh, okay, go ahead and get off, Alexandra.

- [Alexandra] Thanks, doctor, see you tomorrow.

- Bye bye, good job.

- I can't.

- Come on, you just did, Sunny, two more.

- But it hurts. - I know.

Keep going.

Last one, last one, Sunny.

Yes, good job, yes!

Now, that's how hard you have to work every time

if you want to get that leg better, okay?

- Jesse? - Yes?

- Could therapy help a horse with a bad leg?

- Hm, I don't know anything about horses,

but if there's no bones broken, I don't see how it can hurt.

- Thank you.

(gentle instrumental music)

- You see, I told you it would be good for you

to get Out of the house for a while.

- Oh, well I'm still not sure I'm very good company.

- Oh, you're the best company I've had in a long time.

- Oh, please, a man like you?

A handsome successful doctor must have women

chasing after him.

- Kathleen, there are so many gold diggers out there.

I don't even tell a woman what I do

until a second or third date.

- (laughing) Well, your secret is safe with me.

I hate to bring this up during dinner,

but how do you think Sunny is doing?

- Well for a while, to be quite honest,

I was concerned.

Her attitude was so down.

She didn't seem to be trying to get better.

But I have to say, this horse seems to have been

just the right medicine to lift her spirits.

- Ginger. - Ginger.

- I still worry about her sometimes.

Dr. Olson... - Hugh.

Hugh.

- Hugh.

- Here you go.

- Now listen Ginger, I'm keeping my end of our deal.

I'm working my butt off,

and Jesse says I'm really getting better.

You've got to try harder

and let me help you get your leg fixed.

We're gonna run so fast,

those girls are gonna be so sorry

they said anything mean about you.

(Ginger whinnies) Yeah.

We're gonna leave them with a big mouthful of dust.

Yes, we are, yes, we are.

Uh-huh, yes.

Does that feel a little bit better?

(Ginger sputters)

(gentle instrumental music)

(horse whinnies)

- Hey.

Just finished bedding down and feeding the horses.

Everything's all nice and quiet.

- Good.

- I thought I'd go over the wagon wheel

and get a bite to eat.

Wanna come along?

- No, no thanks, Buddy.

I'm not hungry.

- All right.

Hey, now.

Don't you go getting depressed on us, huh?

We worked three long hard years to end sober.

Don't mess it up.

- Buddy, I'm fine.

You go out and have yourself a good dinner.

See you bright and early in the morning.

- Okay.

- Night. - Night.

(horse whinnies)

♪ When I saw you standing there ♪

♪ I forgot all the hurt and pain ♪

♪ As you stood strong and light as air ♪

♪ I knew my heart would ride the wind again ♪

♪ Second chance to love ♪

♪ Second chance to live ♪

♪ Gimme strength to stand alone ♪

♪ I've got a second chance to give ♪

♪ With a touch of your hand ♪

♪ I remember the day ♪

♪ Your love gave me a second chance ♪

- Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, she's gone!

Ginger's gone, I can't find her anywhere.

- Are you sure?

Maybe Ben moved her.

- Ben's gone too, I can't find her, she's gone!

- Calm down, we'll find her.

Come on, we'll go look for her right now.

It'll be okay. - She's gone!

(horse whinnies)

- Okay, okay, I'm gonna go put a note

on the tack room door, it's gonna be okay.

There has to be an explanation.

I'll be right back.

(Sunny crying)

(Melinda barking)

- That's the sound of a happy little doggy

knowing her tummy is gonna be so full of gingerbread.

- Shut up, Melinda!

- Well Ben's trailer is gone and so is Ginger.

Now let's see, what's one plus one?

- Shut up! (Sunny groaning)

(horse whinnying)

- Hey, hey! - Get off me.

- That's it, fight's over, come on.

Come on, girls, get up.

That's it, come on, fight's over.

- Stop it, what's going on?

What's going on here? - Simmer down, both of you.

- What are you trying to put yourself back in the hospital

or just give me a heart attack?

- Come on girls, start talking.

- Well, I couldn't find you.

She said you took Ginger to the dog food man.

- Ginger's fine.

No one's gonna hurt your horse.

What is going through your head?

Don't say something hurtful like that, huh?

- I don't know.

- Well, why don't you go think about it until you do.

We don't talk that way around here.

- Are you gonna tell Dallas?

- You got a reason I shouldn't?

- Sunny, I'm real sorry.

If you want to hate me, you've got a right to.

(gentle instrumental music)

- It's okay, I'm sorry too.

(horse whinnies)

- Well now, Mrs. Matthews,

would you and Sunny care to join me on a short trip?

- Where to?

- To go see Ginger.

She should be in her recovery stall right up here.

She already had her surgery, so it's okay.

Go on in, say hi.

- It's okay, you can touch her.

Just be careful, a little sore.

- Ginger, it's me. (Ginger whinnies)

It's me.

- Ben, who's gonna pay for this?

- Well, Doc said Ginger was such an interesting case

that he did it as an experiment so,

it's not gonna cost a penny.

Hey Doc, this here is Kathleen Matthews.

Her daughter is Sunny.

- Howdy, nice to meet all of you.

- Nice to meet you.

- Well, Doc, tell us what you found.

- Well, as it turns out,

there was significant damage to the fetlock,

but fortunately most of it was soft tissue.

I reconstructed two tendons

and removed some bone chips from the joint.

- What does that mean?

- That means that I would give her about 30 days or so

before you ride her, but she should be fine.

- Ginger, do you hear that?

You're gonna be the fastest horsey in the whole world,

yes you are. - Okay.

I think it's time we went home.

(Ginger groans)

- I think Ginger could use a little rest.

- Okay.

Bye, Ginger, see you later, okay?

- Whaddya say? - Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- Uh, why don't you go on ahead.

I'll be with you in just a minute.

- There's 2,000.

I'll have the other eight next month.

- It's a deal. - Thanks.

Thanks for playin' along.

- Not a problem, Ben.

- Ginger looks great. (horse whinnies)

Well, Doc says Ginger can come home in a few days.

- Okay.

I wanna make this clear, this doesn't change anything.

Sunny can't ride her.

- But Mom, that's not fair!

- Sunny, that's the end of this discussion.

You and I have an agreement.

