BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

A Screenplay

By

Larry McMurtary and Diana Ossana

Based on a short Story

By

Annie Proulx

October 2005

EXT: WYOMING HIGHWAY : NIGHT (NEAR DAWN) : 1963:

A cattle truck, running empty, tops a ridge on a lonely

Western highway.

To the east, the first faint flush of light.

Across the plain, perhaps yet some twenty miles away, a

Sprinkle of lights like fallen stars on the vast dark plain.

The truck roars on.

INT: WYOMING HIGHWAY : TRUCK CAB : NIGHT : CONTINUOUS: 1963:

It is lighter now, but the light is high, and the plain still

Mainly dark, the lights of Signal, Wyoming, vivid, closer

Now, perhaps five miles ahead.

The TRUCKER  inscrutable, barrels on.

We SEE the passenger : This is ENNIS DEL MAR: about twenty,

But nonetheless compelling, not light or frivolous in

disposition, appearance or manner, uncommonly quick reflexes

a high School drop-out country boy with no prospects, brought

up to hard work and privation, rough-mannered, rough- spoken,

inured to the stoic life . Has outgrown his faded cowboy

shirt, his wrists stick well out of the sleeves, the buttons

gap.

ENNIS looks straight ahead at the lights.

EXT: SIGNAL, WYOMING: MAIN STREET : DAY (LATER) : 1963:

Lighter still.

The truck stops with a screech of air brakes in front of a service station.

ENNIS steps out of the tuck, no suitcase, just a grocery

sack stuffed with his only other shirt and pair of Levi's.

The truck move again, almost before he hits the ground,

spraying him with dust.

Tall, raw-boned, lanky, possessed of a muscular, supple body

Made for the horse and for fighting. He stretches.

No one in sight on the streets of Signal. After a moment,

Carrying his sack, ENNIS walks off.

EXT : SIGNAL, WYOMING : TRAILER : DAY : 1963

The sun is full up, though it is still early. A gentle

Breeze whistles.

ENNIS leans against a dingy trailer house, a crooked sign

above the door says FARM AND RANCH EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.

Smokes, waits. Sees an old pickup with a bad muffler

approaching, and ENNIS becomes aware that the muffler is no

the pickup's only problem. It coughs, sputters, rattles from

several junctures as it pulls into the gravel parking lot of

the AGENCY and dies.

The driver sits a moment in the driver's seat, then gets out

and slams the door of the pickup in disgust.

This is JACK TWIST : Like ENNIS, a rough country boy with

little education, but somewhat different in appearance and

attitude, a little less stoic, a little more of a dreamer.

More welcoming, appealing, with a quick laugh. Twenty, but

not as tall as ENNIS , more compact and muscular, thick, dark

hair, worn jeans, bullrider's belt buckle, faded shirt,

stubbly beard, cowboy hat, boots worn to the quick.

Doesn't notice ENNIS, But when the does, he stiffens a

little. Looks at him-- looks away.

Then the two ignore one another completely.

Ext: Signal, Wyoming: Trailer: Day (Later): 1963:

Eight a.m. The wind has picked up considerably.

JACK attempts to shave using his rearview mirror, an old dull

metal razor and water in a tin cup. Painful work, but keeps

at it, scraping away at his stubble.

Ext: Signal, Wyoming: Trailer: Day (Later still) : 1963:

An old stationwagon races along, whips into the parking lot ,

throwing dust. The stationwagon stops about two feet from

the steps of the railer office, as ENNIS jumps up to get out

of the way.

The driver, JOE AGUIRRE, middle-aged, tall, stocky, no fool,

hair the color of cigarette ash and parted down the middle,

foam dice hanging from the rearview, gets out. Then reaches

back in for an oversize container of coffee.

JOE glares at ENNIS, then JACK, as he heads for the trailer

office door.

Neither boy moves.

JOE goes inside. Door slams. ENNIS sticks his big raw hands

in his pockets. JACK considers checking under his hood.

JOE AGUIRRE

(sticks his head out the door)

If you pair of deuces are looking' for

work, I suggest you get your scrawny

asses in here, pronto.

ENNIS picks up his grocery sack of clothes. Looks over at

JACK. Heads inside.

JACK Follows. The door forcefully slams behind them.

Int: Signal, Wyoming: Trailer office: Day: Continuous : 1963:

Dusty, choky little trailer office. venetian blinds hang

askew, the one desk littered with papers, the Bakelite

ashtray filled with butts, only one chair for guests. A pair

of binoculars hangs from a nail in the wall behind AGUIRRE's

desk.

Neither ENNIS nor JACK Sits.

JOE AGUIRRE, in his swivel chair, gives them his point of

view.

JOE AGUIRRE

Forest Service got designated campsites

on the allotments. Them camps can be 3,

woollies. Bad predator loss if there's

nobody lookin' after 'em at night.

(pause)

Now what I want

(looks at ENNIS)

is a camp tender int the main camp where

the Forest service says, but the

herder...

(points at JACK)

... pitch a pup tent on the Q.T. with the

sheep, and he's goin' to sleep there.

Eat your supper, breakfast in camp, but

you sleep with the sheep, hundred

percent, no fire, don't leave no sign.

You roll up that tent every mornin' case

Forest Service snoops around.

Phone rings, JOE picks it up. Listens. Frowns.

JOE AGUIRRE (CONT'D)

Yeah? No. No. Not on your fuckin'

life.

(hangs up, resumes)

You got your dogs, your 30/30, sleep

there.

Last summer I had goddam near 25% loss.

I don't want that again. You...

(points at ENNIS--takes him in)

... Fridays at noon be down at the bridge

Somebody with supplies will be there at

the pickup.

JOE grabs a cheap watch. Tosses it to ENNIS as if he's not

worth the reach.

JOE AGUIRRE  (CONT'D)

Tomorrow mornin' we'll truck you up to

the jump-off.

JOE lights a cigarette. Picks up the phone. Pauses. Looks

at them hard.

Awkward: they realize they are dismissed.

Leave.

Ext: Signal, Wyoming: Trailer: Day: Continuous: 1963:

The door to the trailer slams shut behind them. JACK walks

down the three steps outside the trailer. ENNIS stops, stands

on the lowest step of the trailer, looks around at the bleak

surroundings. JACK smiles, sticks out his hand.

JACK

Jack Twist.

ENNIS

(shakes hands)

Ennis

A beat.

JACK

Your folks just stop at Ennis?

ENNIS

(after a moment)

Del Mar.

JACK

Nice to know you, Ennis Del Mar.

ENNIS looks at the watch AGUIRRE gave him.

Ext: Signal, Wyoming : Street: Day : 1963:

JACK and ENNIS walks down Signal's main street, headed for the

bar. JACK leads the way.

Int: Signal, Wyoming: Bar: Morning : 1963:

The barroom is large and cavernous. All the chairs are

stacked upside-down on the tables. It's empty except for a

Bartender and Waitress.

ENNIS and JACK sit at the bar, each nurses a longneck.

ENNIS peels the label from his bottle. A few empties sit in

front of JACK.

JACK

My second year up here. Last year one

storm the lightnin' kilt 42 sheep.

(shakes his head)

Thought I'd asphyxiate from the smell.

Aguirre got all over my ass like I 'm

supposed to control the weather.

(drinks)

But beats workin' for my old man. Can't

please my old man, no way. That's way I

took to rodeoin'.

(proudly knocks his rodeo belt

buckle)

Ever rodeo?

ENNIS

(reserved)

You know... I mean, once in a while, when

I got the entry fee in my pocket.

JACK

Yeah. You from ranch people?

ENNIS

I was.

JACK

Your folks run you off?

ENNIS

(stiff)

No. They run themselves off. One curve

in the road in 43 miles, and they miss

it. Killed 'em both.

(drinks)

Bank took the ranch. Brother and sister

raised me, mostly.

JACK

Shit. That's hard.

Ext. Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Trailhead:Day: 1963:

Two sheeptrucks and a couple of horsetrailers have unloaded

at the trailhead to Brokeback Mountain. They are high, but

still in the trees. The bleating of a thousand sheep fills

the air.

The BASQUE is showing ENNIS how to properly pack a mule.

Deftly hitches on two packs, as ENNIS watches.

JACK is already horseback. Several blue heelers circle the

sheep.

BASQUE

Don't let 'em stray. Joe'll have your

ass, if you do. Only thing, don't never

order soup.

(spits)

Them soup boxes are hard to pack.

ENNIS

Don't eat soup.

JACK's on a horse--it crowhops.

ENNIS (Cont'd)

That horse looks like it's got a low

startle point.

JACK

(cocky)

I doubt there's a filly that can throw

me. Let's get, 'less you wanna stand

around and tie knots all day.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming : Day: 1963:

The thousand sheep, the dogs, the horses, JACK and ENNIS and

the pack mules slowly flow out above the tree line, into the

vast flowering meadows of the mountainside.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day: 1963:

Montage of the Moving Sheep:

Breathtaking views. Sheep grazing, dogs sleeping, ENNIS and

JACK tending the sheep. The sheep spread out onto the

expansive treeless plain, nothting in sight but sky and land,

high clouds.

1. The boys whistle, talk to the dogs as they move the

sheep.

2. JACK carries a sheep over the water as the sheep are

moved uphill.

3. They continue to move the sheep on up into the mountains,

dogs keeping them in line.

4. We see each of them alone in their own camp, smoking,

lost in their own thoughts.

Ext. Brokeback Mountain: Camp: Late Afternoon: 1963:

We see ENNIS and JACK setting up camp: sawing wood, building

a fire, putting up the tent. JACK carries buckets of water

from a stream.

Saddles are put up, horses are at rest, hobbled.

JACK hoists food to keep it from bears.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming : Morning: 1963:

From a distance, the sound of sheep.

JACK finishes his breakfast.

JACK

(bitching)

Shit. Can't wait 'til I got my own

spread, won't have to put up with JOE

Aguirre's crap no more.

ENNIS

I'm savin' for a place myself. Me and

Alma, we'll be gettin' married when I

come down off this mountain.

JACK stands, stretches.

JACK

Shit, that stay with the sheep, no fire

bullshit. Agirre's got no right makin'

us do somethin' against the rules.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: ENNIS's camp: Day: 1963:

ENNIS sits smoking, watches as JACK mounts his horse.

Leave.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day: Late Afternoon: 1963:

Dusk on the mountain.

JACK up with the sheep, leans up against a log, naps, a blue

heeler close by.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: JACK's Camp: Night: 1963

JACK, in his dark camp, lit only by moonlight, sees ENNIS as

night fire, a red spark on the huge black mass of mountains.

Int: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: ENNIS's Camp: Day: 1963

ENNIS whittles a small wooden figure in the tent. Looks

outside at the rain.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain: Day: Early Morning:

JACK saddles up, in a pale world.

The mountain, misted, is the color of smoke, the high, grassy

plain invisible.

ENNIS cleans the breakfast plates by the fire.

JACK mounts his bay mare. She crow-hops a little: he keeps

her under control.

JACK

No more beans.

Rides off, ENNIS watching him go.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming:  Day: 1963

JACK, up with the sheep now, holds his rifle, takes a bead on

a big coyote.

Shoots.

Misses.

JACK

Dammit!

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming:  Bridge: Noon: 1963

ENNIS finishes packing the two mules.

Steps back, looks at the mules, and shakes his head.

The BASQUE watches.

Basque

Something wrong?

ENNIS

Where's the powdered milk 'n the spuds?

Basque

That's all we got.

ENNIS hands the Basque his list.

ENNIS

Here's next week's.

The Basque reads through ENNIS's current list.

BASQUE

(not looking up from the list)

Though you didn't eat soup.

ENNIS

Sick of beans.

BASQUE

It's too early in the summer to be sick

of bean.

ENNIS ignores the Basque's comment.

ENNIS mount his big rangy buckskin and leads the two mules

back up the mountain.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day: 1963:

ENNIS atop his horse, lead the two mules along the trail.

It is clear ENNIS enjoys the ride, the silence of the high

country.

Rounds a bend-- his horse suddenly balks, spooks, rears up: a

small black bear in the middle of the trail across a small

stream.

ENNIS in thrown, lands hard, rolls on the rocky ground.

The bear hurries off into the bruch.

The buckskin races off the trail; the two mules take off,

too, through the trees and the undergrowth, tearing the

supply packs, scattering food everywhere. A bag of flour

breaks, creating a white cloud.

ENNIS sits up. His temple is cut and bleeding profusely,

blood run down his cheek.

ENNIS gets up, stiff and angry.

ENNIS

Come back here, you sons-a-bitches!

Stumbles down the trail after his horse and mules.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Dusk: 1963:

JACK is back from the flock, hungry, looking for his meal.

ENNIS is nowhere to be found. JACK looks in the tent.

Empty.

JACK

Shit.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Night: 1963:

The campfire light flickers on JACK's face. Looks around at

the surrounding forest. Knows ENNIS wouldn't lag... is

clearly worried. Takes a swig out of a whiskey bottle.

JACK looks up.

WE SEE ENNIS ride into camp atop Cigar, dismount, somewhat

obscured by the darkness.

JACK is more worried than angry, tries to disguise his

concern with indignation.

JACK

Where the hell you been? Up with the

sheep all day, I get down here, hungry as

hell and all I find is beans....

Silent, ENNIS walks towards the tent, fire illuminating his

face. He sits on a log by the fire. WE SEE the cut ojn his

forehead, gaping now, dried blood covering the whole side of

his face.

JACK is startled by the sight of blood all over ENNIS's

cheek.

JACK (Cont'd)

What in hell happened, Ennis?

ENNIS

(exhausted)

Come on a bear.

(motions to his horse)

Goddamn horse spooked, the mules took

off. Scattered food everywhere.

(beat)

Beans 'bout all we got left.

JACK hands a canteen to ENNIS, who slaps it away.

ENNIS (Cont'd)

Whiskey.

JACK picks up the whiskey bottle and hands it to ENNIS.

ENNIS grabs the bottle, takes a swig.

JACK removes the bandanna from around his neck, wads it up,

takes the whiskey from ENNIS , and pours some into the

bandanna. Raises the bandanna to ENNIS's forehead.

A beat.

JACK hesitates...awkward... hands the bandanna to ENNIS.

ENNIS takes the bandanna and slowly dabs it at the cut on his

own temple. Winces.

JACK Winces, too.

JACK

Well, we got to do somethin' 'bout this

food situation. Maybe I'll shoot one of

the Sheep.

ENNIS

What if Aguiree finds out? We're

supposed to guard the sheep, not eat'em.

JACK

What's the matter with you? There's a

thousand of 'em.

ENNIS

I'll stick with beans.

JACK

Well, I won't.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Meadow: Day: 1963:

WE HEAR a rifle shot: ENNIS lowers the 30/30.

WE SEE a two-point buck, dead on the ground.

JACK, smiling, whooping, stands behind him looking in the

direction ENNIS just fired.

JACK

Ooooeee!

