Original subtitles

Jack, you bastard.

Fuckin' bowling alley.

Shit.

Jesus God.

Bad Blake. Welcome to Pueblo.

- I'm proud to meet you, sir. - Hey there.

I've been listening to you for a hell of a long time.

- Did you have a good trip? - Long, but good. Yeah.

Played Clovis, New Mexico last night.

I saw some pretty country. Glad to be here.

Down there is the bandstand.

I'll catch up with you later, but sure is good to have you, Bad.

Makes my day.

And there's no smokin' in the alley, but you can sure finish that one.

I'll take a McClure's up with a beer back, darlin'.

4.75.

- It's on the tab. - No tab.

I'm Bad Blake, darlin'. Hell, I am the band.

Jimmy. Tab?

Mr. Blake.

We have a real nice room for you over at the Starlight Inn...

and, of course, all your meals are taken care of...

but I'm afraid we can't let you run a bar tab.

- It's in the contract. - Damn.

Mr. Greene of Greene & Gold, he put that in himself.

- Did he? - Yes, sir.

If you and Jack have an agreement, we're gonna have to stick with that.

But don't you worry yourself about it.

- How much? - 4.75.

Mr. Blake, let me personally offer you all the free bowling you want.

- Hold that, would you, please? - Yes, sir.

Hey, Bad, this is Jack.

Listen, I didn't wanna tell you this till you came off this swing, but...

The label cut So Sweet, So Bad.

Why, that fucker's still sellin'.

It was slowin' down a lot. You know what? Chains don't want it anymore.

Plus Tommy Sweet's got nine albums out there now.

What about his new album? I'm gonna get off the road here in a couple weeks.

I can get right to it.

Tommy wants to know if you got any new material.

Oh, shit. New material. You know I don't have any new material.

Nothin' wrong with the old stuff.

Tommy thinks he's leaning too heavy on the old stuff.

He doesn't want people to think he's riding the gravy train.

That son of a bitch. He has a lifetime pass on the gravy train.

Hey, Bad, who's asking who for a record here?

Jack, you jerk-off.

You get your ass out here to Clovis-goddamn-New Mexico...

you play in the piano bar of some fuckin' bowling alley...

get up the next morning at 5:00 and drive 300 miles...

with hemorrhoids so bad, feels like you got a nest of fire ants up your ass...

then you tell me about the gravy train.

You and Mr. World Famous Tommy Sweet-both of you try that sometime.

Why don't you sit down and write some songs, huh?

Keep talkin'.

You should be able- What's the matter? Can't do it anymore?

I'm tired of listening to your griping at everything like that.

You're capable of it.

You keep goin' out every fuckin' night drinking.

Hey, hey, hey. Listen to me.

I'm 57 years old.

I'm broke. I got $10 in my pocket.

I sent you money when you were still in Texas.

So spend it wisely, my friend.

Yeah. Fuck you. Good-bye.

Here we go.

- All right, thank you. - Thanks a lot.

Mr. Blake?

I'll be goddamned-go-to-hell.

It really is you, ain't it? I can't believe it-

Bad Blake right here in my store.

I'm Bill Wilson. I'm a big fan of yours.

Here you go. Here you go. Here's your McClure's.

I try to keep track of what all the stars drink.

Hey, you know what?

My wife, Beverly- she is one of your biggest fans.

She'd flat-out die if she knew you were here.

But we're goin' to the show tonight.

And if you could sing "I Don't Know” for Beverly-"

- You got it. - lt'd mean the world to her.

“I Don't Know” for Beverly. Yes, sir, old buddy, you can count on it.

Come here.

I wanna be able to tell everyone...

that I bought Bad Blake a drink.

- You're kidding me. - No!

Why, thank you.

Hey. "I Don't Know” for Beverly and Bill."

Yes.

All right, hold on. Hold on.

Hey, Mr. Blake. I'm Tony.

Tony and the Renegades- your band for tonight.

Yeah, of course.

Me and the boys are settin' up over at the alley...

and was wonderin' what time to start rehearsin'.

Why, just as soon as you can and as often as you can.

- That's the secret. - Mr. Blake?

Mr. Blake?

Sorry to bother you.

We was just wonderin' what time you were comin' over.

Come here.

Yeah, I got some lead sheets here if y'all can read music.

Chord charts if you can't.

Here. Take this CD. That's for you.

Here's your whole kit. And there's a playlist in there.

Watch your hand.

All right, I'm gonna meet you over there. You guys go on.

Mr. Blake?

It'd really mean a lot to us if you come over a little early...

and go over some leads.

Lead? Son, are they paying you more than they're paying me?

I just thought maybe you could show us some of that old stuff...

like Bad's Boys used to do.

You taught Tommy Sweet how to play guitar, didn't you?

Listen to the CD. Listen good, and go over those lead sheets.

I'll be over there in about an hour. I'm gonna grab some supper.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Blake. Appreciate it.

Thought you weren't gonna show.

Son, I've played sick, drunk, divorced and on the run.

Bad Blake hasn't missed a goddamn show in his whole fuckin' life.

Not even playin' a fuckin' bowling alley backed by a bunch of hippies.

You sure they ain't paying you more than they're paying me?

Come on. Showtime.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the Spare Room...

the Wrangler of Love-Mr. Bad Blake!

Go to C.

Now F.

Hey, Mr. Blake.

- You all right, Bad? - Yeah, I'm good.