- You know, if y'all aren't doing anything right now,

I'd like to show you something.

- I'm sorry, we have plans. - No we don't.

- Excuse me?

- Look, look, won't take long, lunch'll be on me.

- Come on, please, Mom?

- Exactly where would we be going?

- Well, with all due respect, ma'am,

I'd kinda like that to be a surprise.

Come on, hop in.

- Please?

Come on.

- All right, but we can't stay out long.

- [Sunny] You're the greatest!

(uptempo country music) (audience cheering)

- [Announcer] Folks, no rodeo would be complete

without ladies' barrel racing.

Up next, Miss Melinda Judd on Brother John.

(hooves clopping)

- [Melinda] Come on, hyah!

Yah!

Come on, boy, go!

Yah!

- Sunny, what'd you think?

- Melinda was great. - Uh-huh.

- Her horse was as fast as lightning.

Can Ginger go that fast?

- I don't know, we'll see.

- We'll see. (chuckles)

- You know Melinda's the one

who said those mean things about Ginger.

- Yeah well, don't hold it against her.

She's got a hard row to hoe.

- What does that mean, hard row to hoe?

- That means Melinda's got a lotta problems.

There, in you go.

Watch your toes. (door thuds)

- You know, you really set me up here.

- Oh, Mrs. Matthews,

I just wanted Sunny to see a real rodeo.

- Would you just take us home, please?

- You know, experience has taught me

that when a kid loves a horse this much

and wants to ride so bad,

there's nothing anybody can do except to love 'em,

guide 'em, and stay the heck outta the way.

(door thuds)

- That was fun, huh, Mom? - Yeah, great fun.

(horse whinnies)

(engine rumbles)

- Hey, Buddy.

You see Sunny around this mornin'?

- Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

She's around here someplace.

- Yeah. - I gotta tell you.

She keeps herself busy with that bad leg and all.

She's a cutie pie. (Ben laughs)

- We're makin' it, oh, we kicked the barrel!

We won, Ginger, we won, yes we did!

Oh, Ginger! - Hey.

- We won!

- That ain't allowed out here,

at least not without a good hat.

Every real cowgirl should have one.

(playful instrumental music)

That's it, keep ridin'.

(horse whinnies)

- Hey. - Hey.

- Which on is Sunny's file?

- [Ben] The one on the right.

- Your dad gave me this before he died.

I don't know what it's worth,

but I know it's worth somethin'.

- You sure, Buddy?

That watch is your pride and joy.

- It is, but she's my pride and joy now.

- I appreciate that.

(horse whinnies)

Well, don't just stand there

with your teeth in your mouth, what is it?

- I'm finished cleaning the stalls.

- Fill the water barrels? - Yep.

What are these?

- [Ben] Some old junk I keep around.

- Where'd you buy this one?

- I won it.

When I was younger, I used to do some rodeoin'.

- [Sunny] Are these real gold?

- 18 karat solid gold.

- You must really love 'em.

- Yeah.

Wouldn't trade those spurs for anything.

- Why'd you quit being a cowbody?

(somber music)

Who are they?

- Ugly one's me, Dallas, you know.

- Who's the little girl?

- Go on, go on, get outta here.

Go feed the horses before they climb outta their stalls, go.

(horse whinnies)

(uptempo rock music)

- Ben.

We need to talk.

- Say what's on your mind,

Dallas, don't sugarcoat it or nothin'.

- Melinda won't be taking lessons from you anymore.

- It's your money.

By the way, I saw Melinda's new mount at the rodeo

the other night.

Steel's a good horse.

- We're gonna stable him at our place.

- That's swell.

- I suppose you don't want Melinda riding over here

with her friends.

- Melinda can ride over here any time she pleases.

- (scoffs) Ben?

Are you feeling okay?

- Dallas, you remember what happened.

Don't you do the same thing.

- She can make it to the top, Ben.

And I'm going to make sure she gets there.

- I saw her at the rodeo.

She stands a chance, if you don't ride her so hard.

- Really, Ben.

I can't believe this, coming from you.

You're nothing but a cactus-covered marshmallow.

If you want to win, you gotta grab it,

nobody's gonna hand it to you.

And using our past to make a point is cheap, Ben.

Melinda's going to be a winner.

I'm nothin' like you.

- You're right, Dallas.

- How's that, Ben?

- You're using Melinda to make your point.

(Melinda scoffs)

Hey, there.

- [Sunny] Hi, whatcha doin'?

- A good cowboy takes care of his tack.

- I'm done.

- I figured.

- You know my mom's really mad at you.

- I bet your dad, too.

- She doesn't want me to ride.

- Yeah, she's afraid you're gonna get hurt.

- Could you talk to her?

- Hm, well, that's between you and your mom.

See, I already stuck my nose in where it don't belong.

I tell you one thing, though.

You wanna ride Ginger, you're gonna have to do your therapy.

It takes good, strong legs to ride a horse.

That gimpy one of yours just isn't gonna cut it.

- I'm gonna ride Ginger.

- Yeah?

We'll see.

- He's not a doctor,

he doesn't know what's good for your leg.

- Yes he does, he said my leg wasn't strong enough.

He said I'll have to do my therapy if I wanna ride.

You just don't like him.

- I don't dislike him, Sunny,

I just don't like him meddling in our business.

- He's just trying to help me.

- You are not riding, and that's final!

Hi.

I just sent Sunny down to physical therapy.

- Oh, what's going on?

- Well now, she wants to ride the horse,

and Ben's got her believing that she can do it.

- Ben again.

- You know, I'd really feel better if you were involved.

- Well, I'll go out there and check on things,

if you'd like that.

- Oh, would you do that, Hugh?

(Hugh chuckles)

What?

- Nothing, you called me Hugh.

(Kathleen chuckles)

- What's gotten into her?

I mean, she's gone crazy.

- In a good way, I hope.

- 110%, Doc.

I mean, I'm gonna have to slow her down,

she's burning up all of our machines.

(Hugh laughs)

Look at her.

- Ben, Ben, Ben!

Ben, Ben!

Dr. Olson's gonna come out and see Ginger!

If he thinks it's okay, I can ride!

- [Ben] Is that so?

- And I've been doin' my therapy, just like you said.

