Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story

["Homeward Bound" by Steven Sharp Nelson]

How did it get in there?

I was teasing him with it.

It's not worth it. I shouldn't have dropped it!

Come on.

Run, run!

Don't let him get you!

- -Run!

Run! Run!

- - You scared me to death!

Don't you ever do anything like that again.

I do that all the time.

["Homeward Bound" by Steven Sharp Nelson]

Alma!

- - Hey!

- -[groaning and indistinct shouting]

- -

Come on. Come on!

Come on, stupid horse!

- -Come on! Idiot!

-Son of a-- -

Son of a b--

Alma!

What did you just say?

What did you just say?

Huh? W--

We don't talk that way! You hear me?

Did you do any good today?

Mm.

What was your worst part about today?

Working on the farm.

What was your best part of today?

Right now.

Who knows the answer?

Anyone?

Anyone know the answer?

Hmm.

Anyone else?

How about one of you boys?

Alma...

...do you know the answer?

Nothing.

No surprise there.

Ms. Bird, can I talk to you for a moment?

Oh.

Oh, I see.

Do you have something you want to tell me, Alma?

-No, ma'am. - That's rather strange

because based on your history,

I think you do.

You think because you are so big and dumb,

you can pick on anyone you like and get away with it?

Don't you?

Don't you?

-Don't you? -

I'm not dumb! And it wasn't me this time.

- Stop it! -

Stop it!

Well, class,

that will be the last we or anyone

will hear of Alma Richards.

- Hey. - So,

what are you thinking you'll do now, Son?

-Ranching? -

You know...

...out... under the stars.

- -

Nothing wrong with ranching...

...but we just want to be sure that you're weighing

things out carefully.

You know, us and your grandparents didn't just leave Wales.

We felt we were called.

We want you to find your calling,

to do something meaningful with your life.

You see that?

That's family, Son.

Hardest working, toughest people I ever knew.

I know that, but...

...I think ranching might be my calling.

- -

How much?

Two bits.

That's too much.

-Is it? -

You see what's going on out that window?

Every drowned rat within 30 miles is looking for a,

a dry place to sleep tonight.

- -Upstairs.

- -

Uh, pardon me.

There's already some guy in that room.

Mm. How could that be?

Oh, I know,

two to a room.

Yeah, but, but two beds.

Not two beds. Two... to a bed.

No, I want my money back.

Oh, do you?

- -

Pardon me, but... move over.

There's no "over" to go.

You, sir, are enormous.

How old are you?

Sixteen.

What year are you in school?

I don't go to school.

What do you do?

What do you care?

I'm a ranch hand.

And what are your aspirations? Your dreams?

I just wanna be out.

There's lots of this big old world I'm wanting to look on.

You may do as you wish in this life, but...

...to do so, you need an education.

And what great education did you get

that led you to this crowded, lice-filled bed?

Touché.

I'm a professor at Michigan State University,

traveling to lecture in California,

but stalled by an uncooperative train.

It's too late for me to go back to school.

No.

No, it's never too late to go back to school.

Much as I honor such men...

...you cannot remain a ranch hand.

I have a feeling...

...that you were made for something of wider influence.

["He Lives: (Theme From "The Lamb of God")" by Jenny Oaks Baker]

- -

School was a wonderful idea, Son,

I see nothing but good coming of this.

Well, maybe this time I can mess up a little less.

- -We'll love having you home again.

No, I'm not going back to that school.

I wanna go to the Murdock Academy.

Wonderful.

I've always said I wanna see the world.

Maybe Beaver, Utah, is the place to start.

Now, Son, there's a rough side to that town.

You remember what we taught you about smoking and liquor?

-I know. -And... about staying away

from the wrong kind of girls.

I don't think Alma's ever even talked to a girl.