We're back on.

It's wonderful to be here in Pueblo with you all tonight.

If I've learned anything over the years, it's to give you people what you want.

Otherwise, you won't want anything ever again.

Here's a song I'm hopin' some of you are gonna want.

It goes out especially to my dear friends Bill and Beverly.

God bless ya.

Shit.

Thank you, Pueblo. Thank you, thank you.

Y'all drive safely, and, God willing, we'll all get together again here real soon.

Ladies and gentlemen, the star of the show-the legendary Bad Blake!

Have a good night.

Sounds real good.

Real good.

It's been a long time since I played with a good piano player.

Thanks, Mr. Blake. That means the world to me.

- I'm Wesley Barnes. - Mighty fine, Wesley.

- You work before? - When I was a kid.

I just do this for fun.

For fun and a couple extra dollars.

Sure nice to run into somebody on the road who really is good.

It's gonna be a pleasure.

Can I ask you a favor, Mr. Blake?

“Bad,” buddy. “Bad.”

What can I do for you?

I hate to impose, especially since we just met.

But, see, I got this niece, and she's a writer.

She's tryin' to be a writer. She writes local here in Santa Fe.

It's not the New York Times or anything, but anyway-

She writes about music, and she would love to do an interview with you.

I haven't done one of them for years...

but, yeah, you send your little niece around.

- I'll be glad to help her out. - Great.

- You wanna play a little? - Yeah, we gonna play some.

Mr. Blake?

Who the hell are you?

I'm Jean Craddock from the Sun Scene. I'm Wesley Barnes's niece.

I'm here for the interview.

Yeah. I just got out of the shower. I'm havin' dinner.

I'm sorry. I'll just come back. When's a good time for you?

No, no. Just wait outside. Let me get my clothes on.

All right.

Jesus God.

- Be right there. - All right.

- Hi. Come on in. - I'm so sorry. I should have called.

No, no. No pictures.

- You want some steak or potato? - No.

How about later?

Which?

Pictures. Maybe on stage?

That'd be all right.

- All right. - You want no roll or nothin'?

- All right. Sit on right down. - Thank you.

All right.

- Mind if I eat? - No.

- Tape recorder okay? - Go ahead. That's fine.

All right.

You always dress for dinner?

So, how'd you learn music?

My daddy.

He had this old Washburn steel-string.

He couldn't play a lick on it.

I picked it up, started foolin' with it.

- Guess that's how. - Right. And what were you listenin' to?

Bunch of people you probably never heard of.

Lulu Belle and Scotty, Emmett Miller.

Georgia Wildcats. You ever hear of them?

No, I never heard of the Georgia Wildcats.

Nah, I didn't figure you did. How about Hank Williams?

Gene Autry? Waylon and them boys?

Right. Lefty Frizzell?

- You want a drink? - No, thank you.

So, you said...

You feel like your music is also influenced by the blues?

- Oh, yeah. - Son House, Big Bill Broonzy.

We all owe our existence to them Delta boys.

You ever want to do anything else?

Play baseball.

I was pretty good, too, you know, for a while there.

I couldn't hit the curveball.

Well, I just figured I'd stick with the guitar, you know?

Son of a bitch stayed where he was supposed to.

How about you?

You always wanted to be a writer?

I didn't know what I wanted for a long time.

But now you do?

Well, now I know what I don't want to do again.

Yeah. Amen.

- You married? - I was.

One of those things you don't wanna do again?

- Not unless it's right. - Yeah. How the hell do you know?

You tell me. You've been married five times.

Jesus Christ. Four times.

Come on. Four times.

You gonna make another album with Tommy Sweet?

Two things I don't wanna talk about- multiple marriages and Tommy.

All right. What's your real name?

I'm Bad Blake.

I wasn't born Bad.

When I die, my tombstone will have my real name on it.

Until then, I'm just gonna stay Bad.

It's an awful long time for people to have to wait to find out.

Maybe, maybe not.

You a daddy? You got any kids?

Sweetie, I'm gonna have to start gettin' goin' here.

All right.

But can you give me just another half an hour after the show?

Let's see how it goes, huh?

I appreciate you having to do your work. I understand that.

- But let's just see how it goes. - Okay. All right. Thank you.

So, Wesley's, what, your cousin?

He's my uncle.

That boy sure can play piano.

- All right. Thank you. - All right now.

Wesley!

Hey. All right.

You were wonderful.

- You haven't lost anything. - Why, thank you.

I think you might be better than you were back then.

I'm Ann.

- Hi, Ann. - Hi.

I have loved country music my whole life.

Have you?

Yeah. I even know the B sides of your albums.

That's better than me.

I was thinking, if you weren't doing anything after the show tonight...

we could get a late dinner...

or cup of coffee.

Well, I would, but I promised a reporter an interview.

That's all right.

I know you're in town for another night.

Another time would be fine.

I gotta get back to work.

Could you play “Get a Hold on You” for me?

I'd love to-right now.

Thank you, Santa Fe.

I'll be here one more night.

This goes out to Ann.

So, how did you-

- You played a gospel song in a bar. - I did.

How'd you get away with that? How'd you know?

If you'd been doin' it as long as I have, you'd know those things.

Here you go.

All right.

Cheers.

- What else you wanna know? - Records.

What's your favorite?

I'd have to say “Falling and Flying.”

It made me a lot of money, that song. Turned my whole life around.