ENNIS

Was gettin' tired of your dumb ass

missin'.

JACK

Let's get a move on. Don't want the Game

and Fish catch us with no deer.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Dusk: 1963:

JACK and ENNIS sit around the campfire, and eat the venison

in silence.

ALL WE HEAR is their chewing and chomping, and the crackling

of the fire.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Late Afternoon: 1963:

JACK comes loping in on his bay mare.

Dismounts. Heads for the fire.

JACK

(morose)

I'm commutin' four hours a day. Come in

for breakfas, go back to the sheep,

evenin' get 'em bedded down, come in for

supper, go back to the sheep, spend half

the night checkin' for damn coyotes.

(gets a second beer, opens it)

Aguiree got no right to make me do this.

ENNIS is at the fire, dishing up supper.

ENNIS

(hands JACK a plate)

You wanna switch? I would't mind

sleepin' out there.

JACK

(takes it)

Ain't the point. Point is, we both ought

to be in this camp. And that goddamn pup

tent smells like cat piss or worse.

ENNIS

(again)

Wouldn't mind bein' out there.

JACK

(looks at him)

Happy to switch, but give you warnin', I

can't cook worth a damn.

(pause)

Am pretty good with a can opener, though.

ENNIS

Can't be no worse than me, then.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: ENNIS's Camp: Late Evening: 1963:

ENNIS packs a few biscuits and jar of coffee onto his

horse.

Mounts his horse.

JACK

Won't get much sleep, I'll tell you that.

ENNIS, silent, rides off across the ground.

Ext: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Evening: 1963:

JACK peels potatoes for dinner.

ENNIS has only his jeans and boots on, no shirt, before a

large basin of hot water, shaves.

ENNIS

Shot a coyote, big son of a bitch, balls

on him size a apples. Looked like he

could eat a camel.

(sloshes his face)

You want some of this hot water?

JACK

(grins, shakes his head)

It's all yours.

ENNIS pulls off his boots, then his socks.

Pulls off his jeans--no underwear.

Slops the washcloth under his arms, between his legs.

JACK fixes dinner, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Impassive.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: ENNIS's camp: Late Evening: 1963

ENNIS sits, supper finished, his back against a long, boot

soles to the fire, two empty bean cans with spoons in them

nearby, a few leftover fried potatoes.

JACK has just taken a piss, is buttoning his jeans.

ENNIS smokes. Takes a deep swig from a whiskey bottle.

JACK walks up, flicks his rodeo belt buckle with his fingers.

Sits down across from ENNIS.

A creek gurgles nearby.

ENNIS

Don't rodeo much myself. What's the

point of riddin' some piece of stock for

eight seconds?

JACK

Money's a good point.

JACK finally fixes his buckle, again sits down next to ENNIS

and grabs the whiskey bottle. JACK takes a swig.

ENNIS

(laughs for the first time

since they've met)

True enough, if you don't get stomped

winnin' it.

JACK

My ol' man was a bullrider, pretty well

knowed in his day, though he kept his

secrects to himself. Never taught me a

thing. Never once come to see me ride.

JACK reaches over for a bean can. Begins to scrape the last

beans out of the bottom.

JACK

(eats)

Your brother and sister do right by you?

Throws the empty can on the fire.

ENNIS

Did the best they could after my folks

was gone, considerin' they didn't leave

us nothin' but $24 in a coffee can.

A beat

ENNIS's tongue loosens suddenly.

ENNIS

Got me a year a high school before the

transmission went on the pickup. My sis

left, married a roughneck, moved to

Casper. Me and my brother got work on a

ranch up near Worland until I was

nineteen. He got married last montht. No

room for me. That's how come me to end

up here.

Silence.

JACK looks over at ENNIS, smiles.

ENNIS

...What?

JACK

Friend, that's more words than you've

spoke in the past two weeks.

ENNIS smiles, for the first time.

ENNIS

Hell, it's the most I've spoke in a year.

(remembers)

My dad now, he was a fine roper. Didn't

rodeo much, though. Thought rodeo

cowboys was all fuck-ups.

JACK

The hell they are!

JACK gets up, does a pretend bull ride around the campfire,

bucking and twisting.

JACK

Yee-haw! Yee-haw! I'm spurrin' his guts

out! Wavin' to the girl in the stands!

He's kickin'' to high heaven, but he can't

dashboard me! No way! Yee-haw!

Finally throws himself, collapses in a heap among the

saddles.

ENNIS

I think my dad was right.

Both laugh so hard, they almost cry.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming:  Late Evening: 1963

ENNIS rides into the night wind, leading the mules.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day: 1963

WE SEE JACK and ENNIS, the dogs, the sheep moving highter up

the mountain to new pasture. Both horseback. JACK leading

the pack mules, ENNIS and the blue heelers leading the sheep.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming:  Late Afternoon: 1963

WE SEE them pitching a new camp, more primitive this time.

JACK and ENNIS are friendlier, more familiar with each other.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Early Evening: 1963:

The tent is a little lopsided, but finally up. ENNIS is

trying to adjust a tent pole. JACK is sitting by the fire,

playing a slightly damaged harmonica, squalling out some old

rodeo tune. A whiskey bottle sits next to him.

ENNIS

Tent don't look right.

JACK stops playing, glances over at ENNIS and the tent.

JACK

It ain't goin' nowhere. Let it be.

(starts up again on the harmonica)

ENNIS

(amused)

That harmonica don't sound quite right.

JACK

That's 'cause it got kinda flattened when

that mare threw me.

ENNIS

I thought you said that mare couldn't

throw you.

JACK

She got lucky.

ENNIS

If I was lucky, that harmonica woulda

broke in two.

Both laugh.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Night: 1963:

JACK, drunk, signs a Pentecostal hymn, "WATER WALKING JESUS,"

a sad, dirgelike rendition, causing coyote to yip in the

distance.

JACK

(sings)
"I know I shall meet you on that final

day, Water Walkin' Jesus, take me

away..."

ENNIS

Very good....

JACK

(pause)

My mama, she believes in the Pentecost.

ENNIS

Yeah? Exactly what is the Pentecost?

(pause)

I mean, my folks was Methodist.

JACK

Well, the Pentecost...

(realizes he has no clue)

I don't know. I don't know what the

Pentecost is... Mama never explained it.

(pause)

I guess it's when the world ends and

fellas like you and me march off to hell.

ENNIS

Uh, uh, speak for yourseld. You may be a

sinner, but I ain't yet had the opportunity.

They both laugh heartily, in a great mood.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Night (Later Still): 1963:

The moon is full up, notched past two in the morning.

ENNIS is dizzy drunk, on all fours, struggles to stand.

ENNIS

Shit. I'm goin to go up to the sheep

now.

JACK

You can't hardly stand, it's too late to

go to them sheep.

ENNIS

You got a extra blanket, I'll roll up out

here and grab forty winks, ride out at

first light.

JACK throws him a blanket.

ENNIS rolls up in it, lays by the fire.

JACK

(doubtful)

Freeze your ass off when that fire dies

down. Better off sleepin' in the tent.

(stands up)

JACK staggers under the canvas, pulls his boots off, falls

asleep on the ground cloth.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Night (Yet Later Still) : 1963:

Coldest point of the night. Fire dead.

ENNIS, outside, shivers, teeth chatter uncontrollably.

JACK looks out.

JACK

(irritable, sleep-clogged)

ENNIS!

ENNIS

What?

JACK

Quit your hammerin' and get over here.

ENNIS, too cold to protest, stands, staggers inside the tent.

INT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Tent: Dark, Just Before Dawn: 1963:

Both are warm inside JACK's bedroll.

JACK is wide awake now. ENNIS, on his back, is half-asleep.

JACK, tentative, takes one of ENNIS's big hands from outside

the bedroll and guides it inside, down toward his own groin.

ENNIS, coming full awake, realize where his hand is... jerks

it away as if he's touched fire.

ENNIS

What're you doin'?

JACK moves towards him. Takes off his Jacket, unbuckles his

pants.

Then ENNIS flips JACK around. Unbuckled his belt, shoves his

pants down with one hand, uses the other to haul JACK up on

all fours.

JACK doesn't resist.

ENNIS spits in the palm of his hand, puts it on himself.

They go at it in silence, except for a few sharp intakes of

breath.

ENNIS shudders.

Then out, down, as both fall asleep.

INT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Tent :Full Light: 1963 :

ENNIS is awake in a red dawn. JACK is sound asleep.

ENNIS has a top-grade headache, crawls out from under the

bedroll, his pants around his knees.

Pulls up his pants. Goes outside the tent.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Day: Morning (Later): 1963:

ENNIS has just mounted his horse.

JACK, fastening buttons, come out of the tent just in time.

JACK

See you for supper.

ENNIS nods.

Leaves.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Late Afternoon : 1963 :

ENNIS sits atop his buckskin and rides along a ridge.

Something eats at his mind.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Meadow: Day : 1963 :

ENNIS is up with the flock now, rides his horse, the blue

heelers running and yipping at the sheep. The flock is

grazing.

Ond dog begins to bark incessantly. ENNIS rides over to see

what the ruckus is about and discovers a shredded sheep,

clearly the victim of a coyote pack.

A look of shame washes across ENNIS's face.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Day: 1963 :

Later in day, overcast. Though it's summer, there is a

biting little wind.

JACK, wearing only his boots, is doing laundry. Shivers.

Squats by the stream, carefully wrings out ENNIS's only other

shirt, a denim button-up western-style shirt.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Late Afternoon : 1963 :

JACK reclines on the ground. Looks off in the distance at

the grazing sheep.

ENNIS walks up. Stands. Looks off, too.

ENNIS

It's a one-shot thing we got goin' here.

JACK

Nobody's business but ours.

ENNIS

You know I ain't queer.

JACK

Me neither.

Both look off in silence.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Tent: Night : 1963 :

The setting sun leaves the sky ablaze in orange and purple.

ENNIS sits by the fire, alone. Hears coyotes in the

distance.

JACK is inside the tent.

ENNIS, pensive, glances over toward the tent. Decide.

Gets up.

Goes to the tent.

INT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Tent: Night: Continued

JACK sits atop the bedroll, naked, his shirt draped over his

lap. He looks up as ENNIS enters.

ENNIS cautiously step in. JACK raises his hand to him.

ENNIS takes it. JACK pulls him in.

JACK, gentle, reassuring, takes ENNIS's face in his hands.

JACK

It's all right... It's all right.

JACK kisses him.

They lie back. Embrace. Kiss.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day: Binocular Pov : 1963 :

WE SEE the main camp on Brokeback through a pair of

binoculars.

Pan the camp.

Horses, dogs, then not quite in focus.

Focus sharpens: TWO MEN pulling off their clothes, out in

the middle of nowhere, they play, running, joking.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day : Continuous: 1963 :

WEE SEE the binoculars belong to JOE AGUIRRE.  He is

horseback.

Looks at his watch.

Raises the binoculars--looks again -- lowers them.

It is clear--from the expression on his face--that he doesn't

like what he sees. Doesn't like it at all.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Afternoon : 1963 :

JACK is chopping firewood.

AGUIRRE comes riding up.

Fixes JACK with a bold stare.

JOE AGUIRRE

Twist, your Uncle Harold's in the

hospital with pneumonia. Docs don't

expect the he'll make it.

(pause)

Your ma sent me to tell you. So here I

am.

JACK

Bad news. Ain't much I can do about it

up here, I guess.

JOE AGUIRRE

(hard look)

Ain't much you can do down there neither.

Not unless you can cure pneumonia.

Glares at JACK. Raises binoculars, looks in the direction of

the meadow, toward ENNIS.

WE SEE: ENNIS, horseback, being an exemplary sheepman, a

sickly lamb across his saddle, trailed by the blue heelers.

AGUIRRE lowers the binoculars and shoots another stern look

at JACK.

Turn, rides off.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Late Evening : 1963 :

The wind is picking up.

ENNIS and JACK are gathering dishes, blankets, trying to grab

their gear before it blows away.

The sides of the tent begin to buck and pitch.

Then hailstones begins to pepper down.

JACK

Aw, hell!

They both scramble inside the tent, pull the flap, but the

wind whips it back open. The tent is popping so hard now it

seems as if it might blow away.

ENNIS

(looking out)

Them sheep'll drift if I don't get back

there tonight.

JACK

(above the wind)

You'll get pitched off your mount in a

storm like this, wish you hadn't tried

it. Close it up!

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day: 1963 :

A grim, grey morning.

ENNIS and JACK, both mounted, the blue heelers at attention.

Glum, looking at a huge mass of milling sheep.

Twenty yards away, TWO CHILEAN SHEEPHERDERS are looking just

as glum at the huge mixed herd, gesturing wildly.

ENNIS

What're we supposed to do now?

JACK

Get on in there... untangle them chilean

sheep from ours, I guess.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Day : 1963 :

ENNIS, horseback, and JACK, on foot, the blue heelers and the

TWO CHILEAN work in a confusion of sheep and dust, trying to

separate the two herds that have mixed.

JACK

(holds a sheep, tried to look

at its paint brand, which is

faint at best)

Damn, half the goddamn paint brands are

wore off.

ENNIS

(trying to edge a pitiful

little group of sheep out of

the main herd)

We gotta try, at least we can get the

count right for Aguiree.

JACK

Fuck Aguiree.

ENNIS

(frustrated, making a point)

Fuck Aguiree? What if we need to work

for him again? We gotta stick this out,

Jack.

JACK doesn't respond. Leans down, examines the paint brand

again, drags it to where it belongs.

ENNIS resumes the way task of separating out the rest of

their herd.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Late Afternoon : 1963 :

JACK and ENNIS's herd of sheep, reconstituted as best they

can, moves along the high treeless slope of Brokeback

Mountain, kept in order and in motion by the dogs.

JACK, in a better mood now, is doodling on his harmonica.

ENNIS

(tolerant, smiles)

You'll run the sheep off again if you

don't quiet down.

JACK keeps playing.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Early Morning: 1963 :

ENNIS crawls out of the pup tent, shivering.

A foof of snow covers an extraordinarily beatiful plain.

Stumbles around outside the tent, trying to warm himself.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Main Camp: Day : 1963 :

ENNIS lopes into camp on horseback. There are only a few

patches of snow left here and there.

JACK is busily packing gear.

ENNIS

What you doin'?

JACK

Aguiree came by again. Says may uncle

didn't die after all

(pause)

Says bring 'em down.

ENNIS

(not sure he's heard right)

Bring 'em down? Why, it's the middle of

August.

JACK

Says there's another storm comin', movin'

in from the pacific.

(pause)

Worse than this one.

ENNIS dismounts.

ENNIS

(grim)

That snow barely stuck an hour. Besides,

the sonofabitch is cutting us out of a

whole month's pay. It ain't right!

A bear.

JACK

I can spare a loan, bud, if you're short

on cash... give it to you when we get to

Signal....

ENNIS frowns.

ENNIS

I don't need your money, I ain't in the

poorhouse.