- [Ben] Atta girl.

- And Jesse says if I keep working...

- Uh-huh. - I might be strong enough

by the time Ginger's well.

- Whoa, whoa. (Ginger whinnies)

I don't know about that.

You gotta promise me

that you're not gonna try to ride Ginger

till I say it's okay.

- I promise.

My mom says you're a bad influence on me.

- That so?

What else she say?

- She doesn't like the way you look.

- Is that a fact? - Yep.

Well, I gotta go.

My mom is cooking dinner.

- Mm. - Bye bye, Ginger.

- Bye.

Gin, what do you think?

(Ginger groans) Thought so.

(gentle instrumental music)

(horse whinnies)

- Hey, cowboy, what are you doing here?

- Dallas, you told me to stop by.

- Ben.

Well I'll be.

Is that really you?

- Dallas, what is it you want?

- Johnny's gonna teach Melinda.

- I said I'd teach her if you agreed, Ben.

I'm not tryin' to cut in on your deal.

- You're welcome to her, Johnny.

- Are you sure?

- Johnny, you'd be doing me a favor.

Dallas here was about to drive me to drink,

weren't you, Dallas?

- Now, don't exaggerate, Ben.

We don't see eye to eye all the time,

but there aren't any hard feelings.

(Ben laughing)

- Aw, Dallas.

One day you'll make somebody a great husband.

- (scoffs) Funny.

(Ben laughing)

- Hey Rocky, we're gonna go down the reservoir

and take a swim, you wanna come with us?

- I'd love to, but I still got a lot of chores to do.

Thanks anyway.

- Oh, well maybe next time.

- Hi, my name's Susan,

and this is where my horse Pokey lives.

You want some help, Sunny?

- Sure, thanks.

Kinda expecting her to say something mean again.

- No one ever stood up to her before.

She's been talking about it all week.

Said she tackled her right into the ground.

She calls you Rocky like the boxer.

- So that's what she meant.

- Have you ever met Dallas?

- I think I've seen her out in the ring with Melinda.

Why is she so hard on her?

- You wanna know the story?

- Sure.

- Well, this is what my mom told me.

Ben married Dallas a year before Ben's daughter Sherry died.

- That must be the little girl I saw in the picture

with Dallas and Ben.

- And right after Sherry died, Dallas and Ben got a divorce.

Meanwhile, Dallas's own daughter Shannon eloped

and had a baby and she and her husband went to South America

and they left the baby with Dallas.

- Melinda's Dallas's granddaughter?

- Uh-huh.

Anyways, Mom says Dallas blames herself

for what happened to Shannon

on account she was this big rodeo queen

and was never home to take care of her.

So when Melinda came along,

it was kind of like a second chance to do it right.

- Sounds like Melinda's got a hard row to hoe.

- What?

- Well that's what Ben said.

Melinda's got a hard row to hoe.

- Oh, okay.

(uptempo rock music) (horse whinnies)

- [Ben] Good girl.

Not bad for bein' laid up for five months, eh?

- Wow.

(horse whinnies)

- [Ben] Hey, Buddy.

- She lookin' good now, Ben.

What's she gonna look like when she gets in shape?

- Oh, better and better, right, Sunny?

- Yeah! (Buddy laughs)

- [Ben] Not bad.

(Ginger whinnies)

- Yeah. - Ben, she's fabulous.

- [Ben] Wow.

- [Buddy] She's as frisky as a young filly.

- Come on in, been expecting you.

- Whaddya mean by that?

- Well, you're here to tell me

that if anything happens to Sunny, you're gonna blame me.

Is that right?

- Somethin' like that.

- Look, Mrs. Matthews, I don't wanna argue with you.

If you wanna blame me if something happens, that's fine.

I can live with that.

- You're gonna have to.

You look better without the hair.

(Ginger sputters)

- What about a saddle?

You're not gonna let her ride bareback, are you?

- [Buddy] Not hardly.

- Thanks, Buddy. - You bet.

- Easy there, Ginger.

Okay Sunny.

- [Buddy] I got it.

- From now on, this'll be your saddle.

- Wait a minute, Ben.

- Now Mrs. Matthews, it's just an old kid saddle,

I don't have any use for it,

so Sunny might as well have it.

- [Buddy] Sunny, I want you to watch me do this,

you're gonna have to learn how.

(Ginger groans)

- Sunny, remember all the things I told you?

- Mm-hm.

- Now, we're gonna go through 'em one more time

before I turn you loose.

- Okay.

- All right, come on up here, come on.

There you go, ready? - Mm-hm.

- And up we go.

How are the stirrups? - Okay.

- [Buddy] Here's the rein honey.

- There you go, keep those heels down, all right,

show me how you hold reins.

Good, keep a good grip on those reins.

You drop those, she'll take off.

Show me how you turn to the right.

Good, turn to the left.

Real good, show me how you stop her, good.

Don't be afraid to pull back hard, she's a big horse.

- And if you run into some trouble,

you just hold onto that saddle horn.

- And Sunny, if your leg starts to hurt,

you just stop, all right?

- You ready to give her a try?

All right, let's go, come on, Ginger.

(gentle instrumental music) (tongue clicking)

- Honey, you be careful.

- So far, so good. - Yeah.

How 'bout that?

- [Buddy] Mm-hm.

She's a darlin'.

- Look, look, I'm riding!

- [Kathleen] Sunny, slow down.

- Yeah, yeah, keep it slow, gal.

- Ben, she wants to go, I can feel it!

- I know, keep a tight grip on those reins.

You're not ready to run her yet.

Keep the reins tight.

- [Kathleen] Sunny, you listen to Ben, do you hear me?

- [Sunny] Yes, Mom.

- She's had it.

- Sunny, Sunny take it easy.

Sunny!

- Sunny, slow down.

- Sunny!

Sunny!

Easy, Ginger, Ginger, Ginger.

Young lady, you climb down off that horse right now!

Now you just made three big mistakes.

Number one, you ran Ginger before she was warmed up,

you could've crippled her all over again.

Number two, you disobeyed me,

number three, you scared your mom.

Now, I think you have some apologies to make here.

- I'm sorry, Mom, I'm sorry, Ben.