You get tired of playing it?

When I have to play it twice, three times a night.

But, you know, it's been too good to me.

Can't turn my back on it.

So, in today's world of artificial country music...

Who's real country?

What?

Was that a stupid question?

- Is Tommy Sweet real country? - Tommy, oh, yeah.

He tries coverin' it up. I taught him country, you know?

He won't admit it.

He's gotta compete with what's coming out of Nashville today.

But, yeah, he's real country.

How'd you meet him?

I don't wanna talk about Tommy.

All right.

What do you wanna talk about?

I wanna talk about how bad you make this room look.

I never noticed what a dump it was until you came in here.

I haven't seen somebody blush in I don't know how long.

I can't help it. My capillaries are close to the skin.

Where you from anyway?

I'm from Enid, Oklahoma.

Of course you are.

What's the most important thing about you, Oklahoma?

I've got a son-Buddy.

He's four.

He's at his babysitter. I'd better go get him.

Thank you for talking to me.

Did you get what you need?

- Could always use more. - Yeah, well-

Come to tomorrow night's show. We can continue where we left off.

All right.

Okay then.

Nighty-night.

Hey, Bad. I got great news for you.

I'm bustin' my ass on this.

80 write it down.

Cancel Benson, Arizona on your itinerary.

You're into Phoenix, Arizona, Sun Pavilion. 8:00 sharp. How's that?

Pavilion?

I just called to tell you you're out of the Red Bison Lounge...

and you're opening a major show in Phoenix.

Opening? Shit, I don't open-

Bad, cut the shit now.

Where else are you gonna play in front of 12,000 people?

Opening for who?

You're opening for Tommy.

No, no. No goddamn way.

I haven't been able to convince him about doing a record yet.

- But at least I got him to agree to this. - No, I'm not gonna do it, Jack.

I'm not gonna open for Tommy. I'll open for somebody else, but not Tommy.

Who else you gonna open for? You gonna open for Madonna?

You want me to call her?

The dream of every sideman is that someday the front man...

whose ass he's been starin' at for years, is gonna open for him.

I don't owe Tommy Sweet that dream. I don't owe him a fuckin' thing.

We both know Tommy owes you big.

But we also both know how much this is worth.

- I'm gonna call you back this afternoon. - There is no time, Bad. Yes or no?

I've got to have time to think about this. Come on.

No time. Yes or no?

Yes, goddamn it! Yes! Yes!

- Yes. Fuck, yes. - All right.

Okay. Jesus Christ. It's like pullin' it out of you.

Now don't fuck it up, all right?

Let me ask you something.

Am I gonna actually get to go backstage and meet Tommy and everything?

That's very funny, Bad, but I don't have time for this shit.

- Good-bye. - See you later, you fuckin' asshole.

All right, boys, let's wing this thing Tejano style.

I'm gonna give you what you want.

Hold that.

Come on, y'all! Get up!

All right, baby, don't forget.

I love you, girl.

All right!

Where does that damn wind go?

Thank you, Santa Fe.

And good night. God love you all.

- Oh, my God. I'm so sorry. - Hi.

I was waitin' on the sitter for my son, and...

You know how hard it is to find a sitter at 1:00 in the morning.

I get off work at 1:00. I know how hard it is to find everything.

I'm just glad you found me.

Who's watching your boy?

A friend. He just got there.

You want a drink?

All right.

- You wanna follow me? - All right.

All right.

Are you gonna ask me more questions?

Just a couple.

All right, so-

So where do all those songs come from?

Life, unfortunately.

Is this really what you wanna talk about?

No, I guess not.

For some reason I can't explain...

I keep feeling obliged to apologize for these ugly rooms and...

well, being less than you probably imagined me to be.

Is this that famous country charm?

I was never famous for charm.

It's not too late to start.

You want something else for your article?

Let me just get my recorder.

Come here. Come here.

I'm opening...

for Tommy in Phoenix tomorrow.

Bad Blake's hit the big time.

That's great, right?

That's what my agent says.

You gonna come with me?

- Will you? - You're kidding.

This is my serious look. Come on.

Bad.

I can't.

All right.

How about...

I come over this morning and fix you and your boy...

some world-famous Bad Blake biscuits, huh?

What do you say?

All right.

Now you just hold that right there.

There. Now let me see your other finger.

Hold it like that. Can you do that?

You right-handed or left-handed?

That one?

Okay. Put that there like that.

And cock this finger. Here's your trigger finger.

About like that.

Wait. Now here's the most important part.

Take a bite of that biscuit.

Yeah, that's it.

You feel that flour and that butter coursing through your body, huh?

Giving you a power you never thought you had?

Your shirt gettin' all tight with muscle?

Whole worlds have been tamed by men who ate biscuits.

Now shoot.

- He scores! - Did you score?

- That's how we get it done in Texas. - Yes!

- Gimme five! - Yeah!

- That's a real nice boy you got there. - Thank you.

He's not around men much. I worry about that sometimes.

What about his daddy?

I made a lot of mistakes. I'm just trying not to make 'em twice.

Good boy-good mom.

Good biscuits.

- All right. - Okay.

I'll see you after a while, huh?

- You take care now. - So long.

Come on, Bess.

Jack, you cocksucker.

Thank you.

I'm Bad Blake. Where do I park?

- Through there. - Thank you.

Damn good to meet you, Mr. Blake. I'm Ralphie, Tommy's road manager.