JACK

All right....

ENNIS curses under his breath.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Camp: Morning : 1963 :

Their tent is struck, camp gear piled high: they have packed

to leave.

JACK is tightening his saddle . Looks up.

ENNIS sits up on a hill, alone.

JACK takes his lariat, heads up the hill towards ENNIS.

JACK

Time to get goin', cowboy.

JACK starts horsing around with his lariat rope, pretends

he's trying to heel ENNIS by throwing a loop at his feet--

nearly trips him.

ENNIS

Hey now, this ain't no rodeo.

JACK retrieves his lariat, but throws another loop-- this

time, he gets ENNIS by the foot, pulls ENNIS's foot out from

under him. He falls.

JACK laughs.

ENNIS grabs the rope and yanks hard--JACK is pulled towards

ENNIS and falls, and they start to wrestle. ENNIS only

half-playing--tense.

JACK is not quite fighting, either, but the mood quickly

darkness, when ENNIS slips, trying to avoid a hold, and JACK

accidentally knees him in the nose. Blood pours, getting on

both of them. ENNIS jumps to his feet. JACK immediately

gets up, tries to stanch the blood coming from ENNIS's nose

with his own shirt sleeve, and ENNIS reflexively cold-cocks

him hard in the jaw, causing JACK to stagger back and fall on

his ass.

JACK looks up at ENNIS, rubbing his jaw, too stunned to say

anything.

ENNIS looks down at him, wiping his bloody nose on his denim

sleeve, furious and despairing all at once, more emotion

stirring in him than he can handle.

Staggers off.

EXT: Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming: Plains: Day : 1963 :

They trail the sheep down the long slope, towards the trees

and the waiting trucks.

ENNIS feels like he's in a slow-motion, headlong,

irreversible fall.

The boys ride together, side by side, each too full of

feeling to speak.

EXT: Signal, Wyoming: Sheep Pens : Day : 1963 :

JOE AGUIRRE, stern and not pleased, looks over the milling

sheep.

The boys lean against the fence.

JOE AGUIRRE

(comes over)

Some of these never went up there with

you.

(pause, hard look)

The count ain't what I'd hoped for,

neither. You ranch stiffs ain't never no

good....

The boys shift uncomfortably.

No response.

EXT: Signal, Wyoming: Street : Day : 1963 :

Relentless win.

JACK is in the cab of his old pickup, grinding the ignition.

ENNIS is under the hood, fiddling with the carburetor.

ENNIS

Give it some gas.

Pickup sputters.

ENNIS continues.

JACK grits his teeth... pickup starts. ENNIS closed the hood.

JACK revs the engine a few times, then puts it in neutral and

pulls on the emergency brake. Steps out of the cab. Big

bruise coming up on his jaw from where ENNIS punched him.

ENNIS rifles through a flour sack with his clothes and few

goods.

ENNIS

(to himself)

...can't believe I left my damn shirt up

there....

A beat.

A dust plume rises and hazes the air with fine grit.

JACK

(squints, nervous)

You gonna do this again next summer?

ENNIS

(stops looking through the bag)

Maybe not.

(pause)

Like I said, ALMA and me's gettin'

married in November. Be trying' to get

somethin' on a ranch I guess.

(pause)

You?

JACK

Might go up to my daddy's place, give him

a hand throuth the winter.

(Shrug)

Or I might come back....

(tries for a weak smile)

...if the army don't get me.

The wind tumbles and empty feed bag down the street until it

fetches up under JACK's truck.

ENNIS

Well, see you around, I guess.

JACK

Right.

ENNIS turns to go.

JACK gets in his pickup, adjusts the rearview mirror.

Drive away.

WE SEE JACK look back at ENNIS thru his rearview mirror.

ENNIS puts his hands in his pockets, watches him go. Stands

there in the wind. JACK's pickup is soon out of sight.

He starts down the street, but before he can get a half a

block, JACK's leaving proves too much: he feels like

someone's pulling his guts out, hand over hand, a yard at a

time.

He stumbles into an alley, drops to his knees. Keels there,

silent, as pain, longing, loneliness, overpower ENNIS--

emotions stronger than he's ever felt ofr another person

consume him: he feels as bad and confused as he ever has in

his life. Conflicted--heis angry at himself, for all that

has happened, and for all that he is feeling. Punches the

wall, bloodying both his knuckles.

A COWBOY passes the alley. Pauses, looks at ENNIS.

ENNIS glares at him.

ENNIS

(growls)

What the fuck you lookin' at?

The COWBOY moves on.

INT: Riverton, Wyoming: Church : Day : 1963 :

ENNIS and ALMA--small woman, pretty, sweet-looking, young,

happy on her wedding day-- at the altar in a little pine box

of a church.

A FEW COWBOY, ENNIS's ROW-BONED SISTER and BROTHER, ALMA'S

LITTLE PARENTS and LITTLE GRANDMOTHER.

ENNIS in a new JACKet and a bolo tie, nervously adjusts his

collar.

ALMA in a J.C. Penney's wedding dress, happy.

The MINISTER wears a plaid sport JACKet.

CONGREGATION

...and forgive our trespasses as we

forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver

us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

and the power and the glory, forever.

ALMA

Amen.

JOLLY MINISTER

... under the powers vested in me, I now

pronounce you and wife... you may kiss

the bride...

(wink, smile)

... and if you don't, I will....

EVERYONE titters. ENNIS and ALMA, both nervous and shy,

smile, kiss one another.

EXT:  Wyoming: Hill : Winter:  Day : 1963 :

ENNIS and ALMA are in a toboggan, about to slide down the

hill.

They start down, ALMA squeals in delight; ENNIS whoops it up.

At the bottom, the toboggan turns over. ENNIS stands.

ENNIS

You all right?

ALMA takes his hand. Pulls him down into the snow.

Very young, they laugh, throw snow on each other.

EXT:  Wyoming: Highway: Spring : Day : 1964:

ENNIS, in a dozer cap, shovels asphalt behind an asphalt

dumper. Sweat blooms from his T-shirt collar. Sagebrush

tall along the highway, swaying in the hot wind.

ENNIS's co-worker, TIMMY, a fat, bespectacled, annoyingly

loquacious middle-aged man with a bad case of plumber's butt,

works alongside him.

Talk incessantly.

TIMMY

My old lady's tryin' to get me to quit

this job, says I'm getting' too old to be

breakin' my back shoveling asphalt.

(self-deprecating)

I told her strong backs and weak minds

run in my family. Didn't think that was

too funny.

(laughs)

I told her keeps me fit.

ENNIS, impassive, spits, wipes the sweat from his brow.

Continues to shovel.

EXT: Riverton, Wyoming: Drive-In  : Night : 1964 :

WE SEE ENNIS and ALMA at the drive-in. Eating popcorn.

"SURF PARTY" is on the movie screen.

ALMA has her head on ENNIS's shoulder. ENNIS has his arm

around her.

She cuddles in closer.

She's pregnant, just showing. Feels the baby move. Takes

his hand. Places it on her tummy.

EXT: Signal, Wyoming: Early Summer : Day : 1964 :

JACK drives through town in his truck, which rattles and

sputters louder than ever.

Eyes the sidewalks and dilapidated storefronts, as if looking

for someone: ENNIS.

JACK parks in the dirt lot of the FARM AND  RANCH EMPLOYMENT

trailer, dust and fine gravel pelting his truck's windows

like hail.

INT: Signal, Wyoming: Trailer House : Day : 1964 :

JOE AGUIRRE sits with his feet on his desk, flipping through

a newspaper, chewing on a toothpick. A cigarette smolders in

the ashtray. Hears a knock.

JOE AGUIRRE

Yeah?

JACK enters the trailer, the door slams behind him.

AGUIRRE looks up, annoyed.

JOE AGUIRRE

(continues reading the

newspaper)

Well, look what the wind blew in.

JACK

Howdy, Mr. AGUIRRE.

(uncomfortable beat)

Wonderin' if you was needin' any help

this summer?

JOE AGUIRRE

Wastin' your time here.

JACK

You ain't go nothin'?

AGUIRRE doesn't look up.

JACK (cont'd)

Nothin' up on Brokeback?

JOE AGUIRRE

(looks up from the paper)

I ain't got no work for you.

Aguiree stares coolly at JACK. No nonsense.

An awkward moment: JACK fingers the brim of the hat in his

hand, looks as if he wants to say soemthing more. Starts for

the door. Pauses, turns back to AGUIRRE.

JACK

Ennis Del Mar ain't been around, has he?

AGUIRRE glares at him even harder. The wind hits the trailer

like a load of dirt coming off a dump truck, eases, dies,

leaves a temporary silence.

JOE AGUIRRE

You boys sure found a way to make the

time pass up there.

JACK give him a look, then sees the big binoculars hanging

on a nail on the wall behind AGUIRRE's head.

JOE AGUIRRE

Twist, you guys wasn't gettin' paid to

leave the dogs baby-sit the sheep while

you stemmed the rose.

(pause--looks hard at JACK)

Get the hell out of my trailer.

EXT: Signal, Wyoming: Trailer House  : Day : Continuous: 1963 :

JACK steps out of the trailer. The door slams shut behind

him.

EXT:  Wyoming: Del Mar Ranch House House : Day : 1966:

Shot of a little line cabin on vast, high plains ranch.

The little house is so alone it looks as if it sits at the

edge of the world. Windy, bitter cold.

ALMA takes laundry off the clothesline. Sees ENNIS's pickup,

pulling a horse trailer, approach--it is dot on a long,

long road.

ALMA looks lonely, pretty, though dowdily dressed.

INT: Wyoming: Del Mar Ranch  House : Kitchen: Day : 1966:

ALMA stands at the kitchen sink, washing clothes on a

washboard. WE HEAR the radio, and babies crying.

ENNIS come in.

ENNIS

How my girls doin'?

ALMA JR.

All right. Jenny's still got a runny

nose.

ENNIS heads towards the back of the house.

INT: Signal, Wyoming: Del Mar Ranch  House : Children's Bedroom: Day : 1966:

ENNIS walks over to the bassinet where baby JENNY is

wheezing, coughing, crying.

He picks up JENNY and cradles her.

Two-year-old ALMA JR., runny nose, gets out of her little bed

and toddles over to her daddy, cries, hugs his leg as he

rocks JENNY.

ALMA yells from the kitchen.

ALMA

Could you wipe Alma Jr.'s nose?

ENNIS

If I had three hands I could....

Cradles the baby, talk to her, soothes her.

Pats ALMA JR., tries to soothe her, too.

Int: Wyoming: Del Mar Ranch  House: Bedroom: Night: 1966:

ALMA, cute and at the most seductive, comes and sits behind

ENNIS, wraps her skinny arms around him.

ALMA

Girls all right?

ENNIS

(nods)

Jenny stopped her coughin'. I should

take the girls into town this weekend.

Get 'em an ice cream.

ALMA

Ennis, can' we move to town?

(pause--studies him)

I'm tired of these lonesome old ranches.

There's no one for Alma Jr. to play with,

and besides, I'm scairt for Jenny, scared

if she has one of them bad asthma spells.

ENNIS

Rents in town are too high.

ALMA

There's a cheap place in Riverton, over

the laundrymat. I bet I could fix it up

real nice.

ENNIS

Bet you could fix this place up real nice

if you'd want to.

ALMA

ENNIS, I know you'd like it too. A real

home. Other kids for the girls to play

with. Not so lonely, like you were

raised. You don't want it so lonely, do

you?

ENNIS touches her breast, then moves his hand downward.

ENNIS

This ain't too lonely, now is it?

Hugs him hard, as she becomes excited. Begins to squirm

against his hand.

ALMA

You sure the girls are asleep?

ENNIS

I'm sure.

ENNIS is on top of her now. They kiss. She moves under him.

Then ENNIS rolls her over on her stomach.

ALMA

... Ennis ....

He positions himself behind her.

Ext: Texas: Small Town Arena: Summer Night: 1966:

ANNOUNCER

Let 'em rip and snort, boys! This one'll

be quick. Jack Twist, hangin' on for

dear life!

JACK rides out of the chute.

Come flying off a Brahma bull.

ANNOUNCER

Oh, and down he goes!

Hits hard.

The bull, angry, slobbering, is right on top of him.

ANNOUNCER

Whoa, watch out ther, fella! He's

comin' for ya! Send in the clowns! A

fine ride for Mr. Twist. Four seconds

for him.

JACK rolls, gets up--then the RODEO CLOWN comes jumping in at

the last second, distracts the bull, leads him safely past

JACK.

ANNOUNCER

Give 'em a hand, folks, our very own

rodeo clowns!

The bull nearly tramples one of the RODEO CLOWNS.

Int: Texas : Bar: Summer Night (Later) : 1966:

The Rodeo clown, a young man with something of the college

athlete about him, has wiped off most of his clown makeup.

Has just ordered a beer.

JACK, at the bar--watches him.

As the BARTENDER is about to bring the CLOWN his beer, JACK

limps over and hands the BARTENDER some bills.

The CLOWN look surprised.

JACK

(to bartender)

Like to buy JIMBO a beer. Best rodeo

clown I ever worked with.

JACK stands close to his shoulder.

JIMBO

(firmly)

No thanks, cowboy, If I was to let every

rodeo hand I pulled a bull off of buy me

liquor I'd been an alcoholic long ago...

There is something, a frisson, a vibe, that gives the CLOWN

an uneasy feeling... although he remains perfectly

friendly... takes his beer, stands up.

JIMBO

Pulling bulls off you buckaroos is just

my job. Save your money for your next

entry fee, cowboy.

Watches JIMBO walk over, sit down with a table full of calf-

ropers, all of them wearing piggin strings over their

shoulders like bandoliers.

BARTENDER

(seen it all)

Ever try calf-roping?

JACK

(nervous)

Do I look like I could afford a fuckin'

ropin' horse?

JACK slams down the rest of his beer. Looks around

anxiously. Puts a ten on the bar. Leaves.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Park: Fourth of July: Night: 1966:

WE SEE the little Del Mar family ease through the 4th of July

crowd, trying to find a place to sit.

ENNIS, ALMA, ALMA JR. and JENNY. ALMA spreads a blanket on

the ground, preparing to settle her family in to watch the

firework.

WE SEE other Riverton citizens setting up, a few assorted

rowdies drinking beer, families, couples relaxing near the

DEL MAR FAMILY. Other children with their parents play

nearby.

ENNIS

We Should move closer.

ALMA

Let's don't, Jenny'll get scared.

A MARCHING BAND strikes up a tinny, slightly off-key

rendition of "THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC."

ENNIS holds ALMA JR.

ENNIS

(settling her down)

Here we go, darlin'.

TWO BIKERS approach an area just behind the DEL MAR family.

Around the same ages as ENNIS. BIKER #1 has a few theeth

missing, BIKER #2 limps, dragging a clubfoot. Each carries a

half-empty bottle of liquor. Loud, profane, already drunk.

Sit themselves down on the grass behind ENNIS and his family.

