Cry Macho

It's 10:30, Mike.

You're late.

For what?

Okay. All right.

Back when we had winners,

I was afraid to lose you to the competition.

Five times you won the All-American Futurity

and every goddamn time I thought,

"Oh, I won't be able to keep Mike.

Somebody's gonna grab him."

But that was a long time ago, wasn't it?

Yeah. That was before the accident.

Before the pills.

Before the booze.

You look out there in that barn now,

a string of second-rate horses.

Kind of like my trainer, isn't it?

I'm not afraid of losing you to anybody now.

You're a loss to no one.

It's time for new blood.

Yeah, I can see that.

And you know what you're late for?

What?

Clearing out your locker.

Why don't you do that on the way out?

You gonna say anything?

No.

I was just gonna say, "Howard,

I've always thought of you as a small, weak,

and gutless man."

But, you know, there's no reason to be rude.

So, you don't lock your doors?

Ain't got nothing worth stealing.

What's up?

You're just killing time in here or what?

You look awful.

Well, you've looked horrible longer, so I guess you win.

Yeah.

What do you want?

You remember I had a son?

Rafael.

Yeah.

That's him, like, at five or six.

Well, he's 13 now, and I wanna get him out of Mexico.

I wanna get him up here. I wanna do the right thing.

I want him to live with me.

What does his mother think about that?

Yeah, well, Leta,

-she's a nutcase. -Oh.

I mean, she was fun at a party, but...

and she gave me him.

Yeah.

But he's in trouble. Mike, the kid's in trouble.

And I gotta get him out of there.

Yeah. Why don't you call the authorities, then?

I can't go to the authorities.

I have legal issues. I can't go back into Mexico.

He's being abused.

How do you know that?

Well, I don't know it directly from him,

if that's what you're asking me,

but I know that.

I know it from people around her,

and she's a mess.

And she's letting the kid be abused.

Uh... Well, I don't know what you want from me

'cause, you know...

You want me to go down there and kidnap him?

Bring him out of there?

It's not kidnapping if he's your kid.

It isn't my kid,

so I don't think he'll go with me in the first place.

Yes, he would. He'll listen to you, Mike.

I know he will.

He'll know the minute he sees you,

you're a real cowboy.

He'll listen to you. Tell him about the house.

Tell him he's gonna have the run of the whole ranch.

He's gonna have his own horse. Tell him that.

It's every boy's dream.

Well, I think you got dozens of guys here who could do it

and I'm not really the kind...

You know what? You owe me, Mike.

I was standing here, looking at all this,

thinking about making the payments on this place for you.

About helping you not lose it after you...

After you lost her and the boy...

You know how many people told me to stop doing that?

To just cut you loose.

I said, "No. You know what? I owe Mike that much."

But I think you owe me a little bit,

and you gave me your word.

And that used to mean something, Mike.

Yeah.

I owe ya.

All right.

There's cash in this envelope.

Quite a bit of cash for travel and expenses.

I've got her address on here

and this is a map of the area

in Mexico City she's living in.

That's Rafo, like I said, about six.

He's 13 nearly now, and he's gonna be taller.

-Thank you. -Okay.

Buenos dias, girls.

- Hello. -Hi.

So, where are you headed?

Playa. We're gonna hit the beach.

Which beach?

I mean, there are many beautiful beaches in Mexico.

However many we can in a week.

- I bet you will. -

Enjoy your stay in Mexico, girls.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

- -

What's your purpose for entering Mexico?

Uh, a holiday.

Can I see your paperwork?

I'm actually with them.

Just you?

Just me.

Enjoy your stay in Mexico.

Thank you.

Why the hell would a kid ever wanna leave this place?

Hey, be respectful, old man.

Take off your hat.

Usually when a woman laughs like that,

a man's fly is open.

That's the only thing that's not on the table.

You're good.

Aw. Oh, no.

Is this your family, Michael Milo?

Yeah. From a long time ago.

Hmm.

You also have a picture of my son

from a long time ago.

I can explain that.

No, you needn't.

You think you're the first my ex-husband sent?

The first one is in jail.

Beastly man with no manners.

The second was more amiable.

Couldn't find Rafo and left.

Tell me, cowboy,

why does his father really want him now?

He has no real love for the boy.

Well, maybe he's trying to change all that.

You're picturing some innocent kid.

Like in that photo.

A nice, respectful boy

who wears clean clothes to school,

and sings in church.

I guarantee you that isn't the case.

My son is wild.

An animal who lives in the gutter.

Gambling, stealing, cockfighting, at the...

At the calle Choca.

Take him.

Take him if you can find him.

He's a monster.

You have made a long trip for nothing.

I don't know where my son is now.

He's like his father.

He runs away.

He hates his father.

He hates me.

So, go home, Mr. Mike.

Go home.

When did you give up?

No matter what people say,

some aren't cut out to be parents.

Have a drink with me, hmm?