And I'm really, really, sorry, Ginger,

I didn't mean to hurt you, honest.

- Now, well, just so you don't forget,

I want you to take Ginger and walk her around this arena

for one hour, you understand?

- Yes, sir. - All right.

Get to it.

- A little rough on her, weren't you?

- You've ever gone up on a horse?

- Well no...

- You stick with the doctoring, I'll handle the riding.

- Ben.

She did really well out there, didn't she?

- Buddy, you ever seen anyone ride like that

first time outta the box?

- Not in 65 years of ridin' horses.

- She did darn good.

(Kathleen chuckles)

- Come on in, Melinda, get out there, honey.

That's a girl.

(bold orchestral music)

- How's Melinda doin', Dallas?

- She's gettin' there.

- Come on!

- Ah.

Good for what ails ya. (coughing)

What's this I hear about you firin' Ben?

- Who told you?

- Nothin's secret around here, darlin'.

I think gettin' rid of Ben is a mistake.

- And why's that?

- 'Cause Ben'll stand up to you, and Johnny won't.

Now drive to the barrel, drive!

- Stay down in the saddle.

You were too high in the turns.

Melinda's gonna win in the state championship.

You can bank on it.

- I hope you're right.

- Get over here, Melinda.

- Good mornin', Mr. Hathaway.

- Howdy. - No more goofin' off.

I want you out here six hours a day,

and I'm canceling your week at camp.

- But Mom, all my friends are going.

- Use your head, Melinda.

Now, do you wanna go to camp or be a state champion, huh?

- All right, let's try some big circles, nice and wide.

Keep the heels down, heels down, Sunny.

Good, good grip on the reins.

Just relax into the posting, just relax.

Good.

Well, you're looking pretty darn good.

I tell you what, I'll go ahead and set out the barrels.

You trot Ginger through five times at a trot,

you understand? - Okay.

- All right.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Ben's teaching me to ride.

- Gaits are hard.

Pokey doesn't like to do anything but walk and run.

Especially coming back to the corral.

- Ginger don't like to trot.

- You gonna enter the Gymkhana Saturday?

It's only a practice one.

- I don't think I'm good enough.

- You look good enough to me.

They let anyone enter, even me and Pokey.

- [Sunny] Ben, can I ride in the Gymkhana Saturday?

- Well, I don't know, you wanna ride?

- Susan asked me to.

- Well, it's fine by me, but you better ask your mom.

(Ginger whinnies) - Okay.

- Cool, I gotta go, okay, bye.

- Bye.

- Sunny.

Whoa, whoa, Ginger.

All right, now, I want you to run the barrels

five times at a...

- Trot.

- At a trot, very good.

And then cool her down and brush her out.

- Yes, sir, coach. (giggles)

- Get to work, kid.

(uptempo country music)

- Folks, Ben and I really appreciate

the turn out today.

Now, we hope you're all having a great time.

Our next mile racer is a newcomer, Miss Sunny Matthews

in her very first competition on her own horse, Ginger.

Give 'em both a big welcome.

(audience cheers) (audience applauds)

Now, you're not going to believe this, folks.

18.2 For Sunny Matthews, now how about that?

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ginger.

Wow, that was a great ride, Sunny.

- Sweetheart, you did beautifully.

How does your leg feel?

- Great. - Good.

- How's Ginger's? - Ginger's looking great.

Here, why don't you take her and cool her down

for about 10 minutes, walk around.

- Okay.

- See you in a few minutes. - Okay.

- [Melinda] That was a good run.

I didn't know you could ride that well.

- [Susan] She only started riding last week.

- Really?

Are you going to enter the regionals?

- I don't think so.

I don't know anything about it.

Besides, your run was way better than mine.

- Oh, well, see you around.

- Bye.

What's the big deal with the regionals?

- $2,500 to the winner, and whoever wins the regionals,

goes to state, and it's $50,000 there.

- I don't care about that stuff.

I just love to ride Ginger.

- [Buddy] Nice ridin' here.

Oh well, better luck next time.

Our next rider is...

- She could be trouble, Melinda.

- Maybe she just had a lucky run.

- I don't think so.

She saddled that horse too well.

- She said she wasn't going to enter.

- You wanna bank on that?

- No.

- I want you to keep an eye on her.

You can do that, can't you?

- I guess.

- Don't guess, do it.

(horse whinnies)

- I want to thank you for everything you've done for Sunny.

Ginger, the saddle, everything.

- My pleasure.

- We didn't get off to a very good start.

I was hoping we could start again.

- That would be fine by me, Mrs. Matthews.

- Would you stop calling me Mrs. Matthews?

Everybody calls me Kathy.

- Kathy. - Good.

(horse whinnies)

- You know, Sunny did great out there.

- Oh. (laughs)

Is she really that good?

- Yep, yeah, she's just really that good.

- Wow.

(gentle instrumental music)

- How 'bout it, I do have a rather special brandy

to round out the evening if you care for a glass?

- Oh, I would love some. - Good.

- Dinner was amazing.

I had no idea you could cook like that.

- Oh, well, I went to France to school there

for a year when I was young.

The family I lived with had a gourmet chef,

so I made a point of learning everything I could from him.

There we go. - Thank you.

- So, you like antiques?

- Yeah, they're beautiful.

I'd be afraid I'd break something, though.

Must be worth a fortune.

- Well, yes, a lot of them are handed down to me

from my family.

Some of the other little knick knacks

I picked Up on my travels.

All museum quality, though.

- Now, that horse, Sunny would love.

- Well, I bet she would.

This little blighter cost me a fortune.

- Blighter? (laughing)

You know, Ben told me she did really well at the Gymkhana.

- Yes, you talk a lot about Ben.

Do I need to feel jealous?

- Of course not.

- Kathleen, please.

Kathleen, I grew up in a big house,

a lot bigger than this one, actually,

but it never got lonely because my parents

and my brothers and my sisters were always there.

The thing is, a house doesn't become a home

until there's the right woman

and the right family living in it.

To us.

(glasses clink)

- All right, now, when you want her to go all out,

You just touch her with those spurs.

Not too hard, of course, she's real sensitive.

Y'all set? - Mm-hm.

- [Ben] All right, let's give it a shot.

- [Sunny] Okay.