BIKER #1

Woooeee... look at this crowd! There's

bound to be lots of pussy on the hoof in

a crowd like this.

BIKER #2

All swelled up with patriotic feeling and

ready to be humped like a frog.

BIKER #1

Where do you think the most pussy's at--

Las Vegas of California?

BIKER #2

Hell, how would I know.... but if you make

it between Wyoming and Montana, I'd pick

Wyoming in a minute.

ALMA shoots ENNIS a nervous look.

ENNIS takes a deep breath... turns looks over his shoulder at

the TWO DRUNKS.

ENNIS

(not confrontational)

Hey, you boys wanna keep it down, I got

two little girls here.

BIKER #1

Fuck you!

(mumbles to his friend)

Asshole probably stopped puttin' it to

the wife after the kids come, you know

how that is.

Indignant, they glare at ENNIS, as the first of the fireworks

shoots into the sky, exploding in air in sync with the verse

"... bombs bursting in air... " beginning the show.

ALMA

(grabs ENNIS's arm)

Let's move, ENNIS, let's just move....

ENNIS, trying to control his mounting anger, gently sends ALMA

JR. on to the blanket and stands up, facing the DRUNKS.

ENNIS

I don't want no trouble. You need to

shut your slop-bucket mouth, you hear

me?

BIKER #2

(stands, too, faces ENNIS)

You oughta listen to your ol' lady, then.

ENNIS

Oh, is that right?

BIKERs #1

Move somewheres else.

ALMA stands now, JENNY on her hip, ALMA JR. clutching her

mother's skirt. Quickly gathers up the blanket.

ENNIS looks back at ALMA, then kicks BIKER #1 right in the

face, bloodying his nose and knocking him out cold.

ALMA and the girls move away from ENNIS and this scene in

horror, the fireworks and music in the background.

ALMA JR. begins to cry, hides behind her mother.

Several of the surrounding families are quickly packing up to

get away from the brawl.

ENNIS

(to the clubfoot BIKER)

what about it? Wanna swallow 'bout half

your teeth?

BIKER #2 has his palms raised in front of him in a

conciliatory pose.

BIKER #2

(polite)

Not tonight, bud... I'd sure rather not.

Backs away, dragging his unconscious friend along with him.

ALMA and THE GIRLS stare at ENNIS, stunned and wide-eyed:

they have witnessed a kind of fury in him that they have

never seen before.

Ext: Childress, Texas: Rodeo Arena:  Night: 1966:

In the arena WE SEE a YOUNG WOMAN dressed in the flashiest,

most costly rodeo finery, the most stylish barrel-racing

clothes, on a fine, expensive quarter horse, running the

barrels.

Tips one... but it doesn't quite fall... she rounds the last

barrel, whipping the horse as if she's in the homestretch at

the Kentucky Derby, races out of the arena as the ANNOUNCER

says:

ANNOUNCER

Here she comes, ladies and gentlemen,

look at her fly... Miss Lureen Newsome

from right here in Childress, Texas... Oh

boy... and her time is...

(beat)

...sixteen and nine-tenths seconds. Let's

give her a big hand!

The words are drowned out as the crowd gives LUREEN a big

hand.

Ext: Childress: Texas: Behind Rodeo Arena : Night: Continuous: 1966:

JACK sits on the tailgate of his old pickup, taping his right

hand for his upcoming bull ride. Hears applause.

Looks around, sees the quarter horse and the YOUNG WOMAN come

flying out of the arena, everybody standing way back, giving

her room.

Just as she passes JACK, her hat flies off, lands at his

feet.

JACK reaches down, picks up the hat.

LUREEN trots back, patting the sweaty horse on the shoulder

to calm him.

JACK hands her hat back to her. Sees a classically pretty

face, lots of eye makeup.

JACK

Ma'am.

JACK looks up at her--for a moment, she allows herself to

look down at him--notices his thick, dark hair, his appealing

face, his sturdy body--she takes her hat, then passes on.

JACK watches her ride back to the arena.

Walks back to his truck.

Int: Childress, Texas: Rodeo Arena: Night (Later): 1966:

ANNOUNCER

What a heck of a way to make a living!

Next up is an up and comer, Jack Twist

from all the way up in Wyoming. He's on

board Sleepy today! Let's hope he's not!

JACK, flattered by the attention of the rodeo queen and

trying to show off, hangs on to a tough, spinning bull,

actually makes a fine ride.

Good dismount. Doesn't need the clown this time.

ANNOUNCER

Oh boy... let's see what the judges

say...that sure looked like the winning

ride to me...

Int: Childress, Texas : Bar: Night (Yet Later Still): 1966:

LUREEN sits at a table, JACK at the bar. Every now and then

he glances at her. Each time she is looking right at him.

JACK

(to bartender)

You know that girl?

Bartender

I sure do. Lureen Newsome. Her dad

sells farm equipment. I mean big farm

equipment. Hundred-thousand-dollar

tractors, shit like that.

JACK looks again. LUREEN is still looking at him.

This time, impatient, she gets up and come s straight to him.

This time, impatient, she gets up and comes straight to him.

LUREEN

What are you waiting for, cowboy... a

matin' call?

JACK flushes.

She leads him on to the dance floor.

Int: Childress, Texas : Bar: Night : Dance Floor : 1966:

Singer sings onstage, a waltz.

LUREEN and JACK slow dance.

Ext: Childress, Texas : Country Road: Night : 1966:

WE SEE LUREEN's large, shiny 1966: or 1967: convertible.

LUREEN pulls up and parks.

WE HEAR bullfrog croaking. Radio playing.

LUREEN and JACK are making out in the backseat, LUREEN on top

of JACK.

She pulls back, looks him over.

LUREEN

You don't think I'm too fast, do you?

Maybe we should put the brakes on.

JACK smiles at her.

JACK

It's your call. Fast or slow, I just like

the direction you're going in.

She thinks about this for a second. Then she sits up

suddenly, unbuttons her blouse. Takes it off. Reaches back

to unfasten her bra.

JACK

I guess you are in a hurry!

LUREEN

My daddy's the hurry. Expects me home

with the car by midnight.

She leans down. Kisses him.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming : A&P Grocery store: Day: 1967:

WE SEE ENNIS dirve up, both ALMA JR. and JENNY in the truck

with him. Stops. Gets out. Takes the girls out, leads them

into the grocery, clearly in a hurry.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming : A&P Grocery store: Day: 1967:

ENNIS, cowboy hat on, obviously in a hurry, comes in carrying

JENNY and leading ALMA JR.

ENNIS

Hey Monroe.

Monroe

Hey Ennis.

ENNIS

Is Alma here?

Monroe

Yeah, she's in the condiments aisle.

ENNIS

The What?

Monroe

Uh, ketchup.

ENNIS

Thanks.

Peeks in this aisle and that, looking for ALMA.

Finally spots ALMA in her A&P smock, shelving jars of salad

dressing.

ALMA

(surprised, but glad to see

them)

Hi honey. What're you all doing here?

ENNIS

In a big hurry. My boss called, got to

run up to the ranch... all the heifers

must of decided to calve at the same

time. Thought I could drop the girls

with you.

ALMA

Ennis, I got a million things to do here

before I can leave. I don't get off for

another three hours.

ALMA JR.

Mama, I need Crayolas....

ALMA

Not right now, ALMA. ENNIS, you said you

could keep 'em tonight....

ENNIS

I can't afford to not be there when them

heifers calve. Be my job if I lose and

of 'em.

ALMA

What about my job?

(gives up)

Oh, all right then... I'll call my sister,

maybe she can keep 'em till I get off.

ENNIS

I may be half the night. Bring home some

round steak if you think of it.

Kisses the girls. Leaves.

Monroe the assistant manager comes around the corner just as

JENNY pulls a big jar of peanuts off a display. The entire

display comes down, break, glass and peanuts everywhere.

ALMA scoops her up, takes ALMA JR. by the hand.

ALMA

Monroe, I am so sorry.

Monroe

It's okay, Alma. It's okay.

ALMA

(flustered)

I'll clean it up soon as I call my sister

to come get the girls.

Monroe

Really, Alma, it's okay. I'll get it.

ALMA leads the girls away from the mess.

Int: Childress, Texas: Hospital Maternity ward: Day: 1967:

LUREEN, triumphant but tired, has just delivered little

Bobby. A nurse tidies the room as LUREEN holds the swaddled

baby. JACK breathlessly enters the room.

JACK

Honey, got a surprise for you.

LUREEN's parents, Fayette and L.D. Newsome, enter.

FAYETTE NEWSOME

(to LUREEN)

I got two whole boxes of formula for you,

120cans.

(to L.D.)

L.D., where did you put 'em?

L.D. NEWSOME

Oh, hell, backseat of the car where I left

'em. Rodeo can get 'em.

Tosses JACK his keys.

FAYETTE NEWSOME

(ecstatic, picking up the baby

and holding him up to L.D.)

Oh, L.D.! I can already see who he looks

like.

L.D. NEWSOME

(to his daughter)

Good job, little girl. He's the spittin'

image of his grandpa...

(glance at JACK)

... Isn't he the spittin, image of his

grandpa?

LUREEN gives JACK a what-can-we-do expression ... JACK

maintains a polite, glazed smile.

Feeling the outsider, he turns, goes to get the formula out

of the car.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Evening: 1967:

WE SEE ENNIS pull up in his pickup, just outside their little

apartment above the laundromat. Gets out.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Evening: 1967:

ENNIS, ALMA and the girls have moved to the little apartment

above the laundromat. The apartment is small, not fancy, but

ALMA has managed to make it homey on what little money she

has to work with. Clean but spare. WE SOMETIMES hear the

sounds of the washing machines coming from below....

ENNIS comes in to the apartment, dusty, dirty.

TWO LITTLE GIRLS, one running, one toddling:  ALMA JR., and

little JENNY, eager to see their daddy. ALMA is at the

stove, has made greasy hamburger.

ALMA

(stirring)

Ennis, you know somebody name a Jack?

From Texas?

ENNIS about to pick up JENNY, stop.

ENNIS

I might. Why?

ALMA

(gestures towards the kitchen

table)

You got a postcard. It come General

Delivery.

ENNIS steps to the table, picks it up.

WE SEE a raw-boned hand holding a postcard. WE SEE the

POSTMARK, 1967:, and READ IT:

"Friend this letter si long over due. Hope you get it. Heard

you was in Riverton. I'm coming thru on the 24th, thought

I'd stop and buy you a beer. Drop me a line if you can, say

if your there."

The hand trembles ever so slightly. ALMA, busy with the

cooking, doesn't notice.

ALMA

Is he somebody you cowboy'ed with?

ENNIS stares at the postcard.

ENNIS

Jack rodeos, mostly.

(pause)

We was fishing buddies....

His voice trails off.

ALMA JR. clamors for him look at her coloring book. ALMA

stirs the gravy.

The effect of the postcard goes unnoticed.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Post Office: Day: 1967:

WE SEE ENNIS pull up outside the Riverton post office in his

pickup. Gets out. Goes inside.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Post Office: Day: 1967:

ENNIS stands at a counter, has a blank postcard. WE SEE HIM

WRITE:

"JACK Twist, RFD 2, Childress, Texas"--turns it over, writes

"You bet," signs it ENNIS DEL MAR, and then puts his own

address on the card.

Hands it through a postal slot.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Day: 1967:

Gloomy, windy day. ENNIS has taken the day off.

Paces, wearing his best shirt.

Sits down by the window.

Impatient. Looks out the window down at the street, pale

with dust.

The girls chase each other through the living room.

ALMA leafs through a magazine.

ALMA

(hopeful of social

possibility)

Maybe we could get a baby-sitter, take

your friend to the Knife & Fork.

ENNIS

Jack ain't the restaurant type.

(pause)

We'll more'n likely just go out and get

drunk.

(pause)

If he shows.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Late Afternoon: 1967:

Several beer cans on the table. Ashtray full.

ENNIS no longer paces, sits on the couch as ALMA JR. and

JENNY scratch away at a pair of coloring books.

WE HEAR the sounds of a pickup.

ENNIS jumps up, look out the window: sees a pickup slowing

on the street in front of the laundromat.

Ext: Riverton: Del Mar Apartment: Late Afternoon: Continuous: 1967:

The ever-present wind blowing, dust swirls.

JACK gets out of his pickup, stiff, his beat-up Resistol

tilted back on his head, holds it steady to keep it from

blowing off.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Outside Del Mar Apartment: Landing:

Late Afternoon: Continuous:1967:

ENNIS has stepped out of his apartment onto a small landing

at the top of the back stairs outside, closes the door behind

him, as he sees JACK.

ENNIS hurries down the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Seize each other by the shoulders, hug mightly, squeezing

the breath out of each other, saying sonofabitch,

sonofabitch.

Then ENNIS looks around. Pulls JACK over to small gangway.

Shoves him up against the wall.

Then, as easily as the right key turns the lock tumblers,

their mouths come together.

Int: Riverton: Del Mar Apartment: Late Afternoon: Continuous: 1967:

ALMA comes to the door at the top of the second-story

landing. ALMA starts to open it, then looks out: and ALMA

sees ENNIS's straining shoulders. She sees them, kissing,

JACK's tilted the other direction, their arms around one

another.

ALMA quickly and quietly closes the door again.

She backs away from the front door a step or two, pale,

struggling, trying to take in what she has just witnessed.

Ext: Outside Del Mar Apartment: Landing: Riverton: Late Afternoon: Continuous: 1967:

ENNIS and JACK have pulled back from one another now and come

up the back stairs and stand in the little foyer. ALMA

stands in the kitchen.

ENNIS

(glad for the dim light)

Alma, this is Jack Twist. Jack, my wife,

Alma.

JACK

Howdy.

ALMA

(flat voice)

'lo.

ENNIS, his chest heaving, does not turn away from ALMA, but

can still smell JACK--the intensely familiar odor of

cigarettes, musky sweat, and a faint sweetness like grass,

and with it the rushing cold of the mountain.

ALMA has seen what she has seen, having aged years in the

space of a few moments: sees her husband's turmoil...and

notices JACK's trembling hands.

Baby JENNY cries.

JACK

(trembles)

You got a kid?

ENNIS

Two little girls: Alma Jr., and Jenny.

ALMA is stone-faced.

JACK

(halting, very aware of ALMA)

I got a boy. Eight months old. Smiles a

lot. I married the prettiest little gal

in Childress, Texas. Lureen.

ENNIS is eager to leave.

ENNIS

JACK and me is goin' out and get a drink.

Might not get back tonight, we get to

drinkin' and talkin'.

ALMA

Sure enough.

JACK

Pleased to meet you, ma'am.

Takes a dollar from her pocket, meaning to ask him to bring

her cigarettes.

ALMA

Ennis, if you could pick me up a pack

of...