Big fan. Big fan. Got a big show tonight.

- Hey, Bear. This is Bad Blake. - Hey, how you doin', man?

- So what's your equipment like? - Fender Tremolux.

- That's it? - That's it, pal.

You got a preference- Marshall, Peavey, Vox?

- I like my Fender. - You like your Fender. Okay, no sweat.

We'll mike it right into the PA.

- Where's your stuff? - '78 Suburban out back.

I'll take care of it.

You go on at 7:30. You get 45 minutes. Stay on that.

You can't go more than three minutes over.

Tommy's on at 9:00. He's off at 11:00.

These are the Bum Steers-your backup.

This is the big time, boys.

How you doin'? Bad.

I'm lookin' forward to playin'.

- Let's drink some of this booze, huh? - Let's do it, baby.

Two bars of D and then we hit the top of the bridge.

Go on. Count it off, Johnny.

One, two. One, two, three, four!

No, no, no. Bear. Bear. Bear.

I need kick and snare. Turn down the damn guitars.

You're drowning out my lyrics.

The mix is good, man. You can't hear what I'm hearing out here.

Yeah, you'd be surprised.

Set it the way I tell ya and leave it.

The mix is just fine, man. Trust me on this.

Bear, I'm an old man. I get grumpy.

Humor me.

Damn soundmen. They try to fuck up the opening act.

You know? It makes the headliner sound that much better.

- That's their fuckin' job. - You got another half hour there, cowboy.

Hey there, partner. We're gonna be up on this stage...

till we get the mix the way I want it.

Set the mix the way I want it...

or I'm gonna be up here rehearsing right through Tommy's set.

Let's take it from the top of the bridge. Let's see how Bear does.

One, two, three, four.

Now the guitars are sounding right.

Thank you, Bear. Much better.

Tommy! Can we get a picture?

Well, well. Heard you might be here.

You son of a bitch. Sit on down.

You always knew the right thing to say.

How the hell are you, Bad?

- I'm worse. - That's about right, I reckon.

What, you give up on the Southern Comfort, huh?

I still drink it on stage. It's good for the throat.

Yeah, that's what they tell me. Too damn sweet for me.

Hell, I never liked it either.

But when you're one of Bad's Boys, you gotta be able to put away the whiskey.

I'm sorry. I hate to interrupt.

- Can I get an autograph, Tommy? - Sure.

Thanks.

- You're my favorite. I got all your records. - Thank you.

But this is the autograph you need.

That's Bad Blake.

- Taught me everything I know. - Cool.

Great. Thanks. I'll be at your show tonight.

- I may even make it to San Diego. - Appreciate your support.

I was thinkin' about our tours together.

They were some good times, boy.

Look, I'm really glad you agreed to do this, Bad.

Oh, God. Are you kiddin'?

I need the money.

Wasn't this, it'd be playing some saloon in Benson, Arizona.

Yeah.

You remember that time we broke down in the desert in West Texas?

Sat out all day waiting for that goddamn wrecker.

Just you and me and a case of warm beer. Those were the days.

Yeah. Ain't remembering wonderful?

- How's the tour going? - It's a grind.

Fifty dates in two months.

- How about yours? - I'm out for a month. Six states.

- Pickup bands? - Yeah.

That's a ballbuster.

Hell, we should've gotten together earlier, done the whole tour.

We tried that.

There was just too much goin' on, Bad.

That damn movie shoot down in Mexico.

- Jill was on my ass all the time. - Yeah.

- Would've been a hell of a tour though. - Oh, yeah. Hell of a tour.

Shit. I'm sorry, Bad, it didn't work out.

I was tryin' to keep my marriage together.

- Don't hold that against me. - I got a career too.

And a marriage or two I wanted to hold together.

I know. I know.

You gave me my start, Bad.

Don't think I don't remember that.

But I got a life too.

Well, well.

Those are the ugliest goddamn boots I've ever seen in my life.

Was the salesman threatenin' to shoot your dog?

Hey. How come we're not doin' another album?

- Why won't you do it? - Hold up now.

I never said I wouldn't.

DMZ just doesn't think it's the right thing to do. That's all.

- I think it is. - Well, you may be right.

They want a couple more solos first. Then we do a duet.

And you got first shot. I already told them.

You know, I need money now.

I'm 57 years old. Career's goin' nowhere.

I need something to get it jump-started.

They won't give me a damn solo album.

I need this, goddamn it. I really do.

I swear, Bad. I can't get them to budge on this one.

But there is a way you can make some money if you want to.

Enlighten me.

Songs.

I ain't got no new material. Everything I'm hearing is straight crap.

You write me five new songs, I'll give you back end.

I ship two million albums every time I release one.

I haven't written a new song in three years.

Too many goddamn songs.

You write some of the best material out there, Bad. I want some.

Wrote. Wrote. Not write.

I'm glad to see you still got old Bessie.

She runs like a top.

Do it, Bad. You got a couple months.

See you tonight.

Mr. Greene has sent five boxes of product for you to sell here at the show.

Sell? What are you talkin' about?

He sent 500 units of Memories for you to sell.

Shit. I sing, I play.

I don't sell my goddamn records at my concerts.

Tell him to get his ass out here to Phoenix and pick up his goddamn CDs.

I'm just delivering the message.

Jesus Christ.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage

the Wrangler of Love, Mr. Bad Blake!