- Let's see how this goes, huh?

(uptempo country music)

Twirl her around.

All righty, all out, here you go, here you go.

♪ If you ever lose track of me ♪

♪ You know that I'm the one ♪

♪ You'll find me working every day ♪

♪ Just howling at the sun ♪

♪ Well, hot ain't really cool to me ♪

♪ But there's no shade under the gun ♪

♪ I take my chances anywhere ♪

♪ When I'm howling at the sun ♪

♪ Howlin' at the sun, howlin' at the sun ♪

- [Ben] All right, now, kick it and bring her home,

Bring her home.

Good, good.

♪ When I'm howlin' at the sun ♪

♪ Howlin' at the sun ♪

- [Ben] Whoa, whoa, whoa.

- [Buddy] 17 seconds.

- Ah. - She went faster.

- Yeah.

Well, spurs are a good thing,

so long as you don't overuse them.

- Hi!

- Sunny, when you're practicing,

you don't let nothing distract you, gal.

We'll talk to them later, huh?

- Okay.

- Okay now, we have to correct a little problem.

When you're going around those barrels,

you're leanin' a little too far into the turn.

That's throwing Ginger off balance, all right?

You wanna sit up straight in your saddle.

When you're racing, that saddle horn, belly button,

back of the saddle keep it in line the whole time,

you understand?

- Okay, like this? - Yeah, just like that.

- Even when I'm going around the barrel?

- That's any time you're riding.

All right, let's tray another run.

This time keep your line. - Okay.

- All right, go ahead. (uptempo music)

There you go, Ginger.

There you go.

All out!

Kick it!

- 16 one.

- Wow, 16.1, did you see that, Melinda?

- Yeah, I saw it, I'm standing right here.

Come on, let's get a soda.

- [Buddy] 16, 16.1, that's good, really good.

- I did what you said, Ben.

- You sure did.

All right, well, go let Ginger cool off and

then put her in her pen.

Go on ahead.

- Come on, come on.

- Well, what do you think?

- Yeah, I think we got the makings of a champion.

- Eh, I think you're about right there.

Sorry, Doc, supposed to get a check from this horse dealer,

he went bust and left me until the lurch.

- Oh, Ben, I don't mean to put pressure on you,

but $8,000 is $8,000.

Can't you borrow it or something?

- Well, I'm trying.

I'm selling some stock and getting rid of the old truck.

- I don't want to confiscate this girl's horse.

I tell you what I can do.

I'll give you 90 days, but that's all.

- [Ben] I appreciate that.

Did a heck of a job on Ginger.

- That's good to hear.

- I'll tell you what, you stop by any Friday

and watch ginger run those barrels, huh?

- I'll take you up on that, all right.

- [Ben] Thanks again.

(midtempo country music)

- 16.3, not bad, Melinda.

- But it's not good enough.

Yesterday, sunny rode a 16.1.

- Melinda, why didn't you tell me?

- You're the one that said Ben wasn't teaching me right.

- Stay on that horse, you're not finished.

Go on.

- [Sunny] I rode a 15 nine yesterday.

- Wow, that's fast. - Super fast.

- Watch this, yah!

Come on, Steel, let's go!

Come on.

Oh, Steel, let's go, come on!

Did you see that?

Steel's dogging it.

- Shouldn't you warm him up a little before you run him?

Ben said you can cripple a horse by running him cold.

- No, Steel's a champion, watch this.

Come on, Steel, come on, let's go!

Go Steel! (uptempo country music)

♪ Hitch a ride on the tail wind ♪

- Come on. ♪ Hold me close, ♪

♪ We're gonna take off again ♪

♪ Like the speed of sound and the blue sky above ♪

- Yah, come on, let's go! ♪ Hitch a ride on my love ♪

♪ Hitch a ride on my love ♪

- See?

You just have to push him.

That was my best time yet

and Steel wasn't even going all out.

We'll be ready for regionals.

- Regionals?

- The Regional Rodeo Championship.

Sunny, you should enter,

but you gotta have the entry fee in by Friday.

- I need to.

I mean I want to.

I mean, how much is it?

- A hundred dollars.

(Steel whinnies) Come on, Steel, yah!

- I have to beat her at the regional rodeo,

or I don't go to state, right?

- No, the two fastest regional riders go to state,

Not just the winner, why?

- I gotta win, I gotta win 'em both.

- Mom?

I need a hundred dollars.

- what for?

- I have to ride in the regional rodeo, the barrel race.

- That's nonsense, you're not ready to ride in a rodeo.

- I'm better than everyone but Melinda,

even Ben said so.

- Honey, those girls have been riding for years.

Don't you think you should wait for a year or two?

- I have to ride this year.

- Have you asked Ben thinks about it?

- No.

- Sunny, there's a big difference

between riding Ginger up at Ben's place

and riding in a rodeo.

Besides, I don't think I can spare a hundred dollars.

- If I win, I get $5,000.

I could pay you back.

- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the Southwest Regional Rodeo.

Today's competition will feature cattle ropin',

saddle broc ridin',

and the Regional Ladies' Barrel Racing Championship.

Best rider in this competition

will go onto the state championship.

- Get her out.

- [Announcer] All right, let's get this started today

with a little intro.

Our first players are a couple of young men...

- Come on, Ginger, time to stretch those legs.

Come on, easy, easy, easy girl, easy.

I got her, Buddy.

Come on.

- [Sunny] I'm scared, Buddy.

What if I don't do good?

- Oh, what are you talking about?

You're gonna do good.

Ginger, she doesn't look worried, does she?

No, come on. (chuckles)

- Sunny, don't dawdle now, get her brushed down.

There you go.

Get her over there and get her warmed up.

(crowd murmuring)

- [Announcer] That was Susan Andrews.

Too bad though, better luck next time.

(audience applauding)

Our next rider is Miss Sunny Matthews on Ginger.

- [Susan] I blew it.

- You'll get 'em next time, Susan.

- Now remember, if you lose your hat, you lose points.

- All right, let's go out there and have some fun, huh?

Just another practice run around the barrels.

Go ahead, Ginger.

(uptempo country music)

- There she is. (giggling)

- [Sunny] Come on, come on, come on!

Yah, yah!

Come on, come on, Ginger!