ENNIS

(already heading down the

stairs)

ALMA, you want smokes there's some in the

pocket of my blue shirt in the bedroom.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Motel Siesta: Night: 1967:

WE SEE the exterior of a rundown, small-town rough country

motel in Riverton.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Motel Siesta: Room: Night: 1967:

It's dark. We can make out clothes strewn around the room.

The room is blue with cigarette smoke.

The two men appear to be sleeping. We hold on them for a

beat. ENNIS awakens, rolls over, switches on the light, pulls

out a cigarette, lights it. JACK awakens. ENNIS lights a

cigarette for him, hands it to him.

JACK

Damn. Four years.

ENNIS

Four years. Didn't think I'd hear from

you. Figured you was sore about that

punch.

JACK

That next summer, I drove back up to

Brokeback, talked to Aguirre 'bout a job.

(pause)

Told me you hadn't been back there, so I

left. Headed down to Texas for rodeoin'.

How I met Lureen. Made $2,000 that year

bullridin' , nearly starved. Lureen's old

man's got some serious money, farm

machines business.

(pause)

'Course he hates my guts...

ENNIS

Army didn't get you?

JACK

Nope, too busted up. And rodeo ain't

like it was in my daddy's time. Got out

while I could still walk.

A beat.

JACK (CONT'D)

Swear to God I didn't know we was going

to get into this again.

(pause)

Hell yes, I did. Red-lined it all the

way, couldn't get here fast enough. What

about you?

ENNIS pulls on his shirt.

ENNIS

Me? I don't know.

JACK

Old Brokeback got us good, didn't it?

(drags on his cigarette)

So What're we gonna do now?

ENNIS

I doubt there's nothin' we can do. I'm

stuck with what I got here. Makin' a

livin's about all I got time for now.

They smoke.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Morning: Later: 1967:

ALMA sits at the kitchen table, dishevelled, hasn't slept all

night. Nervous, a cup of coffee in front of her.

ENNIS comes through the door.

ALMA stands... confused yet relieved ENNIS came back home,

struggled with complex feelings. Keep big emotion inside.

Tries to catch his eye.

ENNIS tries to ignore her.

ALMA looks out the window... sees JACK outside his pickup, he

leans against the driver door.

ENNIS

Me and Jack's heading up to the mountains

for a day or two. Do a little fishin'.

ALMA

(cautious)

Your know, your friend could come inside,

have a cup of coffee... we ain't poison of

nothin'.

ENNIS

(as if this is explanation

enough)

He's from Texas.

ALMA

Texans don't drink coffee?

ENNIS opens the hall closet. Takes out a duffel bag. Starts

to pack.

ALMA's eyes widen....

ALMA (CONT'D)

You sure that foreman won't fire you for

taking off?

ENNIS takes his rod, reel and creel case out of the closet.

ENNIS

That Foreman owes em. I worked through a

blizzard last Christmas, remember?

Besides, I'll only be a couple of day.

ALMA JR. hears her father's voice, stumbles out of the

bedroom, rubs sleep out of her eyes.

ALMA JR.

Bring me a fish, Daddy, a big fish.

ENNIS

(to ALMA Jr.)

Come here.

Gives her a big kiss.

Turns to ALMA.

Awkward.

Gives her a quick one-arm hug, kisses her on the cheek.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

See you Sunday, latest.

Leaves.

ALMA goes to the window.

Looks out... sees ENNIS throw his stuff in the back of JACK's

truck. Gets in the passenger side, JACK gets in the driver's

side.

They pull away, as Riverton comes to life.

ALMA, pale, filled with disquiet, pain, fear, watches them

go. Cries.

Ext: Wyoming Mountain Road: Day: 1967:

From afar, the truck making its way up mountains.

Ext: Wyoming Mountain Road: Remote Site: Day: Continuous: 1967:

The truck pulls up to a remote site. JACK puts the truck into

park, kills the engine.

ENNIS jumps out of the truck.

ENNIS

Last one in...!

Ext: Wyoming Mountain Road: Cliff: Day: Continuous: 1967:

The boys race to the cliff edge, taking off their clothes as

they go. Jump off the cliff into the lake below.

Ext: Wyoming Site: Night: 1967:

Fire dying down, dinner done, ENNIS and JACK seemingly back

in their old routine.

ENNIS lies back, looks up.

JACK

Anything interesting up there in heaven?

ENNIS

I was just sending up a prayer of thanks.

JACK

For what?

ENNIS

For you forgettin' to bring that

harmonica. I 'm enjoyin' the peace and

quiet.

JACK

You know, it could be this way. Just like

this, always.

ENNIS looks at JACK, sits up.

ENNIS

Yeah? How you figure that?

A beat... JACK takes a deep breath.

JACK

(earnest)

What if you and me had a little ranch

together somewhere, little cow-and-calf

operation, it'd be some sweet life.

Hell, Lureen's old man, you bet he'd give

me a downpayment if I'd get lost.

Already more of less said it....

ENNIS

(tense now)

Told you, ain't goin to be that way.

JACK looks stricken.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

What I'm saying', you got your wife and

baby down in Texas, I got my life in

Riverton.

JACK

Is that go? You and ALMA, that's a life?

ENNIS stands.

ENNIS

Shut up about Alma. This ain't her fault.

(a beat)

Bottom line, we're around each other and

this thing grabs on to us again in the

wrong place, wrong time, we'll be dead.

Lights a cigarette, then...

Flashback: Ext: Side of The Road: Wyoming: Day: 1952:

LOW ANGLE- ENNIS's FATHER leads ENNIS and K.E., ENNIS's

older brother, down a narrow trail, to the edge of an

irrigation ditch. Camera is on their backs and ENNIS'

FATHER'S head is out of frame.

ENNIS

(V.O.)

There was these two old guys ranched

together down home, Earl and Rich. They

was a joke in town, even though they was

pretty tough old birds. They's took

a tire iron to him, spurred him up, drug

him around by his dick till it pulled

off....

Nine-year-old ENNIS and eleven-year-old K.E. look down at

EARL's CORPSE.

WE SEE the YOUNG ENNIS looking down at the body--as his eyes

widen, WE SEE the horror wash over his nine-year-old face...

CUT BACK:

Ext: Wyoming Campsite: Night: 1967:

Another beat

JACK

(white)

You seen that?

ENNIS

(flat)

I was what, nine years old? My daddy, he

made sure me and my brother seen it.

Hell, for all I know, he done the job.

(pause)

Two guys livin' together? No way. We

can get together once in a while way the

hell out in the back of nowhere, but...

JACK can hardly believe what he's hearing now... feels as if

he's in free-fall.

JACK

(voice shakes)

...Once in a while ... ever' four fuckin'

years!?

ENNIS looks at him.

ENNIS

If you can't fix it, JACK... you gotta

stand it.

JACK

(quiet)

For how long?

ENNIS thinks for a moment.

ENNIS

Long as we can ride it.

(pause)

Ain't no reins on this one.

Both quiet.

Look up at the stars.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Day: 1971:

The back of the Riverton laundromat.

ALMA JR., age 6, and JENNY, age 4, on a rusty metal swing

set, impassively swinging.

From inside the second-floor apartment, sounds of an

argument.

ALMA JR. slides her feet on the ground, stops swinging.

JENNY stops, too.

They listen, but can't really make out what's said.

ALMA

Supper's on the stove.

ENNIS

No one's eatin' it unless you're servin'

it, ALMA!

ALMA

I already promised I'd take the extra

shift.

ENNIS

Well tell him you made a fuckin' mistake.

The back door swings open and ALMA runs out and down the table

steps, turns the corner as ENNIS comes out behind her.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

Alma! Goddammit!

But she's not coming back. ENNIS, flushed, notices the girls.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

Hey.

The girls don't respond. Awkward silence.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

You girls need a push?

They both start swinging themselves again.

ALMA JR.

No.

He pauses, nods, pauses again, goes back inside.

The girls swing.

Ext: Childress, Texas: Sign: Newsome Farm and Ranch: Day: 1971:

WE SEE a sign: NEWSOME FARM AND RANCH, CHILDRESS, TEXAS.

WE PULL BACK to see an immense metal building: this is

LUREEN's father's business, where both JACK and LUREEN work.

Int: Texas:  Newsome Farm and Ranch : Day: 1971:

Two dour FARMERS are watching JACK demonstrate a fancy air-

conditioned tractor.

JACK, who can drive anything, is doing a find job of putting

the tractor through its paces, but there's an air of boyish

inanity about him. LUREEN, sales binders in hand, passes

behind the farmers as they exchage glances.

FARMER #1

Didn't that piss-ant used to ride the

bulls?

FARMER #2

He used to try....

LUREEN looks over at the oblivious JACK, a look of mild

disappointment on her face.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Early Evening: 1971:

ALMA enters, puts down a grocery bag, sorts through the mail.

There's an electric bill and, beneath it, a postcard

addressed to ENNIS. She studies the postcard, then puts it

back down on the pile of mail as she hears ENNIS's truck pull

up.

Int: Childress, Texas: Newsome Farm Machinery: Day: 1971:

LUREEN TWIST sits at a desk, smoking, clicks on an adding

machine as she goes through piles of invoices. Calendar--

1973--on the wall behind her shows perfect tractors plowing

perfect fields.

JACK breezes in.

JACK

(brisk)

Honey, you seen my blue parka?

LUREEN

(doesn't look up)

Last time I seen it you was in it...that

day we had that big ice storm.

JACK opens a closet--nothing in it but office supplies.

JACK

Well, I could of swore I left it here.

LUREEN

(stops clicking for a moment)

You know, you been going up to Wyoming

all these years. Why can't your buddy

come down here to Texas and fish?

JACK

'Cause the Big Horn Mountains ain't in

Texas. Doubt his pickup would make it

this far anyways.

LUREEN

New models coming in this week,

remember...and you're the best combine

salesman we got... the only combine

salesman, in fact. Daddy can't drive

these newfangled combines.

JACK

I'll be back in a week. That is, I will

be unless I freeze and I might freeze

unless I find that parka.

Looks at LUREEN, who shrugs.

LUREEN

I don't have your goddamn parka. You're

worse than Bobby when it comes to losing

stuff.

JACK

Speaking of Bobby, did you call the

school back yet about getting him a

tutor?

LUREEN

I thought you were gonna call.

JACK

I've complained too much, his teacher

don't like me. Now it's your turn.

LUREEN

Okay, fine.

JACK gives up. Goes ove, kisses her. Lips barely touch.

JACK

Gotta go, got fourteen hours of driving

ahead of me.

LUREEN

(sigh)

Still don't seem fair, you drivin' up

there two or three times a year, him

never comin' down here....

But JACK is already out the door.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment: Morning: 1971:

Little DEL MAR apartment above the laundromat. Faint sound

of washing machines coming from below.

ENNIS finishes packing for a fishing trip.

ENNIS

(to ALMA JR.)

You be good for your mama.

ALMA reads the want ads.

ALMA

ENNIS...they got a openin' over at the

power company. Might be good pay.

ENNIS

Clumsy as I am, I'd probably get

electrocuted.

ALMA JR.

Daddy, the church picnic's next weekend.

Will you be back from fishin' by next

weekend?

ENNIS puts his coat on.

JENNY

Can't you take us, Daddy? please?

ENNIS stops... looks at his daughters.

ENNIS

(smile)

All right... long as I don't have to sing.

ALMA JR. and JENNY jump up and down, clap... then reach up for

good-bye kisses.

ENNIS is almost out the door.

ALMA picks up his tackle box, which still sits on the table.

ALMA

You forgettin' somethin?

ENNIS walks over, grabs the tackle box.

Leave.

ALMA, coffe cup in hand, sighs heavily. Inscrutable.

Ext: Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming: Campsite: Late Afternoon: 1971:

Fine campsite up in the mountains. JACK's late-model, clean-

as-a-pin pickup truck and horse trailer. TWO HORSES tethered

nearby.

ENNIS in his old pickup truck pulls up to a campsite.

He can see in his headlights that JACK has already set up

camp. Toots the horn. Smiles.

JACK comes out of the tent, the intense pleasure of being

with ENNIS all over his face.

Ext: Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming: Campsite: Night: 1971:

ENNIS

Look what I brought.

Offers a small brown paper bag.

JACK weights it in his hands, opens it: a couple cans of

beans.

JACK

Beans.

ENNIS

Gonna fix 'em just the way I used to.

JACK smiles.

Ext: Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming: Day: 1971:

ENNIS and JACK are horseback, trotting across a high meadow.

JACK fiddles with his rope. Ropaes a sagebrush, then throws

it at a rabbit.

JACK

I wish we'd jump a coyote. I'd love to

rope a coyote.

ENNIS

(skeptical of JACK's prowess

with the lariat)

I doubt I'll live to see that miracle....

They laugh.

Ext: Childress, Texas: Newsome Farm and Ranch :Parking Lot: Day: 1972:

JACK and little BOBBY sit in the cab of a large tractor.

Little BOBBY, on his daddy's lap, steers it in circles.

JACK

Whoa, son, there you go.

(JACK takes his hands away)

No hands!

It turns and turns.

JACK (CONT'D)

It's all yours, Bobby, It's all yours.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Ranch: Back Of Hay Truck: Day: 1972:

ENNIS stands in the back of a hay truck, looking much like

James Dean in "Giant". Throws open bales of hay out to the

cows.

ENNIS

Come on! Come on!

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Apartment:Evening: 1973:

ENNIS slouches in front of the television set, nursing a

beer.

The girls, ages seven and nine, play cards on the floor

nearby.

ALMA restless.

ALMA

It's Saturday night. We could still

smarten up, head over to the church

social.

ENNIS

That fire-and-brimstone crowd?

ENNIS doesn't even look up.

ALMA

(discouraged)

I think it'd be nice.

ENNIS drinks his beer. Doesn't answer.

ENNIS and ALMA already in bed, kiss.

They begin to make love.

ALMA

As far behind as we are on the bills, it

makes me nervous not to take no

precautions....

ENNIS pulls back from her. Looks her in the face.

ENNIS

(stiffens)

If you don't want no more of my kids,

I'll be happy to leave you alone.

ALMA

(under her breath)

...I'd have 'em, if you'd support 'em....

Turns his back to her, faces the wall.

ALMA, a look of despair on her face, reaches up and turns off

the bedside lamp.

Int: Wyoming: Courthouse: Day: 1975:

ENNIS and ALMA in a bleak little courtroom: divorce court.

Grim.

JUDGE

...Custody of the tow minor children,

ALMA Jr. and Jennifer del Mar, is awarded

to plaintiff. Defendant is ordered to

pay child support to the plaintiff in the

sum of $125 a month, for each of the

minor children until they reach the age

of 18 years...

ALMA looks sad, but determined...cries quietly.

JUDGE (CONT'D)

(raises gavel)

...Del Mar divorce granted, this 6th day

of November 1975.

ENNIS looks miserable.

Ext: Wyoming Highway: Day: 1975:

JACK's pickup truck races across the bleak southern Wyoming

landscape after passing an ENTERING WYOMING sign. A dust

devil travels across the plains, just off the highway.