Sure is good to be with you tonight.

Of course, at my age, it's good to be anywhere.

Three, four!

This is the guy who taught me how to sing that song...

and just about everything else- Bad Blake.

I'm gonna go backstage and listen to the rest of his show.

Thank you, Bad.

Bad, Tommy would like you to join him in his set...

for “Please Release Me” and “Memories.” I'll cue you.

I got records to sell.

Bring out the band!

Directory assistance. What city and state?

Santa Fe, New Mexico.

- Bud. - Hello?

Hey there, Buddy boy. It's your old biscuit maker, Bad.

Hi!

What you up to?

Watching dinosaurs.

Yeah? What are they doin'?

Eating breakfast.

Yeah? Any of them eatin' biscuits?

Yeah.

Is your mama there?

- Hello? - Hey there.

It's Bad.

Jean?

Hi.

How was Phoenix?

You know.

- How you doin'? - Where are you?

I don't know. Out in it.

Why? I mean, what are you doin'?

Thinkin' about you.

Now stop it.

Are you thinkin' about me?

I'm finishing my article actually.

That's not what I meant.

I know.

I got a couple days off before I gotta be in Houston.

I was thinking about stopping by. What do you think?

Jean?

Jean?

You're not making this easy on me, girl. You want me to stop by or not?

- Okay. - All right.

I'll be by in about three or four hours then.

I'll see you in a little bit.

- Bye. - Bye now.

Hello, Mr. Blake.

- Just sit back. Relax. - Where am I now?

You're in Santa Fe. You have a broken ankle.

- You also have a concussion. - Where are my guitars?

They're in the closet with your clothes.

Gotta get outta here.

- When you can go is up to the doctor. - Where's the doctor?

I'll get the doctor for you. Just sit back. Just relax.

We'll get the doctor.

Let me be honest with you, okay?

The problem isn't your ankle. It will heal cleanly.

The problem is your general condition, or the extreme lack of it.

The kinds of stuff we're talking here- emphysema, heart failure, cancer...

an extremely good chance of a stroke-

are gonna kill you.

Are you gonna talk to me?

- About what? - Look.

Let's not kid ourselves about this one. You're an alcoholic.

I'll take care of your leg, give you something for your cholesterol.

But you have to stop smoking, stop drinking and lose 25 pounds.

Okay, Mr. Blake?

Geez.

If I'm half as good about being laid up as I think I'm gonna be-

Okay, you need to hush now, seriously.

Why? Am I ramblin'? Must be those blue pills.

Think I can get a prescription or two of those?

No.

You know that song?

Can't remember who did it.

That's the way it is with good ones.

You're sure you've heard 'em before.

You wrote that?

Yes, ma'am, just now.

- This is so unfair. - What?

Some people give 10 years of their life to be able to do something like that...

and it just pours out of you.

You mad at me?

You want me to go to a motel?

No.

What?

I don't want you to go.

Well, what then?

Well, you're writin' a song on my bed.

So?

So...

every time I lie down, I'm gonna hear that beautiful goddamn song...

and-

And you're gonna be out there...

runnin' around...

not even rememberin' this day that I can't even forget.

If I could walk, I'd come to you. Sweetie, come here.

Come here. Listen to me.

When I was at the hospital...

I thought about who to call.

Who really gives a damn about me?

And then...

I thought about who I wanted to see.

You hear me?

I'm not gonna forget about you.

I'm not gonna forget about this day.

I promise you.

Look at you.

What the hell are you doin' back in Santa Fe?

- You 're not supposed to be there. - I'm visiting a friend.

- Well, can you drive yet? - Pretty soon.

All right. I want you to get back out there as soon as possible.

Jesus Christ.

If you found out your sister was turnin' five-dollar tricks, you'd overbook her.

Very, very funny. Remind me to book you into some comedy clubs.

Just so you know, I have a contract here offering you $75,000.

An advance for an album to be recorded at a future date.

- Wait a minute. What offer? - Don't worry about who, who.

Plus, another $20,000 for first refusal rights for all songs to be written...

or cowritten by you over the next two years.

Holy shit.

This is gonna be your best year in the last seven.

And you know who's responsible? Tommy Sweet.

So do me a favor. Ease up on him, will you, pal?

- Tommy? - Yeah, Tommy.

- Yeah, you got me. - I'm gonna talk to you in Houston.

And don't marry your friend.

I'm not gettin' married.

Listen...

Bullshit.

You wanna call him back and tell him I'm not about to marry you?

You might wanna wait till I ask before you turn me down.

I'm gonna sleep on the foldout. lt'd be too confusing for Buddy.

- No, I'll do that. - No, no. You need a bed.

It's all right. I want to. I'm gonna go get him.

He really wants to draw on your cast.

- Will you do something for me? - You name it.

Don't drink in front of him.

No problem. Here.

Bad!

Look at you, Bud!

I can see the mountains!

I know! I haven't seen anything like this ever!

Clouds aren't the same!

Hey, Mom! Look at Bad!

Wow!

What a ride! Come here!

- Wow! Was that fun? - Oh, my God!

You've gotta go up there. It's like another world.

Kiss me.

Take that.

This domestic deal-pretty darn intense.

It's really like that?

What are you talking about?

- You've been married a whole bunch. - Yeah.

But I, you know-I didn't...

I got a 28-year-old son, Jeannie.

I haven't seen him since he was four years old.