Hiya, come on!

You can make it, Ginger, come on!

- Atta girl!

- [Sunny] Come on!

(crowd murmurs)

Come on Ginger, come on, come on!

- Yeah! (audience applauds)

- [Announcer] Folks, that was a 15 nine

for Miss Sunny Matthews.

They weren't lying, she definitely shows promise.

- You done good, you done really, really good.

- Yeah, you sure did.

- [Announcer] Let's see how she stacks up

against our next rider, Miss Melinda Judd.

Last year's regional champion on Steel.

- Push it, melinda, push it.

- You mind your head, now.

Come on, come on!

(uptempo country music)

- This is Sunny's friend.

- [Melinda] Okay, let's go, let's go, come on, ya!

- Lean, sweetheart, lean!

♪ Run before you walk, sing before you talk ♪

♪ Breaking down the walls of Jericho ♪

♪ Gonna sink before you swim ♪

♪ Lose before you win ♪

♪ Breaking down the walls of Jericho ♪

- Let's go! - Looking good, Melinda!

♪ Always on the run ♪ - Go, Steel!

- That's it, that's it!

♪ Gimme the trophy and you take away the fun ♪

- I love you!

- [Announcer] 15.5 for Melinda Judd,

that puts her in first place.

Now, that's a champion, folks.

But watch out, Melinda, that Sunny Matthews

is gonna be some tough competition.

- Hi. - Hi.

- [Melinda] You ran a good one.

- You, too.

I guess we'll both be going to state.

- Yeah.

- I'm glad it was you, Sunny.

- Sunny?

Sunny, hi, you did beautifully!

- Thanks.

- I was very impressed.

- You remember Melinda?

She won first prize.

- Hi, congratulations, Melinda.

Your horse is beautiful.

- Thank you. - Melinda?

- I have to go.

- Bye. - Bye.

- Come on, boy. (horse whinnies)

- How are you, Dallas? - I've been worse.

- Melinda looked real good today.

- Oh, she can do better.

- You know, Dallas, if Melinda won $10 million

in the lottery, you'd complain that it wasn't 20.

- Just show me the 10 million, and we'll see.

- I'm rooting for Melinda,

but Sunny looked good out there,

considering she ain't been riding that long.

- You saw who won that, Dutch John,

and that's the bottom line.

- Can't argue with you.

- You're up early. - Good morning.

Ben? - Hm.

- What do you think?

Is Steel faster than Ginger?

- Not by a long shot.

Ginger can't run full out if you're making mistakes.

- What did I do wrong?

- Well, you were fine up until that last barrel.

But when Ginger came around it,

you're still leaning in a little too far,

threw her off balance.

Just sit in the middle of your saddle.

- Could you watch me, please, and see if this is okay?

- Well, sure, kid, but take 'er easy, huh?

Nobody expects you to be perfect.

- Ginger does.

- Ginger does, huh?

(birds chirping)

- Hey, pretty lady.

Want a ride in my new car?

- It's beautiful.

- Here, come on, hop in, I'll take you for a spin.

We can burn some rubber.

- Sunny's waiting for me, I have to go pick her up.

- Oh, come on, we won't be gone for more than a minute.

Come on, live a little!

(uptempo country music)

♪ Last night I woke from a dream ♪

- Oh, it's beautiful!

♪ I thought I heard me callin' your name ♪

♪ I've been so worried ♪

♪ I've been losing sleep ♪

♪ Somethin's wrong, I'm not the same ♪

♪ I'm even shopping for wedding rings ♪

♪ Oh, help me find someone to help me please ♪

♪ This heart of mine ♪

♪ Thinks you're the only one for me ♪

♪ When you walk by ♪

- [Hugh] Look in here.

- [Kathleen] This?

- [Hugh] Yeah, that.

Open it.

- It's stunning.

- Kathleen, make me the happiest man in the world.

- I don't know if I'm ready to make a decision like this,

and I have to talk to Sunny.

- Why?

You're an adult, you don't need her permission.

- She's a part of this, too.

If we were to get married, you would be her new dad.

Hugh, I just don't think I'm ready.

- Oh, well, you keep it.

It might help my cause.

(thunder rumbling)

- Hey, Sunny?

Sunny, pack it in, it's startin' to rain.

- Ben, it's just drizzling, come on.

Ginger's not even warmed up.

- Good, you don't have to worry about cooling her down.

We don't run the barrels in the rain, come on,

Pack it in.

- Yes, sir, come on.

- Hey, Sunny, I said pack it in!

Sunny!

Sunny!

(ominous music) (Ginger whinnies)

No!

Sunny!

(suspenseful music)

No, not again!

No, no!

Sunny!

Sweetie, sweetheart?

Come on.

Buddy, get out here!

Sweetheart.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Ben where is she, what happened?

- She was out riding in the rain,

Ginger slipped and fell on her.

They're working on her.

- Where?

- Just.

- This is your fault.

I didn't want her to ride,

I knew something like this would happen.

- Sorry. - Just stay away from us!

Sunny, are you all right?

- I'm okay.

- She has a bruised knee and some abrasions,

and she took A good hit on the noggin,

but I don't see any sign of concussion.

- [Kathleen] She's got a pin in her right leg.

- I checked it, everything seems fine.

- Mom, is Ginger okay?

- I'm sure she's fine.

- Where's Ben?

- I didn't think it was a good idea

for Ben to be with us right now.

- Mom?

Ben told me not to ride in the rain.

I did it anyway.

I disobeyed him.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

- Can I take her home now?

- Sure, good luck, Sunny.

- Thank you.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

- You're gonna need it, let's go.

(horse whinnies)

Ben?

I came to apologize for what I said.

It wasn't your fault, I just wanted someone to blame.

- No need to apologize, Mrs. Matthews,

You were right.

How's sunny doing?

- Well, she's got a few scratches,

and she's pretty down in the mouth,

but it's nothing that a ride on her horse

and a hug from her coach won't cure.

- Yeah.

I'm good for the hug,

but I'm not going to be doing any more coaching.

- Don't be ridiculous, she needs you.

- You know, I had a daughter, Sherry,

and she was killed when a horse fell on her in the rain.

It's about the same age as Sunny.