Int: Wyoming Highway: JACK' Truck: Day: Continuos: 1975:

WE SEE JACK inside, happy, feeling like he could drive for

days and days without sleeping, sings along with the radio

playing Roger Miller's "King of The Road". A POSTCARD rests

on the dashboard of the truck.  JACK picks it up, looks at it

again. JACK sings along with the music with exaggerated

gesture, can't stop grinning.

Ext: Outside Riverton, Wyoming: Del Mar Line Cabin: Day: Continuos:1975:

After his divorce, ENNIS has moved into a small, very poor

line cabin, miles from nowhere, much like the one he and ALMA

had lived in when his daughters were young.

ENNIS seats ALMA JR. and JENNY inside his truck. Shuts the

passenger door and walks around to the driver's side, just as

JACK's truck pulls into his driveway, blocking ENNIS's

truck.

ENNIS is surprised, puzzled as to why JACK is there, but is

nonetheless --as always-thrilled to see him.

JACK gets out of the truck. Walks up to ENNIS, they hug one

another mightily.

ENNIS

(genuinely surprised and happy)

What're you doin' here?

JACK

(excited, holds up the

postcard)

Got your message 'bout the divorce.

JACK looks, sees the girls in the truck.

ENNIS

(to ALMA Jr. and JENNY)

This is may friend Jack.

(to Jack)

These are my baby girls, Jack... Alma Jr.

and Jenny.

JACK looks inside the truck cab--still smiling, waves.

JACK

(back to the moment at hand,

still smiling)

Your card said the divorce came through.

So ... here I am.

ENNIS

Yeah.

JACK

Had to ask 'bout ten different people in

Riverton where you was livin'.

ENNIS realizes now what has happened: JACK thinks,

mistakenly, that ENNIS has come around, that this is their

chance, finally, to be together.

The smile leaves ENNIS's face. Rubs his jaw...takes a deep

breath. Uncomfortable.

A car drives by, slows down. ENNIS glances at it, nervously.

JACK looks at ENNIS... and the smile leaves his face, too.

Realizes now that he's made a terrible mistake: turns

pale...his body sags under the weight of disappointment.

Humiliated, then devastated.

Curses at himself under his breath.

JACK (CONT'D)

... I guess I though this means you'd...

ENNIS

(pained)

JACK... JACK, I don't know what to say.

ENNIS  looks at his girls in the truck. Looks backs at JACK.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

I got the girls this weekend... I'm sure

as hell sorry. You know I am.

JACK nods...tries to retain some dignity,  cought yet again in

a wrenching situation with ENNIS, feels totally powerless.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

(torn)

See, I only get 'em once a month. Missed

last month 'cause of the roundup.

A beat.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

(in agony now)

... Jack...

JACK can barely breathe.

JACK

Yeah ... all right.

ENNIS

Jack....

JACK

... I'll see you next month, then....

Turns away, wanders backt to his truck, the postcard still in his hand.

Gets in. Drives off.

ENNIS watches him go.

Ext: Texas Plains: Day: 1975:

WE SEE JACK blazign along in his pickup truck.

Begins to cry, hard...but something has turned inside

him ... he looks desolate but determined: knows where he is

headed.

Ext: Juarez, Texas/Mexican Border: Late Afternoon: 1975:

WE SEE a highway mileage sign.: EL PASO 65; JUAREZ-MEXICO BORDER 68.

WE SEE JACK in his pickup truck crossing the border into Mexico.

Ext: Juarez Mexican Border Town: Night: Street: Continuous: 1975:

Sultry Mexican night. The street swarms with activity.

JACK wanders the streets, solemn, desperate in his

loneliness..

TOURIST FAMILIES and LOCALS intermingle on the streets and

sidewalks. A FAMILY poses for a picture with a DONKEY wearing

a sombrero.

A swarm of LITTE BEGGAR CHILDREN hit up JACK for change. He

gives them each a few coins and moves on.

JACK makes his way through the crowded streets, entering the

seedier part of the town. HOOKERS stand in doorways enticing

passerby. The sidewalks are crowed with VENDORS. People

yelling, Mexican polka music.

JACK turns down an alley. MEN line walls on each side.

Direct looks.

A HANDSOME YOUNG MEXICAN, masculine, dressed for a night out,

makes eye contact with JACK--gives him a knowing, seductive

look.

YOUNG MEXICAN

... Senor....

JACK stops. Hesitates a moment.

Then nods.

They walk off together.

Int: Childress, Texas: JACK & LUREEN's House :Thanksgiving: Day: 1977:

JACK and LUREEN's home. Wall-to-wall carpeting, fairly

luxurious, particularly in comparison to ENNIS' s life. Many

photos of LUREEN winning barrel-racing trophies. One of

JACK, the one taken in the arena the day they met.

JACK, LUREEN, BOBBY, age ten, LUREEN's long-suffering MOTHER

and L.D. NEWSOME, JACK's prick of a father-in-law. The

table is set for a full thanksgiving dinner, huge turkey and

all the trimmings. As everyone shuffles into their places at

the table, WE HEAR the TV in the background. Football game.

JACK is at the head of the table and has just reached for the

carving tools, when L.D., older but no kinder, takes them

right out of his hands.

L.D. NEWSOME

Whoa, now, Rodeo...the stud duck does the

carving around here.

JACK, having been through this kind of scene many times

before, tries nonetheless to be gracious.

JACK

You bet, L.D.... just thought I'd save you

the trouble.

BOBBY is riveted to the television set.

LUREEN notices.

LUREEN

Bobby, if you don't eat your dinner, I'm

gonna have to turn off that television.

BOBBY

Why, Mama? I'm gonna be eatin' this food

for the next two weeks.

LUREEN flashes a look at JACK, who then gets up from the

table, turns off the television, sits back down.

BOBBY slumps back in his chair, pouts.

JACK

You heard your mama. You can eat your

dinner. Then you can watch the game.

L.D. NEWSOME sets down the carving tools. Goes to the TV,

turns it back on.

LUREEN

Daddy?

(pause)

Daddy!

L.D. NEWSOME

(picks up the carving tools)

Hell, we don't eat with our eyes.

(looks at LUREEN)

You want your son to grow up to be a man,

don't you, daughter?

(direct look at JACK)

Boys should watch football.

JACK

(stands up--barely maintains

his composure)

Not until he finishes the meal his mama

spent three hours fixin'.

LUREEN, BOBBY and LUREEN's MOTHER are all startled: JACK has

never stoop up to L.D. like this before. They watch,

silent.

Now L.D. NEWSOME stands again, goes to the TV again, but

before he can turn it back on, WE HEAR:

JACK (CONT'D)

Sit down, you old son of a bitch!

L.D. NEWSOME stops dead in his tracks, his hand poised above

the TV dial. Doesn't move.

JACK (CONT'D)

This is my house! This is my child! And

you're my guest! So sit the hell down,

or I'll knock your ignorant ass into next week....

L.D. is so startled, he automatically obeys.

LUREEN, though trying to keep a blank demeanor, is secretly

pleased.

BOBBY goes on eating his drumstick.

JACK slices the turkey.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Monroe Household : Thansgiving Night: Dining Room: 1977:

ENNIS has gallantly brought a dinner plate or two into the

kitchen, sets them on the counter.

Leans against the counter. ALMA is scraping food off the

dinner plates.

ALMA

(trying to start conversation)

You ought to get married again, ENNIS.

(pause)

Me and the girls worry 'bout you bein'

alone so much.

ENNIS

(feeling too big for the room)

Once burned....

ALMA

(scraping)

You still go fishin' with JACK Twist?

ENNIS

Not often.

A beat.

ALMA

You know, I used to wonder how come you

never brought any trouts home.

From her tone, ENNIS knows something is coming.

ALMA (CONT'D)

(trembling, but controlled)

... Always said you caught plenty, and you

know how me and the girls like fish.

(pause)

So one night I got your creel case open

the night before you went on one a your

little trips--price tag still on it after

five years--and I tied a note on the end

of the line. It said, 'Hello, Ennis,

bring some fish home, love, Alma' ...

(pause)

... And then you come back lookin' all

perky and said you'd caught a bunch a

browns and ate them up. Do you remember?

Looks over at ENNIS, stiff.

ALMA is scraping harder and faster, as if she means to take

the pattern off the plates.

ALMA (CONT'D)

I looked in the case first chance I got

and there was my note still tied there.

ALMA turns on the water in the sink, sluices the plates.

ENNIS

That don't mean nothin, Alma.

ALMA

(turns on him)

Don't try to fool me no mere, Ennis, I

know what it means. Jack Twist?

ENNIS

Alma...

ALMA

Jack Nasty. You didn't go up there to

fish. You and him....

ENNIS grabs her wrist and twists it.

ENNIS

Now you listen to me, you don't know

nothin' about it.

Tears spring to her eyes, she drops a dish.

ALMA

I'm going to yell for Monroe.

ENNIS

Go on and fuckin' yell. I'll make him

eat the fuckin' floor and you, too.

Lets go.

ALMA

(crying)

Get out, get out, get out!

(between sobs)

Get out of my house, Ennis Del Mar! You

hear me? You get out!

Int: Riverton, Wyoming: Monroe Household: Living Room: Thanksgiving Night: Continuous: 1977:

ENNIS takes the living room in about two strides, ignoring

the startled MONROE, who is smoking a cheap after-dinner

cigar.

ENNIS grabs his hat, shoves it on, when little JENNY yells.

JENNY

Daddy!

ENNIS slams out.

Ext: Riverton, Wyoming: Monroe Household: Continuous: 1977:

Snowing. Jenny and ALMA JR., confused, a little frantic now,

wanting it to be all right again, follow their daddy out on

to the front stoop of the little frame house.

JENNY AND ALMA JR.

Bye, Daddy....

Gets to his old battered pickup--gets in, bales of hay

collecting snow in the truck bed.

They watch as his truck rumbles away.

Ext: Downtown Riverton, Wyoming: Black and Blue Eagle Bar: Night: 1977:

ENNIS parks across the street from the BLACK AND BLUE EAGLE

BAR.

Gets out and without looking or bothering about the thin

traffic, walks across the street towards the bar.

A pickup with a roughneck in it has to brake sharply to keep

from hitting him.

FIRST ROGHNECK

(driving, size of a bear)

Hey, asshole, watch where you're goin'!

Without hesitation, ENNIS runs around the pickup, punches

right inside the open driver window four of five times. Then

yanks open the driver door, drags the huge man out in the

slushy street, pummelling him and kicking him.

Knees him in the nuts.

But the roughneck throws him to the ground. Punches him in

the face, stomach. Doesn't let up.

Ext:  Wyoming Mountains: Day: 1978:

JACK and ENNIS ride through the mountains, like Randolph

Scott and Joel McCrea in "Ride the High Country, " only more

life-worn, more weather-beaten.

Cross a river on their horses.

Ext:  Wyoming Mountains: Day: 1978:

Wahing tin plates.

JACK is a little thicker around the haunch.

JACK

All I'm sayin' is, what's the point to

makin' it? If the taxes don't get it, the

inflation eats it all up. You should see

Lureen, punchin' numbers into her adding

machine, huntin' for extra zeros, her

eyes gettin' smaller and smaller, it's

like watchin' a rabbit tryin' to squeeze

into a snakehole with a coyote on its

tail.

ENNIS

High-class entertainment.

JACK

For what it's worth.

ENNIS

Lureen. You and her, it's normal and all?

JACK

Sure.

ENNIS

And she don't ever suspect?

JACK shakes his head no.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

You ever get the feelin', I don't know,

when you're in town, and someone looks at

you, suspicious... like he know. And then

you get out on the pavement, and

everyone, lookin' at you, and maybe they

all know too?

JACK

Mabye it's time you moved outta there.

You know, set yourself up somewhere

different. Maybe Texas.

ENNIS

Texas? Sure, and maybe you'll convince

Alma to let you and Lureen adopt my

girls, and then we could all live

together, herding sheep, and it'll just

rain money from L.D. Newsome, and

whiskey'll flow in the streams....

JACK

Aw, go to hell, Ennis Del Mar. You want

to live your miserable fuckin' life, go

right ahead. I was just thinkin' out

loud.

He marches off.

ENNIS

You're a real thinker, ain't you!

(to himself)

Yeah, that Jack Twist, he's got it all

figured out, ain't you?

Ent: Riverton, Wyoming : Wolf Ears Bar: Night: 1978:

The bar is moderately crowded with COWBOYS and their WOMEN.

Not a wild scene.

A few COUPLES dances on the small floor near the jukebox. The

TV above the bar is on.

ENNIS sits at a table by himself, a few empties in front of

him.

The song ends.

The waitress, CASSIE, mid-twenties, livelier than ALMA, very

appealing, curvey in jeans and T-shirt, struts past ENNIS's

booth to the jukebox, a glass of white wine in her hand.

CASSIE has her eye on ENNIS, who is oblivious, looking up at

the TV.

CASSIE pops a quarter in the jukebox.

ENNIS gets up from his booth and starts towards the men's

room.

Steve Earle's "DEVIL'S RIGHT HAND" begins to play on the

jukebox.

CASSIE seizes the opportuniy, steps in front of ENNIS

CASSIE

(appealing, direct)

Just finished my shift. Wanna dance?

ENNIS looks past CASSIE to the men's room door.

ENNIS

(pointing over CASSIE's

shoulder to the men' room)

Was on my way to the...

CASSIE

(grabs ENNIS's pointing finger)

I'm Cassie...Cassie Cartwright.

CASSIE takes a reluctant ENNIS by the finger and leads him to

the little dance floor, setting her wineglass down on the

way.

ENNIS

(being pulled)

Ennis Del Mar.

CASSIE and ENNIS are the only people on the dance floor.

It is immediately clear that ENNIS cannot dance. But CASSIE

doesn't mind, makes the most of the moment, enjoys herself,

shaking the funk out of her ass, letting her hair fly.

During the chorus, CASSIE's and ENNIS's eyes meet.

It is obvious ENNIS appearls to her.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming : Wolf Ears Bar : Night: Continuos:1978:

The dance ends; they return to ENNIS's table. He lights a

cigarette.

CASSIE sits down across from ENNIS. Drinks her white wine.

The WAITRESS comes over, refills her glass from a cheap

bottle with a screw lid. CASSIE motion to her to leave the

bottle.

ENNIS

No more dancin' for me.

(a beat)

I hope.

CASSIE

You're safe. My feet hurt.

CASSIE takes her shoes off, starts rubbign her feet.

ENNIS looks on, amused.

ENNIS

Hard work, is it?

CASSIE

(playful)

Yeah, drunk like you demanding beer

after beer, smoking. Gets tiresome.

(beat)

What do you do, ENNIS del Mar?

ENNIS

Well, earlier today I was castratin'

calves.

CASSIE wrinkes up her nose, shivers, then thrusts her

stocking feet into ENNIS's lap.

ENNIS is startled.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

What are you doin'?

CASSIE

(smiles)

Tryin' to get a foot rub, dummy.

