Roosevelt Bolton: Grits teeth, sneering GOTCHA, PAPA! Can't teach THIS old dog new tricks, eh?
GOOD. NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP: BRANDIN'. THIS IS WHERE YOU MARK YOUR CATTLE WITH YOUR RANCH'S SIGNATURE - A STAMP THAT SAYS YOU'RE THE OWNER. IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO IT RIGHT, OR ELSE SOME SNEAKY varmint could try to pass off their cattle as yours! ROOSEVELT HANDS ELLA A BURNING IRON WITH THE WORD "BOLTON" STAMPED ON IT. HOLD THIS STEADY, AND MAKE SURE YOU'REaims true. YOU DON'T WANT TO SCAR YOUR CATTLE, BUT YOU DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IDENTIFIABLE.
GOOD. NOW, LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE STABLE AND SEE HOW MAX IS DOING. THEY RETURN TO THE STABLE, AND ELLA IS ASTONISHED BY HOW WELL-MANNERED MAX IS. HE LETS HER PET HIM, AND EVEN Nuzzles AGAINST HER LEG. SEE? ALL YOU NEED IS A LITTLE PATIENCE AND A LOT OF KINDNESS. MAX IS A GOOD HORSE, AND HE'S TAKEN TO YOU RIGHT AWAY. JUST REMEMBER TO BE GENTLE AND TAKE IT SLOW.
I look at you So what happens now
NOW WE HEAD OUT TO CHECK ON THE CATTLE. AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF MY RANCH, IT'S IMPORTANT YOU LEARN HOW TO TELL WHICH CATTLE ARE THRIVING AND WHICH ARE SUFFERING. THEY ARRIVE AT THE PASTURE, AND ROOSEVELT POINTS OUT Various CATTLE. SEE THAT COW OVER THERE? SHE'S LOOKING A BIT PEAKY TODAY. MAKE A NOTE TO BRING HER SOME EXTRA FEED TONIGHT. AND THAT CALF... WELL, HE'S GOT A FEVER. NEED TO GET HIM SOME MEDICINE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
GOOD. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RANCH HOUSE. IT'S WHERE WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO EAT, TO DRINK, AND TO CELEBRATE OUR VICTORIES. YOU NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE RANCH HOUSE AND ITS INHABITANTS - THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS ALL POSSIBLE. THEY ARRIVE AT THE RANCH HOUSE, AND ROOSEVELT INTRODUCES ELLA TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK THERE. THIS IS JIM, OUR COOK. HE'S THE ONE WHO MAKES THOSE DELICIOUS MEALS WE ENJOY DINNER. AND THIS IS SARAH, OUR SCHOOLTEACHER. SHE'S ALSO THE BEST SHOTSIN' WOMAN I'VE EVER MET!
SEE WHAT? THAT PEOPLE CAN BE NICE AND HELLO? WELL, IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME YOU Learned THAT. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR ROOM. AS A RANCH HAND, YOU'LL BE EXPECTED TO LIVE ON THE RANCH, SO WE'VE PREPARED A ROOM FOR YOU. IT'S NOT LUXURIOUS, BUT IT'S COMFORTABLE ENOUGH. THEY ARRIVE AT YOUR ROOM, AND ROOSEVELT OPENS THE DOOR. WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK? GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED?
GOOD. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT HORSEBACK RIDIN'. IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR ANY RANCH HAND, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO CHASE DOWN A COW OR TWO. I'LL BE YOUR INSTRUCTOR, AND I'LL MAKE SURE YOU LEARN THE PROPER TECHNIQUE. THEY MOVE TO AN OPEN FIELD, AND ROOSEVELT HELPS ELLA INTO THE SADDLE. REMEMBER, ELLA, HORSEBACK RIDIN' IS AN ART. YOU NEED TO LET YOUR BODY MOVE IN TANDem WITH THE HORSE'S. START WITH A TROT, LIKE THIS. JUST FOLLOW MY LEAD.
THE HORSE STARTS TO TROT, AND ELLA STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP. SHE LOOKS CONFUSED AND UNSURE OF HERSELF. DON'T FRET, ELLA. IT TAKES TIME TO GET THE HANG OF IT. JUST LET YOUR BODY MOVE NATURALLY WITH THE HORSE'S rhythm. DON'T TRY TO FIGHT IT - GO WITH THE FLOW, SO TO SPEAK. ROOSEVELT ENCOURAGES ELLA FROM THE SIDE, UNTIL SHE FINALLY STARTS TO GET THE IDEA. SOON ENOUGH, SHE'S KEEPING UP WITH THE HORSE WITH EASE. See? Just let the horse guide you. It's all about trust and timing.
WELL, I'LL BE DAMNED! LOOK AT YOU, IMPROVING WITH EVERY PASSING SECOND! YOU'RE A NATURAL, ELLA! THE HORSE COMES TO A STOP, AND ROOSEVELT DISMOUNTS, GIVING ELLA A PAT ON THE BACK. YOU DID GOOD, KID. REAL GOOD. WITH A LITTLE MORE PRACTICE, YOU'LL BE AS GOOD AS ME IN NO TIME.
NOW THAT YOU'RE ALL LOADED UP ON HORSEBACK RIDIN', IT'S TIME TO TEACH YOU SOME BASIC RODEO TRICKS. WE START WITH THE Lasso. IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR CATCHING AND RESTRAINING CATTLE, SO YOU BETTER LEARN IT QUICK! ROOSEVELT HANDS ELLA A LASSO, AND DEMONSTRATES HOW TO THROW IT AND LATCH IT ONTO A FAST-MOVING TARGET. KEEP YOUR ARM STRAIGHT AND YOUR EYE ON THE CATTLE. THEN WHIP THE LASSO, LET IT SWING, AND LATCH ONTO THAT COW. GOT IT?
I throw the lasso at the cow
THE LASSO HITS THE COW'S LEG, AND THE ANIMAL COMES TO A STOP, STunned. ELLA'S EYES WIDE WITH EXCITEMENT. That's it, Ella! You did it! You caught the cow! ROOSEVELT CLAPS ELLA ON THE BACK, CHEERING. You're a natural-born cowboy, kid! With a little more practice, you'll be catching cows like it's nothing!
WELL, YOU SHOULD! YOU'VE EARNED IT. AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT. FROM NOW ON, YOU'RE A FULL-FLEDGED MEMBER OF MY RANCH. ROOSEVELT TAKES ELLA'S HAND, AND SQUEEZES IT. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU A RANCHER TO BE PROUD OF. AND IF ANYONE SAYS OTHERWISE, WELL, I'LL BE THERE TO TEACH 'EM A LESSON THEY WON'T SOON FORGET. YOU HEAR ME, KID?
GOOD. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT RANCHIN' ETIQUETTE. YOU'LL BE DEALING WITH CATTLEMEN AND OTHER RANCHERS, AND YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE AROUND THEM. FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU NEED TO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS SHOW RESPECT. THESE PEOPLE ARE YOUR PEERS, AND THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH THE SAME COURTESY YOU'D SHOW TO ANYONE ELSE. ROOSEVELT DEMONSTRATES HOW TO TIP YOUR STOMACH IN RESPECT TO A CATTLEMEN. LIKE THIS, KID. SHOW THE WORLD YOU'RE A RANCHIN' MAN, NOT SOME CITY SLOTH.