- Where is he? - I don't know.

His mother, Mary Jo, lives in Marfa, Texas.

I don't know what he looks like.

I don't know what he does.

Never taught him how to ride a bike or watched him play baseball.

None of that.

Why not?

I don't know.

I wasn't there, even when I was.

I couldn't live if I lost Buddy.

That's the damnedest part. You do.

Maybe we can get away by ourselves this weekend.

What day is today?

- Thursday. - I'm not gonna make it, see?

- Oh, well. - Come here now.

Come here now. Don't rip your pretty dress. Come here.

What?

I gotta go. I gotta go.

I love you.

Stir that up.

I gotta get to the paper.

I'm gonna drop Buddy off at the day care and probably be back around 3:00.

Why don't you let him stay here with me?

- You don't wanna babysit. - What are you talkin' about?

Buddy, you wanna go see your friends at the center, right?

Come on. We wanna stay here, Mom.

Yeah. We wanna stay here.

- We do? - Please?

- And do what? - Man stuff.

Yeah! Man stuff.

How are you gonna do that with your ankle?

Come on. Be good for all of us.

- Please, Mom? - We'll be fine. I promise.

Please?

All right.

I got his lunch box right over there. I'm gonna go get his car seat.

Here. You take that.

Will you pick me up some cream of tartar? I need that for my biscuits.

- Some what? - Cream of tartar.

All right.

- You play cards? - Yeah.

- What do you play? - Just regulars, like crazy eights and-

Hey.

- What? - You know what we oughta do?

We oughta see if we can go out and find some trouble to get into.

Yeah, big trouble.

Be kind of fun. What you got in your box?

Here you go!

There he goes!

Put your head back. I got you!

I got you!

Now, be careful up there. Don't fall down.

Hey, Bud.

I brought you somethin'.

Bud?

Buddy?

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God. You scared me! What time is it?

- We had fun. - Come here.

- Nobody died. - You taste like chocolate.

Look what I brought you.

You can be my roadie and my groupie all rolled into one.

Set those down there. Here.

Look at that paint job, huh?

That's rust. Metal-flake rust.

I want y'all to come to Houston.

Would you do that? Throw those in there.

I'm gonna be there for four months.

Nights only, so I got my days off.

I took some time off for your visit, so I don't know if I can do it again.

You can take Buddy down there. All kinds of great stuff to do in Houston.

All right, we'll see.

They got that aquarium with a big fountain down there.

All right, we'll see.

“We'll see.” That means no.

No, that means we'll see.

All right?

Lot of good stuff to write about in Houston.

You know, me.

Well, that's more than a visit.

- A lot of other good stuff too. - Jesus.

I don't wanna hear it, darlin'.

I don't want it around Buddy. That much I know.

- I heard you the first time. - It's like livin' with a rattlesnake.

Geez.

Wait.

I can't even see you.

Okay? Then I'm gonna teach you a few words of English.

Okay, here.

- Hey, hey! - Hey.

What are you doin' here? I've been lookin' for you.

- Yeah. - Hey! Jesus, Bad.

- You look like shit, man. - Yeah.

I know.

It's on account of all the toilets I have to play in.

Yeah?

Yeah. Good to see you.

Sorry about the wreck. Heard about that. Sorry.

- Could've been worse. - Yeah?

How's business?

Business? Business.

What business?

Since you've been on the road, I tell ya.

It's crap.

Yeah, well, if you'd clean this joint...

maybe you'd figure out how to get this business runnin'.

If I ever cleaned it up, I might find out that we're both broke, you know?

I had to get rid of my bartender. It's just me and old Jesus here. That's it.

- Shit. - Yeah. Just us.

So, how's the road?

It ain't gettin' any shorter. Makes comin' back here look good.

I have a feelin', knowing you, something happened out there special.

Yeah.

I met this woman in Santa Fe.

Yeah? Doesn't surprise me.

- She's a good one. Real good. - Yeah?

Want some more? No, you don't get any more, no.

- That's it. - You son of a bitch.

80, Santa Fe's a hell of a ways from here, ain't it?

879 miles.

That's kind of a tough trip for a man who has to work Saturday nights, right?

Yeah. Yeah, but worth it.

Yeah, well, we'll get you back in shape singin'.

I want you to meet somebody. Where you at, Jesus? Come here.

I want you to meet a legend. Big Bad here.

- Hi there. What's your name? - Juan.

- Yeah, Juan. - Juan?

Jesus-Whatever. You know, he's a good man.

Hello?

Hi.

Is this Steven Reynolds?

Yeah, this is he. Who's calling?

Well, actually, I'm on a bit of a hunting trip here, buddy.

I'm trying to track down a Mary Jo Reynolds.

She lived in Nashville from 1980 to 1985.

She was born in Lima, Ohio.

You wouldn't be related by any chance, would you?

She was my mother.

Hey, buddy, I can't hear you. Who is this?

Your father.

Who?

I'm Bad Blake, here in Houston.

I'm your father.

- How are ya? - What do you want'?

I'm kind of shocked hearin' your voice.

You said “was.”

Mary Jo's dead?

Two years come this October.

What happened?

Everything.

I'm sorry, Steven.

Yeah, well, listen. What do you want?

I wanna see you.

I don't think so.

Well, will you think about it?

I'm sorry, sir. I probably won't be able to help you.

You know, take down my number so...

I got your number.

Well...