ENNIS smiles back.

Int:  Childress, Texas: Dance Hall: Night: 1978:

Big banner over the stage: "1978 BENEFIT FOR THE CHILDRESS

COUNTRY CHILDREN'S HOME." The band fiddles away, lots of

couples on the dance floor.

The TWISTS and the MALONES are at a table near the dance

floor. LUREEN is smoking, bored. LASHAWN has on a flashy

cocktail dress, a lot of makeup and jewelry, but much

prettier than LUREEN, skinnier, perky, about thirty.

Restless, impatient.

LASHAWN

(chatters like a squirrel)

Pledged Tri Delt at SMU and I sure never

thought I'd end up in a pokey little

place like Childress, but then I met

Randall at an Aggie game, and he was an

animal husbandry major, and we been here

a month, he got the foreman job over at

Roy Taylor's ranch. Like it or not, here

I am!

LUREEN

(briefly stirs)

Oh, you was Tri Delt? I was Kappa Phi

myself.

LASHAWN

(impatient)

Well, even though we ain't quite sorority

sisters, we may have to dance with

ourselves, Lureen. Our husbands ain't

the least bit interested in dancin', they

don't seem to have a smidgin of rhythm

between 'em.

LUREEN

It's funny, ain't it? Husbands don't

never seems to dance with their wives.

(sarcastic)

Why do you think that is, JACK?

JACK wants to have a good time--doesn't take her bait.

JACK

Ain't never give it a thought.

(to Lashawn)

Wanna dance?

They get up, to the dance floor, begin to dance.

LASHAWN

(chatters like a squirrel)

Thank you for asking to dance with me, I

really appreciate that, I really do.

It's a good thing that you and Lureen

happened along when you did, or else we'd

still be stuck on the side of the road in

that dern pickup. I told Randall we

oughta taked the car, 'course he don't

ever listen to me. He wouldn't listen to

me if he was goin' deaf tomorrow. I told

Randall it takes more than chewing gum

and baling wire to keep a pickup goin'.

JACK nods politely, but is looking over her shoulder at

LUREEN and RANDALL. LUREEN smokes. RANDALL studies JACK and

LASHAWN on the dance floor.

LASHAWN (CONT'D)

... Well, he's never been very mechanical,

though....

Ext:  Childress, Texas: Dance Hall : Night (Later):1978:

JACK and RANDALL sit together outside the dance hall, waiting

for their wives to return from ladies' room. Both smoke.

JACK

Ever notice how a woman'll powder her

nose before a party starts, and then

powder it again when the party's over?

(pause)

Why power your nose just to go home to

bed?

RANDALL

(as if the vanity of women is a

tiresome subject)

Don't know.

(smokes)

Even if I wanted to know, couldn't get a

word in with Lashawn long enough to ask.

Woman talks a blue streak.

JACK

Lively little gal.

(pause)

You'll like working for Roy Taylor. He's

solid.

RANDALL

Yeah. Roy, he's a good ole boy.

A beat.

RANDALL (CONT'D)

He's got a little cabin down on Lake

Kemp. Got a croppie house...little boat.

Said I can use it whenever I want.

(pause)

We ought to go down there some weekend.

Drink a little whiskey, fish some. Get

away, you know?

Before JACK can respond, the WOMEN come out, hurrying,

LASHAWN talking a blue streak, just like RANDALL said.

LASHAWN

...When I was right out of SMU I coulda

had my pick of pretty much andy job in

North Dallas, so my pick was Neiman

Marcus which was a disaster because where

clothes is concerned, honey, I got no

resistance, I was spending more than I

mad, more probably than Randall ever

will make...we come out here thinking

ranching was still big hats and

Marlboros, boy, were we behind the

time....

Ext:  Riverton, Wyoming : Monroe House: Mid Morning: 1979:

ALMA JR., fifteen now, waits, sits on the stoop.

Rises as ENNIS' truck pulls up, excited.

Sees CASSIE in the passenger seat. Her face falls a bit, but

she puts on a good show as her father emerges from the truck

and walks towards her.

ENNIS

Hey there Junior, you ready?

She looks past him towards the truck.

ALMA JR. smiles at her father, a weak smile.

Ext:  Rivrton, Wyoming: Wolf Ears Bar: Later in Day: 1979:

ENNIS at the jukebox, stuffing quarters.

CASSIE and ALMA JR. at the table, watch him from across the

room.

CASSIE

What do you think? Your daddy ever gonna

see fit to settle down again?

ALMA JR. doesn't want to respond.

ALMA JR.

Don't know.

(pause)

Maybe Daddy's not the marrying kind.

CASSIE

You don't think so? Or you don't think

I'm the one for him?

ALMA JR.

(shrug)

You're good enough.

CASSIE can't help but laugh.

CASSIE

You don't talk much, but you get your

point across.

ALMA JR.

(embarrassed at how rude she's

been)

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude.

ENNIS rejoins them. CASSIE leaps up.

CASSIE

C'mon cowboy, you're stayin' on your

feet.

ENNIS looks at ALMA JR.

ALMA JR. nurses a coke at the table. Pensive, watches CASSIE

and ENNIS dance.

Int./Ext.  Rivrton, Wyoming: ENNIS's Truck: Dust: 1979:

ENNIS drives ALMA JR. home.

ENNIS

I'll pick you and Jenny up next weekend

after church.

ALMA JR.

Fine.

ENNIS

You all right?

ALMA JR.

Yes.

ENNIS

Sure?

ALMA JR.

Daddy. I was thinking, what with the new

baby and all ... Ma and Monroe, they've

been awful strict on me. More on me than

on Jenny even.

(pause)

I was thinking, maybe I

could come stay with you, Daddy.. I'd be

a big help to you, I know I would.

ENNIS

Now honey, you know I ain't really set up

for that. And with the roundup coming, I

won't ever be home.

Pulls up to the house.

ALMA JR.

(sags)

It's all right, Daddy.

ENNIS

I ain't saying I wouldn't want...

ALMA JR.

No, it's all right. I understand...

ENNIS

See you next Sunday, then.

ALMA JR.

Bye.

ENNIS

Bye, sweetheart.

She pushes her door open; he watches her jop up to the house,

then starts the truck, pulls out.

Ext:  Wyoming Mountains: Lake: Camp: Night (Later): 1981:

ENNIS and JACK are sitting around the campfire, close.

JACK rolls a joint.

JACK is restless. Pokes at the fire with a stick. Looks up

at the night sky, clouds churning past the moon.

JACK

It's gonna snow tonight for sure.

(look)

All this time, and you ain't found nobody

else to marry?

JACK lights the joint, takes a drag.

ENNIS

(noncommittal)

Been puttin' the blocks to a good-lookin'

little gal over in Riverton. Waitresses

part-time, wants to go to nursing school.

JACK passes it to ENNIS.

Now ENNIS gives JACK a look--there is still much uncharted

territory between them.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

What about you and Lureen?

Takes a hit. Passes it back to JACK.

JACK

Lureen's good at makin' hard deals in the

machinery business, but so far as our

marriage goes, we could do it over the

phone.

(passes it back to ENNIS)

I kinda got a thing goin' with a ranch

foreman's wife over in Childress. Expect

to get shot by Lureen or the husband one,

ever' time I slip off to see her.

ENNIS

(laughs)

Probably deserve it.

They both laugh... then the laughter trails off.

A beat.

JACK

(looks at ENNIS)

Tell you what...truth is, sometimes I

miss you so bad I can hardly stand it...

They both look into the fire.

Int:  Wyoming Mountains: Tent: Early Morning: 1981:

The two men, asleep in the tent, ENNIS curled around JACK.

Ext:  Wyoming Mountains: Trailhead: Morning: 1981:

JACK and ENNIS have loaded the horses into a trailer hitched

to ENNIS's pickup truck.

Mood between them is tense, as always, when their time

together is about to end.

When the gate is shut on the horses, JACK pops his glove

against his leg a time or two...looks at ENNIS, who is

lighting a cigarette.

JACK

Guess I'll head on up to Lightnin' Flat.

See the folks for a day or two.

ENNIS

(uncomfortable)

Somethin' I been meanin' to tell you,

bud.  It's likely November before I can

get away agin, after we ship stock and

before the winter feedin' starts.

JACK

(stunned)

November? What in hell happen to

August? Christ, Ennis, you had a funkin'

week to say some little word about this.

ENNIS is silent.

JACK (CONT'D)

And why's it we're always in the friggin'

cold weather? We oughta go south, where

it's warm. We oughta go to Mexico.

ENNIS

Mexico?

(tries to lighten the mood)

Hell... you know me.  'Bout all the

travelin' I ever done is goin' around the

coffeepot, lookin' for the handle.

An uncomfortable silence.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

Lighten up on me, JACK. We can hunt in

November, kill a nice elk. Try if I can

get Don Wroe's cabin again. We had a

good time that year, didn't we?

A beat.

JACK starts popping his glove on his leg again.

JACK

(bitter disappointment)

Never enough time, never enough.

(looks at ENNIS)

You know, friend, this is a goddamn bitch

of a unsatisfactory situation. You used

to come away easy. Now it's like seein'

the Pope.

ENNIS

Jack, I got to work. Them earlier days I

used to quit the jobs. You forget how it

is, bein' broke all the time. You ever

hear of child support? Let me tell you,

I can't quit this one. And I can't get

the time off.

(pause)

Was tough enough gettin' this time. The

trade-off was August.

(pause)

You got a better idea?

JACK

(bitter, accusatory)

I did, once.

ENNIS says nothing. Straightens up slowly, rubs at his

forehead. Walks to the horse trailer, says something that

only the horses can hear. Turns and walks back to JACK at a

deliberate pace.

Mexico was THE place--ENNIS has heard.

ENNIS

You been to Mexico, Jack? I heard about

what they got in Mexico for boys like

you.

JACK, braced for it all these years, and here it comes, late

and unexpected.

JACK

Hell yes, I been to Mexico. Is that a

fuckin' problem?

ENNIS

I got a say this to you one time, Jack

fuckin' Twist. And I ain't foolin'.

What I don't know, all them things I

don't know...could get you killed if I

should come to know them.

JACK

Try this one...

(pause)

... and I'll say it just one time.

ENNIS

Go ahead!

JACK

Tell you what, we could of had a good

life together, a fuckin' real good life,

had us a place of our own. You wouldn't

do it, Ennis, so what we got now is

Brokeback Mountain. Everything built on

that. It's all we got, boy, fuckin' all,

so I hope you know that if you don't

never know the rest. Count the damn few

times we been together in nearly twenty

years. Measure the fuckin' short leash

you keep me on, then ask me about Mexico

and then tell me you'll kill me for

needin' somethin' I don't hardly never

get. You got no ida how bad it gets.

I'm not you. I can't make it on a couple

of high-altitude fucks one or twice a

year.

(pause)

You're too much for me, Ennis, you son of

a whoreson bitch.

(pause)

I wish I knew how to quit you.

WE PULL BACK NOW.

Like vast clouds of steam from thermal springs in winter, the

years of things unsaid and now unsayable--admissions,

declarations, shames, guilts, fears--around them.

ENNIS stands as if heartshot, face gray and deep--lined.

Fights a silents battle, grimaces.

ENNIS

Then why don't you? Why don't you let me

be? It's because of you, Jack, that I'm

like this. I'm nothin'. I'm nowhere.

JACK starts toward him, but ENNIS jerks away.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

Get the fuck off me!

JACK moves towards him again, and this time, ENNIs doesn't

resist.

JACK

Come here...it's all right. It's all

right...damn you, Ennis.

And then...they hug one another, a fierce, desperate embrace--

managing to torque things almost to where they had been, for

what they've just said is no news: as always, nothing ended,

nothing begun, nothing resolved.

Cut to Flashback: Ext:  Brokeback Mountains, Wyoming: Campfire: Night: 1963:

JACK and ENNIS, much younger.

JACK and ENNIS have finished the last meal of the day. JACK

stands by the campfire, warming himself. He stands that way

for a few moments, alone.

Then WE SEE two arms encircle him from behind: it is ENNIS.

They stand that way for a moment, JACK leaning back into

ENNIS.

ENNIS's breath comes slow and quiet, then he starts to gently

rock back and forth a little, lit by the warm fire tossing

ruddy chunks of light, the shadow of their bodies a single

column against a rock. ENNIS hums quietly.

Nothing mars this moment for JACK, even though he knows that

ENNIS does not embrace him face to face because he does not

want to see or feel that it is JACK he holds--because for

now, they are wrapped in a closeness that satisfies some

shared and sexless hunger, that is not really sleep but

something else drowsy and tranced--until ENNIS, dredging up a

rusty phrase from the childhood time before his mother died,

says:

ENNIS

Come on now, you're sleepin' on your feet

like a horse.

(pause)

My mama used to say that to me when I was

little...

They stand like that for another moment.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

... and sing to me....

ENNIS sings low, a childhood song, from some long-ago memory.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

I got to go.

Gives JACK a little shake, a gentle push, and JACK stumbles

ever so slightly in the direction of his tent. Stops.

Hears ENNIS' spurs jungle as he mounts his horse.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

... See you in the mornin'....

A shuddering snort from ENNIS's horse, the grind of hoof on

stone, and ENNIS rides away, a very young JACK watching him

go.

Cut to Ext: Wyoming Mountains: Trailhead: Morning: Present: Continuos: 1981:

WE ARE BACK TO THE PRESENT as JACK, much older now, watches

the pickup truck, and his other half, fade away into the

distance, that dozy embrace solidified in his memory as the

single moment of artless, charmed happiness in their separate

and difficult lives.

Int: Riverton, Wyoming : Denny's Restaurant: Night: 1981:

ENNIS sits in a booth, eating a slice of apple pie and

drinking coffee.

Enter CASSIE accompanied by a good-looking, decent guy.

They're smiling at some shared joke. CASSIE catches ENNIS

out of the corner of her eye. She says something to the man,

comes over to ENNIS, slips into the booth across the table

from him.

CASSIE

(fake cheerful)

Hey Ennis del Mar. Where you been?

ENNIS

Here and there.

CASSIE

(quieter)

I left word for you with Steve at the

ranch. And you must of got those notes I

left at your place.

ENNIS

(glances at the man)

Looks like I got the message, in any

case.

CASSIE

(looking back)

Carl? Yeah, Carl's nice. He even talks.

A pause.

ENNIS

Well then, good for you.

She gets up.

CASSIE

Yeah, Well, good for me.

Drops herself back down, anger rising.

CASSIE (CONT'D)

I don't get you, Ennis Del Mar.

Knows he's hurt her, but he doesn't know what to do about it.

The look on his face changes then, to a look of stark

loneliness. She knows she's not the answer.

ENNIS

I'm sorry.

(pause)

Was probably no fun anyway, was I?

She gets up.

CASSIE

(anguished whisper, on verge of

tears)

Oh, Ennis... girls don't fall in love with

fun!