And you wanna know why she was out ridin' the horse

in the rain is because she knew I wanted her to win.

- I'm sorry, I had no idea.

- That's all I'll talk about.

- But Ben, what happened to Sunny was an accident.

You can't blame yourself.

- No, no, not open to discussion.

- Ben Taylor, don't you dare walk away from me.

This discussion is not over.

I'm sorry about your daughter, I am.

I know what it feels like to lose someone that you love.

I feel the loss of my husband every day.

I cry myself to sleep every night,

believe me, I know what that kind of pain feels like.

But nothing, nothing compared to the hurt that I felt

that I had to look Sunny in the eye

and tell her that she lost her father.

I will not do that again.

She thinks the world of you, Ben.

You wanna quit on her, you be man enough to do it yourself.

(birds chirping)

- Hey cowgirl, where's your hat?

- I didn't think you'd want me to wear it anymore.

- Are you kiddin' me?

I wish I had a dollar for every mistake

I've ever made in my life.

I'd be a rich man.

- I'm sorry I disobeyed you.

I'm sorry I almost hurt Ginger.

- Well, we're lucky here, see, 'cause we're all okay.

And we're getting a second chance to do things right.

Next time, we might not be so lucky.

- Well, when can I practice to ride again?

- Oh.

How long till you can go get that hat?

- About 10 seconds.

- Nine, eight. (Sunny giggles)

Seven, six, here we go.

(uptempo country music)

♪ When you're ridin' high ♪

♪ And the wind is at your back ♪

♪ That's an easy road ♪

♪ 'Cause you know that you're on track ♪

♪ If you ever take a spill ♪

♪ In some strange and distant land ♪

♪ I will pick you up I will ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm always near at hand ♪

♪ You gotta believe ♪

♪ When your back's against the wall ♪

♪ You gotta believe ♪

♪ When you don't believe in nothin' at all ♪

♪ When the chips are down and you're completely surrounded ♪

♪ And you're prayin' for the calvary ♪

♪ You gotta believe in me ♪

(audience cheering)

(audience murmurs)

- [Announcer] All right, Danny,

this rope was just too much for ya.

- Come on, girl. (Ben knocking)

Oh, don't you look like a million bucks.

- Thanks.

These jeans are really, really stiff.

- Yeah, gotta suffer to be beautiful.

Time for you to get over to the arena,

get Ginger warmed up.

I want you to come back here, okay?

- Ben, I haven't seen Dallas and Melinda, have you?

- Well, I bet wherever they are,

they're not worryin' about you, that's for sure.

Come on, Ginger.

Now, I want you to focus on what you and Ginger

have to get done, all right?

Don't you worry about them.

Go on.

Get her good and warmed up, go ahead.

Go, Ginger.

(uptempo country music)

(somber music)

- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,

here they are, the funniest

and the bravest men in the rodeo, the clowns!

Their job is to keep the bulls off the riders

when they hit the ground.

This entails some of the wildest stunts.

- Cuttin' it a little close, aren't you, Dallas?

Not much time till Melinda rides.

- Bumper to bumper traffic.

Melinda's headed for the warm-up ring

and Johnny's getting us registered.

- Well, good luck, see ya after the race.

- Where are you going, can we watch together?

- I got somethin' I gotta do.

(hooves clopping)

(crowd murmurs)

- Buddy, where's Ben?

- Oh, he'll be along toot sweet.

Don't you go anywhere.

I got a surprise for you.

- Okay. (uptempo country music)

- Hyah, come on, yeah.

Come on, come on.

Whoa, whoa.

(Steel whinnies)

Oh, Steel.

(Melinda whimpering)

(bold rock music)

- [Announcer] Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen,

to this, the seventh annual state rodeo.

As promised, we have a surprise for you,

a very special guest, especially for those of you

who follow the rodeo circuit.

He's one of the greats of rodeo.

The only cowboy ever to win four national championships

and receive a special citation

from the President of the United States.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ben Taylor!

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

- Ben?

- Whoa, he's good, isn't he, Ginger?

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

- I told you he was a top handler.

(Sunny giggles)

- A long time in seclusion.

I've seen around here in these parts for some time.

Ben Taylor, one-time star.

- [Announcer] Now, our first event of the afternoon,

ladies' barrel racin'.

Who's gonna take a piece of the state championship.

First rider is Evelyn Blankenship.

(somber music) (Melinda sniffling)

- What's wrong, what happened?

- Steel hurt his leg.

I ran him too fast without warming him up.

Oh Sunny, what am I going to do?

Dallas is gonna lose everything.

And it's all my fault.

- Maybe Ben can do something.

- I wanna die. (sobbing)

I wanna die.

- I love you, Ginger.

Ride Ginger.

- But Sunny, she's your horse.

I can't take her.

- Yes, you can.

You have to.

(announcer chattering)

She's the only horse that can match Steel.

Take her, there's no more time.

Take her.

You're okay, Ginger.

I love you, baby.

- [Ben] You know, Ginger can only run once.

- I know.

It's okay. - Hm.

Here, lemme take Steel.

Why don't you run ahead and find us some seats.

- She is somethin', ain't she, Sherry?

- Our next runner is last year's runner up

for the state championship, Miss Melinda Judd.

She's on a new horse, Steel.

- Excuse me.

- What the heck is she doing on that horse?

- She's gonna win, that's what.

Come on, girl.

- [Announcer] A horse that was to be ridden

by Sunny Matthews.

That's loyalty, for ya.

Anyway, here she is, Melinda Judd.

- [Melinda] Yah!

- Good.

- [Melinda] Okay, come on, let's go!

Go, come on, yah!

- [Ben] Good!

- [Melinda] Yah, go, Ginger, go, go!

- [Announcer] Look at 'em go!

(crowd cheering) (crowd applauding)

- Will you please tell me what's going on?

- Yeah, I'm a little curious, too.

- Well, it seems like Melinda ran Steel

before he warmed up.

Steel came up lame, so Sunny here gave Melinda Ginger

to win the race.

- Sweetheart.

- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your hats!

We have a new state record of 14 nine!

Give that young lady a great big hand!

That's got to be a winner!

(audience applauding)

- [Ben] Yeah, great, 'scuse me.

- [Melinda] Did Ben tell you?