You know, sleep on it, think about it, and-

Really would like to talk.

Imagine that.

I made the cars go real fast. Real fast!

Then the Jeep went around the corner, and it went boom!

You got the cars, huh?

I can make them go faster than anybody! Then they crash!

What he's trying to say is thank you.

But, you know, you've gotta stop.

You gotta stop sending him things. He thinks you're Santa Claus.

I do think he's Santa Claus.

I just wanted him to know I'm thinkin' about him, darlin'.

- You thinkin' about me? - Yes, I am.

You all right?

Called my son last night, Jeannie.

And?

Well, he wouldn't talk to me.

I'm sorry.

I don't blame him.

Jeannie.

I'm not feelin' well. I'm gonna have to call you back.

Bad!

Big Bad, where you at, boy?

Lord, not again.

Hey!

We're goin' fishin', all right?

Let's go. You forget? Let's go.

Come on. Get dressed. I'm waitin' on ya.

Toss me another one of those barley pops, would ya?

Okay. Yeah.

Here you go.

I hate to admit it, but this is a damn good idea.

I just sent what might be my best song ever to Tommy.

- What, to record? - Yeah.

- It's one of those you hate to give up. - Why'd you do it?

He's payin' me awful good.

He's in LA now recordin' it.

Well, I hope he don't fuck it up.

He can't fuck it up. it's that good.

So, your boy don't wanna talk to you?

No.

I don't blame him. I was wrong. I had no right to call him.

Wait. Hold on. You was wrong 25 years ago and you've been wrong since.

But you called him. Now you're not wrong.

You're right. He's wrong.

Wayne, I went 24 years without tryin' to find him.

He's right. Too little, too late.

Never too late, son. Never too late.

You called, and it's done. All right? It's complete.

Now, you're on the right track.

You just keep goin', 'cause he's your son. Right?

- He's all I got. - You keep after him.

Do what you gotta do.

It's like, you know, you reminded me.

That song by Billy Joe Shaver.

"“I'm gonna live forever. I'm gonna cross that river."

"I'm gonna catch tomorrow now.”"

Goes somethin' like

Listen to this now.

- Hello? - Hi.

Hey!

- You all right? - Yeah, I'm fine. Why?

You didn't sound like you were all right yesterday.

You sounded like you were dying a slow death.

Think it must've..., I don't know- been food poisoning or something.

I'm calling because I got four days off at the end of this month...

and I thought we might come.

But I'm not sure it'd be such a good idea.

What are you talking about? It's a great idea. Why would you say that?

You sure you're okay?

I'm worried about you.

Don't waste a minute worrying about me.

There's nothin' wrong that a visit wouldn't cure. How's Buddy boy doin'?

He's fine.

So, you gonna come?

Can you reach it?

Hey there.

You got your car! Go through the tunnel there.

Well, I think he's had it.

You all right, Bud?

He's eatin' in his sleep.

What do you think of these big buildings, huh, Bud?

I bet Superman couldn't even leap over these things.

Right here in this town...

is where Sam Houston and his boys beat Santa Ana and his Mexicans.

Wasn't for this spot...

we'd all be speakin' Mexican.

That's where Texas got its star, right there.

You speak any Mexican, Bud?

That's pretty good.

- Wow, Bud. - Where's that big turtle?

- What do you see there? - Where'd he go?

I think there's a lobster that was in here.

You gettin' tired?

He's got so much energy, he wears me out sometimes.

Why don't you go back to that park?

Take a load off. Let Bud and I fool around.

We'll come back around noon and take you out to lunch.

All right.

Okay. You get your wish in your head?

Here's the spot.

Here.

Pick one. Pick some. You can have a bunch.

There you go. That's good.

Here's mine.

- Come on. Go! - That's it.

Hey.

Bud? You wanna go inside where it's cool?

Let's do that.

Come on.

Giddap!

Hey, sailor, what say we go in this place right here...

and wet our whistles before we pop out of the ground, huh?

Out of the ground? Like that guy on TV?

- What guy? - On TV.

Yeah, that guy. Come on.

- Hi there. - How are you guys doin' today?

All right. Take a load off there, Bud.

I'll take a McClure's if you got it. Yeah.

Yeah, make that a double.

Ginger ale for my pal here.

Make that a double too. Like mine rocks, please.

- How about you? - Rocks.

Well, lookee here. Look at this.

You wanna go explore? You can.

What'd you get?

Wow!

Bud, you're gettin' all kinds of good stuff.

All right, amigo. How about 12.50 altogether.

12.50?

Jesus!

Does this music drive you crazy?

You know, if I heard it, it probably would.

All right, Bud. Come on. Get your ginger ale.

Buddy?

He's probably in the restroom.

Buddy!

Come on, Bud.

Buddy?

Bud?

- Did he come back out here? - No.

Buddy!

What the hell?

You see a little boy come in here?

Bud?

I lost my little boy.

- Okay. - He's got brown hair.

Four years old. His name's Buddy.

Buddy. What was he wearing?

- I don't remember. - Okay.

Sir, where did you last see him?

- A bar- - A bar.

- Which bar, sir? - Hell, I don't know.

- It was a little dark bar. - Okay.

All stations, we got a lost boy. Four years old.

Brown hair. Name's Buddy. Report back, please.

- Thank you. - Sir, why don't you stay here with me?

No, I gotta go find him. He's lost. He's from New Mexico.