Starts crying as she rushes off to CARL, who waits by the

door. CARL looks back at ENNIS ; ENNIS shoots CARL a

murderous look. CARL hurries CASSIE outside.

ENNIS stares out the window as they get in CARL's car, speed

off.

Miserable.

Ext:  Riverton,Wyoming : Post Office :Day: 1982:

ENNIS comes out of the little post office, casually shuffling

through a handful of mail. Stock magazines, a flyer

advertising a big sale at the grocery store.

Stops: there is a postcard with his own handwriting on it,

addressed to JACK Twist, RFD 2, Childress, Texas.

Across the address, stamped in red : DECEASED.

Ext:  Riverton, Wyoming : Ray Telephone: Day: 1982:

A windy day, dust swirls.

ENNIS is dialing the telephone.

SPLIT SCREEN : ENNIS Standing Outside, Riverton, Wyoming Covers One Ear/ LUREEN Twist's Spotless, Tacky Nouveau Riche Living Room In Childress, Texas : 1982:

LUREEN, almost forty now, hair stiffly styled and even

bigger, bleached-blond hair, makeup even thicker, business-

like, cold, direct, answers the telephone.

LUREEN

Hello?

ENNIS

Uh, hello, this is Ennis del Mar, I,

uh....

LUREEN

Who? Who is this?

ENNIS

Ennis del Mar. I'm an old buddy of

Jack's, I....

LUREEN

(interrupts, speaks quickly,

allows no interruptions)

Jack used to mention you. You're the

fishing buddy or the hunting buddy, I

know that. Would have let you know, but

wasn't sure about your name or address.

Jack kept his friends' addresses in his

head.

ENNIS

Why I was callin', to see what

happened....

LUREEN

(level voice)

Oh yeah, Jack was pumping up a flat on

the truck out on a back road when the

tire blew up. The rim of the tire

slammed into his face and broke his nose

and jaw, knocked him unconscious on his

back. By the time somebody came along,

he had drowned in his own blood.

Terrible thing. He was only thirty-nine

years old.

Ext:  Riverton, Wyoming : Pay Telephone: Day: Continuous: 1982:

WE'VE left LUREEN, and the screen holds only ENNIS.

ENNIS can't answer right away. He wonders, suddenly, if it

was the tire iron:

SHARP CUT TO

ENNIS's POV : Middle of Nowhere: Dusk: Continuous: 1982:

A FLASH--JUST A SECOND OR TWO--ENNIS and WE SEE, in the

evening shadows, a MAN being beaten unmercifully by THERE

ASSAILANT, one of whom uses a tire iron.

SHARP CUT BACK TO

Ext:  Riverton, Wyoming : Pay Telephone: Day: Continuos:1982:

The hugs sadness of the northern plains rolls down upon

ENNIS. He doesn't know which way it was, the tire iron--or a

real accident, blood choking down JACK's throat and nobody to

turn him over.

The wind drones.

LUREEN

(not sure he's still there)

... Hello?

ENNIS

He buried down there?

LUREEN

We put a stone up. He was cremated, like

he wanted, and half his ashes was

interred here. The rest I sent up with

his folks. He use to say he wanted his

ashes scattered on Brokeback Mountain,

but I wasn't sure where that was. I

thought Brokeback Mountain might be

around where he grew up. But knowing

JACK, it might be some pretend place

where the bluebirds sing and there's a

whiskey spring.

ENNIS can hardly speak.

ENNIS

... No, ma'am, we herded sheep up on

Brokeback one summer....

LUREEN

Well, he said it was his favorite place.

I though he meant to get drunk. He

drank a lot.

ENNIS

His folks still up in Lightnin' Flat?

LUREEN

They'll be there till the day they die.

ENNIS

Thanks for your time, then... I sure am

sorry... we was good friends....

LUREEN

Get in tough with his folks. I suppose

they'd appreciated it if his wishes was

carried out. About the ashes, I mean.

Although she is polite, her little voice is as cold as ice.

ENNIS hangs up.

Looks like death.

Ext:  Outside of Lightning Flat, Wyoming : Twist Homestead: House :Front porch : Day: 1982:

ENNIS pulls his pickup truck up in front of the TWIST house.

Stops.

A rather thin woman--probably sixty to sixty-five--comes out

the door and on to the front porch that stretches across the

front of a tiny windbeaten house, four rooms, two down, two

up: this is JACK's childhood home, and this is JACK's

MOTHER. Shades her eyes as she squints, looking at the

pickup truck.

Ext:  Outside of Lightning Flat, Wyoming : Twist Homestead: House : Day: 1982:

Gets out. Tips his hat to JACK's MOTHER.

Int:  Outside of Lightning Flat, Wyoming : Twist Homestead: House : Kitchen: Day: 1982:

ENNIS sits at the little kitchen table with JACK's parents.

Across from him sits JACK's father, his hands folded on the

plastic tablecloth. The father is tough, weatherbeaten,

testy, critical--makes it clear by his manner that he expects

to be stud duck in the pond.

JACK's MOTHER--silent, defeated--stands.

ENNIS can't see JACK in either of them.

JACK's MOTHER

(a polite shell of a woman)

Want a cup a coffee, don't you? Piece of

cherry cake?

ENNIS

(stiff but polite)

Thank you, ma'am. I'll take a cup a

coffee, but I can't eat no cake just now.

JOHN TWIST stares at ENNIS with an angry, knowing expression.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

I feel awful bad about Jack...can't begin

to tell you know bad I feel. I knew him a

long time.

(pause)

I come by to say that if you want me to

take his ashes up there on Brokeback like

his wife said he wanted, I'd be proud to.

There is an uncomfortable silence.

ENNIS clears his throat, but then says nothing.

JOHN TWIST

Tell you what. I know where Brokeback

Mountain is. He thought we was too

goddamn special to be buried in the

family plot.

JACK's MOTHER--never a part of her husband's life--endures

this.

JOHN TWIST (CONT'D)

(angrily)

Jack used a say, 'Ennis del Mar,' he

used a say, 'I'm goin' a bring him up

here one a these days and we'll lick this

damn ranch into shape.' He had some half-

baked notion the two a you was goin' a

move up here, build a cabin, help run the

place.

(pause)

Then this spring he's got another fellas's

goin' a come up here with him and build a

place and help run the ranch, some ranch

neighbor a his from down in Texas. He's

goin' a split up with his wife and come

back here.

(sarcastic)

So he says. But like most a Jack's

ideas it never come to pass.

WE SEE the color drain from ENNIS's face.

A beat.

JACK's MOTHER

I kept his room like it was when he was a

boy. I think he appreciate that.

(pause)

You are welcome to go up in his room, if

you want.

ENNIS stands, wanting to be anywhere but here, in htis

kitchen, with JOHN TWIST.

ENNIS

I'd like that, ma'am, thank you.

Int:  Outside of Lightning Flat, Wyoming : Twist Homestead: House :Top of Stairs : JACK's Room: Day: Continuous: 1982:

WE SEE ENNIS climb a narrow wet of stairs. Enters JACK's

room, tiny and hot, afternoon sun pouring through the west

window, hitting the narrow boy's bed against the wall.

A well-used desk and a wooden chair stand against the other

wall. A small. 22 hangs in a wooden rack over the bed.

A window looks down on the dirt road stretching south...the

only road out of this godforsaken place. ENNIS goes to the

window. Opens it.

Sits for a moment, looking out at the bleak plain.

Turns, looks around the room.

ENNIS sees the closet. Gets up, walks over to it.

A shallow cavity with a wooden rod braced across it, a faded

cretonne curtain on a string half-open, closing the closet

off from the rest of the room. In the closet hangs two pairs

of jeans crease-ironed and folded neatly over wire hangers.

On the floor a pair of worn packer boots.

ENNIS looks inside to the left, and WE SEE that the closet

makes a tiny jog into the wall-- a little hiding place--and

there, stiff with long suspension from a nail, hangs a shirts.

ENNIS lifts its sleeve: it's JACK's old shirt from Brokeback

days, dried blood on the sleeve, ENNIS's own blood, from

their last day together on Brokeback, when they were

wrestling and ENNIS slipped and JACK accidentally kneed him

in the nose.

The shirt seems heavy. Then ENNIS sees that there is another

shirts inside it, the sleeves carefully worked down inside

JACK's shirt sleeves: it is ENNIS's own shirt, lost, he'd

thought, long ago up on Brokeback Mountain, his dirty shirt,

the pocket ripped, buttons missing, stolen by JACK and hidden

here inside JACK's own shirt, the pair like two skins , one

inside the other, two in one.

ENNIS presses his face into the fabric and breathes in slowly

through his mouth, hoping for the faintest smoke and mountain

sage and salty sweet stink of JACK.

But there is no real scent, only the memory of it, the

imagined power of Brokeback Mountain, of which nothing is

left but what he now holds in his trembling hands.

Int:  Outside of Lightning Flat, Wyoming : Twist Homestead: House :Kitchen : Day: 1982:

ENNIS is back downstairs, his hat in his hand, standing in

the kitchen.

JACK's MOTHER places the two shirts in a paper sack for

ENNIS.

JOHN TWIST still sits at the table, stiff and angry as ever.

JOHN TWIST

Tell you what, we got a family plot and

he's goin' in it.

ENNIS, resigned to this fact, nods at the old mans as if he

understands.

ENNIS

Yes sir.

JACK's MOTHER hands him the sack with the two shirts.

JACK's MOTHER

(sympathetic)

You come back and see us again.

ENNIS

(nods)

Ma'am. Thank you for this.

ENNIS puts his hat on.

Leaves.

Ext:  Outside of Lightning Flat, Wyoming : Twist Homestead: Yard :Day: 1982:

ENNIS looks back at the house, up at the window to JACK's

room.

Turns, stands in the little yard a moment looking off,

nothing between the lonely house and the far horizon.

Ext:  Outside of Lightning Flat, Wyoming : Twist Homestead: Dirt Driveway: Day: 1982:

ENNIS is in his pickup, bumping down the washboard road.

Ext:  Riverton, Wyoming : Del Mar Trailer House :Afternoon: 1984:

The wind, as ever, blows.

ENNIS's modest little trailer house, his battered pickup

parked in front.

A new mailbox on the trailer house just to the right of the

front door. ENNIS has a set of stick-on numbers in his

hand. Peels the 1 off and precisely applies it, then the 7: 17.

Steps back, admires his work.

WE SEE a 1982 Chevy Camaro pull into his driveway behidn his

truck.

Engine cuts. ALMA JR. steps out of the Camaro and closes the

door.

ENNIS smiles.

ALMA JR. walks up to her father.

ENNIS

Hey there, Junior....

ALMA JR.

Hey Daddy....

An awkward ENNIS gives his oldest daughter a hug. ALMA JR.

returns her daddy's embrace--she clearly loves him.

ALMA JR. (CONT'D)

Like the car?

ENNIS nods.

ENNIS

Is it yours?

ALMA JR.

It's Kurt's.

ENNIS

(confused)

Thought you was seein' Troy.

ALMA JR.

Troy?

(rolls her eyes)

Daddy, that was two years ago.

A beat.

ENNIS

Troy still playin' baseball?

ALMA JR.

Don't know what he's doin'. I'm seein'

Kurt now.

ENNIS

What's this Kurt fella do?

ALMA JR.

Works out in the oil fields.

ENNIS

(nods)

Roughneck.

(beat)

You're nineteen, guess you can do

whatever you want.

ENNIS opens the door to his trailer and holds it for ALMA JR.

They enter the trailer. The door slams loudly.

Int:  Riverton, Wyoming : Del Mar Trailer House :Afternoon: Continuous: 1984:

ALMA JR. sits on a ragged couch.

ENNIS stands and pours her a cup of coffee from a stained Mr.

Coffee. WE HEAR wind blowing, rattling the trailer house.

ALMA JR. looks around the nearly empty trailer, an homage to

plains-life minimalism: a TV sits on a plastic milk crate in

front of a battered recliner, the only other furniture

beside the chipped Formica table, two wobbly chairs, and a

fridge and tiny stove.

ALMA JR.

(makes her sad)

Daddy, you need more furniture.

ENNIS fits the coffeepot back into the Mr. Coffee machine.

ENNIS

(looking around the empty

trailer)

If you don't got nothin', then you don't

need nothin'.

ENNIS sits down across from her.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

So what's the occasion?

ALMA JR. blow on her coffee, something on her mind. This is

hard for her....

ALMA JR.

(apprehensive)

Me and Kurt...we're getting married.

Looks at his oldest daughter.

ENNIS

How long you known this Kurt fellas?

ALMA JR.

(relieved, talks faster)

About a year. Wedding'll be June fifth

at the Methodist Church. Jenny's

singing, and Monroe's gonna cater the

reception.

A beat.

ENNIS

This Kurt fella...does he love you?

ALMA JR. is startled--and touched--by the question.

ALMA JR.

Yes, Daddy. He loves me.

ENNIS nods, almost as if to himself.

ALMA JR. (CONT'D)

(pause)

Was hoping you'd be there, Daddy.

ENNIS

Supposed to be on a roundup over near the

Tetons....

Something sags a little in ALMA JR. Nods her head.

Understands.

ENNIS looks across at his daughter. Sees her disappointment.

He stands. Goes to the fridge, opens it. Take out a half-

empty bottle of cheap white wine, a legacy of CASSIE.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

(smiles at his daughter)

You know what? I reckon they can find

themselves another cowboy.

Takes two jelly glasses from the dry rack next to the sink,

unscrews the bottle top, fills both.

ENNIS (CONT'D)

(raising his glass)

To ALMA and Kurt.

ALMA JR. smiles, and clinks her glass with her daddy's.

ENNIS smiles back at his luminous daughter. But his smile

can't hide his regret and longing, for the on thing that he

can't have. That we will never have.

Ext:  Riverton, Wyoming : Del Mar Trailer House :Afternoon: 1984:

ENNIS stands outside.

ALMA JR., in Kurt's Camaro, backs out and drives off, waving

to her father as she goes.

ENNIS waves back, until she's well down the road.

Turns.

Goes back inside his crumpled little trailer house.

Extt:  Riverton, Wyoming : Del Mar Trailer House :Day: Continuous : 1984:

ENNIS, back inside now, notices that ALMA JR. has left her

sweater hanging over her chair.

He picks it up, hurries back to the door, opens it.

Sees she's long gone.

Folds the sweater. Goes to a little closet, opens the door.

He places ALMA JR.'s sweater on the top shelf of the closet.

And there, on the back of the closet door, WE SEE THE SHIRTS,

on a wire hangar suspended from a nail, and next to them, a

postcard of Brokeback Mountain, tacked onto the door.

He has taken his shirt from inside of JACK's, and has

carefully tucked JACK's shirt down inside his own.

He snaps the top button of one of the shirts.

Looks at the ensemble through a few stinging tears.

ENNIS

Jack, I swear....

Stands there for a moment.

Then closes the closet door.

He looks out the window, at the great bleakness of the vast

northern plains....

THE END