The Straight Story

Hey, Rose.

Hey, Dorothy.

I'm gonna go over there.

We're waitin'.

Alvin.

Alvin Straight!

Rose left a couple of hours ago.

Did you hear me hollerin' for Rose? I wasn't lookin' for Rose.

- I haven't seen Alvin today. - Did I ask?

Straight, you're late!

Alvin!

Alvin!

Alvin!

- Come in, Bud. - What the...Alvin?!

Where the hell are you?

I can't see a thing.

Over here, Bud. Watch your step.

What the hell's going on?

What are you doin' layin' on the floor? You nuts?

Supposed to be down at Davmar's one hour ago.

What's going on?

Oh, my God!

Hey, Dorothy.

What's the number for 911?

- No, Dorothy. - What you doin'?

I'll call the bar and tell 'em we're not comin'.

Are you crazy? We have a stricken man here.

Are you stricken, Alvin?

Put the phone down!

Dad, what's all the yellin'?

Wh-what...uh, have you done to my dad?

Oh, for cry eye!

Dad?

Are you OK, Dad?

I just need a little help gettin' up, honey.

I'm goin' to Davmar's. I'll be right back.

OK, Bud.

I'm not goin'.

Dad.

I'm not goin'.

You promised me, Dad.

OK, Mr Straight, put this robe on.

Just bring me the doctor.

You like birds.

I build...uh, birdhouses... uh, for bluebirds.

Oh, that's nice.

Yeah, it's Pete...uh, Pete sells my...

uh, birdhouses... at the Ace Hardware.

- I'll look for them next time. - Yeah?

No operation.

This morning you fall and can't get up, that's your hips, Alvin.

And you'll need a walker now.

No walker.

Fine, a second cane, then.

You say you're having trouble seeing.

That could be a diabetes-related problem.

I'd like to run some tests.

No tests and no X-rays.

Well, I see and hear that you smoke.

My guess is you're in the early stages of emphysema.

And Alvin, you have circulation problems

and I'm worried about your diet.

If you don't make some changes quickly,

there will be some serious consequences.

It...has a...a red roof.

Another pretty one, Rose.

I want to...uh, paint the...uh, next one blue.

That's a good idea.

What...uh, did the doctor say?

He said I was gonna live to be 100.

I think I'll go and mow the lawn.

Uh, I can...uh, cut it for you, Dad.

I got it, sweetheart.

God darn!

No, we'll... we won't be mowin' today.

Storm's comin' in.

Yeah.

I love a lightnin' storm.

Uh, me too, Dad.

Hello?

This is...is Rose.

Yeah... Yeah... Uh-huh.

Oh, no...

When?

OK...right...right...

I'll tell him.

Yeah... OK... Bye.

Uh, that was...Bobby.

Uncle Lyle...had a...

..a stroke.

Dad?

No, Bobby, he...he didn't say much.

Uh, they've both...

uh, been so...

uh, stubborn.

No, no, it was longer, I remember.

It was...uh, July, uh, 7th, 19...88, uh, Bobby.

I always...remember the dates.

Yeah.

I don't know...uh, what he'll do.

Rose, darlin'?

Rose?

I'm gonna go back on the road.

I've gotta go see Lyle.

But, Dad...

How are you...?

Well, I...haven't quite got that figured yet.

One, your eyes are bad.

That's why you don't... uh, drive your car.

Uh, two, Uncle Lyle... uh, lives in...uh, Wisconsin,

which is...uh, 317 miles away.

You would have to...uh, stay all night...in Des Moines.

Then there's no... uh, bus...to Zion.

Three, your...uh, hips are bad.

You can hardly...uh, stand...

for two minutes... And when you...uh, do stand up...

this...is the sound you make...

when you...stand.

Uh, four, uh, you are...uh, 73 years old...

You were...uh, born

when, uh, Calvin...uh, Coolidge was president...of America.

Uh, you are... uh, 73 years old, Dad.

And...I cannot drive you there.

Rose, darlin', I'm not dead yet.

Uh, what are we... uh, building, Dad?

Havin' a party?

Oh, jeez,... I love...uh, parties.

Oh, me too.

And so...where's it at?

Where's what at?

Your...uh, party.

I'm not havin' a party.

I thought YOU were havin' a party.

I am?

Well, yeah. Look at all that Braunschweiger.

Oh, yeah, it's a lot of Braunschweiger.

It's...uh, for my dad, uh, for his...his trip.

Uh, my dad... he's going to...uh, Wisconsin.

I...asked him how he's...uh, going to get there...

Uh...but he... uh, won't say nothing.

Wisconsin? That is a real party state.

Yeah.

I...uh, hate... uh, Braun...uh...schweiger.

Yeah.

Alvin, you've got three five-gallon cans there.

15 gallons of gas.

What do you need so much gas for, Alvin?

Sig, you're one nosey son of a gun.

You got that right.

- I wanna buy that. - What?

The grabber.

Oh, jeez, Alvin.

- That's MY grabber, Alvin. - Well?

Oh, jeez, Alvin. I don't... I...I do have two of them...

I think five dollars is right.

That's a darn good grabber, Alvin.

- I...I... - Well?

They're hard to come by, Alvin.

It's gonna take me two months to get another one on order.

Jeez, Alvin, ten dollars.

Ring her up.

What do you need that grabber for, Alvin?

Grabbin'.

Oh, jeez, Dad.

Oh, jeez, Dad.

Listen to that old grain elevator.

It's...uh, harvest time.

Uh, that...uh, trailer is too h-heavy for...for that.

It's a lawn mower. You're going to...

..drive a...a lawn mower to another state?

Rosie, I've... I've gotta go see Lyle.

And I...I've gotta make this trip on my own.

I know you understand.

I guess so.

Look up at the sky, Rosie.

The sky is sure full of stars tonight.

Crimenetto, it's Alvin and he's driving his lawn mower.

Alvin! What are you settin' out to do here?

For cry eye, Alvin!

Alvin, you're gonna get blown right off the road,

that's what I'm afraid!

He'll never make it past The Grotto.

I'm havin' a little engine trouble.

What the heck is that you're driving there?

It's a Rehds. Could you give me a lift into town?

Yeah, to The Grotto. This is the Sun Ray Tour. Get in.

- I'll get you help there. - I'd appreciate that.

My Edward loved his riding mower.

Hey, come here, hurry. Hurry up.

Poor Alvin.

So the man...in a...pick-up, he brought my dad back.

Ohh...mm, I must've been at the beauty shop.

What kinda pick-up?

A Ford.

But what's your dad doin' with that gun?

I don't know.

I gave you that old Rehds last time, right?

That you did.

- You tradin' in that Rehds now? - No, I don't believe I will.

Pete told me you used that rider in a real interestin' way.