- I'm supposed to meet his mother. - I understand that.

We're gonna find him. But I need you to stay here.

All our guys are out looking for him. All right, sir?

Sir, how much have you had to drink today?

- I had a drink. - A drink?

What goddamn difference does that make?

Well, you lost him, sir.

Yeah, I lost him. I'm gonna go find him.

Bud!

You seen a little boy?

- What's going on? - They're gonna find him, hon.

- Where's Buddy? - They got all these guys lookin' for him.

- What? - No need to worry.

Guys are looking for him?

- I stopped just for a second- - You stopped to get a drink?

Please don't touch me. Please don't touch me. Excuse me.

Hi. I'm the mama of the boy who's been lost.

I asked you not to touch me!

- Here you go, son. - Bud.

- There's my Buddy boy. - Come here, you.

You're gonna be fine. There's my Buddy boy.

- Everything's gonna be fine. - Shut up.

We just got our wires crossed.

Jeannie, you can't go now. You don't even have a ticket. Come on.

God, I should've listened to my instincts. Every fuckin'-

Every single bone in my body told me not to get on that plane.

It's gonna be okay, Jeannie. Just...

Everything is not okay.

He's four years old. He's scared half to death.

You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt that boy.

You did do something to hurt him! You and every other man in my life.

Just nothing but self-involved assholes.

Come on now. Just calm down.

- Let me- - Now his backpack

Jeannie. Can't we talk about it?

No, don't you touch me!

It's too fuckin' hard! Stop!

- Let me drive you to the airport. - Sorry, Bud.

Let me drive you at least.

Come on, babe. I'm sorry, sweetheart.

- Let me take that for you. - Thank you.

You start to get your seat belt on.

Jean.

Jeannie!

- - Hello? - Wayne?

- Bad? - I wanna get sober.

With that experience, I realized that I had hit rock bottom.

So here I am.

I'm Bad.

I'm an alcoholic.

Hi, Bad.

Couple of days ago...

I lost a little boy.

I was drunk.

Been drunk most of my life.

Lost a hell of a lot.

The other day, I heard you were an entertainer.

I am.

I'm glad you're here. We all know what a hard step it is.

Hey, hey!

Hey!

Look who's here! Look who's here!

Hey, good to see ya! Good to see ya, hoss.

- Man! - Good to see ya!

- How do you feel? - I'm feelin' great.

- Really? - Oh, man.

Take it from somebody who's been there. It don't last necessarily.

It's gonna get rough, and you're gonna feel worthless maybe.

But I'm gonna help you with it. Understand?

Appreciate you comin'.

Don't worry about that, old buddy. I'm gonna help you.

- Let me put this in there. - Yeah.

I think I got this thing licked.

- Well, let's hope so. Feelin' better. - All right.

- One day at a time. All right? - Yeah, I heard that.

One day at a time. Get your butt in the truck.

Let's go. Good to see ya, man.

Hey!

Thank you.

Thanks for comin' out.

It's so good to be home.

Jean?

What are you doin' here?

Just listen to me.

I'm sorry.

With all my heart, I'm sorry.

I'm sober.

Detox, Antabuse-the whole bit.

It woke me up.

That's good, Bad.

Not Bad.

I'm goin' back to Otis-my given name.

No more Bad.

I'm changing everything.

That's good.

How's Buddy doin'?

He's sleeping.

He's all right.

Can you ever forgive me?

God, I knew what the risks were with you.

And I took 'em...

because

'cause I love you, and...

Puttin' Buddy in your hands

I don't know that I'll ever be able to get over that.

- Well, I'm different now. You know? - I am too.

- Let me show you. - You're not listening to me.

- We can start over, Jean. - Listen to me.

I am so...

I'm truly happy for you.

I hope you make a really nice life for yourself.

But Buddy and I can't be a part of it.

But I love both of you so much.

If that's true, you'll leave us alone, all right?

Oh, come on, Jean. Now don't say that.

Jean? Jean?

Jeannie?

Tommy! Tommy!

Y'all ready for another song?

How y'all holdin' up?

Good.

This song was written by a mentor

well, more a friend.

And, well...

it kinda speaks for itself.

Sure do hope you all like it.

That's one hell of a song.

Which reminds me...

They're gettin' bigger by the day, kid.

Yeah, I'll say.

See you later, Jack.

Hey, Bad.

That was a great show. And you're doin' real good.

Keep it up. I'm proud of you.

Little gas left in the tank, huh? See you now.

Mr. Blake.

You were in vintage form today.

Vintage. That's about right.

Heard you might be here.

You're not working for the Sun anymore. What's this?

Guess you can't hold back a good woman from Enid, Oklahoma.

He's a good guy.

Yeah, well, you deserve one.

You wanna see Buddy? He's here.

I'd love to, but...

I don't know if it's...

best thing for him.

Hey, would you give this to him on his 18th birthday for me?

What is this?

No, Bad. I don't want this. I don't want this.

- No. Come on now. Hey. - I don't...

There wouldn't be this song if it wasn't for you.

That's not money.

That's awfully kind of you.

Glad to hear you're doin' so well.

Well, one day at a time.

So you'll give me an interview?

I sure will.

I'd say let's do it in the bus, but look.

It's so much prettier out here, isn't it?

It is.

- It is amazing out here. - God, look at that.

So, you been all right, I guess, huh?

- I've been all right. - Yeah, me too.