I'm really sorry.

- I think you should share this win with Sunny.

- [Melinda] You bet.

Come on, Sunny, we'll do the victory lap together.

- I can get her up, aw, there you go.

Way to go, you three.

(upbeat country music)

You got one special girl there, you know.

- Yeah, thanks.

- [Announcer] Here she is, ladies and gentlemen,

Miss Melinda Judd, our new state champion.

- I think she has a pretty special coach.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

- Kathy.

- [Announcer] I think that's Sunny Matthews

there on Ginger.

That's a great horse you have there, Sunny.

We hope to see you ride next year

here at the state finals.

- [Man] You can be on that stuff.

- [Ben] Well, where are they, here they are.

- Hey, girls! (group laughing)

- [Ben] You did so, aw, you come here, come here, you.

- Ben. - Ginger.

- What is it, darlin'?

- I was gonna give you the money

to pay that Dr. Janssen if I won.

I'm really, really sorry.

- Did you hear what I heard Ben?

Now that's a good kid.

- Sunny, how'd you know about that?

- I heard you guys talking.

- Wait a minute, you paid for Ginger's surgery?

- I made a down payment.

- Well Ben, Tom's insurance claim

hasn't been settled yet, that should be coming in soon.

- No no, there's still plenty for me to sell.

- Nobody's gonna sell anything,

and nobody's gonna use any insurance money,

and nobody's gonna take that beautiful horse away

form this little girl.

We've got $100,000 in sponsorship money comin'

besides what we won tonight.

And the way I figure,

half that money belongs to Sunny and Ginger.

- Oh, Dallas... - Oh, wait a minute...

- Don't argue with me Ben, or you either.

Sunny, I thought I knew something

about what it takes to be a winner,

but I didn't know anything.

The little I know now I just learned from you.

And you, oh. (giggles)

- Thanks Sunny, Ginger's great.

- Hey, don't go anywhere.

- Hold up, Ben.

- [Kathy] I'm so proud of you, honey.

- I'm proud of you, too, and you, too.

- I was wrong, Ben.

There's nothin' broken down about you.

- No.

No, she did it all by herself.

- You taught her.

We were better friends than we were husband and wife,

weren't we, Ben.

Maybe if it'd been the other way around,

we wouldn't have fallen apart when Sherry died.

- Maybe.

- Still friends?

(Ben laughs)

- Well Dallas,

look who's the cactus covered marshmallow now?

(Dallas laughing)

- Get outta here.

Come on, Melinda.

I don't wanna be here all night.

- Go.

- [Dallas] How many times has Ben told you

not to run until you've warmed up.

- [Melinda] But Dallas...

- [Dallas] I hire the best horseman in the country

and you don't listen.

- [Melinda] Oh, Grandma.

- [Announcer] Well folks, how was that

for a great barrel-racin' competition?

- Sunny, come here.

I got somethin' for ya.

- [Announcer] Our next event'll prove to be

just as exciting.

Ladies bareback ridin'.

Our first lady up is Jackie Lonfrey.

- These are yours, now.

When you're old enough, you can wear 'em.

It's for what you did today.

That took a special kind of person.

You've earned them. - Hang on, Jackie, hang on.

- Sweetheart, what do you say?

- Thank you. (Ben laughs)

- You're welcome.

Here, keep 'em all wrapped up,

take good care of 'em.

Go put 'em away while you're at it,

I'll help Buddy put Ginger away.

- [Buddy] Let's load 'er up.

- Come on, yes.

Come on, come on, Ginger.

- That was a really nice thing you just did.

- Oh. (chuckles)

It's been a wild day, hasn't it?

- (laughs) And then some.

You know. (sighs)

Dr. Olson asked me to marry him.

- Yeah?

- Got a couple problems, though.

(Ben giggles)

- Yeah?

- A, I don't love him.

B, he doesn't ride a horse,

and C, I think I found somebody I might like better.

- What are you peekin' at?

- Anyone I know?

- Maybe.

Whaddya think?

- Let's not get caught.

- (sighs) Yeah.

- Good.

♪ A reason to live ♪

♪ A reason to give all I've got ♪

♪ You take me away, deep in the heart of your love ♪

♪ And give me a reason to live ♪

♪ From the strength of pure devotion ♪

♪ Comes your love, strong and true ♪

♪ No one ever cared for me ♪

♪ As much as you ♪

♪ You're the rock I stand upon ♪

♪ Northern light that leads me on ♪

♪ Your love gives me a reason to live ♪

♪ A reason to live ♪

♪ A reason to give all I've got ♪

♪ You take me away deep in the heart of your love ♪

♪ And give me a reason to live ♪

♪ You held my heart in your guiding hand ♪

♪ A beacon in the night ♪

♪ You promised me your undying love ♪

♪ And gave me life ♪

♪ And a reason to live ♪

♪ A reason to give all I've got ♪

♪ You take me away ♪

♪ Deep in the heart of your love ♪

♪ And give me a reason to live ♪

♪ Reason to live ♪

♪ A reason to give all I've got ♪

♪ You take me away ♪

♪ Deep in the heart of your love ♪

♪ And give me a reason to live ♪

(uptempo country rock music)

♪ When you're ridin' high ♪

♪ And the wind is at your back ♪

♪ That's an easy road ♪

♪ 'Cause you know that you're on track ♪

♪ If you ever take a spill ♪

♪ In some strange and distant land ♪

♪ I will pick you up, I will ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm always near at hand ♪

♪ You gotta believe ♪

♪ When your back's against the wall ♪

♪ You gotta believe ♪

♪ When you don't believe in nothin' at all ♪

♪ When the chips are down ♪

♪ And you're completely surrounded ♪

♪ And you're prayin' for the calvary ♪

♪ You gotta believe in me ♪

♪ When you done your best ♪

♪ And you tried everything you know ♪

♪ But you're goin' nowhere ♪

♪ 'Cause you got no place to go ♪

♪ Then I will find you rain or shine ♪

♪ Lost inside the darkest night ♪

♪ No way I would leave you behind ♪

♪ And I'm never far from sight ♪

♪ You gotta believe ♪

♪ When your back's against a wall ♪

♪ You gotta believe ♪

♪ When you don't believe in nothin' at all ♪