On Swift Horses

Our guardian star lost all his glow

The day that I lost you

He lost all his glitter the day you said no

And his silver turned to blue

Like him, I am doubtful

That your love is true

But if you decide to call on me

Ask for Mr. Blue

I'm Mr. Blue

Whoa, whoa, ooh

When you say you love me

I'm Mr. Blue

Then prove it by going out

On the sly

Proving your love isn't true

Call me Mr. Blue

I'm Mr. Blue

Whoa, whoa, ooh

When you say you're sorry

I'm Mr. Blue

Then turn around, heading for

The lights of town

Hurting me through and through

Call me Mr. Blue

-I stay at home at night -I stay at home

Right by the phone at night

-Right by the phone -But you won't call

And I won't hurt my pride

Call me Mister

I won't tell you

Whoa, whoa, ooh

-While you paint the town -I'm Mr. Blue

A bright red to leave it upside down

I'm painting it, too

But I'm painting it blue

Call me Mr. Blue

Whoa, whoa, ooh

Call me Mr. Blue

Whoa, whoa, ooh

Call me Mr. Blue.

- -

Thank you.

-Say yes. -

Lee.

Marry me, Muriel.

You promised me an answer by Christmas.

And it's Christmas Eve.

And I'll give you one.

Right now I need a shower.

You must be her.

Must be.

Toss one of those down to me.

It's got to be freezing.

I'm Julius.

I know.

-Hi. -Hello.

I heard your mom left you the place.

That's right.

Lucky you.

I like the country.

Hmm.

Solitaire.

Passes the time.

-Can play a real game, you want. -

Real game like what?

Poker.

You'll have to teach me.

Liar.

Only played a few times.

You know, you don't need to keep secrets.

My brother's seen cards before.

It's no secret.

Lee never seemed interested in card games is all.

Yeah, that's 'cause he's not.

-Not that it matters. -

See, the thing about poker is, uh, cards aren't just cards.

This right here is pieces of time.

Okay?

There's what's on the table

and then what's coming down the line. Follow me?

So, there's only a certain amount of cards in each deck,

so you got some idea what's already been dealt,

you got some idea what's gonna happen next.

But you can't know what's already been dealt.

Well, it most certainly is frowned upon,

but that doesn't mean you can't know.

And if, uh, memory fails.

Clever.

Truth is, a real gambler's only got one solemn obligation.

What's that?

Staying well-informed.

Watch out now, Muriel. He's coming for you.

Hey.

Come here, you little shit.

See you met this one already, huh?

Yeah, she's been spilling her secrets all afternoon.

Oh, don't worry, Muriel.

That's just the way my little brother is.

I don't mind.

Let me show you around.

We called it Hell Fire Valley

'cause that's exactly what it was.

And we're running out of ammo,

but we all know there's more on the truck, right?

Lee, this story's been told and told again.

We all know there's more ammo

-on the truck. -Come on, now.

Chinese bullets are flying everywhere,

but no one's crazy enough to risk it.

- -So we figure, "That's it."

When all of a sudden I see this guy.

He's up there on this burning truck,

throwing ammo down to us

and pushing wounded soldiers off.

It's this crazy-ass redneck right here.

I guaran-goddamn-tee you,

if it wasn't for him,

you and I would've never even met.

Wow. A hero, this brother of yours.

Oh, you bet. -

Nothing but a shoulder wound.

-That's how they tell it. -

I guess that's why they, uh, they let me out.

Let you what?

I was discharged, um... last week.

Well, I got six months left.

That means you got six months left.

Well, not anymore.

You can still fire a gun, can't you?

You can still walk. We're still at war, aren't we?

Lee.

Your separation payout? Pension?

Nope.

We had a plan, didn't we, Julius?

- -Pool our discharge pay

and get us a place out in California.

-That was the plan, wasn't it? -I-I got an idea.

-This is what he does, Muriel. -No-no, my-my idea...

-He is always holding... -No, she's got an idea.

...something back. Always.

My idea is that I-I want to dance.

I need a smoke.

[ LOVE OF NO RETURN BY PETER SIVO BAND PLAYING]

You whispered...

-Well? Oh.

Oh, I-I was just trying to smooth things over.

So let's smooth them over.

Only to learn

Mm.

This love is a love

Of no return...

He, um... he thinks so highly of you is all.

Yeah, that's 'cause I'm all he's got.

Besides you.

You ever been in love before?

No.

Uh, not before now, I mean.

Have you?

You know what I think?

I think you see right through all of it.

All of what?

All the supposed tos.

All the stuff they tell you matters.

All the stuff the guys next to me in Korea

cared so much about right up until

their brains got blown out the back of their heads.

You got room for a dumbass hick in the middle?

Mm.

Let me on in here now.

You know what?

I got the two people that I love most in the world

right here in front of me.

- Here it comes. -

Muriel Jane Edwards...

I've asked before.

Lord knows I've asked.

And I'm asking you again.

I'm back to Korea in 72 hours.

It's Christmas Eve.

Go on, now, Lee, get up.

I know you're worried about me,

but nothing's gonna happen.

And besides, if it does,

Julius here will take care of you.

Don't say that to him.

Won't you, Julius?

Of course I will.

I can make you happy, Muriel.

Well?

-You mean it? -Yes.

Pardon me, now? Yes!

Woo-hoo! -

We can still do it, you know?